One more reason I’m glad I’m a guy

I ran across this poster, and it reminded me of one more reason, #87, why I’m glad I’m a guy.

Sales “Parties”

If you are a girl, you probably know what I’m talking about. If you are a guy, I strongly suspect you have never even been close to one. I guess they started with Tupperware back in the 50s or 60s, but it seems in recent years they have multiplied. Here is the way it works.

1.) Woman takes on a job selling a product with other women as the target customer group.

2.) Saleswoman approaches friend or co-worker and asks if she would hostess a “party” and invite some of HER friends. The purpose of the party is to provide Saleswoman with a captive audience to hock her wares. Not really wanting to produce a party, but not wanting to disappoint a friend, the Hostess agrees.

3.) Hostess then spends some of her “social capital” inviting her friends to a “party” at her house. Hostess typically provides drinks and snacks, or more.

4.) The friends/guests frequently accept, even though they have no desire to attend the pseudo-party, because they, in turn, don’t want to their friend/hostess to look bad. The implied understanding is that the Guests have a social obligation to purchase something from the Saleswoman.

Mrs. Poolman attended one such “party” last week. In this case, the product was handbags. Mrs. P came away $55 poorer, but with a handbag, to be delivered at some future date. I don’t know whether she needed the handbag or not. That wasn’t the point. She bought the bag because she attended the party, and she only attended the party, because she didn’t want to disappoint her friend, Carla. Carla wasn’t the hostess. The party was being hosted by her daughter’s partner’s mother and sisters on behalf of some cousin. Do you see how the web grows?

One of our friends here in the neighborhood, Louanne, was a real sucker for any “Saleswoman” who called on her. For a while there, it seemed like Louanne was calling every couple of weeks or so to invite Mrs. P to a party where she could/should/would buy lingerie, perfume, jewelry or candles. (The thought of giving up a Saturday afternoon during football season to go listen to someone try to sell me scented candles would drive me to socially unacceptable behavior.) At least one party she hosted was for a line of “marital aids” which was interesting. I would have gone to that one myself, but no guys were invited. Louanne finally shut down her run of parties after the other women in the neighborhood politely told her that were considering not answering the phone when her number showed up on caller ID.

Maybe I’m being too harsh. Perhaps I should call up my friend Matt the Welder and ask him to come over to learn more about scented candles. “Oh, and be sure to bring your checkbook.” I think I seen an intervention in my future.

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A Saturday at Epcot

Saturday of our Disney weekend was fun, but tiring.

We started off by getting up early to hear the Wyndam time share sales spiel. (Aren’t we on vacation?) This was suggested by my sister-in-law who pointed out that the incentive was a $100 American Express gift card.

The one and a half hour presentation grew into three hours. The “no pressure” sales pitch turned into “won’t take no for an answer.” Actually, Mrs Poolman and I nearly got up, told them to keep their gift card and walked away. We didn’t though, and the gift card has paid for several good meals since then.

Mrs. P and I did cut a deal however. We both agreed that if either of us suggests sitting through a time-share sales presentation in the future, the other party has grounds for divorce.

After we escaped from the clutches of the time-share sales reps, we headed out to Epcot. Although we have been to Disney many times, I don’t believe I have ever been to Epcot. We started the same way you do everything at Disney, standing in line.

Get used to lines.

Epcot

We got a “fast pass” to the “Test Track.”

This isn't us. Duh.

We tried to “fast pass” the “Soaring” ride, which everyone says is outstanding, but we were too late. We did all the usual “stuff”.  We shopped around some of the international pavilions for dinner and ended up at the Moraccan restaurant.

Cafe Tangierine

We had a variety of lamb and chicken combos and sandwiches and were quite happy with it. Their sides of tabouli and cuscus was were really very good. And for Disney, the price was not bad. Mrs. P’s and my total came to just $33.

Tomorrow – no time share sales pitch. We have the Animal Kingdom on the schedule.