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I think as women, we tend to let things go, don't want to make waves, and if it is a friend, lessen our expectations. Clearly, in another thread, some are putting up with many things, that the other demos are saying is not right.
It is ok to ask for what you need, or look elsewhere.
It seems that placing an order within three days is very popular. My problem, as a demo, is that it takes checks three days to clear my bank (business days). The same for credit card orders (they often take four business days--for my bank anyway).
So am I supposed to pay for all of the stamps that folks want to buy? For me, anyway, that is a lot of money to put up front.
It seems that placing an order within three days is very popular. My problem, as a demo, is that it takes checks three days to clear my bank (business days). The same for credit card orders (they often take four business days--for my bank anyway).
So am I supposed to pay for all of the stamps that folks want to buy? For me, anyway, that is a lot of money to put up front.
This is impossible for me
I can understand this caution at a workshop with new people. But when it is with a club of people that meet regularly to place orders, you have to trust them or the respect is gone and people will complain about waiting.
Customers have three days to recind their orders. It just makes sense to wait that period before placing the order. Also, I know many demos who have had checks bounce from customers. Waiting ensures the demo doesn't get burned.
Everything looks different from the other side of the fence, and we need to listen to and RESPECT everyone's opinion, whether or not you agree with it.
__________________ Lyssa Griffin Zwolanek, Gold EliteSong of My Heart Stampers14-time incentive trip earner
I wished my demo would place my orders faster also, until I remembered that she would have to use her own money, or credit, until all checks and such had cleared. Even for people you know and trust, some people just can't do that. And then there is the 3 day cancellation period. I would feel really bad for my demo if she had placed the order and then had someone back out on it. My unerstanding is the demo gets stuck with it, or pays return shipping to send it back. Either way it is not fair for the demo. I think it is just safer to wait the 3 days. Besides, that gives me time to add on to my order, which I almost always do. I do have another demo that places my orders while I am on the phone with her, but I wait to give her the order until I am certain I am not going to change my mind.
I would think the poll means placing the order at the 3-4 day point, AFTER the limits of canceling the order have ended. It is not fair for a demo to have orders canceled on her, just to get them in before then. And, not if there is a money issue with waiting for checks to clear, etc...Common sense dicatates over that.
Isn't wonderful how easy it is for others, to say what we should do for them. HUMMMM, maybe we could try harder to understand how much effort goes into the Demos job, it would answer some of your lest of concerns?
My SU Demo is hard working, always thoughtful and why would I want to inflict more work on her?
Seems like too much Demo bashing here anymore?
Just my 2 cents worth!
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
Location: the space that's in between insane and insecure
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jen70
I can understand this caution at a workshop with new people. But when it is with a club of people that meet regularly to place orders, you have to trust them or the respect is gone and people will complain about waiting.
It has nothing to do with trust or respect. If a workshop totals $400, 99.9% of the time I just do not have $400 in the bank. I live paycheck to paycheck. In order to submit the order I HAVE to wait until all checks and cc have cleared. It takes a good 4 days for cc charges to go through and be deposited into my bank account.
__________________
They say we must submit and be one with the Machine. Because the Kingdom of Fear needs compliance to succeed. ~Otep ~ Smash The Control Machine
I, for one, am very happy with my demo and would not change a thing. The only person in the world that would do for me everything I want, is me. So until I decide to become a demo, I will stick with what I have. Everybody is different, and every demo runs there business the best way they know how. While I may offer suggestions and my opinion, I think it would be very arrogant for me to expect her to do everthing the way I want. It is, afterall, her business, not mine. Heck, I can't get my dh to everything I want.
This has nothing to do with demo bashing and cannot imagine why anyone would think it was. Not one of the options listed was negative toward demos!! For pete's sake!
Btw, that thank you was to Karen, up above. Annabelle and I were posting at the same time.
As to the demo bashing, I think sometimes threads like this can easily get out of hand. Often without the OP meaning for them to. Sometimes people start noticing the little things their demos don't do, and they forget all the great things that they do. Not that we shouldn't discuss what we look for in a demo, because everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The world would be a boring place if everyone had the same opinions. But we need to remember that demos have their own reasons for running their businesses the way they do. We, as customers, can offer our opinions and suggestions, but ultimately it is the demo's business, not ours. If we are unhappy with the way a demo runs her business, we have the right to find another demo that will meet our needs.
