Pyramid Schemes

[skylark]

Maybe my negative attitude comes from some of my acquaintances' perception that I probably have a lot of disposable income and therefore should be coming to every party and able to buy beauty products every other month. While it is probably true for most of my friends that I have slightly more than most (Good job, married to someone with good job, no kids), it doesn't mean that my husband and I don't have our own financial goals (living somewhat frugally to achieve them), in addition to having more student loans (from getting a law degree) than my friends.

I always get asked to these parties... and the most awkward part of the situation isn't actually buying something now that I really think about it. It is the constant reminders that they'd love to host parties at my own home so I can invite other attorney friends from work to come. All of my "attorney friends" happen to be male, but even if they weren't, I still don't think I'd feel comfortable inviting professional friends to my home so that an old college friend can try to squeeze money out of them and pitch them to host their own party (which I would inevitably be first on the invite list for).

I'm saying all this because I'm sure there are women out there reading this who will find themselves wondering whether to start one of these at-home party "businesses." And most I don't think fit into the housewife pitching other housewives to spend their disposable income scenario that KSUViolet just talked about. I think people should think seriously about how these parties will change the dynamics of their friendships and ask yourself how much that is worth before convincing themselves that starting an at-home party business is a source of extra income by providing a needed service for their friends.

In this day and age when most things (including Mary Kay, Avon and Body Shop products) can easily be purchased over the internet, I don't see how people justify starting these "businesses."

[33girl]

Originally Posted by skylark

In this day and age when most things (including Mary Kay, Avon and Body Shop products) can easily be purchased over the internet, I don't see how people justify starting these "businesses."

If I still lived in my hometown, I wouldn't hesitate to start a Body Shop at Home business. The nearest BS is 70 miles away and I think the products are different enough that it's an option women would like. And I know I personally don't like to buy any type of cosmetic without seeing/smelling/testing it first. I'm guessing other women are the same.

We still have LOTS of rural areas of the country where there isn't a lot of choice and if you want something fancier than Revlon, you're SOL unless you want to drive an hour or plop down lots of $$ on something you've never tried. So I can understand why women still want to do this.

However - you have to proceed cautiously and not allow yourself to get in over your head.

[skylark]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If I still lived in my hometown, I wouldn't hesitate to start a Body Shop at Home business. The nearest BS is 70 miles away and I think the products are different enough that it's an option women would like. And I know I personally don't like to buy any type of cosmetic without seeing/smelling/testing it first. I'm guessing other women are the same.

This is a really good point. One I hadn't thought of because my nearest body shop store is less than 5 miles from my home (and the home of a "body shop at-home consultant" friend) . But you're right about wanting to test products out before buying and so for rural areas, this probably is a good thing to try in comparison to some other at-home party businesses.

ETA: Something else problematic about body shop at-home if you're not in a rural area: Body Shop stores themselves often have 20% off days if you sign up for their email list. Couple that with the shipping costs that at-home consultants have to charge, you end up paying about 30% more for products from the at-home parties.

I'm going to strangle the next friend/acquaintance/co-worker who tries to sell me Monavie.

SERIOUSLY.

I can't believe anyone I'd know would be so stupid as to fall for a scam like that!