To buy from MLM scheme because it’s a friend?

[HoppingHamster]

Inspired by a skincare thread yesterday which got me thinking (sorry if this has been done before).

A friend of mine recently started selling Tropic, she’s loving it and clearly loves the product. Very passionate, but not intrusive, I think she’s doing a really good job of getting the balance right between doing something she loves for her friends and being a salesperson. It works well in our area as we are quite rural so it’s a good journey to nearest department store for a experience with cosmetics, but I think she’s struggling to keep up her sales now that the initial novelty has worn off with family and friends.

However, having seen the reactions to MLM and read a bit more about it, I’m torn. I want to keep supporting her because she’s a good friend (over 20 years) but now I’m worried that it could all end badly for her and knock her confidence.

So AIBU to continue buying as she’s a friend (products nice but 90% of reason I buy is her)?

For those of you who are / have been MLM “ambassadors”, how did you find it? Were you treated well, did you make money, was it flexible, did it cause probs with friends and family, do you think it’s ethical? Are there any which are really good?

I didn’t realise Avon has been an MLM for years! I think the only ones I’ve ever come across really are Tropic and Arbonne, Arbonne I hated as the girl was really pushy. Although maybe Stella and Dot were the same? Also, why is it always targeted at women selling to other women, why don’t men do it?

Sorry for all the questions!

[quote HoppingHamster]@EdithWeston I’ve never heard that before, surely there’s some degree of merit in it?[/quote]
Well, it depends on the award. Most of them aren't worth much.

Exposés easily found via google.

It's not just 'low income' women who do MLMs though, I've known ones with well earning husbands who do it as they are being greedy and think they can make an easy buck from their friends

Usually a few months after they start they give up and all the fake enthusiasm disappears. Wish people would just get a job instead of plugging this crap.

Used to do Avon as a teenager before I got a part time job and it was good for me at the time. Made money, not lots but enough to fund nights out, and got to know loads of my neighbours, gained in confidence at speaking to people and I don't remember there being a large initial outlay. Also as I could then talk about cosmetics and perfume to people I got a part time job in a perfume shop in town.

She will eventually realise it's a con. By buying it you will prolong that realisation, which will make it even more painful for her.

Someone at work recently started selling it & she's not a poor single mum given that her & her husband's combined salary is around £175k.

However I can already see the pushy sales pitch creeping in & even on work calls she gets in a "I'm putting an order in do you want anything?"

That said I do like their skin feast so I'll buy that it's actually less expensive than my usual one but I wouldn't buy anything I wouldn't genuinely use & you seem to be able to buy direct through the website without an ambassador.

If she's truly a friend you might help her more by not buying
It seems a shame to encourage her down a path that almost certainly won't work, and if people don't buy it'll hasten the day when she sees the light (and hopefully save her a lot of money and angst in the long run)

Nope, I absolutely wouldn’t.

I won’t even buy from body shop stores anymore because of their ‘at home’ arm now.

I think I am at the extreme end of the spectrum with my hate of MLMs though. I loathe how they prey on women

Tropic sounds like one the the better ones to me... I would be happy to support a friend selling it if I liked the products and could afford them (I'm stingy AF though and find them a bit expensive)
I keep meaning to try their lip balm as I do get very sore lips sometimes...

@TheGoogleMum

Tropic sounds like one the the better ones to me... I would be happy to support a friend selling it if I liked the products and could afford them (I'm stingy AF though and find them a bit expensive) I keep meaning to try their lip balm as I do get very sore lips sometimes...

As someone who suffers from extremely painful chapped lips everytime the weather changes, trust me Tropic lip balm is not the answer. Blistex is about a tenth of the cost and is a much better product by far!

[quote HoppingHamster]@EdithWeston I’ve never heard that before, surely there’s some degree of merit in it?[/quote]
@edithweston is right. It's not specific to mlms either. If any company days they are award winning, always check if you've actually heard of the company issuing the award. Many industries have companies that host award nights, and you basically pay to attend and are almost guaranteed to win something

All you're doing is encouraging to get her in deeper and deeper.

I have been in the beauty industry for 30 years, using and selling beautiful products. A mum friend does Tropic, loads of sm posts etc and does seem to have found her niche. It’s about the fourth mlm she’s done. I don’t buy from her (don’t need to) but if you like it, buy it. It’s not the worst.

