Help! My cousin is a Hunbot!

[DianaPrincessOfThemyscira]

I found out my cousin has started selling an MLM, it was obvious when her Facebook statuses started being a bit odd and full of emojis.

I really don’t want to be unkind. She’s my cousin, she’s genuinely a nice person, but I really don’t want to buy anything from her.

We live quite a long way from one another but she’s just texted me - she knows I have eczema and rosacea so I guess I’m a good opportunity.

Can anyone suggest me a nice way to say thanks but no thanks? If it was practically anyone else that’s exactly what I’d do....

Can you gently prompt her to keep a good record of her outgoings as well as her income, so she can easily work out if she's making a profit (she almost certainly won't be)? You could always say a friend lost money doing an MLM so you want to make sure she doesn't get caught out. You could also advise her to watch the Ellie Uncovered documentary on iPlayer about MLMs.

And yes, just gently say thanks but no thanks when it comes to the products - perhaps pretend you've tried these products before and didn't get on with them?

Oh that’s good I think I’ll go with actually I’ve tried this one.

Or maybe just ‘actually I’ve found the £5 baby cream from Tesco is the best thing so far’. Which isn’t a lie, I do love it.

I do want to gently push her on this, she’s so driven I just don’t know how she can be pulled into this!

Yes, just be as tactful as you can - she will lose lots of friends by pushing her MLM on them, so she'll need all the kindness she can get! It sounds like you're very caring and sensitive. Good luck.

You could just tell her that the things you get on prescription and have bought yourself are working well together and you don't want to risk upsetting the balance you have found, therefore will not (not don't want to, but will not) be changing what you use in case it upsets the balance/your skin.

If she won't take a polite 'no' for an answer then you might have to be a bit more direct with her, but hopefully it won't come to that.

There’s a brilliant documentary on BBC iPlayer at the moment about MLMs. It focuses on Younique and Nu Skin (I think) For anyone thinking of joining one or just starting, it will put them right off. 84%of people make £0 and only 0.02% male the Mega bucks. It’s disgraceful. Just be nice but never purchase.

@HotChocolateLover what’s it called? Sounds great!

It’s called Ellie Undercover. Secrets of the multi level millionaires. Well worth a watch.

Thanks!

I'd be kind but firm. "Thanks for thinking of me but I don't buy from MLM companies, I have things I use already. Good luck with it though. How's (*insert new topic)? Have you seen anything of (other relative) lately?

When she replies with sales pitch, don't acknowledge! Be honest - you don't buy from MLM companies. X