World of Flowers & Gift

We sent an employee to this florist to send a nice plant to a customer as an "I'm-sorry-for-your-trouble" gesture. The woman working there suggested our plant choice could be "bought at a grocery store" and the recipient wouldn't care for it... so we said cut flowers instead. So they proceeded to charge us nearly $200 for a flower arrangement! Hardly comparable, but okay, fine. We are a small, family business, so of course I called to find out what all was in this arrangement, to which I was met with the RUDEST, most condescending and snobby woman I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with. I was honestly so shocked by her behavior (read: attack) on me, I could hardly respond -- or get a word in between her sarcastic ranting and interrupting to talk to her other customers. She even intimated that she would just go retrieve the flowers from the recipient (her "very close friend") to get back at me! Are you kidding me!? By the time she hung up on me (yes, you read that correctly), I was in TEARS. All for calling to get information.

In retrospect, I wonder if we weren't taken advantage of, hence her defensiveness of what she perceived as my calling to question the charge (which was not the case, mind you). No matter what, I have never been treated so poorly and am quite honestly appalled that anyone would conduct business in such a manner. Terrible.

I understand florists like to play upon people's sympathy or whatever the occasion may be just so they can simply over price their flowers... but I went to World of Flowers hoping to have a beautiful arrangement sent to my friend's father's funeral. Well, first off, the lady that runs the joint had the personality of a tax auditor. I should have walked out then but I didn't. I had always heard good things. Needless to say, I was very upset with the arrangement. It wasn't anything like what we discussed, it was small and whoever designed the arrangement lacks skill. I was embarrassed. Therefore I will never use this over priced and rude company again. I assume that if you can't spend $100 or more on flowers that they could care a less about working with you. She made me feel as if I was a waste of time.

As one of my functions at work, whenever an employee loses a family member, has a baby or is hospitalized, I have to order flowers, which means that I have dealt with many florists in the 4 years. This was the worst florist ever ! A co-worker lost his dad in Meridian. I requested the flowers delivered on a certain day...they chose to deliver them when they wanted to. When I called to inquire, the lady was so rude. She said who was I to question how she runs her business. I was taught the the customer was always right. She refused to let me speak, she used profanity, and told me she was going to cancel my order and then she said "see what you get then" all the while screaming "This is how we do it in Mississippi", like they are the only state that has funerals! I was appalled by her lack of customer service, civility, and sensitivity to the family of the deceased. No southern hospitality there!