Tupperware/partylite/avon and other scurvy subhumans

The BBQ Pit
21

Actually, Zette, Avon is one of the few vendors who have improved their image over the years. They used to be associated with obnoxious door-to-door saleswomen (ding DONG!) and now their sales pitch is much less invasive. Can you imagine going door to door now? :slight_smile: I don’t mind browsing through a catalog at my leisure and ordering if I wish.

In fact, I buy Mary Kay cosmetics because I can browse the catalog and I appreciate the fact that you can sample the product before buying it. You can’t do that with Revlon. I just call my rep and she delivers it. And she doesn’t hound me to have parties. That’s VERY important.

The thing I miss about Avon is those teeny white tubes of lipsticks. My mom had a little holder for them and I loved playing with them as a kid. They should bring them back.

22

I had a friend who sells Mary Kay. Notice I said “had”. We’re not friends anymore because she wouldn’t stop hounding me to start selling the stuff.

On the other hand, I know someone else who does Avon. She never hounds me to join and I always order from her. When she asks if I need anymore stuff and I say “no” she doesn’t hound me. She waits for me to approach her, which I always do.

I also know another person who does Amway. I know she is in it but she never talks about it. She mentioned if I want to know about the products she will tell me and she never brought up the subject again.

So really, it’s not the company but the people in it.

And another thing-why do the people who hound others to join ask if we want to improve our lives? Selling things obnoxiously and scaring away friends doesn’t sound like improving my life at all. And I resent the implication that my life isn’t good!

23

Agreed! Anyone who has those parties should be strung up.

There is an exception though. Lady Desire’ or F.U.N. parties with a wet bar and a hired male stripper for the half time entertainment.

No?

24

FILL UP your bookshelves? My bookshelves are not just full, but overflowing…when I get new shelves, I just have to pull some books out of boxes.

My ghod. I can’t imagine this. How can anyone do that?

25

Lynn:

**
It’s frightening but true.
There are some people in the world, many in your own home town, that have not read a single book since graduating college!

True Story:
When I was much younger, I was reading the novel Johnny Tremain for school. This came at a time in my life when my mother, who was tired of me leaving books all over the house, punished me by taking all the books out of my room, putting them in the basement, and letting me ‘check out’ only 5 at a time. My friend’s mother was paying him a dime a chapter to read JT!

(So, I went to his house and read for him at 7.5 cents a chapter! :slight_smile: )

MaryAnnQ:

**

When those people offer to “improve your life,” they mean that they can show you a way to make an impressive income from a source you may not be aware of.

Did you know:
[ul]
[li]The first real level of accomplishment in Amway is “Direct Distributor.” This is a level of distinction based on volume - about $15,000 worth of product moving through you to your household (personal use) and/or your and your downline’s customers each month.[/li][li]A Direct Distibutor can reasonably expect to make about $2000 per month - that is a $24,000 annual “salary” just for showing people another way to shop.[/li][li]Once you move beyond DD, the income potential grows exponentially - the more downline distributors yo help “go Direct,” the greater your earnings. Amway is full of success stories - people making millions of dollars a year, fairly guarenteed for the rest of thier lives.[/li][/ul]

That is how they mean to improve your life. For most people, having more money each month would mean an easier lifestyle.

Final Caveat - None of that is easy. As I posted earlier:

Is it totally do-able? Yes.
Is it easy? Definitely not.
Should you do it? Up to you.
Should you get in in my organization? Sorry - I don’t do that anymore.

Hope this helped.

26

**DIPWAD NEIGHBOR UPDATE **

I thought I would post this just so the rest of you can feel good about your lives. Better self esteem by enduring Shirley’s dippy neighbors.

The above neighbor and I had a conversation a couple of days ago. I asked her if she was going to sell her old Chrysler Lebaron ( it’s 10 years old and a convertible. Only 88k on the engine. Christ, we bought a car with 80k on it and another one with 179k on it.It’s practically new!) She told me no. They were going to return the minivan to the dealer when the lease was up and make the convertible their main car. They own or nearly own the pick up truck.

May I be the first to say, " Unfuckingbelievable."

Driving around in a two door convertible in Michigan ( The Land of short summers and hords of mosquitos.) with a toddler and an infant.

This entire affair defies logic and common sense. Some how I kept my mouth shut.

At least they are making an effort to save money. I have to give them that.

Now I return you to your regularly scheduled PIT.

27

My mom and stepdad did the Shaklee pyramid thing for awhile. Sure, there were products (vitamins, protein bars, and household cleaning products); but the main thrust was to get enough people to sign up under you to propel yourself into the “distributer” levels and above.

Of course, the people below you would hopefully sign up more people which in turn would thrust you even higher up the pyramid.

Eventually, we ended up with closets and cabinets full of vitamins and soap. And I’ll never forget the morning protein shakes.

Anyone else familiar with Shaklee?

28

Shirley Ujest:

Right on the money, you should pardon the expression.

