I hate home parties. I just went to one (because I felt obligated) and bought a stupid medium sized candle for $18! Yikes! Now, I'm invited to a palm reading party ($35 each)...I'm NOT going to that one!

What do you think about home parties? I feel like it's asking someone to come over and contribute money so you can get something for free.

I almost never go...but sometimes feel that I should.

Do you go? What *reason* do you use if you decline? What if they say *would you like a book, then?*.

I have gone in the past more as a socializing thing but I agree that you end up spending a small fortune. I have also hosted them in the past but now I just have a darn party instead because by the time I was buying wines, cheeses, desserts I really wasn't gaining Free merchandise. I didi like the Pampered Chef party though.

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If I cannot make it, I say "Sorry, I cannot make it, but would love to see a book".....
They probably won't be disappointed that you aren't going since you asked for a book.
If I don't see anything in the book I can use, I may still order something very small/cheap (maybe for a gift) or I just tell them that I didn't see anything I can use.

I think I would feel more obligated to buy something if I went to the party than if I requested a book - but that's just me.....not sure how others would feel

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[quote=freer;2956161]What do you think about home parties? I feel like it's asking someone to come over and contribute money so you can get something for free.

QUOTE]

I don't like them either. Thats what they are doing, wanting you to pay for their stuff. If I need anything from Pampered Chef or others, I go straight to the dealer themselves.

I must be really crass. After thanking the hostess for a lovely evening of viewing overpriced stuff for sale and free delicious treats, I waltz out the door with nothing every time. Maybe all those times telling my own kids "No!" was practice for those parties. For the record, I don't like them either and weasel out if I possibly can.

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I must be the odd ball out lol I actually enjoy them! I love going to Tastefully Simple parties because it seems I always need something from them AND it's a food party...what more can you ask for!? I also love jewelry parties! I like being able to actually see / try on the jewelry before I decide to buy. I think the stamp / scrapbook parties are usually pretty fun, too cause you get to make something to take home. I enjoy the socializing that comes with it all, too. Maybe I like them so much because I don't get invited to them that often ???

I should add, I never feel obligated to buy. If there's something that I like and is reasonable, great...if not, I'm not buying

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Michelle
*Mom to McKenna and Tanyn ~ Nov. 2000 Twins*

or the school sending home an avon book for your son to sell junk to earn money for his drama field trip. We dont know anyone who wants that junk and I looked throguh the book myself and not one thing could I possibly use.

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Oh....don't get me started on school fund raisers. I could probably make a whole mortgage payment with what I spend a year on school fundraisers.

I hate home parties. I used to go to them, and buy something small. Now I lie and say I'm busy. You would think by now someone would get the hint.

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I don't have them and don't like being asked to attend. I love when the hostess says you don't have to buy anything it will be a fun night out and come for coffee and cake. OK, why don't you just invite us for coffee and cake

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I don't mind these parties. I enjoy the pampered chef partys, and also the scrapbooking and stamp partys.
I don't feel obligated to go just because I am invited. I go if I am free and if I want to. Sometimes I buy and sometimes I don't. I have never been made to feel that I had to buy something if I did not want to.

I prefer not to go to them. There was a time when it seemed like every other week my neighbor was having some sort of party. Then, when she started selling some of it......OMG....it was even worse. Most of the things are WAY overpriced. I do like to go to Pampered Chef and Stamp parties, tho. I like some of their products, and I love the stamping parties because you are involved in making something, and can really get some great ideas.

I hate to invite people to home parties as much as I hate to ask people to buy for the school fund raisers. I guess that's why I don't do either.

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I don't mind them, there fun, especially the "Secret Parties" with the adult toys...thats always a hoot to go to one of these parties.
Pampered chief, yes I always buy something under $10, dont go to candle or scrapbooking, I havent been to a jewerly party, prolly wouldnt go , nothing sounds too cheap there.

I am over the whole party thing. Did them for awhile (as a consultant) and had alot of them many years ago. I'm done. I have going to a couple "passion" parties with adult stuff and they are fun (at least to me) and the cost of the items is a lot less than if you go into the local adult store BUT is a lot more than if you just buy on the internet. Hey, on that note, I didn't know Amazon sold adult items (like vibrators, etc) until a search I did came up with it. They are MUCH more reasonable I know...Too much info

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I HATE them. I avoid them at all costs. I feel like they are polite blackmail. I resent being "invited" and refuse to go.

