Important Update: Changes to Deep Covered Baker Availability - The Pampered Chef

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses recent changes to the availability of the Deep Covered Baker, including its transition to a host-only item and the implications for consultants. Participants express their disappointment and frustration regarding these changes and share their personal experiences and concerns about the impact on their sales and demonstrations.

Discussion Character

  • Opinion-based, Anecdotal, Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expresses disappointment over the "host only" status of the Deep Covered Baker, preferring it not to be sold at all.
  • Another participant shares their concern about how to inform customers about the changes.
  • Several users mention the importance of the Deep Covered Baker as a booking tool and express frustration about not being able to demo it effectively.
  • One participant notes the manufacturing issues and hopes for a resolution soon.
  • Another participant shares their experience with the product cracking and expresses concern about its reliability.
  • One consultant mentions trying to adapt their sales strategy by organizing a catalog show before the deadline.
  • Another participant expresses shock at the limitations imposed on the number of host-only items that can be sold.
  • One participant reflects on the challenges of adjusting their show plans without the Deep Covered Baker.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ significantly among participants, with some expressing strong frustration and others attempting to find ways to adapt to the changes. No clear consensus emerges regarding the best way to handle the situation.

Contextual Notes

Participants are primarily consultants discussing the implications of product availability changes on their business practices and customer interactions.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants looking for insights on how peers are reacting to product availability changes and managing their sales strategies may find this discussion relevant.

Ack! And I just got feedback from a customer who didn't make it to my last party saying that everyone just RAVED over the deep covered baker. I'm so disappointed. I wonder how long it will take them to get them back on the market.
 
cwinter474 said:
Anyone piecing a email flyer together?

I just sent an email to Joy asking her to put something together.
 
I sell a lot of these too. I am glad they are at least still going to be available as a host item. Better than nothing. Definitely letting all of my folks know! Now, to figure out how to do a main demo without it...keep doing molten lava cake as extra...
 
this is very disappointing.
 
I am in CANADA and am a K
I just received mine to!!!
 
Okay... I may be the only one who isn't that disappointed. It could be that I've had a 2 year break from PC, but I haven't relied on this product for a lot of sales and bookings. I tend to go for the cookware and forged cutlery.It could be that I'm not a big microwave person. :)
 
This really stinks.... Sorry to be a negative Nancy but I will not like telling people the only way they can get one is to host a show...
 
mailgirl1978 said:
This really stinks.... Sorry to be a negative Nancy but I will not like telling people the only way they can get one is to host a show...

I have always said at my shows "if you want to pay $72 tonight for this, you can, but if you want to only pay $34, host a party". Guess I will be leaving out the paying more, but how to word it is going to be an issue for me. And this will definitely force me to do 2 recipes, which I HATE, so I can feature another top selling item.
 
Great, so now no DCB for a demo (probably). I also don't want to do cookware anymore (12 in skillet meals) due to the whole return policy/guarantee issues. So I guess it's back to just using the large bar pan.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #40
chefjeanine said:
This sucks. I'd rather they not sell them at all than have a "host only" product.

I'm puzzled by what is causing this situation.

Wow - this is really shooting yourself in the foot.
Why cut your nose off to spite your face?
Hello?? Major booking tool you guys!!!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #41
pampchefsarah said:
I'm puzzled as to why I didn't receive this e-mail. Maybe they're sending it in batches.

The DCB cracks during use very easily because of a defect. I had one which I returned for this reason, and the second one cracked almost right away. I used for a long time, anyway, until what was originally a hairline crack started to widen.

How weird - I use mine at every single show and several times a week at home - they've never cracked - I have three of them,too!
 
dannyzmom said:
How weird - I use mine at every single show and several times a week at home - they've never cracked - I have three of them,too!

I think this is a new thing Carolyn, I don't think it's been happening if you've had your baker from the beginning. I have and I have had no issues whatsoever.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #43
Ok now - enough cry-babying you guys - pull up your big girl panties (and your big boy briefs for those to whom it applies) and get over it.
Didn't we all have thriving businesses BEFORE the Deep Covered Baker?!?!
 
From the email that came out, I gathered that it was the QUANTITY of DCB's being sold that was the problem... I guess everyone was just too good at selling them!!But, OUCH is all I can say to this... as soon as I read this email I hopped back on to CS, as I knew I'd find a quick reaction to this here. The DCB is still my favorite tool - I'm so glad I have one (in white), and now I'm going to have to order one in cranberry to make sure I have that.
Would it be wrong to order a couple for ourselves to have on hand if we have a customer that urgently wants one at some point?
 
Now, it says effective immediately that the white is on a Stop Sell. So we can't even drum up sales now for it? It says that from now till the 15th they are on back order. So if we try to get last chance orders for it, they may still never get one! And then it can mess up our host's rewards. I guess I won't try to get white DCB orders then. :(
 
I need to refigure my whole show format. Almost all of my shows have been DCB shows.

If anyone does have a flyer to alert the customers, I'd appreciate it if you could share.

If the hosts choose this as their 1/2 price item or FPV, then that means no commission on it too.

