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.

Kristine of Monroe, WI September 17, 2007

Kristine of Monroe WI (09/17/07)
I had a party on July 15, 2007 hosted by Amanda (independent sales person for Partylite) I had a very large party, totaling around 700.00 in sales. I had a few outside orders as well. We kept my party open for about a week so a few of my guests could finish ordering and paying. It then took about three weeks for the merchindise to arrive. After it was sorted and ready to be delievered there were 4 orders missing.

Amanda states that she reordered the merchindise. However it is now September 17th and I or the people who placed the orders have recieved anything. These people are close family members and or coworkers. I feel like I have cheated them telling them, that it is on its way. I feel that they should be componsated for their wait as they now have a bad impression on this company.

Shannon of Portland, OR July 20, 2007

Shannon of Portland OR (07/20/07)

I bought two boxes of the Q2329 3326 Mulberry in March, I did not receive anything until after May and at that I only got one of the two boxes that I ordered. To this day I still don’t have what I ordered. Needless to say, Partylite candles will never be something I do again.

Janet of Holt, MI June 12, 2007

Janet of Holt MI (06/12/07)

I purchased products at a new agents party, and the hostess cashed my check, my order was never placed. A senior hostess was also at the party and assured me that Partylite would take care of me. That was over two months ago, and to my knowledge, my order has still not been placed. I either want my money back or the products.

Andrea of Sandy, UT April 25, 2007

Andrea of Sandy UT (04/25/07)

I had a party back in Feb. totaling 700+, and am now just receiving my 2nd to last product. One of my guests never received anything because the consultant failed to tell her that she never put in the order and instead for the past several weeks she has been telling her that it was on back order. Then I get a charge to my account, so I call my consultant with my concern and she took it very personally and wrote me a nasty letter. Then she ended the letter by saying she wanted nothing to do with me.

I know my guests will eventually want more candles and they WILL NOT be going back to PartyLite. I would think in this industry you would thrive on repeat service, being after all you product does melt.

Evelyn of Kennett Square, PA April 6, 2007

Evelyn of Kennett Square PA (04/06/07)

I hosted a party with another individual. She took over 200.00 worth of orders and we booked 2 more parties from my party. Customers gave cash and checks, to this date we have not received any orders for my people and yet the checks have been cashed. my friends and family have asked me numerous times what happened with their orders and I don't have an answer.

Back to the top |