Avon Hints and Tips (Part 4)

Aesop

sylvergrunge wrote: »

Well, having just started it looks like me who has been given someone elses territory

Why do you think this? Have their books been left out at every house or most houses? Or are you getting told they buy from another rep?

lucyclare

Well ladies, giving away allocated territory is real pain.
My OH as just been tagged as SL and has moved to Somerset. So being a good SL, I called the ASM for that area, and explained that he was there already, but as his first order had been placed via F&F up here we couldnt move him into her area just yet.

Needless to say, i was given a territory for him to do and arranged for her to call him to meet. It takes nearly two weeks to contact her again. Finally get an email confirming his new patch only for that to be changed within two days for a village 'closer' to him. (Really! On which map!) He was given a customer list so off he went. Bimbling away. Went to pick up books on Saturday and guess what, picking up C10's for a 'IM YOUR NEW REP' and only 1 order out of 40 books.

So much for support from a new ASM. Now I realise that he is from an Out of area SL but that is no excuse really. He counts as a rep on her area and his sales count towards her targets, not to mention that he is tagged as a SL on her area too.

She will be getting a snotty email tomorrow and will copy to DSM for her area. There is no wonder AVON has a poor reputation in some areas.

As for my ASM, I got an email requesting my territory which I duly replied to. Gave her street names and door numbers of customers served. I urge all reps to reply as it prevents streets from being reallocated. And reminds them that you are doing the job properly. This is reflected in the number of books you buy too.

MarsdenCuckoo

aureol212 wrote: »

Hi sylvergrunge, don't worry about posting loads! You will find quite a few of us do this if no one is around and we are reading through and replying/commenting on posts We are a friendly bunch, so don't worry about this.

Yes, happens to me quite a lot too - sometimes I'm a Night Owl and everyone else has gone to bed!

MarsdenCuckoo

sylvergrunge wrote: »

I completely agree. How can we instill faith in our customers if they are shown that we can't even keep control of which reps cover which area!!! I must admit that if I find too many houses along this road are covered by another rep, MY faith in the company, and the people higher up than us will start to diminish rapidly

Sorry, just realised the last 4 posts are by me..dont mean to be taking over but only just been able to catch up on the thread

SG: Pretty sure you're in the 'SW Possee'? Wonder if we share the same ASM - initials DS? If so, that would account for why we've both had territory problems......:mad:

Am with you, doesn't look professional when numerous reps are dropping in the same territory. Surely it's not rocket science to allocate an area and keep (effective) track of it? Similarly, I think it would also help if whenever reps give up they were obliged to notify Avon of their customer list, which could then be passed on to the next rep allocated their area to give them a good start. Surely someone's thought of that before now (or maybe there's a Data Protection implication somewhere along the line.... )

lucyclare

MarsdenCuckoo wrote: »

Similarly, I think it would also help if whenever reps give up they were obliged to notify Avon of their customer list, which could then be passed on to the next rep allocated their area to give them a good start. Surely someone's thought of that before now (or maybe there's a Data Protection implication somewhere along the line.... )

If we stick to house number/name and street then there is no infringement on Data Protection. If we pass the details direct to ASM then after all, they are Avon's customers and not ours per say!

sylvergrunge_2

aureol212 wrote: »

Why do you think this? Have their books been left out at every house or most houses? Or are you getting told they buy from another rep?

One lady I spoke to said that another rep does this road (although it is also the road I live on and I haven't had a book for many months), she did say they delivered to a few houses along here. I will probably find this out tomorrow though when I pick up my books as I put in a slip with a tick box asking if they already had another rep. I may well be getting all het up about nothing (hoping so) but it just surprised me, being one of the first few houses I delivered to and they mentioned they had another rep. Thanks for all your advice so far.

Staceyd88

koeksister wrote: »

koeksister - Dorset

staceyd88 - Essex

sylvergrunge_2

MarsdenCuckoo wrote: »

SG: Pretty sure you're in the 'SW Possee'? Wonder if we share the same ASM - initials DS? If so, that would account for why we've both had territory problems......:mad:

Am with you, doesn't look professional when numerous reps are dropping in the same territory. Surely it's not rocket science to allocate an area and keep (effective) track of it? Similarly, I think it would also help if whenever reps give up they were obliged to notify Avon of their customer list, which could then be passed on to the next rep allocated their area to give them a good start. Surely someone's thought of that before now (or maybe there's a Data Protection implication somewhere along the line.... )

Hi MC, yes am SW. How do I find out my ASM's name? I was recruited by an SL and can't remember the ASM she mentioned. I completely agree. Is there some kind of ideas forum for Avon where reps can give feedback to the powers that be?

Money_maker

This is the reason I changed my slips to yes, please/no, thank you and I already have a rep. I was allocated a very local street which I knew another rep (friend of mine) was originally doing. Between ASM and other rep, I gathered the house numbers which she had customers at and knocked them off my list. I also knew that another rep had canvassed end of last year/early this (long story, but I have a customer from my other job on this street). In addition, I know of 2 other reps who live a few houses apart meaning there are 4 of us within the space of around 100 houses or so.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I found this extra option tick box to be very useful when assessing whether there was a potential customer at this address. The 'I already have a rep' customers I will recanvass next year (sounds a long way away but goes quickly) with a business card and special insert acknowledging that they had a rep, do they still have one and would they like to keep my card just in case.

The rogue rep I had trouble with last campaign I have been told by my ASM has left the area. Apparently there were other complaints about this particular rep. Problem is, I have reason to believe that she is still around - time will tell but I have managed to accrue enough brownie points (over and beyond the call of duty) from the customer she was trying to poach so am confident she will give up on this customer.

sylvergrunge_2

Money_maker wrote: »

This is the reason I changed my slips to yes, please/no, thank you and I already have a rep.

I think it was you I nicked the idea from Hope you don't mind. Top tip :beer: