WAHM Forums

Hi all!


I just wanted to get an opinion from you. I just signed up a new team member who I'd been working with for about a year, she's a wonderful woman. I'm so excited to have her on my team. Anyway, another consultant had contacted her and offered to pay for her intro kit if she signed with her!


First, I can't believe anyone would totally try to sabotage an existing relationship. If someone is working with another EC and I give her info, I encourage them to sign with her. That relationship has already been built. Besides, that's ethics and company policy.


But then trying to buy her?


Anyway, I know everyone here would never do anything like that. You women are all awesome and I'm happy to know you.


But I thought I'd start a discussion on, have you ever bought a recruit's kit? Did it return your investment or did she turn around and run? What are your thoughts when someone else in your company does that.


Personally, I would totally discourage my team from doing this. Recruiting is about relationships. And a lot of people are looking for a handout. I don't want them to wastetime with kit buyers, but with people who really share the same values as our team.


Thanks in advance for thoughts,


Debbie

I have never just paid for a recruit's kit so they will sign
up, but I have had contests and drawings for a kit reimbursement.




I actually have a contest going now where anyone who signs up to be a
Jafra consultant this month and she/he places a qualifying order in
their start month (Sept.), will go into a drawing at the end of the
month to get their kit reimbursed.



Sometimes a company will do an opportunity night and all those who sign
up that night will have their check for their kit go into a drawing.
One check will be drawn and torn up, so that person gets their kit for
FREE!

I have heard about this type of practice.


I have been in your shoes before (wont' say what company I was with, when it happened). HOWEVER, this potential recruit came to me and said, "So and so offered me ______ if I signed with her. Can you cut me the same deal?"


I was stunned! Personally, I think this kind of practice is unethical.


Furthermore, even if it isn't unethical (which I doubt) I think the type of the person who offers to buy someone's starter kit, is also setting themselves up for failure! We need to be duplicatable. If this is the practice we use to grow a team, our team will think they need to do the same. Then this leads to a team that becomes a disgrunteld because they can not build a team as fast as so-and-so because they do not have as much money as so-and-so does to buy recruits.


Sorry.........I just have a very strong opinion about this type of practice, for many different reasons.

bad idea.

Bad Idea.

BAD IDEA

B-A-D I-D-E-A!!!</font>



Connor smileys/smiley17.gif

Definitely not something I would do either. I think I remember hearing something about some companies placing in their consultant manuals that it is against company policy. Not sure what companies but either way, it's not something I would do or recommend to anyone.

Mellonie, I have to agree with you. One the companies I am with (that's part of my spa site) does not promote or support this type of recruiting. However, someone has done that with this company, and I double-checked with other reps as well as with the company, and indeed, it is both not ethical nor a good representation of the company, so it is not allowed.


A business being duplicatable is the key. Why be so desperate to try this method while others are mailing off info packets, etc. and working so diligently with people, only to lose them to the "free" offerings of others. For both parties involved there would be a catch: 1. the recruit could run off with the kit (there goes your investment), and 2. it teaches the recruit that in order to be successful you have to "buy" recruits. Not everyone could afford to do that.


That's one of the reasonswhy the DS field isn't looked upon as being a serious business venture. Once the consistencies of a company are side-stepped, this allows for problems to erupt. Resulting in black eyes all over the place for the company.


Cheryl, I like your idea for the kit reimbursement drawing. That's a great idea since they have to not only purchase a kit, but apply themselves in the business aspect of it as well!Edited by: thatspagirl

Don't get me wrong, I would never just flat buy a recruit's kit so she
will sign up and ESPECIALLY would never try to get a recruit away from
someone else by "buying" them. The kit reimbursement thing is
more for motivation of an established team to give them some
incentives.



I agree that recruiting is about relationships rather than just signing
people up. That is what turns me off about some of the marketing plans,
"just sign up everyone!" I don't care for that.



I even attended a training one time where the National Vice
President that was speaking said she thought it was so great when she
got her commission check she was being paid for people she didn't even
know on her list! That REALLY turned me off! Her downline was so
big she didn't even know some of her district managers!



When someone I don't know contacts me (for instance from this board)
regarding my opportunity, I do try tell them a little about myself and
then get them to tell me about them too if they feel comfortable doing
so. At least that way I know a little about where they are coming from
if they decide they want to join our team.



I am total agreement that buying recruits is wrong. But I think that having a contest/drawing once people are
established team members is ok and kind of fun!


Edited by: cvkjafra

Well, the thing is, Discovery Toys already has a low payment plan over 3 months, and the recruit can earn it for free on her own, which is motivation for her to start working her business.


Thanks for the insight and thoughts.


And I do know people who will do a drawing for the deposit with all the recruits who sign up, but that to me is a little different.


