PC Products on eBay: Unfair Pricing or Justified Savings?

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses the presence of Pampered Chef products on eBay and the implications for consultants. Participants express their frustrations regarding pricing discrepancies and the impact on their businesses, as well as the challenges of competing with eBay sellers.

Discussion Character

  • Opinion-based
  • Anecdotal
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expresses frustration about eBay sellers offering Pampered Chef products at lower prices, which affects their ability to compete.
  • Another participant shares their experience of a guest considering purchasing a product on eBay due to lower prices, highlighting the value of Pampered Chef's customer service and warranty.
  • Several users mention that while they are aware of eBay sales, they believe that the prices often do not reflect significant savings when shipping and warranty considerations are taken into account.
  • One participant notes that the only action the Home Office can take is to contact consultants directly, as selling on eBay is technically legal.
  • Another participant recounts their experience of trying to win over an eBay customer by emphasizing the benefits of purchasing through a consultant, despite being unable to match eBay prices.
  • One user mentions that they have encountered a customer who had previously bought from eBay and is now seeking assistance, but expresses frustration with the customer's demands and expectations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ among participants regarding the impact of eBay sales on their businesses. While some express strong frustration and concern, others seem less affected or focus on the advantages of selling through Pampered Chef.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences and opinions related to the challenges of competing with eBay sellers, emphasizing the importance of customer service and product guarantees in their sales approach.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants who are navigating the challenges of eBay competition and seeking to understand different perspectives on pricing and customer service may find this discussion relevant.

spoiledchef
spoiledchef
Messages
386
Okay, it really bothers me to no end when I see PC products on eBay. And -- what REALLY upsets me is when people want me to give them the same deal. I'm sorry, but I can't afford to sell the products at eBay prices. Most of the stuff I see on eBay HAD to be EARNED for free or something. One seller is selling lots of the new spring/summer products INCLUDING the Executive saute' pan.

What do you all think? Are you just as bothered by this? Why doesn't HO do something about it? I'm sure, together with eBay, they could stop the selling of PC products on that site. Sorry...had to vent.
 
This is an ongoing problem and there is no simple solution. I'm not sure there's a legal way or reason to block sales of any Pampered Chef product on eBay. We all agree to not sell on eBay but some people don't care.

This has been pretty well discussed in several threads, including:

Ebay auctions

and in that thread, it references this one, too:

New Spring on ebay!

IMHO, a few short-sighted and self centered directors & consultants are hurting all the rest of us and worse, they rationalize their actions and just don't give a rip about the rest of us.
 
At one show that I did, one of the guests was mentioning that she was going to buy a pizza stone from Ebay, because it was half the price. I overheard her and asked her, point blank
"What makes Pampered Chef a great company?"
She didn't know how to answer and I said
"It's customer service is awesome. We have a guarantee that is second to none. When you order a stone from me, and decide after a couple of weeks that you don't like it, Pampered Chef will refund your money and pay the shipping to return it. And if your stone breaks within 3 years, they will send you a new one! Your ebay seller can't give you that. I think that the peace of mind you get with PC's warranty is more than worth the $20 you'll save buying on Eaby."
She hadn't given any thought to the fact that once that stone left the ebay sellers hands, she was on her own. If it arrived broken, too bad. If it cracked the first time she used it, too bad.
She ended up purchasing the stone from me and even ended up hosting a show!
 
ebay..This is truly a sad thing and happens to most all of the DSA's. I had heard they were working on a way to stop it, but as far as I've seen it continues to still go on :(

spoiledchef said:
Okay, it really bothers me to no end when I see PC products on eBay. And -- what REALLY upsets me is when people want me to give them the same deal. I'm sorry, but I can't afford to sell the products at eBay prices. Most of the stuff I see on eBay HAD to be EARNED for free or something. One seller is selling lots of the new spring/summer products INCLUDING the Executive saute' pan.

