Human Flower Project

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Try a Local Florist, or Cash

A Texan sues an online florist for $1 million, for allegedly disclosing his love gift.

We read reports today of a Houston man who’s taking 1-800-FLOWERS, the big daddy of online flower businesses, to court. And it’s not because his roses didn’t open. According to Consumerist, “Leroy Greer specifically asked 1-800-Flowers not to send him a receipt for the cuddly stuffed animal and dozen long stemmed roses he ordered for his mistress.” But the company, inadvertently we presume, sent a routine thank you message to the Greer household. After Greer’s wife inquired about the flower order, the company allegedly provided more than anybody bargained for—a copy of the romantic message.

Now Greer (Mr., that is) wants $1 million from 1-800-FLOWERS for “breach of contract.”

For what it’s worth, we consider the suit a breach of reason. Anyone desperately seeking discretion should be doing business with a trusted local florist. But more fundamentally, we don’t think sending flowers is conducive to secrecy. It’s not just a coincidence that the Victorian Language of Flowers died out. The supposed “secret messages” in posies were either plain as the nose in your rose or so cryptic nobody could tell who on earth sent the flowers or why. As we see it, the gift of flowers is provocative—an overt display. People with something to hide should send cash.