More About Products

Here's the good news: in addition to everything from the Choices catalog qualifying for free shipping, so does everything from the new "Options" catalog.  The only exception would be the Store for More catalog.  The Ribbons Albums already have free shipping.

Comments

[jthompson]

Cool!

Whether this free shipping stuff was ready to be released anyway or if TEAM influenced it.... either way, very cool!

Criticism is not bad if you USE it to your advantage. In between all the lies and spinning is some valuable feedback and facts....

Amway/IBOAI is smart to Fear Not the criticism but listen enough to keep improving the business. That is what I believe has happenned over the last few years with the Internet and blogging....

a military saying... "If it doesn't kill you, it only makes you stronger"

Amway and IBOS are going getting better and better and smarter and smarter and stronger and stronger..... the critics (add TEAM now) act like a boot camp that is only making this business better and better!

p.s. Oral Roberts has a book called "Still doing the impossible" (i think that is the title) and he talks a lot about USING your critics, learning form them, etc.... yet without "giving them your goat"

Thanks!

[rdknyvr]

With the proviso that the order be equal to or greater than $75, right? And this is only for Customers, and for new IBOs in their first 3 months, assuming they've also ordered the Product Intro Kit?

[Moderator 2 comment: I am awaiting verification from Quixtar. I'll update this when I get it. Alan]

[Moderator 2 update: rdknyvr actually found verification on the Quixtar website. It's on page 2 of the QBI Overview Flier, which tells all about the 2008 Quixtar Business Incentives. Thanks for the fine detective work, rdknyvr!]

[Tex]

jthompson,

I doubt this action was in response to the TEAM fiasco, things of this magnitude take months to plan, analyze, and implement.

Also, we have been getting whispers of improvements for the past several months from the adatudes blogs, we just didn't know the specifics.

Cheers to Quixtar/Amway. I assume it will be obvious on the web site which products qualify for free shipping, catalogs are soooo "analog" (although handy, especially when you're sitting in certain places and don't have much to do!).

[Ros]

The free shipping for customers and IBOs as well as the other great changes (including the new lower priced product lines) that are part of our Transformation were well on their way long before Woodward, Brady and the other Team affiliated IBO leaders were terminated and they filed the lawsuit.

In June I attended a Summer Seminar with my upline Diamond and we had a representative from Quixtar share with us all this and more!

Obvious they (Woodward, Brady and the others) were well aware of it all, long before August 9th.

Ros

[Utah]

Free shipping?
I thought the free shipping was just for $75 customer orders or IBO's that have only been in the business 3 months or less. Did I miss something?

[Moderator 2 comment: I am awaiting a verification from Quixtar and will update rdknyvr's comment from August 30 11:09 a.m. when I receive word.]

[Ros]

Hi jthompson,

You have a good point in your comment "Criticism is not bad if you USE it to your advantage. In between all the lies and spinning is some valuable feedback and facts...."

I have always looked at criticism as feedback, yes it often hurts and doesn't feel nearly as good as complements, but it is usually far more helpful.

When criticized, what should be our response? Once I get past being defensive, I will often ask myself, "Why did they say that? Was I wrong? Was there some truth to it? If so, what can I do to correct that?

Or, if I feel I was correct and they were either wrong or mistaken, how can I better explain my position, helping them to better understand?

Obviously not all actions or decisions will be accepted by all, however I believe we still have an obligation to act responsibly, saying and doing the right thing, without malice.

A good example is retailing. With all the attention it’s been getting – which I think is great, (long before Woodward and the other’s lawsuit claiming it was not being done), I looked at the retailing that was being done by myself and my downline organizaton. And I had to admin to myself, I wasn’t focusing as much attention in that area as I should be.

I have changed that. And now we are focused on and working with each active IBO to develop regular customers who will be serviced monthly.

The other issue that I’ve observe about retailing is many IBOs get stuck on pricing and retail vs wholesale. From day one I have always sold at retail pricing, I talked value and benefits, yes some products were very price competitive – while others were priced higher. (Note: retail pricing can be what ever you decide, you are the business owner, it can be at Sug. Retail, below it or above it).

