XMASS GIFTS FROM SUPPLIERS
Discussion
Love 'em or hate 'em ?
I'm starting to receive presents from suppliers that I use (and even don't use). Relatively trivial sums involved, cases of wine, glasses etc. But without wanting to sound churlish, it makes me cringe. However you slice it,it amounts to a bribe, and whilst I without doubt have my price, it's higher than a crate of Syrah.
What's the trend in the UK to accepting gifts from suppliers, and what is the view of those of you who actually ARE the suppliers ?
I'm starting to receive presents from suppliers that I use (and even don't use). Relatively trivial sums involved, cases of wine, glasses etc. But without wanting to sound churlish, it makes me cringe. However you slice it,it amounts to a bribe, and whilst I without doubt have my price, it's higher than a crate of Syrah.
What's the trend in the UK to accepting gifts from suppliers, and what is the view of those of you who actually ARE the suppliers ?
docevi1 said:
I know of one company who puts all the gifts into a big raffle for all the staff that work there... So the Company is accepting the gift, but not an induvidual. Works quite well apparently with everyone chuffed to be getting something.
We did that one year.
I won a set of Miele cufflinks.
Yeah, they are going to get a lot of use...
I don't see them as bribes. I am both supplier and customer.
As supplier, I don't send more than a Christmas card to prospects, but if a company's spent a big chunk of money with me I don't mind giving the decision-maker a bottle of something to say thank-you. After all, their decision made a big difference to my funds.
As customer or prospect, if a supplier or potential supplier wants to give me a bottle of something, that's fine by me. The relationship you build up is far more important than a transitory toy.
Business gifts sent this year: 0
Business gifts received: 1 (from a customer
)
As supplier, I don't send more than a Christmas card to prospects, but if a company's spent a big chunk of money with me I don't mind giving the decision-maker a bottle of something to say thank-you. After all, their decision made a big difference to my funds.
As customer or prospect, if a supplier or potential supplier wants to give me a bottle of something, that's fine by me. The relationship you build up is far more important than a transitory toy.
Business gifts sent this year: 0
Business gifts received: 1 (from a customer
)docevi1 said:
I know of one company who puts all the gifts into a big raffle for all the staff that work there... So the Company is accepting the gift, but not an induvidual. Works quite well apparently with everyone chuffed to be getting something.
Yep same happens here as the secretaries and receptionists never get any booze or hampers sent to them, which is fair enough.
I think I'll have to rig it so I get the F&M hamper though...
docevi1 said:
I know of one company who puts all the gifts into a big raffle for all the staff that work there... So the Company is accepting the gift, but not an induvidual. Works quite well apparently with everyone chuffed to be getting something.
My company does this.. Raffle ticket proceeds go to the company preferred charity
I am responsible for a fairly large multi-million pound budget so get shed loads of stuff at this time of year, from both companies that we use regularly and ones we have hardly ever even spoken to.
Have to agree I am not sure why those companies that we don’t have much contact with bother, a few bottles of wine means nothing to me when I am looking for a new supplier, they’ll get the same treatment as anyone else.
In a way though I suppose I do expect it (at least from the regular suppliers), we put an awful lot of cash their way throughout the year and this is a nice way for them to say thank-you.
Incidentally I also make sure that everything goes into a raffle for the team, they really appreciate it and look forward to Christmas Eve when it all gets shared out. Except for a huge chocolate hamper that is, which is doing the rounds as I speak, mmmmmm.
Have to agree I am not sure why those companies that we don’t have much contact with bother, a few bottles of wine means nothing to me when I am looking for a new supplier, they’ll get the same treatment as anyone else.
In a way though I suppose I do expect it (at least from the regular suppliers), we put an awful lot of cash their way throughout the year and this is a nice way for them to say thank-you.
Incidentally I also make sure that everything goes into a raffle for the team, they really appreciate it and look forward to Christmas Eve when it all gets shared out. Except for a huge chocolate hamper that is, which is doing the rounds as I speak, mmmmmm.
I give and receive gifts at Christmas.
The gift we give are pretty small and it certainly shouldn't be viewed as a bride. Simply a thank you for helping us when we do work for our customers.
If you view it as a bribe and it annoys then don't accept it and give it back. A bribe is only a bribe when it is accepted.
As for the gifts we receive I am always very grateful that a supplier has taken the time to thank me for the work that I give them. It doesn't effect my decision making-I'd be an idiot if I let a £20 gift effect a business decision.
Funny though that the suppliers who do give me gifts are the "good" ones who give a good service. The ones who "need" to be bribing me never do!
The gift we give are pretty small and it certainly shouldn't be viewed as a bride. Simply a thank you for helping us when we do work for our customers.
If you view it as a bribe and it annoys then don't accept it and give it back. A bribe is only a bribe when it is accepted.
As for the gifts we receive I am always very grateful that a supplier has taken the time to thank me for the work that I give them. It doesn't effect my decision making-I'd be an idiot if I let a £20 gift effect a business decision.
Funny though that the suppliers who do give me gifts are the "good" ones who give a good service. The ones who "need" to be bribing me never do!
We do it as a Thank You to customers - its not a bribe for new business, as we stand or fall on how well we do.
Customer loyalty cannot be bought by a few bottles of wine, its gained by being the best at what you do.
Most "large" companies that I know of do the raffle thing with Xmas gifts.
Customer loyalty cannot be bought by a few bottles of wine, its gained by being the best at what you do.
Most "large" companies that I know of do the raffle thing with Xmas gifts.
My old accountant once said to me "A bottle of whiskey is a gift, a case of whiskey is a bribe" and I think that pretty much summed it up.
As for companies that put it all in a raffle I've got several that do that, in general we don't send out botles or anything as I feel it's a left over from days gone by and most people will judge us on our performance anyway, I do however ive out calenders and that appears to be enough. Anyway one of my clients started off by putting everything they received in a raffle this however has snow balled and now days the buyers actually phone us up and ask for a present to go in the raffle, they do this to all the suppliers and expect something in the region of £50-£100 so they want things like DVD players, portable tellies etc. It pisses me off but puts me in a position where I can't really say no, so have to go along with it as its instigated from the very top.
As for companies that put it all in a raffle I've got several that do that, in general we don't send out botles or anything as I feel it's a left over from days gone by and most people will judge us on our performance anyway, I do however ive out calenders and that appears to be enough. Anyway one of my clients started off by putting everything they received in a raffle this however has snow balled and now days the buyers actually phone us up and ask for a present to go in the raffle, they do this to all the suppliers and expect something in the region of £50-£100 so they want things like DVD players, portable tellies etc. It pisses me off but puts me in a position where I can't really say no, so have to go along with it as its instigated from the very top.
I took a bottle in to one of my suppliers the other day, for the guy who deals with all my orders / returns and general shit, he is not a decision maker , and cant influence pricing etc, but it was just a thankyou for all his hard work looking after our account and at the end of the day our customers
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