I hosted a T.S. party at my house last month.  The consultant told me that she makes between 25% and 36% per show--depending upon if it's an in-home party or a catalog party.  That's about all I know.  I do love their products though!!   

I use their products. Just baked the brownies and almond pound cake recently.  Hubby is asking for more pound cake.  I'm going to have to e-mail my cons and order it soon.

I went to a party a few weeks ago.   I only went because a new friend was hosting and I saw it as an opportunity to further our friendship and eat chocolate.   Well, goal #1 was accomplished, but goal #2....no chocolate in sight. 

the products we tried were good, for the most part, but what about the products we didn't try?    No way would I buy a $12 food item, pay shipping on it, and have no idea if I will like it or not.   Plus, they do not have ingredient lists.   Apparently, consultants have to purchase those from the company and this consultant had not purchased one.   Why in the world would ANYONE buy a food item whose ingredients they do not know?   It could be completely full of chemicals and preservatives.   It could be 1,000 calories per ounce.  It could have literal "lard" as an ingredient.   If you have an allergy, you have to know what is in food.

I ended up not purchasing anything b/c my daughter has a nut allergy and I have to read labels before serving her anything.   I can't order for her in a restaurant without quizzing them.

One item I did like and want....a dipping oil.   It was reasonably priced, but the shipping I was goingto have to pay was more expensive than the item, so of course I didn't get it.   But, I did go to Williams Sonoma the next day looking for a comparable product.   I found one for 50 cents less, no shipping charges, and I could see the ingredient list before purchasing. 

I guess that in the end, these home parties are just too antiquated when we have so many retail and wholesale choices.     (...why didn't I figure that out before MK?)

At the party I attended in September, the consultant said that shipping used to be a percentage of your order (I guess that's the 10% you mentioned) but that it had just been changed to a flat fee.   Sounds like the change would have been after your summer party.   I can't remember if the shipping charge was $5.95 or $6.95.   You might check it out with your consultant.    The consultant at the party I attended seemed pretty new, nervous and everything.

Wow--very interesting.  I'm definitely going to check with my consultant re: S&H.  Thank you!!   

That is so weird!  I was cleaning out my tote bag Sunday afternoon, came across my unused order form from that Tastefully Simple party, and saw that the flat fee was $5.95.  (I looked at it before throwing it away b/c earlier when I was posting, I couldn't remember if it was $5.95 or $6.95.)   It is pre-printed on the order form - not something the consultant wrote in.   

Just to update this topic -

There is a flat fee of $6.99 if the order is less than $50, and after that it is 10%.

HOWEVER, if I had someone who only wanted to purchase one or two things and was local, I would certainly do my best to work with her on the shipping (as I am sure any rep would). 

In addition, if there were several people who only wanted one or two items, they could combine their orders to save on shipping.