Eyecare Professional POS Materials Project?
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Birdie, I'm doing one on Thursday for the first time. It seems simple: putting up brochures, counter cards and other items in the correct locations, handing the receptionist some equipment and collecting a business card.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
You have not mentioned the client, so you can mention the MSC. Are you willing to name the MSC? Thanks either way. 
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
@HonnyBrown wrote:
Birdie, I'm doing one on Thursday for the first time. It seems simple: putting up brochures, counter cards and other items in the correct locations, handing the receptionist some equipment and collecting a business card.
Honny, I thought the same thing, too, until I read about possible objections and/or difficulty of meeting with the proper person, and overcoming the requirement to personally set up the display and demonstrate the tool. If everything goes as it "should," these sound good. If not, it could be one of those times when a body wishes she or he hadn't taken it. LOL!
There are several in my area. I think I'll apply for one right now, then if that goes well, and they're still available, take more. Or, since most of these are within minutes of one another, maybe I'll take more. After all, they can't ALL turn into the shop from hell. Can they?
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
BirdyC, let's hope not! For me, there is always a learning curve the first time.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
@Shop-et-al wrote:
You have not mentioned the client, so you can mention the MSC. Are you willing to name the MSC? Thanks either way.
It's AboutFace. I know we can mention one or the other in this forum, but it seems like some people are resistant to that. So I try to "go with the flow," but I have no objection to sharing which MSC has these.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
@BirdyC wrote:
@Shop-et-al wrote:
You have not mentioned the client, so you can mention the MSC. Are you willing to name the MSC? Thanks either way.
It's AboutFace. I know we can mention one or the other in this forum, but it seems like some people are resistant to that. So I try to "go with the flow," but I have no objection to sharing which MSC has these.
Thank you. I started the qualifying test for the project. The dates are not great for me, but I will finish the test and be eligible just in case something changes.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
I thought I read something about presentation of materials to educate them about a product? Do you not have to give a sales spiel in addition to all of the other requirements?
Yes. They do not 'buy' per se. They may agree to be aware of changes in the products and allow placement of updated materials. The office staff we work with pretty much have to keep abreast of changes in eyecare world. Many probably do this because they want to. However, some of them may be very busy. If I had time, I would enjoy this. It is interesting to learn something new even f this means working around other people's schedules.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
This sounds more like a 'merchandising' "shop" than a 'mystery' "shop". I used to do a number of such which consisted of putting educational materials in displays in examination rooms of the docs. Generally you got to wait around until an exam room was vacant to quickly go in, pull out of date materials and put in the new ones, then photograph the finished display. You can occasionally run into some 'power monger' who doesn't want to let you do it and I would sweetly suggest that she do it and take a picture she could email to me so I could tell the company that only the materials with current product information and advisories were available to patients. That ALWAYS got me through to the exam rooms to do it myself because suddenly Ms Ogre realized that bad information to the client could land on HER head for refusing to allow current information to be put in place.
I did those jobs for a company that generally does merchandising.
I did those jobs for a company that generally does merchandising.
Yes, it's really more of a merchandising "shop," but you do have to provide proof of visit, photos, etc., and I'm going to assume do a report of some kind. It does sound like a nice change from the standard mystery shop, though.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Then it should pay more. With photo upload and everything else involved, $20 doesn't cover it. As a merchandiser, I make $12 per hour, which includes administrative time, so if I spend x amount of time printing out documents, entering data, and uploading photos, I would be getting paid the hourly wage for that in addition to the time spent onsite.
@HonnyBrown wrote:
Birdie, I'm doing one on Thursday for the first time. It seems simple: putting up brochures, counter cards and other items in the correct locations, handing the receptionist some equipment and collecting a business card.
You did take and pass the qualifier I assume? I am asking as there is a lot more you have to do and none of it is with the receptionist.
Yes, it is partially a merchandising visit. Including communicating with a tech, making several observations, replacing/placing informational items, reviewing everything with the tech, documenting some things, and more. You are fully responsible if anything happens to the materials and equipment sent to you.
My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
It just smells like a sales rep type scenario. I don't have the stones for that.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/26/2015 01:38AM by SouthernCharm.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/26/2015 01:38AM by SouthernCharm.
@isaiah58 wrote:
You did take and pass the qualifier I assume? I am asking as there is a lot more you have to do and none of it is with the receptionist.
Yes, it is partially a merchandising visit. Including communicating with a tech, making several observations, replacing/placing informational items, reviewing everything with the tech, documenting some things, and more. You are fully responsible if anything happens to the materials and equipment sent to you.
isaiah, yes, but I wasn't going to write it out here.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Birdie, I just did one of these and have 4 more to go. They do take some work so you can even get into the location. It is more of a "Sales" shop rather than what we all normally do. The MSC has hired us to be a representative similar to a Drug Rep and you get paid regardless of whether or not you are successful at placing the merchandise. I was lucky as the location I visited had already used some of the same products in this line so I was successful. My 2nd one is giving me some trouble as the target for some reason is never available. In this scenario I will ultimately just show up and in the back of mind knowing that payment is still coming as long as I have made the required attempts. Good luck
I considered it and opted to pass. I did not like the emphasis on shoppers being responsible for the inventory. It sounded too easy for that to lead to problems, and the statements about getting in the door sounded time consuming. I'm not good at sales and don't really want anything close to it.
