Teleflora keeps calling us to fill orders

[fairfield]

There are eleven florists in Eugene. Eight of them are Teleflora members, but one is sending only. It is interesting to me that we get calls from TF, a few times a month lately, and they want us to fill an order for them. We kindly decline. Now, with talk from some lately about possibly filling any order that comes across the wire or not wanting customers to get the shaft from a "battle" they don't want to be in, I am wanting some feedback on declining to fill orders for TF. Maybe I'm not thinking straight.

TF called today wanting to send us the order. We are not a member and indicated that to the operator. They called back a short while later and said that they would use a credit card. We still declined. Here is my reasoning: We do not fill orders for non-florists, and TF is not a florist. We don't even do 100% orders for them. Why? Because I do not trust them. I do not want to have a customer call me and tell me that the arrangement that we delivered was not worth what they paid and now they want a refund or ??? I don't want to have to explain to them that TF skimmed money off the top and sent us the rest of the 100% order. That happened when we were members so I know it can happen if we're not. I don't want to be in the middle of that.

I am all for the consumer getting their money's worth and the recipient getting a beautiful arrangement, but we have not had a complaint in over two years and we try dam-n hard to extend that every day. It sure seems to me like these TF orders are just begging for problems if none of the TF members want them. Of course, I am assuming that the order has been bounced all over town, which makes it even worse thinking how long it's been in circulation.

I do have other reasons for not wanting to fill for TF, but they are primarily based on my ethical beliefs and I am not getting into that here. There is no need to question them unless I am convinced that my above thinking is wrong. So, let me know what you think. Am I whacked? I consider every opinion seriously.

Thanks,
Jason

 

[leah]

Wow. As a Teleflora member (though only for the next 2 months - then its see ya!) I'm concerned. With that number of florists in your area, NOT ONE of them could fill that order? Sounds fishy to me. What the heck did the customer request? I think you are right for refusing to have anything to do it.

We have been suffering with TF calling our shop about a dozen times a day, asking us if we deliver to our town. Let's see - the address is the same street as mine, same zip code and is only 50 numbers away - yes, I guess I could get out my passport and go there. Why did we carefully list all the zip codes / towns we deliver to only to have them call (and barely speak English!) me tying up my phone lines. Its so frustrating.

Yesterday, we had an order on the computer when we arrived, rejected it immediately, only to get those annoying phone calls all day and the order doved over to us 3 times. Still don't have the requested item and why does the price keep changing?

Holidays - what more can I say!
Leah

 

[NPFloral]

You could always check teleflora.com and see if the item's price is consistant with what they are offering you. If it is, and they are offering you a cc, why not do it. Of course if the offer is LESS than the price on their site, tell them to shove it! And by all means, get your delivery fee too!!!

Tim - North Port Floral (not a TF member anymore!)

 

[BOSS]

Two choices Jason...

1) Yes we'll fill your order for 100% plus $14.95 (the service charge they collect) payment on your company credit card.

Or

2) Just say no and tell them to put you on their do not call list.

If they must to get the order filled you'll get the cash. If you do not want to deal with them at all use option 2 above.

 

[felicityflowers]

Jason,

As a non-WS member I fill any WS orders called directly at full value PLUS delivery. If the item is listed at 49.95 on their site plus their service charge then they must give me 49.95 plus my listed delivery. If they decline then so do I.

I treat anyone calling my store as a customer. I don't offer discounts to my customers so I sure as heck am not going to give a discount to anyone else especially not a dOG or a WS calling direct.

You aren't a member - you don't have to play by their rules. If they need that order filled badly enough they will pay the same thing that you would charge any other customer. I'm not saying to put the screws to them but, you shouldn't have to take theirs either.

 

[Chezbloom]

Personally, I would'nt even trust TF with a credit card. I feel the farther I can disassociate myself with them, the better. Eat your heart out Donny and Marie Osmond. Anyone gonna watch the TF 's Favortie mom show on Sunday?

 

[PhillyPhlorist]

Personally, I would'nt even trust TF with a credit card. I feel the farther I can disassociate myself with them, the better. Eat your heart out Donny and Marie Osmond. Anyone gonna watch the TF 's Favortie mom show on Sunday?

