AIBU not to want to buy goods from my friends?

[Amyksays]

As its Christmas, I've a few friends remember that they sell body shop, Neals yard, aloe stuff etc. I really don't like them asking me to buy stuff, I find it uncomfortable, I would never try and sell them building supplies (that's what I do!). I know it's a bit of extra income for some, but I don't like feeling under pressure to buy, I don't think it's fair.

I wonder how long it will be before some scammy tat peddler comes along to tell us how nasty and unsupportive we and the OP are...

I have a cousin who sells hand made shit made in a chinese factory by children vile tacky carved wooden "happy christmas" or "best daddy" bollocks.

I have a cousin who sells hand made shit made in a chinese factory by children vile tacky carved wooden "happy christmas" or "best daddy" bollocks

Poor you.

I think the previous poster has hit on a good idea re the building supplies party!

That would be just about the only selling party I would consider going to

Thank you, I'm feeling much better about shouting NO and running away now! And completely weaponised with the MLM thread - I kno what to avoid and can have a great argument about it! Maybe not in the middle of the village Christmas fair though, I know the Forever Aloe crap will be there

Seconded Serin, that and an alcohol selling party!

Op, the aloe shit is at my village christmas fair this year too I am not going specifically for this reason.

Oh and that awful jamberry pap is there too!

My friends know I will buy from them year round if they sell what I need we have a no hassle policy but I will admit we are a strange bunch

Abbsiss, I am assuming you dont mean Aloe crap, essential oils, nail stickers, candles, crappy capsules, weight loss teas, overpriced make up etc...? Nobody 'needs' those products do they?

Don't know anyone into selling stuff quite like this at the mo, but a few years back there seemed to be a rash of friends and aquaintances keep holding 'parties' at their house. Selling things like jewellery, crockery, tupperware, shabby chic tat, ann summers, baby stuff ect. ect.

There was always a certain amount of unspoken pressure to turn up - mutterings about how they'd promised the vendor a certain number of guests and didn't want to look bad. No pressure! Then, at the end of what was admittedly usually a fairly entertaining hour of the stuff being shown/talked about, there was always that AWFUL moment when the vendor says ''right, i'll leave you all to decide what you want ... the prices are all here in my book ... and remember ... a % of what you buy tonight goes toward your lovely hosts costs incurred ...'' Big Grin.

Awkward.

Everyone shifts about clutching their coffee hoping someone else will rush up and spend a load of dosh on the tat - meaning they wont have to get their purse out.

Forever Living is owned by Rex Maughan. He's very anti-gay. If anyone were to try to sell me Forever products I would say no, and explain that I had no interest in funding the lifestyle of a man whose views I don't agree with.

We have the obligatory Avon lady at work.
She always gives me a book to "look through" even though I have been there years and never bought anything ever and never will because I don't even look at it, I've seen one once so already know what's in it.

I used to go to virgin vie parties just to see my friends and end up buying something out of politeness, even though I did not have the money to justify it. Twenty quid make up remover? how the saleswoman cringed when I said I used £1 baby oil and a few wet wipes and it the best cleanser ever. You gotta keep it real. I cant afford it and just say so! It's not unreasonable at all.

I take great pleasure in keeping the events committee where I volunteer up to date on all the latest MLMs, so they can be turned down when they ask for stalls at our fetes. Charities should never have them at any event as that can be perceived as the charity itself endorsing the products- something any scammer will be happy to encourage...

virgin vie! That rings a bell. I think that was one of the many i sat through.

Maybe you're missing a trick here. I'm allergic at Avon and aloe vera, and have no patience for the rest of it, but I'd be well up for a deal on a pallet of blocks, half a dozen skeleton guns and a uPVC window! For that kind of opportunity I might actually turn up for school stuff!

To get rid of them, I think you do occasionally have to be quite blunt. Or try "yes, I'm happy to talk about that, but first let me show you the special deal I'm running on wall ties this week".

I just don't understand how this model survives now, when people have such easy access to the internet and can source the same tat for less.

I'd rather buy building supplies. I'm in need of skirting board and assorted fixings

I like to know if friends sell this sort of thing and would prefer to buy from them than amazon, but I generally don't need to be reminded constantly :) but I don't mind a gentle reminder, ramming it in my face I wouldn't be so keen on.

What I hate are the "parties" especially the Jamie Oliver ones - so much pressure to purchase a £30 spatular by Jamie Oliver, actually had a friend get the major hump with me as I wouldn't go to the ones she was organising, she was doing one every three months.

Looks like the building supplies party might be a goer. I'd be willing to host and put on some wine and nibbles and let AmyK show us her wares - she could do my driveway as a 'demonstration' and then you'd all put your orders in for yours too.

I wouldn't mind a new shed and a built-in barbecue...lovely :)

I love how this thread is turning out! I will be needing some floor tiles soon

I always just say 'no I'm fixed for (insert name of crap for sale here) thanks'
Seems to work They rely on people feeling awkward about saying no.

Building supplies I'm more interested in however