To be pissed off an MLM stall turned up at toddler group this morning?

[diditallgook]

Went to our usual Wednesday group only to find someone standing behind a table with a load of skincare products. It was really awkward and made people feel obliged to buy something (I didn’t.)

I don’t normally sweat the small stuff but I am wondering if I should mention something - but then I’ll look like a pain, won’t I?

Surely you just say "not buying today thanks".
Which you obviously did. If others didn't that's on them.
This totally wouldn't bother me.

Mention something to who?

Just ignore, pity them and their delusion from afar and walk on.

If they are just trying to get you to buy their skincare products, I don’t see the issue.

If they are trying to get you to join their MLM, that is different.

YANBU. Just tell the organisers that you really appreciate the space to connect with other parents and find the presence of a retailer intrusive. IMO it's irrelevant that it's an MLM (although I loathe them).

Parents of young children are often short of money and reminding them of that in a toddler group is stressful and potentially divisive.

I would be pissed off too. When I was on the PTA and in the playgroup organising committee we had a blanket ban on all of those sorts of pyramid schemes. Yes people feel pressured to buy and it means the poor deluded fool who has signed up to sell their aloe vera or skincare is convinced to continue their "business".

My only point would be that in my direct experience, the people who run toddler groups and playgroups and deal with booking the hall, paying the insurance and all the rest of it are vastly overworked and underappreciated. By all means raise the MLM as an issue, but only if you are prepared to give them a hand with the admin/organisation to make sure it doesn't happen again in the future.

Actually - @MidnightPatrol makes a good point re the recruitment tactics of MLMs.

To the organisers I suppose. I think it bothered me because it did alter the dynamics of the group and it meant that there was pressure to buy something; of course you don’t have to, but others did and it sort of condones it by having it there.

There does tend to be a certain amount of back scratching done by small businesses around here: personalised items and photographers and I don’t mind that too much because it’s none of my business but MLMs are unethical as well as poor value for money product wise so I don’t think toddler groups are the place. It’s also the fact that MLMs do push their nonsense at mums - not just mums, but we are one of the main victims if you like.

Presumably to whoever runs the group. I’d have no issue with saying ‘Not appreciating having a baby group turned into a MLM.’

No one wants a skincare stall staffed by an eager person trying to catch your eye when you’re doing ‘Wind the Bobbin Up’ in the village hall.

The problem is so many are doing the travel business now as well so it does make me wonder if my weekly visit to the group will be dominated by people trying to get me to book a holiday through them or similar. I hope not. I do feel for them but it’s supposed to be a nice time to connect with my toddler, not a hard sell.

People who get sucked into MLMs are usually desperate and lose all sense of where would be appropriate to set up a stall. The pressure and brainwashing is huge.
My dh was unfortunate (foolish) enough to fall for the Amway scam in the 90s and I look back in horror at how easily people were sucked in. We lost friends, years and a huge amount of money.
There needs to be a lot more publicity about MLM along the lines of the current warnings about scam calls etc.
All you can do is avoid. Never buy anything or you will never hear the end of them.

I'm curious to know which skincare brand it is - Tropic, Temple Spa?

Yanbu, and I despise how they target new Mums - come and work with us and you can be around for your kids just give us loads of money and compromise all your friendships

Asking curiously and politely rather than aggressively and belligerently: does it matter? Why?

@IrememberAmway i am sorry to hear that. I think that’s my concern really, it is sort of condoned through its presence and it shouldn’t be.

Trouble is, the former tends to be how they tend to reel people in, then it turns into the latter.

Exactly. Nobody makes any profit on the products, it is recruiting that is the real goal.

They can’t make anyone buy anything!

If it is definitely an MLM I'd probably try and explain that the 'business model' leaves 99% of participants losing money.

I'd probably speak to the leader and say I don't find it appropriate. She's basically being ripped off and trying to drag everyone else down with her. The woman doing it that is.

If she had just made a load of tat she was genuinely selling, even that would be a bit naff. Just say everyone started trying to flog stuff?!

And why does it matter?

You get onto a hamster wheel of sunk costs - buy the products for yourself, pay for the training sessions, travel to the conferences, recruit people. If you aren't selling or recruiting you need to pay for more training. Having small children is no excuse for missing training or events, pay for a babysitter. It is relentless. Only a tiny number of people at the very top make all the money. It is like being in an abusive relationship.

What is an MLM?

This?

Basically a legal pyramid scheme / massive scam.

Multi Level Marketing

I disagree, its really relevant its an MLM, they prey on new mothers with the 'work you own hours and be there for your kids' claims tapping directly into the mum guilt. Being at a toddler group is incredibly inappropriate. Once someone has bought something they then have an in to pitch the 'business opportunity' its never just about selling some skincare.

I've been to bucket loads of places where there's been these stalls.
No one has ever tried to recruit me though - just sell me stuff.