Consultant Stealing Bridal Registry Sales

[cathyskitchen]

My last 2 registires, I have had the brides tell me that they had distant cousins or a friend of a distant cousin who was a PC consultant, but they still wanted their registry from me. The brides did receive some things through these other consultants, but it wasn't a huge amount (a couple of items here and there and a $75 GC). I'm sure the people close to the other consultant probably just wanted to help her out, and had no idea how the registry and shows work (and that the showers and the registry are exclusive of each other - only a consultant would know that). If the other consultant is new, then she might not have known it either. I think the best bet is to give her the benefit of the doubt, have a conversation with her, and then put it behind you. Move upward and onward and don't let this bring you down.

 

[kspry]

Meh, I wouldn't be happy with it, either, scarlinipc.

I think there are very few things that can't be settled between adults. And, I can see why your director isn't going to intervene.

Blood's thicker than water - I'd chalk it up to that, and let it go, if you think it's inappropriate to deal with it directly by talking to the person.

Rather than STARING at this person at a cluster meeting, as was suggested earlier, I'd open a conversation about it.

Lord knows, I've made lots of blunders in this business, and one of the reasons I joined this board was to converse with others and learn from mistakes.

Trouble with the internet, though, is you're not standing in front of that person.

So - say what you said to the family member who poached your business, and see what happens.

 

[love2cook05]

Okay, I'm still a little lost.....how on earth did this other consultant get in touch with the bride's family and convince them to buy from her? Is she friends with one of them?

I'm with Linda-I'm kind of confused. This post sparked my interest because I had a bridal registry a year or so ago. Only a few people ordered from her and when I found out that someone had bought the cookware for her NOT through the registry I was furious. I thought "How could another consultant do that?" I was really frustrated and I asked the bride about it. Apparently her church had given her a shower and people knew she was registered through The Pampered Chef. It was a pretty big church and my understanding is those doing the shower (NOT THE BRIDE) knew of a consultant within their church and they just placed the order through her, not realizing how our registry works. I'm not saying this consultant did not intentionally sabotage your registry but I am trying to show you that even when it seems that someone else is deliberately doing something against us, it isn't always the case.

 

[Rebeccascabinet]

I would just talk to the consultant and not do the staring thing at meetings. I mean your an adult, just say "maybe there was a misunderstanding but, ..." if for no other reason than to make sure there is no bitternerss in your heart about the situation. I don't think its necessarily the directors responsiblity to scold the other consultant(and I don't think you should just stand back and say nothing either), I mean she can only do so much. I think you should talk to the consultant about the situation.

 

[mombird4]

Where about is Endicott? We have a great cluster meeting in Mckean, PA, which is about 20 miles from the NY boarder. We actully have two groups that meet together and they never turn anyone away! Our directors really go to bat for us and we all get a lot from each other. Makes me feel blessed to have our team, and Proud
Deanna

 

[finley1991]

Shame on your director! She should do a three-way call with all of you at least to get it out in the open so everyone is clear about what happened here. Good luck and keep us posted with what happens.

 

[Rebeccascabinet]

I think thats great advice Colleen.

 

[kspry]

Shame on your director! She should do a three-way call with all of you at least to get it out in the open so everyone is clear about what happened here. Good luck and keep us posted with what happens.

The director has nothing to do with it. It's a family/personality conflict. The director cannot resolve it. The director is correct in not getting involved.

I've had people tell me they didn't like a previous consultant, XYZ, and they were going with me for future shows.

I suppose I should be glad that consultant XYZ isn't in my cluster. I'm in a metro area, and she'll never know.

This case is more difficult because they are in the same cluster.

 

[Nanisu]

Well, I am the one who suggested Staring at the consultant, and i must apologize for my hasty response. I was under the impression that the other consultant blatantly stole the registry out from under you. Perhaps having your director contacting the other consultant, who might have been new, and telling her that at PC we pride ourselves in helping each other out and not stepping on others' toes is the way we do things. I am sorry I came across as mean spirited, I didn't mean it that way. I do know that if that happened to someone on my team I would try to at least talk to the other consultant. So forgive me for my hasty attitude, I misunderstood the original post.

 

[finley1991]

The director has nothing to do with it. It's a family/personality conflict. The director cannot resolve it. The director is correct in not getting involved.

I guess as a director myself, I feel if there is conflict in my TEAM it is my job to help them sort it out. I view it as part of managing a TEAM of people. I'm paid my overrides to help them with any of their business issues. I guess that is what makes PC great... we can all choose to do what we want. I just think the director ignoring it is giving the message that she is condoning the behavior and it's not right in my eyes.

