>Making Money Off Your Friends
>I need your input.
What do you think about friends who end up becoming Avon/Mary Kay/Arbonne/Pampered Chef/Energy drink consultants and suddenly want you to host a show/buy something from them? Is it annoying? Is it understandable? Does it make you uncomfortable? Has it put a strain on any of your friendships? Are you yourself selling products to your friends? Do you have any funny stories on the subject that you’d like to share?
Dish!
P.S. Wanna help 40 orphaned kids who are refugees from Burma? Well, here’s your chance, courtesy of reader Carrien’s husband! Oh, and, heh, the title of this post has nothing to do with this little note, by the way… I really would love to help spread the word for Carrien.
>I absolutely cannot stand having sales pitches from my friends, be it Tupperware, candles, or marital aids. I will use any excuse to get out of them, or just say (depending on the friend), “I never mix money and friendship ever, sorry.”
>I’ve belonged to about a dozen network marketing companies. I love the business formula and have always believed it will lead to financial independence. Right now I belong to a vitamin and mineral company. They are the best and I’m staying with them.My friends and family are aware that I sell the product and are free to buy from me if they want but I don’t sell to them. It’s up to them to approach me.
>I detest this type of thing and refuse to go to ANY of them. That way I don’t support one friend over the other. I just make it clear to everyone that I just don’t do this scene. It would never even occur to me to impose upon my friends and/or acquaintances to invite them to a party where they may feel like they need to purchase something. I find it extremely tacky and rude.
>I have never had any friends approach me for that type of thing, but I imagine it would make me feel uncomfortable. Multi-level marketing is problematic for me since it exploits the people lowest on the chain–so it would be uncomfortable not only because I would feel pressure to buy stuff I don’t really want, but also because I would be skeptical that the person I was buying it from (the friend) would ever achieve any kind of success with it.Some people do become successful, but they need a bunch of people beneath them in order to do so. It’s tough.
>I don’t ‘do’ parties but, man, I love Avon eyeliner and Mary Kay eye makeup remover. So those two friends can stay in my life. I will forever buy $3.00 worth of products off of them every third month. 😉
>I can’t stand those “parties.” I feel for the folks who are turning to that business model as a way to both make money and be at home as much as they can, but…UGH. It pisses me off, because the whole way of doing things is based not on the strength of the product, but on the idea that if you get enough people in a room, they’ll feel like it’s rude not to buy. And let’s face it, generally that’s the only reason you would purchase any of the products. If they weren’t substandard they’d sell ok in stores and the companies wouldn’t resort to home sales. Tupperware and Pampered Chef are among the few exceptions to this rule, imo, but I still don’t want to go to a home sales event for either of those products. I’m just not one to walk willingly into guiltfests.My mother and my in-laws never have the heart to say no. They always go, they always buy something, but they rarely keep the junk they bought for very long.I think selling a product out of your home without the parties, however, is a different animal entirely.
>I think I have a friend in every part of the “business” out there. And there are a few who hit me up to have a party EVERY time I see them! Apparently, word got out that I’m generally a sucker and will have/attend almost any party. However, I got an email from my cousin about 2 months ago. A cousin who I have not had a conversation with in 3 years. I honestly had no idea that she even had my email address. Of course, she is selling protein stuff and would love to come and show all the wonderful products to me and my friends. I didn’t respond. If you can’t find the time to come to Christmas, there is no way I’m making the time to let you pawn your stuff off on my loved ones!!
>I have gotten to the point where I just say no to candles, toys and jewelry. I still have a soft spot for Pampered Chef, even though their stuff is kind of expensive.
>some I’ll host for/buy from; some I don’t. but I don’t judge them , especially moms who are trying to make ends meet while staying home with their kids.I don’t understand the people who are personally affronted by something like this. unless you’re really being muscled, why be offended over being asked? everyone is free to say “No.” save the moral indignation for the big things.
>My MIL was just talking about this last night. You go to one of your friend’s parties, and you feel compelled to buy. Then another 100 or so friends have parties and you feel like you need to go to be social and not hurt anybody’s feelings. Me, I just don’t have friends. Less headache.
>If it is a really really really good friend, I’ll host one party. (But, come on, all of my really really really good friends are internet friends so not too many parties to host!) Other than that? I am “busy” and “can’t” attend any of the other selling parties I get invited to. And I particularly hate those stupid Longerberger (or whatever they’re called) basket parties.
>I say find new friends. :)I just can’t make myself buy it unless I actually want it. Tupperware, I’ll buy but nothing else normally.
>I have never gone to one. EVER. People stopped inviting me eventually. My sister has grudgingly attended Pampered Chef parties, but only because she really loves the products. I don’t want to violate my own policy, so I stay home and then steal her stuff. My theory is, she can always go to another party, I can’t.The worst possible product party scenario I can imagine would be those “Sugar and Spice”, “Naughty and Nice” ones. Buying vibrators and edible panties with my neighbors while drinking 7-Up sherbet punch sounds like the third ring of hell to me.
