HOLD UP! ALL FTDer's

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bluebonnet

bluebonnet

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Dec 4, 2005
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www.westhoustonflorist.com
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DO NOT CONFIRM ANY INCOMING CANCELS FOR ORDERS 2/8-2/15!!!!

If you do not have a incoming order, merc order # for the incoming cancels do not confirm!!!

Monies will be taken out by confirming, that you did not receive an order for originally to credit for filling.

I hope this makes some sense.....

Basically you are at a $0, order for $80 comes in to you for fulfillment, but they want to cancel so you confirm and the money of $80 is taken out, you are back at $0.

In this case you are at $0, incoming cancel comes in for a $80 order, you confirm and your acct is negative -$80 with FTD, because you never got the order in originally.


Lord, this is a disaster!! I have been getting these in for 2 days and have no record of merc order #'s

You need to DENY CANCEL: text is to say never received original order!! can not take out what never was put in!

And to think I almost had my stuff together and added up, now something else has added to the POT!

Cyndi
 
sheesh.......

How can they send you a cancel on an order you never got - or are you referring to orders that disappeared into the netherworld?
 
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hmm doesn't work the other way around...we got a phone order in last month - our merc was off line - had the admin numbers as it was call forwarded. We couldn't make contact with the traveling nurse who it was going to, no one knew her, she was actually in another town. The shop wanted us to reject, I told them to cancel, sending shop was kindof not there upstairs about how to use a computer...needless to say, we tried to reject with the admin numbers given to us by the call forwarding operator and the merc would not recognize the numbers because the order had never been received!! They couldn't cancel either because the order was call forwarded.....not sent completely by merc!
Glad I'm not one of those who had this massive problem...just another three months of waiting for adjustments (think of all those who DON'T check their statements?)
 
bloomz said:
sheesh.......

How can they send you a cancel on an order you never got - or are you referring to orders that disappeared into the netherworld?
Click to expand...

You know ???....... I have no idea but I am sitting here with 18 incoming cancels that I have no merc search order #'s for!

What started this question in my head was I got a incoming cancel for a delivery on 14th Saturday, reason for the cancel ( non-delivery), so I look on manifest sheets and no name, so I then search on merc.... no records pops up. I then call... this was a dotcom order, I give them the merc# on the cancel and explain to them I have no order for this women, she then explains I need to confirm so they can clear it out, I then tell her I can not do that if I never got the order in!!!!?????......That is money being taken away from me with out me getting money for them to take out.

So basically, to answer your question I am assuming these 18 supposedly orders that came are actually out there in cyberworld or something...
Who knows? But, I am not loosing anymore money to them over GHOST orders that they are getting money from me and reimbursed the customer!
Cyndi
 
A little gas added to the fire !!!

Been on the phone all day regarding Val Day. It hasn't gone well !
These last posts got me fired up all over again, which is good.....Thanks !

Actually got a few interesting suggestions today that may be of interest to all of you at FC.
But first, a question along with some thoughts !

How many of you that were adversely affected have received calls or messages apologizing for FTD's alleged problems ?
How many have been compensated for your losses ?

I know that we have received none, and no compensation, yet we have received many messages for everything else that requires our support and cash outlay.

Is something wrong here ?

There is only one way, and one way only to handle this situation.
Fight back !

Call, write, complain, contact BBB, FTC, Attorney General, your elected officials, the media, and innundate everyone with your complaints. CC everyone !

If everyone carries one brick, just one brick, you will be surprised at how much unrecognized power is available and at your disposal. The bricks will quickly add up and before you realize it
the foundation for tomorrow will be built.
May we call it " The Real Florist Foundation " ?

As stated in other posts I am relatively new to all of this and in the company of giants. Maybe I'm nuts ! Maybe I just have no fear !
I don't know !
What I do know however is that for what it's worth, Valentine's Day 2007
hurt a lot of people, for no reason. A lot of good, hardworking and caring people !
This is 2000 freaking 7 !

There is no logical justification . There are no explanations or excuses !
We, WS affilliated or not, just got royally screwed, again, by a WS.
Bottom Line !

Biz Rate -----FTD 72% down, 82 % down
Trust in your local Florist as a result ?????????????????????????????????
The fallout has not even begun !

WS or not, we will all be guilty by association, even if we're not associated. New business will suffer greatly !
Think about all the converstaions at the coffee table, PTA meeting, bus stops and more !

