Annoying doorstep behaviour

[AvonCallingg]

I've just started doing Avon, I do have a full time job too but need extra money to save up for something. Anyway, my mum's done it for years so she signed me up and has been helping me get going.

I am happy doing the following: Delivering the brochures through doors, if someone sees me and doesn't want one then no worries, I'll note it down and won't go back. When collecting books/delivering goods etc, I'm fine with a quick polite chat and not hanging around, hassling them at all. I'm basing this on what I'd be happy with as a customer.

Now my dm is a very chatty lady, she has very few boundaries, no tact and never gets embarrassed. She does this and would like me to do the same:
Take a sample of face cream out with me and an applicators and ask every customer to try it on their hand to feel it for themselves.
Point out in the brochure special offers and if they're not interested point out a different one.
If a man answers the door immediately tell him about all the men's products Avon do.
Take a sample of perfume/aftershave and ask to show them.

I'm cringing at the thought of doing any of those things so wanted a poll to see what people on here think - if you could kindly tell me which approach would make you more likely to buy something and would any of those sales techniques seriously piss you off!

TIA.

I would prefer the brochure dropped off unless I personally knew you ( fondly remembers my Avon lady Judith and the many G&Ts ) but when she retired another one came and I didn't like her at all. She really embarrassed me by refusing to leave my order one day without payment when I wasn't there. She said she had been stiffed too many times etc etc. fairennufski but the implication that we were a dodgy non paying type of family really annoyed me so much I rang her and withdrew my order and custom.

I have a no cold callers sign as I find it intrusive and rude if anyone called at my door to try and flog me stuff.

I think cold calling should be made illegal. If people want people to call on them to sell them stuff they should have to opt in.

As someone who used to sell Betterware, the skill (aquired over time and using patience and manners) is to assess which customers like to stop and chat, those who are only interested in the occasional purchase and those not interested at all.

If your customers find you honest, polite, and respectful you will do well.

Good Luck OP!

I wouldn't like the hard sale.

I've sold Avon in the past the first time was about 19 years ago and the second time was about 11 years ago.

Both times I made between £75 and £150 a month,so hopefully you'll make more than £300 you want.

My DD does a bit of doorstep work for a charity. It involves asking if people are interested and would like to read about the charity, in which case she leaves a booklet and returns a few days later (when hopefully some will have filled in a membership form!). She had to undergo training first, which included learning a script to work to, and not engaging in random chat, plus giving a cheery thank you and leaving promptly when people are clearly not interested. There's no hard sell, but she does earn money (pocket money, sure). Many have commented on her politeness. Does Avon not offer training, or did you get your DM's version of the training course?

Thanks I appreciate the advice.

Audrella thank you, you're right being yourself is probably the best way to go and the only way to appear consistent and sincere. My natural self is to be quiet, calm and polite. - I'm an introvert and a bit of a geek by day my mum is chatty, extremely confident and honestly has no shame, I'm sorry to say!

Nicebitofcheese, well done to your DD! She sounds very good at it and glad she's getting a bit of dosh out of it too. The training - well yes I got dm's session which I thought was bad enough then I met for a coffee with the area manager and was knocked out by her balls!! (metaphorically ha) She apparently stands outside shopping centres stopping people to ask them to sign up to Avon and wants me to join her one day soon doing this I said no way and she said I need to be more ruthless.

Hmm think I'll stick to friends and family and putting brochures quietly through doors.

Just leave a book and go back. People dont like hard sell.
I did Avon for a while when DC were babies. I made no money at all. Had a few items for free but by the time I bought the brochures, bags etc there was no earnings.
but good luck to you!