chefann
Gold Member
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Note: Dates for each season will be different, but each season change-over is usually generally the same. Check current communications from HO for specifics.
Welcome to season change-over! This can be both exciting and confusing. Here are some tips for you.
Dates
Check the current Consultant Newsletter (CN) and PC NewsWire for specifics regarding dates. As of this post, the dates for the Fall 2009 season changeover are in the July CN. HO usually publishes a list that includes paperwork (changeover) box shipments, earned sample (sell a thon) shipment, kit and super start box changes, and when new paperwork can be ordered.
Changeover Boxes
Changeover boxes are shipped to consultants who are active when HO generates the shipping list. Which, as near as I can figure, is the month before they ship. So if you were active in December (for Spring) or June (for Fall), you should get one. Inactive consultants who reactivate after the list is generated, including during the season, will also receive a box. You will be charged $6.25 to cover shipping, which will be deducted from your next commission statement.
Changeover boxes typically include samples of new paperwork and just enough catalogs to put together early-season host packs for distribution (1 pack). They also include product sample order forms and paperwork order forms. Please check the dates on sample order forms - they are not good forever (typically only until the end of the first month of the season).
Tracking
Earned samples (from Sell-a-Thon) and changeover boxes do not show up on the shipment status page on CC. Never fear! There is a backdoor way to track them. Yes, HO indicates in their list of dates approximately when they'll ship. But we all get excited to receive them, and want to know exactly when to expect the Fed Ex guy.
Go to CC, and click on the Product Adjustment link in the right column. Proceed as if you're doing an adjustment but don't know the show number. When you look at the list of orders, you can see that the numbers have different letters in the middle: C for catalog shows, K for cooking shows (a throwback to when they were called Kitchen shows), S for supply orders, etc. G is used for earned and auto-ship items, like changeover boxes and SAT. Look for the most recent g-type shipments and use that number as the primary portion of the reference number at fedex.com.
For example: Betsy Consultant goes to the adjustment screen and sees a box listed as "123456G0123." So she then goes to the "track by reference number" screen at fedex.com and enters 123456G012301 as the reference number, along with her ZIP code and the approximate shipping date. The resultant tracking info shows her that her box will be delivered tomorrow!
Free business supplies
HO reserves the right to change these policies. But at present, consultants can receive the following items at no charge. There are occasionally special item numbers to use - check the PC NewsWire and CN for those.
- 1 free pack of receipts per season (as of Spring 2009, these were included with the first supply order of the season)
- 1 DVD per season. This DVD includes info about the new products, theme shows, and recipes, with recipe demos. It's a great resource to learn about the new products. As of Fall 2009, this will be included in the Changeover box.
- 1 RUFTH trivet per round-up year (Sept.-Aug.). Conference attendees usually get this in their conference bag.
- 1 pack of show planners per month
- 1 pack of consultant agreements per month
Online sales of samples
We've all worked hard to earn free product samples. Why would we want to get rid of them? I sure don't know, but there are consultants who do. If you see someone selling products before they're available to the public, that's a pretty sure bet they're a consultant. Don't bother posting about it here. Just send a link to the sale to HO using [email protected] or [email protected].
Recipes
HO makes the SBRC recipes available electronically, to make it easy for us to post them on PWS or send in email. Please honor HO's copyright by using those recipes only in that manner. Do not post recipes here or on other online forums. If a recipe is not provided electronically by HO, do not share it in a mass-distribution manner unless the cookbook from which it's taken is no longer available. PC makes its money SELLING tools and cookbooks. Publishing the recipes willy-nilly not only increases the chance of errors (just like when playing "Telephone" as a kid), but reduces the chance that our customers will actually purchase the books. If you're a consultant looking for a current recipe, use your consultant discount to buy the book it's in.
So welcome to season change-over! As exciting as it is, don't talk about the new products and themes to your customers until you've got the last month of the season booked as solid as you want it. And if you get confused, take a deep breath and refer to the materials HO makes available to us. You'll find all the dates and information you need there.
