Catalogue business

[Rincewind]

Yes I am not completely gullible but I am desperate in a way. The sort of figures he was saying were ridiculous. Even said one bloke had a big H in his back garden so to be picked up by helicopter. He was quoting figures from 3k a week yet he also said his office was his bedroom.

Part time and doing it online would not be so bad. But he wants me in his team because he will get a bonus which he said I would get by bringing people in. My brother gives financial advice and works out business plans for people that run businesses. He said that some have very little idea how to run their home finances and he works out which insurance, energy supplier etc which would be best yet this bloke said he would not understand how this works.

Not sure if he is calling back to arrange a time to meet or I have to call him. I don't really want to meet on my own. Or sign up there and then. I would like to take all his propsals and discuss it with an independant advisor Someone who can ask questions I would not

I am beginning to go on the side of very cautious

If you get 10 out of 100 buying that reduces your customers next time you go out and there is no gurantee those 10 will buy again so you have to find another 100 to deliver to. I cannot see how you can make 500 pw doing that..

[davieG]

Yes I am not completely gullible but I am desperate in a way. The sort of figures he was saying were ridiculous. Even said one bloke had a big H in his back garden so to be picked up by helicopter. He was quoting figures from 3k a week yet he also said his office was his bedroom.

Part time and doing it online would not be so bad. But he wants me in his team because he will get a bonus which he said I would get by bringing people in. My brother gives financial advice and works out business plans for people that run businesses. He said that some have very little idea how to run their home finances and he works out which insurance, energy supplier etc which would be best yet this bloke said he would not understand how this works.

Not sure if he is calling back to arrange a time to meet or I have to call him. I don't really want to meet on my own. Or sign up there and then. I would like to take all his propsals and discuss it with an independant advisor Someone who can ask questions I would not

I am beginning to go on the side of very cautious

If you get 10 out of 100 buying that reduces your customers next time you go out and there is no gurantee those 10 will buy again so you have to find another 100 to deliver to. I cannot see how you can make 500 pw doing that..

By recruiting someone else like he's doing.

[Jace]

Sounds great

[Saxondale]

As the old saying goes, if it sounds to good to be true then it probably is.

If the products they're selling were that good, they wouldn't have to go round flogging them door to door and supposedly paying salesmen £££ per month to do so.

[Rincewind]

As the old saying goes, if it sounds to good to be true then it probably is.

If the products they're selling were that good, they wouldn't have to go round flogging them door to door and supposedly paying salesmen £££ per month to do so.

True. I shall leave it alone. If he calls back I shall just decline saying it is not for me. He was reluctant for me to discuss it with anyone else because of others putting me off. I have not so much been put off just had a few doubts confirmed. If one person had replied and said 'Wow I have done that and now have a yacht in Marbella' I would have given it more thought. But the general consensus seems to be it is a no goer and that's good enough for me.

[Rincewind]

http://www.incomeunlimited.biz/kleeneze.html

Some interesting posts here of varying views. It seems that if you want to make money at it you need to build a team and earn commission. But you can still earn a living once you have esyablished a customer base. The agent pays for the catalogue so posting through letter boxes loses you money if the house holder bins them and you have to order more. Personally I would not be bothered about building up a big team and having to rely on other below me putting the hours in. A couple of posts said you can manage with the minimum catalogues and make sure the people you give them to want to order something.

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-95810.html

[Ozwin]

Kleeneeze mess you about big time. I know someone who did it for a bit and they couldn't wait to get out of it (which, like davieG said, was a mean feat in itself).

[stripeyfox]

I think the potential earnings are always massively inflated. If you deliver 100 catalogues, and IF a large proportion of those households place "good" orders, then you stand to make reasonable commision. We used to have the kleeneze catalogue delivered and occasionally purchased odd things from it but it's always relatively small amounts. You ain't gonna get rich on the commision from a washing up brush or clothes airer. Plus, as you have already mentioned, you would then have to hope on future, regular, repeat orders.

The fact he was so cagey (at the start, at least) would lead me to walk away instantly.

I don't know if the Avon business model is the same, but I know a girl who is an "agent" for that and she does make a little "pin" money but it's never more than that, and certainly not a full time job. I think she said she might bank £50 a month which is nice pocket money for a couple of hours work but I think you would need to be highly optimistic to think it would yield much more, regardless of how good a salesman you are. Many (if not most) people do not buy from door to door salesmen so you're up against it to start with (and I have done door to door sales, of LCFC scratchcards many years ago).

I'd be especially reluctant to part with any cash up front.

You may make a few £££ beer money but I doubt it would be much more than that.

[21st Century Fox]

It's pretty shocking that this kind of business can survive in the era of the Internet. I'm assuming it's older people that actually place orders?? I can't say one of those catalogues have ever made the transition from our porch into the actual house.

[Captain...]

It just stinks of a con, or at least a load of bull, simple of rule of thumb is, it is not a job if you have to pay before you can do it. If he is willing to let you try it without any payment, without signing anything, except maybe a guarantee of returning all the stock/catalogues provided, and a detailed inventory. Then just tell him where to stick it. If he is willing to let you loose without having to pay anything and you have nothing to lose, then you might as well give it a try, but don't sign anything and don't commit to anything.

Those kind of catalogue businesses must be dying now anyway, if I had one of those catalogues and I saw something I liked, I would just look on the internet and buy it.

[Rincewind]

Edited an ealier post for this link from a message board. The payment up front is for the catalogues and paperwork. Any unreturned you havre topay for replacements so it is better not to post through doors and knock introduce yourself and ask politely saying you will call back whenever. I was only looking to do it until the job I was offered is finalized but the bloke was trying to say devoting more time to this would be better. There is a free option but that is only about 10 catalogues. Eventhat may be enough for me. I am sure I know 10 people I can show one two and say no or order while I am with them I could send one to a relative who would return it or keep for future orders. (how I'd get goods to them I do not know) He also said some pay is cash in hand which I thought may be illegal. 'The taxman does not have to know'

Anyway varying veiws in this link to a thread.

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-95810.html

[Heskey2011]

Just had a call from some one in response to my job search as a leaflet/catalogue distributer. Had a long chat. What it is, is a business and self employed. I buy a start up pack and sell from the catalogue door to door intrnet or however I want. He's going to send info by email. He was saying from 100 catalogues delivered there would be an average of 2.50 per house. The figures he was quoting sounded great. He did say people would try and put me off though. From what he said I could do 20 hours or so and earn the same as the security which is 48 hrs. And there is a lot of cashin hand. With the pack I would get a web site so could sell from that.

Now somebody is goingto put me off.

He is sending the stuff then maybe meeting up. He sounded genuine. Said the only way not to earn the money is not to do anything you have to be prepared to work at it.

TBH I would prefer working for myself than doing 48 hrs through a 'possible' job.

I've just had the call from Kleeneze, don't know if this is th company you're thinking of distributing for, the only catch is you have to buy the catalogues, other than that it seem pretty good, all teh reviews i've read have been pretty positive, say you need to work hard but the money is great, not sure how it works being self employed or like a freelance employee, the real money is made when you get more poeple to do it, then you get a small % of thier income, it's £160 for 250 catalogues or i think you can get 5 for free, (to test the water) don't know if i'm going to do it, i was hoping to read some negative reviews so i could discount it but it does sound pretty good no selling etc.

I dunno let me know if you do it and how you get on. good luck

[stripeyfox]

If you've got to fork out £250 for catalogues (how many?) and you make 21% of takings (according to the other thread posted by Nightguard) which I will round down to 20% for ease of calculation, then that means you need to sell £ 1250 worth of stuff from that catalogue drop just to break even.

You're probably mostly looking at older people spending a few quid a month on a bath mat or toothbrush holder and you've got to sell a lot to the small percentage of catalogues that do yield orders (as most will probably get binned).

