Delta Floral

Issue No# *** Revdex.com Jefferson StSE Ste AAlbuquerque, NM Gentlemen: In response of your letter received Oct17, Delta Floral has been in business since We purchased this business in with the basic realization of small business in rural Agricultural
Western Colorado is the building of strong Personal Relationships, Exceptional Service and Fair business practicesWe at Delta Floral are proud of the fact that by public acclamation we meet and exceed these standardsThroughout these past 25+ yrswe have had a positive business relationship with *** *** and the *** familyOn the date and transaction in question: The family gathered around picture guides at the sales counter and selected the following tributes1) A Full Casket Arrangement2) A large Solid Heart easel arrangement(All Red Carnations w/White Roses)3) A large Cross Memorial easel arrangementInitial specific requests were made as follows: I) Use only White with touches of red colors, 2) Use only Carnations, no other flowers3) And No GreensUpon these specs, Staff began observation and explanation that Greens and Foliage serves to emphasize and frame floral tributesAnd, that the use of Carnations Only would, while good in theory, visually, make tributes Very mono-chromaticEspecially when limited by color restrictions (mainly White w/some red)At this time the family was shown white Floral Premium Fuji/Deli Star tm., To add and give expansion of textureThe family very enthusiastically approved the use of the more expensive Deli Stars and greens in the tributesAs Staff (Co-Owner/Master Designer) began to account and formulate cost, Mr*** (complainant) stepped to the counter and in a brusk manner said, "can you do all three items for $1,000.00? Although this was less than what we would normally charge for these pieces, (considering Mrs***), we agreedAfter the agreement, the family then asked to place ribbons with script on the pieces to include: 1) Wife, 2) Mother, 3)Grandma, 4)Great GrandmotherWith the understanding that the price would need to incorporate this cost as wellAll tributes were built by the same Staff (Co-Owner/Master Designer) who consulted with and took the *** family orderShe is an accomplished professional and is very articulateShe takes great care to ensure the best quality of floral art for allIn addition, we often have requests for pictures of the products and those can be supplied upon requestAll floral tributes were delivered to TFS Chapel at appropriate time and date (8-21-1.5) for viewing/visitationArriving at TFS before 4:00pm, Tributes were placed and I remained close, greeting most of the family including sharing their comments and compliments concerning the floral tributesI stayed in the proximity of the Chapel for approximately minutesI observed, during this time, many friends and most of the family draw close and look at the tributes then nodding to me in approvalIf there was a difficulty or complaint this was the appropriate time to express it and afford a satisfactory solutionThere were noneOnly complimentsMonday Aug24, I took a call from Mr*** (complainant) at which time he began a minute monologue complaining about the floral workThree specific times I interrupted to ask: "Sir, how can I accommodate you? What will Satisfy you? The First two times Mr*** just continued to complain, and, Yes, I felt at several times during this one-sided conversation being pressed, He asked, "Are you on Facebook?" "Are you a member of Revdex.com?" Upon the third time I interrupted to ask: "Sir, how can I accommodate you? What will satisfy you? Mr***, remarked: "A $refund!" At this point I realized exactly what the aim of this call and complaint was: "To Bully a small town proprietor to cut the bill in half." To this, I responded simply and matter of fact: "that is unrealistic, think this conversation has ended." Following is Full Retail Value for said Tributes: Complainant Paid: $1,Total Casket Piece Tribute: $ Lg Solid Heart Tribute LgCross Tribute Delivery Sales Tax TOTAL $ Respectfully SubmittedRuss T*** Owner/Delta Floral

Revdex.com7007 Jefferson St. NE Suite A Albuquerque, NM 87109 Re: ID#[redacted]- Delta Floral Subject: Response to Delta Floral reply to referenced complaint Revdex.com: In response to Delta Floral's reply provided by Russell, owner, these are the facts along with comments regarding his disingenuous statements and other falsehoods. >I saw no public acclamation displayed in his store regarding his business practices. >A breakout of the prices by item was never provided to me, verbally or in writing, evidenced by the receipt previously provided to the Revdex.com. >As to the price breakout, we did not order nor receive a large heart, nor a large cross arrangement. They were both regular size or smaller than the large heart base that was shown to us. We did not go with the large arrangements because Delta Floral did not have the large cross "foam base". Foam may not be the proper description of the base material. We wanted uniformity in height and went with the shorter arrangements. >Our primary focus was on the casket arrangement which we wanted to cover as much of the casket as practicable. One would think this would have reflected the most expensive price on the price breakout. >We did not request only carnations. No way, when you are paying $1,000 for three flower arrangements. >We did not request no "greens". But we did discuss minimal "greens", thus the discussion of "fillers". >Mary, co-owner and master designer, was the one that first suggested the ribbons with script. This was not "after any agreement". It was part of the on-going discussion and began long before Russell came into the store area. >"Fillers" was a term Mary first used and the description Floral Premium Fuji/Deli Star was never mentioned. Mary did show us what a "filler" looked like and I did say to use them to fill in open green areas as needed, not to incorporate them into the primary design of the arrangements. >We were not given the price of the "fillers". For an item to have a premium price associated with it and to then conveniently omit the cost associated with that item from a cost breakout simply can not be considered a good business practice, even done after the fact. >The availability of pictures of our arrangements was never mentioned, nor offered as a service. >Russell implies that he knowingly gave a 35% discount because of his past business relationship with [redacted]. Russell never mentioned this relationship with [redacted] during our visit and he never mentioned offering a discount because of that past 25+ year positive business relationship. > During the past 25+ years my wife and I have made in excess of 30 trips to Delta, purchasing flowers each trip for various reasons. [redacted], nor her husband has ever mentioned, let alone recommended Delta Floral to us. >As to the arrangements being displayed at the appropriate time, most of the immediate family members arrived at the chapel between 4:45 and 5:00 p.m. These tribute arrangements had not yet been displayed. A family member approached chapel staff and was informed the arrangements were enroute arriving shortly after 5:00. The arrangements were then displayed according to our request. None of the family members present at Delta Floral that were aware the arrangements were in excess of $1,000 were satisfied with the arrangements. There was in excess of 100 family members present for this Rosary, most from out of town and most not knowing the arrangements were in excess of $1,000. It is totally disingenuous to state most family members nodded approval and expressed compliments. Hardly any would even know who Russell is, if any, other than those that went to Delta Floral . Any reasonable person would also disagree that a grieving family attending a Rosary would find this an appropriate time to discuss complaints or dissatisfaction regarding flower arrangements. Just a reminder, our complaint is that we did not get what we paid for, not that the arrangements as displayed were not done professionally. >As to the August 24th phone conversation, it began with Mary answering and after I expressed disappointment in the arrangements for the price we had paid she put Russell on the line. Russell and I had a two person discussion. There was not a 22 minute monologue. Russell went on about his ethics and public acclamation. His supposed "Sir, how can I accommodate you?" was simply "what do you want?" The first time I stated I want what he considers to be fair. That was when he indicated for the first time that he had given us more value than we had paid for. I'm sure I said something to the effect of how that was possible. He asked a second time what I wanted. I repeated what ever he considered fair. Just prior to completing our discussion I asked Russell if he was a member of the Revdex.com. He refused to answer and when I informed him I would be filing a complaint with the Revdex.com this was when he made his "are you threatening me" statement. He then asked what amount of refund I wanted. This I took as a set-up for when I did file the complaint. If I did not state an amount he would be able say he was more than willing to "accommodate" me, but that I wouldn't provide an amount. Of course I protected my-self and knew that was a risk also. Russell is obviously a savvy small business owner in rural Agricultural Western Colorado. I did state $500 which was based on a family member (whom he disparaged during our discussion) who has lived in Delta over 50 years and has done business not only with Delta Floral but most other florist businesses in Delta. It was her opinion that these arrangements should be in the neighborhood of $500. Thus my refund amount. This person also personally went to Delta Floral and complained on August 24th prior to my phone call. >Russell is also disingenuous in that no one is going to listen to a 22 minute monologue when all they have to do is hang-up had that been the case. He is also disingenuous in that if he had felt bullied he certainly would have hung up. >He was also disingenuous in stating I in a brusk manner paid the $1,000. I can assure you I would never give any business $1,000 in cash for an advance payment transaction that necessitated a payment be made in a brusk manner. Though few in number, there were other floral businesses available. We had left Delta Floral feeling good about what we were to receive. I know that the Revdex.com is powerless to do anything and I accept that. However, I do ask that all communications regarding this complaint be publicly posted. And I give full permission to use my name and my communications in their entirety. Thank-you for your consideration, [redacted]