Finally quit FTD...

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jbarb

jbarb

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Oct 31, 2002
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I finally did it. I sent in my resignation to FTD. Just could'nt stand the BS anymore in regards to the fees and the Qand A
Way to many members out there not being charged the same fees etc. TF may not be any better but at least they don't lie about it.....
So, end of Jan. and we are TF only once again....

I am going to be soooo happy about this when M-day rolls around.

Jim
 
You SAID you would...

and YOU DID IT!!
Florist owners HAVE to stick to their guns...this is NO LONGER some feely, goody industry...it's a fight for survival, and I believe that INDEPENDANT FLORISTS will win the war!
BOTH Tf and FTD have reached their "expiration dates", by basically pricing and horn blowing their way OUT of our arsenal of tools, and even though I FOR ONE, still firmly believe that FTD returns far more to it's members, than TF ever will, it's just a question of time, when BOTH have exhausted our benevolence, and our patience.....
Good job Jim....
Mike
 
Jim,
You had to do what is best for you and your business. I applaud you! It's funny though, we are considering dropping Teleflora instead of FTD. We do not like Teleflora's new ads screaming TELEFLORA.COM, the ever increasing line of holiday codified containers, the order-laundering for OG's through Teleflora's headquarters, the increased fees, etc.
Have a good holiday Jim!

Frank
 
Frank, what is the difference of what you are saying about teleflora and FTD? They are both the same in my book.
Luc
 
Like Luc says, they really are pretty much the same. At least with TF.com compared to FTD.com, TF is sending the orders out to florists instead of pushing the direct ship thing. I don't really have a problem with TF.com because my shop comes up when ever anyone searchs middletown. Unlike FTD.com where they take the order and send it to whomever they please. But what it really boils down to for me is the fact that FTD is screwing the members with this Q and A fee, they are all over the board with membership fees, anywhere from no monthly dues to $200 a month. The rep for this area is a real piece of work and the regional for this area lied through his teeth when I confronted him about the Q and A. The list goes on and you have to do what is right for your business. I am also really tired of the run around involved with trying to get an FTD order filled. For the last few months nearly every order that I have sent FTD has been kicked back because the shop is either not online, no longer a member, does not carry flowers (yes, I was told that by one FTD shop) etc. So I end up sending the order TF anyway.
And you have to admit, even though TF has too many codified containers, they are a whole lot better than what FTD has been coming up with lately. I'm nearly sold out of the Wysocki trees already, the bowl will sell itself out of the cooler and the reindeer hurrcane is going to do well. The FTD ornament is embarrasing, the white elegance container is a piece of junk. The Christmas cheer container is'nt bad and it will sell just because of the price point. But one good one out of the bunch is pretty pathetic. I have been pushing these stupid ornaments since they came in and all I get is " I can buy that at Wal mart for 99 cents....
 
Luc,

A) Most Teleflora/Dove orders we receive are under-priced. Most of our incoming FTD orders are not.
B) On advertisements, Teleflora ads boldly have TELEFLORA.COM in bold print, many times larger than the florists listings or the wording saying "visit your local Teleflorist". On FTD ads, they do mention FTD.COM but the wording is not accentuated like Teleflora's
C) FTD has conventions for "all" members to attend. Teleflora only has them for the top senders.
D) Teleflora is increasing the number of holiday codified containers, making it very difficult for we small-to-medium sized florists to carry such quantities. FTD has fewer containers plus they are more affordable and more profitable.
E) Most OG's use Teleflora, not FTD.
F) As was written about in detail on the "other board", the Teleflora.com site treats florists quite unfairly.
G) FTD has a bulletin board, Teleflora does not .
H) Teleflora does not allow us to send our FTD order-entry orders through the Dove system like they used to (we use Wings) so when we take an order on Wings OE or POS, we need to totally re-type the order on the Dove system
I) I have to go now... so, I won't finish this A-Z list!

Not to say you are not right though Luc. Every florist must look at the two major wire services and see what works best for them. For "us", the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Have a good holiday Luc!

Frank
 
Hmmm, Interesting observations Frank. I see most of this differently I guess.

A) just the oposite with us, I rarely have to ask for more money from TF, nearly always with FTD.

B) At least TF advertises....

