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Original poster

I've been sucked into forever living!! Why do I feel like the bad guy?

999 replies

KindergartenKop · 03/06/2015 20:27

Recently an acquaintance emailed me to ask if I could 'help' her by trying a few products and giving her some feedback. Being the nice person I am I agreed. When the bag of samples turned up the penny dropped and i realised that she's trying to sell them to me (I'm naive I know!). I thought id just buy a little bubble bath. Its fucking 14 quid! No way. I'm sending the bag back and pleading eczema. Does this whole company operate by guilting friends and family into purchasing crap quality at ridic prices?

OP posts:
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DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel · 13/06/2015 15:19

I have/had a Younique friend. She posted the pictures a couple of months ago and got excited when her pack arrived, but has not mentioned it since. I dont see her anymore so not sure what happened.

I also have a pampered chef friend (also someone I dont see anymore) who seems to regularly host parties. I wasn't aware that pampered chef was like FL, but with cooking. I assumed it was more like Ann Summers, but instead of sex toys and underwear it was cooking. Or was AS the same as FL?

What about Avon? Is that the same too.

Genuinely curious.

Quietattheback · 13/06/2015 16:06

The two people I know that do Avon just do it for a bit of pin money and the discount on the product.

Both bring the catalogue to the respective play group, pass it round and take any orders. I never buy anything cos I'm an ole baggage that no amount of lotions or potions could change but they've never pressured and they don't seem to be arsed about building a team.

Doesn't seem to be the high pressure selling that there is with the others.

Melonfool · 13/06/2015 18:23

Avon is just selling, no pyramid team stuff.

SymphonyofShadows · 13/06/2015 19:11

Yes, my Avon friend is quite protective of her patch so she definitely wouldn't want to sign anyone else up.

DontMakeMeThink · 14/06/2015 00:10

We have friends who have embarked on the FL "journey". For people who never used to post on FB, to now putting all these fake, love this business posts up - it's made my husband and I realise that money comes before friendship for them. Even our kids don't play together any more.

They even claim their change of car, which they do every few years on a lease is down to FL. It's all lies. They couldn't afford the car if they had to buy it. Her partner admitted it to me - that's why they lease. Nothing to do with FL.

They'll never have the guts to hold their hands up and say what they're doing is destroying friendships. They've gone around everyone in our friend circle and nobody is interested - now they have new "best friends". At least it's made us realise what they're really like deep down - hollow and money orientated. And have no morals to take whatever they can off people who may be less fortunate them them. I have my own company that turns over an average profit - but never brag about it or put anything on FB. I hope HMRC reads their posts based on their claims and clobbers them even if they made £20.

NothingUpMySleeve · 14/06/2015 01:28

I don't have any FL friends, but do know someone constantly flogging utility warehouse. It kind of sounds legit, in that you'd think it would be cheaper to buy everything together (like a dual fuel discount) but then, as soon as you get into it a bit more, it's £xxx to join up and you get £xx for everyone else you recruit.

What's really grim is that this person sets themselves up as some kind of 'mum expert' for the local area, so they advise on local playgroups, cloth nappies, etc and then use this base to flog the dodgy shit.

Hate the whole 'mumtrepreneur' industry, when it's just flogging overpriced crap, that no-one needs or wants, to your friends and relatives. Even worse when it's the hard sell to recruit others to do the same.

TheNameIWantedIsTaken · 14/06/2015 08:50

I've found my people! I thought I was the only one who could see through all this useless crap!
If I want to eat healthy I go to the shop and buy fresh food, I don't need some dimwit flogging me overpriced powders and I certainly don't want to be a part of 'your' business alienating and using friends to attempt to get rich quick. Just get a real job and realise that if you have enough with that then you don't need more at the expense of everyone you want in your life.

xenu1 · 14/06/2015 08:55

DMMT
"They'll never have the guts to hold their hands up and say what they're doing is destroying friendships. They've gone around everyone in our friend circle and nobody is interested - now they have new "best friends". At least it's made us realise what they're really like deep down - hollow and money orientated."
It might be better to pity them. They are caught in a cult and will almost certainly lose. Its a bit like joinging the JWs I would simply say that you are not interested in the biz opportunity but if they ever have doubts or need to talk you are there for them. Check out the comments on the firsy amway-critical site. They are very moving. amway.robinlionheart.com/comments.htm

NorbertDentressangle · 14/06/2015 09:57

Brace yourself folks ......

It looks like there's a big FL Success day coming up in London this week so look out for those fb posts!

(this is according to my FLbot on fb - we live nowhere near London so it looks as if she's going to be putting in yet more long hours away from her family in order to attend - of course she words it differently to that, it's all about spending quality time with amazing, inspirational people having fun and celebrating success Hmm )

MissBattleaxe · 14/06/2015 11:37

No Avon is great. I love my Avon Lady! She just gives me a brochure and doesn't mind if I don't want anything and doesn't post shit on my FB page. And she never posts photos of her laptop on a park bench!

AnguaVonUberwald · 14/06/2015 13:27

I have my own business. The way I know it's an actual business is that I don't need to sell to my friends. I don't try either. No 'parties' no 'opportunities'. They know what I do and if anyone wants anything (happens occasionally) I sell it to them at a discount. Because it's a real business and I don't want or need to make a profit from my friends!

