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

lozza1985

I,_Geek wrote: »

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).

That was certainly the impression we got, when we questioned the manager, she said well you'd be training your new sl & their reps - which to me seems stupid as we'd be doubling our work load and the new sl would find it hard to learn everything about a rep & sl for their future. Which is exactly why I haven't ever done that, others thought it was a great way to help them climb the ranks asap - but when you see the newsletter the manager does of all sl and then all active ones - you can clearly see there are *loads* of sl who haven't qualified, presumably because they're too new to avon / practically forced into sl without realising what they're agreeing to, but if they don't qualify, there's no point having them as sl anyway, so it seems completely pointless in my opinion. Plus as you say, it gives avon a bad image.

I know some say, they expect every rep will want to go into sl at some point, but I really don't see that as being true, repping gives you a pretty much instant return (in most cases, you manage to earn something in your first campaign even after paying your admin fee etc), whereas sl is much more long term and so obviously isn't for everyone.

lozza1985

Think IG has covered pretty much everything - certainly I've had a rep who was contacted by customer when she first started as the lady needed to return something, a quick email to avon and they credited my ladies account so that she could return the customers money to them.

Hope you feel better soon, your health is obviously the most important thing xxx

I,_Geek

lozza1985 wrote: »

she said well you'd be training your new sl & their reps - which to me seems stupid as we'd be doubling our work load and the new sl would find it hard to learn everything about a rep & sl for their future.

Exactly - it's not your job to train your downline's team to be reps. They should be capable of doing that themselves. Only the more unusual problems that you may not encounter after many campaigns of being a rep should need to be passed on to your upline.

Avon and some SLs are promoting a system that's all about instant reward and I can't believe they don't see the bigger picture and long-term benefits of having well-trained and confident reps and SLs. It's a concern for me behind the scenes, but this is going to cause problems that spill out for the general public to see. Plenty of times on Connects reps have asked whether used items can be returned - it makes you wonder how many aren't even asking and are refusing refunds that should be allowed. Just today a SL on Connects was saying she'd had so many negative views of Avon from people while she was out prospecting - "my friend did it and lost money". It'll become more difficult for SLs (good and bad) to recruit if there's this stream of reps leaving saying "it's a con" and whatnot. I realise some people will sign up under a good SL but still leave with a debt and then blame Avon.

lozza1985

I,_Geek wrote: »

Exactly - it's not your job to train your downline's team to be reps. .

In one respect it is, but not to the extent that the manager was meaning, in the main when training a sl, it should be showing them how to do the appointments (and so make sure they know how to train their reps properly), ways to recruit and so on, but not to have to be on call for your sl new reps in order to answer basic repping questions, the new sl should be experienced enough as a rep themself to be able to help them with basic rep thing.

O yes, you do get a lot of people saying avon is a con, I never made any money - in the main they are probably the same people who don't even take their books out of the plastic wrapping etc, but just don't like to admit that they didn't put any effort in.

Creasey29

I had my first Avon Party last weekend, I ordered a lot of products out of c 2 sale book and invited friends/family round to view and buy! I also asked a friend to hold a day one for her friends who were mums, I sold over £200 worth of products plus I got a few orders from the c 3 book. Then I just submitted an Avon returns form for the leftover stuff and they credited straight away! It was worth doing it and my customers were happier getting to look at the products x

MarsdenCuckoo

bargainsearcher wrote: »

Hi MarsdenCuckoo, thanks again for all of your advise. I will follow your advise and try to avoid conflict. To be honest my regular customers are very loyal and I know they will stick with me anyway and when I re canvassed not long ago got very little new interest so the new rep may well decide its not worth it. Thanks again you have been really helpful at a time when I was getting a little stressed. Keep posting everyone this forum is really useful!

Hi BS, You're v welcome. Glad to have been able to help. This time of year Avon can be really difficult but by looking after your regulars, word will spread and your customer base will grow naturally. There's always 'another side to the coin' but until we've been there sometimes it's difficult to see.

