My son's best friend's mom just started selling Beauty Counter. She texted me out of the blue last night wanting to host a party for "me and my friends." I reached out to another mutual friend who received the same text - so there are likely others as well. I'm not interested, and I really don't think she's going to find much of a market around here. But I see a lot of this woman (she's perfectly lovely, but we don't share many similar interests), so I'd like to be gentle but firm. How would you respond?
I'm inclined to respond, "No thank you, I'm not interested." It just all sounds so transactional - but it's she who made it so!
Hi! Sorry, that's not going to work right now. Take care!
I feel like "right now" leaves this open to future solicitations...
Your note is perfect. I'd soften it a bit though. "No, thank you, I'm not interested. But I wish you the best of luck! I hope you and [best friend] and your family are having a good holiday season. See you soon!"
This is your son's best friend's mother. She's doing this because she needs the money and is reaching out to friends for support. I would be WAY more nice than that. You can build her up and not participate at the same time: Hey, Jane! I love that you're launching something new and wish you the very best of luck with it. I'm not the right target audience since [I'm a loyal and unwavering devotee to XYZ cosmetics or I don't wear makeup or whatever reason you want to insert], but I wish you the very best with it. Best, Judy".
You're kind. Thanks for your help. I went with a close iteration of this.
I would not buy but I would make a donation. “Jane, I’m not interested but here’s $ to use toward someone else’s purchase.“
You donate to someone's for-profit business?
Yes. I don’t want her product but I do want to show support. I think a one time small donation is fine. She can use it toward someone else’s purchase.
... or to pay off the inventory she bought up front and now can’t unload....
It’s important to be firm so the requests don’t keep coming. I find this stuff so annoying
I think you should say you don't support MLM schemes. We shouldn't be polite about these kind of things anymore. People are becoming more and more delusional and it's negatively impacting society. Tell her she is involved in a predatory scheme that benefits no one except the people at the very top.
Ok, sorry, but that's not OP's role. You cannot tell other people what to do. Well, you can, but it's controlling and disrespectful. People are allowed to do what they want with their time and money. They are also allowed to ask you a question. OP is free to say no, and she should if she's not interested. She should not tell this grown woman not to do what the woman wants to do. That's far outside OP's lane, imo.
Am I the only one who thinks you should just buy something and move on? I’ve purchased so much crap from MLM schemes for side friends. I just buy some crap and toss it. It’s really easy to say you can’t attend due to Covid and maybe she can recommend some Options for your to purchase.
OP. That wasn’t the ask.
Actual text: “Hey!! Hope all is well! I'm reaching out bc I recently joined Beautycounter as a Consultant. I've been using the products for years!! I'm working on spreading the BC mission and sharing my love of the products. Would you let me host a virtual pop up for you and your friends? We could do a FB event or a text event. I can talk about safer beauty. :) if I sent some dates would you see what works for you? 🙂”
Yeah, I understand, but saying you’ll buy something from her is a nicer way to say no since she’s your best friends mom. Just say you’d be happy to get something from her but all your friends are swamped with Covid/work families so it’s not a great time to organize a zoom.