Do you bait and switch?

[Bigted]

Wow - you all did stop running the shop and answer - thanks! Even tho I was kidding.

their codified price is $55 for short stem wrapped not arrranged no filler, and delivery etc etc (no delivery charge coded).

My guess is that they haven't looked at their codified prices in a few years--BUT--nobody puts the price in for short roses, not arranged, no filler. The fact that the wire services look the other way at these practices is one of the main things killing us.

 

[PhillyPhlorist]

EGGZACTRY.

If you code for it you should sell at that price.

My delivery is listed at $7 right now - that's what we will charge until they update it with the new charges. (we went to $10, call it the Bush Factor)

Leave it to Bloomzie to throw a political jab into an otherwise UN-political thread...

For der record, you're right, Bloomzie, about the coding...not Bush, but I will give you he hasn't done squat to help fuel matters.

What really steams me is when florists don't codify properly - or haven't updated their codes since - say, 1978. Also, delivery should be a separate listing (and I know... there's a whole heap of posts on that topic) - especially since "Big Oil" has jacked up the price of gas so much, it's almost cheaper to burn MILK than gas! Don't know about u all, but I have several delivery prices - all depending where it goes.

I'm gonna convert my vans to burn cooking oil pretty soon.

- H.

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

EGGZACTRY.

If you code for it you should sell at that price.

My delivery is listed at $7 right now - that's what we will charge until they update it with the new charges. (we went to $10, call it the Bush Factor)

thats why we have covered ourselves by putting that "rural routs vary" code.
because we can't charge everybody $40 delivery.

it's hard to put a blanket charge on all deliveries here, so if your charges vary, it's best to state it somewhere!

 

[LJVF]

I've come across many instances when a florist doesn't even know the Mercury basics such as sending an "ASK" or an "ANS" or keeping a sequence log sheet, so there's a good chance they haven't a clue what their codified for and at.

 

[bloomz]

Leave it to Bloomzie to throw a political jab into an otherwise UN-political thread...

For der record, you're right, Bloomzie, about the coding...not Bush, but I will give you he hasn't done squat to help fuel matters.

- H.

Bit of an understatement there H...::BS

I know - he has nothing to do with fuel prices going thru the roof, thereby making us raise our delivery charges.

It's the Dems fault

If you don't believe me just ask SFOX.

Now we return to your regular programming....

back to that codifying issue.....

I think it blows

 

[PhillyPhlorist]

Now we return to your regular programming....

back to that codifying issue.....

I think it blows

Nominate for BOSS's quote of the day.

- H.

PS - how 'bout those in Congress cut the gas tax just a WEE bit... so what, we'll have a few more pot holes to navigate around...ain't no thang in Philly - we're used to 'em...

 

[CHR]

The WS directories are completely antiquated and only exist to generate funds for the WSs. The 'current' data is more than 4 months old at this point. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON why florists shouldn't be able to update their prices DAILY via Merc, Dove or BloomNet.

After FTD said the roses were supposed to be longstem, did you ask them to define "longstem"? Are they 50cm? (hardly my idea of longstem.) In a cheap vase with leather leaf? Should shops list for the bare minimum to get by or the price to elicit wow?

IMO the convoluted system is more to blame than local florists who don't keep up with the codifieds.

 

[Eric S]

I'm probally going to get the boo's on this one.

You know our roses have always been 40cm? Valentines we go up to 60cm but thats the only time. After our first year we just hated the way the 60cm classeys looked in that 4206 rose vase. That was when the freedom roses just started coming out and we jumped into our first standing orders of them. They really sold themselves and even though we never said long stem roses (and yes if they asked we would tell them that) our customers loved them.

Tell me do any of you that posted your rose information having standings or do you just buy as you need them? Also anyone else use 40cm or is that just to small?

When I see what you guys posted on prices and the lengths I'm like what the hell!!! You either get some dam*d good prices on roses or your mark up is all screwed up.

But hey who's talking when our red rose sales are being down.

Yep 5 weeks and I still don't get it!!

