Competition reveal...

[chica1]

Yea, I don't think you should feel bad Glamourgirlpink. Everyone is different. Some folks feel comfortable doing this and some folks don't. I believe Jackie says that she has received a number of e-mail addresses so there are definately people out there who are excited about this.
I introduced my mother to the brand but she hasn't had an opportunity to look at the website yet. My other friends are dead-set against me sharing their e-mail addresses for any reasons so I didn't share their addresses.

[Contessa]

I spent quite a bit of cash some years ago on 2 gorgeous oil paintings I have in my home, but does this prevent me from spreading the word about how much I love this artist?? Hell no!

I personally think it's highly improper to ask how much someone has spent on a particular item- especially family- I just shoot them a "look" if they do.

If I see something my friend has that I've fallen in love with, I'll ask where they got it, and even that's a stretch for me. I am not in the habit of wanting to make people feel uncomfortable and inquiring about price on anything does exactly this. If I'm given the name of the store, designer, artist, then I'll research the price myself. I'm certainly NOT going to judge a person by how much they spent on a bag. And I don't keep secrets. If I'm asked how much I spent on a bag, I'll respond this way, "not much, why?" I let the person talk and provide them with the info- everything BUT price. They can make their own decision. My Grandmother who's 91 has always lived by the old motto, "If you have to ask how much something is, you can't afford it" but my personal favourite is, "don't ask, just BUY it!"

Cheers.

[finzup]

I own a fairly rare breed of dog (it's rare in the US at least) that most have not heard of, and almost everywhere I go with him, people's first question is, "what kind of dog is he?" and I happily answer that and any other questions about the breed, but then their next question usually is, "how much did he cost?"

To that I have my precanned response, "I don't know, he was a gift"

[Contessa]

Originally Posted by finzup

I own a fairly rare breed of dog (it's rare in the US at least) that most have not heard of, and almost everywhere I go with him, people's first question is, "what kind of dog is he?" and I happily answer that and any other questions about the breed, but then their next question usually is, "how much did he cost?" To that I have my precanned response, "I don't know, he was a gift"

OMG.....too funny!!!! I forgot to mention that I use the "it was a gift" thing too!!! Why? Because it's none of anyone's business how much I spent!

[Ms.Lizardo]

Jackie ...I don't think everyone feels that way. Honestly when you first mentioned it, the only thing I understood was that if we had anyone that we knew interested in being introduced to BE that you had a "little something" for them.

In all honestly I thougth maybe you were sending them a free luggage tag or something so they could see the quality of the leather. I never in a millon years thought there was anything more than that. Certainly no one that loves your georgous bags would do this in hopes of getting something for themselves.

I think it was a very generous gesture and I'm sure lots of ladies really appreciate the get accquainted discount. I think you are wonderful for doing this for the ladies!

Originally Posted by BelenEchandia

Oh... gosh then I will cancel it immediately. It really was just intended as a bit of fun. So I am super embarrassed that this is how it was perceived but I understand. So sorry, off to hang my head in shame and hope you forgive me. Guess we all make mistakes. X

[hannahbananab]

Originally Posted by glamourgirlpink

^^^ I dunno, I thought it was pretty fun and a cool way we could get something too since a lot of us don't qualify for the new person discount, kwim? But then it never embarrasses me to tell others about something great I've come across and that I love. Don't shoot me but we just bought a vacation share (I know everyone has a bad conception of them but we felt it was like prepaying our vacations-buying in bulk to save over the long run plus it was paid in cash so no debt involved) and the realtor who helped us offered a little incentive to have a friend or family member come check out their property. I knew it was something my dad might like so I had no issue telling him about it. He gets a little gift cert for going just like we do so we both got a little something out of it in addition to checking out a really great deal, kwim? I love both mine and DH's financial advisors to death and don't hesitate to send people their way...Same with my makeup artist, hairstylist, manicurist, dd's ballet school...Sheesh, I love to blab to everyone when I find something good, lol. I guess I figured its no different with BE and I thought it was pretty generous of Jackie to offer us a fun little incentive... I know I'm in the minority here but I like competitions and am excited to have a chance to win a bag!!! I've already chatted a ton with some girls on a couple of other bag boards I'm on and they're super excited. I've also told my mom and sister...My sister has a shoe fetish so she gets my bag thing and my mom believes in buying quality (she introduced me to Dior and bought me my first high end designer bag!) and she likes the Hug Me so she was pretty happy to hear about the discount too. I'm also having coffee with a friend here who can't wait to try on my BE bags herself so she knows what to order on Tuesday....None of them thought it was weird I asked them to let BE know I sent them. Maybe I'm just different or have different friends/family but when it comes down to it, I really love the things I'm addicted to and if it means I can help a business I really like (like buying that Starbucks gold card or getting overpriced drinks from them almost daily, lol) by telling friends and family about it then I'm in. And if I get a little reward for sharing which I already do then awesome! I love it when people help me out with word of mouth recommendations (we find good products/services all the time this way!) so I'm happy to return the favor...I don't think its a bad "marketing" tactic especially when you look at the way the economy is right now. I send friends to my SA's at Gucci and Dior too and have them tell my SA that I sent them...I don't get how this is so different? My SA's there "reward" me by calling me everytime there's a special sale or new bag they think I might like so I get first dibs...Jackie is "rewarding" us by giving us the chance to get something free...I guess I just don't see how its different? Okay, don't shoot me please!!! I'm still in the postpartum emotional mode so I can't really take confrontation...I just want everything to be happy and light, kwim? I hate drama and love that this is a happy go lucky place where I can chill...

