Flowers are a popular Valentine's Day gift to woo a loved one but romantics are being warned against online orders, with some bouquets never delivered while others turn up late or dead on arrival.
WA Consumer Protection says there were 42 complaints last year relating to floral deliveries, compared to 20 in 2016.
Nine complaints have already been lodged this year, with most reporting they did not receive their flowers at all.
Purchasing flowers online often means dealing with an ordering company, which then contacts a local florist and courier company to organise the delivery.
Consumer Protection says problems may occur if the ordering service cannot deal with high volumes or if specific flowers are not available locally.
Dealing with an overseas company can also make it difficult to exercise rights under Australian Consumer Law.
Consumer Protection commissioner David Hillyard recommends people visit a local and reputable florist.
"When the flowers don't turn up in time or are wilted, the ACL gives you the right to a remedy, but a refund or delivery at a later date is likely to leave consumers with cold comfort if the flowers are intended for a special day like Valentine's Day," he said.
"Consider dealing direct with your local florist by ordering on their specific website if you can't go to their store.
"If buying online, make sure the website you use is secure, take a screenshot of the photo of the flowers you're buying and keep a copy of the receipt.
"Also consider paying by credit card or by PayPal as you can request a chargeback if the flowers don't turn up."