From my experience both with Amway and Quixtar, their position on products was and still is: high quality, value based products, NOT price focused. Does that mean we should not try to position some products at a certain price point? No of course not, it just means that pricing is only one of many considerations when marketing and positioning a product or service.

If I don’t do my homework and learn about the features and benefits of my products as they relate to my customer, and how it will help them, then obviously all I have left is pricing – and it’s much more difficult (based on pricing alone) to try and explain why they should buy my product from me rather then my completion. And even if I do have the lowest priced product – there can still be a perception on their part that there is a lower price, somewhere.

Does that mean that if I learn all the features and benefits of all my products, that my customer will buy everything I offer him or her? Of course not, nor does any retail store expect their customers to buy everything from them, yes we’d all like that, but it just isn’t reality.

What I can expect and does happen, is I can sell some products to some people who see value in what I offer. Others will buy different products from me. And that’s how it has worked for me.

One final example, one of my downline IBOs was scared to death to try and sell our core line products even at wholesale, thinking that they were too expensive and no one would buy them, he instead focused on the partner stores. After many (many) discussions, I was finally able to get him to focus on the specific features and benefits that would help his customer, and he has now sold everything from the SA8 product line to the personal care and more! All at Sug. Retail with no discounts – all because he focused on the customers needs and how our products could help them. We all buy for different reasons, find out what it is and then match up a product with the benefits that they are looking for.

Wishing you success in your retailing efforts!

Ros

[rdknyvr]

Moderator (Alan), the question on shipping is answered in the IBOAI post of Aug. 26: "About Products." The possibility of free shipping for all IBOs was raised a couple or more weeks ago on one of the O'Zone blogs by 'Bridgett' who was part of a pilot this past year for Quixtar. Possibly (not confirmed yet) that for orders over some number (ie. such as 100 PV) shipping will be free there too, ie. for IBOs showing that level of 'share of customer' commitment. THAT will be COOL if it comes to pass!!! :)

http://www.iboblog.org/my_weblog/2007/08/26/index.html

[Moderator 2 (Alan) comment: Thanks rdknyvr, you're right. The August 26 article mentions everything but the purchase of the Product Intro Kit, which you mentioned.]

[Moderator 2 update: rdknyvr located the definitive details on the Quixtar website. See the update to his comments on August 30, 11:09 a.m. Alan.]

[Utah]

rdknyvr's
link above.

"And even more great news is that shipping will be free starting September 1st for all customer coreline purchases over $75.00. New IBO's, during their first full 3 months in the business, will also receive free shipping for coreline purchases over $75.00."

I guess I was correct. We don't get free shipping on orders over $75 unless it is a customer order or some IBO that is less than 3 months.

Big deal?

[rdknyvr]

Utah,
I would say that free shipping for Customers who place orders of $75 or more is a pretty good deal... that's not a hard threshhold to hit on a monthly basis if you understand our products. Some combination of XS, protein bars, Nutrilite, core cleaning products, (Artistry/NAO if you're a woman), etc. and you're there.

For the new IBO, free shipping in the first three months, if you've also ordered the Intro Product sample pack? If you're serious about starting a BUSINESS, that's not an issue.

What will be interesting is whether in the near term free shipping is extended to ALL IBOs who place orders over a certain reasonable amount per monthly order... I'm hoping it's 100PV as that's a good threshhold and very attainable if you are genuinely in business for yourself and converting some reasonable portion of your normal monthly household/food/health/grooming purchases over to Quixtar products. If there are some products where you feel the quality or your personal desire for the product does not match or justify the price, just skip it and look at something else... there IS lots of choice.

All in all, it's on the PLUS side of my ledger. :)

[Utah]

All I was saying, Is that based on what has been announced, the "free" shipping won't save me any money on orders. Almost all of the retail sales I have have come out of my stock, so it won't help them.

If they modify it to include current IBO's even with a minimum order or PV for the month, that may make a difference. So far, I have not read any such thing.

[rdknyvr]

Utah, actually you make a very good point. For those of us who have personally serviced retail customers, free Customer shipping at or above $75 per order does not help, and I'm in the same boat as you with a couple of my customers. All I know is from an earlier posting by Bridgett that she was part of a limited pilot project this past few months where IBOs got free shipping on orders over a certain level of PV. For IBOs who are "bulking" personal consumption along with product ordered for personally serviced customers, a "free" point for shipping at or above 100PV would be a great help.

