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MLM bot watch - Discussion of the network marketing companies Forever Living, Herbal Life, Juice Plus etc as a pyramid scheme or scam

982 replies

CheekySmile · 11/11/2015 19:19

Continuing the discussion of the various network marketing schemes or multi-level marketing schemes (MLMs) that people we know are involved in.

If you have a bot of your own then join us and share what they are saying!

Or if you are researching a company before signing up to be a network marketer please take a look at the previous bot watch thread and also this thread which delves deeper into the workings of MLMs.

And don't forget our very own MN MLM Timeless Vie!
www.facebook.com/timelessvie
www.twitter.com/timelessvie

OP posts:
Thread gallery
77
CheekySmile · 18/11/2015 09:52

stopfaffing This is exactly what happened to my bot over the weekend too. She's now changed her business name and type so that it has nothing to do with FL or aloe, and she's now a 'coach'.

OP posts:
ambler21 · 18/11/2015 10:14

MyVisionsComeFromSoup Thanks a lot, very interesting. Exactly the kind of analysis we need.

sminkypink · 18/11/2015 10:18

Mine has always been a 'Global Business Coach'. Global? Don't make me laugh -nothing global about permanently lurking in East Midlands hotel conference suites.
Today she is going on about her 'amazing' superstars (who have only been doing this for one month.) And they are having another flippin' training meeting, wearing tiaras onesies and drinking prosecco. I could cry. But how amazing eh? #callthiswork
I can't think of anything more frightening than being made to wear a onesie and then being brainwashed.
Amazing! Well I'm amazed, anyway.

Mermaid36 · 18/11/2015 10:30

It really annoys me...I run a business (as well as having a full time job) and it's bloody hard work!

I don't have spare cash to flash around on network/training days and I absolutely don't sit around drinking prosseco and being a #bossbabe

In fact, I've got a huge 3 day event this weekend, and have been making stock etc for weeks in the run up and have been doing 14hr days this week to get ready....

Running a real business is difficult and time consuming and hard but ultimately rewarding

sminkypink · 18/11/2015 10:48

Mermaid36 this is why it especially boils my piss too (and why I'm very intrigued as to how they can keep the pretence up for so long). I've run a business for 13 years, now. A fashion business so I suppose it's quite glam. But at least the photos I put on social media are real and mine. I'm not faking it til I make it.
And our consciences are clear aren't they? We don't sell our friends out. I got blocked by one FL bot for asking her how she managed to sleep at night after pestering and ripping off so many of her friends.
They're right though when they say #callthiswork. It's not work, is it? It's cheating and lying and giving people false hopes. Brainwashing them, for little money, so it's not work, it's exploitation. You and your downline are being exploited.

Annie65 · 18/11/2015 10:48

Well 2 of my flbots are now doing their training whilst having a bath. Is nowhere sacred ?????Hmm

sminkypink · 18/11/2015 10:50

annie65 Are they getting ideas from the 'extreme ironing' craze?

Mermaid36 · 18/11/2015 11:31

Argh! This is from a new Juice Plus bot I've acquired....
My sister is going through chemo (and obvs has a chronic disease) at the moment and I'm pretty sure her Dr's wouldn't recommend her drinking shitty shakes! In fact, she saw a dietician yesterday who told her to eat at least 3000cal a day, and not to skimp on fats and carbs....

MLM bot watch - Discussion of the network marketing companies Forever Living, Herbal Life, Juice Plus etc as a pyramid scheme or scam
shirleyknotanotherbot · 18/11/2015 11:41

Sadly there are many, many Claires out there. A quick look at my one remaining FLbot's 'like' page shows plenty. Hava a look at Perform Success Global for one.

Her likes page is also full of training bollox such as:

www.facebook.com/savvynetworkmarketingwomen/

Plus really unpleasant looking men called Dave O'Connor Mindset Mastery and Network Marketing Pro - Eric Worre.

I am stunned that my very dear friend of 12+ years, who is in her early 50s, is educated and intelligent, has had (and still has) reasonably high powered corporate jobs and has always been a compassionate, caring and honest human being, has been sucked into this business. She told me earlier this year that she is planning on becoming a full time life coach but I'm afraid she stands no chance of succeeding in this 'business' as she is not a ruthless, dishonest baitch. I think she sells the odd product to friends but I've never seen a post about having recruited anyone or mentioning her 'team', yet she seems to attend countless conference-like events. Reading through her new contacts pages I am sickened by their vulgarity and boasting. What is the world coming to?

