More Wire Service Delivery Fees

[LJVF]

Darrel, what point "were" you trying to make? What's being an Admin got to do with it?

Yes, mine is listed at $5.05 more than local, but as you said "covering ALL area's I deliver to" which is the problem. Midland is covered by 2 residential zip codes, and then many separate ones for the hospital, some corps have their own etc. One of my residential zips, is 25+ miles end to end!! (whats up with that?)

Thing is, we constantly get orders below codified mins, seems they are not honored these days, and my minimums were put in place pretty much for FTD.com when I filled for them...freaking nightmare to keep them updated.

I'm curious, someone thought our roses costs were lower, Dorothy what are you paying for your roses? Here, 60/70cm RFI Freedoms are $0.79-0.89 in the door. Colors $0.79 or less.

Mark, the point I was trying to make is that there are a lot of florists who don't honor there listed prices. For instance if I sent them an order for a dozen roses for $70.00, some of these florist will subtract their delivery and send an ASK for more money. Even if they list their price at say $65.00 including delivery. I think it's wrong that they won't honor their listed prices, in fact most of the time they have no clue what they are. As far as the admin part, it was intended as a compliment, you honor what you list.

The rules of tf and ftd regarding delivery is to deduct the delivery charge from the order...whatever your true delivery charge is...5-7-10-25 bucks whatever it is...

Most directories now require you to list your delivery charge, however every florist should assume a delivery charge is going to be charged even if they do not charge one.

I disagree Lori, for FTD if you don't specify you have a delivery charge, your listed price is supposed to include delivery. In fact it states right on every flower shop's listing (unless specifically noted otherwise) the words "includes delivery". FTD does not require to list a delivery charge.

 

[BOSS]

Thanks Dude.... I agree.... in our case when we get more we give more...

I concur on the directory lists too... we *had* one here in town, that was still listing a $15.00MO up until a couple years ago...

 

[Dorothy]

Darrel, what point "were" you trying to make? What's being an Admin got to do with it?

Yes, mine is listed at $5.05 more than local, but as you said "covering ALL area's I deliver to" which is the problem. Midland is covered by 2 residential zip codes, and then many separate ones for the hospital, some corps have their own etc. One of my residential zips, is 25+ miles end to end!! (whats up with that?)

Thing is, we constantly get orders below codified mins, seems they are not honored these days, and my minimums were put in place pretty much for FTD.com when I filled for them...freaking nightmare to keep them updated.

I'm curious, someone thought our roses costs were lower, Dorothy what are you paying for your roses? Here, 60/70cm RFI Freedoms are $0.79-0.89 in the door. Colors $0.79 or less.

The cheapest I can get 60-70cm roses is about $1.17 and can go as high as $1.65, at regular times of year, and those prices do not include freight charges.

 

[bloomz]

Darrel is right on - happens all the freaking time and yes the price is supposed to be delivered unless specifically noted otherwise.

 

[yellowroses]

I don't get the 1-800 sending 9.99 for delivery. I get orders from them for a vased arrangement with roses, lilies and others @ 39.99 delivered. Our zip code area covers a large rural area. Rural township is larger than the city itself. Also remember that 1-800 also takes 27% of the flower order and the delivery fee. Makes is kind of hard to fill and deliver without signing the card "Happy Birthday Mom --- Love Suzie and Your Friendly Local Florist"!!!

 

[LJVF]

I don't get the 1-800 sending 9.99 for delivery. I get orders from them for a vased arrangement with roses, lilies and others @ 39.99 delivered. Our zip code area covers a large rural area. Rural township is larger than the city itself. Also remember that 1-800 also takes 27% of the flower order and the delivery fee. Makes is kind of hard to fill and deliver without signing the card "Happy Birthday Mom --- Love Suzie and Your Friendly Local Florist"!!!

It's actually worse, they take 29%.

 

[kt4ye]

do what Mark does, and you'll be "covered".....delivery is a "hard cost" and NOT a "soft cost".....it needs, and MUST be addressed FIRST.....

This is not always true. Example: An order comes in for $50 including delivery. Product value is $43. Your delivery charge is $11. Not enough money, right?

But you remember that you also have a FULL VALUE order that is to be delivered RIGHT UP THE BLOCK from the first order.

