Bringing a Laptop to Shows: Pros & Cons

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Discussion Overview

This thread explores the experiences and opinions of participants regarding the use of laptops at Pampered Chef shows. Participants share their thoughts on the benefits and drawbacks of bringing a laptop, particularly in relation to efficiency, customer interaction, and recruiting potential consultants.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expresses uncertainty about bringing a laptop to shows, feeling it may appear pretentious and questioning its impact on customer interaction.
  • Another participant shares their experience of initially not using a laptop but later finding it essential for avoiding math errors and streamlining order processing.
  • Several users mention that using a laptop saves time and enhances accuracy in order totals, allowing for better customer service.
  • One participant notes that having a laptop can facilitate discussions about recruiting, as it showcases the tools available to consultants.
  • Another participant describes their transition from using a laptop to a calculator, citing concerns about the laptop being an extra item to manage during shows.
  • Some participants highlight the importance of backing up data and ensuring the laptop is functioning well to avoid issues during shows.
  • One participant mentions that using a laptop allows for immediate order entry, reducing post-show workload.
  • Another participant appreciates the eco-friendly aspect of using a laptop instead of printed materials for receipts.
  • Some participants express a preference for not using laptops, citing simplicity and a desire to minimize what they carry to shows.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the necessity and practicality of using laptops at shows. While some participants advocate for their use due to efficiency and accuracy, others prefer not to use them, citing concerns about carrying extra equipment and maintaining personal interaction with customers.

Contextual Notes

Participants share a range of personal experiences, indicating that the decision to use a laptop may depend on individual preferences and circumstances, including comfort with technology and the nature of customer interactions.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to Pampered Chef consultants considering the use of laptops at shows, as well as those looking to understand different perspectives on managing customer interactions and order processing.

PCMelissa
PCMelissa
Gold Member
Messages
469
For those of you that have Laptops, do you take them to the shows? Do you find this to be a big time saver? Do you think it takes away from your personal time with the customer?

We just bought a Laptop, and I am torn about taking it to the shows...and I feel like it looks a bit pretentious. Also, for recruiting, do you think it makes potential consultants think they need to have that in order to be successful.

I am probably over-thinking this!

I would love to hear your input! Thanks!
 
Melissa,
I didn't take my laptop when I first started and had a couple of problems with being under or over a couple of pennies due to calculator settings. Then I spoke with my director and found out that she took hers to her shows. I started doing it and can't imagine not taking it with me anymore. However, I will add that you should get yourself a good backup system so that on a regular basis you backup your laptop. Take it from me, last November my laptop crashed and I lost everything (PC documents, my PP3, all my pictures, etc.). I had to get a new laptop and now I backup every couple of days. Hope this answers your questions.:angel:
 
I was not a big fan of using laptops at a show until I tried it. It eliminated all those niggling math errors that Annie mentioned. I don't even use TPC order forms anymore - I just use outside order forms and fill in the bottom after PP figures it out. I let the customer keep the form as a receipt until I deliver their product with an official computer generated receipt.
 
pretentious, heck.

I always take my laptop now. Nobody wants to figure the tax, least of all me.
 
PCMelissa said:
For those of you that have Laptops, do you take them to the shows? Yes Do you find this to be a big time saver? Absolutely Do you think it takes away from your personal time with the customer?
  • Not at all ~ brings recruiting talk, since I bought it PC money
We just bought a Laptop, and I am torn about taking it to the shows...and I feel like it looks a bit pretentious. Also, for recruiting, do you think it makes potential consultants think they need to have that in order to be successful. Nope! I tell them I used a simple calculator for 6 years

I am probably over-thinking this!

I would love to hear your input! Thanks!
Click to expand...

I love my laptop for my shows!
 
I always take my laptop to shows. It saves so much time! As far as recruiting is concerned, people like to see how well we are taken care of and seeing the program first hand helps that. Give it a try...you'll never go back.:)
 
ow, hurt my eyes.

