Wedding Etiquette Forum

Pampered Chef Party

Ahh! The last 24 hours have opened up some bridal shower/bachelorette party drama for me. :( I'm so stressed! It feels like too much to explain on here right now so I'm going to start with this. 

I was thinking of throwing you a Pampered Chef Shower - where everyone would bring a little bit of money and all chip in to buy you stuff for your kitchen.  A Pampered Chef rep would come and do a demo, we'd all make lunch together.  It's cute and fun, and you don't have to open presents in front of everyone (all the usual embarrassing things that are done at showers).  Would you be open to that idea?  If so, who would you want to invite?

The above is a message I just received from my sister-in-law. Is a Pampered Chef Shower acceptable to you guys? I've never thought about it before and I don't know if it is a rude concept or a fine concept. Please advise!
"It's always better when we're together." -Jack Johnson

Re: Pampered Chef Party

  • As a former Pchef consultant, I did a couple of the shower parties.  They were not the huge success those throwing it for the bride expected.

    Unlike a traditional registry/shower, there is a lot more pressure to buy something.  I think if your SIL wants to throw you a shower, you should decline the Pchef one and see if (subtly) she would be willing to do a more traditional one.

    If she wants to have a Pchef party, she can have one, I just don't think it should be related to your wedding in any way.

     

  • I would not want to attend such an event, either as a guest or a bride to be. If I'm invited to a shower, part of the fun is picking out a gift ahead of time. Being required to bring money and buy cookware on the day is not in the spirit of a shower. I would say thanks but no thanks.
  •  I hate them. I have never gone to one, never would. I have seen the catalogs- the prices are outrageous.

     BTW, the only time I have ever been asked "Why can't you come?" after declining an invitation to a party is when it's for Pampered Chef or Tupperware or Candles or sex toys [ugh]. I decline every single time, and ALWAYS get a call fro the "hostess" asking for an explanation of why I can't come.

     It speaks volumes to the manners of the people who throw these things. 

  •  Don't tell her it's rude though, just say that all of your friends are cheap asses like me :)
  • I would tell her thanks but no thanks.  I don't think Pampered Chef parties are appropriate for showers.  Like PP said, these parties tend to make guests feel really pressured into buying items or spending more money then they probably would for just a regular shower (whenever I go to one of these parties I tend to buy something even if I don't need it or want it because I feel like I have to).  And unless you love pampered chef products you may not want your guests buying solely from that company.

  • No way. These are sales parties for the reps using your wedding as an excuse. I'd rather get something that I actually registered for or that someone picked out because they legitimately thought I'd enjoy it. SIL can thrown her own party. It shouldn't be for your shower unless that's what you actually want.
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  • I would decline it. I beleive they are rude because peopel are going to feel pressured to buy things. Alot of tiem people like to bargain shop so in order to get that present they want to get you they may use a coupon or some other hook up they have. At the papered cheff party they will not be able to do that. Reletives may feel pressure to spend more money then they other one things like that. Also I just would find it icky watching peopple buy things for me its just a really weird and rude concept to me. Guests at a shower enjoy watchign you open there gift and seeing the excitment on your face so I wouldnt feel embarrased by that.

  • Yeah, I would hate feeling pressured to buy something from them. If I'm coming to your shower or wedding, I'm definitely giving you a gift, but I don't like the idea of selecting something and everyone knowing what I spent right then and there. Plus, what if you don't like or want a lot of the things that they offer?




    What did you think would happen if you walked up to a group of internet strangers and told them to get shoehorned by their lady doc?~StageManager14
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  • Those responses were enough for me to decide that I won't accept her offer. How should I word my decline? 
    "It's always better when we're together." -Jack Johnson
  • @daisey18 - I have to disagree with you on the prices.  PC has tons of products under $20, and their prices are actually pretty competitive with what you'd spend on any other major cookware brand.  They also offer lifetime or multi-year warranties on a lot of the products.

    Please note - I am no longer a consultant, but have always loved the products and the quality.  I have some pieces that are 10+ years old and still work as well as they did when I bought them.

     

  • Those responses were enough for me to decide that I won't accept her offer. How should I word my decline? 


    "Thank you so much for offering me a shower! But I dont think I feel comfortable with the papered cheff party. If you were still intrested in throwing the shower I would prefer a more traditional shower! Thank you!" 

     

    Something like that should be a good response!

