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Original poster

To not see the point in Body Shop At Home?

92 replies

Rosieposy89 · 03/03/2021 18:09

A few people I know have started doing this and it's endless FB posts of things you can buy direct from Bodyshop (and get better offers!). I don't really see how they can call themselves businesses either? It must be a scam!

OP posts:
SnowyBranches · 04/03/2021 08:24

I have a school friend who does this and she is actually very nice and low key about it, has a separate FB page and regularly asks if people still want to be on it - she has actually shown herself as very good at communicating , keeping people's interest without the hard sell, she seems to sell a reasonable amount - I don't think her town has a Body Shop - and due to family commitments she wouldn't be able to hold down a fulltime job. I admire her approach to it.
On the other hand, I don't buy from her because we live in different towns and it is much easier for me to walk 10 minutes into my town and buy from the shop. Also, because I don't buy from Body Shop anymore because of JK Rowling.

sociallydistained · 04/03/2021 08:33

I came off of Facebook because of all the MLMs. At least 6 body shop at home consultants and one FM World. They were driving me nuts. A couple are really good friends and I was open with them about how I don’t support MLMs, showed my concern for that but it didn’t sway them from it.
I now don’t see one friends posts at all and in person she’ll sometimes mention how it’s going (🙄) but knows I’m not interested at all.
Makes me cringe.

sst1234 · 04/03/2021 08:34

Do people still shop at body shop. Seems like a relic.

Subordinateclause · 04/03/2021 08:40

People who say they buy a lot of Body Shop stuff, what are you buying regularly? Just curious! I seem to get through cosmetics and toiletries really slowly and can't imagine what you'd buy from BS on a regular basis...

FedNlanders · 04/03/2021 08:53

It never seems like a hard sell but it certainly is persuading you

ohwaitthatwasme · 04/03/2021 09:12

@Findahouse21

don't understand the problem tbh. My friend does it and is open in saying that it's not huge money, but enough to allow her to do maybe 1 fun thing with her children per month that would otherwise be out of her budget. She has a closed FB group and doesn't advertise outside of it. I pay the same prices as on the website (just checked) and my friend gets a small amount of that. I don't see the problem if everyone in the chain accepts their role with eyes open.

I know you will say yes here, but I reserve the right not to believe you, would you really be paying for over inflated body shop products if you're friend did not sell them? Really? I don't think you would. You have sold this MLM to yourself here by making a justification that you would pay the same price in their website, the reality is though, if it wasn't for your friend selling it, you would probably just buy your shampoo etc in Tesco with the weekly shop.

orderingcalmingtea · 04/03/2021 11:17

99% of people buying from MLMs are doing so purely to help or support the rep. Step above begging, really

myusernamewastakenbyme · 04/03/2021 11:20

I agree with @ohwaitthatwasme...im currently using a BS shower gel that i received for Xmas....its not very nice...has a jelly like texture and at 6.50 for 250ml is expensive....I'd much rather have a bottle of Dove.

Proudboomer · 04/03/2021 11:26

I used to buy BS from a friend as I do like a couple of their products but I stopped and won’t buy again after their bully boy tactics against JKR.
My friend is still a rep but during COVID she has mostly done raffles. Each week she posts a new one and from what she charges per ticket and the prizes offered she is probably only making a fiver per raffle plus whatever discount she gets on the online purchase price.

blue25 · 04/03/2021 11:30

I find it really cringey when friends try and sell these products to me. If I want them, I’ll go to the shop thanks.

Agree with PP-find some dignity and stop guilting people into buying stuff off you. Quickest way to lose friends in my view.

trixies · 04/03/2021 11:38

All of the slimming world consultants near me have gone into BSAH since lockdown, which does make me wonder whether slimming world is closer to an MLM than I'd previously realised...

SnowyBranches · 04/03/2021 11:40

@Subordinateclause

People who say they buy a lot of Body Shop stuff, what are you buying regularly? Just curious! I seem to get through cosmetics and toiletries really slowly and can't imagine what you'd buy from BS on a regular basis...
When I bought Body Shop products, I regularly bought the tea tree face wash, and the vitamin E face cream.
SunnyCoco · 04/03/2021 11:45

I don't support any MLMs

Ellpellwood · 04/03/2021 11:50

I live a 3 minute walk from a shop. In regards to regular buys, DH has used their ginger shampoo for about 5 years and I use their Vitamin E face cream and Almond hand cream. They're not all about shower gel/soap.

