WAHM Forums

I have a problem that I really need advice on:


I live in an small area that has about 30 reps for a particular product. 4 of my very good friends are reps. The other evening I did a show and a co-worker of mine booked a show of her own with me.smileys/smiley1.gif I then dsicovered that one of my friends did a show for her last year. smileys/smiley5.gifWhat do you think the proper ettiquette is here? I am very conflicted on this. Any suggestions?

I have tried companies where the market was saturated. It was very difficult for me, so I found something I could bring to the area first.


If you truly love your company than stick with it and concentrate on giving your clientel the best customer service so they keep coming to you. Not sure what else to advise you to do.


Dawn

I think my posting was a bit confusing (that happens at 2 am).


I love what I sell, and I have a full calendar, and a team of 17 ladies.


My problem is that I have 4 very good friends who sell the same thing as I (they all signed on before me). I am now in a situation where a lady that I work with has booked a party with me. I discovered that one of my friends who sells the same line I do did a party for her last August. I am wondering how I handle this. Do I just go ahead and do the party and not feel badly? Should I just hand the party over to my friend? Should I discuss w/my friend what is going on and open a can of worms?


The issue is that this is going to keep happening. I feel as though we need a set of guidelines in my area for when this does happen.


Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

Do the party!! If someone wants to book a party through you do it girl.

Yourclient has the ability to decide who she wants to use as her consultant. I have a similiar problem with two beauty line consultants who are also my hostesses. I take turns helping them with their business as they do with my business.


If the other consultant hasn't serviced or sent this lady anything since her last show, is she really a client or just a name of potential clients? If you want to let the other consultant know she has picked you to be her consultant at the next show just so it doesn't seem backhanded (although it really isn't).


Lynn

Thank you for your thoughts.


I want to do the right thing with this situation. But I also don't want to set a precident on handing over shows to my friends simply because they did a party for someone a year ago.


I can see this getting ugly, but I think if I am proactive about it, I can ward off it.


Thanks Again,


Jennifer

I meant 'ward it off" (oops)smileys/smiley9.gif

It is your clients choice who they book with not yours. I know other crew members from my company in my surrounding area. We all agree if you don't see a flier from another crew member there you put one up. If someone calls about a party and you are able to do it you do it even if it is in another persons town.

Thank you all for your insight into this issue.


I will have to step out of my comfort zone and speak with my friend about this, and stand my ground too.

I think that you should do the party. I think when people decide to book a party it is because they like the product and the consultant (you). Go for it and have fun.


Alicia


www.alicia.mwishes.com

Do the party, but be upfront with your friend. It's not worth losing a friend over one party.

Christy

I say you get all the ladies together for a team meeting and explain that this is going to happen...no hard feeling! Since there are a lot of you around, this is bound to happen. As long as a customer doesn't cancel a booked show and rebook with another consultant, I think everyone will be okay with it. Its one of those things you just have to put on the table. I have a lot of friends that sell Creative memories...I buy a little from all of them. Same with Cookie Lee. The customer in your situation probably feels that she's helping both of you out by giving both of you business!


suzanne

Thank you all again for such great advice on this.


I did speak to my friend tonight. She was great about it. We did discuss how there are no hard rules about what to do in situations like this. But she agreed that this particular hostess is not "hers" just because she did one party for her last year. She really is a wonderful person, and I am lucky to have her as a friend.


With so many reps in one small area, this is going to keep happening. I really think we may need to come up with a general rule of thumb to follow so this doesn' t happen again.

We do have a meeting scheduled for this week. I think it would be a great time to discuss this.


Thanks!

I agree with lilsue. Sometimes people feel they are helping out by buying from you. They are not purposely trying to order from one or another consultant. My friend(also part of the family, long story), signed under me, her MIL was invited to a showI was doing. She placed an order with me even though her DIL was a consultant. She just wanted to help out the Hostess. I talked with her and talked with my friend and it was ok.