AnguaVonUberwald · 14/06/2015 13:32

Nb. Just to be clear. It's not the FL type of business. It's a business started by me! In case anyone thinks I am trying to defend them. I'm not! ??.

I suppose I could technically work in my pj's but would mean changing out of normal clothes after school run, so not much point. Grin

MarthasHarbour · 14/06/2015 14:16

So hpw do the holidays work? I am stalking an FLbot on our local FB selling page and she is wittering on about going on an all expenses paid trip to cancun and is taking her newest recruit with her (also all expenses paid) . How can this even be possible if you have only just become a bot?

Surely they must have to pay - but why kid yourself it is all expenses?

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 14/06/2015 14:27

Angua - A FL lady I know must have done this. Saw her on the school run. Two hours later she is all over Facebook in her dressing gown Confused

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 14/06/2015 14:44

ActiDerm is a popular pile of junk up in my area. Local selling pages are peppered with really bad pictures of their concealer failing to conceal a tattoo.

I knew a Younique rep, but she wasn't very in your face, and she's decided not to go with it any more. Apparently the set up kit itself is worth the money if you like their makeup.

Cocolepew · 14/06/2015 14:52

Surely the reps must know its a con, it's survival of the fittest Grin. They have to recruit people to make money of them so they're a bit heartles really aren't they?

There was a FL stall in the mall of my shopping center yesterday.

ATrueNerd · 14/06/2015 16:57

I think Avon and ones like Betterware are ok.. But I don't see why they bother having reps nowadays, just have a website and stick the catalogues in with the free papers?

My juice plus person has just posted about how taking juice plus can stop you needing IVF. Total scumbags, praying on people when they are most vulnerable!

GinSoakedBitchyPony · 15/06/2015 11:54

Thanks for the heads up about the possible onslaught this week as a result of their London day out.

MerdeAlor · 15/06/2015 12:06

Some totally dispicable behaviour by sellers posted on this thread. I hope if any FL, juice plus, etc sellers are reading this you hang your heads in shame to be associated with these companies.

Scentsy is all over my FB page, sigh. No crazy claims from them put profit stems from recruiting other sellers. Product might be good but the selling methods stop me from buying.

bumbleymummy · 15/06/2015 12:07

My feed has been surprisingly quiet. I'm a bit disappointed!

DreamingOfTheBeach · 15/06/2015 12:16

I have a couple on my news feed and like a previous poster mentioned, why on earth do they think that gloating about how much earn is a good thing to do.
I run by own business, an actual high street shop, but I would never put at the end of a good week how much we have turned over and my profits!
That info stays between me, my account and the tax man.
Another thing I've noticed is that once people become reps, they become like robots, all saying the same things and working FL onto every conversation.

It would be interesting to hear from a current or past FL rep about actual figures.

A quick google shows 2.5b turnover with 9.5m active reps.....

Idontseeanydragons · 15/06/2015 12:17

We once went to a utility warehouse recruitment thing, it was the scariest most hilarious evening I'd had for ages!
In our defence we hadn't had a night out for a while and we were promised free wine, a 'friend' of DH's asked us to go as a favour to him so off we went.
The wine was warm and shit for a start, all the minuscule cars parked at the event had Utility Warehouse emblazoned all over them (these are apparently highly prized) and we were surrounded by young sharply dressed people with a slightly wild eyes look about them.
The introduction started well in fairness, it was explained clearly (that was the point we decided we weren't interested), but then the incentives came up and everyone went a bit batshit - like in a game show with the whooping and the cheering.. Confused
Prizes were given out to high sellers - phones, cars and holidays mainly, badges to new sellers, each accompanied by high fiving and cheering, us newbies were constantly told that it wasn't a cult, wasn't a pyramid scheme, we could save ourselves and our loved ones thousands of pounds every year just by signing up!
We left and avoided the pleading phonecalls from the friend for nearly a year before he saw the light and left!
Scary stuff..

bumbleymummy · 15/06/2015 12:18

I guess because persuading people to join to also 'earn lots of money' is what it's all about. They have to make it look attractive to other people by talking about how much they earn.

DreamingOfTheBeach · 15/06/2015 12:35

Yes I guess you are right bumble,
A lifetime ago I worked within a company which was commision only and very sales and target driven.
Top reps were rewarded with holidays and cars, as well as other smaller incentives every so often.
We did go to big meetings from time to time and training days.
But they were free, and included a good meal!
BUT, we never put information about these meeting on social media.
They were for employees only.
It was a great company to work for, but it didn't involve selling to friends or family!
The fact that they put so much effort into showing how much they earn just goes to show how much it is about recruiting new blood.

skyeskyeskye · 15/06/2015 13:25

Ten years ago, XH got sucked in by Herbalife, went to a meeting, forked out over £4K to buy products that he would "sell instantly even before the credit card bill comes in".

Given that he is gullible and awkward with people, he managed to sell about £40 of the stuff.

He had to sell his car to pay the CCard. Herbalife eventually bought the stock back for half of what he paid for it.

How many other gullible victims do these companies get hold of?!