Is it OK to go to a party and not buy anything?

[Elleshoodat]

Good morning, everyone!

A friend of mine is having a Miche Bag party at the end of this month, and I'm torn. I've looked at the site and there isn't anything that catches my eye, but I'd still like to accept the invitation and go to the party.

So what's less offensive -- do I go to the party and not buy anything (or buy something inexpensive), or should I decline the invitation altogether?

What would you do?

 

[Gigi22]

How are you at dealing with hard sell? I've been to some parties where there was a huge amount of pressure exerted by the salesperson, and the hostess, to purchase a lot of things. Very unpleasant.
In your place, I wouldn't go to the party. If you want something from the company, ask the hostess to send you the catalogue so that she gets credit (and some sort of prize or refund) from the company.

 

[blessedby3]

I really dislike all the different parties and usually dont have the money or dont want to spend the money on all this stuff. I will generally decline saying I just dont have extra funds for whatever it is they are selling. If it were a good friend and they just wanted more "bodies" to be there, then I would go, but I always let the person know I cant/wont be buying.

 

[Gigi22]

Removed, duplicate post.

 

[gator75]

I would go. I have been in this situation and i just went to see what the party was like. I haven't always bought something but at least i went and had a fun time

Your friend invited you because you are her friend they aren't going to throw knives at you just because you don't order.

 

[maggiew]

If its just because you don't think you like the products, I would still go and check things out. You might be surprised and like something. If you don't like anything, don't buy.

If you don't want to go because you don't have the money to spend on extras like that, I would refuse the invitation and say you have other plans that day.

Maggie

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I would go because I enjoy the social aspect of the parties. Plus, the hostess (your friend) may receive more of a credit if more people attend. =)

 

[seashoreCM]

A Tupperware or Amway or similar party is a numbers game. That is, the more people you invite or who come, on average the greater the total sales. There is no predictability that any one person will buy anything.

If anything in an advance catalog or brochure catches your interest, then feel free to attend without having and obligation to buy. If you are busy that day or the merchandise seems totally uninteresting, then feel free to decline.

 

[ktlm]

I would flat out tell my friend that I wasn't crazy about the merchandise and probably would not buy anything, but that I would still like to come and spend time with her and attend unless she did not want me too since I probably wouldn't buy anything. I have done that several times. Usually I wind up going to the party, and sometimes (although not always) I do wind up buying some small thing. Often, I find that my friends have been roped into hosting these things and are just hoping to at least have some kind of attendance. Worse than people not buying, is no one showing up for the party at all.

 

[Elleshoodat]

Thanks, everyone. I will most likely go to the party and see if anything catches my eye in person. I'm definitely not worried about the salesgirl trying to sell me on anything -- I'm pretty darn stubborn, and the harder the sell, the less likely I am to buy.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I think you made a good choice, it's nice to have the opportunity to get together with your buddy.

Are these parties regional? I ask because since I moved to MA 16 years ago, I have not been asked to a single one. When I lived in MO, I was asked to tupperware, pampered chef, etc. I was just wondering if they aren't happening, or I don't have any friends

Maria

 

[jvorhis]

I went to one of these but I told my friend upfront that I was not planning on buying anything. She was cool with it...she just wanted me to come. They are nice but expensive and if i'm going to spend money like that I'd rather put it toward a nice coach bag.

 

[Metr0star1]

There is nothing to be unsettled about, for not buying what they are selling. They are there for a sales pitch, hoping they lure you in for a purchase. As far as the host, they are obviously are a friend of some sort to you, or else you probably would not have been invited (nor feel guilty for not buying anything). Bring the host something nice, as a small gift, to show your appreciation for the invitation; but as far as the seller, they are no different than a car dealer offering you $5000 over your trade value - Don't feel obligated to buy!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I used to go to these parties because my friends would always beg "Please come! I promise you don't have to buy anything! Just come!". Most of the time, it's fine. The last party I went to (some jewelry one, about 3 years ago) the sales rep cornered me and was giving me the hardest sell ever. She kept saying "I'm sure she [my friend] said it was ok to come and not buy anything, but why would you do that to her when she threw this perfectly nice party? You knew that this was to sell stuff" etc., etc. I haven't gone to another one since.

I do have to say I love the Miche bags (my Mom has one and about 3 wraps). Be careful with the black strapped ones, though. My Mom wore hers to WDW in December and wore the strap across her body with a white shirt. It left a big black stripe diagonally across the front and back of her shirt after we got wet in the rain .

 

[katrina1122]

I am a home sales consultant for another company.

Sure, it helps me if everyone buys at the party, but I don't care if someone doesn't buy. I'm doing this for fun too, not to just make money. Sometimes the most interactive guests don't buy, but they ask so many questions, others buy more. It all works out in the end.