>This is why (well, besides the fact that the business models, in general, suck) I was a four-time failure at “direct sales” companies. I refused to pressure my friends to buy my stuff or host parties. Once you scratch friends, co-workers and family off your list of prospects, your list of potential customers shrinks pretty dramatically. Also, I became a consultant for a certain well-known cosmetics company and we were required to hold hands and sing at the “business” meetings. I was horrified.
>My close group of friends will have parties and invite lots of people. Our group knows that we are invited just to come and eat the free food and have a night out without the kids! No pressure at all.
>I don’t think any of my friends would judge me or make me feel guilty if I couldn’t (or wouldn’t) go to one of these types of gatherings. In fact, I’m going to a “Fantasia” party in a couple of weeks that’s being held as a bachelorette night. If I don’t buy anything I won’t feel bad. But I can see why some women wouldn’t want to attend for fear of feeling obligated to make a big purchase.
>I don’t necessarily host or go to the parties, but I will purchase from them when I need something – I see it as helping my mom friends bring a little income when they want to stay home with their kids, so I’d rather support them than a corporation if I have a choice.
>Hate all that stuff, and I once sold Pampered Chef in Alaska. Raally I just wanted the starter kit, so I held 1-2 parties and then retired. Personally, unless you live in the boonies and have no access to the Mall, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, Williams-Sonoma, Crate & Barrel,Sur La Table , or heck, even Walmart, there is no reason to buy that overpriced crap. You only buy it because of the hostess.And I hate the guilt. I always fall for it. I went to a Southern Living party at my next door neighbors who made it it clear she was aiming for this really expensive item as a prize. I went fully charged to buy the least expensive thing because I felt obligated and I then fell subject to peer pressure and $200 later, I got way more than I wanted or could afford at the time. Since then, I have studiously avoided all parties. I always RSVP no through email or through the evite and let people know I am on a "retail diet" because we were putting my husband through business school.They generally stop the guilt right there.Honestly, you wouldn't catch me dead having a party myself.The only one I ever had, I turned into a full on full-bar cocktail party and made sure very person knew that didn't need to buy one thing.Even that wasn't worth it.As opposed to a friend who sold Mary Kay that begged me to go even though I only wear Lancome and then put the full on press (with her seasoned Cadillac driving boss) to get people to committ to parties. It was a "when" will you have a party not "if." Really put a damper on our friendship.So not worth putting dampers on friendships for a few free or discounted items as hostess, right?
>Ughhhhh! I ALWAYS feel pressured to buy when attending these types of parties. So I no longer attend. Free food and a night away from the kids is not enough for me go anymore!
>I would buy if it was something I wanted/needed, but I don’t like being annoyed. I have a family member who added me to her newsletter unsolicited – she sends out a ton of newsletters looking for new salespeople under her – it drives me insane.
>HappyHourSue from happymealsandhappyhour.blogspot.com just ranted about this yesterday in her BuyUglyCrapParty post.
>Oh, and she’s waay funny.
>Well considering I just hosted a Lia Sophia party for a friend who just begun selling the stuff…. I must have sucker written on my forehead.
>Yeah, I get friends who occasionally get into stuff like Tupperware, Amway, Melaleuca, Fruitcakeappapploosa, whatever. Almost all of them know better than to go any further than see if I want to buy anything (they know I’m a sucker for Girl Scout cookies, etc). The last one that tried to recruit me as one of their downliners for Amway, called me a “selfish bastard” when I politely refused to join up; six months later, when she gave up on Amway, she was still blaming me for being part of the reason it didn’t work out.That was a year and a half ago, and coincidentally, the last time we talked. I proved I’m not just a “selfish bastard”…I’m also a “hold people accountable for their OWN ACTIONS” bastard, too 😉
>I don’t mind the parties (mostly tho because of the wine and munchies, and oh yeah, a night out with NO KIDS). I politely decline if it’s one that I’m not interested in though (those Longabooger baskets, for example), but I actually enjoy the Pampered Chef and Silpada gatherings.
>I became a Mia Bella (candles) rep for awhile, but I absolutely refused to try to force anyone to have parties for me. I didn’t do parties, I only sold things from booths at different events. The only family I ever sold to was my MIL but that is only because she LOVES candles.
