To think she's lying or brainwashed - MLM

[queenbee67]

Friend of mine has recently joined one of the big MLMs - let's call it Squash Minus.

I was surprised as she always seemed quite sensible and level headed. Suddenly she's posting inspirational quotes all over Facebook and talking about how much she's earning and how great her new 'business' is...while trying relentlessly to recruit other people. I didn't have her down as a liar so I'm wondering if it's possible that she really believes she's doing well or maybe she really is?

I don't know a lot about these companies but I tend to think they're probably not the most legitimate way to earn a crust. What do you think? Has anyone had any first hand experience?

MLMs prey on those who feel like they aren’t contributing to the family unit.

They prey on those who long for a better life, much like those who fall into being a Jehovahs Witness- the allure of life everlasting on Paradise earth is the ultimate dream for them, a life better than the miserable one you’re made to feel you lead now.

They prey on those working low paid jobs much the same as the lottery does.

They prey on those with self esteem problems with the promise of a stronger more confident new you- once you purchase out starter pack of course.

They prey on those lonely and with few friends with the promise of new friends just like you who want to better themselves, look at all our trips and meetings- all for an additional cost that is.

They are insidious companies who allow and champion manipulative people to thrive so long as they’re driven enough to not worry about alienating friends and family as well as lose dignity to recruit and pilfer new victims.

God the amount of times I heard “it’s not a pyramid scheme hun as those are illegal”

No, it’s still a pyramid scheme under a different name. It’s a transpyramid.

It’s a transpyramid.

What I hate about MLM is the way friends attempt to use you to get more money for themselves. I know a person who keeps checking in to basically find out my employment status. As a freelancer in a pandemic I am seen as a sitting duck for MLM. I hate the way they do raffles, show images which aren’t real. I ran my own business selling classes for children and the product was great - but I still hated the naff ness of selling to your friends all the time.

Why did you have to sell to your friends though Disabrie22
If what you were selling was so great surely you wouldn't need to?

Someone I know is doing an MLM and it's such bullshit. She spends an absolute fortune on fizz sticks, has tons of their protein powders and their make up all over her house, I can't even imagine how much money she has spent on all that crap. Bangs on about how she has lost soooo much weight doing one of their healthy living plans - but fails to mention she recently had a tummy tuck! So many photos on her social media of her looking trimmed down in a swimsuit and of her "super healthy smoothie bowls!" but it's all total and utter bullshit. She's not even doing the plan, she just takes videos of herself making the shakes and smoothies, and then carries on eating normal food. I'd feel bad for her and all the money she is losing but when she's so blatantly lying about the products and how she actually lost the weight I kind of think she deserves everything she gets.

We were told what we could and couldn't post on our own FB accounts.

Yep, the stuff my mate is posting doesn't sound like her at all, it's all very sound bitey.

I do like some of the Forever Aloe stuff but fortunately the two people I know who sell it mainly do it as they like the products themselves and will just sell to anyone who expresses an interest but aren't hellbent on making a business of it.

The other thing that gives me the rage about these schemes is that it promotes this utterly bizarre idea that running your own business is all about business trips(!!) cars, holidays and boasting on SM about 'success' and 'profit' and screeching when you have made a 'sale'. And thereby utterly insulting all the genuine self-employed who quietly work their arses off all hours to build their businesses and support their families. And who incidentally, also actually pay their taxes...

Seriously, who on earth apart from a con artist behaves like that? How did it become something to aspire to?

@OrangeRug

I got sucked into Forever Living in 2016 when I was unhappy at work. I feel very sad and annoyed at myself looking back at this time. They prey on people's vulnerabilities in order to recruit them ie you have weight issues? Feel guilt over not spending enough time with your children? Not enough friends? then they teach you to do the same to others. They had us do something called "profiling" where we'd scope out potential clients/team members and list potential weak spots. I felt so much pressure from my upline I started to see people only for what I could out of them. I feel so ashamed when I think about it. I spent hundreds of pounds of my own money so I could meet targets so I didn't let my upline down, all the whole posting on SM about my "successful new business". We were told what we could and couldn't post on our own FB accounts. I was even told off for posting too many pictures of my pets. It's an utter fucking brainwashing cult and it should be shut down. When I finally admitted defeat I was able to sell some of the products back so I did at east get some of my money back. It won't last with your friend. Just don't engage with her about it AT ALL. Hopefully she will snap out of it soon and realise it's a load of shite.

I'm really sorry you were preyed on this way, @OrangeRug . Whoever sought to recruit and exploit you should be bloody ashamed of themselves.

