How Do I Respond to an Upset Host About Shared Show Details?

[flemings99]

Got this e-mail from my host today. Help on how to respond?
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I really wish you would have asked me if I minding you sharing the results from my show with my guests. I am very upset that you shared specific details with them. I would not have shared that and do not appreciate that you did. That was personal and I at least should have been able to say no I don't want that info. shared. I have just been telling people that the show was a success and I received some nice hostess benefits. Sharing the specific details was not necessary.
----the following was sent just a few min. prior to the above.....
I am not going to be pushy with my friends to get them to book a show. If you've contacted them and they book, great, but if they don't respond maybe they have changed their minds. Getting credit for them isn't really an issue with me since I am not becoming a consultant.

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Here is what I sent out that she is upset about. Same format I send out after all of my shows & have never had a complaint before.

Hi Ladies:

Thank you for attending Tracey's Pampered Chef show! It was a pleasure to meet each of you. I hope you each had a great time.

Tracey's show was a huge success! Because of her show sales, she will receive $165 in FREE products + FREE shipping + 2 Half Price Items of her choice + 60% off either scraper collection + UNLIMITED 25% discount + 10% off for 1 year + 60% off hostess special for each booking held. Isn't that amazing!!!

For those of you who signed up to book a show of your own, please contact me as possible to schedule your show. We need to have confirmed dates in the system prior to placing Tracey's show order for her to receive credit.

Please find attached the recipes that we prepared at the show.

I look forward to helping you with all your Pampered Chef needs!
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[rennea]

I don't think you did anything wrong with the email that you sent. You didn't even state how much in sales she actually had.

I think it may have embarrassed the host but I don't know why.

 

[DebbieJ]

wow, it's not like you told everyone how much she spent or anything. Some people!

 

[coriatc]

Yeah, I don't see anything wrong with that either... Your host is WAY oversensitive about it ... and she is overreacting.

 

[AnnieBee]

I think Rennea is right, she may be embarrassed about how much she got. I know before I ever hosted, I was quite uncomfortable with the idea that I would get all this free stuff because my friends spent THEIR money. Then wanting the free stuff (after going to so many other shows) won out!! LOL! But standing there at the show hearing the consultant tell my friends how much I'd get because of their spending, I really did find embarrassing. Now as a consultant, I totally understand that you have to do it (and I do do it!), but you have to respect someones feelings...

My suggestion would be to apologize for any embarrassment caused and explain that this is your standard email to guests after a show.

If you wanted to go there, (not sure that you should!) you could point out that 1) The host benefits are both in the catalog and were presented at the show for all to see, and 2) that from your point of view, showing what your hosts get for free is a big part in encouraging show bookings, without which your business and income would suffer.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

ETA: You could point out that while she felt it was personal, nothing "personal" to how much she or any individual spent was disclosed, and that because the host benefits are "public" info, most people would understand that she probably got a lot of free stuff. You could start out by saying something like, "In case it helps you feel less self concious about host benefits you received, I wanted to point out that our great host benefits are pretty much understood by all of the guests, I even talk about them at each show". But again, maybe best to just stick to an apology...

 

[Get_Pampered]

That is tough - I do not know what I would say because, really you do have the right to tell the whole world what she gets because YOU are giving it to HER. I would suggest calling your director.

 

[pcchefjane]

For some reason, this Host doesn't get the whole concept of the Show! In my newsletter I send out each month, I give the name of my Top Host, how much their Show was, how much they got free, and how much they saved on their total purchases! That is how we encourage people to host! She is nuts!

 

[AnnieBee]

Again, I think not nuts, just embarrassed...

 

[pcchefjane]

I don't understand why she would be embarassed! The more free product Hosts get, the more they like to brag about it...normally! I didn't mean "nuts" as in psychotic...just "out of the norm"!

 

[AnnieBee]

Did you read my post (#5)? Maybe I'm unusual, but I was an embarrassed host...

 

[rennea]

I don't understand why she would be embarassed! The more free product Hosts get, the more they like to brag about it...normally! I didn't mean "nuts" as in psychotic...just "out of the norm"!

Some hosts do get embarrassed:blushing: Like Anniebee stated their friends had to spend their money so the hosts could get the freebies!! My girlfriend had a party (not PC) and it was very successful, she received a ton of free product and was very embarrassed that the consultant stated so to everyone. It does seem silly to us because it is the whole idea why you host a party isn't?!?!

 

[wadesgirl]

Do you do this for all your hosts? If so I would just explain that to her. Let her know that you are sorry it offended her but a majority of your hosts like that you share that with their friends.I have a few hosts who want to be my top show of the month so all their friends can see their name in my newsletter.

 

[NooraK]

Did you read my post (#5)? Maybe I'm unusual, but I was an embarrassed host...

I can totally see where you are coming from. It almost feels like you're taking advantage of your friends. You know they came out of their own free will, you didn't force them to spend anything, but you are not having to spend as much as you would have because of how much they spent.

