TF & Dove Codified Conundrum

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NPFloral

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Feb 23, 2005
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www.northportfloral.com
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Well... got a call from Teleflora today trying to get me to buy those ugly-azz containers for the holidays. I told the semi-pushy salesgirl that I wasn't interested in any Fall or Winter containers this year, that I thought they were all tacky & ugly. She almost gasped at the thought of a shop not ordering codified product for the holidays! She proceeded to tell me that the Dove will be operating differently now. "Whaddya mean?" I says. "Well..." she says, "you know how when you enter a codified item order on the Dove and it brings a list of all the local shops, whether or not they have the product?" "Yup" I says. "Well... now.." she says "... it will only list the shops who have the most codified products." "WHAT?!?!" says I.

Enough with the qoutations, basically, I was being blackmailed into purchasing their sh*tty containers. Basically the '2nd choice' feature will be moot. (A lot of my incoming orders that specify a certain product will have a "or similar" in the second choice section.) Well... that's gone now, n'cest pas? :boggles:
Those friggin scumbags. I gotta drop TF and soon!

Tim - the ORIGINAL North Port Floral
 
more on the codified crud

They have called us about three times and cannot understand why we will not codify. I guess the words ugly and overpriced are not clear enough. They informed us that we will be the first florist on the list for the next session of the book and for us to not be codified will cause us to lose money.Told her we already lose money with their membership etc...she was not happy but her two "best friends" called the following week. I have a feeling that they are having problems with getting the product out there.This is the first year we have not codified.Hate the kinkade stuff.Told her we saw too much of his stuff in Walmart.They really do not get it!
 
Sell by fear if you can't sell by quality, value, price.

"You won't be at the top of the list."

"You'll lose money."

"You won't get any incomings."

So you can pay for membership, Dove, ASB's, 1-800 number listings, co-op ads, and all the other programs - but will by sent to the bottom of the rotation if you don't buy a bunch of codified products. *shakes head and sighs*
 
Sher said:
for us to not be codified will cause us to lose money.
Click to expand...
Ask them to explain how you'd lose money...


Sher said:
I have a feeling that they are having problems with getting the product out there.This is the first year we have not codified.Hate the kinkade stuff.Told her we saw too much of his stuff in Walmart.They really do not get it!
Click to expand...

The other guys are having the same problem...hence the 15% discount currently offered on this fall/winter stuff, and I think this discount was just added to the Spring/Summer line as well....

They are seeing more and more folks not buy, because many have figured out that if you do not have the containers, it eliminates you from Da Dots order flow...

I have taken to buying the ones I want, after the codification deadline so as not to be codified...often too you can get them on sale for an even steeper discount...

Going forward we'll see more and more of this...
 
codifying

OMG! They called again today to get me to codify.This borders on being hysterical or harassment, I haven't decided which. Went thru the whole story again ( southern being polite when I really was grinding my jaws!) and then they asked if there were other TF shops in my town...duh.look it up yourself! I told them I was sure they could find someone who had no taste to codify...then she asked if I wanted to purchase calendars..........yep, order me 10,000 Mytle..so then I would want to codify. I have to go soak my head or something. They really are scrambling aren't they....
 
You can have them take you off their call lists. I believe TEL has a special department that can only call you - you can't call them. In fact, the ONLY way I know of is to request that you not be called WHEN they call YOU the next time. I did that and have not had a call since...VERY peaceful!

At leat my FTD Marketplace rep shoots me a quick, no pressure e-mail about specials, etc... VERY good sales gal Barb is!
She's like, "you don't want that one, OK." She is very understanding...

Oh, BTW, this is the FIRST year we have not carried all the TEL specials, AND have actually spit-codified with another florist...

I too have heard that Dove 8.0 will rank florists based on their codifications. So, if you enter the "05X001 Tel Whatever" Dove will only show the florists who carry that are codified for that item.

- H.
 
Use to have a great FTD Marketplace rep

At leat my FTD Marketplace rep shoots me a quick, no pressure e-mail about specials, etc... VERY good sales gal Barb is!
She's like, "you don't want that one, OK." She is very understanding...

