**The "I'm Not Ordering" Guest**

[rennea]

I am wondering how everyone else has/would deal with people who come to shows and proclaim loudly and many times "I'm not ordering anything". I had a show a couple of weeks ago and a girl that was there proclaimed about a dozen times that she was saving for Christmas or broke and wasn't going to buy anything.

It was very annoying!:grumpy: If you are not going to buy anything then don't! By about the 7th time I just wanted to scream "ok we got it now shut up girl!" I just kind of ignored it and went about the show as usual.

Anybody have anything that they say when this comes up?

 

[leftymac]

I am wondering how everyone else has/would deal with people who come to shows and proclaim loudly and many times "I'm not ordering anything". I had a show a couple of weeks ago and a girl that was there proclaimed about a dozen times that she was saving for Christmas or broke and wasn't going to buy anything.

It was very annoying!:grumpy: If you are not going to buy anything then don't! By about the 7th time I just wanted to scream "ok we got it now shut up girl!" I just kind of ignored it and went about the show as usual.

Anybody have anything that they say when this comes up?

I don't say anything b/c she just wants attention.

I also have the ones who say "I'll order on the website when I get home."...Really? No you won't. You're not gonna hurt my feelings if you don't order something, so don't lie to me. I've never had someone say they're gonna order later and then actually do it.

 

[vwpamperedchef]

I just thank them for coming, make conversation. Invite them to join PC or host their own show and get free products. I don't push it, but I can see how it was annoying.

 

[raebates]

That hasn't happened to me yet, but my initial reaction is, "Well, I'm glad you're here anyway. You can see how great our products are, and gather lots of ideas for your Christmas wish list. Be sure to let me know what you're just drooling over and to whom I can send your list."

 

[chefsteph07]

Yes, it is annoying because you count on that sale, and disappointing for the host as well if they want things for free!

I had a show in Sept and there were about 10 guests there, I was excited, and I walked out with TWO orders. TWO. I was seriously bummed and the host obviously did not qualify, I got a few add'l orders and tacked them onto her show to get to $150 but I know she'll never host again. (and I don't want her to if no one will BUY anything)

 

[pcsharon1]

I don't say anything b/c she just wants attention.

I also have the ones who say "I'll order on the website when I get home."...Really? No you won't. You're not gonna hurt my feelings if you don't order something, so don't lie to me. I've never had someone say they're gonna order later and then actually do it.

Don't you just want to say "enough already, please don't lie to me and lead me on" It's not that I am upset that the don't order. I am speaking more along the lines of the person who keeps insisting they want to do a show but finding an excuse not to do it. How can I politely say "Look if you keep telling me to call you back at such and such a time, I'm going to keep calling you back because that's my job. I would much prefer you just say you don't want to have a show than waste me time having me call you back because you don't want to hurt my feelings." Trust me my feelings won't be hurt if they don't do a show but I'm going to be royally POed if they make me keep calling them.

Am I alone here or do we all have those customers and how do you handle them?

 

[BethCooks4U]

I don't say anything b/c she just wants attention.

I also have the ones who say "I'll order on the website when I get home."...Really? No you won't. You're not gonna hurt my feelings if you don't order something, so don't lie to me. I've never had someone say they're gonna order later and then actually do it.

I've had a few order later that said they were going to show the book to their husband but about 95% never do. Do they think their friend won't find out they didn't order? Just be honest or don't say anything for Pete's sake.

 

[Nanisu]

I don't get why they even come....I know, that sounds tacky but c'mon....it's not like these things are brand new ideas.....just say you can't come. I absolutely HATE it when they "take the catalog home to show their husband". But I am always sweet and say "oh, he will LOVE our stuff--my husband actually talked me into selling Pampered Chef. I'm anxious to hear what his favorite things are! I know Susie is going to be so busy the next couple of days--when should I call you to see what he liked?". I have actually had about 1/2 of them go "oh, um, well"---and then give me a time to call--I don't act like I'm putting them on the spot, I act like it's just part of my customer service. I sometimes have their info on the PDS so I can call them. Or email. Sometimes it's a bust, but sometimes it works.

 

[rennea]

That hasn't happened to me yet, but my initial reaction is, "Well, I'm glad you're here anyway. You can see how great our products are, and gather lots of ideas for your Christmas wish list. Be sure to let me know what you're just drooling over and to whom I can send your list."

Your very wise Rae, I wish I would have come up with that!

 

[rennea]

Yes, it is annoying because you count on that sale, and disappointing for the host as well if they want things for free!

I felt bad for my host because I could tell it was making her uncomfortable.

 

[susanr613]

I am slowly learning to shrug off these types of people. I understand that it's uncomfortable to come to a party, eat the food, hang out...and not order. They probably feel guilty that they are doing this.