In the above example, (Unless you are paying your driver by the piece) the incremental cost to deliver the "underpriced" order is just a dollar or two.

So... the "underpriced" order may actually be MORE profitable than the "FULL VALUE" order!

There are numerous variations on the above. And, for the above technique to work, both orders must be for the same day, have to go on the same truck, and the driver has to understand that the orders need to be delivered in tandem.

Bill

 

[BOSS]

But Bill, that's subsidizing one delivery with another, and while I understand the logic, my delivery costs are based on each delivery. Hence I would be losing a portion on both, and not collecting the amount I have determined I need for each delivery to make delivery a profit center.

 

[Eric S]

Hey I have a question for you filler's

How much is your delivery fee for incoming and how much is your delivery fee for your customer direct order?

This ought to be good.

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

Hey I have a question for you filler's

How much is your delivery fee for incoming and how much is your delivery fee for your customer direct order?

This ought to be good.

Exactly the same amount whether it's a customer or florist order. Maybe I'm naive ...

 

[Eric S]

Then you understand that if you ask for a say $7 delivery fee for incoming that you are actually only getting $4.97 to $5.11 depending upon the wire service.


Lets say I am using TF

I send a $75 arrangement that includes delivery it cost me 51.73. IF the florist asks for $7 more. It only cost me $56.86. This includes my $3 rebate.

I guess what I am saying is that if we are to assume that a delivery charge is $7 for your direct customer then a wire order should include a $9.59 delivery charge in order to get the same amount that you charge your direct customer.

Lori says that $9.99 is bloomnets delivery but the filling florist is only getting $7.09.

Besides now I have another $1 for the casino. See ya

 

[kt4ye]

But Bill, that's subsidizing one delivery with another, and while I understand the logic, my delivery costs are based on each delivery. Hence I would be losing a portion on both, and not collecting the amount I have determined I need for each delivery to make delivery a profit center.

OK... let's assume we have TEN orders that are all underpriced for delivery and are ALL going in the same block as the one with the "correct" delivery charge.

You are going to REJECT ALL TEN?

(I think the logic guys call this type of example, "reductio ad absurdum.")

Unless you have a technique that is at least as sophisticated on a cost basis as that of Brown or Fedex, the correct analysis should lead a profit-minded florist to consider the CONTRIBUTION made by each incremental sale to your bottom line. Those businesses that neglect this concept are not -- in my NTBHO -- going to make it through the current and future storm.

Cheers,

Bill

 

[CHR]

Mark, the point I was trying to make is that there are a lot of florists who don't honor there listed prices. For instance if I sent them an order for a dozen roses for $70.00, some of these florist will subtract their delivery and send an ASK for more money. Even if they list their price at say $65.00 including delivery. I think it's wrong that they won't honor their listed prices, in fact most of the time they have no clue what they are.

This summer, with gas prices skyrocketing and with shipping costs increasing the wholesale price of flowers, I'm not surprised shops had to increase their prices.

IIRC, the DZ rose codification was for a minimum price for 12 stems in greenery in a vase. If the order was for an FTD product image Dz roses with lots of fillers (or italian ruscus which is pricey), most florists would charge more than the minimum - that's why I've often believed minimums (especially roses) are somewhat misleading and misunderstood.

Darrel is right on - happens all the freaking time and yes the price is supposed to be delivered unless specifically noted otherwise.

With the FTD directory only being published once every 4 months (up from once every 3 months), projecting fixed/static prices and costs will continue to get tougher & tougher.

Can FTD members just go into Merc now and instantly update their prices or do they still have to wait for a silly publication date?

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

Then you understand that if you ask for a say $7 delivery fee for incoming that you are actually only getting $4.97 to $5.11 depending upon the wire service.


Lets say I am using TF

I send a $75 arrangement that includes delivery it cost me 51.73. IF the florist asks for $7 more. It only cost me $56.86. This includes my $3 rebate.

I guess what I am saying is that if we are to assume that a delivery charge is $7 for your direct customer then a wire order should include a $9.59 delivery charge in order to get the same amount that you charge your direct customer.

Lori says that $9.99 is bloomnets delivery but the filling florist is only getting $7.09.

