Omg, I'm sad!

Ladywytch replied:

Oh thank the Gods!!!

I thought it was just me.

I had one cancelled this weekend.  When she booked, I have a big bunny on my diary for over this weekend so she knew it was Easter and it was fine "We don't do much at Easter anyway.''

Call her on Wednesday ''But Saturday is Easter, I can't possibly do an UCW party on Easter Saturday - you must have got it wrong, well we'll make it for my original date (2 weeks time).''

She was lucky I wasn't standing in front of her - I think I may have been dragged away from a bleeding body wearing matching silver braclets.

M

Kylie87 replied:

That was the exact same thing that happened to me!!!

"But you should know its Easter and all my guests have gone away and I have kids."

And I was like, "I asked you this at the time and I was just following what date you'd given me, plus I did try and ring you a few times during the week to make sure everything was okay."

Her reply was, "Well I dont know about you but I've been very busy and your at the end of a very long list of people I have to get back to. So I want to book it another 2 weeks away."

GRRR! So frustating, but at least it makes me appreciate the awesome hostesses out there!

One last party before the end of March for this old catalogue so I hope it doesn't move... :)

CMmumoftwo replied:

You will deal with Hostesses like this all the time, and pretty soon u will know exactly how to deal with em.

I have before and personaly I only give them so many chances before I call it quits and try again in a few months... other wise I feel im pusshign em.. I think i would go as far as canceling 3-4 times..

Cris replied:

I have come across many such a lady,. At the beginning of my pp career I would have bent backwards to accomodate them. And all I got was postponement after postponement and eventual party cancellations. Until some one put it into perspective.

These ladies are not respecting your business, and I was letting them do it to me. If the party did go ahead, how hard were they really going to try to have a successful party?

You are offering them a great shopping experience and they are going to receive some fantastic hostess incentives, but they need to do some of the work.

If you are going to accept easily and freely every postponement they give you, they are going to believe that your business is not doing so well, you have an empty diary just waiting for them to book, and they can cancel at any time. The last thing you want is for a prospective hostess to think you do not have many party bookings.

My Saturday bookings are very precious. Yes, I understand life gets in the way, as a mother, wife, working person and pp life gets in the way, and we need tolerance and understanding for unforeseen situations. This lady however, treated you and your business with disdain. I would not have offered her another Saturday date. Afterall, you don't know if she will do this to you again. If she claims that she cannot do any other day, try telling her that your Saturdays are so popular, you would not be able to fit her in for another 6 weeks. (whether it be true or not) Stand your ground.

Cris

Kylie87 replied:

Thats a good point that I didn't even consider!
I think I let it go so much because I used to work for her but remembering back then she took advantage of me so doormat no more.

I was going to end visiting my grandparents early for her party but stuff it, now my Saturdays are booked up!
Thanks so much! :)

scrappy replied:

Be careful with hosts like that, Chris is right they dont respect your business. Personally I dont give people more than one change, if they want more I will give them my number and they can chase me. I want to build my business not waste time chasing it, so if it is too hard to get a confirmed date, I move on and book someone else!!  

kathymollie replied:

Great Points Scappy and Cris..they are so right...you need to move on and if that particular potential hostess is not going to respect your business enough...then forget her.....let's face it she probably wouldnt bother inviting anyone to her party with an attitude like hers...so it would be a waste of your time........and Time is precious...

Respect yourself and your business....move on to the next....bookings are every where....always have your business card with you at the ready...and your diary ready to pop the next one in...

Good Luck Kylie with all that you do...

Cheers...Kathy

Kylie87 replied:

Thank you girls so much for your words of wisdom! :)

PatriciaStorie replied:

Hi Girls.

I hear what you are saying. I had a hostess back out on me last night. I was surpose to do her party today. I rang her on Wednesday to confirm that it was still a go ahead, and she said "yes, but there wont be many there."

I said that was fine, we would have fun anyway, no matter what. I rang her last night to confirm finally numbers and so what, and she informs me that everyone is going away, or having a birthday, ect and she cant have it. This is the 3rd time that she has changed the date in 6 weeks. VERY FRUSTRATED! Anyway, she has decided to do a catalogue party instead. Im a bit unsure about how it will go. But it is very annoying when you have to continuously chase hostesses to hold there dates. they dont seem to realise that tgis is our business, and we work hard to make it the best it can be, and people like that can really upset the apple cart. I could have booked 2 other parties in today, but didnt because of this party. NOT HAPPY JAN.

Oh well, no good crying over a lost party. Ill just get on with it, and make the most of our new catalogue and get back to booking more parties.

 Patty.

SexxxyThingz replied:

Yep its happened to most of us,I had spent a few hrs preparing for a party,it was 45mins from home,and was prime time Saturday night,turned away others for this time.As I was leaving for her party I glanced at the computer and noticed an email on there from HER .Yep she is Cancelling the party via email!How rude is that?

I didnt respond at all to leave her wondering if I got the message.

She probably had the lights off and was hiding under the couch

Snazza replied:

Oh my goodness. How rude is that to cancel via email!!! Good on you for not replying. I mean ok if there is a few days grace but to cancel on the night and not be sure you are going to get the message is just down right rude.

