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Hoax Leads OR True Leads
Discussions : General discussion : Hoax Leads OR True Leads
anadesigns wrote:
I thought i would add a new topic due to something that has occured over the
past couple of days
My biz partner & I recently recieved an email & heres our question -
When someone sends u a lead - how do u determine whether it is a true lead or someone trying to play a prank
For instance say someone sends u an information request eg: quote for product etc but with no contact details should u take it as real or ponder the possibility that someone is just prying on u and your business
We have sent replies & we get responses BUT we have still had no luck on gaining so much as a telephone number they are constantly requesting the info/quote, they have provided us with an address but nothing else, so how do we know it is a genuine enquiry when they wont give us so much as a phone number
My biz partner & I have decided (after some more investigation) we will be reporting this to the relavant authorities/people IF we find out it is a hoax as this order request was for a very LARGE order & a very EXPENSIVE one & we would have been seriously out of pocket if this "person" didnt pay/collect the order
I hope no-one out there thinks that this is funny as this is not a very nice thing to happen to someone & there business so we put this up as a bit of a warning to other's
How do people sleep at night doing this to others makes us wonder..................................
We would love nothing more for this to be a genuine enquiry we would be JUMPING FOR JOY i can tell you but something is NOT adding up & we cant put our fingers on it
We would like to know what u all think
What would u all do if put in our position Can anyone suggest anything to us
Nat & Bec
MarineMC
FM-Fragrances-Australia-World replied:
Hi Nat & Bec
I'm not sure what business your in - However I personally would be very cautious about enquiries that do not leave:
Phone Numbers
Postal Address
To be able to do a complete check
I have had a friend get stuck with a lot of stock from a genuine customer who just decided to cancell, this in it self nearly broke him, If a genuine customer can do that, what could a hoax do??
Be very careful!!!
In the Home shopping business I am with (MIESSENCE) the customer can become a prefered customer and order direct off the site with me holding none or very little, and getting the commissions via the web site.
I would be very cautious about ordering large stock quantities for a customer direct, without a deposit, and I would put my own condition of a 10% cancellation rate on the deposit given which they sign for, whether the company I'm with endoresed that or not, Unfortunatley I'm very untrusting, and rather protect myself.
Order nothing until you know more, or at least check if you can send everything back in case it is a hoax, Just protect yourselves.
Richard
www.organicnaturalbeauty.mionegroup.com
0405624586
RachelSaucy replied:
Hi Nat & Bec,
I hope for your sake it is a genuine enquiry:)
If at this stage it's just an enquiry and not an order, maybe they don't want to provide a contact number because if they decide not to go ahead with the sale they then don't have to "face" a sales person over the phone.
I would be inclined to treat this as a genuine enquiry at this stage. Have you offered a quote yet? If you haven't you could try providing a broad/general quote, send them a sample and offer to call or they can call you to discuss specific pricing & needs for them - I would hope an approach like this would seperate the genuine enquiries to the rest :)
I'm not sure how large and expensive an order we are talking about here but maybe you should do something like Richard suggested and place certain conditions ie the 10% upfront, or maybe some kind of condition where orders are not placed unless verified verbally/in person etc
HTH - Rach xx
SaucyKath replied:
With such a large order I would have no qualms in asking for a 35 to 50% deposit with balance payable upon delivery. And yes the cancellation fee is also a good idea.
If they genuinely like your products, you will not lose them due to you asking for a substantial deposit.
Good luck with it girls!! I hope this turns into something very positive for you;
Kath
anadesigns replied:
Well they have now selected colours & confirmed quantity
They still wont give us contact info other then the address we have
We have sent them a reply now we are waiting on the response
We must say that it is has been the most interesting enquiry we have had for our biz
I guess we will see what happens next LOL
Stay Tuned for updates
Nat & Bec
MarineMC
Zammy replied:
Hi Nat and Bec,
I hope this works out as a great order for you :)
Having said that, I wouldn't place any orders that will leave you out of pocket until you have complete details for these people, and if it's substantial enough, definately a deposit as well.
Keep us posted!
Shannon
hotfrangipani replied:
I agree with Kath.
For large purchases a deposit should be enforced, it is standard business practice that with any large purchases that a deposit is to be made. This is your insurance in case they don't go through with the transaction.
No deposit.....no order.
Cheers,
Tanya
partyplans replied:
Escrow Australia:
http://www.escrowaustralia.com.au/
You do not deliver goods until the buyer puts funds into the escrow trust.
You do not get the funds until the buyer gets the product.
All shipping is tracked and signed.
Could still be a problem if you have to make the products... so a deposit would be required also in your case.
anadesigns replied:
Thanx everyone for your replies
Yes we will definately be requesting a deposit we need some sort of assurity that we are not making these products for nothing
They have sent a reply to our last email & we replied now we are waiting on a response to our last email we sent WAIT & SEE
I must say though if they go to so much trouble to do what they are doing & it is some prank coz some1 just wants to be stoopid then I think we will find it very hard in the future to take orders/enquiries that come thru email without thinking "is this another hoax" which we will then have look at our current policies & make them even firmer which then will make it tougher for "genuine" people who contact us via email who really do want to order stuff from us it only takes ONE to stuff it up for everyone else which is really sad
Lets see what happens
Nat & Bec
MarineMC
anadesigns replied:
Hi
Well i think my instincts may have been right I think this was a hoax email (I still could be wrong but somehow i think we are on the right track) we got a reply yesterday from our "mystery" person confirming the order that they wanted which was fine they said they wanted to pay by credit card so we sent them a reply saying that we only accept credit card payments for purchases made from our website & that for "special orders" we do not accept credit card as payment
Well since then (so-far anyway) we have had no reply so i guess we will see what 2day brings LOL
Will keep u posted LOL
Nat & Beck
MarineMC