Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

To think this woman is full of BS? MLM

82 replies

goldbeyondtherainbow · 15/05/2021 16:23

A woman I know works for a well known MLM company and posts the usual daily affirmations, super positive posts about how life is wonderful and she's doing so well.

In her post today (fishing for new recruits) she claims to earn 10k per month, or at least has on multiple occasions.

AIBU to think that's a blatant lie?

What do they actually make?

As far as I knew the vast majority of them lose money rather than make any, unless you got in early and are in the top few percent which this woman isn't.

OP posts:

Tambora · 16/05/2021 11:57

Why on Earth would I (or anyone with half a brain) want to pay a £50 fee to somebody else so I could become self-employed?

acatcalledjohn · 16/05/2021 12:00

...when paying said £50 fee doesn't actually make you self employed.

TutiFrutti · 16/05/2021 12:14

I hate mlm's with a passion. A fb friend of mine is in the grip of one now, big countdown to launch, claims to be a founder member (along with 100's of others). Can't see it lasting, they're flogging prescription only products fgs.
People have obviously tried talking sense into her as there's been comments of getting you're negativity out of my inbox.
It'll end in tears and it's a shame as life has given her a bit of a kicking in recent years.

Original poster

goldbeyondtherainbow · 16/05/2021 12:27

Can't see it lasting, they're flogging prescription only products fgs

How bizarre, I'm curious what the products are and how customers would even access them if that's the case

OP posts:

BluebellsInSpring · 16/05/2021 12:31

A girl I went to school with seems to jump from one to another, it's sad. Started with JP, then FL and she would post videos from those huge conferences they used to hold in theatres/ stadiums and really try and pump up their members.

Lately she's into 'trading' groups. And they seemed to be heavily linked in with church, lots of perching about not worrying because God will provide etc. A few weeks ago they rented a big house somewhere, it looked like 30+ people were staying there (no idea where they were all sleeping!) and posting about how they were 'living the life'

It's bizarre, but people just get sucked in. I also think it takes a certain type of character to be impressed by the apparent lifestyle you can achieve by these things.

It's very cult-like behaviour and they prey on the vulnerable.

Original poster

goldbeyondtherainbow · 16/05/2021 12:39

It's very cult-like behaviour and they prey on the vulnerable

Absolutely this.

The woman in my OP speaks about how she was recruited 6 years ago when she was homeless living in a hostel with her baby, in debt and recovering from psychosis. I just think, what type of bastard would you need to be to target somebody in that position

They appeal to people going through financial crisis, and have the audacity to charge them £50 for the 'privilege'

I watch a YouTuber (Kiki Chanel) who does alot of anti MLM videos, some of the people she talks about give me the rage. If they politely decline to join the 'huns' will put pressure on them to take out a credit card or borrow the money, promising they'll make it back 10 x over in the first month.

Claiming these products can cure cancer and autism is criminal.

OP posts:

aiwblam · 16/05/2021 12:53

Cut this woman off, unfollow, delete, whatever.

Febo24 · 16/05/2021 13:03

Even the conferences they have to pay for.

It's just so sad really. I won't cut these huns off, unless maybe a line is overstepped. But I do ignore all of their posts, so they have no in with me on that front.

It's usually women who are in some cases vulnerable, or they are financially insecure. The JP ones they spout incredible wellness nonsense.

ChristmasFluff · 16/05/2021 13:25

She is lying or she is benefitting from the pyramid scheme (which is what MLMs are), which means her money comes from people she is suckering.

Send her link to The Dream podcast - season 1.

ChocOrange1 · 16/05/2021 13:34

Its obviously a lie. And not even a believable one.

jmh740 · 16/05/2021 13:44

I was involved in mlm for a household name I was in the top 5% of sales reps in the country and made around 1.5k a year for a lot of effort, there will be some people who make a lot but it will be a small percentage

MintyMabel · 16/05/2021 14:05

odd comment to make

I read it that these healthy juice/coffee/creams type MLMs claim to be able to fix everything for everyone, obviously not for this woman.

Hopdathelf · 16/05/2021 14:13

Trading online seems to be the new juice/aloe Vera/ make up but I find it far more worrying. At least you can see what you’ve bought with ‘old style’ MLMs but with trading it’s all just out in the ether and ready to be lost as the market moves. There’s a reason bankers/traders are highly paid but hugely stressed. They can generate huge revenues but with a huge amount of stress, uncertainty and expertise.

zigazigAH1 · 16/05/2021 14:13

@jmh740

Fifteen hundred per year?

Wow.

That's quite depressing because from what I've heard you literally never clock off.

nixonten · 16/05/2021 14:24

Where in the world does this work? USA?
Perhaps someone living in the states can tell us.
It is difficult to understand (perhaps I have small brain): Avon Cosmetics sell $5.5 billion of stuff per annum. Worldwide
Herbalife have a Market Cap of >$5billion and sales of $5.7 billion.
Some body must be getting it right without the churn rate that we all see.

ScrambledSmegs · 16/05/2021 14:47

I'm always taken by surprise when people I know become MLM bots. Why is that? Is it just that because I've done the most basic amount of research on them and drawn the conclusion that they're exploitative and sexist to boot (the "little woman earning pin money' trope) that everyone else will think the same.

