Is anyone sorry?

[Julz]

Best thing I ever did was quit the wire service nightmare, wish I knew then what I do now. Never would of joined. Use FSN for wire outs and that is all I need (oh and they don't screw ya) and guess what? I am finally making a profit! Go figure! Never again, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, it took the third one, to really make me realize, but I did and I am happy now! My competitor has all three, FTD, Teleflora and Bloomlink and she can have them with my blessing. My business is based on my work, my quality, long lasting flowers, creativity, etc. and word of mouth and I can guarantee I have more repeat customers than she does, heck, I have all the churches, schools and town offices! (and trust me she is not happy about that, cause she had them before I entered her town, don't get me wrong, I didn't get them overnight) I have overhead, she works out of a shop off her house,she has been there forever, but I am right on main street, she is in a more residential area. So, I say she can have them, maybe she can afford them but I know I can't and know now that I don't have too! Yep, it is all about what you present, quality, and customer service, especially today. "If you build it, they will come." Correct quote, "If you build it, he will will come", but trust me, they will come! I must say, you need a good personality too, I have one, my competitor, well.....that could make for some interesting posts!

 

[marigold]

I see a lot of great discussion here about "to be...or not to be" a member of a wire service. It has given me a lot to think about. I wonder if anyone here can honestly say they are sorry they quit, or regret the decision to quit being a wire service member. Is anyone willing to honestly say yes?

Before reading on, I will answer. I was ftd and tele. quit and NEVER looked back.
I make money NOT being in a wire service. Honestly.

 

[Rhonda]

I'll fess up.......... I pay $29.99 for FTD per month.........(forever - and YES, I have it in writing...) One big reason? Marketplace! My delivery boxes, I haven't found stronger pop up boxes - matched to my theme color (I cover the logo with my stick on label), sales have yielded baskets at less than $.30 each, vases $.29 each and much more. Another friend and I both did this low monthly fee and we split cases of stock......works great. I have turned the Merc off...... I got real tired in just one month of jostling with .com orders...... if they don't call and we negotiate delivery and full prices, I don't fill. I still am not thrilled with my rep (he's not responsive) so I found I'll just call orders out if I need to and will offer recommendations for others.
sorry, probably forgot a couple more but I have 4 baby raccoons rustling outside my window here in the kitchen Going out back to chase them out of the yard (watching out for Mama)....
Oh forgot, there was no discernible difference in sales except our % were up for cash sales...... labor lower, COG lower........ and this new "agreement" really has made no difference in those figures so far..........

 

[sandytf]

We quit the end of April. I will say, it has affected our sales somewhat in a couple of our stores. However, I know that the sales were not profitable so I try not to get too worried about it. We do have FSN and that has worked prettty well so far... I don't regret it at all.

 

[conchandler]

Julz already said it all for me. Not looking back. Just taking the best care I can of my customers and my business and making money.

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

Julz already said it all for me. Not looking back. Just taking the best care I can of my customers and my business and making money.

Boyz and girls........are you telling me that florists have grown up, and learned their "lessons"??
I, just like Rhonda, have found some true value in being an FTD member, but the emphasis HAS to be in "VALUE".....to be a member of ANYTHING!!
Did you KNOW, that FlowerChat has ENOUGH members to start our OWN wire service??.....

 

[kfooten]

We left the major WSs in May 2008 and joined BBrooks (a boutique WS). It has worked very well for us, especially their excellent customer service.

No regrets - at all.

We did the same, I love BBrooks, it represents more of what our shop is about anyway. We only use premium flowers and our flower choices change daily. I have never had a complaint with BBrooks, I have had more than one with WS customers that "it didn't look like the picture" and we are a top rated florist!.

 

[Kristine]

I'll fess up.......... I pay $29.99 for FTD per month.........(forever - and YES, I have it in writing...) One big reason? Marketplace! there was

Rhonda
can't you buy from marketplace without being a member? I used to do this after I quit FTD and just used a CC. Got out of the habit, so not sure if that option is still available. Only draw back was no codified containers (like you would want them anyway)

 

[Rhonda]

most importantly were my delivery boxes and they weren't available through non membership (in the color I wanted). Secondly, the specials flyers were only sent to members. The 40% to 60% flyers, I was never sent.

 

[concord]

most importantly were my delivery boxes and they weren't available through non membership (in the color I wanted). Secondly, the specials flyers were only sent to members. The 40% to 60% flyers, I was never sent.

I do miss the FTD Marketplace. They had nice veryday containers and I've never found a better vase box. But not worth the membership for me.

 

[Clarabella]

I quit teleflora 3 times and rejoined when I was given free membership, however this last time after a very uneventful basically non existent mothers day on behalf of their orders, wonderful holiday for me otherwise I decided the consumers have spoken, and I actually quit before the whole free period was over and without problem. I am still ftd and that is shaky, I have FSN and am happy with that, it continually grows and I get calls from that site as well as internet orders. I was ....Bloomnet and dropped that and I did not have them for mothersday, I did fewer orders because they blasted me for that holiday, so without them it was down order wise but up money wise. I did less long distance runs, had to hire fewer drivers and bought less off the truck after my initial order, mostly just fill in or special requests for CASH customers. I absolutely do not regret dropping either of them, and as I said FTD is shaky. I will probably leave that alone for now as its neither making me or breaking me and I am very selective what I accept. I have had Vitelity LLC calling me to deliver for them, not sure what base they are, seem to be able to place thru all wire services, I know they are a OG, I turned them down...4 times in a row for a 30 dollar order as fast as he rattled off the list of flowers they were looking for...they phoned back 4 times...harassment, begging me to take the order....It was No 4 times 5th time I did not answer the phone I was not happy........lost my temper and then thought....just do not answer.
So again...no I am not sad I dropped wire services, and I am not at all unhappy to be able to say no to companies calling as mentioned above.......ok lots said ...windy today LOL

 

[dlnfloral]

No regrets here.... I didn't send out enough to warrant having it and got REAL tried of.com orders. Sells were not effective. Actually went up and when someone does want to wire out I use FSN or just give them a florist to call directly.People are ok with that especially when you explain the advantages to calling directly.

Had TF leave their business card in my mailbox the other day.This guy is relentless,I guess he likes hearing NO!

 

[artistry in bloom]

I belong to BBrooks and FSN but I don't count FSN as a wire service. I view it as a directory listing where customers click on to my own website and order directly from me. I love BBrooks too because sometimes I get some orders from movie stars that I probably wouldn't get if I wasn't a member.Not that movie stars are any more special than anyone else but they usually order high end designs. Most of the orders from BBrooks are interesting and you don't have to follow a specific paint by number type of recipe.
I never belonged to Ftd but I did belong to Teleflora which I absolutely hated. It didn't take me long to realize I was loosing money on them and I also hated having to follow a formula like an assembly worker. I have not missed for one minute being a member of Teleflora. Everytime I read the wire service rants on here I just wonder why everyone doesn't just quit.I'm sure some wire service members must have high blood pressure from all the aggravation that comes with being a member.
I did belong to Clearoot and had decided to quit but strangely just as I sat down at my computer to send them notice that I wanted to quit I got an email from them saying they were going out of business.

Dianne

 

[Julz]

Agree with you, not looking back! But boy it did suck having to learn the lessons the hard way!! And yes to the other post, we do finally learn!