Am I right or wrong? "F U Flowers"

[Connie]

I have to admit... and I'm so ashamed...
I caved and agreed to give TF a "free trial run" again.. I dunno what the heck I was thinking.. :wallhead:
Well, actually, I do ... I wanted to see if what they were saying about my missing lots of orders coming in to my town was true. I won't "SEND" through them right now, so I won't have a confusing bill, and I can actually see if I really am missing business.
Well, it's been a month. I've received 2 orders. Hmmmmm Good thing I don't have any fees to pay!

Kimber, I did the same thing, and feel the same way that you do. I listened to the folks who were saying that the wire-ins helped them use all of their flowers, increased # of deliveries, allowed them to market to recipients, and helped them increase profit. Well, that works for those folks, I'm certain, but it doesn't work when you only get 2 calls, one of which was from Flowers Sent Today and was refused. Also, the second statement from TF included all of their fees, and it took a while to get it straightened out. At least, I hope it's straightened out. Why, oh why, didn't I remember those headaches caused by TF?????? I feel like the village idiot, and surely TF thinks so also. :soapbox: :fdevil:

BTW, we are the only florist in our community. All TF orders coming into the area are being served by ASBs.

 

[Jerry]

Connie, now your stronger then ever. There was a question mark in your head, you took care of that question, now it's time to move YOUR game upward. You do not have to ever look back and wonder, "what if".

Control your turf, control your business.

 

[Kimber K]

Well, Connie... You and I can live in the village together.. LOL
I made the lady swear on her life that I would not be charged ONE single penny during this trial period. I told her point blank that I would not be sending orders through TF during this period, so that I could easily see what it would cost me IF I were actually paying the fees.
I've received 2 orders, and one of those was a direct call for a funeral order that the person REQUESTED our shop and the gal asked if I was Teleflora or FTD... Dang it! I had to tell her Yes, I could take it through TF.

Since the day she called and I agreed to the trial period... here's what's went on. .... I waited 2 weeks for someone to finally call me to set up Dove. During that 2 week time frame when no one was calling to HELP me with that... I received numerous sales calls from TF. One was for the Mothers Day promotion and that girl was sooooo pushy! I mean to the point where I felt she got kinda rude. One was someone calling wanting me to do the website through TF, and then someone called wanting to sell me the point of sale system they use... I finally told that guy.. "You know what, I've only signed on with TF for 2 weeks now. During this time, you're about the 5th sales call that I've received but yet NO ONE has called me to set up the Dove like they were suppose to do within the first COUPLE of days."
I said, "Now I know you are probably not the right person to complain to about that, but does that seem right to you?" He said "No, Ma'am. That does not seem right at all."
Someone called me within an hour. LOL
BUT... I won't actually be in the Dove system til they "update".????
Whatever... :boggles:

Were you offered the free case of Christmas vases? I was, and they haven't come yet either.

OK, now to top this story off..
Last Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, one of the shops in a neighboring town called and asked if I had any yellow roses... Why, Yes I do. Can they trade me? Why, yes you can.
When she comes to pick them up she tells me that it's for a TF order that came in that morning. A dozen yellow roses... but get this.. it's in ANOTHER town about 15 miles from HER. 2 shops in that town and they can't fill it. No yellow roses. So she drives 6 miles to me to trade the roses, then goes back to her shop to make the order and drives another 15 miles to deliver the discounted order... Then she tells me that she also has to drive another 20 miles in THE OTHER direction to deliver a plant for a funeral. The shops in that town are not TF.
But wait.... there's more.
She tells me that she received a TF order for a small memorial service on Saturday for yet another little town about 20 miles from her. Also a plant.. I have an order, a direct order, going to that same memorial service and Mine was $60. She has herself delivering to all these surrounding towns so she had to run all over the place delivering these piddly little orders.
Wonder how much she spent in gas?
Hmmmmm
I think that pretty much cinched it for me. I don't want to play this game.

I've been quietly enjoying my little shop for the last 9 months or so with very few wire ins, no headaches like that... and keeping my 20% of all wire outs, upfront.. WHY would I want to hassle with TF again?

When the trial period is over... I'm done. All my questions have been answered in this first month.

 

[lori042499]

Kimber,

When did you sign up? I don't find you in my directory for nov, jan and feb..They usually do this..They sign people up for a free 6 months 3 of which you are not in any directory. You will probably only see orders from from you flowers and tf headquarters until Jan 31st because no florists will be able to see you in the book. Then when you call to cancel they will try to suck you in for another 3 months saying that valentine's day you wll be in the book and you will be missing all those orders. When I signed up it was a good 7 months before I started to get enough orders to break even with the comp system I bought. Good luck and I am sure you will make the right choice for your business....