If this is going to be a vent thread, here's mine. I hate it when guests (especially at a booth) appear to be interested, ask lots of questions, then either don't order or order a tiny little bit. If you're not interested, don't waste my time by asking me a lot of questions and making me show you all the products.

Ok off my chest, thanks!

 

[rennea]

OMG, I do have to admitt that I'm one of those "take the book home" people. If I haven't seen a catty before the show I don't like to order on the spot. I like to think about it and if my DH isn't there I always wait and see if there is anything he wants. But I have never taken a book home and not ordered I wouldn't do that to the host.

 

[rennea]

I am slowly learning to shrug off these types of people. I understand that it's uncomfortable to come to a party, eat the food, hang out...and not order. They probably feel guilty that they are doing this.

If this is going to be a vent thread, here's mine. I hate it when guests (especially at a booth) appear to be interested, ask lots of questions, then either don't order or order a tiny little bit. If you're not interested, don't waste my time by asking me a lot of questions and making me show you all the products.

Ok off my chest, thanks!

Yup had that at my last show.LOL I had a lady that had to interrupt everything I said and asked tons of questions and only ordered a garlic press:grumpy:

 

[chefann]

I try to give the guests at my shows permission not to buy. It tends to eliminate the "I'm not buying" announcements from them, since they know that while I (and the host) appreciate the orders, nobody's going to force them to stay until they order. I've found that making it low-pressure like that can actually make some guests more receptive to placing an order, when they weren't planning to.

 

[merego]

I don't say anything b/c she just wants attention.

I also have the ones who say "I'll order on the website when I get home."...Really? No you won't. You're not gonna hurt my feelings if you don't order something, so don't lie to me. I've never had someone say they're gonna order later and then actually do it.

HA, sooo true. People must think we are really stupid.

 

[SeeMe4PC]

I try to give the guests at my shows permission not to buy. It tends to eliminate the "I'm not buying" announcements from them, since they know that while I (and the host) appreciate the orders, nobody's going to force them to stay until they order. I've found that making it low-pressure like that can actually make some guests more receptive to placing an order, when they weren't planning to.

That's my experience, too. The line I've been using recently is...

"I am not a high pressure sales person so you don't need to rush to the door after I finish my recipe. I want everyone to hang around, visit with your friends and enjoy your time away tonight. If you end up placing an order, I will go over it with you if you need my help..."

something like that, anyway. I make sure I am animated with the rushing to the door thing and they always laugh. I just make it really light-hearted.

 

[kam]

Yup had that at my last show.LOL I had a lady that had to interrupt everything I said and asked tons of questions and only ordered a garlic press:grumpy:

I get this a lot too. I think they do this so their friends think they are going to order a lot!

Sometimes they ask tons of questions (especially after the show when I am trying to take orders and assist those that ARE ordering) - then order NOTHING!

 

[raebates]

Your very wise Rae, I wish I would have come up with that!

Thanks. Usually when people refer to me as wise it's followed by a 3-letter body part.

 

[rennea]

Thanks. Usually when people refer to me as wise it's followed by a 3-letter body part.

Well that to luv

 

[raebates]

I believe it is a pleasure to be known and loved for exactly who I am.

 

[murkey]

I usually am one of those guests who take home to catalog to DH so I can get approval for buying more than I need LOL Honestly, the MAIN reason I don't get an order in is usually because I forget the deadline! I almost never get a return call to remind me that the show is closing so I typically don't get the order in. I have almost always ordered when the host or the consultant called to follow up the day of the show closing.

 

[Sheila]

Hey, that guest needs to host a January show! Then she can earn more stuff for free and not have to spend ANY money!!! It's a win/win situation!!!

I just had a show on Sunday with a college student as a guest. She wasn't being rude, but using more of a disappointed tone with the demo upset that she LOVED the products but couldn't use "that" in the dorm room. I had a 4 page (2 pages front & back) attachment on my clipboards with all kinds of holiday gift basket ideas. I directed her to the one designed for college students and told her that those where all great items to have in the dorm room & why. She put evey one of those items on her order form & was HAPPY!!!

 

[lisagoins]

How about the HOST who walks around the whole time telling people they don't have to order anything, just have fun and eat, cuz she got $150 in orders from work. Don't order, don't worry, etceven when people are FILLING out their forms! After you've driven an hour in the SNOW at night--and you're doing TWO recipes! As I was leaving I was going over the host benefits IF she got to $300, and her boyfriend said he would order about a hundred dollars, and she said--Oh, you don't have to! Sales at the show--(7 people attending)--$95.25
Total commissionable--$328. No bookings, no recruit leads. At least it was a show!

 

[Kitchen2u]

Yup had that at my last show.LOL I had a lady that had to interrupt everything I said and asked tons of questions and only ordered a garlic press:grumpy:

HUGE RED FLAG! Did you invite her to join your team?