>I was (still am but fading quick) a Pampered Chef consultant. It’s very hard work to get people interested in the product, especially in this economy. And I have been so busy trying to get the word out about Dapper Snappers and being a Mamapreneur that I just don’t have the time to make the cold calls necessary to further my Pampered Chef business. And from the perspective of a consultant; I didn’t like bugging my friends and family to host shows. It felt tacky. But you have to start somewhere. And then you find yourself in a complete strangers home trying to demonstrate to the Ultimate Mandolin that just won’t slice the stupid lemons and 15 blank stares all seemingly saying “I’m not buying that thing” while your face turns red and you try to explain that it’s the lemon rind, not the product. Yeah…I’m done with home shows. Don’t get me wrong. Pampered Chef is a wonderful business. They provide EXCELLENT customer service. And all of their products (well maybe not the mandolin) are great. But when all your pitches fall flat (I even tried offering deals on Twitter), it’s time to throw in the Pampered Chef Cranberry Microfiber Towel that can soak up 2 cups of water.
>I don’t mind going to the “initial” party to help people out…those getting started, etc. But the zealous folks sign up to host their OWN parties, and then proceed to invite all the same folks at the initial party. And me? I go to one, that’s it. Makes people mad.I used to sell Stampin’ Up. I was my own best customer…me and my sister, really. I always get excited about a product, but then, don’t have the “gumption” to push it on my friends.
>I don’t like these parties and have only been invited to a couple. However, my MIL was a single Mom struggling to make ends meet for a really long time. She will host parties given for other single Moms as a way of giving support. I guess I see her perspective. However, sometimes I think that these companies take advantage of struggling women and it makes me sad.
>I used to go to these parties because I ….. I don’t really know why. A while back though I was at one and I “won” a “prize” in one of the “games”. The prize was that I could have a party hosted in my own home. Gee whiz! I can have a bunch of people I don’t really like over to my house where they can eat my food, use my bathroom and feel pressured to buy things? No thank you! When I refused the prize the host sort of flipped out and wouldn’t let it go. It got to the point where she was sort of yelling at me “But you have to take it! It’s a prize! You won it! I spent so much time putting that game together! You have to take it!” It was really nor cool.And now I have a standing rule that I don’t do parties like that anymore.
>I’ve had tons of friends who sell that kind of stuff and I have no problem saying no.
>I go to support them and unfortunately always spend waaay to much and regret it.
>(Sigh) If invited to their parties, I will go once and usually buy something. (Sigh) But I never agree to sign up to give a party. I just don’t have time.
>I used to sell Pampered Chef and it was the parties that I hated the most. I wish they would have just let me sell them on a website. I am much more comfortable on the internet.
>I don’t mind the occasionally reminder that, “Hey, I sell this stuff if you ever feel like buying it” but someone who constantly feels the need to try to get me to “buy buy buy” is going to annoy the crap out of me and I’ll likely avoid them. I get why they do it, though. I just prefer they maintain their manners when they do.
>I’m with Kyran. I’ll buy if it’s something I like/want, but if I don’t then I say no. I’m very poor and I know the guilt I’d feel over spending money unnecessarily would be way worse than the guilt I feel saying no. My friends know that. I’ll be there and support as much as I can, but my support is moral not monetary. I don’t get worked up over it.
>My father-in-law is always selling something. We were visiting him this past weekend and as we were leaving, he just casually gave us a large bottle of liquid vitamins with the pamphlet explaining how good it is. My mother-in-law visited us one weekend and showed me the catalog from Lia Sophia and stood there staring at me until I picked something out and filled out the paperwork. My good friend used to always invite me to those parties for candles, tupperware, baskets, whatever… I just was always too busy! I hate going and smiling for 2 hours at people I hardly know or worse yet -know but don’t want to see. Anyway, we moved now so I don’t have to worry about it.
>My neighbor/friend starting selling Mary Kay and I was fine with it. She’s not pushy and doesn’t expect me to host or buy, but has asked in the past. I have purchased from her, but I haven’t had a party as I just moved to SC 1 1/2 years ago and don’t have a large group of friends to justify a party. On the 4th of July our neighboring subdivision, invited our new subdivision to participate in a parade. I decorated my daughter and her bike, grabbed the dog and my husband and we hiked the route with everyone else. Once we were at the end of the parade they had some treats for the kids and we chatted up some neighbors. A nice lady approached me with her huge greyhound and proceeded to talk to me about my new puppy etc… We met her kids and husband and thought that we’d met some new friends. Then she whipped out her Mary Kay card. It deflated the whole moment/conversation. Her husband was uncomfortable, my husband and I were uncomfortable, but I made the best of it and we went on our separate ways. She has called my cell phone 6 times….So, that situation bugged me.