I don't mind buying through my local rep's link for Avon but agree Body Shop at Home is a weird concept.

clpsmum · 04/03/2021 12:01

@Subordinateclause I buy from them regularly I use face wash, toner, serum, moisturiser, face masks, hand cream, body yoghurt and body butter x

YouokHun · 04/03/2021 12:21

The pandemic has been bonanza time for MLM (though overall the MLM “industry” is in decline). There is a new pool of victims who have lost their jobs due to Covid and who may not be aware of the scam and the fact c99.6% of sign ups to MLM lose money. They’ve been pulled in with lies about potential earnings and “female empowerment” and Direct Selling Association fibs about the average earnings being as high as c£370 a month.

It’s a scam that mainly targets women, exploiting their employment challenges and their childcare issues and exploiting their social networks by asking them to monetise their family and friends. I just can’t support a business that is happy to operate in this way and I am amazed that there is so little monitoring and zero regulation and accountability. Body Shop is a questionable company on a number of fronts as it is but the MLM business says it all.

If you buy MLM product from a friend it’s not supportive, it’s just keeping someone tied in to a scam and the longer they’re in the more they will lose.

YouokHun · 04/03/2021 12:32

And today there are 22,000+ Body Shop auctions on eBay in the U.K. alone. That tells us that the reps are the best customers.

littlepattilou · 04/03/2021 12:45

@YouokHun

The pandemic has been bonanza time for MLM (though overall the MLM “industry” is in decline). There is a new pool of victims who have lost their jobs due to Covid and who may not be aware of the scam and the fact c99.6% of sign ups to MLM lose money. They’ve been pulled in with lies about potential earnings and “female empowerment” and Direct Selling Association fibs about the average earnings being as high as c£370 a month.

It’s a scam that mainly targets women, exploiting their employment challenges and their childcare issues and exploiting their social networks by asking them to monetise their family and friends. I just can’t support a business that is happy to operate in this way and I am amazed that there is so little monitoring and zero regulation and accountability. Body Shop is a questionable company on a number of fronts as it is but the MLM business says it all.

If you buy MLM product from a friend it’s not supportive, it’s just keeping someone tied in to a scam and the longer they’re in the more they will lose.

100% this. ^
littlepattilou · 04/03/2021 12:46

@myusernamewastakenbyme

I hate mlm's with a passion....these 'consultants' need their heads testing...who in their right mind thinks its ok to guilt your family and friends into buying overpriced tat so that they can make a tiny bit of money off it...get some dignity and get a proper job.
Also, THIS - in spades! ^
countrygirl99 · 04/03/2021 12:52

These raffles - do they have a lottery license?

littlepattilou · 04/03/2021 12:52

@countrygirl99

These raffles - do they have a lottery license?
Good question.
littlepattilou · 04/03/2021 12:53

@countrygirl99 I also wonder if they declare their 'earnings' to HMRC!

Although, they probably wouldn't pay tax anyway, as most of them only earn 99p a week!

YouokHun · 04/03/2021 12:57

And GDPR - lots of issues with data sharing among MLMs and their reps.

HensTeeth44 · 04/03/2021 13:34

I have muted more than one FB acquaintance due to their MLM peddling. One does BSAH and the other another skincare brand. Its the hard sell I hate. And all the bullshit little raffles. Awful!

Findahouse21 · 04/03/2021 13:40

@ohwaitthatwasme if I'm being really honest then I'd say it's probably a 50-50 split. Half of what I buy is make up. I like to buy mid range which I'd say bodyshop falls into and I really like it actually.

Ivve also bought face masks and moisturiser which are just not products that I would usually buy. I' ve done it partly because they're being offered but also for my own enjoyment during lockdown as options are limited. Some I've seen the benefit of for my skin and will buy again, others haven't been great so I won't.

I just don't see the huge hate for all of this, rather than judging individually. Another friend has set up her own business selling hand made bath bombs (with proper lisencing/testing whatever). The same arguments about me only buying them because she's offering them could be made, but it's more acceptable and even approved of because she's making her own product.

Sorry I think I'm rambling now!