V Day Test Orders

[CHR]

Had the designs been delivered 'as shown', there'd be no story. Many of them are a far cry from what was purchased.

The quality of the photography isn't great, but it's not horrible. Great photos would still show most of those designs as heavily substituted.

None of the stations have uploaded their videos yet and I'm hoping we'll hear and see more when they do.

From the Greensboro piece:

"I want to show you what you got for your nearly 49 bucks," says Morning Anchor Barbara Gauthier of WKYC. The flowers are wilted and didn't come with a vase.

Obviously a PF order. It appears they purchased one of these 'jillion Peruvian lilies' items. Again, seeing the video will tell the real tale.

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.

If the gross price was $50 from the WSs, after subtracting service charges & local delivery, the arrangements would be around $30. ($13 SC and $7 delivery)

One of the items appears to have been a TF Pink Dawn, at $36.95 - or $49.94 including service charge.

Comparing gross price is fair. The service charges add nothing to the purchasing experience - but cost.

The local florist did a good job of pointing out how much of the purchasing dollars were wasted on those fees.

 

[CHR]

The Grand Rapids station is airing their version tonight. You can watch the promo piece right now.

 

[Eric S]

Response From ALAN WAGMEISTER

To answer your question, most of the arrangements were put together by florists. In all the 20 delivers, 18 were put together by florists. Only 2 orders were direct ship. Everyone tried to stay in the budget of around $50 per order. One stationed though ordered roses and most of them could not stay within 50 dollars and so it makes it a very hard comparison. We tried to stick to a lot of the order gatherers especially when chosen from a website. We did not use any florists name who made the arrangements because the florists are just trying to fill orders from the order takers. The florist doesn’t know the full amount the person pays only the value of which they have to fill it. Of course, the florist still has to have their delivery charge and their time. Order takers make it easier for people, and people pay for that convenience. Some people would like to get more for their value, so they would do better by finding a local florist in the city they are ordering and call them directly.



Sincerely,
ALAN WAGMEISTER

 

[ivygreen]

Eric, I'd really like to call BS too. But regardless of $$ value I am seeing some poor design. Yes it would be nice to see an apples to apples comparison, but this doesn't look good for any one.

 

[Tom Carlson]

Difficult to leave a comment

I guess I am not smart enought to know how to register with this news source.

I would simply like to ask them if they considered the following:
A "popular" On-line order source does not mean "quality"
and
Did they consider in their test to include a Real Florist by going direct?

But they want a "unique name" to sign in and anything I try does not work.

Tom Carlson

 

[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.

I'm sticking to my original comment, but feel the need to add more...

FILL TO VALUE AS PICTURED OR REJECT. If there is not enough $ - REJECT. Flowers/container out of stock - REJECT. Loser designer on staff - REJECT.

I remember being tested twice. We received a written report and a photo of the test order. Both times I bought the staff lunch to celebrate a job well done. I wish the ws would reinstate the testing and drop those who fail. Maybe they could use the extra $$$ we pay for customer quality assurance or whatever the @(#(*$& they are calling it this month.

 

[Rhonda]

I know we already discussed the fact that 800Flowers Valentine Magic could NOT be done as shown in the picture delivered for $69.99 (or was it FTD's similar vase of roses and carnations?)
BUT (disregarding the fact the shops lack design sense) if those orders were for a total as close to $50.00 each, then how did someone even send that 800Flowers Valentine Magic for a total of $50.00?
What is wrong with that picture?
The pink cube ? could be the Teleflora one that is shown with an SRP of $35.95 or close to that, with service charges and taxes would come close to $50.00 and that is short, small, few flowers.........
I agree the designs looked mostly horrid but without the "actual design ordered" next to what they received, it's had to say what the actual design retailed for (without SC).
Again, I guess they show what can happen and does happen, but they need to disclose what they paid for delivery, service charges, etc.

 

[thebloomcloset]

1800 Designs

Well, I recognize these 2 from 1800 that were delivered by florists, but they used the old sentimental surprise (49.99) recipe in old vase, and the all about you (49.99) is the second. I don't know what to think, I would like to see under each photo where it came from, in a box or from the florist, or maybe I dont want to see that. Honestly, the designs look terrible, and it just makes me prouder of my flowers to see what good work I do, and why my business is growing, and from the looks of our flower image gallery, why everyone on the boards business is growing, you can see the true local florists who love what they do.

I also agree that if you cannot fill it, REJECT it, that is why I got rid of 1800, I couldn't fill it and make any money in my area. Everyone does not have that problem, which I understand.