I'd have to dissagree - to a point. As long as they provide a valid CC, and have the $$$ to fill AND deliver the order properly, then why not?
a) it's 100 % biz for you
b) it's a way to get your NAME and/or LOGO out to a potential customer
c) it's a chance to make money!

As far as the AFM, nope. Didn't even promote it. My TEL rep emailed me a link to a video, watched it - very well produced. But, na - too bizzy to get involved with that.

AS FAR AS CALLS: we have been getting 4-5 a DAY asking us to fill their $30 total "Make A Wish" bouquet. (yes, even the ones we have refused). I politely ask them to send it over PLUS the needed delivery charge. Anything less will be refused. I had one so far, sent back to me with my OK in the Special instructions, but for the $30 total. Refused.

Homie ain't playin' - send me the right $$$ the first time...

- H

 

[TOTO]

Probably an OG Jason

Even though, those callers say they are calling from TELEFLORA HQ, be aware, and especially when they are destroying our English language, they are probably an ORDER GATHERER.

We ALWAYS REFUSED to accept those types of orders when we were a member and demanded they send the order via the DOVE, because WEE LOVE HARD COPY.

That's the warning for anyone who gets TELEPHONE CALLS instead of ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS.

After all, none of us REAL FLORISTS really NOSE WHO DEY BEE?

Having done searches on those telephone numbers after the fact, they came up with notes from others and the words CALL CENTER somewhere in California.

With today's FORWARDING features, they could be starting in New Delhi for all any of us know.

Can't tell any REAL FLORIST what they should do, but I've always believed that, if we can CUT THE MIDDLEMEN OFF AT OUR PASS, we'll eventually force the floral consumers to SEEK OUT and FIND A REAL FLORIST who can DOO THEIR DOO!, and all for 100% plus OUR $ERVICE CHARGES too!

 

[fairfield]

Even though, those callers say they are calling from TELEFLORA HQ, be aware, and especially when they are destroying our English language, they are probably an ORDER GATHERER.

We ALWAYS REFUSED to accept those types of orders when we were a member and demanded they send the order via the DOVE, because WEE LOVE HARD COPY.

That's the warning for anyone who gets TELEPHONE CALLS instead of ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS.

After all, none of us REAL FLORISTS really NOSE WHO DEY BEE?

Having done searches on those telephone numbers after the fact, they came up with notes from others and the words CALL CENTER somewhere in California.

With today's FORWARDING features, they could be starting in New Delhi for all any of us know.

Are you saying that it might not even be Teleflora? I never even thought about that. That could be why they don't have their customer call us directly like I ask. Thanks TOTO!

Can't tell any REAL FLORIST what they should do, but I've always believed that, if we can CUT THE MIDDLEMEN OFF AT OUR PASS, we'll eventually force the floral consumers to SEEK OUT and FIND A REAL FLORIST who can DOO THEIR DOO!, and all for 100% plus OUR $ERVICE CHARGES too!

Yeah, I think about the bright future a lot, too.:thumbsup

 

[Queen of Weddings]

I was helping out a shop earlier today, and they were getting calls like this and the girl at the counter was getting upset, so I answered the phone it was just a customer wanting to order flowers, and thought because of all the advertising right now, that all shops were tf, also if TF wants to place an order get there cc they will give it to you to fill it, also wonder why the other shops who are TF are not taking them..

 

[TOTO]

Yes, that's what EYE BEE SAYING!

Are you saying that it might not even be Teleflora? I never even thought about that. That could be why they don't have their customer call us directly like I ask. Thanks TOTO!
Yeah, I think about the bright future a lot, too.:thumbsup

Could it be that, THOSE CALLERS are LYING?

YUP! That's my call and at 100% !

Ask yourself the question: Why would it bee that, anyone at Teleflora HQ would call any REAL FLORIST, member or not, when they would have access to the DOVE network?

The answer: They are not from TELEFLORA HQ and are, in fact, an OG, who is trying to get their SKIMMER MIDDLEMAN ORDERS through, while using the facade of lying about calling from Teleflora HQ.

If you have caller ID, take the incoming telephone number and do a search at GOOGLE, and those results will prove my point.

 

[fairfield]

If you have caller ID, take the incoming telephone number and do a search at GOOGLE, and those results will prove my point.