 

[Kitchen2u]

If this is going to be a vent thread, here's mine. I hate it when guests (especially at a booth) appear to be interested, ask lots of questions, then either don't order or order a tiny little bit. If you're not interested, don't waste my time by asking me a lot of questions and making me show you all the products.

ANOTHER HUGE RED FLAG Susan...and others who have encountered this. Did you ever think they can't afford the products and NEED the business in their life?

 

[pampered.chris]

My rant is when offering a sale having someone tell you that they just HAVE to buy a 12" skillet for their mom for Christmas and why did PC get rid of the stuff that was more affordable. I was offering 10% off for Black Friday and she said to me "Oh, c'mon, you can do better than that."
Here is the back ground as to my "why" I couldn't do better than that. She is the principal of the school my DD attends. Last year the 6th grade class did a Pampered Chef fundraiser....using a consultant from over 5 hours away. The teachers protested the idea saying that there was someone from town, that had a child in the school, payed taxes in this school district etc and she STILL wouldn't go with me. I was very upset. I never did hear how that fundraiser went but even this year w/ my DD in 6th grade, they would not do a fundraiser with me, but at least they didn't do a PC one with someone else.
So no, I am offering you 10% off...I won't do better, but YOU can host a book or home show to get it for free or 1/2 price. Hmmm....she took me up on that offer, but didn't do anything for it.

 

[BarefootCook]

the people who came by our booth said a few things about PC's price..esp.the knives and cookware, then I asked them about the warranty's on their products at home, they didnt know.I then told them of PC's wonderful warranty and how you will not have to buy more in your lifetime because something "broke"etc...they were pretty much speechless! I had a lady who filled out a card for a drawing on a FREE cooking show..she wasnt interested in anything, even the FREE show, but she did fill out the card..and won the free show....wonder if she will take it now?LOL
I gotta call her and let her know she won!

 

[princessmeshelle]

ginny- i'm with you, those people who ask a million questions, i read those posts and and was thinking, offer shows to he people who didn't buy more but asked a ton! i am one of those customers who asked a million questions at every show i went to. i never knew until i became a consultant that you could touch the display, try what was there and all that stuff. it was a year before i signed, and I had to ask the consultant! well, more like i ended up holding her up after the show with all my questions about being a consultant. so for those who get LOTS of questions from 1 person, make sure to ask them if they want to host, and ask if they have ever thought about the biz!

 

[rennea]

HUGE RED FLAG! Did you invite her to join your team?

Yes a huge red flag...(stay away from her flag)...


I don't recruit but even if I did, she was NOT interested!!! She just wanted to be one of those people. I'm sure she would never want to sell our "average" or "gimmick" products

 

[kcmckay]

I honestly have rarely experienced the not ordering guests. At my first few shows I had a total of 2 non ordering guests. My one show had 4 people in attendance including the host. Luckily she got enough outside orders to qualify. One of her guests did not order and she was bit obnoxious but that's her personality and it didn't bother me because she was not really a deterent for my sales in anyway for the show. At my other show there was a good turnout I think over 10 guests and it was my best show yet (granted it was my 3rd show yet!. There was one guest that didn't order and even felt bad about it. I had no idea she wasn't going to and it didn't bother me. She was a coworker of the host and the host encouraged her to come. She actually won my door prize and didn't want to take it but I told her to go ahead and not worry about not ordering. I was not about to pressure anyone. On a personal note, I will not go to a show of any sales company and not order. I feel like I have to order for the hosts sake that's just how I feel about it. In the past year I've been doing pampered chef, I've been to several other DS parties.

The first was Lia Sophia, I went with the intention of gifts shopping as I didn't think I would like anything. I turned out to have a pretty big wish list. I also had just started my PC business and this consultant was new as well. I knew my friend (host) needed 2 bookings to get something extra and I had a wish list so I booked a show with her.

This month I was invited to a Tastefully Simple party and was last minute invite. (friends mom was hosting). I had been wanting to check out TS so I went. I placed a small order of 2 things I really liked.

I also recently went to a Silpada party. I knew the stuff would be pricey and I really prefer gold to silver anyway. I went with intentions of finding gifts. I ended up ordering a gift for a friend and one thing I really liked for me. I did see other things I liked but couldn't afford and wasn't worth it to me as I do prefer gold. The main reason I went to this party was because the host is going to do a Feb show with me, so I felt if I showed to hers she'd be less likely to cancel.

This is just how I feel if I attend I intend to buy. While that's my philosophy if I had guests at shows that didn't order I would not be pushy or rude about it. I would listen to how they were during demo and what they say about products. And see if they would be a good potential host/recruit etc.

Wow I have way too much time on my hands I really need to learn to write shorter posts.