Are customer accounts necessary for my website?

[vanscootin]

First off, I'm excited it's finally here.... but.

I'm concerned. I went through the tutorials again last night, and I just can't wrap my head around having customers create and account... it's kind of forcing their hand, and I'm not sure I want to do that. I know that they don't have to use it and can forget about it, but explaining that to a meanie head customer is going to be a tough sell.

Anyone else have concerns about the "ch ch ch changes" ?

 

[BethCooks4U]

The only ones that will ask to create an account will be those ordering through the website (mostly outside orders). That is standard for online ordering. Right now they have to put all their info in anyway so the only real change is that once they do it they just have to sign in and their info will already be there. ...like when I sign in to Amazon.Others can also make an account and then they can see everything they have ordered since the new web started but they don't have to.

 

[vanscootin]

Well sheesh, when you say it that way it makes sense.... and I get that it's so much easier. I just wonder about how customers are going to think... "well gee, how much Pampered Chef do I really buy that I need an account?" I'm sure I'm needlessly worrying and it will all work itself out and be fabulous.

Beth - were you on the call yesterday?

 

[BethCooks4U]

Yes I was! Were you?

 

[vanscootin]

Sure was... my husband was so mad at me cause I was on the phone for so long and he was hungry... I ended up putting the phone on speaker so I could cook dinner.... anyways.... what are your thoughts on that 1250 thing and the consultant gift thing? I'm being vague on purpose but I'm sure you're picking up what I'm throwing down.

 

[BethCooks4U]

Those placing PC orders online now (individual orders, not on parties) already have to create an account so for them it will be no different. The difference is, and what I will try to excite my customers with, is that now they can all go there and create an account and access their order history and my website. If they attended a show their infor will already be keyed in. All they will need to do is create a password.

 

[BethCooks4U]

Sure was... my husband was so mad at me cause I was on the phone for so long and he was hungry... I ended up putting the phone on speaker so I could cook dinner.... anyways.... what are your thoughts on that 1250 thing and the consultant gift thing? I'm being vague on purpose but I'm sure you're picking up what I'm throwing down.

When I first heard rumors about the 1250 thing I was upset but now I think it will be a great enhancement!! It will help everyone concerned!!

Consultant gift: I get the why and it does create a little more effort on my part but I am one who touts the reward programs that PC offers so I don't give as much as some consultants. I will enter them in my expenses and keep a document on file for each month so I have something to remind me who I gave what in case I am ever audited.

 

[vanscootin]

When I first heard rumors about the 1250 thing I was upset but now I think it will be a great enhancement!! It will help everyone concerned!!

Consultant gift: I get the why and it does create a little more effort on my part but I am one who touts the reward programs that PC offers so I don't give as much as some consultants. I will enter them in my expenses and keep a document on file for each month so I have something to remind me who I gave what in case I am ever audited.

I was upset too...but after thinking about it I agree that it can only help not hurt. There is method to the madness....

It's a little extra work, but no biggie to keep track of. I couldn't believe that question yesterday my jaw dropped at the almost rudeness. And yeah we have fantastic rewards for hosts... what the heck more do they want!

I must say I'm excited to get my hands on the app.... I keep 4 calendars... and I'm thinking the app is going to knock me down to 2. May not have a need for the consultant planner anymore. It will all be right there! Part of me doesn't even want to try to side load it to my kindle fire and just go get an iPad because the screen is bigger and I'm on the blind side and all thumbs.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I would wait until it comes, put it on your kindle and see what it looks like. I know when I put an iPhone app on my iPad I can 2x it to a better size...About that person... OMG I was thinking, don't you get any commission after all that? She really needs to just sit back and let things play out instead of panicking. Of course there will be glitches and little bumps and a learning curve but once we get in there and know it I am betting we will all love it. P3 is often a pain... My only fear is if the web goes down...

 

[babywings76]

I would wait until it comes, put it on your kindle and see what it looks like. I know when I put an iPhone app on my iPad I can 2x it to a better size...

About that person... OMG I was thinking, don't you get any commission after all that? She really needs to just sit back and let things play out instead of panicking. Of course there will be glitches and little bumps and a learning curve but once we get in there and know it I am betting we will all love it. P3 is often a pain... My only fear is if the web goes down...

I've heard nightmare stories of 31's going down, making all those last minute submissions impossible. A friend of mine who is a consultant told me that they started assigning consultants different deadline times or submission times or something to help the traffic flow on the site be better. I mentioned this concern to HO and they told me that they put a lot of money into this and have things covered so that shouldn't happen. I guess we'll have to cross our fingers and hope.

The bad thing if it goes down is that EVERYTHING we do is dependent on the website. Not just show submissions. So if it goes down, we are going to be in big trouble and at such a standstill. (but again, crossing fingers here that that is a situation that won't happen.)

