Should You Warn Customers About Upcoming Restyling? | Garlic Press Dilemma

[babywings76]

Do you warn customers if what they are wanting is going to be restyled in a few months? I have a guest who wants to order the garlic press. I am assuming it's best to just play dumb and not even mention new items so people don't hold out on their spending, right? But if I don't let her know, will she be frustrated that she just bought something that is getting improved (well, I don't know if it's necessarily an improvement, but a style change)?

 

[chefsteph07]

Since you are questioning it, I would be honest and let her know.
If she wants to order it now she will, if she wants to wait then that is her right. But, since we know, I'd tell anyone wanting a prod that was being restyled...

 

[jbdowd0798]

I would mention it something like "If you love this garlic press now is a great time to get it as the company is redesigning it and I know/don't know what it looks like or how it will work". That way she can choose to order or not. Good question

 

[sklay723]

When the new rotary grater was released and the old one was being discontinued, I would wait and see who had the grater on their order and I would mention it to them in passing. That way if they decided to wait and order the new one, I felt like I had helped...several times they waited and decided to order something else in its place, and several times they said that they'd go ahead and order the discontinued one anyway. It was a split market, really. I just felt like I should at least give them a heads up on things like that...and they really seemed to appreciate my honesty. Hope this helps...

 

[jrstephens]

I always take the list of retiring and restyled items to me show. I want them know it is going to be restyled. I do not want them to think I deceived them in any way when they see it different a few weeks later in the magazine.

I try to always put myself in their shoes and remember what I would want to know and I know I would want to know.

 

[raebates]

Yeah, I let them know. Some people will prefer to go with the tried and true, while others will prefer to go for the new design. For me, it's a matter of customer care.

 

[Teresa Lynn]

I too let them know when the current colanders were redesigned I pushed the others like crazy (same with the old veggie peeler)

 

[babywings76]

Okay, glad to hear that it's okay. I really want to tell her. I'd feel guilty if I didn't, this way they can make an informed decision and not be mad at me if they find out later it's changed. Plus she is my star host that I had my biggest show with. We are friends, too. So it feels natural to tell her. I just wanted to be sure.

 

[punktress]

I signed up right before the new rotary grater debuted. I signed up when I hosted a show through a friend. When it came time to do my order, I had that one on the list. She said "oh no - the new one is coming out and you are going to love it. Buy it when it comes out." I was already planning to spend the money so I just swapped it out for another item.

I was so glad that she told me that. I got the new one as soon as it came out and I love it. I would have been frustrated if I knew she held that back just for the extra commissions in the sale.

In the end, I think it makes the customer happy and more loyal when you are looking out for their best interest.

 

[aPamperedBride]

I didn't know the garlic press was going to be restyled until I saw this post. Any other news from leadership I've overlooked? (And yes, I always let people know that items are being discontinued and restyled. If they love it, they can buy it now.)

 

[pampered.chris]

I am not a fan of the Rotary Grater. But I LOVED the DCG and was very disappointed in the Rotary Grater. I have taken the grater out of my kit completely. I know I need to learn to love it b/c I sold Graters all the time, but it hurts my hand when I use it and I am just not comfortable with it.
I had told people that I personally like the old one and wasn't totally sold on the new one but it was their call to make. I feel it is better to give them the option of choosing how to spend their money.
This was the same scenario with the colander and bowl set. I sold a TON of them before they were redesigned. I think the new set is flimsy compared to the old.

 

[crystalscookingnow]

The restyle on the garlic press is NOT a big deal. The cleaning tool is stored in a different place. It's in the underneath part of the handle instead of on the press part. The press itself is the same.

 

[AMTC]

When the knives were being redesigned, I let people know and a guest asked if they were on sale. I told them no, but if they wanted one I would give them 5% off - it wasn't much and I didn't think it would make a difference, but I sold a lot of knives that night and it probably helped my sales since they felt like they were getting something on sale!

 

[Grandmarita]

Yes, I definitely warned one of my bridal registry brides, at the time when she selected
Professional cookware, and I knew it was going to be discontinued the March before her wedding. She insisted on staying with that pattern because she wanted the steamer.
It is a good thing she did. We still do not have the steamer for the Executive line, as far as I know. She also wanted the Vanilla glaze and I warned her. It too was discontinued before she got all she wanted. Oh well. At least I gave her the benefit of the doubt,
so that I had peace of mind when we dropped some major items on her list.

That being said, I have not made announcements at my Shows. Generally, I would only mention it to someone who is contemplating a purchase, if there was a second choice that they could make. In other words, I would not want to kill a sale for my hostess.