Teachers and mlm

[Adios2011]

Hi there, first time posting so hope this is ok

So lots of school mums at our school sell bodyshop and they've all started this trend of 'pledges', so you pay £8-£15 and the sellers will use the money to create 'treat bags' for teaching/support staff, of course these contain all bodyshop items purchased through them, so they make the commission etc

Aibu to feel really uncomfortable with this? If they used the money collected to pay for nice food/lunches, classroom supplies or even vouchers for coffee shops, I'd be more than happy to do this and surely the money would go further, to go around all the staff?

It just feels like it's all an agenda to get the sales and level up, rather than genuinely want to treat the staff

Would teachers and support staff want bodyshop?

I guess I'm asking if I should just be grateful they're doing something nice or would you think this is quite underhanded and is this a common thing with mlm's and school mums?

Just to add there is usually quite a 'pressure' to donate to these pledges and you're judged if you don't!

YANBU, I despise MLMs. I've seen this amongst BSAH 'consultants' on Facebook. And also some who do this for NHS staff.

Most of them say that they'll use their commission to also 'donate' items, which is fine. But their up lines will still receive commission, and it's also helping them all hit sales targets.

It's disgusting. MLMs should be banned.

That's what I'm thinking even if they use their commission to donate extra, it's still going towards levels and their uplines.
It's like it's taking advantage of the situation that keyworkers are in at the moment!

Yanbu. I would rather donate the money to the school that could be sued for supplies or towards a pupil struggling without a device for home learning etc. Much better uses for the money than some bloody cream that they don't really need.

I like body shop stuff, but I’d be horrified by this. (TA) horrified to the point that if I received something like this and knew how it came about I’d refuse it and let our headteacher know in the hope that she could discourage it.

Teacher and think it’s a terrible idea.

£8-15 each?

Bloody hell, how many white musk shower gels does one teacher need?

Yup, our local Tropic MLM seller was doing the same for the NHS.

Awful idea. I’d be really upset if I thought parents were being asked to contribute to this as a gift for me, when in reality it would be to hit a sales target. Plus I don’t want or expect any gifts - parents’ support, especially at the moment is more than enough.

Worth checking with the rules of the local LEA or MAT, they do very but many ask school staff to declare gifts over the value of £10.

Gifts are always lovely and I personally like Body Shop products.
But I disagree with the pressure these people are putting fellow parent under to 'donate', think that's a lot of money for people to be finding at the moment and worst of all, think it's gross that they are creaming off profit from sales.

I’m a teacher and have no desire to receive a body shop gift bag. Our parents do tend to contribute at Xmas and the summer and give us a John Lewis voucher which is gratefully received, though of course not actually necessary. However I’d be surprised to receive one at this time of year for no particular reason and if all one brand would suspect it was a MLM thing straight away. I’ve never had to declare gifts before though.

YADNBU. The lengths some MLM huns will go to to get a "promotion".

It’s entirely consistent with the MLM method of using emotional blackmail to generate sales. Leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Body shop products are massively overpriced for what they are. I hate mlm and would in no way support this.

YANBU. I have a friend who used to persuade everyone to contribute to her shitty Stella & Dot jewellery as presents for teaching staff. Of course, she got to be the one to not only present it and take all the "glory" for that, but was also lauded as a saint for organising the collection. Everyone forgot that she was making a nice healthy commission out of it all too.

There's a Body Shop seller in a local FB group using her job in the NHS to get sales. She only joined the group yesterday, and posted "Some of you might not know this, but as well as being an area manager for Body Shop, I'm also an NHS worker..." along with pic in scrubs. Pretty sure she shouldn't be using her position to get sales.

I've seen this, as well as giving "sheet face masks" to the hospital to treat the workers who have had a stressful day, for a "donation" of 3.50

It's just been Christmas, teachers have probably just recieved loads of crap smellies, they don't want even more. Maybe you could suggest she donates the items to a local homeless shelter instead - rather than giving it to people who have been on full pay this whole time.

Someone I know who does this put together a treat bag for staff at the local hospital in the last lockdown. She was in the local paper as well because it was so kind of her you know 🙄

I'm a teacher and think it's a terrible idea. I like a lot of body shop stuff but would be horrified if an mlm was pressurising parents at my school to increase their sales.

Awful idea. The seller will be raking in the commission - appalling way to make money.
A few kind words to the teacher will be far more appreciated.

MLM bots have to earn a minimum spend (sometimes called case credits) every month in order to qualify for promotions - it is a very stressful time for them, worrying that they may have to pay for products themselves in order to cover the cost of achieving enough case credits.

It is common for them to ask for friends, colleagues, neighbours, family to donate money to them so they can make up gift bags for X or Y good cause. They will stress that they will "not make a profit" but they will NOT confess that they will actually earn 'case credits' in order to qualify for promotions.

Pretty disgusting behaviour, but then again MLM bots have to suspend any decency and self-respect they posses in order to deliberately exploit people who love and trust their motives.

Any MLM bots reading this thread, know this, more and more people are waking up to your lies and deception. The anti-MLM Movement is growing larger and more vocal by the day.

@GoldenLabbie

Someone I know who does this put together a treat bag for staff at the local hospital in the last lockdown. She was in the local paper as well because it was so kind of her you know 🙄

She probably sent it to the local paper herself, so it wasn't someone thinking she was being so kind.

Thank you for all your replies.

Its good to know I'm not being unreasonable about it. I did wonder how staff would feel knowing it was items from a mlm?

I'm retired now, but I'd have been horrified if that had been done by a parent at my school. Apart from the shamelessness of the appeal and my loathing of MLM, so many people are in a terrible financial situation right now, and teachers REALLY don't need fussing over with smellies and gifts.

Suggest the MLM mum give some smellies to the foodbanks, so that people who really need a treat get one.

I’m a teacher of 20 years and I say don’t buy into this. It’s profiteering! You know what made me happy this week? Wednesday- yr 11 parents evening after exams announcement - one of my parents said to me, “we’re worried about CAGS. X (child) has progressed so much and we know you’ll be fair”. Highlight of the last 18 months.