This letter is regarding my recent experience with a local florist. While there will always be times that things don't work out exactly as you may wish, this is the first bad experience I've had where I've actually taken the time to write the local paper. The following is a brief explanation of what happened.
My fianc and I are on a very limited budget for our upcoming wedding in Fenwick Island this September. After a number of other florists were booked, we found South Pacific Florist in Rehoboth Beach.in May my parents and I went to check out the store. When we arrived the owner, Robert, was incredibly short with us and said the only way we'd be able to move forward would be to reserve our wedding date with a $500 deposit. We agreed to put the money down without even speaking about our event to ensure the day was booked.
When we went back to the store for our first consultation, Robert said he was tired and didn't seem eager to sit through a lengthy talk about our wedding. A few days later he sent us the proposal and it was unfortunately outside of our budget. I emailed Robert to say we couldn't afford all he had quoted asked if we could possibly scale down the centerpieces. He said I'd be hard pressed to have anything of quality in my price range, but to call and we'd discuss over the phone.
During the phone conversation, he seemed appalled and aggravated that I would want to edit his ideas. He rudely informed me that his price sheet had prices for a reason and he could not go any cheaper if I wanted quality. I asked if it was possible to have loose flowers delivered and I would arrange myself. He was not happy to do this but that if that was all I could afford he would.
After coming to a resolution, I told Robert that my mom would call to coordinate payment arrangements. When she called to discuss final payment, he informed her that he wanted full payment in advance unlike any of the other vendors we are working with. My mom told Robert that she was surprised by his payment terms and he became very annoyed and ended the call. Robert then called me and left a voicemail saying that he has decided to NOT provide flowers for my wedding and he'd give a full refund of my deposit since he doesn't want to do business with people like that (I still have the voicemail saved). He ended the unprofessional and rude call by saying good luck finding a florist. I believe was taking a shot at the fact that I had only 5 few weeks to do so. Robert was incredibly condescending, arrogant and unprofessional.
Rehoboth Beach is a beautiful place with great locals and we have had the pleasure of working with a great group of people otherwise for our wedding: Nage Catering, Angie Moon Photography, Marci Urgo Make-up, Make My Day Event Planning. The common thread with the other vendors was that they are willing to work with a budget, did not in the least bit belittle me or my family and are just nice people providing a service in something they love, in short everything Robert from South Pacific is not.
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