Welcome to season change-over! This can be both exciting and confusing. Here are some tips for you.
Dates
Check the current Consultant Newsletter (CN) and PC NewsWire for specifics regarding dates. As of this post, the dates for the Fall 2009 season changeover are in the July CN. HO usually publishes a list that includes paperwork (changeover) box shipments, earned sample (sell a thon) shipment, kit and super start box changes, and when new paperwork can be ordered.
Changeover Boxes
Changeover boxes are shipped to consultants who are active when HO generates the shipping list. Which, as near as I can figure, is the month before they ship. So if you were active in December (for Spring) or June (for Fall), you should get one. Inactive consultants who reactivate after the list is generated, including during the season, will also receive a box. You will be charged $6.25 to cover shipping, which will be deducted from your next commission statement.
Changeover boxes typically include samples of new paperwork and just enough catalogs to put together early-season host packs for distribution (1 pack). They also include product sample order forms and paperwork order forms. Please check the dates on sample order forms - they are not good forever (typically only until the end of the first month of the season).
Tracking
Earned samples (from Sell-a-Thon) and changeover boxes do not show up on the shipment status page on CC. Never fear! There is a backdoor way to track them. Yes, HO indicates in their list of dates approximately when they'll ship. But we all get excited to receive them, and want to know exactly when to expect the Fed Ex guy.
Go to CC, and click on the Product Adjustment link in the right column. Proceed as if you're doing an adjustment but don't know the show number. When you look at the list of orders, you can see that the numbers have different letters in the middle: C for catalog shows, K for cooking shows (a throwback to when they were called Kitchen shows), S for supply orders, etc. G is used for earned and auto-ship items, like changeover boxes and SAT. Look for the most recent g-type shipments and use that number as the primary portion of the reference number at fedex.com.
For example: Betsy Consultant goes to the adjustment screen and sees a box listed as "123456G0123." So she then goes to the "track by reference number" screen at fedex.com and enters 123456G012301 as the reference number, along with her ZIP code and the approximate shipping date. The resultant tracking info shows her that her box will be delivered tomorrow!
Free business supplies
HO reserves the right to change these policies. But at present, consultants can receive the following items at no charge. There are occasionally special item numbers to use - check the PC NewsWire and CN for those.
- 1 free pack of receipts per season (as of Spring 2009, these were included with the first supply order of the season)
- 1 DVD per season. This DVD includes info about the new products, theme shows, and recipes, with recipe demos. It's a great resource to learn about the new products. As of Fall 2009, this will be included in the Changeover box.
- 1 RUFTH trivet per round-up year (Sept.-Aug.). Conference attendees usually get this in their conference bag.
- 1 pack of show planners per month
- 1 pack of consultant agreements per month
Online sales of samples
We've all worked hard to earn free product samples. Why would we want to get rid of them? I sure don't know, but there are consultants who do. If you see someone selling products before they're available to the public, that's a pretty sure bet they're a consultant. Don't bother posting about it here. Just send a link to the sale to HO using [email protected] or [email protected].
Recipes
HO makes the SBRC recipes available electronically, to make it easy for us to post them on PWS or send in email. Please honor HO's copyright by using those recipes only in that manner. Do not post recipes here or on other online forums. If a recipe is not provided electronically by HO, do not share it in a mass-distribution manner unless the cookbook from which it's taken is no longer available. PC makes its money SELLING tools and cookbooks. Publishing the recipes willy-nilly not only increases the chance of errors (just like when playing "Telephone" as a kid), but reduces the chance that our customers will actually purchase the books. If you're a consultant looking for a current recipe, use your consultant discount to buy the book it's in.
So welcome to season change-over! As exciting as it is, don't talk about the new products and themes to your customers until you've got the last month of the season booked as solid as you want it. And if you get confused, take a deep breath and refer to the materials HO makes available to us. You'll find all the dates and information you need there.
