Because of the Friendships That I Have Developed on This Board, I

[PampMomof3]

Hi everyone, this is my first time ever posting, after a few weeks of trying to take all the posts in and catch up, Hi Kristi if your reading this, yes I am finally posting.

Hey! Is this Jennifer? I'm sorry, I'm really not feeling well tonight!

 

[mommyhugz1978]

Very well said Laura.... I too met you at conference though I didn't' get to talk to you very much because you were doing the conga line...... BUT I thought you were very friendly and sweet... and gosh Love the boots..... But anyways I have noticed that their is a lot of PC bashing in this thread... however my question myself included if you find faults in the company then way are we selling the products?? MY ANSWER is ...... I Love the products I love that this is a family company......

IMHO

Yep yep yep. I too, have consultants that I signed up with PC telling them it's a wonderful company with an amazing support group of consultants that are like brothers and sisters. I do not have any bad feelings about the company and my experiences with PC up till how they terminated me - were good ones. I still talk to my consultants regularly and still encourage them... I'm still doing PC shows with the same excitement and enthusiasm for the company.
I don't think I made a mistake in signing up to sell Pampered Chef, promoting to director, or building a team. This is NOT a bad company and the consultants/home office are NOT bad people. It's just an unfortunate incident that apparently got messy.
As far as I know (I've read this whole thread multiple times) I've never been negative about pampered chef as a company. I have issues with some "people" in the company - but who doesnt?

 

[Pampered Laura]

Interestingly enough, I don't see much PC bashing at all. I see people venting about not understanding or being frustrated with the way things were handled in my situation, but for the most part I see very positive things being said about the company as a whole - from myself included.

 

[pamperedmom24]

Hey! Is this Jennifer? I'm sorry, I'm really not feeling well tonight!

Yes, its me, Jennifer. I'm sure it probably was hard to tell going by the tone of my post but it is the motherly/preachy part of me comming out. I get so used to lecturing my kids I forget that I may come off like that to adults. Also, I am probably PMSing which is why all of this has been getting to me.

After I do some playing around on this thing I'll add my signature. Sorry your not feeling well, it was great meeting you in Chicago.

Jennifer

 

[mommyhugz1978]

I should have clarified myself .... I meant on other threads as well..... But I get what your saying as well!!!

Interestingly enough, I don't see much PC bashing at all. I see people venting about not understanding or being frustrated with the way things were handled in my situation, but for the most part I see very positive things being said about the company as a whole - from myself included.

 

[pamperedmom24]

First off welcome to the CS family And thanks for such a wonderful "first" post!! I look forward to chatting with you. You will find a wonderful group of people here.

I also look forward to chatting with everyone here. I was nervous to do my first post and look now I'm on a role!!

Jennifer

 

[mommyhugz1978]

I also look forward to chatting with everyone here. I was nervous to do my first post and look now I'm on a role!!

Jennifer

Take a little bit.. then you will get the hang of it.......... then you will be like the rest of us..needing chatting anyomus

 

[pamperedmom24]

Welcome Pamperedmom24!!!

Don't let the recent postings deter you from this site because there is SO much information here and so, so many helpful people. I know it's disheartening when things sometimes aren't all that positive. It's happened before regarding certain things and I'm sure it will again someday. I just take it all with a grain of salt and support fellow consultants when I feel they've been wronged. You can probably see that we're a pretty close-knit group! I do get sad, too, when I realize new consultants or people who are thinking of becoming consultants stumble upon what can be viewed by some as negative threads. I guess it happens in ANY business, but hopefully won't discourage anyone from finding a wonderful career/hobby/whatever with PC. It's an awesome place here and we do work with a wonderful company!!! Some may disagree, but overall I think PC is outstanding and I can't see myself even thinking about being anywhere else.

Welcome, welcome! I wish you much success!

Yes, I agree this place seems like a wonderful place to network and get great ideas, it also has made me feel connected to PC everyday even when I can't get work done.

Sorry, I didn't mean to change the course of this thread (or maybe I did )

Jennifer

Jennifer

 

[mommyhugz1978]

Nah No worries.... we all do that .... LOL

 

[heat123]

Yes, I agree this place seems like a wonderful place to network and get great ideas, it also has made me feel connected to PC everyday even when I can't get work done.

Sorry, I didn't mean to change the course of this thread (or maybe I did )

Jennifer

Jennifer

No worries Jennifer it's what we call Hijacking a thread and we all do it! Welcome aboard CS!

