One thing you can also ask them about is the smell of the plant. For some people, having a plant which puts out an aroma is the most important feature. I've smelled both subtle and strong orchids, and a strong one can "stink" up a room on a warm day, which could be a good or bad thing depending on one's tastes.
Scott, the owner of White Oak Orchids, is very sensitive to smell and can fine tune a plant selection if fragrance is one of the paramount characteristics.
- Rae