The Mercury Network
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Revision as of 15:00, 3 November 2011
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Congratulations on becoming a Mercury Network Subscriber! As an FTD Mercury user, you are now a part of the most sophisticated, yet easy-to-use network available for handling your wire orders and communications with other florists (using Mercury messages).
The Mercury Network is a communications network developed especially with the FTD Member in mind, made up of individual systems linked to a Host Computer. The Mercury Network includes two key elements: the Mercury component system, and FTD Headquarters in Downers Grove, Illinois
The first element is the Mercury component system, located in each participating Member’s store. Multi-store owners may choose to have the system serve more than one store. A branching design allows traffic going to different stores to be routed through a single system. Mercury component systems are linked via the Internet to the second major element, FTD Headquarters located in Downers Grove, Illinois. This element consists of:
- The Mercury Host Computer, which processes orders and messages and sends them on to receiving Members.
- The Floral Order Relay Center facility, which manually handles orders and order-related messages by telephone to Members with temporarily inoperative systems.
- The Mercury Technology Assistance Center, which answers questions and helps Members find solutions to problems. Members can contact the Mercury Technology Assistance Center by calling 1-888-309-2244.
- The Data Processing Center, which, for billing purposes, automatically reports incoming orders processed through the Mercury Network.
- The Mercury Sales Department, which can fill orders for new equipment or can answer your questions on which equipment would best suit your store. You may reach the Mercury Sales Department between 7 A.M. and 5 P.M. Central Time at 1-800-767-3222.
Host Computer Operations
When an order is transmitted from a sending Member to a filling Member, and both Members are linked to the Mercury Network via component systems, the order is routed through the Host Computer to the filling Member.
Orders are first routed to the filling Member selected by the sending Member. Three attempts are made to reach the Member’s store via its component system. Occasionally, the filling Member selected cannot be reached. If this situation occurs and the priority time on the order permits, another florist also serving that city will be chosen by a random computer selection process, called auto select. An attempt will then be made to send the order to the new filling Member. The sending Member will receive a FORward message which will indicate:
FORWARDING FLST: auto select
At the text or reason prompt, this explanation will appear:
Unable to contact selected florist. Order forwarded. Do not resend.
If a filling Member cannot be reached within the allotted time specified by the priority level of the message, the Host Computer will reject and return the order to the sending Member. The sending Member may then elect to resend the order.
An input auto select can also take place. This occurs when the filling Member selected by the sending Member is closed or not accepting orders. Upon receipt of the order, the Host Computer automatically selects a new filling Member based on the city in which the original filling florist is located, NOT on the ZIP code. Input auto select will appear under the time and date on the verified order. The sending florist will receive a FORward message indicating the new filling Member.
Hours of Operation
The Host Computer is available to send floral orders and messages Monday through Saturday, between 7:00 A.M. and midnight.
NOTE: The Host Computer can send floral orders and messages on Sundays from 6:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. Central Time.
FTD International Retrans Service
The FTD International Retrans Service allows Members to send flowers to virtually anywhere in the world. FTD International Retrans Service receives your order, prepares it for dependable delivery, and transmits it to the appropriate country. The service is valuable to stores that send or receive orders internationally for the following reasons:
- Ease of transmission
- Knowledge of the overseas Retrans Unit in selection of a filling florist
- No language barriers to overcome
- Billing through FTD Clearing House without currency conversion or exchange rate problems
To send an order through the FTD International Retrans Service, send a Mercury order to 90-0266 (Retrans Mercury Number) followed by the appropriate country suffix as listed in your FTD Directory and Toll-Free Listings book. Normal transmission charges for all orders sent to FTD Retrans Service at 90-0266 are free.
IMPORTANT: The Mercury Network also serves Canada. You should not send orders to Canada through FTD Retrans.
Preparing Your Retrans Order
When a customer requests an order to be sent overseas, please refer to your Online International Delivery Directory (IDD) and check for the following information:
- Check that the country and city you are sending the order to is listed in the directory.
- When you locate the country in the directory, check that the flowers and/or plants the customer is requesting are available (as well as any minimum prices).
- Check for any special operating hours or holiday hours.
- Check the delivery information (charges, guarantees) and ensure the order will have enough time to be delivered.
To complete a Retrans order:
- Enter all recipient information as normal. Be sure to record the recipient name, complete address including ZIP code (maximum 255 characters), and phone number.
- Complete the delivery information as normal. Same day delivery is not possible (except for Central and South America).
- Enter the first and second choice products as normal (be sure these products are available by checking the country information in the directory).
- Fields for products, card message, and special instructions should contain no more than 255 characters each.
- Complete the price in dollars. Do not include the regular Retrans fee of $12.00 for U.S. and $14.00 for Canada. However, include taxes and any service charges your store charges for the order. Although you do not indicate the Retrans fee on the order, collect the fee from the customer. You will be billed on your Clearing House statement for the Retrans fee.
- Type the filling florist code 90-0266 (Retrans Mercury Number) followed by the appropriate country suffix as listed on page I-6 of your FTD Directory and Toll-Free Listings book.
RETRANS CHARGES Retrans charges are $12.00 for U.S. and $14.00 for Canada. All orders received from FTD Retrans are credited automatically to your Clearing House account.
International Retrans Hours of Operation
The number for the International Retrans Service is 1-800-788-9000, extension 4600. It operates Monday-Friday, 7:00 A.M. - 5:30 P.M. Central time, and Saturday 7:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M,.
