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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to chuck out the Betterware booklet?

57 replies

Changebagsandgladrags · 26/04/2011 18:23

I have a NO JUNK MAIL notice on my letterbox so I get no junk mail - right? Nope I get the same amount as I did without it on.

Today one of them was the Betterware booklet. I know this is someone's livelihood but FFS I said no junk mail! Added to this, I told this very same person last time to stop delivering it.

I'm a grumpy old bag aren't I?

OP posts:
RubberDuck · 26/04/2011 18:26

YANBU but as an ex-catalogue deliverer (I did it for a grand total of 2 weeks - not Betterware though - and got so fed up of the abuse, I quit) I'd urge to be kind. Perhaps a note inside saying if you leave me another I will bin it. Then at least it's fair warning.

RubberDuck · 26/04/2011 18:26

(And we were actively told to ignore "no junk mail" signs unless they specifically also said catalogues. I respected them, though)

alemci · 26/04/2011 18:27

put it back out and say you don't want them to call again. don't bin it as it is their livelihood.

breathing · 26/04/2011 18:27

I bin all catalogues and use those plastic bag thingies as bin liners. They fit my pedal bin nicely.

usualsuspect · 26/04/2011 18:29

I just leave it outside

yousankmybattleship · 26/04/2011 18:32

In fairness, I have no junk mail on my letterbox because the previous owner of my house stuck it there and I can't get it off. I still order loads of stuff from Kleeneze though! We don't get the Betterware catalogue here but if we did I'd probably order from that too!
I don't suppose the Betterware person would mind if you binned their catalogue but wouldn't it be nicer of you just to put it outside with a polite note saying you don't want it left again?
I think a lot more people are doing jobs like Kleeneze, Betterware etc in these credit crunch times. They'd probably far rather not do it, so I think the least the rest of us can do is be pleasant to them and not make their job any harder.

littleducks · 26/04/2011 18:32

I bin them

wannaBe · 26/04/2011 18:32

bin it. If they don't want it binning they shouldn't put it through my door.

There must be better ways to earn a living - I can't believe anyone actually makes money doing that.

hanaka88 · 26/04/2011 18:36

When I first moved out aged 18 I binned one because I didn't realise what it was and that I was supposed to give it back. She came for it, I explained and appologised, I never got one again :)

BeakerTheMuppetMuppet · 26/04/2011 18:37

bin it and make sure your 'no junkmail' sign is very clear

i used to deliver betterware, and honest, it's no sweat. no-one will be penalised

Smile
nepenthe3 · 26/04/2011 18:37

YAB a little U. The person who delivers it/ who is trying to earn some money from it probably doesn't consider it 'junk' mail as such. They can also be returned and reused so binning it is a bit unnecessary.

prettymuchapixiegirl · 26/04/2011 18:39

We get a Betterware (Or Shitterware as I prefer to call it) catalogue through the door every few weeks despite the fact that I never order from it. It's always in a plastic bag so I just immediately put it outside by the doormat ready for it to be collected.

Original poster
Changebagsandgladrags · 26/04/2011 18:41

I have told them already I don't want it.

OP posts:
zukiecat · 26/04/2011 18:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

practicallyimperfect · 26/04/2011 18:45

I have a read through and a giggle, although the kleeneze one is more laughs. Then put it back outside.

I would give one more warning and then bin all future ones. But seriously they are funny to read.

breathing · 26/04/2011 18:46

How is one supposed to know they've paid for it? (apart from on here)

BeerTricksPotter · 26/04/2011 18:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BeakerTheMuppetMuppet · 26/04/2011 19:54

BeerTricks

Betterware is not pyramid selling though, it's a straight forwards 'deliver catalogue, take orders and get commission on those orders' type of thing

the person who puts it through your door can earn around 20% (can't remember exactly, i did whilst DD was very young) on every item ordered.

some of it is really shite though, poor quality and over-priced (to pay aforementioned commission)

BeerTricksPotter · 26/04/2011 19:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BeakerTheMuppetMuppet · 26/04/2011 19:59

is it? Shock

ooer, i thought kleeneze was the same system.
i got rid of their catalogues by putting a little note into one telling them i worked for Betterware...not had one since Grin

maybe the OP should do that? tell them you work for the opposition?

Wink
sausagerollmodel · 26/04/2011 20:05

I used to put a note on saying "no more catalogues please", but they ignored it so now I just bin them. Never had any comeback.
I wouldn't put a "No junk mail" sign up as nobody thinks their stuff is junk mail. They will ignore it and it will make you look like a grumpy old cow.
Better to say "No unsolicited mail please" or just "No catalogues or leaflets please" in case they don't know what "unsolicited" means!

TotemPole · 26/04/2011 20:05

Yes with Kleeneze you can earn off the people you recruit as well.

I tried it years ago and gave up after a while. I got a few orders but decided it wasn't worth it, I didn't even try to get anyone else involved. If I'd been more successful at the sales side, I'd have felt more comfortable about encouraging others to give it a go.

I suppose some will work harder at it than I did and eventually get regular customers who order something each time.

inchoccyheaven · 26/04/2011 20:37

I would rather someone tell me they don't want it and give it back or leave it out for me than throw it away as we do pay for the books ( I do Avon not betterware) and can use them for other houses. I do recanvass my houses every so often in case people have moved etc so you may have to tell me again if you don't want it but surely that isn't too hard,or you could just leave a note with the book ( with house number on it) otherwise, saves my time and yours :) I do make money from it too.

ShirleyKnot · 26/04/2011 20:48

Someone shouted at me once for not having the catalogue to give back to her. I was Shock and that night, while thrashing about and grinding my teeth I wish I had said "come in and have a look for it" and then made her CLEAN MY HOUSE.

RubberDuck · 26/04/2011 22:04

The problem with binning it is that they will come and knock for it later so it depends how much you want the confrontation. From memory, Kleeneze was about £1 per catalogue so losing even a couple seriously ate into any precious margin you had.

That and the hours I put in for a measly couple of orders made it seriously under minimum wage and totally not worth it. Plus they encourage you to pay for sales motivation tapes and all sorts of merchandise and events to make you a better seller, and the whole pyramid recruitment thing - I seriously don't understand how anyone earns anything at it.

Plus a significant minority are absolutely vile when you return to get the catalogue.