When Your Traveling Vendors Want to Put Their Merchandise in Your Safe
My rep from Scott Kay Sterling came to NC to visit the store and go over the line with me. He told me he’d be running a little late because he was over at another retailer, “I have to lock my merchandise in their safe and I’ll be right over,” he said.
It never crossed my mind that vendors would consider leaving their merchandise in their retailer’s safes. What happens, if god forbid, the retailer’s store is robbed and the vendor’s merchandise is stolen as well?
It is obvious, the retailer has insurance, but enough to possibly cover an additional high-end diamond bridal line too? Do you call your insurance company the same day and increase your insurance? Do you even offer to do such a thing? Is this common practice?
gisellemarie commented:
I, also have been a traveling rep for 25 years. All my retailers offer their safe's for overnight lockup. It has no bearing on your insurance. Our insurance company covers the lines if left at the retailers location. By doing so, we are unlikely to be held up at gun point, or with a knife at our throat. We, the reps, sincerely appreciate the comfort of having the retailers support our safety, and thoughtfulness they extend. Therefore, this is what is called a partnership...one looks after the other in many ways.
Shanu S. Guliani commented:
Thank you all for your comments--I guess you learn something new
everyday. I, myself, have never had a traveling salesperson ask to
leave their merchandise in my safe that's why I was inquiring if
this was common practice. I hope with the help of your comments
others will know this doesn't affect their insurance and that they
should gladly help out their salespeople because we all do care for
the safety of our salespeople.
Joe commented:
Hi. I have been a traveling jewelry salesman for about thirty
years. I have been robbed twice and a victim of attempted robbery
over 15 times. I was very surprised that a family that has been a
retailer for as long as yours has not heard of this practice. My
customers often ask me, if it is near the end of the day, if I
would like to leave my line in their safe. I love my customers and
I feel as if they are part of my extended family. I believe they
feel the same way about me and I very much appreciate that they
care about my safety.
1trainer commented:
Yes this is common practice. You can ask the rep to sign an
agreement stating that you are not responsible for the loss of
their merchandise. The rep should call you ahead of time to ask
permission to do this. Your own insurance should not be affected as
the rep will be covered by their insurance. I just attended a
seminar through JA that touched on this very subject.
Jkash commented:
The Vendor is merely satisfying the requirements of their
insurance. A jewelers safe is one of th few places a rep can leave
his or her line unattended and still be covered.
