Product parties are consumerism peer pressure. We’ve all been there before, it starts with an invitation to come check out some type of product with “no pressure to buy anything.” You show up at your friend’s home and enjoy some drinks and snacks. Then comes the sales pitch: how this line is so different, superior, and why you simply must have it. You sort through the overpriced items with your friends asking, “which ones are you going to get?” It feels like you owe something to the hostess for preparing snacks and inviting you to the group shopping event. You sense everyone is watching to make sure that you participate in this ritualistic spending. The pressure is too much and inevitably you cave, trying to find the least expensive item to purchase.
There are so many of these product parties. It seems that it all started with Tupperware, now they include purses, jewelry, candles, dip mixes, sex toys, and makeup. Fortunately, I haven’t received too many invitations lately. I certainly haven’t hosted any such parties. Although the parties are designed with incentives for hostesses – such as free products – they are still spending money on the party expenses. Usually, they also receive a discount on purchases, so there is encouragement for them to buy additional items. Even if these hostesses walk away with some free stuff, they surely will be invited to their friends’ parties with the expectation of reciprocity.
Isn’t it bad enough that we are inundated with advertising all day long? We have to deal with consumerism peer pressure from our friends too?
And things are only getting worse . . .
On Facebook, I recently was invited to an “online mascara party.” So now, not only are my friends pressuring me to buy high-priced unnecessary things, but we aren’t even going to drink wine together at a party. How much is this “life-changing” mascara? It is $29. Are you kidding me?!? I like wearing eye makeup. Something about mascara and some eyeliner just make me feel, like me. In furtherance of our grand plans and the need to be frugal, however, I downgraded from my normal mascara ($6) to the cheapest version ($1). It’s not the same, but it works. There is absolutely no way that I could justify purchasing $29 mascara. It’s easier to get away with not purchasing anything from the Facebook party, but the peer pressure was still there. My friend posted a personalized “Thank you for your purchase” message whenever someone placed an order (yes – there were a lot of orders).
What should you do if invited to a product party? My advice is to skip it if you can come up with a good excuse (try blaming it on the kids if you have any). If you must go, try calling the hostess ahead of time. Explain that you won’t be able to purchase anything and offer to bring a snack or some wine. If she’s a real friend, she should understand. Don’t bring any money or credit cards. Try to stay strong.
Please stop having these parties. Why can’t we all just get together, each bring a dish, and enjoy each other’s company instead of shopping together? Let’s find a more productive way to spend time with our friends instead of these forced consumerism events. How about a clothing swap party? Or we could work together on making crafts or preparing freezer meals? What about a good old fashioned book club?
While these product parties undoubtedly will continue, I hope my friends realize by now that there’s no point in sending me an invitation. Save your stamp.
