You have my approval, LOL. Just tell her your skin has been really sensitive lately and you are avoiding new skin products and fragrances. That gets me out of most spa and makeup home parties!

It's an invitation, not a command, so don't go. I, too, hate being invited to someone's home for commercial purposes. The whole premise of "home parties" is making the guest feel guilty enough to attend, and guilty enough to buy something (usually over-priced).

Oh that's totally fine! I've had a few parties- Epicure and Partylite, things that I love and use. I always make it VERY clear when inviting that I'm looking at this as more of a social event and there is no pressure to buy whatsoever. I also enjoy going to these parties, eating tasty snacks and visiting. Sometimes it's just nice to get out of the house! LOL

But after saying that- no you definitely shouldn't go if you don't want to and not even feel a moment of guilt over it.

Danielle

Life is short...don't spend it doing things you don't want or need to do.

Sue

Those parties aren't invites, they are sales pitches. I quit RSVPing to them and stopped getting invites :-)

I agree with most as alot of home parties can be fun, but since most of the sales people are trying to earn extra money, I usually end up buying something I really don't need because I feel guilty. But then no one here has them much any more.
I like the idea of telling your friend you cannot use most products because they make your face break out--or you are allergic etc.

I've managed to avoid home parties for years. I think now that I'm older women my age just aren't interested. I was invited to a home perfume party last week. I called and told my neighbor that I wouldn't attend. I also told her that I never wear perfume and don't even own a bottle. There's nothing wrong with perfume- it's me, I just can't smell it.

Well what did she do- she sent her daughter to the house with the brochure and a sell's pitch. I felt bad telling the daughter that I wasn't interested. I'm pretty sure the Mother figured I'd buy something from her daughter.

Oh, don't feel guilty, and don't go if you don't want to. If you DO go, you're just making it easier for her to invite you to the next time, and it will be harder to say 'no' if you've broken down and gone.

Personally? I'd tell someone like that that while I value her friendship, I don't do home parties, so she might as well cross me off her list and save the postage (make it in HER interest to stop inviting you).

You've got my support! I'm opposed to the whole Multi-Level Marketing concept, and have turned down a lot of home parties over the years. I see no reason whatsoever to feel guilty. I like to be helpful whenever possible, but I don't think that extends to paying too much for stuff I don't need.

Stay home, Lydia! :-)

Stay home, Lydia! LOL

Has there been an upsurge of these home parties? I wasn't being barraged with invitations until recently, but now I think it's a new generation of young housewives that are getting into it. I never go, although I do like Pampered Chef stuff, albeit too expensive.

Thankfully, I haven't been invited to one of those things in years.
I don't think there's anything social about them...just using your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and acquaintances to make money.

Your friend is already aware that you hate home parties and you haven't gone to one at her house for over 20 years.

Stay the course!

Anyone throwing home parties has a short list of people they want to invite. You'd think after 20 years you'd be on the "don't think so" list. Anyways, you'll never get on it if you waiver, even this one time. There are worse things than being known as someone who just doesn't participate in home parties.

My niece is the one who keeps sending me invitations over and over.....even though I tell her I do NOT and will NOT go nor will I go online and purchase something, etc. I mean it and I stick to it. My other sisters don't like to go but go and buy out of guilt. So be it......it's their time and money.

Shirley

This reminded me of something that I hadn't thought of in years.
Back in the mid 70's, when tupperware was all the rage, a guy friend of mine would have a party for his mom. He was not pushy in the least. All he did was start the party about an 1 1/2 before the tupperware lady came, and tap a keg. He had record sales!

Trin

Now that's a party I'd go to!!!!

Put my name on Monica's post. And stay home. :)

Moni

Now Tupperware as it was a long time ago, was a lot different. What they had was sort of expensive, but came with a lifetime guarantee and a lot of mine is 20+ years old. I have several pieces that I use regularly, the cracker keeper and one I use for coffee just to name 2. I also have several nice mixing and storage bowls

Sue

Thanks for the support! :-)

I tweaked Azzalea's ideas and emailed my friend back telling her I don't do ANY home parties anymore, but I will gladly attend birthday and anniversary parties, baby and bridal showers, Christmas parties and the like. I'll tell my 2 SIL's who constantly invite me to the home parties the same. Even though they all know I don't like the sales parties, they keep inviting me and I am forever coming up with excuses why I can't attend. Think my life just got easier.

Trin, when is your friend having his next Tupperware party? lol

When Ron and I first moved to Minnesota, I was never invited anywhere for years. People were so distant. I remember crying when I was finally invited somewhere and it was to one of those kind of parties and I knew they only invited me so I would buy something. I thought it was kind of rude.

About a year ago I went to a TomBoy Tool party a friend had and I really liked the tools so I broke down and had a party of my own. What a waste!!! It cost me about $80 in food and snacks and hardly anyone bought anything. The tool bag I wanted ended up costing me twice as much as if I had just bought it at my friends party! Oh well, live and learn! Never again!!!!!