Online Business is becoming my bread and butter. Let's face it, conveinence is the consumer rule. Why do OG's win? They are listed first. We can compete, we just need to work on it, having our own original deslgns, not having a cookie cutter website. I still have a number of 1800 designs on my site, but by the end of the month, they will be gone. I have put photos of my own flowers on the site, and the flowers I have been getting orders for, are my own, which is why it sells, I am selling me. Eric is selling Eric, Heather is selling Heather, etc. These reports come out every year, and while it is BS, they keep recommending LOCAL florists, and I try not to let the negative ugly designs get me down, We should all remember a few bad apples make us look all the better, that is why I send a email photo of every flower to a out of town customer, it builds my internet business and gets a customer who wants a local florist, but maybe couldn't find one because there are so many other gatherers listed before me.

 

[bloomz]

One of the items appears to have been a TF Pink Dawn, at $36.95 - or $49.94 including service charge.

Comparing gross price is fair. The service charges add nothing to the purchasing experience - but cost.

The local florist did a good job of pointing out how much of the purchasing dollars were wasted on those fees.

Sure it's fair, that wasn't my premise - I've long stated fees are a waste in the consumers eyes. People always talk here about how they slice and dice it and tell people what the costs go for etc., but the consumer doesn't even care - what they spent is what they got.

But what they do add to the purchasing experience likely is convenience,at a cost, which they all totally willingly paid.

Just the same, it was journalistic senstationalism - a darn shame we have to be the targets of it. They also had every opportunity to use local florists but were looking for dirt. So they found dirt. They probably would have liked it better if there had been blood stains on the vase.

All florists end up taking it on the chin for this.

I say that because my other premise is - they thought they ordered from the big boys (they did) but the consumers somehow have this mistaken impression that we are all under their umbrella somehow. The "Mother Ships" as it were.

And yes the quality was lousy, tho not nearly so lousy when WE (and only we) realize those were $30 arrangements.

The picutres also were crappily shot and not flattering at all to the bouquets however....

Journalistic sensationalism.

I just hate that.

Ok I strongly dislike it.

OK

opinions vary

but it still sucks

 

[Jerry]

But, But, But, everyone who takes the order to the florist that makes the order is under "The Mother Ship". Why, because both took the customers money. Not a good split, but then again most florists use knives not calculators.

Sensationalism ya maybe, showing a dirty industry getting dirtier you betch ya.

I'm glad my tidy whities are clean and bright.

 

[lori042499]

(It is important to note, not all the flowers failed the test. A few bouquets did meet with the florists approval around the country. Though I have a feeling, any woman who gets any flowers like these would approve.)

above quoted from the very bottom of the article....




This is what peeves me about these stories....They sneak in a tiny little blurb about some of the very nice bouquets that obviously came from upstanding florists that follow the rules but chose not to include the arrangements in the story....instead they chose to highlight the a-holes in the crowd and make us all look bad which in turn makes the consumer want to buy chocolates or dinner that at least he can enjoy, too.

 

[MANORVILLE]

How many of us, disgusted by the results of the test and the after effects that we expect, actually took the time to write, call, or whatever ? I'm going to guess few !

If this is in fact the case, then who do we actually have to blame ?
I was on the phone before I finished Cathy's post !
But that's me !

My accomplishment...........who knows, but I took the shot, and it hasn't stopped yet !
I'll always take that shot in the hope that there will be one time, one ear, that will actually listen.

 

[lori042499]

How many of us, disgusted by the results of the test and the after effects that we expect, actually took the time to write, call, or whatever ? I'm going to guess few !

If this is in fact the case, then who do we actually have to blame ?
I was on the phone before I finished Cathy's post !
But that's me !

My accomplishment...........who knows, but I took the shot, and it hasn't stopped yet !
I'll always take that shot in the hope that there will be one time, one ear, that will actually listen.

I tried to log on to leave a message but kept getting an error. I was slammed today with funerals and phone calls, Tomorrow I intend on either calling or emailing, should I have a slower phone day..

 

[CHR]

Good job by Bing Goi of Eastern Floral, Grand Rapids, for his on-air comments about 1) where the money went and 2) why it's best to go local.

You can watch the newscast here.

(Note - one reporter told an operator the flowers didn't necessarily need to come with a vase, and another reporter complained the flowers came without the vase. Pretty poor reporting on that one.)

 

[thebloomcloset]

I agree

Good job by Bing Goi of Eastern Floral, Grand Rapids, for his on-air comments about 1) where the money went and 2) why it's best to go local.

You can watch the newscast here.

(Note - one reporter told an operator the flowers didn't necessarily need to come with a vase, and another reporter complained the flowers came without the vase. Pretty poor reporting on that one.)