Worth a try if you don't have to shell out in the first place, or you can afford to "lose" at least some of the £250 for the risk.

[21st Century Fox]

Edited an ealier post for this link from a message board. The payment up front is for the catalogues and paperwork. Any unreturned you havre topay for replacements so it is better not to post through doors and knock introduce yourself and ask politely saying you will call back whenever. I was only looking to do it until the job I was offered is finalized but the bloke was trying to say devoting more time to this would be better. There is a free option but that is only about 10 catalogues. Eventhat may be enough for me. I am sure I know 10 people I can show one two and say no or order while I am with them I could send one to a relative who would return it or keep for future orders. (how I'd get goods to them I do not know) He also said some pay is cash in hand which I thought may be illegal. 'The taxman does not have to know'

Anyway varying veiws in this link to a thread.

http://www.sheffield...hp/t-95810.html

I don't think he would exactly have your best interests at heart if he'd be making money from you.

[Rincewind]

He didn't say what company he was. He was representing himself though so wanted me on his team. He said he was 63 so 3 years older than me. I got the name off the email he sent. I thought he told me it was a 10 catalogue taster? In the link above (sheffield message board) there was a reply frome someone that does Bettaware cats but they do not have to pay for them.

Like others have said there a few of these about. I put leaflet and catalogue distributer as a job search but not running a business. I was not interested in the sales side of it just a few hours pushing pizza leaflets through doors and annoying the occupants (I am annoyed so why shouldn't others not be)

Only other thing I could do is have a word with someone at the job centre see if I can get some help if I decide to do it full time because I wont pay until I see how difficult it is. If I can get 200-300 pw I'll be happy No reason to start living the playboy lifestyle at my age.

[Rincewind]

I dont think it was £250. It was £150 think it was 100 or 200 catalogues. Too many for me at a start.

[Rincewind]

Just had a call off Don the seller. Shorter conversation.

Do Have you had a chance to look at the email?

Me A quick look

Don A quick look?

Me yes still thinking about it. It may not be for me

Don well you can work for £6 ph 20ph

Me yes But I'm not a salesman

Don You dont have to be its up to the custmer people like buying from a catalogue

Me I dont if I can get the same stuff local

Don well you can carry on drawing dole with no hope of a job or have ambition I want ones with ambition and if you dont have it I dont want you

Phone dead.

Sort of edited He did say something about not being a teacher until he had learned and he earned lots by having people under him and there was a waiting list beside me. And something about taking more notice of what others have to say being content with my no hope of a life.

[stripeyfox]

Hmmm. What I don't like about this is that because you have to pay for the catalogues, all the risk is on you. In a normal commission selling arrangement you do all the leg work, delivering the catalogues, collecting them and the orders and you get a cut, say 20% of the takings. The company gets 80% so everyone's happy. The more orders you get the more you both get. But with this arrangement, the company is insulating itself from a low order month. Because you have to get £150 (or whatever) just to get to the start line. You do all the work and they get £150 for nothing. But it sounds like one way the agent can increase his share is by recruiting additional agents?

I don't really understand the business model.

[cambridgefox]

Just had a call off Don the seller. Shorter conversation.

Do Have you had a chance to look at the email?

Me A quick look

Don A quick look?

Me yes still thinking about it. It may not be for me

Don well you can work for £6 ph 20ph

Me yes But I'm not a salesman

Don You dont have to be its up to the custmer people like buying from a catalogue

Me I dont if I can get the same stuff local

Don well you can carry on drawing dole with no hope of a job or have ambition I want ones with ambition and if you dont have it I dont want you

Phone dead.

Sort of edited He did say something about not being a teacher until he had learned and he earned lots by having people under him and there was a waiting list beside me. And something about taking more notice of what others have to say being content with my no hope of a life.

