Is PC Really Perfect? Honest Thoughts and Opinions Revealed

[Kinet]

you DON'T like about doing PC? Be honest...
I only heard GREAT things about it but I'm sure it's not perfect....there must be something you don't like about it?

 

[bbauman07]

being my own boss, sometimes I just don't want to do anything and it can be hard to motivate yourself.

 

[jaye]

IMHO I don't like how the new product care and use cards are paper. They used to be made with cardstock (or something similar) so the recipe tear-offs worked much better in a recipe box or the recipe binder. I think that the paper ones look cheap.

 

[lacychef]

The thing that bugs me the most isn't even PC's fault...it's that I don't have a real office to be organized in. Hopefully soon though! I also hate it when I'm making calls--& people don't call back! Aaargh

 

[cmdtrgd]

Office, huh...I work on the couch!

 

[nicolespcshows]

There isn't much I don't like about PC...but I do hate making phone calls because I don't like to get annoying ones myself and I always feel like I am bugging people...but it does get me shows so I guess it is worth it.

 

[gilliandanielle]

It is kind of like home school where it is really flexable and you control the pace, but it gets hard on the days that you don't want to do anything but lay on the couch, especially if you have a show coming up. There is a quote from someone that says "This business is flexable, not optional" and I have to remind myself of that sometimes!

 

[tlennhoff]

Making the phone calls to get business and dealing with PCs computer systems.

 

[Ginger428]

Some days I just like to wake up & go to work, instead of ALWAYS looking for work!

 

[agw]

Wow. That IS an interesting question. Since I haven't quit yet, and do not see quitting in the foreseeable future, it's been a GREAT option for me.

I think the most difficult thing about doing PC for me would be actively asking or searching for hosts. I do not run a full-time business. Most months I will have just enough business to keep me active, and that's mostly fine with me. My "ideal" business situation would be 2 live shows per month with 2-4 catalog shows.

That said, the best perks of the business are for those who work it as a money-making thing. It's a little bit disgruntling when I didn't do well enough to earn any of the new items for free. Yes, PC offers awesome opportunities and incentives, but they're meant for the business builder, not the hobby consultant.

 

[pamperedbecky]

I truly can't think of anything that I don't like about PC. Anything that comes to mind has to do with ME (not being organized enough, not keeping my office neat which would probably help me be more organized, running out of room in my kitchen and basement for all the FREE stuff, etc). I think the various incentives they do are very achievable. I feel the host program is PHENOMENAL which makes our jobs easier. I always get a positive response when people find out I do PC.... "Oh, I LOVE Pampered Chef!" and I hear from my hosts that their guests are almost always excited to come to their shows and bummed when they have a schedule conflict and can't come.

The only thing I can think of after racking my brain is I wish the fundraisers worked differently and resulted in a bigger chunk of a donation to the organization. I'm hoping that may change some day. But all of the other perks for hosts and for consultants FAR outweigh that drawback.

This was an interesting question that was posed!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Funny how people interpret questions. I read Kinet as someone looking for us to saying something bad about the company, yet all the responses are not about the company but about the business itself. I think that speaks volumes for the company because there really isn't a lot to complain about TPC. Doris and TPC are greatly admired and respected in not only the direct-selling industry, but in the business world in general.As for the answers - hating to make calls, office organization, people who don't return calls...I hate to say it, Cheffers, but those complaints are NOT unique to TPC! Welcome to the world of business!(Although, it's really tough to work for a Fortune 1000 company at 2 in the morning wearing only your underwear!)

 

[tiffanypc05]

I wish they did more for fundraisers, even if i made less, I'd rather the group make at least 25% of what's sold.

Other than that, I can't get organized no matter how bad I try and I have to push myself to make phone calls a lot of them times b/c i don't want to bug people.

 

[Chef Kearns]

From a recruiting standpoint I wish our commission was higher. Once you are in the business you understand how you control your own income. However, on paper seeing 20% from The Pampered Chef and 50% from Home Interiors or Taste of Home puts us at a disadvantage. I know that we don't pay for as much, but for someone considering the business they may write us off just based on the paper.

 

[heat123]

I can honestly say I do not have anything bad to say about TPC! I love how much the Company offers in FREE incentives and trips and support etc etc! It's by far the best Direct Selling Co. that I know of!

The only complaint I have (and this goes for all home businesses) is trying to get more shows each month by having to be consistent on the phone and I have a HUGE problem with Phone fear! So my summer was dead because of it and the Fall is looking slim right now!

TPC Rules by far!!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

From a recruiting standpoint I wish our commission was higher. Once you are in the business you understand how you control your own income. However, on paper seeing 20% from The Pampered Chef and 50% from Home Interiors or Taste of Home puts us at a disadvantage. I know that we don't pay for as much, but for someone considering the business they may write us off just based on the paper.

I don't know how those work, I do know that MK gives a 50% discount but you have to stock a large inventory. When I look at The Kat Lady's inventory, I see a set of Executive Cookware and cutlery that I'd love to have in my kitchen.

So, yes, I appreciate not having inventory and that is worth a trade-off in commission..

