What wire service will accept my challenge?

[Flowerchatter03]

If you wish to increase better communication between florists and you truly care about "quality", then add, within your programs, the ability for florists to upload photos of arrangement that they create for wire orders.

I can't tell you how tired I am of wiring out orders just to get a complaint. I have also had complaints of my own when wiring out orders for myself.

So, lets put some of that "quality assurance" money to work and add the ability to load photos.

I would highly doubt that the big 3 would go for it but it would be wonderful for flower shop network.

If you are a quality florist, you should be more than happy to take a photo of your work.

I can hear it now that it takes to long, etc etc etc. but if we are to take control of quality, a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[Rhonda]

QA - their only reply to a QA complaint in the past is they ask for the recipe from the filling florist. They then tell the complainer.. "It was worth the amount paid". That in their eyes is the final answer, not that poor design or flowers dead within 2 days matter. As long as it was "filled to value" - and lately I've written down everything utilized in a design that was called into us. And I do usually take pictures on regular days (not busy holidays or large funerals) and usually my symnpathy work is almost "standardized" to price depending on flowers available from our trucks.
I've lodged a complaint against ftd.com and an extraneous charge on my monthly statement to my "new" FTD rep. I have received not one reply to my requests to speak to him by both message at headquarters and also by email. Not one word. Goes back to the old way (groan).... you had to be inspected and designs had to pass criteria judging by a wire service rep BEFORE you could be a member. Now $$ is your judgement..

 

[lori042499]

Flower shop network does have that on their online interface...you can put in confirmations, pictures of the arrangement sent and special notes...I am over the moon happy with the quality of orders I am receiving from the florists that belong to the service and am happy with the quality of florists I am finding to fill my orders...

 

[dlnfloral]

I agree with Lori - very pleased with FSN members and company

Makes it easier me very few complaints

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

ya know what though-

"good" is subjective.

I love hydrangea, my mother hates them.

I love designs that Hitomi does- She totally does not impress my mom.

I remember a couple of years ago at Aprils this woman calls and is mad because the order that was wired out was "so small and in no way was worth what she paid."
She even emailed a pic to prove it to us. Well Amy and I looked at it and oh yes it was very much worth what she paid and it was a good design. BUT it was a compact design and the flowers were grouped. Not really what Aprils is famous for. Aprils does a lot of (or they used to anyway) one of this and one of that and make it big. It's not a look I'm super fond of BUT people love the hell out of it. And Aprils sold the heck out of them, and I still make arrangements like that and put them in the cooler and people buy them up all the time.

Anyhoo- Still I say- "good" is soooooo subjective. Too subjective.

For instance I wired out flowers from me to a friend for Christmas. I wired them to a shop that I wire all my orders to and I thought they'd do a good job. They have in the past. All I wanted and was plain in my description (I thought) All Red roses, small very compact design with christmas greens and a taper candle. Make it look like I made it and $80 total.

Simple simple simple. The woman even calls me and tell me she's getting in Black magic, freedoms and cherry follies. Sweet- just make it small compact and used all three kinds of roses- make it look like I made it.

I get to my friends house on Christmas day. And what do I see. 4 freedoms, 1 big white hydrangea, 5 star of Beth, a stupid silver candle, a couple of magnolia leaves, some curly willow. I can see where they were going with "my kind of design" but I WAS NOT ALL RED ROSES! It was to value, but still not what I wanted. Whatever. I'm not gonna worry about it. My friend loved it.
When you wire stuff out- it's a crap shoot Even with people you trust.
I've said it before and I will say it again- The ONLY order I have EVER EVER wired out and not been dissapointed in was a while back when I called up Cathy (Avante Gardens) and she sent flowers for my Grandmother and Aunt to my Aunt Francis' funeral. My Grandma Chavez is a short, picky, opinionated, 'don't-give-me-no-crap' kind of woman. She thinks everybody sucks but me. She thought Avante Gardens did a WONDERful job. And let me tell you- It's HARD to please Grandma Chavez!
I told my Grandma a long time ago "look, not eveybody designs like me. Doesn't mean it's bad, it's just different!"

