MLMs/ Network Marketing: Thread 45

[Spongebobette]

This is the 45th thread in a long series about the dangers of network marketing/ MLMs such as Forever Living, Ariix, NuSkin, Arbonne, Younique, Valentus, TS Life, Monat, Stella and Dot, Tropic, various slimroast/weight loss coffee MLMs 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.
The reality is that 97% of people who join an MLM end up LOSING money. Always bear that in mind when considering paying money to join!

OK so I must be really stupid - I typed 'smoke mirrors' in the Facebook search box & clicked on 'videos', of the 100 or so it suggested only two were dated 12/12 and neither looked remotely relevant?

Nor can I, but interesting to see that RasherBot is no longer number 1 female.

I'm having a colonoscopy on Friday so on Thursday I have to starve myself while taking nuclear strength laxatives. I'm imagining it's not dissimilar to a C9?

@DoraExplorer99 - not sure if it helps but i eventually found it using my phone - i think a desktop/laptop version of FB provides you with fewer search results.

Such a shame she's joining another pyramid scheme.

I can't find it either.

Me neither!

@puffyisgood - oddly, couldn't find it on my phone, but did in the desktop...

Found it, why aye!

Nobody missed much. The flashes of candidness regarding her old scam are only really used to tee up a sales pitch for a new 'opportunity'.

It appears to be the travel one that Broke's ex and Wig's erstwhile Welsh mate-turned-nemesis are shilling.

I did MLM a few years ago. I was naively sucked into it when I was in a vulnerable position. I was lied to and deceived by my sister in law and joined under her.

I did just over a year in the "business" because although I was failing, I was making a little money. More importantly, I was being told by my up-line that it wouldn't all come over night and I just needed to be patience and persistent.

I look back and realise how evil these MLM companies are. I spent SO much money! Money I didn't have. I was being lead to believe that you should make investments into your "business" so that people see how committed you are and so that it would build your kit.

I then went to events and realised that the "up-lines" were all in it for themselves. They just wanted to make more and more money. Some used to be quite deceitful too.

My sister in law is still in the business but is now pursuing a business in YouTube.

I couldn't warn people enough to stay away from MLM. It is cultish and manipulative.

PS, please excuse the poor grammar below! I am typing and doing chores!

Smoke and mirrors was in my inbox claiming £80,000 a year less than 9 months ago.

I did wonder about whether she had made income claims before @suedoname. I didn’t have to scroll back far on her timeline to see her raving about Ariiiiiiiix and what a life-changing opportunity it was...

The current MLM is always the best thing in the world - until it isn’t.

Hello @Burnt0range - welcome to the thread. I’m so sorry you were taken in by network marketing, they know how to manipulate people and keep them spending. So glad you are free now.

Just started following Iron bot. 6:30am calls with tye girl gang every day? Thought they were their own bosses and could set their own hours? Who would choose to start work on a conference call at 6:30am every day? Madness

Can anyone tell me who Iron bot is?

Smoke and Mirrors Bot is at the stage where she thinks that the particular MLM she's just left was a scam but MLMs in general can be fine. Many people never leave this stage of denial and bounce around from MLM to MLM for years, getting more and more broke but never losing hope.

You'll lose money with them all for the simple reason that the products can't complete with traditional retail. The model requires fat margins to make sure uplines and corporate get paid. Process therefore need to be marked up to the heavens and that inflated price justified with crazy product claims. Meagre product earnings then need to be topped up with income derived from new recruits own investments. Smoke and mirrors are always required.

The information that the top 7 UK Ariix rep earns a good deal less than minimum wage is gold however.

Any clues on looking for iron or smoke and mirrors bot? I’ve been following these threads for a year and know the “regulars” but these new bots being discussed are off my radar.

Behind the smoke and mirrors.......

re: S&M bot - follow the instructions on page 21.

re: Ironbot - one of the UK's dozen or so[?] lucky holders of the supposed top tier Juice Plus rank, who I think. of a not dissimilar vintage to S&M, with a not dissimilar accent.

smoke and mirrors bot (I found the video eventually) is a very sad case.
All the hallmarks of MLM are contained within it:
Belief that MLM is a better choice for people than a 'real' job
Belief that the current or new MLM is the best and is different to all the rest
Dodgy medical claims (Ariix products helped her come off anti depressants????)
Bitchiness within the teams, hidden behind all the positivity until someone leaves then it all comes out.
Talk about 'my ethics' and 'supporting my team'
Former income claims not referred to as they were clearly false.
Total lack of awareness that serially joining MLMs is not going to work.