WS Prices

[MaryClarksFlorist]

Hi,

We're fairly new and I have a question on the wire services' pricing.

We got an order today from FTD HQ for a specific arrangement - Natural Wonders. They're giving us 39.99. If we go on ftd.com and place a "pretend" order, the arrangement comes out to 39.99+13.99 service charge (which I think is about equal to $7 delivery + the wire service charge).

I know I tend to ask some stupid questions :dunce

But shouldn't we at least expect to get $39.99 + delivery from them?

I know pricing is flexible, but isn't there somewhere on ftd where you can get a list of arrangements and a base price (before delivery)? FTD is driving me nuts!

 

[felicityflowers]

Are you an FTD member?

If you are you've got to play by their rules. If not, you can always do what I do. Just tell them that you can't make the design for a dime less than xx.xx PLUS delivery. They either take it or leave it.

 

[TOTO]

Get used to it!

Obviously, you didn't know that, YOUR DELIVERY $ERVICE IS FREE!

We deducted $10 in WS Wampum to help cover our cost of delivery which nets you $7.00 after the smoke clears.

That leaves you with $29.99 to fill that order and if you can't, then send them an (ask) (P) (MO MONEY) if you feel the customer can't get the item for that $29.99 from your shop without resulting in a complaint.

If they won't give you any MO MONEY, (for) the JUNK to whatever JUNKYARD you feel deserves that kind uv order.

And their TOO LOW SRPs from their DOT.CONs coupled with NOTHING for our DELIVERY is one of the reasons we had to say FAREWELL back in 2004.

 

[MaryClarksFlorist]

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. We already asked for mo' money and got it!

We want to get rid of FTD in the near future (we have both TF and FTD, don't yell at me We're working on it!)

We have found the same problem with TF - they only give you $7 for delivery and if you ask for the difference, they cancel the order. I want to know who's filling these orders for them!

 

[lori042499]

Hi,

We're fairly new and I have a question on the wire services' pricing.

We got an order today from FTD HQ for a specific arrangement - Natural Wonders. They're giving us 39.99. If we go on ftd.com and place a "pretend" order, the arrangement comes out to 39.99+13.99 service charge (which I think is about equal to $7 delivery + the wire service charge).

I know I tend to ask some stupid questions :dunce

But shouldn't we at least expect to get $39.99 + delivery from them?

I know pricing is flexible, but isn't there somewhere on ftd where you can get a list of arrangements and a base price (before delivery)? FTD is driving me nuts!

Usually the wire service arrangements have the delivery price built in...I am not an FTD member, so I do not have the prices or recipes for those arrangements....If you were to make that arrangement as shown, how much would you charge your customer....


Using what I see as my recipe

1 lily
2 iris
2 monte
3 carns
2 white daisy
2 solidago
2 statice

comes to 21.00 worth of retail flowers which comes to a $31.00 basket with labor and basket greens etc. which leaves 9.00 for delivery...This is only in my world at my mark up, it will possibly be different for your world at your mark up...

You are not supposed to make full money on wire in orders...The whole premise of wire ins back in the day was that you will send as much as you make thus evening out the field...This rarely happened in most shops and as of the last 10 years has gotten to be much worse....

As for FTD.com, their service charge is the same thing as your wire out charge....they keep the whole thing there is nothing in that for the florist....just like you keep your wire charge and there is nothing in it for the florist....

Good luck with all of this...

 

[David]

As for FTD.com, their service charge is the same thing as your wire out charge....they keep the whole thing there is nothing in that for the florist....just like you keep your wire charge and there is nothing in it for the florist....

In my shop the wire out fee includes delivery that is passed on to the florist.

 

[lori042499]

In my shop the wire out fee includes delivery that is passed on to the florist.

That is fine, but FTD.com collects a service charge and keeps it all and the delivery charges are usually built into the arrangements..

 

[David]

That is fine, but FTD.com collects a service charge and keeps it all and the delivery charges are usually built into the arrangements..

You are correct on the service charge.
I don't think FTD, Tel or 800 actual give the delivery charge much thought.
I don't think they are built in. Gas went from 2.50 - 4.00 with no increase in there prices to florist. It's what they can get the consumer to pay plus their service charge. 15 years ago I was filling 800 flowers 6 mylars for 29.99 . The price is the same today.

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

oh no you don't have to fill the order for that amount!

If you are FTD or TF and you get a wire order from FTD or TF or any other shop through the wire service you can dictate how much money you need to fill an order. They cannot "price fix" it's illegal.

Now, I also understand that Ftd has changed a bunch of it's rules, but price fixing is illegal.

I cannot tell you how many times another shop will say, " the price TF says is $39.99 and you HAVE to do it for that." BS, no I do not, and neither do you.

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

David,
I want to get this straight.

You collect a 'wire' fee and then give it to the filling florist??

 

[Twila]

Are you an FTD member?

If you are you've got to play by their rules. If not, you can always do what I do. Just tell them that you can't make the design for a dime less than xx.xx PLUS delivery. They either take it or leave it.

I respectfully disagree with you Heather. As a member of FTD, I make the rules in MY shop regarding ALL incoming orders that I accept. If they don't send me enough money, I ask for more money. If they don't send it, I either reject the order or forward it on. To clarify..my partner and I make the rules. Actually, it is usually forwarded. There is another shop in town that LOVES incoming orders. So she gets any that we don't want.

Rule of thumb, according to Expressions in Bloom: Each store can and should decide which orders they are willing to fill. If they are under value, do not accept them-plain and simple. FTD DOES NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR COST OF GOODS...NOR DO THEY MAKE THE RULES FOR YOUR INDIVIDUAL STORES. Take back control...it was always yours to begin with.

As always...this is only my opinion...do as you wish :nod:

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

But it's not just an opinion Twila! It's the truth!

So many shops think they HAVE to fill orders at the WS suggested. That has driven me crazy for sooooooooo long!

You can sell them for less, you can sell them for more!

The worst part is when some other shop calls me and tells me I have to do it "cause it's the rules" and I try to educate them and then I get told "well I'm gonna turn you in to TF." I tell them "go right ahead, I bet I've been turned in a million times" as I try desperately not to laugh.

 

[Eric S]

See I think most of you miss the point.

Lets say they send you an order for $39.99. Actually you have only recieved $29.99. So then you ask for delivery of $7.

And they give it to you.

Guess what you are really only getting $34.00.

They still make the service fee and six bucks!!

Raise your minmums and change your delivery fee. Thats the only way your going to get what you need to fill the order.

 

[David]

David,
I want to get this straight.

You collect a 'wire' fee and then give it to the filling florist??

Handling fee for domestic orders: (non Local)
I charge 14.99 and the other florist gets 7.50-10.00
This charge is for a delivery beyond our local area made by Central Square Florist or a delivery /service charge for orders delivered by another florist.

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

wow.

We charge $10 wire fee, and then give the florist whatever they want for the delivery, but we have the customer pay it, not us.