What do you all think? Are you just as bothered by this? Why doesn't HO do something about it? I'm sure, together with eBay, they could stop the selling of PC products on that site. Sorry...had to vent.
Click to expand...
 
To be honest, I don't spend much time worrying about what is going on over on Ebay. I have surfed around just for curiousity and discovered that in most cases the products are at least as much, if not more, than what we charge. Plus, shipping is usually much higher. Plus, the customer has no recourse if something breaks in the mail. Plus, they don't get the warranty. I have yet to have a customer mention it, but if they did, I would certainly stress those points. And then I would let it go!

Love+
Rachel
 
The only thing HO can do is contact consultants directly to have them stop. Technically, outside of the consultant agreement, it's perfectly legal for ANYONE to sell PC products on EBay. Ebay has no reason to try and stop it because regardless of how it affect the PC company, EBAY makes it's fees off the products that sell and so they don't really care either way.
 
I just stole an EBAY customer!!I had someone on another forum ask for a PC rep to buy a bunch of stuff from. I responded!! She said that she would normally buy from Ebay but thought she would give a real rep first crack at it. She asked me to meet their prices, I can't do that!!! :rolleyes:
She showed me her list from the last time she ordered from Ebay and no way could I meet that!! I stressed the warranties and customer service! I told her that I would come as close as I could. I am working my butt off to get this customer!!! I am giving her all of my commission from the sale!! I won't be able to do this everytime, but I am hoping for the opportunity to become her consultant for life!! Her current order is like $265 right now!! :D

I am so thrilled to steal an Ebay customer that I will bend over backwards for this lady!! On the other hand if she takes advantage, I will send her right back!! :eek:

She even might want to sign on as a consultant!! If she chooses that, I might need a rep to refer her to. I don't have a team because I choose not to. I could feesibly send her to my 'director' (I use the word loosely). Since I have only met my director once in over 3 years, I am not feeling the love to give her a new recruit!! :p
 
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  • #8
stephanieboyd said:
I had someone on another forum ask for a PC rep to buy a bunch of stuff from. I responded!! She said that she would normally buy from Ebay but thought she would give a real rep first crack at it. She asked me to meet their prices, I can't do that!!! :rolleyes:
She showed me her list from the last time she ordered from Ebay and no way could I meet that!! I stressed the warranties and customer service! I told her that I would come as close as I could. I am working my butt off to get this customer!!! I am giving her all of my commission from the sale!! I won't be able to do this everytime, but I am hoping for the opportunity to become her consultant for life!! Her current order is like $265 right now!! :D

I am so thrilled to steal an Ebay customer that I will bend over backwards for this lady!! On the other hand if she takes advantage, I will send her right back!! :eek:

She even might want to sign on as a consultant!! If she chooses that, I might need a rep to refer her to. I don't have a team because I choose not to. I could feesibly send her to my 'director' (I use the word loosely). Since I have only met my director once in over 3 years, I am not feeling the love to give her a new recruit!! :p
Click to expand...

Stephanie -- I had that SAME lady. I don't mind if she chooses you b/c I'm not willing to give up my commission OR sell stuff at the rates she was getting. However, I also didn't like the fact that she made it seem like her past orders were from a "legit" PC rep and NOT from eBay. If I'd known all along she had bought off of eBay, I may have had other thoughts. :D

But -- good luck with her. I'm sure she won't CHOOSE me b/c I let her know I figured out she had bought from an eBayer, and there was no way I'd meet or try to meet those ridiculous prices. I haven't been in the business long enough to be giving away my stuff yet. ;)
 
