For this Valentine's Day, I decided to surprise my significant other with an assorted flower bouquet from a popular florist in Dangwa, Manila. Opting for convenience, I completed the payment through GCash, a popular mobile payment service in the Philippines. Following the payment, I inquired about delivery options, to which they confirmed their ability to deliver directly to my doorstep for an additional fee of 300 pesos. Trusting their service, I sent the delivery fee, expecting them to handle the courier arrangements—a departure from my usual practice of booking the delivery service myself.
The florist scheduled the delivery for between 4 PM and 6 PM. As the clock ticked past 5 PM, I received an unexpected call from a Lalamove rider, indicating he was on his way to deliver the flowers. This caught me off guard, as I had assumed the florist would manage the delivery internally. To add to the confusion, the rider mentioned he was 9 kilometers away from my location, citing an incorrect pin placement for the delivery address. He requested an additional payment to compensate for the detour, attributing the error to me. However, I was certain the mistake lay with the florist for not verifying the delivery details with me.
When I confronted the florist about the mishap, my concerns were met with silence, leaving me frustrated with their lack of response. Upon the rider's arrival, he sought an extra 200 pesos, citing the increased demand due to the Chinese New Year holiday. I discovered through conversation that the florist had paid him only 213 pesos for the delivery—a stark contrast to the amount I had provided, suggesting the florist had retained the remainder.
Despite the day's challenges, the joy on my wife's face upon receiving the bouquet, accompanied by our children's smiles, reminded me of the essence of Valentine's Day. The incident served as a valuable lesson: future online purchases will be under my control, especially concerning courier services, to avoid similar misunderstandings.
In the end, the true spirit of Valentine's Day shone through—the happiness of my loved ones. Yet, this experience has taught me the importance of direct involvement in the delivery process for online purchases, ensuring a smoother transaction and peace of mind.