Florist News

NO florists answering their phones in London W1J last Saturday morning. Not even an answer machine message to say we're closed or busy right now. Tried 8 florists who rang out, got 1 who answered her mobile and said she's closed (shame, as right opp where I was sending) She said its common for London florists to close on a Saturday, can that be right?

Found 2 who didn't have anything suitable and one downright crazy/rude woman who first off demanded how I would pay as she can only take a cheque!!So abrupt and unhelpful.

So out of 12 flower shops in the middle of London I found none that could help me and came away gobsmacked at the lack of customer care. And I'm another florist, not a real paying customer so to speak.

So I wondered, how many of you have an answering machine and how many of you let your customers think you're there but not picking up?

We don't have an answering machine largely cos it will irritate me when the staff constantly forget to turn it on/off/check for messages.

Ringing phones always get priority even if we're serving a customer - customer in store can hear the phone ringing, customer on phone merely thinks we're closed/can't be bothered to answer so tries our competitor instead.

interesting, I'm the opposite. If I'm serving and the phone goes, the customer I'm dealing with at the time get priority- they were there first. If I see its a number I know calling I'll ask the customer if I can answer it.

[quote=rosa alba;37110]We don't have an answering machine largely cos it will irritate me when the staff constantly forget to turn it on/off/check for messages. ""

SNAP!!!!!

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I do the same as you PMF, most of the people who I'm serving in the shop always say "do you want to answer that" anyway

yes, that too elouise!

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I too ignore phone when on my own and serving a customer. Sometimes the customer says I can answer it, but I find very often its another cold call wanting to sell us something. Always 1471 and call back when its quieter.

ditto elouise and PMF.

mine diverts to our other shop and they pick it up unless they're busy and it diverts back to me at which point the customer usually asks if I want to get it.