On a lighter note - do have a look at Perform Success Global on FB - #6figurementorfrombed - perhaps she should have borrowed a friend's castle for that photo, doesn't really look like she's #livingthedream.

rayofhope · 18/11/2015 12:00

Do you all have your friend list visible on fb? If so, always good to hide it from being public. I've heard of some distributors going through friends lists and pm'ing them about the business.

sminkypink · 18/11/2015 12:04

shirleyknotanotherbot ha! My bot lives in a similar semi, despite 'buying' a castle. Is it the same castle photo that they all share? Does anyone know if they get given a pack of annoying memes when they start? Take it from someone who does run a real live business from a laptop (mostly slogging away on Adobe illustrator). If you're working from the laptop in bed, you're doing too much. You should not have to do that. If I put photos like that up, my clients would think, 'she can't even manage her time.' I wouldn't dare....
My gosh Claires page is truly awful.

Tiredemma · 18/11/2015 12:07

Dave Oconnor and his 'mindset mastery course' is appearing daily on my news feed.

what a load of crap

CheekySmile · 18/11/2015 12:36

Shirley you've just reminded me that I need to report back on Dave O'Connor's webinar which I painfully watched last Friday.

70 minutes long. 70 minutes!!

You get lots of helpful reminder emails before it begins. One of which contains the accompanying handout which is like a cloze procedure task I would have set my primary school class when I was a teacher.

He starts by telling you his background (clinical hypnotherapist, tai chi and meditation) and he name drops people he's helped like Deepak Chopra. He tells you he's living the life of his dreams and wants us all to do the same, and gives his back sob story of being broke and struggling.

Then at 9 mins in there's the first advert for his course that he wants you to buy, with testimonials from others including NH.

Then he outlines his 21 mindset steps to becoming an MLM super achiever, and promises there's the million dollar secret at the end so don't go anywhere! Each step explains what a winner would do and what the average network marketer does.

  1. Winners in MLM make clear decisions and stick to them. Average network marketers will see-saw backwards & forwards endlessly.
  2. Winners keep their eye on the big goal (hilariously illustrated with a picture of the pyramids) Average - sweats the small stuff and loses sight of the goal.
  3. Winners constantly question their limitations. Average - they never challenge their limiting believe and accept them as true.
  4. Winners experience their success ahead of time. Average is to focus on what you don't want, not what you want.
  5. Winners take massive action. The failure mindset is to procrastinate or to be busy being busy on low return actions.
  6. Successful people are laser-focused, exclude opposition and negativity. Average people are easily distracted. (This point is touted as the missing mindset ingredient that will skyrocket success over the next 90 days)
  7. Successful people are masters at quieting their mind. People who fail are immersed in the noise, always looking outside themselves for answers.
  8. Winners are grateful. Average people are too busy being caught up in their drama.
  9. Winners know that they need to leave their comfort zone. Average person is too fearful to do whatever it takes.
10. Winners know the power of their unconscious mind. The average person constantly talk themselves out of greatness. 11. Winners are masters of their emotions and have control over their thoughts. The average person has no control over their thoughts. 12. Winners have inspiring role models. The average person is always focusing on the negative in people. 13. Winners have certainty of mind. Failures waver in the face of uncertainty and opposition. 14. Successful people have presence. The average person is in a constant state of stress. 15. Winners have a clear invincible vision. The average person thinks too small. 16. Successful people recognise the value of time. The average person wastes their own and others' time. 17. Winners use their past as a positive resource, learning from mistakes. The failure mindset is to dwell on what's gone wrong. 18. Winners are persistent and will consistently demonstrate tenacity and resolve. Average people give up way too easily. They often throw in the towel just as they are approaching success. 19. Winners have a commitment to continuous improvement. The average person is stuck, they think the same thoughts, take the same actions and get the same results. 20. Successful people help as many people as they can on their way to the top. The average person drains the energy from other people. They are like an energy vampire. 21. Winners surround themselves with others of a similar mindset. Average people surround themselves with other average people. They settle for mediocrity.

