Will My Saga W/ My Nightmare Host Ever End?

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Discussion Overview

This thread discusses the challenges faced by participants with difficult hosts during their Pampered Chef shows. Participants share personal experiences regarding communication issues, payment delays, and frustrations with hosts who do not follow through on commitments.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a host who delayed closing a show multiple times and failed to send checks, raising concerns about potential dishonesty.
  • Another participant shares frustration over a previous host who bounced a check and has since become unresponsive, highlighting the emotional toll of the situation.
  • Some participants mention the importance of having checks in hand before submitting shows due to past experiences with payment issues.
  • One participant suggests taking legal action for check fraud if communication does not improve, reflecting a sense of urgency in resolving the matter.
  • Another participant notes that after several months of silence, their host finally communicated, attributing the delay to personal issues, which led to some relief.
  • Several users express disbelief at the lack of communication from hosts and the stress it causes, questioning why it is difficult for hosts to respond promptly.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ significantly among participants regarding how to handle unresponsive hosts and the best course of action when payments are delayed. No clear consensus emerges on a single approach to these challenges.

Contextual Notes

Participants share experiences that reflect a range of emotional responses to their situations, indicating that these issues are not uncommon within the consultant community.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants experiencing similar challenges with hosts may find these shared experiences relatable and informative as they navigate their own situations.

  • Thread starter
  • #61
Well get this! Nightmare host just e-mailed me:I had it returned for postage. I'm beginning to think this wasn't meant to be! I will drop it off tomorrow. Are you home during the day?Hello?! Did she not read my e-mail and see that now it's too late? I do not want her coming to my home and knowing where I live! I want to be done with her. I feel bad for her friends who placed orders though. I guess I'm going to e-mail her that unfortunately it's too late now and that the previous host had me submit her and her mother's orders as her own show so she could still get the March Special. Should she still want to get her friends' items ordered, I will wait to receive the checks and deposit them but will have to change out the guest special items as they applied, and she will need to choose a different item for her host special according to the April flyer. I will have to recalculate her show total and see what her benefits are now and go over it with her to make any changes that are needed. I will only accept a CC from her now. (right? or will that be weird since she is mailing me other checks, why not accept hers too? --in her eyes anyway--)
 
Well, this is ridiculous! It seems like a never ending story with her.
 
WOW, Amanda. I am so sorry you are still having to deal with.
What a nightmare. That girl has some serious issues. At least her friends know that it's her and not you. And, I'll bet they don't go to any more of her parties anymore!
 
My guess is that she'll just decide to forget the whole thing. She'll probably blame you, but anyone who knows her will probably suspect the truth.
 
babywings76 said:
Hello?! Did she not read my e-mail and see that now it's too late? I do not want her coming to my home and knowing where I live! I want to be done with her. I feel bad for her friends who placed orders though. I guess I'm going to e-mail her that unfortunately it's too late now and that the previous host had me submit her and her mother's orders as her own show so she could still get the March Special. Should she still want to get her friends' items ordered, I will wait to receive the checks and deposit them but will have to change out the guest special items as they applied, and she will need to choose a different item for her host special according to the April flyer.

I will have to recalculate her show total and see what her benefits are now and go over it with her to make any changes that are needed. I will only accept a CC from her now. (right? or will that be weird since she is mailing me other checks, why not accept hers too? --in her eyes anyway--)
Can you meet her someplace? I'd usually suggest someplace in the middle, but she volunteered to come to your house, so pick a coffee shop near you and have her meet you there.

I would tell her that the past host cancelled her order. Current host doesn't need to know that the order was actually placed - that's none of her business. If you do meet with her, go prepared with her host benefits recalculated, so that you can help her change her host order.

