This is my e-mail to bakery:

Hello, I was wondering if [insert bakery name here] had any flower spikes that they could sell? I've been looking for them at different places but no one has any. If you'd get back to me w/ a price for a dozen, I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you,
Nick [Insert Surname]

Their response:

Hello Nicholas,

We are able to get you fresh flower spikes @ .75 each. If you would like to call us ahead of time we would be happy to get them together for you to pick up.

Sincerely,
[insert bakery name here]


I'm guessing since I told them that there's no one else, they beefed up the price. Is that the case? I feel their price is way too high.

Wilton sellls a dozen for less than $3. Should I tell them that I think it's too high? I've done business w/ this bakery before.

just use drinking straws.

nglez09, that does sound high. Have you checked with your local florist? They use them all the time and might be willing to sell them to you.

No, I haven't called the florists, but I think I'm going to have to. Though most of the florists in town don't even know what year it is, if you know what I mean. . .

JoannB, I don't know that I can use drinking straws. The tulips will wilt if they are not given water, won't they? And I don't know how I'd be able to stick them into the cake without ruining it. I haven't found any tutorials and it seems difficult.

Tulips will not hold up without water! And they may not up hold up very long with water. You may have to wire them to keep them from flopping over. I don't know if you've ever noticed that roses (and other flowers) are usually wired to keep them straight when the are arranged in a vase or a bokay.

Do you know how I'd wire tulips?

But should I tell them that I think their price is too high or just suck-it-up?

I have some if you want to come get them

I couldn't help myself I'm easily amused

I'm assuming that if the issue is to be able to water the flowers, ideally you'd want the floral tubes that have rubber caps on them so that the water stays inside. Here's a link to show what I mean (and if this is what the bakery wants to sell you, yes, .75/ is a rip-off). In that case, I'd think that a florist might give you a much better deal.

http://www.afloral.com/Floral-Supplies/Water-Tubes-and-Picks;jsessionid=ac112b6c1f43d501f787d20a445389ddc5440b3a84e2.e3eTaxiMa38Te3yTbheTaxaQbi1ynknvrkLOlQzNp65In0


The Wilton spikes that I have are just white plastic with no top--I'd think it could get messy with heavier flowers, but perhaps a little piece of tape or saran wrap around the top & stem would add a bit of insurance.

Just my .02
Rae

call your local florists and see what they can offer you. Then if nothing else grab what you need fro this place this time and in the mean time find else to find these at a decent price.

I am wondering if the florist tube will be too large and poke too bif of a hole? I think the Wilton is smaller. You would have to add them last min because they don't have tops.

Wow, those are really cool (the ones from the cap). I'll call a florist right now.

Should I ask for "flower spikes" or "aquapicks"? The florist workers that I've talked to seem to be the sharpest . . .how does the saying go? The sharpesst knife in the drawer? Wow. . .now I feel like that!

the people you talk to in a store are trying to make a living. It isn't necessary to continue to be insulting. At 16, you probably don't know everything, either.

They are fairly good size however, they have to be big enough to put a tulip stem in and still have room for water. How many are you putting on the cake and what is the placement or design? I thought in your previous post you were going to go with gumpaste...did you change your mind?

I wouldn't bother putting wire on the tulip. The tulip stem is very fragile and hollow so a wire wouldn't do much good, it most likely will just shred the stem. I personally never had to wire a tulip or a rose when I was a floral designer. I did have to wire gerbera daisy's, which was a pain, and they have more of a woody stem. I would get the water tubes from a florist, we used to charge 50 cents a piece for them. I would be sure to keep your flowers refrigerated until the very last minute. If possible keep them in a fridge away from fruits and veggies because these give off gases that make the flowers open faster. Good Luck.

They're a bakery, not a supply shop. They're doing you a favor and they're charging for the service.

If you don't like that find another vendor.

I don't see where the bartering comes in?

Why not just get the Wilton ones (at hobby lobby, Michael's, etc...)?

" It isn't necessary to continue to be insulting. At 16, you probably don't know everything, either."

Mybe YOU could head that advice....... she wasn't talking to the store...she was talking to her "FRIENDS"........

Mybe YOU could head that advice....... she wasn't talking to the store...she was talking to her "FRIENDS"........[/quote]

i second that - i didn't even realise the op was 16

I thought HE was only 15?

and if 'he' is 15, I didn't see a reply saying he sent a rude email to the bakery. that would have been immature. Or did I miss something??

I dont' want to hijack the thread (too late) but repeatedly bashing another vendor isn't very 'friendly'. The original question was about buying flower picks.

I'm sorry I sounded insulting to some of you; I wasn't trying to be nor do I think I was or in any way attempted to be.

Wow, this thread seemed to get off subject a little. nglez you did not sound insulting at all, at least from how I read it. no sorry needed