FTD Fail

[Chezbloom]

Our local funeral director doesn't put these arrangements together or even remove them from the box. He just hands the box to the family as is. He said he wants people to understand what they are paying for and see what they get in it's virgin form. I even had a person who ordered a drop ship to go to the funeral home show up and upon not seeing anything from them asked the funeral director where it was and he handed them the box. They were so embarrassed that they brought it to me (I am just a block away) and offered to pay me to do something with it. I did the best I could with what was in the box and then added and subtracted until I had something nice for them and did it at no charge. They are now good customers of mine. Happy ending for me and indecent exposure for Proflowers!

I'm glad you could help! I don't know if its cuz I had PMS one day or what but I went to deliver to a funeral service at a church and I saw some Proflowers boxes sitting on the alter and it made me cry. No, people do NOT realize what they are sending when they get something drop shipped.

 

[BOSS]

But... I wonder if this was direct ship

ding ding DING we have a winner...

 

[bloomz]

Seconding that..it is drop ship only, not from a real florist.
and I don't think he stated that in his blog either. But he did state FTD florists....(he doesn't know FTD isn't a real florist)

And that's the crux of this matter, and a reason not to shout it from the rooftops or help popularize it any more.

I disagree strongly with helping propel a horrendous floral purchase into popularity. Let it die.

It will make us all look bad and only spread negativity about our industry.

Like it or not (of course I don't) - FTD represents our industry.

 

[enchantedfloristasheville]

"Just because that's the way it is doesn't mean that's the way it should be." It's up to each of us individually to speak up for our industry and educate the public to the best of our ability. As long as we don't speak up these type of things will continue to happen and continue to be blamed on FLORISTS. If we want the public to know the difference between an OG (or drop-ship company) and an independent florist then it's our responsibility to speak up.

 

[duanermb]

And that's the crux of this matter, and a reason not to shout it from the rooftops or help popularize it any more.

I disagree strongly with helping propel a horrendous floral purchase into popularity. Let it die.

It will make us all look bad and only spread negativity about our industry.

Like it or not (of course I don't) - FTD represents our industry.

I respectfully disagree with letting it die. Don't shout out that ordering flowers sucks, shout it out that Professional Florists will provide the service that you expect for your money.

FTD doesn't represent our shop what-so-ever. We are a local professional florist, which FTD will never be able to say they are.

We have our own brand, as do they. In our local market, we have a stronger brand than they do. You don't order flowers from FTD for your wife's office downtown. If you are away on business and are ordering flowers for your wife's office downtown, our brand is still better, and I intend to promote our brand and that of other local florists till I am blue in the face. If nothing else, at least maybe we will educate local consumers about this. This guy was sitting at home and ordering flowers online. As he said in his post, had he known better, he would have used a local florist.

Thankfully (through our own good service and product) we don't get bad blogs or reviews. That is something we will use to our advantage as any good business would do. I don't know any other industry that wouldn't use their competitors bad service and product against them. I don't know why this would be any different.

 

[BOSS]

And that's the crux of this matter, and a reason not to shout it from the rooftops or help popularize it any more.

I disagree strongly with helping propel a horrendous floral purchase into popularity. Let it die.

It will make us all look bad and only spread negativity about our industry.

Like it or not (of course I don't) - FTD represents our industry.

Dang I'm glad I have this quote saved for posterity...

Jon...when ya gonna pull THEIR logo of your stuff? :rofl:

I did 3 years ago!

 

[enchantedfloristasheville]

Well, If y'all will go back to the guys blog and read down at least I made a little bit of difference. He changed the title to FTD.com Fail. As I said previously, here's a chance for us to speak up in a somewhat more public place. Will you?

 

[LJVF]

And that's the crux of this matter, and a reason not to shout it from the rooftops or help popularize it any more.

I disagree strongly with helping propel a horrendous floral purchase into popularity. Let it die.

It will make us all look bad and only spread negativity about our industry.

Like it or not (of course I don't) - FTD represents our industry.

FTD doesn't represent our shop what-so-ever. We are a local professional florist, which FTD will never be able to say they are.

But, FTD does represent thousands of florists across the nation. As long as a florist carries the FTD logo, it doesn't make sense for them to publicly call out FTD. Would you expect Toyota dealers to expose Toyota every time a lemon was sold?

I agree with bloomz, I'm not so sure this is the best way to educate the public, because to many consumers FTD is synonymous with florists.

 

[bloomz]

The case in point is that he blamed FTD FLORISTS for this drop shipped item that had nothing to do with a florist.

That would be me - I am one.

Would you expect Toyota dealers to expose Toyota every time a lemon was sold?

to many consumers FTD is synonymous with florists.

Eggzactry.

FTD doesn't represent our shop what-so-ever. We are a local professional florist, which FTD will never be able to say they are.

Duane - would you please tell that to 800Flowers who advertises in our phone book "We are your neighborhood florist"?

 

[duanermb]

The case in point is that he blamed FTD FLORISTS for this drop shipped item that had nothing to do with a florist.

That would be me - I am one

Duane - would you please tell that to 800Flowers who advertises in our phone book "We are your neighborhood florist"?

