Raise your hand if you have to go to a pampered chef/tupperwear/naughty lingerie/home accent/wrought iron sconce I don’t need/and/or/candle party in the next few weeks.
I’m done. I’m not going. I’m not buying the crap to help you out or to stick in my guest bathroom.
I’m not going for the food or the free drinks or the mingling with other women I only know from seeing them at some school function last winter.
I’m not going to throw a party so you can get the extra large hurricane vase and I can get a 20-percent discount.
I’m not going to ask the same people I ask every single time to come. And I’m not going to go to their parties because they’ve run out of new people at work to invite.
I’m not going to feel obligated to buy something cheap so you can get your discount. I’m not going to make people I know feel obligated to buy something from me because I bought at their last party.
I’m not going to be tricked into thinking I need 2 dozen plum scented votive candles. I’m not going to buy yet another measuring cup that can’t seem to measure the solids or the liquids correctly after the first dishwasher safe cycle.
I’m not going to feel bad, either.
Stop the madness.
Amen sista! Yeah, I’ve been invited to one this week. I ignored the email invite. And the last one, and the one before that. They were fun when I just turned 20 and felt like an “adult” having these fun “adult” parties with my mature friends, but now that I’m almost 26, I’m feeling even more wise, and I know not to waste my time or money at these stupid little gatherings!
Here’s a little *ahem* excerpt of a post I wrote last May:
“Last Friday, I went to a friend’s house where she held a cosmetic party. The brand was called Arbonne. I wasn’t overly impressed, and I didn’t buy anything. We started the party off by going into the bathroom and having our hands scrubbed by some product that ACTUALLY hurt my hands. And then it left this really oily residue on my hands. We were then wisked into the living room, and were given little tubs full of hot water, marbles, and oil to put our feet into. My tub was too hot. And the smell of the stuff in it plugged me up right away! Watery eyes, runny nose, tight throat. It was gross. (I also had a cold, so this irritated the cold more than anything.)
Then the rep gave her speech, trying to tell us that a) anything our skin touches gets absorbed into the bloodstream in 26 seconds. b) And that petroleum jelly and baby oil can kill us by not letting our skin breath. c) that bat faeces go into some mascaras. d) that rendered animal fat from euthanized animals and road kill goes into making lipstick and mascara. e) the average woman eats six pounds of lipstick in her life.
My responses? (I didn’t say any of this at the party, ’cause I wouldn’t be this rude, but HERE, I can say ANYTHING!)
a) If this were true, then we would never have to drink water. We would absorb enough water from washing our hands, bathing, and swimming.
b) *ahem.. bullsh*t*
c) So? It’s “natural”!
d) Is this really all that bad? I thought recycling was a good thing! And besides, haven’t you seen “Fight Club”?
e) I have only worn lipstick MAYBE 25 times in my life. And I used that particular number because I know I’ve worn it once a year for the past few years on hallowe’en, and I wore it for prom. And there were a few times when I was a kid that I wore it too.
Needless to say, I didn’t buy anything. Some of the girls there were totally sold on this stuff though, and a few of them had already been to SEVERAL of the parties, and had bought the $35 “discount” card.”
Yeah, I haven’t gone to one of those parties since.
You go woman.
I never go to those things. Hate them.
Glad you spoke your mind!
I was actually just thinking about Pampered Chef. There was a period a few years ago when I went to 4 “parties” in like 3 weeks. I bought a pizza stone, which we still use, a bag of blips to seal chip bags, a hand-warming ice cream scoop, and some bamboo tongs. Except for the pizza stone they were pity gifts. Never again.
My friends and I all stopped having those parties a few years ago. It’s nice to get together, but it stinks to have to buy stuff to do see them!
Hear, hear! (Not that I’ve been to more than one Tupperware party my entire life and I left without buying anything. I did get a cute little magnet set for free though.) I solidly identify with this, however, because I have come to think of bridal showers as the same type of thing. For my close friends or relatives, I would love to come and buy you a gift (and then give you another gift at your wedding) and spend time awkwardly mingling with other women I don’t know while wrapping you in a toilet paper wedding dress for some crappy prize. But if you are not a close friend or relative, do not invite me. I will not come to your gift extravaganza. I will not send you a bridal shower gift. Just leave me to my miserly ways. You’ll probably wind up with something nicer at your wedding this way, anyway.
