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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bloody Younique!

51 replies

purplecurtaindog · 20/10/2017 16:19

Okay, so recently my best friend has decided to join a multi level marketing group pyramid scheme called Younique. Her new 'business' is selling forcing friends to buy Younique and she's honestly doing my head in!

Don't want to make this too long, but these are the occurrences:

a) She made a Facebook group for her Younique profile. Added me into it. I left. She added me again. I left again. SHE ADDED ME AGAIN!!

b) She keeps posting things like "join my team and get paid every Friday!" "Are you a single mum who wants to spend more time with her kids? Well now you can be a better mum if you join my team!" Like she's targeting single mums to almost emotionally manipulate them into joining her team under her, to benefit herself Confused

c) she messages asking if I want to buy stuff and then complains when I say no, saying I'm not supporting her. I have a LOT of makeup as I used to be a makeup consultant which I think is why she focussed on me so much but I have tried Younique and don't like the quality! It's overpriced!

So AIBU to think that my friend is doing something very wrong here, as well as finding her intensely annoying?!

OP posts:
Uokbing · 22/10/2017 13:30

Yes I thought that name change but she keeps talking about it being all expenses paid and i thought it must be illegal or something to outright lie about it in that way. I don't know, maybe if I looked more closely it's just clever wording or something?

kuniloofdooksa · 22/10/2017 15:22

Maybe "all expenses paid" doesn't have a legal meaning. After all, if I pay all my own expenses rather than my employers paying then the expenses still are being paid aren't they (by me)

Maybe they are initially self-funding but promised that their expenses will be paid when they reach xyz target which the training will help them to reach, but of course xyz target will be deliberately unattainable.

MetalMidget · 22/10/2017 17:38

The advantage Younique have is that their sellers can flat out lie to make more sales, and that's on them as an individual, not as a company. For example, saying that Younique is vegan friendly, cruelty free, all natural, etc, alongside going on about the 'charity' (that's not classed as a charity in the UK)...

rainbowduck · 22/10/2017 19:45

I have a friend who sells Forever Living. She isn't too bad in terms of promoting the products but it still makes me cringe when she does...

whyhastherumgone · 23/10/2017 08:41

I discovered this recently after finding out the pushiest woman i ever met was selling Younique - shouldn't have been surprised.

I cannot understand how they get away with it and think it's incredibly sad and worrying that the whole framework is based on lies and exaggeration.

Since i discovered what it was I'm noticing it everywhere on my facebook - have had a bit of a cull because of it - and have been added to whatsapp groups as we'll as facebook groups as well which is really annoying. i don't mind an invite but just adding is so rude.
They all post EXACTLY THE SAME "empowering" posts and really seem to go for young mums - i had the whole "you'll be a better mum" line.

Recently seen a spate of people doing "party candles" as well - assuming that's one too.

I agree with PP - i think you'll have to give your friend a wide berth for a bit as it's almost cult like in how obsessed they get with it

ShowOfHands · 23/10/2017 08:48

I have a friend in Punta Cana right now with her y sisters, hashtag so blessed hashtag living the dream.

I'm fed up with the "OMG EEEEEEEKKKS!!!!!! Amazing product, amazing life. Thank you Mr Universe" crap. I suspect she's actually unwell right now. But what can I do? Wait for it to unravel? Try to reach her now?

PoppyPopcorn · 23/10/2017 08:48

These sorts of people give a bad name to those of us who are genuinely self-employed and not hyped up sales reps.

Avoid - and OP you can only be there for your friend when it all goes pear shaped. As it undoubtedly will.

Aeroflotgirl · 23/10/2017 08:59

My old school friend is a Younique bot. She is not too bad, and gas not added me to any groups. She does make these cringy make up videos. It sounds like you loose more money than you make. I read tgat Elle storey called Poonique. It was a real eye opener.

Efnisien · 23/10/2017 09:23

Juice plus/aloe Vera/forever living/yoooooonique,blah blah blah a 'friend' selling this shite deleted me off FB after I posted a polite status asking folk not to lock me into their bloody groups!The constant inspirational quotes are also cringy .😬

RosyPony · 23/10/2017 09:32

My favourite MLM posts are the ones where they accidentally copy and paste the instructions as well 😂😂😂
“Post this first followed by three aspirational photos” sort of thing.

