~Avon Hints and Tips~(Part 5)

angelatgraceland

I put out my C11 brochures in the road I didn't really want to do. Its a most confusing little place and although it looks big Ive a feeling that its only half a dozen houses. Split into houses with names and no numbers then a terrace-not sure where it begins or ends, so I think Ive gone beyond my territory somehow. However-nobody has seen a rep for years the residents tell me so I cross my fingers that Ive made new "friends". I did get about 5 orders so that was good. One woman was delighted when I asked her if I could leave her a brochure-a lot of it was sheltered housing with stickers on the doors so I realy wasn't sure but that is where I got my orders!Just topped about £100 at the mo and have about 25 books to collect. More orders than last time but only small orders so I dont think c12 is going to be great-just hoping to top the HOV. Weeded out the ones not interested so this campaign is so much easier than the first one. Still waiting for my SL to contact me with hopefully additional territory but Ive contacted her twice now and no reply. Maybe I will contact her asking for "help" to get her to reply.
Ive got a couple of small returns-litterally 2 items. Do I have to enter them online? Do I have to return them in an avon box or can I put them in a sealed bag?(Ive still got a box but its huge for 2 items)
Ive already paid for the whole order to make life easier as we are only talking about £6 refund.
Ive got returns forms-yes-I will read them but to be honest I trust the "voices of experience" in here better.
I was thinking-regards those who maybe don't have a good credit limit-can they prepay some money?(if they have it anyhow)
No idea what my credit limit is-do they always tell us?

MarsdenCuckoo

Chazolate wrote: »

Hi
I have been having a quick read and I have noticed a lot of people are having problems getting the sequined toning flip flops. On the last order I had it said that they were unavailable, but would be sent so no reason to reorder. As the customer who ordered them was new I dropped round with a little bag of free samples and apologised saying that I should have them in about three weeks. I have just had the next delivery today and it says the product is out of stock and to try again when they are next in the brochure.

I have just phoned Avon and they said they could put a note on my account, but it might be September by the time I get them.

Any advice on what I should do now? The customer hasn’t ordered anything else since. Should I go round again now and explain that she's not going to get her flip flops untill at least September?

Have not come across that comment by Avon before; usually it's 'temporarily out of stock, no need to re-order' or 'sold out, please do not re-order'. Hmm... am wondering if they're now not sure how many flipflops they'll get returned for delivery being too late so they're drawing a line under it and starting again....? No consolation to us reps though being told just to re-order when next back in the catalogue - unless they intend to reduce them in price again? :cool:

Always a good idea to just keep your customer informed. I've had a customer waiting for these since C9 (actually she ordered them @ £18 and I suggested sending them back and re-ordering at £10... Doh!!) No ideas if she'll still want them over 2 months late but time will tell. Suppose on the bright side she'll now have a nice new pair at almost half price for the start of the 'holiday'(rainy) season :rotfl:

MarsdenCuckoo

Fluella wrote: »

Well in my order this time I had someone elses invoice! I had mine too but in one of my boxes I found another ladies who lives the other end of the Country. Would you inform Avon or just destroy and chuck away?

I've also asked my ASM for more territory....again. Fingers crossed she replies to me this time and gives me a few more houses.

Why not just post the invoice on to her?

As for more territory, if you don't hear back from your ASM why not do a 'little survey' on a nearby road that you suspect isn't being covered by a rep? Don't take any books with you; clipboard is useful though and just ask a simple question - "sorry to trouble you but can you remember the last time you were actually offered an Avon book at your door?" Some will give you short shrift, some will ask why you want to know. If you then give a bit of background information on yourself i.e. just moved in/live round the corner/new rep etc etc. and you're wanting to expand your business but obviously don't want to tread on another rep's patch..... then you'll probably find them very forthcoming. Once engaged in conversation, you can slip in a comment about how far Avon has advanced recently and how impressed you are with all the new products and.... "Oh, by the way, would you like to see a current book - totally without any obligation, of course?"