  • Those responses were enough for me to decide that I won't accept her offer. How should I word my decline? 

    Um maybe, "Thank you so much for wanting to throw me a shower.  I really appreciate your offer but I just do not feel comfortable having a pampered chef party included in the event."  Or something like that.

  • It would also make me incredibly uncomfortable because everyone is staring at how much everything costs.  So people on a budget might buy something they can't necessarily afford so as to not "look bad."  I feel like it could get really ugly and turn into a 'who spent the most/least' gossip session.
  •  @ MrsMack10612,

                                      Hehehe, I was married to an Actual Chef for 16 years. So PC's prices, compared to what I could easily find via restaurant supply co's, always seemed outrageous to me. They do have some nifty things- I just forget that not everyone's home kitchen consists of 80% of "stuff from the restaurant".

  • Thanks for everyone's help. I really appreciate it. I'll have to work on my wording for my response to her. 
    "It's always better when we're together." -Jack Johnson
  • "Thanks for the offer, but I am really uncomfortable with such a party. I know that some of my friends never attend selling parties, and I would be afraid they would not attend this kind of shower."

    Count me in as one of those friends who never attend selling parties. Ugh! I hate them!
  • @daisey18 - well yeah, being able to buy from restaurant supply can make a big difference.  I completely agree with you on that point.  I would love to buy from restaurant supply.

     

  • I love PC - my mom has some stuff from them that is 18 years old and still works well. I would totally go to a PC party, but not for a shower. I like Maggie's response.
  • Ditto Maggie's wording.  I think that's your best bet.  Simple and to the point, without being insulting.

    I'd decline too, both as a guest or the bride.  In addition to reasons PPs have given, even though the bride would be receiving the gifts, the PC consultant would still be reaping the benefits.  For a shower, that just doesn't sit well with me.

  • MrsMack10612MrsMack10612 member
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Love Its 1000 Comments First Answer
    edited July 2013

    @daisey18 - I have to disagree with you on the prices.  PC has tons of products under $20, and their prices are actually pretty competitive with what you'd spend on any other major cookware brand.  They also offer lifetime or multi-year warranties on a lot of the products.

    Please note - I am no longer a consultant, but have always loved the products and the quality.  I have some pieces that are 10+ years old and still work as well as they did when I bought them.


    Sorry, but no.  Yes, their prices are comparable with top of the line pro brands.  But it is completely possible to get decent cookware for far more affordable prices.  You can get a full set of Cuisinart or KitchenAid cookware (10-12 pieces) for a third of the price of a 5 piece Pampered Chef set.  And most couples who are just starting out need a fully stocked kitchen more than they need 12 random specialty cooking items.  

    And as for lower-budget items, sure I can spend $50 or less at Pampered Chef... and buy the bride a glass lid or a thermometer and some measuring cups.  OR, I can go elsewhere and get her a roasting pan, griddle, cast iron skillet, or set of glass baking dishes with covers.  Just because they HAVE reasonably priced items does not mean that what you get for the money is all that reasonable.


    Right, top of line pro-brands.  I absolutely agree that there is more affordable options out there.  I have a 12 pc set of Cuisnart myself.  I still disagree that you can't get something reasonable at a reasonable price from PC for $50 or less.  You can get one pan, or other baking piece or you can get a bunch of those little kitchen gadgets and make a basket out of it.

    ETA:  And I'm definitely not a fan of the PC Showers.  I think they put too much pressure on the brides and the guests.  And though I did a few as a consultant, I don't think a shower should be a sales pitch.

     

  • I think it's not just a little uncomfortable to do this as a bridal shower...it's downright rude.   I am so glad you're going to decline, OP.

     

    I would just say, "I love that you want to host a shower and I would love to have a traditional shower, but I don't feel comfortable asking guests to bring money to a 'sale' type of party so I'd rather not do that."

     

    Hopefully she'll immediately offer to host one w/o the sales pitch.

     

    Full disclosure, I have an absolute zero-tolerance policy for those types of parties. It's well known in my group of friends that I will never host or attend one and that it's nothing personal....just a blanket ban.

  • Full disclosure, I have an absolute zero-tolerance policy for those types of parties. It's well known in my group of friends that I will never host or attend one and that it's nothing personal....just a blanket ban.

    I am exactly the same. I went to a Princess House party, once, and made a solemn vow to myself to never every attend any selling party again for the rest of my life.
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