Those are words that go along with being in the middle of peoples money, and the end product.
If your going to take their money, those quotes go with the territory.
FTD delivers quality?
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Those are words that go along with being in the middle of peoples money, and the end product.
If your going to take their money, those quotes go with the territory.
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Ding ding ding...we have another winner (and a thought I had not come up with on this game...
How many florists will be willing to pay a penalty and also send out an apology design? My guess is ZERO... many times an apology arr has saved the day for me and my customer...
Yep, ain't it cool
Things are really getting interesting again...just in time for summer :rofl:
Boss, quit with the dark outlook. This new policy will make the industry better. FTD would never do anything to harm florists.Ding ding ding...we have another winner (and a thought I had not come up with on this game...
How many florists will be willing to pay a penalty and also send out an apology design? My guess is ZERO... many times an apology arr has saved the day for me and my customer...
Yep, ain't it cool
Things are really getting interesting again...just in time for summer :rofl:
Bloomz, I truly get the point(s) you are making. I just wonder why you don't acknowledge that this is more for protecting FTD.com than anything else. If it was to work for florist like you, and other large sending shops, they could and should have done something much sooner. And they could do something with repeat offender shops much sooner than they do.
To me, there are two different arguments here in this thread. Two different sides of the coin. Your original post, and the entire FTD delayed response program. And the "what about the those of us that fill, and where's our justice?"
My own personal view is that the delayed response program has some very real merits. And it may curtail some underhanded practices like sitting on orders. It is getting attention here and elsewhere. But I also feel that it discounts concerns of the other very real aspects of the business. Like the delayed response to an ask. Like cheap orders with a "free" vase. Like the fact that FTD.com is it's own worst offender of sending inappropriate, underfunded, no second choice orders. Where is FTD's Appropiate Sending Program? On the five page slimcast I received this morning where is the mention of the very real concerns filling florist have? Could they not fit in one paragraph that says, "Here at FTD we are committed to enforcing our guidelines in a fair manner to both sending and filling florists. In a few weeks we will also be rolling out a program addressing concerns regarding the proper sending of orders." or something to that effect? Where is the "This is SO important to us, that we will waive the $1.25 transmission fee for all rejects sent in a timely manner" ?? Instead there is a line that clearly states that the delayed response fee will be assessed in addition to the transmission fee.
You seem to suggest jealousy as a reason for people complaining about this policy. I hope you don't really mean it that way. 'Cause not everyone is jealous of a high sending shop. Some of us realize that higher sending shops are in better area, or have worked harder to get those orders. Some of appreciate that fact, and appreciate the concerns that you have regarding lousy fillers. We just want some one to realize that fillers get the short side of the stick, and that the industry needs us too. And that our concerns are just as valid, and should be addressed just as strongly.
But the real bottom line is this, FTD is not concerned whether an order from your shop in Corvallis is filled well by me in PA. They are concerned about the FTD.com order they got in my own neighborhood is going to be filled well by me. And the very next program they roll out will target shops that reject too many orders, regardless of how timely they are handled. And the program after that will target shops that refuse to handle FTD.com orders. Those programs will be tacked on to your statement somewhere near the quality asssurance, and low resiprocity fees. They just won't call it what it is, which is we are punishing you for realizing that our company is screwing you over, $1.25 and one free vase at a time. My resentment of the delayed respone program comes in realizing that FTD is going to roll out a similar policy for appropriate sending just about the time he@@ freezes over, and right before never. Not because someone else's company is bigger than mine.
To me, there are two different arguments here in this thread. Two different sides of the coin. Your original post, and the entire FTD delayed response program. And the "what about the those of us that fill, and where's our justice?"
