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?

Fully agree with this. Toddler groups shouldn't be seen as potential sales targets by people who've been told to sell to anyone and everyone.

I used to help run a church hall toddler group and no way would we have let that happen . I would’nt be impressed at all by that

I went to a church fete and there was an Avon stall. I was thrilled. The lady was selling surplus stock and had some brochures on the table. Nobody was harmed or recruited.

Yanbu.

And I would mention something because MLMs target and exploit new mums (and other vulnerable groups).

Our local PTAs all now have a "No MLM "policy for school fairs.

Do they usually have retail stalls at the baby group? If not then you're definitely not being unreasonable. If yes, then I think the fact that its an MLM (which I also loathe), isn't relevant and YABU

There's the thing. There is no such thing as "surplus stock" in an MLM. The so-called business owners have to purchase a certain amount of stock every month to remain active, and in reality have to purchase a whole load more to maintain their rank. They then end up with a garage load of the stuff which they're then told to hawk at tabletop sales to try and recoup their losses.
And then as PPs have mentioned, there is then the pressure to tell anyone who has the misfortune to buy something how great the "opportunity" is, and how they too could get into thousands of pounds of debt selling aloe vera at a x200 mark-up on what it actually costs to produce it.
The fact that they prey on young mums is the icing on the cake.

@KT1113 not usually. Every now and again (usually when it’s Christmas / Halloween / Easter) there’s a photographer and occasionally when it’s Christmas there will be someone selling crafts: personalised hats or something. But I don’t mind as a) it’s for charity and b) it’s very occasional and there’s advance notice. This feels a bit uncomfortable.

Ugh, all the way through primary school, we had a Stella & Dot MLM "mumprenneur" who used to try to wheedle her way into everything from PTA fetes to end of term teacher presents and any and all get togethers. It was very wearing having to fend off the pressure to hold one of her parties without becoming impolite and telling her to eff off.

Ah in which case I'd absolutely mention it, if the alternative was people avoiding the group so they weren't faced with things like this, I'm sure the organisers would rather know!

This was not my experience at all. I bought some stuff, she said thanks and I walked away. It wasn't exactly Forever Living or Scientology. I came away with some shower gel and hair serum.

Wow OP! I dont think @RampantIvy was being aggressive! She was just asking. It might matter to her for some reason e.g. because she might have had a similar experience with those companies etc. No need to be so rude.

I found them to be inevitable at playgroups and the like - around one a month of the Phoenix cards, Usborne books, beauty products etc etc. They were ignorable if not interested.

A lot of the women doing the selling are very grateful for the cash. If it helps them, it’s no skin off my nose.

Yes, a one-off stall for handmade things is very different from an MLM. I would talk to one of the organisers and say it may people feel pressured and uncomfor table.

I wouldn’t be happy about this, the amount of MLM’s I’ve felt pressured into over the years is off the scale. Currently watching an acquaintance from behind my hands on instagram rise up the travel MLM ranks by selling zero holidays, just recruitment

I don't think OP was rude - she said herself she was asking 'curiously and politely'.

Just so no, it’s no big deal. Not sure what brand it was but I personally like Avon products so always happy to browse those, they are competitively priced though

I agree, OP, as you describe the group (with the occasional craft stall for charity at Christmas etc) a MLM stall seems inappropriate.

MLMs do tend to prey on vulnerable women, which is another good reason not to encourage them at a toddler group.

@dickiedavisthunderthighs

avon works a bit differently, there is end of line stock and bulk buys offered to reps

Ah I see! Apologies OP I misread your message. I think..its not clear @diditallgook

Did you read a different post, OP wasn't rude at all

Yes, Ive explained.

I get that you say you misread it it but - how? 😂

There are people trying to flog holidays at playgroup?

When I ran a toddler group we had an Usborne Books lady come once every few weeks. It was wildly popular, because I suppose was useful and relevant. But I can see your point re skincare/wax melts/travel agents etc. I’d just ignore it personally, and probably roll my eyes and feel a bit sorry for them that they’d got sucked in to that nonsense.

But if you know people have genuinely been pressured to buy stuff they don’t want, and it’s affected the vibe of the group, then it is worth having a quiet word with the organisers.

Do remember that organising such groups is a thankless task though - everyone has a criticism and few want to help. They’ve probably had to endure hassle from the MLM person and now they’ll get hassle from those not wanting it.

My worry here is that they're deliberately setting up at a toddler group to target mums that are struggling for cash and recruit them into the scam. It's just so bizarre otherwise to try set up a skincare stall at a toddler group.

I'd have no issues having a word with the organiser, and just saying 'I'm not sure you're aware, but the business that person is representing is an MLM which is an exploitative business model 99% of people lost a lot of money in. I don't think it's an appropriate space for them to be when new parents can be vulnerable and struggling and might be hooked into it'

What they do with it is up to them, but if the organiser thinks it's okay to allow it it would really put me off going. They're prioritising profit over the wellbeing of the parents they're ostensibly supporting.