Avon Hints and Tips (Part 3)

MarsdenCuckoo

Thanks for your posting, Homemade. Your comments re. not wishing to order anything else until you've received, and paid for, your current order are totally in line with my thoughts however the 'modus operandi' you are subjected to is what was recommended to me by my Sales Leader (and presumably lots of others). I ignored her advice in that respect and deliver the next book with the order, going back again a few days later to pick up any further order(s).

Seems to me that - either way - you still have two trips so why aggravate your (potential) customers? I'd be more reluctant to make a 2nd order before receiving the first..... I put that point to my SL but she was adamant that her way was 'best'.

To cut to the chase - if you're not happy with the way you're looked after by your Avon rep then tell her/him so. If they don't take notice, then ask around and choose another rep. :rolleyes:

MarsdenCuckoo

GemmaC25 wrote: »

I always run round the doors the night before my delivery arrives with a note saying you order was xx amount and I'm delivering tomorrow PM, but here's my mobile number incase you want it on a different day.
This is to avoid people saying they dont have the money on them or they might not be in and can let me know when is better for them.

What do you do when (not if) your deliveries are short? Don't you feel a little embarrassed at asking your customers for the full amount when/if things are out-of-stock?

See your point but possibly it's better doing that once you know the goods have actually arrived with you and just deliver a day later to your customers?

MarsdenCuckoo

Probably too late now but thought it may still be worth mentioning..... (Sorry, am still quite new to this and not sure, as yet, how this will pan out for the next 'quickie' campaign)

In the run up to the first of my quick/2 week campaigns I delivered books out to anyone, who hadn't ordered in the previous campaign. Those orders I collected a few days ago (my delivery was today), leaving me free to then just have to put books out and hopefully collect orders from those, who ordered in my last campaign. Seems to have worked out OK so far but still wondering whether I can do it again for the next campaign. (Can get a bit confusing so you need your wits about you but better than missing out a campaign totally, which is what a friend of mine has done.)

Dingdong_2

Sooooo annoyed...

2nd Antler Jacquard bag in delivery today. No shoulder strap. Again.
Customer wants to use bag now.
Do I have to order another one and keep returning/crediting/returning until one turns up with a strap? Customer 'didnt like Avon' for reasons like this, needed persuading that was how it used to be and... it still is.... Why do they still keep sending out faulty goods?
Rant over..

Elliebee_2

MarsdenCuckoo wrote: »

Thanks for your posting, Homemade. Your comments re. not wishing to order anything else until you've received, and paid for, your current order are totally in line with my thoughts however the 'modus operandi' you are subjected to is what was recommended to me by my Sales Leader (and presumably lots of others). I ignored her advice in that respect and deliver the next book with the order, going back again a few days later to pick up any further order(s).

Seems to me that - either way - you still have two trips so why aggravate your (potential) customers? I'd be more reluctant to make a 2nd order before receiving the first..... I put that point to my SL but she was adamant that her way was 'best'.

To cut to the chase - if you're not happy with the way you're looked after by your Avon rep then tell her/him so. If they don't take notice, then ask around and choose another rep. :rolleyes:

Thanks MC - this is more or less what I was going to reply One point on books - for most of us, the books we receive with our order are not for the next campaign, but the one after. I'm about to start C3 but had my books delivered with my C1 order.

As far as OOS items are concerned, I always knock them of the amount I charge. There have been instances where they have never become available and I'm reluctant to have to refund money which I have probably already spent Sometimes, though, customers will say that they want to pay immediately, in which case I go along with it.

Elliebee_2

Stop Press! Just noticed that there are changes to some of the delivery schedules due to the weather (which was to be expected). It's under 'Winter deliveries' at the bottom left of the website homepage, then there is a 'click here' button to see the changes. HTH

pugsley_h

My order arrives on a Friday morning. The following Tuesday, I go around to all the houses who have ordered, and pop a little note through the door, letting them know that I will be calling round the following day with their order. If there are any issues with their order - out of stock, damaged box etc, I write this on their note, so that they have chance to decide what to do. This is helpful for some of my customers, as some of them take their books into work - so "their" order may not be for them but a colleague - so they get chance to have a word with them and ask if they want to wait, or if a dint in a box is a problem or whatever. I also have a few shift workers, so if I let them know that I am going to be calling the next day, they will often leave their money with their kids, husband or whoever.