Go to the party, no guilt. I belive a good consultant shouldn't be doing the hard sell. Sure I'll throw an extra incentive out for someone to host a party, but beyond that, it's the guests own decision to buy or not. If I'm pressuring them, they are just going to talk badly about my customer service to others. How does that help me in the long run? You buy or don't buy based on what's right for you and only you... and have fun!

 

[eliza61]

I wouldn't go. I have this come up from time to time especially around Christmas. One of my neighbors sells candlelight candles, the other sells home products. I forgot the company.

I use to go and try to support them but then I've stopped. I don't burn that many candles and I don't give them as gifts. Next, I usually don't like the home products and those I do I usually can find at a cheaper price elsewhere.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

I used to go to these parties because my friends would always beg "Please come! I promise you don't have to buy anything! Just come!". Most of the time, it's fine. The last party I went to (some jewelry one, about 3 years ago) the sales rep cornered me and was giving me the hardest sell ever. She kept saying "I'm sure she [my friend] said it was ok to come and not buy anything, but why would you do that to her when she threw this perfectly nice party? You knew that this was to sell stuff" etc., etc. I haven't gone to another one since.

I do have to say I love the Miche bags (my Mom has one and about 3 wraps). Be careful with the black strapped ones, though. My Mom wore hers to WDW in December and wore the strap across her body with a white shirt. It left a big black stripe diagonally across the front and back of her shirt after we got wet in the rain .

I hope that sales rep went out of business. That approach might work in the short term but it's not going to last!

I've been to so many of these kinds of parties over the years. If it looks like it's going to be a fun social occasion with people I enjoy spending time with, and the hostess is a friend, I go whether I'm planning to buy something or not. I tell the hostess "I don't know if I'm going to be able to buy anything. Is it okay if I still come?" and of course since she's a friend she's not going to say "no, don't come" but at least I feel like I've been polite about my intentions.

 

[Elleshoodat]

I think you made a good choice, it's nice to have the opportunity to get together with your buddy.

Are these parties regional? I ask because since I moved to MA 16 years ago, I have not been asked to a single one. When I lived in MO, I was asked to tupperware, pampered chef, etc. I was just wondering if they aren't happening, or I don't have any friends

Maria

Thanks! I think these types of parties are more of a Southern thing (even though the part of Florida I live in can't really be called the South), so maybe you're right and it's regional. I'm sure you have LOTS of friends.

I went to one of these but I told my friend upfront that I was not planning on buying anything. She was cool with it...she just wanted me to come. They are nice but expensive and if i'm going to spend money like that I'd rather put it toward a nice coach bag.

Agreed!

There is nothing to be unsettled about, for not buying what they are selling. They are there for a sales pitch, hoping they lure you in for a purchase. As far as the host, they are obviously are a friend of some sort to you, or else you probably would not have been invited (nor feel guilty for not buying anything). Bring the host something nice, as a small gift, to show your appreciation for the invitation; but as far as the seller, they are no different than a car dealer offering you $5000 over your trade value - Don't feel obligated to buy!

Good idea about the gift. Thanks!

I am a home sales consultant for another company.

Sure, it helps me if everyone buys at the party, but I don't care if someone doesn't buy. I'm doing this for fun too, not to just make money. Sometimes the most interactive guests don't buy, but they ask so many questions, others buy more. It all works out in the end.

Go to the party, no guilt. I belive a good consultant shouldn't be doing the hard sell. Sure I'll throw an extra incentive out for someone to host a party, but beyond that, it's the guests own decision to buy or not. If I'm pressuring them, they are just going to talk badly about my customer service to others. How does that help me in the long run? You buy or don't buy based on what's right for you and only you... and have fun!

Thanks for giving me a consultant's perspective. I am all about asking questions, so maybe that can be my role, LOL.

 

[Luvdancink]

At my last job girls were having these types of parties all the time. I finally just said I don't like going to them and started refusing all of them because I couldn't go to one but not attend the next person's ect. Saves me a lot of money on junk I don't want. Now they don't ask me to go to them any more so I don't have to worry about it!

 

[ktlm]

Are these parties regional? I ask because since I moved to MA 16 years ago, I have not been asked to a single one. When I lived in MO, I was asked to tupperware, pampered chef, etc. I was just wondering if they aren't happening, or I don't have any friends

Maria

Lucky lucky you!!! They are apparently the big thing in the OK/TX area, in the past year alone I've been invited to 4 jewelry parties; some purse, bag and other personal items party; something for overpriced sheets and blankets; something for overpriced clothes; candles; makeup; and pampered chef (which I do actually love pampered chef, so I never mind that one). I'm probably forgetting something too. I used to feel like I had to buy something if I went, but I'm really good at telling the salespeople no especially when it comes to the high priced items. I'm like the person above who said the more you push me, the less likely I am to buy. I'm more of one if I really like the salesperson or feel sorry for them, then I'm more likely to buy. You would think if I said no enough to buying that I would quit getting invited...but no such luck!