 

[Kimber K]

Lori, I signed up in Mid October sometime.
The thing is... MOST shops will be using the Dove. But they can't get me in the Dove system until they update it...
I won't sign up again, no matter how much they beg. They've shown me that they don't really care by it taking so long to even call me to set me up on Dove, and I mean not a single solitary phone call, (supposedly they were having troubles with the system and were waiting til it was fixed?? well, a phone call letting me know that would have been nice.) They didn't send the vases they said they would.. and it's the season for them...
But yet I receive 5 or 6 different sales calls from them wanting me to buy or sign up for something more. Just goes to show that once they got you in... they really don't give a rip about ya! They just want your money. Well, I want my money, too.. LOL

 

[lori042499]

Lori, I signed up in Mid October sometime.
The thing is... MOST shops will be using the Dove. But they can't get me in the Dove system until they update it...
I won't sign up again, no matter how much they beg. They've shown me that they don't really care by it taking so long to even call me to set me up on Dove, and I mean not a single solitary phone call, (supposedly they were having troubles with the system and were waiting til it was fixed?? well, a phone call letting me know that would have been nice.) They didn't send the vases they said they would.. and it's the season for them...
But yet I receive 5 or 6 different sales calls from them wanting me to buy or sign up for something more. Just goes to show that once they got you in... they really don't give a rip about ya! They just want your money. Well, I want my money, too.. LOL

I hear you and yes they do want your money....like everyone else....They work very hard to get evry penny they can from you...Oh, yeah the free case of vases, I had to call and demand those...My rep somehow "forgot" to put it in the system...Keep calling them and squawking and don't let them put you aside. Also call your rep and squawk so that he does something about it....

 

[TOTO]

Re: "FU" = PRO FLOWERS

Received an order via FTD (from you flowers). I used to only get "FUFlowers" from Teleflora, now FTD has them too, but I digress.
I received an order on the 19th for an FTD arrangement. $38.99.
I have a $9.95 delivery charge, plus they wanted 1 mylar for $5 and 3 latex for $1.50 each. That brings me down to under $20 for the flowers. We sent an arrangement that was more than the $20. Now F U Flowers says the customer is unhappy and there were no roses. We explained there was less then $20 for the flowers and we fill to the value of the order.
Now they want to change the amount I get from $38.99 to $22.00.
They think I should have sent them a "ask" telling them that there weren't going to be any roses. I don't have time for this. Every order I get from them is challenged. We do beautiful work! They said they have a picture of the non rose arrangement. I told them to send me the picture and I would discuss it with them after I see the photo.
Boy do I dislike these people.
All this time, energy and aggravation is not worth the $38.99.
Sorry for going on an on.
What should I do?
Sharon:wallhead:

Dear Sharon:

FROM YOU FLOWERS located in Old Saybrook, CT, is a cloaked OG for PRO FLOWERS and with the BLESSINGS of both TELEFLORA and FTD. (oh my)

In other words, when SLOW FLOWERS requires SAME-DAY-DELIVERY because the DROP SHIP FROM THE FARM can't cut it, they go back to DA FLORIST to fill their needs.

That's reason #1 why you should not fill any orders for your LOW END OG competitors.

Reason #2 is the problem which you are having to deal with now and after THEIR HORSE is OUT OF YOUR BARN.

$38.99 (GROSS) which nets you $27.69 less your delivery in REAL DOLLARS = $17.74. After you deduct the mylar and 3 latex from DA GROSS, you still only have $29.50 in WS WAMPUM DOLLARS, again less your delivery.

What can any REAL FLORIST possibly create in the year 2007 for $19.50 in WAMPUM which nets you $13.85?

Suffice it to say that, OG WS orders like these are ACCIDENTS WANTING TO HAPPEN for which, they then expect you to BITE THE BULLET after DA FACTS.

While I'm sure you have already made the right business decision for yourself and FORE YOU'RE FUTURE, you're much better off to REJECT and REFUSE these types of orders since, all they wind up DOO-ING, is to SPIN YOUR WHEELS FOR NAUGHT and cause YOU grief and aggravation, and FORE WHAT? CHUMP CHANGE on YOUR DOLLAR and now, A LOSS TO BOOT (you in your butt) adding insult to injury!

And so; " BEGONE SLOW FLOWERS! YOU HAVE NO POWER HERE! "

PS: WHAT TO DO? Send them an ANS in HARD COPY indicating that YOU FILLED THEIR ORDER TO VALUE and have no intention of allowing any discount on their already HIGHLY DISCOUNTED ORDER! Advise them that, in THEIR FUTURE, they'll need to send out orders with a value JUST ON THE FLORAL GIFT of at least $50.00 in the year 2007 plus additional money for any balloons their customer has requested, plus an additional $10.00 to cover your cost of delivery. Finally, explain to them that, YOU WILL NOT FILL ANY FUTURE ORDERS FROM "FU" because they tried to "F" "U", which is what all of the OGs try to DOO to da fillers ANYWAY (they can)!

