One would normally "refer" the potential customer to try out
"xyz" product.
Some companies have sample-sized products for trial, some companies
requires product to be bought because no sample sizes are
available, some companies have free products for trails at their
office.
For those who are professional, there is no tactic of "making" the
customer "commit to buying a pile".
The customer either says Yes or No after reviewing the whole
package presented to him/her.
Most customers are intelligent enough these days to think
logically, so hard-sales (where you try to dictate people's
decisions) are methods from ancient history.
The customer should see the reason (whatever it might be) that
he/she wants to use the products, before committing to any small or
large purchases.
If there is still buyer's remorse after signing on the dotted line,
no worries, laws are in place for product refunds to be given in
full.
Now... with the words "pile" and "membership" being brought up...
Mr/Ms Bear is clearly leading us to the age-old discussion of "it's
just another MLM".
MLM (well... not all of them, but it's good to know there exists
some) in this modern day:
1)
Has products that cost less than retail shops (yet
able to transfer revenue margins back to product promoters
/ distributors).
Companies with high-retail-cost products usually do not have
competing equivalent-ingredient products in the
retail market.
--> Know what you're looking for: either lower-cost product
(also see "membership" pointer below), or unique product.
2)
Confident private-retailers / individuals buy up a large initial
stock of products for the product-promotion business that they are
intending to conduct.
Companies thus naturally reward them better than "normal" consumers /
distributors who purchase a small initial stock.
(Makes normal business sense to provide this perk.)
However, human greed manifests itself here where individuals who
didn't intend to do large-scale promoting buy up too large a stock
than they need just to gain the attractive rewards the companies
give.
--> Buy what you think you need after doing your personal due
diligence.
But don't go around exclaiming "oh i got cheated of a large
investment in this so-called business" when it only shows one's
initial unwise business decision. Better off keeping quiet.
(e.g.) You open a new McDonald's / Subway franchise in your area,
throw in gigantic investment in franchisee fees (also like a
"membership" of sorts), rental, overheads, etc to set it up, but
due to unforeseen circumstances cannot continue business... are you
going to go around proclaiming McD / Subway scammed you??
From the way people react to failure in true-product-mlm, yes you
should proclaim McD scammed you of your money.
3)
finally "membership".
(locals are really sticky with this concept... simply because we
feel we aren't paid enough at our jobs -- more often than not this
is true with your own boss who even "bargains" with you about your
request for a pay raise.)
if a laundromat offers "membership" for discounted prices,
if a spa offers "membership" for member prices,
if a social club offers "membership" for members to enjoy
facility/service priviledges,
etc.
etc.
are we to argue that?
now mlm companies... basically place a "membership" requirement of
sorts because if you aren't a member, you need to buy at the higher
"retail" product pricing.
(if you really like the product, what is up with being a
member.
usually the membership fee is far less than the
savings obtained.)
have issues with being a member? then the company has only to be
fair to its product-promoter-member (aka distributor) to provide
some sort of retail margin for retail sales (e.g. selling to you, a
retail customer who refuses to pay membership fees).
also, some companies have a membership fee to cover for some of its
unique admin features.
(some have personalised online shopping/retail carts (it
is a business you're starting y'know),
personalised websites, online accounting, online ordering, special
delivery services, etcetc).
its true some say: "you can give me free wat". sure, a company
might provide such services for free, what you're paying for there
is a service.
if you're not happy for paying a service (& its not surprising
as Sg does not have a tipping culture to reward people who provide
good service), find a company that can provide everything
f.o.c.
remember, a lot of the times when you pay peanuts you get
monkeys.
-->"Membership" -- do you want to pay high-er retail prices for
products you think you might want to use... or do you want to pay
lower "wholesale" prices?
And, do you want to have access to member facilities?
