Mercury Broadcast Message

[bloomz]

A high-end clothing store displays $2,000 suit in the window. A customer looks at it and becomes curious, because it's so expensive. At this point, he's not thinking he will buy anything. But he is lured.

So he walks in. Now he finds a $800 suit. He thinks, "Wow, that's cheap" and ends up buying it.

Here's another way that works - I took the little boy to Burger King today for a Kids Meal and was gonna get myself one of them $1 burgs/gut bomb.

She said buy any value meal and your kids meal is 99 cents.

Sucker that I am/was - I did it, and spent about $2 more than I intended to spend. Ate too much (I NEVER BUY VALUE MEALS), walked out feeling like a total lop...

and now I think I am gonna go jump off a bridge before that extra poundage hits my ass.


Something many don't know here but a few of us - is they are going after boxed flowers with a vengeance. And believe it or not - their shot is to bring class into those boxed flowers we all make so much fun of up in here.

Stay tuned, say no more except it's gonna be formidable and we're not gonna like it.

We're seeing the beginnings of it now I do believe with their high end line.

Now here's a question:

Would you fill that $475 orchid vase order if sent to you?


OK sun came out time for a little vrooming - L8R

 

[theflowershop]

I went to the FTD.com site and wanted to see what would happen when I put in my zip of 22902 for a Luxery purchase and it came up no florist in that area delivers. So is this another way of them getting them shipped. Because I am a member and in good standing and why the blame h..l is it not taking the order to be delivered by a florist. I just dont trust these people any more.

 

[David]

I see where FTD announced where they are going to do a Mother's DayTV ad campaign "....will celebrate you, or artisan florists and feature some of our beautiful new Luxury Collection products...."

Here is more info from there florist web site. Cost to the florist is around $18.00. I see it's available for delivery today in Boston.

While we're looking an no-way-it-will-look-like-the-picture pictures, what about this florist-delivered one for $39.95 including delivery:

Looks like 6-7 Esperance roses and 8-10 stems of spray roses. In which size bubble bowl is that to be made? No dimensions indicated in the product description.

The recipe says 6 40cm pink roses and 6 spray roses.

 

[RWK]

Check out this information page.....Apparently to be 'codified' for this....You MUST buy the vases, packaging, and FLOWERS from them.

**** and notice please - NO SUBSTITUTIONS PERMITTED ******




http://www.ftdi.com/luxury/program.htm




*** I know what we should do - print out those images.....and when we get an order - send out that printed picture - " We did too make it look JUST LIKE THE PICTURE **** lol

 

[RWK]

I think they are probably one of those decoy pricing, the pricing tactics whose purpose is not to sell these items, but to make other items look like a good value. FTD knows what they are doing. They are not stupid.

Here's how it works.

A high-end clothing store displays $2,000 suit in the window. A customer looks at it and becomes curious, because it's so expensive. At this point, he's not thinking he will buy anything. But he is lured.

So he walks in. Now he finds a $800 suit. He thinks, "Wow, that's cheap" and ends up buying it.

That is exactly how it works.......Before I wised up, I was that dumb consumer that would fall for that.

Now, I value shop - I don't always look for the cheapest price, I look to see what will give me the best value for the money spent.

Now, I look for what will give me my money's worth. TO give a good example - On my remodeling threaqd, I show pictures of the new floor. I priced several suppliers of laminate flooring. One was a discount home furnishing center - at 49 cents a square foot, one was at a home improvement warehouse - at 99 cents a square foot, and one was a florring specialty store at 1.59 a square foot. After getting a sample of each, and conversing with the construction guys.....it turned out that the 99 cent flooring was by far the best VALUE - It was a better quality product than the cheapest and the highest priced.

I could have gone cheaper, I could have gone more high-end - thinking that the more money, the better it must be.......which is not always the case.

 

[CHR]

I went to the FTD.com site and wanted to see what would happen when I put in my zip of 22902 for a Luxery purchase and it came up no florist in that area delivers.

Looks like you have to sign up for the program and purchase a kit. Here are the details.

The packaging is really, really pretty and very couture in feel.

A few interesting points from that page:

FTD Florists who participate in the collection will be asked to adhere to the highest
quality standards. The following are requirements of participation:

No floral or container substitutions are permitted.

The FTD Luxury Collection packaging is required to accompany all deliveries.

Delivery must be confirmed on all Luxury Collection orders.

No subs AT ALL. Will be interesting to see how many shops believe they can fill the orders on a same-day basis.

I

f you do not use FTD Mercury, you need to handwrite the Luxury Collection message card and delivery slip on the Luxury Collection stationery.

Am I reading this right? The delivering florist is not permitted to ID his/her shop to the recipient and can only use the FTD-provided printed materials?

Are florists already codified for these items? Can local shops advertise them to their own customers?

Very interesting development.

