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CONSUMER
ALERT!!!
For the full story check out www.floristdetective.com
800
Skimmers Are Picking Your Pocket
Flower
buyers beware, your wallet is exposed!! In this technological age,
the expansion of 800 SEND and DOT COM order gatherers with their
electronic catalogs have left consumers with the feeling that their
orders are well cared for and they are receiving good value. Nothing
could be farther from the truth!! Let's look at just two factors
of a floral transaction, price and service.
PRICE
To cover their national marketing overhead, the 800 guys add on
substantial handling fees to every order, up to $12.99. These skimmers
also engage in "national average pricing" so local florists
don't reject their orders. For example, on a York area delivery,
most skimmers will charge around $60.00 for a dozen long stem roses
arranged, plus their handling fee. Using Chas. Schaefer Flowers
directly would cost about $50.00 plus tax. We don't add handlingfees
on local orders and we don't charge you extra to talk with one of
our knowledgeable sales staff. Which brings us to the second transaction
factor.
SERVICE
If you ever called one of the national 800 services it didn't take
you long to figure out that skimmer's sales staff are computer operators
first and professional florists second. These folks know how to
navigate a keyboard and promote cookie cutter items. Few, if any,
of these folks sit in a flower shop, see what fresh inventory is
available when you call or can find out if a special customer need
can be filled in a timely manner. Yet, they call this service!!
The sales staff at Chas. Schaefer's is willing to do for you what
we have been doing since 1898, going the extra mile to customize
the freshest product to your own personal taste. That is why we
are offended by the skimmer's tactics of praying on your wallet,
all in the name of "convenience".
Also,
beware of the New Jersey outfit that calls itself, "York Florist"
in the Yellow Pages. The local phone number is remote call forwarded
to the parent operation in New Jersey, skimmed and sent back to
a real florist in York. Who's getting their money's worth on that
sale? Be sure you are dealing with your local florist. Don't be
embarrassed to ask where they are located and don't be embarrassed
to hang up when you find out it isn't here! It all boils down to
this question. Who can you trust, the national Internet skimmer
or your local florist like Chas. Schaefer Flowers? The decision
is yours. We just thought you'd like to know.
The
Managers Department
Chas. Schaefer Flowers Inc.
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