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!

@spongebobette

Thank you, I've had a look about but still unsure as to who they are, as I don't know what the company or brand stands for. How did you all get so good at making up code names and knowing who they all are? I'm rubbish at this lol

I just read that link Spongebobette and its very depressing. My friend is an intelligent woman, how can she fall for this shit. She did say she was very lonely, so I suppose constant validation from others would be very attractive. Oh and they were Mercs, not BMWs, still white and gaudy if you ask me. So if it all comes crashing down do they move onto the next MLM to save face?

There’s something special about a white car for an MLMer!
Of course they aren’t actually given a car at all, it is leased in their name and they have to keep up the sales to qualify for ‘car bonus’ to pay monthly for it
If your sales go down the pan you are left paying for the car yourself

Sounds legit 😮

Why do people fall for this stuff, its beyond me.

'Feeling loved and wanted' is desperately powerful. Imagine that you yourself had someone who was going to come round and laud you. Could you resist that?

They prey on people, groom them then.

I could resist, yes. My friend, evidently not, and I can totally see why. Just makes me sad really.

You 'think' you could resist it but in your heart of hearts, could you? (You might just think of the person as a little gormless rather than actually .........dangerous.)

Yeah, I reckon I could. Have been running my own business for the past 16 years, so I would like to think my bullshit detector is finely honed by now. And I haven't had to smash my biz, or call anyone hun once.

Messiah is now a poet as well as a proper CEO. It’s humbling.

Am I going mad or does Yawn look the same in her latest before and after weight loss pic? I honestly can't see the difference.

@user1484830599 don't be silly, her outfit is totally different

I love how someone has asked Homeschool how much her cheque was for this year. If it’s one of you then you’re my hero!

Agh - just lost a whole para.

Don't let them cross your doorstep. They'll home in on the weaker members of the party. So even if you're OK (and can tell them where to go) others may not be.

Or doesn't know how to answer it? 😀

I’m amazed she hasn’t deleted it. A drop from over $100k to nothing in a year is huge, did she really think nobody would notice the dates on the cheques? Or did she ‘take a year off’? I’ve not been following her for long.

Who is YAWN please?

We're not allowed to say who's who because apparently mn has been threatened by lawyers...

Do you class Avon as mlm ?

Electrascoffee
Is that for suggesting they could possibly be perceived as unethical schemes that might look and function in a way that resembles a popular ancient landmark in Egypt?

I'm not sure Maisy but I think it was more to do with individuals and slander etc? I may be wrong...

Ah right. Is it slander if it's true though?
I imagine their legal teams don't want pesky women asking too many questions or being negferrets on mumsnet as it might put people off becoming downlines being scammed

millkcowmama if I remember correctly Avon have traditionally not been an MLM (you got your own patch and didn't have to recruit and I don't think they had the holiday incentives and reward pins etc) but are beginning to adopt MLM structures and methods. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can clarify more!

I used to follow the MLM threads but haven’t looked at one for a while. Last time I joined in, there was a Welsh castle bot who was very annoying, and various others.
I would love to know who Yawn is if someone would be kind enough to PM me? Thanks. 🙂