New Credit Card Verification System

[chefkathy]

Well, myself and my team didn't handle things that way (and I had AT LEAST 25 team members stationed overseas). I feel it's poor business practice. If one or two asked me to hold a check, I would usually do it, but it was rare and I did not put it out there as an option.

I have been in business five years and can count on one hand the # of times someone has asked me to hold a check. One time I forgot that the guest had asked me and deposited it along with all the other checks from that show. She was not happy with me. But I really don't need one more thing to remember, you know? I find it is best practice to deposit checks right away, although mostly I do encourage debit/credit payments. I tell the guests that cards are charged when the order goes through, so consider the money spent. I haven't had a declined card since March or so--and most of my declined cards lately seem to be because they lost their card or the information was compromised and they had to get a new card #.

 

[Sheila]

Well, that's great unless you are working on an October incentive...or need to get paid for a show you do in October. I have held shows over and made them the next month, but I personally think that's confusing to the guests and hosts--we send them host packets with the current month special on the outside order form, and then we tell them that day--well, it's got to be the next month now....

I won't hand out an October packet to a host for the last weekend in October, I'll give them a November packet.

And it will just be a "pay it forward" concept. I'll still have the equivalent of 4 weeks in the pay period, it will just be 1 week of the previous month & 3 weeks of the current month.

Exactly, it gets confusing if you use your PWS for invites adn outside orders.

I agree, that will be a challenge!

Well, myself and my team didn't handle things that way (and I had AT LEAST 25 team members stationed overseas). I feel it's poor business practice. If one or two asked me to hold a check, I would usually do it, but it was rare and I did not put it out there as an option.

The checks I pretty much deposit so that I can turn around & pay PC. It's very rare for me to hold a check. What I tell them is "the show won't be submitted until the 1st/15th, so if you are paying by credit card, PC won't know about your order or see your card number until then ..." That's when I get a lot of comments & people adding to their orders. I prefer cc payments too! I'd much rather come home & type in the orders without having to drive to the bank. On Okinawa, the bank was about 15 minutes away. Here in Tokyo, the bank I use is on another base that's about 45 min's away & you have to take Japanese Toll Roads so it's a $25 trip! I just opened up another account with a bank that has a branch on my current base. I can't justify the time & expense to stay with the other bank. Now I just have to get the new bank set up with PC for direct debits & direct deposits. LOL

LOL! That's what I was thinking and why I didn't understand Sheila's point. It shouldn't have more than a minuscule impact on anything.

How well did your girls do with another method? How many of them are still in the business?

We are doing what we do because it works very well. Me and all of my girls in my downline are part time, but turn in $800-$1,000+ shows on a regular basis by following the tips that I've given them. My theory is that I'd rather do 3 big shows than having to leave my babies/husband to do 6 little shows. They agree Bottom line is, I said it would be some changes for us. I wasn't trying to make a huge deal about this and I'm not really understanding why it's bothering you so much? The changes that we will make out here to still hit sales incentives won't affect you or the way that you do business. I was simply making a comment that we would be changing our methods. I wasn't trying to upset any of the stateside consultants or confuse them on the method.

 

[pamperedbecky]

The only problem I see is if the customer has a bad card and we can't get hold of them our show is on hold over the end of the month--which means we don't get paid. I don't know a diplomatic way of asking them if their card will be good....So, I guess that means I change my strategy and don't hold shows in the last 3 days of the month because I am not going to play crisis phone tag with anyone. Either that or close the show out that day no matter what--but that is such a hassle with the hostess as she's entertaining. What would be really cool is if PC had some way for us to clear their card at the show--most hosts I know here in CA have wireless internet and I take my laptop to the shows, it would be WAY more convenient. No more guests writing their card # down incorrectly (or me because the cards were difficult to read the #), etc.

Yep, this is the problem I see too. I think it'll cause lots of problems and in the long run, people won't book shows the last couple days of the month, unless they know going into it that they'll count them as the next month's sales/incentives. And unfortunately there won't be a way to run the credit card right there at the show like they do in stores. But possibly someday this will be an option if you can get on the host's wireless internet (of course if it's password protected you'd need the password, so that could be a hassle).

I'm most bummed that it could affect incentives. Since this starts Sept 1st, can you imagine the uproar on Dec. 31st if people are trying to get shows in that day and credit cards are declined with no way to get in touch with the customers. Then a show isn't submitted and people don't earn the incentive trip? I don't even want to think about it.

This should be interesting, that's all I have to say!

 

[PamperedChefDebi]

The checks I pretty much deposit so that I can turn around & pay PC. It's very rare for me to hold a check. What I tell them is "the show won't be submitted until the 1st/15th, so if you are paying by credit card, PC won't know about your order or see your card number until then ..." That's when I get a lot of comments & people adding to their orders. I prefer cc payments too! I'd much rather come home & type in the orders without having to drive to the bank. On Okinawa, the bank was about 15 minutes away. Here in Tokyo, the bank I use is on another base that's about 45 min's away & you have to take Japanese Toll Roads so it's a $25 trip! I just opened up another account with a bank that has a branch on my current base. I can't justify the time & expense to stay with the other bank. Now I just have to get the new bank set up with PC for direct debits & direct deposits. LOL



How well did your girls do with another method? How many of them are still in the business?

For banking, as a military spouse, you might want to check into USAA. They offer the ability to scan checks to deposit them as well as take a photo with your phone and send it in. This may be much easier than your other options there.