Good luck.
:beer:

MarsdenCuckoo

Money_maker wrote: »

I am not a SL but reading this thread and the one previous will give you a good insight into the problems and benefits of SL'ship. I know that's what put me off anyway:D

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. Time after time on here, we find disheartened SL's who were persuaded too soon after joining. Unless there is excellent support (think MC) it's just too much too soon.

My thoughts, anyway.

Thanks, MM

Wondering if your reference to pushing to become SL within 3 campaigns is re. the Business Development Bonus scheme i.e. currently SLs earn £100 if they qualify within 3 campaigns? To clarify, the 3 campaigns is not from when the rep/TSL started themselves but from the campaign the Trainee Sales Leader recruits their first rep.

Theoretically, experienced reps should make better SLs than newbies, who are 'hot housed', but I've had recent experience of being let down by both so there's no hard and fast rule. It's not easy training a TSL and her new reps at the same time but it IS possible.... All depends on the calibre of the reps/SLs, their general work ethic and, of course, their personal circumstances because sometimes life just happens and there's nothing we can do about it!!:o

Hope AOK in your world.

MarsdenCuckoo

Creasey29 wrote: »

I had my first Avon Party last weekend, I ordered a lot of products out of c 2 sale book and invited friends/family round to view and buy! I also asked a friend to hold a day one for her friends who were mums, I sold over £200 worth of products plus I got a few orders from the c 3 book. Then I just submitted an Avon returns form for the leftover stuff and they credited straight away! It was worth doing it and my customers were happier getting to look at the products x

Well done! :T

A 'few' Bargain Boxes always go down well and parties are a great way to expand your customer base. A raffle of Avon goodies on the night is also a good way to increase your earnings and pretty sure on Avon Connects someone mentioned Avon 'bingo' - can't remember exactly how that worked now but it was something like searching through the book for the best bargains, which peeps then 'realised' they'd like to order. :rotfl:

MarsdenCuckoo

niclon26 wrote: »

Hi-I signed up as a Sales Leader just before Christmas but am not enjoying it at all.I love being a Rep,my team dwindled rapidly after Christmas and I don't have the time needed to get it back up.I'm going to just give all my time to being a Rep and quit as a Sales Leader.I really had no idea what I was letting myself in for.I think Sales Leadership can be a great opportunity for the right people-just not me.

Sorry it's not working out for you; definitely VERY difficult to hold your team together over Christmas though so don't be too disheartened (three of my SLs lost their SL status over Christmas; two jacked it in , the third has come back fighting and now has her first qualified SL on her downline ).

It's a lot easier if you have a supportive upliner so worth at least sending them an email asking for their help before you resign. You never know, once the 3-weekly campaigns start again you may feel a bit easier about the whole thing so don't be hasty; it's surprising who would like to be a rep but just are not sure if they're 'capable'. It's not rocket science; some reps manage £200+ orders just by keeping a book on them all the time. And, of course, at this time of year, whilst customers are being frugal we are having a lot of people wanting to supplement their income by being a rep.

Nil desperandum but good luck whatever you decide.

MarsdenCuckoo

I,_Geek wrote: »

Just today a SL on Connects was saying she'd had so many negative views of Avon from people while she was out prospecting - "my friend did it and lost money". It'll become more difficult for SLs (good and bad) to recruit if there's this stream of reps leaving saying "it's a con" and whatnot. I realise some people will sign up under a good SL but still leave with a debt and then blame Avon.

There will always be ppl/ex-reps with the 'blame culture' i.e. where nothing is their own fault. Whenever I hear anyone saying about 'doing Avon but losing money' I just say they were doing it wrong....

It's not rocket science. Avon is just about clever shopping... The customer has one book, reps have four to choose from plus Avon's system automatically consolidates package deals. (OK we have to specifically order free gifts but, hey.... not exactly a hardship). So armed with that plus the 90 day no-quibble guarantee - sorry - really do fail to see how anyone can lose money by doing Avon. OTOH, it does require a modicum of effort and methinks there is a certain element, who just don't actually want to work so use any excuse to avoid it. :mad: