Avon Rep

[lozlg]

I work nights and usually get bored during the day. I am
thinking about becoming an Avon rep to earn a bit more cash. Ive heard good and bad things about it. Is it a waste of time or shall i give it a go?

[saxy_jag]

I only do it small time, but I'll try to give you an overview. When you apply, you'll be looked after by a sales leader, who will come to your house, talk you through how everything works and is generally there if you need any immediate help in the future. Mine emails every few weeks but other than that I hardly come into contact with her. If it's working off your own bat that you like, then Avon will let you do that.

They run a campaign once every three weeks, eighteen over the course of a year. It's your job to distribute the brochures, collect the orders, and package and deliver the goods when they arrive.

When new products come out (every campaign), any demonstration products you need, you will have to pay for, although you do get them at a discount, and they offer special purchase details on some new products, where you can make extra profit. You also have to pay for the brochures, bags and any other stationary you need. In addition, you are expected to pay for your goods for one order before you can take delivery of the next. That's not always easy if you can't deliver or if customers keep you hanging on. Customers usually have to pay you in cash because Avon don't take third party cheques or credit cards (although you can order and pay online as an agent). You can make your own arrangements for customers to pay you, as I do with my few, but when you have a big customer base then that can be risky.

If you don't order for two campaigns in a row, they assume you don't want to be an agent anymore.

Because my setup is, as I said, very small, I hardly make a profit, and that doesn't worry me. But if you want to make serious profit, you have to work very hard at selling. If that's what you like to do, then fine. Once your yearly sales hit a certain figure, you become eligible to join what's called The President's Club, whereby you can get extra offers and invites to events etc.

[angeldraws]

My daughter has just become an avon rep to help finance her studying.....
Firstly, you need to cough up 15quid....not sure what for....probably a deposit for brochures or admin fee. Your first order has to be at least 79quid, but you can apparently scam this and send stuff back if necessary.....
I think it really depends if you want to make something of it or just want a bit of pocket money. My daughter has had her brochures for 2 weeks and has managed to get the 79quid order, barr 38p - i'm sure she will top it up herself.
Just consider the cold nights that you have to go out to drop/collect brochures....the fact that some people may not be in so you have to return time and again, and the fact that you may not get some of your brochures back at all. Apart from all that - it's still a good bargain if you just wanna order it for yourself and family. Good luck.

[saxy_jag]

Angeldraws, I never had to pay �15 - or any amount up front, for that matter, and I've only been doing it for a couple of years.

Neither was there a minimum order, although you don't begin to make any profit until your order value is over �78. If you send in an extra order (ie you've sent your main one, but then you have to order a couple of extra bits), there's a �6 admin fee.

If you have any returns, you have to pay for them at the time, but you claim them back against your next order.

[angeldraws]

I see...not sure what the 15quid was for then but she definitely had to pay it! She only started it 2 weeks ago, so could be something new....? Thanks for the info.