A floral wire service (also called a “relay service”) is a networked system that connects flower customers with local florists. When you place an order through a wire service, the company does not deliver the flowers itself – instead it relays your order to a local florist who actually creates and delivers the bouquet. In simple terms, the wire service acts as a middleman between you and the florist. You might see big names like FTD, Teleflora or 1-800-Flowers using this model

A floral wire service allows a customer in one location to send flowers to someone in another city by relaying the order to a florist near the recipient. The customer orders through an online portal or call center, pays the wire service, and that service forwards the order details to a local shop. The local florist then handcrafts and delivers the arrangement. This system dates back decades and lets people send flowers virtually anywhere, but it can involve higher fees and less customization than ordering directly from a florist.
How Floral Wire Services Work
- Order Placement: The customer orders flowers through the wire service’s website or call center. The service offers many arrangement options and takes payment.
- Order Relay: The wire service sends (“relays”) the order details to a florist located near the delivery address. The receiving florist usually does not know the customer personally – the wire service just gives them the job.
- Local Fulfillment: A local florist fulfills the order: selecting fresh blooms, arranging them, and delivering them on time. The florist does the actual work, but the wire service has coordinated the transaction.
- Fees and Payments: The wire company charges the customer fees (shipping, handling, membership, etc.) and takes a large commission (often 20–30%) from the sale. The local florist is paid the remainder (sometimes as low as 20–30% of the order’s total value after all commissions and fees are deducted.
This relay model means the wire service can promise delivery far and wide without having shops everywhere. For example, the wire service’s website might let you send flowers to Canada, Europe or across the country, even though the company has no flower shops itself. It simply passes your order to a local partner. This convenience is attractive to customers who want a one-stop shop for sending flowers globally.
Pros and Cons of Using a Wire Service
Advantages:
- Nationwide Coverage: You can send flowers anywhere the network reaches. For someone in Plainview, NY, this means you can send a bouquet across the country as easily as across town.
- One-Stop Ordering: The wire service website handles credit cards, order tracking, and customer service centrally. You don’t have to find a florist in a far-off area yourself.
- No Shipping Hassles: All fees (tax, service, shipping) are paid through the wire company, and they coordinate charges to the florist. The local florist simply does the work of arranging and delivering.
Disadvantages:
- Higher Total Cost: Wire services often add hidden fees. Delivery and service fees might not be obvious until checkout. The commission and fees mean you often pay more than you would buying directly from a local shop.
- Less Personalization: Because the order is processed remotely, there is often less room to customize the arrangement. Orders are typically limited to preset designs or options. You may not be able to specify every flower or exactly how you want it arranged.
- Quality Control: The florist receiving the order doesn’t get to meet the customer, so they may not have full information on the desired style. Substitutions happen if certain flowers aren’t available. Local florists worry they must use generic ingredients that fit the order form rather than tailoring the design.
- Delayed Updates: There is an extra step in communication. If the florist has a question or needs to reschedule, they must go through the wire service. This can sometimes delay the response and even the delivery.
Customers benefit from the wide network, but local florists see the downsides. As one florist blog explains, wire companies “often charge very high commissions, making it difficult for local florists to make a profit”. In practice, major wire networks typically take 20–30% of the sale for themselves, which forces florists to work on much smaller margins.
Local Florists vs. Wire Services
When ordering flowers for someone in Plainview, NY (or anywhere nearby), going directly through a local florist like Davinci Flower often yields fresher, more personalized results. Davinci Flower, located in Plainview, NY, is a brick-and-mortar shop with expert florists on staff. We design and deliver arrangements ourselves – there is no middleman. For example, our website highlights that “Davinci Flowers provides same-day flower delivery in Plainview, NY 11803, as well as next-day delivery and convenient local pickup”. Because we have the flowers in-store, we can fulfill orders immediately and ensure they look exactly as intended.

Ordering directly from a local Plainview florist like Davinci Flower means you can specify details and know exactly who is handling your order. Customers who work with us get a dedicated team: our florists can suggest appropriate blooms for the season and can handcraft custom bouquets tailored to the occasion. For weddings and events, we even offer full design services – see our Floral Services page for wedding décor, bouquets, and more. This personal approach also means no unexpected substitutions; if a red rose is out of stock, we’ll call to suggest an equally elegant alternative.
On the other hand, if you use a wire service, the person paying for the flowers is insulated from these details. The wire service may show a picture of a lavish bouquet, but the actual arrangement in Plainview might end up being simpler if the local shop only has limited inventory. Our florists pride themselves on quality and personal touch. We avoid hidden fees – what you see on our site is what you pay (shipping and tax included) – and our focus is on making the customer (and recipient) happy, rather than on paying high commissions to a national company.