Are you starting a movement? Because I’m so joining. I completely agree. Where’s the Kool-aid? I need the Kool-aid.
Tell it, sista! I don’t do that shit, either.
I have to admit I freaking LOVE the Party-Lite candles. I could be stranded in a warehouse full of em and have to eat my way through them to survive and, well, I’d be JUST fine with that.
With that said, the parties SUCK. Hate going to any of them (candles, pampered chef, etc).
You have extra votives? I’ll take ’em from ya. And then I might eat one just because I can.
I once got invited to a Sex Toy party! Seriously! There were marital aids for sale! At least those are useful…:)
I haven’t been to one yet, but I think Gabe is a little disappointed because I think he would really like a lot of the Pampered Chef stuff.
Even if it is overpriced.
Well, I have to say I’ve never actually BEEN to a Pampered Chef party. They actually looked like they had some cool stuff too…..but hey that’s why there is Williams Sonoma at the mall.
I’ve held those parties before, but I’ve always been adamant in the “you seriously don’t have to buy anything”……and “this is a party” kind of thing. So you can come to my house, and we’ll drink, and some lady we don’t know might show us some stuff and if you don’t buy it, cool. I don’t care. Cuz I don’t need the 20% discount and I never promised her a Rose Garden.
I’ve been to a COUPLE of those sex toy parties and hosted one. You’ll like this. At one I hosted, the lady came around and squirted some goo on the index finger of all the ladies present, then said “okay ladies, now go to the bathroom and rub it on your clit, then come back.”
We ALL booked a party.
See, a sex toy party could be fun. Everything else I could do without.
At one point I considered finding a home party direct sales company to try to be a work-at-home-mom. Then I realized that I would have no friends, because everyone would hate me for begging them to sign up for parties and buy shit from me. I seriously don’t know how many of these women make a living doing that.
I second that — they might make money for a couple of paties, but pretty soon, you’re friends are going to have enough tupperware and silver jewlery. Plus, I hate the idea that they’re working their butts off, and someone else higher up in the pyramid makes money of what they make too!
But how many dildos can we buy before we have too many dildos?
Or…can you have too many dildos?
THANK YOU! I don’t do that shit either. If you think about it logically, ALL that shit has to be overpriced, because the woman selling it to you “in the convenience of somebody’s living room” is really just an extra middle man. If I need a new whisk, candle, cosmetic, wall sconce, powdered foodstuff, or ridiculously overpriced basket-why wouldn’t I just go to Target and buy it like I normally do?
I have a friend who has a theory that that stuff just keeps the poor people poor. Sounds about right to me.
I blogged about this a couple months ago. I went to a silver jewelry party and was going to buy “just one thing to be polite” until, inspired by another brave woman there who said she was just there to hang out, I decided not to spend $49 on a pair of earrings I could get at a street fair for 2 for $15.
I do think we should have a bloggers get together and hang out party for those of us who are in the area sometime soon.
Yes, please, let’s stop the madness! Please! 🙂
But ya know… people stopped inviting me to those candle parties when I started making my own candles, haha
LOL….You can never have too many dildos:-)
wow – first stop here – love you already. We have the hate the fake party thing in common and I see you love trader joes. Sadly no joe in Texas 🙁
Well said.
Now I think I will print this out and place in every one of the mailboxes of my friends, my co-workers, and anyone else who wants to invite me to one of these things.
It is time to stop the madness. Besides, I can get toys at Fairvilla. 😉
Shash
Ha, ha, haaa! I have NEVER been invited to any such thing nor heard of them happening but then again, we are talking San Francisco!
You woul be way more likely to find sex toy parties there… that would make sense but tupperware?
You seriously need to move on up to the north end of the state! 🙂
oh, here here! I totally agree. If I get invited to one! more! Pampered Chef/Southern Living party I am going to scream!
Hell, yeah. Amen.
One reason it’s good to be a man. We don’t ever have silly ass marketing parties.
Thank you Thank you Thank you. I will post this on my fridge and use it when I decline my next invitation to a sales party!
