1-800-Flowers charges an extra $3 to guarantee the delivery of your flowers ON Valentine’s Day, but due to threat of snow, they’re rescinding that guarantee, delivering flowers early, and not telling anyone.

Mike paid for guaranteed delivery service, only to find out that the flowers he ordered for his wife were delivered today. When he called customer service, 1-800-FLOWERS said that some local florists were delivering early, because it might snow tomorrow.

1-800-FLOWERS: Well, there’s not much we can do sir because it’s an act of God.

Mike: Uh, no it’s not. I’m looking outside right now and it’s perfectly fine out. It’s an assumed act of God.

---

Mike writes:

The Consumerist Family,

Just wanted to send along a warning to you and your readers about the practices of 1-800-Flowers (and potentially other online florists) this Valentine’s Day. I just found out that the flowers I had ordered for my wife that I paid extra to have GUARANTEED delivery on February 14th were delivered today. This, for reasons to corny to get into here, was unacceptable. I called their hotline and after speaking to one of their reps I was told that, Sorry but because of the threat of snow in the northeast tomorrow, local florists were delivering flowers today. For my “inconvenience,” I was offered a 20% coupon off my next order. That’s really sweet, but chances are pretty high at this point that I won’t be ordering with 1-800-Flowers anymore so that means nothing to me.

-Well, there’s not much we can do sir because it’s an act of God.

Uh, no it’s not. I’m looking outside right now and it’s perfectly fine out. It’s an assumed act of God. By tomorrow afternoon the roads could be plowed of whatever snow did fall and be completely clear. Why didn’t anyone contact me to let me know this was a possibility? This could’ve been great for Person A, but was not at all great for me.

-Sir this is a very busy time and the local florists are very busy. It wouldn’t have been feasible to call everyone as they’re doing this with a good deal of orders.

Can I have the name of the local florist who screwed up my Valentine’s Day?

-Sorry we can’t give out that information.

Well this is just unacceptable.

-Yeah it is, but sorry. That’s about all I can say.

So beware anyone who might’ve placed a GUARANTEED order with 1-800-Flowers. Your order IS NOT guaranteed and, while polite, their consumer relations center doesn’t seem willing to do anything to rectify the situation. You may want to call and ask them to not deliver your flowers today or discuss with them an alternative before it’s too late. In the end, my credit card was credited $3. Hardly makes up for it but I’m at work and I couldn’t be on the phone all day. I plan on speaking to someone again when I get home.

Upstate New York is already reporting a whole bunch of snow. Mike should be glad that 1-800-FLOWERS is at least ensuring his flowers ARE delivered. However, you would think they would have the courtesy to give a brother the heads up.

Let’s face it, though, it’s Valentines. One way or another, you’re going to get screwed. — BEN POPKEN

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.