Remote birthday present Chile / U.S.

November 11, 2021 4:48 AM

It's my mom's birthday this Saturday. She's in Miami —near the airport— and I'm in Chile. I want to have a present delivered. Ideas/tips would be welcome.

It could just be chocolates + flowers, but from where and how? I have Uber Eats and various credit cards. I could join a U.S. based delivery app, if necessary and possible.

posted by signal to Shopping (9 answers total)

I'm pretty sure Walgreens sells birthday chocolates and they are on Uber Eats, but AFAIK, no flowers. I'd probably call a local florist and see what they can do for you. Depending on what exactly you mean by "near the airport," I'd look for a place in Miami Springs or Hialeah.

You could use FTD or 1-800-FLOWERS, but I suspect that you'd get a better price calling a florist directly.
posted by wierdo at 5:00 AM on November 11, 2021

Response by poster: They're in Miami Springs. Can I order flowers over the phone? How would I pay them?
posted by signal at 5:10 AM on November 11, 2021

You should be able to pay with a credit card over the phone. Delivery florists have worked that way for decades. If you're worried about credit card fraud you can either see if your bank offers single use numbers or go through FTD/1800FLOWERS and order on their website.

I'm pretty sure I saw a florist on the circle in Miami Springs last time I was out there, but it's been a couple of years. If not there are a couple close by in Hialeah on the other side of the canal.
posted by wierdo at 5:23 AM on November 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

When it seemed like store-front bookshops were going to the wall in lockdown last year, I phoned the nearest bookstore to my grandchilder in England and sent the owner £100 'on account'. Bookster shared their personal account deets and I transferred the loot. I've just ordered another book for the next bday. We now have a relationship; which required a bit of trust in the beginning. When the money runs low, I'll top it up. I'm delighted. Been ordering flowers from local florists and cutting out Interflora as middleman for 30+ years now.
posted by BobTheScientist at 9:22 AM on November 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

I do this all the time. Use google maps to find a good florist near her house and call them directly. Describe what you want and price point and they’ll deliver.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:19 AM on November 11, 2021

Response by poster: Thanks for all the answers. Calling on the phone is stupid expensive, so I'll just go online, thanks.
posted by signal at 1:50 PM on November 11, 2021

(just a phone observation, Skype is the app for calling to remote phones, lowish fees most countries and the only one I know that works from an online or wifi phone to landlines or cell phones)
posted by sammyo at 3:50 PM on November 11, 2021

Response by poster: Thanks for that sammyo. I ordered online, but am using Skype to follow up.
posted by signal at 10:39 AM on November 12, 2021

Response by poster: Just as a follow up: we ended up getting a Bday cake + box of chocolates from Romanicos Chocolate (on Coral Way). My mom was thrilled, there were a bunch of cakes (she had 4 sisters of hers there), but ours was by far the fanciest.
posted by signal at 7:17 AM on November 19, 2021