Comments on: Why I politely declined the invitation to your candle/purse/kitchen/jewelry party

By: Mrs. Sellaneous

Mrs. Sellaneous — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 04:21:19 +0000

I have a website with product. It is nice because product can be purchased at close to party pricing without the party! Hooray! I believe it is best to let people come to me. While we are discussing “selling” could we please outlaw all door to door salespeople?

By: Tiffanie

Tiffanie — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 02:51:17 +0000

In reply to Karen.

Yeah, kind of disappeared from the blog world but still keep up with you & Kacie and a few others :) And thanks for not taking anything I said the wrong way, because I didn’t want to come across as snobby or anything…just wanted to put it out there that some consultants run their business in a way that is positive :) I had good friends & family who JUMPED at the chance to help, and things just took off from there. I make sure to stay educated on sexual health and I’ve taken training courses and I think that gives me the credentials people are looking for when dealing with something so personal.

Anyway, sorry to ramble. I just love what I do and love my hostesses and customers :)

Cannot WAIT for Baby to get here in November (14th). We find out the gender Monday morning! Love seeing all the updates on your little Guy ;)

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 02:40:55 +0000

In reply to Tiffanie.

It sounds like you’re doing it right, Tiffanie! Like I said, I don’t begrudge people the choice of making sales of any kind their career. If you have a client base of people who genuinely want to buy your products, then that’s a legit business. What bugs me is the people who don’t have a client base outside of the friends and family they invite to their parties. That’s a totally different situation than someone who simply makes a living selling products.

Congrats on your success and on your baby! I’ve been wondering what happened to you since you quit blogging! :)

By: Tiffanie

Tiffanie — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 02:28:24 +0000

Just to add some input from someone who DOES make a living by doing these “types of parties”… not all of us are pushy. I have been a Pure Romance consultant for 2 years and was able to quit my full-time job to do PR full-time, which will allow me to basically be a SAHM come November when we have our first baby :)

And going off of what Kacie said… some of us actually DO make a very good living on our own, w/o having people below us. I have a team of 12 but make very little off of them because they haven’t been in the business long. In fact, I’ve made $0 off of them the past 3+ months :) I earn a great living by being a trusted consultant who has built a great customer database of people who know they can confide in me. I take pride in my “job” and love educating women.

And I HATE those pushy consultants…I think I have repeat business because I’m not pushy and they come to me on their own. I won’t push you to buy, host or sell :)

Anyway, just wanted to say that it’s not ALL negative. As far as the hosting goes…I would be a horrible host & would rather have friends over for dinner & board games lol.

I loved reading your input & the comments! Thanks :)

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:55:50 +0000

I am also completely with you on this. It’s not a ‘party’ – it’s a sale. Call it that. Some will want to partake but I will likely not if it’s for ‘stuff’. (See website name – my apartment is under 350 sq. ft. and holds 2 people. We only have stuff that we LOVE; anything else goes on Freecycle.)

Be strong and resist!

By: Mary @ Tips & Treasures

Mary @ Tips & Treasures — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:25:53 +0000

Ughhh I totally agree. The sellers are SO pushy, especially in trying to recruit people to start selling for them as well.

I usually decline these invitations because I’m not interested in spending buckets of money on crap I don’t need and never intended to buy.

Occasionally I’ll go to one of the parties if I’m craving a girls (kid-free!!!) night out. Being a stay at home mom to two little ones can get lonely, lol. But when I go, I only go if there’s something that I’ve been thinking of buying and I stick to a very low budget.

By: Alice Keesey Mecoy

Alice Keesey Mecoy — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:45:35 +0000

And here I thought I was the only one who felt this way.

By: Rae

Rae — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:33:39 +0000

I love this. Thank you for saying it.

By: Kacie

Kacie — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:43:14 +0000

These are bad “businesses,” period. The sellers make very little money on the products they sell. If someone does make decent money in a business like this, it’s because they’re higher up on the pyramid and have people under them to send the profits their way. Overpriced stuff that I don’t need!

I have gone to a few of those parties though, when I was especially lonely and just craving company, even if it was contrived like that. :(

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:48:30 +0000

I agree too! I hadn’t completely figured out why it bothered me so much (beyond being pressured to spend money that I would rather save for other things), but it’s true–they aren’t asking you over to enjoy your company. It also really bothers me that the salespeople at these parties (if a friend is just hosting, not selling) are really aggressive about trying to get party-goers to host parties. I’m with you on that count, too–if I am ambushed or harassed in any way, I immediately shut down and walk away.