sending only

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genie

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Jan 19, 2005
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Doniphan,
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Missouri
I'm on a roll, never having posted here before & finally figuring out how to do it.
Yesterday I received (merc)an order from Just Flowers--sending only.
$39.99--delivered way out on a rural route for lilies, roses, etc, etc
Not wanting to reject because that would cost me, I called their 800 number, told the operator it was grossly underpriced & we couldn't do it for less than $50--even that was a stretch. He said, ok, I'll send you a can. I was really surprised he didn't try to talk me into doing it. I am the only FTD shop within 30 miles --question--are they also TF?? My competitor is TF
 
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genie said:
I'm on a roll, never having posted here before & finally figuring out how to do it.
Yesterday I received (merc)an order from Just Flowers--sending only.
$39.99--delivered way out on a rural route for lilies, roses, etc, etc
Not wanting to reject because that would cost me, I called their 800 number, told the operator it was grossly underpriced & we couldn't do it for less than $50--even that was a stretch. He said, ok, I'll send you a can. I was really surprised he didn't try to talk me into doing it. I am the only FTD shop within 30 miles --question--are they also TF?? My competitor is TF
Click to expand...

Unless I am mistaken you do not pay $1 to reject these orders, only FTD's. So REJECT with glee.

Keith
 
I called in on it just a bit back and was told the only way not to pay the FTO is to FORward them. REJ's still cost you a buck.

Doesn't say you can't forward them to Mexico City tho.....
 
The only ones you can't forward are ftd.com ones and I'm not too positive about that. Those other ones just say that but you can do what you like.

I get tired of rejecting and even forwarding from one particular repeat offender skimmer and have stopped assisting them. I think they fixed it so you can't forward back to themselves but you still can forward elsewhere, like New York City.
 
We call and ask for more $ and they send a cancel. I don't want to take the time to forward either. I have to say it never occurred to me to reject all these prior to joining FC. There is lots of debate here (and some slams) about order fillers and how clueless they are and what not, but sometimes you are so focused on other parts of your business or your life that you have just not addressed this issue.
 
If "Domestic Retrans" still exists, just FOR to them (sorry, I cannot remember the number).
Rock on..............
 
Wow I guess FTD gives us all different answers depending on which way the wind is blowing.
I was told that you don't pay to reject. You pay $1.00 each time an order comes to you (FTO). So if you reject it, or forward it and aren't filling it you're STILL paying the $1.00.
Only way we got around it is to opt out of OG orders and FTD.com orders.
 
What we do is always request more money from them, which most of the time, ends up with them doing a cancel. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but if they cancel you don't get charged.
 
mona said:
Wow I guess FTD gives us all different answers depending on which way the wind is blowing.
I was told that you don't pay to reject. You pay $1.00 each time an order comes to you (FTO). So if you reject it, or forward it and aren't filling it you're STILL paying the $1.00.
Click to expand...

It does bear checking again doesn't it Mona?

I tried that day to ask for "someone who really knew the answer" but I sure wouldn't still take that to the bank.

She told me the only way out of the FTO charge is a FOR.
 
Just send them an (ask) (P) ($100.00)

genie said:
I'm on a roll, never having posted here before & finally figuring out how to do it.
Yesterday I received (merc)an order from Just Flowers--sending only.
$39.99--delivered way out on a rural route for lilies, roses, etc, etc
Not wanting to reject because that would cost me, I called their 800 number, told the operator it was grossly underpriced & we couldn't do it for less than $50--even that was a stretch. He said, ok, I'll send you a can. I was really surprised he didn't try to talk me into doing it. I am the only FTD shop within 30 miles --question--are they also TF?? My competitor is TF
Click to expand...

Hey Genie! Next time any OGs or DOGs try to send you a JUNK ORDER from their JUNKYARD, just send them an (ask) (P) ($100.00)

In your FREE (ask) (p) ($100.00) message, be sure to tell them, if they cannot meet your proper total pricing fee which includes your DELIVERY $ERVICE for filling a RIDICULOUSLY TOO LOW pricing of the requested item, then send you a (can) as soon as possible.