>I go if I like the stuff or just to support the friend. I’ve been to some really fun parties and with my friends at least, there’s never any pressure to buy anything, since none of us actually has any money. I know people who do it as a hobby and others who are really into it and are making a pretty decent living. I think the hobby-ists have more fun parties. :)I’ve been to parties showcasing makeup, jewelry, pampered chef, tastefully simple, candles, even art. I’ve rarely bought anything. And even more rarely hosted a party. But then, I’m one of those people to whom saying No comes pretty easily. I go for the chance to dress up, socialize with grownups and eat someone else’s food (and I don’t go to parties hosted by people I don’t really know, unless I want to know them better). Or I bring my mother, who buys whatever I want. 🙂
>Whenever I hear a friend or family member is going to sell ______, I immediately run in the other direction and am conveniently “out of town” during parties for said merchandise. I also “lose” catalogs or “accidently delete” sales emails. I don’t host parties because it “upsets the cat”.Wanna sell stuff? Great. Get your own leads and don’t force me to participate in your employment unless you’d like to start going to work with me “to help out”.Bleah.
>I used to sell Mary Kay and honestly, I quit mostly because of that. I know how it makes me feel when someone comes to me trying to sell something. If I can’t afford it, I can’t afford it! I know they “just want to show me” or whatever, but if I’m not going to buy anything it’s just a waste of their time and that makes me feel guilty. Plus, some of the ladies advertised to their congregation at church and that really did make me uncomfortable. My director told me to think of it not as making money through the church, but as sharing a truly wonderful thing with those women. I just can’t agree with that though. Mary Kay is a great opportunity for many women, but not for me.
>I have 1 friend that sells Mary Kay. She lives in a different state, the company generates emails for her. I have never bought a thing, I don’t think she knows or cares one way or the other. I think she probably got into it so she could get her own stuff for cheap/free, as she has no need of the extra income…she is single, owns her own home, and makes at least 50k a year working 3 days a week.( she is a nurse)
>I would be more than able to tell my friends “hell no,” but it is the people that I don’t know well that I struggle with. Just a couple of weeks ago I was approached by a woman and the library story time. She said at first “I really love your bag.” I was polite and thanked her and told her where it was from. But then the conversation took an odd turn when she said “You are really beautiful.” I thanked her, but I was totally confused and not sure if she was trying to hit on me at library story time in a room full of preschoolers! So, I discretely moved to the other side of the room. Apparently I was too discrete because she ran grabbed her kid and jogged over to where I was. Then she came out with it: She wanted me to come to her house so she could use me in her pictures as a before and after MaryKay makeover. I couldn’t just say “uh, no way crazy stranger woman am I going to go TO YOUR HO– USE ALONE. Let alone buy your crap.” So I just took her card and told her I would think about it and give her a call. I never called and didn’t go back to storytime for the remainder of summer story hour. If she were my friend I would have just told her no. Still not sure if she was trying to pick me up though…
>I once went to a pampered chef party because my boss threw it. Of course being underpaid I had to buy something cheap (anyone else have that cutting board?) and it really pissed her off. The next day at work she was complaining that nobody bought anything over $15 and now she won’t get that such and such. Now when people bring this shit up they can see smoke tracks from me exiting the room. Want to invite me over for a drink, great, but don’t try and use me for your extra income.
>I sold PartyLite candles for about six months 10 or so years ago. I did it because I was working in a fulltime job I hated and HAD to do something to convince myself I didn’t have to just work in an office to make money.My sister graciously held the 1st party and I did really well for those six months and during that time quit my job and got a parttime job at my son’s school library. At the same time, my husband went on his own with his home remodel business and I worked for him too.So for me, personally, it served it’s purpose, people were candle crazy at the time and they were generous with their homes and money. I never pressured anyone and I enjoyed it.
>I’m going to have to comment anonymously as TWO of my sell-happy neighbors read this blog…TONIGHT I’m supposed to go to a really stupid party where I’m going to be expected to buy this crap while I’m eating store bought cookies and drinking barely laced punch.Next week I’m going to the exact same party, except selling different STUPID crap.In a word: HATE.I hate these parties so much. PLEASE MAKE THEM STOP.
>I think for most of those parties, they’ve passed their peak.Now, I am all about hanging with my girlfriends, and if there happens to be a product involved that we would buy anyway, and we aren’t pressured, we’re all for it. (Like when one of our friends was selling Body Shop @ Home, THAT was fun and something we totally go to the mall to get).But I hate feeling OBLIGATED. Like my SIL has an @Home America party every few months just so SHE can get the free/reduced/hostess items and the rep isn’t even her friend! I just ignored the last invite and went on vacation instead.
>There’s a word in the English language to all you people out there who’ve been roped into home-sell parties and events: “no.”Use it.Own it.
>When my son was 10 months old I fell into the Mary Kay trap. I lasted two months before I figured out it was a total scam and in order to be successful I must become an unethical bitch. Since then I have zero patience for anyone doing an at home party. I try to remember I was once young and innocent and didn’t know how evil the whole pyramid schemes are, but since I have no respect for that genre of sales pitches I have a hard time not exploding when someone asks me to go to their parties.
