Despise'd Wire Service!

[lori042499]

Yep. And you've got just as much of a chance (and probably even more, according to our experience) of finding a crappy florist in the wire service books and on their directories. Sometimes they're good and sometimes they're not. If ya know 'em, fine. If ya don't, it's a crap shoot whether they're a wire florist or an independent. Cause no matter what you'd like to believe, NO WIRE SERVICE has anything resembling quality control of florists any more. Given a choice, I'll take my chances with a full independent who is making it on their own as opposed to the pitiful creature on the road to banktuptcy who is depending on wire orders for survival any time.

That's why we like calling, talking, and getting a handle on the situation for our customers. As opposed to punching a few keys and playing the order like it's a crap shoot. We figure the customer has paid us for that extra effort and knowledge and they're entitled to it.

Personally, I figure (and experience to date backs up my theory) my customers have a better chance of getting what they're paying for from somebody who's been smart enough to change with the times and do an effective job of promoting their business in their local market on the internet. As opposed to the florist whose main focus is advertising for and filling wire orders. And one of those WS websites doesn't count AT ALL in my selection process if the florist hasn't been savvy enough to fine tune it to his or her local prices and market once it's up.

You know you have quite a way with words. Your remarks are offensive and uncalled for. What wire services do you belong to?? Your website has many TF and FTD pictures on it. Do you send only or do you fill??? What makes you think that just because someone belongs to a WS they are pitiful and on the verge of bancruptcy?? I am neither pitiful or on the verge of bancruptcy. I fill all orders to full value regardless of WI or full 100% value. Your arrangement if sent to my shop at 100% would not be smaller than it should nor would it be larger than it should it would be what you paid for it. Same as my wireins those get what they should full value after delivery is taken out....

 

[hcflorist]

You know you have quite a way with words. Your remarks are offensive and uncalled for. What wire services do you belong to?? Your website has many TF and FTD pictures on it. Do you send only or do you fill??? What makes you think that just because someone belongs to a WS they are pitiful and on the verge of bancruptcy?? I am neither pitiful or on the verge of bancruptcy. I fill all orders to full value regardless of WI or full 100% value. Your arrangement if sent to my shop at 100% would not be smaller than it should nor would it be larger than it should it would be what you paid for it. Same as my wireins those get what they should full value after delivery is taken out....

I didn't say a thing about you nor was I addressing you or even thinking about you. So if you take offense . . . that's your problem. If the shoe fits you, or anyone else . . . you and they have my sympathy.

Nor did I say that simply "belonging" led to bankruptcy. Obviously, many belong and make lots of money. But, as a rule, and as most know and openly admit, they AIN'T filling.

Don't know how your personal or business financial health is surviving your currently advertised business plan. But I guess time will tell as it has for so many over the years. I wish you luck with it.

And I didn't say or infer anything about how you fill. Didn't need to. I think your defensiveness probably pretty much speaks for itself.

Maybe it's true what they say. "Hit Dogs Howl".

 

[Kobe0007]

I personally have no experience with Bloomnet so I voted FTD. My uncle and I have arguments because we are both and he likes FTD and like TF. There are several reasons. One case and point is a spread sheet I created for the FTD and TF Christmas specials (ends up the TF prices are also somewhat bad, but that is due to flower inflation around here that I didn't factor).

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pfaXrLU-VTPjRqVmRh84iTA

FTD Cons -
I don't like florist.com
I don't like that they drop ship most products on their site
They use "Medium stem roses"
They undervalue arrangements.
Don't like the setup of FTDI.com
Overpriced containers

FTD Pros -
Easy to talk to member services
I like that you can order products online.

TF Cons -
Sometimes incompetent member services (not always)
Pretty close to having over priced vases
Accessories sold separately
Likes to create specials and prices with the most perfect stems of flowers and condense the flowers all on one side. (Spray roses with 10 blooms per a stem and placing all the blooms on one side but claiming to be an all around arrangement.)

TF Pros -
Generally better arrangements and containers
Better advertising
More orders
Customers generally seem to like them better

I am sure there are other pros and cons that I have but I can't think of any right now.

 

[PhillyPhlorist]

Flip a 3 - sided coin...

- H.

 

[Chezbloom]

I depise them all

thier heart's are empty holes.
Thier brains are full of spiders.
they've got garlic in their souls,

I wouldn't touch them

With a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!
:ssmoke

 

[bloomz]

I depise them all

thier heart's are empty holes.
Thier brains are full of spiders.
they've got garlic in their souls,

I wouldn't touch them

With a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!
:ssmoke

Woooo! Don't be hatin'.....

:hug::kuddle::hug:

 

[JERRYEIZ]

'despised' Wire Service

The one choice that was omitted is ALL.

Any for-profit wire service that:
- forces florists to buy overpriced products
- is in direct competition with the florists
- charges for unwanted services, and
- offers functionally deficient pc and internet technology

is on my list. Unfortunately, most of us have to deal with at least one them. Our challenge is to pick the one that is the least objectionable.

One of these days there will be a florist owned, florist managed network geared to our new way of doing business, I can't wait for a real choice.