It’s not the products and it’s not the companies. It is the intrusion into my private life and relationships that I will not tolerate. All goddam day I’m swimming in commercial pitches designed to separate me from my hard earned money. No fucking way am I going to put up with that shit in my home on my own time from my ‘friends’.

Once in awhile someone I know gets wrapped up with crap like that. I’ve worked out a system to deal with it. The first time I give them a polite “No thanks, and please don’t bother me about it again”. I’ll nicely explain if they want to hear it. The second time, if they are a valued friend, I let them know that I won’t be coming around anymore if they bring it up again. The third time I drop the axe.

I made an exception for my father, who got wrapped up in some bullshit long distance phone scam, the name of which escapes me at the moment. I was eventually able to convince him that he had put our relationship up for sale. He got over it and we put it behind us.

And I do have a friend who sells Amway products and has for many years. They are good products too. He let me know that he is a rep and politely heard my speech. He gracefuly promised not to bother me again, and while he was at it asked if I would like a catalog. If I wanted anything I could call him and he promised it wouldn’t set him off on another sales pitch. Since he is an old and valued friend I took him up on it. He has been as good as his word and I have been a steady customer for several years now. That is the only acceptable way to handle it.

Bottom line; if I want something I will get off my duff and go buy it. Don’t even think of trying to sleaze into my home with a stinking sales pitch.

as_u_wish:

Um, dude, this is THE PIT! That didn’t even rate ‘Mild Salsa’. Try turning up the heat about 1000 degrees. It’s OK, I crave abuse.

29

And I quote…

“Fucking Hen Parties.”

30

“Fucking cock fights.”

31

I revived this so I may *beg for forgiveness * …

Last monday, I was guilted into a Stamping Party. It has nothing to do with crushing grapes. It has everything to do with making greeting cards and scrap book crapola.

I went because a) it was four houses away from me 2) I took no money and mostly 3) I picked up the phone instinctively knowing it was my sister in law, hosting this party, asking me if I was attending her little ‘get together’ that night.

So I attend. Actually shaved my pits for this affair. Next time I’m leaving them hairy and wear a tank top.

I sat there with about 20 other brain dead no-light-on-behind-the eyes- women who are actually paying attention to the demo.I should mention that all these women are jesus-freaks, with the exception of my mother in law and one of her friends ( and me). I sat there with my sister in laws sister in law, the two of us mocking the entire debacle.

I cannot tell you hoow many times I snorted and choked down laughter at something that the demonstrated said. I was quite disruptive and damn, it was fun.

I decide to play a game with myself on who I think will buy the most amount of stamps and stuff. My criteria for whom would be the biggest idiots was based purely on looks and lack of something in personal style department.

The two women with the dumpiest bodies, nastiest greasiest-shapeless hair, oldest style glasses and t-shirts that I wouldn’t donate to charity they were so cheezy bought the most. Together, these women bought $100 total worth of products. These women probably keep Franklin Mint in business too.

Naturally, I filled out one of those hostess cards ( putting just my name on it and stating I was broke so don’t bother calling) and I won the cheapo door prize of a butterfly stamp. You should have seen these other women go ape-shit over the fact that I won the prize. Like it was a trip for two to Paris. I tried to give the damn thing to someone who actually did shit like this, but no one would take it. So, I’m giving it to my SIL for XMAS.

I would like to state that when the demonstrator (an exec at GM, no less, in the real world) tried to bully me into embarrassment by asking me a direct question to shut me up, “Come now, if you just took the time, you could be creative.”

Me, on the couch, hand supporting my chin in a blaise fair attitude, " I didn’t fall for that line during the macrame craze, I’m not falling for it during the stamping frenzy. Like gas, this too will pass."

Thank you for listening. Please return to your regularly scheduled BBQ Pit.

32

And I thought my BIL was stupid for having a Miata as his only car in MI. HE doesn’t even have KIDS. Two kids, only a convertible, in Michigan? Absolutely nuts.

I’d ring in and point out that Avon doesn’t do parties. More and more, I am finding that tupperware reps are also offering low-pressure, I’ll-send-you-my-catalog ways to shop, too, which I appreciate. Tupperware has a great covered icetray that is fantastic for freezing breast milk. You heard me right.

But the generalized rant about PartyLite, Creative Memories, Longaberger, Pampered Chef, etc? Rant on, sister!!

Now, I am trying to decide how loud to whimper about the daycare thing. I work, and I’d work even if they paid me $1 a week, because the benefits are excellent and my husband, being self-employed, has no benefits. We’d bankrupt ourselves trying to insure the three of us, and we’d have little in the way of retirement. That said, we chose our daycare provider extremely carefully. And for the first 8 weeks, we were BOTH home giving him 24/7 care, something that even the most dedicated SAHM can’t usually pull off.

Lifestyle change? Oh yes. My husband removed the Black Sabbath CD the other day from the car, as he decided it just wasn’t right for the Junior to be hearing it. Snort. We also have cookie monster & elmo on our sunscreen in the car. That’s when we knew we’d crossed the line into true parenthood.