She is becoming a pain!!! Asking a thousand questions about her total price, not willing to do anything to boost a show total, and I am giving her every dime I would make on it!!!!
She is ordering tons of stones though!!! 9 so far!!! And she got a ton from Ebay before!! She says she did have a real consultant at one time, but can't get a hold of her. She has a broken stone that should be going back, but since she can't find her 'receipt' or 'consultant' she doesn't want to call HO. Fine by me, she has to pay for another one!!! Even though I am not making anything on it, it serves her right for ordering from Ebay!!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #10
stephanieboyd said:
She is becoming a pain!!! Asking a thousand questions about her total price, not willing to do anything to boost a show total, and I am giving her every dime I would make on it!!!!
She is ordering tons of stones though!!! 9 so far!!! And she got a ton from Ebay before!! She says she did have a real consultant at one time, but can't get a hold of her. She has a broken stone that should be going back, but since she can't find her 'receipt' or 'consultant' she doesn't want to call HO. Fine by me, she has to pay for another one!!! Even though I am not making anything on it, it serves her right for ordering from Ebay!!
Click to expand...

LOL! I offered to turn her order into a show for her, but I guess that wasn't enough of a "bribe" or "deal" for her. Oh well, no skin off my back b/c my commission is barely enough for me, much less her. LOL!

Good luck w/her. I'm sure I won't hear back from her b/c I caller her out on buying from eBay and expecting the same from me.

BTW...do you mean you're giving her your commission by just placing the order at a discount?
 
OH NO!! I am trying to turn her order into a show as well. She is very unwilling to 'invite' anyone else. I am paying the difference from what my commission will be!! Then of course, host benefits if it turns into a show! I think I have explained the benefits well enough to get her to invite others to her catalog show.
 
*sniff* *sniff* *sniff*

I smell something here.

I think you two have been had ~ and I suspect you've just supplied an ebay reseller with grey market product.
 
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  • #13
Not meI haven't been had b/c I'm not helping her. I tried, but she's asking a bit way too much from me. I'm not giving my commission to anyone...not even family. Sorry, can't make money that way. At least not me.
 
i have to agree with Kitchen Guy. she sounds way to fishy...i think she is just going to re-sell it and make a bigger profit!! live and learn....jmo!!
 
Over the years, I've developed a pretty strong bull*$#! meter. There just comes a point where you have to walk away from some people. I hate to turn down business, OTOH, why invest time into something that's going to have negative return?

She'll keep shopping for a consultant until she finds one dumb enough to help her out.
 
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eBay ladyYou can check her selling history to see if she's a seller herself. Sounds to me like that's what she's doing. No one that I know (unless they're filthy rich) would buy 9 stones at one time. Plus those are a hot item on eBay in case anyone has looked recently. I am an eBay fanatic (been eBaying since '99) and I often check the PC products to see what they're going for. Like someone said before, most times items are going for WAY over what people would pay at a show, not just because of the price itself, but in shipping. People will rip you on shipping. That would be my line of defence against customers asking about eBay. They pay just as much (maybe plus or minus a few bucks) and get no guarantee in return. Hope it all works out for you, but I wouldn't work too hard for that woman, sounds like she is trying to take advantage of your kindness.

~Kristen :cool:

P.S. Just to clear up any ideas about me and eBay, I would NEVER sell PC on eBay just for the simple fact that I don't have any products I want to part with and it would be way too much work for not a lot in return...the biggest thing would be the possibility of losing the business that I LOVE! ;)
 
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As I was reading I thought the same as Kitchenguy. This is a scam. Do what your gut tells you to do. If you think she's legit then sell to her, but she's an ebayer and will problably turn them to make a profit. Just my thoughts.
 
If something seems like it's too good to be true - it is.
 
I too would never sell PC on E-bay, but I must say that compared to other direct sales companies PC has the least product on there that I have seen. That makes me think that they have more loyal consultants than the others. PC seems to be a very fair company and let's hope their consultants can be the same way.

