Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why should I use The Flower Hut instead of a NATIONAL CHAIN?
A. There are NO NATIONAL CHAINS! Big names like 1-800-Flowers, Flowers Sent Today, National Flora etc. own no more than a handful of shops. Some, like Teleflora and FTD own NONE! Unless you happen to choose a city where they have a shop, they will do exactly what The Flower Hut does with out-of-our-area deliveries. They will choose an independently owned flower shop from one of the floral networks.
But these "Big Names" invest HUGE amounts of money on media and pay-per-click advertising. Because of those high costs, about 44% of your purchase goes to FEES and COMMISSIONS. Please click the "Your Best Floral Value" button for details.
At the Flower Hut, REAL FLORISTS answer our phones, operate our computers, and -- for Charlotte, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville -- make and deliver our floral arrangements! That may be the reason why Yahoo! Shoppers have rated us as among the best in the NATION for Customer Satisfaction. In contrast, the Big Names are 1 to 2 star operations.
Q. Why can’t I place my order by telephone and still get the 20% local discount?
A. Processing an Internet order takes us less than a minute. It often takes 5 to 10 minutes or more to do the same thing over the phone. Time is money.
Q. That 20% Discount seems phony to me. Aren’t you just inflating your web prices and then discounting them back down?
A. The Flower Hut serves all 50 States, Canada, most European Cities, and major cities in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our web prices must be consistent with the prices that florists in OTHER CITIES charge. However, we think it is absurd to ask a customer to SPEND MORE on the internet to get local delivery.
On average, for comparable products, the Flower Hut is about 20% LESS EXPENSIVE than other florists. So, for local orders, we knock off 20%.
Still not convinced? Please take a look at our TESTIMONIALS!
Q. Other floral web sites have many more items to choose from. Why don’t you give us more choices?
A. Visit any of the “lots of choices” web sites, close your eyes and point to any design on the site. Chances are that:
1. One or more of the flowers in it is out of season or not readily available or,
2. The container is not universally stocked.
To fill the order, florists will have to SUBSTITUTE other flowers or containers. And this substitution means that, usually, the arrangement WON’T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THE PHOTO!
The Flower Hut’s designs are deliberately chosen to allow a florist to create the FRESHEST, MOST STYLISH arrangement possible, using flowers and containers that are AVAILABLE LOCALLY.
Q. Why do flower prices go UP so much at major holidays, and especially at Valentine's Day? Aren't you florists just price gouging?
A. Fresh flowers aren't like soybeans or bricks. You can't put them in the warehouse for six months. Also, since it takes several YEARS for a rose bush to start producing blooms, you can't just "plant extra" for the holidays.
As an example of how this affects us, consider this: During most of the year, the Flower Hut offers cash-and-carry roses for around $8 to $10 a dozen. At Valentine's Day, that's about what we PAY for the same product!
Floral pricing is about the closest thing that we have ever seen to a pure example of "supply and demand."
|