 

[gilliandanielle]

My CM friend says she only makes 30%, carries some inventory, and has to buy host gifts for shows under $500. She also pays $40 flat shipping to AK, and an $18 handling charge!!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I've said this before...but it is point that most people seem to overlook. TPC and MK are the only companies that offer a product that people NEED to purchase and use, and they are products that people WANT to purchase. That means that anyone who attends a TPC Show or an MK class will likely purchase something. It may not be a full set of Executive cookware but they will order something. Tupperware has some items that people need (but they are getting clobbered by Johnson Wax and other providers of cheap stoarge products) but I don't see a lot of Tupperware's high end products finding homes of late.Everything else mentioned here, along with Longaberger and Party Lites is comprised of products that aren't necessities. True, the products are desirable and people would like to purchase some of those things but frankly, they don't have to buy them or need to buy them. You also have to consider your market. If you live in a predominantly blue collar area, Longaberger and Party Lites are going to take a lot more effort to sell. It will also take more effort to sell some of TPC's upper product line, but the kitchen gadgets are always going to be popular.I tell people that The Kat Lady is going to earn the cars and I'm going to earn the vacations.

 

[speedychef]

I'm pretty much with the rest of em. I hate having to keep myself motivated. I don't know that I hate that so much...I just hate that I'm so darn lazy!

 

[MicheleC]

Another vote for motivation and making those phone calls. I have to just set a time and make myself do it. Especially when things are good it's easy to get complacent!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I don't think it's laziness as much as a lack of focus.Set you goal -let's say it's a new Saturn Sky convertible - get pictures of the Sky and post them where you can see them during the day. Each time you see one, it will remind you that you have to make the calls to drive the car.Write down your goals and revisit them often.Remember, in order to G - E - T you have to A - S - K.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I do want a new Saturn Sky - how did you know??? Love that car, and I am completely sold on Saturn vehicles!
Anyway - that's not really my goal though! Just had to add that in

I think the one thing that frustrates me the most with PC (and I have formally complained) is "talking" to someone in the Solution Center who does not have a good command of the English Language! I shudder everytime I have to call, and say a little prayer that I'll get someone who speaks English clearly, and who can understand what I am explaining to them!

 

[lisacb77]

I hear ya Becky, I put a comment about having trouble understanding Solution Center folks "with a thick international accent" in my survey answers.

I also don't like that sometimes, they don't understand how what they do/don't do affects us. Case in point: received a fundraiser order yesterday. One of the big volunteers in the event placed a large order. Of course they screwed hers up. Sent a pie plate instead of the square baker. Couldn't get through last night.

Called first thing today (it's 7:24 now). They cannot express ship it out. I am giving these out to the group at their meeting on Tuesday. That frustrates me b/c it wasn't my screwup! It WAS right on packing slip so that means it was submitted correctly, someone just goofed up.

They said they'd include a small gift if I wanted. I said yes b/c she placed a large ($100+) order.

I guess they don't want to express b/c maybe this happens a lot, but you think they'd check the boxes more carefully to avoid it in the first place!!!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Lisa - I totally agree! I personally did a fundraiser for a friend w/ cancer in April - $5000 fundraiser! 20 boxes arrived at my door - w/o packing slips or bags!!! I called the Solution Center, and they said "Sorry - once it leaves the loading dock, we can't provide packing sheets!" So here I was - with 20 boxes....I had to totally unpack every box and pile stuff around my kitchen and dining room to count everything and make sure it was all there! Because, of course, like products were not packed together! And then wait for the bags to arrive so I could fill peoples orders! It was crazy - and my frustration was greater because it took 3 calls to the solution center to get someone who even understood what the problem was!
The bright side(s) to the story though - I raised over $1000 for my friend, and there were only a few small items missing from the order!

 

[AJPratt]

I wish the percentage for fundraisers was higher, too. I don't have any complaints about the company, just my own organization issues.

 

[nikked]

Other than fundraisers, my only issue is MY issue. And that is treating my business like a BUSINESS. Which, thank God, I think I am finally getting a handle on after two years! (see my post at http://www.chefsuccess.com/showthread.php?p=90491&posted=1#post90491 for explanation).

 

[BethCooks4U]

Lisa - I totally agree! I personally did a fundraiser for a friend w/ cancer in April - $5000 fundraiser! 20 boxes arrived at my door - w/o packing slips or bags!!! I called the Solution Center, and they said "Sorry - once it leaves the loading dock, we can't provide packing sheets!" So here I was - with 20 boxes....I had to totally unpack every box and pile stuff around my kitchen and dining room to count everything and make sure it was all there! Because, of course, like products were not packed together! And then wait for the bags to arrive so I could fill peoples orders! It was crazy - and my frustration was greater because it took 3 calls to the solution center to get someone who even understood what the problem was!
The bright side(s) to the story though - I raised over $1000 for my friend, and there were only a few small items missing from the order!

In case you newbies don't know - this is how we DID all the shows until just a few seasons ago! There was no such thing as individual packing slips - the host just used the receipts. It was sometimes a pain and if you had an extra product left over you had to go through the whole show to figure out who's it could be or if it was in fact extra. If something was missing you had to go through all the bags to see if you put it in the wrong one and then call PC to do the adjustments.

There are still mistakes made but with the new individual packing slips it is so much easier and so much faster! Becky, I'm sorry it had to happen on such a large show but it was good it came to you and not a host! She would have been way too overwhelmed.

 

[AJPratt]

My last show before the new way had 10 boxes. Yikes!

 

[krzymomof4]

I am going to have to go with the fundraiser program. It is a little hard to compete when most other companies give at least 30-50%. JMHO

 

[gilliandanielle]

I agree about the fundraiser program! When a group sells $10000 worth of products I think that they should be rewarded with more than $1500!!