Suppliers/Wholesalers - Do they know enough about the products they sell?

[ValencianNails]

I'm posting this in ChitChat as it includes each and every one of us :wink2:

I was back in the UK recently and I went into a local wholesalers to get some bits and pieces, while I was schmoozing the shelves I came across a LARGE Kolinsky L+P brush, it wasn't marked with what size it was so I asked the assistant for some help...

me: What size brush is this?

her: Every brand has their own sizing.

me: umm, no, regardless of what brand it is the brush size is usually on the packaging, even if the brush has a name!

her: Is it for gel or acrylic?

me: It's a Kolinsky brush, used for Liquid and Powder.

her: You mean acrylic?

me: (feeling like saying something sarcastic but holding back) no, liquid and powder!!!

her: I'll just go and ask the trainer.

She comes back...

her: the trainer said it's either a size 10 or a 12.

me: You mean she doesn't know???

her: no!

So... I bought it to 'test it for size etc' (and it was cheap) before investing in an Ultra Sculptor (size 10).
I think the brush I have is a size 12, it's mahoosive :lol:

The point (yes, I'm getting there lol) I'm trying to make is this - do you think that assistants in wholesalers should be more clued up on products/items they sell?


p.s.
I don't mean the authorised distributors, but the general wholesalers/suppliers who sell a wide range of brands :wink2:

 

[loubylou]

I would say that 90% of them don't have a clue about the products they sell,
i bet they didn't ask for any proof that you were trained to use the products either did they hun

 

[ValencianNails]

i bet they didn't ask for any proof that you were trained to use the products either did they hun

Strange you should mention that :lol:

I do have a trade card with them, but I left it at home (in Spain) so I gave her my UK contact address and she told me that I'd been in there the week previous and had bought stuff... I told her there was no way it was me as I wasn't even in the country
She said they'd keep an eye out for the person who was using my account.
I was, to be honest, quite surprised that someone could get away with using another person's account like that!

 

[loubylou]

Strange you should mention that :lol:

I do have a trade card with them, but I left it at home (in Spain) so I gave her my UK contact address and she told me that I'd been in there the week previous and had bought stuff... I told her there was no way it was me as I wasn't even in the country
She said they'd keep an eye out for the person who was using my account.
I was, to be honest, quite surprised that someone could get away with using another person's account like that!

Oh its a disgrace, it really is

 

[Violet Star]

No i dont think they do, i go to my local wholesalers and 99% of the time they havent a clue what a certain product is or what it does or where anything is

 

[user 28883]

I guess I am the lucky one then!! The girl at my wholesalers is qualified in Hair and Beauty and always gets her self on their in house training courses for the trade. She knows her stuff and in fact they are all helpful.

 

[smartbookings]

Suppose the person could have been new...

 

[angel fingers]

in fairness, it would be difficult for a person to be clued up about every item they sell in the wholesalers, their ranges are pretty diverse.
and if they did have expert knowledge i'm not sure if they would be working on the retail end of things rather than actully practicing in one of the beauty disciplines.

 

[ValencianNails]

in fairness, it would be difficult for a person to be clued up about every item they sell in the wholesalers, their ranges are pretty diverse.
and if they did have expert knowledge i'm not sure if they would be working on the retail end of things rather than actully practicing in one of the beauty disciplines.

Personally, I expect the people in any shop to know about the products they sell, and more so the trainer in said product range to know about the brush sizes etc.

Maybe I'm asking too much for the wholesaler to invest in a bit of training/info for the people who are supposed to be there to help and advise their customers?

 

[adelekeegan1]

My local wholesalers is a joke. Because I have a trade card I can buy anything in the store including hair bleach and colourants which I know nothing about.

The staff are never the same 2 visits running (including the Manager) and on the one occasion I forgot my trade card they still gave me trade prices and let me buy whatever I liked without any further check.

I only use them for wipes, couch roll, acetone etc but there is really nothing to stop anyone buying anything.

 

[single sparkle]

whatever about telling you that they don't know the answer - i took time out of the salon last week to run up to the wholesalers - only 10 mins from the salon- to buy a filter for my spray tan machine ( my filter was looking a little worse for wear and wasn't sure how long it'd last) anyway . . . there i was in the wholesalers with the assistant then the manager selling me the wrong filter. ( i really taught by looking at it that it was wrong but i said i'd try it).Low and behold when i get to the salon the filter would not even come out of the box it was for something else altogether. I wasn't a happy bunny having to go back . . . whats more when i told the receptionist she told me the next time i have a question regarding the tanning equipment to ask her .....aaahhhhh:smack:

patience is a vertue

 

[clara doon]

Personally, I expect the people in any shop to know about the products they sell, and more so the trainer in said product range to know about the brush sizes etc.

Maybe I'm asking too much for the wholesaler to invest in a bit of training/info for the people who are supposed to be there to help and advise their customers?

sandi the problem is you've been spoilt with customer care xx I have held a 'card' for a large beauty chain for the last 6 years and thb I used it about 6 times !!! and have never been asked to show it . I'd rather go to the company who trained me and get everthing in one go tbh because even on the phone or in the shop I know even if they don't know the answer to my question(which 9 times out of 10 they do) they will find someone who will ! xxxx and thats the service I want.

 

[Tranqbeauty]

Can i just say in my defence, i work at sallys one day a week, i am a qualified beauty therapist, and i will not tell members of the public what they should use to do treatments on themselves, i trained hard for my qualification and i say if you are qualified yourselves you should know what you are looking at. If i don't know what something is i make it my business to find out, and we are not all qualified hair and beauty specialists because if we were then we would not be working at a wholesalers, and we get such a turnover of stock how are we supposed to know everything about everything? Anyway sorry but had to let off a bit of steam.

 

[tonilee]

Oh no I wanted to answer no then I used my tab key and ended up hitting yes!!!!

NO NO NO is my answer!!! Pmsl:lol:

I asked in the wholesalers the other day if they had any metal wax spatulas.............she looked at me completely gobsmacked, then laughed and said
"Oh love everyone uses these disposables wooden ones, I have never EVER known ANYONE use a metal one!! Try the wooden you will love them!!"

Oh god, silly old me ai, I should just try these new wooden ones and get down with it........

 

[RedAdmiral]

What I hate is when they read me the writing on the back AFTER I have just read it!!! :grr:
I've worked in 2 and they havent a clue - worse is that some new smaller suppliers let anyone walk in and buy peroxide and nail products.

 

[marioned]

I was talking to one of the assistnts in my local wholesalers, who told me she is a nail tech. I asked about one of the training courses they had advertised on the wall as to whether it was accredited for insurance purposes. She replied "Insurance? What do you mean?"

 

[persianista]

My pet hate is when I'm in the wholesalers buying my stock and other non-hair or beauty people ask me what they should buy!!! Cheeky beggars. I give them a card and tell them to book in. Wish they would keep the public out. I don't mind giving my opinion on a product but no way am I gonna sort out the colour choice for some dopey moo who aint gonna pay me!

 

[Noodle]

On the positive side, one of the ladies at my local branch of Capital Hair & Beauty certainly seems to know about the products offered for sale.

Whether it's to do with nails, hair or beauty, she usually comes up trumps with the answer to any question.

She also goes out of her way to find a product if its not easily visible.