Learn from My Mistake: Shipping Mishap at First Show | OCONUS Direct Sales

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Discussion Overview

This thread discusses experiences related to shipping mishaps and order calculations during shows, particularly for consultants living outside the continental United States (OCONUS). Participants share their personal experiences with similar situations and the challenges they face in managing shipping costs and order totals.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, shared a shipping miscalculation during their first show, leading to a personal financial shortfall.
  • Another participant experienced a similar issue, opting to cover a $3 difference to maintain customer relations.
  • One participant suggested that paying for the discrepancy could be considered a business expense and mentioned the possibility of recording it as a "consultant gift" in Pampered Partner for tax purposes.
  • Several users noted the confusion surrounding shipping costs and order totals, particularly for OCONUS orders.
  • One participant explained the meaning of OCONUS and clarified the shipping percentage for orders.
  • Multiple participants mentioned the benefits of using a laptop during shows to avoid calculation errors and improve accuracy in order totals.
  • One participant recounted a specific incident where not using a laptop led to lost sales due to miscalculations.
  • Another participant discussed the process for providing past host discounts to hosts, clarifying how it is communicated through shipment paperwork.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on how to handle shipping discrepancies, with some participants advocating for covering costs personally while others suggest communicating with customers. There is no clear consensus on the best approach to managing these situations.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects the experiences of consultants navigating the complexities of order management and shipping logistics, particularly in OCONUS contexts.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants, especially those operating OCONUS, may find the shared experiences and insights relevant to their own practices in managing orders and shipping costs.

R
redd3708
Messages
123
Alright, I just had my first show. I live OCONUS and my guests wanted their orders shipped to the host. That is 15% of the product total from what I understand. Well, the itemized order form completely messed me up.

One guest ordered pantry items..well, as y'all know, the pantry total is after the s&h on the order form so I didn't account for the pantry items on the 15% s&h. I didn't realize it 'til I was inputting informaton on PP. So now I am a few bucks short. I guess I will just have to use my own money to pay the rest....I don't want to tell the guest that I miscalculated and she owes me a couple dollars...I'd just rather pay it for her than look like an idiot going through all that trouble for 2 bucks.

Has this happened to any of you? What would y'all do?

Btw, I AM supposed to combine the product total and pantry total to calculate the 15% shipping and direct shipping right? This is all too confusing. Please help!
 
Last edited:
Just 2 minutes ago that happened to me. I didn't catch it and its a diff of $3 on a $100 order so I am paying it. Rather do that than lose future purchases from a customer who spends $100 at a show.:rolleyes:
 
Pay for it yourself, it's a business expense. I think we've all goofed over these type of situations. If the customer paid with a credit card, you can contact them and explain the situation and give them the new amount. If they paid by cash or check, pay it yourself.

Make sure you show it as a "consultant gift" in Pampered Partner. Then you can write it off next year.
 
redd3708 said:
Alright, I just had my first show. I live OCONUS and my guests wanted their orders shipped to the host. That is 15% of the product total from what I understand. Well, the itemized order form completely messed me up.
Click to expand...


I don't understand? what is OCONUS?? and why is shipping to the host 15% instead of the $4?
 
  • Thread starter
  • #5
OCONUS means "Outside the Continental US". Like Hawaii, Alaska, and any US Territory (APO/FPO) are OCONUS.

Make sure you show it as a "consultant gift" in Pampered Partner. Then you can write it off next year.
Click to expand...

How do I do that?
 
I think you would just go into pampered partner, go to income/expenses, and enter the amount and choose consultant gift
 
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Oh nevermind, I just figured it out. :-P

Thanks!
 
Thats one reason I started bringing a labtop to my shows. I kept messing up the totals and it was driving me crazy. Now my labtop does it all for me.
 
janel kelly said:
Thats one reason I started bringing a labtop to my shows. I kept messing up the totals and it was driving me crazy. Now my labtop does it all for me.
Click to expand...

The one time I didn't take my laptop was when we had just changed over this past season. I "sold" two butternut bar board and knife sets, old Quick Stir Pitchers, Batter Bowls (higher price), and a silicone basting brush. I didn't catch those because I was just a human calculator. Boy, am I glad I had a few of the bar board sets on hand. I did lose a sale on the batter bowls, though. She had aparently spent more than she should have, and decided that she didn't need it when I called to fix it.:(
 
I was constantly messing up the calculations...forgetting to add tax, not taking the past host discount, over and undercharging. I am sooo glad I have a laptop now. People do not question the total. They just look at the screen and roll with it. And when someone has tried to figure it out before they come to me and have a different amount I can show them how it was figured out and I don't look like a money grubbing bad guy.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #11
Okay, so how does my Host get their Past Host Discount? Do I give it to them or does it come in their package?
 
It will come in one of the boxes with her products shipped to her. It will be on one of the shipment papers in the bottom right hand corner. Only one of the papers will have her discount # though. All of the other papers will have a box in the corner but it will say "void".
 
  • Thread starter
  • #13
Okie dokie, thanks Janel.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the shipping mishap that occurred at your first Pampered Chef show?

During my first show, I mistakenly ordered products to be shipped to my home instead of directly to the host's location. This resulted in delays and confusion, as the host was expecting the items to arrive before the party.

How did the shipping mistake affect the show?

The shipping mistake led to a lack of product availability at the show, which disappointed some guests who were eager to see and purchase specific items. It also made it difficult for me to demonstrate the products effectively, impacting the overall experience.

What steps did you take to resolve the shipping issue?

Once I realized the mistake, I immediately contacted customer service to expedite the shipping of the products to the host. I also communicated with the host and guests, explaining the situation and offering to provide product information and samples for those interested.

What lessons did you learn from this shipping mishap?

I learned the importance of double-checking shipping addresses and timelines before placing orders. Additionally, I realized the value of clear communication with both the host and guests to manage expectations and maintain enthusiasm for the show.

What advice would you give to new Pampered Chef consultants to avoid similar shipping issues?

Always verify the shipping address and delivery dates before finalizing any orders. Consider creating a checklist for your shows that includes shipping details, and maintain open lines of communication with your host to ensure everyone is on the same page.

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