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

I know - he has nothing to do with fuel prices going thru the roof, thereby making us raise our delivery charges.

it has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that it's Quebec that you're trying to send this order to.....provincial tax input laws in Quebec are weirder than anywhere else on this planet, and incoming orders are actually taxed TWICE, and the record keeping "onus" is with the FILLING florist, and NOT the wire service.
It's taken otherwise a warm and caring industry in Quebec, into semi-terrorist territory, where the "cautious" has turned into the "ridiculous".....

 

[LJVF]

I'm probally going to get the boo's on this one.

You know our roses have always been 40cm? Valentines we go up to 60cm but thats the only time. After our first year we just hated the way the 60cm classeys looked in that 4206 rose vase. That was when the freedom roses just started coming out and we jumped into our first standing orders of them. They really sold themselves and even though we never said long stem roses (and yes if they asked we would tell them that) our customers loved them.

Tell me do any of you that posted your rose information having standings or do you just buy as you need them? Also anyone else use 40cm or is that just to small?

When I see what you guys posted on prices and the lengths I'm like what the hell!!! You either get some dam*d good prices on roses or your mark up is all screwed up.

But hey who's talking when our red rose sales are being down.

Yep 5 weeks and I still don't get it!!

To be honest we use the 40cm for our 1 dozen $19.95 wrap and carry special. We pay $9-$12 per bunch for 40cm Freedom from a local wholesaler. Our long stems are usually 80cm Forever Young. I get these through the Flowerbuyer auction. We've built a solid reputation in our area for our roses.

 

[SiberiaAIFD]

Bloomz- didnt' have time to read ALL the pages in this thread (it IS admin/secretaries/whatever day)

dozen 50 or 60 cm freedoms in #4210 vase, greens, bb or limonium (maineblue)

same as what my other customers get.

p.s. every time i see that elephant on the trampoline it makes me smile!

 

[prestonway]

I'm probally going to get the boo's on this one.

You know our roses have always been 40cm? Valentines we go up to 60cm but thats the only time. After our first year we just hated the way the 60cm classeys looked in that 4206 rose vase. That was when the freedom roses just started coming out and we jumped into our first standing orders of them. They really sold themselves and even though we never said long stem roses (and yes if they asked we would tell them that) our customers loved them.

Tell me do any of you that posted your rose information having standings or do you just buy as you need them? Also anyone else use 40cm or is that just to small?

When I see what you guys posted on prices and the lengths I'm like what the hell!!! You either get some dam*d good prices on roses or your mark up is all screwed up.

But hey who's talking when our red rose sales are being down.

Yep 5 weeks and I still don't get it!!

Don't know how to multi-quote, but from another thread:

"Shops in Fla and Ca for example may use many more high end and tropical flowers (look at Eric Shaws Shop Everyday Flowers in Tustin CA YouTube videos)..."

This could be the problem, Eric. If all the flowers in your store are high-end, but the roses are only 40cm, there is a disconnect between your store image & what is actually being offered.

They're expecting 70cm & getting 40cm.

Just my thots...for what they're worth...:thumbsup

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

I'm probally going to get the boo's on this one.

You know our roses have always been 40cm? Valentines we go up to 60cm but thats the only time. After our first year we just hated the way the 60cm classeys looked in that 4206 rose vase. That was when the freedom roses just started coming out and we jumped into our first standing orders of them. They really sold themselves and even though we never said long stem roses (and yes if they asked we would tell them that) our customers loved them.

Tell me do any of you that posted your rose information having standings or do you just buy as you need them? Also anyone else use 40cm or is that just to small?

When I see what you guys posted on prices and the lengths I'm like what the hell!!! You either get some dam*d good prices on roses or your mark up is all screwed up.

But hey who's talking when our red rose sales are being down.

Yep 5 weeks and I still don't get it!!

what do you mean we "either get @@@@ good prices or markup is all screwed up"????

 

[Rhonda]

It is rare that our truck wholesalers carry anything other than 40 cm....If by chance they have 50 cm we usually pick them up but on a normal day our price codified is $50.00 doz (greens, LL, tree or plumosa, salal, bonsai euc or similar with whatever fill we have, gyp, limonium - Maine Blue - or whatever)
Usually the stem lengths "average" 40 or 50 cm so there are long and shorter so the dozen is varied lengths anyway.