>So. Totally. Annoying.While I enjoy going to occasional parties, and ALWAYS buy at the ones I attend, I am not interested in being asked every two weeks or more if I want to host one. I’ve edged away from more than one friend who became a consultant, only to have that dominate our relationship.
>Went to the parties, had the parties, became a consultant, gave the parties, sold a little, gave up. Hate getting the invites. This must be why I wasn’t successful; I felt like I was doing stuf to others that I didn’t like done to me. I thought it would be my ticket out of Corporate America. HA! Way too much work and I am not a salesperson. I will place an order though if I want – I’m a master crap collector and I’m trying to get over my addiction!
>Hate. Will NEVER host. They can tell me they sell it and if I want something I’ll seek them out, but beyond that, leave me alone!!
>Wow. You really hit a nerve Lindsay! I’m quite surprised to read so many harsh reactions to this! I was a Mary Kay consultant years ago and I’ll be forever grateful to my friends who were kind and generous enough to host parties for me. It’s nerve wracking to try and do parties for strangers. My first 3 or 4 parties were hosted and attended exclusively by friends. After awhile, I decided that type of business wasn’t right for me. Part of that was because I personally felt uncomfortable hitting up my friends too many times for parties. I didn’t want my friends to dread seeing me because they thought all I wanted from them was business. But I never got that kind of feedback from my friends, it was my own personal take on the situation.So these days, I’m never offended to be asked to host or to be invited to a party. I know what the women who have joined up to sell are going through. I enjoy many of the parties and I’ve never, ever felt pressured to buy anything. If I buy, it’s because I was genuinely impressed with the product. If I sign up to host a party it’s because I genuinely had a good time at the party I just attended and I want to share that experience with my friends. I never host something begrudgingly. If I’m not interested in hosting a party, I’ll politely decline. I’ve never lost any friendships over this on either side of the sales.
>Anonymous at 1:18… I just wanted to add that the woman you encountered probably *did* want to be your friend. You see, in Mary Kay, the women honestly feel the best thing they can do for a woman–particularly a new lady in town–is invite her to join the MK circle. Have you ever been to a meeting? They were my favorite part of being a consultant. I made a couple of friends I still talk to, even though none of us are still consultants. Just because you sign up doesn’t mean you have to go hardcore. A lot of women just do it for fun and it gives them so much joy they want to share it with others. Really! Of course, I can see how it can come off to someone who thought she was just making a no-strings-attached friend, and that’s part of the reason I quit. Nowadays when I find a woman (mom) I like, I try to convince her to come to a babywearing meeting (where I don’t stand to gain anything financially–only friendship and perhaps helping someone). Is that any different? I never made any money off MK, either 🙂
>I have been selling Tastefully Simple for 4 years. I’ve never discussed it on my blog and never will. I invited a bunch of my friends to my first party so that I could practice my shpiel with them. A couple signed up to have parties and that was it. I have never approached any of them again. Several come to me and ask to do parties or do catalog parties, but I won’t bug them. That’s probably why I am not a power seller. Then again, I only do it to get the products at a discount.
>Hey man, I’m all about the free food at those tasting parties:http://www.houndrat.com/2008/06/28/not-so-tastefully-simple/In all seriousness, though–if every one of your friends signed up for these types of things,you’d be bankrupt in under a month trying to support them.
>One of my best friends sells Mary Kay (and I used to sell Arbonne). Anyway, the first time we met she pitched MK to me, she tells me about specials from time to time, and, asks me for MK favors occasionally too. It’s just very important to her. I understand that, because I was/am sold on Arbonne, and my life tended to revolve around it when I was both using it and selling it. Most of these people are totally sincere. I have never purchased anything from my friend, nor have I thrown her a party. She understands that I would feel dishonest because I prefer other products. BUT, we are still great friends (even though our friendship started out as a sales pitch);)
>I don’t give it too much thought either way. If it is something i like, I go, if not, I don’t go. I’ve never had a friend get upset if I don’t make it. Receiving an ivitation is definitely not something I am going to waste emotional energy getting upset about though. I used to sell Discovery Toys, where sell equals, buy them at the discounted rate for my own kids (stole a BOSSY device there)and I was pretty self conscious myself about not bugging people though, so I hardly ever had parties.
>I have friends who do it, I know they are doing it, and if I want some stuff I will host a party. But I do have one girl who isn’t even my friend and she is obnoxious. I get emails and post cards galore. I can’t stand it. The worst is that she hounds me to become a consultant because “It isn’t much work at all!” Except the fact that we never socialize now that she works on her business all the time…
>A few women in this area are CAbi reps, and they continually have parties to try to sell the expensive clothes. I have never gone, and never will. When we first moved in, one of the neighbors called and asked if I would host a party. She immediately lost me when she said “It’s easy! All YOU have to do is supply the wine, some food – you know – the salty and the sweet – just maybe 3 of each – and I’ll bring over the entire line and set it up!” I said “You mean you want ME to supply all the wine and 6 different types of food? For YOU to sell clothing in my house? Ah, my answer would be NO.” Dead silence. She said “It’s really not THAT big a deal – we’re talking potato chips and store-bought cookies, cakes, etc., here.” I laughed and told her I’d see her around the neighborhood; those parties weren’t my thang. I wasn’t mad, just unwilling to be suckered into the game.