My fave was at a pampered chef party…and I like pampered chef..but not that much. Anyway..the rep kept pushing me to have a party and what a great deal it was for me and on and on and then how I could make a little extra money from it…my own spending money and so on…..
I kept telling her that I worked..I had a job….she didn’t want to hear it…I mean, she was phoning everything!
Really bizarre.
Sorry…my info is old for the website
Can I get a YES SIR and AMEN!
NOW, if someone wants to go out for cocktails and chocolate and talk badly about those “parties” I am all for it! The only thing I want to buy when out with some folks, is another round of drinks.
All that is just more shit to dust.
I’m going to a Pampered Chef party on Thursday, because I promised. I will buy nothing, I will be uncomfortable. But as an agoraphobic I will be proud of myself for leaving the house. So that’s something, right?
-sighs of relief-
yay! I’m done with these damn things, too. No more hosting parties as favors to others only to get stuck buying too much stuff.
Amen.
I have to concur with all of the above. I have a friend who sells Arbonne AND Creative Memories. I love her dearly but I’m tired of her trying to push her stuff on me. I don’t have money for stuff like that. And the guilt, oh the guilt. I have a co-worker who has a ton of those parties and if we don’t go, we are still “expected” to order from the catalog. (she’s kind of high up in the firm)
Our Pampered Chef can opener seriously sucked, and then it broke. Good riddance — my cheap replacement from the dollar store works much better.
So, so true!!! I really don’t need any of that stuff – and if I did, there is always Walmart, Target, or even the mall!!!
My friend is still not talking to me because of not going to her jewerly party!!!!! These things suck!!! Stay at home moms love them!
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I have to say that I LOVE all of my Pampered Chef products. Of course, I love to cook and eat!! And, I admit that I like their parties too.
Don’t shoot me!!!
You do have a good point when it comes to the Candlelight, makeup, jewelry, etc… but I LOVE Pampered Chef products! They are all great, quality products and not really that expensive compared to Target, Kohl’s, etc. I also think the parties are a nice way to get friends/family together when maybe you normally wouldn’t. Just thought I’d give my opinion 🙂
I feel the same way. Pampered Chef products are different then the usual “junk”. I have a garlic press I bought 5 yrs ago for $15 and it’s still just like new. Anything I bought from Target usually breaks in less then a year.
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Amen Sistah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94Jc0EivJi0
ok. don’t hate….but i signed up to be a pampered chef consultant last week (waiting for my products to come in this week) and googled “Pampered Chef cons” to see what the cons of the biz are.
i hate the idea of selling products, begging/pushing friends and family into selling/hosting/buying your overpriced products, and then some big-haired over-tanned 55 year old woman can reap the benefits by taking a cruise to the bahamas and getting fat off bon bons while sitting on her lazy butt. I mean- c’mon! look at what you have to do to get that “Beautiful, relaxing cruise!!” on the cover- you nag everyone around you until you’re alone. I’ve personally CUT TIES with two ‘friends’ who just wouldn’t leave me alone about their stupid, overpriced products.
BUT: i began to notice that people like the Pampered Chef. better than Avon, Mary Kay, Creative Memories, Silpada, Arbonne, ect…. and when i heard like the 10th person say ‘ooo! if you have a PC party- invite me!!!” then I was sold. but on conditions:
1. No matter what the training books say (read: brainwash) about marketing: I WON’T DO IT! If their products are so great- then they’ll sell themselves.
2. MY consultant said after one show I’d never have to ask anyone to host again- the hosts would come to me: so I’m gonna play it that way. and the weird part? my first show was a girl who heard me say I was a consultant and then SHE asked ME if she could book a show. SOOOOO I guess I’m done “asking”…..
3. I’m not gonna ‘recruit’ anybody. I’ll let the people at my shows see my paychecks/paperwork and decide for themselves. AND- I’m gonna be truthful about the facts they don’t tell you… like you have to buy your own catalogs to share, and your own receipts, and you have to save part of that money because the government needs this little thing called TAXES!!!
I was fairly put out by the training manuals advice, they have places where you have to mark off that you “shared” PC w/ three new people every day! where you filled in all these pre-made goals of “recruits this month and “what level of directorship you wanted to be at in so many months”. and oh my goodness. every other sentence is “Who do you want to help? Everyone! So share this helpful kitchen catalog with everyone!” and then it lists ALLLLL the places you’ve ever been and tells you to “share” PC at those places. For crying out out- save yourself the breath and tattoo it on your forehead if that’s how obvious you’re gonna be about it.