C)no argument there

D)we are a small shop and I only take the containers that I want. I have never had a problem with TF doing a small mixed pack for me. Unlike FTD where I have to get more than I want.

E) again, not the same here. We get way more OG orders through FTD than through TF. In fact, I can't remember the last time I got one through TF..

F)don't have a problem with TF.com, but then again, there are not very many shops in our area so the rotation does'nt affect us

G) this is true

H) to me this is a non issue, why should TF let FTD orders go through the dove?

I) see ya :)
 
Not to mention the fact, did you know that with FTD.com and find a florist, if you do not have a paid website you do not even show up in the towns in your service area? When you type in Hidden Valley CA, which is where I live my shop does not even show up. The shop in the next town does, they have a paid website.
At least with TF when you go to find a florist your shop name comes up in the towns you service.
 
A) FTD buys the big OGs - they ARE an OG!! FTD just signed up National Grocers ( http://franchise.yourindependentgrocer.ca/ng/main.asp?page=60&sec=8 ) to add to their grocery list of supermarkets.

B) No complaint here ... 100% orders for floral product. I don't have a TF site, don't need one. Better than drop-ship garbage.

D) I've never carried a full line of containers from either WS. It's up to you to choose for your shop.

For the rest, I'll refer back to Jim's post above.
 
Originally posted by jbarb
Not to mention the fact, did you know that with FTD.com and find a florist, if you do not have a paid website you do not even show up in the towns in your service area? When you type in Hidden Valley CA, which is where I live my shop does not even show up. The shop in the next town does, they have a paid website.
At least with TF when you go to find a florist your shop name comes up in the towns you service.
Click to expand...

Remember that FTD's find a florist link disappears at busy times :)
 
Regardless of TFTD...

They are way out of control with their "model".

Florists really do not need them in todays world of business unless you like incoming orders.
Think of it as this....you can go on-line or pick up the phone in todays world and call or click into any Flowershop.

Years ago when there was no National Directory for the consumer of Flowers they relied on their towns flowershops and with that those WS VENDERS needed to take that away from the real Flower Providers..US!.

I will NOT or CAN NOT become a drop off point for "their" profit anymore regardless of doing REFUSALS on "their" inbound orders.

I wonder why this year that Teleflora seems to undercut the Fillers pricing on National Product by 5 cents? and this is the SMOKE DOLLARS not the TRUE DOLLARS.

I find this WS game becoming a DONATION CENTER....WE DONATE and THEY get the KUDOS.

One last thing...notice the TF Ornament this year...it has two Red Glass Ornaments in the arrangment...did they sent you these with the container???????
ADDED EXPENCE.

Sorry to get this off track with quitting FTD but it's time to QUIT THEM ALL and do business within the FLORISTS!.
 
Originally posted by Infinite
A) FTD buys the big OGs - they ARE an OG!! FTD just signed up National Grocers ( http://franchise.yourindependentgrocer.ca/ng/main.asp?page=60&sec=8 ) to add to their grocery list of supermarkets.

Yes, they have Sobey's also now. (IGA's) So now with NG, they will have Loblaws, Valu-mart's, etc. Plus Teleflora has Safeway.

Next time I get a chance, and get talking to the right people I'm going to be asking some people what the idea is with NG selling flowers and under cuting Florists.

Next Item for debate: KFC is getting into bashing flowers now. Commerical on ABC Thursday night has a guy saying "What guy buys flowers?" Havn't seen the same ad in Canada appear yet. I'm going to be talking to friends from NYC who sell ads to tv programing and ask why the hell they are targeting Florists and Flowers so often.
Click to expand...
 
H) Teleflora does not allow us to send our FTD order-entry orders through the Dove system like they used to (we use Wings) so when we take an order on Wings OE or POS, we need to totally re-type the order on the Dove system
Click to expand...

But, if you drop Teleflora, won't you also have to drop Wings?
 
Wings is an FTD system George.
 
I love it,
yesterday afternoon at 4pm I get a call from FTD.com Is there any possibility that you could make a delivery to xxxxx address. I said no, that they should try xyz florist after all that is the shop that has a FTD website and is advertising in my town. Well, they are not open on Saturdays. Then I suggested wxz florist, nope they do not make deliveries on Saturday. I said sorry, but I'm not going to go out of my way to make this right for you. Just wait until V-day and M-day. Hah!
 
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