To go NC with Tropic “ambassador” friend

[FMLGFastMovingLuxuryGoods]

My friend about 4 years ago became an “ambassador” for Tropic. For anyone who hasn’t heard of it, it’s a skincare brand launched by a former Apprentice contestant. It claims not to be MLM, but it is. I have tried some but TBH it was SO expensive for a non-designer brand (£48 for moisturiser, about £42 for a serum) and it made my skin all blotchy. I soon went back to my Estee Lauder

Every time she messages me, she either asks if I want “top ups” (weird thing to ask seeing as I don’t have any Tropic muck to top up) or says things (after asking how I am and being normal) like “We have a new toner just come in if you fancy trying it?” I have to keep telling her I don’t like Tropic, I’m happy with my current brand. She’s even tried to get me to start selling before which I just laughed at.

She’s mentioned it again in a text today. I really hate just going about my day then being treated like some unwilling customer by someone who’s meant to be a friend.

Why do people do this to their friends when they join MLMs?!

They do it because they are brainwashed into thinking they will become very very rich and that people actually want the product. I'm surprised that she hasn't recruited you to be a salesperson too, that's the next step.

Sadly you need to walk away from the friendship because if she is selling it after 4 years she has probably spent an absolute fortune in buying product and attending seminars on selling it so she will never stop trying to flog it

Everyone is now a customer, as they are desperate to make money.

Hello Tina. Please stop asking me about Tropic goods. I’m not interested. You are wasting your time.

If she persists, don’t respond to any of the messages where she mentions it.

They're told that their friends/family will be happy to support them and to start marketing there.

Theres a lot of pressure to do this, outright bullying in some cases.

Tell her 'I don't like Tropics products. Stop trying to sell them to me. If I ever change my mind, I will ask you'.

If she carries on, block/delete/ghost/etc.

I know one of these-absolutely relentless!

I can’t believe twits are still falling for these schemes.

Yanbu to go NC, these people are exhausting. I’ve lost two nice mum friends to MLM’s, one isn’t even doing it any more as it’s a scam, but she’s still person non grata in the group after crashing every gathering with her sales spiel. The other one is still wanging on about her ‘travel business’ 🫠

Not Tropics but I developed this dreadful face and neck rash once - I was very self conscious and one of the Mums at school who I didn’t really know came over to talk to me about it and said she had something that might help and would bring it in at pick up. Later she handed me a sort of small gift bag - I looked inside and it was a tube of Aloe Vera with a bill for £30 (this was 20 years ago) - I was in shock - just handed the whole lot back to her the next morning didn’t even explain why.

Of course it's MLM. It's so totally MLM-y and Lord Sugar ought to be ashamed of himself, but given he's the top of the pyramid then he's coining it in.

Your big mistake - and I'm not blaming you - was making that first order. Lots of people do that to "show support" or similar to a friend but it just gives them false hope that the shitty pyramid scheme they have signed up to might make them money.

I would give it one last try. A strong email/text/WhatsApp to say "I will not be buying any of these products again. Do not contact me about them" and if she does - block.

Lord Sugar isn’t involved in it any more. The woman who started it bought him out in 2023.

OP! How awful! You're not being a good friend! Friends support friends' businesses! Estee Lauder doesn't need your money, your friend does! Buying with a local business puts their kids through ballet, buying from EL just makes their shareholders RICH!

Haha, jk of course. Block and move on, it's the only way. She hasn't bothered listening to you and is treating you like pound signs instead of like a friend. Get rid.

YANBU, I had one of these 'friends'. I even bought some of her first products to be supportive. They were neither awful nor great, but overpriced. She's since moved on to loads of different schemes, and barely speaks to me anymore once she realised I wasn't going to buy any more.

MLMs are essentially cults, that use the same techniques of cults. Susie Ma can rant about how it is not an MLM all she wants, any product that main way of selling is by encouraging people to harass their friends is an MLM, Scam and above all unethical.

I know around 5 people who have done it. Thinking about it, all of them fit into at least 2 of the following.

• low educated (limited job prospects)

• have some form of mild learning disability (lacking the ability to think critically)

• aged between 16-21 (so more likely to be nieve)

• Single Mum (harder to find regular employment)

• unemployed (disparate for money)

• Female (because you know, patriarchy)

Also as an aside I never brought Susie Ma’s ‘ditzy’ act on the show: ‘Do the French love their children?’ and attempting to haggle a renown designer £345 top hat for a fiver. This is a woman who attended a GDST school (selective) and studied economics at KCL. Please! 🤦

According to Wiki he was involved from 2011 to 2023. He clearly had no issues with the "business model" and his involvement still gives it credibility. The Apprentice is mentioned several times on the site's "meet our founder" page.

I am actually really surprised that A), the Beeb let an MLM on the show; while it’s LS money, the BBC does get a say on who the candidates actually are and will make sure that the prospective business plans won’t cause any major controversy. B), Sugar actually went with it. (Although in reality I think I am more disappointed than surprised).

ETA: Just seen that Sugar was brought out and now isn’t involved, but that that doesn’t change the fact that he was and knowingly invested in an MLM.

I know. That’s what I was pointing out. He hasn’t been involved since 2023.

I have such a “friend”. I was recently invited to a party, not having seen her for 5 years.

It’s always the same thing with this type of product. SIL tried ramming Aloe a few years ago. Nope! Looks like sperm, smells like spermy plant, also (super-shallow) the packaging is shite.

Tell her you can’t use the stuff, it brought you out in a rash?

Genuinely, I block these people. They’re not interested in a friendship just what I’ll buy off them. No, is never enough so I just fucking block. It’s one think promoting your shit on your Facebook wall but direct messaging your friends to get them to buy your tat is low.

I wouldn’t feel guilty about refusing to engage with messages relating to Tropic! Just ignore and delete. Answer any non related messages and if mentioned in person I would rapidly change the subject. Eventually they should get the message

"No thank you, I dont like companies that rip off vulnerable women"

YANBU. It’s relentless and exhausting. Just distance yourself but don’t kid yourself that she’ll understand the reasons why. She’ll just think you’re an unsupportive or jealous friend, rather than someone who is concerned their friend is being exploited. The level of brainwashing they are subjected to with these cults is next level.

If she was a good friend I'd give it one final, "Friend, I don't want to buy or sell Tropic. Please stop asking.. I want to spend some time with you, my friend, without being sold to. Can we please do that?

I had a friend who got very into some property buying and renting thing that sounded very MLM. I backed right off from the friendship until she had moved on.

I dont think (hope) my friends dont have MLM personalities.

But id say, you need to stop this. I want none of it and if you cant accept that we cant be friends

Maybe a "Hi Tina, I really appreciate you as a friend; but when you go from asking how I am; to selling a product - it feels like your interest in ME is disingenuous. Im sure that's not true, but I wanted to let you know how it feels so you can understand my perspective"

You might enjoy this by a former MLMer

https://ellebeaublogger.wordpress.com/poonique/