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Original poster

What’s the R number of MLM schemes?

241 replies

ReeseWitherfork · 04/10/2020 20:13

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?

OP posts:
YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan · 04/10/2020 23:11

I nearly got sucked into a holiday one as I did think it was a genuine holiday company looking for home workers. I did my research though and found it was MLM.

What narked me most was the way you have to promote the deals. You have to put things like this on FB:

7 nights at 3* Sandy Beach Hotel
Booking.com price £500
Our price £350

However what they don't say is that the booking.com price is for a deluxe sea view room with breakfast and their price is for a budget car park view room and no breakfast.

If you do like for like comparisons it's not such a bargain after all.

I would feel like absolute shite misleading friends and family like that.

m0therofdragons · 04/10/2020 23:13

I’ve never seen so much yonique in my life. Apparently the mascara is amazing... looks like the cheap thick stuff we used as teens to me. I do like being able to get body shop stuff as we don’t have a local shop and I quite like Avon Christmas catalogue. Am I allowed on mnet?

Idontbelieveit12 · 04/10/2020 23:16

I once read a blog written by someone who had been sucked into it all. It’s like a cult!! They are told what to write on social media, it’s not even their words. This woman admitted she lost friends and family because all she ever did when she saw them was try and sell to them!

ThisIsMeOrIsIt · 04/10/2020 23:21

I currently have Forever Living, Tropic and Herbalife coming up on my Facebook feed. Plus one for card making called Stampin' Up! UK. And I assumed all these women were intelligent and able to make reasoned judgements. I see Usborne a lot on local family FB groups and even a DoTerra one recently.

I am actively anti-mlm and call them out if they're strangers. But I just can't find it in myself to tell my friends. I'll just support them without handing over any money and be there when they realise.

Sevo7 · 04/10/2020 23:29

There’s a new one being touted on my Facebook by what I can only describe as a group of fanatics. They were selling Juice plus but would never call it that Confused and now are selling some sort of wonder supplements from Australia.

I read their posts out of morbid curiosity, the gushing at each other’s achievements, the tears of joy and how they’re “smashing it” and changing lives, it really is a sight to behold. What I don’t understand though is they are making claims that they’re making bonuses of like £2000/£3000 a month? I’ve never heard so much dribble and the only people who ever comment on their posts are the rest of the cult. It’s so weird. I mean who are they kidding??

Also fake fragrances and how people have reached new levels and got a bonus as well,(though admittedly much more modest) I get invited to join new ones every day as more and more people I know join in Confused

Candyfloss99 · 04/10/2020 23:29

@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.
There is something wrong with this. You're encouraging her which will mean she'll either lose money or cause vulnerable people to lose all their money.
EasterIssland · 04/10/2020 23:31

I once took part on one of these being a rep. Made 0 earnings. Luckily lost just a hundred pounds. However , lost confidence on myself cuz I never managed to get a party booked nor anyone buying stuff from me. I felt like a loser cuz I was told I’d make so much Money. Luckily it was just to get extra money as i have a well paid job (Enough for bills savings and hobbies) so decided to stop after 3-4 months.

Never again will I support a mlm

Fishfingersandwichplease · 04/10/2020 23:32

Had a friend ask me to like a YTA thing - don't even know what it is - she has a video of her talking about it changing her life etc but not said what it is so l can only assume it is a bitcoin type scheme. Anyone know??

stevalnamechanger · 04/10/2020 23:36

This is a great read on MLM ellebeaublog.com/poonique/

ThisMustBeMyDream · 05/10/2020 00:49

When I was 17, I was at a local park pushing my pram with my then 4 month old son in. A woman approached me and started gushing over my baby, as often happens. Before I knew it she was saying how it must be really tough for me with a young baby, and she could help me make extra money by selling Avon. Of course I had heard of Avon, and assumed this was a reputable business and a good opportunity.
She arranged to come to my home later that day, and proceeded to sign me up. Except I was 17. So I couldn't be legally signed up. No problem she said, she would sign my 19 year old DP up instead and I could just do the work under his name.

Shady. As. Fuck.

I realised on month 2 what a con it all was. I was sexually assaulted on the door to door part to boot.

Fancy stooping so low as to wait round a local park looking for mums with babies to recruit to your cult? Scum. Absolute scum. I suppose the same women now just use social media instead, but still.... disgusting behaviour.

ThisMustBeMyDream · 05/10/2020 00:49

This was in 2002 BTW.

UsernameNotValid · 05/10/2020 00:59

@ReeseWitherfork that's why I said I personally wouldn't take part but my friend is happy with her £50 as it's just to supplement her wage right now due to Covid related income loss.

It's not up to me to say how much it people should be happy with, it's all relative in the end!

MLM's are shady businesses for sure though and I do feel for people who do see them as a genuine option when they're in hard times

BedknobsNoBroomsticks · 05/10/2020 04:41

MLM should be banned. People are giving up their jobs and getting themselves into debt for these companies. They are lying to their family and friends just to get them to either sign up to their team or buy overpriced crap from them.