When I wire out I try to find the florsit I think will do the best job- not the cheapest in the directory. I choose a florist that says stuff like "AIFD on staff" or "Texas master florist" etc...
"Family owned and operated" may as well be "WE never go to design shows" or "We do the same thing over and over and have been for 100 years."
I know that's not always true, but in my experience- it has been more often than not.

 

[BOSS]

The only real solution is to stop being a middleman and connect CONsumers to the delivering florist directly....

Anything else is simply a waste of time.... IMHO of course...

 

[bootcampguy]

The only real solution is to stop being a middleman and connect CONsumers to the delivering florist directly....................................Anything else is simply a waste of time.... IMHO of course...

Mark, while I agree most is a waste of time, we have to keep trying anything that we can to do the above. A few months ago Concord wrote something on thread where my bulb went from 40 watts to 100 watts on an education issue. I've been trying for 5 years to get aTV show for flower arranging through the college. I kept hitting the same wall (they would have me on for my books and tapes) but not for the other. So I took what Helen wrote and called them and they loved the idea !! So we're going to film a series of commercials through their TV program about flowers in box versus local florist and put them on you tube. There are some who say, "it won't help or matter", but we have to keep trying. Sorry, I just realized I hijacked the thread, didn't mean to...............................

 

[Flowerchatter03]

Of course, photos will not correct every problem but let me give you an example of what I am talking about.

For those of you who are TF (and those that aren't can look this up on TF website). I called a florist in Asheville and asked if they could do T121-1A "Merry Magnificence". I pre-ordered over a week ahead of time. The arrangement consists of hurricane globe, pillar candle, mixed evergreens, magnolia leaves, seeded euc along with red apples, pinecones, berry sprays, and ribbon. Gave them $70. (TF sells for $64.95 including delivery in price).

First of all, it was not delivered when it was supposed to be and second, it looked nothing like the picture (friend sent me a pic). They used a taper candle which totally cheapened the arrangement not to mention that it just wasn't of good design caliber.

By the way, on the Dove this florist says that the owner was on the TF board previously so they should be aware of what the substitution policy is. They had a week to get a pillar candle. They could have gotten one at the dollar store.

It wouldn't have mattered if I paid directly or through TF, the arrangement was still the same. Since we pay for the "quality" control, it should be enforced.

 

[concord]

I feel honored to have inspired you, Rick! I'm taping my 3rd show soon and many people mention they have seen me on TV. It's just a little local cable show but people actually watch and I think it sets me apart from my competitors. Hope your program goes well!

 

[Sarah Jane]

I send a digital photo to all senders. I've only ever had one person complain but it was my fault because I left out the branches and the butterfly from the arrangement. We do this because it breaks down the wall of mistrust that people have when they are calling from out of town. If a wire service required this I would feel better about wire orders. I'm terrified to send an order now. There is no accountability.

 

[concord]

I send a digital photo to all senders. I've only ever had one person complain but it was my fault because I left out the branches and the butterfly from the arrangement. We do this because it breaks down the wall of mistrust that people have when they are calling from out of town. If a wire service required this I would feel better about wire orders. I'm terrified to send an order now. There is no accountability.

I send photos when requested but I'm afraid it is too time consuming during the busier days. I never like the picture enough until I've adjusted everything that looked fine to the naked eye, but not quite right in the camera. I do agree there needs to be accountabilty in sending out, but since there isn't, I'd rather suggest to my customer that they call direct.

 

[Flowerchatter03]

I send photos out to customers all the time. I think we are the only shop around our area that does that.

I don't worry if the photo is perfect or not. I just tell them that it is a quick shot of the arrangement and describe what is in it.

I am not afraid to show my work. As a matter of fact, it is on our FB page too. Photos don't have to be perfect to see that you do good work.

