Anyone else not into home parties?

[monkeyboy]

Originally posted by Crankyshank
monkeyboy. It's for men too

I am a little fuzzy on that concept

 

[mrsltg]

The reason that you keep getting the invites is that the salesperson tells the hostess to over-invite based on the idea that very few will actually come. I hosted a Southern Living at Home party last year and I was told to make a list of 100 people to invite!!! The people suggested in the pamphlet were my hairdresser, work colleagues, GYN (hardly a person I want to be social with!), and so on. It was ridiculous. The "hostess coaching" is offensive and the idea of "don't take no for an answer" is insulting. No thanks, not for me...

Erin

 

[Pembo]

I've had home parties in the past. I did it more for social reasons. If people buy something, great, but if they just come to hang out, eat and get away from the kids, all the better.

You don't have to BUY anything!

 

[WilmaBud]

I've gotta say, I don't mind home parties, either. I usually have a pretty good time at them. I've rarely felt pressured to buy, but then again, I always do buy something. It's no big deal to me. My favorite is Longaberger. I know they're expensive, but they're beautiful and functional, IMHO. I love Tupperware too - you can't have too much Tupperware, LOL! Anyway, people have to make a living, and this is just another way to do so. I wouldn't want to be a consultant, but I can respect the work they do.

 

[Shugardrawers]

Now ladies, you misunderstood what I said. I didn't say that selling or attending adult toy parties made you unladylike, I was referring to the behavior of some of the attendees at the party I went to. Keeping things spicy is good but there is such a thing as TMI (sorry, can't elaborate in a family forum). Also, demonstrating the use of various products in an extremely graphic manner is so far over the top that even I, an extremely liberal person, was shocked and disgusted. As I said, in a family forum I can't elaborate much but let's just say what a couple attendees did belonged in an adult movie. I signed on to check out the products, not to be subjected to hard core porn!

 

[goofyshell]

I understand why many people don't like the pressure of home parties, but I generally like them. I mainly enjoy them when it's a good friend that hosting and I know she means it when she says I don't have to but anything! (although I usually do!) And I have to say, I enjoyed the "ladies only" party so much that I would have one myself (which I try to avoid now) but my hubby won't let me! He doesn't object to me going and shopping, just to having a party of that particular type at my house!

 

[LisaZoe]

I don't mind attending these parties and I've even hosted a few myself. However, I always go knowing that it's OK to leave without ordering. I won't lose a friend (if the hostess was unhappy because I didn't order, then she really wasn't a friend). Mostly I my friends have these as good "excuses" to have people over so I'm OK with that (and isn't it a shame how often we feel we shouldn't spend time away from family "just" to hang out with friends?) Also, since I have no problem leaving a store without buying anything, why should I feel any different just because the product is sold from someone's home?

I will say, though, that I won't book a party if the consultant seems in anyway pushy about sales or bookings. I don't care what the sales manuals say - when I say no I mean it.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

I like the Creative Memories ones, although I only go when it is a project or a new technique I'd like to learn. I have a friend who loves Stampin' Up (as an attendee not host or seller) and has made some adorable things from what she learned at those parties, so I would probably attend one of those if they were having a card making party or something I found interesting and useful. I don't feel the need to attend another pampered chef, tupperware, Discovery toys, etc, etc party in all my life and would most likely gracefully turn down any such invitation. Thats said if I did chose to attend I would never feel obligated to buy anything. One thing I learned from marrying dh (who grew up in quite a different economic class then myself... picture OC and 90210) is to never apologize or be embarassed for what I can or cannot afford or in this case what I chose to spend my money on. If something tickles my fancy I will buy it, but if I don't need or want any of the items offered, or if I think my money would be better spent at say WDW, I will say "no thank you" and not feel a twinge of guilt. I will always assume I received an invitation because of my sparkling personality and the genuine desire to have me attend the party... not because of what I may purchase. If thats not the case then I am not the one who should feel embarassed the person who invited me for disingenuious (sp?) reasons should be. JMO