Someone recently made a very strong statement about Walking The Walk
if You're Gonna Talk The Talk . That person was right, and everyone, that has a vested interest in this business needs to stand up, speak up and make darn sure they are heard !
This is the time and it will not wait.

OG's suck, WS enabled OG's are worse, and the rest you all know about.
Get on the phone, tomorrow morning, and send a message, to everyone that will listen, and even those that won't, but remember to mark down the ones that didn't.

There are three words that I believe in with every breath I have and ever will take in my life................" We The People ......."

The rest is in your hands. Our hands ! Tomorrow, and every day until we succeed !

By the way, as mentioned when I started this post, two phone calls today, in a roundabout, non committed manner, strongly suggested that I back off ! Need I say more !

Guess FC is well read Huh ?

*********Feel free to copy, post or add as needed to anything that will benefit the FC community and the consumers. *************

"Talkin the Talk & Walkin The Walk and I don't pee like a puppy"
 
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............and by the way,..........I'm not afraid of no ghosts !
 
MANORVILLE said:
A little gas added to the fire !!!

Been on the phone all day regarding Val Day. It hasn't gone well !
These last posts got me fired up all over again, which is good.....Thanks !

Actually got a few interesting suggestions today that may be of interest to all of you at FC.
But first, a question along with some thoughts !

How many of you that were adversely affected have received calls or messages apologizing for FTD's alleged problems ?
How many have been compensated for your losses ?

I know that we have received none, and no compensation, yet we have received many messages for everything else that requires our support and cash outlay.

Is something wrong here ?

There is only one way, and one way only to handle this situation.
Fight back !

Call, write, complain, contact BBB, FTC, Attorney General, your elected officials, the media, and innundate everyone with your complaints. CC everyone !

If everyone carries one brick, just one brick, you will be surprised at how much unrecognized power is available and at your disposal. The bricks will quickly add up and before you realize it
the foundation for tomorrow will be built.
May we call it " The Real Florist Foundation " ?

As stated in other posts I am relatively new to all of this and in the company of giants. Maybe I'm nuts ! Maybe I just have no fear !
I don't know !
What I do know however is that for what it's worth, Valentine's Day 2007
hurt a lot of people, for no reason. A lot of good, hardworking and caring people !
This is 2000 freaking 7 !

There is no logical justification . There are no explanations or excuses !
We, WS affilliated or not, just got royally screwed, again, by a WS.
Bottom Line !

Biz Rate -----FTD 72% down, 82 % down
Trust in your local Florist as a result ?????????????????????????????????
The fallout has not even begun !

WS or not, we will all be guilty by association, even if we're not associated. New business will suffer greatly !
Think about all the converstaions at the coffee table, PTA meeting, bus stops and more !

Someone recently made a very strong statement about Walking The Walk
if You're Gonna Talk The Talk . That person was right, and everyone, that has a vested interest in this business needs to stand up, speak up and make darn sure they are heard !
This is the time and it will not wait.

OG's suck, WS enabled OG's are worse, and the rest you all know about.
Get on the phone, tomorrow morning, and send a message, to everyone that will listen, and even those that won't, but remember to mark down the ones that didn't.

There are three words that I believe in with every breath I have and ever will take in my life................" We The People ......."

The rest is in your hands. Our hands ! Tomorrow, and every day until we succeed !

By the way, as mentioned when I started this post, two phone calls today, in a roundabout, non committed manner, strongly suggested that I back off ! Need I say more !

Guess FC is well read Huh ?

*********Feel free to copy, post or add as needed to anything that will benefit the FC community and the consumers. *************

"Talkin the Talk & Walkin The Walk and I don't pee like a puppy"
Click to expand...

Why not just fire your WS? Unless there is a breach of contract between you and them, they will do whatever they want in order to make money for the stockholders of their corporation.

Miss Bluebonnet: good info!
 
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Does that make it right Joe ?

Quitting is not the only answer.
In my situation I took the time to over explain that in a previous post.
Do you still think that it's that simple ? Call, quit, done ? It's not !

What has happenned here has jeopardized the consumer-florist relationship !
FTD will survive, without a doubt, but what about the small shops that will suffer as a result in the court of public opinion ? We will be guilty whether it be by association or not. I am seeing and hearing it already .
We have all advertised the WS for generations and have enabled the beast to dictate the majority of opinions.

If I may ask, what would your long term solution be that would benefit all florists ? Keep in mind the varying budgetary concerns.
 
