Gift Baskets???

[katiemegcz]

Hi DJ,

I have a daughter turning 9, so I put the question to her, and here is what I got...

A cool travel diary with a pen. I saw a nice one that is age appropriate at Barnes and Noble, keyword KIDS TRAVEL DIARY. For our last trip I couldn't find the pre-made ones, so I made scrapbook-style diaries for my DD and my niece. This was a big hit. My DD highly recommends it. A fanny pack for day trips. She suggests something with a disney character on it. Lip balm with sunscreen. A sunscreen stick (Bullfrog makes a really effective one-available everywhere) for quick touch-ups. Water shoes. Non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice in a champagne-style bottle with plastic champagne glasses for the Bon Voyage party. Toe rings. Sun-hats.

My DD has a whole list, but these were her top picks...Have a great cruise!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Originally posted by snelsonbrown
My dear Kathy,
NOT that I wouldn't want to sell a basket to you for your little girls, but in all honesty, now this is my feelings ok, I just feel that spending that extra monies for children too young to really understand or appreciate that just maybe sweetie, you should spend it on yourself and hubby - the time will come when these babies will grow up and will be able to understand and appreciate your kindness - spend that extra monies on a treat for you and your hubby - Now that is something to think about ok.
Always
Shirley

Actually, I had thought about that and was hoping to make a "family basket" for my husband, daughter and myself, then another for our friends and their wee one. I figured I had to include something for the babies! Is that possible to do a "family thing?"

Kathy

 

[snelsonbrown]

I want this board to know that I am sincerely and truly sorry for the misunderstanding and some poor service or even rude service or a lack of communication on my shop's side - I fully take the responsiblitity of all that has gone wrong or not done the way I not only expect it to be but as it should be - if you request something - you should get what you requested.
If I could say something else except that I am deeply and not only sorry but embrassed by the problems that have occurred - this I will promise you - I WILL HAVE IT CLEARED UP BY MONDAY or I will know the reason why there have been lacks - I am so sorry that I did not know about this - I have asked many many times on this board if ANYONE has a question or a problem - just call me on the 800 number - that is the main reason I have an 800 number - I don't want to hear just the good stuff, by gosh I need to know when you are unhappy - my husband Norm hasn't been well and I have had to leave the shop on some ocassions, but honest I am there it seems 24/7 and if you can't reach me there, i have also given my cell phone number many times which is 321-508-2246 - this isn't only if you are in trouble here, but any type of problems that concerns your order - I will make it good.
My spanish grandmother always instilled in me from the time I could understand that I am only as good as my name and I have always tried to live up to that -
anyhow please those that have a disappointment or need for me to know something just call me or email me at snelsonbrown@aol.com.
There are very few companies that would go this lenght to help anyway they could to make things right.
Thanks for your patience.
Always
Shirley

 

[KaitlinsMom]

I admire you Shirley for wanting to get things cleared up and taken care of! That just shows how much you care about your business and your customers.

I ordered baskets from your company. And while I as well did not speak with you directly, I did indeed get great service and Wonderful baskets for my DH and DD -


I am extremely happy with the service I was provided with and even more so with my baskets - I will be ordering more for my next cruise!

Karen

 

[ducklite]

Just an FYI, I was going to send a couple baskets, and Shirley talked me into bundling it all into one "family" basket to save on teh port charge that she has to charge. It worled out fine for us. I was incredibly happy with her service and prices, and will definitely order from her again next time we sail. There are photo's of the gift basket and flowers on my


web site

Anne

 

[snelsonbrown]

