Not Trying to Start a Fight, But... Re: Facebook

[wadesgirl]

hi there, thanks for the welcome. I'm definitely not starting a fight...I didn't see a need for that person's response to my question though. Everyone else was very gracious in shedding light on what the thought process might be against FB advertising.

Mandy, don't take what Paulette said personally, she's just trying to help. Like Carolyn said we try to be very respectful on here and take everyone's opinion with a grain of salt. Sometimes you cannot "read" emotions but I don't think Paulette did anything wrong while your response to her was not very nice.

My aunt sells jewelry and they do not sell anything online or even have a catalog posted online. There is no other way to buy their merchandise except through a consultant (or on ebay... etc). Their company will not allow that. I think we should be grateful that our HO gives us the opportunity to allow us to have personal websites and all the benefits that come with it. There are rules that are made for a reason. We don't always know the why but it's best to abide by the rules to give everyone a fair chance. Read Doris' book it gives a good explination as to why some of the rules are in place like they are.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I don't see how Paulette's response was any different than many of the other responses here that refer back to the rules. She was just stating her opinion that it frustrates her, just like you stat your opinion.

I can see how it can get frustrating: there are now five pages to this thread with several posts offering reasoning for the rules, yet the same "why" keeps getting asked. Just as if you have a child who keeps asking for something even though you've repeatedly said no. It just gets frustrating. It's a personal feeling, not an affront to anyone else, and certainly not something that deserves such a harsh response.

Exactly! I have a 5 year old...and I never thought I'd hear myself saying it, but after explaining a "why" several times, my Mom takes over my mouth, and I hear myself say "Because I said so!"
I think that's where Paulette's frustration was coming from.

 

[etteluap70PC]

I read the contract before signing and so did my husband and we understand "what" the rules are and are willing to abide by them, we just wonder "why" the rule is in place. I don't think anyone who has asked why has ever implied that they wont abide by the rules they just wonder why and there is nothing wrong for that curiosity. It's not an attack on HO it's just a general curiosity. Nothing less nothing more.

OK I think I finally understand you... Sorry I was really tired last night and should probably not have posted.

And as th my comments on not liking the answer. I was referring to some things I have personally been dealing with in my life. They were just observations and not based on anything on this thread.

 

[etteluap70PC]

Lady, you are making it real hard for me to be polite. I'm not sure why YOU get frustrated when others ask questions. Last time I checked, you weren't in charge so it has no bearing on you and your life if I ask questions. As others have said, just because you want to know the reasons why doesn't mean you won't abide by HO's rules.

Wow... it was nothing personal... a few other people have given you similar responses and you didn't attack them... sorry if I struck a nerve. You will find many of us on his board have strong feelings on various topics but try our best to keep these debates civil.

I don't see how Paulette's response was any different than many of the other responses here that refer back to the rules. She was just stating her opinion that it frustrates her, just like you stat your opinion.

I can see how it can get frustrating: there are now five pages to this thread with several posts offering reasoning for the rules, yet the same "why" keeps getting asked. Just as if you have a child who keeps asking for something even though you've repeatedly said no. It just gets frustrating. It's a personal feeling, not an affront to anyone else, and certainly not something that deserves such a harsh response.

This is eactly what I have been getting at! I'm just not always the best with words. Thanks Noora!

 

[etteluap70PC]

Exactly! I have a 5 year old...and I never thought I'd hear myself saying it, but after explaining a "why" several times, my Mom takes over my mouth, and I hear myself say "Because I said so!"
I think that's where Paulette's frustration was coming from.

you know me so well Becky!

 

[mandy412]

Wow... it was nothing personal... a few other people have given you similar responses and you didn't attack them... sorry if I struck a nerve. You will find many of us on his board have strong feelings on various topics but try our best to keep these debates civil.



This is eactly what I have been getting at! I'm just not always the best with words. Thanks Noora!

That's the thing, I'm don't really have strong feelings about FB, I'm new to PC and I was trying to understand the thought process. I just didn't appreciate your response because it was really short like something my parents might have said when I was a kid. Nothing personal...the hot-blooded Italian in me had to respond but I'm happy to bury our exchange and move on.