But despite all this- i am already selling stuff. BUT- i’m going to stop this biz the moment i have to start pushing the products.
I liked reading all of your comments. I am selling Arbonne, but I don’t enjoy pushing stuff on other people. I just love the products. I would like to hear some suggestions from all of you who “hate parties” & pushy salespeople — how would YOU recommend selling products that can’t be sold in a retail store? I’m being serious, not sarcastic. I want to do this “right.” Thanks for any ideas!
Greetings Ladies!
Let me start by saying that I am the owner of an Adult Products online store and I do sex toy parties as well.
BUT, I agree with most of what’s been said in here… I really do hate the party concept. I was in Personal Preference some years ago, and I hated having to be in people’s living rooms EVERY weekend and recruiting, and the meetings, blah, blah, blah! It was good while it lasted, then I woke up one day and decided I didnt want to do it anymore.
WIth my newest venture, the sex toy parties, I have not asked ANY of my friends to have parties (did that with the art), but fortunately, sex toys are items that sell themselves so I havent had to ‘push’ them onto my girlfriends. I truly hated the whole “THis is YOUR OWN business” sales pitch, but then you have to follow these pre-set rules and attend annoying meetings and turn in sales, and recruit… And the poster before me hit the nail on the head – you do have all this extra expense. I refuse to be a consultant for someone else’s company ever again…
I will admit to being curious about the Pampered Chef parties – I’d like to attend one just to see their product line, but the entire in-home party concept has just about run it’s course because there are SO many different businesses out there that if you accepted every invitation you received (candels, tupperware, art, cooking, etc…) you’d be at parties all the time.
Thanks for letting me put in my 2 cents!
RM
Ok..hate all the parties..hate feeling obligated to buy..but I do love my PC microwave steamer.
A some party the woman doing the show pestered me for weeks to join up and sell stuff….for a little pocket money for the wee housewife…
I was working at the time!
Hey everyone I just had to get in on the convo but as for Mrs. D I have also just joined Pampered Chef I have been a consultant for about 2 weeks so far I am having alot of fun. I am what they call a Hermit I cant leave my home for Panic Attacks and with a hard working husband and 2 little boys I wanted to be able to do somthing to help with the income and so on…..anyways the point for me posting is I soooo agree with you ALL I myself have been pestered and bugged by many people to join them for parties and such thats why I chose to ONLY do catalog sales, I have decided to never repeat my asking a person to hold a sale for me same as Mrs.D I let them come to me so far I have had 7 woman in 2 wks asking to do a catalog sale I dont want to do Parties because being in there home eating there food and such you do feel obligated to buy somthing and I dont want to make people feel that way. As for now I plan on staying with Pampered Chef as long as I have people coming up to me and wanting to do Sales.
But…Mrs. D you stated that you have to buy all of your catalogs and such actually that is true BUT you get what they call Pampered Chef Bucks that you can purchase all your business tools with along with buying Pampered Chef Products just wanted to correct that not sure if your Director told you or not so now ya know hope that helps so no spending the money you make to make money lol
I just enjoy feeling useful if that makes any sence I am sure if there is any stay at home moms in here you have to agree and if not then WOW your family is the Brady Bunch. I want to do somthing I will enjoy and I will make DAMN sure that anyone who holds a catalog sale thru me will be able to enjoy it and just have fun with it I will never bug, beg or make anyone feel bad because they cant or just dont want to order from me.
I do have one last thing to say: I am just here to make some extra income as all of you who have jobs all Jobs involve SELLING somthing and I am sure we all have had to work hard to make sales if we dont we dont get paid am I not right hell even going to Mcdonalds you got somone bugging u to super size your damn fries for real its every where so my advise is if you dont like it do somthing say somthing if any one of u said to me I dont want to then that would be it I wouldnt ask you again period I know people are different but well thats never going to change some people dont give up and some people know when to stop. One thing I hate most in the world is to hear somone say if they ask me one more time I am going to BLAH BLAH and yet they ask again and yet they still never say anything I dunno but anyhoo theres my 2 cent
I totally hear you about some of these parties and some reps being “pushy”.
