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

ajs2013

Not sure i should say this as dont want to start any trouble but what are peoples opinions as to the latest webinar that went on last night? everyone has the right to an opinion i know that so wont judge if you oppose my views. just hate some people on fb are slating anyone who's opinion differs. I didnt get to read the entire thread that happened on connects shortly after the webinar was on, was still scrolling throught it this morning when they took it down

I,_Geek

I started the infamous thread - seriously didn't expect it to get removed. Yes, not everyone would agree, but things like this have been discussed on Connects before. Individual posts can be removed if they're insulting and not a constructive argument. For the whole lot to go told me the-powers-that-be didn't like the scrutiny their webinar had been put under.

There were several points in the webinar that I strongly disagreed with. I don't like the potential earnings figures being bandied about, even when they come with a disclaimer. So few people achieve that, it's a meaningless number.

Then there was the "number 1 priority" line. It was there in text in the webinar. If it meant something different, that certainly wasn't put across. As a rep of course I was disappointed to read that. I don't think it's good for a business that makes and sells products to be more focused on recruitment than sales.

If the focus is on sales, customers are happy, which means reps are happy, which means SLs are happy. I accept that a webinar about SL-ship is going to talk about recruitment. I don't have a problem with the idea of SLs. However the webinar said their priority had swung towards SLs.

Oh and the bonuses. Totally disproportionate to what's being offered to reps. I'd love to see something to balance things out in the near future, but doubt that will happen.

Pinzy

Thought I'd ask on MSE - in Brochure 6, on page 103 - there's a big sign saying the Herve perfumes are only £12, but then in the print below it says £13.50, and it seems Avon are sticking with charging the higher price.

I'm wondering whether this would contravene any misleading selling law? Just trying to get my facts straight when the query inevitably comes up from customers.

EDIT - seems as it's a mistake, rather than a genuine attempt to mislead, it's not unlawful.

nicki_2

Just a heads up (my sis just text me this) Avon are changing their returns policy and process. Its listed in the Latest News bit on the rep home page. This is not good for me as I regularly keep stuff for customers for at least an extra campaign when they have money problems and I don't think thats going to be possible now.

I,_Geek

Seconding Nicki's very important post: everyone pop over to the rep homepage and read the latest news bit because it answers (nearly all - I still have a few!) your questions.

It says the actual time limit for reps will be 45 days (just like now where we have longer than 90 days). So that should cover 2 x 21-day campaigns. I hope this means that I can deliver an item in C10 and return it when C12 order gets delivered. Hmm... but if a customer's on holiday and that delays their delivery, then their 28 days could end outside of the return period. Depending on just how delayed customer delivery is going to be, we're going to have to start refusing to hold onto things or saying, "Could you try everything by x (which might be only a week or few days away) because that's when I need returns in by". I'd not suggest holding orders anyway for customers who are fobbing you off, but it's a shame for the reliable ones to lose that perk.

johanne

yup i will be leaving avon now after 6 years it seems as 95% of my business was ebay based after having 2nd baby as lost my round due to health/maternity leave. my business wont work with a 28 day returns policy or being unable to return clearance, and i wasnt alone as lots of the top 50 reps have ebay shops etc.

i suspect this is avons idea... to stamp us ebayers out. I can undercut avonshop and offer faster delivery etc so were bad for avons own online business.

It leaves me 9 weeks to find new self employment so i can be home with my children or else i'll be unemployed and at the moment so is my partner so my ebay shop was our only income. Thanks avon.

ajs2013

Ok i need some much needed advice as confused and not sure there is any point in carrying on if this is the "NORM".
I am doing a ladies pamper evening in March and I have been watching a thread on facebook regarding what to do or take to such an evening. The first response was "make sure the organiser has personal liability for you or have it yourself"
I questioned this as to why i would need this for these nights and not on a regular basis meaning what is so special about this and the comment back was "you should have public liability".
Ok I sort of get why you may need this as a 'business' but seriously how can anyone make any money out of Avon with all these business requirements if you are only doing it as a hobby sort of not as a main source of income?
Im so confused now and questioning if this is something I should have (never mentioned by asm's or my sl ever) then maybe there is honestly no money in avon unless you are prepared to do it as a full time occupation which I just dont want to do.
I earn a nice little sum each campaign enough to put away for a rainy day but not something as big as a standard job so really questioning if i should bother anymore or not. I wont make much at all if i have to do the insurances etc just to 'cover my !!!!' as you would say.
What does everyone else do pls?

Dick_here

johanne wrote: »

my business wont work with a 28 day returns policy

As I,G has pointed out, it is going to be 45 days for returns.

I,_Geek

Public liability is to cover yourself if someone injures themselves and decides to go down the "where there's blame there's a claim" route. So it doesn't matter whether you're there every week or once a year. Definitely check whether the venue's own insurance covers you. I've never had to get PL insurance myself, but other reps have said it wasn't too bad per year. EDIT: the majority of other reps have also said events like you describe haven't increased their sales or customer base. You may find you've dodged a bullet if you can't do the event.

According to situations like that, the taxman, benefits, tax credits and the like, Avon isn't a hobby. You've stepped over the threshold into being a business, which I understand is a pain when you're not intending on making much profit.

If the cost of PL insurance cuts into your profits too much, you could choose not to do events that would need it, to save stopping the Avon altogether if it's bringing in an albeit small income that you're happy with.

ajs2013

Its such a tough choice my ASM laughed and said i wouldn't need anything like that and she said she has done several other companies such as v parties, bodyshop and few others and lots of parties and pamper evenings before and never got the insurance once. I have been advised for just of £31 / yr i can get public liability through a company which covers for deliveries and events but just not sure if its an expense i will honestly need. Ive never thought about it whilst just doing deliveries and would like to do parties more maybe to just gain few extra customers if i could not looking or expecting to get an extra £300/400 just for the party along with my regular sales as previously heard from other sources. My issue is im looking to go back to work so dont want to add extra expenses as this will make the avoning completely worthless to me but don't want to be caught short and end up in deep doo doo if i suddenly get sued by some lovely person. Im doing avon now not as a full time business but a little extra whilst not working, I can't see I can ever do it full time, I just dont think its profitable enough in my area at least. I love what i do with Avon so wouldnt want to give it up. The two ladies organising this event at the local social club where I live are novices at these events and run a mother and baby stay and play session once a wk at that venue so only have insurance for that sort of event not a night event although im sure the venue would have insurance as they are a social club and bar. Decisions Decisions, so confused. Really thought this would be simple, order few samples, have some books and see if any extra interest there. Guess not lol