JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With Valentine’s Day just two days away, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning people about last-minute orders for flowers.
The BBB usually gets reports of fake floral scams this time of year.
Last-minute buyers usually can’t find a local florist who can guarantee delivery so they turn to the internet. However, in most cases, the website doesn’t live up to expectations.
Issues include flowers arriving late, being damaged, not matching the pictures, or not being delivered at all.
At the end of the scam, the site and its customer service become totally unreachable.
Here’s how to avoid these scams:
- Research the seller.
- Look up the florist on The BBB’s website to find its rating: You can see the complaints there.
- Also make sure to read the fine print before you buy it.
- Find out whether the florist has a satisfaction guarantee, how delivery works, and what fees it charges for delivery.
- Pay with a credit card because it gives you an extra layer of protection to dispute charges.
You’d be surprised what you can find out about a company by just Googling the name.