To be annoyed (MLM)

[UWhat]

An old friend got in touch (I should have known). Saying they’d set up a new business and would like a chat.
I offer a service that helps news business so assumed they wanted to ask for a bit of advice etc.

It was obvious that I thought this by my answer.

Then things got strange - I send a calendar link for 30 minutes and frond says “oh no, it will take an hour. I want to show you my presentation” alarm bells should have gone off.

Anyways it was for fucking utility warehouse. Luckily I realised before the call - but I am so pissed off. I was willing to give an hour of my (working) time to help - and it’s a sodding MLM sales tactic.

Aibu to block?

I'd block merrily away if I were you. What is it about MLMs that makes them go straight for bait and switch / deceitful/ pushy tactics?

What did they honestly think was going to happen when they pulled out their presentation?

Utility warehouse is about the only bloke mlm - but anyone with a bit of sense can price up an energy switch in ten minutes. Tell this person that.

Why do you need to block? Just say you're not interested in MLM but you can help her if she sets up a real small biz.
Help her see through the charade

I'd just block them. If she's only for in touch to try and sell you something she's not much of a friend.
Unfortunately MLM teaches that "no" means "not right now" so even if you decline now she's likely to keep coming back.

@YukoandHiro

Why do you need to block? Just say you're not interested in MLM but you can help her if she sets up a real small biz. Help her see through the charade

Because "no" doesn't mean "no" in the world of MLM!

@YukoandHiro

Why do you need to block? Just say you're not interested in MLM but you can help her if she sets up a real small biz. Help her see through the charade

It’s because I’m pissed off if I’m honest. I was being nice/ offering something I’d charge for for free. Instead I was going to get an hour of my frankly squeezed time completely wasted.

So frustrating - I think you’re perfectly fine to say clearly you aren’t interested then if you’re interested in retaining the friendship then see how it goes but if they won’t leave it be then I’d block.

We moved house and our new neighbour was so friendly - turns out its all about UW and every post she ever shares is about the sodding benefits she gets from it, how much money they make and how everyone should join her team. I can’t block her...she lives next door 😂

@WingingIt101 I was trying to be polite to said “friend” and said “oh how are you going with it” and it was all “I’ve got a cream tea and made loads of money” ... she’s been on it for about a week I think 😂

I'm quite grateful to Utility Warehouse. No, hear me out...

I was collared by one doing a prize draw stall at a fete (remember those?). She did a short talk on the benefits etc, took my number, followed up a couple of weeks later as agreed, nice lady, but I said I wasn't ready to switch providers yet. Gave it some more thought, did some research, and next time she called I was able to inform her that I had indeed switched providers. Not to UW though. (Saved a shit-tonne of money too, and probably wouldn't have got round to it for another year or two if it hadn't been for her stall. Obviously I didn't tell her that as it would have been unkind.)

If they've only bothered to contact you in years because they wanted to sell you something, I'd consider that enough of an excuse to block. The least I'd do would be to mute them and ignore them for the foreseeable future.

Actually we're with Utility Warehouse and they're great. However we took the Which? recommendation and contacted them directly.

DH does his research annually and they're still one of the best for us.

However I'd be really pissed off if someone got in touch out of the blue to push them.

definitely block. they drive me crazy. people you haven’t spoken to in years suddenly popping up wanting to be your best friend. i had my school bully send me a ‘hey, hun, would you be interested in trying our amazing wax melts?!’ message and when i called her out on bullying me she offered to send me a packet of wax melts as an apology 😂

YANBU @UWhat Your friend is a cheeky cow, only contacting you for her convenience and her benefit...

I actually HATE multi level marketing!

I have blathered on about this several times on here this past few weeks so I won't bore you with a long post. But Bodyshop at Home are pushing multi level marketing too this past few months... I posted a bunch of posts on a thread 3 weeks ago (where someone was talking about Bodyshop at Home.)

I know at LEAST 10 people now (all women, mostly under 40,) who are pushing this, and are plastering it all over their facebook, trying to drag people in, with promises of a great new career, and oodles of money! Also raffles and prizes, and certificates (that they print off themselves,) for getting a team of 6 people, then a team of 10, then 15 etc... It's scary. It's like a bloody cult!

Here's the thread... Your friends MLM sounds really similar! And YANBU to give her a wide berth. Maybe not block her, (yet,) but do give her a wide berth...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4182259-To-not-see-the-point-in-Body-Shop-At-Home?pg=3

Oh look, an MLM hun come to justify the existence of these predatory companies and appalling sales techniques.

UW - or Utility Warehouse to name it, not hide from it, is about to have a fright with the prices of fuel about to go through the roof...it'll be interesting to see how their customer service stacks up in these expensive and exceptional times.

Took an interest to the early responses...
Don't know about zombie threads, since this recently appeared in my inbox.
I have simply shared truth not opinion in hope that a informed and balanced 'conversation' takes place so most can benefit. I do believe, this is an ethos of mumsnet.

You are entitled to your opinions as are we all.
Whatever you do take care of each other and keep the light on.

xx

@M1SURE

Took an interest to the early responses... Don't know about zombie threads, since this recently appeared in my inbox. I have simply shared truth not opinion in hope that a informed and balanced 'conversation' takes place so most can benefit. I do believe, this is an ethos of mumsnet.

You are entitled to your opinions as are we all.
Whatever you do take care of each other and keep the light on.

xx

Thanks, loving the satire 😄

ODFO

How did it appear in your "inbox"
Magically
All by itself
From a chat forum
Do tell
I'm intrigued

Ooh yay a real Hun!

I was almost conned into doing UW by some new people I'd met through a hobby. This is their standard opener and how they're trained to con you into signing up too.

I don't understand how it reels anyone in! They just come across as absolute weirdos