[/QUOTE]

Then they let Martha Armstrong go because she worked from her home...lots of other excuses like not meeting her numbers etc.sounded like BS...new regime new MP leader...at any rate, Martha knew when we needed something b4 we knew.It was uncanny.emailed and called specials etc and we bought...since then I can't remember when the last time was that someone called me about a special deal on a product. I do call Barb also when I can or Sherry and order what I need but it sure isn't the same as it was b4.....ps...first convention that we have bought absolutely nothing from MP..ordered calendars and wedding guides and that was it....did not "feel the love" in the area....sheesh could it be me?????? Naw....
 
Interesting this should come up now. Yesterday I spoke with FTD MP . We had been told of the "weight" system before and now have been told it has changed. Now they add to your weight "all the ways a shop supports FTD"!!!
Such as purchasing flowers, FOL, FAH, and general merchandise. Perhaps I missed this before but this was news to me!
 
Re: Yeah, wee heard that line before!

You DOO for MEE and I'LL DOO to YOU!

The OLD System was supposed to be weighted too.

Anyway, and when they called us about their Holiday Branded and the lovely Linda said NO, the caller warned us that, we wouldn't be CODED so we wouldn't be getting in all of those ORDERS at net 71%.

Linda THANKED the caller, especially for the part in which, WEE WOULDN'T BE GETTING IN all of those LOOSER ORDERS!

None of them GET IT anymore!

If wee can't make a sale in which WEE HAVE A PROFIT and at 100% from the consumer, we can't afford their discounted business.
 
How many times do you have to tell them "no"!

Yesterday afternoon, my designer and I had just finished discussing how I was never, ever going to buy the ugly fall containers from Teleflora. Just minutes later the phone rang and yes it was Teleflora asking for at least the third time which products I wanted to order. I told her again that they were ugly and I wasn't buying them. She tried to twist my arm by saying the orders would all go to the other shops... well yippee for them. Since I probably have gotten less than 10 orders ever for codified products and some of them were for things I wasn't codified for in the first place! When will they learn that no means no and 24 or even 12 is too many for a smaller shop. And have you looked at Valentine's and Spring... oh my goodness... can you say TACKY!!
 
TOTO said:
You DOO for MEE and I'LL DOO to YOU!

The OLD System was supposed to be weighted too.

Anyway, and when they called us about their Holiday Branded and the lovely Linda said NO, the caller warned us that, we wouldn't be CODED so we wouldn't be getting in all of those ORDERS at net 71%.

Linda THANKED the caller, especially for the part in which, WEE WOULDN'T BE GETTING IN all of those LOOSER ORDERS!

None of them GET IT anymore!

If wee can't make a sale in which WEE HAVE A PROFIT and at 100% from the consumer, we can't afford their discounted business.
Click to expand...

I thought you dropped ftd?? are they still calling you about buying containers even though you dropped them years ago?? or did you re sign up?
 
Re: Naw, we will never RE-UP!

"I thought you dropped ftd?? are they still calling you about buying containers even though you dropped them years ago?? or did you re sign up?"

No Carol, we didn't RE-UP nor would I ever consider doing so.

They have NOTHING to offer in the way of MAKING MY CASH REGISTER RING! In fact, just the opposite is true as they have morphed into JUST ANOTHER BIG COMPETITOR.

Since the majority of their HOME PAGE PRODUCT selections EXCLUDE THEIR OWN PARTNERS, why would any REAL FLORIST continue to SLEEP WITH THEIR ENEMY.

While our relationship with the other wire service is still LESS INTRUSIVE for the time being, unless they CHANGE THEIR STRATEGY regarding WHO FEEDS (on) WHO, they too might enter the rhelm of being ANOTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES.

In this ECONOMY, FLORISTS can no longer afford to carry THEIR DEADWOOD on our backs any longer.

Either THEY PRODUCE and prove to be an asset or, they remain a LIABILITY. And, as such, THEY BEE GONE!

It seems that, ALL OF THEM only want to SELL THEIR STUFF to WEE FLORISTS while we pour our PASSIVE STREAMS of revenues back into their coffers and, FOR WHAT?

The only reason I ever needed ONE WIRE SERVICE was to enable MEE to send our OUTGOING WIRE ORDERS to another PROFESSIONAL REAL FLORIST who could DOO my DOO TOO!

It was NEVER fore DA INCOMING (looser) ORDERS!

After that, the only other thing which any of them had going FORE MEE was the national marketing THEY WOULD DOO which then, ENABLED MEE to sell their products at my point of sale and for 100% to my own customers.

