Teleflora Statement-I Was Billed .11 Cents For...

[NavyBrat]

Is it just me? I need major doses of Excedrin whenever I review my monthly Teleflora statement! The last statement I received actually has a charge for .11 cents for "Credit Card Address Verification"! Mind you, it's only .11 cents, but honestly, what the h*** is this all about? Why .11 cents? Who comes up with these fees and how did they determine that this service costs .11 cents? Couldn't they charge a little more and get away with it??? Maybe I wouldn't have noticed it if they charged more! I am flabberghasted! I don't even know why I needed this service...I didn't request it! Bizarre!

Here's something else I never really scrutinized before: I have to pay tax on any Dove orders received and cancelled? Also...charged for tax on Dove Service Fee and POS Maintenance Fee? Is this just a NJ thing or is every florist nationwide taxed for these services?

Nickel and dime me to death, will ya? Geez! :soapbox:

 

[floralane]

I agree Teleflora nickles & dimes us, I think they have a whole staff who thinks up new charges.
I believe that .11 charge is when you don't enter a zip code for a credit card. Always enter a zip, even if it's yours. It's one of those "security" measures.(that you can get around, so is it really security?)
They charge us tax here in NY state too. I just wonder if they actually pay it back to our state. Maybe they charge each state a fee for collecting tax for them. I wouldn't put that past Teleflora.
The one thing that always aggravates me is, the fact that they charge us to list our 800 # . In this day & age their reasoning for that is obsolete, anyone can get an 800 # . Why should we be penalized if we have one?
Oh yeah, that stupid $20 quality control fee............30,000 florists paying $240 per year to send a few test orders? Does anyone else think this is overboard?
One more thing, the way they throw around money for national advertising.....46+ million, cut it in half and send us a bonus check! I was disgusted about their bragging that they scored a great ad in the Superbowl program for Valentines Day promo. Probably cost a million, for what? I don't know any football fans who would be so moved by an ad for flowers in the Superbowl program :hammer:
I could go on & on

 

[Kimber K]

Dumped 'em 4 or 5 months ago now and haven't missed em one little bit!

 

[NPFloral]

Dumped 'em 4 or 5 months ago now and haven't missed em one little bit!

Me too. UGH... hated their fees. Considering dumping 800 now. Thought it would be different... ha! What was I thinking?!?! :hammer:

Tim - North Port Floral

 

[Luc]

I really don't think any Wire service are florist friendly like years ago.
SO with that said, I had 2 wire service and I choose one that I had ot keep because of my POS system which will be paid in full by dec 2007.
At that time I can do whatever I want to. Even to the point that I may throw a wrench in the equation and dump them also and just go direct.

AS for nickel and diming us, all wire services do the same. You need to watch your statement and complain when there is a injustice.
As for paying the tax, if they did not pay their tax bill I am sure they would not be operating. Here in Canada we have to pay the sales tax on those services, just like the customer that pays tax on your delivery charge, set up charge etc. So it is not the wire service fault about the tax.
Now here in ontario, the way I understand is that from now on, wire services can't get us to subscribe to any programs unless they have our permission. As an example, if this option of paying into this quality assurance program was brought to us now, we could decline and not pay any fees at all.
Check all your fees and delete the ones that you don't benifit from.
I pay $8.00 a month to list my toll free number. Monday I am making the change. I can't understand the reasoning to pay to list a toll free number versus a regular number. same ink, same space.....
Luc

 

[itsmecrystald]

I really don't think any Wire service are florist friendly like years ago.
SO with that said, I had 2 wire service and I choose one that I had ot keep because of my POS system which will be paid in full by dec 2007.

I'm in the same boat. We have two services and a POS with one of them, which we just got. Have been considering dropping one of them. Just doesn't seem like it's worth all the fees!!

Could anyone share with me if you have dropped one or two and how it has affected your shop? What did you do to gain more local business to offset the loss of those add'l orders?

Sorry for all the questions... I'm totally a greenhorn!! :help:

 

[TexasFlowerGuy]

Wire Service Financial Analysis

I spent the day yesterday sorting through my Teleflora bill for May.

I actually did a complete profit and loss analysis on my TF Business.

Here's my offer....."you show me yours and I'll show ya mine".

I have developed a Template in Microsoft Excel that I'll let you use to evaluate your TF Business. And if need be I'll help you do it. I have already sent the template to Joe Moiux on Flowerchat....and I want to see if he thinks I've got it right.

Unless I'm wrong....and I could be (although I am a Certified Public Accountant with over 30 years of experience analyzing profitability).....
most of us are probably losing our shirt working with these clowns.

:hammer:

Let me know if you're interested....

PS
I have sent this analysis it the VP of Marketing @ Teleflora - I think it will be interesting to see what he has to say about it.

 

[felicityflowers]

PS
I have sent this analysis it the VP of Marketing @ Teleflora - I think it will be interesting to see what he has to say about it.