I think you said you bought a laptop with PC money, Ginny.
 
kspry said:
ow, hurt my eyes.

I think you said you bought a laptop with PC money, Ginny.
Click to expand...

LOL ~ I should have said bought with my PC commission $$$
 
I used to take my laptop, which gave me a chance to mention that we get PP/P3 free, and to talk about paying for my laptop with commissions. But I recently stopped taking it. It was one more thing to have to keep an eye on so that nobody walked off with it or started playing with it. I tell everyone at my shows that I will assume they want to round up, so that covers any little math errors I may make at the show (I don't tell them that part). As for whether it's a good recruiting tool or not, there are 2 schools of thought on that, and both have valid points. It's a good way to talk about making actual money, not spatulas. But we also want our job to look doable by anyone, and some people are still apprehensive about computers. And I don't want a potential recruit to think that s/he MUST have a computer (or specifically a laptop) to do this.
 
I took my laptop for 2+ years and promoted to director in that time, so I don't think it hurts recruiting.I recently installed P3 and my laptop is running WAY slow. Two weeks ago I forgot to bring it to my show (DH helped me load my car). I always carry a backup calculator, so I did the orders by hand. WAY BETTER! I was finding that checkout took forever with P3. With the calculator it was pretty quick and there was one less thing blocking my interaction with the customer.Now, I will say, my laptop is 3+ years old and I know I need more memory. So the slowness is partly my computer. But now hear I sit and last Friday's show STILL hasn't been entered in P3. Oops. However, when I do go home and enter it right away I'm more likely to remember things about that guest and make notes in their contact file so I can serve them better and follow up more appropriately. So I'm going to stick with the calculator from now on. :)
 
Last edited:
When I get mine, I'll start bringing it with my. By the time I get home from my shows, I don't have time to enter my orders in. In fact it can be a couple days before I enter the orders in. I feel like being able to do it at the shows will be a good thing. Plus, sometimes I don't look at the customer's product choices or double check that they have the correct price wrote down (yes that has happened!). When I enter in my orders at home, I always double check that I typed in the right product number which makes me look at the product. Which can lead to up selling products and such.

I think taking your laptop to a show can be great training if you bring a new consultant along with you. When I went to my director's first two shows, she had me enter in all the orders in PP, that gave me hands on training and I was able to ask questions if needed with her there. The second time she had me do the math with a calculator first and then follow up with PP to make sure my math skills were up to date (my favorite subject back in HS).
 
I started taking my laptop because I kept screwing up orders. I would total them up wrong (missing items when adding, etc...) because I would usually be chatting and answering questions while trying to do people's orders.
I LOVE :love: having my laptop there with me! There are no questions about whether or not the order is accurate, and I can tell at a glance where my host is for guest sales, and let her know.
I also love the fact that when I get home, I don't have to enter in the show - it's already done!
 
My DH just suprised me with a laptop this week. I had been taking his to the past couple of shows and said how easy it was when I got home all I had to do was wash a couple of dishes and restock my bag the next day. He says he sees it as a logical investment. I still back everything up. Put now I can work anywhere I want. So far everyone has liked that they can "see" where they are at. I've had a few customers say it was a more earth friendly approach ( I also just have two binders with specials instead of printing everything out for each customer) and they've actually kept the reciepts because they were given when the products came and not crammed in the purse somewhere
.
 
I DON'T take mine... one more thing to carry and I'm not a fan of taking a lot with me to shows!!! :)
 
I take it with me to every show. It's so much easier to do the order totals for me. I get really nervous with the calculator while people are standing there watching me. I had to eat a couple bucks at each show before I got my laptop.
 
