Need Advice on How to Respond to Host Question...

[pamperedval]

My birthday is Monday and I am doing a "birthday sale" kind of like the phone sale that is on several posts from here. Well, I sent out the info to my newsletter group and I have a lady that is doing a catalog show for me and is on my list.

She emailed me and wants to know if she would get host credit for any of her guests if she forwards them the information about the sale. I don't know how to respond. I am offering up to 15% off and various prizes and freebies for those who order.

I don't want to seem cheap, but I don't really want to offer that discount to her guests since her show is something separate. Am I making any sense? And how do I answer her without sounding selfish or something?

My head is a little foggy today and I am at a loss - I figured some of you could set me straight and give me some guidance.

Thanks!

 

[Chef_2_Four]

I would probably tell her that this is a seperate sale, but if she wanted to order something under her husbands name you would count it towards her show. That way she is getting the discount, and it would help earn more free products for her, and then she could still hit up her friends and family for her show.

 

[nikked]

Did you specify on your email/flyer that the sale price is for individual orders only, and not for use through an ongoing or upcoming show? That's a "fine print" detail I learned the hard way.

Part of the way I justify offering a discount is because I get the hostess benefits. If customers use the discount through someone else's show, no discount.

I would explain to the host that the sale is for individual orders only, and not available through her show. Then, I would resend the email with a "clarification" and an explanation that, as this is your first phone sale, you forgot a detail.

I'm attaching a Host Appreciation Sale Flyer that I used to do to give you an example of how I worded it.

HTH...SIID

 

[JAE]

Absolutely not! This is a separate sale for you, and it has nothing to do with her show. Just tell her. Say it with a smile, and don't be wishy washy. Short and sweet. Move on to more hostess coaching right away like it's not even a subject to talk any more about (because it isn't).

 

[pamperedval]

Thanks for your help.

I thought about it some more and it would be a mess because of direct shipping vs. show shipping etc. for her people (they live a little far away to come pick up their stuff at my house)

I just emailed her back and said something like this - "I'm sorry Missy, but this is a separate sale for individual orders only. Since I wasn't clear on my original message I will put any order that Susan (the past host) makes on your show, but that is it. (I worded that more nicely, just can't remember how right now!) Sorry for any confusion."

Hope that works for her.

My month didn't really turn out as I had planned - I had at least 4 cooking shows bail on me and I'm about $100 from level one on the sell-a-thon. So I hope she at least still does her show and gets enough to make it count!

Thanks again!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I would say that it is a one-day only event, and that all of those orders will be going in as a show, separate from her show......

 

[Rebeccascabinet]

I agree with what everyone else has said. Just aplogize for the mis-communication.

 

[scottcooks]

Take her back to the company... Explain that 'better than host credit', she would absolutely receive the 60% off host special for the month when any of her friends books a show (suck as 60% off TWO of our fantastic knives for August) - and you'd love to help her receive even more host credit by hosting another show of her own.

Ultimately, she knows better and is just using your soft spot to see what she can get.

Explain her show closes on -n-date and any orders received after that go as outside orders without credit to her. Don't let her mess with you. (Learned it the hard way from a miffed host who never paid for her $84 order, and it was holding up the entire show...Ccard bounced...I paid for it out of pocket, then show shipped, then she Still didn't pay for it. Have since resold most of her product. Show was late Sept--guests didn't get their product until after Thanksgiving! Never again.)

God Bless you - hang in there!