1-800-Flowers.com Review

I purchased gifts from 1-800-flowers this year because of the wonderful specials they were advertising and their satisfactory past performance.  Trying to be an early bird, I ordered my flowers and took advantage of one of the sales.  The flowers I chose were boxed but "guaranteed" to be fresh; however, when my mother received them, they were dry, discolored, and literally falling apart.  She took a picture of the arrangement and I was thoroughly disappointed in them as well.  Additionally, the boxed variety requires some work on the part of the recipient --  unwrapping the flowers, clipping the stems, and arranging the blossoms --  which could possibly dampen one's overall excitement.  At the same time, I sent another, unboxed bouquet to my mother-in-law in Texas and she was happy with her gift.  Ultimately, I think 1-800-flower shoppers should be wary of the boxed bouquets, particularly on high volume purchase points in the year.