~Avon Hints & Tips (Part 8) ~ Please read first post :)

I,_Geek

New brochure links

C5 http://www.e-pages.dk/uk_avon/394/

C5 Mother's Day http://www.e-pages.dk/uk_avon/401/

C6 http://www.e-pages.dk/uk_avon/395/

C6 Sale http://www.e-pages.dk/uk_avon/402/

joyfull

Nail experts pearl shine

It's been posted in Avon Connects, but just to alert you that many of these are arriving faulty. The screw lid is coming away with the brush. I've just received two today - one being no good. Possibly order more than you need so you have some spares...

Dick_here

Money_maker wrote: »

I've always thought that avon should leave the pushing for SL's until at least the fourth campaign after signing up instead of within the first three.

Is it Avon to blame here or is it new SLs trying to get downline SLs rather than just Reps in their team ?

I,_Geek

!!!!!!_here wrote: »

Is it Avon to blame here or is it new SLs trying to get downline SLs rather than just Reps in their team ?

A bit of both I think. Avon's current bonus system rewards recruiting rather than retaining reps so it's no wonder some SLs just want the sign-ups (and not long-term reps). However some SLs don't seem to get the concept of building a strong team that will bring in more earnings in the long-term. Even before the latest bonuses were introduced there were "sign-up and run" SLs, which doesn't make sense as a way to work because those reps are far more likely to leave (or not want to go into SL-ship) and ultimately the SL loses out.

Mumto2

I,_Geek wrote: »

A bit of both I think. Avon's current bonus system rewards recruiting rather than retaining reps so it's no wonder some SLs just want the sign-ups (and not long-term reps). However some SLs don't seem to get the concept of building a strong team that will bring in more earnings in the long-term. Even before the latest bonuses were introduced there were "sign-up and run" SLs, which doesn't make sense as a way to work because those reps are far more likely to leave (or not want to go into SL-ship) and ultimately the SL loses out.

Personally, I haven't heard a word from my SL (she's quite a high flier from what I gather), since I said quite firmly after my 3rd campaign that I wasn't interested in being a SL. I'm quite self sufficient & find enough support on this thread, but I wouldn't have thought that a mass email (maybe including some helpful tips & info) to all her team once a month was too much to ask for.

lozza1985

thanks, have added the links to the first post

lozza1985

Ok, my bit about SL. (Apologies in advance for the length!)

I've been a rep for 3 years later this month, sl for about 2 and a half. It was never something I really thought about doing, but we wanted more territory and my old manager said the only way was for my partner to join and have his own territory (she knew he helped anyway). So it was whether I signed him as my first rep, or let her sign him up. We had a think, OH said he'd help delivering leaflets and doing more on the rep side of things as I said I didn't want to be left doing all of it myself.

I got off to a slow start, took a few campaigns to get 5 reps - my old manager was useless, basically didn't train me, I had to get help from other sl on a forum site. But, we'd expected that it would take a while, partly from not having a huge amount of time to recruit, but also because we took the opinion that we didn't want to "push" people into joining, as they'd only probably end up leaving so would have wasted our time, we'd rather get fewer, but better (and hopefully more long term) reps.

You will get a lot of people who decide to join, then don't order, or order then don't pay, or do it for a while and then just stop but won't tell you so, not matter how you contact them (all I want to know is if they're ok, it's pretty obvious they've decided to stop!). So, you think you have a new rep, but not every lead will turn into a team member, but thats just the way it goes, you have to keep going as you'll find some great reps. It is pretty disheartening though, particularly when you're still trying to hit that magical 5!

So - I don't door knock, I've done the occaisional recruitment stand with my manager at a local shopping centre, which to be honest never really amounted to much as I don't like pushing people into it, others do really with it as they're very much "bossier" I suppose for the lack of a better description! My main ways of recruiting are online (mostly facebook), and expired brochures/leaflets. Suits me - hubby delivered some books for me this week while I was at work, someone was interested, so I signed her last night when I finished work.

I think sl is very much like repping - you only get out what you put in - but, and its a BIG but - sl takes longer to see a return. You have petrol, advertising costs, but also the cost of books - if someone joins, but doesn't order, you don't get the cost of books refunded, plus I tend to give out extra books and bags etc anyway to help people so I don't get that money back. But - as I say, I'd rather sign fewer people, but get them off to a better start as its a better use of my time, plus it seems the fairest way to do it, rather than leaving people struggling with too few books/support. I was left stranded when I joined, and I'd hate to do that to anyone else as I know how frustrating it is.