>Oh I have been that woman… it was really hard trying to sell to friends, so I finally started meeting strangers out in the world and talked to them about doing parties or presentations. My friends had my information and when they wanted anything, they called or emailed and purchased. It’s hard to be pressured by my friends to host or sell, so I tell them that I was always very successful with strangers. They just look at me with this blank stare like, “Does that mean she’ll host or not?” I have a friend that is a tough one, so now I make her host it, cater it, etc. I just bring all the friends. When it’s over, I get the discounts and freebies… she gets the sales and the mess to clean up. It’s all good.
>I tried to sell Weekenders a few years back, total disaster, considering two other woman did at my job. I gave up on that one and now hate their clothes. I go to the parties, but let people know I can’t spend much but I’ll be a body.I refuse to host. It means I have to clean more than I normally do.
>I am a Passion Parties consultant and I love it. I do not push my parties on my friends,neighbors or other people I meet. People know what I do and they ask me to do parties. Which by the way, are not raunchy,embarrassing or crazy. They are actually a lot of fun and educational. Everyone has something to learn, and I present a very matter of fact (using the correct terminology), easy to understand, non-icky (is that a word?)friendly, fun demonstration.I am not one to host parties for things I wouldn’t want to buy, nor could anyone pressure me in to doing so. Since I feel that way, I do not pressure anyone into hosting for me or into buying from me at parties or online. Who wants to be annoying? If you want a fun girl’s night out, get together with a couple of friends where you might learn a thing or two, then Passion Parties is something you should look into. It should never be annoying or embarrassing to anyone. The party plan marketing may be a little annoying to most of you but it makes a lot of people very successful and it is a growing industry.Oh and for those of you interested, the money is fantastic even though I put forth little effort to market myself. If I was one of those more pushy people, I’d really be making a ton of money. I’ve done Avon and I am still an Arbonne rep, but nothing compares to the money or fun of Passion Parties. To those of you that hate your friends for pushing their new buisness on you, remember, you should never do anything you don’t want to or buy things you don’t need. Just kindly tell them you don’t host parties for any business even if it’s your best friend (especially if it’s your best friend). If you are polite and you explain that you don’t care for the party plan and if you say yes to one friend, you’ll have to say yes to all of them, she should leave you alone about it.Wish her luck with her new business and that should be that. Have fun ladies!
>We did a pleasure party for a friend’s wedding shower and it was pretty fun. Other than that, these things are a nightmare! I hate feeling like my friends want me to buy something. The worst is when someone I wouldn’t otherwise be talking to is sending me emails to tell me about her “fabulous new products.” ugh. My worst experience with this was in college. I was applying to physical therapy schools, and needed the physical therapist that I worked with the write me a letter of recommendation. In order to kiss up to her a little, I let her talk me into attending her Mary Kay parties. Ugh! My roommate and I were invited to be “models” – haha! And we were invited again and again and again. We went to parties and meetings, but thankfully got out of hosting our own party. I thought my roommate would kill me!
>the fact is, you invite 63 people in the hopes that 5 will show up. my friend TONIGHT hosted a cabi party, the most expensive house party known to man. it’s clothes, and good luck getting out w/out spending $85. i ducked out. but in the hypocrite department, i do plan to host a southern living party soon as a front to show off our new house.www.lifespearliscast.blogspot.com
>Girl Scout Cookies don’t count!They’re alright by me!
>Even more unsavory than these are physicians that push MLM vitamins in their clinics.There is at least one such doc in Nashville. These folks can exert an undue influence/pressure on patients by virtue of their relationship. There is a doctor from Ky who moved to Ct hocking “antiaging” blood tests and remedies. I had to warn kinfolk to stay away despite the fact that she’s related to a boss of theirs.
>I had a budding friendship going on with a woman who lived down the street. Our oldest children were a year apart and my second was the same age as her twins. I invited her over for a play date, and she showed up with her complete sales pitch for some expensive skin care products. I was offended that she was turning what was supposed to be relaxing “friend time” into a money-making opportunity. I bought a single tube of stinky herbal foot cream, because she really did need the money. But I’ve avoided her ever since.
>It annoys me. A friend just recently called to ask if her sister could come over to my house to try to sell me something. Because of our friendship, I accepted, but it annoyed me. Of course, she wouldn’t tell me what it was in advance. Very annoying.The worst are the people who do ALL the network marketing schemes. (I saw at least one in the comments) After they try a few out on me, I will end the friendship.
