Hi - not sure of best forum for this, but since so many of us buy FTD via (and because of) their relationships with our FF programs, thought I'd relay this - my wife's mother ordered a gift package for my parents for Xmas well before Xmas, with a delivery date of 5 days later, still well before Xmas. By Xmas eve, when my parents hadn't said anything, we called FTD (I was at the in-laws) and the first rep tried telling me that the severe midwest weather was to blame. We pointed out that the order was due for delivery WELL before that weather even started, and he just got belligerent, as if I didn't understand about weather and that Fedex, in Memphis, was somehow affected. He then let on that the order was actually to be fulfilled by a partner of FTDs, but that he couldn't give me info on them, and that how could FTD be responsible, since the partner hadn't notified them that there was a delivery issue? We tried explaining that as FTDs customer, that wasn't our problem - though you'd think FTD would expect its third parties to provide them some confirmation - I guess once your credit card goes through they don't care so much. Anyhow, we called back and got another rep who told us another story, that the weather was not an issue that she could tell but that there was a problem with the delivery address - they were using a different one than the one we provided (we had a copy of our order), which was like a warehouse or something - but they didn't call us or recipient (address problem not brought up by first rep). They told us that they were sorry, but again, partner's fault, not theirs - Fedex would have notified their third party but didn't notify them. They accepted no responsibility for the error, and kept saying "how can we call you if our partner doesn't let us know." We suggested they have a talk with that partner. In the meantime, they said their best offer was half off, and delivery the Monday after Xmas. We said no thanks and got a full refund. (By the way, on Xmas eve, we did not expect delivery in time for Xmas anymore - but we did think they could have given a more generous discount in addition to an actual apology).

Not to rant - not really a huge deal - but the lies, the attitude, the lack of taking responsibility, blaming the partner who's name they wouldn't even give out so we could call them, and the crappy discount they offered only after we asked for something add up to a waste of time and money - mother in law could have bought that gift package at a ton of places, and next time, we will. As part of our promise to FTD, which we're keeping, we're letting as many people know about it as possible. Finally, I realize it is always the customer's ultimate responsibility to confirm delivery and such - the truth is nobody is all that broken up that it didn't get there in time - it's the thought that counts and my parents know it was ordered - but everyone was a little taken aback with their performance, reliance/blame on third party and how they responded to our inquiry and complaint. Had this been a little more critical, we would have followed up. We got a little busy enjoying the holidays to really sweat it at the time.

Moderator - if there is a better place for this post (or one with even more visibility ) feel free to relocate.

FTD has messed up quite a few times with me too, from late deliveries to non-deliveries.

I hope they take/took responsibility when you had trouble - that was the disappointing part. It was like they were distributing some memo saying to take advantage of the severe weather if there are late deliveries, especially via their third parties. Too many options out there to blame the other guy instead of just comping something - they lost several customers by the way they handled it.

FTD is bad, 800-Flowers is absolutely terrible.

I had a wonderful experience with Pro Flowers, no miles, but you can get at least some MyPoints

Although I used then very few times, the results always have been great

Let's not lose sight of the flowers for the miles. It's so easy to find a local florist on the Yahoo Yellow Pages and know they will take good care of an order from what well may be a local repeat customer.

True. My mother in law wasn't even doing it for the miles (but I wanted to post about it since so many of us do). You're right - not hard to find a local florist at all. That's usually who FTD is getting to fulfill their orders anyway. The miles aren't worth the bad service/delivery failures.

I worked in this business years ago. The "sending" florist - in this case FTD or 1-800-Flowers - gets 20% and the local florist has to deliver full value (?) for 80%. You will obviously get better service from the local florist if you call direct and pay 100%.

Pro Flowers delivers their own flowers from the growers, via Fedex, no middle men. They offer good value.

Kristina Koziel at FTD is (or at least as of July 2004, was) the person who runs all things involving points and promos at FTD.

her email:

[email protected]

RE: her position:
At least that's how I came to understand her position when I found her during a defunct promotion involving Ebay Anything Points, FTD, and a whole bunch of other companies.

Even if your issue does not involve points, maybe this senior can help you out!

good luck!

MM

Flowers are one item on which I no longer pursue miles. For several years, I used all of the various flower partners, especially to top off accounts. While I was sometimes thanked, mostly the thank you's seemed perfunctory, but I didn't think much of it, they were just flowers and sometimes they were for funerals.

Then one New Year's Eve, I sent a centerpiece to a host I was visiting for the night. spent about $100 but when I got there and the host didn't say much, certainly didn't say "oh the flowers are beautiful" I had to look at the flowers. Yikes, they were worth no more than $20, a measly several flowers poking out of some spruce cuttings. One candle when clearly the picture I looked at online had three. Abyssmal. I was utterly embarrassed and since then have never ordered for points. I called and received a pretty good refund which I accepted. Go local. The points are not worth it.

Thanks MarathonMan and the other recent posters - sounds like a lot of people have a lot of issues with these services. Knowing that you are hurting a local business who gets less $ (a florist, of all things ) makes it even worse. Makes you think there would also be a lot of room for local consortium (e.g., "Florida Flowers") who provide FTD like service, but only take very small cut and keep it local, keep more revenue in the state, and add some quality and accountability. Would still give the local florists a larger platform to reach people but at less cost and better service than the nationals apparently are interested in delivering.

I always use local florists. They're easy to find and offer MUCH better pricing. They can also tell you what's good & what's not so good in their current inventory.

I poked around (translated - I googled) and found this site, FlowerShopNetwork, which has local florists organized by state - complete with contact information, links to web sites, highlights of some prices, customer ratings, etc. Looks like it will help people avoid FTD and I can't find anything that looks like this is anything more than a network like a yellow pages, since you are able to contact the florist you want directly. Now there is really no excuse to use FTD or 800-FLOWERS if you aren't satisfied with them. I found this by googling "find a local florist" in case you forget this URL.

http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/

^

A dozen of roses costs around $20 if you call the local merchant directly and pay by credit card. If you use FTD to make that request to that same merchant, the price becomes $60.

Same merchant with same flowers... that is why I avoid FTD if I know the city business well.

1800 Flowers did me right over X-mas.

I use local florists where I know them, but had to send some flowers to in-laws in Boston and to my Grandma in her new retirement home in Alexandria, VA and don't know florists in those areas. Ordered from 1800 Flowers for the UA miles. The two bunches for Boston went in just fine. Grandma, on the other hand, did a last minute trip to the West Coast and wasn't there to take delivery of the flowers on the 23rd of December. The florist apparently then came back with a fresh bunch a week later (after her return), correcting my poor planning without even asking me. No extra charge, no fuss, just one happy Grandmother. Life is good.

Thumbs up from me on this one.