Debbie

Yeah, it seems NOT OK to me. If someone from my company, try to woo a preson they knew I was talking to that way - I would be frustrated they were making the whole thing look so silly and unprofessional! I think there are many "variations" on contests or whatever to help someone get going that are okay or even great ideas. To me, that is different that telling someone "oh just sign up, I will even pay for your kit!". I have heard of this before, a friend of mine signed up withMK a few years back (never sold a dime)because the consultant would not let up and kept telling her she would buy her kit for her. She would roll her eyes about it when she told me, NOT the way I want people to think of me or my company! Yikes!





Glad you got the girl Debbie!

I think its horrible to "steal" a consultant from another by offering a deal.. that's not right. We don't offer a kit discount, so i'm offering to host a party and i'll give the commisison to help pay for the kit, but only to help with cost and they still have to earn it.. I would never ever try to entice someone to sign with me over someone else.. wrong wrong!!

If the newbie can get the kit for free and get someone to help her do the parties and get her bookings, Why should she have to work? You have already started them out on the wrong foot.


Reality hits hard when all of a sudden they are Expected to perform. Heck they had such an easy cake walk, why should they work now? Their belief will be that Direct Sales is not what it is all cracked up to be. Negative beginnings mean negative work history and negative results.


Shame on unethical people.


Chris

During a campaign where new HomeStyle Specialists can earn their kits free, I ONCE offered to reimburse someone the cost of the shipping and tax on the studio to make it TOTALLY free. But in hindsight, I can see that the reason I did that was because this gal was really just looking for handouts and it seemed like the only thing I could do to help her make her decision. In the end, she expected me to do EVERYTHING for her and her business.


I think it's okay to expect people to invest at least some amount for a new business venture. It makes us more accountable for what we do, or don't do with our business.


I don't know what I would do if someone approached me with "can you match so&amp;so's deal?". I'd be floored. We are such a budding company that we don't even have that many HomeStyle Specialists around. But I'm glad this came up. Now I can work on a response so that if it does ever happen, I'll be prepared.

Debbie~


This woman would be crazy not to go with you! You are awesome, and I can tell that you really care about the people on your team! I find that very important~


I can't believe someone else would intentionally step on your toes like that - how can this other consultant sleep at night.


I do offer personal promotions from time to time, but I have never purchased a kit for someone else.


I have a wonderful sponsor, and would not have it any other way. If I were you, I would not match that offer. I'd let it go. You have so much integrity, and that is worth so much more (priceless) than getting a free kit out of it~


Hang in there! You are successful because of the way you run your biz - don't change a thing~ smileys/smiley17.gif

She never asked me to match and she already signed. She's awesome and I can tell we will work well together. She has 6 parties booked already!


I have to admit I was surprised because about a year ago the same thing happened, and the person signed with the other consultant who was offering it.The potential team membernever talked to me first. I did check in with the potential recruit a few months later to make sure she was getting the support she needed, and she hadn't done anything with the biz, and had no desire to. I did check the consultants website who offered the free kit yesterday to see if she was still doing the free kits, and she stopped. So it's a new consultants doing this now.


And if she wants to offer whatever deal, that's her perogative. I think it's a bad investment and know I don't need to buy recruits.


But the fact that she knew I was working with this girl and still was very pushy is what's wrong.


You girls are the best! Thanks for the advice


Debbie

I think that relationship building is very important
because you have to "work" with this person for
awhile! Just because someone "talks" to you about
the business doesn't mean that you have to sign
with them in my opinion. If the person you signed
with said "hey I offered you the business" but didn't
give you any information about it or spent time with
them talking about it I don't think it's right for them to
just take your potential recruit. If you put work into
this person and gave them support you'd think that
you'd get the recruit.
I just don't think it's fair to do the work for someone
else to benefit from!

Anyhow, I don't think it's ethical for a recruiter to offer
to pay for someone else's kit just to steal a recruit.
I'm glad that your new team member has some
morals and a good work ethic to know that you are
going to help her succeed and not a free kit!

Nicole

(yes I have helped a recruit buy her kit- it was my
sister. she was spending money left and right on
pc! it made sense for her to become a consultant!
she's paying me back though.)

I would never do this.. First you lost value on your biz. My company iti s 29 to join.. If you can't find a way to pay that you aren't serious about a biz. It isn't that much.


Second it is against the companies rules to steal from another consultant.. I have helped answer questions and helped them if their recuiter lives somewhere else but I would never take them. I am all about helping everyone even if it doesn't help me.. That is one reason I got into this biz.. to help other women stay home and earn good money.


I am glad to know everyone here seems to be the same.. on the answer here..


Kim

I would never buy a team members kit for them. I don’t even like doing Earn a Kit shows. I think that if someone really wants to join a company they will find the money and be more motivated to work their business. If you buy their kit, or even let them “Earn” it, their are not out anything if their business fails. KWIM? I also don’t like Earn a Kit shows because they have already sold to their friends and family and once they get their kit who are they going to sell to?