Besides now I have another $1 for the casino. See ya

Yes, I understand that. It's why I don't seek incoming orders, but I do honor those I receive for the same value I give locally.

On wire outs, I charge $10 delivery; on incomings whatever the town delivery is, is deducted - $6.95-$19.95.

I don't escalate pricing to account for the discount.

I guess I really am naive.

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

Hijacked! :bouncy: LOL ~ Wasn't really expecting people to answer anyway...

I thought this was Heather's thread!
I deduct whatever our going deilvery rate is for the town, regardless of what the order says is allowed for delivery & product.

 

[LJVF]

This summer, with gas prices skyrocketing and with shipping costs increasing the wholesale price of flowers, I'm not surprised shops had to increase their prices.

IIRC, the DZ rose codification was for a minimum price for 12 stems in greenery in a vase. If the order was for an FTD product image Dz roses with lots of fillers (or italian ruscus which is pricey), most florists would charge more than the minimum - that's why I've often believed minimums (especially roses) are somewhat misleading and misunderstood.

This is a problem that has been going on for years, not just this past summer. A lot of shops have no clue what their codified prices are and if they do, they have no idea that the price is supposed to include delivery unless they note otherwise.

It's not just roses, it's everything. I will usually quote my customer $10 more than what a florist is codified (including delivery) for a particular item, but I still will get an ASK for more funds. This is usually in the same zip code as well.

With the FTD directory only being published once every 4 months (up from once every 3 months), projecting fixed/static prices and costs will continue to get tougher & tougher.

Can FTD members just go into Merc now and instantly update their prices or do they still have to wait for a silly publication date?

Nope, nothing's changed, florists have to still wait for the next directory to reflect any updated pricing. It is inconvenient. :hammer:

 

[Eric S]

Yes, I understand that. It's why I don't seek incoming orders, but I do honor those I receive for the same value I give locally.

On wire outs, I charge $10 delivery; on incomings whatever the town delivery is, is deducted - $6.95-$19.95.

I don't escalate pricing to account for the discount.

I guess I really am naive.

No your not. I was just making a point since I keep seeing members here asking for money for delivery when they should really be asking for more money for the arrangement and delivery.

If shops are willing to fill discount orders then put those discounted orders on your website and recieve full value.

 

[lori042499]

Yes, I understand that. It's why I don't seek incoming orders, but I do honor those I receive for the same value I give locally.

On wire outs, I charge $10 delivery; on incomings whatever the town delivery is, is deducted - $6.95-$19.95.

I don't escalate pricing to account for the discount.

I guess I really am naive.

No tracy, you follow the rules in which you entered a contract into to oblige. You are a good florist...

We all signed into these clubs fully knowing that we were to fill these orders with the discounts on delivery and product...We also all signed on knowing we would get a percentage of orders that we didn't have to do jack for except answer the phone...

 

[Tom Carlson]

Why orders are not itemized for delivery

Didn't want to hijack Heather's thread...

You receive an order to $58.50

Do you assume $8.50 was sent for delivery and fill for $50?

Your delivery fee is $9.50. Do you fill for $49?

Your delivery fee is $5. Do you fill for $53.50?


What if the order is for $60? Do you assume $10 was sent for delivery?


I hate that dove orders don't give you the breakdown showing the product vs. delivery fees collected!!!

I often put "Mixed Spring Vase - $50" in the description so they can see how much we sent for delivery (usually $10, sometimes $12.50).

If you got an order that said $45 for flowers and $5 for delivery and your fee for delivery is $8, wouldn't you fill it for $42?

So that's why it should not be itemized, because one would not deliver flowers for $5 when your delivery fee is $8.

If I got an order for $50 plus $10 for delivery, I would fill it like that and then stop and try to justify why I charge only $8.

Tom Carlson

 

[Eric S]

Reading Daryls post about florist not knowing what their prices are got me thinking.

What do members base their codified prices on?

If I go onto TF.com the prices that I see include a 5 delivery price. Keeping this in mind when I send an order out and I am using TF.com prices the filling florist is usally recieving $5 more for the arrangement plus their delivery fee from us.

I usually don't recieve messages asking for more money unless its a very ruel area which I usually notice if the delivery fees are very high anyways.