VZW indirect agents getting screwed by online promotions
Ok, starting off this is nothing to do with customers of verizon wireless, so please do not take offense to this if you are not an agent. For you indirect agents out there, how are you dealing with the recent online pricing and promotions? Daily we have customers wanting us to match the online prices and specials, which I do not blame them as a consumer. Almost all of the time it is a secondary upgrade where we would actually loose money selling them the phones at the stated prices online and if it is not a secondary upgrade we loose out matching the ne2. (as a customer they do not understand why we can not match the offer, get upset and never want to deal with us again because we look like shady salesmen) Now it is getting even worse wi...
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First off I agree whole-heartedly.
Second off:
Loose - not tight, flappy
Lose - to give up, forfeit possession of
But I feel your pain... online is killing indirects on voyagers and dares...
Second off:
Loose - not tight, flappy
Lose - to give up, forfeit possession of
But I feel your pain... online is killing indirects on voyagers and dares...
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This is what I do. My price in the store for the Voyager and Dare are $50 higher than what the current online promotion is. I have that price listed, but I also have the online price listed as a special price for New Lines ONLY.
When the customer asks about it I tell them that price it for new lines of service only. If they are upgrading it will be the $50 higher price. I can do that because we have a spiff on the phones for new activations so it works out for me. Most customers don't question it. They don't know if the online price is for new customers only. In my store, it is. That's the only way I can do it and not lose money.
When the customer asks about it I tell them that price it for new lines of service only. If they are upgrading it will be the $50 higher price. I can do that because we have a spiff on the phones for new activations so it works out for me. Most customers don't question it. They don't know if the online price is for new customers only. In my store, it is. That's the only way I can do it and not lose money.
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We've started getting toughter on what we give to customers who didn't get the phones in our store.
our customers get a bigger discount on all acc, generally free phone book transfers (unless they give us trouble) and we'll spend a lot of time getting them used to the phone.
We used to offer that to any verizon customer, but lately it's been our customers only. So when a customer asks why our phone is 50 more, we say it is because of all the be benefits they get for purchasing it in our store, starting with my teams knowledge and experience. If they get it online and want help understanding it, we give them the 800 number. If they want a phonebook transfer, we charge them, if they want us to active their new phone for them, it is also...
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our customers get a bigger discount on all acc, generally free phone book transfers (unless they give us trouble) and we'll spend a lot of time getting them used to the phone.
We used to offer that to any verizon customer, but lately it's been our customers only. So when a customer asks why our phone is 50 more, we say it is because of all the be benefits they get for purchasing it in our store, starting with my teams knowledge and experience. If they get it online and want help understanding it, we give them the 800 number. If they want a phonebook transfer, we charge them, if they want us to active their new phone for them, it is also...
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We do the same. We however won't activate their new phone for them. We actully can't do it in EROES since they are locked to the TC acceptance via the automated system. We just tell them they bought it online or over the phone and must activate it through the same process.
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yeah, we tell them that too, but a lot of them know nothing about phones and bring the box and everything in.
So we activate it the way they should, walking them through the process. And then charge them the ESN fee since we did all the work.
So we activate it the way they should, walking them through the process. And then charge them the ESN fee since we did all the work.
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Yeah we try to do that also.. but its just annoying dealing with the angry customers because of the price difference.
I just wish they would do things like USCC, where every phone is priced the same, no matter what store you go to or purchase online. Keep on dreaming I guess...
I just wish they would do things like USCC, where every phone is priced the same, no matter what store you go to or purchase online. Keep on dreaming I guess...
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IMO this is the reason VZW just lost JD power. Bunch of greedy people thinking about themselves vs. what's best for the customers/company. Suck it up. Serve the customer. That's what your job is. Sales or not you are there to provide a "service". So what if you don't get 200 dollars on a activation. Feel lucky you even have a job plus that you make more than most Full-time workers as a Part-time position.
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Dude you are absolutely ignorant on this issue. The issue is that for an agent to match this price would require them to LOSE money. This isn't an issue of not making as much.
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Just redirect them to a different carrier i'm sure they wouldnt mind having them. You know since VZW doesn't care.
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You don't know what you're talking about. We are agents that own our own business and sell service for Verizon. We don't have to do that. We would like to be able to offer the same things that Verizon offers directly to their customers. It's not about us making $200 on an activation. Heck, the average is around $50-$60 these days. That's if you're lucky. If we were to match some of the prices that Verizon is offering customers then we would lose money on the sale. We're not trying to get rich, we just don't want to lose money. It would be nice to be able to stay in business selling Verizon.
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Also. That $50-$60 is what I as the store owner makes off the transaction... TOTAL. Imagine having to pay employees wages and commissions out of that as well as operating costs of the business.
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Sounds like you need to be working for a direct store instead of complaining.
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Why would I want to get rid of a business I own and go to work for someone else? You'd think Verizon would want to keep their agents happy. We are one of the largest outlets of sales they have.
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That is true. With the closing of the Circuits, VZW needs the indirects more than ever. However, I would not get into a debate with this guy who does not seem to care that the point of this thread is that agents cannot match the Buy One Get One Storm offer without losing money. So it seems that Verizon is willing to take a loss to drive business to its direct stores, telesales and online. I don't see how you guys can stand it.
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The only thing we can do is provide a truly better service. Jeffrey Gitomery says that 20% of customers buy based on price, 20% from service, and the other 90 up in the air. (yes, that's 90, it's not a typo)
If you are a truly better representative, people will come to you. You must sell them on why you're better than anyone else, why you provide a service, and how you're better. Don't bash the competetion, but take the higher road. Explain to them that yes, online prices are lower, not they don't care about you or have a vested interest in your satisfaction with Verizon. I care, because you helped pay my utility bills this month. I care because we have a working relationship, and in the future, I ask you conduct all business through me, ...
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If you are a truly better representative, people will come to you. You must sell them on why you're better than anyone else, why you provide a service, and how you're better. Don't bash the competetion, but take the higher road. Explain to them that yes, online prices are lower, not they don't care about you or have a vested interest in your satisfaction with Verizon. I care, because you helped pay my utility bills this month. I care because we have a working relationship, and in the future, I ask you conduct all business through me, ...
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