Teleflora

[sweetpeas]

As a real florist I would like your opinion how is Teleflora different?
Teleflora has contacted me with their free trial offer for three months. Also FTD. I am assuming all this action is because I have drooped 1-800 flower. After explaining why I no longer choose to use a wire service. The recruiter explained to me they are different than 1-800 and other wire services "trust Me" he said.He explained that 1-800 is an order gathering service which would explain all the difficulty I have had with them. My service area is a town of about 2000 .In a 15 mile radius there are already threeTeleflora florists .

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

As a real florist I would like your opinion how is Teleflora different?
Teleflora has contacted me with their free trial offer for three months. Also FTD. I am assuming all this action is because I have drooped 1-800 flower. After explaining why I no longer choose to use a wire service. The recruiter explained to me they are different than 1-800 and other wire services "trust Me" he said.He explained that 1-800 is an order gathering service which would explain all the difficulty I have had with them. My service area is a town of about 2000 .In a 15 mile radius there are already threeTeleflora florists .

As of right now, the only difference between TF and FTD/1800 is that they send all of their tf.com orders to florists, none are available for shipping directly to the consumer through farm direct, or drop shipped gift items. They swear that will remain the case, but in reality I trust very little that is promised. I belong still, but each day that passes pushes me further toward alternative WS, because we are a tiny shop, not sending much and not looking for incoming from the WS/

Other than that, they are all the same pretty much. Another word for the TF recruiter is Salesperson , and a salesperson is not necessarily someone to tell you all of the details you need to decide if his product is what you need. Is it worth the free trial? Probably, just beware of who you actually fill orders for, and don't get sucked into anything long term until you have made a full analysis.

good luck,
tracy

 

[Victoria]

I'm generally suspect of anyone who uses the term "trust me" in their spiel.

V

 

[Rhonda]

The people who call are from paid services. Most work from their home. And most are not involved in the floral industry. Their best line when asked "There are already 3 Teleflora shops serving this area, why sign us up?" is "We want them all"......... They do cloak orders from gatherers by sending them through headquarters including Hallmark, Sears, etc.

 

[Joe Mioux]

Sweetpea:

How many WS order do you send each month?

The incoming side seems pretty watered down already.

Can you break-even or make a profit being focused on the sending side of being a TF member? Will this enhance your customer's perception of better serving them?

Personally, I really like TF's magazine and newsletters. It is a benefit of membership, albeit for fees.

Joe

 

[flowerknife+us]

My reason:

Much better coverage area
Much better customer service
Much much better tech service
NO down time with Dove at holiday, Very Important
Education seminar, excellent and affordable
Containers have always out sold FTD's (customers do like them)
They do not drop ship anything (and the one time they tried it they shipped it on behalf of the florist, the florist got the credit.)
National advertising


Knife's Wife

 

[virginia_Bob]

We are in TF. We had FTD and TF but dropped FTD a couple of years ago when they started putting displays in retail outlets like Home Depot and started direct shipping to the consumer. We will never belong to 1 800 flowers. They have been from the beginning the 800 lb Gorilla of OG. If they want to get their orders filled here let them open a shop. ( they do have 1 member here) better them than me.
We stay with TF for the time being because we need a way to send orders and they for the moment fill that need. The day I don't see a benefit to the business with them "poof" they be gone. If you need a wire service sign up for which ever one gives you the best deal. Make it YOUR decision based on the needs of YOUR business don't beleive any of them that say "trust me we are the best" and for Lord sake don't let them get you into the rah rah loyalty to the group mentality because none of them have loyalty to you or your shop any longer than you are of benefit (more fees than cost ) to them. This isn't necessicarily a slam to any of them it is just the reality of business.

good luck,
Bob

 

[Kimber K]

Be careful what they promise you for FREE.

They promised me 6 free months also.... until my statement came.
What I had free were only the Dove fees of $79. The other fees were still there to the tune of roughly $300!! The membership fee was $139 plus all the ad fees, quality assurance fees etc. Even magazines and other publication fees that I didn't authorize.
When I continued to tell the rep that the fees were still to high for my little shop, (WHEN she would actually call me back) she then told me she was going to do me a BIG favor and get my membership fee lowered to just $99 a month, which she did. She made it sound like she'd worked miracles for me. Come to find out, from reading this board, there's always been a small town discounted rate. But, boy, they sure weren't going to offer that to me up front.
Just be careful what they tell you and write it all down. And DON'T pay their $200 membership fee to sign on until you know they're on the up and up with you. I didn't.. and I believe that is the only reason that I got out out of it so easily when all her promises didn't ring true.

Good luck!!

Kim

 

[hangglidegirl]

We are Teleflora only for several reasons:

• Teleflora is the only wire service that truly supports education of the real florist. The team of Education Specialists is top notch and the Education Events are cost-effective and worthwhile.
• Teleflora does not drop ship and, therefore, compete with me.
• Teleflora offers the least expensive small-town membership fee.
• Our Marketing Counselor doesn't seem interested in biting the hands that feed him - so he isn't out actively trying to recruit every florist in every town.
• Teleflora has the best national marketing strategy and the $5 coupons for the major holidays do work for us.
• www.myteleflora.com is the most user-friendly of the interactive wire services.
• The tech support has always resolved our issues in a timely manner.

I hope this answers your question. It is in no way saying that you should become a Teleflora member because I believe that is an extremely individual decision based on your shops needs. These are the reasons that Teleflora is a solid business decision for us. Best wishes!