Page 5 | To chuck the Avon book in the recycling.

Houseplanter · 2023-10-01T21:16:14+00:00

So I know there's someone out there trying to make a living and good for them. But i don't want Avon stuff. My choices are to a leave it out on the step where it'll likely get wet b keep it in the house but I'm unlikely to be here when they call back c (and this is my preference) chuck it in the recycling with the rest of the unsolicited trash.

OMGitsnotgood · 02/10/2023 07:48

Leave in a plastic bag with note saying 'please don't leave again else I will put in recycling'.

whyhere · 02/10/2023 07:49

Posting for the first time in months and months (got so tired of all the rudeness and unpleasantness) as I feel quite strongly about this!

I have very happy memories of 'Auntie Nell' (our neighbour) being an Avon lady as she gave me free samples from the 'Pretty Peach' (remember those bottles?) range and she always smelled lovely.

Fast forward to adulthood and my last parish where a young mother with MS was an Avon lady. Tbh I started buying just to help her out (it's hard not to when you're the vicar!) but, to my surprise, I found that the products were really, really good. I know that she makes a decent living from Avon.

At a time when we lament seeing people stuck to their screens 24-7, and when people need help for their gaming addictions, isn't there something rather lovely about the Avon catalogue?

Pudmyboy · 02/10/2023 07:50

BatshitCrazyWoman · 02/10/2023 06:55

In a previous house, I had an Avon lady, and would order every so often. Had her mobile number so we could arrange for her to deliver my order when I was actually home, and could pay for it. She would say when she would collect the brochure, too, and it was always in a plastic bag, so I'd put it out for her.

I got brochure through the door a few months ago, not in a bag, no indication of when she was going to collect it. I put it outside in a bag with a note saying not to give me a brochure again, and wedged it by a plant pot outside,but she never collected it. Several of my neighbours just put theirs outside, we live on a hill and it's windy - they were blowing all over the place, then it poured with rain a week later, so there was soggy paper all over the front gardens. I gave up and put mine in the recycling, and have never received one again.

If you're going to ask people to leave stuff outside, you have to accept that most people won't bother, and give an indication of when you're coming to collect for those that do.

Bit off-topic as not had an Avon catalogue through my door where I live but have had numerous charity clothing bags posted, I don't use them as the charity gets next to nothing but I do leave the unused bags out to be collected up and reused as directed on the bag. Not one has ever been collected, they all end up blown around the garden till finally, after a week or so, put in the recycling.

Stroopwaffels · 02/10/2023 07:50

isn't there something rather lovely about the Avon catalogue?

There's nothing lovely about MLM, no.

Zanatdy · 02/10/2023 07:54

I’d leave it outside, don’t they specify a day? They do pay for them, and it’s often SAHM’s or retired people I assume who do this type of work so I wouldn’t just put it into recycling without attempting to return

Gypsum5 · 02/10/2023 07:55

Yvonne knocked on my door years ago, & tried to encourage me to sell Avon. I told her I wasn’t sure people would want it as they were elderly, I known, I was young then. Yvonne encouraged me to rip the old people off by selling them foot cream & saying that it was a miracle cure for their aches & pains. I just couldn’t do it. Shame on you Yvonne!

Suckingalemon · 02/10/2023 07:56

Stick it in a sandwich bag, leave it outside.

Put a sign by door about no junk mail and feel free to bin it next time if it still arrives.

In fairness I now avoid Facebook because its just full of friends flogging body shop, scentsy and usborne books. I don't want any of it and I hate feeling obliged to buy it. I rather have the Avon book once a month

SisterMichaelsHabit · 02/10/2023 07:59

IncompleteSenten · 02/10/2023 06:56

Court? Are you having a laugh? The Unsolicited Goods and Services Act and consumer contracts regulations clearly say you have no responsibility to return unsolicited items.

If they have to pay for it then they should make damned sure someone wants one instead of just shoving it through the door then getting nasty.

Yes, the PP is definitely having a laugh. It's sad that their shitty made up comment has made so many people on this thread judge Avon rather than judging the total moron who made the utterly untrue comment. No Avon rep in her right mind would try and get a CCJ against someone who binned a catalogue FFS, as another former rep has confirmed.

Riverlee · 02/10/2023 07:59

If you never order anything, I’m surprised she still leaves it on your doorstep.

i would leave it with a note asking for her not to leave anymore in the future.

Mine never collects hers anymore, and tends to ring up for the order rather than going door to door.

VisaWoes · 02/10/2023 08:00

Years and years ago I binned one once as it was in my hall for weeks. Of course the day after the bins were emptied the man came and asked for it and properly shouted at me when I said I'd binned it. Never had one delivered since! So win, win.

ElFupacabra · 02/10/2023 08:01

I’m surprised that so many MNetters are ok with Avon because the vitriol that comes out when discussing other MLMs is high, why does Avon get off? It’s not ok to send someone a message on Facebook but it’s ok to push literal trash through someone’s door then get cry about it when they don’t get it back?

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/10/2023 08:02

The only ‘support’ I can imagine Avon supplying to reps re CCJs, would I dare say be providing a standard ‘frightener’ letter for them to copy, to the effect that ‘if you don’t pay, you will be taken to court’.

Which could easily induce anyone naive enough to cough up.

I would hope that they use no such entirely unethical tactics, though.

