working from home

[jenny2998]

I'm currently on benefits because i want to be a stay at home mum to my children (aged 10 months and 3years). So far I have been unsuccessful and just come up with loads of scams and rip-offs. Does anyone here work from home? I would be grateful for any info anyone can give me.

Munchkinsugarpie - I didn't mean to sound harsh. Just that when you don't mention the name of the company it does sound very dodgy.

Best of luck anyway - and glad it isn't really a pyramid scheme!

Aloha - I don't think anyone objects to upfront requests that don't pretend to be anything else. Like I say, my objection to this one was the lack of information. The changing rooms one was more worrying, I agree, but I didn't want to get the thread any more noticed than it was by leaving a comment (if you see what I mean) - have tech removed it yet? Anyway if your feature could strech to mothers of babies living abroad and relying totally and utterly on mumsnet, then I'm interested. Can you interview on the phone?

Actually do agree it read oddly - I did think it might have been a pyramid scheme myself - but there is something terrifying about mumsnetters in full cry! I might be brave and post on media requests. I've paid my sub but would be happy to pay a bit more if that's the rules. I'll have to ask Carrie & Rachel!

aloha, if it pays I'll do it and would never criticise

ooh Aloha - I'll do it if it pays! I need some money to tide me over my Christmas spending! Just tell me what you need!

munchinsugarpie - we did Amway years and years ago and we were never forced us to buy the goods. We're not distributors now, but we still get the washing powder as I like it and it darn good value for money. Good luck with your Kleeneze business.

Thanks for your replies. Perhaps I do get defensive -I'm just fed up with people pre-judging me and the work I do. I'm one of the most moral and old fashioned people I know so it really pissed me off to receive unfair and biased criticism. Almost talking about me behind my back with rude asides... Not nice. Nobody had to reply ...

Funny you know,- I'm also developing a kids tv programme for C5 and when I asked for people to help me on THAT, nobody minded. I suppose when I need kiddies to appear on the show, I'd better not 'tout for business' here. Although I know most of you would love to get your kids on tv and yet not get a penny for it. That'd be ok. (And I know from experience, cos I've already produced a kids show for ITV.) No - don't bother to answer me on that one please....... I couldn't stand it.....

I thought mumsnet was a place I could chat about anything, from my feelings, needs to all our lives in general - I obviously misunderstood.

by the way again - when it comes to 'brainwashing' - I also went to see Lord of the Rings and thought it was the most amazing film I've ever seen. I was going to post about that too and say everyone should see it, but I'd hate to be judged brainwashed by 'the Ring'.

Haven't you ever experienced, seen, eaten, or done anything you're so bloody pleased about you want to shout it out and tell everyone?! Well that's just how I felt.

munchinsugarpie - do you think its also mumsnetters trying to look after others and stop them caught up in scams.ANd like you said, you spent ages making sure that this was a moral and ethical business yourself. By the way, I did notice yesterday that a company who collects clothes under the premise they would be redistributed in Eastern Europe and actually sells them for profit, had been fined.

I'm sorry you feel got at. I suspect that people feel very defensive about the site and would hate to feel it was being used by unscrupulous people to con members. I'm not for one second saying that is what you were doing, just that because it was vague it aroused suspicion you had something to hide. Mumsnetters are sometimes a suspicious lot. I think it's probably time to call a halt to it now, though.

BTW the feature I'm doing needs three people who did something quite specific - I'll post on the media board. Only thing, not sure I want to reveal my true identity openly on the board... oh why not.

Munchkin, I don't think that you were oversensitive. You did get a lot of flack. I think that if you had been more open about the product and what sort of work it was, people would have been more accepting. I am sorry that you now feel disillusioned about this site. A short while ago things got a bit nasty here, and we lost quite a few people, so it would be sad if you left as a result of this. I'd like to hear about the film please, as I only recently saw the DVD of the first one.