 

[chrpangel]

Hello All! I'm new here too. I joined just before conference. I've got a couple friends on the board including a conference roomie! HI JULIE!!! I just wanted to jump in here and say 'hello' and also that I know Laura. We're clustermates and while I'm sad she's leaving, I know she'll rock out her adventure! Even told her so the other day Hi Laura!

 

[mommyhugz1978]

Hello All! I'm new here too. I joined just before conference. I've got a couple friends on the board including a conference roomie! HI JULIE!!! I just wanted to jump in here and say 'hello' and also that I know Laura. We're clustermates and while I'm sad she's leaving, I know she'll rock out her adventure! Even told her so the other day Hi Laura!

Welcome to our virtual Cluster!!!!

 

[AJPratt]

Well...OK... I am not posting this to start anything, but I always speak up when I believe in someone or something. I have been away and I didn't want anyone to see me not posting in here and take it as meaning something. So, here are my thoughts because I just know you all can't wait to hear what I have to say. I agree with most of what the HO does, but I admit, this is a bit confusing to me.

Laura: I am sorry this happened to you. What an awful blow. Who knows? Maybe this other company wouldn't have worked out; you could have come back to PC. Hey, if it doesn't work out, I'll sign you up! Seriously, I do wish you the best of luck with your new company or no company at all, please send me a catalog if/when you sign up with whoever it is that you may or may not be considering or not considering, if you are even considering at all.

Now you really have me wondering who you are.

Not me... I already know he or she is a coward. Not name calling here, just stating a fact. This person is afraid to stand behind his or her word. I have stated more than my fair share of unpopular, even some enbarrassing things, some things I regret saying, but they are my words, and I own them. The one thing that can't be taken away from you is who you are. If you can't stand by what you say, then why say it? We post all sorts of silliness with our "names" in full view--myself included--but what really counts is serious matters like these. (see my quote)

This is hardly my first post. Only under this ID. Laura tried to solicit me so I know what I'm talking about. I changed the user to post without any ramifications from her.

I have to say this: Sounds like its a good thing for Laura that you didn't sign up, if you were "recruited" since you two have vastly opposing views of what is appropriate. And, that's just an awful trend you've started--much worse than the big hair of the 80's. Maybe we should all create alter egos and post really mean things. You probably would have done better if you had just posted your thoughts/feelings in a constructive way and allowed them to be addressed.

I find this terribly amusing that Laura is playing the dumb blond "I don't know what is going on" act. It is clear in your contract that you can not recruit from Pampered Chef or speak to anyone about your new venture for 2 years and then she shows up on here, a public forum, and tells people she is leaving and to privately ask her for more information she can't say publicly. SHE CAN'T SAY IT AT ALL TO ANYONE. I understand from my ED that she told some of the wrong people that went to Home Office. I also heard at conference Friday that she stupidly sent her resignation to the CEO and Jean Jonas. Of course that got them asking questions and they found out what was going on.

I actually don't find any of this amusing. And, FWIW, I completed my junior and senior year of high school simulatenously. How's that for a "dumb blonde"? No need to attack anyone's personal appearance. And, there is a little thing is this country called "free speech". Perhaps you have heard of it? People die for it everyday. No one can force someone to say or not say something. And, if you are hinting at a confidentiality clause, a contract is really only valid when both parties give up something of value. Furthermore, if being direct and honest with everyone, including the people at HO is "stupid", then I would love to be just as stupid. This whole thing just has a terribly (not amusing) odd, familiar ring to it.

About Tom's termination letter getting cc'd to my ED and SD/AD? That is a huge violation of privacy. Since Tom is not in their lines whatsoever, they have no right to see his personal business.

This was a HUGE issue for me when information about Darby's status was emailed to another person, not even in her line. And guess what? After ALL that, nothing happened. And, quite possibly, that situation wouldn't have grown to be as bad as it had if that info hadn't been made public. For you Shakespeare fans... "...full of sound and fury signifying nothing." Regardless of which "side" of that argument you fell on, I think we all agree there is an issue with privacy here.

Well, I really, really, hope I didn't agravate anyone, I just wanted to stick up for my chum, here.

ETA: For the record, I would do it for anyone I felt was being attacked.

 

[pamperedlinda]

Welcome back from conference Anne we missed ya around here!

and fyi......I was several inches taller in the 80's.....I LOVED my big hair!

 

[pcchris]

Nope - no aggravation here by what you posted, Anne! I have to agree with what you typed! Even if other people are aggravated by what you typed, that's THEIR problem, not yours.

