Etiquette for Attending a Catalog Party

Updated on March 04, 2011
S.G. asks from Pottstown, PA
17 answers

In the past 2 days, I have been invited to 3 parties (Thirty-one purse party & Pure Romance party). While I have never been to either of these "types" of parties, isn't it only courteous to go and purchase something from the party? I mean, isn't the whole point of inviting someone to earn credit for the hostess who was nice enough to invite/entertain you? You don't just want to go for the wine and food, right? LOL. I quite honestly don't really NEED any new purses/bags or to come home with a bag full of lotions/potions/toys, tho I'm sure hubby wouldn't mind the latter. ;) And I would LOVE a night out with the girls. Just looking for a little insight. Thanks ladies!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.P.

answers from New York on

I'm a Pampered Chef consultant. I honestly don't mind if people come and don't buy anything (although it's somewhat rare). I don't like to buy anything I don't want/need but I will always buy a little something at demonstrations. Even if you don't plan on buying anything, go anyway. As a consultant, sometimes I run into a guest who just needs a night out of the house. That's fine and I'm happy to maybe teach her a new foodie fun fact or cooking technique that she can bring home with her.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.W.

answers from Pittsburgh on

yes, that is why i never go to these parties either. If you really want to go, but don't want to buy anything, I would tell the hostess that you'd really like to come, but you really can't buy anything right now. If they tell you to come anyway then they know that you don't plan on it and won't be offended when you don't. And if they just say okay, then you know they expect you to buy something if you came!

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

It is somewhat expected that you purchase something, but it needn't be big. Buy a bottle of lube or something under$20. If the purses are expensive, don't feel like you have to buy!

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

W.H.

answers from New York on

I am a Tastefull Simple rep. I signed up to get out of the house on occasion - I am not a sales person!!People laugh at me because I tell them that all the time. (don't expect calls from me - if you want something, email me, etc...) I am social though and need adult conversation!!!
With that said, I also love having these parties - usually for the fact that I want to do it for a friend. At the same time, when I send out the invitations, I always tell my friends that there is never an obligation to buy, just get out of the house for some grown up time.
If you can get out and go, great. You shouldn't feel an obligation to buy. These are tough economic times. Leave your credit card and check book at home so you don't feel the need to get something either. Let your friends know when you RSVP that it's just not the time for you to buy, but, you would love to come by and say hi!

2 moms found this helpful

L.C.

answers from Washington DC on

As a person who has the parties at my house - I could care less if you purchase something or not. I invited you because I thought you would enjoy spending time and participating in the event.
I've had people call me and tell me that they'd love to come, but that they couldn't purchase anything. I've told them to come on over, have some snacks, and enjoy the show. They've come and they've not felt bad that they couldn't purchase anything.
Go - have a night out.
LBC

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.C.

answers from Chicago on

Did it ever occur to you that perhaps you should not feel guilty for not wanting to buy anything, and just see you friends? Perhaps your "hosting" friends should feel guilty for putting you in the awkward position of asking for you to spend money under the guise of a social invitiation. I find all of these parties to be horrible social ettiquette experiments and I promptly turn down the invitiations when it is someone I know well. When it is an aquaintance, I just ignore them. It's not a party if you need to bring your checkbook.

2 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I do not attend these parties.

The invitation alone is simply an invoice. The say you are not expected to buy but the reps usually push really hard.

I stopped going a long time ago. I'd rather just give the hostess a check and not waste my time. Time=Money for me.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.G.

answers from Chicago on

As a Mary Kay consultant, I can say there is nothing wrong with going simply to have a girls' night out. I love that I can help women do that. Go, have fun, and don't feel obligated to purchase anything.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I think it's more polite to turn down the offers than go and not buy. I recently went to two Thirty-One parties and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their bags. I only buy Coach purses, so I wasn't interested in the purses, but I LOVE their totes. They have thermal totes, regular totes, fun prints, kid prints, etc. Do you have any birthdays coming up that you need a gift for? I'm not one for lotions and potions, but I do love 31 bags!!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.L.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I don't go to selling parties, because that kind of event sends my wallet straight to the emergency room at the budget hospital. It doesn't matter what my intentions are. Once I get there, I want to buy! But I don't NEED any of the products (sigh), and I do have other places for my dollars to go. So I thank the hostess sincerely for thinking of me, and decline.

But it's nice to be with friends! How about inviting your friends to your house? There are other kinds of get-togethers. If you need to have a reason, could you put together something that will be fun and raise a little money for earthquake relief in Christchurch? Or a need in your own town?

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.B.

answers from Tulsa on

I NEVER go to these parties because, in spite of what the sellers say, you are expected to buy something. Since you don't mind and you can afford it, it is your choice. I can afford it, but dislike the entire concept of calling it a party. A party is where I invite someone over, no strings attached.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R..

answers from Chattanooga on

I think it depends on the host... I know that my friends and I used to throw the slumber parties 2-3 times a year, and we did it as a purely social event. Yes, it was always nice to get the credit, but we had more fun with the party itself than the hostess perks. We would even make sure to mark on the invites, 'you don't have to buy anything, just come have fun!' We usually had a good turnout too. :)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

I went to a party last week for very expensive clothes. One of the girls couldnt afford them. She asked if she could take a catalog home for her aunt to look at. I thought that was a nice way to get out of buying anything. Most people arent going to follow up to see if she wants anything. They probably wont even notice.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

You are perfectly in line if you decline the invite.
(I generally hate these types of things.)
I have had parties at my home where some friends didn't buy a thing and that was perfectly fine by me! I made it perfectly clear--just to come, look, eat and have a glass of wine--NO OBLIGATION!
So if you want to go--just go, but don't feel obligated.

1 mom found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

That's precisely why I decline all such invitations. I don't want or need the products, and don't want to spend my money on them to assuage guilt for going and enjoying the food/wine offered. Besides which, I always am on edge because of feeling like I "ought" to buy something, and so I can't even enjoy my time there. It feels cheap and dirty to me.

If you need a girls night out, you can always call up a few girls and have one with no "strings" attached. But, if you can afford it and don't mind doing so, I would think it would be appropriate to buy SOMETHING if you do go. So it's up to you. Would you have fun and not be annoyed to be buying something you don't want just to spend time with your friends? If you can, then do. If you can't (I can't) then don't go.

1 mom found this helpful

T.B.

answers from Bloomington on

You don't HAVE to buy anything, but it is courteous. If I don't need anything I buy something as a gift for someone else or I buy the least expensive item. With Thirty-One you could buy a key fob or a lunch tote for pretty cheap and I'm sure you could find a cheap lotion from the Pure Romance party. Just set a budget for each...say $5 or $10.

1 mom found this helpful

M.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

I am a consultant with Arbonne International. You should definitely go. I always tell my hostesses that my job is not to make sure everyone buys stuff they don't need, it's to educate them about our products. You may not be interested in my products, however you may know someone who #1 would love my products or #2 be interested in a business opportunity. Go and have a fun night.

1 mom found this helpful
For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions