How to be a friend not a customer?

[SatinHeart]

Recently moved to a new (pretty rural in case it's relevant) area. Fairly active local Facebook page, I posted looking for other people with very young DC who might want to meet up for playdates/park trips etc.

Go some replies, all seemed very nice. But quite a few are from mums who run small businesses from home (yoga, reiki, a few sell things but not obviously MLM scheme thankfully). We get chatting on Messenger, then after a short while they invite me to like their business page. Trouble is their businesses are not things I would normally spend money on, I just want local playmates for my DC and maybe a friend or two for me.

I'm not sure how to navigate this socially, I don't really want to have to buy friendship by supporting their business. Is there any chance of making a social connection here or should I just accept they just see me as a potential business customer?

🤔 hmmm. So how's it going with the meet ups in the park etc etc?

Have you tried toddler groups?

I think if they've sent you links to their businesses, before you've even met up which they know full well was the purpose of your post, then they're probably looking on you more as a customer.
I'd focus my efforts elsewhere.

@DenholmElliot1 @WeeOrcadian one of the issues is I'm at work during the week and DC are in nursery near where I work. this means we cant get to toddler groups (which tbh aren't super local anyway) and the small business mums tend to be more available in the week than weekends. So no meetups as yet, but it's only been about 2 weeks since I first posted on the local FB, so not inconceivable that they are booked up for a few weekends.

Yep that's pretty much my worry. Sigh.

You can ignore the links to their business pages and carry on chatting.

If t new friends ask why you haven't liked their page or why you've declined invites to their business events, just say "ah, it isn't my thing". (I don't talk to my friends about my work , except to say busy day) You don't need to get drawn into that either.

Someone that wants to be your friend won't mind. Anyone that minds will out themselves as after your custom only,

They seem opportunistic. I think say it's not your sort of thing. Then see if there still chatty. I hate this sort of nonsense op.