Check out your DEC. TF statement

[flowerknife+us]

After reading here about FTD increases in various fees, I have been wondering what fees TF would be increasing. Just viewed my online TF statement and heres the change:

The big fat book we have no use for just ingreased to $25.00 per quarter.

The per order web fee increased to $2.95 from $1.95 effective of course January 6, before you receive the notice!

Knifes Wife

 

[BOSS]

The big fat book we have no use for just ingreased to $25.00 per quarter.

The per order web fee increased to $2.95 from $1.95 effective of course January 6, before you receive the notice!

Knifes Wife

NO doubt the book will continue to climb too....like with the other folks, it's a cash cow...heck In the old copy of the TF directory I have from December, a florist not too far fromme has 3 full column ads...with color....

As to the per web order charge...is it really worth it??? On only 100 orders a year that would more than pay my hosting fee, on 250 it would coverboth the hosting and the cost of a site....Oh and there's no per order charge.....

Give 'em time, pretty soon it'll be 3.50 then 3.95.....

 

[Tom Carlson]

How many fewer listings?

Not being a member of any wire service, I have no way to tell, but maybe some of you can find the answer to this question:

How many shops are listed in the current directory compared to 3 months ago, 6 months ago and a year ago.

My bet is that there are fewer shops, maybe that explains why you have to pay more. Simple arithmetic.

 

[hcflorist]

Not being a member of any wire service, I have no way to tell, but maybe some of you can find the answer to this question:

How many shops are listed in the current directory compared to 3 months ago, 6 months ago and a year ago.

My bet is that there are fewer shops, maybe that explains why you have to pay more. Simple arithmetic.

If they'd just take out the shops that fired them 1 or 2 or 3 directories back and did NOT accept any of their "freebie" offers to stay in, it might make a difference, too. Guess they'd rather keep the people who are trying to send orders (including their own Phillipino branch HQ) confused rather than admit that anybody would actually fire them.

Or maybe they're just not cleaning the roster because they've got visions of a sale in mind. And more members in the directory, whether valid or not, might be worth more.

 

[PhillyPhlorist]

As a side note...

...How many shops are listed in the current directory compared to 3 months ago, 6 months ago and a year ago.
My bet is that there are fewer shops, maybe that explains why you have to pay more. Simple arithmetic.

Just look at your Yellow page ads as well. 35 ads in Philly in 2004, 16 in 2005...no doubt even less this time around...

Personally, I hate those books...never use 'em.

- H.

 

[Connie]

TF just called me to intice us back into the WS with offers of free membership fees, free dove fees, no quality assurance fees, and others that I've forgotten. I told them, thanks but no thanks. Since we all know that there is no "free lunch," we also now know who would be paying those fees, IMHO.

 

[KSmith]

I had suggested to our TF rep a few months ago that TF let florists choose whether they want to receive (and pay for) the big book (and also those glossy marketing packs they send out to everyone -- whether you've ordered product or not. I've never seen a line item charges for the marketing posters, but I know it's built in to some charge somewhere.)

Our TF guy said that they had discussed that at meetings and thought that too many florists were using the book -- either because they didn't have dove or 'what if the power went out and you couldn't access dove', blah, blah, blah.

I knew at the time that this was all crap, but I thought, well other than complaining (which I did) or writing a letter (which I didn't do - my bad), what could I do (other than dropping TF, which may be coming shortly)? I'm wondering now -- and this is probably naive on my part -- if writing a letter would do any good. I suspect if it was just one shop, they would ignore it; but maybe if it was signed by all flowerchat members who are TF....maybe it would raise some eyebrows....or not??? I will volunteer to write the letter if folks think that it is worthwhile to do.

 

[hcflorist]

I'm wondering now -- and this is probably naive on my part -- if writing a letter would do any good. I suspect if it was just one shop, they would ignore it; but maybe if it was signed by all flowerchat members who are TF....maybe it would raise some eyebrows....or not??? I will volunteer to write the letter if folks think that it is worthwhile to do.

It's a thought . . . but do that math . . . kinda like TF will.

Lemme see now . . . there's 20 Flowerchat signatures here and there's $2 Mil on our botton line here JUST FROM THE QUARTERLY CHARGES. And that doesn't count all of those extra listings and card ads, which is probably another coupla hundred mil on the bottom line.

Ahhhh . . . I don't think that letter would even make it to the desk of anybody who counts. And if it did, it would get about the same respect that they give their freaking florists now . . . which is NONE ! ! !

 

[PhillyPhlorist]

Kathy...

... writing a letter would do any good. I suspect if it was just one shop, they would ignore it; but maybe if it was signed by all flowerchat members who are TF....maybe it would raise some eyebrows....or not??? I will volunteer to write the letter if folks think that it is worthwhile to do.

While a noble idea, one that HAS been tried around here in the Philly area, with el-zilch-o response.
Had the same idea. I'm afraid that the Big Book (a.k.a. my Camp Fire fire starters) are too much of a cash cow for the W/s's. Plus, the w/s of choice will ALWAYS say, "there are still members who use it. Plus, it would cost us more to only send it to a select few....)

Horse-Hockey no matter how you look at it... SOOO, the up side for me is that, for the foreseeable future, I will have nice camp-fire starters for the summer! (yup, work great with a wee bit of lighter fluid...)

- H.