- Joined
- May 1, 2017
This is Texas so it's more like, "Don't y'all want to eat all the good food and not get fat! Vegetables aren't a food!"
Multi-level marketing/pyramid schemes and the people who fall for them
- Thread starter Cosmos
- Start date
E
ES 148
Guest
kiwifarms.net
This. Guys and their bullshit herbal/chemical supplement obsession borders on the religious at times.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2018
Potential :powerlevel: ? Friend and I were looking for a job when we were teenagers and trying to save extra money for Uni. We went to a "job interview" at Cutco and they literally drew a triangle on a board. Then they told me I was hired, but I'd have to buy a set of knives to show off to people. I noped out of that really quick, but my friend ended up "working" for them. My mom bought a set of knives from her, even though she had bought a Lifetime Guarantee set of Ginsu knives like a decade before that. Don't think she got any other sales. We lived in a ghetto area where even getting a babysitting job was impossible, since the parents who actually gave a shit about their young children not being left alone could hire some FOB adult for next to nothing.
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2016
First rule of life, if you have to pay for your job, it's not a job. Youre better off being unemployed and homeless.
You will always be in the hole if youre paying for your first day on the job.
The sad thing about MLM shit is that, as the above guy said, it preys on kind of desperate people. You see this shit all the time on like craigslist job sections.
You will always be in the hole if youre paying for your first day on the job.
The sad thing about MLM shit is that, as the above guy said, it preys on kind of desperate people. You see this shit all the time on like craigslist job sections.
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- Joined
- Jun 4, 2018
I think I avoided getting snagged by Cutco (this was years and years ago). I distinctly remember there was a weird atmosphere to the whole meeting; I'd been in job interviews before and this was NOT an interview. Reminded me of a Bible study I sat in on, except the Bible study was a lot more welcoming and cheerful.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2018
"It isn't a pyramid - it's a 3 sided square" I forgot exactly what they said, but it was probably just as ridic as they were trying to explain that Cutco totally is (not) a MLM scam.
Ruzan
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2018
It's crazy to see the reach of these scams. Several people on my friends list on Facebook (a pharmacist, a paralegal, ect) have tupperware and makuep parties at their houses trying to sell this shit. How can you be so smart and still fall for this garbage?
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2018
Ah, so it's a structure that cannot exist in reality? Well, that's a pretty good descriptor for MLMs...
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2018
I go after all of the magic weight loss MLM scams on local Facebook pages. They rarely know what ingredients are in their shit or what they even do. It's even worse when they don't understand just how tiny a microgram is or why that "2 grams" of a "proprietary blend" is doing jack shit.
But 99% of the suckers are always a stay at home mom, every fucking time. You see it in the military everywhere you go.
Edit: Know of a guy that pays half his salary in to his Amway-esque scam (motivational bullshit and "financial planning"). He's done this for 10 years, so roughly $200k. He's seen I believe $1,500 in return. Still won't give it up.
But 99% of the suckers are always a stay at home mom, every fucking time. You see it in the military everywhere you go.
Edit: Know of a guy that pays half his salary in to his Amway-esque scam (motivational bullshit and "financial planning"). He's done this for 10 years, so roughly $200k. He's seen I believe $1,500 in return. Still won't give it up.
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2018
Having read the other thread about pyramid schemes, a couple of names definitely popped out as the ones favored by the people mentioned in my previous post: It Works and Arbonne.
When I was growing up, my parents had the neighbors across the street come over with unplanned pitches for both Herbalife and, later, a financial MLM. I also had a relative that promoted an MLM that sold various products containing bee pollen as a supposed cure-all. I even remember when Primerica had ads on TV.
Other MLM (or MLM-like) products I've seen promoted include Flat Tummy Tea, It Works, Nikken, Pure Romance, Rodan & Fields, and Thrive.
Work from home ads particular gall me when they turn out to be a pitch for either MLM or an expensive seminar that merely tells the people to go into business for themselves without providing any resources for doing so successfully. I almost fell victim to the latter had I not decided to further research the ad a well intentioned person gave me. I agree with the posters that feel these prey on the desperate.
As an example, I believe the two main components in the flat tummy tea product line are: a laxative to make one lose weight through crapping, and caffeine to make you think you have more energy. As you say, how many of the people using and touting this stuff actually realize that and that they're overpaying for what boils down to over the counter laxatives?
When I was growing up, my parents had the neighbors across the street come over with unplanned pitches for both Herbalife and, later, a financial MLM. I also had a relative that promoted an MLM that sold various products containing bee pollen as a supposed cure-all. I even remember when Primerica had ads on TV.
Other MLM (or MLM-like) products I've seen promoted include Flat Tummy Tea, It Works, Nikken, Pure Romance, Rodan & Fields, and Thrive.
