MLMs ARE pyramid schemes, though they claim they aren’t. They only enrich the founders. See the link or listen to the podcast for more info.
@HImom Where’s the link?
Post 97. Also search “the dream podcast, MLM.”
Whenever folks are “working for themselves,” urged to recruit others and build their networks, have folks who recruited them get a portion of their sales and a recruitment fee, be VERY suspicious.
Link for the podcasts of “The Dream”-- https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/stitcher/the-dream
(Click the “Load more episodes” button at the bottom of the page to listen to the earlier episodes.)
Been listening to “The Dream” podcast. It’s really interesting. Thanks for the link!
I’m so glad people are enjoying the dream. It was a top 2018 podcast for me and I’m recommending it as much as I can
I wish I could filter facebook to weed out all my “friends” who are selling the next best thing. Drives me nuts. I turned down enough parties in my 20’s that I quit being invited to them. Pressuring me to buy never ends well for the seller. Please don’t clog my facebook with it either
If I had a dime for every client “who was starting their own business”…in 30 years I’ve never had anyone make money after expenses, mileage, etc. and that’s not even considering what I feel is most valuable–time.
This thread did make me remember I bought Discovery Toys on occasion from catalogs and liked them.
I have not fallen victim to this but I am so tired of seeing Facebook friends flogging Isagenix!!
It almost seems like they’ve joined a cult or are posting things dictated by the company, complete with too many exclamation marks and (incorrect) info about how bad most food is but their shakes are the best thing ever ?
Ah yes…the FB friends who post how good they feel or look or whatever. That’s all fine. BUT then someone asks what they are doing…”oh…name the product…and I can sell it to you for $5 a day. Aren’t you worth $5 a day”.
I’ve put those on snooze for 30 days.
Just a sneaky way to say you are selling stuff.
Then there’s the charities: I have some friends who work for charities and who expect contributions, even though they aren’t my choice. And now there’s the Facebook ‘send money to my charity’ for my birthday thing. I try to ignore them.
I tried to support DIL when she sold first Mary Kay, then Scentsy and Grace Adele (no longer avaiable). I bought from her and hosted a party for her but did not get a good turn out. I still use some of the Grace Adele tote bags, clutches and jewlery but have gotten rid of the Scentsy. I can’t remembere the brand but I went to a purse, etc party a long time ago. I purchased a huge tote, at least 3 ft square, that we still use it for a beach bag to carry all of the towels, snacks and toys, now for grandkids. It is over 30 years old and still going strong.
@TatinG Yes, those things are constantly popping up on my Facebook. It’s not that I don’t like to help out and support people, but I can’t afford to give to everything!
When you buy in these schemes, you are really helping the big guys at the top, not the peon who is doing the direct sale and getting pennies or less for all their time and the merchandise they bought.
I didn’t spend any money but the latest seems to be Monet hair care. I have a cousin who I rarely see (maybe once every 5 years) that started selling it. She put everyone she knew into a “private” facebook group and spams constantly! I showed no interest so of course she sent me samples and kept asking if I used them yet. Well, when I read the directions it will take at least 10 minutes to do the whole deal - so it needs to wait for a open weekend, IMO. When I finally tried it I took a pictures of my hair before and after to see if there was an amazing difference. Nope. I had to explain that I’m truly a walmart girl at heart and it was not in my budget.
Ive done a lot of them. Nothing too expensive and nothing too extensive. I bought the Discovery Toys and Tupperware, the Make up, the vitamins,etc, etc. But never a lot and never for a long time.
Was it Thirty One?
@thumper1 I don’t think so, although it looks similar, Thirty One states that they started in 2003 and what I have is older than that.
I have a FB friend who started selling LipSense (or something like that). She put me in a group from which I removed myself. I love lipstick, but I’m just a poor girl!
I sold Lady Remington jewelry in the late 90’s. It seemed like no matter how many parties I did (usually 2 per week) it was never enough and there was a lot of pressure to take what little I made and buy more product to demonstrate (which would then be discontinued rendering it useless).
I have a friend who did well with Mary Kay but it basically was her life and (I think) contributed to her marriage ending. I do like some of their products though.
My cousin, however, is the Queen of MLM’s. In college she sold Avon, then it was some scrapbooking supplies thing, after that it was Thirty One, then Lularoe, and now she is selling something that is like Lularoe but uglier. I have bought something from her in each venture except this last one. I just could not do one more thing. I don’t even wear the LLR stuff I bought because it’s actually hideous. I would watch her live FB sales and her sister in law would spend at least $200 a week on this crap. I expect she’ll be on to something else soon enough (if I had to guess it will be Hemp Worx because they are into an organic lifestyle).
Wow, buying $200 in MLM product/week sounds expensive to me. It’s too rich for my blood, for what is received.