Ay ya yay!!
 
I'm at work right now but I can work on it when I get home tonight! I'll have it for you as soon as I can.
 
Jolie_Paradoxe said:
I need to refigure my whole show format. Almost all of my shows have been DCB shows.

If the hosts choose this as their 1/2 price item or FPV, then that means no commission on it too.

Ay ya yay!!

I think I'd still continue with the DCB format for a while... if someone wants a DCB badly enough, it's really not that hard to host a show or get some orders for a catalog show. So we just have to be really good at creating that desire! But it will feel a little sneaky...

Typically hosts have chosen this as one of their 1/2 price items anyway...

I have a party tomorrow night - I'll have to think about how to talk about this.
 
Guess I can surely plan on a 6000$ month for June now! :D
 
I just sent out my June Newsletter. But I am going to try and make a new one up to get some DCB sold before the 15th. Just trying to think of the wording???
Any suggestions?
 
dannyzmom said:
Wow - this is really shooting yourself in the foot.
Why cut your nose off to spite your face?
Hello?? Major booking tool you guys!!!

I don't see it that way. One of the things I've been proud of (for many years) as a P-Chef consultant is having all of my products available to all of my customers. I don't want to be one of THOSE direct sales companies.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #52
chefjeanine said:
I don't see it that way. One of the things I've been proud of (for many years) as a P-Chef consultant is having all of my products available to all of my customers. I don't want to be one of THOSE direct sales companies.

What do you mean by "those" DS companies?
You mean one that has invented a product SO phenomenal and SO exciting that they're simply flying off the shelves? Personally THAT'S the kind of company I am PROUD to be.
 
From the e-mail it also looks like this won't be a permanent thing...just until the problems get figured out. I think it's wise of the HO to do this because otherwise we're going to have alot of upset customers with defective products...and not just a $4 mini-serving spatula! one thing I wonder tho is - if the manufacturer's having a hard time producing effective products, is it that they are slacking on the quality to meet the demand? Or is it just their process...because that means that the hosts will get potentially defective products as well.
 
Great, great booking tool... You are definitely right about that, Carolyn. :)
 
dannyzmom said:
What do you mean by "those" DS companies?
You mean one that has invented a product SO phenomenal and SO exciting that they're simply flying off the shelves? Personally THAT'S the kind of company I am PROUD to be.

Oh, come on Carolyn. You know what I mean.

I think the DCB is a great product. If there are QUALITY issues, then they should not make them available to our Hosts or the company will have to deal with resolving those problems. Do a stop sell, fix the product and then make it available to everyone.

It feels sneaky to me to offer a product "only" to hosts -- like we're trying to trick people. I have lots of customers. . .many more customers that past Hosts. My concern is keeping the majority happy.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #56
chefjeanine said:
Oh, come on Carolyn. You know what I mean.

I think the DCB is a great product. If there are QUALITY issues, then they should not make them available to our Hosts or the company will have to deal with resolving those problems. Do a stop sell, fix the product and then make it available to everyone.

It feels sneaky to me to offer a product "only" to hosts -- like we're trying to trick people. I have lots of customers. . .many more customers that past Hosts. My concern is keeping the majority happy.

I think it's fair to assume that if the issue is "quality" then they are not selling less-that-up-to-standard DCBs to ANYONE and they have ones in stick that are up-to-standard that they can offer to hosts.

You don't honestly thing Pampered Chef would knowingly offer sub-standard bakers to their hosts, so you??

If you re-read the email from HO you'll see it's not a QUALITY issue but it is a QUANTITY issue - - the manufacturer is unable to keep up the supply to meet our demand. I don't know about you guys - but I know that I personally sell DCBs hand over fist. It's no surprise they can't keep them in stock.
 
That is something that irritates me about other companies, the 'host only' items. I understand it is a booking tool... that is why we offer a $69 stone or $60 carafe.. so people can get them at half off with a show. BUT if someone wants to spend their money with me at full price, who am I to say no? I am sure PC has a valid reason.. they do not wake up in the morning wondering how to make our lives/jobs more difficult. Let's just hope they get this resolved soon.

In the mean time, I'm offering a special of free shipping to my local customers on all DCB... might hit a $6000 month after all :-)
 
After reading the email again and thinking about it, I am going to start using the DCB at all my shows now. I'll probably still do the Garlic Bites as an appetizer to showcase the cookware, then a meal in the DCB. I'll use wording like..."The DCB has been so popular, that TPC is currently only offering it to hosts at this time. I'm happy to set you up with a cooking or catalog show, so you can earn the DCB for free or at a discount."
 
I agree this totally sucks but it is going to be an awesome booking tool until they get the issue resolved. Just because someone doesn't want to have a cooking show doesn't mean they won't have a catalog show. If they want the baker bad enough a catalog show won't kill them.
 
chefcharity said:
In the mean time, I'm offering a special of free shipping to my local customers on all DCB... might hit a $6000 month after all :-)

It might make more sense to offer a free rub with the purchase of DCB (more commissionable sales that way!) But that's a great idea to offer a quick special to make use of this opportunity!
 

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