My own personal view is that the delayed response program has some very real merits. And it may curtail some underhanded practices like sitting on orders. It is getting attention here and elsewhere. But I also feel that it discounts concerns of the other very real aspects of the business. Like the delayed response to an ask. Like cheap orders with a "free" vase. Like the fact that FTD.com is it's own worst offender of sending inappropriate, underfunded, no second choice orders. Where is FTD's Appropiate Sending Program? On the five page slimcast I received this morning where is the mention of the very real concerns filling florist have? Could they not fit in one paragraph that says, "Here at FTD we are committed to enforcing our guidelines in a fair manner to both sending and filling florists. In a few weeks we will also be rolling out a program addressing concerns regarding the proper sending of orders." or something to that effect? Where is the "This is SO important to us, that we will waive the $1.25 transmission fee for all rejects sent in a timely manner" ?? Instead there is a line that clearly states that the delayed response fee will be assessed in addition to the transmission fee.
You seem to suggest jealousy as a reason for people complaining about this policy. I hope you don't really mean it that way. 'Cause not everyone is jealous of a high sending shop. Some of us realize that higher sending shops are in better area, or have worked harder to get those orders. Some of appreciate that fact, and appreciate the concerns that you have regarding lousy fillers. We just want some one to realize that fillers get the short side of the stick, and that the industry needs us too. And that our concerns are just as valid, and should be addressed just as strongly.
But the real bottom line is this, FTD is not concerned whether an order from your shop in Corvallis is filled well by me in PA. They are concerned about the FTD.com order they got in my own neighborhood is going to be filled well by me. And the very next program they roll out will target shops that reject too many orders, regardless of how timely they are handled. And the program after that will target shops that refuse to handle FTD.com orders. Those programs will be tacked on to your statement somewhere near the quality asssurance, and low resiprocity fees. They just won't call it what it is, which is we are punishing you for realizing that our company is screwing you over, $1.25 and one free vase at a time. My resentment of the delayed respone program comes in realizing that FTD is going to roll out a similar policy for appropriate sending just about the time he@@ freezes over, and right before never. Not because someone else's company is bigger than mine.
Chezbloom
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PhillyPhlorist
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MAN - I sit down for a quiet cup of java and peruse FC, and BOOM...here we go... Gonna give this Multi Thread thing a run...
Totally, Bloomzie. WHY are some griping???!!! If you believe it benefits .COM, then DON'T FILL .com orders! Stay away from their game.
I too am not getting those 19.95 orders, and Frankly, don't care about them. My demographic area doesn't go for them...my walk in sales prove that...
I disagree, Cathy. I see the penalties as a form of deterrent - get your act together or you'll be compensating the sending florists. THAT SAID, yes - even the most organized shops screw up. We fouled up on an order - just misfiled...human error. We made good on it with the sending shop and the recip. Everyone understood and was satisfied. No "fine" in this case as the order never REJ'd.
If anything, maybe this will help florists become more willing to help solve problems, rather than just reject them.
You being funny here SFOX? Some DO think the new program will help the industry. I do. Maybe it will weed out the ones who really don't care about filling orders correctly.
Ivy - Don't totally agree here. Yes, one can EASILY argue that the successful filling of .COM orders started this. But, consider this: do you have any idea how many ADJ's go through the network due to florists not filling other FLORIST orders timely and correctly? Hint: lots. The "large" shops are a small minority in the total florist population of FTD. Something like this has been kicked around for years now. It's just taken this long for someone to say "we're gonna do it."
I wonder how all of you would feel if 800 or TEL were the first to do this. I hope the same feelings of animosity towards them...
- Herb
Totally, Bloomzie. WHY are some griping???!!! If you believe it benefits .COM, then DON'T FILL .com orders! Stay away from their game.
I too am not getting those 19.95 orders, and Frankly, don't care about them. My demographic area doesn't go for them...my walk in sales prove that...
I disagree, Cathy. I see the penalties as a form of deterrent - get your act together or you'll be compensating the sending florists. THAT SAID, yes - even the most organized shops screw up. We fouled up on an order - just misfiled...human error. We made good on it with the sending shop and the recip. Everyone understood and was satisfied. No "fine" in this case as the order never REJ'd.
If anything, maybe this will help florists become more willing to help solve problems, rather than just reject them.