 

[Rhonda]

sounds like they're doing the "martha type" thing from 800F

 

[Tuberose]

At least 1800 and FTD now clearly show when the flowers are florist delivered or if they are being drop shipped as opposed to Proflowers not mentioning that. Looks like they are advertising more drop ship stuff than florist bouquets. I sure hope we can get all of our flowers we ordered, sometimes the big companies buy it all up and we get left out in the cold.

 

[Sher]

Looks like you have to sign up for the program and purchase a kit. Here are the details.

The packaging is really, really pretty and very couture in feel.

A few interesting points from that page:

No subs AT ALL. Will be interesting to see how many shops believe they can fill the orders on a same-day basis.

IAm I reading this right? The delivering florist is not permitted to ID his/her shop to the recipient and can only use the FTD-provided printed materials?

Are florists already codified for these items? Can local shops advertise them to their own customers?

Very interesting development.

This is my favorite part of the scheme:

Insert the gold FTD pic to hold your delivery information for placement within
the bouquet
Oh yes....let me promote you even more and pay you for it! Duh!

 

[prestonway]

Looks like you have to sign up for the program and purchase a kit. Here are the details.

The packaging is really, really pretty and very couture in feel.

A few interesting points from that page:

No subs AT ALL. Will be interesting to see how many shops believe they can fill the orders on a same-day basis.

IAm I reading this right? The delivering florist is not permitted to ID his/her shop to the recipient and can only use the FTD-provided printed materials?

Are florists already codified for these items? Can local shops advertise them to their own customers?

Very interesting development.

No subs...high quality...consistent packaging...consistent product...hmmm

I can think of only one comment...this is one heck of a way to build a...

BRAND

 

[Bigted]

Check out this information page.....Apparently to be 'codified' for this....You MUST buy the vases, packaging, and FLOWERS from them.

**** and notice please - NO SUBSTITUTIONS PERMITTED ******




http://www.ftdi.com/luxury/program.htm




*** I know what we should do - print out those images.....and when we get an order - send out that printed picture - " We did too make it look JUST LIKE THE PICTURE **** lol

Now THAT'S funny!!!

 

[Rhonda]

and every shop should be able to follow their detailed directions on how to make a hand tied bouquet
http://www.ftdi.com/luxury/handtied.htm
That was nice of them.

 

[RC in Dayton and Cincinnati]

Here is more info from there florist web site. Cost to the florist is around $18.00. I see it's available for delivery today in Boston.

Is the cost of the luxury collection kit $18.00?

 

[RC in Dayton and Cincinnati]

No subs...high quality...consistent packaging...consistent product...hmmm

I can think of only one comment...this is one heck of a way to build a...

BRAND

Being a qualified luxury collection filler is not tied to being a florist with high standards but rather to those who buy into FTD programs such as buying products and their POS systems.

Their downfall will be product. All the glossy packaging won't do a bit of good if the product is not outstanding, and I see no evidence any focus is on product.

"You can put a brown turd in a black and gold glossy box, and **pewf**, suddenly it's a bed of roses??" ....not.

 

[CHR]

lollollol

Brand from Wikipedia

People engaged in branding seek to develop or align the expectations behind the brand experience, creating the impression that a brand associated with a product or service has certain qualities or characteristics that make it special or unique.

Will these products, dropped shipped to the vast majority of US consumers, align with customer expectations?

A Yahoo Shopping rating of 1.5 stars says 'maybe not'.

 

[David]

Is the cost of the luxury collection kit $18.00?

The kit cost 300.00 for 16 sets. That would be 18.75 Each. I am not clear if shipping is additional. Most likely is additional. I think marketplace is around 15-18 percent shipping. Unknown if the vases are better quality then typical florist glass.

I do like the mandatory dcon.

 

[RC in Dayton and Cincinnati]

David,

You mentioned marketplace. Are they requiring you buy the product from marketplace?

 

[Rhonda]

I have seen this commercial 4 times since 6:00 p.m. this evening - three times during CBS evening news and 60 minutes...
The bouquets are HUGE. and the very big FTD.COM at the end.

 

[BOSS]

Check out this information page.....Apparently to be 'codified' for this....You MUST buy the vases, packaging, and FLOWERS from them.
**** and notice please - NO SUBSTITUTIONS PERMITTED ******
http://www.ftdi.com/luxury/program.htm

I'm sorry folks...tell me I"m wrong...but what I see at the above link is FTD's attempt to get members to do as 800Flowers does and thats to brand your stuff as their stuff.

Please use only FTD Luxury Collection branded stationery provided in your kit. Please do not substitute any care instructions, enclosure cards or delivery slips. To order more stationery, contact your FTD Marketplace Representative at 1-800- [/quote]

Emphasis mine.... but sheezzzzzzzzz

No thanks....

 

[David]

David,

You mentioned marketplace. Are they requiring you buy the product from marketplace?

As I understand Yes.