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

[KindergartenKop]

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?

Ok, the FL entire concept is nothing to with the products, and everything to do with the Starter Pack & cost that you pay when you start.

Once you have been sucked into the 'look how much you can earn part time/from your sofa' lifestyle, you are then encouraged to follow the people before you and start your own team.

Your own team then buys their starter packs and you get commission, the people above you get their cut, and so it continues on and on. The more team members you get, and the more team members they in turn recruit, the more the cycle goes on.

The products are just a bit on the side of what the real business actually is. It's all so clever!! Very well marketed, aimed at the exact market which has the time, resource and friend circle for it all to take off. It's a very, very clever business.

Does anyone remember that 'Women empowering Women' scheme that was going around in the late 90's? Ypu paid £x amount to the people above you,then supposedly,you recruited people who paid you their £xxx.My neighbour tried to talk me into it,but being a tight fisted sort, I was suspicious. I told her it sounded like a pyramid scheme to me and she was outraged 'no it isn't, its a trapezoid!' Was her response. I still laugh about it now....

I'm astonished that this thread has got to 5 pages without a fervent supporter of pyramid selling cults, er, multi-level marketing, making an appearance. Usually we've thoroughly and enthusiastically been 'put right' by now.

I've got 2 on my FB! One of them messaged me within hours of me announcing my pregnancy and the other one messaged me after my innocent DH responded to her 'who would like to make £500 a week working from home?' post saying I would be interested when on mat leave! lol I didn't respond to her and gave DH a lesson in pyramid schemes

The first friend (who is a policewoman) has just had her first promotion and her team is number 7 in the area or something or so her hugely excited post says!

I remember Women Empowering Women - classic pyramid scheme con.

Well as if by magic I've been invited to a Pampered Chef party by a neighbour. I thought I'd avoid this crap by not being on FB!

I have loads blessed

They all post inspirational quotes and loads of photos of them all at cult meetings presentation and motivational days quaffing cheap cava champagne.

They are all still dirt poor.

Got into the lift at work to find a forever living poster up for an event tomorrow. Yuk.

My neighbour is doing this... I knew she was stupid- now I have the proof!!!

I'm half tempted to join Facebook just for this. Sounds hilarious.

#inspiration #bosswoman

I've got rubbish friends on FB

I had an Arbonne one and a Younique one they both packed it in - clearly no staying power and I've never had a FL friend

I love all the product placement photos oh so casually popped in :

" Having a relaxing coffee after a work out" Cue photo of coffee cup with Bee Pollen next to it in the caff.

" Lol at the dog's antics today" with an Aloe Gel bottle next to the dog bed.

I'm pretty sure there must be some sort of FL facebook post equivalent of Buzzword Bingo.

For example the one on my facebook today has managed to mention:

• how lucky she is to be able to work from home - CHECK
• how blessed she is to be able to spend time with her beautiful children - CHECK
• name dropped about where they're going for a fantastic holiday - CHECK
• how one of her newest recruits has already been promoted which means a massive increase in salary - CHECK

She's yet to mention:

• how much weight she's lost/how improved her skin/energy levels/life in general is after Day X of her cleanse
• how many new contacts and wonderful people she has met through FL today
• what amazing new expensive purchases she has made this week

Oh I have a Juice Plus fb friend. To be fair she does seem to be bringing in the dosh. She works part time with me then posts about working from home and spending time with the "kiddlywinks", though she seems to spend hours online sending details and trawling for business.
Also she's fat, not the best advert for a weight loss supplement.

I emailed her pleading eczema. Guess what? Propolis can cure it. She's tried it on her daughter. She reckons it's much better than all the chemicals in my normal stuff and it's so expensive because it lasts longer.

I'm not emailing back.

I have to avoid her at a party on Saturday!

I told you she'd tell you it would cure eczema!!! I've seen (on here) pyramid schemes that "can" also cure autism and cancer. There is no limit to the bullshit.

Really though you have to tell her fairly directly that forever living is not for you. Otherwise you will need to avoid her every time your paths cross.

A friend of a friend of a friend, via work type connections, informed me FL will cure my psoriasis and my psoriatic arthritis. So despite all the medical research and medical treatment available can't do it, apparently aloe vera can! Who knew???

And what is so different in FL than just buying aloe vera products elsewhere for cheaper?

Im MORTIFIED by some of the quotes that keep popping up on my FB feed. I have about 6 friends on there, all trying to 'recruit' me via 'meeting for a coffee'

One has convinced herself that she will be set up to retire in 5 years.....

catty - chuffed to bits to hear that a FL person has appeared on your fb now

(although I'm a bit worried that you've gone quiet .... you've not been brainwashed recruited have you?)

Oh meant to add that pleading eczema had given her more ammunition to get you. Because now this product is vital to your life and you desperately need it! Don't part with any money!!

I saw the younique mascara, it made the lashes all stuck together and lumpy.

I thought it was a spoof

I've seen (on here) pyramid schemes that "can" also cure autism and cancer

Yes. I still remember the speed at which I defriended the person who suggested that aloe vera would be well worth trying out on my DH's stage 4 bowel cancer.

There's seems to be no limit to the inappropriate sales pitches for all this pyramid selling shyte.

Well I have a FL friend and a Younique friend and the FL friend is constantly making reference to how 'inferior' younique stuff is. Its interesting to watch

Norbert I'm still here . I've enjoyed today's offerings. The FB friend is all fired up and about to make her dreams come true. She is already meeting people for coffee (not me, no bloody chance). I am hopeful of many weeks of shallow entertainment from this

Well I'm considering getting a body wrap as it looks like my size 18 body will get a size 14 waist. And I'll make new friends and make money so what could possibly go wrong???