I totally agree, Glamourgirlpink! I can't help but tell people about my favorite things - whatever that may be! I sent in several of my friends, (after asking their permission, of course) and they are super excited about the opportunity to delve into BE. I didn't do it because I hope to get something. I did it because I have lots of friends who have admired my bags and who are interested in BE. Simple, really.

[Suzzeee]

Interesting thread - I'm kinda in the middle here on this. I happily refer anyone who asks me about my bag to the BE site and give out Jackie's email address like a "drunken sailor" but I only give out more info when someone like a client or friend asks or comments on my bag. I only have a couple of people I know well who would even understand my handbag obsession and why I pay big bucks for bags and I've already referred them to BE, but I have to say I took my purple crash WTM on a biz trip this week and I had people complimenting me everywhere including at one of my major clients. I'm not sure if my boss was annoyed or amused, but from the receptionist to the three female clients in a big meeting people were raving about my bag and asking where I got it - fortunately, I was in Seattle and could also refer them to Clutch and I gave them the BE site info and told them about the special offer as well. Having said that, I would probably only give the BE name and tell them to google it if it was someone casually asking me about my bag. I'm in sales and am competitive (to a fault sometimes) but with personal stuff I'm no where near as asssertive but I do love spreading the word on things I love! So Jackie - if someone who works for Southwest Airlines, or at a store at Oakland or Seattle Airports or who works in an ad agency in Seattle or saw a woman with a great bag in a hotel in Seattle emails you ....I likely sent them

[Charmed05]

Originally Posted by BelenEchandia

Oh... gosh then I will cancel it immediately. It really was just intended as a bit of fun. So I am super embarrassed that this is how it was perceived but I understand. So sorry, off to hang my head in shame and hope you forgive me. Guess we all make mistakes. X

Please don't be ashamed. I think it's a great marketing strategy for BE and used by lots of companies. That's what incentives are about. You sell x amount of items and the one that sells the most .

I think some of the ladies are just expressing their discomfort doing that and ....that's okay. On TPF we analyze everything and discuss it at length which doesn't mean your idea is bad.

I also know what Tash is saying because when I left a message for a friend at first if was all excitement for the brand then once I wrote about possibly a discount for myself I did feel like it made BE look cheap for a second.... only because I'm self conscious about asking for something. Which is also why I wouldn't make a good salesperson.

But, on the other hand I have gotten so many thank you replies for sending those messages. I think most people would be excited to know about this offer. I wish someone would have emailed me about the bespoke bliss and especially had it been a big discount! We are constantly alerting others on tpf and friends and family about great buys so I think it's a great competition. Not everyone likes sales or competitions and that's okay.

Please keep these wonderful ideas up Jackie, that's what draws most of us here.
I haven't had LV or Gucci offer me one incentive in all the years I've been a loyal customer.

[karmenzsofia]

Hi everyone. I'm a newbie to BE but not to TPF. I was told about the "little something" email by one of the members here and immediately thought, "What about the loyal customers?" So often companies offer their best deals to new customers, totally neglecting those who have stayed with them in spite of the increasing number of competitors trying to lure them with their new-customer offers. Cellphone companies, anyone? So I was glad to hear that existing BE fans would somehow be included in this special promotion. Then I came to this thread and was a bit surprised at what I found. I think I understand some of the concerns expressed here, though I'm not sure what the main objection is--I totally respect each person's point of view and position on the matter. I just wanted to say that, IMO, relatives, coworkers, friends and strangers will think whatever they're programmed to think regardless of what we do or what we say. So what if you spend more on a bag than your relatives or coworkers find acceptable? That's their issue, not yours. Most people on TPF spend way more than what I find reasonable on bags, so the one with the issue is me, not them; they're having a blast! So I just hope this works out kuZ it seemed to me--and, again, I'm new at BE so forgive me if I'm sticking my foot where it doesn't belong--that BE was trying to include everyone. Good luck, everyone!

[TropicalGal]

Charmed and Karmenzsofia -- good posts. Very well and thoughtfully said.

[bonniekir]

Originally Posted by TropicalGal

Charmed and Karmenzsofia -- good posts. Very well and thoughtfully said.

I totally agree with you.