Also, and as my other REAL FLORIST FRIEND always includes at the end of his messages:

This will be OUR ONLY MESSAGE to your company regarding this matter and your FAILURE TO ACT will probably result in a NON DELIVERY COMPLAINT by YOUR CUSTOMER!

Make no mistake in the fact that, the $1.00 FEE which that wire service insists on charging YOU when you elect to use their CAN option, is not only another passive stream of revenue enhancers for them, but more like a FINE to YOU!

Lastly, keep on posting now that you know and share your winning thoughts with the rest of us too!:soapbox:
 
Stick to your guns - you want to still her here next year.

If you need more money to fill that order, then ask for it! You are there to service them with the best flowers and service as possible - it costs you money to stay open and be profitable. If they undersold that item and find a shop to fill it for the extra low price - then good luck to that shop as they probably will not be open a year from now as they will not have enough money to pay their bills.

The industry needs to realize everyone needs to make a profit to stay open - so get real and get enough money - the order taker is taking a 20% commission already!!!

What do you think about these top 100 FTD shops that are becoming SEND ONLY - are they raping the industry or what? They are getting a 20% commission, getting a service charge, getting a rebate and never filling and incoming order. Are they one sided or not? They do not deserve to be servicing customers!
 
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It's an OFFER, not a CONTRACT!

dalmation4646 said:
You are there to service them with the best flowers and service as possible - the order taker is taking a 20% commission already!!!

What do you think about these top 100 FTD shops that are becoming SEND ONLY - are they raping the industry or what? They are getting a 20% commission, getting a service charge, getting a rebate and never filling and incoming order. Are they one sided or not? They do not deserve to be servicing customers!
Click to expand...

Just because an OG, DOG, WS DOT.CON, or any other MIDDLEMAN sends a REAL FLORIST an offer, it doesn't always equate to AN ORDER. The offer can only BEE AN ORDER when the filling florist agrees to THE OFFER. It then becomes a SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE CONTRACT in which the FILLER FLORIST agrees to all of the terms set forth by the sender and at the total price given, albeit in WIRE SERVICE WAMPUM & BEADS versus REAL NET DOLLARS with pictures of DEAD PRESIDENTS ON THEM.

A REAL FLORIST exists to $ERVICE THEIR CUSTOMERS FIRST since IT'S THEIR CUSTOMERS who are paying them 100% IN REAL DOLLARS for the gift as well as the additional $ervice charge for delivery $ervice options they require.

After the REAL FLORIST'S primary business objective has been met, and if they still feel the need to fill orders at a total discount of 29%(20% + 7% +2% order transmission) plus FREE DELIVERY, thinking it will create any net profit (NOT!), they are then, FREE to pursue that DREAM.

Lastly, and if there are any SHOPS who have decided to become SENDING ONLY, let's all agree that, THEY ARE NOT AS STUPID as the ones who are NOT IN THE TOP 100!

:iamwith: Well, at least until I got SMART!
 
dalmation4646 said:
What do you think about these top 100 FTD shops that are becoming SEND ONLY - are they raping the industry or what? They are getting a 20% commission, getting a service charge, getting a rebate and never filling and incoming order. Are they one sided or not? They do not deserve to be servicing customers!
Click to expand...

Well Trudi... from the response to Jacques intro thread http://www.flowerchat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12051
it seems no one cares much.
FTD top 100 shops (senders) are treated to wonderful resort vacations and seminars on how to be more successful and it seems the new montra is to become sending only.. take only the good parts and scre# the rest.

Since no one from Jacques seemed even slightly interested in this forum until I brought up their sending only change.. and in fact no one from this shop has bothered to post anything..except their intro. post to allow them to see that string I guess they really don't care either.

I have a policy that I do not accept orders from sending shops because there is no way I can benefit from them so why should I allow them to benefit from me. Not a big deal in the scheme of things since there are 4 other shops in my town that will fill for them. So in the long run what I think and do has no impact on this new method of screwing the small shops.. but at least I can sleep at night without needing a stiff drink.
 
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I hadn't heard that mantra...

nor do I understand it - it's too tough to control incoming or something?

