FTD Fees

[PhillyPhlorist]

Getting this back on the topic...

...of a REAL good question and not a w/s bashing-fest...

Those extra listings can be a BIG sink hole. And, sometimes they can get you the order!

I find (and I may be in the extreme minority here) that I DO read the PQ's etc. listed by a florist. Tell me about you - WHY do want the order? I have a Euro garden of all blooming plants. Three shops listed: all with special listings. One says they have a greenhouse. Boom - they get the order, for obvious reasons. No, they may not have the best variety of blooming plants, but HOW AM I TO KNOW?

You can't ASSume anything in this biz. Logic says a shop with a greenhouse MAY have a nicer assortment of blooming plants than one who does not, or does not list anything 'bout a greenhouse or their bloomzing plants.

ASB listings: THESE are a nightmare. I used to have hundreds. Now down to 13 or so...and that # is shrinking. Over the course of a year, I painstakingly go through my orders for EACH of those towns per wire servic (good summer project) and DELETE any town that gives me less than 1 order a month. So, I have to get 12 a year on average to say with that town.

Good thread - watch that W/S statement, and cut out the pork!!!

- Herb

 

[makescents]

It's days like today... That I MUST agree with Boss!

 

[BloomingFlorida]

I'm guessing that your extra listing is in St. Pete? There are so many resident florists there as well as also served by listings, that it's a crapshoot that anyone finds you there. I would also delete the listing ad and special listing, and just keep your free basic ad in Gulfport if you are the only game in town there.

The directory fee is a fee they charge you monthly or quarterly to pay for the big, paper, tree-killing directory that few florists even use. The floral selection guide fee is a monthly charge for the counter guide they send out every three years or so. Both of these are considered "mandatory", but I have heard some florists have gotten the selection guide fee waived.

The green fee is yet another new fee dreamed up by them. If you get your statement on line and don't need the paper one mailed to you, they will waive that.

Do you get low send fees or reciprocity fees? Those are the worst and are easy to get waived. Let me know if you need details...

Yes, I do get charged low sending fee and reciprocity fee; it's $60 all together. I am not sure if those can be canceled out somehow unless I open my own order gathering service. Perhaps I should just drop FTD all together after Mother's Day; right now it is showing a loss in my books.

 

[BloomingFlorida]

Does anyone else see the irony of charging a 'green fee' to receive a print statement while still insisting florists pay for a behemoth doorstop print directory?

I continue to maintain that the only reason directories are still printed by WSs is to preserve the 3-4 months cycle to quit (plus preserving the income from ads).

Did ya'll read where AT&T has petitioned the state of Missiouri to stop printing the White Pages?
Emphasis mine. A little OT yet related to the way WS costs/fees are structured.

That was funny!urpletea. Yes, I did see their thick directory, (from the outside) it must include 10 times the green fee hence the high cost of advertising. Now, it all makes sense!

 

[BloomingFlorida]

The green fee is yet another new fee dreamed up by them. If you get your statement on line and don't need the paper one mailed to you, they will waive that.

QUOTE]

You then get your bill online, and you have then printi it out for your records. So does it make sense for them to charge this fee. NO!

Most business needs a paper trail for their records and Uncle Sam.
So instead of FTD paying for it, you are through your own printer, your own ink.

That's what i would say!

Here in canada, they can't introduce new fees unless we sign up for it. Business protection rules.

Tell them to cut down the directory if they want to save money!!!!!!!!!!

Oh No, that would be too easy and too much money loss.
I guess they have figure they can put the directory on a disc and send that out.

Luc

Yes, it seems to me that the previous owner signed up for FTD without realizing that he was opted in for every penny. No wonder he made a loss. I don't know if opting out of all unnecessary services will make a profit but the good thing is, I can cancel it all together if it doesn't work out.

 

[BloomingFlorida]

I had not thought of that! Not only that, but the selection guide?? Does anyone sell out of the selection guide? I asked not to received it - they said I have too... so I dropped FTD as of Sept. 09.. no more $1000 per month going out to them!

For what?? NOTHING! Why isn't everyone dropping them?

We are paying them all these stupid fees just so they can turn around and market against US! The ones who butter their bread! I am sorry - but I am not longer going allow them to laugh at me!

What other industry does this - what are we thinking! Filling the pockets of those who market against us! WE HAVE TO STOP THE INSANITY! :iamwith: I don't want to be with stupid anymore.

