Christmas Dilemma: Holiday host bans sister from celebrating with family unless she agrees to leave MLM products at home: 'It's not a sales pitch opportunity'

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Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Nov 4, 2025 1:00 PM EST

There is always one family member who has to find a way to make every gathering about themselves. Maybe they do so by hogging the karaoke mic or by making everyone settle down for a PowerPoint presentation about their college thesis. I know people that are not opposed to feigning illness if it they're not being doted on enough by everyone else. 

One woman chose to turn Christmas into a business opportunity by promoting her wellness brand over mashed potatoes and eggnog. She showed up last year with a tote bag full of products and started pitching relatives between gifts and desserts. Well, this year, her sister is hosting, and she's having none of that! She set one simple boundary: no recruiting, product demos, or catalogs on the table. Her sister didn't take this well and called her unsupportive and even accused her of ruining her business during the busiest time of the year. Now their mother is begging for peace; our protagonist just wanted a drama-free holiday, but things just getting more and more tense as December approaches. 

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  • 01

    WIBTA if I told my sister she can't bring her MLM stuff to our family Christmas anymore?

    A makeup saleswoman pitching a product to a customer
    via nomadsoulphotos

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Every Christmas we do it at my mom's house. It's kind of the one time my extended family actually chills together and not argues.
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 03
    My sister (34F) joined one of those "not an MLM" makeup/ health/wellness things 2 years ago. At first it was harmless, she posted on Facebook, whatever.
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 04
    Last year though she showed up to Christmas with a whole tote of products and legit started pulling people aside to "color match" them. She even texted my cousin later with her "holiday bundle".
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 05
    A woman doing a client's makeup
    via Karola G from Pexels

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 06
    My mom was embarrassed and my uncle joked about charging her a vendor fee.
    via u/MarmBineball

  • I'm not sure there is ever really a good or appropriate time to pitch MLM products to your family members and friends, honestly. But yeah, holidays are definitely off-limits. 

  • 07
    This year I'm hosting because | have the space. I told her in a group chat that I don't want any
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 08
    selling or recruiting at my house, no catalogs on the tables, no oh my god your skin would love this.
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 09
    Makeup products
    via Igor Ovsyannykov from Igor Ovsyannykov

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 10
    She responded with "I don't know why you hate that I'm doing something for myself" and said I was trying to ruin her income
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 11
    during the busiest time. Then she said well maybe we just won't come if we aren't welcome. Now my mom is doing the whole can't
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 12
    you just ignore it for one day. But it's not one day, once she's in, she'll DM everyone again after.
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 13
    Would I be the asshole if I stood my ground and said no business stuff at Christmas even if that means she doesn't come
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 14
    Maleficent_Bit2033 No. That's the problem with people in MLMs, they lose perspective and every occasion becomes a selling opportunity.
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 15
    Tell her it's a family get together and not a business meeting. Your sister can take the day off or go somewhere else.
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 16
    A family having a special moment on Christmas
    via LuckyBusiness from Getty Images

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 17
    Standard-Cake3384 Totally agree. Family time shouldn't come with a sales pitch attached. Like if she can't be around her own relatives without turning it into a business thing, maybe she really does need to sit this one out.
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 18
    LastyearhereXXVL No. Tell her it's not a sales pitch opportunity and if she doesn't get that, don't come. Set boundaries.
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 19
    DuckDuckWaffle99 "we'll miss you, sis, but I'm sure a lot of other people are home that day so you can go door to door!"
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 20
    IOlipunkx NTA. The fact that she immediately jumped to "maybe we just won't come" when you set a totally reasonable boundary
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 21
    tells you everything. She's holding her attendance hostage to get permission to sell to
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 22
    captive relatives. Your mom just wants peace, but that peace comes at the cost of everyone else's comfort.
    via u/MarmBineball
  • 23
    MrsNuggs NTA. Flip it and ask why the sister can't just not for one day.
    via u/MarmBineball

Tags

christmas makeup family drama mlm siblings family feud relationships for sale entitled family sister holidays entitled people
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