 

[AJPratt]

Thanks!

And, my hair, just wouldn't do big! Guess I was just jealous!

 

[MomToEli]

And, FWIW, I completed my junior and senior year of high school simulatenously. How's that for a "dumb blonde"?

You did! No way! So did I! The first (and last) in my highschool to do it, too. After me, people could only graduate 1 semester early. Of course, nobody thought I could do so they let me try.

Did you take really heavy classes? I had Chemistry, Physics, and Anatomy & Physiology all back to back that year. That's what this nerd called fun!

 

[AJPratt]

I took everything I had to.

I was in Honors/AP/Independent Study classes.

 

[ivykeep]

This is hardly my first post. Only under this ID. Laura tried to solicit me so I know what I'm talking about. I changed the user to post without any ramifications from her.

What ramifications from HER -- she lost her agreement, she can hardly retaliate against you... but frankly I find it a lot cowardly that you don't have the guts to post under your "real" ID and instead have to hide behind a fake identification so you can call her names.

And by the way, it would be very easy for one of the admins to identify you -- since you are posting from the same IP address for both accounts.

So Laura who did you talk to that was in Wave 2 at conference?

 

[rennea]

I was wondering how long it would be before you were here Anne. Your post and words were very well thought out and written.

Oh how I miss the 80's hair, I was a follower I am sad to say

 

[chefjwr]

I want to play..I was 2nd in my class, in National Honor Society, Who's Who, and Drill Team and went straight on to the University of North Texas where I went through the Meadows Program in Education and got my MEd. in 5 years. All to be a Pampered Chef Consultant-- go figure.

 

[chefjwr]

Hey Laura (Ivykeep) you caught that too. This person heard about the situation while at Conference on Friday--WAVE 2. I would like to think that means that it is not someone in our cluster. We were all WAVE 1. Maybe that will make Laura (Pampered Laura) feel better too.
I do think that everyone can say their piece here and we don't have to hide identities. Maybe misunderstandings can be cleared up that way.
I am a Law and Order fan so Hummm... Now I am really wondering.... Cluster 2 .. WHO COULD THIS Luv'nPc be?

 

[ivykeep]

It's really not YOUR own business...

WOW....
This whole thing makes me want to email Jean and Marla to let them know about all the rumors floating arround and how disconcerting it is. This is just not right! We are independent contractors we should be told what type of things could get us dismissed without notice!

I have known of consultants who were horrible at their job and not nice to customers, do they get "fired" no! And they are the ones giving the CO a bad name! Now we have people high up in PC acting like catty little school girls? That does not make me feel very secure. I got into direct sales to avoud this kind of thing.

I would hope there would be some kind of statement from HO to set the reccord straight especially since Tom's name is so well known to all.

I love PC and can not see myself doing any other DS business but this whole thing to me is very sad!

While I definitely LOVE PC and have no plans (at ALL) for changing, it's stuff like this that makes the whole idea that as an independent consultant you are "owning" your own business a crock of ploooey. If it were truly your own business you couldn't be "terminated" without cause. Possibly your agreement might not be renewed, but you wouldn't be able to have the agreement ended before a specific contract date.

The closest analogy to what we do and owning your own business would be a franchise -- where you are selling products/services under a corporate name but running it your own way within the agreement. Those all have specific legal responsibilities on both parts including the length of contract and you can't be terminated early without a thorough discussion of what parts of the agreement you broke (typically done by lawyers).

If it were TRULY our own business, we would be able to tailor our business to us -- we could advertise whereever we wanted and we would be able to mind our own business (including offering additional lines of product). If it were really our OWN business we would be Manufacturer's representatives and able to have as many lines as we wanted (I've worked extensively with MR's in my past jobs and most represented lots of companies under one umbrella company with a similar theme -- not direct competitors in most cases but definitely in some).

Just my own little pout on what I consider one of the problems with our recruiting spiel -- it isn't our OWN business -- it's Pampered Chef's business that keeps us at arms length to protect their own interests. (Which is certainly their right, but is a bit daunting that they have so much in the recruiting information about owning your own business).

Just my .08 (inflation)

 

[ivykeep]

I was wondering how long it would be before you were here Anne. Your post and words were very well thought out and written.

Oh how I miss the 80's hair, I was a follower I am sad to say

Come hang out in the East side of Baltimore -- big 80's hair is still VERY much in style -- so is big 70's feathered wings (heavy feathers -- not the light flippy things that have recently graced some celebs)... it's like people found a style they liked and NEVER changed it. I'm not bashing them though -- they are some of the best customers EVER!!