 

[bloomz]

OK, now to top this story off..
Last Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, one of the shops in a neighboring town called and asked if I had any yellow roses... Why, Yes I do. Can they trade me? Why, yes you can.
When she comes to pick them up she tells me that it's for a TF order that came in that morning. A dozen yellow roses... but get this.. it's in ANOTHER town about 15 miles from HER. 2 shops in that town and they can't fill it. No yellow roses. So she drives 6 miles to me to trade the roses, then goes back to her shop to make the order and drives another 15 miles to deliver the discounted order... Then she tells me that she also has to drive another 20 miles in THE OTHER direction to deliver a plant for a funeral. The shops in that town are not TF.
But wait.... there's more.

We had a similar story with a friend about 4 years ago - from Waldport Florist the owner, bless her heart, drove to Corvallis to pick up 2 stems of Bells and one Bird for an 800 order that was FOR HER CUSTOMER! She called and asked why she ordered from them and was told it was because her shop was closed at the time they ordered (big clue here and lesson I took to heart)

We "edumacated" her on that - and I'm quite sure she never went thru that again for a wire in.

 

[Kimber K]

Bloomz, I'm confused...
so Waldports customer called 1-800 because Waldport was closed when she wanted to order?
So then Waldport drove all the way to Corvallis for 3 stems of flowers to deliver to that same customer?

That's CRAZY.

 

[lori042499]

Bloomz, I'm confused...
so Waldports customer called 1-800 because Waldport was closed when she wanted to order?
So then Waldport drove all the way to Corvallis for 3 stems of flowers to deliver to that same customer?

That's CRAZY.

Yup it is......This is why we need to answer phone 24/7 and have a shopping cart on website....

 

[Buzz]

First... DO NOT FILL for OG's...it's THE only way to curtail their reach.

Secondly, FU will remove you from their database and stop sending to you if you contact them, in fact so will FlowersSentToday, Just Flowers and most of the others, at least they did for me when I contacted them directly and explained that I would not fill, I would not reject, I would not even notify them in the future, it was their gig to stop sending...they all did.

Boss is right...Don't fill for any OG's. If you do your contibuting to their aide. Don't let their sales people manipulate you by telling you that they need florists in your area. It amazes me the # of times that we read that florist are tired of filling discounted orders. But, then so many florists continue to fill them. Think about it... If your the only shop in your area, and there is no other florist around that is filling orders for TF or FTD, then why would you want to??? Wouldn't that be the perfect scenario? No wire service with an outlet in your area? Wouldn't you be better off not filling for them, forcing the consumer or sending florist to seek you out via the phone book or internet, and cut out the middle man who we don't need?

 

[Kimber K]

You are so right, Buzz, and again, I don't know WHY I caved. I guess because I wanted to see if I was really missing a lot of business.
I do know that the other two shops in the neighboring town, 7 miles away, are both TF, FTD, AND 1800 flowers, and they do deliver a lot to MY town because of that. I'm still trying to decide whether or not I should worry about it.
But after hearing about all the running around the one gal was doing for those couple of TF orders.. I know I don't want to be involved in that. AND... most importantly, her attitude about having to run around like that for those orders... she's not loving the business she's in. "I" on the other hand, AM! And that will pay off in a big way over the long haul.

 

[Buzz]

Hang in there Kimber.. You can still say "no". They are just like drugs... It might seem a little hard to quit at first, but once your done with them you'll realize you really don't need them, and you'll feel a lot better

 

[bloomz]

Bloomz, I'm confused...
so Waldports customer called 1-800 because Waldport was closed when she wanted to order?
So then Waldport drove all the way to Corvallis for 3 stems of flowers to deliver to that same customer?

That's CRAZY.

Yup - she only did that once that I know of - we explained to her how she was losing her ass on that order and I strongly doubt she jumped thru hoops like that again.

Not to forget either - it was a customer of hers - before they called 800 I guess cuz she was closed. (she had an answering machine - so nobody fool yourself that an answering machine will suffice - if you don't answer somebody else will)

 

[Kimber K]

So you keep your phones forwarded 24/7? To your home? To a cell? Do you always answer your home or cell?
Sometimes when I get to the shop I see calls that came in at midnight 2 am, etc. Obviously they're sales calls....

GREAT!
I'm home today, because of the storm, Bloomz... now you make me want to run into the shop, probably have a tree fall on my car on the way (daughter seen this happen yesterday morning when they sent her home from work early) Just to forward my phones.. LOL
:boggles:

 

[lori042499]

So you keep your phones forwarded 24/7? To your home? To a cell? Do you always answer your home or cell?
Sometimes when I get to the shop I see calls that came in at midnight 2 am, etc. Obviously they're sales calls....

GREAT!
I'm home today, because of the storm, Bloomz... now you make me want to run into the shop, probably have a tree fall on my car on the way (daughter seen this happen yesterday morning when they sent her home from work early) Just to forward my phones.. LOL
:boggles:

I forward my phone to the cell phone. I answer it 97% of the time. It is always with me. As long as I am not at dinner with someone or at a doctors appointment I answer. I did have TF 24hr flowers but it was awful. I am still finding out that people left me messages and I never called them back. They almost lost 3 corcorate accounts in one day. No more of that, now I field all calls....