Keep your Mother’s Day flower arrangements local

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and many Wisconsinites will give gifts of beautiful floral arrangements for the occasion. With the convenience of ordering online, it is easier than ever to find a local flower shop, place an order for delivery and relax.

Unfortunately, the internet also makes it easier than ever for a business to pretend to be a local flower shop. These businesses may list a local address and place ads online, to deceive customers into believing they are local. These companies often inflate their costs, order from a local flower shop on the customer’s behalf and pocket the difference.

This practice causes unnecessary spending and it may be difficult to contact the florist for a refund, exchange or other issue.

Do research before hiring a florist this Mother’s Day. Call the florist and ask where their shop is located, what their hours of operation are for the holiday weekend, and what sort of schedule their deliveries will operate under for the Mother’s Day weekend. Consider choosing another florist if the business cannot provide answers to those questions.

If they answer the phone with a generic phrase, like “flower shop,” instead of a specific name, ask for the legal name of the business. If they cannot give one, find another florist.

Remember these additional consumer tips, when flower shopping this month:

• Be wary of exaggerated claims in advertisements and marketing. Any business can give itself good ratings or mark up prices so a sale looks like a better deal than it is.

• Ask for specific details about the floral arrangement, like what types and colors of flowers will be used, and how many are focal vs. filler flowers.

• Get an itemized price quote in writing, if possible, before making a payment. Know whether there are extra costs for a vase, accessories, delivery or other fees.

• Check if the business has a satisfaction guarantee. If it does, read those terms.