Why are MLMs/ Network Marketing 'businesses' a scam?

[Spongebobette]

This is the 44th thread in a long series about the dangers of network marketing/ MLMs such as Forever Living, Ariix, NuSkin, Arbonne, Younique, Valentus, TS Life, and MANY MANY more!
Posts here will give examples of the lies told by 'top bots' who portray luxury lifestyles in order to lure in new victims and of the other techniques and brainwashing used by MLMs
Over 90% of people who join an MLM end up LOSING money. Always bear that in mind when considering paying money to join!

Run, Roomie! Run!

Sorry about the sexist stereotype comment, and I acknowledge that there are exceptions to every rule, but I think they will sell very few to boys.

If you go on roomies Instagram page it seems as though she has had somebody slating her book, could be why her fibs down. I am in the middle of reading her book and it has really got to me. I literally cannot put it down. She has had some horrible people in her life and I just hope she is ok and not having another load of crap from anyone.

I can't imagine any child being thrilled with their mother (not being sexist - MLMs love to suck women into their cults) for buying them a pro-planner.

Bloody auto-correct I mean facebook not fibs, ffs

Well done for escaping, Jasmin82. Here, you are among people who also have similar experiences that you have or known people who have.

Found another anti MLM webpage
gay-stepdad.com/2017/01/04/10-things-they-dont-tell-you-when-you-start-a-forever-living-business/

The comments beneath are interesting, particularly one dated 4th October 2017. Jasmine, you might identify with it.

Welcome, Jasmin.

GoldenKelpie Very similar. Different company, but the same modus operandi.
When I look back at when I first joined the MLM, I was in a bad place, I was facing a disciplinary at work for time off sick due to the stress of trying to work full time and be a full time carer for my sick father at the same time. When I inevitably lost that job, after I had joined the MLM, I went for an interview at a "company" that should have raised red flags had I been in a better place mentally at the time.
Appco/Cobra group "companies" aren't classed as MLM's to my knowledge, but they operate the same way. I was only there for a few weeks and probably spent more money getting to and from "events" than I would have made in commission. Thankfully, I'm now studying for something I want to do and, while the job I have isn't perfect, it's actually paying me for the work I do.
So, technically, I was suckered twice in a short space of time. It just took me longer to see the light with the MLM.

Yes I think Roomie has got bigger things on her plate to be honest and I don't think it's probably a thing to do with MLM

Having read the book it doesn't surprise me - I think she will take stock and be back on shortly.

Yes there is a particularly nasty review on Amazon

I just hope it hasn't come from within our community as it is really quite spiteful. It does almost seem like it though to be honest.

That unpleasant, unhelpful Amazon review dismisses her book as, I quote, a "STORY." She's rattled someone's cage, that's for sure.

Fibs is an accurate account of a bot’s FB tbh. 🤣

Why is everyone loving Roomie all of a sudden? She’s just another manipulative bot!

I’m not buying into her best selling author rubbish, do most best selling authors pay to be published? I’m pretty sure JK Rowling, Marian Keyes etc didn’t?

I was loathe to spend 99p on launch day on a book written by someone who can’t even spell entrepreneur properly so I’m damned if I’m spending a fiver! I didn’t write that amazon review, I just went and looked at it.

She’s still a bot, manipulating people. Even more so with this “best selling author” crap.

Roomie probably has a thick skin to have got to where she did in FLP tbh. Not that that excuses anyone being nasty.

That review has got to be someone she knows I think. Either someone her book mentions, or one of the forever shite bots bullying her. I really hope it isn’t one of us.

I do wish I’d bought it for 99p to make up my own mind about it. Not keen on spending £5 though.

I can’t see many 12 year olds wanting ‘mini’ affirmation so which include ‘This year I’ll grow taller’..

IlikebigbotsandIcannotlie No love for Roomie on my part - I just hope she gets out of FLP. That review is unpleasant though. I'm not parting with any money to read her book though - my Law of Attraction Coach wouldn't like it.

Anyone can get published these days now that the likes of Amazon have made vanity publishing so easy. As someone upthread has already explained it's easy to be a number one bestselling author for a day on Amazon. Being top of The New York Times bestsellers list is a different matter though.

Jasmin - MLMs frequently target those having difficulty combining paid work and care for relatives/children . It's easy to see why the promise of a chance to earn a decent living flexibly would appeal to those in a tricky position.

No love for Roomie here either. All this "best-selling author" nonsense is no different to buying yourself a "business".

I don't think it's anyone on these threads that's posted that review (or at least I hope not). I'm pretty sure it's someone she knows as she's had a few hate filled rants over the years aimed at family members, her DH's ex-wife, ex-friends and, let''s face it, probably made a few enemies in unsuspecting victims that she's signed up with false promises.

Roomie's usual facebook page has definitely gone though - we have mutual friends and she's not on their friends lists so her page has gone.

It just seems to be her business one that's there which is all book related.

@Jasmine82 mlms target vulnerable people who want to succeed in life so well done for getting out.

Mlms are everywhere these days! It just seems to be getting worse that's why I like this thread as it creates awareness.

When the IBS (yes that really was its name :) ) group went tits up (Amway bots) one of the people way up our upline wrote a book. It was fiction, but based on real people and the lies at the heart of MLMs.

The story wasn't bad at all but it obviously had never been proof-read and that really irritated me when I was reading it. There was one bit that made no sense at all. I did, however, enjoy the vitriol being directed at the conmen & women.
It opened my eyes to the fact that even those at high levels in MLMs are not really earning that much from them, and were also being lied to on a regular basis.

The Aloebots look like Hannibal Lecter in those new £10 face masks. It's creeping me out!

In the past hour Roomie's aunt has posted a very detailed, very different version of events.
She concludes by saying that it would appear she's created a different narrative to help her business interests (presume she means the motivational speaking rather than flogging aloe). Interesting.