 

[Cindycooks]

Nanisu - you dont have to apologize! I suggested sitting beside her! I dont think any of us quite understand the post and we all react to things in our own way! And I agree with Colleen. There are times when I think the director needs to get involved to a certain degree. She needs to let the new consultant know that things like this are not acceptable

 

[aPamperedBride]

Lets face it: life isn't fair. I once had a potential recruit call the home office for a referral because she decided that I lived too far away -10 miles- and she wanted an upline in her neighborhood) so I missed out on the benefits, but I decided it was better not to have her on my team anyway!If this other consultant is new and a distant relative, she might not have understood all the implications of her actions. I agree with what others said...family may have been trying to give her a head start with her business, even if she is a distant relative. (The aunt may have encouraged everyone to support cousin Sue and keep it fun!) The idea that the bride wouldn't know what she was getting is just silly. Every other registry (Dillard's, Macy's, Target, Sears, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc) would have the same issue so it is hard to believe people would fall for that line.I myself have 'stolen' some registry rewards, but it wasn't with a malicious attitude. My best friend from childhood selected items off a registry then called me to place the order because she had promised me that she would order from me if she ever needed anything from The Pampered Chef. It was $61.50 in product, which may or may not have been enough to bump the bride up to the next level. This was the first order my friend had ever placed with me and that was after I'd been in business almost 7 years. It was important to her to keep her word and I didn't want to hurt her feelings by turning down the business.Unfortunately, if the bride was to be surprised by the purchases, then I'm afraid that the consultant may have placed her own show with the orders so that everyone could take their gift wrapped up to the shower. Remember, though, your bride didn't lose all the benefits...she still got $100 in free product by working with you, plus two half-price items, the 25% discount with her order and 10% for the next year. Yes, she lost out on additional rewards, but if she got everything she wanted, then she didn't really need the extra free product. You earned over $120 you wouldn't have made otherwise and you are still in business!Expect that sometimes things will happen that aren't right or fair and that all you can do is choose how you react. Be strong and move forward!

 

[scarlinipc]

Thank you all for your support and ideas.

Just to make a few things clear, the bride is the one who set up the registry and I did NOT cancel it on her mother's word.

Secondly, the bride does NOT even know the other consultant or that any of this even took place. If she did, I am sure that she would be on my side since we have known each other for quite a few years. (I don't know that you can call us friends but we are certainly more than acquantinces - she is my daughters godmothers good friend that I run into rather often being close to my daughters godmother). The other consultant is a distant cousin to the mother of the bride. So distant that the mother was not even sure of her last name.

In regards to some of you saying that this is not my directors responsibility, I totally disagree. What if this happened at my "normal" job or anyone else's for that matter? Isn't it the "bosses" job to make sure things run smoothly and like someone else said, the director is definately reaping the benefits of my sales.

And also to be clear, the other consultant went out of her way to make it sound as if purchasing through her instead of the registry would be much better for the bride. She told them that she would see what she could do to hand over all the host rewards to the bride which we all know is simply impossible because you can not submit a show without submitting the hosts rewards as well. I am guessing that she got herself a whole bunch of free stuff and all the incentives for a newbee weren't quite enough.

In regards to her being "new" - she has been active since at least March. She is not that "new". She clearly new better.

I am definately considering trying the hospitality director thing though. My director has been pretty lame from the beginning. I did not actually join with her but with another consultant that was below her but not too involved in recruiting. I approached her and was the first person to do so and she had at that time been with PC for 7 years or so.

Either way, I am furious and think that this whole thing is - I can't even say being handled poorly because it is not being handled at all.

Thanks again for all of your input.

 

[scarlinipc]

Also, please realize that if this was a small amount of product, I really wouldn't care but this was $2,000.00 worth of product that I spent hours and hours working to get. And $2,000 is more than or close to what most of us have in sales for a whole month.

 

[Christ Follower]

I don't have any further input, I just think that stinks and I feel for you! I wouldn't quit PC over it because unfortuantely, it happens in all types of work "settings." The hospitality thing sounds like a better idea. Good luck with everything!

 

[JAE]

I really hope you talk to this consultant about what has happened. She doesn't deserve to go "scott free".

 

[Carissidy]

I am so sorry this happened to you! Thats awful, another consultant did this to you? Thats pretty rotten! I too would be very angry!

 

[pcmissyfee]

I am new to PC and still learning the ropes. Since she is not getting the support from her Director and this is going to cause bad blood between them, is there a way for her to change her Director? Since her Director gets a percentage of her sales, I am sure that will contribute to her decision to quit PC. I would not want someone who would not stand up for me to profit from my hard work if I had a choice in the matter.

