Do you feel bad when you go to a crop and buy nothing?

[Spinning]

I went to a crop yesterday, SIAS. I like their paper but I have so much stuff I am really trying hard not to buy anything! GASP I know! I want to use my stuff.
Plus I find their prices high and I can usually find the same items at Michael's and use a coupon for the embellishments.
But I felt really bad.
She puts a lot of work into her crops. She rents a small hotel conf. room Usually has only 10-12 people. She charges $20 which includes lunch. Which I think is a great deal....she has a sizzix and quick kutz to use.
So do you feel you need to buy something?
I did buy some eyelets and a pounding mat...2 sheets of paper I think I spent around $8.
I know many girls bought nothing.

 

[crazyforpooh]

I don't know if I would feel bad Spinning I've never gone and not boughten something. But, remember you aren't expected to buy something you did pay to go to the crop granted the organizer probably doesn't make that much with the admission fee if she rents out a hotel conference room.

I wish I could go to my CM's crops and not buy something just once. Even at my own CM party I dropped $$.

Laura

 

[mom2grace]

I don't! I always spend more when I think the fee is "fair" and don't spend anything when I think it's too much but I want to go anyway! I actually feel worse when I impulse buy to "save face" with the consultant.

I am a Pampered Chef consultant, and I am never offended when someone comes to a show and doesn't buy anything (they still get to eat!). Your consultant is building loyalty and getting nice exposure. 99% of them build a "profit" into the fee!

 

[WDWMom]

I just went to a crop at CM consultant's home and used all of my own supplies, but I did feel a little guilty. But then I decided that since I saved money by using what I had, I splurged and bought the square paper punch. So I ended up spending $20 on something I have wanted and I did not feel bad not buying her supplies. (She also charged $5 for the crop which included prizes, goodies, food and drink)

Sue

 

[lisaschu]

Well, being a CMC, here's my point of view....

I view my crops as customer service events. They are not money-makers for me. Although, some consultants do make quite a bit on their crops. I charge $5 for four hours which is significantly less than what I should be charging (I live in an area where I have to charge less or I'd have no one at my crops!). I make absolutely no money. Between my giveaways and snacks/beverages I'm probably losing money. And $5 sure doesn't cover the amount of time I spend preparing, during and clean up after the crop. Sometimes I'm bummed that I don't have big sales for the effort I put into it, but overall I don't get upset. I'm providing a service to my customers and I love being able to do that. During the crop I will talk about new products. It's up to them if they need product or not. I certainly don't look down on them if they do not purchase. Lord knows if I were the customer I would not want to be treated poorly for not purchasing. I am a huge proponent of use what you got and don't purchase what you don't need. I am a frugal scrapper, I guess.

Most consultants realize crops are a customer service event and are not big money earners. Of course, it is a business and many of us are in it to supplement our family's income. Don't purchase out of guilt. Scrapbooking is expensive enough without buying things you don't need! lol

Lisa

 

[snowflake82]

I'm also a CMC, and I agree with Lisa.

It applies to shows/classes as well as crops. I don't want anyone to buy product because they feel obligated. I would hate to have people going around saying "Oh, yeah, I bought some of that stuff but I never used it."

Jennifer

 

[paulinewdw]

I guess because I feel guilty attending and not buying anything!

Geez...I even buy stuff when I am cropping with my friends....like the stop I made at AC MOORE on Sat on my way to a crop...and then the stamps I bought from my friend at the crop...

Guess I just like to buy stuff!

 

[pattyT]

If it is a party that someone is hostessing at their home -
I DEFINATELY buy something because I know that the hostess of the party has shelled out a lot of money to have us there! (I think CM's hostess credits are aweful! I had a party - spent about $90 on food and drinks - sold about $350 in product and got one SMALL album - thats it!)

IF the party is put on by the consultant at her home or anywhere for that matter (I don't go to them any more though) then I figured I paid what she wanted me to to be there ($10) and if I usually would buy something anyways - but if I didn't one or two times I would not feel quilty.


hth

Patty

 

[Alice28]

I am a CMC and please don't feel guilty for not buying anything! I host a crop at my home at least once a month and I charge $5. The $5 doesn't cover the cost of the food I buy, or my giveaways (I make sure it's FUN for my guests & that everyone walks away with something good)---but as with the previous poster, I view this as a customer service event not a moneymaker. I strongly feel that if you are loyal and generous with your customers, then someday down the line it will even out---either they will make a nice purchase or they will refer a friend or two to me. An example of one of my upcoming crops (Croptoberfest)- I will charge $10, and I will serve cheese fondue with veggies, bread and sausage, drinks, apples with caramel dip, lots of drinks (apple cider, soda, coffee), a spice cake, everyone will get the exclusive sticker pack for the event, plus I am doing incentive for every so many pages done, where people will get diecuts, stickers, % off one item, based on how many pages they complete. Plus they will get raffle tickets for an upcoming raffle where I am giving away an album, a pen set & new sticker sets...PLUS everyone will get a candy bar with a gift wrapped around it---gifts will range from a tape runner to 20% off an album to a pack of paper. Do I expect big sales from this event? Not really. Do I hope that maybe one person will book a class or bring a friend? Yes. Do I hope it inspires my customers to work in their albums and want to come to the next event? Yes. Because the more my customers work in their albums and really enjoy it, the more likely they will buy another album or a tape runner or the new stickers (you get the picture) from me down the line.