MODERATOR, could you forward this concern to those that might be able to consider it?

[Moderator: Consider it done!]

[MAX]

I have a queston,,,,my upline tell me only new customers after the 5th of September will get free shipping, not the current customers. It makes sense for all customers to me. please clarify this info forus. thanks

[Moderator: Get your upline to check directly with Quixtar or do so yourself. The free shipping for $75 is for ALL
customers, both existing and new. ]

[Tex]

Utah,

There is a current minimum IBO order to get free shipping, $750.

If they make the amout less, this is good, but 2-3 IBO's coordinating an order can often easily get to $750.

One or two of the IBO's have to go to someone's house to get their stuff, but if you are working together anyway, this is no big deal.

You also have to reassign PV, but this is easy as well.

If you were involved in the "old" Amway days you did this anyway, it was called product pickup.

If these things aren't worth the shipping costs, then pay the shipping.

Your customers now have an incentive to order $75 worth, they get free shipping.

[The Big Apple]

Not only do all REGISTERED customers get free shipping with an order that is $75 and above, the IBO gets a 20% uplift in PV (not BV) for that order. If you fill a registered customer's order from your inventory, you will still get the 20% PV uplift by filling out an online form.

I am curious, how many people who service customers from their inventory will be hurt by the Oct 2 elimination of case quantity discounts?

[rdknyvr]

Moderator, the following from 'Michel' was posted at O'Zone under Ray Alexander's most recent post about "Moving Product." Since Michel is working in the Canadian (Quebec?) market, can you forward this to someone who will get it fixed? It seems that Quixtar Canada's CS has given an answer that seems to conflict with information provided on the IBOAI/OZ blogs.
With appreciation,
******

Michel said:
September 4, 2007 9:27 PM | #
Hi ,

One of my new customer try to make an order of more than 75 $ and still have shipping fees ! The explanation i got from Q* was that only new customers ( registered after the first september can benefit of no shipping fees ! Is it really like that !

Please give me a come back , thanks !

[Moderator: Here's a reply from one of our "product gurus."

This is not accurate information if, indeed, Michel is speaking of a new "customer" and not a new IBO.
Any and all customers can qualify for the free shipping, but only IBO's registered from September 1st on can receive the free shipping the first 3 months in the business.

It appears that Michel must have called the "customer service" number at Quixtar/Canada and the operator either didn't understand his question ... or the operator had bad information ... or Michel was actually speaking of a IBO and not a customer.

Why the customer .. if it was, indeed, a customer, did not receive the free shipping would be the concern. Perhaps the customer purchased items not covered by the free shipping ... such as bathroom tissue ... or perhaps
the customer was not using his own credit card or shipping to his address.

Rules are:

Customer must use their own credit card

Customer must have order sent to their address

$75.00 retail from Choices catalog ... except preset shipping which includes paper products.]

[Jerome]

Regarding free shipping.

We should count anything that Quixtar chooses to do as a gift. The free shipping option is already there for IBO's at $750 level. I know almost everyone would think this is too high. But in the real business world discounts and free shipping are a gift not a right. Figure out a way, make it work.

As was mentioned earlier partner with 2-3 other local IBO's and combine your orders and get free shipping at $750. Or do what we did for our personal home use. My wife and I changed over everyting in our home that was possible through Quixtar.

We then made a 12 month shopping plan. Meaning 4 times a year we ordered a minimum of $750(most for our home and in addition to a small stock for a our regular customers).

For example: we know we use 1 box of SA8, 1 fabric softener, etc. per month. Figure that into the $750 and there you go FREE shipping AND we did 80% of your household shopping exactly ONCE for a 3 month period.

Most would say then you have a ton of stock sitting around. Wrong. We have two small pantries in our garage. When/if we run out of what we need there it is! Right at our fingertips as well as some overflow for our customers.

Plus on any given month there are items here or there that are needed so we end up doing 100 pv those months as well.

It is very simple. We have to take it very seriously when they say CHANGE YOUR BUYING HABITS. Not just WHERE, but HOW and WHEN.

So basically we enjoy our life, build our business and do very little shopping.

Perfect. We love you Quixtar !