How many times do you receive stock that you have not ordered. I am not talking here about stock you do not usually order such as magazines and newspapers. No, I am talking about greeting cards, stationery, gifts and other items which you have control over in your business.
If you receive stock you have not ordered and complain to your supplier only to have them say that you did order it when you spoke to their rep – I;d say the problem is yours.
Establish a structured approach to placing orders which includes a paper trail of approval. Explain to your suppliers your process – make it clear that you accept no responsibility for goods received for which there is not evidence of your approval of the order.
Sure, suppliers will not like this. However, if you want genuine and full control over the stock in your business you need to take these steps. representatives of suppliers will soon learn that your processes need to be followed if they want to be paid.
Next time you complain about receiving goods you did not order – have a structured process on which you can rely.
This is especially true with greeting card companies– I have a card/gift shop and the week before Christmas, when we were flat out with customers, a certain greeting card company shipped a new stationary line and display unit that I hadn’t ordered (or wanted!) I refused the shipment and when I enquired, I was told “It was just something we decided to send out to our retailers”. Very cheeky!!