How much did you pay ASI this year? - DistributorTalk

LOGO emPower · 05-22-2006, 11:06 AM

I feel this POLL compliments a popular existing Thread - Are you an ASI Subscriber?

So the question now is: What is the average subscription fees for DT Members (Suppliers and Distributors) within ASI?

ASI Services:
Annual Membership
LogoMall
ESP
Stores
MediaFile
Register
Counselor Magazine
ASI Shows
ASI Transact
ASI Computer Systems
Email Express
Direct Mail Packages
ASI Credit Direct
Mailing Label Service
FastFind Distributor Directory

Calculate what you pay!

LOGO emPower · 05-22-2006, 12:18 PM

oops! I forgot to list ZERO...

Sorry folks...

TRIP · 05-22-2006, 01:20 PM

bjrmki · 05-22-2006, 02:14 PM

Too Much. The boss won't give up ESP. ): <

((((><

Promo-Man · 05-22-2006, 02:47 PM

ASI has realigning some of their cost. So my investment this year is lest than what it was last year for the same level of service and I do consider it an investment.
If you have multiple user licensees to ESP and SAGE the cost factor is very similar. It is when you only need one user license that you have a big cost difference.

grammy29 · 05-22-2006, 03:02 PM

Zero...and We Plan On Keeping It That Way!

Chris Miller · 05-22-2006, 03:38 PM

Zero here

Chris Miller · 05-22-2006, 03:39 PM

"Zero" option added

gil levitch · 05-22-2006, 03:44 PM

I resigned from ASI after 40 years. They didn't care obviously because no call from them wanting to know why. Makes me wonder why I didn't leave them before now.

steveb · 05-22-2006, 04:57 PM

Actually, this leads into a very interesting topic, the exit interview. I once had the responsibility of overseeing the bank accounts for a nonprofit whose board I served on. It eventually came time for us to switch banks. I walked in, spoke to a platform person, closed our accounts, walked out with the money, and was NEVER asked the key marketing question, "Why are you leaving us?" This happens all the time, and I suppose no one has done a series of seminars on the topic of severing relationships. There is much to be learned...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gil Levitch

I resigned from ASI after 40 years. They didn't care obviously because no call from them wanting to know why. Makes me wonder why I didn't leave them before now.

mds68630 · 05-22-2006, 05:11 PM

Over $10,000

05-22-2006, 05:22 PM

I just downsized from ESP to subscription plus Logomall so down to about 1300.00 per year from 3800.00 Now looking at Sage website for 400.00 having signed up for SageOnline for 500.00

Yeah, I know I can do others for free. Actually, funny thing is I really don't like free.

DBeavers · 05-22-2006, 06:40 PM

Approximately $700.00 total for all of 2006.

Subscription costs: Zero

ESP (volume discount): $55/month with ACE (All Catalogs Electronically)

2006 Media File: $54

Dennis

JON · 05-23-2006, 10:39 AM

Zero and it will stay that way. Yesterday 2 suppliers asked for my ASI# and I told them I given up with them. No big deal to took my order anyway.

royster13 · 05-23-2006, 11:38 AM

How much anyone pays to ASI or other vendors is not relevent.....My expenses are proportional to my profits....When my expenses increase so do my profits.....RCS....

05-23-2006, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royster13

How much anyone pays to ASI or other vendors is not relevent.....My expenses are proportional to my profits....When my expenses increase so do my profits.....RCS....

Best comment on business I think I've ever read on this forum. And it came from a Canadian.

RelKey · 05-23-2006, 05:17 PM

Way over $10,000...

Allan · 05-23-2006, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royster13

How much anyone pays to ASI or other vendors is not relevent.....My expenses are proportional to my profits....When my expenses increase so do my profits.....RCS....

This statement is also not completely true. In a perfect world it might be but with taxes and utilities on the rise I have to work harder to make the same profit. I do not see the proportional part to the expenses. I have had some expenses that did not increase the profit line (such as subscription services, not limited to ASI), in fact those expenses became a drag on the bottom line and therefore were removed.

FindingPromo · 05-23-2006, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royster13

How much anyone pays to ASI or other vendors is not relevent.....My expenses are proportional to my profits....When my expenses increase so do my profits.....RCS....

Quote:

Originally Posted by aapromotions

Best comment on business I think I've ever read on this forum. And it came from a Canadian.

Royce and Allan,

Great comments.

I for one, have made the choice to "invest" a certain percentage of my income on marketing, promotions, subscriptions services, trade shows, memberships, education etc. etc. all with the confidence, that my "investment," in my business and carrying forward>>>> into my Distributor Customers' and Prospects' businesses along with my Supplier Partners future sales . . . . will lead to more income for my top line, as well as for my own, personal income.

Each and every year, I review, the expenses and investments I have made including those in which I continue to make via ASI subscription and trade show services. Either they turn into more business for my Suppliers/Distributors/my commission and/or they do not.

I do this for my PPAI membership investments, my regional membership investments, along with my advertising and trade show investments also, in all of the above.

Everyone needs to do the due diligence, and see whether what they invest in, is turning into more business for their company.

MS

MalibuSurfrider · 05-25-2006, 12:11 PM

Quote:

My expenses are proportional to my profits....When my expenses increase so do my profits.....RCS....

This is a bit vague for me to understand. What types of expenses? Human capitol, equipment, rent, and other fixed monthy expenses, or variable expenses like marketing and advertising.

I'm just curious how ASI factors into this equation. Do you up your service level as your business expands?

Zilpha · 05-25-2006, 01:37 PM

We left asi 2 years ago.It was a good move. we Have distributor central for web site,ppai, upic and are looking at other companies for research. But will not go back to asi. Costs became too high for what we received.