I don't like home parties either. I do like Pampered Chef stuff, but I will buy directly from them. My best friend sells Silpada Jewelry and in the beginning really pressured me to have a party. I did a book party, didn't really go over that great, sold a few things, just to satisfy her. I don't have that many people to invite. The jewelry is beautfiul, real sterling silver and all, but it is expensive. If I need a piece for a gift or something, she just adds my order to one of her existing parties.

The best home party I ever went to was about 20 years ago, and a friend had a psychic party. She just had snacky foods, but we paid to have our cards done...and then it was an additional maybe 10 dollars to order your astrological chart. I still have mine somewhere. It was lots of fun.

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Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**

I LOVE the Pampered Chef ones. I hate the tastefully simple and jewerly ones. I've never been to an adult one, but I want to.

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For me it depended what time of life I was in. When we had absolutely no money and every day was a struggle and a fear, I hated the neighborhood home parties. I had young children and was desperate for adult conversation and friendship and time away from my kids and so occasionally I would go. But it was sooo unpleasant and nervewracking not to be able to buy something when everyone else is buying hundreds of dollars worth. I would try to find possibly the cheapest item if I could but mostly not possible. At that time it was torture. No one seemed to understand and thought I was just uptight. Now that we have a little more money and the kids are grown and life is calmer I can go and not buy or have the luxury of buying something and not feeling the intense pressure. It's all about where I am in life.

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I sort of like the parties myself, but I think its got more to do with who's doing the invites and how its done. A few people in my town hold them once or twice a year. They're all friends or at least pretty good neighbors etc and the invitations I get are always very low-preassure. My husband has worked contract jobs for the last few years so he could be working, or not at any given time and they all know this. I have a running deal with most of them - feel free to invite, I'll show up and ooh and aah over stuff and give you a warm body toward's your invite count. Don't expect a purchase. Sometimes I do buy things - usually not more then $30 worth, particularly if its one of the food/culinary shows because having a few gourmet mixes on hand is nice. Of course I make and sell my own at craft shows - so I don't buy those types but I'm a sucker for a great cake mix, or grilling sauce etc. Usually if they catch me buying something I get nagged that I don't have to buy anything lol.

Now if I was getting invited all the time and expected to buy - I'd be irritated. The only time I feel any preassure is when I end up with some neighbor's kid on my doorstep trying to sell stuff for school. I do really feel like I need to buy something, anything then - not for the neighbor but more for the kids themselves. I remember being a low-sales kid when I was young and boy did you get a lot of preassure and stress from the school.

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While I enjoy getting together with friends, I always feel obligated to buy some overpriced merchandise at these 'home' parties. And, it irritates me when people that I barely know, invite me to their "home" parties but never bother to call me any other time of the year. Annoying.

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I go if I am interested in the product and/or to socialize. I don't feel obligated to make a purchase unless there is something that I want and/or need for a price I am willing to pay. I like to host them -- who doesn't like free stuff and I love the social aspect. However, I try to host something only once a year so as not to burden my friends.

For awhile it seemed like home parites were 'going around' my neighborhood. My neighbors & I was invited to one about one a month. Most were hosted by the same lady -- she hosts them all the time for different companies. I got tired of supporting her shopping habit so I stopped going. I think others in the neighborhood did too because she hasn't had one in quite awhile.

I think in moderation, home parties are fun, but when you're getting invited to them all the time, it's just too much.

Sarah............mom to Jason & Devin

I actually like going to home parties! I love Pampered Chef products, I don't really like Home Interiors but I like their candles. I have only been to one jewelry party, I didn't buy anything, I don't really wear costume jewelry, only "real jewelry" but I didn't say that. I liked the lingerie party party I went to. Also like Tupperwear parties. Haven't been to a scrapbooking or stamp party. I don't feel obligated to buy anything.

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We don't have them much in my circle of friends-maybe an occasional Pampered Chef or Silpada party. If I see something I want I will buy. If I don't, I won't buy. I am getting ready to become a Homemade Gourmet distributor, but I don't feel bad bugging my friends because it's good stuff, and they all love to eat.