1-800-Flowers Misses Valentine’s Day Delivery, Sends $20 Apology Vouchers

The sheer volume of orders of gifts delivered on Valentine’s Day means that someone will inevitably be unhappy with what they receive…or don’t receive. 1-800-Flowers customers were upset about the non-delivery, late delivery, or utter crappiness of their orders.

Not all gift recipients were left with empty vases, though. One Twitter user posted this handy “spot the differences” image on Twitter on Valentine’s Day. Sometimes the differences between an arrangement that someone ordered and what they received are subtle and even understandable during a busy time for florists. This… is not so understandable.

@1800flowers spot the subtle differences. http://t.co/lWhgUOUUQ8—

Adam Schaller (@GRadamWK) February 14, 2014

The company got around to responding on Twitter… today, on February 18th.

@GRadamWK I am so sorry for the delayed response and want to resolve this issue. Please DM your order info. Thanks,Tiffany—

1-800-FLOWERS.COM (@1800flowers) February 18, 2014

Maybe the company just got a bad batch of tulips. Here’s what another customer reported receiving:

#1800flowers fail …the right side is what we ordered, the left side is what was delivered. Never again! http://t.co/oYH4Z9Tror—

Taryn Taylor (@_Ttaylor137) February 17, 2014

It’s one thing to have the buds closed when the flowers arrive: getting buds rather than blooms just means that the flowers aren’t at their peak yet, and the recipient will have the pleasure of watching them open up and become all beautiful and stuff. Sending flowers that are limp or a vase full of greenery with incidental tulips isn’t okay, though.

Coincidentally, the response came after CNN featured the photo in their story about the drooping tulips. The customer finally managed to get through and receive a refund on Valentine’s Day, but even a refund doesn’t really make up for sending your love a clump of limp tulips as an expression of how you feel about her.

@1800flowers an update, after an hour and a half of phone calls I was able to talk to #customerservice and did get a full refund.—

Adam Schaller (@GRadamWK) February 14, 2014

At least you get swift and personable service after the company contacts you via Twitter, though, right?

#1800flowers what it's like DMing with @1800flowers after THEY ask you to DM them http://t.co/31G5DIzCAd—

Mark Thomas (@mark_thomas75) February 17, 2014

Someone’s paying attention, though: the company’s stock has fallen almost 6% over the course of the day as this story spread across the newsphere.

1-800-Flowers botches Valentine’s Day – and apology, too [CNN]

Why 1-800-Flowers.com (FLWS) Is Down Today [TheStreet]

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist