Have you seen what happens when you type FTD Sucks, or 1800Flowers Sucks or Teleflora Sucks in your search engine. It is a huge list of complaints and blogs of people that have had troubles with wire services.
P. Bird
P. Bird
Sucks
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cherrie
New Member
Chezbloom
Well-Known Member
Why exactly is it sad for all of us? We won't affiliate ourselves with WS so it don't feel it directly (perhaps indirectly) effects us. Actually, you can type just about anything in your brower and get results like that-but I feel your pain. For instance, yesterday I typed in, " I hate weddings" and low and behold there's even a website with the name!
Ok, I was a little bitter over a tiny matter that was nothing. Then, I typed in, "Facebook, waste of time?, about a zillion articles. I guess the trick would be to blog more about how awsome us local floristas truely are! Always look on the bright side of life,, do do doo doo doo deee dooo. Its 27 degrees below zero here today, but I don't care cuz its sunny and I'm alive. p.s. FTD and TF do suck with great force.
Ok, I was a little bitter over a tiny matter that was nothing. Then, I typed in, "Facebook, waste of time?, about a zillion articles. I guess the trick would be to blog more about how awsome us local floristas truely are! Always look on the bright side of life,, do do doo doo doo deee dooo. Its 27 degrees below zero here today, but I don't care cuz its sunny and I'm alive. p.s. FTD and TF do suck with great force.
master J
Well-Known Member
I believe, florists think this puts a bad taste on flowers in general Chez, but it doesn't bother me at all. WS do suck and more and more people are getting burned by the WS fillers and senders!
I have noticed an increase in direct orders from florists, and an increase in customers looking to find florist direct online!
One by one ,flower buyers are getting smarter IMO. Still a long way to go, but it has to start somewhere, the sooner the WS's are gone, the better off the flower industry will be
cherrie
New Member
What's happening is that the consumer once, twice, three times burned will no longer send bad flowers. It is sad and destroying our industry.
Whether you're a wire service or not. If the consumer feels ripped off, the next time they need to send a gift, it won't be flowers.
I had a woman call me from Arizona to send flowers to her daughter in Florida. She found me via the internet and like my site. The last time she sent flowers, it was from FTD.com. The flowers that arrived were dead.
She told me that the joke between her and her daughter was, "Would you like me to send you a gift card, or dead flowers?"
That's sad.
She said that I would be her last attempt to send flowers. I called the receiving florist and relayed the info.
Whether you're a wire service or not. If the consumer feels ripped off, the next time they need to send a gift, it won't be flowers.
I had a woman call me from Arizona to send flowers to her daughter in Florida. She found me via the internet and like my site. The last time she sent flowers, it was from FTD.com. The flowers that arrived were dead.
She told me that the joke between her and her daughter was, "Would you like me to send you a gift card, or dead flowers?"
That's sad.
She said that I would be her last attempt to send flowers. I called the receiving florist and relayed the info.
twiggy
Well-Known Member
ya know reading these complaints lets me know what fears I need to address on my site- or my blog (both!) it's also a good place to find out what our customers are experiencing, and how we can make it easier for them.
worried about delivery? we can send you an e-mail letting you know when your flowers were delivered.
also a great place to find out what they ordered and maybe what is popular
10 complaints about nondelivery of red tulips? a red tulip special is in order!
worried about delivery? we can send you an e-mail letting you know when your flowers were delivered.
also a great place to find out what they ordered and maybe what is popular
10 complaints about nondelivery of red tulips? a red tulip special is in order!
master J
Well-Known Member
If the WS's are putting a black eye on the floral industry, and forcing people to turn to other gift ideas, well then, why do so many of us still support and use the WS?!
Nobody wants this negative info to get out, they want to sweep it under the rug and forget about it instead?! Shhhhh, hush hush??!!:hammer:
I don't get it!
Nobody wants this negative info to get out, they want to sweep it under the rug and forget about it instead?! Shhhhh, hush hush??!!:hammer:
I don't get it!
LJVF
Well-Known Member
To expand on what Chez said, you can type almost anything before the word "sucks" in a search and you're going to get a long list of complaints. This includes some of the most reputable companies in the world.
The internet has caused a "pardigm shift" in the structure of the floral industry and shopping in general. The wire services adapted, the traditional florists didn't. What's done is done, bad or good. IMO, it will be very difficult, not impossible, but highly improbable for a relatively small group of FCers to change the system in a short period of time.
We missed the boat on several opportunities, we now need to seize the new ones before we're stranded on a sinking island.
The internet has caused a "pardigm shift" in the structure of the floral industry and shopping in general. The wire services adapted, the traditional florists didn't. What's done is done, bad or good. IMO, it will be very difficult, not impossible, but highly improbable for a relatively small group of FCers to change the system in a short period of time.
We missed the boat on several opportunities, we now need to seize the new ones before we're stranded on a sinking island.
I have to agree with the consensus that bad complaints and bad publicity do have an effect on the floral industry in general. Unfortunately, a good many people ( including my now deceased dad ) have or had the notion that flowers are flowers.....don;t matter where you get them from, if they are bad from this place.....chances are they'll be bad all over. All the negative publicity really does leave a bad taste in people's mouths for the industry as a whole.
master J
Well-Known Member
....so if you have a bad meal at a chain restaurant, are you going to stop eating?! LOL!
I know that is a stretch from flowers but, really, all industries have a good and a bad side....
I know that is a stretch from flowers but, really, all industries have a good and a bad side....
One response to a blog was from a former employee of a WS and they pretty much spelled out why the customer got ripped off and to call the florist direct, because the florist gets ripped off too. One complaint tho was about ordering an orchid arrangement and getting roses and carns instead, that's a florist mistake in my book. If you don't have the orchids, reject the order, or advise Tf what you do have so they can contact the customer. It may be a wire order, but there's still a customer involved somewhere down the line.
Trish
Trish
You must have been reading Cameron Olthius' blog. He's a real cutie BTW.
Today I added my .02 to his blog post about bypassing national brands and finding a local flower shop:
Also FTR, when I heard Cameron was speaking at a nearby webmaster conference last spring, I sent him flowers - and he wrote a very nice blog post about receiving them: http://www.cameronolthuis.com/2008/04/avante-gardens-you-had-me-at-hello/
It's good to make nice with SEOs.
Today I added my .02 to his blog post about bypassing national brands and finding a local flower shop:
Please note that all the rants in the comments were about the usual suspects. And for the record, my listing in G Local is completely gone ATM so there's no self promotion what-so-ever.Guys -
FTD, 1-800-Flowers, Just Flowers and all the ‘national’ companies use local florists so why not bypass them and their $15 and up service charges and order direct?
Here’s how to easily find a good local flower shop:
1. Go to Google Maps and type in the recipient’s address.
2. Select ‘Search nearby’ and enter ‘florist’ in the text box. You’ll be presented with a list of the closest shops.
3. Go to the top of the left column and refine the search by ‘User Rating’ - choose a minimum of 3 stars.
4. Viola! Check out a few of the top listings and buy from one who meets your look, feel & price range. (Be sure to pay attention to the distance indicated from you delivery location. If it’s more than 15 miles, the shop may not actually service that area themselves.) Unsure? Pick up the phone and call them.
5. You’ll know who is actually handling your order so if there are any questions or changes, they can be handled quickly.
6. If the florist does a great job, return to the listing and write a nice user review.
All local florists aren’t perfect, but the communication and savings are well worth the little bit of effort it takes to go direct.
Also FTR, when I heard Cameron was speaking at a nearby webmaster conference last spring, I sent him flowers - and he wrote a very nice blog post about receiving them: http://www.cameronolthuis.com/2008/04/avante-gardens-you-had-me-at-hello/
It's good to make nice with SEOs.
cherrie
New Member
Just delivered flowers a few days ago for someone calling from AZ (I'm in NYC) looking for local florist because of repeated bad experiences with 1800 & FTD. The receipience's response to my delivery: "wow, they always send me flowers, but this is the first time it's beautiful."
the arrangement: $50
the response: priceless.
