Reviews of Cambridge School of Flowers (Gardener)

cara p

What a wonderful experience having Elaine and her team design the beautiful floral creations for my son's wedding. Her creativity and collaborative approach provided the bride and groom with the exact vision of their perfect day. :)

Berta Oliveira-Federau (CA)

It's no wonder Elaine has her reviews turned off on her Facebook page, she is a SCAM ARTIST!!!! I contacted her Dec 30/20 to discuss the floral design courses she offered at her "school" & paid $1300 by etransfer for two courses...that was the last I ever heard from Elaine unless I emailed her first, I was promised a confirmation email which I never received and also requested a receipt twice which she never sent. A few days before every class I would email Elaine asking if the class was still happening, what I could bring etc, and I would either get no reply or she would postpone the classes for every reason under the sun. Fast forward to November/2021, her website still states the course dates have been postponed and new dates are to be announced. I emailed her pointing this out and requesting a refund yet again. Elaine's reply to me was that GREAT NEWS! New dates have been announced, in Feb, Mar & Apr 2022!!!! LOL...Course completion 16 months after I originally reached out. (I have since had to invest more money in a legit, reputable design school, signed up in Sept and program completed.) It's a sad, sad day when a local business owner is ripping off other entrepreneurs, brand new to the industry, who are investing every dollar they have and trusting a veteran in the industry to show them the ropes. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE READ THE REVIEWS!!! SEARCH REDDIT, SEARCH BBB, GOOGLE THE POTTING SHED REVIEWS (her other business name), DO NOT GIVE THIS WOMAN A PENNY OF YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY!!!!

crimsonscull

Elaine has built her brand on not paying staff, and has changed the name of her business to avoid being recognized, showing her embarrassment in her own reputation. This has been a trend over the years, and please don't support the exploitation of hard working employees.

Shannon Rolanty

Had originally pre purchased a bouquet making class for the bridesmaids in our wedding party, but covid obviously had other plans. The owner required us to pay in full up front without even meeting. We’d like an answer either way if we can get a refund but she’s decided to ghost us entirely on social media. Cowardly business owner and blight on the Galt community.

G Berlet-Kuehl

Beautiful little shop in pretty downtown Galt! Excellent for gifts, plants and gardening accessories for your home, and workshops. Don’t miss checking out the alley beside the shop that they’ve transformed into a garden paradise.

Katherine Dodd

I had pre purchased a wreath for well over $100 and sent an e-transfer as requested by the owner Elaine. A few weeks later when it was time to pick it up I drove to Cambridge to find that the wreath was not completed and part of the floral had not arrived yet. I understood and Elaine mentioned it would be a couple more weeks. Fast forward to now, two months later and Elaine is not able to complete the order and she offered me a refund. Except that 3 weeks have now gone by with no refund in sight despite repeated messages and being ignored as previous reviewers have mentioned. Last week she advised her bookeeper would be in yesterday and the refund would be processed then. Well, surprise, nothing was received. Elaine continues to lie and misrepresent as well as ignore and I am shocked with this behaviour. Do not trust this shop or it’s owner…. It appears she likes to abscond with peoples money.

Nick Hope

Do not do business with this place.

Linda Vanderkolk

Buyer beware. There are many poor reviews of this business and for good reason. My wife and I drove out to Cambridge to pick up an order only to be told they didn’t have what we had purchased. A refund will be coming they said. Three months later we are still waiting and the owner now ignores us and has ghosted my wife and blocked her on social media. You try to support small businesses and get treated like this?

Doug Ward

Thank you so much Elaine and staff. Everything was absolutely beautiful at my daughters wedding on August 20, 2021. And the little extras you did were so much appreciated

Lindsay Moore

I love the store! Owner is so nice and talent!

