Are you kidding me? FTD in my phonebook!

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sloan

sloan

New Member
Dec 11, 2008
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Palestine
State / Prov
TX
My new phone book came out this week. Basically, there are three ads: my main local competitor, me, and FTD!!!! All the same size ads!!!
Are you freaking kidding?? I just dropped Teleflora in favor of FTD (still owe on their POS). This is just great!!!!!! Anybody else?
 
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yes, isn't that wonderful. FTD will get that 800# phone call from your past customers for the $100 order for you to fill and then send you a check for $58. Sweet.

In the old days we handled this stuff by whipping someones a$$!
 
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Reactions: RonBeyer, KABERS, mikec and 3 others
So, what do you want in a Wire Service?

We just had this discussion in another string on the subject of: "What do you want in a Wire Service?"

I opted for a BUSINESS PARTNER versus a BUSINESSES' COMPETITOR!

Enough said then, so what's a FLORIST TO DOO?

And the answer? All the REST is UP to YOU!
 
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I move for that woopin'............................ What a short sighted move. I'm the only FTD florist in town. Or was......
 
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Been there and Did that TOO!

sloan said:
I move for that woopin'............................ What a short sighted move. I'm the only FTD florist in town. Or was......
Click to expand...

Not NEW NEWS fore MEE Sloan!

Been there, did that too, and moved on.

Like many other (former) members, and having done everything by the book for 34 years, the last 25 being an FTD ONLY!, the newer better FORE PROFIT INC could care less.

Gone are the days of Honor, Integrity, Allegiance, and Loyalty.

They killed the FAMILY and along with it, the Esprit de Corps.

Their IN YOUR FACE competition in their efforts to STEAL YOUR OWN CUSTOMERS out from under you, and in your own local market, is by far, the straw which breaks every DONKEY'S BACK! (aka: Horse's Ass)

Take it one step at a time, and bit by bit, get out from under them on a time frame which suits your own needs.

What's the alternative? No other Wire Service, that's for sure.

Maybe IFA (The Independent Florist's Association) may work for you as a cost effective and non intrusive method of sending out your orders, Real Florist 2 Real Florist. www.myifa.org

Regardless, make no mistake that, things can only get worse as you send your hard earned money to any Wire Service who chooses to compete with their own members for their OWN MEMBER'S CUSTOMERS and their 100% sales, while they expect you to fill what used to be YOUR ORDERS at fifty four cents from their dollar when all of their WS SMOKE and MIRROR WAMPUM clears through their clearinghouse on your statement.

Their time, (the WS's) have come and gone!

In TOTO'S WORDS; BEE GONE, YOU HAVE NO POWER HERE!
 
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Sloan... they're in dang near EVERY YP across the land....I'm no longer in the YP's.<period

Ya'll just keep fill'n..."They're helping you" to win back consumers...
 
Sloan,
I hate to say this but "We told you so" many times over on this site.

FTD and teleflora target towns across Canada and USA to gather orders from people like proflowers just to help you out.

I thing I did notice is that if they did not generate enough orders in one area or phone book, they usually do not put a an ad the following year. THat is what happen for me with 1-800 and FTD.

Luc
 
Well, I'm working on a plan to pay off my POS early (3 years early) so I can move on. What a shame these people are so short sighted in their "business" model. It just doesn't make sense. Maybe they will smarten up; there are things they could move into that would make them money, and help the local florists without running us out of business, which, of course, also will determine their own fate....
 
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Louisville is a pretty large city and our Yellow Pages came out this week and not only does FTD have a 1/2 page ad but we also have Blooms Today, American Blooms and Lauren's Flowers with the same size 1/2 page ads. So the other 3 ads are all owned by a company out of Northern Virginia. This is so profitable for them they fill our Yellow pages with their ads. Of course we don't fill any orders for them but I guess they find someone who will. The funny thing is there are about 100 shops here and only 5 real florists take an ad in the book. That should tell you something.
 
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Russ, I had this very conversation with AT&T today. I have already dropped the print and online YP for next year, and someone from the IT dept called to inquire "whats wrong"...

She was actually knowledgeable, understood my arguments and the concept that they are losing money by allowing national marketers to "pose" as local florist businesses...

I would imagine, that if these ads were not there they might get 50 or more local advertisers in your market... I know which one would make them more money, and it's not their current model.
 
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Only 1/2 page??? All the hooors in our book take a FULL page!

It was quite a difference for our idearc online directory this year, though..last year was $1500 to come in on the second page after all the gatherers...suddenly this year, it's $149 for first page listing on the superpages for our town...wonder what happened?

 
Robin said:
wonder what happened?
Click to expand...
Pretty simple I suppose...

No one buying at $1500 translates into $0 in sales, so then 1 person buying at $149 would equate to 149% sales increase :wide: They're learning, but tis too late I'm afraid... no need for them anymore either...
 
They have been in our phone book forever. They are always on the first page, all the local florists start on page 2. Sad....
Even our local wedding magazine had a whole page of PRO Flowers.
 
Wonder whether it would be useful (otherthan making us feel better) if we all write FTD/whoever is in our phonebook to complain, as well as the local phone companies. Mark did, and I feel better already.......
 
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wire services

Ftd and Teleflora etc. are getting desperate to stay in business. All florists need to realize they are very capable of running their own business's with the computor and internet now. If most florists would drop the service and do their own websites the wire services would dissappear and we would all be much more happier and profitable.
 
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Okay - this is why I dropped FTD! Just because you owe on their POS doesnt mean you have to remain a memeber!!!!! You can keep the CC processing and just continue monthly payments... and if you had the 60 months no interest... that still applies! Get RID of THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You ARE PAYING THEM TO COMPETE AGAINEST YOU!!!!!!!!! HOW IS THAT GOOD BUSINESS???????????????
 
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FTD has been in our phone books for years. I used to be a top member till I got wise of their BS. Now Im with the Teleflora the devil we know.
 
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