Useful tips

A quick guide to avoiding the pitfalls

Be on the lookout for:

• Large orders or new customers – especially ones that don’t fit the normal pattern of your sales.
• Easy sales – is customer too good to be true? For example, are they not even interested in the price or details about the goods?
• Indiscriminate purchases – does it almost look as if the customer doesn’t really care what they buy? If the goods could easily be sold on, you should be even more suspicious.
• Pushy customers – be wary if a customer wants to take the goods right away, and presents you with a cheque or bank draft made out in your company’s name for the full asking price.
• Large amounts of cash – especially when this doesn’t fit your normal trading pattern.
• Customers that rush you – don’t be pressurised into releasing goods without carrying out your normal, essential checks.
• Next-day delivery – especially when the customer isn’t worried about additional costs. Be even more wary if the customer’s address is close to your premises.
• Calls on delivery day – and want to know when the goods will be delivered.
• Mobile numbers – you should always get (and check) a landline.