Heather Tiede

SCAM ARTIST!! Do NOT support this business!!! SHUT IT DOWN!!!

nancy yang

Elaine, who is the owner is incredibly talented...which is why it's a shame she is such a scam artist and theif. I signed up for a course and there is no mention on the course page of her no refund policy. When I emailed and spoke with her directly she also didn't mention it and was very eager to get my $1300. Due to covid I was feeling nervous about taking the class and asked to cancel and get a refund. The class hadn't started yet (it was supposed to buy I showed up and her studio as dark and after contacting her she told me she forgot to tell me she rescheduled - which is grounds enough for a refund) and I was not informed about her refund policy as its sneakily posted on her contact page. If a customer can fully sign up and pay for a course without being shown the refund policy that seems crooked to me. I have tried for months to settle this in a civil way but she has blocked my phone number as well as all my social media. I've sent her letters in the mail, countless emails. She has just taken what is a months rent to someone like me, and dropped of the planet. Do not work with her and do not support her. I'm one of MANY people she's scammed.

Carrigan Lee

This business doesn't even deserve one star. These honest reviews of Elaine and how she operates need to be taken seriously. I have heard COUNTLESS stories of how this woman has treated her staff, her clients, her vendors, etc. Please, if you support fair, ethical and LEGAL treatment of employees, do not give this business your money.

wendi yates

I inquired about getting a return for my class as COVID shut everything down. Instead of a response I was blocked from all social media platforms and ignored. Very unprofessional and extremely unsettling business practices. As “cute” as this shop looks, do not be fooled. DO NOT SUPPORT THIS BUSINESS.

Graeme MacDonald

What a beautiful shop! Filled with glorious people, flowers and carefully curated treasures. It’s the kind of shop that makes you feel good as soon as you step inside. Do not miss this gem if you are in Downtown Galt!

Mitchell Figueiredo

Elaine changes business names to hide her past. My ex-wife was screwed over and wasn't paid for months of work. From that we learned that she has numerous claims with the MOL. We knew something was up when people started calling for overdue invoices. Don't trust this woman, she is likely to screw you over, as a customer or an employee. Run, do not send/give her any money!!!

Leanne Martin

Scammer at best

Mike Shanks

Runs an unethical business. Prefers cash sales to avoid the tax man, doesn't pay employees, substitutes more expensive flowers with less expensive ones, doesn't pay vendors, moves regularly, changes business name. Stay away. She does not deserve your business.

Paper Fox

Very Disappointed. I love supporting small businesses in my community. I reached out Cambridge School of Flowers on instagram to preorder bouquets of peonies. Elaine asked me to E-transfer her money as i was ordering a week in advance. I sent her the money and specifically arranged a pick-up time. When it came to me picking up the order she decided to close her business unexpectedly for a couple hours. She then did not answer any of my messages for hours and preceded to tell me she would drop my order off at my house. She never showed up, but instead posted herself on instagram enjoying drinks on a patio. I never received my order and continuously asked her for my money back.

Mohan Dookie

Formerly worked for Elaine and was not paid for months. She’s a scam artist. Keeps changing her business name and somehow staying afloat. Don’t trust her.

Ashley Walshe

Don't spend your money here. The owner scams people regularly.

Ethan Bush (CA)

The store is absolutely adorable and has some really nice products. I love that the little alley beside the shop is beautifully decorated. When I went in they were holding a flower workshop, which looked like fun. I can't speak to the other reviews on here, but this is a great flower shop if you just want somewhere to walk around and pick up a few things.

Victoria Dilello

I would rate 0 stars if I could. Elaine Martin essentially stole $4300 from my wife and I and refuses to refund me any of it despite our contract stating I would be entitled to 50%. Won't post the whole story here as its a long one, but please do not give this company or her other company, From The Potting Shed, your business. There are many people just like me who have been ripped off by this con artist. Don't be one of them as well.

