PartyLite/Blyth Industries

One East Weaver Street, Greenwich, CT

Partylite • No merchandise! • Defective products • Unhappy hostesses • Miffed consultants • Apologists --- • More abour Multi-Level Marketing

PartyLite, which is part of Blyth Industries, has made quite a big business out of selling candles. In fact, Blyth annually peddles over $1 billion worth of "scented candle products," as it calls them.

Many of the candles are sold at in-home parties run by PartyLite "hostesses," who in turn funnel the funds to "independent consultants." In other words, it's a multi-level-marketing scheme in which the money flows up and everything else flows downhill.

A key element in all this is that the consumer is dealing with self-employed independent contractors. This absolves PartyLite of any responsibility for correcting problems and often, as the complaints in this section indicate, leaves the consumer holding the bag ... or dripping candle, in this case.

A few recent examples ...

Val of Milford, CT (1/17/06)
I recently made my first and last purchase with Partylite. I purchased a $19.95 candle from a neighbor and was surprised when the total was $25.15. Why should I have to pay shipping and handling for a "party" item? I never have to pay shipping & handling for Mary Kay items.

I'm paying shipping and handling and the item is not even being shipped to my home. I think this is a rip off and I will not be buying from Partylite in the future.

Debbie of Hermitage, PA December 27, 2007

Debbie of Hermitage PA (12/27/07)
I had purchased a snow globe from Partylite in 2003/04. I used it for 2 Christmasses, and now the motor doesn't blow the snow anymore. How do I repair this or get new parts?

Jackie of Anaheim, CA December 14, 2007

Jackie of Anaheim CA (12/14/07)
I recently hosted a PartyLite party for a friend of mine and when I went to submit my orders to her, she told me that I had to have a minimum of 150 in order for it to qualify as a party. Needless to say, my party amounted to about half of that and now in order to get my guests orders in time for Christmas, she gave me the option of paying an EXTRA 30 dollars for express shipping and handling or she claims that she'll have to place the order with her senior representative and lose her credit and my hostess credit. Those of us who ordered still have to pay for SHIPPING & HANDLING and I have to drive to Montebello, when I live in Anaheim, to pick up the order when it arrives. I spent about 80 out of pocket to throw this party and now I have to spend more in gas and time to go get the products because my party was not successful enough according to their standards. What is even more upsetting is the brochure that my friend provided us with apparently has some discontinued products that some of my guests ordered and now will not be able to receive. I am very upset about this and will not be buying or participating in Partylite again. I sell Avon and don't have to pay for extra for shipping, nor do I have to have a minimal order.

This has turned into a headache and an inconvenience. I was trying to help my friend out and do her a favor and now it has caused tension between my friend and I and some of the people that ordered discontinued products from the brochure.

Mel of Buckeye, AZ December 13, 2007

Mel of Buckeye AZ (12/13/07)
I purchased 185 in products for Christmas gifts. The PartyLite rep took my order on a Thursday evening and I received an email confirmation on Friday. I received my order in nine days. The merchandise was in perfect condition and beautifully packaged. My experience was terrific and I have no complaints against the representative or the products. I am annoyed at the high cost of shipping & handling. I just think that it was excessive and could have been offset by the gift certificate I received to be used to purchase additional merchandise in the future.

Debra of Fullerton, CA November 6, 2007

Debra of Fullerton CA (11/06/07)
My husband bought several items from a client of his, and for the most part they were lovely, to be honest, but for one glaring flaw that no caring craftsman could excuse. The water in the tealight snowglobe he bought started turning yellow the year we received it.  By year 5 or 6 of owning it, the water was so yellow I couldn't even stand to have it out, because honestly it's a nice piece of work, good sculptural adornments, well-painted, motorized snow and music box movement. And yet with all this they couldn't put in the one thing all snow globes must have. The thing looks like it's 80 years old from this filthy water.

Dorothy of San Diego, CA October 16, 2007

Dorothy of San Diego CA (10/16/07)
In June '07 at San Diego County Fair, I was approached by a PartyLite Candles representative to buy her product. I bought tea lite candles. It is now Oct '07, and I still have not received them. I have had several conversations with the rep who has informed me that she has sent the product through the mail, but I have never received the candles.

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