You being funny here SFOX? Some DO think the new program will help the industry. I do. Maybe it will weed out the ones who really don't care about filling orders correctly.
Ivy - Don't totally agree here. Yes, one can EASILY argue that the successful filling of .COM orders started this. But, consider this: do you have any idea how many ADJ's go through the network due to florists not filling other FLORIST orders timely and correctly? Hint: lots. The "large" shops are a small minority in the total florist population of FTD. Something like this has been kicked around for years now. It's just taken this long for someone to say "we're gonna do it."
I wonder how all of you would feel if 800 or TEL were the first to do this. I hope the same feelings of animosity towards them...
- Herb
LJVF
Well-Known Member
I would like to add that the penalties will actually create more avenues (in theory) for the sending florist to appease the customer. If the filling florist is not willing to cooperate on their "screw up", the sending florist will now have the funding to have an alternate florist send an apology bouquet or a new one all together.
Ivy - did you miss this part of my post?
Some seem really irrationally blinded by passion here.
Don't like it? don't participate! - duh.
Phillyflorist, I have no animosity to FTD over the others, I am FTD and Teleflora, and was once stupid enough to have all three w/1-800. I am your typical, learn as you go(nearly broke) florist, who made the mistakes along the way with wire services, and dependence on them. I am calling it as I see it, nothing less nothing more. I do have a building animosity to all things FTD.com, and that is from experience too. I think this program is being rolled out to combat some evils in the industry, and deservedly so. I also happen to think that no one really cared about these evils until it started to cut hard in the FTD/FTD.com bottom line. I don't think they cared about good florist like you, bloomz, and many others enough to put a stop to this sooner. I think they care about themselves, first and foremost and florist in your position will be helped by the move, and should be. I think they give good lip service to the top 100, hence the advance notice to them regarding the program. I think the top 100 will benefit from this, as will many a sending shop. I am not in any way disputing the ADJ problem, the need for shop accountablilty, the right to fine members into compliance, the importance of good receiving accountablility, and due dilligence in handling another florist order and customer. Those are all good things. I am asking for an equally good accountablity of sending. I am questioning when that program is being rolled out. I want to see what penalties are being proposed for lack of second choice, inadequate funding of orders, poor timing on ask responses. I want someone to tell me why if quality and not money is the goal for this program that the $1.25 transmission fee is not waived on a proper reject. If you look at CHR's thread on the conference call to United online, you will see in the transcript of the call, that 90% of FTD's consumer based income is through FTD.com. I see that FTD every day effort is to expand FTD.com in every market, yours and mine, in every online site, in every partnership. FTD.com is also FTD's largest sending florist. So FTD.com has much to gain as a sending shop in this program. And that means FTD has much to gain. I'm sorry, I just don't believe quality is the underlying motivation on this program. And I am betting there will soon be a way to force shops to take FTD.com orders, and that it will come with a penalty, or hidden fee structure, or assessment/assurance program.
I am one of the shops it will affect. I am a high filling shop, and too reliant on wire service orders. I have filled for FTD.com, and thought I needed the business. I am unsure of dropping all wire services. I am the typical shop in the wire service market, not the top 100. I am needed by the wire services to fill the other half of the equation of placing an order. I have at times been uneducated, naive, and dependant on the wires. I am many a florist on this board who don't admit to that. I am exactly who the wire service needs to continue filling orders. I am not a slacker florist. I am not sitting on anyone's orders, or hurting my fellow florist. Where is my justice? Where is my program? Where is my assurance? or my reward? There isn't one. And there's not one coming any time soon. Because the worst of the senders belongs to the company enforcing the rules, and they are getting a bigger piece of the pie everyday. And they just changed the game to their advantage again, and along the way they'll help shops like yours, which will work until shops like mine are all gone from the service. Then you will have to fill those orders for low $$, and free vases. JMO
I am one of the shops it will affect. I am a high filling shop, and too reliant on wire service orders. I have filled for FTD.com, and thought I needed the business. I am unsure of dropping all wire services. I am the typical shop in the wire service market, not the top 100. I am needed by the wire services to fill the other half of the equation of placing an order. I have at times been uneducated, naive, and dependant on the wires. I am many a florist on this board who don't admit to that. I am exactly who the wire service needs to continue filling orders. I am not a slacker florist. I am not sitting on anyone's orders, or hurting my fellow florist. Where is my justice? Where is my program? Where is my assurance? or my reward? There isn't one. And there's not one coming any time soon. Because the worst of the senders belongs to the company enforcing the rules, and they are getting a bigger piece of the pie everyday. And they just changed the game to their advantage again, and along the way they'll help shops like yours, which will work until shops like mine are all gone from the service. Then you will have to fill those orders for low $$, and free vases. JMO
avenuegardensflorist
Well-Known Member
Ivy, thanks. This is the way it is for the small shop who cannot afford the continued garbage fees they collect.
