Friend is hijacking our weekend away with her Body Shop shite

[Youngatheart00]

In a fortnights time DH and I are going away with some other friends for a weekend away in a cottage. One of my friends has recently joined the Body shop cult at home and has been pushing it any excuse she gets.

She’s now suggested the girls in the group have a ‘pamper evening’ which basically just means her trying to sell to us. Of the 8 of us, 2 have already said ‘great idea can’t wait’ and another ive spoken to isn’t keen on the products but wants to support her. I don’t want to fall out over this but I really don’t want to waste a Saturday night when I don’t agree with MLM and hate what it’s doing to my friend!!

How to approach this tactfully?

If you're not the hosts and are just jointly going away with friends, and the majority thinks it is a good idea, I'm not sure there's much you can do tbh. Could you and DH go out that evening?

If you are hosting, or the majority agree with you, then I would work with the others to come up with a response.

How to approach this tactfully?

Don't, just tell her straight what you've told us.

Oh look! You were never a fan of pamper evenings so you'll obviously be spending this night somewhere having a romantic meal with DH...right?

Can you self id as a man for the night, and bugger off to the pub or what ever they will do? I’d struggle with that too on a weekend away but if others are keen you have to exit gracefully.

Tricky.
Me, I’m a gob shite, too long in the tooth to participate or entertain anything not of interest to me.
So it would be a straight no. Sorry but I’ve booked a table at a local restaurant, body shop is not for me but you and the others crack on.
The end.
If there’s 8 of you, probably some will fancy a nice meal out instead.

Also, it doesn’t really bother me if I offend with my bluntness so it is what it is. I’m kind but firm, I know what I want from my long awaited, hard earned weekend away and it’s not being sold stuff.

The men will be doing something else, just go and do that.

It wouldn't be so bad to just msg and say it's not really your thing, you don't need any products but have fun with the ones that do want to do it.

I absolutely hate MLM shite and also have a body shop seller within my friends.

However, I think in this scenario I’d just bite my tongue and allow her to do her piece. Especially as your other friends are interested.

I’ve lost a friendship over MLM (Younique) as she pushed me over the edge with her constant badgering me to buy and guilt trips etc.
Ended up telling her to fuck off and leave me alone and it didn’t go down well.

I think you need to ask her to be really clear on what a 'pamper evening' will be, and what she is expecting you all to contribute to it.

What do you do for a living OP? Could you suggest a tax return evening instead and you will do mates rates? :D

I think I’d just be honest and say it wasn’t really my thing but if all the other women want to do it I would happily go out to the pub with the men while they crack on.

Lol at the tax return evening!!!!! Might expose how little money she actually makes out of it all!!

I don’t wish to be unkind but I know she will be pressuring us to buy Christmas gifts. I used to like Body Shop as a brand but I cant stand these tactics.

The males in the group will be drinking and playing pool probably. The worst thing is the husband of the MLM friend is on the bandwagon too and talking about ‘supporting his lovely wife’s small business’ and how she’s an ‘entrepreneur’

I might volunteer to look after the kids that are still up…I’d prefer Nintendo Switch to face masks….

I can just see an argument happening and I’m now dreading a weekend I’d really been looking forward to

“Body Shop isn’t really my thing so I’ll be joining the men in the pub, but i hope you enjoy.”

I bet you won’t be the only woman from your group in the pub that night by the way.

She’s embarrassed herself. Cringey.

Let those who are into it do it and those who aren't can go and do something else. Democracy.

Oh I'm sorry, I'm just not up for that. I hope everyone who wants to join you has a lovely time, but I think I will be going to the pub/having an early night/going out to dinner with my DH/joining the gentlemen for pool.

Surely it can’t take all evening? Take a look at a few things, smile say ‘thanks but I’m all stocked up on cosmetics/Christmas presents right now’ then pour yourself a glass of wine and go and play pool with the blokes, she can’t make you listen to the sales pitch all evening

What @GreenClock said. Just be casual “not my thing” and go to the pub x

could you say "I won't be joining as DH & I have plans to shag each other senseless"

is that any good?

How is it a "pamper evening"? Is she going to supply... for free... enough products so you all get a "pamper" or literally one facemask for one person to try. A moisturiser to rub on the back of one hand etc etc. ..

What’s the betting the males end up getting involved in the pampering too?

I think you could go along with it but you and the other friend who’s not that keen could need to leave the room to too up drinks/deal with the kids and accidentally get chatting in the kitchen and totally spontaneously forget to go back.

I’m not sure how she’s planning to run it. I’ve been subjected to one of these ‘parties’ before, a few years ago (with another friend who was in to it for about 5 mins before realising she was losing money not making it)

She’s literally now posted on our group that she’ll be ‘taking orders for gifts so don’t forget your wallet ladies’ - I am pretty pissed off that a group of great friends getting together for the first time since pre covid is being used as a sales opportunity

The older I get the less I worry about being firm with my likes, dislikes etc. I would just say a pamper evening isn't really my thing (my friends know my opinions on Spa days and no longer include me when organising them). Your idea to entertain the kids sounds like a good plan.

At worst you could always fake a headache on the night and hide out in your room with the tv or a good book

Either look after the kids or play pool with the lads.

Or don't go...that annoying cough the day before, oops, need to test.

Oh, and your skin has an adverse reaction to Body Shop products.

Dear lord. I think I’d just say I wasn’t up for it and if it came to it I’d get really drunk and pass out just before the event.

develop an 'allergy'. quick look on the website and you can rattle of something...then the pub win win