I give you four guesses and the first three don't count.






(they already know and they don't care)

 

[Chezbloom]

I too doubt that TF gives a rat's patootie. And I bet your spot on with your formula. I realized I was losing money with TF and will never have a Wire service associated with my business. After I dropped TF and worked on my web site, (by the way list every zip code you deliver to) I am now making more money, more orders, more sales and less headaches. I love being wire service free.:kuddle:

 

[Luc]

My experience

I'm in the same boat. We have two services and a POS with one of them, which we just got. Have been considering dropping one of them. Just doesn't seem like it's worth all the fees!!

Could anyone share with me if you have dropped one or two and how it has affected your shop? What did you do to gain more local business to offset the loss of those add'l orders?

Sorry for all the questions... I'm totally a greenhorn!! :help:

I am not sur ehow much populations or other florist in your town so I will give you my experience and you go from there.

Population: around 13,000
Florist 2, I am the biggest with 1100 sp feet the other about 1/2

WIth my POS System, I sent a letter with an explanatin that I was leaving FTD and if they choose to work with me, they had to go TF or I could go direct with them.

When I decided to leave FTD I send my resignation before the due date of directory cancellation. I did it over the merc at that time.
I stopped sending FTD and for the last month only receive orders to balance what I was going to owe them.
You have to wait another 3 months after the directory last month that you are in before they settle everything with you.

Since this happen 3 years ago....THe other florist is filling all those order gatherer orders, undervalue orders etc. even if I tried to educate her, she still does it thinking she is making money.
SHe is now with both wire service and I only have one which is TF.
I found that I am making more $$$$$$$$ with less payments to the wire service. I find that most people are coming to me directly through my own Web site, or they are phoning directly to me. I have gained many new customers this way. I also send more outgoing than receiving orders.
I always have to send a check in.
At holiday time when she is busy filling those wire services orders, I get the rest at 100%. The one she can't fill because she is swamped. THis happens at Mother's Day and Christmas. How I know this? Customer tell me stories about her taking orders at Mother's Day run out of flowers and wait to fill the orders when she has them. THis past mothers Day I was very busy on the MOnday and Tues after Mothers Day, because she did not have flowers and her orders would not come in uintil tues afternoon.

So yes there is a benifit of loosing one wire service. THe choice has to be the one you feel comforatble to be with for a while until your POS system is paid off.
Add your monthly wire service payments a month x12 and those are good saving to you.
Up to you to decide...
Best of luck
Luc

 

[itsmecrystald]

I spent the day yesterday sorting through my Teleflora bill for May.

I actually did a complete profit and loss analysis on my TF Business.

Here's my offer....."you show me yours and I'll show ya mine".

I have developed a Template in Microsoft Excel that I'll let you use to evaluate your TF Business. And if need be I'll help you do it. I have already sent the template to Joe Moiux on Flowerchat....and I want to see if he thinks I've got it right.

Unless I'm wrong....and I could be (although I am a Certified Public Accountant with over 30 years of experience analyzing profitability).....
most of us are probably losing our shirt working with these clowns.

:hammer:

Let me know if you're interested....

PS
I have sent this analysis it the VP of Marketing @ Teleflora - I think it will be interesting to see what he has to say about it.

Texas, I would be very interested in seeing that! My grandparents also have a shop in another state and they would as well. Can you PM me with the info?? I would be so grateful!

 

[Bigted]

Here's a suggestion based on my experience. (realizing that my background is finance so you have to take it with a grain of salt)

Enter all of the components of your wire service bill in an excel spreadsheet every month. Put the new month one column to the right of last month. Enter the dollars and the numbers--like 40 phone calls on flowers after hours $70.00. Keep everything in one column. This method will not only tell you what you are paying for, but will give you a good perspective on what costs are creeping up little by little over time.

 

[TexasFlowerGuy]

I give you four guesses and the first three don't count.




(they already know and they don't care)

"I too doubt that TF gives a rat's patootie." Chezbloom

Well Ladies - so far I haven't heard a thing from Telaflora - VP of Marketing Darrell Housden. May call the pres - next. I feel obligated to try and have as much fun as I can on my last two weeks of membership - got to get my money's worth. LOL

mike

 

[felicityflowers]

Mike,

It was wonderful talking with you yesterday. I think you already really know the answers to your own questions Lol, I am sure you will have a blast during the next two weeks. Give us updates regularly...we always love a good laugh!

 

[mlou]

...Well Ladies - so far I haven't heard a thing from Telaflora - VP of Marketing Darrell Housden. May call the pres - next. I feel obligated to try and have as much fun as I can on my last two weeks of membership - got to get my money's worth. LOL

mike

Mike , In Darrell's defense...he's been at Texas State floral Convention in Austin this last week and I saw him there earlier today (Sunday).

So him may not have seen your spreadsheet yet...

.