Do you attend product parties when you don't have money to spend?

I’m happy to say that I’ve never attended one of those things. <shudder> I just politely decline.

No. I hate all product parties and resent the pressure to attend. The only product party I ever enjoyed was a sex toy party. Cocktails and sparring with giant, inflated penises velcroed to your body. lol

I don’t go. I think the expectation is that you will at least buy one item.

The wife asked me one time if I wanted to tag along to an Ann Summers party.
She was going with a couple of her mates & I know what you girls are like when you all get together, so I politely declined.

@ucme – who is Ann Summers? What does she sell?

Why do you care what these “hostesses” think of you? Just say no.

@elbanditoroso You’re on the internet, look her up…unless you’re at work, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

@marinelife They are the parents of my daughter’s good friends. That’s why I care.

I rarely go even though I have the money. I don’t really enjoy a party that’s main intent is to sell products. If a friend is representing a company I will gladly look through the catalog. I am not much of a shopper, I don’t spend money just because I can, and I don’t feel compelled to shop, but I do find new products and ideas interesting, and I like to “window” shop if I am interested in the products. I worked in retail for years and often didn’t buy anything new for months at a time, even though I had an entire department store of stuff in front of me every day and I had a discount.

Having said all that I have been to a few parties. One time was to be social, one time was to help the daughter of a friend, and one time was when I was very young (still a teenager). If there were other times I don’t remember them.

The only reason I would go if I had no money to spend would be to support a friend and I would tell her up front I cannot buy anything. It might still help her to have people there though I guess. Make the party look bigger and more popular.

I used to go to them all the time. Then I started working for a multi-level marketing company and learned how to read their compensation plans.

Fuck that noise. No one makes any money off of it. Your friend will never make a dime. They might get some free stuff, IF she guilt-trips enough of her friends and family into buying enough overpriced, cheap crap they could easily buy at Target if they really wanted it.

@jonsblond You still have no obligation to go or spend money. Don’t do it.

@jonsblond I don’t think they will think badly of you for not going. Just respond you won’t be going, they don’t know why. Maybe you have a previous engagement? It doesn’t matter, you don’t need to explain yourself, if they have trouble gathering people they will realize that business venture maybe was not a great idea. If they do well, then what do they care that @jonsblond didn’t show up. One person out of 20. So what? If they hold it against you in some way that’s ridiculous.

No, I don’t. If I don’t have the money, I don’t shop anywhere. I’ve been to two Pampered Chef parties, but I had the money to spend if there was something that I wanted. One time I bought, one time I didn’t.

When I haven’t gone, I’ve just politely said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I can’t be there. Can you give me a catalogue to look at?” So far no one has questioned me. <knock on wood!>

It is easy to tell @jonsblond that she shouldn’t care or feel obligated, but she explained herself politely in her question, she lives in a small community and these are parents of her daughter’s friends, so she may be a bit self conscious about not going. She seems to be aware that she is not obligated, but she still feels the way she feels and she has a good reason to feel that way.

I am in the boat of @JLeslie. I have money to spare, but don’t want or need this overpriced crap. I am a savvy shopper and when I need something, I get it and at a good price. I use the internet, friends and knowledge of my area to know when and where to shop. As far as frivolous crap, I have so much of it I don’t need any more. I don’t need some overpriced candles, kitchenware (I never cook much any more), sex toys or lingerie.

As far as parties go, the last two I went to were sex toy and candle. Both I went to a long time ago and both were good friends who made it like “just come! We’ll have a good time! You don’t have to buy anything!” Of course I did. Recent invitations I have received, I just say “I’m so sorry – I have something else that night! Oh I wish I could go!” I leave it at that. Of course you know you are not obligated, but you want to give some kind of explanation because of the fact that it’s a small community and these are people you want to be friendly with. I totally understand. I live in a small community, too, and I walk a fine line between saying “fuck these people” and wanting to save my reputation and good standing.

I never intended to buy anything, and I never did. I used to go a lot for the free stuff. I even became a demonstrator for Creative Circle before they went out of business, just for the free stuff.

I once went to a Ann Summers party. Obviously there are things there to buy, but it isn’t compulsory. I think the main thing is attending (if you want to) and having a few drinks and a giggle playing with the toys and different outfits (in the Ann Summers sense).

I think it’s best to explain, up front, that as much as you’d enjoy the party (a polite fib), you simply don’t have the money to spend (the truth). You regret that you won’t be able to join in the fun (polite fib #2) and hope that the party will be a success (truth #2).

Party hosts really expect every attendee to buy something. That’s why they organize the events, serve snacks and beverages, and give party favors – some token item from the product line – to everyone who shows up.

Why do these parties feel the same to me as raising money for schools via magazine sales and giftwrap paper. Buy something because you know my kid. Ick. I will say that not all the products are junk, as some people above have said. They are often overpriced to pay all the levels in the marketing structure.