 

[Rosebud]

I think I'm feeling the need for a group hug after this! ;-)

 

[esavvymom]

*hehe* I think you are right Rose...everyone "kiss and make up!" You know..reading today's comments...the thought struck me. There are alot of us here who have been on CS for a long time, so we've seen threads likes this come up over and over and yes- it can get a bit annoying or frustrating to see the same arguments or negativity or whatever the case may be in that particular thread. They go in cycles. We have so many NEW people who join the business and this group, that they don't KNOW the answer, and it can be very daunting to search through the hundreds and hundreds of threads...so they post their question looking for guidance from the Seasoned Consultants on here. (I know Joy is not New...but this thread sort of evolved from joy's original post)Just like I would with my child who keeps asking "why, why, why?" or asking the same questions over again - I'd *hopefully* patiently explain it again and then move on. Or direct/teach them how to find the information they might be looking for. The other thing to keep in mind- reading text on a screen lacks alot of the emotion. If I'm in a bad mood or feeling down, I may read something and take it as snarky...OR I may post something and it comes across that way- but it wasn't what I intended or was even thinking. (I try to use smilies for that reason too.) So while some comments ARE intended as we read them, others may just have been misinterpreted.So before we post...we just have to remind ourselves of those things I guess (me included sometimes).I'm off to clean my desk. I'm buried under Thank Yous and Receipts!

 

[cmdtrgd]

For those who asked, the DCB group on FB is I <3 my Deep Covered BakerAnd, thanks to whoever suggested my post (#27) as a good explanation of why. I am a total Why person! If I understand why, I can follow it so much better. Not that I need to know why in order to do what I agree to, but it sits better in my mind and I tend to follow it better.

 

[byrd1956]

no comments to all on the rules, but am going straight to FB to join
<3 my Deep Covered Baker

 

[The Pickler]

Howdy all!

ok....I've read all through this and the online policies and still have one question.

If someone emails me either personal email or facebook and asks me to send them a link to my website, what do I say?

I've had a couple people do that and am worried, that if I respond with my website link, they'll forward it on and I'll be breaking policy?

 

[pampchefsarah]

If you respond via e-mail or personal FB message you are allowed to provide your link. You can't post it on your wall on FB, but a private message is fine, because it's not searchable (as in a search engine).

 

[The Pickler]

Cool! Thanks much.

 

[Jennifer E]

I have not read all the comments yet, but has anyone thought about getting as many consultants as possible to write letters to HO asking them to revise/update their policy about FB? I wonder if they started to receive a lot of letters about this issue, they might decide it warranted taking another look at. Updating the policy would benefit PC in at least two ways: 1. They would not have to police FB pages as much and 2. They might see increased profits.
I do understand why they have the rules that they have, but times have changed and more and more contact is done nowadays through the internet. Is it the best way to do business, probably not, but it is 2010 afterall!

 

[CAPCnewbie]

I came across a facebook page for a consultant that some of my friends had joined (no, its not mine because I just have my PWS) I assumed it was ok because she's been in the business awhile. If its against policies I'd like to let her know but dont want to receive backlash from her. Do I just ignore it?

 

[Rosebud]

you could just report it to HO and let them deal with it. She'll never know it was you.

 

[MakinBacon]

WE can't control how our hosts contact people and invite them to order.

This is the problem I'm having. I have a big web presence as an individual (not as a consultant) because my hubby is military and we use the internet to communicate with friends in 3 countries and in 6 time zones. So, I'm online a LOT updating friends and family on how we're doing as a family, how hubby is doing with work, and how our son is growing.

That being said, MANY of my contacts also spend a lot of time online because of similar reasons---military families communicating with those back home.

My host from Jan apparently posted a link to my site on a chat room that SHE frequents advertising her show (i have an account, but rarely sign in to it and so I hadn't seen her post). I personally have no way of removing it and its MONTHS old now, but I JUST got an e-mail because someone searched the archives of this site and found her post and reported it. Not that I fault them for reporting it, but its just annoying because its so old.

I'm hoping she removes it quickly I don't want my site to be blocked! I have a BUSY April coming up and am hoping to have 2 catalog shows for the end of March too---mostly online shows!

 

[ivykeep]

Depending on how your facebook privacy setting are set, it is essentially just "email" and is NOT google searchable if you have on strong privacy settings so that only FRIENDS can see your posts (not "everyone" or "friends of friends")@MakinBacon, you can send an email to the site admin of the site she posted it on and ask them to remove the link.The silly things is that even if the link is removed it will STILL be searchable because of sites like archive.org that archive public sites at a point in time... but a "chat room" shouldn't be keeping the chats...

 

[MakinBacon]

Thanks Ivy---My host removed it already. She checks e-mail like 900 times a day (like me )

 

[K_Baker]

I agree with Wendy!!

 

[Nanisu]

Chris Manion did. Course the upper ups CAN market on the internet....