Just went online and watched it, I didn't think it was bad at all.

 

[Eric S]

It was intresting to get the reponse from the Alan Wagmeister. It shows that some of the reporting was not as specific and I am hoping my email did get his attention and that was why he responded. I did make it clear who I was including our shop name and address and phone numbers.

I did edit my original post incase prying eyes stoped by the board.

But man I was not happy last night. Good catch on this Cathy!!

 

[CHR]

Here's the version from Greensboro, NC. Similar on the front end but quite different in products received. They're the guys that got the dreadful 1-800 rose/carn pave' and the 90% gyp arrangement.

It's weird because I've traveled to North Carolina many times over the years and found the florists to be very good overall.

 

[Oldtimer]

Is there anyone that we forgot to include that should take the BLAME here? Blame the florist for accepting an order they wanted to fill! Blame the TV or radio station for running such an absurb test on the floral industry. Blame them also for not giving you all the facts.

Well, here is some facts to think about. No matter how unfair you might think these tests are, they continue to show one glaring fact. The person ordering the flowers most likely does not get what they think they were going to get. THEY SENT A FLORAL ORDER BASED ON A PICTURE AND WHAT THEY GOT DID NOT RESEMBLE THE PICTURE. Now you can blame the florist for not having an adequate designer, or blame them for not having all the flowers and containers necesssary to fill all these orders or you can blame them for whatever reason you wish. Blame, blame, blame.

But before you're done blaming someone, you might want to consider blaming YOUR wire service. As I understand how this test was run, these orders were all given to either OG's or TF, FTD, 1-800 or PF. No direct order with a florist was involved. Well. if PF forgets a vase in one of their shipments, it's fairly easy to correct. But if what we have all been saying for years is true and the WS really do have control over who gets the orders, then why aren't you blaming them for sending any orders to these INAPPROPRIATE florists?? Maybe it's true. They only send the majority of their orders to the florists that owe them the most money. Why aren't you calling your WS to complain about who they send their order to!!!

Oh yes and before we get done blaming everyone, how about blaming ourselves for allowing other people within the industry to take control of the ordering process. As long as you have a third party standing between you and the customer, these fiascos will continue to go on year after year and holiday after holiday.

 

[MANORVILLE]

Short on words.....

Is there anyone that we forgot to include that should take the BLAME here? Blame the florist for accepting an order they wanted to fill! Blame the TV or radio station for running such an absurb test on the floral industry. Blame them also for not giving you all the facts.

Well, here is some facts to think about. No matter how unfair you might think these tests are, they continue to show one glaring fact. The person ordering the flowers most likely does not get what they think they were going to get. THEY SENT A FLORAL ORDER BASED ON A PICTURE AND WHAT THEY GOT DID NOT RESEMBLE THE PICTURE. Now you can blame the florist for not having an adequate designer, or blame them for not having all the flowers and containers necesssary to fill all these orders or you can blame them for whatever reason you wish. Blame, blame, blame.

But before you're done blaming someone, you might want to consider blaming YOUR wire service. As I understand how this test was run, these orders were all given to either OG's or TF, FTD, 1-800 or PF. No direct order with a florist was involved. Well. if PF forgets a vase in one of their shipments, it's fairly easy to correct. But if what we have all been saying for years is true and the WS really do have control over who gets the orders, then why aren't you blaming them for sending any orders to these INAPPROPRIATE florists?? Maybe it's true. They only send the majority of their orders to the florists that owe them the most money. Why aren't you calling your WS to complain about who they send their order to!!!

Oh yes and before we get done blaming everyone, how about blaming ourselves for allowing other people within the industry to take control of the ordering process. As long as you have a third party standing between you and the customer, these fiascos will continue to go on year after year and holiday after holiday.

OLDTIMER

Thought about this for quite a while !
Didn't want to do my usual shoot from the hip response !

Logically speaking, I agree !

Very good post !

Now.........to educate the masses ..............???????????????

ManorMan:headbang:

 

[Rhonda]

I'm glad that both of those views said It's better to order from your local florist but I don't agree that all those arrangements had less than $20 worth of flowers. Clearly there's a misconception on the dollar amount of flowers across the country. It almost was like she was looking at wholesale costs of vases, greens, and flowers which was kind of bad PR wise.
That ceramic container (not porcelain) needed some kind of ribbon around that blocked indentation IMHO and probably retailed for close to $12.00 if not more (especially if a WS container).
Overall......glad to see "Order from your local florist".......
And what was that $13.99 delivery charge?? Was that passed on to the filling florist......bet it wasn't!