Some years ago, I really got burned on one of these parties.

Paul’s close friend had recently married, and his new wife invited me to a Saturday afternoon tea party. I was delighted to accept the invitation. I thought it would be fun to get to know the bride better and meet her friends.

When I arrived, all dressed up in a pretty summer outfit, I was surprised to see that I was the only guest. Was the party a bomb? Did everyone else accept and then bail-out or not show up? Would other people arrive later? Then, I noticed that there was no food prepared for guests. And, no, there wasn’t any tea.

After about 30 uncomfortable minutes, a pair of Amway representatives showed up to demonstrate and sell me some expensive products. I’d had no idea, whatsoever, that I was being so shamelessly scammed. I made an excuse about having dinner plans and left right away. Of course, I didn’t buy anything.

Thanks to this rude stupidity, Paul and I never heard from the couple again. What’s sad is that Paul had been good friends with the husband for a long time. The husband was likely too embarrassed by what had happened.

I hate them with a passion and don’t go.

I. Do not. Attend. Product Parties.

My girlfriend used to have those. When my daughter was about 6 I loaded her up in the car, said we were going to Jane’s because she was having a show.
My daughter said, “Oh, you mean one of those things where you never buy anything?”
:) Yup. I was there for my friend, but I never bought any of the junk. Well, except once. They had come out with some cool stain glassed nightlights. I bought a cat one. Had if it lots of years.

Haven’t been to one since then, though. That would be the mid 80’s.

For good friends, I used to always go as a show of support. Each additional person makes the party livelier, you know? But I always told them up front if I couldn’t buy anything.

If you’re interested in forming/cementing relationships with the hosts and their friends, it’s not a bad idea to go and mingle. If you just want to stay on good terms, I don’t think it’s necessary.

I’ve only attended one of these parties, because a good friend begged me to come. She worked hard on me – I hate these things on principle, I was a young student, and I didn’t use the product being offered. She knew all of these things, but kept harassing me to join, saying that on behalf of her (not mutual) friend who was throwing the party, she wanted to help get the numbers up so that it would feel like more of a success for her.

I finally caved, after emphasizing that I would not buy any products – she said that was no problem whatsoever. Went to the party, made jokes and was friendly to people I didn’t know, didn’t buy anything. My friend sulked for over a week because I spent no money there. Never. Ever. Again.

I can’t tell you how many times I got sucked into going to those parties. I would say “no, I can’t really afford anything right now.” They always came back with “oh, you don’t have to buy anything. Just come for the free food.” I would end up going, and due to peer pressure (I was really easy back then) I would end up buying something that I didn’t need and really couldn’t afford.
I started telling people that I would just take the catalog and if I found something, I’d let them know. It seemed easier to me to say no when I wasn’t at the party.
I think if you just said something along the lines of “I can’t make it, but let me look at the catalog.” Don’t give a reason why you can’t make it as you will be forced to make up stories. Then if they ask if you have an order you say you didn’t find anything you couldn’t live without.

Nope. If I can buy something and have the time, I’ll go, otherwise I’m out. There is something about all-women parties that makes my skin crawl- lol

@glacial and @chyna. Your stories are so typical. The party host reassures you that you won’t have to buy anything – she’ll be so grateful just to have you there – and then you get the hard-sell treatment. You cave and purchase things that you don’t need or want, or you get an annoyed friend (perhaps now a former friend) who can’t believe how cheap and unsupportive you are.

NO anything about mlm and network marketing makes me throw up. And I always try to talk the person involved out of it.

I’m glad I’m not the only person who doesn’t like these parties. You have all made me feel better. Thank you.

Someone I know went to one of the jewelry parties. I looked at the jewelry she paid $60 for. It was a piece of crap. I was thinking to myself “are you kidding? I could buy something way better than this on the clearance rack at Macy’s for less than $10.”

These parties, and their hosts, make me sad. Nobody earns anything by selling a tube of lipstick or a few pieces of cookware; success depends on building a large pyramid of sellers who are required to share their commissions.

That’s the business model – harangue all of your friends, neighbors, and relatives until they buy starter kits and begin selling, and urge them to do the same thing to anyone they know. You’ll eventually “earn” a hideous pink Cadillac, or whatever the prize.

In the meantime, many direct sales companies lure people with false promises of substantial tax breaks. Put your sales kit in a corner of your dining room, and you can write-off most of your housing expenses! Take the vacation of your dreams, bring along some catalogues and product samples, and the entire vacation is tax-deductible! Mention the company’s name every time you socialize, and your dinner tab will be courtesy of the IRS. Nope. None of these things are allowed or allowable.

I like to go to any friend’s party because even if they don’t make a lot of sales, having a crowd is more fun. Sometimes I buy products and sometimes I don’t.