JustFlowers

[flowerknife+us]

I've been in this business a short four years and I can answer that for you. Action speaks louder than words and I have yet to see a movement to ACT.

In my opinion, no letter-writing campaign is going to change anything as long as the MAJORITY of florists are rooted in traditions they refuse to abandon.

Sorry for my ignorance... I am trying to understand what you are saying here. If we abandon our "rooted traditions" than we would have no use for a letter writing campaign at all. If you are trying to say that we need one, I absolutely agree. I would love to be a part of flooding TF and TF desks and e-mail boxes with hundreds of letters, no thousands of letters from both florist and consumers fed up with their crap! Just one holiday of florist banning the filling of Non florist gathered orders would make both the wire services and the Non-florist OG's rethink how they USE the florist. Until that time I will refuse all OG's orders, all headquarter orders and pray that what ever Boss keeps hinting about coming soon doesn't
require me to a MAS user.:hammer:

Knifes Wife

 

[12BucksFor2Dozon]

....
Just one holiday of florist banning the filling of Non florist gathered orders would make both the wire services and the Non-florist OG's rethink how they USE the florist.
...

That is SO true, but the problem is that only 0.1% of florist read FC and even understand what is really going on, so trying to get them onboard for a boycott is an impossible task. It will never happen, period. End of question.

So then only two courses of action are available...1. continue with the WS for financial reason, being knowing and complicit member of the "scam", or 2. take the hit in sales, quit and go at alone. Pick your poison.

 

[bloomz]

And of that .1% I bet there ain't a dozen of us that refuse orders. Remember - only 3 of us complained about Urban to FSI.

Tho a couple more than that griped about it.

 

[CHR]

Since TF won't let MAS interface with Dove, we call out most of our orders. I have spoken to a bunch of florists this last year and one thing they consistently say is they will never fill for JF, FST and FromYou because of the low values and repeated sources of complaints. The shops are among the top quality stores in their markets.

Some of the best shops in So OC have quit WS all together over the low quality orders and lack of QC. We now use a CC with them.

Pretty soon you'll have nothing left but the most marginal of WS members agreeing to fill for those guys.

I think good, experienced florists are smarter than they're given credit for. Just because they don't go on a BB and proclaim their disdain for the skimming and scamming, doesn't mean they're unaware or unprepared to cut out the source of their problems.

 

[Rhonda]

In reply to Cathy's observation and statement, at our fall show, there was much discussion as to the gatherers, specifically JF, FYF, etc including the dot coms of the big 3. And yes, I was asked to fill in some "clueless fillers". All came away from several discussions enlightened and invited to this chat board. Most all agreed they were to the point of rejecting and not filling for those entities who purport to be in their town or call other florists "part of their network of artisans". The word is getting out they just may not visit here.

 

[carol]

Since TF won't let MAS interface with Dove, we call out most of our orders. I have spoken to a bunch of florists this last year and one thing they consistently say is they will never fill for JF, FST and FromYou because of the low values and repeated sources of complaints. The shops are among the top quality stores in their markets.

Some of the best shops in So OC have quit WS all together over the low quality orders and lack of QC. We now use a CC with them.

Pretty soon you'll have nothing left but the most marginal of WS members agreeing to fill for those guys.

I think good, experienced florists are smarter than they're given credit for. Just because they don't go on a BB and proclaim their disdain for the skimming and scamming, doesn't mean they're unaware or unprepared to cut out the source of their problems.

I don;t know about this Cathy. I think any large established shop would need the ability to transfer orders electonically because calling out orders is just not efficient and there is no paper trail to prove issues. I don't believe you will find many, if in fact any, big shops
B droping WS completely. But I do agree that the big guys are cutting back on filling orders, especially from OG that advertise to their clientele either in YP or online.
The big shops know the math of incoming orders is tough unless you are in Fl or Az or other retirement settlements. In those locales volume can make incoming profitable if done correctly. But in most parts of the country there just isn't enough sustainable volume to redesign a store into a fulfillment station.
That said.. I hope the big guys honor real florist's incoming orders..since it is the real florists that are filling their outgoing orders.
I only fill for florists that are able to return the favor. If you are a big sender ,brick & mortar, and choose not to accept incoming orders than I will not accept from you. And those guys that have large minimums better not try to send out for less than they accept. Those used to be the rules (yeah I know there are no more rules) and those are my rules. If you can not fill for less than $50.00 than neither can I fill for you for less than $50.00. and the Don't even discuss a non brick & mortar operation cause they are dead in the water here

 

[fairfield]

Sorry for my ignorance... I am trying to understand what you are saying here. If we abandon our "rooted traditions" than we would have no use for a letter writing campaign at all. If you are trying to say that we need one, I absolutely agree.

I think a letter writing campaign would be a great idea - if the letter writers are willing to back up their frustration with demand. Then, if the demands aren't met, take action. That is where it ends - ACTION. You have to be willing to put the hurt on the ones violating their own rules.

*** At this point, let's not argue about who can tell who how to run their business as that is not what I'm saying. ***

DEMAND THAT THEY FOLLOW THEIR OWN RULES. Demand that they use that $50,000,000 advertising for floral purchases from the members who pay for it (I don't know, maybe they really do) and not for XXX.com. Is that a good start?

Just flooding their desk with anger and disdain will just keep the Administrative Professional busy at the shredder. Maybe thousands will get some attention, but where are the thousands? They are so deeply rooted in the traditional belief that a WS is a necessity that they won't even engage in meaningful debate on the topic - you just get pinwheels.

Disclaimer: The above has been the opinion of Fairfield and not necessarily that of the majority of florists in this industry.

 

[Donna]

FST yellowpages

My Verizon yellow page sales rep called to get my renewal. Thanks to what I have learned here, I told him I would not renew and give him my dollars if his company continued with deceptive advertising. Flowers Sent Today (Haymarket VA) is the largest ad in our book with ad stating they are local florist. My rep - after 3 or 4 phone calls - was a very good listener. He checked the information and told me to file a formal complaint with CUSTOMER RELATIONS regarding deceptive advertising. Has anyone tried this route??
Thanks
Donna

 

[CHR]

Goldfish wrote a great article in his blog about the JF shopping cart surprise (discussed in the opening post of this thread.)

I listed it at Digg.com - How to Spend $70 to Get About $45 Worth of Flowers Delivered and hope others will have a read. Here's the description:

Learn how the 'fine print', handling charges and surprise fees on a popular virtual florist and online-only flower seller site can wilt your wallet. Buried on the last page of their shopping cart, this new switcheroo chops even more flowers from the bouquet you ordered.

Wonderful job telling the story, Kenji!