Now I hope Jackie will reconsider her decision, since I already have quite a few emailing her!
I think it is a fun and new idea, and see it as nothing more or less than that.

[circoit]

Originally Posted by karmenzsofia

Hi everyone. I'm a newbie to BE but not to TPF. I was told about the "little something" email by one of the members here and immediately thought, "What about the loyal customers?" So often companies offer their best deals to new customers, totally neglecting those who have stayed with them in spite of the increasing number of competitors trying to lure them with their new-customer offers. Cellphone companies, anyone? So I was glad to hear that existing BE fans would somehow be included in this special promotion. Then I came to this thread and was a bit surprised at what I found. I think I understand some of the concerns expressed here, though I'm not sure what the main objection is--I totally respect each person's point of view and position on the matter. I just wanted to say that, IMO, relatives, coworkers, friends and strangers will think whatever they're programmed to think regardless of what we do or what we say. So what if you spend more on a bag than your relatives or coworkers find acceptable? That's their issue, not yours. Most people on TPF spend way more than what I find reasonable on bags, so the one with the issue is me, not them; they're having a blast! So I just hope this works out kuZ it seemed to me--and, again, I'm new at BE so forgive me if I'm sticking my foot where it doesn't belong--that BE was trying to include everyone. Good luck, everyone!

The point that I was making is that this competition is unfair - it is not something everyone can participate in. My friends and family cannot afford these bags, even at 40% off - and I am sure there are others on here that are in the same position (I work at home, so I don't have coworkers). I hardly want to go trolling through message boards in an effort to find someone to refer.

I'm just hoping Jackie can find a better way for people to participate, because even if everyone was able to participate in this competition, only one person gets a bag - which IMO doesn't really fairly include the entire band of loyal customers.

Plus, even if my friends and family could afford one, I have had too many experiences with direct marketing companies to ever be comfortable trying to sell my family on anything (no matter how much I love it). If they ask - thats a different story, I will tell them everything they want to know.

[msterling]

Originally Posted by circoit

The point that I was making is that this competition is unfair - it is not something everyone can participate in. My friends and family cannot afford these bags, even at 40% off - and I am sure there are others on here that are in the same position (I work at home, so I don't have coworkers). I hardly want to go trolling through message boards in an effort to find someone to refer. I'm just hoping Jackie can find a better way for people to participate, because even if everyone was able to participate in this competition, only one person gets a bag - which IMO doesn't really fairly include the entire band of loyal customers. Plus, even if my friends and family could afford one, I have had too many experiences with direct marketing companies to ever be comfortable trying to sell my family on anything (no matter how much I love it). If they ask - thats a different story, I will tell them everything they want to know.

I agree with you.

Although I would be happy to share information about BE if someone asked me about one of my bags, I cannot actively promote BE to my friends. Since bags are not a priority to them, I would feel foolish trying to get them to sign up and they would likely feel uncomfortable if I even tried.

So, I'll be sitting on the sidelines for this promotion since I am already a customer. That's tough since there are bags that I would be interested in trying out with a 40% discount and free shipping, but would never buy at full price. I'm not saying that BE bags are not worth full price. I have paid full price and it is definitely worth it for a bag that I think will be perfect for me. For a style and/or color that I'm not sure about, I'm willing to take a chance at a discounted price, but not at full price.

[karmenzsofia]

I think I'm understanding what you mean... It sounds like the main objection is that it is a competition, and, as such, it cannot be "fair" to each and every person just like an athletic, singing or baking competition isn't fair in the sense that participants don't have the exact same athletic, singing or cooking ability. So in this contest not everyone has the same resources in terms of access to potential customers among the people they know. I would be in the same position because I don't know anyone where I live (having moved here for a job I no longer have). I suppose that's part of a competition, though I wonder if there would be a way to do it differently. In any case, I still think it was very thoughtful of BE to make an effort to include existing customers in a promotion for new customers. In the end, it's impossible to please everybody.

[bonniekir]

Originally Posted by karmenzsofia

I think I'm understanding what you mean... It sounds like the main objection is that it is a competition, and, as such, it cannot be "fair" to each and every person just like an athletic, singing or baking competition isn't fair in the sense that participants don't have the exact same athletic, singing or cooking ability. So in this contest not everyone has the same resources in terms of access to potential customers among the people they know. I would be in the same position because I don't know anyone where I live (having moved here for a job I no longer have). I suppose that's part of a competition, though I wonder if there would be a way to do it differently. In any case, I still think it was very thoughtful of BE to make an effort to include existing customers in a promotion for new customers. In the end, it's impossible to please everybody.

Again I agree with you !
A competition cannot suit everybody , but BE does an effort to change the competitions to accomodate the different customers. I did not read many negative comments during the BE quiz competion this summer?
I have not an ounce of any type of skills to decribe anything at all in writing-and definately not in English, but thought it a fun idea, and enjoyed reading the winning entry.