Thank you for the heads-up bluebonnet. I had a problem last Monday - never received an order coming from a nearby city, who I personally know, and told the owner I didn't get his order for VDay. He told me he called FTD and they gave him a list of HIS missed orders. I had called on Feb 14th to get OUR missed orders, but tech said, "Oh, dont' worry about your 10 sequence numbers, they really aren't there because the server had a hiccup and your sequence numbers have been reset." WHAT??? HICUPP??? Give me a fricken break!
So now I am wondering how in the world did the other florist get a "list" of his lost in-coming orders? He told me he is documenting every missed order so he will be able to give FTD his bill. Does anyone else have a so called list of their missing in-coming orders? I am feel deprived and left out.
 
MANORVILLE said:
If I may ask, what would your long term solution be that would benefit all florists ? Keep in mind the varying budgetary concerns.
Click to expand...


Truth-in-adversting laws.

A website for any florist that wants one so they can serve their local markets.


to continue playing the devils adocate (isn't that an appropriate title)....

Mannor... i don't know how long you been in this business, but I grew up in it. The WS's have certainly changed. Gone are the days of assn....

FTD's responsibility is to make money for its stockholders, not necessarily you or me. However, since we are the customer, it is in their interest to provide a worthwhile service. Wouldn't you agree?

Unless they break a contract with you and other florists, they will do whatever they can to turn a profit for the stockholder.
 
Started business on Madison Avenue 29 years ago. Been involved in farming, container growing, farmstands etc... as as floral since I was 17,
on and off.
Please understand that I respect your history and levels of accomplishments and am in no way trying to spar with such an accomplished individual.
However, I sense an " it is what it is perspective ".

Questions: We both pay wire services do we not ?
Do they undermine us at every turn ?
Are they gradually phasing us out as they venture into
other more lucrative areas that will destroy the very meaning of a florist ?
Are you at least a bit concerned that each and every day they pioneer new ventures to put the Mom and Pop shops out of business, much like yours that like now, was obviously started by some very caring and hard working people many years ago?
Deceptive practices are the foundation of all WS business Joe. You know it, I know it, and so does half of the free world.
The consumer wants their flowers, and do not care about anyones stockholders. They work, they earn, they trust, they buy !
This is about the consumers isn't it, or have I missed something ?

I'm sorry if you may be offended by my views and opinions, but quite honestly, I came here because I an committed to the florist industry, not to the WS, who are nothing more than the order gatherers that we denounce each and every day.
They have a purpose however, more-so for some than others, but they....,
are not florists are they ? We all are !

I'm an underdog player Joe, and always will be, which is why I left Madison Avenue. I and the owner here, Bennetta, took a dead, 6 year old shop, and turned it into a contender in 4 years. We're proud, remember where we came from, are committed to the Real Florists, and will never change.
If it ends tomorrow, so be it ! But be it known, we will never sell out to the WS or OG, or really give a hoot about corporate and their stockholders.
We will however fight, every day, with every breath, for anyone that truly wants to be in this wonderful, yet insane business.

P.S.
I respect and admire the thought that goes into your posts !
Thank you






I am a traditionalist. A believer in what our ancestors began.
 
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MANORVILLE said:
This is about the consumers isn't it, or have I missed something ?

I'm sorry if you may be offended by my views and opinions,
Click to expand...

You and I are not in disagreement. We want to serve our customers and make a profit.

The problem with FTD becomes mirky because they want to compete in two distinct businesses. In the second business there is a subcategory.

One is the drop ship industry and compete with PF and 800. Unfortunately their participation in this market segment is what is hurting us.

The other is the traditional WS business where they want to compete with TF and 800. In this market, they are underserving and overcharging their clients, us the florists. They underseved their clients by not providing a needed service last week. They failed. In my case, FTD is overcharging me for the volume of business that I receive from them.

Third is the non-traditional WS business where both FTD and TF hurt local flower shop's markets. This market can be defined as the OG market where company's like Wesley Berry, Flowers Scent Today, etc thrive.

The bottom line is the bottome line with WS's.

Now if you can find in your contract with the WS that they broke their agreement with its traditional flower shop members, then you have a legitimate fight.

Until that happens, nothing is going to change.

Joe

BTW: You don't offend me. You should have been here about a year ago and read a couple of threads, I don't offend very easily.
 
Yuk!

bluebonnet said:
DO NOT CONFIRM ANY INCOMING CANCELS FOR ORDERS 2/8-2/15!!!!