 

[concord]

I send photos out to customers all the time. I think we are the only shop around our area that does that.

I don't worry if the photo is perfect or not. I just tell them that it is a quick shot of the arrangement and describe what is in it.

I am not afraid to show my work. As a matter of fact, it is on our FB page too. Photos don't have to be perfect to see that you do good work.

I should just do it and not worry about the pictures being better. I do want to get better at pictures though. One of my New Years Goals.

 

[bootcampguy]

I should just do it and not worry about the pictures being better. I do want to get better at pictures though. One of my New Years Goals.

That's the main reason we didn't but starting in the new year we re going to do dcons with a picture of rec. getting flowers (if permitted) and post on facebook or email to customer. We did a few at Chrsitmas some liked, some didn't.

 

[Sarah Jane]

Our photos are not perfect. The driver snaps a photo with her Iphone as she is about to load the arrangement on the van. Then when she delivers the flowers, it just takes a second (from a smartphone) to email it to the sender. This doubles as a real-time delivery confirmation as well. There is no computer or uploading involved. People know it's just one side of the arrangement and that it's just to give them an idea. They are so thrilled to get the photo. I've sent thousands and never had anything but postive feedback (except that butterfly incident). I am proud to show a photo of what we are sending out. We've built our business on this service.

 

[bootcampguy]

.............If a wire service required this I would feel better about wire orders. I'm terrified to send an order now. There is no accountability.

I like the picture aspect. On wire outs, if a florist just clicks the "auto" button then you've got a good chance of having a problem. I like Sahnnon, spend alot of time describing to the florist what I want. Not, 2 of this and three of this and touch of this. I try to describe what my customer is looking for and then pick a flower line/color tones. Our store policy "in writing" is same or similar to description. If we hear anything that doesn't sound right, then we call the florists to make sure our customers needs are met. Unless, I'm out of the loop, we get very few complaints on wire outs.

A few months ago we got 2 calls in one day on a wire-out complaints. I pulled the paperwork, it read "fresh arrangement", that's really to broad. Imagine if you we're in a rest. and said, "bring me food". You wouldn' always be happy. The new clerk went through some more training and didn't last much longer. She didn't have attention to details in her makeup, florists have to be great in that area. A must................

 

[meritasflowers]

I try to take pic. of every arrangement (small shop) & when available, email to sending customer
with delivery confirmation. My customers love it! On outgoing arrangements I've had some request a
picture of final design. Both times I was told "We don't have a camera." Come on, this is the 21st century!
Do you not even have a camera phone? I believe that any reputable wire service should require picture
confirmation. It would cause accountability.

 

[BOSS]

I believe that any reputable wire service should require picture confirmation. It would cause accountability.

Hmmm... I've been doing this gig for 43 years or so... there never *used* to be an accountability issue....

But then again, that was before there were NON-florists selling our product, with UN-realistic expectations and a lack of telling the customer whats really available in any given season... The big problem would be, that since the wire services allow order gatherers to sell more orders than florists do these days, that they would not be able to comply with the picture thing, since they NEVER TOUCH FLOWERS...

 

[lori042499]

Mark, that was also back in the day when most florists were real florists and there was no such thing as hotoshopped website pictures...Even the pictures in books were real arrangements minimally retouched and realistically designed...Most people were used to getting what the designer made to full value, what ever the value was for that shop...now they get to see unrealistic pictures made by so many florists with less than up to par talents in design and product care, promised to the moon without the first notion if the florist can deliver on those promises....The internet is amazing how it can do so much for the world yet ruin so much at the same time...

 

[Flowermomma]

well you all have talked me into trying to take pictures and emailing a comfirm to the sender.
We have been taking pictures to build up a more custom book for people to look at rather then ftd or telefloras.

But there are times when i see a hole on camera that I didn't see on the counter!
more so with those traditional one of everything all round pieces this town seems to love. (I am working hard to change that!)