It wasn't even a super wonderful arrangement, just our everyday quality, but that kind of response makes me wonder, what are the 1800 & FTD been sending out?
the arrangement: $50
the response: priceless.
It wasn't even a super wonderful arrangement, just our everyday quality, but that kind of response makes me wonder, what are the 1800 & FTD been sending out?
Because they represent the industry of flowers, in the eyes of much of the public, whether we're affiliated with wire services or not.
thats not my problem, think again
The wire services have contributed greatly to the perception that flowers cost too much. customer spends $100.00 for an order, $7.00 Tax $15.00 is ws fee -$7.00 - 10.00 is delivery, $32.00 gone off the top we are already down to $68.00 order filler knows that he will not be paid full price, sometimes that means a few less flowers. When you have spent $100.00 and you get $68.00 arrangement chances are you would be dissapointed with sending flowers. So these services are hurting every florist in the world.
Do not feel like you are immuned just because you do not partake.
The advertising budget of these services is so great that they afford to be in your face at the click of a button. that makes us seem hard to find.
It would be nice to have a service for sending that was more florist friendly.
P. Bird
The wire services have contributed greatly to the perception that flowers cost too much. customer spends $100.00 for an order, $7.00 Tax $15.00 is ws fee -$7.00 - 10.00 is delivery, $32.00 gone off the top we are already down to $68.00 order filler knows that he will not be paid full price, sometimes that means a few less flowers. When you have spent $100.00 and you get $68.00 arrangement chances are you would be dissapointed with sending flowers. So these services are hurting every florist in the world.
Do not feel like you are immuned just because you do not partake.
The advertising budget of these services is so great that they afford to be in your face at the click of a button. that makes us seem hard to find.
It would be nice to have a service for sending that was more florist friendly.
P. Bird
lori042499
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- May 3, 2006
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This part has nothing to do with WS...this is bad florists taking money off for something they shouldn't...it is called skimming and against the rules...Every florist signing up knows that the discount is in place...they are supposed to make it up on the sending side...the fact that they do nothing to get that biz or are not in a position to have it has nothing to do with WS. No florist is ever supposed to make full price on WI and know this signing up...not the WS problem or the customers problem..
The other crap is bad salesmanship at the POS whether it be at a real florist, online at a ws or at an og(all entities are guilty of this at some level for one reason or another)...The customer should be aware of what they are paying for. Not one customer leaves my shop without fully knowing where their money went on every order. I let them know that they are paying 50.00 for flowers, 10.00 local delivery, 12.99 wire fee(my fee) and 2.50 state tax...I also let them know that the florist filling the order gets the 60.00 that they paid for flowers and delivery should they inquire about the fact that there is a delivery charge and a service fee...
I am not a skimmer I live small town I am much to concerned about my reputation here to do that, I am an over stuffer. But I am familiar with other florist, and have read some things here on flowerchat.
Regardless of how you break it down to them, the sender has still spent $100.00 on getting someone else $68.00 worth flowers.
Regardless of how you break it down to them, the sender has still spent $100.00 on getting someone else $68.00 worth flowers.
lori042499
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- May 3, 2006
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When I buy a 30 dollar ticket for a concert through ticket master and it ends up costing me 50 because I add premier parking for my convenience and have them send me the tickets in my email to rpint right away for my convenience....I am still only getting a 30 dollar ticket, i have paid for extra services for my convenience...
When people purchase a 50.00 dollar arrangement from me for FL...They are usually paying for the convenience of not having to look up a florist in Fl or want to pay by cash or use their house account(hard to do with a florist that doesn't know you in FL)....They still should be getting a 50.00 arrangement and then paying for the extras delivery, service and tax...these are things that all kinds of people pay dearly for in the internet world and we florists are so nice to make it a break neck speeds of same day delivery for a fraction of the cost and service with a smile for even less than no service for a cost at other vendors, I think we are a real bargain and should be mighty proud to let people know what a bargain they are getting when paying us to do such a wonderful job for them....
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