I didn't say that they weren't trying to infringe on our brand with misleading advertising, just that they are a much less powerful brand, locally.

 

[duanermb]

But, FTD does represent thousands of florists across the nation. As long as a florist carries the FTD logo, it doesn't make sense for them to publicly call out FTD. Would you expect Toyota dealers to expose Toyota every time a lemon was sold?

I agree with bloomz, I'm not so sure this is the best way to educate the public, because to many consumers FTD is synonymous with florists.

The fact that too many consumers consider FTD synonymous with florists is the problem. FTD is the brand that is recognized, not FTD.com or FTD Florists. 99.99% of people would not know that distinction.

Trying to split FTD into 2 separate brands is not going to work. Promoting local flower shops is going to work.

In my opinion, any brand that is trying to sell against me in my city is my competitor, and fair game. Any local florists in other areas providing true value to their customers is my partner and friend.

(That being said, I have never written anything negative against any of the local florists here, and never will)

Added:

Read the advertisement heading: "Holiday Savings from FTD"

 

[bloomz]

was the red dot from you Duane?

Just curious.....since "it" used your exact words.

 

[duanermb]

was the red dot from you Duane?

Just curious.....since "it" used your exact words.

Which words? (I don't think I said anything harsh did I?)

No, the dot was not from me. I believe in open forum always, and although I can be opinionated and stubborn, I believe that we are all entitled to our opinion.

Since we are on the topic, I value any criticism of my opinions, because I learn from all of it, good or bad.

Also, I don't believe that I have been here long enough, or have gained enough green dots myself to go handing out red ones.

 

[bloomz]

Thank you I didn't think you struck me as a pussy that hands out anonymous ones.

I enjoy a good debate, in case you can't tell.

It said "FTD doesn't represent me"

But whoever posted it doesn't have a clue - whether we like it or not - a huge segment of consumers look at 800TFTD as representing us all.

So thank you - Clueless, whoever you are......

 

[Eric S]

Yea i didn't think that one came from a florist.

The facts are that any drop shipped item is marketed to the consumer in a way that they believe they are getting a professionally designed arrangement from a local florist.

Until that stops there is no reason to display an FTD logo or 800flowers logo. They have used their brand to sell the direct shipment market to the consumer or should I say to trick the consumer.

Its only a matter of time before the consumer begans to look at those logos displayed on florist Vans and shops and continue to drive or call the next shop that doesn't display them.

 

[CHR]

And that's the crux of this matter, and a reason not to shout it from the rooftops or help popularize it any more.

Are you kidding me? FTD.com is marketing - via Netflix according to the blogger - an 'arrangement' that's not intended to be delivered 'arranged', and not by any local florists. Ever.

They're currently relying on the brand reputation of florist delivery to mislead, and "bait and switch", to a high profit margin drop-ship item.

I disagree strongly with helping propel a horrendous floral purchase into popularity. Let it die.

And once again I say that when the truth about what they really deliver gets a bright light, they'll change their marketing and let consumers decide if they want the embarrassment as shown on that page.

It will make us all look bad and only spread negativity about our industry.

IMO we look really bad when we try and hide or ignore customers with legit gripes brought on by deceptive advertising.

Like it or not (of course I don't) - FTD represents our industry.

FTD represents FTD and sullies the reputation of every florist member by putting out junk like that.

 

[Joe Mioux]

Are you kidding me? FTD.com is marketing - via Netflix according to the blogger - an 'arrangement' that's not intended to be delivered 'arranged', and not by any local florists. Ever.

They're currently relying on the brand reputation of florist delivery to mislead, and "bait and switch", to a high profit margin drop-ship item.

And once again I say that when the truth about what they really deliver gets a bright light, they'll change their marketing and let consumers decide if they want the embarrassment as shown on that page.

IMO we look really bad when we try and hide or ignore customers with legit gripes brought on by deceptive advertising.

FTD represents FTD and sullies the reputation of every florist member by putting out junk like that.

There is also a group of flower buyers out there who doesn't care what is sent as long as "it" is sent. forget everything about freshness and design.

all this certain group is interested in is recognition. If the order gets screwed up, the mistake is not their fault, but the fault of the order fulfillment center.

ex, early this year I am i a meeting with vp from,a very very well known floral supply company. The vp tells the story of his son, who orderd on line from pf. when his dad asked why didn't he choose a local florist for better product, the son responded he didn't care what the arrangement looked like as long as he received recognition for sending something.

 

[Joe Mioux]

now, who gave bloomzie a red dot?

 

[CHR]

There is also a group of flower buyers out there who doesn't care what is sent as long as "it" is sent. forget everything about freshness and design.

Obviously this blogger isn't one of them.

 

[PhillyPhlorist]

Talking about drop shipping nightmares...a local funeral director told my husband that people have been sending these boxed flowers to FUNERAL HOMES, and the directors then are responsible to arrange the flowers!!!
Talk about the HEIGHT of tacky!:rofl:
Sad thing is, those customers never complain~who are you going to complain to???

Saw a ProFlowers box at a funeral a couple months back. Sad...

What's even sadder is that someone would be that cheap to save a buck on flowers for a FUNERAL !!!

- H.