P.S. why is that stuff so danged expensive anyway?

I went to a home party recently, just to be polite. It was miserable. Clothing. So expensive and absolutely not the way I dress. I usually buy something at these parties ("measuring cups"), but I just could not break down and pay those prices for stuff I would not wear.

Go ahead and say "no" the politest way you can. That should settle things once and for all. As Sue said--life's too short.

Years ago my "best" girl friend went into Tupperware and at that time, I was newly married and really didn't have extra money...She kept insisting I have a party and I kept saying no....Well, she decided, she was no longer my "best" friend and it took years before we really talked....Even after finances were better, I made it my policy, not to attend and not to give any of those parties....I just can't see spending all that money on something you can get at the store a lot cheaper....
Sue's right, Life's too short!

Funny "home parties" should come up...I just got an invitation Tuesday to some kind of jewelry party! Friends daughter is having it. I talked to mutual friend yesterday and asked if she had gotten an invitation. Yep..she got it..and the gal asked her "what dish she could bring"! OMG!!! I haven't decided if I'll go or not (I like the girl), but I know I ain't takin' no "dish"...and I danged sure ain't buying anything! lol

I never make excuses for trying to avoid those home sales parties; my standard response is a smile and a: "I don't go to those parties and I don't give 'em."

At least then they know they'll never have to come to one of mine either :)

I think they're fun. Wine and munchies and I almost never buy anything. They usually know I don't have the money. I try to think of these parties and a nice social event.

I don't go to those kind of parties either, but a friend of mine is always having them and inviting me. She knows I won't go, she even says "I know you're going to say NO but I want you to know you'd be more than welcome to come and eat and hang out with us and not buy a thing" and while I appreciate the invite, I still say no. This is the friend who hosts the annual ornament party, so I don't want to hurt any feelings. I do donate things for her kids' school auctions, though, so I don't say NO all the time to her! lol

I did go to one party at her house for a scrapbooking Stampin' Up thing. And I bought something, because I wanted it, but man- it was pricey stuff and I think I used it for about a week. Learned a lesson there- I'm a sucker, stay home!

My elderly neighbour is always asking me to help her with her computer. She sells the Tahitian Noni stuff, and sometimes gives me something to try in hopes I buy it from her.

Last thing was a tube of moisturizing cream for $20. Sorry, won't pay anywhere near that price. As much as I use, I like the cheap stuff. The bottles of juice run about $70.

Bought a garlic press 10 years ago from a friend who sold Pampered Chef. It works great, but it was $25 then. I've read that mincing garlic with a tool like this releases bitter oils. I don't use it much anyway, just as easy to chop it.

I don't understand the need to make up an excuse. Just say "No, thank you".

"I always make it VERY clear when inviting that I'm looking at this as more of a social event and there is no pressure to buy whatsoever."

Ohhhh, do I hate that when I get invited to a "girl's night out" or something, and go only to find out that it is all about selling something. I've been suckered like that, and believe me, it begins to end the friendship when they realize they have been tricked into attending. And believe me your friends do feel pressured to buy. How could they not?

Here is an eye opener for those who have ever had a brush with MaryKay. It is a website where former MK sales people tell their stories and that includes who they were trained to lie to their friends to trick them into attending parties.

http://www.pinktruth.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=13&Itemid=21

Here is a link that might be useful: Pink Truth

"And believe me your friends do feel pressured to buy. How could they not?"

If a friend tells me there is no pressure to buy, then I would certainly believe that friend. Maybe I'm odd like that - believing what my friends tell me. Sometimes they have been pressured into hosting a party and they just want bodies and could really care less what gets sold in the end. I don't mind lending my support in that manner.

I enjoy the products from some of these parties. Usually I can look online beforehand and decide what, if anything, I will buy. If it's something I'm totally not interested in and the prices are way too high, I very easily decline the invitation.

P.S. why is that stuff so danged expensive anyway?

Bigbaby, home party merchandise is so expensive because so many people take a cut of the profits. That's the way Multi-Level Marketing works: Let's say Seller #1 recruits five people to sell cheap lingerie. Those five sellers give parties in their home. A percentage of every sale goes to each of them, and a percentage also goes to Seller #1.

The five new sellers learn that the more people they can get to sell the cheap lingerie, the more money they will make. So each of them recruits newer sellers. When those newer sellers give parties and sell crap flimsy garments, a percentage of every sale goes to each of them, a percentage goes to the seller who recruited them, and a percentage goes to Seller #1. And so it goes.

I have a real aversion to those parties.

ummmmmmmm, NO is only a two letter word, not a 4 letter word...you can use it and not feel guilty :^)

hey one child is supplementing her "day job" with mary kay and dil is doing the same with avon...

i don't order from either...i just don't need/use the products...

I haven't been invited to a home party since I moved to Iowa. I think friends my age just don't spend money on "more stuff". Those parties used to be a hoot when I was younger. I always told the hostess ahead of time that I had no money to spend. Those lingerie and pleasure parties were really fun. We drank wine, made raunchy remarks, etc. Mostly these were women I knew from PTA and being room mothers.

I love my MK lady. My Mary Kay lady is the nicest, most honest, lowest pressure consultant that I could ever hope to have. I think she would take exception to being lumped into a group of people who say they were trained to lie. I read some of those stories and the ones I read all sounded like they were looking to get rich quick with a minimal amount of investment and time and work and were mad when it didn't happen. My friend's been selling MK for about 8 years, I think, slowly building up clientele by selling good product. She doesn't do parties unless someone asks her to and she relies of word of mouth to expand her business. She gives each client as much or as little attention as they want and never any pressure to buy. She'll ship off the stuff I need at no charge to me or send samples if I want to try something new. And she always has a sweet smile on her face.

Jen, you reading this? ;)

I'd rather be poked in the eye with a sharp stick than go to those silly parties. (Well, almost).

-Gayle

Thanks Flamey!

Ladies, why so much guilt over being invited to a party? I love to go to home based parties.....Southern Living, Premeire Jewelry, Scentsy, Pampered Chef....just to name a few and I never feel obligated to buy something. But the things I have bought, I love. I just got a beautiful turquoise bracelet from Premeire and I absolutely love it.

Like Flamey said, I sell Mary Kay but you'd almost never know it. I love the product and couldn't find a consultant that had it on hand so I decided to get into it just so I wouldn't have to wait two weeks to get my cleanser/moisturizer. Turns out, I found out lots of people love the products and order from me. I don't do "parties" as much....they're too much work! LOL I prefer to give samples or if they'd rather, I'll do a one-on-one facial and usually,once they try our line, they love it. They know I'll keep what they use in stock and I can deliver it to them that day.

The Pink Truth....yes, I've read that website before. I'm sure if you search, you can find negative articles about anything. Of course there are jaded people all over this world and people who like to stir up hate. I like to live my life by the Golden Rule....treat people the way I'd like to be treated. It seems to work for me.

Home based businesses can be a great way to earn extra money and I totally support women who try to do that. It's not easy to get it off the ground and it helps to have the help of friends to get you started but if you absolutely don't want to go, then don't. If they are true friends, they wouldn't end a friendship over you not attending their party. My own mother doesn't use Mary Kay. She prefers to buy Avon from her friend....says her friend, who's a widow, needs the money more. I'm OK with that. I would never want anyone to purchase anything from me out of feeling obligated. In fact, I tell my customers, if they ever buy anything from me and they find they don't love it, then let me know and I'll either refund their money or trade them something that they will love. I want them to be happy.

Those of you who hate it when your friends invite you to these parties, would you feel just a little left out if you didn't get invited? Maybe that's why they invite you....so you won't get your feelings hurt. Don't be mad....just let them know that you can't attend. Or explain to them that you don't like these type of parties. A true friend would understand.

Stay home 1959 - tell them your cheque hasn't arrived from the pension club! That's what I did and funny, after the dead silence on the other end of the phone, the hostess replied "well come if it does arrive in time". LOL, needless to say I'm still waiting for the cheque. Budster

Hi Jen!!

You sound like a great MK lady. I wouldn't have guessed you were one, but I can see you doing good at it with your friendly, bubbly personality. My DD has the MK parties once in a while... DH and I go out for the evening.... now IF you were her MK lady, DH and I might just stay home. lol

I wouldn't feel left out if I weren't invited because I don't get invited to any of these people's houses otherwise unless it is to a birthday party or a family dinner. They all live at least 30 minutes from my house too. Now if my in-town drinking buddies were having a home party I might feel left out if not invited... but I still wouldn't want to go.:-)

I know there are a lot of peeps that enjoy these parties and I hope my post didn't insult anyone. It really isn't all "Cr*p".... maybe that was a poor choice of words. I used to wear Mary Kay and I still wear Avon mascara exclusively (I buy it online though).

Linda - really??? You liked the lingerie/sex toys parties? I went to one of those and never felt so uncomfortable. I think our hostess was an ex-porn star or something.

LOL - That's funny Budster!

Good to see you poking that crowned head in the KT!

Those of you who hate it when your friends invite you to these parties, would you feel just a little left out if you didn't get invited?

Heavens, no! I made it clear years ago that I don't do those parties, and these days my friends don't give them anyway. My neighbors might do the home party thing, but if so, I hope I remain off their lists.

I agree - Mary Kay and Avon are good products. I get them occasionally from eBay. I think only home party I ever attended (and this is going back quite a few years) was Mary Kay. I was told my eyebrows were too light (good advice), and I bought an eyebrow pencil. In those days I never wore makeup, so I don't know what I was doing at that party. Probably guilt. :-)