 

[BethCooks4U]

I've heard nightmare stories of 31's going down, making all those last minute submissions impossible. A friend of mine who is a consultant told me that they started assigning consultants different deadline times or submission times or something to help the traffic flow on the site be better. I mentioned this concern to HO and they told me that they put a lot of money into this and have things covered so that shouldn't happen. I guess we'll have to cross our fingers and hope.

The bad thing if it goes down is that EVERYTHING we do is dependent on the website. Not just show submissions. So if it goes down, we are going to be in big trouble and at such a standstill. (but again, crossing fingers here that that is a situation that won't happen.)

All systems go down from time to time so it will happen but I believe that the work in the backround that took. so. long. will help avoid it or at least make the outage times shorter.

I will be urging my team to get their orders in EARLY (like I have been for years - lol) to assure that they aren't in the que if it does crash at end of month. That's one good thing about the roll out, not everyone will be submitting via the new web in May or even June so it will built among 3 months time.

 

[vanscootin]

I've heard nightmare stories of 31's going down, making all those last minute submissions impossible. A friend of mine who is a consultant told me that they started assigning consultants different deadline times or submission times or something to help the traffic flow on the site be better. I mentioned this concern to HO and they told me that they put a lot of money into this and have things covered so that shouldn't happen. I guess we'll have to cross our fingers and hope.

The bad thing if it goes down is that EVERYTHING we do is dependent on the website. Not just show submissions. So if it goes down, we are going to be in big trouble and at such a standstill. (but again, crossing fingers here that that is a situation that won't happen.)

I agree with the concern about it going down... 31 has it's own problems I'm sure with their business structure. I have a good friend who is a director with the company and she is leaving 31 for some of those reason, but that's neither here nor there.

But I feel like the new web may be in effort to keep us more structured and accountable.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I agree with the concern about it going down... 31 has it's own problems I'm sure with their business structure. I have a good friend who is a director with the company and she is leaving 31 for some of those reason, but that's neither here nor there.

But I feel like the new web may be in effort to keep us more structured and accountable.

I agree. It will be much harder for consultants to cheat the system (eg.: put an order in a past host's name...). I doubt that they are doing this for that reason though. They just want us to be state of the art, leading edge, the best there is...

 

[NooraK]

Those placing PC orders online now (individual orders, not on parties) already have to create an account so for them it will be no different. The difference is, and what I will try to excite my customers with, is that now they can all go there and create an account and access their order history and my website. If they attended a show their infor will already be keyed in. All they will need to do is create a password.

Does this mean if they sign into their account, they'll be automatically linked to my PWS? That would be pretty cool, as it would minimize those lost sales that end up in the lead system. But then what if the customer wants to order from a different consultant?

 

[BethCooks4U]

Does this mean if they sign into their account, they'll be automatically linked to my PWS? That would be pretty cool, as it would minimize those lost sales that end up in the lead system. But then what if the customer wants to order from a different consultant?

They said that any consultant they order with will be listed and then they can choose who they want to contact...

 

[esavvymom]

All systems go down from time to time so it will happen but I believe that the work in the backround that took. so. long. will help avoid it or at least make the outage times shorter.

I will be urging my team to get their orders in EARLY (like I have been for years - lol) to assure that they aren't in the que if it does crash at end of month. That's one good thing about the roll out, not everyone will be submitting via the new web in May or even June so it will built among 3 months time.

This could also end up biting them in the rear as far as seeing how the system handles a FULL roll-out, not just incremental. FOr the first 2 months, if they are staggering the system with #s of consultants, they aren't fully pushing it. We have until June 30th on P3. What happens if the last consultants are added in June, then June end-month rolls around and KABOOM (drama-queen ). Everyone is on the system- business as usual and it can't handle it.

They've spent millions, but having BEEN IN THE TECH BUSINESS...the amount they have thrown around is really a drop in the bucket. It doesn't impress me. We shall see (keeping my pessimistic approach here. ).

Hoping for the best. I did like seeing the $1250 Leads change...so far. I've been one of those "on the bubble" between in/out. The recruiting piece especially.

although, you all are killing me with the "secret" language about "consultant gifts" and such. Just mean, plain mean.

 

[vanscootin]

Sorry Bobbi.... there is no way to track consultant gifts in the new system.

 

[BethCooks4U]

Bobbi, thatis exactly why people have to stop waiting until the last minute to submit if they can. I know... woulda, coulda, shoulda.

The consultant gift thing is that we will not be able to use "consultant gift" as a payment option. Payments have to be credit, cash or check so we have to put them in as cash and then key the "gift" in so we can use it as a deduction. I didn't think I was that secretive about how I answered the question.

 

[babywings76]

Sorry Bobbi.... there is no way to track consultant gifts in the new system.

Oh no! Really? I thought they said we'd still be able to put in all our deductions and things like in P3. Covering the little extras here and there was so easy with P3 and the "consultant gift". So sad!! We need someone to figure out how we should best handle these scenarios then.

