Different between MLM and Pyramid scheme - are any MLMs ok?

[JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome]

So can someone help me with the above. I found out about some products I liked the sound of but when I looked a bit closer it looks like the company is an MLM. This set alarm bells ringing. Do any of these MLM companies actually sell a legitimate product and are morally sound? I am just now instantly skeptical about something I thought sounded really good.

It’s a different word for the same thing

If you genuinely like the products then feel free to buy them.

Just don’t be surprised when the salesperson then hounds you in to repeat orders and tries to get you to sign up to becoming a salesperson yourself

So this sales person says she doesn't make any money from recruiting people....so in that sense it doesn't sound like a pyramid scheme but it has many of the hallmarks of an MLM

As above. They are the same in all but name. If you like a product a friend sells then buy it. A friend of mine has sole unique for years. She must have regular customers or she would have stopped I'm sure. She does great demos and is a fab MUA. I don't buy. But for those that do - great. Similarly if you want home scent then lots of people like scentsy etc etc..... Just be mindful of who you buy from so they aren't too pushy with you. And be prepared to say no.

They often sell real things, hugely overpriced of course. But that's the part to make it appear legitimate.

Just seen your update.....why does she even need to talk to you about recruiting if you are just a customer...... that sounds worrying unless you specifically asked.

What is she selling?

I like the look of a lot of MLM products but they always seem to be so overpriced

Why don't you just say the name of the company? Then it's easier for people to help.

If you are a customer, then you are buying a product even though MLM products are usually overpriced, but if she's trying to recruit you to sell its different.

It's overpriced to pay people on the upline. At best you can find reasonably priced alternatives. At worse you want to avoid entirely (Monat, anyone?)

It's the same thing. They usually sell overpriced products with rubbish ingredients, whilst claiming said product is a miracle worker. The reviews are usually from other MLM bots.

So it is Doterra, the essential oil company.

It does seem expensive....they also entice you to join for £24 and then you get a discount on the products of 25%.

They make a lot of claims about their oils being purer, they say that you can apply them directly to your skin which other essential oils (e.g. Neil's Yard) say you can't do and have to use a carrier oil.

I am just a bit unsure....

I am not being recruited, I just saw a demo of the products.

There's no difference. I can't recall if there's an actual MN sub-forum about it but there are many threads about the reality of these things.

They make a lot of claims about their oils being purer, they say that you can apply them directly to your skin which other essential oils (e.g. Neil's Yard) say you can't do and have to use a carrier oil.

Lol, this just means they’re watered down already!

So how are they allowed to claim they are 100% pure then? Is it because this is a pretty much unregulated industry? I think I have already put enough doubt in my head...

Doterra is one of the very worst. Their claims are complete bullshit. You should not be applying most essential oils directly to your skin. Just Google doterra scam and you’ll find the horror stories. www.webmd.com/beauty/news/20180813/essential-oils-promise-help-but-beware-the-risks

I don't personally have experience of DoTerra, but I found this well balanced article that seems to answer a lot if your questions.

aromessential.com/best-oil-brands/doterra/

There's no regulation of them being pure, they're produced in china, I would take care applying directly to skin as they wont be noticeably different from the Neal's yard ones.

They're basically a fancy air freshener though so as long as you dont ingest them/put them on pets or possibly directly onto skin (ymmv), then if you like the smell then they're nice enough.

Honestly any of these direct selling things you really wont make any money.

A decent company will take the risk and employ you & pay you a wage to sell their products. If they aren't willing to do that there's a reason.

Short answer - no.
Long answer - Usborne and Avon perhaps different?

You do need a carrier oil with DoTerra for most of the oils unless it's one that has already been blended. It is a MLM as everytime you buy a product others in the chain benefit from it by earning.
You can join and not have to recruit but to keep the discount you receive, you have to either spend a certain amount or get items with a certain amount of points each month. You do get "wholesale" price but I don't think there is much difference if you want the oils, to buy as a one off as a customer from someone who has signed up to them already.

MLMs are pyramid scheme, no exceptions.

DoTerra is particularly bad. If you have Netflix, watch the first episode of the series [UN]WELL. It's about DoTerra and shows that their claims that their oils are 'pure' enough to apply directly to skin or even consume are unfounded and dangerous.

OP did you Google that company? They are definitely an MLM. Run away from them.

MLM is what they called themselves to dodge the fact pyramid schemes are banned, but it’s the same thing