- Nov 10, 2002
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in response re:FTD......
- Thread starter Mikey the Flower Guy
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Rhonda
Well-Known Member
I voted now, let them try to give you three months free??? or whatever they are offering this week. Although I may vote again for after Mother's Day, let the recipients know that you will no longer be FTD and when they thank the sender of their beautiful Mother's Day flowers, to give them your 800# and web address for future direct orders.
WHy I said earlier
I have a friend in Dundas ontario who would have told me the following:
"Fu** them, drop them now!!!!"
Why waste your time!
Should I say more?
SO why wait until after mothers day? Next thing you know, it's through the summer before the saga ends, if it ends then.
You are a ressourceful guy and I am sure you can proceed without interuption to your busines to get orders filled by other florist.
Imagine all the points you can get on your credit card?
Are you holding up on a better offer???? Is this like blackmail?
Seem you are back on the fence and not sure to jump or not.
My freind in Dundas would tellme to jump....
Go for the Gold!
Luc
I have a friend in Dundas ontario who would have told me the following:
"Fu** them, drop them now!!!!"
Why waste your time!
Should I say more?
SO why wait until after mothers day? Next thing you know, it's through the summer before the saga ends, if it ends then.
You are a ressourceful guy and I am sure you can proceed without interuption to your busines to get orders filled by other florist.
Imagine all the points you can get on your credit card?
Are you holding up on a better offer???? Is this like blackmail?
Seem you are back on the fence and not sure to jump or not.
My freind in Dundas would tellme to jump....
Go for the Gold!
Luc
- Nov 10, 2002
- 9,206
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- State / Prov
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Why has this not been done in the past? Why start now? I have been preaching this for years, started it when I became FTD, continue to do it now... Why does everyone want FTD to run them over and into the ground? Why not take advantage of the situation, make them work for YOU not the other way around? I always TAKE THE ORDERS I FILL AND RUN WITH THEM? That is what makes your business grow. You may only get 63% of that 1st incoming order, but change it to 100%! I do and have done it for several years along with getting the actual buyer! I feel a young florist should be in FTD or any WS that fits them in their business to build a customer base thru filling orders, because the area marketing when 1st starting is hard , costly and time consuming. But do not stay in it that long, I would say 5-7 yrs depending on the growth in your area. Do not get all wrapped up in the buying crap, etc. , that is why several are trapped!
Now, for some of the older florists that have a good steady strong clientele, well known in town/area, no growing in the area, only getting 5-10 incoming orders a month; yes, I do agree with Joe on this one WHY ARE YOU IN A WIRE SERVICE OR FTD FOR THAT MATTER? How is it helping or working for you? If it's not get out!
Just my thoughts,
Cyndi
I voted to dump them now. Why wait to be screwed again... unless of course you enjoy it. 
My friend sold her shop in November... I'm STILL writing letters for her to clear up FTD's stupidity.
So, it's always your choice Mike, but to be honest, staying with an organization like that makes no sense to me at all. Not in this day and age.
V
My friend sold her shop in November... I'm STILL writing letters for her to clear up FTD's stupidity.
So, it's always your choice Mike, but to be honest, staying with an organization like that makes no sense to me at all. Not in this day and age.
V
- Nov 10, 2002
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- Ontario
Connie
New Member
Exactly! It will take months before you are truly rid of them. Remember, however, that one of your first steps should be to stop accepting orders from them so that they will not owe you money at the end of your membership. If you want to have those incoming Mother's Day orders, let that determine your cut-off date.
Good luck, Mikey! I know that this decision has been pondered for a long time.
I voted 'don't be emotional' because the decision should be based on your long-term ability to service your customers and produce a profit.
There are certainly a number of choices out there to get your orders out, but being completely wire service free is difficult for stores that have decent volume and have a significant number of corporate accounts. More than one florist has publicly quit WSs on message boards and quietly (or never) annouced when they re-joined in order to better service their local customers.
Whatever you choose to do, I'm sure you've got FTDs attention.
There are certainly a number of choices out there to get your orders out, but being completely wire service free is difficult for stores that have decent volume and have a significant number of corporate accounts. More than one florist has publicly quit WSs on message boards and quietly (or never) annouced when they re-joined in order to better service their local customers.