I honestly and truly appreciate your comments - bad and good - we really really do try to please anyone and everyone - so many are under the impression we do hundreds of basket each month, believe it or not we really don't - our highest basket order has been 15 for one week - we mostly just have 3 to 4 a week and sometimes none so my shop has NO excuse in any way for the few lousy service that has been given - each of you know that I am trustworthy and by now know I am as honest as the day is long - many times I talk my customers down to smaller baskets simply because I feel they are doing too much - each time I can save the delivery fees, you darn tooten I am going to do it and it still be nice, anytime specials things are requested, we travel all over Brevard County and OUT OF THE COUNTY to fill the wish, sometimes we succeed and sometimes we don't - I make all kinds of long distance calls to try to please a customer with their wishes - no I don't mind and no I am not complaining - I have donated baskets to families that I found out were going on a cruise with a child that was on Make-a-Wish simply because I lost a son and a daughter and I do it in memory of Cynthia and Joseph.
I just want you to know that I am very dedicated to each of you - if I depended on this job to make me rich - I would have to find another job, but I love my shop, I love the idea of the wonderful people I have met and most of all the children - they are my "grandchildren" that I have never met - this is just a side of me that most of you do not know - I do not expect anything thing from any of you except for your honesty with me ok - I respect each and all for it and no it won't make me mad - I will just fix it.
God bless each of you and know I do care.
Hugsssssssss not only from an old conch, and IT IS FINALLY WARM IN FLORIDA
with love always
shirley

 

[BSDolk]

I was the one who posted yesterday about the unfriendly and nonhelpful service I received from "The Perfect Gift". Just wanted to let everyone know that Shirley emailed me right away and asked me to call her. I did and she said she'd take care of the situation and personally handle my gift baskets. Thanks Shirley for your quick response and great handling of the situation! It's nice to see that customer service is still alive and well at certain establishments!!

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

I want to have a basket for my 2.5 and 5 year old DS's for our Halloween cruise.

I have already thought about the sand buckets/shovels and sand toys, some water toys, blow up beach ball, some of those "squish" H2o balls, juice boxes and snacks, coloring books and crayons and something for Halloween.

Any other suggestions would be wonderful!

Tiff

 

[westjones]

I was just thinking, it would probably be a lot easier to carry off 'tote bags' of goodies for my kids than baskets when the cruise is over.

Shirley, do you ever do Disney Tote bags with goodies for kids? (really want a Disney theme since we are on the Disney Cruise after all).

DJ

 

[aprilgail2]

I ordered a basket from Shirley for my mom for our cruise last May and she loved it.....even before I had ordered the basket I had posted that we were taking my 14 year old godson Matthew who had cancer on the cruise with us and Shirley private messaged me and she wanted to send him a basket for our cruise. I thought that was such a nice gesture from someone that didn't even know us! Matthew never made the cruise with us, he passed away in April but I will never forget that Shirley was going out of her way to make the cruise a little more special for him.

 

[snelsonbrown]

Yes we do have the cutest and durable tote and zipper bags - they came in about a month or less ago - I love them - the background looks like fireworks with the numbers of 2003 in 4 wild colors - it has Goofy, Donald, Pluto, Mickey and of course Minnie in her cute and posing position next to Mickey - it has written on the bottom oh my gosh the title escapes me (my brain cells have quit holding hands), but I know it has Something Dreams with Mickey's face and famous ears in white and gold - I love it - it can be used as a beach bag, school bag, look what I got bag - heck has a lot of use - heavy blue material - we can put just about anything in it since it is 18X18 inches -Tiff yes sweetie we can help. Just call me at the shop and see what we can do - just always have a budget and stick to it -
As halloween gets closer, I will have something special I hope by then for not only the children of the cruisers, but those that I go see at the hospitals that I believe will be cute and hopefully not expensive -
Anyhow glad the above subjects are closed that I ranted on about - guess I am just a little tired

Meanwhile everybody have a great day of rest tomorrow.
Take care and God bless
Always
Me

 

[katiemegcz]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It is so touching how special people seem to find us when we least expect it. Really gives you hope for the world!

I'm cruising in March, and celebrating 10 wonderful years of marriage, to a man who saw me through cancer and more. I'll be ordering my basket this week, and hope to meet the famous Shirley!

Have an incredible time on your cruise...

 

[Ashley24]

Shirley,
Thank you for being such a wonderful person who offers to help in any way possible! You definately go out of your way to make sure everything is magical for our vacations and that is a rare thing now-a-days! Thank you for being so special! I was the one who posted earlier about my message not making it on the card. I feel bad about the service reflecting on you because I know that if you had personally prepared the basket, that all would be perfect...and then some!
Thanks again!
Ann