Alternative Flower Delivery Options

[Boethius]

I love it how you pick and choose what you want from my conversations to make a point    For one, yeah I bought her a "cheap ring", and she's the one that picked it out!  I replaced it with a much nicer one that I sent over with her dad.  For two, yes I did buy her a used phone, to replace the one she's been having problems with.  Why would I buy her a new phone when she is going to be coming her in a couple months and I will more than likely put her on my cell plan, which is Sprint and doesn't even use GSM phones??  Now onto flowers which I guess is a touchy subject for you.  You're right, I feel I shouldn't have to pay $100 to have a decent bouquet of flowers delivered just because she lives in Russia!  It's not about supply and demand, in fact I think the supply of online delivery places is far greater than the need for them, and that is probably WHY they charge so much because they each have fewer suckers like you willing to pay their exorbitant prices, so they are probably working off the principal of selling less, but for more money.  What needs to happen is for the local florists to set up their own websites, and set up a paypal account.   Or some enterprising person set up one website and get together a network of florists to update on that one website what they have available, and NOT charge outrageous prices, and they will completely shut down all these other sites!  That's my point.  You can continue to say your girl is worth whatever, I could care less.  Go buy her a Ferrari if it makes your dick tingle, but I work hard for every dollar I make, and I can make my own choices about who profits and how much from my earnings. 

I don't know if paypal will work in Russia.  I know they won't in Ukraine.  Furthermore, if you ask anyone who has used paypal in their business, you would know that it can be a nightmare, they are known to withhold payments, and if the payments are not disbursed within a particular period, they are lost. 

The problem is not with exhorbitant prices, but with payments to FSU providers for services online.  That is likely why middlemen are involved, which raises the price.  I don't think $100 is exhorbitant, given the levels of providers involved.  A Costco bouquet, which is not arranged or delivered, costs $20-$30. 
 

[steveboy]

Paypal doesn't work in Russia, well you can have a Paypal account but unless you have it linked to a US or UK bank you cannot withdraw funds from it Unfortunately despite Russia having a growing economy , it is famous for having the same mentality as Ukraine when it comes to money.
Stealing it is some times easier than earning it! 

[ML]

. . . but she did not give a f*ck

You mean ever ??

Would she take one?

[jmana]

Paypal doesn't work in Russia, well you can have a Paypal account but unless you have it linked to a US or UK bank you cannot withdraw funds from it Unfortunately despite Russia having a growing economy , it is famous for having the same mentality as Ukraine when it comes to money.
Stealing it is some times easier than earning it! 

I don't know, that flamingo.ru takes paypal.  Now they did send me an email and said they had to call me to verify the order because the bank required it, but it was some Russian dude who called and basically said we can't deliver these today because it's too late in the day, what day do you want us to deliver?  That was it.  Pretty painless.

[JayH]

Paypal is setting up in Russia now-- not Ukraine yet.

[JayH]

To the OP---in a Ukraine city where I was at the time I was everyday customer of market florist.While she spoke little to no English( a match for my Russian!!)--her niece who came to work when not studying was able to help me set up a deal. I left some money with them and emailed instructions of what to deliver-- which was done at Ukr price( cheap and 100% acceptable to me) . When my credit ran out-- they asked when I would be there next-- and gave me credit!! Now-- that was great service and a good deal all round. I repeated that deal when I went back several times.
It does depend of course on developing a relationship with business owner-- and of course going back to the same city!
I baulked at all the website prices-- they are way over the odds of reasonable. You can buy flowers (and pay for the trouble of arranging delivery)and hire a taxi for delivery for way less than half quoted website prices -- so I don't think the OP was being "cheap"here--it is about fair and reasonable. It is in the same category of not getting ripped off by taxi--or in booking accommodation--  fair is ok-- not paying ridiculous is what it is about.

[Isthmus]

In the past I have used Interflora and more recently Flora Queen. Both are reliable and deliver quality flowers on time and as per instructions. I am not interested in saving $50 for unproven quality and service.
 

[lonedrake]

You can buy flowers (and pay for the trouble of arranging delivery)and hire a taxi for delivery for way less than half quoted website prices -- so I don't think the OP was being "cheap"here--it is about fair and reasonable. It is in the same category of not getting ripped off by taxi--or in booking accommodation--  fair is ok-- not paying ridiculous is what it is about.

Exactly!  If anyone likes to pay double the going rate for anything......I have a bunch of **** to sell.....and if I don't have want you want....I will get it

[JayH]

In the past I have used Interflora and more recently Flora Queen. Both are reliable and deliver quality flowers on time and as per instructions. I am not interested in saving $50 for unproven quality and service.

In the case of any misunderstanding--I was getting the crem del a crem of the finest roses--no suggestion that they were not the finest available.  I was 100% happy.


There are excellent flowers available in markets,street stalls  and roadside vendors-some incredibly cheap-- many would not have website connections are only there own mobile phones.

[Isthmus]

Jay, you found a local retailer who will deliver for you. You know the quality.  That is a different scenario. The OP is trying to do this online, without having a trusted retailer in StP. I'm saying that in that scenario he should just use an established online service, it may be pricier but it is reliable and they maintain standards.

[JayH]

Jay, you found a local retailer who will deliver for you. You know the quality.  That is a different scenario. The OP is trying to do this online, without having a trusted retailer in StP. I'm saying that in that scenario he should just use an established online service, it may be pricier but it is reliable and they maintain standards.

understood !!

[Shadow]

There are alternatives to PayPal in Russia that work well.
The difference is that they offer less protection in the way of being able to revoke payments, on the other hand they are more strict in accepting and verifying.
I know of people having a PayPal account on other names of their own. but failed on those services.

Some pretty large and reliable ones:
Skrill (moneybookers)
Webmoney (people can buy cards in almost every city in the FSU)
Yandex Money
Neteller

From the US and Europe they work as easy as PayPal.