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

OH..MY...GOD!!!!

Seriously, am I the only person who wants 80cm or better roses anymore?????

 

[Eric S]

Don't know how to multi-quote, but from another thread:

"Shops in Fla and Ca for example may use many more high end and tropical flowers (look at Eric Shaws Shop Everyday Flowers in Tustin CA YouTube videos)..."

This could be the problem, Eric. If all the flowers in your store are high-end, but the roses are only 40cm, there is a disconnect between your store image & what is actually being offered.

They're expecting 70cm & getting 40cm.

Just my thots...for what they're worth...:thumbsup

Sales have been very good up until Easter on our red roses. Been consitant for 4 years since we started carrying the 40cm freedoms. We actually sold more two dozens then anything and then in Septemeber things started to change and we started seeing a shift from the two dozen orders to the dozen roses. I think we where at 64.99 for a dozen and two dozen was $79.99.

We started to go inbetween by offering a dozen for $64.99 and recieve 6 free. So 18 roses where moving for $64.99. These sales carred through until the end of january with some of our strongest sales for the red stuff.

Valentines was great and the two weeks after we still had orders for the dozen red at $64.99. When March started thats when things just stoped and by easter we started seeing a much lower of orders for red roses in general. Keep in mind that for 4 years we have had no problem moving our 1000 red roses that we would get in evey week. So this is where I am loss as to what is happening.

Last year for these two days we saw over a $1,000 in sales for red roses and this year we are at $100. I just can't figure it out.

Right now we are offering $49.99 for a dozen and its still not working. What I don't understand is I have more traffic going to the rose pages then last year. So i know people are looking.

 

[Rhonda]

OH..MY...GOD!!!!

Seriously, am I the only person who wants 80cm or better roses anymore?????

Our wholesalers NEVER carry 80cm...it is rare on 70cm and 60cm are usually double the price of 50cm.
I would have to list a price of well over $80 dozen just to carry them "in case" I got an order in. My customers will NOT pay $80 dozen. Considering we get less than 20 orders per year (wire in) for dozen roses, they'll have to get what I can keep in stock at a price I can sell locally for.
This IS Small Town America here.....

 

[fairfield]

OH..MY...GOD!!!!

Seriously, am I the only person who wants 80cm or better roses anymore?????

How much do you pay for 80cm from your local wholesaler?

 

[bloomz]

Our wholesalers NEVER carry 80cm...it is rare on 70cm and 60cm are usually double the price of 50cm.
I would have to list a price of well over $80 dozen just to carry them "in case" I got an order in. My customers will NOT pay $80 dozen. Considering we get less than 20 orders per year (wire in) for dozen roses, they'll have to get what I can keep in stock at a price I can sell locally for.
This IS Small Town America here.....

They do sell them at $85 plus delivery.

we charge 85.oo LS in vase with al the bells and whistles, but not gyp, yuck! UNLESS they really want gyp. we don't use gross 4088's or 4089's either. yuck!

However our delivery charge VARIES greatly.

 

[lori042499]

OH..MY...GOD!!!!

Seriously, am I the only person who wants 80cm or better roses anymore?????

No you are not the only one who wants 80cm...some of us just can't sell 80cm. Some markets just don't see the value in them.

I managed a store in Brookline, MA which is only about a 25 min ride from my current store. We sold only 70-80 cm roses. We sold them for 65-75 bucks a dozen. I started with those same roses here and was using them up in arrangements to get rid of them. Kabloom sells 40cm crap for 24.99 and people flock there year round. valentine's is the only time I can sell the nice big roses and I still am selling them at less than what I think they are worth. For a product that eventually dies, many people don't care to spend that much more even if the product will last 3 times longer, as we all know the nicer grade roses do.

Moral of this story is you can only sell what people will buy....2 1/2 years and I am learning every day that where I used to be and where I am are 2 different places and have 2 different markets...if they won't buy it I can't sell it..