And that's my .02!

 

[Spinning]

Thanks everyone for your input. I know when ever I go to a home show I know to bring the check book! But with crops I just feel like I should buy some stuff.

 

[jlp651]

That is why I don't like doing the party thing...I've never been to crop (believe it or not) but I've never been to a party (whether it be pampered chef, party lite or the like) where I have been charged a cover charge! However I do think that $10.00 for the party that Alice is having is more than fair! I think the one thing that sucks about the parties though (and being 25 I'm begining to see what my mother means-and if anyone tells her I said she was right-you're in big trouble) all my friends have parties...but you almost feel obligated to buy something...especially if you had a party and they bought from you. Once I had a Pampered Chef party at the same time another friend had a partylite party-we made our orders the exact price and let it cancel each others out. When I had my party I wouldn't have dreamed of asking anyone for a cover charge! Thats ridiculous. (just my veiw point) Charging them for what they use while there...(is that even done) another story.
I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder. I guess I just dont understand being asked to pay a 20.00 cover chage and then asked to buy something -that can easily become a 100.00 day!

 

[Alice28]

I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder. I guess I just dont understand being asked to pay a 20.00 cover chage and then asked to buy something -that can easily become a 100.00 day! [/B][/QUOTE]

Some CM parties do have a $10 cover charge, but the consultant should make darn well it is worth it and people feel like they are walking away with products! I have yet to teach a class with this cover charge (there are home classes where everyone makes something- this is the $10 class & the home show which is where I just demonstrate the products), but the one I hosted before I became a CMC was the $10 class....I was skeptical at first, like "Why I am inviting people to this class where they have to pay $10 and then I am hoping they will buy stuff on top of that??" But my consultant was awesome- everyone got a page, a whole pack of colored strips & triangles, a sticker set, several catalogs & how to sheets, and a box to hold it all in. Plus we got to play with her stuff and really get a feel of how everything worked. I invited only 3 people to the party and I earned over $55 in free stuff because my friends were so enthused to be able to make a page and see how easy it was, that they all bought albums, cutting systems, pens, etc. The other crop I went to before I was a CMC had a $25 cover charge (I was hoping based on this consultants past classes that it would be worth it--I was leery at paying that much money for 5 hours of crop time), but that included a HUGE dinner, snacks, drinks, and I believe I walked out of that class with a tape runner, a pack of stickers, 20% off an album, a page that the consultant had pre-decorated, die-cuts, 3 crop-talk hand outs & plus the Nat'l scrapbook day goodies which was a pack of stickers and a small pack of paper. I think I spent an additional $30 that covered the cost of the album I got at the discount, and I bought some more stickers. I think the whole cover charge thing really depends on the consultant and how generous she is with her customers- then you feel whether or not it is worth it---ya know? And she never pressured any of us to buy anything- she had lots of products out for sale, but wasn't weird about selling. My friend I brought had a non-CM album and mostly non-CM tools, but no one made her feel awkward- my consultant was just very happy she came. No wonder I signed up under this consultant! She rocked! And the friend I brought is slowly becoming a CM convert, partly due to the fact that everything has been low pressure, fun & she sees how awesome the products are without someone stuffing it down her throat!

 

[jlp651]

I can feel better about paying a cover charge and getting ALL THAT...which is typically better than any other home show I have had or gone too...So, you've won me over...Thanks for the change in outlook...

 

[OurDogCisco]

Originally posted by Alice28
But my consultant was awesome- everyone got a page, a whole pack of colored strips & triangles, a sticker set, several catalogs & how to sheets, and a box to hold it all in. Plus we got to play with her stuff and really get a feel of how everything worked.

Wow, your consultant sounds awesome. After reading your post I feel like mine isn't up to par. My local LSS does Friday night crops that cost $10 and there is no obiligation to buy anything. You have the entire night to crop and free run of the store. Plus, you can use all their die cuts. There is no food or giveaways. But the LSS is located in a small strip mall with tons of food options.

My CM consultant charges $20 and serves us a VERY LIGHT dinner. It isn't very good but it is food plus dessert with lemonade and water. She does not give anything away either. She did a giveaway on National Scrap day but that was it. I don't go to her crops very often because I think, $20 is a bit much. Am I crazy for thinking this?

I wish you lived nearer to me!

 

[Alice28]

Cisco- I wish you lived closer to me too! It would be so fun if all us DIS scrappers could crop together! And I would treat you girls right!!! Great food, giveaways, raffles...oh well!