New BloomNet Website Hosting

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CHR

CHR

Design matters
Nov 28, 2002
8,951
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Anaheim
www.avantegardens.com
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CA
BloomNet(R) Website Hosting Solutions Enable Floral Shops to Grow Their Businesses Online

From the press release:
Among the specific features of the program are secure and reliable web hosting 24 x 7 x 365, dynamic e-Commerce shopping cart and delivery calendar functionality, merchandising tools including product search and card messaging, marketing tools such as website search engine optimization, customer registration, and email-based order delivery confirmations and customer gift reminder service.
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No mention of cost. Anybody seen one of their templates? Anyone using one of them? This should make TF & FTD very concerned, especially if Bloomnet's sites SEO well.
 
Our area rep was in before Christmas and made mention of this, but would not give any details really (pricing, ect.). Everything seem to be hush, hush at that time. I'm sure we will be recieving more info now that the cat is out of the bag.
 
just got the call, basically the web page is $99 to set up, hosting 29, etc. sorta just like the other 2, they have 12 templates, fees are cheaper but not much, the concept is just like ftd and tele. that will be up in late feb.
The POS is MAS connect runs cheaper then the Mercury monthly but get all the same modules, etc. and is Internet based 3rd party type.
 
I also recieved several postcards over the last month or so from FTD discouraging florist from buying the new Dove POS. Wonder if it will be the same when the Bloomlink one comes out?
 
As many already know, this is crunch week for the WS's where they have their reps in the offices...

The Bloomnet folks have added 500 (yet to be inspected) shops, with 2-300 more to follow up with in person in the next couple weeks.... just an FYI...

Yes they are adding florist websites, and yes, they have chosen MAS, McShan Abner Systems as their prefered technology vendor, MAS will still control and maintain all systems. Bloomnet will only be suggesting MAS, and possibly assisiting members with financing (my guess). Oh and they're working on Credit Card clearing as well.

Regarding marketing to members...both TF and FTD do it, nothing new there... hopefully 800 will take a higher road... I'm growing weary of the games....
 
the key word is "MAS - CONNECT" which is like the junior version but you are connected not purchasing, you still get all the bells and whistles but are not stuck with being in a binding contract. you still pay the maintenance fees, etc. but thru the clearinghouse, which is good for smaller shops if they find it is not working out or something they can decide not to have it.

my question is why all the inspections, for what? My sales rep when he came in last year in Dec. 05 , inspected, took pictures looked all around ,counted people , etc. You would of thought we were applying for the FBI instead of a wire service.....
Oh well, I guess I'm not on the same page as others for wrong doings, so I guess there are some out there that needs that slap on the hand or threatened.
But does it work? Is the question....
 
THe Bloomnet inspections do serve a purpose...they are collecting data on you. By doing such things as counting staff, work room space, cooler volume, # of vans etc. they are creating a database in which they can turn to to see how much volume you can do. They did it with us LONG ago - to see our capacity for filling 800 orders. BUT, if you don't fill them, your data is not used. Oh, and they HATE delivery pools!

BTW, I got TWO post cards the same day, one advertising Dove POS, and the FTD Anti-Dove POS. FTD simply listed all the things D-POS does not do, that Merc. 7 does do... NOTHIN' new there...

- H.
 
PhillyPhlorist,

I was just curious with something you said: "Oh, and they HATE delivery pools!"

Can you please explain? Why would they hate delivery pools? I just don't get it. And also, does the same apply to FTD and Teleflora?

Thanks in advance
 
Chimuelo said:
PhillyPhlorist,

I was just curious with something you said: "Oh, and they HATE delivery pools!"

Can you please explain? Why would they hate delivery pools? I just don't get it. And also, does the same apply to FTD and Teleflora?

Thanks in advance
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I think much of it comes from the fact that they do not get delivery confirmations when a pool is in the mix.
 
Chimuelo said:
PhillyPhlorist,

I was just curious with something you said: "Oh, and they HATE delivery pools!"

Can you please explain? Why would they hate delivery pools? I just don't get it. And also, does the same apply to FTD and Teleflora?

Thanks in advance
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Sure! Because delivery pools have cut-off times usually in the late AM or around noon. 800 wants to be able to send you their 29.99 orders around 2:55pm - just before "their" same-day cut off time.

No, no mandatory Delivery confirmations with FTD.COM or TEL.COM. I don't think they would every institute such a policy. Besides, 800 markets their DLC's as a "feature" of ordering with them... I can remember when they first made DLC's mandatory that we were inundated with "status check" calls from 800 operators, with the customer "on the line" asking if his order had been delivered yet. It was only 10:30am, and we got the order at 10.........really needed that on the 14th of Feb....

BOSS is kinda right, but have news for ya' guys and gals on the "DLC"s...many of the 800 shops I know/been to just put in generic times for those DLC's. Also, many pools do not require a time be recorded nor a signature (ours doesn't ...yet - I'm working on it...). DLC's are really a pain in the arse to deal with if you're not interfaced with BMT and do any kind of volume. My Father would sit at that PC for hours after V-day, typing in DLC's for EVERY order... No more.

As Bloomzie says, opinions vary...

- H.
 
BloomNet inspections

They lead you to believe that they are inspecting their shops but on the contrary!! It's actually a rouse for management to prove the sales rep actually went to the shop and signed them up. Those pictures are put into a file and never seen again. Knew a couple of TF and BM reps who kept a supply of floral shop pictures they could use in a pinch.

It's all a scam designed to help management and no one else!
 
victoriamary said:
Hmmm...isn't Bloomnet the "flower shop" side of 800 flowers? Or am I confusing them with someone else??

Victoriamary
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That's sorta been my question. Is 1800 suddenly a good guy? A good, no longer deceptive, OG????
 
Bloom Net good guy?

Connie,
Bloom Net is the retail florist side of 1-800 flowers. It was created to accept all of the orders that 1-800 OG received. Long long time ago, in a far away place, it was a good thing (as Martha says) but then they hired a few Sr. Mgmt from FTD and TF to turn it into a full-fledge wire service and there ya go. Their whole purpose in life is to build a wire business that competes against the others. The florists are paying for this to happen by the never increasing schedule of fees.

Their credit card system should be as suspect as TF and FTD's. All companies only offer programs which are revenue generators ~ not in the best interest of the florist. Honest!! I know from strong experience.
 
So if many "buy into" the bloomnet website thingy and it is 800flowers, I suspect there will be tons of threads like other WS threads before long. Yes, they told me I could set my own minimums (so I can spend time and money rejecting orders) when I suggested that 800flowers are cheap and not like our custom designs. I'm working on moving away from the TF website ASAP.

Enjoy your day!
Victoria
 
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