Key Points for Flower Buyers:
- If you need to send flowers outside our local delivery area, using a wire service can get your order there – but it comes at a higher cost and with less control.
- If you or your recipient is in or near Plainview, it’s best to order directly from a Plainview florist like Davinci Flower for fresher flowers, better service, and full transparency.
- You can even place orders for Long Island destinations (parts of Nassau and Suffolk County) through Davinci Flower. We cover Plainview, Hicksville, Syosset, Melville, and many neighboring towns davinciflower.com.
Davinci Flower’s Offerings (Plainview, NY)
Davinci Flower isn’t just for wire orders – we have a full range of in-store and online products. Our collections page lists over 300 floral and gift products. You’ll find fresh bouquets, preserved flower displays, luxury vase arrangements, and more. For example, our shop carries dozens of signature bouquets (such as a 33 Roses Bouquet or a 99 Roses with Alphabet Letters design). We also sell candles, décor items, and gift boxes to complement your flowers.
Each product listing on our site shows real photos and prices. Because we manage our own inventory, all items marked “in stock” are ready for same-day pickup or deliverydavinciflower.com. You can browse our Fresh Flowers collection or our Home Decor items – links available through our site. We update the site regularly, so what you see online reflects what’s available. In short, our online store is like a digital showroom of all our in-shop creations. Explore our Floral Services pagedavinciflower.com to learn about weddings and events, and our product collections (fresh, preserved, home decor, etc.) to pick the perfect gift.
Why Choose Local Ordering Over a Wire Service?
When deciding how to send flowers, consider what matters most: speed, price, or personal service. Here’s why many customers choose a local florist like Davinci Flower in Plainview:
- Freshness & Quality: Our florists use fresh, high-quality blooms and can handcraft your bouquet right when you order it. No sitting in a warehouse or long chain of handling.
- Personal Touch: You can call or visit us to discuss custom arrangements. We remember our regular customers and special instructions (e.g. “the recipient prefers lilies”). Wire services can’t offer that personal connection.
- Transparent Pricing: We charge a fair delivery fee and sales tax, but we don’t tack on hidden service or membership fees that big wire companies often impose.
- Local Support: By ordering direct, you’re supporting a Plainview small business. We reinvest in our community (e.g. sponsoring local events) rather than paying franchise fees.
Many industry experts actually encourage customers to support local florists. As one florist blog notes, wire services “act as a middleman between customers and local florists” and often charge very high commissionsappleblossomflower.com. The blog recommends ordering directly from a reputable local store to ensure freshness and fair pricingappleblossomflower.com. At Davinci Flower, we stand behind each arrangement. If you’re not satisfied with quality or service, you talk to us – not a faceless corporation
For Plainview NY residents, consider this: Davinci Flower’s shop (385 S Oyster Bay Rd) is right here in towndavinciflower.com. We’ll handle your order personally, and our fleet will deliver it locally. You can even swing by for a custom bouquet or pick-up gift items. This direct approach gives you flexibility (like last-minute changes) that a wire service cannot match.
Tips for Ordering Flowers in Plainview
- Check Delivery Options: Davinci Flower offers same-day delivery in Plainview and many nearby ZIP codes (11803, 11735, 11801, 11753, 11771, 11791, 11797, 11501) davinciflower.com. If you need delivery farther away (e.g., outside Long Island), ask us – we can sometimes help coordinate with partners.
- Browse Our Collections: Visit our Fresh Flowers collection or Home Decor collection on the website. Each item shows when it’s available. We also run promotions (e.g. 30% OFF storewide) that you can find on the site.
- Use Our Floral Services: For weddings, corporate events, or special celebrations, our Floral Services page details the kinds of decorations and bouquet services we provide. Schedule a consultation through that page if you need custom designs.
- Compare Prices: If you find a flower arrangement design through a wire service, compare it with our offerings. You may find a similar style for less by ordering from us. We often have package deals for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.
- Contact Us Directly: For questions or special requests (like a particular color scheme or flower type), call Davinci Flower at (516) 987-7679 or email info@davinciflower.com. We’ll be happy to guide you.
Conclusion
A floral wire service simply connects you to a local florist in the recipient’s area. It’s a convenient way to send flowers far away, but it adds middlemen fees and reduces personalization. For gifts in Plainview, NY, ordering directly from Davinci Flower is often the best choice. We offer same-day local delivery, a large selection of bouquets and decor (over 300 products online), and a team dedicated to quality. Explore our [Floral Services page] for weddings and events, and check out our Collections (fresh flowers, preserved arrangements, gift items) on the website. By choosing Davinci Flower, you get premium flowers tailored to your needs, with full transparency and hometown service.