 

[vanscootin]

Bobbi, thatis exactly why people have to stop waiting until the last minute to submit if they can. I know... woulda, coulda, shoulda.

The consultant gift thing is that we will not be able to use "consultant gift" as a payment option. Payments have to be credit, cash or check so we have to put them in as cash and then key the "gift" in so we can use it as a deduction. I didn't think I was that secretive about how I answered the question.

My fault... I didn't want to ruffle feathers.

 

[babywings76]

Bobbi, thatis exactly why people have to stop waiting until the last minute to submit if they can. I know... woulda, coulda, shoulda.

The consultant gift thing is that we will not be able to use "consultant gift" as a payment option. Payments have to be credit, cash or check so we have to put them in as cash and then key the "gift" in so we can use it as a deduction. I didn't think I was that secretive about how I answered the question.

Oh, okay, so there is a way to choose "gift" somewhere and have it on record?

 

[BethCooks4U]

Oh, okay, so there is a way to choose "gift" somewhere and have it on record?

It will be in the income & expense area that we will add things like purchases from Merrill or Office Depot. If the heading "gift" isn't there we should be able to add the heading like we can now.

 

[vanscootin]

Oh no! Really? I thought they said we'd still be able to put in all our deductions and things like in P3. Covering the little extras here and there was so easy with P3 and the "consultant gift". So sad!! We need someone to figure out how we should best handle these scenarios then.

I mean this with all the love in the world. Your figure it out.... as in you figure out a good system for you to track consultant gifts.... my understanding is that there is an expense part of the new site, however the consultant gift is not part of it.

Me, I have a folder for every host and there is a paper stapled to it with a list of expenses, mileage, postage, gifts, etc. It doesn't get filed away until all my fields are entered into P3.

Keep a little memo pad or mileage keeper with you while you are at your show... or enter it as cash and put it in a spread sheet when you are doing your expenses.

 

[flemings99]

For me the scariest part of consultant gift is, if the order is returned the customer is going to get all the $ back. Not a big deal if I get to keep my commission after all it was a gift. But, if they take my commission away for the purchase as well then I'm out $ Hopefully we'll have a back door way to track the gifts. I don't do it often, but do like to offer incentives at fairs/festivals and around the holidays for my clients.

 

[vanscootin]

For me the scariest part of consultant gift is, if the order is returned the customer is going to get all the $ back. Not a big deal if I get to keep my commission after all it was a gift. But, if they take my commission away for the purchase as well then I'm out $ Hopefully we'll have a back door way to track the gifts. I don't do it often, but do like to offer incentives at fairs/festivals and around the holidays for my clients.

I'm sure we all do that in some way shape or form, but you are right.

 

[Amyskitchen2]

I have a question that I may be missing somewhere but if we link our catalog show via say FB will it still work? Since your email seems to be the key to showing what shows you are invited to. And what if the host didn't have your email information? The tutorial, as I recall, showed them signing in with an email and then the show was in the drop down box without a search. This confused me a little. It may have been covered since I am usually a little distracted.lol

 

[AshleyAllison]

All systems go down from time to time so it will happen but I believe that the work in the backround that took. so. long. will help avoid it or at least make the outage times shorter.

I will be urging my team to get their orders in EARLY (like I have been for years - lol) to assure that they aren't in the que if it does crash at end of month. That's one good thing about the roll out, not everyone will be submitting via the new web in May or even June so it will built among 3 months time.

Does anybody have any hints as to when those consultants who aren't directors are going to get access? I know they're releasing it in tiers with directors and above being first, then team leaders & senior consultants, followed by all other consultants but do any of you directors have the slightest idea (or even intuition) about a date?

Curiosity is killing this cat!

 

[BethCooks4U]

Does anybody have any hints as to when those consultants who aren't directors are going to get access? I know they're releasing it in tiers with directors and above being first, then team leaders & senior consultants, followed by all other consultants but do any of you directors have the slightest idea (or even intuition) about a date?

Curiosity is killing this cat!

They made it sound like it would be about a week apart but they did say that if there are issues as we are coming on it would delay adding more people. My GUESS and do not quote me - it is a guess - is that their goal is May 3 D & above (and everyone who signs in May); May 10 TL & SC; May 17 all consultants.

 

[jendill]

my only issue with that is that I have a consultant signing in the beginning of may. How am I supposed to help her if I cannot see what she is looking at. I am only a team leader and won't get access until later.

 

[BethCooks4U]

my only issue with that is that I have a consultant signing in the beginning of may. How am I supposed to help her if I cannot see what she is looking at. I am only a team leader and won't get access until later.

Do all the training - more than once. Ask your director for back up. Be excited for her and tell her you will learn together. Don't worry. Both of you will get support from your upline and HO.