Mum Angry at Being Tricked into Attending Party Plan Gathering

Mum shares how she was excited to finally be asked out on a coffee date and a chance to escape the baby blues only to realise she was being ambushed by a party plan business.

Cathy-Lee shared her story on Facebook attracting plenty of comments about how rude it was of her friend to put her in such a position.

Cathy-Lee wrote, “Went for a coffee this morning to catch up with a friend from my old workplace I’d not seen for ages. She contacted me out of the blue and I was so happy as I’d been meaning to phone her for a few weeks to arrange something.

“Got out of my PJs early on a Saturday, dressed nicely, did my hair and everything. Put on makeup and PAID for a local babysitter for my 10 month old and 7 year old for 2 hours.

“Got to the Cafe and was hit with an overwhelming smell of something that smelt like an orange tree being diffused. Met my friend and ordered our drinks and I mentioned the smell was odd as it blocked the lovely coffee smell. I went to sit outside, then, without warning, she steered me right over to where this rep was sat down with 6 other ladies, diffuser and all, with a spot for me right next to her with a catalogue and order form.

I was ambushed with a Doterra party!

(TBH I’ve been to one before, but never bought anything and it was by choice and in support of another friend)

“I had my coffee and listened to be polite, whilst shooting my friend alternating WTF looks and death stares.

All I wanted was some adult contact and a kid-free conversation for the first time that week.

“The rep was nice enough, but when she tried to put a drop of oil in my not-cheap coffee to help “wake me up”, actually put lemon oil in the water on the table and didn’t say anything until I had a drink and pulled a face at the taste, then warmed a drop of peppermint oil in her hand and shoved it in my face right as I took a deep sigh in, I tapped out.

“I finished my coffee, just got up without a word and left. I had 8 missed calls and 4 messages from my friend who invited me to coffee, which I ignored whilst taking myself out to a lovely lunch instead this afternoon.

“So disappointed and pissed off, AND WHY THE FUCK CAN I STILL SMELL PEPPERMINT ?? !”

Cathy-Lee also shared the conversation she had with her friend via text after she was ambushed. Check it out below.

Have you ever been ambushed by a party plan business? Share your comments below

image via unsplash

44 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 22 May 2023
    10:45 am
I had something similar…..a friend who I was very close with had moved away but she contacted me out of the blue and said she was going to be in my area and would love to call around for coffee. She arrived and it wasnt long that I started to suspect there was more to the visit. Sure enough she dropped it into the conversation that she was now part of this sales group and how it had totally changed her life and how its so easy because you dont have to do anything…you just sign up and start earning. Why the hell was she here trying to flog it to me then? I flat out told her I wasnt interested in signing up. Would I become a client then? Nope. She left and I havent heard from her since….its been 9 years.

- - mom81879 said
  - 24 Sep 2019
    9:35 am
They’ve tried it on me a few times, hasn’t worked, no is such a great word! In this instance, I think the friend should have mentioned what the gathering was for. Definitely an ambush

- - mom325275 said
  - 08 Sep 2019
    4:38 pm
Would have been nice to be notified lol and not a surprise..

- - mom111059 said
  - 02 Sep 2019
    9:37 am
I would be upset if put in this position. I don’t think she is the kind of friend anyone would want.

- - mom350461 said
  - 01 Sep 2019
    4:37 pm
Ive been in this position, and then you get, “oh don’t feel obliged to buy anything”. For me I was just very antisocial and felt worse than what I did before.

- - Blaire92 said
  - 28 Aug 2019
    8:19 am
That is not okay. I would have liked the option to be invited so that I could decide on my own if I wanted to attend

- - mom362496 said
  - 20 Aug 2019
    6:49 am
Wow! What nerve! I can’t say I would have walked out like that, but my friend would definitely have gotten a serve later!

- - tessie said
  - 19 Aug 2019
    2:01 pm
That is just so wrong. When she was invited for a coffee she should have also been told what else would be happening. I wouldn’t be able to talk to this so called friend either.

- - mom385887 said
  - 18 Aug 2019
    6:15 pm
Oh I would be livid! Why did she have to be so shady about it, if she wanted to plug her friends business, invite her as a party guest so she at least has the option to decline. Oh and to then have the nerve to say that she thought she could get some remedies for her baby, mind tour own business b****!

- - mom41 said
  - 16 Aug 2019
    10:01 pm
I would be so peeved with this.
My niece is constantly having parties like this and I’ve never been to one.
She’s had one for chocolate, wigs, oil of Morocco stuff, Avon you name it.
She even wanted to do an “ online party” for me for silk oil of Morocco. I refuse to go to a party for products I have no interest in or to buy said products, just so the “ host” can earn money

- - Ellen said
  - 12 Aug 2019
    7:37 am
Yes a real friend is open and honest and doesn’t do such thing.

- - DaffyD said
  - 11 Aug 2019
    10:22 am
So disappointing for her, people need to have a good hard look at themselves

- - Aussieladee said
  - 08 Aug 2019
    9:29 pm
This is disgusting & not a true friendship. Best dropped & blocked altogether if she disrepects her “friends” like that.
None of my friends would do something like that & if they did they know I would be in their face about it. I think Cathy-Lee Chopping did very well restraining herself from throwing a drink over both her work friend & the lady who sells that rubbish.

- - mom71495 said
  - 08 Aug 2019
    12:38 pm
That’s testing the friendship. I wouldn’t have been happy with her either. It was rude of her to not be open and honest with you about who was going to be there. I can understand you just wanted some time with your friend and it cost you babysitting fees and spoiled the whole deal. Friends don’t do that to friends. Honesty and transparency it what she should have given you. I am sorry for your ordeal. I hope you have nicer friends than that. All the best.

- - ella12 said
  - 08 Aug 2019
    11:59 am
Actually I was talking to another friend recently who was ambushed by her friend about something to do with their childrens’ school. I think it is totally disrespectful.

- - rovermum said
  - 08 Aug 2019
    9:19 am
No… and I would have been so pissed too. This is wrong and such disgraceful behaviour. What a crap friend.

- - musicmum said
  - 07 Aug 2019
    11:10 pm
No have never been ambushed to a party plan and I would not be happy. If her friend wanted her to go to a Doterra party why not be honest?

- - mom101628 said
  - 07 Aug 2019
    10:01 pm
Think I would have done the same thing – what a terrible way to treat a friend – guess it will be an ex-friend now.

- - curlytops said
  - 07 Aug 2019
    9:44 pm
i think she did the right thing by walking away. like she said rare opportunity to go out. don’t want to waste it.

- - mom376182 said
  - 07 Aug 2019
    8:38 pm
When I moved to Chicago to study my doctorate, I met two women in the grocery store. They were really nice and I told them that I had just moved there and didn’t know anyone. They were sweet and said that they wanted to introduce me to their friends so I would have a support system. I got all dressed up and went to what I thought was a party, it turned out to be a Mary Kay recruitment event and they tried to convince me to be a seller. I was saved by explaining that I was on a study visa and couldn’t legally work in the United States, then they let me leave.