TF Online Images vs. TF Recipes

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Tracy D'Amico

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May 17, 2005
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Barnegat NJ, USA
www.myrosegardenflorist.com
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I've noticed on many of the web specials from Teleflora that the recipe does not support the online image, or rather that they just don't seem to match up. Take Fall Grandeur, which I think is actually a lovely autumn arrangment. And its Workroom Recipe. Seven roses, 2 stems of lilies, all smiling for the camera, even though the recipe says it is an all around design.

In the past when reviewing holiday specials, or everyday arr's, I always noticed that the image didn't show all of the flowers listed on the recipe, thus allowing for the fact that the arr is a centerpiece styled arr, and obviously there are more flowers in the back of the arr. Lately, all of the flowers on the recipes are shown facing the camera. Now if this was a dozen rose vase, I could almost understand designing all the flowers facing forward, but in this instance, and in most of these designs ..... it just seems deceptive. Looking at this pic, I would say one sided arr. Looking at the recipe, I see it's all around, but when looking at the individual flowers and quantities, how are you supposed to have that much coverage of space, using the same amount of flowers, and have them on all sides of the vase.

This question is not meant to be antagonistic, but does anyone know if there is a valid reason behind offering an image, that will never be reproduced as it is shown, using the recipe? What does a customer think when they see these images => do they think the design is only facing forward, or do they assume there are flowers on the opposite side? TF offers a size for their selection, but does not offer "all around" or "one sided" as part of their descriptions. Even those that clearly are centerpieces are not always described as such, like Country Harvest.

So confused! I had to make this arr today, from my own website (*groan, I know I know, I need to get my own stuff up there- it's coming soon), so I'm concerned about customer expectations, and that we may be offering disappointment. Comments and input appreciated.

tracy
 
It looks better and sells better. If 50% of the arrangement is out of view it's harder to charge full value.

It's one of the challenges of designing for the camera instead of for real life.

Ryan
 
It's a triumph of the marketing department over the floral design team.

You decide whether you want to honor the spririt of the presentation or stick to the recipe. Either way, you lose.

Problem is the type of product we sell......it's too easy to embellish the picture, just like the food industry....did you ever get a hamburger that looked exactly as the picture on the poster advertising the product?.......having said that they usually do have the advantage that your hungry and if it tastes good you're not likely to complain, were as our flowers stay around for several days giving the consumer time to reassess their purchase and compare it to the picture.
 
BBJ - the other difference in you example is that more than likely, you are puchasing the burger for your personal consumption, and the flowers are a gift. I find that I will accept less than perfect for my personal use, but to represent my expression to a friend/loved one .... people want that feeling they felt when they viewed the picture (the ooh, aah factor) to be carried through to the recipient.

Does anyone send a picture of the completed arrangement to the sender?
I do not send pics, haven't been asked to - though we tossed around a great idea two years ago when camera phones were becoming big. Take a pic with the recipient and the flowers as they are delivered, and e-mail it to the sender. My hubby is the only one in our shop who has the personality needed to pull that stunt and not come across as a stalker. However, in the context of this question, we do not have access to the sender's information, only the sending shop/wire service.

tracy
 
This discussion brings to mind a Valentine's delivery for which the recipient angrily called us to complain that her bouquet was not what her boyfriend had sent. We asked her to please bring it back to the shop so that we could understand what the problem was and also to select another arrangement. When she brought the arrangement back, it was almost exactly like the picture (we were TF then). She said, "Another person in my office received the same arrangement and theirs was a lot prettier." After she described what the other arrangement looked like, we explained that the other florist did their own design in the same type container, or the sender of that bouquet had ordered a variation of the original design. Her boyfriend had ordered the design as pictured. She was not happy until we gave her a completely different arrangement which she selected from our cooler.

Is this a hijack of this thread?
 
Connie said:
Is this a hijack of this thread?
Not at all - it speaks of customer issues when comparing online image to actual delivered items. Just in your case, it was a third party issue.

tracy
 
TF could not care less about the plight of the actual dummies who have to "fill" the order, just that an order is made.

It's a perfect setup for them...they get to skim the profit from the order, promise an arrangement that in very little way will *look* like what is delivered, then have "plausible denial-ability" about the fault, blaming the filling fool for the problem...

Sweet deal, if you can get it! It's another reason why OGing has exploded...in a sense ALL OGs get the same deal. They sell the pretty picture then get to blame someone else with the problem.
 
12Bucks,

They also blame the buyer for not reading the small print and disclaimers.

IMO most OGs are guilty of over-promising and under-pricing. At least with TF, you can see what the purchaser was sold. Many of the dOGs no longer reference their product images and make it even tougher for a filling florist to see what was promised.

Until filling florists constantly send price change requests or flat out refuse to fill, little will change.

Every independently owned flower shop has the power to decline any order that is under-priced for product and delivery. I believe more and more stores are exercizing their veto power.
 
I was told by the head of a W/S that it is their job to "get the order" and they photograph the arrangement to make it look as good as possible. Filling the order and keeping the customer happy is our responsibility.

It's a numbers game to them. They figure out of the millions of orders they generate, not that many people will complain, and that the "lowly florist" will do what they can to fix the problem for those that do. Unfortunately, they are usually right.
 
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It's a numbers game to them. They figure out of the millions of orders they generate, not that many people will complain, and that the "lowly florist" will do what they can to fix the problem for those that do. Unfortunately, they are usually right.
Exactly! They willfully take advantage of kind-hearted florist like Tracy (and some others here) to "over-deliver" the promised arrangement, just to make sure that the recipient doesn't feel disappointed.

They have been playing this game for years, and it was much easier to stomach when it was all F2F, because you could justify covering another's florist's butt because we were all in the same industry.

The nOGS and FTD.con saw this as a "business opportunity", and will continue to take advantage of us "nice" florists to make $$$'s for themselves.
 
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