Do online flower orders really deliver?

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- If you are looking to send mom a bouquet of flowers for Mother's Day, make sure you get what you pay for.

Eyewitness News ordered four flower arrangements from popular online dealers and a local florist, but only one delivered what we were expecting.

Teleflora was the least expensive arrangement we purchased. According to the description, the Full of Love bouquet is "bursting with tantalizing tulips and radiant roses." The price for the standard size costs $45.95, after using a coupon to save $9.99.

Teleflora responded to our request for comment by saying, "We greatly apologize to KTRK-TV that your flowers did not match what you ordered and anticipated to receive. Teleflora strives to make every floral delivery special and every order according to our high standards."

On Proflowers.com, we chose the Deluxe Mom's Reward that includes 12 fresh-cut pink roses. We paid extra for a vase, bringing the grand total to $62.73 after a $10 off coupon. Proflowers arrangements come in a box for the recipient to arrange.

We reached out to Proflowers and they issued the following statement:

"ProFlowers takes tremendous pride in sending high-quality, fresh blooming flowers - and we do whatever it takes to accomplish that. Some of our customers may not be aware that our flowers are hand-selected and shipped fresh from the fields. We ship flowers in bud form, ready to bloom, so customers get to experience the joy of watching the flowers develop.

Because our flowers are shipped direct from the flower fields, we recommend nurturing the flowers and we include special care instructions. Customers can trim, arrange, feed and water the flowers to ensure a much longer enjoyment. That is how we can offer a guarantee of seven days of freshness.

In addition, when an order is made through ProFlowers, we ship them with the guard petals, the outer petals that protect the inner bud. These guard petals typically are wilted or have charred edges. We suggest removing the outer most 3-5 petals on each flower. It then reveals the fresh flower underneath and the flower opens more quickly.

Occasionally, expectations are not met, but we are 100 percent committed to making it the best experience for you and all our customers. That is why we have a seven-day guarantee of fresh flowers or your money back and are known for having the best customer service in the online floral industry.

If any ProFlowers sender or recipient is unsatisfied with their ProFlowers order for any reason, we will replace it. That is our policy 365 days/year and what our business and world-class quality reputation is built on. ProFlowers has delivered more than 40 million bouquets since our inception on Valentine's Day in 1998, and we will never compromise on your flower's freshness or longevity."

Another delivery came from 1-800 FLOWERS. The Marvelous Mom Medley and free vase cost $67.10 and also arrive in a box to arrange at home.

We reached out to 1-800 FLOWERS about the delivery and they told us "Fresh flowers shipped directly from our farms arrive in bud form to ensure the freshest quality; therefore, they will bloom after arrival within a few days.... As always, we offer a 100 percent Smile Guarantee."

Our final delivery was from River Oaks Flower House, located in Greenway Plaza, where the florists create their own custom designs. While the arrangement was the most expensive at $97.43, it also looked the most identical to the online photo.