 

[Chef Kearns]

I think Rennea is right, she may be embarrassed about how much she got. I know before I ever hosted, I was quite uncomfortable with the idea that I would get all this free stuff because my friends spent THEIR money. Then wanting the free stuff (after going to so many other shows) won out!! LOL! But standing there at the show hearing the consultant tell my friends how much I'd get because of their spending, I really did find embarrassing. Now as a consultant, I totally understand that you have to do it (and I do do it!), but you have to respect someones feelings...

My suggestion would be to apologize for any embarrassment caused and explain that this is your standard email to guests after a show.

If you wanted to go there, (not sure that you should!) you could point out that 1) The host benefits are both in the catalog and were presented at the show for all to see, and 2) that from your point of view, showing what your hosts get for free is a big part in encouraging show bookings, without which your business and income would suffer.
Anyone else have any thoughts?

ETA: You could point out that while she felt it was personal, nothing "personal" to how much she or any individual was disclosed, and that because the host benefits are "public" info, most people would understand that she probably got a lot of free stuff. You could start out by saying something like, "In case it helps you feel less self concious about host benefits you received, I wanted to point out that our great host benefits are pretty much understood by all of the guests, I even talk about them at each show". But again, maybe best to just stick to an apology...

I think this is very diplomatic. You have acknowledged her feelings, but stayed firm in a business practice that is public knowledge and common for us. I would definitely follow this advice if I were in this situation. In 5 1/2 years I've never experienced this though. A first for me!!

 

[Get_Pampered]

I can totally see where you are coming from. It almost feels like you're taking advantage of your friends. You know they came out of their own free will, you didn't force them to spend anything, but you are not having to spend as much as you would have because of how much they spent.

I can understand this and this is why it is important to have guests become hosts. Guests can then have all the fun and free products of being a host. And past host still benefits so they have giddy fun together

 

[cookin to the top]

I would understand the embarrasment "See what I got.... you didn't"..... if they didn't get the same opportunity of getting free products- but they DO have the choice of hosting and doing the same thing (if not better)! "This is what I did...do you want to do it too?" is fine, in my book!

 

[PampChefJoy]

Some people are really sensitive to this, I've found over the years... I always word it as so-and-so "saved" this amount, rather than so-and-so received this amount for free. It's really saying the same thing but one is perceived a bit differently than the other. To someone who is picky or sensitive about it, it can make a world of difference.

 

[flemings99]

Just talked to the host. When I called she was very short with me. I asked if this was a good time and she said only if all I needed was her CC to close out the show. Told her I'd like to talk with her a little and could call a different time if that was better and she said no. We closed out her show as I normally would and then told her that I had received her e-mail and was sorry that she was upset. I explained that it was the standard e-mail I send after every show & that in 153 shows she's the only one it's bothered. She told me she used to be in marketing & what I did was totally un-called for & TACKY!! She said her husband agreed with her and that had she responded to me last night when she first read the e-mail that she wouldn't have been so nice. Thank God she didn't--it was pretty nasty over the phone.

She further stated that I was just out for myself & trying to get more business. I didn't even mention all the extra "bonuses" she earned that I personally offered.

She had 5 bookings out of 12 people at the show. I'm not forcing anyone into it. Kicker is, she had expressed interest in becoming a consultant & prior to all this had decided it wasn't the right time.

Don't usually send out the thank you letter from P3 and had made a commitment to do it this year, but don't think I'll print that out for her---I'm sure it is tacky to say what she could have made as a consultant too.

I know, bless & release---but this one has really got under my skin today.

Thanks for all the support & advise.

 

[lockhartkitchen]

I would acknowledge her feelings: "I'm sorry you felt this was personal". "My email is a standard business practice. I send out a summary of what your guests read in the catalog. I want other people to be given the opportunity to experience the success you did. Without future bookings, my business would not exist."

 

[lockhartkitchen]

Saw your new post Barb. She was in the wrong, but we all know
"the customer is always right", sometimes means we won't change their feelings. We can only bless and release. I wouldnt' waste your paper or stamp on the thank you letter. You've done enough.

 

[whiteyteresa]

Is it not the reason we have a host program - the guest orders and the host gets free stuff because there friends orders. It's not like we pull a name out of a hat or we ramdonly picked her for a show.

She knew when she booked and the guest knew before they arrived who was paying and who was getting free stuff

my opinion

:chef:

 

[pamperedlinda]

I'd bless and release....after I stewed on it for a while (things like this get under my skin too)

Seems to me though that 'most' people know when they are invited to these parties that the host will get free items based on sales - and they know that what they buy helps the host to get there. Was she a past guest? Was the booking host there? Some people are just weird. Don't let it bother you any more.