It may seem like a waste of time adding an extra trip - but it really speeds up my deliveries, and often means that I don't have to keep going back with the orders. It has also been helpful this time, as I have done two lots of double campaigns (18 & 1 together and 2 & 3 together) because of the 2 week campaigns. So that they didn't have to wait for their campaigns I have delivered 4 times - so putting a note through reminds them that a delivery is due. It also means that people are more likely to have the right change - stops being given £20 notes all the time!

Some people are really organised and remember dates, amounts etc - some people aren't as organised.

Homemade_2

Thanks to those who answered......I see what the SL's might be saying to you however in terms of the customer and especially ones who orders a lot the method of leaving a book for me to order from before I have recieved the last delivery is not acceptable. I also think its fairly futile to go around letting customers know what their bill will be before you have had chance to see if their whole order is there. Waste of your time.

Also, your best customers should always get the latest book, so if you are about to start C3.....put C3 book in with the customers last order.....and another point too....if they ARE good customers, perhaps longer than 2 days could be given to browse.

Id also just like to add.....I would not be happy if my Avon lady sent me a text. Yes, by all means, if she has a query, problem or needs to let me know something then phone me but texting is (to me) a very personal thing.

Aesop

Homemade

You have made some valid points, but all reps work differently and as suggested above, the best thing to do is tell your rep that you would like not to receive a reminder and the book with your order and would appreciate a week or longer to look at a book.

I text my customers because they text me and they are happy with me texting. One I have to text as she is the girlfriend of the son, of the parents at whose house I deliver an Avon book to. She saw the book at their house and orders via them, but as I have never personally met her and don't know her lifestyle, I just text her.

Also some of my customers are disabled and prefer me to text, as then can answer at their convenience and it saves them the cost of calling my mobile.

But I would talk to your rep and ask her to do things differently for you. I have a range of customers with different requirements and I make sure I do what they request.

At the end of the day it is a business for me and to make it profitable I need to keep my customers happy.

Elliebee_2

Homemade wrote: »

Thanks to those who answered......I see what the SL's might be saying to you however in terms of the customer and especially ones who orders a lot the method of leaving a book for me to order from before I have recieved the last delivery is not acceptable. I also think its fairly futile to go around letting customers know what their bill will be before you have had chance to see if their whole order is there. Waste of your time.

Also, your best customers should always get the latest book, so if you are about to start C3.....put C3 book in with the customers last order.....and another point too....if they ARE good customers, perhaps longer than 2 days could be given to browse.

Id also just like to add.....I would not be happy if my Avon lady sent me a text. Yes, by all means, if she has a query, problem or needs to let me know something then phone me but texting is (to me) a very personal thing.

As Aureol says HM, we all have different ways of working and in my experience, no one way will suit everyone. I entirely understand your reluctance to have the next book before you get your order, and it's not something I do personally (not least, as someone has already said, because I would get completely confused!)

As it happens, she probably WILL know several days before her delivery whether or not there are items missing, as we can see our invoice online a couple of days after we order, and that will list OOS items

How long to leave the books is always a sticky one - in my experience, most people will forget about them after a couple of days, but my customers know by now that they can always leave a note or text me if they want to keep their book longer. They can then either phone me to collect it, or place their order by email or phone.

As far as texting is concerned, I think you may be in a minority (which is entirely your prerogative) as I find most people will regard a text as the least intrusive way of contacting them; at least they can answer it in their own time. Why not have a chat with your rep - she can't change things unless she knows they need changing My motto is 'If you are happy with the service you get from me, tell everyone else. If not, then tell me!