How to Buy Flowers Online Safely and Spot the Dodgy Sites

Buying flowers online should be a joy! A beautiful bouquet arriving at your door, or a loved one's face lighting up when they receive a surprise delivery. But unfortunately, not all online florists are created equal. Some are outright scams, and others are just deeply disappointing... sending wilted, sparse arrangements that look nothing like the lush photos on their website.

Here's what I've learned over my years in the floral industry (and what my customers have shared with me) about how to buy flowers online with confidence.

The Red Flags to Watch For

Photos that don't look quite right
With AI being used a lot more these days, it is getting harder to spot what is real and what isn't. Many scam sites use stock images that look nothing like what actually gets delivered. Real, local florists use photos of their actual work. You will see similar bouquets on their social media pages, and real people would have commented on those photos.  Often the photos on a genuine florist's website will have a certain style or theme running through them. You might notice similar locations, familiar flowers, or a consistent wrapping style. That's because they're real. Scam sites tend to use images from all over the place, and it shows.

No physical address or local presence
A trustworthy florist will have a real location, a real person behind the business, and ideally a way to contact them directly. If all you can find is a generic contact form and a call centre, that's a warning sign. Search for them on social media, check that their website matches, and look for an "About" section that tells you who they are.

Complaints about bait-and-switch
Some companies advertise beautiful arrangements and then deliver something completely different... fewer flowers, cheaper blooms, or a fraction of the size. Before ordering, search the company name + "review" or "complaint" and see what comes up. You might be surprised.

Unclear delivery areas
Some sites will happily take your order for a rural or regional address and then either fail to deliver or outsource to a local supermarket. Always check whether they actually service your area before paying. If the address you are sending to is rural (like RD1, RD2...) be extra careful. Often those places are far from a flower shop and can't get a delivery sent to them. Unless they live somewhere between Whitianga and Coromandel Town of course nudge nudge, wink wink... ahem... Ivy Inspired Flowers!!

No information about where the flowers come from
Flowers that have travelled halfway around the world before reaching you won't last long. A local grower or florist who sources regionally will always give you fresher blooms.

The Relay Ordering Trap and Why It Costs You More

Here's something most people don't realise: when you walk into your local flower shop and ask them to send flowers to someone in another town or country, they often use a relay service like Interflora or Teleflora to fulfil the order. Your local shop takes a cut, the relay network takes a cut, and then a florist at the other end fulfils the order, often for a fraction of what you actually paid.

The result? The recipient gets a much smaller arrangement than you expected, because the budget has been eaten up by middlemen.

The smarter approach is to do a little research and find a florist who is actually local to the person you're sending to. You'll get more flowers for your money, fresher blooms, and a more personal service. A quick Google search for "florist [town name]" or asking in a local Facebook group will often turn up exactly the right person.

One of the most well-documented examples is Bloomex. While they claim to be a local florist in hundreds of cities and towns, many of those locations simply don't exist. Their product photos have been shown to be digitally fabricated, composites made from the same vase, stems and ribbon rearranged to look like different bouquets. And when they can't find a local florist to fulfil an order at the rock-bottom price they've quoted, perishable flowers get packed into boxes and sent via Australia Post, sometimes taking five days or more to arrive. The results speak for themselves.

Image from a website dedicated to documenting the evidence: flowerfraud.com. It makes for eye-opening reading. They got the photo from a facebook group called Bloomex Sucks. 

What to Look for in a Trustworthy Florist

• Real photos of real work, not stock images
• A named person or team behind the business
• Clear delivery zones and honest communication about what's available
• Seasonal honesty, a good florist will tell you what's in season rather than promising everything year-round
• Reviews from real customers, look for specific, detailed reviews, not just generic five-star ratings
• Locally grown or locally sourced flowers where possible

Why I Choose to Grow My Own

At Ivy Inspired, I grow my flowers right here in Matarangi, Coromandel. That means when you order from me, you're getting blooms that were in the ground just hours ago, not flowers that have been in cold storage for weeks after travelling from overseas.

Every bouquet I put together is made by hand, with whatever is looking its best that week. The varieties change with the seasons, and I'll always be honest with you about what's available. If something isn't at its peak, I won't use it.

It's a slower, more personal way of doing things, but I think that's exactly what flowers deserve.

A Note on Ordering Locally

Whenever you can, support a local florist or grower. Not only will you get fresher flowers, but you'll also be supporting a real person in your community, someone who genuinely cares about what they're sending you.

If you're in the Coromandel region, I'd love to help with your next bouquet. And if you're further afield, I hope this guide helps you find someone wonderful closer to home.

Grown and arranged in Matarangi, Coromandel. 🌸 x Emma