Does this sound strange to you?

Today i went to my florist to make a payment on my wedding flowers. I asked for a copy of my owner and all the recipts so I could have a copy for my personl reconds, and to show my mom who is helping to pay for the wedding. She said I could not recieve these things until my order is paid in full, which won't be for awhile, and then she got an attitude with me, by saying something like" If you would pay this off sooner you can get it then". I am very upset because I've been really nice to this lady. The only reason we went with this flower shop is because my finace kept her son from being beat up in high school, and we thought she would give us a good deal. My mother and I are very upset, and we are seriously considering switching to a different florist, and launching a complaint with the BBB. I was wondering if anyone had a simlar experiance like this when planning their wedding.

Does this sound strange to you?
Personally, I would start looking for someone else. There's no reason to work with this woman, and she should be competing for your business (not scolding you because you aren't meeting her guidelines).


Any reputable business person would give you a receipt for a payment received, regardless if the payment was made in full or not. Skip the BBB complaint... my experience has been that they never do anything about it anyway. A better course of action would be to find one of those phone book review things online and give her shop an honest review based on your experience. That would hurt her more, anyway, since today that is what more people will see.
Reply:That is very strange. You need to call and ask what the big deal would be or ask to speak to a manager.





For MY personal records, I take my digital camera and take pictures of everything that is signed and of the person signing it. They think I'm crazy at times, but I refuse to get screwed out of well earned money.





Call them back and let them know you aren't happy and either need to figure out a way that suits you, or you can take your business elsewhere.
Reply:It sounds VERY strange to me, and very suspicious. Definitely not a good business practice to not give a customer a receipt when they ask for one.





I would go back there, and basically tell her that you NEED a copy of your order and the contract that you have with their business, and that you need receipts for every payment you've made. You have every right for those things, and if you don't get them, I would seriously cancel the order, find another florist, and file a complaint with the BBB. Go back there tomorrow or Monday, ask to speak to the owner (if that's not who you've been dealing with), and tell him/her to either produce receipts and a copy of the order, or consider the order cancelled.





You might want to check out another florist anyway. Good luck!





There are alot of businesses, who sadly, try to take advantage of brides and grooms while they're planning their weddings. You need to safeguard yourself against fraud. Documentation is your only way to do that.
Reply:Hmmm! You say the only reason you went with this florist is because you thought she would give you a good deal--not because she does good work? Do you think she knows that and is a bit offended? That you think she should be obligated to you because your fiancee' did a kindness for her son?


Perhaps that might be the reason she isn't willing to be more accommodating.





Of course, you do have a right to a written receipt for money already paid--and if you have a contract, you have a right to a copy of that, as well. But your approach might have been a bit on the heavy side and this was her way of letting you know that. After all, it seems that you are paying as you go, which is not the way it is usually done--and she is giving you that latitude. Florists prefer to have a large down payment to secure the order, and then final payment just prior to the wedding.





Business is business, so don't give her a hard time. Just because her attitude didn't meet your expectations doesn't mean that she isn't a good business person or an excellent floral designer. If you aren't happy, get your money back and go somewhere else.
Reply:I agree that sounds strange to me. You should at the very least be able to get a handwritten receipt fro the money you have paid, especially if you are paying cash. Not letting you see your order is also suspicious.





Did you sign a contract? If so you need to read it and all the fine print before deciding to cancel.


I would suggest calling her and requesting a copy of something that shows how much money you have paid to date and how much is left to pay, if she can't provider some sort of statement I would let her know that you are looking for other options. Have the contract handy in case she challenges you.





Good luck!
Reply:well I've heard of not getting a receipt until payed in full.but she would've handled it differently,by telling you this nicer,or some places have what they call estimated bill.stating that it could change base on flower available at the time of your wedding.
Reply:Report her to the BBB. And I say look for another florist. If you are paying for work that she has not started yet and you have no records of you paying her ever you are asking for trouble from this woman, who will probably mess you over in the end. This is highly suspicious behavior.
Reply:I can kinda see where she is coming from I wouldn't want to give a receipt until it was paid in full, just to keep the confusion down (she could have gotten screwed out of money before hand yanno?)





I don't see why she can't give you an invoice of the items your ordered w/ prices and then maybe the amounts you've paid so far w/ a balance remaining, all dated and maybe even signed by her or something so her people know you still owe on it. Try calling and asking if she could maybe do something like that for you.





If she's unwilling to work, I'd switch places, people shouldn't be rude in businesses like that because Bride's are already stressing yanno!?
Reply:You cannot get a receipt because by giving you a receipt, the owner is saying that you have indeed paid in full. Since you have NOT paid the full amount, you can ask her for an estimate or an invoice detailing the amounts due and the products to be provided.





Try going back and work this out with her. Depending on the terms of the agreement you signed, you may not be refunded the money you have already paid.





Good luck.
Reply:I would look for someone else and file that complaint. Once you pay money for something, be it a down payment on a house, car or flowers, you are entitled, by law, to a reciept. If she refuses to give you one, take your money and walk. Tons of florists out there, many supermakets will do a decent job if you are in a jam, but it seriously sounds like this woman is trying screw you over. You say you went with her to get a deal and all your getting is grief, something you dont need at this point.


Your wedding is in june, lots of time to get roses, which are in season in North America anyway. If you have paid a deposit to the flowers, ask for it back and go somewhere else. If you havent, give her a quick call to get the answering machine - means call after hours so you dont have to speak to anyone - and just say simply that you've decided to use someone else for the flowers, thank her for her time and hang up.


Since you dont have a reciept and if you have paid anything down, you have nothing that says you've given this woman money, so until she's willing to give you a 'proof of deposit' your not willing to give her anything. So techincally this woman can deny that you've ever given her anything in the first place.


File the complaint and get those roses from someone else
Reply:with my first wedding, i got a receipt with every payment i made, including the down payment with the balance due on them, and i got a copy of the order. i would demand the receipts and the copy of what you ordered or i would demand my money back and take your business else where. there is no reason why she is not giving this to you, very bad customer service.
Reply:I wouldn't buy anything from her. A wedding is big money for a florist. She should be jumping through hoops to please you. I hope you're getting contracts with all your vendors and NEVER pay in cash without getting a signed receipt.
Reply:You absolutely have a right to KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR. This woman is obligated to provide you with a WRITTEN contract that includes exactly what you guys agreed upon. She is also obligated to give you a receipt for the payments you have made. I hope you have a contract. I would get someone else, but you might lose your deposit if you have paid one.
Reply:I'm wondering if she will not supply the receipts since you may be being charged interest for paying over time? Most places I have been to give you a copy of the order when it is placed. That covers their behinds if someone tries to say the order was not what they requested. Not sure what to tell you. If some of your flowers have been ordered already you may not beable to back out and get much of a refund. Talk to your fiance. See what he wants to do about it as he is the one who has history with the family. Also, don't forget that people do have bad days. We've all snapped at someone when it wasn't their fault. Maybe give her another chance? Try going in when someone else is working (if that occurs)


Best of luck!