Invited to a selling party, but no intention to buy anything. Is it better not to go?

[argyllherewecome]

A friend's dd is in university and has become a demonstrator for a very expensive product. I can't afford it, even if I wanted to buy it. I've been invited to a demo party and my DM says you can't go to these things without buying something as the host doesn't make anything. She proceeded to tell me how many things she bought from Pippa Dee/Tupperware/PartyLite just to "support the host". DM is prone to strange ideas, but I just want to check if this is a thing? Is it better for me not to go if I know I won't purchase anything?

I would tell the host upfront that you can’t afford to buy anything but if she wants you there for numbers/atmosphere then you’re happy to go and leave it up to them

At least you'd had a heads up it's a sales pitch. My invite came under the guise of lunch in a friend's house who'd been hoodwinked into hosting. I was there to make up numbers till the demonstrator realised I was on the guest list since we'd fallen out over a primary school slight.

This is what I do.
No way would I spend a grand I couldn't afford on something I didn't want or need😳

Why would you even want to go, at best you’ll have to push back against some hard sell, at worst you’ll come home with an overpriced product you can’t afford and don’t want!

Yes, this.

Don’t attend if you won’t buy.

Also, who realistically goes to one of these parties and willingly parts with a thousand pounds! I’ve got done Partylite stuff sitting in the cupboard I never use.

low price stuff=expectation to buy.
massively expensive stuff=no expectation to buy at the party but you prob will be chased afterwards.

personally I find these things a royal pain in the bum and would just not go.

I find this unfathomable too. Forking out a thousand pounds at some random MLM party for something I didn't need or want! (If I had have needed/wanted it, I would have already have bought it!)

Go and buy the cheapest option or don't go. My neighbour had one of these parties and not only did I lie and say I was busy but because I lived next door I actually had to go out over to my Mum's for a cup of tea as other wise they would see that I wasn't really busy 🤣
They are super awkward. You have to buy it you go along

Yep, listen to your Mum.

It's dressed up as a 'party', but it's really just them seducing you into their sales lair - and your acceptance of the invitation indicates to them that you have committed to your fate to splurge the cash.

Even if you tell them you genuinely can't afford it, they'll probably still try to urge you to magic a grand out of your arse re-assess your budget, as you'd be a fool to let an opportunity like this pass you by; and eating, having gas and electricity and avoiding council tax bailiffs are overrated anyway.

They'll maybe also get angry at you for accepting - like CF bill-splitters who tell you that you're a terrible person coming out to the meal if you can't afford to pay for their lobster, many sides and cocktails as well.

Going to one of these parties with no means/desire to buy is as pointless as going to a traffic light party dressed in red!

Tbh, I wouldn't go even to make up numbers. I would want to discourage a friend's child from trying to rinse friends and family of £1k at a time as an income stream.

I wouldn't go becsue I wouldn't have any interest in being at a selling party.

I once went to a Jamie Oliver party and he didn't even turn up!!

Is it one of those blender/cooker things. Loads of women selling them in my area. They are a serious price of kit and a considered purchase. Surely they can't expect you to come and have a few glasses of wine and pay for something like that

Is it just 1 thing they are trying to sell or is it like a brand but with several items? Can you tell us what company it is?

I've been to a few of these types of things and have never felt any undue pressure to buy anything and quite a few people didn't and just went along for the chat and free wine/crisps.

If it was a friend's daughter and I didn't really know that social group I wouldn't bother. Mine was more along the lines of mums from school and it was just nice to get out and have some adult company and a glass of wine at the time.

Ask yourself "do I want to sit through a load of chat about something I will not buy"

If your answer is no ... Don't go

I have been to a few and specified I will not be buying "come along, no need to buy etc etc" but the hard sell and guilting was unbelievable.

I have a thermomix but didn’t go to a party to buy it. Although I did go to a friends thermomix party once so she could get a freebie, there was no hard sell at all, it’s a lot of cash! But if I was going to Tupperware/ann summers kind of thing you really are expected to buy something. Anyone remember Pippa Dee parties?

Hell no.

But I am easily influenced and a marketers dream and would end up buying something I couldn't afford just because I would rather that than feel uncomfortable 😂

I went to a Pampered Chef party years ago. The only thing I could afford was the potato peeler... I still have it... Brilliant piece of kit!

I wouldn't go. Sounds awful. I think it's the height of tackiness to host selling events like that and expect friends to pitch up unless they really want to buy things

I got invited to a friends for dinner - and got there to find out it was actually friend of friend doing the dinner and all in her fabulous new thermomix! Gradually dawned on me over the course of the evening that it was a sales pitch! I did not buy anything!

It’s pretty outrageous to veil a sales party under the guise of a genuine invitation! At least Tupperware parties were upfront.