 

[lockhartkitchen]

A hospitality director is a great idea. You need to be in a supportive group. It's hard to let go when you have been wronged. I have found that it tears me up inside. I would tell the other consultant how you feel. I know it's hard, but trust me, you need to. You will continue with the pain of resentment and revenge. One year a grandfather came to parent-teacher conferences and said, "I don't like you!" When I asked why, he said that I was stuck up and thought I was better than him. He said he knew this, because the year before, I passed him in the hall and didn't say hi. My comment: "Didn't you just come from church tonight Mr. (C)? Well, I think judgment should be left to God, don't you? I set the ground. The remainder of the year, I had a great year with this man. I wasn't about ready to roll over. ( I do work in the public schools, and yes I did mention God, but I had no problem with this Christian to Christian. )The hardest things in life can be confronting someone. Do not quit PC!!! I would have quit a long time ago if I let principals comments determine my continuing of changing people's lives.

 

[Koolotus]

Just as an idea. I belong to a great cluster and we have 2 girls from up your way. We meet the 2nd tuesday of the month in Elk mountain. You could probablty carpool and I would be happy to set it up and we would be thrilled to have you! Come once and see what you think
Email me if you want some info or to talk
Cheryl

 

[janetupnorth]

Also, please realize that if this was a small amount of product, I really wouldn't care but this was $2,000.00 worth of product that I spent hours and hours working to get. And $2,000 is more than or close to what most of us have in sales for a whole month.

I agree $2000 is a lot, and that is A LOT of host benefits. If the person on the registry did not know this happened, she did lose out on a lot!

I hope you get some resolution and get the support you need.

As to the comment that this is a family/personality thing, this is a BUSINESS thing. There may not be laws, but there are ethics. If she feels like she can't approach the consultant by herself her director should get involved. If for nothing else, to be the NON-BIASED third party mediating and note-taking.

She may have gotten $2000 in sales, but where will her business take her if she runs it that way. It's all about the customer not us (yes, I know we're in it to make money or product, but they are the CUSTOMERS).

End of soapbox....have a good night...

 

[kspry]

Shame on your director! She should do a three-way call with all of you at least to get it out in the open so everyone is clear about what happened here. Good luck and keep us posted with what happens.

finley1991, in what way does this constitute running your own business, having a director fight your battles for you?

 

[nikkijo]

I agree this whole situation sux and that your director could have handled it better. I personally think that our directors are there to help us with our business and listen to our vents and help us find a solution. If this consultant would have been on another team she probably would have been on that phone to her director. Your director should talk to the other consultant and get her side of the story. If she finds that something was unethically done (and it does sound like there was) that she should have a talk with the other consultant that this is not acceptable.

I would still talk to the other consultant as well. She said that she was going to try to get the bride her registry rewards. Is she putting this all in as a party and giving the host all of the benefits? Why don't you contact the mother and let her know that there is no way for the bride to get the registry benefits unless the items are purchased off of the registry?

 

[Christ Follower]

Nikki, so not to hijack because this is a serious topic, but your new avatar is soooo stinkin' cute! I was ROTFL when I saw it!


Okay ~ Hi-jack over.

 

[cathyskitchen]

finley1991, in what way does this constitute running your own business, having a director fight your battles for you?

Ugh, are you my director incognito?? Sounds just like her...

A director doesn't fight your battles for you, but she does stand up for you when someone on HER team does something unethical to you. At least a good director would. Now you and my director, well, you can have fun doing whatever it is you do...:yuck:

 

[sfdavis918]

finley1991, in what way does this constitute running your own business, having a director fight your battles for you?

I don't think the director should get involved to "fight her battle", but definitely to facilitate a discussion about what happened.

 

[DebbieSAChef]

WowWow so are you saying that this consultant stole the host rewards from your friend (bride)? If she did that is really unethical and the bride should be told immediately about what happened. I would definitely call her up and in detail explain what happened and tell her about the hundreds of dollars in free products that were pretty much stolen from her. I mean the other consultant said, she would try to get her some free products, that's a lie!! We don't try to get some products, all the products go to the host. And I suggest you talk to the mother too, who might be ignorant of the host benefits and would probably be upset, even if she is a distant relative.

This might get that consultant in a lot of trouble and maybe they can call HO and complain just like you did. Usually it seems when customers call to complain, HO will listen more attentively than if it's us. LOL

And we never suggested that her director fight her battles but being part of a "team" means that everyone in that "team" be treated with respect and consideration. The fact the director didn't want to get involved is sad. She has an obligation to her "team" members to make sure that everyone is treated fairly, true she can't control all the consultants but when one steps out of line, she should step in and find out what happened to try to resolve the problem. That's what I would do.

Debbie

 

[Christ Follower]

I agree with the director thing. I know if it were my Director, she would've done more than basically blow it off. I know there's not a lot she could do but more could've been done KWIM? And someone else pointed out that had it been a consultant (not in the cluster), the Director would've probably been a lot more upset.

 

[katie0128]

Nothing new to add (I do agree with Debbie), but just gotta say...

Mean people suck!

 

[Christ Follower]

Nothing new to add (I do agree with Debbie), but just gotta say...

Mean people suck!

ROTFL!!! I agree!

But, there is a verse about praying for our enemies.....:angel: