Why would one use FTD,TELEFORA OR 800FLOWERS TO SEND FLOWERS?

my florist just told me that when I use these companies to send my mom flowers, the florist who gets the order only gets 80 percent of the money I paid and the "wire service"keeps 20 percent or more,


and in most cases knocks my order down to a smaller version of what In ordered!! they have never told me this was being done.


She also told me to find a florist in my moms zip code and call them direct to get exactly what I paid for . huh ,well now I know better.Just don't understand why these companies never told me these things. just wondering if you guys knew this?

Why would one use FTD,TELEFORA OR 800FLOWERS TO SEND FLOWERS?
I suggest using the yellow pages for that area and calling a local florist. They are just as nice flowers and usually a lot less expensive. I did this for a funeral out of state and just told them the amount I wanted to spend. They took care of the rest. I attended the funeral and the flowers were better than expected. More for your money!!
Reply:if the person who you are sending the flowers to lives far away, these flower services are useful
Reply:They have to get paid for the convenienve they are providing. Also, when we had a problem on a recent order it was no problem to resend or refund. It was my choice with no pressure on resending.
Reply:I learned not to do it here on Yahoo! Answers some time ago. I guess that's what this is for.
Reply:They wouldn't be in business if everyone knew that.


They are just a convenience so you don't have to go searching for a florist in a far away city/state.





The key is like anything you purchae; sale items or items they have a clearance on.......that's when you get your money's worth.
Reply:I have found this out myself. You need a credit card or an account set up with order with your local florist, or drive there at the high cost of gasoline. Some prefer the easy way. I drive to my local florist and ask them to send it. But, sometimes they go through one of those services anyway.
Reply:yeah. they suck. call the florist in the local area. get a mom and pop not a big suckah!!!
Reply:Well of course the wire service needs to get paid.





The local florist is cheating on the agreement with the service by downsizing the order though. You should report them.





Obviously, getting orders from all over the country is worthwhile, so the local shops pay for the national exposure by agreeing to let the services take a portion of the fees. They aren't supposed to keep their same profit margin. Its the local shop cheating, not the national service.
Reply:They often have great coupons online, plus you don't have to track down a florist who you don't know (especially if your sending to someone out of state). They also guarantee their products. Anytime I've stated I wasn't satisfied, I've gotten a complete credit.
Reply:I wouldn't recommend FTD or Teleflora, but a long time ago 1-800-Flowers pioneered something called "Fresh From Our Growers", which lets you get flowers shipped directly from the people who grow the flowers (usually from South America or Europe). In other words, your flowers cost less and last longer because they don't spend a week or more dying in a florist's refrigerator. They're shipped via air in refrigerated containers from the source, and forwarded directly to you.





I would recommend a florist when you need the flowers professionally arranged, but for family members who like to arrange their flowers themselves, I've had great success with 1-800-Flowers fresh flowers.
Reply:Lack of information and the ease of using them.
Reply:well they are doing the research and finding the florist - the florists have contracts with them and agree on a lowered price amount for the flowers for referral through the 1-800 system. it is a referral fee. they are NOT permitted to substitute a smaller order then the one you buy - that is against the BBB and you can complain if you pay for a large flower and she gets a smaller one - it may be slightly different from the picture depending on what flowers are in season in the area where your mother lives and so forth.





the best way is to use yahoo yellow pages and look up a florist near you mother call them - you will not however be able to see a picutre of the size you are getting - you can though call around to a few in her area to get the best deal this way.
Reply:If your far away from your man or women, its easy to call a FTD and send flowers its convient.