Beauty salesperson

[selfloveandaffection]

Okay I need to check whether i'm just being a raging mysogynist or have a valid point.

Got chatting to new neighbour, very lovely, about various things. She mentioned at one point her daughter is an Avon rep and would it be okay if she came round with a catalogue. I said no as it's not my kind of thing and no more was said.

Today at door was a woman dressed in an old tshirt, greasy hair back in a ponytail, no makeup on. No issue with this at all, people can dress how they please and nobody is forced to wear makeup. Personal choice completely. But it was the daughter who was trying to give me an Avon catalogue (which I had already said I didn't want, but that's another matter).

But my AIBU is that I wasn't expecting someone looking like that to be a rep for a well known beauty brand, it doesn't really match with the image I would expect. If anything it would put me off.

So am I just being a complete mysogynist, and she is entitled to dress or wear makeup however she pleases regardless of being an Avon rep. Or is it just good marketing and PR for a beauty brand rep to look the part?

I wouldn't expect an Avon rep to dress up or look professional tbh. They normally just shove a brochure through the door and you never see them until they turn up to collect it again.

It’s not inherently misogynistic to expect someone selling a product to be a good example of that product but Avon sell a lot. They sell skincare. Was her skin good? Maybe it was good enough that she didn’t feel the need for make up? Maybe she was visiting her mum and was asked to just pop round? Apart from a few people, Avon generates little more than pin money so YABU to expect her to be dolled up to the nines 24/7.

On the one hand, she can wear what she likes. On the other hand, she can't grumble if she doesn't sell anything she's clearly not arsed about wearing herself. If there was another hand on hand, as it were, I'd say she was getting desperate if she's shoving catalogues onto people who don't want them so her current style and pitch isn't working.

You are being a bit bitchy and misogynistic. I work in the industry and don't always wear makeup on the job (though I am not a salesperson).

I understand that you don't want to buy any Avon stuff but YABU and very unkind.

Yeah I get she could have been just popping round and not 'at her best'. But then equally first impressions do count. If she'd just have dropped the catalogue through the door I probably wouldn't have even had a second thought.

You're reading too much into it.

Most of the Avon reps around here are school mums just trying to make a couple of quid.

They come in all forms - from well groomed to scraped back hair and covered in baby snot and sick.

It doesn't reflect on Avon at all 🤷‍♀️

Yes you are being very judgemental.

I doubt selling Avon door to door is her chosen vocation in life, she's just trying make ends meet I should think. Why should she have to live up to a certain aesthetic to do that?

She isn't a model or promotions girl (you have the catalogue pictures for that), she is just their sales agent. Either you want to buy the products or you don't.

Avon is an MLM - and therefore should not be supported

In answer to your question: yes if you are selling something, you should show that you use it (believe in it) and that it works...

No - I dont believe you were misogynistic, nothing wrong with being presentable

Perhaps she needs the money. When I'm not in a great financial position, make-up is the first to go I don't want to waste. She could be starting out. Maybe help her be a success, start buying some products and linking her with your mates.

My Avon rep is a man. I don't expect him to turn up in a suit and tie.

Well Avon isn’t very high end, but it was someone working on the YSL counter in the metro centre then yes I would agree with you

It's Avon, not Chanel FFS.

@Kithic

Avon is an MLM - and therefore should not be supported

In answer to your question: yes if you are selling something, you should show that you use it (believe in it) and that it works...

No - I dont believe you were misogynistic, nothing wrong with being presentable

This is exactly why I wouldn't have bought anything, I don't support any MLM including Avon.

I guess I maybe still have that old fashioned idea of the "Avon lady" of old who was very glamorous, I still remember the one coming to my Grandma's house when I was a kid.

I don't think that selling Avon is a proper job. I'd expect a sales person on a cosmetics counter in a shop to be well presented, but not someone dropping off a catalogue.

Hmmm. I know what you mean but there is a difference between face to face selling and avon.

Her job is to bung catalogues through doors not actively ''sell'' the products/lifestyle or look.

The catalogue is meant to be enough presentation.

In customer facing roles there is usually a grooming/clothing allowance or a uniform. Bit much to expect someone schelping the streets and up and down garden paths to 'present' a brand.

Having said that Jehovah's Witnesses are always immaculate!

@CounsellorTroi

My Avon rep is a man. I don't expect him to turn up in a suit and tie.

but do you expect him to be groomed? As they sell shampoo.

Today at door was a woman dressed in an old tshirt, greasy hair back in a ponytail, no makeup on.
If you want people to buy your product, then you need to show it works - you dont need to be fully made up, but you do need to be clean

Yeah, YABU.
Since when do you have to dress up and slap make up on to deliver Avon booklets?
YABU, judgy and can't be doing with it when people have ideas of how other women should look.
Have a MN biscuit as well

I do kind of agree with you. Surely the point is they are a representative of the company and whatever they are selling, and should really be 'on brand' ?

I mean if they're just a glorified catalogue pusher then not sure what the point of that is. Not to mention the environmental impact!

But then I don't think I openly know anyone who still buys Avon, I certainly haven't for years.