PS Does anyone know anythiing about 'Kate and Leopold', as I want to watch it. but am not sure if it will be a pile of .... thanks

Munchkinsugarpie. I wasn't getting at you, and I din't mean to offend or upset you. I have been looking for that elusive genuine home-working opportunity for some time. It just seems that 90% of the home-working opportunies advertised turn out to be Kleeneze. They never mention the name in the advertisment and by the time you've replied to the ad it's too late - once they've got your name you can't get them off your back. I know they make money from recruiting others, and they seem unable to take no for an answer. So yes, I do know a little about Kleeneze, and I decided it wasn't for me. I just don't like people hassling me when I have said I'm not interested. I wish they would just be more upfront and tell you what the ad's for in the first place. Thats all.

BTW if anyone is interested in Kleeneeze (having looked into it closely I'm not) a quick search brought up online sites where you can download the information pack without giving your name - never mind your phone number

I'm sorry if I came accross as being grumpy about this too - I didn't mean to be. I knwo what it is lie when you have something you are so pleased about that you want to shout about it, but I have never felt this way about a business opportunity - I reserve that kind of enthusiasm for my Christianity and my family. I am truly glad, munchkinsugarpie, that you have found something you are so happy with, and are doing so well out of it. And I wouldn't put my kids on TV whether I was paid or not, we have a lot more fun things to do!

Er, excuse me Munchkinsugarpie, my point was that I was not prepared to give my exdirectory phone number to a "network marketing company" and I do not trust any company that insists on a phone number for no good reason. I don't give a stuff about "the business plan" and I never claimed to "know all about it" so leave me out of your tirades in future. Thanks,

If you're vague about something it comes across as extremely suspicious.

Chinchilla,

I love love love Kate and Leopold! It's one of my very favorites, DH got it on DVD for me for Christmas finally He doesn't like it much-it's very much a girl movie, a cute little romance. I'd never seen him before but I adored Hugh Jackman in it, he's got a bit of the same romantic quality as Hugh Grant but with none of the annoying stuttering or compulsive eye-fluttering (not to mention I've never heard of him soliciting prostitutes on Hollywood Blvd....).

Love it!

dearest soupdragon, in future if you want to be left out of a tirade, may I suggest you don't post a message in the first place?

Munchkinsugarpie, a Kleeneze brochure is regularly put through our letterbox, but I have yet to buy anything from it. I look through the brochure sometimes and have been almost tempted. Aren't the products similar to those found at Lakeland?

I have always wondered how anyone makes much money out of selling this stuff, but obviously people, like yourself, do.

If you don't mind I'm going to quote you - hope these bits are not out of context:

'You can't lose money, there's nothing to buy that isn't refundable. I only do a small bit of retail each month, my main activity is training, teaching and helping other mates have a good time and earn extra dosh while we all build a business........ No one who works the Kleeneze plan properly, including me, stands to gain anything off of other people'

To me, the above is contradictory. Would you still be making money if all you did was retail?.

And how much training does a person need to run a kleeneze catalogue business? Is it really that much? I'm thinking of those who are freeman's or littlewoods agents - as far as I know, no such schemes exist for them.

Not attacking you, but confused

tigermoth, I'm like you - never buy anything from the Kleeneze catalogue although I look through it every time it pops through the letterbox. Mostly I can get the stuff elsewhere for around the same price or less (I think it was Kleeneze who had the 8 foot tall inflatable snowmen etc this Christmas at the grand price of 140 quid when they were 35 quid in Homebase. Even Homebase's 80 before the sale was much cheaper).

I don't like to always be putting money into the pocket of big retailers so I will consider supporting someone who is trying to build their own businss but not at the expense of my own pocket all the time, I'm afraid.