Well, you're not going to believe this. I went in this morning and checked the caller ID and it was Teleflora.

Like Queen said, I don't understand why none of the other shops wanted the order.:dunno:

 

[BOSS]

it was Teleflora.

Like Queen said, I don't understand why none of the other shops wanted the order.:dunno:

They're probably all members of FlowerChat and have adjusted their business models!!:rofl:

 

[David]

AS FAR AS CALLS: we have been getting 4-5 a DAY asking us to fill their $30 total "Make A Wish" bouquet. (yes, even the ones we have refused).

Getting the same annoying calls here. Another good one is TFWEB320:SUNNY SMILES They try to send me for 40.00. Looks like 5 roses (could be some spray) Couple lilies alstro in a yellow vase.

One bright spot is my Teleflora rep finally stopped the from you flowers
orders from being Doved to me. Don't have time or want to deal with there 30.01 requests to downtown Boston.

 

[TOTO]

Amazing Thing, The TIME MACHINE!

I still can't belive some of these VERY OLD SRPs of $30.00 in the year 2008.

Facts are that, many of us OLD SALTS haven't seen these price points since the early 1980's.

And now, HERE WEE BEE, a full 28 years later, and DA SKIMMER MIDDLEMEN are all trying to bee LOWEST MAN on the TOTEM POLE.

As my good friend OZ always put best:

"When the WHALES FIGHT, the SHRIMP GET KILLED!"

The WHALES being DA SKIMMERS, OGs, DOGs, Non-Local Phonies, and all the WSs who sleep with our Enemies, and DA SHRIMP being DA POOR Mom and Pop hard working slobs who fill their discounted JUNK!

Well, one of my own options, which I offer to some of our shoppers who are caught up in the 1980s over a $30 price point in 2008 is the RIDE BACK in our TIME MACHINE. For only $9.99, I can WARP YOU BACK to the 1980s where your $30 will actually get you a $30 arrangement in 1980 dollars and when gasoline was only 1.08 per gallon.

OMG! Can any of us believe that, a THIRD PARTY SKIMMER MIDDLEMAN can actually sell a $30 floral arrangement in 2008, then expect any REAL FLORIST to FILL THAT JUNK at NET $21.00 less their 2008 cost of delivery?

Gotta be the KOOL AID factor, I would imagine, ey? lol

 

[Audra]

They're probably all members of FlowerChat and have adjusted their business models!!:rofl:

::highfive:: One year Teleflora free and I do not miss having to reject all the undervalued orders.

Audra

 

[Kimber K]

Just read your post, Jason.
We were getting lots of calls too. The last 2 were ridiculously low ordersl. Very specific web orders that they told us to "substitute" when we told them we didn't have the product.
You nailed it in saying that you didn't want to be associated with that.
I, too feel, that filling some of their orders is just unethical. I don't want to help them screw the customer out of money and fill an order for an arrangement totally different than what they ordered and then "I" would get blamed for it. I don't have time for the hassles.
I also don't feel like we're hurthing the customers by not filling those orders. I think we're teaching them that staying local and calling your local REAL florist is better than ordering offline.

Think about it...
You try to order something offline.... not flowers... just something you need... Order get's all screwed up.. you get the wrong thing.. gotta take the time to call and fix things... get the right thing sent out.. yada yada...
You're frustrated.... like you have time for this????
What will you do next time?

GO LOCAL!!!!!

 

[Lizi]

Just got a call from a 1800flowers shop in another state, needed to send an order, tried to tell her we were not Bloomnet anymore, well youre in the book and on the directory site. Well were not Bloomnet anymore. After 10 minutes of this, she tell me she is going to report me for not taking the order. Well, go ahead.

 

[TOTO]

Looks TOO MEE LIKE..........................

Just got a call from a 1800flowers shop in another state, needed to send an order, tried to tell her we were not Bloomnet anymore, well you're in the book and on the directory site. Well were not Bloomnet anymore. After 10 minutes of this, she tell me she is going to report me for not taking the order. Well, go ahead.

Looks too mee like, Someone is going to report you!


TO A LOWER AUTHORITY

We gather that, you must be shaking in your boots! lol​