When I took over the shop with my husband the sales rep came over for a visit. I told her that I wasn't happy with the number of orders, FTD was giving the shop ( at the time I had not seen their monthly statement yet) and if this didn't improve we would have to cancel. She wasn't very supportive and didn't seem to care.

 

[Dior]

Yes, I do get charged low sending fee and reciprocity fee; it's $60 all together. I am not sure if those can be canceled out somehow unless I open my own order gathering service. Perhaps I should just drop FTD all together after Mother's Day; right now it is showing a loss in my books.

You can get the low send and reciprocity fees waived if you do not have orders to send out. If you are FTD only, let your rep know that, and tell them that any orders you have to send will go through them. The fee will be waived.

If you belong to another wire service, you will have to fax or show your rep the other wire service's statement (only show the first page of the statement that shows orders sent and orders received), you do not need to show them whole statement. They want to see that you are not sending all your orders through another wire service.

If you do have some sending, they will still waive the fees if you agree to split your sending equally among your wire services, and not favor any one wire service.

If you get a lot of incoming orders and little or no sending, the reciprocity fee can end up being in the hundreds of dollars each month! I've seen this many times, it's nauseating!

 

[BloomingFlorida]

...of a REAL good question and not a w/s bashing-fest...

Those extra listings can be a BIG sink hole. And, sometimes they can get you the order!

I find (and I may be in the extreme minority here) that I DO read the PQ's etc. listed by a florist. Tell me about you - WHY do want the order? I have a Euro garden of all blooming plants. Three shops listed: all with special listings. One says they have a greenhouse. Boom - they get the order, for obvious reasons. No, they may not have the best variety of blooming plants, but HOW AM I TO KNOW?

You can't ASSume anything in this biz. Logic says a shop with a greenhouse MAY have a nicer assortment of blooming plants than one who does not, or does not list anything 'bout a greenhouse or their bloomzing plants.

ASB listings: THESE are a nightmare. I used to have hundreds. Now down to 13 or so...and that # is shrinking. Over the course of a year, I painstakingly go through my orders for EACH of those towns per wire servic (good summer project) and DELETE any town that gives me less than 1 order a month. So, I have to get 12 a year on average to say with that town.

Good thread - watch that W/S statement, and cut out the pork!!!

- Herb

But how do you know you get your orders through ASB listings?

 

[BloomingFlorida]

You can get the low send and reciprocity fees waived if you do not have orders to send out. If you are FTD only, let your rep know that, and tell them that any orders you have to send will go through them. The fee will be waived.

If you belong to another wire service, you will have to fax or show your rep the other wire service's statement (only show the first page of the statement that shows orders sent and orders received), you do not need to show them whole statement. They want to see that you are not sending all your orders through another wire service.

If you do have some sending, they will still waive the fees if you agree to split your sending equally among your wire services, and not favor any one wire service.

If you get a lot of incoming orders and little or no sending, the reciprocity fee can end up being in the hundreds of dollars each month! I've seen this many times, it's nauseating!

Thank you. I will try to see if FTD is willing to compromise.....

 

[TOTO]

Just wondering Herb?

ASB listings:THESE are a nightmare. I used to have hundreds. Now down to 13 or so...and that # is shrinking. Over the course of a year, I painstakingly go through my orders for EACH of those towns per wire servic (good summer project) and DELETE any town that gives me less than 1 order a month. So, I have to get 12 a year on average to say with that town.- Herb

Last I remember, the ASB listings were costing $10 per month. Is that still true Herb?

If so, you would be paying $120.00 per year in REAL DOLLARS to justify 12 incoming wire orders for that ASB town?

I'll go out on a limb here and project an average incoming sale of $75.00 GROSS, for a total of $900.00.

$900.00 less 30% = $630.00 less $120.00 = $510.00 net

Cost of delivery on 12 ASB orders is $96.00

Deducting $10 per order from the $900.00 = $780.00 GROSS

COGS at 30% on $780.00 = $234.00

Cost of labor at 25% on $780.00 = $182.50

And so, with the $234.00 COGS plus the $182.50 COL plus the $120.00 ASB listings, your costs total to $536.50 for which, you are netting $630.00, or an incremental profit of $93.50 (less dues and fees)

In other words, each ASB order gives you an on-the-surface earnings of $7.80 (less WS dues and fees) for which, you are willing to pay $10 in REAL MONEY to achieve?

Please tell me that, there's gotta be a better way Herb?

Cutting the WS FAT is by far, one's first objective, but in my opinion, ASB's are a pure waste of money and a dillution to the WS filling florist's pot's pool, while at the same time, a WS SCAM to fill their own coffers, not those of their florists.

