Please respond ONLY if you are or have been with BOTH TF and Bloomlink.
I belong to both. Am considering dropping one. Which one should go and why?
Thanks!
I belong to both. Am considering dropping one. Which one should go and why?
Thanks!
Teleflora or Bloomlink
- Thread starter CFD
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Lizi
Well-Known Member
I have been a member of both... and I would say stick with neither! They both take your money, want you to do lots of work for no pay.. so they can look good to your local customer - they take all the credit and then the money you pay them every month... Well - they use it to market againest you.
Yep - That about sums it up in a nut shell! If you must pick... TF is the lesser of two evils... but that is still evil... right? Hope It works out for you..
I would like to add that after dropping ALL wire services our profitability has increase by 17% over the last 19 months!!!! With a lot less work.. and much less labor!
Yep - That about sums it up in a nut shell! If you must pick... TF is the lesser of two evils... but that is still evil... right? Hope It works out for you..
I would like to add that after dropping ALL wire services our profitability has increase by 17% over the last 19 months!!!! With a lot less work.. and much less labor!
Drop Bloomlink. We had both, dropped Bloomlink over a year ago and it was the right choice. Always found bloomlink's orders to be over-valued and under priced.
mikec
New Member
I would agree with Tammy. We were both when we bought the shop and are now are WS free. We weren't getting many TF orders and was sending them a check almost every month. We had a couple too many instances where Bloomnet denied us payment on orders that We completed satisfactorily. Additionally, their deliveries were some of the worst I've ever done in terms of distance(and lack of profit).
So now, We have a Strider website and us Floristware. This has been much better for us.
Mike
So now, We have a Strider website and us Floristware. This has been much better for us.
Mike
cherrie
New Member
Keep Teleflora --
Bloomlink is the Anti-Christ of the Floral Industry.
800 was the start of florists grossly underselling themselves and becoming slaves to the wire services.
Is that a little harsh?????
Bloomlink is the Anti-Christ of the Floral Industry.
800 was the start of florists grossly underselling themselves and becoming slaves to the wire services.
Is that a little harsh?????
Carrieann
New Member
Had both, dropped bloomlink.
If it were up to me completely we would be wire service free, but I don't own the shop, my parents do. It took me 3 years to get them to see bloomlink for what they really were, and now we are only teleflora, half way there, give me another 3 years.....
If it were up to me completely we would be wire service free, but I don't own the shop, my parents do. It took me 3 years to get them to see bloomlink for what they really were, and now we are only teleflora, half way there, give me another 3 years.....
Carrieann
New Member
Connie
New Member
Sent you a PM because we've been members of both, but I forgot to ask if you're coming to the SCFA Convention in Columbia? Would love to see you there!!!!
Eric S
Demoted Webmaster
I was a member of both bloomnet and TF. It was a business decision based upon the discounted orders that bloomnet continue to send us. And most importantly the discount that would apply on rose orders for Valentines Day. We gave bloomnet our notice in 2005.
I'm currently still with Teleflora because of the better rate that I get on Credit Card processing. I'm not a member for orders even though I receive 2 to 5 orders a month I do send orders out so it is a service that I can use and make (a very little bit of money).
These are some scary times and unfortunately it's coming down to nickels and pennies when it comes to operating your business. You need to take a look at both companies separately and find out which one makes you more money. Not because what we say here. I know there is a wire service spreadsheet that you can download and use to input your own data to make your decision. Just look under the Wire Service forum.
I'm currently still with Teleflora because of the better rate that I get on Credit Card processing. I'm not a member for orders even though I receive 2 to 5 orders a month I do send orders out so it is a service that I can use and make (a very little bit of money).
These are some scary times and unfortunately it's coming down to nickels and pennies when it comes to operating your business. You need to take a look at both companies separately and find out which one makes you more money. Not because what we say here. I know there is a wire service spreadsheet that you can download and use to input your own data to make your decision. Just look under the Wire Service forum.
PhillyPhlorist
Pro Member
- Feb 7, 2004
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Eric makes a good point: You need to look at it in a non-wire service hating mentality. Look at it from strictly a business standpoint - which one benefits your business most.
Do you clear c-cards thru either? Who has the better rate & rebate program (to cut your costs of processing)
Do you use their POS?