 

[AJPratt]

I have friends who say "just Facebook me" when they want me to get them info. People are so plugged into their iPhones and such that they are dialed into the internet for all sources of information, FB being a big part of their information input for the day.

Yes... when I would tell people I wasn't on FB, I would get a scrunched up nose look. LOL

 

[Cr8vKitchen]

Just my two cents...for what it's worth. I'm happy to hear (from one of the many previous posts) that PC is re-considering their stance on FB, social networking, etc. That being said, to maintain the integrity, personal relationships, keeping the playing field level, I do believe there must be rules set for such. Perhaps to post anything PC on social networking sites, your site must be completely private..meaning only 'friends' can view it. Just a thought. I think when individual consultants become searchable we can get into very muddy areas that may cause the integrity the company to change...and I, for one, don't want to see that happen. There are specific reasons I chose PC and while I'm all about social networking, I don't want to see those reasons change.

I love my social networking sites and I hope in the near future the rules are changed but the one thing that we can almost be sure of- it will never just be a 'free for all'...I'm certain there are be strict rules in place...as there should be! I do understand both sides of the debate.

Again...just my two cents!

 

[pampered_momma]

OK, wait a minute. I can't list that I am a consultant on FB? What sense does that maked for marketing? Does PC realize how many people I can reach via FB? Can I post when I am holding shows? Or post when I am taking orders or offering specials? I am new and haven't hear some of these rules before.

 

[NooraK]

The rules are outlined in The Consultant Policy Guide which is available on CC:

https://www.pamperedchef.com/images/cc/us/pdf/consultant_policy_guide.pdf

The Advertising and Publicity Policies start on page 35 (36 of the PDF), Internet/Web specific starts on page 37 (38 of the PDF).

The specific parts are:

Links to Your Personal Web Site
Consultants of every level are prohibited from linking to
their Pampered Chef® Personal Web Sites. This includes
both sponsored links and banner ads that you pay for, as
well as non-sponsored links that you don’t pay for. For
instance, if a friend posts a link on their family’s Web site
to your Personal Web Site, you would be in violation of this
policy. Additionally, any other form of advertising on the
Web is prohibited.

Other than signing up for a Pampered Chef® Personal Web Site
or approved vendor sites, do not list the company name when
filling out personal profiles on the Internet.

If you have not read through the PG, I highly recommend it. It has a lot of very good information. Even if you don't retain it all after the first reading, you'll know where to go to find the answers when you need them.

 

[Chef Kearns]

My biggest complaint is with people who make it their business to search out other consultants only to report them to HO without giving them an opportunity to correct the mistake themselves. Get a life people!! Yes, there are people breaking the rules. There always will be. Just do your own business to the best of your ability and let HO police their consultants. That is their business!

 

[AJPratt]

My biggest complaint is with people who make it their business to search out other consultants only to report them to HO without giving them an opportunity to correct the mistake themselves. Get a life people!! Yes, there are people breaking the rules. There always will be. Just do your own business to the best of your ability and let HO police their consultants. That is their business!

I agree. I am way too busy to worry about what others are doing. I figure let HO police it.

 

[pampered_momma]

WOW. I am really glad I stumbled on this. I was so excited to get started that I don't think I retained my of the info I read. I know I didn't read this though. Mostly what I remembered is I have a good deal of freedom with flyers and business card designs, right? Because we are military and our friends and family are so far spread apart, FB is the easiest way for me to reach all of our friends both local and far away. I also agree it is sort of like bumping into people in the hallway. I never really use it for communication with people who are local, I prefer a more personal interaction, but for those who are across the country this has really helped. I didn't read every post here, but can I use my FB email to email the people in my contacts? Some of them never use other email addresses.

 

[NooraK]

Yes, you can use the FB message system to send individual messages to your contacts. And that'll probably work better than posting something on your wall anyway. It's individual, and directed at that one person which makes them more likely to respond.

There have been rumors swirling about HO adjusting the policy, and a lot of people are hoping for an announcment at NC. We'll just have to wait and see!

 

[etteluap70PC]

Yes, you can use the FB message system to send individual messages to your contacts. And that'll probably work better than posting something on your wall anyway. It's individual, and directed at that one person which makes them more likely to respond.

There have been rumors swirling about HO adjusting the policy, and a lot of people are hoping for an announcment at NC. We'll just have to wait and see!

Yes we are all hoping but I am not holding my breath and will do my best to not be disappointed if this does not change. I need to get back to basics! FB has not helped me hardly at all to grow my biz accept that my far away FB friends now know what I do. You know the people I had lost contact with after moving a bunch of times.