I have to say that I have an AWESOME demo. While I'd love if she placed my orders w/in 3 days (and she frequently does), it's not required. She does the other things I "expect" - she delivers my orders (unless it's more convenient for me to pick them up) and does awesome stamp camps/ workshops. She even put together a club for this year.
As far as the other things - I don't want to split the sets, but I can reach out to other club members if that changes. And I don't expect her to recommend cheaper options - she represents SU. But then I consider myself an educated buyer and research before I buy. And I kind of like mounting my sets myself - it's a little therapeutic.
Again - I have an AWESOME demo who I appreciate a lot. She's running her business fabulously and balancing the needs of her customers with the needs of her business.
IMO a good demo meets the needs of his/her customers. And to each person that might mean something different. I feel that if I was not meeting my customer's needs they would go elsewhere, so I (like many demos) re-evaluate my business and change to accomodate and meet the needs of people who jokingly refer to me as their rubber "dealer", LOL.
I think it is always good for folks to re-evaluate their business as they build a customer base-and that is true for any business I am sure. I think what 1 demo does to meet the needs of a customer may be different than another, but as long as everyone involved feels like they are being taken care of and are comfortable in their situation, then that is all that matters.
__________________ I want people to be afraid of how much they love me-M. Scott
I can understand this caution at a workshop with new people. But when it is with a club of people that meet regularly to place orders, you have to trust them or the respect is gone and people will complain about waiting.
99.9% of the time it has nothing to do with trust. Maybe customers don't know this, but when demonstrators place the orders with SU, they have to pay up front for everything - product, tax, S&H, etc. If it's a smaller order that I can cover, it's not a big deal, but with large customer orders or workshop orders, I just simply don't have the money to put out up front. Just last month a customer and her friend placed an $820 order with me. With tax and S&H and all, it came to over $900. I certainly don't have that kind of money laying around that I can put up, so I need to wait until I have the money cleared into my account for the order to go in.
__________________ I am...Jessica Fierce (aka Shanaynay) I'm looking for my inner athlete, but I'm afraid I may have eaten her.
Again - I have an AWESOME demo who I appreciate a lot. She's running her business fabulously and balancing the needs of her customers with the needs of her business.
Thank you-that is a great way to put it!
__________________ I want people to be afraid of how much they love me-M. Scott
One of the reasons I use several demos is just what Camsmom says. I have different needs at different times. With one demo I can bide my time knowing she only orders once a month but she gives me amazing discounts. With another, if I am in a hurry she will order the instant I order and I get my orders from the company directly really fast!
99.9% of the time it has nothing to do with trust. Maybe customers don't know this, but when demonstrators place the orders with SU, they have to pay up front for everything - product, tax, S&H, etc. If it's a smaller order that I can cover, it's not a big deal, but with large customer orders or workshop orders, I just simply don't have the money to put out up front. Just last month a customer and her friend placed an $820 order with me. With tax and S&H and all, it came to over $900. I certainly don't have that kind of money laying around that I can put up, so I need to wait until I have the money cleared into my account for the order to go in.
My demo is awesome and does the majority of the poll questions if asked to. I would never ask her to cut my stamps - why would I do that? She demos how easy it is to cut & mount them, and I normally just cut & mount the stamps from sets that I currently plan to use and get to the rest later.
The one question I really don't think is appropriate is whether your demo would recommend cheaper options. I have learned that cheaper is not always better, and I believe people should be responsible for their own "shopping" if they feel they can get a better deal on sale elsewhere. I purchase the majority of my stamps, inks and paper from my SU demo, but if I see something I like on sale at Mike's or Joann's, I don't feel guilty buying it. But it's not my demo's responsibilty to give her customers information on where to buy other products. That's just not good business sense.
Yes, they do take credit cards, but I only have one credit card and keep it mostly for emergency use only. I prefer to do nearly all my transactions, with SU and with any other merchant, bank, etc. using cash and checks. I don't want to put anything on my credit card that I don't have to in order to avoid finance charges and all that. Say I put a $900 order from a customer on my credit card the day before my cc statement period ends. I then get charged finance charges on that $900 because I couldn't pay the credit card until the customer's money cleared into my bank account. I don't think demonstrators should be put in a position where they have to deal with that.
