I've read through everything and I go from sad in the waste of money and the selling of people's souls to fascinated with just how they get people so sucked in.
Some eleven or twelve years ago, I sold children's books party plan. That was definitely a mlm. It taught me that the only person who is going to make money out of mlm is the owner.
Their head office was on a business Park near here. What I learned from the money I lost was some brilliant business lessons and I don't think I'd have started my own real business without doing the mlm because it turns out that I like the rush of excitement of selling stuff. I didn't know that before.
The problem was I didn't want to recruit anyone. Therefore I failed at mlm.
Over the last 12 years, my real business has grown and we're now on the same business estate, indeed opposite them. I sat in my office and watched them go bust and lots of books ended up in skips. It was actually quite sad as by then all of the staff had been let go and the rumours were that they didn't get paid.
I do think that there's two types of mlm and your phoenix cards and Usborne are easy ways to lose your money but they do seem more focused on selling actual product.
Whrn selling books, I did a show with another lady. We were stood on the thing all day. It was boring and I'd had to find childcare in order to do it. I didn't find that it worked around my children at all. Anyway, at the end we sat there and worked out how to split the proceeds. We had a bit of a row about it as she was sure that I wasn't giving her enough money. In reality I don't think she was thinking my maths was shite, more that she couldn't believe that she'd sat all day in a tent talking to people who didn't really want to talk to us, missing a day with her dh and kids for far less than anyone would work for. Indeed, she'd bought herself some lunch and there wasnt much left. She left after that.
Someone posted a company check listing for a bot who was Ltd. Looking at it carefully, she's carrying too much stock but at least it's paid for. £0 liabilities is a very good thing but the figures don't indicate an amazing lifestyle. She's not running at a loss because the stock cost doesn't come off the profit until it's sold.
I knew a woman doing fl who took her daughter out of our village school and put them into a very expensive private school. She honestly believed that within a year she'd be making so much money that she would be able to afford the fees.
She'd made such a fuss when she took her daughter out of our school that when she realised that wouldn't be able to keep her in private, she felt that she couldnt come back without her jeopardising her 'business'' reputation so had to drive them miles to a different school and asked people to try to keep it quiet.
I think in her case, it sucked her in more because she was so unhappy in her own life. She was a prime target. I can't imagine how much they lost.
Im normally a lurker but wanted to add my thoughts.