AMSOIL Sponsor Change.

[kd5byb]

Good afternoon all,

When I signed up to be an AMSOIL PC almost a year ago, I was unaware of how to include a BITOG Site Sponsor as my AMSOIL Sponsor. So, I got assigned to someone I've never heard of, who I've never talked to, who isn't a BITOG Sponsor, who frankly, doesn't give me the same level of advice and service I get here.

I wrote AMSOIL, asking them to change my sponsor to a BITOG site sponsor, providing a ZO# and everything. They wrote back, noting that I'd need to get my sponsor to release me or be inactive for a year.

Basically, as a company they are willing to loose my business for a year becuase they won't comply with my request. I wrote back, pointing this out to them.

Since I hit send, I've become more irritated, which is why I'm posting here. Am I not the customer? Isn't the customer always right? Doesn't it seem stupid to pass on a year of business, no matter how small, over something this trivial?

So, my question is this - Anyone found a way to get them to change sponsors without the year of inactivity or the release? I can't see any AMSOIL dealer being willing to relinquish a PC for any reason. Is this a bad assumption?

I may be dropping my PC membership becuase of this.

thanks,
ben

 

[Pablo]

Believe me - you are not the first to complain.

The point of you being the customer is the most important concept, from my point of view. I have griped in the past, but your input gives me new energy.

The basic idea from Amsoil HQ is this: A PC is a protected account, just as is a commercial or retail account. A protected account is an account that is hands off to other dealers. Dealers may not "poach" (my word) other dealers accounts. In fact I would be out of bounds to encourage you to change. That said - there is a HUGE difference between a customer of any type wanting and initiating that dealer change versus something as nasty as a dealer bribing an account surreptitiously or forcefully changing an account.

 

[kd5byb]

Hey Pablo,

I know I'm not the first to complain - I've read posts along the lines of mine before. (But couldn't find any with the search - I think search here hates me!) In my opinion, one of the key tenets of AMSOIL's philosophy is to provide good customer service and take care of customers. Synthetic oil of AMSOIL's type is a niche market, and in a niche market customer service is key. (I cater to a niche market myself and good customer service feeds my family.) The philosophy is evident in the time and effort you and the other AMSOIL site sponsors put in here, and has been evident in my past dealings with questions to AMSOIL's tech inquiry line.

Yet, this policy seems contrary to AMSOIL's business philosphy of keeping customers happy.

I'm curious to see what response I get from AMSOIL HQ from my reply to them. Also curious to see if you get anywhere with them.

thanks!
ben

 

[Gary Allan]

It's a mixed bag. If they didn't assign you a dealer, the company would retain all the profits from your purchases. This was probably a balance move when they prohibited internet advertising discount pricing on the internet. Dealers were jacking themselves to Direct Jobber with volume alone and selling below what other dealers could buy it for.

If you have another person in your family (at a different address near by) sign them up as a PC for a year with your BITOG sponsor of choice. At the end of the year swap your PC status.

 

[kd5byb]

Hi Gary,

I thought about signing my wife or sister-in-law up as a PC with a site sponsor sponsor (sponsor^2? ha), but we're all at the same address. I think they'd catch on to that. Maybe not. I might try it and when they don't assign them to the designated site sponsor^2, complain again.

I'd use my Mom, but she'd be so cheesed at cases of oil showing up at her doorstep. Plus, she's moving across the USA by the end of the year.

I wonder if I could talk a coworker into it. Heck, I'd give him the $20 to sign up.

Hhmmn.

later,
b

 

[Gary Allan]

I've sorta "stolen" an assigned customer already. When a person makes an internet inquiry, they're assigned to a T1 Certified dealer. They're his/hers ...but if they don't make a purchase AND I make the first sale ..they're mine.

 

[ConfederateTyrant]

Well, Amsoil HQ's standpoint is fair, have you tried contacting your dealer about this?

 

[kd5byb]

Originally Posted By: ConfederateTyrant
Well, Amsoil HQ's standpoint is fair, have you tried contacting your dealer about this?

I've not contacted my sponsoring dealer. I see no motivation for them to release me - unless they'd rather sacrifice losing me for the better of the company. Perhaps its worth an e-mail to see.

Regarding fairness, it's fair to prevent dealers from trying to steal other dealer's customers. No argument from me on that point.

What I think is really odd is that they'd rather lose my business for a year rather than make the change and keep me happy. It's no net loss to AMSOIL the company - one dealer loses a preferred customer, one dealer gains a preferred customer, and AMSOIL keeps selling me oil.

The whole thing seems very un-AMSOIL to me.

One reason I made the switch to AMSOIL a year ago, besides my high opinion of the product, was their reputation for standing behind their product and their good customer service.

If you're an AMSOIL dealer or preferred customer, you've probably read the Action News articles written by Al Amatuzio, AMSOIL's founder. In the last year of reading these, I'm left with the impression that Amatuzio understands customer service and it's importance to a niche-market product like AMSOIL. Yet, AMSOIL corporate is willing to lose a customer for a year over something as trivial as a sponsoring dealer?

I really wonder if Mr. Amatuzio is aware of this policy and the fact that it's alienating at least one customer, and perhaps many?

The question now is if in the year I've got to wait, do I buy from a site sponsor at non-PC prices, or do I stand on principle and avoid their products all together? I don't want to do this as I like the product.

Anyways, thanks for letting me vent y'all. As always, it's great to get the advice and counsel from the great people here.

thanks,
ben

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
Yet, AMSOIL corporate is willing to lose a customer for a year over something as trivial as a sponsoring dealer?


Well, it's not in place with that intended implication. It's if there's "no interest" for a year due to whatever reason, and another dealer can get an idle former customer interested again, then it's viewed as him deserving the account.

I do understand your frustration though.

 

[OriginHacker21]

Is this something new? I don't know how long I've been a member but when I called Amsoil and asked to change my dealer to Pablo the lady on the phone did it without a problem. I was auto-assigned one in the beginning.

 

[Gary Allan]

As long as you had either not completed a sale with the assigned dealer or had not ordered within the previous year.

 

[Johnny]

I was a PC as I used some products from Amsoil. I was assigned a dealer that lives 80 miles away from me. I've tried to contact the dealer by phone and email several time and never got a reply from them. I contacted Amsoil about transferring my account to one of the site sponsors and they gave me the same one year answer. I replied back to them and the dealer that my purchasing days were over and wished them a good day. If they can live without me, I can live without them. If I ever decide to re-up I will do it directly with a site sponsor and not the corporate office.

Good luck