Do you NEED a wire service to x-mit orders electronically? (do you do a good wire out biz)
Do you value their branded product/containers - holiday and non-holiday?
Inbound volume - while a factor, it should NOT be a primary one, as the focus here should not be on discounted business, but rather what the w/s does FOR your business.
In reality, you only need one wire service to x-mit orders. So, you need to look at the big picture! Just start a list of Pro's & Con's for each. The one with the most pros and least cons wins.
When you discontinue your membership, make SURE you follow THEIR rules - do in writing, send via certified mail, etc. There are too many horror stories here of those who didn't quit the right way.
Best of luck with your decision!
- Herb
Do you clear c-cards thru either? Who has the better rate & rebate program (to cut your costs of processing)
Do you use their POS?
Do you NEED a wire service to x-mit orders electronically? (do you do a good wire out biz)
Do you value their branded product/containers - holiday and non-holiday?
Inbound volume - while a factor, it should NOT be a primary one, as the focus here should not be on discounted business, but rather what the w/s does FOR your business.
In reality, you only need one wire service to x-mit orders. So, you need to look at the big picture! Just start a list of Pro's & Con's for each. The one with the most pros and least cons wins.
When you discontinue your membership, make SURE you follow THEIR rules - do in writing, send via certified mail, etc. There are too many horror stories here of those who didn't quit the right way.
Best of luck with your decision!
- Herb
Flowerchatter03
Co-Owner and Floral Composer
Your question is a complicated one. Some shops do well with WS, others notsomuch. We have TF and Bloomlink right now. There are pros and cons to both companies.
When we first joined bloomlink (back in 2004/2005), we really liked the company. We liked the arrangements (which looked nothing like FTD nor TF). Their billing was very simple to understand. Very little nickel and diming. Their books of designs (especially the wedding one) was far superior to TF old timey wedding book they have had out for years. Also, their clearance items are a really, really good deal and their shipping charges are the lowest in the industry (compared to FTD and TF). Also, we carry a lot of the same flowers in their designs. They have about a dozen arrangements that you can be sure you will receive (such as the fields of europe, it's all about you, ect.). We have found that the types of people who order through 800flowers are a younger crowd and we have actually gotten weddings and new customers by receiving orders through their service. We do make a small profit by filling their orders but keep in mind each business model is different and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.
However (you knew that was coming), in the past year, we have found more and more bogus charges on our statement. When they make a mistake, they don't want to admit it. MS situation is a complete flop. They are willing to credit anyone who even suggests that the arrangement was not exact to order.
Regarding TF, we do like that they have the educational forum. Their designs are more upscale than in years past. We have a really great rep who would help us out in any way. I don't like that they try to soak you with loads of holiday containers and the shipping. I don't like all the extra fees that are basically worthless. I also really don't like the phony website they put on "findaflorist". However, we are in the same situation that a lot of florists are...we have their POS. So, we are tied to TF until this has been paid in full (we have 13 months left). We do pay them most months but if you take into consideration that we have a computer payment, everything else evens out.
Take the time to sit down, look over your statements for the past year (Jan-June). Look at what you are paying for. Make a spreadsheet (or use the one that is on FC) and see what you are buying and what you are filling. Are you getting orders that are close by and local? Or are you only receiving orders for the tail end of your delivery area for $29.99? Have you gotten any new customers because of something you filled?
Every 6 months, I check all my statements together. Lets say I only got 3 orders going to Scott Depot in the past six months. I paid 9.99 or whatever per month "advertising" that I deliver to this town. Is it worth it or do I drop that town? Am I getting billed for magazines and other items that are not necessary? How many actual orders did I get for XXX arrangement that took me 3 months to pay off?
Only you can decide what is best for your shop.
When we first joined bloomlink (back in 2004/2005), we really liked the company. We liked the arrangements (which looked nothing like FTD nor TF). Their billing was very simple to understand. Very little nickel and diming. Their books of designs (especially the wedding one) was far superior to TF old timey wedding book they have had out for years. Also, their clearance items are a really, really good deal and their shipping charges are the lowest in the industry (compared to FTD and TF). Also, we carry a lot of the same flowers in their designs. They have about a dozen arrangements that you can be sure you will receive (such as the fields of europe, it's all about you, ect.). We have found that the types of people who order through 800flowers are a younger crowd and we have actually gotten weddings and new customers by receiving orders through their service. We do make a small profit by filling their orders but keep in mind each business model is different and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.
