What’s the R number of MLM schemes?

[ReeseWitherfork]

Goodness me the MLMs are ramping up! Or is it just the people I associate with?!

So I don’t have a “am I being unreasonable” but rather “how do I reasonably tell people they’re being idiots?” Does no one do any research before joining one? Because I can’t imagine google is telling them it’s a good idea.

I’ve only ever replied to texts telling me people have joined with a “thanks! xx” Has anyone been braver?

It's almost impossible to point out they're being idiots because all their new hun friends will be telling them to 'rock your bizness gurl' and 'you don't need negative people in your life who don't believe in you.

You can’t tell them anything. It’s like telling a cult member that they’ve joined a cult. No point. Just unfollow and block in the more persistent cases.

I used to have lots of sympathy for people like this.
But with how much is written about it EVERYWHERE, it's getting quite hard. Luckily there is none on my SM🤞
Except Linkedin...

They are all over our local Facebook selling groups. Those fake perfumes, magic fat burning drinks, working from home selling holidays.
I find it interesting to ask questions-
Such as why don't the owners of the original perfumes mind when the same stuff is being sold for a fraction of the cost.
With a little persistence you can tie them in knots and hopefully stop anyone else signing up and wasting their time and money.

Does selling Avon/Partylite/Bodyshop count? At least four of my Facebook have started these recently. I must be invited to a virtual party or raffle or bingo or quiz at least three times a week.
I try to be supportive (I've liked their Fb pages) but there's only so much make up or bath stuff I need. Also I really don't want to waste my evenings doing online things, especially when they're just big sales pitches.
I've been politely declining invites with various excuses but it is becoming annoying now.

Luckily I’m not on Facebook so don’t see much of it but a few Instagram friends have recently joined and I’ve had a few messages in whatsapp groups from acquaintances. We’ve got a lot of those shitty fragrances and Bodyshop going round, a couple of usborne books. I was curious about the usborne (we do like a ‘thats not my’ book in this house) but they’re not the cheapest place you can get them.

I wish there was a polite way to say “I’m never going to be interested, and please get out while you can!”

Does selling Avon/Partylite/Bodyshop count?
Yes, all MLM!

Is nu skin/lumispa a MLM? I’ve seen that poppinh up a lot!

I didn't think Avon counted as a MLM, unless they've changed their structure.

I don’t know much about Avon but going by this...

isthisanmlm.com/mlm/Avon

I actually do like some Avon products so I’m more inclined to purchase

I’m wondering if more people been furloughed/losing jobs/losing hours due to Covid insecurity means they’re turning to other means of income.

There’s a strangely high correlation between people doing MLMs and people telling everyone to ‘do ure own research hun’ about Covid.

My very good friend is an Avon rep, she's trying to make a few pounds as she's been made redundant like many thousands of others, so I've bought some bits from her to try and help out! Nothing wrong with trying everything wrong with sitting on arse doing nothing.

My village is full of body shop and Avon reps. Don't see how any of them can make anything as the market must be saturated. My cousin does body shop so I'm in her FB group and it's bloody expensive.

You're only encouraging her @Port1aCastis she'll lose far less money if she fails sooner rather than later.

My cousin and SIL have both started. Bloody Neil's Yard for the more discerning mlmer.

They make me so angry so much of it is based on female empowerment/motherhood tropes which exploit women in shady financial situations.

I have a Tropic epidemic on my hands. I keep getting invites to “Emma’s Tropic” in Facebook etc.
Really intelligent friends, two of them have PhDs!! Is Tropic “better” than the others??

The latest one where I live seems to be usborne books, there are at least 3 of them on my estate alone. Also wax melts, fake perfume and some weird exfoliator look to be up and comers. All this crap you don’t need just in time for Christmas 🎄

@Port1aCastis

My very good friend is an Avon rep, she's trying to make a few pounds as she's been made redundant like many thousands of others, so I've bought some bits from her to try and help out! Nothing wrong with trying everything wrong with sitting on arse doing nothing.

Nice idea in theory but Avon have shifted in recent years to be more MLM with more recruitment rather than sellers with their allocated areas focusing on product. And most participants in MLMs break even at best or lose money. At least Avon doesn't have stupidly expensive products so your friend might not be as out of pocket as some, but there's a good chance it won't be the lifeline she hopes (whereas for those already in the MLM the current redundancies are a godsend because it means more desperate people for them to recruit).

They make me so angry so much of it is based on female empowerment/motherhood tropes which exploit women in shady financial situations.

I think this is what gets to me the most about them. They exploit mums. As soon as my maternity leave started I got a few invites to join companies so that “I could be at home more with my son.” Baffling. Luckily I have a great job with a decent maternity package but I can see why other women in less fortunate positions get sucked in.

It’s the fact people lose money. Not making money is one thing, but losing money. I despair.

@Port1aCastis I have every sympathy for your friend but if she needs money why doesnt she get herself a temp cleaning or caring job...plenty of those where i live....at least she wont be peddling overpriced crap to people who cant afford to buy it....

I would rather sell my knickers than sell tropic/forever/tiande/bitcoin/unique etc. Would probs make more money too...

No sympathy for mlm huns...they dont give a shit about luring more victims into the pyramid...they also have no concerns that they are pressuring people to buy stuff they dont want or need...a quick look on the internet exposes mlm for the scam that it is.

I would rather scrub public toilets than be involved in mlm.....can you tell how much i fucking despise them?

Whatever the ‘fearless movement’ is seems to be the con du jour around me. I’ve three of those, two body shoppers, two FM perfumes, one travel shite thing and one usbourne books. All different people, it’s fucking ridiculous. I’ve started muting and even blocked one 😬 how are they all so daft?!