Last night was the first time I'd signed anyone up in over 6 months, as I hadn't had the time to recruit with the wedding then christmas. (Obviously I still supported my existing team). However, I still got paid during that time which was great. I only have a little team, it's at about 10 now, but obviously I've lost reps during that time, but even so I'm happy with my team. As I work full time too, I just see it as a bit of something extra to help, I don't have ambitions of being at the "top" - maybe in a few years when we have kids and I'm not working full time perhaps, but not now.

I do think though as others say, some reps are pushed into being a sl too soon, certainly at a meeting my manager did last year where she went through doing a T1 appointment (to check we were all happy with it, as she knew a lot of us weren't trained properly by the previous manager!), which was helpful, and gave me some good tips (along with a handy folder she'd cleverly made into a stand to present the sign up booklet:D) - but - a large chunk was saying about getting people to write a list of all the people they know who say they haven't got any money, and to get them to text them there and then to see if they want to do avon, and that they could be the first members of their team.

I have never, ever, done that, as I can't see the point - as a brand new rep, you have enough going on trying to understand what you need to do, finding your customers etc, let alone trying to teach someone else to do that - you need a few campaigns experience first. The manager said it's the "new way" of doing it, that avon are pushing for it to be done that way, but you know what, avon can say what they want - I'm self employed, it's my team, and I'll do my appointments how I think is best, all my reps get the info they need, I briefly mention SL just so they understand my role a little better, but thats it, I just encourage them to be a good rep!

joyfull

Hi Peeps,
Am quitting Avon as I'm simply not up to it physically. Friday's delivery (as have the last 4-5) left me totally exhausted & I'm finding it frighteningly hard to recover.

Some questions, which I might also post on connects...

• Any chance Avon would refund me for unopened packs of catalogues?
  
• What happens if a customer wants a refund AFTER I have closed my account?
  
• How long can I keep account live without placing any orders, in order to tie up loose ends & get OOS items for customers?

• Do I just email (in addition to letting my ASM know) avon & tell them I'm stopping?

I'll probably have more questions but thank you lovely helpful avonettas - I'm going to miss it all in many ways, but this is absolutely the only thing to do for my health.

I,_Geek

lozza1985 wrote: »

as a brand new rep, you have enough going on trying to understand what you need to do, finding your customers etc, let alone trying to teach someone else to do that - you need a few campaigns experience first. The manager said it's the "new way" of doing it, that avon are pushing for it to be done that way,

Are you saying Avon are encouraging reps to sign into SL-ship asap after signing up, if not at the same time? If so that's really worrying. I think it makes Avon look so unprofessional and I don't want the public perception to be that reps are poorly trained (not understanding the guarantee, or leaving customers after a few campaigns because of lack of training) or that Avon's a scam/pyramid scheme (which people sometimes call it after things haven't gone well).

I,_Geek

Refund brochures - new reps have had money refunded because they rang and explained they'd ordered too many books by accident. I presume they returned the books with their next delivery (not sure if this is an option for you). Could you keep your account open for personal spending? Ordering a 1 litre bubble bath means it'll come by courier so you can hand over any returns (this could help with your question about customer returns, too). Once the 90 days has passed since your last order you could close your account completely or keep it open so you still get to see HT.

An alternative would be to post on here or Connects asking if a local rep or SL wants to buy them off you.

Customer refund - if you're closing your account completely the customer would need to approach another rep. A rep on Connects said a customer had found her using the Find a Rep search just for this reason (and to still have a rep) but the customer was too far away for them to be on their regular round. Reps can definitely do refunds of other rep's customer's orders. Would your upline give you the details of a local rep who you could contact in case this happens? I say this just because the Find a Rep feature isn't good at matching customers with their nearest rep and not all reps respond or know how to see they've got a new customer attached. At least if you've got the name and number of someone who you know will respond that's going to make things easier.

Telling Avon - there's an option to say you're leaving under "contact us" on the e-suite.

If Avon still owes you money for credits after your account is completely closed they send out a cheque. Don't know if you have to tell them to do that or whether it's automatic.