a typical day in the life of a Hillarys advisor

[desmorse]

I don't have the 3/£99 offer, but I don't have any leads either.
When I left home this morning, the only lead in my diary was for 7th May.
By the time I'd got home tonight, I had £2,545 of orders! ;D ;D ;D

As I said the other day, I'm on a roll, can't believe it. Had a call last night from an old customer wanting their conservatory done. Now I know this customer well, I've done the whole of his current and previous house in clouds at 2/£99.

So come on everyone - what does he want in his conservatory?
















Nope, you're all wrong.











10 tab blinds which I kindly discounted down to £2k as he's been such a good customer, and I was in shock.

Think I might buy a lottery ticket this week

[greenpesto]

Heres a run down on my day:

Lead #1
Customer is about to have plastering done - can't measure.
2nd window having curtains fitted - where? - right where the blinds should go. - No sale!

Lead #2
Customer wants to match blinds from other company. Told we have poor selection. Only ask for quote as seen 50% off offer.
Told me she'd rather go back to original company.

Lead #3
One of our 'tinted cousins' for a Conservatory roof. - Waste of time, wanting 'Much cheapness!' - need I say more?!

Lead #4
Go to elderly lady with 'dementia' whose daughters want her to have a blind in the loo.
Customer tells daughter she won't have blind & calls me a 'cheeky bleeder!'
Won't pay deposit. Daughter asks if I'll make it with no deposit. I said no chance because if she refuses to pay at the end what will I do with Blind?!
Walked out!

Lead #5
Not in!

Lead #6
Customer has had quotes from me over the past 3 years & never bought. Often canceled appointments last minute & even on doorstep.
This time kids looking through window - mother does not answer door.
Walked away - Not in!!!!

Lead #7
Sold that £380.

Lead #8
Customer not in - about to pull away & then she turns up!
Quote only.

Lead #9
Sold venetians after long explanation that she couldn't have verticals at these door & window combinations.

Lead #10
Quote on conservatory sides.
She had whole house done before for £1000 so thought that £580 for x6 blinds were too much. Couldn't understand that although one room it took x6 blinds to cover it. Thinks she'll buy better & cheaper elsewhere!
No sale!

Lead #11
Evening appointment.
Didn't know what she wanted & I couldn't get into room because of carpet being laid.
Multi quote on everything.
No sale.

On top of this & with my earlier postings I'm slowly climbing the wall!!!!
With silly offers that price condition the customer to a point that will leave them disappointed & me wasting time, along with un-qualified leads & unconfirmed bookings I wonder what future I have with Hillarys?!!

In the past 2 days I have had 21 leads & 5 sales. Mostly due to customers expectations being greater than the offers or prices.
I could of course sell everything at 3 for £99 ... but I'd be a fool ... & a busy one at that!!!
Hillarys must with-draw this ludicrous policy of 3 for £99 & 50% off because we are sending out the wrong signals to the customers as well as selling ourselves short.

If we continue to disappoint customers then they will simply go elsewhere!!!

Previous managers of M&S, Dixons et all who didn't listen to their customers then & see sales fall .... BEWARE!!!!!

[BLAZER]

When are Hillary's going to realize that selling cheap is a one night stand? What their doing is selling cheap because that's the only way they know to sell in a crowded market place but that strategy is doomed to fail. Their stuck in the habit of cutting prices until there's no more profit left to cut. This in turn devalues the product to such an extent that Hillary's core customer's built up over many years start to leave. You simply can't be all things to all people in the long term.

What they should be doing is focusing on a customer service
strategy that builds long term relationships with your customers. 95% of profits come from long term relationships. Service is the only way to keep those customers and enjoy those profits.

Cheap is cheap, customers know that. If the customer has a relationship with you and is satisfied with it he'll pay more.
Only 2-4% of customers who rate your service as superior will leave because of price inducements from competitors. Price gets customers through the door- but only service keeps them. And we all know how good that is!!

Hillary's you've been warned. Stop this strategy before it's to late.

[agentcruise114313]

Monday............9 available slots.........appointments1.....customer not in.

Tuesday............9 available slots.........appointments1.....customer wanted pleated side blinds. Thomas Sandersons had quoted.

My Quote..........20mm cord/tab on each window top and bottom £5062 (not in the sale)
25mm freehang £1718

Thomas Sandersons quote (unseen) 20mm on each window top and bottom £1200 ......( l do not believe this price)

So there we have it. Full time agent, 2 appointments out of 18 slots. Plus l had some self generated orders myself.