MLM - How do I leave?

[Cosyhusky]

I've been part of a MLM for a few months. Not a well known one at present. I was convinced to sign up at this AMAZING time because no one had really heard of it and it was still in pre-launch. I had no idea what I was getting involved with.

£199 start up. Zoom calls every night.I don't attend them. Told to add 50 (50!!!) people a day to my fb. I haven't and won't. CEO lives every day I need to attend. 40 minute training videos I'm told I MUST watch. It's coffee. The products are disgusting. I'm told the only way I'm going to make any money is to recruit. I'm not comfortable with that. I'm not ok with messaging everyone I know multiple times. I should have done my research I know. I just want out.

I'm annoyed that my 'upline' is my friend. She knew exactly what she was conning me in to. How do I diplomatically leave without ruining the friendship? She has kids at the same school so I see her daily...

MLMs should be illegal. You have signed up to a disguised pyramid scheme. Selling the product is just a front for recruiting people.

Your upline is NOT your friend. They have conned you into signing up for something that will NEVER make you money. And you are doing the same thing to other people if you are recruiting.

Please watch this recent BBC documentary

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p076n2hg

Unsubscribe from everything and leave the WhatsApp groups.

**buy

Virgin Vie did this amazing highlighter cream before ANYONE did highlighter cream. Mine lasted about five years and VV had folded before I could buy anymore.

I’ve had to stop buying Body Shop and Avon totally on principle. They’ve both totally undermined their brands with this MLM bollocks.

@DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen Yes, it’s a shame because their products are actually very nice. They aren’t quite as unscrupulous in their methods as Younique, NuSkin etc but all the cult basics are there - conferences you have to pay to attend, awards given on stage, whooping and hollering, minimum targets, targeting mums who want to SAHM... All the social media ads by their Hunbots talk about exciting opportunities to run your own business... It’s such a shame. They are so highly rated for their ethics because they are quite eco-conscious but how can a MLM company be ethical? If you’ve got an upline and a downline then you’re never very far away from a pyramid and there’s nothing ethical about that.

Tell her you do not have the time and are looking for a guaranteed income where you do not feel the pressure to force a product you don't believe in

They should be banned. These schemes are in the business of exploiting and targeting primarily women and mothers.

The business model is to extract cash upfront on products of dubious quality through a social network of friends and neighbours.

Have you left yet. If not why not.

Back in March, Penny Mordaunt, who was at that time Minister for Women, did a web chat on Mumsnet and I asked her about them:

Many low income women are losing money - and friends - to Multi Level Marketing companies and their representatives. Do you agree that the laws on pyramid selling need to be tightened?

Her answer was:
Pyramid selling schemes are illegal and people who establish, operate or promote them can be prosecuted under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Those who participate in them are likely to lose money, and you should report anyone who you suspect is operating a pyramid scheme to action fraud or citizens advice.

Of course, she could have been confirming that MLMs are pyramid schemes and we should report them to action fraud or citizens advice. However, I got the impression that, actually, she didn't know what MLMs were.

Count your blessings that you saw sense relatively early on and avoided doing to others what your ‘friend’ did to you. The lost money adds insult to injury but it could have been much worse. I agree with others - simply withdraw without explanation. If pressed, keep it simple - you realised it wasn’t for you.

I just removed myself from the various groups and went v v quiet. Worked for me without the confrontation.

TIME - TIME - TIME

As others have said - blame lack of time.

''I'd really love to work this with you, but I do not have the time required to do this justice.''

It might be terribly polite, but it's an option to leave without being unkind to your friend.

You're not damning the idea and not making her feel a fool (she'll feel that without your help when it fails after she's worked herself senseless and gotten nowhere with it).

Your friend may not feel she ''conned'' you into joining. If she's in the grip of MLM and promises of what could be; the riches, the potential, the brain washing, she may think you're losing the opportunity of a lifetime for £199. Hmmm

Her hierarchy will have seen many people enter and leave, so just let her know you wish her well and stop. Right now. This very second.

Wishing you the best of luck and well done for figuring it out before another day had passed.

What is MLM?

YAYYYYYYYYYYYY

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU

Really pleased for you!!!

Let normal service resume now.

Multi Level Marketing, Blondiehip

Companies like Younique, Forever Living, Nu Skin and loads of others.
They pretend that you can earn a fortune by selling their products, but they’re actually trying to get you to recruit more sellers, hence the pyramid selling accusations.