V Day Test Orders

[CHR]

OMG - this one is a Doozie

In the unlikely event of substitution my *ss.

Gotta run... but this story is really bad for all of us.

 

[Rhonda]

Actually, they ordered through one of the big 3 or 4...and the florist they consulted with encouraged them to "use a local florist" and you'll get more for your money. She did a great job of promoting calling local and NOT using a middle man. The comparisons on the second page really are something! but I didn't see any reference to which middleman was used..too bad.

 

[Oldtimer]

Sorry, but don't you people go through something like this almost every holiday? As every major holiday nears, FTD always prints a list of test order designs that were done poorly. If you belong to any WS these days or if you just send orders to other florists, can anyone be absolutely positive that one of their orders is not going to be handled by one of these same florists?

Does the fault lie in the fact that a receiving florist may have the correct flowers, but is unable to copy a photo? Or is the florist guilty of accepting an order that they have no chance of duplicting as they don't have spray roses and purple stock? Or is the 3rd party WS ultimately responsible for expecting florists today to have on hand umteen varieties of flowers and colors to meet any order that these big 3 or 4 may feel is necessary to satisfy every customers deepest desire??

If the florist is so bad, then why does the WS want to keep them as a member? We all know the reason, don't we?

Isn't this one of the reasons that Proflowers has made such big steps in the floral market. Their flowers may not be arranged, but the flowers received looks like the picture - even if they are frozen as was indicated on another thread.

 

[CHR]

Isn't this one of the reasons that Proflowers has made such big steps in the floral market.

PF was one of the tested companies and they don't appear to have fared well either.

 

[Carol Bice]

As I have been working this week getting ready for Valentine's, I have been filling the everyday orders and it seems that I have to go look at at picture for everything I fill. The number of different flowers and colors that I have to use to fill these orders is astounding. We are a big volume shop, so, we usually have most of the flowers that are listed....but, I don't see how a medium or small shop can come close to carrying all the variety that is necessary to make it like the picture.

However, so many of the examples are totally unacceptable and those shops have no business being in business.

I don't have an answer....just noticing how things are.

Carol Bice

 

[mcf]

While I'm no fan of dOGs, the problem illustrated by these photos is not loss of flowers due to fees. The problem is loser florists. My eight year old can design better. These "floral designers" should be forced to forfeit their knives.

 

[CHR]

The number of different flowers and colors that I have to use to fill these orders is astounding. We are a big volume shop, so, we usually have most of the flowers that are listed....but, I don't see how a medium or small shop can come close to carrying all the variety that is necessary to make it like the picture.

Carol, it's a conundrum. The WS need dues to remain in business (therefore they sign up anybody) but they really need quality, larger volume florists to delivery what's promised. Copying those darn pictures takes way more time than actually making pretty arrangements.

While I'm no fan of dOGs, the problem illustrated by these photos is not loss of flowers due to fees. The problem is loser florists.

Rene - In every case, the WSs CHOSE the florists to fill those orders since it was placed through them.

Did the florist owe money? Did they threaten to quit if they didn't get more order?

You can blame the florists, but I blame the WSs that sign them up for their dues, and not for their abilities to beautifully serve consumers.

 

[lori042499]

I am a small florist. I do fill for 800-flowers and TF. I very rarely have a problem filling. After a year and a half I preety much know the popular arrangements. If one does come across that I have to make more that 1 sub or even if I have to make one sub and it will greatly affect the integrity of the arrangement pictured, it is my responsibility to reject it, and reject it is what I do.

The only excuse for the arrangements shown is irresponsible filling and as Cathy said, the signing up of florists who should have never been given a knife nevermind hand it over now...

 

[Tuberose]

I was once told by an OG that if I had to substitute because I didn't have the right product that I should give them more flowers to compensate. I only had $30 to start with, that was the last one I did for them, no more.

 

[lori042499]

I was once told by an OG that if I had to substitute because I didn't have the right product that I should give them more flowers to compensate. I only had $30 to start with, that was the last one I did for them, no more.

Yeah that is because they never have to put out product, usually you are talking to someone that doesn't know the difference between a adaisy and a rose and that is anyone working for 800-Tf and most all of the OG's

 

[fairfield]

I will not defend the work in those photos, but I do wonder:

There was a referee here (Tammy Yow-Rusell) that was determining the value of arrangements sent in other parts of the country. Maybe she was using national price averages? I don't know. I think you could lay blame on the local florist if she said, "This is not an acceptable substitute." But, do you think it is a good thing for someone in another state to judge your arrangement based on price?

The reason I ask is because I was going over the VD price sheet for one of our wholesalers. Their prices have doubled in the last 5 years. I'm wondering if everyone else in the U.S. is paying $16/bunch for glads or $28/bunch for dendrobiums, for example.

 

[lori042499]

I will not defend the work in those photos, but I do wonder:

There was a referee here (Tammy Yow-Rusell) that was determining the value of arrangements sent in other parts of the country. Maybe she was using national price averages? I don't know. I think you could lay blame on the local florist if she said, "This is not an acceptable substitute." But, do you think it is a good thing for someone in another state to judge your arrangement based on price?