DIRTYERNIE · 05-26-2006, 10:12 AM

I too left ASI after having the connection for thirty years. It seemed the only real benefit in the last few years was credit reporting when we added a new supplier. Now, sometimes we have to pay up front since we are not a "member" of ASI and that is fine. Now, with an A1 rating with UPIC, that is less of a problem. Trick is to get more suppliers to use the UPIC credit info.

Pionus · 06-08-2006, 07:28 PM

I too left this year after 13 years..but they did call and try to get me to rejoin..but no good offers...I had until the 26 of May and then I would lose my number..I pre-pay a lot of my orders with a credit card any ways, I live and work on Maui and need the miles to get to the mainland every now and then!

KathyC · 12-01-2006, 06:49 PM

We have only kept our ASI number each year. It's up for renewal, which is $399.00 and I'm waivering on keeping or dumping it.

When we started selling promotional products in 1999, ASI told us we had to have a number or no one would sell to us. The rep we had at the time was so rude and arrogant, telling us that the only reason anyone would question the (I think $1500.00 fee) at the time is if they were "mom and pop" stores. So I hold NO loyalty to ASI, but I think they did a good brainwashing job.

Dump or No?

DBeavers · 12-01-2006, 09:37 PM

Kathy,

Maybe you should consider what you could do to benefit your business with an extra $33 per month if you used the $399 for something other than buying a 6-digit number that is meaningless outside our industry, and less and less important inside it.

With $33 you could treat a key client or prospect to lunch.

Order extra self-promos to distribute to prospective clients.

Or _______________________?

If the $33 can be put to better use, than I think you have your answer.

Dennis B.

Allan · 12-01-2006, 10:18 PM

Dump! If you are not getting ROI, then you should consider reallocating those funds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathyC

We have only kept our ASI number each year. It's up for renewal, which is $399.00 and I'm waivering on keeping or dumping it.

When we started selling promotional products in 1999, ASI told us we had to have a number or no one would sell to us. The rep we had at the time was so rude and arrogant, telling us that the only reason anyone would question the (I think $1500.00 fee) at the time is if they were "mom and pop" stores. So I hold NO loyalty to ASI, but I think they did a good brainwashing job.

Dump or No?

dusty · 12-02-2006, 05:46 AM

I agree with Allan: DUMP asi. It will be the best decision you can make this year.
Sign up for your FREE upic number.
Most promotional product suppliers are now using the new non proprietary open UPIC system.
If you research the subject 99% of distibutors agree that UPIC is the way to go.
asi's secret system has no value. Save your hard earned money.

bdadco · 12-02-2006, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dusty2

I agree with Allan: DUMP asi. It will be the best decision you can make this year.
Sign up for your FREE upic number.
Most promotional product suppliers are now using the new non proprietary open UPIC system.
If you research the subject 99% of distibutors agree that UPIC is the way to go.
asi's secret system has no value. Save your hard earned money.

asi?? are they still in business, was a customer of theirs years ago, felt their sting and quit them. now when suppliers ask for our asi number, I in a dumbfounded way ask, asi are they still in business? I always offer our upic and ppai number so they can check on our company. Sometime soon the Smart Suppliers will start asking for upic info instead of asi info which few distributors have anymore.

Chris Miller · 12-02-2006, 11:57 AM

The funny thing is - I was never a fan of ASI but this year I decided to get a number.

I wanted to see if it was faster and easier to get credit with suppliers (it's not I still have to fill out applications)

I wanted to check out the media file (it's worthless - nothing more than a bunch of ads bound into a hardback book)

I also wanted to get the register (again useless because I get a better one with SAGE and I never use these anyway. All the info I need is available in SAGE, DistributorCentral and DistributorTalk.)

While I was a member I also wanted to try the ESP trial because some say it is so much better than SAGE but again I was disappointed. It's not better than SAGE, presentations aren't as nice / easy to use, products are often times incorrect or not up to date (sage has this problem too) and the list goes on. I'll take SAGE over ESP any time and it has nothing to do with the $$$$

The only thing I have gained by joining ASI is about 10 more junk faxes a week and numerous interruptions from sales people trying to sell me more ASI junk.

I won't even get started into the attitude of the people who work for ASI. It is a "YOU NEED US" type of attitude and it's laughable. This in itself was enough for me to decide to ditch them next year - the rest was just icing on the cake.

mpossoff · 12-02-2006, 02:03 PM

The "delemna" that this will bring to the industry, distributors not renewing subscriptions, is that ASI will have to seek other markets since they are a for profit institution.

It has been discussed the various industries that ASI has been soliciting and advertising too.

Before you know it the bar around the corner from my house will be able to join ASI.

Marc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Miller

The funny thing is - I was never a fan of ASI but this year I decided to get a number.

I wanted to see if it was faster and easier to get credit with suppliers (it's not I still have to fill out applications)

I wanted to check out the media file (it's worthless - nothing more than a bunch of ads bound into a hardback book)

I also wanted to get the register (again useless because I get a better one with SAGE and I never use these anyway. All the info I need is available in SAGE, DistributorCentral and DistributorTalk.)

While I was a member I also wanted to try the ESP trial because some say it is so much better than SAGE but again I was disappointed. It's not better than SAGE, presentations aren't as nice / easy to use, products are often times incorrect or not up to date (sage has this problem too) and the list goes on. I'll take SAGE over ESP any time and it has nothing to do with the $$$$

The only thing I have gained by joining ASI is about 10 more junk faxes a week and numerous interruptions from sales people trying to sell me more ASI junk.

I won't even get started into the attitude of the people who work for ASI. It is a "YOU NEED US" type of attitude and it's laughable. This in itself was enough for me to decide to ditch them next year - the rest was just icing on the cake.