MarsdenCuckoo

angelatgraceland wrote: »

I put out my C11 brochures in the road I didn't really want to do. Its a most confusing little place and although it looks big Ive a feeling that its only half a dozen houses. Split into houses with names and no numbers then a terrace-not sure where it begins or ends, so I think Ive gone beyond my territory somehow. However-nobody has seen a rep for years the residents tell me so I cross my fingers that Ive made new "friends". I did get about 5 orders so that was good. One woman was delighted when I asked her if I could leave her a brochure-a lot of it was sheltered housing with stickers on the doors so I realy wasn't sure but that is where I got my orders!Just topped about £100 at the mo and have about 25 books to collect. More orders than last time but only small orders so I dont think c12 is going to be great-just hoping to top the HOV. Weeded out the ones not interested so this campaign is so much easier than the first one. Still waiting for my SL to contact me with hopefully additional territory but Ive contacted her twice now and no reply. Maybe I will contact her asking for "help" to get her to reply.
Ive got a couple of small returns-litterally 2 items. Do I have to enter them online? Do I have to return them in an avon box or can I put them in a sealed bag?(Ive still got a box but its huge for 2 items)
Ive already paid for the whole order to make life easier as we are only talking about £6 refund.
Ive got returns forms-yes-I will read them but to be honest I trust the "voices of experience" in here better.
I was thinking-regards those who maybe don't have a good credit limit-can they prepay some money?(if they have it anyhow)
No idea what my credit limit is-do they always tell us?

Your SL will know your credit limit; email or ring her even to ask if you think it may be a problem for you. It's in her interests to help you ease your order through anyway. You definitely should NOT feel on your own to find your way through all the ins and outs. If you don't get any answers from your SL, copy your emails to your ASM and ask for her help.

The drivers actually prefer returns in Avon boxes - even if only 1 mascara. A small envelope can get lost but boxes are easily accounted for.

I ignore the 'No cold callers', 'No doorstep salesmen' stickers - Avon reps are neither and quite often the stickers are put there by family members i.e. thinking they're protecting their elderly relatives from unscrupulous salesmen. In my experience, however, elderly in sheltered housing love to see a friendly face and have a little chat; some will even order a little something or other just to make sure you go back to see them again. We're almost like milkmen/postmen in that we can sometimes perform a 'community service' by keeping an eye out for the elderly and infirm.

Hope that helps.

johanne

those wondering about flip flops this is the info on the front page on the product supply bit

C11 orders to be fulfilled by C12 (end of July), C12 orders to be fulfilled from C14 (September onwards).

hope that helps someone

angelatgraceland

Yes MC-Mmm thanks-no idea who my ASM is though! My credit limit will be fine-Ive no worries for myself.
Totally agree with your last paragraph-that is how I see it too. My argument would always be that all I do is leave a brochure-if they dont want anything they dont even need to talk to me and I dont even need to knock. Only had one person ever be rude about it so I too ignore it-but I suppose I respect it too so I Tread carefully. Im also offering a home shopping service to them so I know most of them are glad of this-no pressure-a friendly chat and if they don't want to see me they need not!
I will try my SL again-I will ask her about the returns(tho of course I dont need to)She could of course be on hols!

craftyclare

Hi all, I am waiting to leave to collect DS from Gatwick, flight delayed till 4.05am (from 12.15am)! :mad: Can you help with a query please?
A customer returned a Perfectly Portable liquid liner she bought as part of a bargain pack from C10 which is completely dry, in fact it looks as if it has never had anything liquid in it!
How do I go about getting her a replacement?
Many thanks in advance.

joyfull

MarsdenCuckoo wrote: »

Are you in one of the later Mail Plans? Am 'D' and got to say, apart from the toning flipflops (which if my online invoice is to be believed are all going to be delivered tomorrow :T) and the reed diffuser (ditto :T ) it's not often I have things out of stock (other than clearance items, of course.)

I think I'm on mailplan J - just a vague memory of it being written on those brown envoelopes we used to get for sending our order in with. Is it written anywhere else on our paperwork?

MarsdenCuckoo

joyfull wrote: »

I think I'm on mailplan J - just a vague memory of it being written on those brown envoelopes we used to get for sending our order in with. Is it written anywhere else on our paperwork?

Whoever signed you up should have written it on the back of your 'Idiot Guide to Avon book' i.e. the landscape printed one (Say Hello to a new Tomorrow). If it's not there, post up or PM me with your postcode and I'll check it for you,.

If you are J it means you're only one week behind D so guess will make a bit of difference but, in turn, you're one week ahead of anyone in 'O' Mailplan so if you get lots of shortages, wonder how they get on? Anyone actually in 'O' Mailplan?

MarsdenCuckoo

craftyclare wrote: »

Hi all, I am waiting to leave to collect DS from Gatwick, flight delayed till 4.05am (from 12.15am)! :mad: Can you help with a query please?
A customer returned a Perfectly Portable liquid liner she bought as part of a bargain pack from C10 which is completely dry, in fact it looks as if it has never had anything liquid in it!
How do I go about getting her a replacement?
Many thanks in advance.

Am guessing that Avon's response would be to return the whole contents of the bargain pack and request an immediate replacement. Could be wrong i.e. if it's something they still have single stocks of. Ring Customer Services and they'll let you know.

Hope the plane finally arrived!