FTD Domestic Retrans.....

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

there was/were FlowerChat users that ran into this problem earlier, though I don't remember who it was.....
Those of you that are FTD members...have you EVER recieved a Domestic Retrans order, where 1)you get the order from DR in the US, and 2) when making an inquiry as to this order's "source"..by way of ASK, you got an ANSwer by way of CANADIAN Retrans??
As we all know, several OG's have resorted to attempting to "decieve" unsuspecting fill shops, by masking their orders through DR or Teleflora's Florist Finder, but THIS order is somewhat unique.
We are NOW the ONLY shop that delivers into several outlying rural areas, that still maintains a wire service, and THIS ORDER kinda raised a red flag, when after my inquiries, the info that was RETURNED to us is "masking" it's origins.
Several OG's are having coverage problems, and I'm kinda SURPRISED at the number of REAL FLORISTS, that have FINALLY caught on, and are NOW starting to turn "the tide" so to speak.
I ALSO know, that many of you have indicated, that IF, there is NO sending shop "attached" to these orders, you WON'T FILL THEM!!
Is this true??...do you ABSOLUTELY REFUSE to fill them, or do you banter back and forth until you're satisfied, that the sender WILL GET full value for these orders??

Mike

 

[BOSS]

Several OG's are having coverage problems, and I'm kinda SURPRISED at the number of REAL FLORISTS, that have FINALLY caught on, and are NOW starting to turn "the tide" so to speak.

I ALSO know, that many of you have indicated, that IF, there is NO sending shop "attached" to these orders, you WON'T FILL THEM!!
Is this true??...do you ABSOLUTELY REFUSE to fill them, or do you banter back and forth until you're satisfied, that the sender WILL GET full value for these orders??

Mike

Yep, thats what I am hearing as well. Some of the SFO's are running into fulfillment issues...

There should be no need for DR to send anyone with a Merc an order, thus I would be suspect of any of these type of orders...and YES Mikey, anything that comes in here, labled "SENDING FLORIST ONLY" is FORwarded back to where it came from....

 

[sunny]

I just forward them back to the sender , or if the merc won't allow it to be forwarded, send ask message to let them know they can cancel at their speed as order won't be filled or rejected , refuse to pay for something I don't want , have asked FTD to put an ignore system in like Ryan has here so that their orders can't reach you in the first place. Have also send letters to some of the bigger Og's like 800, pro flowers informing them that we will no longer acknowledge anything from them , send to us at your own risk, we will not even forward them back to you, seems to have worked , they call first now to be told where to go, still waiting for them to put one on the merc.

 

[Luc]

It takes time but we are making headway...

I still get Domestic retrans orders and I get to pick and choose the one that is profitable.
THe best is when I ask where the orders is coming from they seem they can't find the answer to my question. SO it goes like either you tell me or you find someone else to fill your order. If I am not satisfied...sorry....
Don't you Love being in the driver seat....
I do...
Luc

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

Don't get me wrong....

I think Domestic Retrans is an awesome tool, BUT, during these "suspicious" times, I would hope that enough information be given to the "fill florist", EACH and EVERY TIME, about the source, and sending shop location!
Both FTD and Teleflora, are learning the vital importance of the same day fill florists in the grand scheme of things, FTD learned this much sooner, made the mistakes, sooner, and is now out the gate sooner!!
There ARE improvements necessary, IF WE are going to collectively make this work, AND, I truly believe that the "wire service wars" are coming to an end!
WE, the REAL FLORISTS, need to realize the important roles that the order gathering mechanisms have taught us, on how NOT to do business...that WE will NOT tolerate consumer order transgressions any more, and IF WE the REAL FLORISTS continue to do, that which we do, the CONSUMER, WILL BE the ultimate winner, and THAT is positive news for our fractured industry.
I applaud FTD for learning this lesson, I'll applaud Teleflora IF they can figure it out, and I REALLY APPLAUD all you REAL FLORISTS, and venues like FlowerChat, for having the "cajones" to begin the battle of addressing our floral industry's weaknesses, AND remembering to "TARGET" our most precious lifeline.....OUR REAL FLORIST CUSTOMERS!!