User174085934 · 02/10/2023 08:02

Avon lady leaving magazines is something from a bygone time like the brick that was the Next Directory, you had to pay for that maybe Avon should do likewise so that people only get them if they choose to

SisterMichaelsHabit · 02/10/2023 08:04

Stroopwaffels · 02/10/2023 07:50

isn't there something rather lovely about the Avon catalogue?

There's nothing lovely about MLM, no.

Avon isn't a "typical" MLM though, they really don't push the reps to recruit people, to hit sales targets, to buy products out of their own money (catalogues aside), or to pay a "joining fee". I used to do Avon and I still think well of them after seeing "behind the scenes" even though I didn't really have the right personality for doing it. I know on some level they operate in a similar way to an MLM but I don't class them as an MLM because they just don't behave like one, in general.

Nanaof1 · 02/10/2023 08:04

JustAMinutePleass · 01/10/2023 23:32

The books belong to the rep. Expect an invoice if you recycle / destroy it - and Avon reps get support from Avon to pursue CCJs. Not worth it. Just leave it on the doorstep in a plastic bag

If they can do that, then the customers who don't want them and are inconvenienced by having to put them in a bag and put them back outside should be able to charge a return fee.
Maybe the Avon and Kleeneze sellers should put their catalogs where people have a choice to take them or not, like local stores, small businesses, FB etc.

Expecting people to care when they get stuck with unsolicited materials is not the look they should be going for here.

SisterMichaelsHabit · 02/10/2023 08:05

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/10/2023 08:02

The only ‘support’ I can imagine Avon supplying to reps re CCJs, would I dare say be providing a standard ‘frightener’ letter for them to copy, to the effect that ‘if you don’t pay, you will be taken to court’.

Which could easily induce anyone naive enough to cough up.

I would hope that they use no such entirely unethical tactics, though.

They absolutely don't pursue legal action against people for binning the catalogue. They might help reps with customers who do a big order then don't pay, I have no idea, my customers were all lovely and paid when I delivered their products.

Motherlandatemyhomework · 02/10/2023 08:05

On the plus side they do a very good eyeliner

Berninaa · 02/10/2023 08:05

I chuck anything that comes through my door unsolicited.

BIossomtoes · 02/10/2023 08:05

ElFupacabra · 02/10/2023 08:01

I’m surprised that so many MNetters are ok with Avon because the vitriol that comes out when discussing other MLMs is high, why does Avon get off? It’s not ok to send someone a message on Facebook but it’s ok to push literal trash through someone’s door then get cry about it when they don’t get it back?

Because it’s something many of us remember with nostalgia from our childhood. I’m old and I remember the excitement of the Avon catalogue arriving. When I cleared my parents’ house there was a lot of Avon to be used up. It’s only relatively recently that people get bent out of shape by someone having the affrontery to put a booklet through a letterbox.

MehtotheChristmasrunup · 02/10/2023 08:06

Millybob · 01/10/2023 22:27

Straight in the bin here. Why should you leave stuff on the doorstep, broadcasting the fact that you're probably not at home?

It doesn’t broadcast anything other than you aren’t answering the door for an Avon rep.
Why waste it?

Bunnykins34 · 02/10/2023 08:07

Avon Rep here....Please dont bin the brochure, we have to pay for them (there not cheap) and reps really would appreciate if books were left outside on doorsteps in bags if rep has put it inside one so it can be reused again....If not too much trouble maybe a quick note to say "No thank you" would also be appreciated...Enjoy your day :)

Cheeseandlobster · 02/10/2023 08:08

Iwantmyoldnameback · 01/10/2023 22:30

Leave it on the step dont be mean.

This. If it gets wet it isn't your problem but it will be in a plastic bag anyway

SleeplessinSeattle69 · 02/10/2023 08:09

Bunnykins34 · 02/10/2023 08:07

Avon Rep here....Please dont bin the brochure, we have to pay for them (there not cheap) and reps really would appreciate if books were left outside on doorsteps in bags if rep has put it inside one so it can be reused again....If not too much trouble maybe a quick note to say "No thank you" would also be appreciated...Enjoy your day :)

Maybe don't just randomly put them through people's doors then?

CaptainMyCaptain · 02/10/2023 08:10

SisterMichaelsHabit · 02/10/2023 08:04

Avon isn't a "typical" MLM though, they really don't push the reps to recruit people, to hit sales targets, to buy products out of their own money (catalogues aside), or to pay a "joining fee". I used to do Avon and I still think well of them after seeing "behind the scenes" even though I didn't really have the right personality for doing it. I know on some level they operate in a similar way to an MLM but I don't class them as an MLM because they just don't behave like one, in general.

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This. I use mine mainly for body lotions and the occasional lipstick. The rep is never pushy, occasionally mentions a new product but that's it.

Stroopwaffels · 02/10/2023 08:11

@SisterMichaelsHabit you are wrong - https://avon.uk.com/pages/become-an-avon-rep they do ask you to "buy a kit" which is shelling out money to work for them, and as others have said, pay for the paper books which nobody wants!

Yes back in the day Avon was a pocket-money option for lots of women, we all knew someone who was doing it and had their patch with loyal regulars. But that is not how it operates any more.

In 2005 they switched to pushing recruitment and having a "team" which is classic MLM. https://www.talentedladiesclub.com/articles/is-avon-really-a-better-mlm-or-is-it-a-pyramid-scheme/

Avon is no better than any other pyramid scheme, they have just been around longer and are still trading on that long reputation and goodwill of the past.