By appointment

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ArtLady

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 13, 1999
Posts
1,245
Loc
Lawrenceville, Georgia
May I ask how many of you see reps by appointment only? We have a strict rule. I will not entertain a visit without an appointment and they are warned if a customer comes in that I will tend to the customer if I am alone that day. My customer comes first.

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Timberwoman
AL
I cut the mat, I pet the =^..^= cat.
Dahl Fine Art & Frame Design
Shapahl Fine Art
 
All salesmen should make appointments first, AND they should know that customers ALWAYS come first. Without your customers, you don't need the salesman.

If a salesman comes in my store without an appointment, they must understand that they are interrupting my schedule, and act accordingly. (Be polite, and leave me alone, if I am with a customer. OR, quietly leave what they want me to look at, and make an appointment to return later.)

Sue
 
My LJ rep is great about calling ahead and telling me he's going to be in the area on a certain date and he's always adhered to that schedule.

Others--who shall be nameless--either tell me they're coming and don't or just drop in uninvited.

I call to schedule my visits so I can't understand why these reps can't either. I'm now insisting on them calling first to see if it's convenient.

i thought I was alone be insisting on scheduling visits. Glad to see I'm not.

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Michael LeCompte CPF
 
If someone comes in and says she's just popping in because she's in the area today I will take a few minutes with her as long as there are no clients in the store. To look at new lines I insist on an appointment. MOst of the reps I work with call ahead anyway. No one that I deal with doesn't understand that if a client comes in they might be sitting in my back room waiting for 20 or 30 minutes.
 
As a distributor, this is a great topic. We insist that whenever possible, that our reps call ahead to make an appointment. Likewise I have been on many sales calls with my reps where appointments have been made only to find out that when we get there the shop is closed or the owner/framer is out. Very disappointing when we sometimes drive over two hours to make the appointment. My sales reps are instructed that when a customer comes into the frame shop they are to clear the area until the framer is completely finished with the customer. I noticed that those that have responded are from fairly populated areas. Does everyone in rural areas feel the same way? Only asking because in many areas my reps call in there may only be 1 or 2 framers per 100 square miles and often attempts to make appointments are impossible. Reasons:
Seasonable Hours
Bring the Crops In
Had to Take The Kids To School / Pick 'em up
Emergencies (Understandable)
Decided to go to Town (?)

and any other number of reasons why the framer misses or can't make appointments.

Any answers would be great so we can be better at servicing the framer.

Thanks.

John
 
As a framer in a rural area, I try to be very considerate to any rep. willing to make the trek this far out! Interestingly enough, when I first started Larson was the ONLY company willing to come out here, and now they won't even sell to me.

Williamson came out for a while, but now, no one comes except my customers. I do have a local supplier(about 35 miles away) who does deliver to me. Alas, my only contact outside of the grumblers with the framing world! No wonder I read everything I can get my hands on.

Betty
 
Most of my reps are great about making appointments and certainly understand that if a customer comes in, the customer will be helped first. However, occasionally, a new rep will stop in without an appointment. I will try to work them in, but I always let them know that I work by appointment if they wamt to visit our shop again in the future.

Janet
 
I too live/work in a small town...most of my reps do call ahead, however, occasionally one will just pop in. To me, it hasn't been a problem...I've always been up front with them as far as my time is concerned and all seem to understand that the customer comes first and they must wait if necessary. If I have time...we talk...if I don't...we speak and they go on their merry way...LJ...who is that??? :)

Gene
 
Betty, consider your self lucky. We are to be blessed with our first rep visit for the year.I think we embarrassed him into it by ringing and emailing rude jokes about companies who don't give a damn. Admittedly our nearest suppliers are 500km away (300 miles) but it isn't so far really. I will be in the big smoke next week and I will visit all suppliers and bend their ears but it won't do much good. Regards Alan

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If you can't be a good example you'll just have to be a horrible warning
 
Some of my reps call ahead and ask me if they can drop by, others just drop by. All of my reps (not a whole passle of them by any means) are extremely considerate of my customers. If a rep should happen to make an appointment, I can be counted on to keep it.
 
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