However (you knew that was coming), in the past year, we have found more and more bogus charges on our statement. When they make a mistake, they don't want to admit it. MS situation is a complete flop. They are willing to credit anyone who even suggests that the arrangement was not exact to order.
Regarding TF, we do like that they have the educational forum. Their designs are more upscale than in years past. We have a really great rep who would help us out in any way. I don't like that they try to soak you with loads of holiday containers and the shipping. I don't like all the extra fees that are basically worthless. I also really don't like the phony website they put on "findaflorist". However, we are in the same situation that a lot of florists are...we have their POS. So, we are tied to TF until this has been paid in full (we have 13 months left). We do pay them most months but if you take into consideration that we have a computer payment, everything else evens out.
Take the time to sit down, look over your statements for the past year (Jan-June). Look at what you are paying for. Make a spreadsheet (or use the one that is on FC) and see what you are buying and what you are filling. Are you getting orders that are close by and local? Or are you only receiving orders for the tail end of your delivery area for $29.99? Have you gotten any new customers because of something you filled?
Every 6 months, I check all my statements together. Lets say I only got 3 orders going to Scott Depot in the past six months. I paid 9.99 or whatever per month "advertising" that I deliver to this town. Is it worth it or do I drop that town? Am I getting billed for magazines and other items that are not necessary? How many actual orders did I get for XXX arrangement that took me 3 months to pay off?
Only you can decide what is best for your shop.
steve
Well-Known Member
We dropped Bloom link in February. Greatly undervalued orders and they never account for your delivery cost they say its in the arrangement price but the arrangement is undervalued when not even considering delivery.
On the face of it, good idea.....however, one particular part of Wire Service benefits has been under discussion in another thread and curiously, none of the Anti-WS heavyweights like Toto and Pro-WS heavyweights like JB have mentioned anything.
Without the wire services, How are you handleing your INTERNATIONAL and OVERSEAS orders?
NPFloral
New Member
dhamil6490
Active Member
cherrie
New Member
Exactly what I did.
No extra listings, no crap.
Bare Bones.
Guess what? I'm a happy girl again.
I think that everytime I see Proflowers or Teleflora ad crap on this site.
I think that if you subscribe to google advertising - ads pop up that you have no control over.
Ryan, can you do anything about that?
My blood pressures rises everytime I see those ads..........
Cherrie
No extra listings, no crap.
Bare Bones.
Guess what? I'm a happy girl again.
I think that everytime I see Proflowers or Teleflora ad crap on this site.
I think that if you subscribe to google advertising - ads pop up that you have no control over.
Ryan, can you do anything about that?
My blood pressures rises everytime I see those ads..........
Cherrie
Flowerchatter03
Co-Owner and Floral Composer
I'm not clear as to why so many florist say they get orders from bloomlink that are undervalued. Is it the area that they are in? Is it that most florists have a delivery fee over $10 which makes it undervalued? Could anyone give an example of a specific arrangement, what the price was and what you think it should have been?
I am asking because I find that (at least in my shop) the TF orders I get are the undervalued ones. Bloomlink is usually pretty good. I would really like to get some feedback on this.
Let me give an example:
I got an order for 24 roses arranged in a vase with greens (no filler mentioned). They gave me 99.99 for the order. We normally sell our 2 dozen WITH filler for $94.95.
In the breakdown...I get my roses on standing order for .68. .68X24= $16.32. The vase was $1.00. Greens $3.00. Clear tape, flowerfood, pick, card, care tag $2.50. That all equals $22.82 cost. What would you sell this for?
Thoughts?
I am asking because I find that (at least in my shop) the TF orders I get are the undervalued ones. Bloomlink is usually pretty good. I would really like to get some feedback on this.
Let me give an example:
I got an order for 24 roses arranged in a vase with greens (no filler mentioned). They gave me 99.99 for the order. We normally sell our 2 dozen WITH filler for $94.95.
In the breakdown...I get my roses on standing order for .68. .68X24= $16.32. The vase was $1.00. Greens $3.00. Clear tape, flowerfood, pick, card, care tag $2.50. That all equals $22.82 cost. What would you sell this for?
Thoughts?
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