To think that lockdown is partly responsible for the explosion in MLM?

[Nickelallergy891]

Every day, I mean every day, I log on and another Facebook friend seems to be pushing Scentsy/Body Shop/Avon/Yoooounique. I've really noticed it more in the last couple of months. As much as I find these posts annoying (I unfollow immediately), I can't help but worry that many women are getting themselves caught in a horrible trap, and I feel so angry that these sort of schemes even exist!

In my opinion, any "Job" that requires someone to pay for a start up kit isn't a job at all.

Has anyone else noticed a huge increase in these sort of things, and do you think it's mostly down to lockdown?

It's winds me up they post a status encouraging you to 'support local' by buying their crap!

@RandomUsernameHere

The one you have to commit to a very long lease on, in order to provide free advertising for Arbonne? That Mercedes.

I saw on another thread that the job centre encourages people to do mlms which is very depressing because it's obviously not a reliable or constant source of income.
I've seen a few friends do tropic, 1 friend (who's a nurse) did some weight loss shit (I dont actually know what it was as I had no intention of "PM-ing to find out more") and noticed several on local fb network advertising a mascara (again I dont know what it is but the vagueness, cut and paste gushing about how great it is and PM me for details suggests it is)

@Rhayader you have to call it tropic skin care. Then you get a yes.

@TazSyd she tried to make out that it was free once you got to a certain level!!! I can be quite gullible, but not THAT gullible

@AntsMarching ahhh thanks!

Yes, I know someone who was a self-employed/freelance musician (playing in various orchestras all over the country/world) and now she sells body shop stuff. It doesn't sound like she's making a lot of money, just hassling friends and family about it who can't afford any more toiletries. I guess there's a lot of people, like her, who are currently unemployed or underemployed.

Yes. So depressing. And pressurising. If you don't buy form them then you're not being 'supportive' enough.

Scentsy is a massive thing round here, and they're all signing each other up?! If you liked wax melts (I don't) it's still not something you'd need to buy daily is it?!

Usborne Books seems to be increasing in presence - I don't get why anyone would want to be limited to one range of books when you can go to a bookshop or amazon and take your pick from any publisher?

Oh that bloody perfume.

Yes, I'm sick of MLMs. I've been booted off a few fb groups for calling them out. No regrets.

It's astonishing - who do they think is going to be able to buy all this overpriced shite in the biggest global depression since the 1930's?????

Everyone round here seems to be becoming travel agents. I don’t know for certain but it has a whiff of mlm about it - lots of glossy photos and invites to start a new career/life.

@scrappydappydoo

Yes, I’ve seen that too. Had also wondered if it was another MLM popping up.

FM world came up as a MLM. The women I know who keeps flogging this stuff says it's not her links to other fm reps state they all rich and have high end car plans with Mercedes or range rovers. I think the reality is it's wealthy hubby's paying for it all

Indeed - it strikes me as crazy at a time that the travel industry is tanking and professionals are desperately trying to hold onto travel jobs that there are apparently these amazing opportunities to make money and a new career by setting yourself up independently...

@Thehop

I hate MLM but a friend who sells FM perfume keeps uploading shots of her income and it’s colossal. She’s just got a brand new Mercedes. It’s easy to see why people are impressed. I’m hard of heart and I’m impressed!

Take it you're a recruiter for one of these companies then?

Yup. Seen this happening and it's frustrating and depressing. The majority will be left out of pocket, maybe with less friends because they're sick of being nagged to buy stuff and with a surplus of products they can't shift. I hate MLMs.

Oh and the only MLM bot I know of who genuinely has done well (the Mercedes, retired her DH etc) is pretty much at the top of the pyramid because she had family connections and managed to get in there in the early days. Now she has many people underneath and is raking it in. I find that pretty contemptible. Also be aware that MLM recruits are under pressure to constantly boast about how much they earn (even if not true) or share holiday pics and pretend they are paid for by the company.

Perfume is a migraine trigger for me, I hate the stuff, apparently this fake perfume brand stuff is ‘different’ and won’t make me ill.
Ssssuuuree!

It’s become a bit of a hobby of mine to respond to the posts from MLM huns trying to convince people to work with them on local Facebook groups. I’m usually blocked instantly, but I do hope that one of the poor unsuspecting souls that has commented ‘interested’ will see my post and realise it’s a trap. It’s disgusting how they’re preying on people knowing that there’s a shit ton of unemployed workers now desperate to make a bit of cash quickly. Fucking vultures.

Have you seen this excellent article on MLMs which was published in the Daily Mail this morning?

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8526647/Promise-luxury-lifestyle-turn-nightmare-mounting-debt-marriages-threat.html#newcomment

Watching my friend's adult dd's efforts with the perfume shenanigans
Apparently she's made loads of sales already and worked out she's made a profit of £x. Then the mum told me how much the expenses were so far. Which were slightly higher.

(clearly someone who has confused 'sales' with 'profit' and has yet to work out that you are supposed to deduct expenses)

@Thehop

I hate MLM but a friend who sells FM perfume keeps uploading shots of her income and it’s colossal. She’s just got a brand new Mercedes. It’s easy to see why people are impressed. I’m hard of heart and I’m impressed!

I ran my own profitable business for a number of years and I never did anything as crass as brag about my income on social media.

The Talented Ladies Club has an excellent collection of articles on MLMs. Here’s one about the lies reps tell to lure people in:

www.talentedladiesclub.com/articles/fake-it-til-you-make-it-how-mlm-reps-lie-to-recruit-and-sell/

This one explores how MLM bots have sought to use the coronavirus pandemic to their advantage: www.talentedladiesclub.com/articles/why-pyramid-schemes-are-not-a-cure-for-coronavirus/

@scrappydappydoo The travel MLM sounds like Inteletravel which is all about recruitment. It doesn’t cost much to sign up to that so plenty of fools get suckered in. Intelebots seem to think the travel industry is booming at the moment.

FM perfume has been described on several MLM threads as “overpriced fly spray.”

I have a Facebook friend who moves from MLM to MLM to MLM. And yes, a new one for lockdown. It makes me sad because it’s such a waste of her time and talents.