Not quite sure how to accept Avon customer payments as an Avon rep? I gotchu!
Below I’ve answered the 7 most common questions new representatives have about collecting money from their customers. Let’s jump in!
#1 Do my customers pay when placing or receiving their order?
A: It’s up to you!
You have the choice to require payment when the customer places their order or when you deliver their order. That said – this is a decision you want to think about very carefully!
Most leaders recommend that you require payment when the customer places their order for a few reasons. First, this ensures that you have enough money in your bank account to pay Avon without any problems. Second, many reps have had bad experiences with customers changing their mind, cancelling their order, or simply not responding to further communications. If this happens often, the cost of returning their items back to Avon could really add up! Requiring payment up front helps prevent this customer behavior.
On the other hand, some reps (like me) find that requiring payment during delivery is much easier for a few reasons. First, many customers like to order over the phone. Making an extra trip just to collect payment means double the gas money or bus fare. Second, it keeps customers very happy and you won’t have to deal with as many complaints when items are out of stock. Old school customers remember the days when representatives didn’t have to pay Avon up front, and have gotten used to paying their rep during delivery. As we all know, change can sometimes be hard!
#2 Can my Avon customers pay with cash?
A: Yes
Cash is one of the most common ways that Avon customers pay their rep. Don’t forget to have some change on hand before meeting your customers for payment!
#3 Can my Avon customers pay with a check?
A: Yes.
Check is another very common way that Avon customers like to pay their rep. In my experience, it usually ends up being the most convenient.
Make sure to be diligent when accepting a customer’s check for the first time. While most customers are honest, we also want to be careful of scammers whose checks will bounce.
#4 Can my Avon customers pay with PayPal?
A: Yes
You can accept electronic payments from customers using a PayPal business account.
What’s great about this method is that you can also order a card reader that integrates with the PayPal Here app. Then you have two ways to get the money into your PayPal account: sending the customer an invoice, or swiping their card in person!
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#5 Can my Avon customers pay with Venmo?
A: Maybe
In the past, it was against Venmo policy to use their service for business-related purposes. Now, they have launched a new business profile feature so that businesses can accept customer payments for a small fee.
However, this is a pilot program that is not yet open to everybody. You can try visiting the Venmo website to see whether or not you are personally eligible!
#6 Can my Avon customers pay with CashApp?
A: Yes
You can use Cash App to accept customer payments for a small fee. Although Cash App is owned by Square, please note that the Square card reader integrates with a different app.
#7 How should I handle payment for extra large orders?
A: Don’t unless you trust the person!
If you receive a message for a very large order (for example a wedding party or makeup artist), the first thing you want to do is ensure that it is not a scammer. Often times these scammers will use the same first name with multiple Avon reps, so posting about the situation in a reps-only Facebook group is a good first course of action.
If you suspect the person is trying to scam you, but aren’t sure – simply direct them to your Avon e-store to complete the order via direct delivery. Let them know you have a personal policy that orders over x dollar amount must be placed online. If it ends up being a legitimate customer, they will most likely take you up on this offer! Online customers get free shipping on orders of $60+. It’s a win-win, and Avon’s secure payment system will handle the transaction for you.
Well, there you have it! Those are the 7 most frequently asked questions I get about collecting Avon customer payments.
If you need more help, make sure to check out the other tutorials on the blog. If you don’t see your question answered yet, feel free to ask in the comments below!
Hi Emmeline. Two questions: How do I get to my invoices?
And where is the site where I can process my returns?
Hi Debra,
On the new website, your invoices are lumped in with all your customer invoices. Simply go to Manage Business –> Manage Orders –> Order History. Then, scroll until you see an order that doesn’t have a customer listed. That one is yours!
The “Start a Return” button is there right next to each invoice (for orders that are eligible). For the returns, I recommend watching the full webinar replay in Avon U titled “How to Process a Return”. This walks you through the process.