Is Usborne books an MLM or ok?

[CucumberTree]

So I’m against MLM like Younique/forever living shit etc, is Usborne books a more old school style selling or is it now just another inverted pyramid scheme MLM to suck other mums into?

That’s what I don’t understand, you can buy from a shop or independent book place, why from a to who you’ve got to wait until they’ve got enough orders. Do they work like other MLM in that they sign up other mums to sell under them to the same group of friends? I remember the sales in school being a treat as a child of usborne books.

You are right about the MLM, there is a post about saying she is look for other like minded people who want to do something different to their day job and being a mummy and you get commission blah blah.

I know some clever people can make money from an MLM, but to do so they have to ruthlessly sign people up knowing they are go to lose money. How can you want to sign up other people to know to sell books when they would no longer be buying books from you and your business. I just don’t get it. Someone with a secure job too.

Flamingo Paperie an MLM as well? Used to be Phoenix trading or something?

Yes, Flamingo Paperie in on the Shit List too.

Hi, just say a note to say that yes part of Usborne is a network marketing company but also it is a publisher. The network marketing side has been assigned to work directly with schools and actually offer them a whole range of free events that give the school thousands in free books. For example, is the school ran an Usbonre bookfair and took sales of £100 the school would receive £500 in free books, if they ran an Usbonre sponsored reading event and raised £100 the school would get £1600 in books. It's a huge win for the school, and the Usborne partner would make around £200 in commission for running the event. I hope that helps. 😊

@sarahhiggs your post certainly helps push the false idea that MLM companies like Usbourne have some kind of altruistic primary motivation. The reality is that the losers are the parents (usually mothers) who get involved. Everyone I’ve ever spoken to who has been involved in Usbourne has lost money and damaged their relationships with fellow parents. The comments on this zombie thread were correct about Usbourne being a scam basically. It was true in 2020 and it’s still true in 2023.

I disagree, I think it's great that books get so many free books and that parents can help the schools to achieve that, I also know many people who have made a great income from it. Like any company like this though there will always be some who join and don't put in the work to be successful.

How long have you been an Usborne rep?

Like any company like this though there will always be some who join and don't put in the work to be successful

Straight outta the MLM playbook. You may disagree but the research into companies like Usbourne doesn’t lie. 99.6% of all sign ups to MLM lose money (once business expenses are factored in). Many of the sign ups will have put in a great deal of effort and work but it will make no difference because the system is designed in a way that most CAN’T make a profit. There will be far far more people who have lost money in Usbourne.

You're obviously involved but this isn’t the place to try and position an MLM as anything other than a scam.

@sarahhiggs https://www.talentedladiesclub.com/articles/how-much-money-can-you-earn-with-mlm-usborne-books-at-home/#:~:text=So%20no%2C%20we%20don't,sales%20of%20anyone%20you%20recruit.

my favourites were Dorling Kindersley books - are they still a thing?

This company is an MLM. This thread is a Zombie. Please take your selling elsewhere.