Teleflora "Stems & Bunches"

[Simon Says]

Just received an e-mail from TF "Stems & Bunches" pushing some of their product: based upon theire apparently lowest price (with high quantities), simple Dutch tulips @ $0.62; peonies $2.65 (for 100); hyacinth $1.75; 30cm mini calla $0.72 & basic carns (inc 25% red) @ $0.35 each.

I have never bought from S&B and wopuld not consider it based upon experience of TF in general and their pricing. If a florist bought S&B tulips, how could they, using the TF workbook mark-up structure, create the basic TF 10 stem arrangement @ $39.95 inc. delivery - even assuming you only allowed the $7.00 for delivery?

The same thing at Val Day this year and in past - you could not make a TF recipe for 12 red roses based upon their own S&B prices.

To my mind, yet another example of 1 hand of TF doesn't know what the other is doing and, as bad, doesn't care. Over-all total lack of professionalism on their part.

 

[lori042499]

Thier prices are high, I get better prices and hand pick from the best of the best and at a smaller volume...I think that they rely on sales from people who depend on delivered flowers or are miles and miles away from a wholesaler..

 

[Simon Says]

Flower sellers in Florida, for example, I find offer lower than TF. What I continue to find ridiculous is that someone in 1 ivory tower at TF "dreams" up their retail price for any given piece while someone in another ivory tower at TF conjures up S&B prices. If there was any co-ordination and forethought, these people would communicate between their towers and design and price pieces that are realistic in all respects. If a florist used S&B product they would rarely be able to mark-up and price as per TF proposes a florist should.

 

[Tuberose]

Stems and bunches is a middle man in this senario, we have gotten some better prices on SOME of their product than what many of my wholesalers can get us, especially since we live in a fairly isolated area not known for great pricing. BUT you have to buy large quantities and in a Mother's Day mix, that could include up to 40% orange if the grower decides he needs to get rid of it no matter what the listing says, that happened to us at Val Day. They usually will not make good on damaged product unless you take a good picture of it and send it right away, who has time during a holiday? We just can't use 10 or 15 bunches of wax flower or carnations, even at holiday.

 

[lori042499]

Problem is that to make the msrp's as low as possible they use an average pricing on all flowers, so if in nabraska they are paying 50 c for 40 cm rose and in okc they are paying 60 c and in new york they are 1 dollar they add up the prices and comeout with the average...problem is that with maybe 20 hub cities acroww the us and hundreds of smaller remote areas, the averages stay low and with the majority of orders flowing to and from the higher priced hub cities that formula just doesn't make sense...s&b doesn't talk with the pricing department, nor does pos talk to websites or tf credit talk to CS....their operation is in total disconnect...and always has been..

 

[Simon Says]

Totally agree with the disconnect at TF (and elsewhere amongst WS) but it does appear to have got worse. In a way I hope that TF and all the other WS continue with their behaviour as this might drive more of us to break the cord with them and ultimately, let the WS companies collapse.

 

[jamie]

Do NOT get involved with this company. Anything they sell you at a cheaper price will be at a much cheaper quality. Their sales people will lie and if you get involved in a standing order, they will not let you out of it no matter how crappy the product is or what the circumstances are. All the while TF is taking the money directly from your account, so you are fully at their mercy