Sandy Postponed - now having issues!

ktbelle09

Due to Sandy, I had to postpone my wedding until May 4 (I live in NC!).  All of my vendors have been very understanding...except my florist.  He JUST told me last week that the money I paid him (in full) back in November was null/void and I now have to pay him a whole new balance for the May wedding.  I am so distraught, this is unbelievable!  He told me since I canceled my wedding, he had to throw everything out that was made for my wedding and so he is charging me a whole new balance!  Thoughts?  Advice?

APodiak

Did you have a contract with them? There should be something in there that in the case of natural distaters / something beyond their control / etc. I would presume that during Sandy they wern't working on your flowers, but may have started. I would at least work with him to have some sort of discount because even if they started working on your flowers they didn't complete the order in full and then throw it out.

If they give you too much of a hard time, maybe contact the Better Business Bureau

good luck!

njdoxie

That sucks.  I understand if they had all the flowers and had to thorw them away, he shouldn't have to eat that cost, but at the same time he also made a profit, when he didn't deliver the flowers. I don't know what the mark up is, but it's not right he's going to profit twice.  At the very least he should be giving you some kind of discount.  If he doesn't, I'd go somewhere else.  No way would I give him anymore business.

ktbelle09

We didn't have a "contract" per se, just a Word document that listed an itemization and then at the bottom, everything was totaled up, a deposit was listed, and the total was listed as due 7 days prior to the wedding.
He is offiering me a "discount" of 15%.... 
I feel like if he had MY -my- flowers made up, he should've told me and then proceeded with telling me he was going to have to throw them out.  Afterall, I paid for them.  Secondly, I've been in contact with all of my vendors - and not once did the florist tell me - "oh, by the way, this is going to be a brand new itemization that you'll have to pay." until last week!! I'm feeling a little shafted here and I don't like it.

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_sandy-postponed-now-having-issues?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:12a0b4bb-8a68-4620-94da-9164d593d19ePost:321cbf11-ffc2-471e-844b-31e6aa23d394">Re: Sandy Postponed - now having issues!</a>:
[QUOTE]That sucks.  I understand if they had all the flowers and had to thorw them away, he shouldn't have to eat that cost, but at the same time he also made a profit, when he didn't deliver the flowers. I don't know what the mark up is, but it's not right he's going to profit twice.  At the very least he should be giving you some kind of discount.  If he doesn't, I'd go somewhere else.  No way would I give him anymore business.
Posted by njdoxie[/QUOTE]

JoanE2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_sandy-postponed-now-having-issues?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:12a0b4bb-8a68-4620-94da-9164d593d19ePost:404e82a8-c20e-4dfd-bb6d-0f4e96647916">Sandy Postponed - now having issues!</a>:
[QUOTE]Due to Sandy, I had to postpone my wedding until May 4 (I live in NC!).  All of my vendors have been very understanding...except my florist.  He JUST told me last week that the money I paid him (in full) back in November was null/void and I now have to pay him a whole new balance for the May wedding.  I am so distraught, this is unbelievable!  He told me since I canceled my wedding, he had to throw everything out that was made for my wedding and so he is charging me a whole new balance!  Thoughts?  Advice?
Posted by ktbelle09[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Why did you pay him in full after Hurricane Sandy?  I'm trying to understand the timeline....</div><div>
</div><div>FWIW, we postponed our wedding because of Sandy too.  Our florist charged us a nominal fee for the flowers that they already ordered for the wedding.  Technically our contract did not cover acts of God, so they could've taken our money.  But I think their reputation with the venue was important.  </div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

bereasonable2

When did you actually cancel/postpone your wedding? The day before? The day of? I would think that most of the cost is going towards labor and not the flowers themselves. So, if the work/arrangements weren't already made, I would think they'd give you a break.

If you have to pay the full amount, I'd just go with someone else. They don't need any more of your money. Be sure to call them out in public here so everyone knows how they tried to d1ck you over.