I never have and never will. I know with Country Bunny if we do, we can loose our own personal busines. Not worth the risk.

To explain the other side of the story, Iam one who buyskits fornew recruits (ducks under flying objects...)


I was never trying to "buy" a recruit or steal one from another person. That is not my intent at all. When I joined my company, this was the way I joined up. I had no out of pocket expense, I got bare essentials &amp; earned my full kit. I doubt I ever would have joined if I would have had to fork out the money up front.


The way I work it is like this. I pay for the entire kit &amp; have it sent to me. I give my recruit enough to sell with (samples, catalogs &amp; order forms), get some catalog parties &amp; sales going. After 1 or 2 parties, depending on the amount of sales collected, I get my money back, &amp; she can have the entire kit &amp; start earning commission. Until then, her commission is what pays me back for the kit.


I have been with her every step of the way, answering questions, encouraging, but not pushing, because not only do I want my money back, I want her to succeed, &amp; not get discouraged.


So in the experience I have had, &amp; the reasoning behind what I do, I would encourage people to do this. But no, I would never tell anyone to be decieving about it, or do anything like that myself.

Hmmmm.......Well, when it comes to buying a kit for a new person with the purpose/intention of stealing them away from another co-consultant = definitely unethical.


When it comes to a practice of simply buying starter kits for people, instead of them doing it, I suppose that might be a matter of preference.


Like you said, that was how you got started, and now you are running that practice.


Just to play Devil's Advocate.......


What happens when that person takes those products and does NOT do anything? Then you have broken up a starter kit for nothing, and you're the one who lost money.


Or, what happens when you develop a team and you have a members who really want to grow their business but have the impression that the only way they can is by buying kits for people? They might be in a position where they do a business like this because they "need" the income and might not be able to afford such a practice. Does that then breed the perception that the only way to build a team and become successful is by having enough money to do so (and therefore, not everyone can do it)?


Okay........I did not throw objects at you, so need to duck and cover. smileys/smiley36.gifHopefully you won't do the same to me!!

I would NOT do it. They would have to earn it on their own. Besides, what incentive would they have to work if we paid for the kit? NOPE, not me. I want people who want something for themselves. Buying them the kit would be just for ourselves.

one of my consultants has a girl on the verge of signing.. she offered her $25 back towards her kit after her first party, which isn't bad, teh girl has to get her kit and at least do a party.. so anyway,, she was talking about maybe doing an earn her kit, so i referred her to this thread! LOL





I seriously love this board and you group of women (and men) it is truly my greatest resource!

I have mixed feelings about it.


I think it would only be appropriate in a very limited sense...and not in the situation you are talking about.


I feel that buying someone's kit to get them started does encourage some consultants to "steal" someone else's prospective team member. Not that anyone owns somebody, that is surely not true, but because they steal that person away from the opportunity to really grow under the direction of a caring consultant when they are lured away by the prospect of something FREE. We all love something free, but we have to remember the end result might not be worth it.


I've given advice to many a demonstrator who is not even in my own downline, just because their own upline pretended to be so gungho and excited to welcome them to their team but basically abandoned them as soon as they signed on and said "you're on your own!" (Isn't that terrible?!!)


Generally in that situation the consultant who wants to sign up someone quick and fast like that just wants to get a signature on the dotted line and isn't interested in supporting and helping her new team member to get started with her business.


I can't tell you how many TOP consultants who have walked across the awards stages and all who utilize some of those practices to increase their downline. It makes me sad because there are a lot of us small operations here willing and thrilled to truly help someone get started and we would give an arm and a leg for the chance to share some of our experience with a team member.


I'm always thrilled when I have a new team member (and my downline is still small and growing...less than 8) but most of all I enjoy helping my team member with their questions and being there for them.


And no I would never pay for someone's kit....


unless, I knew them super super well....and they didn't have the money to do it, but I knew they were genuinely interested in it.


I'm talking about my sister here....or my best best friend. And I would expect them to pay me back from their first party's earnings.


:-) I do give email specials and promotions/discounts to my list members but would not buy someone's kit.


Erica

I earned my sign-up fee. I really wanted to do this business but I could not afford to pay the up-front costs. Thankfully the lady I signed up under had faith in me and let me earn the fees before I even signed up and everything has been going great for me. I am sure she would say I have been worth it. It has been such a blessing to me and my family.

She did hold on to the fees and send them in for me. That way if I had changed my mind I would not have had her money.

Hey Debbie! Love the new picture! New haircut?smileys/smiley2.gif

there's a whole thread about her do in join the discussions.. its cute and she donated to locks of love.. she is such a good person





deb

OH! Thanks Deb! Will have to do that!


Awesome Debbie!smileys/smiley1.gif

Hey Debbie! Love the new picture! New haircut?smileys/smiley2.gif





Thanks everyone! smileys/smiley9.gif


Debbie