I have a past host who had a very successful show with me 2 years ago (over $900). She and her husband have since fallen on hard times. She loves PC, and had considered becoming a consultant.....but she has this hang-up that because she and many of her friends are also falling on hard times that she cannot 'ask them to buy to benefit her'....I don't get it. I've told her that people are eating in restaurants less and at home more and that they really want new ideas for cooking. I've told her about the budget friendly meals and power cooking - even offered to do a power coking clinic with them - no strings attached. She won't budge. She wants our cookware bad too!

 

[BethCooks4U]

I have found that many guests want to help their friend out. I have had a lot of people ask if their order or booking helped the host. Home parties aren't new - most people know what it's about.

Just let her comments go. Not worth upsetting yourself over - she's rare.

 

[BettieC]

yrs ago, I had a friend that we would feed off of each other's parties! She would have a party, I would buy a bunch of stuff AND book my own show, she would buy a bunch of stuff at my party, book another show...ect.

 

[Nanisu]

I think the "this is what I do for all my customers (NOT HOSTS) so that they see the advantage of the host benefits....which would have been less if the show were not held in January. "

Then Bless and release and get on the phone and book all those other shows before she gets a chance to bad mouth you to her friends.

 

[flemings99]

True. I had thought I'd let things cool off for a couple days before calling to firm up dates, but maybe I should go ahead and call?...... Hadn't firmed up dates on all of them b/c she was iffy on signing up and I wanted them to be booked on her schedule not mine. Guess I'll do that different next time.

At least I know. I can't fix what I don't know is a problem & now I know and can be more sensative in the future.

Thank you for all the responses.

 

[pamperedpals]

I am sitting here with my mouth hanging open. I have never heard of anything like that before.

As far as I can see, you are doing all of the right things. I would definately call and schedule the show's with those who expressed interest and then bless and release.

 

[thecougchef]

like anniebee said - she might just be embarrassed that she got all this free stuff while other people paid for their products. HOWEVER - i think that MOST people who go to a direct sales party know that the host gets free & discounted products. that is why people host parties. plus - the hostess benefits are right in the catalog. nothing you said was a secret.

i agree with someone above - let her know its your standard practice & you apologize for any embarrassment. then bless & release. hopefully your bookings will be successful! good luck!

 

[wadesgirl]

Call those bookings, if she doesn't want to have them, they are yours.

 

[AnnieBee]

Just talked to the host. When I called she was very short with me. I asked if this was a good time and she said only if all I needed was her CC to close out the show. Told her I'd like to talk with her a little and could call a different time if that was better and she said no. We closed out her show as I normally would and then told her that I had received her e-mail and was sorry that she was upset. I explained that it was the standard e-mail I send after every show & that in 153 shows she's the only one it's bothered. She told me she used to be in marketing & what I did was totally un-called for & TACKY!! She said her husband agreed with her and that had she responded to me last night when she first read the e-mail that she wouldn't have been so nice. Thank God she didn't--it was pretty nasty over the phone.

She further stated that I was just out for myself & trying to get more business. I didn't even mention all the extra "bonuses" she earned that I personally offered.
She had 5 bookings out of 12 people at the show. I'm not forcing anyone into it. Kicker is, she had expressed interest in becoming a consultant & prior to all this had decided it wasn't the right time.

Don't usually send out the thank you letter from P3 and had made a commitment to do it this year, but don't think I'll print that out for her---I'm sure it is tacky to say what she could have made as a consultant too.

I know, bless & release---but this one has really got under my skin today.

Thanks for all the support & advise.

Wow, I'm sorry to hear her response! My suggestion to you at this point would be to email something like:

I just wanted to email to apologize once more, I am truly sorry that you were offended by my email to your guests. Like I said earlier, this has been my standard practice for over 150 shows, and I have never had a host who has tell me they were bothered by it. I pride myself on running my business with integrity and good customer service, and as such, if I had ever thought that a host would find it offensive or tacky I would not have done this. My experience has been that hosts are typically excited to share their good fortune and experience with the friends that have helped them by attending the show.

I am sad (not quite the right word, but I'm having trouble coming up with the right one. "upset" isn't quite right either...) that you felt that I was "just out for myself" and only trying to get more business. My goal in being a consultant is to help my hosts and guests to have a fun evening, learn a recipe, show them some great products, and give them time and money saving tips. I also aim to help my hosts get some great free and discounted PC products, and I provide bonuses in addition to those provided by TPC. As I said before, I also pride myself on providing great customer service. However, when it comes to trying to "get more business", then yes, that is something that I also aim to do. Being a consultant is not a hobby for me, it is my personal business, and I rely on the income provided to help pay my bills. As such, like any other business owner, I will market my services and host benefits to the guests at my shows in order for my business to be grow and be successful. I do not feel that that is unreasonable, and it certainly does not mean that I am "only out for myself". I do hope you can see my perspective on that.

I truly hope that you and your guests had an fun evening and enjoy your new PC products. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.

Sincerely,

XXX XXX

Of course it might be better to just bless and release, but I just have a hard time not defending myself, and I really would hope that she could see your perspective...

Anyone else have a comment? Agree or disagree?