Friday, June 24, 2011

HB 989 - Governor Perry Signs - Protecting "Real" Local Florists

Texas has passed the Deceptive Floral Listing Bill (H.B. 989).  Governor signed the bill into law on June 17, 2011 and it takes effect September 1, 2011. 

Here's the lowdown:  When you want to order flowers to send to your aunt in, let's say, Bastrop, Texas, you would do a search for "Bastrop florist".  Now, Brenda Abbott Floral Design's website might pop up, but also, there might be other "florists" who appear to be able to deliver to Bastrop, and their ad might even say, "same day delivery to Bastrop".  Weelllll, those are not necessarily truthful ads.  They are deceptive.  Those florists are not even florists at all...they are "order gatherers", a room full of telephone order takers somewhere in a metal building, who have no knowledge of flowers, no florist license, and are probably not even in your state.  They take the order, claim they can fill it, and take your money.  Then they start calling real florists in, for instance, Bastrop to fill the order, on short notice, and for less than you paid for the flowers!  "That ought to be illegal" we scream!  Well, thanks to the Texas State Florists Association and many many complaints from real florists and real consumers, Texas has taken steps to stop this scam!  Wahoo!  Beginning September 1, 2011, these floral scammers can no longer misrepresent their geographical location in a telephone directory, other print directory or on an internet website.  But still be mindful of who you're ordering from!  Best practice:  don't order from the online flower superstores...google real florists in real towns, talk with them on the phone, ask what's in their cooler, don't order by a stock photo!

Brenda Abbott Floral Design....a real family-owned, local florist
1902 Chestnut
Bastrop, Texas 78602
512-985-5359
http://www.brendaabbott.net/

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