 

[bloomz]

I just saw that green fee today for my first time.

That makes a lot of sense you know

Instead of them printing it and wasting trees - I get to print it on my end.

I hear bloomnet lets you opt out of the doorstop book by the way.

 

[TOTO]

OK JOB, what's your secret then?

I just saw that green fee today for my first time.

That makes a lot of sense you know

Instead of them printing it and wasting trees - I get to print it on my end.

I hear bloomnet lets you opt out of the doorstop book by the way.

JB, please tell me that, your printer is using Papyrus from plants rather than paper from Trees?

Give me a BREAK!

A GREEN FEE? Absolutely! They charge a fee to save a tree, and you pay a buck to be their duck!

I gotta get a piece of this GOING GREEN and take it to my bank ASAP!

 

[BloomingFlorida]

Last I remember, the ASB listings were costing $10 per month. Is that still true Herb?

If so, you would be paying $120.00 per year in REAL DOLLARS to justify 12 incoming wire orders for that ASB town?

I'll go out on a limb here and project an average incoming sale of $75.00 GROSS, for a total of $900.00.

$900.00 less 30% = $630.00 less $120.00 = $510.00 net

Cost of delivery on 12 ASB orders is $96.00

Deducting $10 per order from the $900.00 = $780.00 GROSS

COGS at 30% on $780.00 = $234.00

Cost of labor at 25% on $780.00 = $182.50

And so, with the $234.00 COGS plus the $182.50 COL plus the $120.00 ASB listings, your costs total to $536.50 for which, you are netting $630.00, or an incremental profit of $93.50 (less dues and fees)

In other words, each ASB order gives you an on-the-surface earnings of $7.80 (less WS dues and fees) for which, you are willing to pay $10 in REAL MONEY to achieve?

Please tell me that, there's gotta be a better way Herb?

Cutting the WS FAT is by far, one's first objective, but in my opinion, ASB's are a pure waste of money and a dillution to the WS filling florist's pot's pool, while at the same time, a WS SCAM to fill their own coffers, not those of their florists.

Well, I have S Additional Listing for $16.00, Special listing $29.95 Monthly Directory Subscription $8.56, Directory List Ad for a whopping $35.00 and the Floral Monthly Fee for $16.04. I don't have anything for $10.00, perhaps prices change across the States.

I totally agree with standing up to these wire services and telling them that their business is making you a loss. I'd rather spend my money advertising locally, befriending local churches, funeral homes and wedding planners. I'd rather spend my time on making myself known in the area than going through wire service reports and getting headaches. Right now, with all the expenses, I make about 5% profit on FTD orders. Why bother?

 

[makescents]

If you decide to loose FTD - Do it now... I just canceled and they said I would have to stay in until Sept. because of the directory...

 

[BloomingFlorida]

If you decide to loose FTD - Do it now... I just canceled and they said I would have to stay in until Sept. because of the directory...

Well, at least you will get their mother's day orders....unless they have already decided to give local orders to more loyal florists.

A couple of weeks ago another rep came out trying to sell me the FTD POS system. I told him that I barely make a profit from them how would I be able to afford it? His responce was that if I did buy their system I would get more orders. Nah, can I have that in writing and keep the system free of charge if FTD fails to deliver their promise?

Why is it September? Which directory?

 

[makescents]

Well, at least you will get their mother's day orders....unless they have already decided to give local orders to more loyal florists.

A couple of weeks ago another rep came out trying to sell me the FTD POS system. I told him that I barely make a profit from them how would I be able to afford it? His responce was that if I did buy their system I would get more orders. Nah, can I have that in writing and keep the system free of charge if FTD fails to deliver their promise?

Why is it September? Which directory?

There are no "loyal florists" they all know that FTD sucks.. I think that I am the last hold out in my area. Besides I have not filled FTD.com orders in years... I do not fill orders for order takers that advertise in my local phone book... and they fit the bill.

I don't know why September? I get tired of arguing with them.. It was suppossed to be sooner... but then they said I did not make the cut off.

 

[bloomz]

His responce was that if I did buy their system I would get more orders.

With any pos system you will get more orders - not necessarily at all from them, but without one you can't properly grow.

So on that matter he wasn't exactly lying to you.

Just misrepresenting their role a bit.

 

[PhillyFlowerGirl]

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[lori042499]

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What does this mean???

 

[valentina]

how do i go about getting rid of the reciprocity fee.??i think that this is like being held up without a gun