Home shopping parties....I am talking jewlery, plastic containers, food gadgets, etc.....

[Twinkle Toes]

Originally Posted by jsqueezer

I'm with Twinkle Toes. I've managed to refine my "Oh dear, I've already got plans that day/night" to a fine art. So convincing.

At this stage of my life, I feel like I've been to every candle, cookware, jewelry, storage (etc.) party there is and they've gotten really stale. No new ideas, no originality, and certainly no bargains!

Having said that, I admit that if I like the folks who will be attending, and the stuff that's being sold isn't totally awful, I'll go for the socializing and make a token purchase. Good snacks count; booze is even better.

I worked with a woman who was (and still is) so into these home sales parties that it's the only way she socializes with anyone. If it doesn't involve her making money/getting free stuff from relatives, friends and coworkers, she's not interested. For the past 2 years, she has had a jewelry party every 3 months, because she just loves their jewelry, and hates to pay for it. She keeps inviting me and I keep inventing excuses. The jewelry tends to be cheap and gaudy. AND she has terrible snacks.

Yeah, I'm mean.

Those bad snacks will jump up and bite you in the a-ss every time!!!

[mommytotwo]

Originally Posted by jsqueezer

I'm with Twinkle Toes. I've managed to refine my "Oh dear, I've already got plans that day/night" to a fine art. So convincing.

At this stage of my life, I feel like I've been to every candle, cookware, jewelry, storage (etc.) party there is and they've gotten really stale. No new ideas, no originality, and certainly no bargains!

Having said that, I admit that if I like the folks who will be attending, and the stuff that's being sold isn't totally awful, I'll go for the socializing and make a token purchase. Good snacks count; booze is even better.

I worked with a woman who was (and still is) so into these home sales parties that it's the only way she socializes with anyone. If it doesn't involve her making money/getting free stuff from relatives, friends and coworkers, she's not interested. For the past 2 years, she has had a jewelry party every 3 months, because she just loves their jewelry, and hates to pay for it. She keeps inviting me and I keep inventing excuses. The jewelry tends to be cheap and gaudy. AND she has terrible snacks.

Yeah, I'm mean.

LOL. love it, about the snacks and booze!

I wonder if it's even worth it, these hostess pay for snacks, pizza, paper plates, some clean their house the entire day before. What for, $40 of free stuff? $80 worth of free stuff?

To those of you who host these parties, what is the most you've got out of it? And how much in sales did you have to get it?

[jsqueezer]

I just remembered what happened at the jewelry party I did attend a couple of years ago, hosted by the person I referenced in my previous post. I really don't know what came over me. Maybe she trapped me at a bad time.

Anyway, I went. Ooohed and aahed over the "jewels", played the silly games and ate the stale pretzels.

Then, the sales rep starts the spiel. Prominently featured: This jewelry company is a CHRISTIAN company, with real Christian values. OK, whatever. Now, she wants all of us in the room to host our own parties. She has all kinds of incentives for us if we sign up right then and there. I'm sitting there thinking of who I would invite, should I host my very own jewelry party. My two best friends are Jewish. Another is muslim. Throw in a couple of agnostics/atheists, and I'm thinking "they are so not going to appreciate this 'we are a Christian company' portion of the sales pitch.

I declined the special joy of hosting my own jewelry party. Not for all the tchotchkes in the world would I inflict that on my friends.

[Flamingo13]

I'm with you, I do enjoy getting together with friends but I don't think any company should impose their religious values on someone. Not to get off topic but we declined going with a home improvement company because of that.

I have "done" Pampered Chef catalog shows (you just show people the catalog and if they want to order, fine, if not, that's fine also) - I like some of their products but only buy them when they are on special. The jewelry and home decor products....please, can we say KMart, Target, etc.

[Janipoo]

I usually don't like going to them because I feel obligated to buy something even if I don't like the stuff. The only show I like to go to is Pampered Chef because I do like their stuff. But I went to a candle party, jewerly, home interior, makeup and don't like any of the stuff. Recently I went to a Southern Living party (I'd never heard of it), oh my was that stuff expensive let alone not my taste at all so I ended up buying a cookbook and magazine.

[motormaker]

And on top of everything else, we've got too much STUFF.