>I don’t mind if a friend mentions in passing that they’re selling something now and to let them know if I happen to need anything but forcing the entire sales pitch on me every time we go for drinks leaves me cold. I had a friend like that once, now she’s the Avon lady the entire neighbourhood hides from the in street.
>I got invited to a combination “Passion” party and candle party. It was excruciating, but I felt I “stood by my friends.” Ordered from both folks, partially because I liked the product, partially because they are my friends and I want to support them. The candle stuff arrived, and was NOT WORTH THE MONEY by a long shot. I would never order from that company again. The “passion” order supposedly came in a month ago, but I can’t seem to get my friend to make (and keep!) an appointment to meet up and give me my stuff.Now, I’ve been invited by both of these women to more parties, AND I’m being hounded by OTHER friends who have been conned into hosting these parties. We’re a small community of American Navy wives, in Japan. The market for their products is very, very, VERY small.I know a woman who sells Pampered Chef. She doesn’t have parties, she just lets us all know when she’ll be making an order, and allows us to e-mail her our orders. I appreciate that (no pressure, no time-suck from parties, etc.)I’m pissed, because I’m now actively avoiding the two first women, and may lose their friendship. I’m mostly pissed with the companies, who suck these women in with promises of easy money, and get them to “invest” in sales kits. I’ve made a vow not to go to any more of these “parties” for any reason. If I want to order products from any of these women (which I mostly don’t, as the products are mostly overpriced crap), I would rather look through a catalog on my own time.
>p.s. — I have to admit that a well-planned Passion Party can be a lot of fun, and a learning experience for some people, who might not want to buy such things via mail order without a little knowledge first. I’m not very happy with my particular consultant, who still has my order after over a month, but in general, I think the Passion Party idea is not a bad one. I just resent the hell out of being pressured to come to parties — “If you come, I get free products!” and doubly resent being asked every month to go to a party. There are too few of us here to have a freaking vibrator and massage oil party every month!
>Those things are excruciatingly lower middle class. Futile and pointless… spend your time educating yourself or something.
>I have worked in offices full of women for over 20 years and someone was always inviting me to one of those stupid parties. I mean, how many Pampered Chef wooden spoons does one person need? Long story short, you give this woman a portion of your paycheck so she can stay home during the day with her kids and only “work” a few nights a week…I got real sick of that real quick!~
>”Those things are excruciatingly lower middle class. Futile and pointless… spend your time educating yourself or something.”Wow, bitter much, anon? I agree with most of the posters here, that I don’t care for these parties and sometimes attend only to “support” a friend, but sticking these women with the label of “lower middle class,” and that we should “educate” ourselves or something instead? Odd, because most of the women I know that take on these consultant jobs are college educated.
>I have 2 cousins who do the arbonne thing both have the white mercedes benz’s and an aunt and cousin who do Mary Kay. None of them have pressured me. I do order the Mary Kay for a few things I like. Personally I couldnt do it, but I do like to go to the parties to get out of the house lol
>I have 2 cousins who do the arbonne thing both have the white mercedes benz’s and an aunt and cousin who do Mary Kay. None of them have pressured me. I do order the Mary Kay for a few things I like. Personally I couldnt do it, but I do like to go to the parties to get out of the house lol
>Oh, great.I have to go to a ‘CAbi’ party tomorrow morning. At 9 in the A.M. WTF? And it’s not someone I work with (no ‘job’), but someone my husband does. I checked out some of that stuff online, and while it’s OK, I guess, it’s certainly not anything I have a need for in my life. $85 you say, Courtenay? Cripes, I was hoping to get away with about half that. I had never even heard of it before! A little off track, but he feels obligated to buy too much Girl Scout stuff too, from other people at his job who send around their little girls’ lists. When our kids were little, we just asked my parents and brothers and left it at that. There had better be mimosas tomorrow morning, no matter how early it is, as I am not a coffee drinker.
>My brother’s live-in girlfriend invited her cousin over to my parent’s home to pitch vacuum cleaners. I declined the invitation for that evening, but soon after, I received a phone call from the girlfriend asking if the cousin could come to my home to do a presentation. She said, “I gave him your name and number as someone who might be interested. He won’t call or come without your permission.” Well guess what, he doesn’t have my permission. I said, “I am nine months pregnant. If he calls or comes to my home, he will not be met with a pleasant audience.”I don’t know what’s worse, a friend trying to sell me stuff or a relative’s girlfriend asking if her cousin can try to sell me stuff.Thankfully, they’ve broken up since the vacuum cleaner presentation.