The you ique mascara has awful reviews from anyone that isn’t selling it!

Cutesbabasmummy · 23/10/2017 09:54

I@ve deleted all of my Facebook "Friends" who try and sell me stuff like this, Younique, Juice Plus... etc. I=Every time I went onto social media I was bombarded! Not for me, thank you!

MaisyPops · 23/10/2017 12:14

That Elle story has just cost me over an hour. Grin
Interesting read and sounds like some bota on my feed.

One is a sparkley elite whatever presenter with huge teamies and her teamies have teamies. She's been on one of these reward trips. It is paid for, but the y bots have to pay their own flights to florida or wherever the cruise sets off from (so looking at over £1000 to access the free trip)

dingdongdigeridoo · 23/10/2017 13:23

Can you block the group so she can’t add you again?

I’ve had a few MLM idiots on Facebook. They usually quietly give it up after a few weeks.

YawningHippo · 23/10/2017 13:54

I have one friend who got converted a few months ago. Very intelligent, wise and interesting. The last person ever I expected to join up. I used to really enjoy reading her posts before younique. I just can't believe she buys this stuff about the charity, she's really not the type. Not sure how it's going for her, but she doesn't seem disillusioned yet!

musicform · 23/10/2017 14:00

I won a eye powder from Younique at a raffle - odd orange colour and when I looked it up - having never heard of it - it was £20! for this tiny pot of a shitty shade!!

musicform · 23/10/2017 14:04

I remember a friend some time ago starting to pedal aloe vera products - I actually like aloe vera for sunburn etc but I was really shocked to see her selling it at her wedding. I dealt with it by going on a break over FB - not a close friend by any means

myusernamewastaken · 23/10/2017 14:10

I thought this shit had died a death....i dont get any mlm crap on my newsfeed anymore....

GrimDamnFanjo · 23/10/2017 14:52

My ndn added me on Fb only this weekend. Then sent me some samples via my DD. I am really cross.

Tanith · 23/10/2017 15:35

“She is currently on a week long all expenses paid trip to Punta Cana with her DH (wherever that is, Mexico?) and it looks pretty amazing”

One of my friends does this rubbish. What she doesn’t tell people is that it’s her very well off husband that pays for the stuff that she claims is all expenses paid.

Yes, Younique sellers are perfectly capable of lying through their teeth for the cause. “Fake it ‘til you make it” is a phrase the leaders use a lot.

rainbowduck · 23/10/2017 22:52

Selling it at her wedding???!!!

New low...

snash12 · 26/10/2017 15:55

The all expenses paid is actually "room only" (after a bit of online research).

Younique book a venue (probably at a massively reduced rate as they will guarantee to bring lots of "Y-Sisters".

The presenters themselves have to earn 30000 incentive points in order to be able to apply (!) to go! To earn these points you have to sell your products more and more and more and recruit people.

They advertise it as a all inclusive holiday but you have to pay for flights / transfers / extras and no alcoholic drinks are included.

Also - guess what?! They sell their products all week at a reduced rate for the presenters to bring home and shove down their mates throats so Younique themselves are laughing all the way to the bloody bank!

FuzzyOwl · 26/10/2017 16:03

If she adds you to the group again, just unfollow it and turn off all notification. That way you will never see what is posted in it and she can’t make you. I would also be inclinded to unfollow her and hope that she sees sense very soon!

Haffiana · 26/10/2017 16:51

I just read that blog. I am just appalled that this is aimed at exactly those who can least afford it. It reminds me of BrightHouse. Just like BrightHouse this should also be investigated by the FCA.

Alittle6976 · 28/10/2017 17:30

I hate to say this (for fear of lynching!!)
I'm an Usborne Organiser, I don't add people to groups etc, I have a public page and that's it. I don't post to my personal Facebook.
If someone adds me to a group I leave (unless I'm interested) and if they bug me I block them.
I only started as a hobby because I work full time. I earn enough and am busy enough that I don't need to shove it down people's throats!
I'm sure there's an option to be not readded to groups when you leave

BalthazarImpresario · 29/10/2017 07:24

That blog is such a good read. I have a younique seller in my friend list but thankfully she doesn't really flood her Facebook with it. Or randomly message. She posts on her personal if there is something happening in her group by everything seems to be confined to there.

I had a GP try and get me into her Arbonne group, would have credited her with more intelligence.