 

[CHR]

I would hope that enough information be given to the "fill florist", EACH and EVERY TIME, about the source, and sending shop location!

I would hope enough information be given to consumers, each and every time, about the source, actual nature of the services being sold, and sending shop or OG location!

Both FTD and Teleflora, are learning the vital importance of the same day fill florists in the grand scheme of things, FTD learned this much sooner, made the mistakes, sooner, and is now out the gate sooner!!

Out of the gate doing what?

WE, the REAL FLORISTS, need to realize the important roles that the order gathering mechanisms have taught us, on how NOT to do business

Right now, I feel taught that if my ads lie ('your local florist' 'we deliver to 'your city'' 'free delivery') that I can get $6-8 rebates instead of being suspended.

that WE will NOT tolerate consumer order transgressions any more,

You and I won't, but there seem to be plenty of clueless florists, complaining they can't pay their bills and filling boat loads of these every day.

I applaud FTD for learning this lesson, I'll applaud Teleflora IF they can figure it out

I'd applaud both of them if they simply enforced their membership rules. Just got our new YP's with an ad from Flowers Sent Today that displays both the FTD and Teleflora logos with absolutely no city of location on it (except for my town and those that surround it.) 'Abbott's' 800-440-1258, has a big FTD logo, no location indicated anywhere. (That site features primarily TF product, BTW.)

Mikey, help me out here...why do you feel FTD is making positive strides in this area?

 

[CHR]

Bumping this 'cuz I'd really like to hear Mikey's response to my above questions.

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

as "words of wisdom"......

Bumping this 'cuz I'd really like to hear Mikey's response to my above questions.

I learned a long time ago, to express MY OWN opinions about wire services in general, and the ONE I chose, FTD, I chose because FTD has almost completed it's mission to convince REAL FLORISTS, that IT is the wire service to belong to!
FTD's significance, to the florist industry, has ALWAYS been that as the "leading edge" of what it "represents" to the florist industry, and IT HAS INDEED made huge changes in the way it has to do business!
EVERY LEADING change in this beloved industry of ours, seemed to invlove that which FTD did FIRST, and "others" followed!.
When the FIRST florist only technology was required, FTD filled the need!
Here in Canada, when florists had to face the unknown GST, it was FTD that put measures in place to effect change in our shops.
In the US, FTD was FIRST, in offering state and regional mini meetings, and mass conventions for networking purposes.
When the internet was in it's "infancy" it was FTD that first offered a template of sites for florists not quite ready to sink thousands of dollars into custom designed web sites of their own.
I watched as many loyal, long term FTD florists, condemn FTD for being bold enough to make changes FIRST, suffer the consequences of over exhuberance, lose a pile of membership, and be declared a "sinking ship", as all those "other" wire service rushed to fill that void with "free" and low cost offers of this, that, and whatever it took...it STILL continues today...and then there were two!
ONE SAID " I'm going to make changes, you will NOT recognize this organization in a few years, and it's probably going to hurt you in the short run"......
The "OTHER" said..." don't worry, be happy, we'll NEVER DO TO YOU, what that "OTHER" guy is doing to you!!".....and their numbers swelled up like a "honeymoon suite"...so much so, that suddenly there were so many of THEIR members, that NO ONE was making any money at it!!
The ws that starts with an F, said" we KNOW that we are going to lose business for you because of the internet...we're gonna hafta find ways to augment our business", the "OTHER" said, we will NEVER compete against our own members, because we have ALL of them......
Here is my own lesson......IF YOU, a REAL FLORIST, attends ONE MAJOR FTD function...convention in the US, or OFC here in Canada, your BASE COSTS of being a member of FTD is returned to you....justify THAT.