Why do you think people buy flowers? I buy flowers because they smell good (and they are pretty, but for this post, mainly because they smell good.) I expect flowers to smell like ... nothing but flowers! So excuse my "hot and bothered" remarks about my recent experience with a "florist".
On Thursday evening of this week I was hosting a baby shower for my good friend Mindy. I love her and I wanted her shower to be great and for her to feel special. I thought it would be a cute idea to have the soon-to-be-mother wear a corsage.
I wanted rose buds. Little baby rose buds. With baby's breath and blue ribbon since she is having a boy. I had it all imagined in my mind how it would look.
Task - find a florist.
Conveniently enough, there is a florist shop at the corner of my street before entering my neighborhood. I drive by it almost every day. I thought this was perfect! I'll just drive up there, pick up a beautiful corsage for the occasion and Voila! It would be done.
I drive up to the store. I walk inside and as soon as the door cracks open the tiniest bit I enhale and the entire place reeks of cigarette smoke. It was an awful smell. Burned my throat it was so bad. All I wanted to do was turn around and run from the store as fast as I could so the smell wouldn't have time to seap into my clothes and my hair - I hate that! But I couldn't run. The second I stepped inside and had that second to look around I notice how small the store was and the check-out counter was literally just a few steps in front of me with the two store owners standing right there staring at me ready to greet me.
"Hello" they said.
"hi" I said back.
"How can we help you" the man said.
"oh, um...I was interested in a corsage for a baby shower today."
"Great! We can help you with that. What do you want it to look like?"
...
I didn't want to be rude. I didn't want to hurt their feelings and leave because I was about to die from the intoxicating air. I am not rude like that, so I limit my breaths and endure the next 15 minutes of the corsage making process. EGH!
...15 minutes later...
"Here you go ma'm. That'll be $X.XX." the man said.
"Ok, here's my card." and as soon as the receipt was in my hand, I was out of there!
I get home and I set my package down - pleased with how cute it turned out. Then came the test. I thought surely since the flowers were kept behind a refrigerated, heavy glass door that the smoke smell would have no affect on them at all. But I had to know for sure!!
I opened the bag, pulled out the corsage and held it up to my face and inhaled through my nose. I about died! The stench was awful. The flowers were completely polluted by cigarette smoke that there wasn't even a trace of the smell of flowers!
REALLY!?
Who in their right mind would own a flower shop where the flowers are supposed to smell divine and fresh and like they are in a garden and then smoke in your shop!?!? I mean HONESTLY! What were they thinking!?
Oh yes I did - I got right back in my car and drove the 30 seconds back up the street, held my breath and walked back into the shop.
"Umm, I need to return these flowers" I said.
"Is there a problem?" asked the owner
"Yes, they smell like smoke and nothing like roses." I said
"Really?" the man said opening the bag to smell for himself
"yes, really. and it's pretty bad too. Your shop reeks of smoke and I was hoping that the flowers wouldn't after I got them home and away from the smell, but they smell awful and I can't use these." I said
...he smells the flowers himself and then says to me "I can fix that!"
...I had to control the sudden urge to laugh out loud in the man's face, and instead just said..."Noooo, I don't think you can. I'll just take the refund back on my card please." How in the world was he going to "FIX THAT"?!!
I left the shop and I chuckled to myself because I had to return flowers for smelling like smoke. Never thought I would have to do that before. You know that saying "Oh this is disgusting! Here...SMELL this!" Yeh, who's going to smell it after you just said how disgusting it is?!! Ha! Well, take my word for it and please don't visit the little flower shop on the corner by my house.
7 comments:
Good for you Jamie! I probably would have just thrown them away! Way to stand up for yourself!
Gross! Why did you un-private yourself?
Oh yuck. That has got to be one of the more ridiculous things I've ever heard of. And GOOD FOR YOU for returning them! How sad for them.
hahah. you're funny. Thats nasty. I hate smoke! yuck!
What a story!!!! Larry and I both appreciated all of the headache and effort you went to in trying to get the corsage! I would have probably choked with that thing on, anyway, due to the smoke! :) LOL! Larry says the baby could have been damaged, he, he! :) Anyway, we have an unpleasant history with that flower shop, too. When we had James' baby blessing in Dec. 2006, Larry's mom ordered a flower arrangement from there to go in the middle of our dining room table where we served foods, desserts, etc. When it came, it was "tiny"! It was dwarfed by the different platters we had set out for the food. The flowers were not very fresh, and it was such a disappointment!!!! Everytime I drive by that flower shop (Sedge Garden Florist), I just shake my head and wonder how they can stay in business with such poor quality work and the economy struggling the way it is! Anyway, I love you, and the shower was absolutely amazing! Thanks a million!!!!!!!!!
@ Mindy and Larry - sad that you guys have had bad experiences at that shop too! My vote is to never go back! When I got the corsage, I was absolutely NOT going to give them to you because I totally pictured you choking on them after breathing them in! not good! And especially not good for the baby! Sooooo glad I took them back! YUCK! You deserve SO much better than smokey flowers! I hope you liked the replacement bouquet - even though it wasn't a corsage that you could wear!! LOVE YOU!
Way to go, Jamie. I enjoyed reading your story; I'm disgusted by cigarette smoke and find it ridiculous how smokers seem to think nobody notices how terrible the stench is. I'm glad you had the nerve to return the flowers; maybe it will send them a message about smoking that could save their business/life.
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