Free...Really?
In a discussion with a customer the other day, the issue of delivery came up yet again.
I must say, that after so many years of Federal Express, DHL, Express Mail, UPS Next day, you name it, I am still astounded that people will still question the local florist for charging for delivery.
She "Boy, $8.00, that really seems like a lot to me! I mean really, you are only having to deliver the item a few miles from your shop."
I understand that people's perspective is typically limited to their world view. In other words, they only know life as it revolves around them. And in many cases, this is a very limited sphere indeed.
Initally, I explained to her that "while I have tried and tried, and tried, I can't seem to get delivery drivers to work for me for free. They all seem to want to get a paycheck every week with everyone else.".
I then explained, "I have also pleaded and pleaded with the GM dealership to give me my trucks for free. For whatever reason, they simply refuse to let me have one of those $26,000 trucks for free".
I then told her that "while I have tried to dicker and deal with the gas station, I have yet to find one that will let me have gas for any less than what is posted on their respective reader boards".
"This is not to mention the unwillingness of the general public to stop driving their cars, shopping carts, motor-cycles, or trucks, into the back, side, or front of my vehicles".
From there, I asked her to consider the following.
I explained that yesterday, I took a two ounce letter to the post office I needed it to be in an office in Orlando that same day. I was there early in the morning, but no matter how much I pleaded and begged, yelled and screamed, they refused to take the letter any sooner than Express Mail which guaranteed my delivery only by 4pm the next business day.
Cost of this service? $14.99.
And they will only guarantee me delivery in 18 hours.
Yet, many people call us every day, sometimes as late as 4pm "Oh my Lord, I have forgotten my anniversary, won't you please help me get flowers to my wife".
We make the delivery for them.
Many people call us every day, request flowers be delivered, and pay between 7 and 9 dollars for delivery.
Get that? Same day, not next day (if you are lucky by 4pm).
A 2 ounce letter takes 18 hours to get across town and you pay $14.95. A beautiful floral tribute or gift, as large as you can afford, same day, sometimes within 1 hour.
To me, $8.00 doesn't seem unreasonable.
But that's just me I suppose.
Naturally, there are florists still out there spitting out that they will deliver your item for you for free. Indeed, some of our customers have even been led away by those promoting this very thing. "Hey, if you do business with us, we will deliver your product for free". (Buying on price alone is a topic for a later date)
Based on what I outlined above, I believe most people are sharp enough to realize that it is literally impossible to delivery anything for free. You are paying for your "free" delivery somewhere, I guarantee it.
The only thing in this life that is truly free in the literal sense of the word is the grace provided for us by God in sending Christ to die for us.
Everything else has a cost associated with it...hidden or up front, you pay for everything in this world.
Wouldn't you rather do business with someone who believes in being up front with you about what you are paying for?
I know I would.
I must say, that after so many years of Federal Express, DHL, Express Mail, UPS Next day, you name it, I am still astounded that people will still question the local florist for charging for delivery.
She "Boy, $8.00, that really seems like a lot to me! I mean really, you are only having to deliver the item a few miles from your shop."
I understand that people's perspective is typically limited to their world view. In other words, they only know life as it revolves around them. And in many cases, this is a very limited sphere indeed.
Initally, I explained to her that "while I have tried and tried, and tried, I can't seem to get delivery drivers to work for me for free. They all seem to want to get a paycheck every week with everyone else.".
I then explained, "I have also pleaded and pleaded with the GM dealership to give me my trucks for free. For whatever reason, they simply refuse to let me have one of those $26,000 trucks for free".
I then told her that "while I have tried to dicker and deal with the gas station, I have yet to find one that will let me have gas for any less than what is posted on their respective reader boards".
"This is not to mention the unwillingness of the general public to stop driving their cars, shopping carts, motor-cycles, or trucks, into the back, side, or front of my vehicles".
From there, I asked her to consider the following.
I explained that yesterday, I took a two ounce letter to the post office I needed it to be in an office in Orlando that same day. I was there early in the morning, but no matter how much I pleaded and begged, yelled and screamed, they refused to take the letter any sooner than Express Mail which guaranteed my delivery only by 4pm the next business day.
Cost of this service? $14.99.
And they will only guarantee me delivery in 18 hours.
Yet, many people call us every day, sometimes as late as 4pm "Oh my Lord, I have forgotten my anniversary, won't you please help me get flowers to my wife".
We make the delivery for them.
Many people call us every day, request flowers be delivered, and pay between 7 and 9 dollars for delivery.
Get that? Same day, not next day (if you are lucky by 4pm).
A 2 ounce letter takes 18 hours to get across town and you pay $14.95. A beautiful floral tribute or gift, as large as you can afford, same day, sometimes within 1 hour.
To me, $8.00 doesn't seem unreasonable.
But that's just me I suppose.
Naturally, there are florists still out there spitting out that they will deliver your item for you for free. Indeed, some of our customers have even been led away by those promoting this very thing. "Hey, if you do business with us, we will deliver your product for free". (Buying on price alone is a topic for a later date)
Based on what I outlined above, I believe most people are sharp enough to realize that it is literally impossible to delivery anything for free. You are paying for your "free" delivery somewhere, I guarantee it.
The only thing in this life that is truly free in the literal sense of the word is the grace provided for us by God in sending Christ to die for us.
Everything else has a cost associated with it...hidden or up front, you pay for everything in this world.
Wouldn't you rather do business with someone who believes in being up front with you about what you are paying for?
I know I would.
posted by The Flower Guy | 1:02 PM
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1 comments