It's very handy. When I set up, I find a place to set up the laptop and make sure that P3 is up and running. Then after I do my demo and as folks are filling out their order, inevitably someone will go "what's the tax rate?" or "I hate doing math"... that's when I say "come on up with your orders when you're ready and I'll do all the math for you!"... they eagerly fill things out and at that time, I get my one on one time with them... I mention the offer, I enter in their order, confirm their info and give them the lo down on their total, THEN add in about the Round up for Hunger. I've made it part of my thing and it's very handy. I don't have to enter things in when I get home (it's already there!). Cuts down on time, avoids mathematical mistakes and for me, I'm so anal about math... it's faster for me to type things in then to check my math manually 10 times. LOL
 
I like to bring mine with me...It helps with those math errors. And you do not have to copy down your cutomers credit card numbers...just enter them into PPP, and it masks the number for you. This eliminates any security issues for the customer.
 
I did not have a lap top for the first 6 years of my business and (when I remember) I let people know this fact.

Like so many others, I appreciate that the math is done and correct. No recalculating.

I think it helps me spend more time with my guests. I have them sit (or stand) with me one at a time. I type in their name and then ask them to read me the item numbers of what they want, I tell them what the product is and this allows for a double check.

I like that if they don't fill it in before they come, I can put credit card numbers into the program and their is no record of this number left for the Host or anyone else. (Always be sure you have phone number in case you typed in something that wasn't correct).

When I am filling in the totals on their order form (that the computer has calculated), I'm asking them my 3 questions (business, booking, wedding).

It is one more thing to carry, but I appreciate the convenience. The day after the show I complete each person's information with address, phone number and birthday. Also, I add them to my email address book.
 
I take mine with me! I recently tried going back to not taking it & I forgot to charge several customers shipping! Ouch. Prompted me to take it again. :)
 
I forgot to mention...if someone is a new customer, I may not add all their address info right away, just to save time. Usually, I can write faster than I can type, and I'll jot down the address info later on.One more thing...be sure to carry a jump drive with you and back up PP before you leave the show!
 
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
I forgot to mention...if someone is a new customer, I may not add all their address info right away, just to save time. Usually, I can write faster than I can type, and I'll jot down the address info later on.

One more thing...be sure to carry a jump drive with you and back up PP before you leave the show!
Click to expand...


Is a jump drive the same thing as a my USB Flash drive?
 
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
One more thing...be sure to carry a jump drive with you and back up PP before you leave the show!
Click to expand...

Okay, this is something I've been worried about. I don't have a jump drive. What (are there different sizes) do I need to purchase? Is it fairly easy to use?
 
It's really easy to use. You don't need anything super-huge if you're just backing up PP/P3. The one I have is 256MB, and I've got a LOT of stuff on it, including a couple of P3 backups. Janet has posted links with some good prices on them recently.
 
chefann said:
It's really easy to use. You don't need anything super-huge if you're just backing up PP/P3. The one I have is 256MB, and I've got a LOT of stuff on it, including a couple of P3 backups. Janet has posted links with some good prices on them recently.
Click to expand...

Ann,

I did a back up so I could tell you how much space it said I needed.

2,833,613 KB. Does this mean I'm still good with the 256MB?
 
That's 2.8 Mbytes. That would leave you 253 Mbytes on a 256 Mbyte drive.:)
 
So, a USB flash drive with 2 GB....that would be good?


I'm sorry if that sounds dumb.....:o
 
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
That's 2.8 Mbytes. That would leave you 253 Mbytes on a 256 Mbyte drive.

:)
Click to expand...

Can you tell that math sciences were not my strong point? :rolleyes:

Thank you!
 
chefjeanine said:
Can you tell that math sciences were not my strong point? :rolleyes:

Thank you!
Click to expand...

you and me both, Jeanine!
 
2 million KB seems kinda high. My backup is 3 million Bytes, which is 3 MB. 2 Million KB is 2000 MB (or 2 GB). If your backup is actually 2 million bytes (not KB), then a 256 MB stick will be plenty. If the figure you posted above is correct, then you'll need to spend the big bucks and get a 2 GB one, minimum.
 
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