Many recipients of flowers sent anonymously on Valentine's Day will be desperate to find out who sent them - but Dunedin florists are sworn to secrecy.
Simply Flowers by Donna owner Donna Thornton said she once had a woman spend three hours in her shop trying to convince her to reveal who sent her flowers.
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‘‘The thing is, you can't say anything. I've actually had to ring the customer who sent them and ask for permission. People get really angry and upset, but it's a confidentiality thing.
‘‘I don't know why you would want to be anonymous when you're spending the money on flowers. Maybe they are scared of rejection. I don't know,'' Ms Thornton said.
Flowers on Mornington owner-operator Samantha Chilcott said whenever someone placed an order and did not want to sign the card she would ask what they wanted her to do if the recipient asked her who they were from.
‘‘They'll either say yes or no - if they say no, I won't tell them. I've been semi-caught out in the past. I have been tricked by jealous girlfriends and things, ringing and making up stories to find out who sent them.
‘‘I don't know what the law is about it, but it is a privacy thing. A lot of them say they hope the recipient will know who they are from - sometimes they don't, which can be awkward,'' Miss Chilcott said.
Miss Reid Florist owner Patsy Murphy agreed that it was best to ask the customer sending the flowers what to do if the recipient started asking questions.
‘‘I don't like stressing people, so I do ask the person sending the flowers.
‘‘You might get a girl who fancies two blokes and doesn't know who sent the flowers.
‘‘You do get some that are quite concerned that they know who sent the flowers. That's when it gets tricky but I can't tell them.
"Sometimes, with things like online orders, you don't even know who sent them,'' Mrs Murphy said.
Ms Thornton said when customers wanted to include a message, some needed more help than others.
"Some go as far as asking me what they should write in the card. I find that really funny. Some guys get really embarrassed coming into a florist, but we try to make them feel comfortable.
‘‘We do blokey stuff as well so girls can get something for them. I did one with a fishing rod and lure. I've done one with an army hat. We can do whatever they are into.''
