Fraudulent directory listing

[Holly]

Something new I learned from FTD...

There's a shop in Chicago that's moving to my town. They're a current member and I guess that's all that matters.

As of today the address they're moving into is a constuction office. It's a house that was renovated to be an office for a construction company. It also has a "For Sale" sign in the front yard...not a "Sold" sign.
By my estimate is would take a week for the construction office to pack up and move out. Another few weeks (minimum) to turn it into a retail establishment...clean it up, paint, move in a cooler, computers, display pieces and set-up shop. Here I'm just guessing, but I would think they would be working with alot of unknowns because it's not currently a retail shop. All of this can only add up to more time to open the doors. In addition to having a closing. The current owner is still showing it to prospective buyers.

Here is my eye-opener of the week. Their website (through FTD) shows the physical address to be in my town (WRONG). And, FTD has allowed them to list in the Nov/Dec/Jan directory in my town. Not as an also-served by, but as an actual shop in my town.
Now...while I have no doubt this shop will be a valuable asset to my town (IF and when they ever move), I don't appreciate them getting to show their address as a real storefront until they've opened their doors and are ready to do business according to the fine guidelines that FTD as set for us all.
I wanted to let all of you know about this practice...seems to me I could say I "plan" to move to _______fill in the blank and get a new listing and website. Beware...I might be coming to your town soon.

 

[ROBSWF]

Ok

I don't appreciate them getting to show their address as a real storefront until they've opened their doors and are ready to do business according to the fine guidelines that FTD as set for us all..

Everything at FTD is for sale these days. Including, but not limited to ETHICS. You have to get used to it. These are the way things have been. The way things are. And the way things will continue to be!!!

 

[hcflorist]

Something new I learned from FTD...

I don't appreciate them getting to show their address as a real storefront until they've opened their doors and are ready to do business according to the fine guidelines that FTD as set for us all.

Hate to burst your bubble, but I'm gonna update you to 2005. There AREN'T any "guidelines" any more. The ONLY requirement that either FTD or TF has had for some time is a GOOD CHECK.

Inasmuch as ALL of the wire services have let every skimmer skammer in the world masquerade as LOCAL FLORISTS on MAIN STREET of YOUR TOWN in every retail advertising medium you can think of, I don't know why you'd be so upset at this. If they want discounted wire orders bad enough to pull this stunt, I'd let 'em have 'em. I just can't figure out why they'd want 'em without some way of filling them. Might be kinda tough to send an order that's already discounted to somebody REAL at a discount.

 

[carol]

Just asking but if you send this florist an order and it takes it and then sends a like order out to a real local florist.. this florist just made money..like the very high rebate?? right..no loss because 20% in and 20% made on out going..so it made the rebate without anything more than a computer and about 2 minutes of time..not bad for what $6.50 or more??

 

[hcflorist]

Just asking but if you send this florist an order and it takes it and then sends a like order out to a real local florist.. this florist just made money..like the very high rebate?? right..no loss because 20% in and 20% made on out going..so it made the rebate without anything more than a computer and about 2 minutes of time..not bad for what $6.50 or more??

Maybe I'm tired but the way I did the math, assuming a $6.50 rebate, it was more like $1.50. Hardly worth the effort, I'd say. Probably cost them more than that in their PPC campaign. And that's assuming a $6.50 rebate.

Only way I see to make this work is to skim or curtail (or whatever you choose to call it) the heck out of it. Like send the orders you get back out at 80% or so. And how long do you think that will work? Let's see now . . . in today's wire service world . . . probably as long as the wire services last . . . and there are filling florists dumb enough to fill the orders. Cause in today's wire service world, if the wire service is sharing in the spoils, no matter how the "spoils" are obtained, it's "ethical" and a "very good idea".