Ho Gift Certificates Vs. Own Gc's!

[KaiKendall]

I have a question about gift certificates... I'm having a show on Friday, and a customer placed an order through the show ON my website... part of her order was a $30 gift cert. I've heard before that people make their OWN gift certs so it's easier, and you get commiss when the cust orders more than the GC... how do I do this? It's part of her order so how to I charge her for it?

 

[babywings76]

If you go to Consultant Corner (CC), you can read the consultant policy guide. They have a section that explains how the official GC's work.There is a way in P3 to enter in the GC. You enter the amount, the name and address of the recipient. Then PC mails that person the GC and a catalog. They go to the general company website or call their order in. When a guest orders one on a show, you earn commission on it and it benefits the host. That's why the recipient doesn't go through you to redeem it--you can't earn a second commission on it. When you are awarding people with a GC (a booking incentive, prize giveaway, gift from you for someone), that's when I make the homemade ones. That way you aren't paying for it up front. Then when they redeem it, you can add the products they want to a show or order in a way that benefits you the most.So when a guest at a show wants to buy a GC, I go the "official" GC route.

 

[esavvymom]

If you go to Consultant Corner (CC), you can read the consultant policy guide. They have a section that explains how the official GC's work.

There is a way in P3 to enter in the GC. You enter the amount, the name and address of the recipient. Then PC mails that person the GC and a catalog. They go to the general company website or call their order in.

When a guest orders one on a show, you earn commission on it and it benefits the host. That's why the recipient doesn't go through you to redeem it--you can't earn a second commission on it.

When you are awarding people with a GC (a booking incentive, prize giveaway, gift from you for someone), that's when I make the homemade ones. That way you aren't paying for it up front. Then when they redeem it, you can add the products they want to a show or order in a way that benefits you the most.

So when a guest at a show wants to buy a GC, I go the "official" GC route.

That's what I'd do too. As much as I'd really like it if they could figure out how to make GCs work everywhere (it wouldn't be that hard!), since it's part of a show, I'd do it through PC. Just be the person who follows up and does the customer care! They may not be able to use the GC with you, but they may think of YOU for PC no matter what.

 

[Sheila]

I agree, there's really no way for you to charge the customer's CC for the GC & hand them one of yours. Corporate would put the show on hold because you've overcharged the guest more than their product purchase amount -AND- the current host would not get credit for the $30 purchase.

 

[pampered1224]

I agree. I have my own homemade ones but I use those strictly for customers who achieve something I am asking or as a freebie bonus as a host or guest incentive. If someone from a party orders one, I make very sure they do the official one so the host gets credit. Once I sell that one, I never have to worry about it again. It is the same as any other product we sell, like a Food Chopper. We write it up, collect the money, the host gets credit and we are done with it. We can not even use them as a form of payment on an order in P3 so if someone orders one, they can not redeem it with us or even another consultant. It can only be used as payment for an individual order direct from the Home Office.

 

[KaiKendall]

Good to know, I think it's more hassel than it's worth to try to make my own...like you said it's like any other product, just sucks there's so many restrictions!! Thanks for all the advice!

 

[pcchefjane]

I "donate" my own to organizations like MOPS or when I have to give something for a door prize at a booth I do or to schools. That way they have to come back to me! I usually end up with the person as a customer and sometimes even a Host!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I agree. I have my own homemade ones but I use those strictly for customers who achieve something I am asking or as a freebie bonus as a host or guest incentive. If someone from a party orders one, I make very sure they do the official one so the host gets credit. Once I sell that one, I never have to worry about it again. It is the same as any other product we sell, like a Food Chopper. We write it up, collect the money, the host gets credit and we are done with it. We can not even use them as a form of payment on an order in P3 so if someone orders one, they can not redeem it with us or even another consultant. It can only be used as payment for an individual order direct from the Home Office.

BUT - not if they are also purchasing product from the outlet.

 

[MLinAZ]

I agree, there's really no way for you to charge the customer's CC for the GC & hand them one of yours. Corporate would put the show on hold because you've overcharged the guest more than their product purchase amount -AND- the current host would not get credit for the $30 purchase.

The only way you could handle the cc piece is if other guests on that show paid by cash and/or check totallying more than the $30. Then you could put the $30 in as a credit card payment and the show would still balance out.

I had a customer who I did not reach in time to get her payment and I needed to submit the show. I felt comfortable in this particular situation to cover her $30 order. Then when I got her cc info I entered her as a guest on another show with no products but a cc payment. I had no problems whatsoever. The show shipped and the host has distributed all the products already and nothing was put on hold, etc.


But yes, the host still wouldn't get the credit for that $30 purchase. Which may or may not be a big deal depending on her overall guest sales.

 

[Sheila]

Michelle, I had a customer who wanted a replacement part. Since I had cash & checks on the show, I added her replacement part charge to the show so she would only be charged once, then I paid for the replacement part. Corporate held the show until I called & explained, when they saw the replacement part order on file being shipped to her, they released the show. Being in Japan, it was a hassle to stay up late to call & get it corrected. So on the next order who needed a replacement part, I just explained to her that I'd have to do two separate entries & charges. She was fine with that. LOLBut even if you can over-charge, it does still make the host loose the sales credit.