Another question: how loyal are you? Does a good experience mean that you'll use that same rep next year without putting him or her through the whole whittling process? Do you have a new FR chair each year that starts from scratch?
I agree with pals. Maybe these companies should start sending their brochures, samples and catalogs to the attention of the fundraising chair/coordinator. We have never had a PTA in our school, yet most solicitations come addressed to the PTA President.
Just as important is the letters always being addressed to the President. Unlike most companies, the President of a school group - whether PTO, PTA, PTSO - usually doesn't make a unilateral decision on which vendor to use.
As someone who has sat on the fundraising committee for 2 different elementaries in the past couple of years, I must say with pleasure that our experience was different.
While yes, they are pitching their company and want to sound better than the others, most of them were honest with answers. Maybe part of that was because we made them aware that I was representing two different groups at each meeting.
Reps were honest about who had used them in the past few years and if they had any contracts in place for the upcoming year.
Our decisions for both schools went well. In fact, interestly enough, while one school dropped a company - the other decided to pick them up.
Unlike Pals, we had checkup calls made to us. They checked to make sure the brochures were delivered and called when they received our order info to let us know they were working on getting it all filled. They called us with the few orders to try and decipher with the buyer what it was they wanted because it wasn't correct on the order.
While we were in committee mode, we wanted to talk with reps who could tell us why they choose their products, how/where they have it for the availability of our sales. We ask for schools in other cities to contact as a reference. We ask about the number of years they have been working with the schools they have as references.
We found that the reps we had the best ratings for, were ones who had references which they had been working with for years. The more experienced, (with the same company) seemed more ready to answer the questions we had. Those with little experience seemed to answer with "good question", but never got back to answer those questions.
The reps we liked were willing to represent the information being up front that while this is a fundraiser for us, they also want to make money too.
Bottom line - the company needs to have great customer service. We dumped one company which parents were happy with products. We had such a problem with the reps, the parents who were willing to run the program refused to continue working with the company.
1-I truly believe a honest sales person is best, don't tell me that no one else in the city is selling the same product when three other schools are!
2-Don't treat us like we are just a bunch of parents, treat us with respect. That means please know who you are dealing with while trying to get out contract. Coming in and asking for the PTA president doesn't work with me but will get you a ticket to the front door!
3-As above any sales info that comes address to the pta via mail gets thrown out, we have a group name (PALS) and we are a PTO! We havent had a pta since 2000!
4-Service from start to finish, don't forget us after you send the catalogs, call check in at the kick off date, half way date, it means alot! Call with delivery info, dont leave that to us.
5-If we have used you for a few years don't slack off on that customer service, we expect that same service as a new group does.Often this happens, we used a company for three years, great service first two.Third year felt something was up when the rep didnt call or anything, well he had left and they never changed his name on the paperwork. We never received one phone call at all until the time to sign next years contract, guess what we no longer use them!
6-For the most part I find that often the advice they give is for their use not ours. I find that comparing one group to another is not egual so I tend not to listen when they say of so and so did $$$.
7-bottom line we are looking for a higher quality product, good reputation and excellent customer service from start to finish!
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
We would love fundraising reps to be honest! We have more than once found a rep to be decieving (kind of like a car salesman). It is a hard job, i understand. However, if the reps listened a bit more, and talked less, it would work out to better both parties.
Also, if they are willing to slide some things your way for your holiday fairs and such, DON'T hold it over your heads, make you feel guilty and all.
We would also like to see a varity in products... but that might be asking too much. Enough of the microwave dish covers and spoon rest. We found at this years holiday fair, people were willing to pay a bit more for really quality products. In fact, we actully sold out before the end of school, and had to go out and purchas some odds and ends items to have for purchase that evening.
What do you want fundraising reps to do for you? Before sale (while they're wooing you)? During sale? After sale?
What are your peeves/perceived lacks in those same three areas? What are you looking for that isn't often done?
Do you use reps for expert advice? Do you ask their opinion on how to run your FR events? Do you wnat their opinion? Do you listen to their advice? Do you feel like their advice is in your best interest? Theirs? Both?
If you have more than a few year's experience, do you find the rep experience to be getting better/more helpful or worse/less helpful or other?
Any and all feedback will be greatly appreciated. Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
