Re: BRILLANT OBSERVATION TOM!
Yes, I too remember when all of the smaller competitors went crying at the steps of the DOJ touting that THAT BIG FTD was just another MONOPOLY trying to KEEP THE COMPETITION DOWN!
So went 800, Teleflora, and AFS, I DOO BELIEVE!
That BIG BAD FTD, (member owned and operated co-op) filled with over 90% of small mom and pop hard working slobs were painted with that BIG BAD MONOPOLY can of spray paint.
Then, and instead of FIGHTING the DOJ with DA FACTS, DA BOARD signed onto that CONSENT DECREE which allowed all of those other smaller competitors to USE OUR MERCURY SYSTEM which was CREATED BY and BOUGHT AND PAID FOR by the BLOOD, SWEAT, and TEARS of each and every small mom and pop shop in the member owned and operated association.
So, when you point out that TELEFLORA and the rest of them were actually suing their own (dual) members, you're 100% correct!
The amazing part to mee winds up to bee that, those SMALL COMPETITORS, 800 for example, were actually able to find just another ACHILLES' HEEL in the very association which gave them their FIRST BREATH OF LIFE from day one anyway!
Because, and in MY UMBLE OPINION and WITH OUT their ability to USE the MOM and POP ASSOCIATION, they were just another 800 number with floral orders and NO PLACE TO GO!
Had it not been for the SELLOUT OFFICERS, CHAIRMAN'S of DA BOARD, and BOARD MEMBERS, as they refused to ENFORCE our own MEMBERSHIP BYLAWS, that ANOMALY would've faded into history as did AFS, CARIK, FCN, and RFS!
Instead, it destroyed the one last bastion of hope for the small independent mom and pop hard working florist slobs, who now have NO ONE to represent them, other then, THEMSELVES and by choosing WHO THEY WORK FOR!
Like YOU, I work for MEE and NOT FOR FREE!
