Avon Hints and Tips (Part 2)

spethmeister

GemmaC25 wrote: »

awww Kim hang in there!
My first street I was assigned to I was told 'someone does this road' and he was quite rude so I snapped and said 'well she shouldn't as she's not assigned to it!' lol! But yes I wouldn't step on anyone's toes however 2 people in the street asked me to drop the next book off, but didn't want anything this time, so maybe she hadnt recanvassed in a while
I've found I can give a whole large street books out and only have 1 order, then a tiny street of mine got 3 orders! It really just depends on the people, so just try everywhere, and it doesn't hurt to try streets you're not assigned to (my only orders have come from territory which hasnt been given to me, but no one else is doing it!)

it might not hurt you, but does have the potential to annoy another rep if the road is already taken!!

I have just emiled my asm and my sl to let them know i'm not going to do this anymore after christmas. i'm sick to death of wasting my time and also my money on books only to deliver and be told that some other rep has already delivered a book - on roads that are definitely mine!

I was so full of enthusiasm not too long ago but there's only so much abuse i;'m willing to take from people who (understandably) feel harrassed by 4 or more reps giving them books! especially when i'm not the one in the wrong, and especially when I have my kids with me a lot of the time when I go out (my eldest likes to post and pick up books)

sorry for ranting. i've just got back so the frustration is still fresh!

spethmeister

just realised my last post might look like i'm having a go at gemma - i'm really not! just having a bad day and needed to get it all off my chest, hope i didnt cause any offence

MarsdenCuckoo

For my 2p-worth, I've found that whenever I just drop a book off then it very rarely results in an order. I started with only 20 books and 70 houses in my given territory so rather than just drop them through the first 20 doors and live in hope, I knocked and asked if they might be interested. Got quite a few, who didn't want to know (but at least I didn't waste time going back again and/or, possibly, lose a book). Also, when you doooo come across a 'friendly face', who likes Avon, then it does spur you on.

My given territory of 70 houses only actually resulted in 10 customers initially. That's now risen slightly due to referrals (I give a 'free gift' to anyone introducing a new customer) and people stopping me on the street to ask if I'm selling Avon! :j

Contrary to the advice I was given by my SL I do try and spot any offers missed by my customers and then tweek their orders so they don't miss out. (It was suggested I keep any benefit/free products for myself.) Word does quickly spread and people start to trust that you'll make sure they get the best deal.

As for 'trespassing' onto other agents' given territories, have had two experiences so far:

1. I'd canvassed/cold-called (again asking if there was any interest) a new street nearby with my soon-to-become-defunct books (better than just throwing them in the recycling bin!) and found 8 people, who were interested but only resulted in 2 orders. When deliverying the orders I was stopped by a very irate agent, who told me she'd just moved into that street and had been given it as her territory. Pretty sure I was within my rights to claim my 8 as 'F&F' as I got there first but I didn't. I did, however, stand firm over one customer, whom I'd given a lot of samples to, and the new agent agreed.

2. Another new agent was allocated streets adjacent to my territory, only to be told by one lady that I already called there. She was very pleasant and we sorted it out between us the addresses I already service and where I would henceforth leave to her. We exchanged details in case either of us needed help in future.

Hardly rocket science and no need for any unpleasantness in my book. Seems to me that we Avon reps ought to be offering each other a back-up service for holidays, etc. rather than jealously guarding our patch.

Christine

JELLY_BE4N

Ive had an email from my ASM this week regarding canvassing on territory not assigned to you and its a big no no, shes emailed to all her reps not just to me.
here is abit of the email it is also on my messages on avon

Area-please read ASAP

Hi All,
I am getting more and more calls or emails on a daily basis that an other Representative is all over some one else|s Area?
This is NOT acceptable, if you require area you need to contact my self and request it either via phone or email, you DO NOT just take it as read and off your own back you can go ahead and just do an area because it takes your fancy, you cant.
Ask your self; if you are given an area and worked hard at getting your customer base and rappor with your customers and some one came along and took them from you, how would you feel????"Annoyed" yes?

PurplePow

Don't get me wrong, if I put books out onto a street and they say they already have a rep then that's fine, I don't want to stand on anyone's feet!
But my first street I was given someone else is already doing... I have gotten 2 customers from it though as the rep must not have recanvassed in ages (one customer saying she hadn't seen Avon in over a year!) so I'll keep those, but wont bother with the rest of that street.
The way I see it this whole territory thing is pointless as it seems to get mixed up and reps might already be doing it. I'm friendly so if a rep approached me and said they were already doing that street I would apologise and move on. Plus reps get given territory and don't even bother with it!

PurplePow

JELLY_BE4N wrote: »

Ask your self; if you are given an area and worked hard at getting your customer base and rappor with your customers and some one came along and took them from you, how would you feel????"Annoyed" yes?

But this is exactly what's happened with me, my first streets were already being covered, that didn't bother me I've gone and done some others off my own back as they don't have a rep covering them.

echo

i had that message verbally a few months back when i knocked on doors in an area which i knew hadn't been done for years.unfortunately for me a new lass started doing it a month or so after me! in the end the lass did it for a week and i was given the whole of that estate to do-even though i'd been told that 3 reps were on it.

PurplePow

Well my territory was already being covered, I don't see harm in moving onto streets not being done. If someone does eventually get assigned to my street, then I'll complain to my ASM she did nothing about the rep already on my assigned territory! I need to make money somehow!

JELLY_BE4N

personally ive have also been given area that had a rep so gave that bit up and did friends and family but the area came up again afew yrs ago and i was given it again but told a rep does live there and shes allowed to do friends and family and if they tell me they have a rep to leave them alone, i find though that sometimes people dont want a book and when theve lived in the house for yrs dont want me to hassle them every few months just incase they change there mind so i do it at least once a yr for 2 campaigns then ill ask them if they still want to see one. Then they move house and ill forget to recanvass there and then someone else does them as theve never had a rep there before and make out ive not done what im ment to. i find its hit and miss really sometimes

sophisoph

well today ive had the migraine from hell. didnt have any avon to do so thought id relax. had two texts from customers saying 'sorry forgot to leave my book out this weekend..shall i leave it out now for you to collect today?' i replied saying yes please i shall be round in an hour or so. i also remembereda man at the weekend had asked me to come back as his wife was still ordering so i had said to leave it out as soon as she had finished and i would pick it up monday (weather permitting)

so... struggled to get motivated but got out. these 3 are honestly the furthest from me and all the end houses down streets leading off of streets

ONE BOOK WAS LEFT OUT!!!! the other two were out and no book left for me! HOW ANNOYING! IT REALLY TAKES THE ****! i mean luckily my little one was with family so i hadnt had to drag him out with me but usually i plan avon around his dinner times/nap times and most customers know this! but honestly how hard is it to put a book outside!? its just plain cheeky! they asked me to come back today and knew i was. it does my head in! really could have done without that annoyance today!