__________________ I am...Jessica Fierce (aka Shanaynay) I'm looking for my inner athlete, but I'm afraid I may have eaten her.
You should have put Honesty. I think that's #1. I want my demo to be upfront with me. As I would be with any of my customers. I don't want to be sold. And I would want someone who I can trust will get me my order within a reasonable time period. And if your demo is Honest, she/he will tell you upfront how long it will take to get the order placed. (4 days for check to clear, etc.) I don't have a problem with a longer waiting period as long as I'm being told the Truth.
Another thought on the 3 day period - someone above mentioned the 3 day cancellation period. So I wouldn't expect my demo to place the order prior to that - or she'd have to eat the S&H if I changed my mind. And for those folks who really want the quick order, are you willing to hand your demo cash or a money order? I usually pay by check even tho I have the $$ in the bank, I'm OK if she waits till it has cleared. But as I type, I think we have enough of a relationship now that if I have to get an order asap because of a deadline of some sort, she will place it quickly,
HONESTY. Exactly. The minute you feel someone is not doing what they say they are doing, or being totally clear, especially when it comes to money, that does it.
Another thought on the 3 day period - someone above mentioned the 3 day cancellation period. So I wouldn't expect my demo to place the order prior to that - or she'd have to eat the S&H if I changed my mind.
Yup, and not only that, but she'd have to eat the cost of the order as well. She wouldn't be able to return the items, so the most your demo could do is an exchange for items of the same value that she wanted. But if she hadn't been planning on placing a $xxx order, then she's stuck in an unfortunate spot!
__________________ I am...Jessica Fierce (aka Shanaynay) I'm looking for my inner athlete, but I'm afraid I may have eaten her.
I have only had 2 demos since I have been stamping ( not that long) one was my daughter and the current one is my grandson's best friends mother. She is absolutely awesome. If I need (want) to order something via email she does it and then I pay her when I see her. I am really lucky it seems. I didn't think (shame on me) that she was putting her money up for it. I will now give her the money at the time I order it and not expect her to order for me via email. She also told me about this website and it has increased her sales.
That should have been an option on the poll! Does your demo tell you about SCS.
__________________ Debbie
Willie is a Reserve National Champion! Reinsmanship Lady to drive @ Haflinger National Show 2009
If a demo tells you about SCS they deserve major praise! That is awesome.
Also, no demo should ever be expected to put an order in before the 3 day cancelation period is up. We all change our minds.....!!
I think one problem with polls is that there is no way to make sure everyone's talking about the same type of situation. Some demos operate just like an online store and nothing else...customers call, place an order, and wait for it to come in.
Some people only have experience with demos where they order through a home party. Many people aren't even aware that some demos place regular orders. So, in a home party situation, to a certain degree the orders are entered when the hostess wants to close the party. If she's holding it open for a few days or more, that puts the demo in a difficult spot, kwim? Different situations can't be considered in the same way.
It's very difficult to turn any of this into a one-size-fits-all category. Just as customers have different needs, so do demos. People just need to go with what works for them and make compromises when necessary.
I took this poll as a customer. As a customer given the choice of 3 days or 10, I think naturally a customer would choose 3. I had no idea about all the other demo stuff. It's too bad that some take all of this so personally. I have thought of becoming a demo, but every time I see a thread regarding demos and customers, it doesn't look very enticing.
I took this poll as a customer. As a customer given the choice of 3 days or 10, I think naturally a customer would choose 3. I had no idea about all the other demo stuff. It's too bad that some take all of this so personally. I have thought of becoming a demo, but every time I see a thread regarding demos and customers, it doesn't look very enticing.
Please don't let a few "unhappy" peoples opinions make your decision for you.
If you have a desire to sign up, then I believe it is something you should try.
The worst that can happen is you get a lot of fabulous stuff for a great discount, makes lots of new friends, learn great techniques, have a huge support system through SCS and SU, and have LOTS of fun while doing it!!
:mrgreen:
Qualitities of a Good Demo