Of course, the precursor was that, THEY HAD GREAT PRODUCTS to begin with, which then CREATED CONSUMER DEMAND. Sadly, that hasn't happened for TOO LONG NOW!

It seems that, DA CONSUMERS just don't want those HIGH PRICED CHACHKA containers anymore as their emphasis is on the FLOWERS.

To add insult to injury, the CHACHKA VENDORS also expect WEE FLORISTS to not only STOCK THEIR STUFF but to pay for the advertising which it takes to DOO DAT DOO TOO!

And, if they put any of THEIR MONEY into A CAMPAIGN, those customers are driven to THEIR 800 NUMBERS and WEBSITES for the SKIM OFF of 29% as well as the $ERVICE CHARGE.

The sad part winds up to bee that, they all still think that, IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL OUT HERE and haven't gotten the BIG PICTURE YET that, THE GAME HAS CHANGED big time.
 
Thinking back to the days when we sat on the edge of our seat for a wire in order. I never cruched the numbers back then as I just naively believed "they" would never do us wrong and it must be profitable or florists would not do it.

Now that is the epitome of a FWOAC (Florist With Out A Clue).

It's scary to think about all the years we thought this way, ya know?

Sadly, most florists will never wake up!
 
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LORRIE said:
Interesting this should come up now. Yesterday I spoke with FTD MP . We had been told of the "weight" system before and now have been told it has changed. Now they add to your weight "all the ways a shop supports FTD"!!!
Such as purchasing flowers, FOL, FAH, and general merchandise. Perhaps I missed this before but this was news to me!
Click to expand...
The weighting system did change in January. It USED to be based on MP purchases and codified product purchased. It also was based on a comparison of $'s spent by other florists on FTD product around you.

NOW it is based on the programs offered by FTD - CashFlo, FAH, FOL, Technology, and Marketplace. It is NOT weighted on codification at all.
The highest you can score is a 12. You also get points for sending FTD...you need to send at least 20 order a month - that gives you 3 points right off the bat. Sending is a BIG thing to FTD...as can be expected...

- H.
 
TOTO said:
...The sad part winds up to bee that, they all still think that, IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL OUT HERE and haven't gotten the BIG PICTURE YET that, THE GAME HAS CHANGED big time.
Click to expand...
Has it, really? I'm not that sure...there are still PLENTY of willing, filling florists that greedily compete for every incoming/outgoing wire order. As much as we like to pontificate about wire thievery, there are 100 florists for every 1 here that is making $$$ from the wires.

The only thing that will end this is if they (the wires) all start going direct, because there are too many existing wire-zombies who blindly fill whatever comes down the pipe.
 
I agree with Mark. As much as we want to say "people are going direct" and "it's working" just look at the 4 million orders FTD did last year, add 800's to that, then TF's to that, and I think we're SO few lunitic fringers here, that we ain't making much of a splash in the big ole ocean.
It's only changed big time where you better figure out how to fight for your share cuz they won't be giving it up or as
Pink Floyd says "Then if you ask for a rise it's no surprise that they're giving none away"
They're eating our lunchez right now, and we aren't hurting them anywhere near what our wishful thinking tells us we are, dammit
 
bloomz said:
I think we're SO few lunitic fringers here, that we ain't making much of a splash in the big ole ocean.
Click to expand...

Tis true.... BUT... the "fringe" group is growing...and the fact remains that it may just be us'ns here that "Live long and prosper" in this crazy biz...

It'll happen over time, but the network will grow...that network being the Real Florist network...fueld by MAS Direct perhaps :)
 
Re: Orders YES! FLORISTS no!

"just look at the 4 million orders FTD did last year, add 800's to that, then TF's to that, and I think we're SO few lunitic fringers" (bloomz)

The better question Jonathon is; Out of those 4 Million Orders they CAPTURED, how many of them EXCLUDED THE FLORISTS with their BAIT and SWITCH tactics of selling that (once a) FLORAL CUSTOMER an ALTERNATIVE GIFT or FARM DIRECT drop ship? And the same could be said of 800!

Teleflora has yet to MORPH into the EXLUSION ARENA.

And if Phil is smart in this area, his plan would INCLUDE their florists in this new found profit stream. In fact, that area would be provided EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THEIR FLORISTS.

The COMPANY would then get to share in the NEW MARKET PROFITS by a few points given back to THEIR COFFERS through arrangements made with those NATIONALLY BRANDED vendors and based on volume.
 
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