Cheers,
Emma
 
stephanieboyd said:
She is becoming a pain!!! Asking a thousand questions about her total price, not willing to do anything to boost a show total, and I am giving her every dime I would make on it!!!!
She is ordering tons of stones though!!! 9 so far!!! And she got a ton from Ebay before!! She says she did have a real consultant at one time, but can't get a hold of her. She has a broken stone that should be going back, but since she can't find her 'receipt' or 'consultant' she doesn't want to call HO. Fine by me, she has to pay for another one!!! Even though I am not making anything on it, it serves her right for ordering from Ebay!!
Click to expand...

How do you know that she won't take the stones you sell her and sell them on e-bay!! Maybe that is what she is doing. Getting a GREAT rate and then selling them??
 
Sorry I'm new at this!!I guess I should've read the sencond page first--Sorry. I just signed up In January and just found Chef Succes a couple week ago!! GREAT SITE!! :)
 
If YOU KNOWOf someone doing that, you should just send the info to HO......
Oh, I KNOW that when I first started and even BEFORE I had all my stuff, I was soooo excited, I put an ad on my Yacht Clubs members only page and included the website link, well sure enough 2 weeks later I get an email from HO telling me to take it down, etc.....THAT WAS BEFORE I KNEW BETTER.....AND there was another Ad out there that they told me about (and honestly I FORGOT about it....) but sure enough, bam I'm getting an Email....

So if someone can turn ME in and I'm not selling anything, just advertising and didn't know any better, then TURN THEM IN......That is what YOU can do to help the cause.....

Simple as that.....HO can't do it all.....so take the info, send it to HO and let them deal with it......

I agree, I think that it shouldn't be allowed, it does hurt our business, but have you seen the shipping COSTS? It is ridiculous......

Well, I have vented now....sorry....:o
 
You may be able to buy products at a cheaper price on Ebay - but have you checked out the shipping prices?? That is where they are making their money. Even if you get a stone for a couple of dollars off - by the time you pay $8.00 shipping - you are MUCH better off going through a consultant because you get the warranty too.

NOW - I will pick up items at garage sales (for my personal use) Those are usually much cheaper and there isn't any shipping.
 
Where do you get the info to report these people on ebay? It kills me to see things selling for more than we would sell--and people think they are getting it cheaper. I want to put up a "listing" that says "YOU ARE PAYING TOO MUCH ON EBAY FOR PAMPERED CHEF". I have to figure out a way. Let's get 'em!
 
you could always send messages to the folks that are bidding. You may even get some sales like that.
 
When someone tells me they can get it cheaper on ebay, the first thing I tell them is about the warentee!!

One thing I do is when I sell things on ebay (Non PC of course) I always put a "Check out my website www.pc.biz/XXX" sticker next to the return address label. Actually I do this with almost all mail that I send out whether it's PC related or not. This is one way to advertise your website and when I'm shipping things all over the US who knows if someone might actually go onto my website and order, or book a catalog show, or become a consultant. You never know!!
 
TANSTAAFL.

It's an acronym: There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

That's what I tell the "I can get it cheaper on ebay" crowd. When you end up paying more for shipping than you paid for the product, where is the savings? And, if it breaks, who is going to help you get it replaced? TPC offers a great warranty and great customer service but only through indepedent consultants.

As an example, I've got a dead computer here that needs a power supply. I've been watching ebay, and identical used systems have been selling for about 1/3 to 1/2 of what a power supply costs, so I've been trying to purchase an identical system to cannabalize for parts. I paid more yesterday for one system than for a nearly identical one, but paid less overall because of shipping costs.

The second guy offered shipping charges that must have been for overnight on the space shuttle. I bet he auctionsTPC on the side. ;)
 
I don't have enough disposable income to throw away on disposible merchandise.

Love this!
 
AJPratt said:
I don't have enough disposable income to throw away on disposible merchandise.

Love this!
Click to expand...
TY. Use it in good health at shows when someone says, "Your stuff is SO expensive."
 
Well HO is on top of things... i had a new consultant list on ebay.. not sure what or if she was just advertising but got an email that was sent to her... re: going against contract.... so.. they are somehow on top of things at HO re: ebayers....
 
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