I do however notice they never addressed the questions. hmmm
 
Ladies -

It's not that florists here at FC don't care. I perceive us as falling into four basic groups:

1) Old timers with a sense of fairness to consumers and fellow florists. Don't ask or expect another florist to do what you wouldn't do. Don't lie, don't cheat, don't steal, don't promise things you can't deliver. In short, pretend like it's 'business as usual' circa 1990.

2) The 'If I can make money at it and it's legal' then what's the problem?' group. They have business ethics and have recognized that selling is far more profitable than filling. In fact, they recognize filling as a losing proposition and have decided to stop or highly curtail handling incomings at all. From a strictly financial standpoint, this group actually makes the most business sense. They think many members of Group #1 aren't really on top the game yet, but they still want them to fill their orders to perfection with top quality flowers, exceptional customer service and a prompt delivery confirmation.

3) The filling shops that take nearly any and every incoming order regardless of value or potential profitability, including the orders refused by Group #1. Many are unaware of or don't care about dOGs or SFOs. Some tell themselves how great it is to be busy filling incomings right up until the day they close their doors. How many times have we seen that here?

4) The 'I don't need a wire service' group that refuses to participate in the traditional FTD-TF-BloomNet system. Today, they might be the least frustrated, most sane group in FlowerChat. :>

Group #1 has no recourse (except refusal - which actually costs them money) when a Group #2 florist sends an order. The order will eventually end up somewhere in Group #3 and there's no convincing those stores that filling such an order can be unhealthy for their business. Some could care less about the industry in general, some just take the orders to rotate out product, and others don't understand the mathematics of incoming orders in specific.

Group #4 shrugs at these conversations wondering why anyone would give another florist's a 30%+ discount and wouldn't do the same for their very best customers.

There's no longer any shock value to any of this... more just quiet resignation that market distortions enabled by wire services make commerce more difficult for companies in Group #1.

Group #2 gets financially stronger and group #3 gets replaced with new, optimistic, business-challenged florists every few years. And so it goes....
 
CHR said:
Ladies -

It's not that florists here at FC don't care. I perceive us as falling into four basic groups:

1) Old timers with a sense of fairness to consumers and fellow florists. Don't ask or expect another florist to do what you wouldn't do. Don't lie, don't cheat, don't steal, don't promise things you can't deliver. In short, pretend like it's 'business as usual' circa 1990.

2) The 'If I can make money at it and it's legal' then what's the problem?' group. They have business ethics and have recognized that selling is far more profitable than filling. In fact, they recognize filling as a losing proposition and have decided to stop or highly curtail handling incomings at all. From a strictly financial standpoint, this group actually makes the most business sense. They think many members of Group #1 aren't really on top the game yet, but they still want them to fill their orders to perfection with top quality flowers, exceptional customer service and a prompt delivery confirmation.

3) The filling shops that take nearly any and every incoming order regardless of value or potential profitability, including the orders refused by Group #1. Many are unaware of or don't care about dOGs or SFOs. Some tell themselves how great it is to be busy filling incomings right up until the day they close their doors. How many times have we seen that here?

4) The 'I don't need a wire service' group that refuses to participate in the traditional FTD-TF-BloomNet system. Today, they might be the least frustrated, most sane group in FlowerChat. :>

Group #1 has no recourse (except refusal - which actually costs them money) when a Group #2 florist sends an order. The order will eventually end up somewhere in Group #3 and there's no convincing those stores that filling such an order can be unhealthy for their business. Some could care less about the industry in general, some just take the orders to rotate out product, and others don't understand the mathematics of incoming orders in specific.

Group #4 shrugs at these conversations wondering why anyone would give another florist's a 30%+ discount and wouldn't do the same for their very best customers.

There's no longer any shock value to any of this... more just quiet resignation that market distortions enabled by wire services make commerce more difficult for companies in Group #1.

Group #2 gets financially stronger and group #3 gets replaced with new, optimistic, business-challenged florists every few years. And so it goes....
Click to expand...

It's clear to me that we owe it to ourselves, our employees and our family to be #2 or #4. The idea is to be happy and have fun WHILE YOU ARE MAKING MONEY.
 
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