33

Shirley? If I’m ever forced to go to another stupid ‘party’
will you go with me? Usually I’m the one in the back making the rude comments all by myself – it would be nice to have company.

34

I almost became a Pampered Chef rep. I paid the bucks and got the stuff and everything…but I never actually got off of my fat ass and did anything with it. I should have.

I went to a party at my sister’s (at her request, obviously), liked the stuff well enough, bought one thing (which I use the hell out of, so plbth) and decided to try my hand at it. I say I should have stuck with it, because my sister’s family is Mormon, her friends are all Mormons, they tend to stick together in a pretty tightly-knit group, and they were ALL all about Pampered Chef. If I had been able to wade through the paperwork (I am so mathematically declined it’s pathetic) I would have made a KILLING.

I don’t have many friends (I can count 'em on both hands, and that’s using seperate fingers for two members of a couple (which some people don’t do)), so it was impractical anyhow, in retrospect. BUT…I got what they call $250 worth of stuff for $100 (which means I probably paid about the on-sale retail value in a regular store), and got a bunch of neat crap I would never have thought of actually buying but which I still use the hell out of, so that’s all right. And I do recommend their spatulas. I left one sitting in a pot of spaghetti sauce on the stove and it didn’t melt, crack, or stain. But I’m still not going to try selling it again.

I’ve pondered trying those lingerie parties that folks have been talking about for the last few years…MY friends would be much more interested in lingerie and sex toys than in cooking crap…but A) I don’t want to make anyone think my friendship is dependent on their buying shit, and B) the paperwork would doubtless trip me up again.

Just another POV.

And on the OP (sounds like a rap lyric), my hub works, I stay home with the kids. We have no family health insurance. Our cars are only running because he bartered his computer experience with an auto shop. We almost never eat out; we almost never go to the movies; I haven’t bought new clothes for myself in four years (well, two nursing bras, but those were sort of a necessity)(Oh, and two pairs of jeans, but they were on sale for $6/pair down from $50). Somehow, we are still happy and have enough to keep the water running and food in the fridge.

I think that people who HAVE to have new stuff and eat out all the time and shiny new toys every week…I’m talking about families, here…well, there must be something missing in their relationships if they can’t imagine life without the plethora of luxuries. That’s all I’m sayin’.

35

Since this is the pit:
Don’t fucking go then. Just say no. You shaved your pits and went all the way to her house just to be a judgemental bitch. Hmmm, who’s the real loser here?
Flame away!!!

36

Home deco, “happy things”, jafra, Mary kay (which made my face turn red, thank you), avon, some knife thing, discovery toys etc.

yes, I know there’s minute differences in each ones gig, with the exception that the first rule when starting out on ANY of them is to approach your friends/relatives. Some are “door to door”, others are home party. hated the home party, estpecially the home decor thing. That’s where I learned the term; “wall grouping”. don’t I sound like a decorator now?

And these “wall groupings” were to be changed every season, too apparently. go figure. I move in, put stuff up, change it only when I get something new or move. works for me.

[slight hijack/defense of hobby] the stamping thing, tho’ - um, I’ve been an avid stamper for about a decade. would refuse to go to a home party thing for them, though - because A. I know the companies that do them and they, IMHO, are lower than low (you HAVE to use their paper, their ink etc. what bunk!) B. the companies that do them also tend to the terminally cute end of stamping. So, please, don’t judge that activity by the folks who go to those parties, ok? I have my current new motto from them “Company coming? House a mess? Display old get well cards”… [/slight hijack/defense of hobby]

carry on with your rant.

37

I had a GF once who did this…Naughty Nighty Parties, I think it was called. She made a few bucks, had a great time doing it, and we got to, er, product test.

She had a party involving the women from work (we worked at the same place), and decided to make it “guys too” - a big crowd of us hung out together. A bunch of the women got hammered and decided to try stuff on and model it. Us fellas about fell over - it was way out of character for them. It was just too funny to be remotely erotic. Come Monday, six or seven different women greeted me with “NOT A WORD”. I just shook my head and said “Y’all are such pigs”. Of course, they also got a sing-songy “Nighty-night” as a parting salutation for a few weeks.

Shaky Jake
Oops, it’s the Pit. Fuck Craplee, Pimping Chef, and all the rest of the who won’t leave me alone.

38

My dental hygienist sells Shaklee. I found out the first time I happened to mention that I was thinking about taking vitamins. I got the full spiel, business card, brochure, etc. Learned my lesson too – only slipped up once more after that. As if it isn’t bad enough getting my roots scraped raw during the cleaning, I should be subjected to a sales pitch besides when I’m captive in the chair? I was this close to mentioning it to the dentist, when she stopped mentioning it. Thank GAWD!

39

This girl I’m totally in love with just started selling Mary Kay… I’m very VERY depressed.