Bloomnet

[lori042499]

I was wondering if anyone knows where I would find the complete cancel out instructions for bloomnet and what the deadline is for the next directory...I was told nov 10th by a CS agent, but don't really 100% trust their word...

I have to make a decision by nov 1st whether to stay or go...I have been cut back to not over 20 orders a month for the last year and have called to inquire many times if there was a problem...my record with them is impeccable but the LFC has turned into a full franchise...I think it is hopeless to expect them to up the amount of orders I am getting and it is now beginning to hurt my bottom line...


my order volume in 2007 compared to 2009 is....


jan 56 15
feb 75 54
mar 58 20
apr 78 27
may 149 77
jun 53 20
jul 40 19
aug 45 16




I know many will think I am crazy but with those numbers, I used to make enough to be able to pay my rent..I used to get an average order amount of 60.00 now the average has plummetted to 40.00....I have done nothing but birthday cakes, cupcakes and mini margaritas for the summer...it has gotten to the point that it just doesn't make sense to even stock the flowers I need for their orders....it used to when I was getting 3-4 FOE a week and the other various arrangements that were goto orders, but now if I don't have it I ain't makin a special trip for them, it just doesn't work...

I called CS today to let them know that if there is no signifcant change in the next 2 months that I will be forced to cancel...so I need to have my ducks in a row to be able to send it all off as soon as it needs to....even my holiday volume this last year was way off...so I can't see staying for the holidays, just to get 2 months of better orders....I really don't need the I told you so dance, just where to find the correct info needed to cancel...Its a process and it is slow, but when I can so see it hurting my bottom line it is time to end it...



Luckily my local stuff is up for total money I am only down by 5000.00 for this year all WS wampum with the total 100% sales up it is cutting the 15,000.00 loss in income to 5000.00 of discounted cash....just for an actual monetary look at things...I think I would be ready to drop if need be...

 

[Flowerchatter03]

Lori, we've looked through our documents and don't see any cancellation instructions.

I'm curious, did you have any of their codified products one year vs another?

 

[clay]

I remember in the early days (when 800 Flowers was sending their orders thru Carik), that they would always give me the amount over what I would sell the item for.....especially roses.

When they started to market their product to compete with Pro Flowers, that is when I pulled the plug on being a paying member.

 

[BOSS]

I think it is hopeless to expect them to up the amount of orders I am getting and it is now beginning to hurt my bottom line...

See the answer to your question, in your own words above.

 

[lori042499]

I have looked too and found nothing....

I do carry a bunch of their codified, well I did I should say..I am also a Martha Shop...I stopped carrying codified stuff after Martha and when they started changing the arrangements simply because they started screwing with my order volume, then Dave Galvin signed a whole bunch of new shops and order volume dropped again...I am not crazy about some of the newer items and didn't want to carry them for my shop and didn't want them to sit here taking up space without the volume to move them....maybe I am just tired of playing their game and don't have time for it anymore because I am building my own base and could care less about pleasing them anymore a natural course, and maybe it is naturally just time to cut them loose...

 

[ivygreen]

Lori, send the cancel request now, and it has to be sent by mail. No calls, to message thru bloomlink but in a letter. They will give you the dept to send it to if you ask, and it has to go to that dept. The last date of your directory will be Dec 31, 2009.

Tell them you will no longer be a member as of that date. It will take a few weeks for someone to call you and attempt to save your membership. Either way, if you send it now, you know you are covered. I don't recommend just dropping them, as you will be charged now for the months you are in the directory anyway. At least NOV and DEC will provide you with an uptick for the holidays.


Get your costs pared down now with them, and be judicious with the orders you choose to fill. Call and ask where you can save money on your statement, get any charge backs or issues resolved before you send the letter. It seems hard to get help after you let them know you're done. Be sure to send it registered/certified, so you have your receipt of someone signing for it.

It's not going to get better, especially with a local center near you.

 

[Flowerchatter03]

Not to detract from your original question but...speaking about the Martha Stewart program.......

We received an e-mail from them (back in April) that they were shipping out MS containers for Mothers Day to our shop (we didn't order them...they were just sending based on their "projections"). Anyway, we called and said don't send this and don't send that, we already have plenty. They claimed that they would try to cancel those prior to shipping. This was a solid week prior to shipping.

We guess what? Instead of just receiving 3 cases we got 10 cases. Not only did we get the 2 we asked not to ship, we got a double shipment. My business partner called them (in APRIL) and told them about it. The rep tells her that the double shipment problem was with a lot of florists and they don't know how soon they will be able to correct it.

After 30 days, when we got our next statement, we were billed for all. Called them again and asked when are they going to pick up their stuff. Says the best they can do is give us 10% off but they are not picking up the containers.

We ended up calling VIP services. They say that they will issue call tags. 12 more phone calls later, they have finally picked up the extra cases with the exception of 1. Still waiting on that call tag. Called our old rep today to find out who the new one is so that we can get this *&&^ picked up.

If wire services want to continue to have a relationship with florists, they are going to need to step up customer service to the florists and not just their customers.

 

[Dior]

Lori, You definitely have to send your cancellation request in writing. Send a registered or certified letter to get a signature, and I would also follow up with a phone call in a week or two. Address it to the Bloomnet Membership Dept.

They have a 3 month directory, and the current one is August-Sept-Oct. You still might be able to get out of the Nov-Dec-Jan book, depending on their deadline (it used to be somewhere between the 10th and 15th of the month two months before the new book, so somewhere between Sept 10 and 15. I don't know if this has changed.

To get a straight answer, call your local rep David Galvin, or even his boss, the VP, Chuck Yearick. Then send the letter in ASAP.

Keep in mind, you WILL get a call from someone trying to save your account. They will offer you freebies for a few months.

If you have trouble, send me a PM, I may have their personal numbers somewhere. To email them, send it to (firstinitial+last name @ bloomnet.net.

Hope this helps.

 

[ivygreen]

Not to correct anyone, but they have a four month directory now, and today is the last day of it. S, O, N, D is the next directory and you're going to be in it. Next chance to be out is Jan, and that deadline is what you are hunting for. I would call tomorrow, but I bet it's oct/nov.
So you will already be in for the directory charges, and I don't know what else you'd be charged for. Just call, so you know for sure.

 

[BOSS]

Does it say somewhere "You MUST stay a member until the next directory!"?

Or does it say this contract may be canceled by either party, with written 30 days notice?

 

[ivygreen]

Aren't you charged the directory fees, regardless?

 

[CHR]

I thought BloomNet stopped printing directories when they ran their 'we're saving trees' campaign.

Electronic directories can be updated on the fly - especially since I believe theirs is 'live' on the web. IMO the artificial 'pay us four more months' to get out is just that - an arbitrary time set to maximize profits.

Check your original contract with BMT. IIRC, they didn't used to have the months-wait-to-leave clause so you may be able to get out much faster - if you're so inclined.

 

[BOSS]

Aren't you charged the directory fees, regardless?

If you're talking to me, I don't know. But I would not care either, a directory fee would be much less than membership. But they probably would not want you in the directory after you are no longer a member, so you would not have the people calling you directly and you telling them you're out

 

[Dior]

Does it say somewhere "You MUST stay a member until the next directory!"?

Or does it say this contract may be canceled by either party, with written 30 days notice?

It used to be 30 day's notice -- a few years ago. Then they changed it to "you have to remain a member until you are out of the directory."

They could have possibly changed it again, just like they recently changed the 3 month directory to 4. The wire services make changes constantly, including hiring and laying off territory reps and in-house people (customer service people.)

That's why it's important to call and speak to someone like your rep or better yet, his/her superior, the VP, if the rep is new and is not well-versed in all the rules. Then you get the real answer.

 

[BOSS]

I thought BloomNet stopped printing directories when they ran their 'we're saving trees' campaign.

Far as I know, it's an "Opt Out" gig, so...we know how that works...

Electronic directories can be updated on the fly - especially since I believe theirs is 'live' on the web. IMO the artificial 'pay us four more months' to get out is just that - an arbitrary time set to maximize profits.

Shhh... they don't want the florists to know the facts(truth).

 

[terri]

I believe you had to opt out of the printed directory. If Lori did that, they can "delete her" (sorry Lori) from the from the elect. directory. If not, I think she will be stuck until the new book comes out in Jan.
terri

 

[desndennis]

In the Directory is the publishing deadlines, send your letter certified, I mailed mine in june for the aug 31 cut-off, 3 phone calls later, done deal. We recevied on average 1 bloomnet order a month.

 

[MANORVILLE]

Call me !

Lori

Call me at the shop or PM.
I'll get the answers for you, though much has been answered already.

If anyone else wants out, and there are many this month,,,,do the same !

 

[Flowerchatter03]

The paper directory is a voluntary opt out. You have to ask NOT to receive it. Keep in mind, however, there are still thousands of florists out across the country that still do not have access to the internet nor have a POS system. So, they still use the paper directory.