BSintolerant · 16/05/2021 17:16

@nixonten

Where in the world does this work? USA? Perhaps someone living in the states can tell us. It is difficult to understand (perhaps I have small brain): Avon Cosmetics sell $5.5 billion of stuff per annum. Worldwide Herbalife have a Market Cap of >$5billion and sales of $5.7 billion. Some body must be getting it right without the churn rate that we all see.

The real money comes from the shadow pyramid, i.e training tools such as so-called coaching, mindset training, CRM software, conferences, rallies, success days and other events where bots are expected to pay for their own tickets, food, tea, coffee and water etc. The products are grossly overpriced (who in their right mind would pay £25 for a bottle of hand sanitiser?) because the money needs to flow up the pyramid to the CEO and shareholders at the top of the actual MLM company. Avon (who are no longer calling in Australia and New Zealand) and The Bodyshop at Home sell more affordable stuff because people can buy directly from their website and BSAH has stores on the high street.

It’s like gambling: the house always wins. Very few people who start at the bottom of the pyramid strike it rich but they’ll keep on spending money they don’t have, often getting into debt in the process, in the desperate hope they’ll earn a six-figure salary, retire in five years, drive a white Mercedes, and live off several streams of residual income. Those at the top don’t care where the money comes from as long as it keeps rolling in.

MarchXX · 16/05/2021 17:35

@goldbeyondtherainbow

A woman I know works for a well known MLM company and posts the usual daily affirmations, super positive posts about how life is wonderful and she's doing so well.

In her post today (fishing for new recruits) she claims to earn 10k per month, or at least has on multiple occasions.

AIBU to think that's a blatant lie?

What do they actually make?

As far as I knew the vast majority of them lose money rather than make any, unless you got in early and are in the top few percent which this woman isn't.

Watch this short video which explains devastatingly how and why bots lie about their incomes to appear successful in order to attract and sign up a downline to exploit and make money off.

www.talentedladiesclub.com/articles/how-deception-in-mlms-destroys-people-video/

TrinidadQueen · 16/05/2021 17:35

Does her name start with an A?
I know someone like this. Apparently she earns so much her husband can soon retire....

cronk23 · 16/05/2021 17:50

I've got a family member who does actually earn this amount of money from a mlm but she's one of the rare few and will openly admit that herself. She's got a huge team and has been doing it for a few years, it won't happen overnight. Having said that I've seen lots of friends try to repeat her success and end up losing money because they are their own best customers. A good blog to read up on how mlm's work is by Elle Beau, she was in younique but now actively campaigns against mlm's. Personally I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole and take what they say with a pinch of salt because they are encouraged to fake it til you make it in order to recruit people because there's no money in it unless you've got a team under you. Hit the mute for 30 days button on Facebook and don't believe a word of what your friend says.

NoMLMbots · 16/05/2021 17:52

Ah the living their best life @superbossgirl @livingmybestlife @chiefexcutivemillionnaireinayearbabe

et etc etc

Yep they are all lying - all trying to drag their friends and family into their misery of spending hours spreading fake crap online showing how much money they are making

It's all rubbish

Tambora · 16/05/2021 19:03

@acatcalledjohn

...when paying said £50 fee doesn't actually make you self employed.

Quite. I can sit in my chair, right here and now and say "from this moment on I am self-employed" and lo and behold, I am.

TutiFrutti · 16/05/2021 20:05

@goldbeyondtherainbow

Can't see it lasting, they're flogging prescription only products fgs

How bizarre, I'm curious what the products are and how customers would even access them if that's the case

It's supposed to be a sleep aid, contains melatonin. It's shipped direct from America so maybe there's some kind import loophole? Either way it's $49.95 for 30 capsules and you're supposed to take 2 a day. Monthly subscriptions are encouraged.....

stickydancefloor · 16/05/2021 20:15

@Bengal12

Hahaha! It was Juice Plus and the kids were on the junior version of it. She would post pics of their vegan breakfasts with the vits next to them with a caption ‘This mama knows what her babies need every day. Plant-based, as nature intended and organic is the only way!’ Interestingly, both her kids were conceived via IVF. Guess you need a different magic potion for that.

@Bengal12 that’s a really nasty comment to make.

BTV2000 · 16/05/2021 21:05

A friend of mine got very excited about an MLM and invited me along to see what it was all about. I very quickly saw through the promoters' bullshit and I think that made her work harder to groom me 😂 she kept saying that if we hadn't reached our goals yet, it was because we weren't working hard enough, and if you sold this product or that product then your earning potential could be 'insane' and you could have it all...i was quite rightly insulted, as I'd just bought my own house, was engaged to a hard working man and was quite happy with my little lot in life. I didn't want strangers telling me my achievements weren't good enough thanks!

I did my own digging, and much like the pp above, I found that when people got to certain 'levels' they were given a car, also a white Merc of some sort, but that it was leased and they were responsible for the payment of such lease. It blew my mind how my intelligent friend had got suckered into something like this so easily.

I often have a browse through the promoter's Instagram every so often and it's still full of a load of drivel.

Flip

1 2 3 4