TF cutting positions

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Rhonda

Rhonda

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Nov 1, 2002
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Millinocket
www.millinocketflorist.com
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Maine
Was informed today that some tech reps are gone and other positions are being cut. Apparently the need to trim the employment rolls at TF is of high priority because the tech rep I know is extremely knowledgable in his field and extremely tech/marketing/pos/ savvy.
Things are changing......
 
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I hope Nicole is ok. Out of all the big guys TF (nicole) is the only one who knows how to use social networking and at least trying to evolve.
 
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The TF rep at the show here said the same thing......She is hoping they enlarge the rep territories.
 
RWK said:
The TF rep at the show here said the same thing......She is hoping they enlarge the rep territories.
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oh doh?? The territory here for one rep who is located in CT includes all of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and parts of NY. How much further can anyone stretch? Reps for Maine, usually visit a shop maybe once every 5 years if that. I guess their reps will HAVE to attend shows just to see their member shops. That is ridiculous to believe one rep could service such a large area as in truth, they can't.
 
Ridiculous! I see my TF rep maybe once a year. Last week I had posted that she doesn't return my calls. Then pops into the shop last week, when I'm in the midst of trying to get arrangements out for two funerals. Spends 10 minutes to ask how things are going, and of course, your mind is only on what you're in the midst of at the time. Will start writing down my concerns so when I get my yearly visit, I'm more prepared, if I'm still TF at that point. I agree that they probably don't have enough reps for the # of shops they have to cover. Obviously a sign of the times.
 
I don't think it is a sign of the times, but rather a sign that they have never understood the role of a retail florist.
My rep stops by once a year or so, but always unannounced, and does not seem to understand when we are too busy to chat. He will hang around and be charming, and personally, he is a very nice person, but even if I have an appointment, or a ton of wedding or funeral work, he wants to stay and chat. Sorry, that doesn't work with me.
Plus no matter what I say, or do, he still has to try to sell me a point of sale system, prefers to defend other member shops, and won't consider some sort of education pre-requisite, or rating system for membership.
I get the feeling that it's just a social call, and that no amount of discussion, complaining, or @@@@@ing will ever make any difference at all.
It doesn't suprise me that they need to lay people off...we are all becoming more educated on the pros and cons of membership, and yet,they still have not figured out what it is that we need or want, to become or stay members, because they will not listen.
We all know that if we do not listen to our customers, we will not succeed. They are still learning this.
As soon as I can figure out how to send orders overseas with some degree of guarantee I'm out of there.
 
BTW, when I complained to my rep about the fact that they have no tiered membership fee, to accommodate small shops, she did offer to give me a rebate that would give me some money off my membership fee because several months of the year I nearly qualify for some small member rate. Whatever...she also agreed to credit me for the low optional sending fee I've been charged. As a small shop, sending all my wire outs through TF, I still don't send 20 orders ten months out of the year. So, it never hurts to ask for the discounts/credits. We'll see when my next statement comes.
 
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TF rep ???? What a joke !!

I have seen mine once in the ten years I have owned my shop.

Much like alot of other things lately ...they are a complete waste of time!!

Jennifer
 
Dazeal said:
I hope Nicole is ok. Out of all the big guys TF (nicole) is the only one who knows how to use social networking and at least trying to evolve.
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She is... in fact she's headed back to school with some new classes, so here participation here may decline as other priorities come into play, but as far as I know, she's still at TF and will be.

As to reps, the numbers for FTD are "see 16 shops a day" and impossible feat unless you go into Detroit or a similar area. I must say I see my rep once every 6 weeks or so... pretty tough to cover that many miles...everyday!
 
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