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

I,_Geek

Pollycat wrote: »

TBH, the concept of a rep deciding to order something an alternative in case an item is OOS is a bit strange to me.

I don't normally do this but in relation to a particular sales book reps were sent a warning about stock problems from Avon, which doesn't normally happen. You know it's going to be bad if they send out a stock warning on a booklet labelled "while stocks last".

Some customers had ordered shower gels, soaps and handcreams and it was easy enough to find an alternative. If an old version of Avon Care Intense handcream is OOS I'd rather be able to offer the customer the new version of Avon Care Intense at the same price there-and-then (which they can say no to if it's not suitable).

I'd rather have a back-up plan than run the risk of customers going away with only part, or none, of their order.

chalkswindon

Just wanted to let everyone know I had a new customer added via Connects, gave him a brochure a week ago and collected his order today. £75 I was amazed my biggest order to date.

LilMissEmmylou

Can I ask, the figures in peoples sigs, is this a commission figure or your sales total? I'm just wondering what to put in mine once I place my order on the 17th

missminx

Pollycat wrote: »

Maybe it's just me, but I don't need teaching to watch for discounted prices and bargains.
I can do that all by myself.

I'd just feel that a rep wasn't giving me the opportunity to decide for myself if I wanted to buy something if they didn't let me see all that was on offer in a campaign.

I wouldn't need telling that the item might be OOS either - the 'Clearance Sale - while stocks last' message that's printed on every page of the clearance book would give me a big enough clue.

You may be able to do all this 'by yourself' but not all our customers do. Many miss offers, free gifts and more. The reps who post in this community will do their best to put that right. Taking time and effort to order these things for the benefit of the customer. So as much as you like to criticise the way we have formed of doing things, there is method in the madness and we have the regular customer base to show for it.
So, thank you for your advice, but I will continue to serve by customers in the best way I can, even if this sometimes means pointing out the 'obvious'.

chalkswindon

LilMissEmmylou wrote: »

Can I ask, the figures in peoples sigs, is this a commission figure or your sales total? I'm just wondering what to put in mine once I place my order on the 17th

Sales figure without any extras ie stuff for myself or brochures etc etc

Thanks you have reminded me to update mine later

I,_Geek

LilMissEmmylou wrote: »

Can I ask, the figures in peoples sigs, is this a commission figure or your sales total? I'm just wondering what to put in mine once I place my order on the 17th

Mine's just the money collected in from customers (turnover).

I,_Geek

missminx wrote: »

I will continue to serve by customers in the best way I can, even if this sometimes means pointing out the 'obvious'.

Something we all notice once our customer base increases is that they come in all shapes and sizes, and so it's best to be prepared for different expectations.

- Some people order, aren't in for delivery, apologise for having you run back and forth, arrange to collect their order, and then don't.
- Some would happily accept an alternative at the door. They didn't have their heart set on a particular item.
- Some only return books to you when they have an order.
- Some always look surprised when you call for delivery/book even though they've got the date and time in writing.

Pollycat

I,_Geek wrote: »

Something we all notice once our customer base increases is that they come in all shapes and sizes, and so it's best to be prepared for different expectations.

This makes eminent sense - more so than a rep deciding not to share the opportunity of seeing a clearance book.

I,_Geek wrote: »

- Some people order, aren't in for delivery, apologise for having you run back and forth, arrange to collect their order, and then don't.
- Some would happily accept an alternative at the door. They didn't have their heart set on a particular item.
- Some only return books to you when they have an order.
- Some always look surprised when you call for delivery/book even though they've got the date and time in writing.

I put the date of delivery and amount on my calendar so I know to have enough change ready on the delivery date.

If I know I'm going to be out, I'll pop the money over (my rep only lives across the road) in advance.

As I've said previously my rep knows that if what I order isn't available, I don't want an alternative.

I always return my books well before the date my rep puts on for collection.

If I'm going on holiday and I know I've got a delivery due, I'll pay up front.

If I'm going on holiday, I ask my rep to let me have a look at the book in advance and if I want anything I'll return the book and pay at the same time.

I appreciate that it's an income stream for her and feel it's only fair to be fair.

MissMinx
I can appreciate that some customers mught not spot a bargain on their favourite item, but that doesn't mean all customers are the same.

I posted my opinion in post #627 as a customer.
I still feel it's unfair of a rep not to give out clearance books (ref post #624).

joyfull

Just about to start prepping my C17 books. Each year I've always put a little note on C17 pointing out that this is the first of 2 Xmas catalogues, and then another note on C18 saying this is the final Xmas catalogue, thus alerting customers to start to order for xmas.

Avon now, of course, get C1 in before xmas which means C18 is not strictly the last catalogue before xmas. (In the old days I once had C18 delivered on Dec 23rd with £100 worth of orders OOS - Utter Nightmare!)

I'm wondering about the necessity of the Xmas notes at all, or whether I should mention C1 arriving before Xmas too.

Wonder what others do?

Thanks and hope you are all having a happy sunday.

I,_Geek

joyfull wrote: »

I'm wondering about the necessity of the Xmas notes at all, or whether I should mention C1 arriving before Xmas too.

I wrote a little note and it'll be going out during C18. It's on a different computer so I can't remember exactly what I put, but I advised everyone to order essential items from the brochure in their hands. I mentioned that if anything was out of stock there would still be one more delivery date before Christmas when those items could arrive.

Hmm... thinking about it I'll re-word it. I want people to be aware that the brochure they'll see during C1 will be their last chance and anything OOS won't arrive before Christmas. So ordering from the brochure they've got during C18 will give them 2 chances to have their items delivered on time - saving last-minute shopping stress.