Question

Topic: Other

Gettin Around Company Polices About Gratuities

Posted by Anonymous on 2/10/2009 at 4:21 PM ET 250 Points
I have been asked by the owner of our company to create a welcome package for our new clients, and the employees in their shipping depart. We build all custom new wood pallets and shipping crates. Our initial marketing has had an awesome response. He would like once they are on board to receive a "thank you" just as memorable, that "I can't believe they did this for us "and that they feel they made the right choice about choosing our company for the shipping needs. Most shipping departments are happy with the traditional pizza and pop. The problem I'm running into is some of our much larger new clients company's do not allow this kind of gratuities. I am looking for some creative ways around this so as not to break any of their company policies and still let them know how much we appreciate their business, and something more creative for our new contact person within their company, different than the traditional gift basket. My boss is breathing down my neck to fix this problem. Help
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RESPONSES

  • Posted on 2/10/2009 at 4:40 PM Accepted
    Hi Tami,
    If you try to side-step their company policies, you may lose a client. I think your President might write a nice letter to their President thanking them for their business and telling them that you would like to do something to show your appreciation and ask him or her for input. Of course you also shower kudos on your contact with whom you do business so he or she gets a strong recommendation with his or her boss. In your letter you can underline why they have made the right choice. You might keep your contracts by saying, because you are such a valuable client, we're going to waive this fee or that fee on your next order (maybe the equivalent of what your thank you "deal" would have been.)

    I would really recommend not trying to skirt their policies.

    Good Luck!

    CVN
  • Posted by michael on 2/10/2009 at 6:47 PM Member
    Been there. People who will go for coffee with you but won't let you pay $2 for coffee.

    Try to clarify the policy. If it's a definite no (we can't even give pens to one client!) then it's no. Just don't forget to send thank you notes.

    Michael
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 2/11/2009 at 8:46 AM Accepted
    Why not send a thank you note, with an signed image of everyone in your company? That lets the other company know there are people crafting the pallets and not machines.
  • Posted on 2/11/2009 at 1:10 PM Author
    Thanks for all your responses. Mr Nolte's idea was good my boss was receptive to a one on one with other presidents or ceo's of companies with letters I can personalize and draft for him to sign. We currently send out thank you's so kudo's do go to our contact person. I hope this will allow me a little leeway with food gratuities for departments involved. Also the idea given by Jay of a signed image was so simple yet so personable! This is something I will implement as soon as possible and our staff was very receptive to being given a face to their hard work. Thanks again to everyone who responded! Tami
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