EachandEveryone · 05/10/2020 04:54

I’m surprised Alan Sugar got involved with Tropic.

However, their products are very good and they are totally natural. I’ve bought their sleep spray for a friend with PTSD and she swears it’s the only thing that has aided her sleep. Their foot pebbles are the only thing that softens my disgusting feet and are fab after I’ve been stood for 12 hours at work. I’ve never seen that product anywhere else. Also, you can buy it direct online without using an agent. They do have so nice bits.

Gingernaut · 05/10/2020 05:37

My local Facebook jobs forum is packed with them.

My area was already depressed with low employment before every other shop started closing down.

Independent travel agents, Forever Vivant, V, Avon, some weight loss scheme, FM fragrances, Health & Fitness online, leggings (????) and scented candles.

It's horrific how they are targeting the desperate. I report every one I find.

RoseGoldEagle · 05/10/2020 05:41

I thought the fundamental difference between an MLM and a pyramid scheme is the presence of a product. So if there’s no product, it’s a pyramid scheme. But I haven’t done a dramatic about of research so I may be very wrong.

But if that is the case, that business coaching / life coach bollocks sounds like it could actually be a pyramid scheme....?

An MLM sells a product or service, so the life coaching still comes under MLM.

Had a spate of people (pre COVID) at soft play and baby groups coming round trying to recruit people but thankfully most places put a stop to that. Had a friend who was interested, I pointed her in the direction of Elle Beau’s blog that a PP linked to above, and she saw sense and didn’t join thankfully.

AlaskaThunderfuckHiiiiiiiii · 05/10/2020 07:15

I too am going to admit To actually quite liking FM fragrances and the ones I have do last all day and smell very like the real thing and I also like the little pads you put in your hoover that make the room smell nice, better than shake and vac which ruined my last hoover. But the rest I’m not interested apart from odd bits from Avon

Heidi1976 · 05/10/2020 07:29

I'll put my hard hat on and admit I've been part of Neals Yard for a few years now.

I like the products and basically use it to sell to a few friends and family who also like it for a bit of 'pocket money' and enjoy the discount for myself and for others birthday/Christmas presents.

I used all of the starter kit products myself, I've never held a 'party' and I've never recruited anyone (or even tried to).

Do I deserve to be lynched?

LivingDeadGirlUK · 05/10/2020 07:46

@Heidi1976 you seem to understand that you are a customer, not a business owner, in the mlm model. Would you be honest with someone who asked that it would be very hard to make even the equivelant to minimum wage just selling product?

Heidi1976 · 05/10/2020 07:51

[quote LivingDeadGirlUK]@Heidi1976 you seem to understand that you are a customer, not a business owner, in the mlm model. Would you be honest with someone who asked that it would be very hard to make even the equivelant to minimum wage just selling product?[/quote]
Oh yes 100%. I'm under no illusions of what it's all about. But with NY, there isn't any pressure for sales and targets (just have to make £50 if sales a year, which I'd easily do at Christmas!) so I use it to my advantage really and yes, I guess I would class myself as more of a customer who also advertises their products a bit to people who are interested in them as well.

Original poster
ReeseWitherfork · 05/10/2020 08:14

Can I ask why you bother Heidi? I guess I don’t really understand it enough to see the incentive of being a rep as opposed to a normal customer.

Lots of people buy from MLM friends because of the guilt and obligation. But it sounds like you are quite confident this isn’t the case. Ultimately I think the biggest issue with MLMs is the recruitment of others so if you’re not doing that then it’s certainly not lynch-worthy activity in my book!

OP posts:
Heidi1976 · 05/10/2020 08:26

@ReeseWitherfork

Can I ask why you bother Heidi? I guess I don’t really understand it enough to see the incentive of being a rep as opposed to a normal customer.

Lots of people buy from MLM friends because of the guilt and obligation. But it sounds like you are quite confident this isn’t the case. Ultimately I think the biggest issue with MLMs is the recruitment of others so if you’re not doing that then it’s certainly not lynch-worthy activity in my book!

I get 25% discount. There are a few products in particular that I really like so I buy those quite a lot so I think the benefit is worth it to be honest. I have a 'normal' job so I just don't feel any pressure to hassle people. They have my details and if they want something they can get it. I send out catalogues if people want them, and advertise new products. That's it really.

Yes definitely no recruiting. I'm too shy/busy to even contemplate parties. I know how annoying it is to be honest to be hassled from other MLM types and would never want to do that myself. I guess I feel I am far enough removed from the bad side of MLM that I don't feel bad about it, if that makes sense?

Original poster
ReeseWitherfork · 05/10/2020 08:59

Definitely makes sense! So now I understand LivingDeadGirls comment that you’re a customer. A customer with a great discount.

OP posts:
daisydukes26 · 05/10/2020 09:01

I don't think you can help these BossBabes when they are in the thick of it!

Limona · 05/10/2020 09:05

DH got scammed with one a few years ago. I don’t wear a lot of makeup but I do use clarins and YSL. Some twat convinced him Younique was the same. Farewell, 30th birthday present. Still pissed off!