I have to say though that I love The Pampered Chef. I am a consultant and I have been for about 2 years now. I just promoted to Director!!
I am NOT pushy at all. I do however offer services to help my customers. Customer service is extremely important to me. Our products are HIGHEST QUALITY on the market. With a 1 year minimum guaranty. Try taking back your can opener to Target 1 day past 90 days! Even with your receipt! Good luck!
You also get personal service. My customers can call or email me anytime they have a question on a product – or even a recipe idea – not just if and when they’d like to place an order. You don’t get that from Target or wherever either.
When you come to my parties – you have fun. You get an opportunity to try before you by. You learn great cooking tips and a new recipe. You even get to eat!! Sometimes we even do some fun beverages too! There’s even some specials just for my shows. Hmm Target – maybe a free sample from pepperidge farm on a steek!
Our stuff is not “overpriced” if you compare with other quality tools on the market. Our quality is superior to most as well. Most of the products – more than 1/2 are at $20 or less. Our more expensive line is high quality and still competitively priced to others on the market. Not to mention that no one expects you to pay full price for these things. As a host you can earn them for FREE or discounted 50% or 60%! Our hosts also receive 10% discount on all their future purchases for an entire year!! I don’t think that Target will give you a shopping spree and discount for a year no matter how many friends you bring in to shop with you. When they do – please let me know!
I have not hounded my friends to purchase products. I do not need to – they sell themselves. I do talk about the products I love and the benefits. Kind of like a show and tell. The company has allowed me to earn so many products for FREE that I NEVER would have had without being a consultant. I am so thankful! Our company actually takes good care of our consultants – allowing us to earn unlimited PC $$ in your first 90 days that you can use for anything you want – Catalogs, other business materials, products that YOU WANT, or even conference!!
On top of the products I now have in my kitchen I have earned a decent income. At first when I started I was half way doing it. I was making about $300 or so a month. About 2 or 3 shows a month. Now I am trying to make more to help our family even more. I’ve been doing about 5 shows and getting about $600 or so. I have not had a pay yet as director so I know that will be even more. I have saved my family from losing our home and total financial trouble. It has helped me stay at home with my 4 children. I am definitely going on a trip next year – I’m aiming for Mexico or Paris (can’t decide) – but I know at the very least I’m going to Miami! (All expenses paid). I’d NEVER be able to do that any other way!! I am truly blessed and I’m truly thankful for all that this business has given me. The relationships I have developed – everything. I know that it can help others as well – which is how I’ve been growing my team. Helping others. There are so many people that benefit from this.
Now more than ever with the economy the way that it is – people get a LOT out of what we offer. 1 – an investment in quality kitchen tools that you can rely on (you don’t have to replace pretty much ever) 2 – our recipes – most are economical at ONLY $2 or less per serving AND save time – our products are easy to clean (most dishwasher safe) – and recipes are 29 minutes or less!! I also teach power cooking shows!! People pay for cooking classes – I do them for FREE!!
I have had customers tell me that they only go to PC parties and not others because our products are more of a necessity than a frivolous extra. I get a lot of positive testimonials. There is an occasional complaint here and there – but it is awesome to be the consultant who fixes it! I’ve also heard that people enjoy shopping with me or any other direct sales associate rather than a store – because you are helping that stay at home mom, college student, single parent, that individual person rather than supporting the big box store – Walmart for example.
Pampered Chef is so many things to me. The tools I love to cook with. The recipes that bring smiles to my husband – and children’s faces (no more boring same old same old – and I get to write off my groceries on my taxes!!). The friends I meet that are other consultants at our meetings. The bonds I’ve made with my customers – and friends I’ve made that way too. The income that helps our family servive – that I know I’d never make anywhere else. The flexibility it allows me to prioritize my family first. The pride I feel. Knowing what I get paid is what I deserve. I do not answer to anyone. My confidence. My accomplishment. My security. When I’m at my parties – I know I’m having fun – and I’ve yet to see anyone who hasn’t!!
Anyway – you hit my heart a little so I thought I’d stand up for something dear to me. I appreciate your opinion. Thank you for reading mine.
Have a great day!
usdonats@yahoo.com