Any fellow Russia posters have recommendations for a florist who sends to Siberia? I was using ASAP.RU but just had a bad experience which they refused to resolve.

Call a local florist. This tends to be the cheapest way to send flowers (or anything else) in most of the world. Shouldn't cost you more than $15 (what I spent on a large bouqet last summer). I wouldn't pay more than $5 for delivery.

The internet and telephone have made FTD obsolete as well. Much easier to call a local guy who can do it for 10 cents on the dollar, compared to what they charge.

So...you're saying i should call a local Krasnoyarsk florist directly?

No, you should call Russ and have him call. His Russian is pretty good now!

How would you pay the local florist? Assuming he doesn't take credit cards, common thing for a lot of small business in Russia. Or suppose you did manage to pay him, how would you ensure he actually performed? What is your remedy for breach and who will enforce it and how? In my opinion without a local on the ground it's a real toss up if you will have any success based on reputation and trust only.

I looked around and found this list.

http://russianwomendiscussion.com/wiki/index.php?Flowers

And one more.

http://www.russianflora.com/cities/Russia.shtml

Credit cards are common enough in Russia now, that shouldn't be a problem. People who pay $25 for flowers in Russia probably have credit cards as well.

If they screw you, you are only out $20.

Maybe in the bigger cities, but when I was in Yoshkar-Ola, and even Kazan and Cheboksari, it was rare to find a shop that took credit cards.

But yeah, you'd only be out a little money if they don't deliver the flowers. Probably less actually, as you could challenge the charge as fraudulent.

My wife was in Tomsk this summer. Only a few fancy select vendors had the ability to take credit cards. Plenty of ATM machines but none of the small businesses like flower vendors were taking the cards.

I used this company alot when my Wife was in Moscow, and she uses them now for her Mom & Sister in Irkutsk.

http://www.russianservice.com/

MANY TIMES DID I SEND FLOWERS TO KRASNOYARSK.
I USED FLORIST.RU
NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM.
GOOD LUCK

Flowers are super cheap in Russia and there's a flower store on every freakin' corner!

I wonder...... is that because Russian men are always in the dog house?

I've tried to explain to my wife that even when I'm in the dog house here, flowers are outrageously priced, and there's no way I can afford to buy flowers every time I mess up. It can only be like once a month or something, come on, we're not in Russia!

My wife has found that Flowers in California are way cheaper than in Tomsk Siberia. In the winter a rose can go for as much as $10 each in Siberia. However, I was shocked to learn that in Sochi during hte summer it was less than 1 RUR. The flowers are especially cheap when you can just pick them from your garden as is the case at my parents home. Costco does a decent deal, something like two dozen roses for 14.99.

I've used this place too in the past, and they were pretty decent. I only stopped using them when I found a local place to go through that was cheaper.

Yes it's definitely all about the location. I was surprised at the amount of flowers for sale in Russian and the price. Of course Siberia in the winter isn't going to be your best bet, but for the most part, flowers are pretty reasonably priced there.

Here, Costco does have about the best deals for "getting out of the dog house" arrangements. (Not that I've ever needed them.....)

Your posting history indicates otherwise! j/k Slim, I expect I'll need to buy a Costco card just for the savings on flowers alone.

Yes, the savings on flowers will more than pay for the membership fee. (Then again, you may not inhabit your dog house as often as I'm in mine.)

I expect to spend so much time in the dog house, I'm considering having a big screen TV, barcalounger, and mini-fridge installed.

In all seriousness, we were driving down the highway a few weeks ago and we saw a place that sells big yard barns and storage sheds, the kind that'll hold your lawn mower and all your tools and stuff, and they had several that were converted into mini cottages and small houses complete with windows with shutters and some even had an upstairs. Elena looked at them, looked at me and said "It's your dog house."

I should be so lucky! How awesome would that be to have an actual "dog house" out in the back yard where you could set up the man-cave with a kegerator, big screen, a couple of lounge chairs and a flushing "throne".... even a bunk to sleep in upstairs on those lonely nights were sleeping in your own bed is prohibited?

Either I need to get in more trouble or convince her that this is a "normal" thing for guys to have.

LOL!


My ex father-in-law converted the garage to a man cave. Completely understandable since his wife is an absolute shrew (which also explains my ex-wife). It's a pretty sweet setup, he's got a small kitchen area, full-sized fridge, a small but comfy cot, one of those camper toilets, TV and lounger, and it's fully heated. Oh, and he makes his own beer, so it's always stocked. About the only thing he needs to go into the house for is to shower.

Reminds me of the Proverb "better to live on a corner of your roof than with a quarrelsome woman." ..... and makes me want to start brewing my own beer.