Sounds like a right knob and im in sales.His sales technique is to recruit people to earn HIM money,no other reason.He also needs to brush up on his person to person skills,how the hell does he know if you have "no hope in getting a job"love him to give me a call, being in the sales industry for 20 years i think i could out cnut him all day!

[cambridgefox]

Hmmm. What I don't like about this is that because you have to pay for the catalogues, all the risk is on you. In a normal commission selling arrangement you do all the leg work, delivering the catalogues, collecting them and the orders and you get a cut, say 20% of the takings. The company gets 80% so everyone's happy. The more orders you get the more you both get. But with this arrangement, the company is insulating itself from a low order month. Because you have to get £150 (or whatever) just to get to the start line. You do all the work and they get £150 for nothing. But it sounds like one way the agent can increase his share is by recruiting additional agents?

I don't really understand the business model.

it would be good to know the companies true figures of how many books you have to give out before an order.you could dish out 100 books per order.Too risky,if he makes so much money he could give you 50 books if he was that confident of getting his money back.

[Rincewind]

Putting up the £150 was the thing that put me off. I never had a chance to say I might be willing to try the free option. I see nothing wrong in checking things out and getting feedback from different sources. When I said where I lived he was saying that Clarendon park London Road area would be good. I don't know but I don't believe what he said that a lot pof people prefer catalogues. To build up your customers you have to go back and forward eliminating the ones who won't and going back to the ones that will until you can deliver 250 per week and get orders from 50-9-0%

Bit like BatRacer adjust the settings until its perfect. You may get there eventually if you are willing to lose a bit to start with and pass the worst ones on. I was made to feel bad for wanting to be certain.

[Rincewind]

Sounds like a right knob and im in sales.His sales technique is to recruit people to earn HIM money,no other reason.He also needs to brush up on his person to person skills,how the hell does he know if you have "no hope in getting a job"love him to give me a call, being in the sales industry for 20 years i think i could out cnut him all day!

I could give you his number. He phoned my mobile and I have his landline on an email. I would like someone with business and financial sense to give him a call as well and ask him a few questions I would not think of.

My brother is always saying to me one of my major faults is not admitting I do not know about a subject so ask questions to learn about it no matter how many times it has to be repeated. He says being an ex-teacher he knows the body languge.

[21st Century Fox]

Just had a call off Don the seller. Shorter conversation.

Do Have you had a chance to look at the email?

Me A quick look

Don A quick look?

Me yes still thinking about it. It may not be for me

Don well you can work for £6 ph 20ph

Me yes But I'm not a salesman

Don You dont have to be its up to the custmer people like buying from a catalogue

Me I dont if I can get the same stuff local

Don well you can carry on drawing dole with no hope of a job or have ambition I want ones with ambition and if you dont have it I dont want you

Phone dead.

Sort of edited He did say something about not being a teacher until he had learned and he earned lots by having people under him and there was a waiting list beside me. And something about taking more notice of what others have to say being content with my no hope of a life.

What professional would say something like that? I bet he's a Gordon Gecko wannabe sitting in a room piled with catalogues.

[Captain...]

Just had a call off Don the seller. Shorter conversation.

Do Have you had a chance to look at the email?

Me A quick look

Don A quick look?

Me yes still thinking about it. It may not be for me

Don well you can work for £6 ph 20ph

Me yes But I'm not a salesman

Don You dont have to be its up to the custmer people like buying from a catalogue

Me I dont if I can get the same stuff local

Don well you can carry on drawing dole with no hope of a job or have ambition I want ones with ambition and if you dont have it I dont want you

Phone dead.

Sort of edited He did say something about not being a teacher until he had learned and he earned lots by having people under him and there was a waiting list beside me. And something about taking more notice of what others have to say being content with my no hope of a life.

What suprise, turns out he was a cvnt, best off out of it.

[Rincewind]

And here was me thinking I was a fa

And here was me thinking I was a failure.

PS never meant the ubnderline I started typing and it was there when I looked up.