REPORT - 73.
"THE ADVANTAGES OF LOCATING A GOOD MAIL ORDER "BUDDIE"!"
Many beginners in mail order today think they are totally alone
in the operation of their business. Nothing could be further
from the truth! Mail order is full of fine, upstanding, caring
and honest people.
Mail order products are normally higher quality than locally
purchased items because they have to be. If I can purchase my
car wax at Cornerstore Auto Parts, why would I purchase it
through mail order? Because the car wax I buy through mail order
is not available at my local store.
Many people don't want to contact other people in their same
field because they are afraid of competition. You are confusing
mail order with local business. Sure, if you own a shoe repair
store and another guy who owns a shoe repair store opens up a
shop across the street from you _ there will be competition. But
suppose you live in New York City and your shoe repair store is
located on the east side of town. Would the shoe repair store
located on the west side of town be competition for you? I don't
think so. In a city of over 11 million people, I would think
there would be enough work for the both of you.
In the mail order business, the world is your marketplace. If
you are a printer, you can work with another printer and help
each other out. There is enough business for the both of you
without hurting each other. In fact, you can refer business back
and forth and work together to support the printing industry as
a whole. It's a win/win situation for both sides!
Write personal letters to people in mail order. Read and study
the adsheets and mail order publications. When you find an ad
that strikes your attention, write a personal letter for more
information. Inform the dealer of your services. Explain that
you are a NEW mail order beginner or just entering the mail
order market and you would appreciate any advice or direction.
If you see a product that you really like, write to the dealer
and ask how you might go about selling this product for him or
her.
Can't afford to advertise your C/R this week because you didn't
receive any orders? Write to publishers that you see running
their ads. Ask if you can send them a C/R ad in exchange for
mailing some copies for them free of charge. Some people may
turn you down - but many others will take you up on your offer.
While you don't want to do this all the time and "ride a good
horse to death" - this bartering has helped me out of a few
situations when money was scarce.
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Write to publishers that publish a "Letters To The Editor"
column. Mail order publishers always enjoy feedback and opinions
about their publication. More often than not, other people won't
write a letter and the publisher will find yours a breath of
fresh air! Compliment them on their publication (if this is
true) and always offer your help and services at any time. To
make a good friend - be one yourself!
If you need help constructing a good business letter, visit your
local office bookstore and purchase a how-to book on business
writing. Even some secretarial reference manuals will provide
you with samples of business letters that you can copy
word-for-word or edit and conform to your product or service.
Always be willing and eager to offer people your services. Of
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course, you cannot give something away free when it will cost
you money. Instead, you need to barter with something that
won't cause a financial burden on you to supply. For instance:
if you are already mailing to people every month, it won't cost
you anything to mail someone's publication for them free of
charge. If you provide writing, editing or typesetting services;
you will only be out the time it took you to complete the job -
no money will be lost.
And once you locate a good dealer that you are interested in
forming a friendship with don't be stupid and take advantage of
them. Most people will help you out in a pinch and not think
anything about it, but if you keep taking and taking - you'll
lose that friend forever. Your memory will be a bad taste in
their mouth and all the time you spend building that friendship
will be lost.
If you are unable to pay someone for something they have done
for you to help you out - send them a "Thank You" card. A gift
costing you only $1 will be worth $1 million to the recipient
just to know you care.
END