That was actually my point Herb. If they really wanted to help the industry, they would use the money they are collecting from every florist in their quality program.
And then they would get rid of the florist if the florist is really that bad.
But, the truth be told. they like the revenue stream they get from each and every florist and they view bad florists money in the same light as a good florists money.
PhillyPhlorist
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Yes, but I believe they are changing their tune on this thinking. I think some of the Brass at FTD are seeing the light, where some florists are bad news - not filling orders correctly, and actually hurting the industry when they think they are only hurting FTD (.COM). These are the folks they are targeting.
What still puzzles me is that Sending is EVERYTHING to the w/s. Why are they focusing on the Receiving end? Thoughts are: yea - ok, ruling out the "it's all for FTD.COM!!!!" comments:
me thinks they are priming the "brand" to be the premier SENDING wire service: where your SENT orders are treated quickly and with total support of the filling florist. Where the chances of a non-delivery for whatever reason are greatly reduced. Where "Send FTD" actually MEANS something again...
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BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Herb, I wish I could believe that but I see what they have done in the past and they are mostly all talk, lots of money and no results.
Herb - they focus on sending because that's what FTD.com does. It sounds like you really believe (hope) that this leads to something good.
I hope you're right--but I don't see it.
Ted - I see it - if you spent 800 Million on a company don't you think you would have a bit of interest in good performaance?
Herb, I do too, but some are so blinded by passionate ftd hatred they can't possibly see any benefit to the industry in this.
I see it clearly, tho it still needs some tweaks. I really think an ask should freeze the time clock, and that orders shouldn't autoforward to florists that have already rejected or forwarded it for whatever reason. OR - sending bad addresses or no phone numbers, or a few other things.
Doing something about the sending side needs to be done too, also for the benefit of the industry. I hope they are open minded to that as well. He11 they can always waive the penalties on themselves, duh.
sending flowers needs to be a trusted way of conveying your emotions across the miles for us still to be a gift of choice and distinction.
If the non-professional florists don't get it or like it they should hit the freaking bricks - we don't want our orders going to them anyway.
Awww, no fair. I haven't seen anyone dismiss supporters by saying they're "so blinded by passion for commissions & rebates they can't possibly see the harm FTD has done and continues to do to the industry."
I hope you're not implying that florists who think this new program is ill-conceived and heavily weighted to favor FTD are 'non-professional'. Some florists whom I very much respect have weighed in against it and I certainly consider them pros.
Mikey the Flower Guy
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Herb...you KNOW we love you RIGHT???...loyalty is earned.....FTD has lost the "right" to "ask" you for your loyalty...it has to EARN IT!!
They are starting out on a great foot...don't you think??
Mikey the Flower Guy
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mea culpa except I know very well the harm they have done, and that very harm is causing the blindness.
I remember a quote sometime from somewhere "It's understandable that one would view the supposed reformation of a known offender with considerable skepticism, but that is no excuse in the case of positive steps being taken."
Excuse me sir I man Maam, I made no such inference...
There's a big difference between those that theorize about, talk about it and critique it, than those that don't won't or can't perform professionally.
But you knew that...
what a fun discussion!
cuz
opinions vary
so
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