 

[mommyhugz1978]

Thanks!

And, my hair, just wouldn't do big! Guess I was just jealous!

Welcome back Anne...... We missed you and no agervation from me either.. you said what you needed to and got your point across!!! I didn't' have big hair in the 80's then again I was a little kid then too.... hmmmm would that have worked on an 8 year old????? LMAO!!!!

 

[Shawnna]

Well, I have been pretty quite about this, but wanted to say how sorry I am that this has happened to you Laura. I was at Wave 2, but I heard nothing of this until Monday night...I think...when I logged on here. But, Tom was at Wave 2. Of course his name was called many times. When I saw this thread I called my director friend to ask if she had heard anything and she had not heard anything either. PC is losing some great people. Tom is always in the top for sales and recruiting. What are they thinking? I wish you the best in your new venture. Don't let all this get you down. You will do great.

 

[mommyhugz1978]

While I definitely LOVE PC and have no plans (at ALL) for changing, it's stuff like this that makes the whole idea that as an independent consultant you are "owning" your own business a crock of ploooey. If it were truly your own business you couldn't be "terminated" without cause. Possibly your agreement might not be renewed, but you wouldn't be able to have the agreement ended before a specific contract date.

The closest analogy to what we do and owning your own business would be a franchise -- where you are selling products/services under a corporate name but running it your own way within the agreement. Those all have specific legal responsibilities on both parts including the length of contract and you can't be terminated early without a thorough discussion of what parts of the agreement you broke (typically done by lawyers).

If it were TRULY our own business, we would be able to tailor our business to us -- we could advertise whereever we wanted and we would be able to mind our own business (including offering additional lines of product). If it were really our OWN business we would be Manufacturer's representatives and able to have as many lines as we wanted (I've worked extensively with MR's in my past jobs and most represented lots of companies under one umbrella company with a similar theme -- not direct competitors in most cases but definitely in some).

Just my own little pout on what I consider one of the problems with our recruiting spiel -- it isn't our OWN business -- it's Pampered Chef's business that keeps us at arms length to protect their own interests. (Which is certainly their right, but is a bit daunting that they have so much in the recruiting information about owning your own business).

Just my .08 (inflation)

And your not a Director because why???? !!!! Seriosly that was very right on the money....... no pun intended towards (inflation)

 

[ivykeep]

And your not a Director because why???? !!!! Seriosly that was very right on the money....... no pun intended towards (inflation)

Because before Wave 1 of conference I wasn't even giving a recruiting discussion at my shows just a quick mention but not a real effort to recruit. (I had a hard time getting around the own your own business line) I got motivated at conference and got some great tips and incentive so plan to promote this fall (I want to at least be an FD for leadership).

 

[legacypc46]

I want to play..I was 2nd in my class, in National Honor Society, Who's Who, and Drill Team and went straight on to the University of North Texas where I went through the Meadows Program in Education and got my MEd. in 5 years. All to be a Pampered Chef Consultant-- go figure.

Okay, I'm playing too (temporary hijack)...I was such the geek...went to summer school every summer because I thought it was fun. I then actually dropped out of high school in the first semester of my senior year. I was bored sick (literally). Started college the next semester and then went back for my senior prom.

Okay Laura, you can have your thread back...oh, and I'll be buying from you...just love the idea of the "butter robe" (Don't go there KG)

leggy

 

[AJPratt]

Leggy: Too funny!

I want to play..I was 2nd in my class, in National Honor Society, Who's Who, and Drill Team and went straight on to the University of North Texas where I went through the Meadows Program in Education and got my MEd. in 5 years. All to be a Pampered Chef Consultant-- go figure.

Never diss yourself for making an honest day's living! And, I have learned from others that it isn't esy for people to prepare a meal AND talk at the same time--so I guess it helps that we're really smart! LOL

I was wondering how long it would be before you were here Anne. Your post and words were very well thought out and written.

Oh how I miss the 80's hair, I was a follower I am sad to say

Thanks! Sometimes when you don't say something, you say a lot, so I had to speak up for Laura. Hey, I'd rather be punched in the face than stabbed in the back! I saw lots of 80's hair in Chicago. LOL

Laura (IvyKeep): WOW! You are right on about that. I LOVE PC and LOVE that I have this, but we do have limitations as PC business owners that we wouldn't have if we owned a different type of business.