The reason I ask is because I was going over the VD price sheet for one of our wholesalers. Their prices have doubled in the last 5 years. I'm wondering if everyone else in the U.S. is paying $16/bunch for glads or $28/bunch for dendrobiums, for example.

I have been told that we in Boston have some of the highest prices by designers that we have in for TF shows. But those prices are very outrageous. Glads have gone up alot we used to pay 5.50 a bunch about 5-6 years ago. Now they are up at about 10-12 a bunch dendrobiums are at 10-12 a bunch also. Oriental lilies run the gamut of 11-18 a bunch for lesser quality to 22-30 for the real nice ones....I have been told that this is crazy pricing compared to the rest of the world..Roses 50-70 cm range .65-1.25 non-holiday time...

 

[Eric S]

I reconized many of those bouquets and those go for $35.00. Lorie you should see some those in the picture. Felds of Europe comes to mind. I'm not defending those designs but when these stations throw a number out there they better have the correct info.

When are they going to start calling florist directly for these stupid test? Yes every year the same test but let me ask you this. Looking at those pictures why didn't they take some time and take better pictures? I mean these are televisions stations and the best they could do was whip the cellphone and take some crappy pictures?

I just don't get it!!!

Oh yea and why in the flash in the up right do they show someone taking flowers out of a box?
I think most of these where put together by the stations!!!!

Yea big BS for this one!!!!!

 

[lori042499]

I am sorry but I call Bull Sh*t

$50 my as* I reconized many of those bouquets and those go for $35.00. Lorie you should see some those in the picture. Felds of Europe comes to mind. I'm not defending those designs but when these stations throw a number out there they better have the correct info.

When are they going to start calling florist directly for these stupid test? Yes every year the same test but let me ask you this. Looking at those pictures why didn't they take some time and take better pictures? I mean these are televisions stations and the best they could do was whip the cellphone and take some crappy pictures?

I just don't get it!!!

Oh yea and why in the flash in the up right do they show someone taking flowers out of a box?
I think most of these where put together by the stations!!!!

Yea big BS for this one!!!!!

Yeah I saw a fields of europe and an all about you bouquet....You are also correct when you say the pictures were taken crappy. Soem of the designs at the end were pretty good, but most of it was bad design regardless of how much was paid....it was bad, bad, bad....and sometimes the media is ten times worse to us than the OG's themselves....Why is it that they some year go out and find a really good bunch of local florists who do a good job and do a story on them..I don't get it either...except that America loves a tragic story and train wrecks sell news..

 

[Eric S]

Lorie I really think those crappy ones weren't from florist. I think they were boxed shipments. I think the stations need to come forward and say which ones they put together. I will bet the real crappy ones!!!

 

[bloomz]

While I'm no fan of dOGs, the problem illustrated by these photos is not loss of flowers due to fees. The problem is loser florists. My eight year old can design better. These "floral designers" should be forced to forfeit their knives.

And I think this is the crux of the matter, again supporting the theory that half the florists in the country need to just go get another job.

Was this $50 including the "fees"? If so, Eric is right, those are $35 bouquets - minus delivery whaddya got?

If that is the case - this is nothing but sensationalism from journalists (surprise!).

Which again supports the premise that senders look only at gross price, not net.

 

[VJD]

"We each used a well-known order taker like 1-800-Flowers, FTD, Teleflora and Proflowers.com."
"20 flower orders costing at least $50 each made their way around the country."​

"Let's say you start with a beautiful arrangement of flowers.
First, you'll have to take out several of the major flowers for their delivery fees.
Then, you'll need to take out more flowers for their service fees.
And if you want it delivered in the morning, you might as well take out a few more flowers.
What you're left with is a shell of the original bouquet."​

I think JB is right - the orders' total costs were "at least $50". This could indicate $50 and change, but if it was significantly more than $50, I think the reporter would have said so.​

Ditto the opinion - many of the design capabilities are unaccecptable, coming from a professional florist.

So what are our solutions?​

 

[Victoria]

sometimes the media is ten times worse to us than the OG's themselves....Why is it that they some year go out and find a really good bunch of local florists who do a good job and do a story on them..I don't get it either...except that America loves a tragic story and train wrecks sell news..

Lori you answered your own question. If it's not negative for the most part, it's not news. And if it's positive, they will find a way to put a negative spin on it.

V

 

[lori042499]

Lorie I really think those crappy ones weren't from florist. I think they were boxed shipments. I think the stations need to come forward and say which ones they put together. I will bet the real crappy ones!!!

You may be right and it should say so, because we all know that the pulic can do serious damage to an arrangement..

 

[lori042499]

And I think this is the crux of the matter, again supporting the theory that half the florists in the country need to just go get another job.

Was this $50 including the "fees"? If so, Eric is right, those are $35 bouquets.

Which again supports the premise that senders look only at gross price, not net.

I know that the red rose and red carn one is about 59.99 that includes delivery but does not include service fro 800. There is one in there that is purple and red in a red vase that is usually around 59.99 also same deal...They should have listed exact prices paid and how it was delivered for a full examination and correct comparison...

It was a poorly executed news story and it was just meant to let people know how bad the florist is and to further damage a segment of the retail world that would otherwise do OK.Like I said they never pick out nice florists and do a nice story on flowers, because then it would be news it would be fluff and fluff don't sell..