To not understand how you make money?

[QuickWash]

I know a few people locally who have recently got in to selling things for companies I had never previously heard of. They have all become basically relentless in their posting on social media, holding coffee mornings, having stalls etc. They most put in hours and hours and hours of work. They all rave about what they're doing but I just can't understand how the pay per hour could be that worth it for low cost or low use (ie not much repeat business) items?

I have tried really hard not to buy anything as I'm trying to buy things I only really need or have wanted for a long time and save up for, but do find it hard when not buying stuff is seen as unsupportive of their efforts, which are considerable. Do they get a big proportion of what they sell moneywise?

AIBU to think it isn't obvious as to why these are such amazing ways to make money?

Tupperwate party?

Pavo

they're not making money

but that's not the point in your terms

you shouldn't have to pay for things you don't need in order to show support for friends.

sunk costs fallacy is why your friends haven't given up, op. They 'invest'
£££ in a kit and then they're relentlessly told they're not trying hard enough if they struggle to make a return.

Selling things to your friends is an odious blurring of lines, it's a real scourge of the modern age.

Some of them are OK, my friend sells Lipsense and loads of the other make up in their range. I and lots of my friends buy regular orders from her so she is definitely making money. You can do it if you are good at marketing and have lots of customers. But I don't think you would make much money from it unless you already had a big following, like a well known beauty blogger or something. MLM isn't for me personally.

Oh, look, here's an article advert about S and D from a couple of years back.

www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-business/11741646/stella-and-dot-direct-selling-jewellery-business.html

Shame on you, Telegraph.

John Oliver did a really interesting and funny segment on MLM:

These blog posts and comments are really ringing true - I do feel a bit hounded and like people I only know a bit are suddenly in contact all the time. It's weird and I don't like it, feel under pressure and don't really know how it's going to lessen without it causing offence..

Are you being made to feel guilty and unsupportive if you don't like all their posts and buy the products?
Can you name a shop that does business that way?

None of them will be still at it in 6months.

I had a friend who I thought was sensible. They got in on a relatively new mlm, and seemed to be doing really well. The big giveaway that it was a mlm was the “free” vegas trips etc..they actually went on two i think.

I’ve just realised they haven't mentioned a word for about 6m. It all just suddenly went silent. Probably as they realised they’d never make their investment back.

You can still be friends on FB but block their posts so you can have a look when and if you choose.

Don't ever feel 'unsupportive' because you don't buy things that you don't want. They are being equally unsupportive of your aim to manage your finances.

I spent £40 on a chopper to "support" my friend. How painful that was to spend something you know doesnt worth that much when you are trying to save every penny. It's wrong to pressure your friends and family to buy these over priced products, I often think people are so desperate to be seen as "employed" by doing these scheme even when they don't make profits themselves.

I totally refuse to "support" them ever since. I feel sorry for those mums who are in these social circles.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that 99% make no money and actually lose it and it’s all a big con.

But don’t a tiny tiny number make a lot of money through it? One I “know” does, through Younique, she’s a top presenter. I think she got in at the very start though.

I've gone through my FB and turned off notifications etc and am hoping that will make me feel a bit less got at!

Tha js for all the info and advice - I can't believe I've never really looked into it all before. I went to a Jamie Oliver party and a Pampered Chef party once but just thought it was all out of my price range and left it there. Feel lucky to have been oblivious for so long!

It’s all smoke and mirrors skychange ... mumsnetters did lots of digging and all the “top” reps were creating the appearance of wealth through renting fancy houses/ cars, posting images pretending they had a pool when it was actually at a gym, etc etc

I expect only the founders (largely Utah Mormons) make big bucks

It really is like a cult. My friend joined one and had the pics on fb of 'having her pwn business' and it's so fun working from home. They literally get instructed on what to post so it looks like they are loving it.

Oh these are bloody awful OP, your friends are probably trying to get a sale from you because they’ve already at a loss from it. It’s horrible what people will do when they’re desperate. Unfortunately, there’s nothing to be made other than for the people at the very top. Your friends are scrabbling for crumbs under the table and losing sight of themselves in the process. Unfollow all their groups, turn off your fb notifications and mute them on WhatsApp.

Shame on Jamie Oliver for endorsing an MLM.

@MLM I just looked it up and it looks like it folded fairly quickly!

Surely some people make money from these, otherwise why would they do it? I have a Facebook friend who looks on the face of it like she is really successful with it. She has been on trips away etc and doesn't work any other job with three kids to support, she does have a husband but I doubt he makes enough to cover everything.

It's not for me at all, as they look busier than a full time and putting posts up on family holidays/dats out etc but surely some must be making money?

I had a friend who I thought was sensible. They got in on a relatively new mlm, and seemed to be doing really well. The big giveaway that it was a mlm was the “free” vegas trips etc..they actually went on two i think

Is this Arbonne?

A family friend of mine (and her mother!) are heavily involved in Arbonne. I think the daughter has been involved for 2-3 years but is still awaiting the mythical white Mercedes she has been talking about for 18 months.

Is this Arbonne?

Do you know what? I’m not even sure .

Lots of posts about amazing new nutrition system, before and after photos of people and their amazing success. Giving talks to athletes etc. I don’t even think they mentioned weight loss, just a whole load of guff about body shape, health and fitness. Wrapped up with “message for more details”.

I vaguley remember trying to work out at the time what it was they were on about.

@hello that's what made me post this as the number of hours involved seems arduous, so it's hard to fathom if there's no 'pay'!

I hadn't heard of Arbonne... How many of these companies can there be?!

I need to go through my N I citations options even more careful. Idesoite my changing stuff yesterday I woke to more posts this morning.

Oops, please excuse the typos. Am trying to do too many things at once!

I've got a bunch of friends on FB who've been suckered into the MLM cult.

Only three of them really claim to be 'successful' and post endless 'inspirational' posts about working for themselves, enjoying life, getting out of the rat race etc.. coincidentally those three people all have relatively successful partners who I assume are bringing in the $$ more than their MLM ventures.

Everyone else just goes quiet and disappear into obscurity once the penny drops.

It's sad, it very much preys on the desperate and naive I reckon, it's as if they've never heard the adage 'if it's too good to be true..'