Forget Amway

Be warned, The Pampered Chef takes your dough.  But don't worry, he'll bake it like no one's business.  Over the years, MLMs have left a bitter taste in my mouth.  I can't count the friends and family members to have pushed one thing or another, with the best of intentions, only to leave me questioning the very fabric of our relationship.  Not so with The Pampered Chef. 

If you live in or near suburbia a new wave of multi-level marketing has probably swept your area.  If not, it's coming to a 'neighbor near you.'  Nearly everyone I know has either been to or has hosted a Pampered Chef party.  My wife loves this stuff.  From what I know, I love it too.

By now, at least one quarter of our cookware is from The Pampered Chef.  Their stone-wear cooking pans are famous and bake like no metal pan can (except their so **mn heavy).  No lie, I've never fried another strip of bacon after baking it in one of these dandy pans.

I've been approached and heard probably every shpiel under the sun.  My wife and I agree (married folks know the weight of that statement); The Pampered Chef is the one multi-level marketing (MLM) company that doesn't make our stomach turn.  Why is this?  Here's a quick-and-dirty on their model:

• Make only high-quality products  - For example, their rubber spatula/scrapers will not melt.  Anyone who's ever owned a rubber spatula/scraper eventually leaves it near something a little too hot and melts it, losing the ability to scrape cleanly.  Not any longer with these bad-ass spoons.
• Have parties - 'Events' are hosted by someone who volunteers their home (and kitchen) for the evening.  For hosting, they get generous discounts on products.
• Cook really good food - Good cooking is a requirement for product demonstrations!  Think about it, if the food was bad, people wouldn't buy stuff.  Whether by design or coincidence, Pampered Chef consultants usually can cook some savory nibblits. 

So, forget Amway (renamed "Quixtar").  While Amway and others like them hook people on the idea that it's a secret path to early retirement, The Pampered Chef promises only good food, great stuff to cook it with, and satisfied customers.  My wife may never sell their stuff but we'll keep on buying it.  And as long as she needs a thing or two in the kitchen, I'm sure she'll keep hosting these events.