As far as taking a check from current host, if you're meeting her, go ahead and get a check. But tell her that all the checks have to clear before you'll submit the order, and that can take a week or more.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #66
Well, I just sent this to her: Unfortunately, it's too late now to submit this for a March show, yesterday was the deadline. I contacted xxxxx yesterday since she had paid with a credit card, to let her know that her card hadn't been processed yet and asked if she was still wanting to order her products. I went over her options with her and she ended up deciding to have me submit her and her mother's orders as her own show. She decided to do that because she had ordered and was still wanting the March special and wasn't interested in the April one.Should you still want to get your other family and friends' items ordered, I can put it through as an April show. It doesn't change anything for them, because no one's order was over $60 to get the guest special.I will wait to receive the checks (by mail is preferred, because I will be in and out tomorrow) and deposit them but will not be able to submit the show as it currently stands. Your show total is different without xxxxx and her mom's order. You will also need to choose a different item for your host special according to the April flyer.I just looked at your guest orders and they come to a product total of $177.75. This qualifies as a show, but unfortunately means that you haven't earned any free products. You are able to get the April host special, have a 15% discount on anything else you'd like, and free shipping on your host order though.The way we had it previously set up, you had placed your own order to boost you a level, and I don't know if that still interests you. If so, we should discuss it over the phone so that we can go through it as I calculate your various options. Then you can put your order through using either a debit or credit card.Let me know how you wish to proceed.I hadn't read your post, Ann, before I sent it...oh well. I did tell her about the other host placing an order, because they are friends/related through previous marriage and I know they talk with each other. Plus the previous host was going to let her know about it so that the mom's check could just get discarded. I can't meet with her because I have my kids and no one to tend them tomorrow, and definitely don't want to meet with her during my weekend. You know, it's really funny that she claims she didn't have the proper postage. She works from home as an insurance adjuster. I'm sure she deals with mailing things out a lot. She should know what postage should be. And if it really was the improper amount of postage, it's a lot easier I would think to slap on a bunch of stamps to be sure, than to take an hour or so out of her busy schedule to drive to meet me.I know that was a rather long e-mail and maybe gave her too much detail, but to be honest I'm tired of her and tired of going back and forth. This gives her all I know right now, and now the ball is in her court. I won't mind if she doesn't end up responding or going through with it. We'll see what happens. The other host had tried e-mailing her asking about the show since her card hadn't been charged and was wondering what was happening. That was before I called her yesterday. So my guess is that this stinky host got that e-mail and it's dawning on her that pretty soon her friends are going to be asking what's up. She's probably doing a last ditch effort to get it closed, but who really knows. I'll see if she responds back.
 
Sounds like you've covered your tushie. :) But wasn't this a live show? I seem to recall that you mentioned people drinking while you were there. If it was a live show, then she'd have $15 free products. Please ignore me if I'm confusing this situation with someone else's.
 
Is this host stupid or what?
I dont' even know what to say to this. If not for the others who ordered, I'd forget the whole thing and not contact her AT ALL AGAIN.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #69
chefann said:
Sounds like you've covered your tushie. :) But wasn't this a live show? I seem to recall that you mentioned people drinking while you were there. If it was a live show, then she'd have $15 free products. Please ignore me if I'm confusing this situation with someone else's.

No this was a catalog show. Not sure about the drinking thing, I'm trying to think if I've posted about a show with that? I don't think so. Must've been another thread?

This all started from a November show. My good host hosted it. This girl showed up at the end and I had to catch her up on everything. Then she said she wanted to do a show. She and the host always book shows off of each other. My good host specifically didn't buy the scrapers with her host benefits because this host was saying she was going to do a January show (and that was what the host special was going to be). But I was never able to set a date with her. I left several messages and then when we finally spoke she set a Feb. date. Then cancelled the show the day before it was supposed to happen (I posted about this a while ago), begged to reschedule so I did. Then cancelled that March show and decided to just do a small catty show because she had some friends who were wanting to get a few things. Then she would rebook for the summer and we'd do it then and she could get the double host special for the booking off of herself. Then this whole saga happened.
 
