Ok now that I'm a full member I have a question to all florists out there using ws: -How long more are you guys willing to take ? Don't you think instead of nagging and complaining we should actually do something about it? Find some kind of compromise with them that will make us both happy and most importanly make our customers happy, when maybe for the first time the customer will actually get what they paid for?:wallhead:
Wire Services
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lori042499
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- May 3, 2006
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How exactly do you suppose we do that??
I mean this in the most sincere way...I know we are supposed to have them over a barrel because without us they have no business, but it just isn't true in so many respects....I have said it before and I will say it again...unless I get a notice that there will be a nationwide boycott of all ws and every one of my competitors is leaving the ws, I am just not ready to make that stand by myself..
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Sorry, but thats no longer possible....in a perfect world sure...those days are long gone....
Best to simply dump them and build a new game,
neither am I. And let's be realistic 1 florist can't make much of a diffrence. I would say the first step is to let the customers know what is going on. And I'm sorry but I refuse to "do business with them" when they make all the money. I don't work for them. Yes I know you will say just go ws free, but do we actually enjoy when they are taking advantage of us? I don't! Did you ever sit down and calculated how much money you are making with them and how much you r loosing? I din't want to do that first. I was scared to see the numbers. And believe me they don't look good. I received my FTD statement for may yesterday where they charged me $281.96 for 4 rejected orders. (that new thing that they have now called "delayed response program") meanwhile in the email we received it says that the program starts on june 1 2008. When I called them up they said the program started a month ago. First of all it's not even legal what they doing. It was not in the contract when we signed it 5 yrs ago. So you still want to keep loosing money? I'm sure you work very hard. Especially in today's economy things are tough. -
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
There we have it folks...the first "Delayed Response" charges...anyone else? I have not received my statement yet...
Yellad (you got a first name?) I'd be taking this to my lawyer. I too was under the impression the program started June 1st.
Read a little closer. The May statement shows what you WOULD have been charged if the program had started in May. Apparently you have a few orders that you didn't reject in a timely manner.
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
What, do you mean florists actually work unlike Bloomz (and me sometimes) who simply jockey a desk and mouse?
BigTEd: Read a little closer. The May statement shows what you WOULD have been charged if the program had started in May. Apparently you have a few orders that you didn't reject in a timely manner.
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It doesn't say that on my statement. I'm assuming if that was the case I would get credit for it but i didn't.
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It doesn't say that on my statement. I'm assuming if that was the case I would get credit for it but i didn't.
Chezbloom
Well-Known Member
Personally, I'm fine with the fact that most of my competitors still have Wire Services. It lets me concentrate 100% on my customers, that I deal directly with. I love it. I use to stand up on my Anti Wire service podium but the local competitors around here basically told me I'm an idiot to try and be Wire Service free. Oh well, I'm still here!
lori042499
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OK, calm down, no need to get emotional...I was just asking what your suggestion would be to unite all florists on one front.. I have been a member here for 2 years and have not heard the solution to make the WS work with us and more than a few have been here since 2002 with the same thing everyone knows they suck, but not a one of us know what to do about it...I was hoping you would be the second coming and be able to answer the unanswerable....
lori042499
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I wouldn't say anyone is an idiot for going WS free...if you can do it and have the guts (or is it balls) to try it and it succeeds go for it...I am glad it is working for you, it gives me something to strive for...
OK, calm down, no need to get emotional...I was just asking what your suggestion would be to unite all florists on one front.. I have been a member here for 2 years and have not heard the solution to make the WS work with us and more than a few have been here since 2002 with the same thing everyone knows they suck, but not a one of us know what to do about it...I was hoping you would be the second coming and be able to answer the unanswerable....
I believe that National television is a start. I already made a few phone calls and waiting to here back from them . what do you think?
I believe that National television is a start. I already made a few phone calls and waiting to here back from them . what do you think?
Personally, I'm fine with the fact that most of my competitors still have Wire Services. It lets me concentrate 100% on my customers, that I deal directly with. I love it. I use to stand up on my Anti Wire service podium but the local competitors around here basically told me I'm an idiot to try and be Wire Service free. Oh well, I'm still here
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Good for you. !!! Unfortunatelly it doesn't work will all shops.
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Good for you. !!! Unfortunatelly it doesn't work will all shops.
lori042499
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How are you going to standardize enough florists nationally to support a national ad campaign and who will fund it???
I can think as big as national advertising for my own business but paying for it is where my dreams end and the reality begins, I believe this is where all of our problems start....
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Yo..Yell....chill man...
Sorry but it was a joke. And once you've been around a little you'll get to know the difference...most of us do not take the wire services seriously...
And yes, I too am in the biz to make money...have been for 37 years...and my ancestors for 30 more before that...but I am going fishing later today...and that too is for money....
If in fact you got billed on your statement for the delayed response charge, and no credit was accompanying it, I would, like I said be contacting my lawyer. Can you scan and upload the page here? Some of us would be happy too try and help sort it out. And if in fact you were charged, then we may have another WS trick being played out, where they say one thing and do another, and think folks will miss the charge on their statements...on purpose.
Sorry but it was a joke. And once you've been around a little you'll get to know the difference...most of us do not take the wire services seriously...
And yes, I too am in the biz to make money...have been for 37 years...and my ancestors for 30 more before that...but I am going fishing later today...and that too is for money....
If in fact you got billed on your statement for the delayed response charge, and no credit was accompanying it, I would, like I said be contacting my lawyer. Can you scan and upload the page here? Some of us would be happy too try and help sort it out. And if in fact you were charged, then we may have another WS trick being played out, where they say one thing and do another, and think folks will miss the charge on their statements...on purpose.
Chezbloom
Well-Known Member
If more florists worked as hard as Bloomz to get good SEO results and promote their websites etc, they would be a lot better off. Just because your not washing buckets and designing does'nt mean your not working. Although, right now all I'm working on is finishing this massive Burritto!!! Yummy
p.s. Wire Services are the evil Satan.
p.s. Wire Services are the evil Satan.
Chezbloom
Well-Known Member
Televison news shows have done numerous reports on "flower buying" and have attempted to expose the truth, but they always end up mucking it up and all the public hears is, "Sending flowers is a rip off". It is not an interesting enough story for the general public to care about. It's a great concept, but the results never seem to pan out. The only reasons I can think of that dropping Wire services would'nt work for other shops is: 1. they have a POS system and need to pay it off. 2. they have a ton of Wire outs which they do indeed make money off of. I can think of no other reason to do business with these parasites we call "Wire Services":dunno:
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