To be really disappointed in Neils Yard?

[Reginabambina]

I’m not under any illusions that Neil’s Yard products are amazing but they’re nice and have a shop local to me so I get stuff there occasionally and have found some nice products over the years. Today a post came up on a community page on fb reminding us to ‘support local business’ from someone claiming to be a Neil’s Yard ‘consultant’. A quick look on their website reveals that they operate as an MLM on the side. I feel really disappointed, I thought this was a legitimate business and have been buying their products for years (and more embarrassingly giving them as gifts). Is it a total overreaction to never use them again?

If they're operating a MLM on the side, why do you think that renders the main business illegitimate?

Loads of high street places do this, Body Shop, Anne Summers, Lakeland etc.

I really don't get all this hate for MLMs on MN. I wouldn't do it myself but what's wrong with others earning money this way? I don't want to be goady but I'm genuinely curious why everyone hates them so much.

Who is Neil and what's in his yard?

www.nealsyardremedies.com

I think if you're buying Neils Yard rather than Neals Yard, you're buying knock-off toiletries anyway 😂

But their Wiki page says that they're an MLM company and a quick Google suggests it's fairly common knowledge rather than "on the side".

MLMs are glorified pyramid schemes, @Thurmanmurman.

They prey on those who are statistically more vulnerable (SAHMs, single mothers, those with disabilities, and others who can't take on work outside the home) with promises of making thousands a month, if you only spend £400 on this starter kit!

To make any real money on these you have to be in at the start. It only really benefits those who start the scheme.

The only real difference between a pyramid scheme (illegal) and an MLM is that the MLM tries to provide a veneer of legitimacy by selling physical products.

The problem here is that you will make very little money just selling the products. Because your business is not truly selling the products, it's selling an idea (which has no substance), relies on turning your customers into your competitors, and turns YOU into the product. All it has to do is lure you in with the promise of a shiny white Mercedes and holidays in the Bahamas.

If someone has to sell their products through an MLM rather than setting up an actual shop, it tells me that a) their products are not as wonderful as being made out, and b) that they're looking to make money off people, not products.

If you like their products then does it matter if they sell them in different ways?

You don’t have to gift them, I don’t tend to gift items that are sold this way as always wonder if the person receiving thinks I passed them on having been badgered into buying a product.

Neal's Yard are retailers who have consultants on the side. It is an MLM, I did it for a little while a few years ago, but actually they didn't have targets so you could just buy for family and friends at a discount.

It's very different from some of the other MLM schemes in my view.

They have lots of shops by the way so the MLM bit is very definitely a sideline.

Is it an MLM or is it like being an Avon person/body shop consultant?

At least the Neil’s Yard MLMers on my Facebook feed haven’t been trying to encourage people to buy soap off them to then donate to NHS workers whilst they take the profits, like the Body Shop ones have.

I really don't get all this hate for MLMs on MN. I wouldn't do it myself but what's wrong with others earning money this way?

There is a world of difference between an MLM and somewhere which uses reps or franchisees. Very few people make money of MLMs but the firm makes profit from the people who spend a lot trying to make it work for a few months.

The other problem is that the money going to several layers of salespeople does not go to producing the product, so often they are poor products for the cost.

I've been a 'consultant' for years now. I have been a customer of Neals yard since it was just one little shop in the 1980's, it's the best product for my intolerant skin plus I really like their ethics. I just buy for myself and friends and get a really nice discount. I know a lot of consultants do parties etc, but I've never had any pressure to do any of that.

People usually leave MLMs having spent more on product than they ever made and having lost a lot of friends because of their relentless sales spiel.

But Neal’s Yard is a cheese shop? MLM cheese??

Now that I’d sign up for. Mmmmmmm.

Neal’s Yard do organic toiletries.

As PPs have said, Neal's Yard has shops but also consultants who are like Avon reps. It's not forceful. You don't have to sell loads and you aren't there telling lies and taking money just to line the pockets of the person up from you in the way the dangerous MLMs are. I'm not a consultant. I just know the business. As they don't have that many shops it just gives them a wider audience.

I like Neals Yard products too, I wouldn’t stop buying them because of the MLM sideline, although I don’t support MLMs in general. You can get some of their products in Waitrose. In your position I’d just carry on buying from the shop.

If they’re not putting pressure on their ‘consultants’ to meet sales targets or to sign up friends to sell then it isn’t the kind of set up that gets (rightly) slated on here.

I doubt Lakeland are.

Now does anyone need a cheese sales rep? Anyone?

Neal's Yard have lovely products and were into organics, homeopathic remedies and essential oils way before 'greenwashing.' With everything which is currently going on, this seems a very manufactured problem....

Neal's Yard is an area in Covent Garden that includes a Cheese shop and other places\shops !!

I've never heard of Neil's Yard but there plenty of places online that will deliver cheese, other than supermarkets. They are not all rip offs either.

A bit of a first world problem, really but I'm not criticising the op, we all have fancies regardless of the current crisis.