Lose that chica's number! Or maybe not, so you can caller ID her! Mamma Mia...I pray I don't get a hostess like that some day :(
 
diradt said:
Lose that chica's number! Or maybe not, so you can caller ID her! Mamma Mia...I pray I don't get a hostess like that some day :(

Oh you will Diana, just give it time...LOL
 
Yeah, we've all had wacky people. Some are just wackier than others.
 
So her envelope with the checks was returned for postage??

Sorry, but how does an envelope of some checks (doesn't sound like there would have been that many checks) cost more than the standard 42 cents stamp?

Sounds fishy...maybe she didn't even put on a stamp!
 
Around here, if there is no postage it is returned. If it is short on postage, it is stamped "postage due" with the amount. Sounds like she didn't put any at all on it. What a dork! Hope you get rid of her soon!
 
pcchefjane said:
Around here, if there is no postage it is returned. If it is short on postage, it is stamped "postage due" with the amount. Sounds like she didn't put any at all on it. What a dork! Hope you get rid of her soon!

Used to be that way around here, but now, it just gets returned.

But I also question if it was ever stamped...or even ever mailed, at this point.
 
At this point I wouldn't believe a word she said, one excuse after another.
 
I guess this will go down in history as the worst scenario with a host.. I can't believe it is still going on....I am so sorry. As soon as you can -lose the witch with a "b". I still insist that her friends know exactly how she is.... I would be tempted to talk with the original host to see if she knows phone numbers etc... to get in touch with everyone.. and also to let her know what's up. She will know by how you handled her party that it is not you!!!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #78
gingertannery said:
I guess this will go down in history as the worst scenario with a host.. I can't believe it is still going on....I am so sorry. As soon as you can -lose the witch with a "b". I still insist that her friends know exactly how she is.... I would be tempted to talk with the original host to see if she knows phone numbers etc... to get in touch with everyone.. and also to let her know what's up. She will know by how you handled her party that it is not you!!!

I did speak with her and when she told me about how this host had also just hosted a jewelry party 3 weeks before this and that payment hadn't been processed by her bank yet, she was onto her friend. She was a little less forgiving than me on the phone. I was really trying to be kind and trying to come off as giving the bad host the benefit of the doubt, saying that I know she had a lot of family issues and stress going on and I wasn't sure exactly what was the root of the problem, but all I had to go by was what she had been telling me. The good host said that the bad host was to blame and that she had been coming up with excuses that have no bearing on things...after all, all the bad host had to do was stick the checks in the mail.

When I spoke with the good previous host about what she wanted to do with her order, she mentioned how her mom had placed an order. Then it hit me to ask her if she by any chance knew any of the other guests. I read off the names and she said they were all the bad host's family and one close friend and she didn't have their info for me.

The good host really was sweet and was appreciate of my efforts. And as it turns out, I just got notified that HO just shipped her order. So her stuff is going to arrive so fast from when we submitted it, I think she's going to be so happy. Meanwhile bad host is still sitting on the checks...
 
Amanda, I just want to say, you deserve an award for dealing with all of this.:thumbup:
 
  • Thread starter
  • #80
BlessedWifeMommy said:
Amanda, I just want to say, you deserve an award for dealing with all of this.:thumbup:

:blushing: Aw, shucks. That's very sweet of you! :D

I'm just so glad that not every host is like this! I just was treated to a phone call last night from a past host who is so dear and genuine. I had contacted her last month to see if she wanted to rebook before her 6 months was up, she asked me to send her a new catalog and some info and she'd take a look at it. Then she said how she would do a catty show maybe, but not a cooking show because her mother just passed away due to cancer. I felt terrible. Her mother was so sweet, and actually we held the show at her house. It was only in November and she seemed so healthy. It just crushed me to hear the news. My host was so close to her mother, so now she is mourning the loss of her mom as a dear friend as well. I told her how sorry I was and we talked for a while. I apologized for calling about PC stuff at such an inappropriate time, but she insisted that I not feel bad, that she was the one who asked me to send her a catalog, that it was okay. So sweet, her trying to make me feel better!

