If you believe in supporting local business or want flowers delivered on time for a special event, stay away from Ava's Flowers.
When I wanted to send flowers to my new grandchild, I googled florists in the Maine city where he was born and chose Ava's Flowers because they appeared to be a local, family owned business. When I called the 877 number to place the order, the telephone receptionist put me on hold while she "checked with her driver" to see if the delivery could be made to one of the 4 hospitals in that city (also, listed on Avas webpage dedicated to that city) The reply came back "definitely, " so I placed the order. I should have been suspicious when the telephone receptionist asked for a zip code and obviously didn't recognize the name of the hospital.
I was told there would be a confirmation email. When no confirmation email came, I called my son to learn that no flowers had been delivered. I called Avas to change the delivery location to their home in the same city and asked that they call my son's cell phone to confirm they had been discharged from the hospital. Again, no flowers and no phone call.
The third day I called again and asked someone to find out what had happened and to call me back so I could decide whther to cancel the order or continue. You know the pattern now-no flowers and no phone call.
The fourth day the person told me their Internet was down and they would get back to me as soon as they could access the Internet. This time I did get a form-letter email (no Internet?) apologizing for the "inconvenience" and promising to investigate and get back to me. Again, no communication from them 24 hours later.
By day 5, I figured out that whoever I was talking to in this "family" business (it was a different person every time) was not in Maine. I called again and cancelled my order. However, they continued their charade and told me they had "a driver" near my son's home who could deliver some flowers that afternoon. I told them no thank you and asked about a refund.
I was told that would happen when the payroll officer had time, probably by Sunday. I also asked who I could speak with to learn what had happened. I was given the name of a supervisor, but not a personal email contact. Of course, a day later there has been no response to the long email I sent this supervisor.
Avas Flowers is not a local business, and their customer service is non-existent. This is a nationwide scam that should be avoided at all cost.
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