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Original poster

Any one do or done Avon?

30 replies

Skribble · 14/06/2005 22:23

I was considering working for avon. But one of my friends who did it said it wasn't very profitable as you have to buy your catalouges an samples. How was it for you?

OP posts:
jessicasmummy · 14/06/2005 22:24

i didnt make much to be honest - did it for 3 months and over that time probabyl made about £30. Depends on whether you can get the customers...

charleepeters · 14/06/2005 22:24

i did i found it crap - i had to buy books and most the orders never turned up, and you dont make alot of profit

Original poster
Skribble · 14/06/2005 22:26

Thanks, did you deliver brochures or was it through freinds/ work. Wondered if you do it like betterware, drop off brochure and come back in a few days.

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Miaou · 14/06/2005 22:27

I did it for about two years and loved it. I probably made about £50 per month for about 10 hours work, but I did it more for the socialising aspect than moneymaking. Only gave it up when I moved to a small island so I didn't think I'd have many customers there! Yes you do have to buy your own catalogues and samples, but you don't need to have samples and the catalogues don't cost that much.

If you really need to earn extra pennies, then Betterware may be a better bet.

debs26 · 14/06/2005 22:27

i made about £10 for each hour i put in. could have made more if i did more streets. yes you pay for books but you can reuse them for second, third, fourth street you do etc.

i gave up because i thought they were rubbish at sending the stuff to you and i have a friend who found the same. lots of things seem to be permanently out of stock. is v embarassing telling customers you will have their stuff next week, only to be let down and then repeating same conversation five or six times.

Gwenick · 14/06/2005 22:29

did it for 1 1/2yrs - and made (on average) £100 for every campaign.

Original poster
Skribble · 14/06/2005 22:32

I was going to give up one of my jobs and put in quite a few hours as I don't think anyone in the village does it so that would give me a few streets. There was someone doing betterware but haven't had a brochure for a while. So maybe I could do both. Is beterware "better"?

I thought if I drop off the brochures together and put them in bags so they can leave them on doorstep for collection I could get round quite a few by combining them.

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Original poster
Skribble · 14/06/2005 22:33

Gwenick, how many hours/ days/ customers in a campaign.

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Gwenick · 14/06/2005 22:34

Perhaps should also add that I gave up due to too many items missing and generally crp service from* Avon to us reps.

Gwenick · 14/06/2005 22:38

Not sure on 'hours' but had a pretty large area (you won't get that now - even if there's no other reps in your village as they're only giving one or two streets out now), about 40 customers ordered each campaign, but dropped off around 100 books. Used to go out one evening to drop them off (on foot as I don't drive), and then it usually took 2 or 3 'visits' to get them all back, however, I used to add a little piece of paper to the front of my books saying they could order by phone or email - and gave them my mobile number and one of my 'spare' email addresses - had a few dopey customers giving me orders that way.

Dropping off the orders took longer, but that was partly because the only 'transport' I had for the orders was an old umbrella fold pushchair - which didn't recline fully, so could only hold 'so' many orders. Generally had to do 3 or 4 evenings/Sunday/Saturday afternoons to get them all out.

SaintGeorge · 14/06/2005 22:50

Betterware is a fixed territory so if there is a rep you will find out if you apply.
My area is 1500 houses - only about 900 that I drop books at though, over each campaign of about 5 weeks. Average orders work out at £1 for every book dropped, commission is 20% so my average would be £180 per campaign. Note I keep saying average ? in reality it can vary wildly. Last week I did 4 hours (+ 2 this week for deliveries) and made £55.

I normally do about 6-8 hrs per week but a couple of those will be at home preparing books/paperwork in front of the telly .

You don?t pay for anything: all books, carrier bags, order forms etc are provided.

Original poster
Skribble · 14/06/2005 22:55

That does sound better, I have just never liked the products and have never ordered. Matbe I will find out if she has stoppped.

OP posts:
SaintGeorge · 14/06/2005 23:01

I don't BUY the stuff, I just sell it

Original poster
Skribble · 14/06/2005 23:03

Can you do a more areas if they are availible I would be able to put quite a few hours in.

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SaintGeorge · 14/06/2005 23:05

If available and you have the time, yes.

I could have double the area if I wanted but I am happy with my hours at the moment. If the patch is still available when DS2 starts school next year I might well take it.

Original poster
Skribble · 14/06/2005 23:19

Both mine are at school and I have 3 jobs and a small business so I am hoping to streamline things a bit. I live near a big town so I'm sure there is scope for more. Going by replies I may give Avon a miss .

It's just that I think Betterware is over priced tat, even MIL agrees and she buys alsorts of gadgets and plastic things. But there must be a market for it.

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SaintGeorge · 14/06/2005 23:24

It's mainly the cleaning products that sell well.

I agree that a lot of it is tat but a lot of the stuff is actually identical to Lakeland Plastic products, which people rave about.

Got to be honest I never applied for the job, would never have been tempted. The Area Manager was looking for a new rep and I got chatting to her when she called to pick up a book. I thought it was crap and wouldn't sell and was only persuaded to try it because I didn't have to lay out any cash and could give it up whenever I wanted. That was Oct 2003 and I'm still doing it.

Original poster
Skribble · 14/06/2005 23:27

Thanks SG I like the fact there is no cash to layout. I might try it out before I give up my other jobs.

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SaintGeorge · 14/06/2005 23:29

There you go then

Original poster
Skribble · 14/06/2005 23:31

Thanks SG

OP posts:
Original poster
Skribble · 14/06/2005 23:36

Just applied for a co-ordinator position as I think I have the experience for this. I will see what happens.

If I start buying Betterware tat myself I am holding SG responsible .

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SaintGeorge · 14/06/2005 23:40

Houseful of it skribble

You tend to gather it up for free. 3 for 2 offers are great. Two individual customers order 1 each, you order on the 3 for 2 code and bag the free item. And then it sits in your cupboard gathering dust.

Original poster
Skribble · 14/06/2005 23:52

Don't encourage me .

I already have cupboards full of toys and sweets for my stall while I convert my trailer. Mind you once the trailer is sorted I will have a big hall cupboard to use. NO No No stop me now .

OP posts:
jambo1707 · 15/06/2005 08:39

I did you have to buy catalogues samples etc.

it can be profitable if

  1. you dont rder
  2. your have a huge amount of customers

They do regulary have orders missing etc and you thenm have the additional cost of the phone call to them to sort it out

flamesparrow · 15/06/2005 08:43

I make sod all... but Mrs Stewart down my road gets to excited to see me, I haven't got the heart to stop . I think half the time I'm probably losing money, but I don't want to upset an old lady - does that make me insane or nice??

Some cow's trying to pinch my road at the moment too ('ve reported her but heard nothing back) - how rude is that???

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