WAHM Forums

I have a situation happening more and more within my unit. There are 5 of us in one (all be it large) school district. I have had one unit member (Kim) who has actively pursued a host of mine after the host mentioned that she wasn't happy that I didn't offer her any additional speical as I did her friends (I didn't offer a special during the month of her party, but I did have summer speical her firends took advantage of). Now, this host never made any mention at ANY of the 3 or 4 parties she attended that she wasn't happy with me to me personally. But she did mention it to Kim and Kim said "well if you work with me I'll give you something free". (I had a friend who overheard the entire conversation and relayed it to me later on). While I really don't care if this host works with Kim, I didn't feel Kim was very professional about it. I have another recruit (Tara) who recently sent a catalog to a past host of mine. I found out when the host approached me yesterday when we happened to be in the same place and talked to me about the new catalog. I asked her where she happened to see it (since I hadn't gotten one out to her yet). She mentioned that Tara had sent it but didn't act like she had any intentions of booking with Tara, just wanted to talk with me about the catalog. Tara just went through her past receipts and sent catalogs to several people who had sizable orders to try to book them. Great thing to do, except this time it was my host. It was rather awkward to appraoch Tara on this one, but I felt it had to be done. Especially since the host KNEW that Tara was one of my people which tells me they had probably discussed something about it previously. Now she's afraid to talk to anyone and wanted to know how to find out if they have a presenter or not. I told her our door prize cards do let them choose to be on a mailing list so those would be good to use, but also to find out if the HAVE attended a party before,if they're currently working with someone. That's something I was taught with my last company. Am I right or wrong in this situation? smileys/smiley5.gif

Lisa,

I hesitate to add my thoughts here, but I will risk it anyway... LOL!!

It is well-known policy in all Direct Selling companies, that one does NOT
poach customers or consultants. Period. Now, I understand that
situations come up where it is not clear if a customer or potential
consultant is "spoken for". In THAT case one ALWAYS asks if they are
currently working with another consultant already. If the answer is
anything except "NO", then send them back to their orignal consultant.
Some people "consultant shop", and that is the customer's perogative, not
another consultant's to poach...

I recently had someone who was "consultant shopping" , and chose
another consulant to work with. This person is now contacting me for the
latest information as the gal she chose is not up to date, or good at
communicating with her team. I do what I can for her, but I have to send
her back to her choice of sponsor's as they may be teaching their team
differently than we are...

And If I may, I'd like to gently encourage you to be a little more proactive
with your customers, and not allow the opportunities for others to get
catalogs to your customers before you. I see by your title that you are
leader, so you may hve access to information before others in your
company. Use that to your advantage. And, yes you are right to re-train
your consultant on proper DS etiquette.

Go back and offer that host an incredble incentve to host for you again. I
kind of look at this as a season of "Survivor, Direct Sales". You need to
OUTWIT, OUTPLAY, and OUTLAST if you want to "survive"

Nondy

Thanks Nondy. I know, my bad on the catalog thing with this host, but I was sick last week after I got my catalogs and didn't get any out. Tara is new to party plan as she's been with Avon. I figured that she knew to ask first though from that. Although since she seems so confused by how to do this (discerning who has a presenter,who doesn't)maybe that's how she's built such a big customer base with Avon. I really thought I was ok in this situation, but just wanted to see how everyone else would handle it.

This is tough, and so many angles.smileys/smiley1.gif


The hard thing to do is get away from "My hostess".


Now, if it's one of my team members, and they know one of "my hostesses", I'm happy to share. I want them to succeed and I still benefit. Plus, she had an order from her, so "My hostess" was also "her customer".


It is tough when someone books from a "competitor". When this happens, I look at it from the angle I'm not doing good enough follow-up! Oh, oh! My bad! Get moving.


Now I've had customers/hostesses call to see if I'm the consultant at a party. Even if I'm not, I tell them to order/support their friend, and if they want to book we can do it in a few months.


How many McDonald's, Walmart'sor grocery stores do you have in your town? If you went to one grocery store4 times in a rowand then visited another, would they be mad because you visited another grocery store?


OK, now professionalism. That is huge. If someone has a consultant, I say "great! As long as your needs are being taken care of."


In this case, talk to your customer and let her know you heard she is unhappy and you are sorry. Offer her the free product to stay with you or a 6 month customer discount card. But realize, she said something in her being unhappy, and the other consultant (though her wording was not good) was trying to fill a need and make it better. If this is a one time thing with her, I wouldn't make a biggy out of it.


If a consultant is trying to steal "my hostess" and is making a pattern of it, call her on it. Just say "I understand you were talking with my wonderful customer. We have a great rapport."


Remember, if we are consistantly working our biz, things will fall into place.


Best of luck!


Debbie