It seems there is alot of this going around. Unfortunately people just don't seem to think!

Snazza

Kylie87 replied:

Yeah some people are so inconsiderate but it does help you, to not take the good hostesses for granted!

And karma happens... :)

But email thats just rude, its like when my ex dumped me by sms... :(

SexxxyThingz replied:

OOOOhhhhh what a coward your ex is.Has anyone seen a website called   dontdatehimgirl.com ?

FoodDude replied:

Oh dear !!  I have had a couple of situations where this has happened to me.  I try to look on the bright side !  Yeah !!! there's no income from that one, but I get to spend that time with my Family and usually we do something special.  OK, I know that this is my bread and butter, but if I look at the situation positively (ie probably not reply to an email), but make sure that I include them everytime when we do an email contact list.

Just remember, that its a small word; you never know where you will run into this person again, and if you do your best to not make this person feel awkward well you never know what will happen (gosh, am I rambling  ??)

cheers

have a great sunday

Mel

Kelly replied:

The subject line says it all....

What really counts is how you react to it. You have two options that I see. One being sitting there feeling sorry for yourself - this attitude inevitably leads to failure in this industry.

Or

You can spend the time you would have done on that party doing something constructive for your business. This can give you time to get on the phone and do some customer service calls to make sure your customers are happy with their previous purchases - can lead to outside sales and/or bookings. Spend time reading - improve your product knowledge. Hostess coaching - to prevent more cancellations.

Spending time working on your business will inevitably lead to success. People like to deal with people who know what they are doing.

Kylie87 replied:

Just to catch up that the hostess has confirmed for Saturday so fingers crossed for a good party, I was so nervous ringing her...

But its good (for) now and I'll let you guys know how it goes... :)

Kelly replied:

Be positive!

Kylie87 replied:

Hey Guys,
I thought I would fill you in...

I got to the party 10 mins late due to exploding tyres, tow truck drivers leading me to a wreckers 40 mins away from civilisation, bushfires and big metal things falling off the back of trucks and smashing cars but I rang the hostess to let her know I would be late and sehe was fine about it.

So I get to her house, shes not there only men so I thought okay they told me she was coming so I'll set up to be ready...

Half an hour later she shows up drops some groceries off and leaves again to pick up a guest.

15 mins later I'm still waiting,  3 guests and her, she prepares the food and no more guests show up for another 15 mins or so then we wait for another 20 mins, general chit chat for the final guest (who in the end doesn't buy anything).

I do my quick presentation and leave it in their hands to check my rack, the sales are under the $300 qualifying bonus, no bookings, but I knew my sister wanted to order something so I told the hostess I would add it I just need it when she gets it and it just brought her to enough for the party to qualify...

I was about to pack up the rack but the hostess hadn't finished trying everything on...

I got there at about 7pm and didnt leave til nearly 11pm... :(

So tired and to cap it off the party I had yesterday was not quite enjoyable because the ladies were rude and obnoxious and as soon as the footy game started I was told to quickly move and leave and no one helped me to the car or opened a door or anything... No bookings from that one either...

I'm keeping positive, not screaming... (my poor sore head!)

But it can only get better.... Right?

It's good to get all the bad parties out of my system when I first start so that I only look to greeener pastures... Please someone tell me I'm right... lol.

marina replied:

Hi Kylie..

Just my warmest wishes to you.. Not a good experience at all.

I have been doing party plan for a while and I have learnt that I am the boss and not the hostess.. They do not control me.. It is my job. ( it took me a while to think this way) lol

I go in there for 2 hours and then I am out. I don't wait for anybody..  look sometimes i will give a grace time of 15 - 20 minutes. but very rarely and under special circumstances.

if there are 3-4women with another 5 on the way i will wait up to 15- 20 minutes. but if there are 3-4 women there already  with only one on the way then I will start the show on time..  why keep the other women waiting for 1 or 2 late women.?

Just as an example, I had a show yesterday. start time at 2pm. there were 2 ladies, with another 3 on the way... the hostess asked me to wait until they all come.. 

I said to her " I will wait 15minutes"

15minutes came and i said to the hostess " i will do the presentation so these ladies can start shopping, and  when the other ones come I will explain,  plus i have to leave at 4pm." So i started the ball rolling...  I am not waiting and waiting for these women......

The ladies that came later, i quickly just expalained the benefits of having a show and about the product..-  1 minute or so.

You have to think"   My time is valuable. i am valuable, this is a professional job and not a hobby.. would a solicitor or lawyer wait around waiting and waiting .... "  I have a family that expects me to be home at a certain time.

it is ok to be extra at a show if it is a lot of women making sales.. sometimes i am there an extra half an hour but the shows are huge in sales..  it is ok to to stay back if you are being held up to talk about recruiting.etc..

each show is different, but at the end of the day you need to go into that home LIKE YOU OWN IT.. BE CONFIDENT AND STRONG AND DO NOT BE AFRAID TO SAY.." I AM SORRY BUT I CANNOT WAIT.. I HAVE TO BE OUT OF HERE AT THIS TIME.

your next party will be good. let us know how you go..