BLOSSOM SHOP

Ridiculous. USAA has a contract with FTD for specials on florists and The Blossom Shop is the contracted florist for FTD in Columbia. In February 2011, I ordered two dozen roses to be delivered to my wife at her job for Valentine's Day. When she came home empty-handed after working a 12-hour shift, she said she never received anything. I called the Blossom Shop and they offered no excuse, but promised to deliver on the following day. It didn't matter, the following day was not Valentine's Day. Fast forward to February 2012... I again used the contracted FTD affiliate through USAA, hoping the first time was a fluke. I ordered two dozen red roses in a vase for $70.00 to be delivered to my wife at our home on Valentine's Day. The delivery driver arrived in the afternoon and handed my wife a pot of dirt containing six (6) yellow tulips, and walked away. I chased the delivery driver down and pointed out the error, and he insisted that what he delivered is what I ordered. I produced my printed receipt which described what I ordered and even had a photograph of what it should have looked like. It certainly wasn't six sad yellow tulips. He called the manager of the Blossom Shop on the phone and handed me the phone and the manager was extremely rude. He asked what needed to be done to make the situation right. I told him that it was the second time his business has performed poorly and I expected someone to return by the end of the day with my order of roses. He told me that, "today is a busy day and that wasn't going to happen." I then requested a full refund and his reply was, "I don't THINK so!" Disgusted, I told him that it was his business that screwed up and that my wife was, for the second year in a row, left without flowers on Valentine's Day. I told him I would take care of it in a different fashion. I had to go to a grocery store at the last minute to buy flowers for my wife, then called USAA and explained the situation. They were sympathetic and refunded my money from their end. A LOUSY BUSINESS WITH POOR PRACTICES AND WORSE PRINCIPLES. No excuse. Avoid at all cost, especially if the occasion is important.

With only a month to plan the wedding, I was calling florist's for a bridal bouquet the week beforehand. Not only did the Blossom Shop not raise an eyebrow about the short notice, but they put together a bouquet that was far more than I expected. I initially asked for a simple hand-held arrangement of three sunflowers filled in with a few daisies. I was not expecting much. But they asked me what kind of bouquet and got it out of me that it was for a bride. As if this was a magic word, they sprung into action and the bridal bouquet I received the next day was beautifully arranged with lots of sunflowers and daisies, elegantly wrapped in mint green satin ribbon and secured with a pearl-headed pin. It was beautiful and my daughter was in awe. I could not have asked for anything more had I given them ample advance notice. They did an amazing job and I will definitely use them again.