If you do not have a incoming order, merc order # for the incoming cancels do not confirm!!!

Monies will be taken out by confirming, that you did not receive an order for originally to credit for filling.

I hope this makes some sense.....

Basically you are at a $0, order for $80 comes in to you for fulfillment, but they want to cancel so you confirm and the money of $80 is taken out, you are back at $0.

In this case you are at $0, incoming cancel comes in for a $80 order, you confirm and your acct is negative -$80 with FTD, because you never got the order in originally.


Lord, this is a disaster!! I have been getting these in for 2 days and have no record of merc order #'s

You need to DENY CANCEL: text is to say never received original order!! can not take out what never was put in!

And to think I almost had my stuff together and added up, now something else has added to the POT!

Cyndi
Click to expand...

Good grief! Talk about adding insult to injury. Or is this adding insult to insult??

BTW, yesterday during a conversation with another florist, I asked if he had been affected by problems with incoming orders from FTD. He said that they were down quite a few orders from last year. I asked him if he had checked the sequence numbers on his Mercury incoming orders. He looked very puzzled and seemed to not understand what I was talking about. Then he began telling me "we always get a check from FTD, and if we ever don't get a check..." I could have wept.
 
bluebonnet said:
DO NOT CONFIRM ANY INCOMING CANCELS FOR ORDERS 2/8-2/15!!!!

Cyndi
Click to expand...

Well, I may be wrong..but if you do not DEN a Can within 24 hours it is an automatic Cancelation.. but you really have me confused with this start at $0. minus $80. thingy???
The way I understand the FTD Statement.. you are charged only for orders that show up on the outgoing part of the Combined report..and you receive money only on those orders that show up on the incoming part of that report. In other words those 2 separate sections are added up by the computer and that is what generates the $ figures in section B.. It is not a case of running totals and subtractions or additions or whatever this thing you talk about is. If there is no mercury number (or orderfilled report number)than it can not be entered onto these two sections of the combined report.
I guess if you want to screw with the FTD world just DEN all Cancel requests..that puts the order data on your incoming orders report and the only way to get it off is with an adjustment a month later..no other way I know of to change this..just the way the program works.. But again I believe if an order is cancelled and there is no denial within 24 hours it is cancelled in the computer..so it is too late now to do this I think.
I am also confused how they could send a CAN request without a valid Merc #..the computer just can't do that??? it needs an order number to transmit this type or message.

On the real subject of FTD falling down on this wire transmission for the holiday..THERE IS NO EXCUSE.. and I don't know how to get this point across to the powers at Green et all or the stockholders. The value of FTD to me is the TRANSMISSION OF ORDERS IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. I did not seem to have the problems alot of you had,, but I am on a dial-up modem and probably send mostly to others on dial-ups so maybe I missed the bullets.. hope so anyway because I don't want to find a bunch of cmplaints next month as people get their bills from me.
 
Carol,

Once again - you're right!

FTD is trying to cancel the orders, because in their books you have been credited with the order amount already. It needs to be cancelled, to get to back to $0 (to steal an example). The FTD billing statement is based on FTD's records, not the florist's.

Just because someone is missing a bunch of seq numbers, doesn't mean they system doesn't think you have them. Confirm the cancels - it won't put you in the hole, it will correct your account.

Unless you are trying to get paid for orders you didn't fill?

Ryan
 
Hey Mark,
Just curious !

"There are going to be 100's of florists who use this event to their short term benefit..."

In a good way or a bad way ? Could you elaborate just a bit please.
I seem to be sufferring from SOS today ( Stuck on Stupid )

Thanks
 
well, i just think, human nature being what it is, that many individuals are going to "game the system" and "...get paid for orders you didn't fill". IMO, FTD realizes this and is working on damage control to sort out the mess.

I don't know how the whole FTD order system works, but i do know that if FTD is sending out messages asking you to do something for an order that you never got, they are having HUGE IT problems and are desperately trying to manage the potential losses that the melt down caused.

JMO.
 
All I have to say...

...and without reading many of these posts, is to RECONCILE your w/s statements!!!

You would not BELIEVE how many problem orders are caught. How many orders we call out are NEVER reported. How many MERC IN's (usually by FTD.COM) we are NOT paid for. (yes, even an "automatically reported" order sometimes never gets paid for. I had 7 in 2006...)

Hopefully, whatever POS system you use can offer some kind of wire rec. program and tracks the orders correctly.

...what a mess... I really feel for all of you affected by this.

- Herb
 
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