Avon - Hints and Tips?

blue_monkey_2

Hi everyone,

I have not read all of this thread but I wanted to give you 'word of warning' really in regard to Avon.

I was a rep for a couple of years and gave it up when I was pregnant as I wanted it to be stress free as I did already have one job. Well, my returns all 'went missing' and they would not accept that I had returned them despite me having the paperwork and sending them copies of it. They started off telling me I owed around £100 - this was the value of the goods (orders people changed their minds on, returned products, etc...) however, every 3 weeks cycle they sent me a letter asking for more money and each time including a £15 charge for late payments - then the debt collectors letters started - and in all that time I was ringing them endlessly, sending copies of letters recorded delivery, everything I could to get the account sorted out. In the end the bill was rining in at over £200 - it was horrendous and I remember the day they finally agreed I did not owe the money - in fact they owed me £7 (like I ever got that back!!) and I was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time. It was the most unpleasant thing I have ever experienced and so stressful.

For this reason if anyone ever asks me whether they should do Avon I would (and I am being honest) say No. However, it depends on where you are working - around here I had rubbish rounds with not many orders but some of you sound like you are doing well. But, if you do do it then make a note of the returns, photocopy everything and check when you get your invoice that they have been credited at the correct amount and if not follow it up right away and make sure it appears on your next statement at the correct price. Don't let it drag out because if you leave and you have issues you start getting some nice letters from them and they really are not interested in sorting the problems out.... 'We have pleasure in enclosing your balance details and £15 charge for late payment'. Just beware to the pitfalls of what can happen with Avon more than anything else. I was a rep for around 3 years in all and they didn't even think twice of giving me all this and treating me like dirt as 'I owed them money and they wanted it back' and I was on the phone for hours each time another letter came trying to get it sorted out. They are absolutely useless!!

*Edited to add that I have just read through and everything I was going to suggest you've already mentioned. I used to run one campagn but used to go through both books and get the best deals - put your order details onto a spreadsheet and then it is easier to collate the orders Sometimes it ends up with you earning money - sometimes you get freebies. It is swings and roundabouts but they treated me appallingly when I left and for this reason I would say never again!!

wirelover

Thank you all im really pleased with myself and i cant wait to get started on brochure 2 i dont expect to do as good as i have this time,but as long as i make the £75 then its ok.I am going to work on some flyers advertising avon with my partner being a lottery agent he can hand them out to his customers.

Once again thank you for your well done comments.

blue_monkey_2

Also, don't forget, if you are a bit short of the £75 to make the order up with bits for yourself as the commission will pay for those. Also, if you buy bits that people always buy (Skin So Soft is always a good seller as is the Shampoo when it is on offer) then you'll have 'stock' that you've already paid for. You get to know your customers and what they like to buy after a while. you could also buy the 5 for £5 to make the prices up as then you'll have 'thank you gifts' to give you customer. I used to give vouchers for 10% off if they spent £10 or more!!

wirelover

I have made a few designs for business cards and now iv started thinking about mothers day i know i know we havent even got xmas over with yet but there are some nice things in brouchre 1,i was thinking of buying some stuff and doing an offer of spend £10 or more and get 5 raffle tickets to win this basket full of goodies.I was thinking of doing 2 one make-up one(worth £30) and a bath and body(worth £15) one,do you think i would make money on it or lose?

Buffythedebtslayer

Wirelover thats a fab idea. *nicks it*

I have been doing Avon for over a year, I don't really make money but I rarely pay for cosmetics or toiletries now I am on MSE, I 'd really like to do it better, so I will subscribe to this thread and get some inspiration!

I have a better time at work, and did give my regular customers a little gift, I was gutted tho cos one woman sent in the internal mail an order for 86 pounds which would have been amazing! but it got lost.

I will start doing it locally soon, although there is one of those amazing reps who makes zillions in the next road to me so there aren't many customers!

I am also thinking of skipping campaign 1 since I am not at work, but my area person does get annoyed if you do that!

think it might be a buy the books and samples order!

good luck everyone

xx

wirelover

Hi Buffythedebtslayer i have just done broucher 1 and it has some good deals in it,i have asked her for more as i want to make this work but the street i want im going to do a campaign behind to make more use of the books.

blue_monkey_2

have you guys added your email addresses to your order forms? Make sure you tell people they can email you their order anytime before xxxxx. So many people forget to put their books out and if they email you it is one less book to collect (unless you need them of course but I never did!!). Don't forget, if you are declaring your income then you can claim the internet fee against your expenses.

wirelover

Hi i have a question i recived some money off vouchers with my books because some of my customers ordered out of book 18,can i offer the money off offer to all my customers? or just them that ordered out of book 18,in the editors tip it says money off is a great way to get customers to try somthing.

Shortie

I *think* the vouchers can be used for everyone who wants the perfume, so even if you only recieved say 5 vouchures, you can use the code 10 times..

That's certainly how I'll be using them

wirelover

thank you shortie i was hoping that was the case.