In case you haven't gotten the news already, November things are going to be changing radically. It will no longer resemble a directory of florists. It will become a consumer purchasing site, functioning more like ftd.con with one large difference. At the END of the order the buyer will come to the list of florists. How on earth they are going to do pricing is a darn good question for me, or is everyone going to have to use the same prices?
Florist rotation? The example RC showed us last week showed favoritism in my book. I still wonder how they swung that deal.
I have never liked that they listed non-paying florists in the list at all, being a paid member, why should anyone have the option of sending to a non-paying member. Never seemed right to me. So why would they do it? There MUST be some logic somewhere. Only reason I can figure out is then in the instance of someone choosing them, they perhaps get not only the service fee but also the 20%? I really don't know, but it could bear testing. The order *could* be trasmitted thru FC or just OKC as MANY are. But proof be ****ed, I guess its their site and they can do anything they want with it, including collect orders.
Knowing they CAN do math, I used to think "why would they encourage consumers not to wire flowers?" No 7%, no rebate, GET 3.95 to 7.95 per order, and if no paying web site in that town? I also wonder, if one chooses a paying web member, will the consumer be charged the "service fee"?
My jury is out. When there's a scheme for any wire service to make more money it somehow involves me making less or paying more. I view everything either of them do with skepticism.
I am pretty certain of one thing, it's going to be much easier for your customers to not have to bother you with wire outs any more. It may get you more local orders, but it WILL also get you less wire outs. (remember my story about MY customer telling me in my store - "I guess I don't need to bother you now when I need to send flowers out of state", like it was a GOOD thing?)
Please let me say thing however, in my opinion, you're advertising AGAINST yourself if you pay for coop advertising, given this new direction coming. There was a time when they claimed in the coop ads they would never advertise "Visit tf.com" but that story lasted about 3 months. Way shorter than "We'll never compete."
If you like your wire out business, I see a need for legitimate concern. I don't accept ANYTHING either of them do categorically as "good for florists".
Anyone else have an opinion on this?
Florist rotation? The example RC showed us last week showed favoritism in my book. I still wonder how they swung that deal.
I have never liked that they listed non-paying florists in the list at all, being a paid member, why should anyone have the option of sending to a non-paying member. Never seemed right to me. So why would they do it? There MUST be some logic somewhere. Only reason I can figure out is then in the instance of someone choosing them, they perhaps get not only the service fee but also the 20%? I really don't know, but it could bear testing. The order *could* be trasmitted thru FC or just OKC as MANY are. But proof be ****ed, I guess its their site and they can do anything they want with it, including collect orders.
Knowing they CAN do math, I used to think "why would they encourage consumers not to wire flowers?" No 7%, no rebate, GET 3.95 to 7.95 per order, and if no paying web site in that town? I also wonder, if one chooses a paying web member, will the consumer be charged the "service fee"?
My jury is out. When there's a scheme for any wire service to make more money it somehow involves me making less or paying more. I view everything either of them do with skepticism.
I am pretty certain of one thing, it's going to be much easier for your customers to not have to bother you with wire outs any more. It may get you more local orders, but it WILL also get you less wire outs. (remember my story about MY customer telling me in my store - "I guess I don't need to bother you now when I need to send flowers out of state", like it was a GOOD thing?)
Please let me say thing however, in my opinion, you're advertising AGAINST yourself if you pay for coop advertising, given this new direction coming. There was a time when they claimed in the coop ads they would never advertise "Visit tf.com" but that story lasted about 3 months. Way shorter than "We'll never compete."
If you like your wire out business, I see a need for legitimate concern. I don't accept ANYTHING either of them do categorically as "good for florists".
Anyone else have an opinion on this?
