Travel Agent MLM

[FanofLeaves]

I’ve had a couple of old uni mates recently post all over social media that they are now ‘independent travel agents’. Loads of posts talking about their travelling days and saying things like ‘I’d love to help you plan a trip..’ etc etc. Lots of ‘busy mum’ chat like ‘wow can’t believe I can fit this exciting new venture round being there for my kids whenever they need me’ ‘cooked a roast, took my littlest to karate, cleaned out the guinea pigs, everyone’s in bed and now to work on my new business!’ like it’s relentless, easily 4+ posts daily.

from what I can deduce, it’s £200 start up costs and then you’re supposed to convince people to book a trip that you’ve researched etc? But it’s got to be an MLM right? They’re not now actual independent travel agents that make real money? They’re supposed to recruit into the scheme right and get people to pay the £200 start up? From what I can gather they just bungled a few bits together using various travel sites but claim they have ‘exclusive insights’.

I’ve no idea why it’s bothering me so much but I feel like I need to know 🤣 anyone done it? Or been involved? I could never as I’m far too lazy with my social media.

My neighbour does this, she’s constantly posting on social media and you can’t have a conversation without her bringing up how much of a deal she can get us on a holiday but she pays her bills so i imagine it must pay somewhat okay if you’re consistent with it.

It’s totally MLM - they have paid for a social media kit with pre designed posts and graphics - and have access to a glorified search engine (probably skinned with the MLM organisation’s brand but nowhere near as powerful as Google). It’s a scam, they won’t sell a single holiday. Much like those YouTube ads that offer to coach you in a new drop shipping or business coaching business… erm if you have all made thousands then why are you having to tout your ‘training’ online? Surely you’re too busy running your existing businesses?! Total scam. You’re not missing out on anything by foolishness.

But if it’s MLM then the money comes from recruiting others and that’s where you make your money and those at the bottom of the triangle get nothing. She’s not selling holidays. She’s selling an idea and those below her in the pyramid won’t get a penny.

Ahh that’s interesting because I have another acquaintance that does a ‘digital marketing’ one where she’s doing a load of online training and apparently will go on to earl £25,000 a month. But the blurb is all word salad, I’ve no idea what it actually is.

Do you think they know that when they go into it or are they really expecting to sell people holidays?

Yeah I havr a friend doing it. She actually seems to be doing well from it, but mainly from recruiting people. I didn’t too it was an MLM to start with.

I think everyone likes the idea of a get rick quick scheme, but it’s very unrealistic. Anyone making money will be doing it from recruiting others - they are making money off other’s people’s backs and at some point the pyramid implodes. It’s highly immoral in my view.

I bet she doesn’t either! I work in communications and have done for over two decades… people are being sold all manner of ‘courses’ now by people who have Canva Premium and have mocked up some convincing graphics and can talk the talk. It’s an unregulated industry in the main - because where would you start? So it’s really on those signing up to make sure it’s legit. But so many people have pound signs in their eyes and don’t do the research first.

It’s this (the Digital marketing one)

No idea what the actual substance is at all or what you’re supposed to he selling?!

Affiliate marketing so basically set up your own website/social channels and have other people’s adverts on there. Or indeed post random posts on Mumsnet and hope people click on your links! Plus what’s with all the random capital letters? Looks unprofessional from the off doesn’t it? Oh and again - the whole ‘if I can do it, you can do it’ smacks of recruiting others who pay you a fee for access to the information on how to do this. They’ll call you a ‘trainer’ even though you’ll have access to a couple of crappy videos and won’t learn any new computer skills whatsoever - let alone digital affiliate marketing ones.

Ah I see! I didn’t know if I was being an idiot or if was deliberately vague/media speak that I didn’t understand. Thanks for the info!

It is an MLM. Someone I used to follow (a midwife influencer who moved abroad) had been suctioned into it. I do really like her but I want to shake her at the same time in a non violent way. I just unfollowed her instead.

I feel like these things really suck you in as a mum- I mean who wouldn’t want to have a lot more of their own earned money plus be at home for your kids. But if it sounds too good to be true…

Not only is it £200 to start up, you have to pay a monthly fee of around £60 and then you earn anywhere between 2-22% commission on the holidays themselves
I know this because I was at a job fair where ‘independent travel agents’ had a stall and I was talking to the woman recruiting people. The women on the stall talked a good game and they were taking loads of emails to sign people up but the majority of job fair attendees weren’t in work and were being boozled by the lure of commission. It didn’t sit right with me at all

I think it sucks in anyone desperate for money which is why it’s so awful. Totally plays on people’s vulnerabilities.

Ugh sounds awful - would make me feel ill too. The cheek of them to go to a job fair.

Someone I used to work with does the travel one. She was pretty savvy so I'm surprised she's got involved with an MLM.

Is it a bit like the modern day Kleeneaze/Avon? I remember trailing round with my mum giving out then collecting catalogues at house after house and then one person might order a lipstick at £3.49 which she’d make about 50p on.

Indeed. And Mary Kay and that bloody Aloe Vera one. Different product, same hustle.

I have a friend who is doing the travel agent one. She talks constantly about her ‘team’ who she has recruited, the ‘training’ she provides etc. She seems to be focused on recruiting rather than actually selling holidays, in fact, I don’t think she’s sold any. She keeps trying to pin me down to meet up for a coffee but I suspect it’ll just be a hard sell. 🙄

The girl in my year at school who was the very best academically and went on to train as a vet got sucked into Bodyshop and home and posted endless tripe about sacking the boss and paying for her DD's dance lessons.

A relative was caught up in a travel agent MLM. Over 18 months she made £48, which you'd never believe from her Facebook.

She's now involved in something different (seems to be another MLM) but it does seem to be working for her.

A friend of mine did it, years ago. Changed personality, goes on holiday with this crowd, bought in big-time & is now a top dog MLM guru. If you’re a sociopath, it’s easy money. Why not?

Because it’s shitting on other people?

I hate MLMs with a passion. It's the way they do the psychology - if you're not "making it" it's because you're vibrating wrong or some such bollocks, nothing to do with it being a flawed business model, usually with crappy over priced products / nonsense "services" and often with the most impenetrable payment structure known to woman, because they usually prey on women.

I've watched countless horror stories on YouTube, IMHO it's fraud plain and simple. Technically it's illegal, it's pyramid schemes rebranded. Really not good for my blood pressure....