Squash Minus 👏⭐️

@DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo

Thank you x I'm not even mad at her cause she was a victim too. She was so desperate to leave her job and become a SAHM. I visited her house once and she had boxes and boxes of products that she'd bought herself in order to meet targets. It was all such a sham. I don't think she's doing it anymore either which is good.

@MintyCedric

We were told what we could and couldn't post on our own FB accounts.

Yep, the stuff my mate is posting doesn't sound like her at all, it's all very sound bitey.

I do like some of the Forever Aloe stuff but fortunately the two people I know who sell it mainly do it as they like the products themselves and will just sell to anyone who expresses an interest but aren't hellbent on making a business of it.

Yeah I did actually really like their products but they are so expensive so that everyone gets their cut.

Ugh.

I know a few people who do various ones..

One does Squash Minus and she flogs the products but doesn't do the hard sell, but does do quite a lot of posts about herself and her fitness (not the hashtag positivity crap or demoing products)...

What she doesn't make super clear is that her incredible ripped body even after two kids is not down to some magic juice.. its down to eating next to fuck all and doing extreme work outs and putting in enormous effort to be what is a healthy shape if a bit more muscley than most women, but is not her natural shape in the slightest.

She'd have achieved this without the juice, she's someone who can be very strong willed and she can work hard, and does.

Another I really worry about, I don't see her hard sell posts full of positivity crap and faking it til you make it as I have not joined her page/group whatever.. but she goes to conferences in the US (that she says shes won a trip to but in reality, has to pay thousands for), has the car, yadda yadda.. but its all fake and her actual income comes from something else - the sad thing is, shes really GOOD at her actual job.. but her life is being eroded by this fucking MLM crap.

I particularly hate seeing MLM in all its various guises being pushed at people who are out of work and struggling - being self employed with your own business takes work and skill and not everyone has those skills that will work as a self employed business and, of those who do.. not all have what it takes to run their own biz.

I do as I have no other choice and its a precarious way to live as a freelancer, and I'd be a lot better if I had more business and marketing skills and wasn't such a lazy fuck... but I am lucky that there are things I am good at that work for this AND i have had some fantastic opportunities of the 'its not what you know.. its what you know AND who you know' type!

Squash Minus

One of my good friends does...CarBonne? There's no fun nicknames for that one. Anyway, lots of supplements and shite. I've had to back away from her over the past 2 years as she doesn't see anyone as a friend really, just a walking wallet.

@SionnachRua

Squash Minus

One of my good friends does...CarBonne? There's no fun nicknames for that one. Anyway, lots of supplements and shite. I've had to back away from her over the past 2 years as she doesn't see anyone as a friend really, just a walking wallet.

Same with my friend and my hairdresser. I've had to back away from both. Friend who was doing it had a millionaire husband so no idea why she was putting herself through it all and losing all her friends in the process. She didn't need the cash.

@OrangeRug

I got sucked into Forever Living in 2016 when I was unhappy at work. I feel very sad and annoyed at myself looking back at this time. They prey on people's vulnerabilities in order to recruit them ie you have weight issues? Feel guilt over not spending enough time with your children? Not enough friends? then they teach you to do the same to others. They had us do something called "profiling" where we'd scope out potential clients/team members and list potential weak spots. I felt so much pressure from my upline I started to see people only for what I could out of them. I feel so ashamed when I think about it. I spent hundreds of pounds of my own money so I could meet targets so I didn't let my upline down, all the whole posting on SM about my "successful new business". We were told what we could and couldn't post on our own FB accounts. I was even told off for posting too many pictures of my pets. It's an utter fucking brainwashing cult and it should be shut down. When I finally admitted defeat I was able to sell some of the products back so I did at east get some of my money back. It won't last with your friend. Just don't engage with her about it AT ALL. Hopefully she will snap out of it soon and realise it's a load of shite.

That's grim @OrangeRug.

The long-standing anti-MLM thread on mumsnet began in 2016 when someone posted about her friend joining FL and changing in character. The threads just continued on, and now they are on thread 66.

2015/16 were the heydays of FL in the UK and many hundreds of women like you were scammed by barefaced liars and deceivers, a few of which are still spreading lies and scamming women today.

Thankfully, nowadays there are so many victims (ex-MLMers) who are starting to stand up and speak out, no longer hiding in shame because 'they failed' because they now realise that they didn't fail, it was the scammy business model that was the failure; only the founders make a decent income, everyone below "pays to play" and "is the customer". So glad you got out, please do not blame yourself.