@jamieg1973 wrote:
Birdie, I just did one of these and have 4 more to go. They do take some work so you can even get into the location. It is more of a "Sales" shop rather than what we all normally do. The MSC has hired us to be a representative similar to a Drug Rep and you get paid regardless of whether or not you are successful at placing the merchandise. I was lucky as the location I visited had already used some of the same products in this line so I was successful. My 2nd one is giving me some trouble as the target for some reason is never available. In this scenario I will ultimately just show up and in the back of mind knowing that payment is still coming as long as I have made the required attempts. Good luck
Thank you, jamieg! I'm still debating on these. It's not really "sales" in the traditional sense, and the nice thing is that you can legitimately say you're working for AboutFace on behalf of a very well-known brand. I used to be a Realtor, and this sounds a lot more comfortable than making cold calls. Although I assumed from reading the materials, that the practices would have already been distributing this brand. From what you say, it sounds as if not?
I'm more worried about the time vs. the pay. If you can make the appointment easily, and the target is available when you get there, you could theoretically be in and out in less than a half hour, I should think (that sound about right?). But, if you have to make two or three calls, and end up having to just drop in, and the practitioner isn't cooperative, etc., etc., etc.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
@jamieg1973 wrote:
Birdie, I just did one of these and have 4 more to go. They do take some work so you can even get into the location. It is more of a "Sales" shop rather than what we all normally do. The MSC has hired us to be a representative similar to a Drug Rep and you get paid regardless of whether or not you are successful at placing the merchandise. I was lucky as the location I visited had already used some of the same products in this line so I was successful. My 2nd one is giving me some trouble as the target for some reason is never available. In this scenario I will ultimately just show up and in the back of mind knowing that payment is still coming as long as I have made the required attempts. Good luck
That's the confirmation I was hoping someone would provide. I thought it was a "sales" visit and was pretty sure there were required targets.
My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
I was thinking of doing one of these but when I started the test I thought it sounded like there were too many things that could go wrong. Yes it could be a fast and easy shop. Fingers crossed for y'all but it's not for me.
@isaiah58 wrote:
That's the confirmation I was hoping someone would provide. I thought it was a "sales" visit and was pretty sure there were required targets.
Isaiah, there is a target, but I'd call it a "soft" target. If the person is no longer there, or you make what I'd call a "moderate" effort to reach him or her, you can proceed without the specific target. Which is, I think, unlike the targeted apartment shops, where it sounds like you have to do somersaults to reach the target.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
@BirdyC wrote:
@isaiah58 wrote:
That's the confirmation I was hoping someone would provide. I thought it was a "sales" visit and was pretty sure there were required targets.
Isaiah, there is a target, but I'd call it a "soft" target. If the person is no longer there, or you make what I'd call a "moderate" effort to reach him or her, you can proceed without the specific target. Which is, I think, unlike the targeted apartment shops, where it sounds like you have to do somersaults to reach the target.
Yes, I agree. You still need to perform the sales visit with someone in charge though. You can't just walk around, leave materials wherever you want, and get a card from a receptionist as a newbie incorrectly stated.
My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
This is my industry and the sales reps should be dropping off the materials personally.
TIme consuming they can be but not based on reaching the target. I did 2 calls and did that when they first open as most of these places at least in my area don't get busy until after 10:00. After you get to the location and have gained entry you will spend about an 1 hour so long as you are moving the process forward. It could turn into a 3 hour visit if you don't stay on point. If you cannot reach someone and show up to the location the chances are slim that you will place the merchandise but in the end you still get paid. As you may already know go there, make an attempt and if you cannot get acceptance, call it a day.
That is merchandising not mystery shopping for your information....
@HonnyBrown wrote:
Birdie, I'm doing one on Thursday for the first time. It seems simple: putting up brochures, counter cards and other items in the correct locations, handing the receptionist some equipment and collecting a business card.
Honnybrown;These take work, keep that in mind. You have to make calls and then go to the location and have an in-depth conversation with the manager or person in charge. Another thing is you have to remember is you have to make 3 THREE attempts while at location to leave and explain the materials. Keep this in mind before accepting this because if you don't then you won't get paid and have to return the materials. These are cumbersome but pay so-so for what it is involved. Another curve to throw you is the signature. You need this at the very end as to confirm set-up, demonstration and display
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/2015 02:05PM by jamieg1973.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/2015 02:05PM by jamieg1973.
Isiah;TIme consuming they can be but not based on reaching the target. I did 2 calls and did that when they first open as most of these places at least in my area don't get busy until after 10:00. After you get to the location and have gained entry you will spend about an 1 hour so long as you are moving the process forward. It could turn into a 3 hour visit if you don't stay on point. If you cannot reach someone and show up to the location the chances are slim that you will place the merchandise but in the end you still get paid. As you may already know go there, make an attempt and if you cannot get acceptance, call it a day.
I think Honnybrown thinks she will pop in the door drop stuff grab card and run... Not how it happens!
CanadaMommy; Yup, I agree with you. These are not what Honnybrown may think they are
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