I read this thread last night and like the helenmc said, I wasn't sure if it was ethical to post business stuff here either, but she was right! If I knew something was dodgy and I could stop someone getting ripped off, then I would.Not that I'm saying Kleeneze is dodgy, I thought about it myself and from what I saw it's genuine, (really hard work), but genuine. Anyway, I thought I'd let you know what I do as there is always room for extra agents. Maybe you've heard of it as it's all over the country and also in Germany where one Mum's husband is with the forces. It's called Music with Mummy/Jolly Babies and it's basically running music classes for little ones (0-3years). You get loads of help if you need it when you start off, but you run it as your business and can do as many classes as you can or just a couple, depending on how you feel. This is genuine, I love doing it "cos I can work around my four children and still pick them up from school, do school assemblies etc. You do have to pay a monthly fee to our bosses, who are a lovely couple, an ex-teacher and a music professor! The scheme has been running since 1992 and there are over 2000 littlies on our books (I have 110 myself!). If anyone wants to chat to me about it, no I won't try and sell it to you, give me a ring on 0121 744 5117 and I can give you some more details. I live in the Solihull, West Midlands area and you are welcome to come and do a class with me, if you're around. Hope everyone had a good Christmas and Happy New Year!

Munchkinsugarpie, if in future you want to slag people off, get your facts straight first.

Maybe you should take your own advice "Dead sorry I posted now, and being a journo at heart, I'd be really grateful if in future, we were able to base discussions on FACTS. Not fiction or rumour!"

As it happens, I always put the Kleeneze brochure back outside with a note requesting that it is not left again. Something I'm pleased about if all their agents are as agressive and rude as you are.

Stick the Kleeneze brochure in the bin myself. That soon stops them leaving the damn thing.

I hope that's the recycling bin, Tinker?!!!

I actually quite like Kleeneze (no I am not an agent for them!!!) - there stuff is reasonable and it helps remind me to buy stuff like dusters etc. (I never remember when I'm out and it's not the sort of shops I browse in!). Our local agent is nice, not pushy at all and helpful - I have no qualms about contributing to his income (no matter how small a contribution) at all. I don't generally buy big ticket items (ignored all their christmas decorations for example - I went to Homebase for that) and I probably could by household stuff cheaper - but when would I get round to it?!

No idea about their business plan and no particular desire to look into it either

I love getting catalogues through the post and am always sending off for them whether it's clothes or toys anything really.I agree with Georgina that kleeneze stuff is pretty good on the whole and have had some stuff off them before.Only once I had to send something back for a refund as I thought it would break in two minutes-and had no trouble getting my money back,they were very pleasant about it.Don't know about the comparison with lakeland though although know what you mean.Lakeland are slightly superior in their products and actually some things are cheaper from there as I've compared the prices a couple of times.Won't touch Avon with a barge pole as I used to do a round and they were absolute tyrants to me and when I was pregnant when one of my customers kept one of the free trial products and wouldn't give it back to me afterwards.All hell broke loose and I ended up having to pay 85 pounds to them to get them off my back-well actually dh did it without me knowing as it was all making me ill with worry and i was digging my heels in.

Tigermoth - hiya. Don't be confused, everything I said still stands. I DO retail (involving catalogues every month), but I do only a small amount because Kleeneze is NOT mainly a catalogue business. Although, lots of people think it is. The catalogues are simply the vehicle through which the marketing plan works. The MAIN source of income is derived from the marketing plan and paid in royalty bonuses once you've helped other people get up and running in their own businesses. These bonuses are paid monthly by Kleeneze (they're like money earnt from a successful song or book you've written... -you will keep getting paid royalties for having done the groundwork). That's why training sessions are relevant as well as interesting. Lots of psychology stuff as well as practical stuff about setting up your own business as a whole.

The products, by the way, aren't an issue. They always sell easily so have a proven track record. When I first saw the catalogues I wasn't sure I'd ever buy from them at all and up till then, never had done. I buy lots now cos I get them wholesale!

And finally, to my dear nemesis Soupdragon... we seem to have not got off well at all have we? I never aimed to slag any one off, on the contrary, I think I went into utter defensive mode after having an array of unpleasant postings to plough through when I first got excited. Talk about a pin to burst a bubble! Still, sticks and stones and all that... I'm not exactly sure why you referred to my 'fact and fiction' sentence. I still stand by that also - I maintain that before one can criticise or argue against something so strongly, one should be in possession of all the facts that's all.

And as for 'aggressive and rude' (aggressive has 2 'g's in it by the way) hmm, maybe you're right. Sorry if it came across as that - I guess I was just being weak and defensive. Sorry