I found this at Big Lots. This is a bad idea for like 9 different reasons.

We are currently knee deep into a landscaping project that is getting gradually more complicated every day. As the project evolves, we are finding that we require certain materials that we can’t just pick up at the local big-box store.

So, with that in mind, we decided to go to the Texas Home and Garden show that took place this weekend. We were hoping to get a few ideas, as well as track down some materials that we need.

Unfortunately, we failed to realize that “Home and Garden” must be some secret codeword for Multilevel Marketing gauntlet. 50% of the exhibitors were peddling some sort of pyramid scam. All of the usual suspects were there (Herbalife, Amway, etc.) as well as a couple new ones that I had never heard of. And of course, what event is complete without several over-aggresive CutCo salespeople. As we walked down the rows, we had to consciously avoid eye contact, lest we be acosted by someone who had just read “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and was now trying to make their millions selling mediocre products that are “not available in stores” (for good reason). If one more person would have asked me if I wanted to see “the plan” … ugh.

There were also three chiropractors, an information booth about Poland(?), several mortgage brokers trying to get people to refinance, and a bunch of timeshare salespeople. Oh, I almost forgot … the San Antonio News Express was there too, offering home deivery plans that were substantially higher than the newstand price.

I felt bad for the 5 or so vendors who were there trying to sell home and garden related items.

Oh, did I mention that we actually had to pay admission for this event?