Whatever you choose to do, I'm sure you've got FTDs attention.
TOTO
New Member
No point in dragging it out!
Since I been there, did that too Mikey, all I can quote is: "Watch their HANDS, not their MOUTH!"
It was by far, the second most difficult business decision TOTO ever had to make, the first being voting YES to the sale and the Perry Partnership which turned out to be all SMOKE and MIRRORS with lies after lies.
Having had enough of small bob with his TELL US ONE THING while DOO-ING another, I telegraphed my punch on the old FTD bulletin board by stating that, we were leaving right after Mother's Day in 2002. As you know, small bob shut the board down shortly after since, he couldn't take the heat.
After which, small bob pulled banished TOTO from the board and pulled our mercury plug.
Had a little difficulty over that next two weeks, but we were all back to normal after that, despite the premature cord cutting.
Suffice it to say that, they will only get worse since their only goal is THEIR BOTTOM LINE at the expense of DA FLORISTS.
My best advice is to think with your head and not with your heart, especially since it was my OLD MEMBER OWNED and OPERATED ASSOCIATION HEART which kept me going despite the economic reality of what they were doo-ing to us.
No regrets and no bashing as I continue to post on the historical facts of what had happened and WHAT THEY BEE!
Good luck and I know you will make the right decision for YOU and YOUR wallet.
Since I been there, did that too Mikey, all I can quote is: "Watch their HANDS, not their MOUTH!"
It was by far, the second most difficult business decision TOTO ever had to make, the first being voting YES to the sale and the Perry Partnership which turned out to be all SMOKE and MIRRORS with lies after lies.
Having had enough of small bob with his TELL US ONE THING while DOO-ING another, I telegraphed my punch on the old FTD bulletin board by stating that, we were leaving right after Mother's Day in 2002. As you know, small bob shut the board down shortly after since, he couldn't take the heat.
After which, small bob pulled banished TOTO from the board and pulled our mercury plug.
Had a little difficulty over that next two weeks, but we were all back to normal after that, despite the premature cord cutting.
Suffice it to say that, they will only get worse since their only goal is THEIR BOTTOM LINE at the expense of DA FLORISTS.
My best advice is to think with your head and not with your heart, especially since it was my OLD MEMBER OWNED and OPERATED ASSOCIATION HEART which kept me going despite the economic reality of what they were doo-ing to us.
No regrets and no bashing as I continue to post on the historical facts of what had happened and WHAT THEY BEE!
Good luck and I know you will make the right decision for YOU and YOUR wallet.
avenuegardensflorist
Well-Known Member
I'm hearing more shops are thinking of the same...
...if things do not change for the Florist.
This VD might be what broke the camal's back. We are having a much more difficult time getting wire outs through FTD b/c of "no FTD shop that services this area", etc. Sure makes it difficult when you make that decision to stay so we can service corporate and high-volume wire-out clients.
Yes, it is time for decisions to be made and like you all say the time is a'coming for major change in this industry. We've had several shops close and I believe we are just beginning to see more. If it was the summer they would be closed but VD and MD allows the extension. One of the major factors was the gas price hikes, left little disposable income for flower purchases.
I say drop so you do not have to pay through the summer all the unnecessary fees FTD has allowed to get into their system. If they want quality members they should pay us to service their needs.
...if things do not change for the Florist.
This VD might be what broke the camal's back. We are having a much more difficult time getting wire outs through FTD b/c of "no FTD shop that services this area", etc. Sure makes it difficult when you make that decision to stay so we can service corporate and high-volume wire-out clients.
Yes, it is time for decisions to be made and like you all say the time is a'coming for major change in this industry. We've had several shops close and I believe we are just beginning to see more. If it was the summer they would be closed but VD and MD allows the extension. One of the major factors was the gas price hikes, left little disposable income for flower purchases.
I say drop so you do not have to pay through the summer all the unnecessary fees FTD has allowed to get into their system. If they want quality members they should pay us to service their needs.
12BucksFor2Dozon
New Member
BINGO!!!! Give that man/women a cupie doll!! The only real organizations that force their members to pay into the system with no guarantee of sales and/or exclusivity are multi-level marketing operations like Amway and Avon...
Yech...who wants to be part of that?
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