He then tries to sell his 21 day course again. Just £100 for his downloadable stuff. More testimonials from NH and EC.

Then the million dollar secret...charisma. Allows you to do things the average person doesn't do.

So there you go. Brainwashing in its finest. Point 18 was the one that did it for me. You're still failing? Success is just around the corner! It's the same message we get from MLMs over and over again.

I'll never get those 70 mins back...

OP posts:
CheekySmile · 18/11/2015 12:37

Cross post tiredemma it took me so long to type that all out!

OP posts:
Tiredemma · 18/11/2015 12:38

sounds like a load of old shit to me

MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 18/11/2015 12:52

so work hard, know what you're aiming for and bugger everyone else? And if that fails, get creative with the accounting Grin

acatcalledjohn · 18/11/2015 13:09

And have charisma. Because if you're not naturally charismatic, you're fucked from the start.

What a load of bollocks he spews. Can easily see why people fall for this though, especially those who are vulnerable. There absolutely is an element of truth in the power of positive thinking, element being the operative word. Because it inevitably has to compete with reality.

Quietly seething at the so manyeth bot's claims re cancer treatment.

People like that should be charged with a criminal offence.

stopfaffing · 18/11/2015 13:24

cheeky, I clocked number 18 too. Bustard! Angry

dangerrabbit · 18/11/2015 13:28

Thought I would join the thread! I work in a large organisation and being part of a pyramid scheme seems to be very popular at my organisation. A colleague raced about the benefits of Aloe Vera when I had a cold one day and tried to give me some forever loving products to try - I declined.

Another of my colleagues has been subject to an attempted recruitment drive through FB by an arbonne bot working for another team - she had to email her back on the work system asking her to stop before the bot desisted.

Then earlier this month I had a car accident and was offered a lift home by another colleague. Little did I know it was actually his opportunity to recruit me to utility warehouse - when I declined he became quite pushy and demanded to know why I was not wanting to take advantage of that great opportunity.

I have then been receiving regular texts to my personal mobile (which he had before I knew he was a bot), such as the one copied below:

Hi Danger rabbit, wondering if you got this text message?
And have you watched the videos?

Hi Danger rabbit, as you love your phone, I thought I would send a couple for short video about Utility Warehouse, that you could watch with your partner.

Happy viewing

Watch video "What is it all about?" www.uwopportunity.co.uk. About making addition money

And
www.jointheclub.co.uk

About saving money

Happy day off and Good weekend!

If you have any questions, feel free to to call or text me. UtilityBot Smile

givemecheese · 18/11/2015 13:43

How do they manage to convince people to advertise they have bought a castle when they have done nothing of the sort. Surely that would get alarm bells ringing for most people, even if they are firmly in the grips of MLM?

givemecheese · 18/11/2015 13:43

How do they manage to convince people to advertise they have bought a castle when they have done nothing of the sort. Surely that would get alarm bells ringing for most people, even if they are firmly in the grips of MLM?

acatcalledjohn · 18/11/2015 13:49

Can I just say a big thank you to Cheeky for wasting 70 mins of her life on that mindset twat, and her devotion to arguing with Agnes on NH (giving her the login details was like giving a dog a bone! Grin). And to Last for all of her hard work on the TV FB page and TV blog. Stellar work!

WineChocolateChocolateChocolateWine

sminkypink · 18/11/2015 13:54

givemecheese One of my MLM bots tried to recruit me via Facebook.
She's never met me.

I'm a web admin for a busy Facebook group and I spend a large part of my time blocking these accounts from joining the group. They have to pester a lot of women to earn anything, a lot of women, so that's every weekday night and weekend harassing people to join.

Run247 · 18/11/2015 14:01

Considering creating a fake email address and contacting these bots and engaging in annoying, ongoing, time wasting emails. Like spamming the spammers.

Maybe giving the phone no of one FL bot to another FL not and see how the sales rocket..

shirleyknotanotherbot · 18/11/2015 14:27

My HLbot has 'More people starting the 21 day challenge today!' at her 'Wellness Centre'. I might be naive but she does seem to make a reasonable living helping people (to lose weight) whilst retaining her integrity and not pestering people - just the odd post that people can follow up if they wish.