Hostess Gift

[Sophie]

What are your opinions on giving a hostess gift? I am going to be attending a longaberger basket party where you will be expected to buy something. Usually I give a hostess gift when I go to get togethers or parties, but should I give a gift at this party? She is going to be providing food/beverages, but then again I am supposed to purchase something. What do you think?
This friend did give me a hostess gift when I hosted a big x-mas party last year so I don't want to offend her.

Thanks,
Sophie

[Justawoman]

I have no idea what a longaberger basket party is. Sounds interesting. If you feel uncomfortable not going with a hostess gift then bring her one.

[jamesglewisf]

It is like a tupperware or scrapbook party. A salesperson for the basket company asks a friend to host a party where she invites her friends. They come to the party and hopefully purchase items.

Usually, the salesperson gives the hostess a gift. I don't think it is necessary or even appropriate to give a hostess gift at these types of parties.

Let me explain what really happens. The salesperson asks her friend to host one of these parties. The friend oftentimes is uncomfortable because she doesn't like going to the parties herself or doesn't like to make her friends feel like they need to buy something. Unwilling to say no to her friend, however, she agrees to host the party. She then invites a lot of friends who really don't want to go to the party either. Unwilling to say no themselves, they agree to go to the party. Once at the party, there is a hardsell by the salesperson trying to get you to buy stuff you don't want. Most of the women end up buying something when they really don't want to because they feel like they are slighting their friend the hostess who really slighted them by inviting them to a party because the hostess was slighted by her friend the salesperson by asking her to host the party.

So, stop the insanity. If you are really interested in buying something, then go to the party. If you aren't, then either don't go or go and don't buy anything. If you are not interested in the merchandise or flat out don't like these types of parties, then tell the hostess the truth, albeit politely. If women would start politetly saying no to these parties, then maybe the companies would give up on this very impolite marketing technique where ladies are encouraged to take advantage of each other's unwillingness to be honest.

Who really makes money with these parties? It is the company selling the junk, not the salespeople. I'm guessing that 95% of the salespeople never make enough money to justify the time they spend doing it.

[CuriousG]

I completely agree. I remember when my mom had a friend who sold EVERYTHING! One week she was into tupperware, the next week was candles, and then pampered chef, it was ridiculous. She would have a party at all of her friends' places, and it was basically the same people invited everytime. My mom always felt obligated to buy something. It was annoying. Typically the host gets credit for a percentage of the sales of the party and then gets to choose items from a special rewards booklet, or something like that. I agree that it is a rather rude and presumptuous way of taking advantage of friends.