to think that Pampered Chef, Jamie at Home, Neals Yard, Avon etc.. are all a con and a throwback to the 50s?

[Himalaya]

I mean if you want to buy hand cream or frying pans at home there is always, you know, t'internet

And on the other hand if you want to have a party with your mates why do you need an excuse of listening to some cringeworthy sales pitch.

And if you want to earn some money, there has got to be a better way than guilting your friends into buying over priced tat.

YANBU

I was invited to a candle party and on the day couldn't face going so, feeling guilty, texted an excuse to the host and asked her to order something for me

She ordered me a candle in a glass jar that cost £16.99!!

yes, they are a con. They're all variations on the same original theme, ie Tupperware.

brass

I did Avon for years and regularly ran errands, screwed light bulbs in, reset pilot lights fixed the telly etc on my rounds too. It mad me a bit that I was sometimes the only person they could ask. Mind you can't complain they all used to give ds pocket money .... he ended up with a better take home than me!

Anyone's mum do Pippadee in the 70s? Mine did. Oh the glamour at seeing all the frocks on a hanger with wheels

obv but - Gin will do too

I can't stand any of these parties. These days I just say I'm not free that night. If you invite me round for a drink or even a bring/share thing I'll come. But these selling parties - no thanks.

hey, now i have another reason to regret having left London.

PortlyBlackSanta

Pippa - fecking - Dee

Yep I remember them and the god awful outfit my Mum bought at a huge cost and made me wear.

Oh these are huge in the US, where I spent some time. I HATE them with a passion. I HATE my friendship being used for money.

I always feel obliged to buy something I don't want at an exhorbitant price because it,s a friend's party. It's just awful when 3 people turn up and then you have to fake delight at all the crap and spend even more!

never been to any such thing.selling at home.how gauche

I can't stand shite like this. But of course I am a notoriously miserable old harridan so nobody in RL would be stupid enough to invite me.

I just do not WANT to spend an evening drinking white zinfandel whislt testing vibtators against my nose, playing silly parlour games and eyeing stuff called Booby Drops in a well thumbed catalogue.

Ditto spending £40 on a pizza stone.

Or Virgin Vie nonsense.

Mind you I am like Bucharest, I could fiddle with tupperware for hours, the lids go on in such a strangely satisfying way.

Vile. Have been to two. First wasn't too awful because it was workmates, not proper friends, and anyway I had an income then so buying 1 reasonable mascara and 1 awful footspray wasn't the end of the world. Second was appalling - invited by a nice woman who I like, lots of real friends there, too broke to buy anything and so felt that I was stealing just by being there and eating the refreshments.

Never again.

I got invited to an Amway make up party once, it had some scientologist type LOON who did that colour me beatuful thing (threw gold and silver lame material over my shoulder and pronounced me a winter) and tried to sell me vile frosted eyeshadows.

I can't think of a single party product that's not overpriced for what it is.

i was once given a kidney stone.free.so id never pay for a pizza stone

oh the drape thing.once knew bidie who was always on about colour and aura.wonder if she was flogging owt

wasnt my kidney stone,i may add

This is what they do

They make it look scientific

See which suits you out of the following:

White or cream
Gold or silver
Turquiose or green
Black or brown

They then consult a little book (the oracle, maybe) and then pronounce you spring, summer, autumn, winter.

WANK

auld wifie threw a manky purple wrap on me and said i was hot

hehe

Well, You are all invited round to mine next weekend, I am starting my new venture...'Pedlars at your place'(can you imagine)

I expect you all to come, I shall serve pombears and fruit shoots

Pedlars at home would be fantastic.

aye,count me in

I didn't know Amazon stocked 3000 Usborne titles.