>Ugh. I can so relate with the last commentor. My MIL once gave out our info: address, phone AND email. TO A TIMESHARE company. Can you believe that?! She got some extra discount and didn’t see the problem. I got spam amd junk mail for years. This is the same MIL that had a tizzy because I put my son’s pic on a birthday invitation postcard. She was agast on how I released private information about her grandchild and anyone who processed mail knew where they could find him.Uh, double standard anyone?
>”Want to invite me over for a drink, great, but don’t try and use me for your extra income.”Couldn’t have said it better myself. I have an associate from an old job who is always inviting me to these damn parties. Would she ever ask me to come over for dinner? Go out socially? No, but I’m good enough to come buy something from her. She can bite me. I’ve said no enough times that I’m hoping she gets the hint.
>I had never attended a home show until 2001. Once I attended one the floodgates opened and I was constantly receiving invitations for Stampin' Up, creative memories, Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, you name it. It was too much. I bought too many items that I did not need. In 2005 I heard about Do-Re-Me&You by Kindermusik–a startup home business. I was enthusiastic about the products so I signed on as a consultant. I did not mind managing the money. I did not mind doing the shows because I was able to endorse the products as I genuinely loved them. However, I hated persuading friends to do shows. Everyone had an excuse. I was demoralized. I felt as though I was becoming a broken record with my friends. After a month of no success with booking shows, I called it quits. I used unopened items from the starter kit as birthday gifts and consigned other items. I really did like the products just hated selling them.
>Drives me mad! I hate it hate it hate it! Sounds like I don’t make a very good friend eh?
>Yes, I hate it! I had a friend from college that I really liked, we had fun together. She got married right after we graduated, so naturally, I saw less of her. Then she started selling Mary Kay and was all of a sudden calling me again! She wanted me to do a “free” facial with her, and wouldn’t stop buggin me about it. Emails, calls, whatever. One of our other friends got tricked into a phone call with our friend, and then all of a sudden it turned into a 3 way, with our friend’s “boss” trying to get her to sell Mary kay too! Umm, hello?? She thought she was catching up with an old friend on that phone call? She felt tricked and hurt. Needless to say, i have only exchanged a few emails with her over the last few years. Not cool. i felt totally used, and like if I didn’t do the facial (which I didn’t want at all!), that she wouldn’t talk to me again. That is pretty much what happened too!
>My best friend used to sell Pampered Chef, but she rarely did parties. I would occasionally do a “catalog party” for her, which consisted of taking some catalogs to work and putting them in the break room with a note that I was taking orders if anyone was interested. I didn’t say much of anything to people beyond that, but people always ordered (maybe because Pampered Chef is great stuff). Another friend sells Stampin’ Up, but again, never asks us to do parties. She knows that WE know she’s there if we want to get anything.
>Any decent director will tell you that you have to get outside of your circle of friends & family – you can't make it in direct sales if you don't.My friends know I do Pampered Chef, (part time, I have a "real job") and the ones that love the product want me to come do parties for them. I love giving women a night out where they don't have to cook or clean, and I love that our products encourage people to gather around the dinner table each night.The best thing that's happened to me since becoming a consultant is that I've filled my kitchen with quality products that inspire me to cook not just FOR, but WITH my family. I get to write off the products I buy (deeply discounted to begin with, and the customer service can't be beat) and I get to write of the groceries I buy to make them.The worst thing about the gig is that I've gained a ton of weight… Those 12 minute microwave cakes are gonna be the death of me.
>I learned early on in my direct sales ventures that you don’t sell to friends and family if you can help it. That being said, I dislike it when someone I’ve not talked to for years calls me up and says, “Remember when I was buying all that stuff from you? Now I’d like to sell you some pre-paid legal!” or whatever. Now, normally I’m fine with the “I-bought-from-you-now-will-you-buy-from-me” mentality, but really, if you want to sell me something, woo me a bit first if we haven’t talked for years! Call it direct sales foreplay or something like that. Otherwise, I’m not calling you back.
>It does make me very uncomfortable. I hate going to those ‘parties’ because you are expected to buy something, regardless of what anyone says.
>Call me old fashioned, but a “party” is something you invite your friends to so that you can visit with them, not sell them something.I once agreed to attend a “party” (read sales event with nibbles) for a friend who was an enthusiastic new Silpada rep. I was freshly post-partum and I made it clear that I could not asfford the stuff, but I would come as a show of support. Well…I was the only person who showed, and you would not believe the pressure that came with that. She even suggested that I bring some out of town guests over that night for the second show. Since then, I have been quite vocal that I shop at stores, not in people’s homes. The only “parties” I get invitied to are the old fashioned kind, and that is fine with me.
I actually like them. I think it’s a fun way to get together with friends and also help someone out. Plus I like Tastefully Simple, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay and Cabi products so I don’t feel like I’m wasting money or just giving money to someone’s business since I actually want what I am buying.