As far as my team, they did well! Consistent $1000 Shows within my cluster. And over the years (to include my leaving Germany), many of those original ones have gone inactive as they've PCSed. But I've also had new Consultants recently sign who were hosts of mine there a few years ago and they're doing wonderful! One was my highest incentive earner EVER in her first 90 days.

 

[cincychef]

Yep, this is the problem I see too. I think it'll cause lots of problems and in the long run, people won't book shows the last couple days of the month, unless they know going into it that they'll count them as the next month's sales/incentives. And unfortunately there won't be a way to run the credit card right there at the show like they do in stores. But possibly someday this will be an option if you can get on the host's wireless internet (of course if it's password protected you'd need the password, so that could be a hassle).

I'm most bummed that it could affect incentives. Since this starts Sept 1st, can you imagine the uproar on Dec. 31st if people are trying to get shows in that day and credit cards are declined with no way to get in touch with the customers. Then a show isn't submitted and people don't earn the incentive trip? I don't even want to think about it.

This should be interesting, that's all I have to say!

These are my thought exactly!! I have submitted many shows at 1 am, not because I wait until the last minute, but I have actually been on the phone with hosts that late! I always tell them I submit my shows in the month held no matter what. I will just be making a point to close earlier in the day, for me late at night was easier because my house was quiet and all the kids were in bed. I am worried about missing an incentive for myself, OR if it doesn't get my downline to submit shows earlier, when I need them to qualify as a director and they can't get a show to go thru.

I think after I am use to it it won't be that big of a deal.

 

[Sheila]

For banking, as a military spouse, you might want to check into USAA. They offer the ability to scan checks to deposit them as well as take a photo with your phone and send it in. This may be much easier than your other options there. ...

I usually walk away with one or two orders paid in cash. I left one show with over $500 in cash. So scanning won't work for me. I have to be able to walk into a branch & make a deposit when customers or hosts hand me cash. Oh, and I've taken Japanese Yen too! LOL

 

[Chef Kearns]

Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees.

 

[cincychef]

So I had a great show, we are shooting to close at $1200 AND one of the guests wanted the half price stainless steel cookware so she spent $300 to get it at half price. (she wouldn't have a show, I tried) Anyway I processed the cookware tonight, and obviously it was a large sum on her credit card. It declined, right away, (also the resolved credit cards is a bit different) So I re entered it and it approved right away. I find that happens with 90% of my cards, I never even call the person until it has declined 3 times.
What I am wondering is with the new system, will we be able to re enter the same # immediately or is it going to keep declining?

 

[Sheila]

So I had a great show, we are shooting to close at $1200 ...

Congrats on a great show!

... What I am wondering is with the new system, will we be able to re enter the same # immediately or is it going to keep declining?

If you made a typo the first time, then entering a 2nd time will probably solve your problem. If they don't have the funds to pay for the purchase, then re-entering right away won't solve the issue.

Also keep in mind that most banking institutes have a built in fraud protection where they can put the card on hold if too many failed attempts are made in a short period of time. So (for example) if it's insufficient funds that's causing the reject and you data entry it 5 times in 20 minutes - even when their deposit hits the account, their card might have already been flagged for possible fraudulent use and neither them nor you will be able to use the number until they call & resolve the issue with their bank. So keep the automatic fraud blocks in mind when you are trying to submit a charge. You might want to just try it twice (for typo purposes) and then call vs. continuing to try.

 

[finley1991]

I never even call the person until it has declined 3 times.

On the original call regarding the new processing of the credit cards, Doreen said that if we try to verify the card 3 times in 24 hour period, the card company can automatically shut down and cancel the card to protect the card holder against fraud because it's unusual for a someone to run a card with the same company that many times in a 24 hour period when it's not fraud. Just a note of caution on running it too many times too close together...

 

[cincychef]

I have never had a problem doing it this way and it has never caused a card not to go thru, I think I have only called 1 customer in almost a year. I don't think most of them are typos either, for some reason the declined cards usually go thru on the second or third try.

 

[finley1991]

Just did my first verification a minute ago... one declined card. I will try again tomorrow and then call the customer.

It's easy and seamless. Well, easy except for the *calling the customer* part!

Keeping my fingers crossed that it goes through tomorrow!

 

[Sheila]

Dang the bad luck! And on your first one under the new system.

I hope you get it resolved quickly.

I haven't done one yet. One of the girls on my team said it took a LOT longer on the super slow military internet service in Okinawa. She was a bit frustrated. I hope it's going quicker for those of you who are stateside & have a lot faster internet than the military offers.

 

[finley1991]

Finally got in touch with my customer today! She realized that it wouldn't go through because it was her debit card and it arrived the day before I called. She was really nice and fine about it.I just got a new personal debit card as well from my bank and all of my automatic payments got screwed up because I forgot to update the number!So it went through without a problem with the new number! YAY!!!

 

[BethCooks4U]

Finally got in touch with my customer today! She realized that it wouldn't go through because it was her debit card and it arrived the day before I called. She was really nice and fine about it.

I just got a new personal debit card as well from my bank and all of my automatic payments got screwed up because I forgot to update the number!

So it went through without a problem with the new number! YAY!!!

Whew!

I did my first one this weekend and it went through fine. It only took a few seconds longer than before ...but then there was just one credit card involved.