Tropic is no better than any other MLM.

A rep infiltrated my place of worship a couple of years ago. She piggybacked on a really nice wellness event, and tried to recruit a really vulnerable member of our community who has mental health problems. Disgustingly unethical.

@MiloAndEddie

Nope, I absolutely wouldn’t.

I won’t even buy from body shop stores anymore because of their ‘at home’ arm now.

I think I am at the extreme end of the spectrum with my hate of MLMs though. I loathe how they prey on women

I’m the same, I flat out refuse to buy anything from an MLM and won’t buy MIL’s favourite hand cream from the Bodyshop now because of their MLM side. It’s disgusting and it’s preying on vulnerable women who are made to feel guilty for not providing for their families.

Has your friend done other MLM’s? I ask because there is a girl I went to school with who currently does Tropic, but has previously done a bunch of others, most notably Younique and Scentsy, but most of them really.

She does a really good job of ‘selling’ - videos every day. Really committed. But the only way I would ever buy anything is if I genuinely liked and used the product and couldn’t find an alternative. I have a fundamental issue with MLM - they drag people in, and give false hope. They are unethical.

I buy tropic as I love the products. They’ve made a real difference to my skin. I would recommend them. I only use the skincare not the makeup

@EishetChayil

Tropic is no better than any other MLM.

A rep infiltrated my place of worship a couple of years ago. She piggybacked on a really nice wellness event, and tried to recruit a really vulnerable member of our community who has mental health problems. Disgustingly unethical.

Whilst this is disgusting behaviour I think the individual is the one at fault and I certainly wouldn't tarnish everyone with the same brush. I hope you complained about them to the business they represent.

@EdithWeston @PlantDoctor

Have you looked up any of the awards? Of course it can be inside like any industry, childcare marketing can be the worst and I personally have huge issues with any particular brand of nappy, formula or similar pushed on the public by sponsored posts and 'offers'

It's not exactly weight loss coffee or knock off perfumes. It's a legitimate ethical product they sell which is loved my many, myself included. I don't buy it because a friend sells it, I buy because it's done amazing things for skin, it's vegan, sustainable, sun care is land and sea protected, carbon neutral, the list goes on of all the pros of the actual products if you're trying to support a business which looks after the world we live in as well the skin.

[quote jakalaka]Just give her the money. It's more honest. And puts an easy market price on your relationship. She's begging from you. That's how MLM works. They turn your friends and family into your marks and trick you into begging money from them to give to your upstream. Once you've wrung them all dry, the scheme collapses and you are left with debt and no friends.

mlmtruth.org/2018/02/01/why-mlm-will-never-work/[/quote]
This seems an accurate summary. I've had friends who did mlms. Had. I didn't appreciate them using friendship to try to guilt me into buying stuff.

YABU.
Buy the product if you like it but not to help your friend or you could set up a direct debit giving her money every month.

Do you need the products? Do you like the products? Can you afford them? Do you actually want them?
If the answer is yes then buy them. If no - don't buy them. That should be everyone's purchasing thoughts whether you are buying from Poundland or Harrods or a friend.

I buy Tropics products because I like them. I've muted the WhatsApp group so ignore promotions unless I need anything. No hassle and good products. And no, I'm not an ambassador.

Don't do it.

Be a good friend and DONT buy. They are shit schemes who prey on vulnerable woman and can potentially devastate lives.

Hopefully your friend will see the light soon enough.

I think YABU to buy from her because it means you are ultimately supporting the sales model and business, and it’s one that is so detrimental to many involved. It’s like saying you’ll buy coke from your friend because you like them and it, whilst ignoring how it ultimately benefits someone else and harms many others. And yes, I do think illegal drugs and MLM are comparable.

Even if MLMs were truthful, it should be obvious that all the complication, bonuses, silly conferences, babble and marketing materials have to be paid for somehow. That means that the price of bog standard smelly gunk has to be hiked.

If you want smelly gunk, go to a shop where the staff get paid without having to do all this nonsense. There's a reason MLMs only sell stuff targeted at women - because smelly gunk can be overpriced and women are still daft enough to buy it. Don't be daft.