This Mother’s Day, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning consumers to be on the lookout for unscrupulous florists placing bogus listings online, and in local phone directories.

If a consumer mistakenly calls one of these companies they’re transferred to an out-of-area telemarketer who takes the consumer’s order and forwards it to a local florist, while keeping a cut of the sale for themselves.

In past years, consumers have told BBB that their flower arrangement was either never delivered, or the wrong arrangement was delivered. In some cases consumers say that their credit card was charged more than they authorized.

The best way for consumers to avoid floral scammers is to order directly from a local florist or nursery, this way consumers can ensure that they’re getting what they ordered.

“If you’re ordering locally you know you have some recourse if your order isn’t up to your standards,” said Tony Sarah, Manager of Magic Garden Nursery and Landscape.

Sarah said another option for consumers looking to do something special for Mother’s Day is to visit a local florist or nursery in person.

“When you come in you can pick out a live plant,” he said. “That way you know what you’re getting, and there won’t be any unpleasant surprises.”

Here are some additional tips from BBB:

• Ask family and friends for referrals to a florist or nursery they have used.
• Check to see if a florist is a BBB Accredited Businesses at www.tucson.bbb.org.
• If you find a florist or nursery from the phone book, look for a listing that includes a local address. When you call, ask for the directions to the store – if they hesitate or refuse, hang up.
• You can also ask for a guarantee. Most professional florists should have one.

For more tips, go to www.tucson.bbb.org or call (520)888-5353.

Whether you are ordering flowers, shopping for custom jewelry, or arranging for a special spa day appointments for the wonderful women in their life, be a smart consumer. BBB sees lots of scams that focus on holiday shopping, and is warning consumers to proceed with caution before falling victim to a Mother’s Day vender scam, especially when shopping online.

BBB urges consumers to take extra precaution with placing floral orders, especially online. “Not all online florists are the same,” says Kim States, BBB President. “While some people are extremely happy with their online floral purchases, others find themselves disappointed when the flowers don’t arrive on time, or don’t arrive at all.” In 2011, more than 96,000 consumers searched for trustworthy florists on www.bbb.org. Most major floral delivery services are BBB Accredited Businesses, as are more than 500 local florists across the U.S. and Canada.

When finalizing gifts and shopping online, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona recommends adhering to the following:

Do your homework. Before ordering flowers, jewelry or any other gifts for Mother’s Day, check out the company’s BBB Business Review at www.tucson.bbb.org. This is a great way to help prevent disappointment with the product or customer service.

Allow time for shipping and delivery. Check with the retailer or website to be certain that you have allowed enough time for delivery. Make sure that this date is specified clearly and guaranteed when you order. If you order ahead of time, delivery and other charges will be less than last-minute or overnight shipping. Some florists offer discounts for deliveries a couple of days before a major holiday, since that helps them deal with the rush.

Have a back-up plan. Make sure you understand the store’s guarantee. Find out how customer complaints are handled and what recourse you will have if the arrangement is not satisfactory. It’s best to use a credit card when ordering online, because you can dispute charges if the vendor doesn’t come through. Charges made on a debit card are the same as cash and you have no recourse through your bank if there is a problem.

Make sure the business has your information.  When it comes to flower delivery, there are times when delivery instructions need to be confirmed or a delivery driver needs additional directions. Making sure the florist has a call-back phone number or your cell phone to help them make sure your mom gets what you expect.

For more tips you can trust, visit www.tucson.bbb.org.

This Mother’s Day, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning consumers to be on the lookout for unscrupulous florists called “petal pushers,” placing bogus listings online, and in local phone directories.

If a consumer mistakenly calls a petal pusher, they’re transferred to an out-of-area telemarketer who takes the consumer’s order and forwards it to a local florist, while keeping a cut of the sale for themselves.

In past years, consumers have told BBB that their flower arrangement was either never delivered, or the wrong arrangement was delivered. In some cases consumers say that their credit card was charged more than they authorized.

The best way for consumers to avoid petal pushers is to order directly from a local florist or nursery, this way consumers can ensure that they’re getting what they ordered.

“If you’re ordering locally you know you have some recourse if your order isn’t up to your standards,” said Tony Sarah, Manager of Magic Garden Nursery and Landscape.

Sarah said another option for consumers looking to do something special for Mother’s Day is to visit a local florist or nursery in person.

“When you come in you can pick out a live plant,” he said. “That way you know what you’re getting, and there won’t be any unpleasant surprises.”

Here are some additional tips from BBB to help consumers steer clear of petal pushers:

• Ask family and friends for referrals to a florist or nursery they have used.
• Check to see if a florist is a BBB Accredited Businesses at www.tucson.bbb.org.
• If you find a florist or nursery from the phone book, look for a listing that includes a local address. When you call, ask for the directions to the store – if they hesitate or refuse, hang up.
• You can also ask for a guarantee. Most professional florists should have one.

For more tips, go to www.tucson.bbb.org or call (520)888-5353.