As Valentine’s Day approaches many turn to online florists for their loved one’s bouquets. The convenience of ordering flowers online may be hard to resist. Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa warns consumers to be very careful when choosing an online florist. BBB gets many complaints from those who have been disappointed by their digital flower shopping experiences. Last year it is estimated that Americans spent $18.9 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts – much of it for flowers. Numbers like that are bound to attract scammers.

Complaints to BBB range from issues with late deliveries to no delivery at all, and from wrong arrangements being sent to unexpected charges being added to their credit cards. The Federal Trade Commission even has a name for unscrupulous online florists – “petal pushers.”

The FTC says that disreputable businesses sometimes place fake listings in local phone directories, making it appear as though they are a local shop. Consumers who call their number are unknowingly forwarded to an out-of-town telemarketing operation. That means an extra processing fee, since this third party in the transaction requires compensation. The telemarketer takes your order and forwards to a local florist. From this point anything is possible – late delivery or no delivery, different arrangements from your order and almost always: extra charges.

Here are some tips to lessen your chance of having a disappointing florist experience:

• Ask around. Check with friends, coworkers or family about florists they have had good experiences with. Nothing beats a personal recommendation.
• Check out the business with the BBB’s business reviews. Look at their history of complaints at bbb.org.
• Find out what sort of satisfaction guarantee and refund policy they have. Reputable florists stand behind their products. See if they are part of FTD or Teleflora, both of which have good guarantees.
• Consider checking with local florists when ordering flowers for another city or town. They will have a list of reputable businesses.
• Order as early as possible. Some florists may offer reduction in price for those who order ahead of the rush.
• Get a specified delivery date. Ask if it’s guaranteed and be sure someone will be present on that date to receive the flowers.
• Be sure the florist has your contact information. Last minute address questions are not uncommon and you need to be able to clarify something with them.
• Pay with a credit card. It’s your best method should there be a dispute later needing resolution.
• Watch out for super low prices. As BBB constantly says, if it seems too good to be true it probably is.
• Be aware of a common scam used around holidays when crooks know many people are ordering things online. You could receive an email asking you to verify your credit card account number “regarding your recent order.” These scammers are counting on instant panic on your part causing you to be less cautious than usual, and resulting in your compliance with their request.
• Don’t click on any links in such emails. Instead, contact the florist independently and ask them if there was a problem.

If you have questions or concerns, contact your BBB by calling 800-649-6814 or visit our website at bbbinc.org.