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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask about being an Avon rep

56 replies

Nicedinner567 · 28/07/2020 22:23

Popped this on chat as well then realised I’d prob get more responses here.

  • I’m considering online only ie NOT catalogue version selling to people I know.
  • Any catches with Avon? Eg once you want to leave the company, is it easy enough? Thanks! Hopefully hear from some folks who have been online reps/ have worked for Avon.
OP posts:
ClickandForget · 28/07/2020 22:26

How does it work? Is it Facebook driven?

myusernamewastakenbyme · 28/07/2020 22:41

Why would i order from a rep when i could order direct from the Avon website?

Original poster
Nicedinner567 · 28/07/2020 22:50

I don’t think it’s through Facebook. It was just an ad I saw that used the words online rep.
To the PP above, I think you will have ordered from an online rep then..

OP posts:
AldiAisleofCrap · 28/07/2020 23:10

To the PP above, I think you will have ordered from an online rep then.. no you can just go to the website. You will need to find customers from social media .

CyberNan · 28/07/2020 23:15

i thought avon was something you only bought when the neighbours guilted you into it cos they are trying to make a bit of extra money and you want to be supportive.

Elieza · 28/07/2020 23:30

I can’t imagine it would be any better than it was ten years ago and ten years before that when I had a couple of attempts. Made very little.

It’s not a get rich quick plan. It’s a hell of a lot of work for very little commission.

How would it work?

How would people know to go to you? Your social media? Advertising on your work intranet?

How much postage would they pay and
how long do they wait for their orders to arrive (and where from: direct from Avon to them or via you?)

You don’t pay for brochure presumably so how do Avon get extra profit from you instead? They do like to make profit...

Why would people prefer to shop with Avon rather than pop down to the shop and get the thing they want today?

All relevant.

Original poster
Nicedinner567 · 28/07/2020 23:35

Aldi- thanks I wasn’t sure

OP posts:
Original poster
Nicedinner567 · 28/07/2020 23:38

Elieza- good points to think about.
Basically was looking to make a bit extra as I’ll now be part time.
If anyone knows of any other ways to make a bit of extra cash that would be amazing..

OP posts:
tillytoodles1 · 28/07/2020 23:38

My friend's daughter has just started and I've spent about £10 , but it's stuff I would have bought anyway. All her posts on FB are saying how well she's doing, building a team and running raffles. She's working really hard but I doubt she's making much.

MissBattleaxe · 28/07/2020 23:39

I order my Avon from my friend's site which looks the same as the official site but has her name in the corner. Since I live out of her area I spend 20 and get free postage and she still gets commission. I'm a big fan, especially of their perfume and bubble bath.

Original poster
Nicedinner567 · 28/07/2020 23:39

tilly.. thanks.. so it does seem to be through Facebook then..

OP posts:
big4mlm · 28/07/2020 23:41

I've just become a body shop consultant, pm me if you have any questions

Candyfloss99 · 28/07/2020 23:45

It's an MLM. Run for the hills.

ABoxersMum · 28/07/2020 23:48

I stopped doing Avon at the beginning of lockdown and although I’ve made the decision not to carry on, I did thoroughly enjoy the 4 years I spent as a rep. I wasn’t a online rep though. Tried it and found it extremely difficult - you have to advertise constantly and join all the buying/selling groups that you can (many of which won’t allow reps to advertise) and I found I didn’t enjoy it. Basically you direct people to your online store, they choose whether they want direct delivery or rep delivery. If they choose direct delivery then Avon deliver direct to them and you get the commission. If they choose rep delivery then their order gets sent to you and you deliver it to the customer. It is all reliant on social media and it is hard work for very little return.

shinynewapple2020 · 28/07/2020 23:49

I used to be Avon rep years ago : I mainly got custom taking books into the office , although I did a bit of posting books through doors . I think to make any money you have to be very disciplined. It is probably easier doing it as an online rep (sorry no idea how that works ) but for me the difficulty was that people paid me in cash which I then used for groceries , school clubs etc etc and then had to pay Avon out of my bank account having already spent the money I'd taken from customers . I also used to buy too much of their discounted products I didn't really need .

Leflic · 29/07/2020 00:19

My neighbours have all done it at one time or another. I order a tenners worth to be supportive which gets delivered for free.
I get usually get one orphan two more catalogues and then zilch ...they’ve given up.

I do like their sulphate free 3 in 1 shampoo. Cheaper than high street brands and their body lotion as I go through vat loads.

Hairthrowaway · 29/07/2020 00:20

I doubt they make many sales, no one I know uses avon

JasperRising · 29/07/2020 00:35

Don't do it! People still think of Avon as it was 10 years or so ago - hard work with the catalogues but if reasonably priced products and if you tried you could get a nice little set up in your territory. However, they have now moved more and more towards MLM - no more allocated areas so you are competing with other reps, pressure to keep up sales even if that means buying for yourself or guilting friends and family, and more of an emphasis on recruiting as the way to make money. Not go for Bodyship at Home either - another company that is using its old (high street) reputation not make its MLM business seem less bad than Younique, Forever Living etc.

Lots of research shows that most people (99%) who join MLM companies will at best break even with many losing money (and alienating friends and family). Unfortunately many MLM reps are exploiting the current economic situation to recruit people who are financially vulnerable. And there is a big publicity drive going on to make these companies look like a safe way to earn a bit of extra cash but they really are not!

Original poster
Nicedinner567 · 29/07/2020 02:02

JasperRising- thanks! Yes, it seems these companies are advertising a lot at the moment...
Thanks so far everyone

OP posts:
Norma27 · 29/07/2020 06:51

MLM so run for the hills. Unless you want to lose your friends and money.

borisjohnsonsstylist · 29/07/2020 07:29

My understanding is it's not an MLM to the extent of somewhere like Body Shop or Forever Living etc... but you're still expected to devote a huge amount of time advertising a business (not yours btw, Avon, you won't have a business) in exchange for a small commission return. Not really worth the hassle in my opinion.

borisjohnsonsstylist · 29/07/2020 07:33

@big4mlm

I've just become a body shop consultant, pm me if you have any questions
What made you decide to do this? How much did it cost you to start up? How much money have you made so far? What are the benefits from buying from a rep rather than the store direct?
AlexCabot · 29/07/2020 08:02

Avon (and Body Shop at home) are massively oversaturated at the moment.

A quick search on Facebook shows at least 100 people doing it in my small town.
In fact, in my road of 30 houses, there are three sellers that I know of.

You'll be competing with a lot of people to sell.

MusicianTom · 29/07/2020 08:13

There is a perception that Avon and Body Shop are 'better' MLMs.

There is no such thing as a good MLM.

Reps (not 'business owners') are told to fake it til they make it, and tell everyone how well it's going and how much money they've made and how many people have joined their team, when actually they've spent loads on products for themselves, and travelling to training days and spent hours and hours contacting everyone they knows, and the only thing they've sold is a lip balm. To their Mum.

Oh, and the person who recruits you will tell you that anyone who doesn't buy from you and/or support you is a negative hater who doesn't want you to succeed.

There is loads of information out there about the reality of MLMs - Elle beau's blog, bot watch blog, the BBC documentary.

heartsonacake · 29/07/2020 08:16

It’s MLM. You would lose extortionate amounts of money. You’d be silly to even consider it.