I sent her out a catalog with some flyers of the specials and such, along with info about HWC. I also sent her a condolences card and wrote a note to her. I sent it a couple weeks ago and decided I would not call her. I didn't want her to think I was tacky and insensitive and only wishing to get sales from her. I figured what will be, will be. Well, she just called me last night and asked if I could send her some more catalogs and such and that as soon as her friends heard she had a catalog they all pounced on her. She's going to give away the benefits to her niece who is just starting out on her own and has a bare kitchen. Her friends heard that and so they all REALLY want to order stuff now to boost the sales for her. It really made my day! :)

So stinky host saga isn't getting me down! :D Business is still out there for me, and there are nice hosts to work with and I will find them! :)
 
See, Karma does work and it doesn't always have to be bad. You treated bad host with kindness and dignity and now you have been rewarded because you are a good person.
 
babywings76 said:
So stinky host saga isn't getting me down! :D Business is still out there for me, and there are nice hosts to work with and I will find them! :)

That's the attitude!! The stinkers out there are actually a minority. It just feels like there are a lot of them because they're so draining to deal with.
 
This has "bless and release" written all over it. The hostess is immature, starstruck with all that she can/could/might (won't) get for free. She is also in fantasy-land not treating yours (or sounds like the jewelry show either) as a business. Does she think her "guests" are going to put up with this? Or that they are so dense she can just lie to them? What goes around comes around.No offense intended, but this also points to host coaching. If you had 3 contacts with her before giving her catalogs and order forms, she would know better to close within 3 days of her show deadline. The wording, "this is my business and your friends become my customers the moment they hand you their payment - so we become business partners. Let's discuss how you can get the most benefit from our partnership, OK?" is golden...You gave her a firm deadline. Next I would show her the door - "no,Maddie Badhost, I am unable to process this order as I said. The fifteenth as come and gone, despite several missed steps for payments to be received" That you already are going to make her mad, choose where to go from there...High road. "If we were to pick this up as if the show occurred today, we could discuss making it an April show. Again, payment needs to be made prior to orders going in. We would have to discuss how these customers will be informed of the delay as well."Middle road. "I am willing to submit this but doubt the home office will accept it as a March show any longer. In the two conversations with them I have already had about this show, they reminded me of the 15th cutoff date. What are your friends expecting for their order?"Rocky road. "I cannot accept this show. You knew my clear expectations and were either unwilling or unable to comply after repeated attempts on my part. The circumstances under which payments were finally received places me at risk with each customer, and in light of all of that my husband's and my reputation were hurt. The Pampered Chef home office agrees that you will need to find another consultant. Good Day! Turn and walk away."
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my host is unresponsive?

If your host is unresponsive, try reaching out through multiple communication channels such as email, text, or phone calls. Be polite and express your concern. If they still do not respond, consider moving forward with your plans and updating them later.

How can I handle a difficult host during a party?

Stay calm and professional. Focus on the guests and the party experience. If the host is being disruptive, gently remind them of the purpose of the event. If necessary, take a moment to speak privately with the host to address any issues.

What if my host is not promoting the party?

Encourage your host to share the event on social media and with their friends and family. Provide them with promotional materials and tips on how to engage their network. If they still refuse to promote, you may need to adjust your expectations for the party's success.

How can I end a partnership with a difficult host?

If you feel that the partnership is not working, communicate your concerns directly and professionally. You can express that you believe it's best to part ways amicably. Make sure to leave the door open for future opportunities, as circumstances may change.

What are some signs that I should stop working with a host?

Signs that you should consider stopping work with a host include consistent lack of communication, refusal to promote the party, or a negative attitude that affects the overall party experience. Trust your instincts and prioritize your well-being and business success.

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