Yvette Shanks

Well- it's laughable that 4 years later that I find myself writing yet another 1 star review for Elaine, at From the Potting Shed (AKA Cambridge School of Flowers). In a review I wrote several years ago, I accounted the time in which I was employed by Elaine at From the Potting Shed, for over a period of three years. During the time in which I worked for her, almost every 'payday' was missed or late, and never amounting to the sum of money owed for hours worked. I began working for Elaine when I was 16, and she had a storefront shop on Main St beside the Former Cafe 13. After about a month of working there I received a Facebook message from a woman who had seen that I was employed by Elaine via social media, This women reached out to warn me of her experience, and of the outstanding wages owed to her by Elaine. As a young and naive High School student I promptly deleted the messages and carried on pretending like no one had said anything. A few weeks later I find myself in this woman's exact same shoes with outstanding wages owed by Elaine. I continued to show up to work in hopes of receiving pay-- in addition to feeling a major sense of responsibility for carrying out weddings, as Elaine spent majority of her day spending our hard earned money on Wine at Cafe 13. Not only did Elaine not pay her employees-- there would be random people coming into the store while I was there by myself, demanding to be paid money that Elaine had apparently also owed them. Unfortunately my experience working for Elaine is all too familiar. Her ability to take advantage of, and manipulate young people into working for her 'for free' is not only cruel but also illegal. Elaine preys upon young individuals to take on as staff as she knows they are less likely to speak up about the workplace corruption, and less like likely to quit because of alternate financial support (THEIR PARENTS). I felt compelled to share my full story because it makes me truly sad that Elaine is allowed to own a business and have any responsibility for employees. She has proven time and time again that she is incapable of showing any human decency or respect for the individuals who dedicate their time and energy into making her business look functional. And if you take the time to read this post... DO NOT SUPPORT THIS BUSINESS! THIS NEEDS TO STOP.

Sean

Highly not recommended. Stay away and shop elsewhere.

Dana Dimitroff

I don’t want to get too into it, but just read the reviews. Long story short, like other reviews here, she somewhat scammed us for a decent amount of change. She’s very poor when it comes to communication too (despite texting in front of us during half of our consultation…). Sad because she should be in the business of helping people during an exciting time of their lives! Just avoid.

Ethical Business Report

Elaine is the BEST! From her design work to the tiniest of details you will enjoy an exemplary & intimate experience. She has designed the flowers for both my daughter’s weddings- every detail was immaculate.... this business is cutthroat & there is no pleasing many brides as we all well know, but I can attest from our experience that you will be not only pleased but amazed by Elaine’s thoughtfulness & kindness. My daughter has also taken Elaine’s “Floral Bootcamp” and as a result, is running her own successful event planning & design business. If there was a 6 star rating, I would be delighted to endorse Elaine with that. Don’t be dissuaded by “sour grapes”, we all know the power of Internet Trolls.

Kenrick Dookie

The 5 star reviews are from paid accounts. DO NOT TRUST THEM.

Brittany Harris

Elaine was recommended to me by 2 of my friends who had recently gotten married. She offered a free bridal bouquet with her floral packages and that was primarily what drew me in. I was a little worried with reading some bad reviews but ultimately decided to go ahead. Elaine was very accommodating with the covid date changing process. Thankfully she did not charge us a fee even though we had to change our date 3 times. We were originally a hacienda couple and that bankruptcy got us good …. So we had a bit of a tight budget because of that loss. Our final wedding day was July 29 2021. However, I need to say that my flowers turned out AMAZING. They were one of my favourite parts of the wedding day and I still am so obsessed about them. Everyone was commenting how beautiful they were and that the colours were so unique. I had a beautiful floral arch during the ceremony that we repurposed and put behind the sweetheart table at reception. I had showed Elaine a picture and she literally gave me exactly what I wanted. She worked within our budget, and although we had to move around some things, she made it work for us. My bouquet was gorgeous, and the flowers were all delivered on time the day of. I was so so happy with them. Thanks Elaine for making my wedding flower dreams come true !

MJ Quinn

After speaking with a variety of people from Cambridge and outside of Cambridge, we at the Ethical Business Report have deemed the Cambridge School of Flowers the status of: Unethical. We urge patrons to take your money elsewhere, as support for this business would only support greed and apathy. We also please ask the owner to open up her heart and make more ethically sound business decisions. Thank you and happy shopping.

Patrick Shay

A beautiful garden shop - I was in gardening heaven! Tons of Christmas greenery, flowers and lovely gifts for gardeners - bunny statues, some vintage ironstone, flower frogs and a great variety of terracotta pots to choose from. Wonderful customer service from Elaine. Thanks for a special shopping experience!! Your shop is worthy of "swoondom"????