Somewhere in the cobwebs of my mind, I remember a thread about funeral homes with a link to FTD.com on the obituaries. Now I can't find it. One of our local funeral homes now does that, and I'm wondering what the advantage to them is to do that. I want to be informed before I ask them about it. Any ideas?
FTD and funeral homes
- Thread starter Richard
- Start date
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
bootcampguy
Well-Known Member
I figured they get some percentage - I'm going to try to find out how much. And here the FTD rep just called me again wanting us back. In our little town it probably isn't too much siphoned off, but it still bothers me.
anytimeflowers
Linda
Richard, I think this may be what you are looking for.
http://www.flowerchat.com/forums/showthread.php/31627-FTD........going-after-funeral-business
http://www.flowerchat.com/forums/showthread.php/31627-FTD........going-after-funeral-business
It is much worse that the original news release,
They have also secured placement on all of the websites of SCI the leading corporation of funeral homes in the US.
I recently was asked by a local "Dignity" provider if I was FTD as they have them on their website. I informed them that I was but that I did not accept their Dot com orders as they were way undervalued and their discount was too much for us to accept. They were very understanding but the websites are handled at the corporate level and money is the only factor. Good luck to the saps who take those discounted underprced orders and get the complaints, more FTD shops will be weeded out and they will have a network on senders who do not fill and newbies who don't know any better, until they lose their shirts, nice way to run a business. Can you say Model for Failure"?
Unbelievable,
Keith
They have also secured placement on all of the websites of SCI the leading corporation of funeral homes in the US.
I recently was asked by a local "Dignity" provider if I was FTD as they have them on their website. I informed them that I was but that I did not accept their Dot com orders as they were way undervalued and their discount was too much for us to accept. They were very understanding but the websites are handled at the corporate level and money is the only factor. Good luck to the saps who take those discounted underprced orders and get the complaints, more FTD shops will be weeded out and they will have a network on senders who do not fill and newbies who don't know any better, until they lose their shirts, nice way to run a business. Can you say Model for Failure"?
Unbelievable,
Keith
Rhonda
Well-Known Member
Have a nice talk with your funeral director. If their site was "taken over" by Batesville, they have the right to list their local florists. My FD and I had a big discussion way back regarding the big guys controlling their business as well as mine. If your FDs are Independant..... then show them how Independant you are. If you're dealing with the greedy corps...... well, market your area, quickly and effectively for family funeral work... AND get your own website on the first natural search with google, yahoo, bing etc for funeral flowers your town........
LOTAKIDS
Well-Known Member
Yes.. they are now having everything sent throught a big Wholesaler/Retailer in Everett about 16 miles away. The filler fools are now delivering everything into our area from all the wire services. Anyway.. I am not bitter no not at all..
I delivered a wonderful family piece to the funeral home on Sunday.. After taking the pictures of the amazing flowers I made, the FD asked if I was going to add Purdy and Kerr with Walters when I published my picture.. My answer "Because you are no longer doing business with me, I can't promote you" But I will be promoting my business!"
Here are pictures of the beautiful arrangements that were brought by the above company. The Lily arrangement is from my competitor in town. The carnation arrangments were ugly. The vase looked like it had been knocked over and put back together by the delivery driver.
I delivered a wonderful family piece to the funeral home on Sunday.. After taking the pictures of the amazing flowers I made, the FD asked if I was going to add Purdy and Kerr with Walters when I published my picture.. My answer "Because you are no longer doing business with me, I can't promote you" But I will be promoting my business!"
Here are pictures of the beautiful arrangements that were brought by the above company. The Lily arrangement is from my competitor in town. The carnation arrangments were ugly. The vase looked like it had been knocked over and put back together by the delivery driver.
Flowerchatter03
Co-Owner and Floral Composer
The same thing happened to us some time ago. The local funeral home (owned by Stewart Enterprises) used to have a link to our website. A few years ago, they took down their own local site and went with the same site for all their homes (which are in the 100's or maybe 1000's). They started with 800flowers, then switched to FTD. Now they have some other generic looking company.
We are the only shop in our town and we never got any orders through 800 flowers for any funeral deliveries to that home. We haven't been bloomnet since last November but we were bloomnet for the whole time that site was up.
They also had some type of food shipping company on their site also. Customers can order some kind of premade food that is Fed Exed to the family. Don't know how all that has worked out. I would imagine not very well.
We are the only shop in our town and we never got any orders through 800 flowers for any funeral deliveries to that home. We haven't been bloomnet since last November but we were bloomnet for the whole time that site was up.
They also had some type of food shipping company on their site also. Customers can order some kind of premade food that is Fed Exed to the family. Don't know how all that has worked out. I would imagine not very well.
And how about the flowers in a box. One of our local funeral homes received a wreath in a box, broken and wilted. The FD called one of our local wholesales and asked if they would repair it. I wonder how many shops they called before they called the wholesale. Of course, our local wholesaler refused. Sorry for the family of the deceased. Broken flowers are no way to send comfort to grieving families.
Flowerchatter03
Co-Owner and Floral Composer
Maybe they should have called the company that it was sent through. It was their responsibility to ensure the product was shipped as promised. That company could have called a local flower shop and footed the bill for the repair.
anytimeflowers
Linda
This is a tough one, but I think if I'd have had the time, I would have repaired it if it was a very local funeral home.
My thinking is that continuing as much of a relationship as possible with the funeral directors is important. There are any number of things that may happen, including FTD no longer offering these partnerships. I would want to keep myself as an option for if that partnership suddenly dissolves.
My thinking is that continuing as much of a relationship as possible with the funeral directors is important. There are any number of things that may happen, including FTD no longer offering these partnerships. I would want to keep myself as an option for if that partnership suddenly dissolves.
I don't know, Linda. What that is doing is enabling the drop shippers to continue to ship without repercussions-if the local florist "fixes it" then the sending customer and funeral home have no reason to complain or stop using/accepting this service. I understand your desire to help out the funeral home and the family-but you're making the drop ship look good when they failed miserably-and should be held accountable.
Just curious: whic funeral home is doing this? Is it possible that it might be my ex brother in law? Smith's?
anytimeflowers
Linda
I know Sandy, that's why I really thought about it. I mean, I REALLY thought about it.
I came to the conclusion that funeral directors are probably complaining to the deal-makers anyway, especially those that have been forced into it when they don't want to. I'm sure there ARE repercussions. The FDs are going to be pushing and perhaps eventually get that "law" revoked. I would want to be in the position of being the shop that helped them in a bad situation.
jmo
No, it's not him. Phil doesn't even have a web presence at all!