Work from home ads particular gall me when they turn out to be a pitch for either MLM or an expensive seminar that merely tells the people to go into business for themselves without providing any resources for doing so successfully. I almost fell victim to the latter had I not decided to further research the ad a well intentioned person gave me. I agree with the posters that feel these prey on the desperate.
As an example, I believe the two main components in the flat tummy tea product line are: a laxative to make one lose weight through crapping, and caffeine to make you think you have more energy. As you say, how many of the people using and touting this stuff actually realize that and that they're overpaying for what boils down to over the counter laxatives?
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2015
The new spin on an old scam is internet affiliate marketing. Yeah, you can make money pitching products, but anyone who says they can help you do it in a way guaranteed to make you money is lying to you. They charge exorbitant amounts to set up a Wordpress blog and give you a domain name. I got kicked from a forum about such things when I pointed out you could do the same yourself for a fraction of the cost.
Education Lottery
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2015
This is perfect with the cult thread.
A bit late, but regarding the number of women in MLMs, and:
I've touched on it in the cults thread a little in my rambling post; it's a very interesting topic for me. It isn't unheard of for MLMs base their foundations on religious values for the sole purpose of marketing and manipulation with a side of Biblical justification.
MLMs that target stay-at-home-moms or wannabe SAHMs are BIG on that Christian stuff. They build their trust with these women because they're more likely to have stronger family and friend connections to shill to. They count on roping in women who want to be around more for their kids and help out financially, or at least fulfill what they may see as their Biblical Duty w/o having to work long hours outside of the home. Religion isn't required but it's better to have that around for the sake connecting.
We personally see more MLMs that have more women involved because these just so happen to be the ones designed to be outright social and presented to the public or even just a circle of friends. They look a little more like a quirky small business despite being much larger than that; as you know, they get told they're becoming a business owner this way. This is probably why I keep seeing them pop up in craft shows(???) and small business fairs despite them just being shitty excuses for franchises, if that. I will say that it was funny and painfully sad to see three Scentsy reps packed in on the same floor giving one another catty looks. #bossbabe
MLMs men seem drawn to are ones that tend to fall under insurance, finance, or even door-to-door sales. Really, anything with higher commissions per sale, I tend to see more men involved in. Primerica has a weird Christian thing going. The Kirby Vacuum people? The local crowd, including the regional director, had more of a hookers and blackjack thing going so I have to wonder. The finance market is a rabbit hole in itself and can get illegal pretty quick. I think they swap out Christianity with promises of sportscars in Fiji with no boss to rule over you and your new Rolex while you use your laptop on the beach.
I also think a lot of these rackets target women is because there's a lower risk factor. To explain:
While men would be more likely to pay more up front to get started on an MLM, the things that may draw them are either very volatile or require certain licenses to really go further (which may deter a new salesperson since they're the ones who'd have to pay for it) and the product they may be selling isn't low cost (to put it into perspective, some of the Kirby vacuums are $2k).
By comparison, bunches of women buying "sales" kits for $300 and hustling to their circle of friends who spread the word that they're selling an item that has multiple pricing options? And a consumable that they may have to get more of? That happening repeatedly across a country adds up VERY fast for the person up top who doesn't have to worry about large scale liabilities inevitably biting them. No licenses, no high entry fees, and no borderline illegal things (except for the weird medical claims the essential oil MLMs try to make). Because of the low entry fee, they have the advantage of having enough numbers of people to fight any dissidents as well as get a lot of free social media and word-of-mouth PR. All of it either totally legal or at least light enough on the grey market not to set them off and shut them down.
A bit late, but regarding the number of women in MLMs, and:
I've touched on it in the cults thread a little in my rambling post; it's a very interesting topic for me. It isn't unheard of for MLMs base their foundations on religious values for the sole purpose of marketing and manipulation with a side of Biblical justification.
MLMs that target stay-at-home-moms or wannabe SAHMs are BIG on that Christian stuff. They build their trust with these women because they're more likely to have stronger family and friend connections to shill to. They count on roping in women who want to be around more for their kids and help out financially, or at least fulfill what they may see as their Biblical Duty w/o having to work long hours outside of the home. Religion isn't required but it's better to have that around for the sake connecting.
We personally see more MLMs that have more women involved because these just so happen to be the ones designed to be outright social and presented to the public or even just a circle of friends. They look a little more like a quirky small business despite being much larger than that; as you know, they get told they're becoming a business owner this way. This is probably why I keep seeing them pop up in craft shows(???) and small business fairs despite them just being shitty excuses for franchises, if that. I will say that it was funny and painfully sad to see three Scentsy reps packed in on the same floor giving one another catty looks. #bossbabe
MLMs men seem drawn to are ones that tend to fall under insurance, finance, or even door-to-door sales. Really, anything with higher commissions per sale, I tend to see more men involved in. Primerica has a weird Christian thing going. The Kirby Vacuum people? The local crowd, including the regional director, had more of a hookers and blackjack thing going so I have to wonder. The finance market is a rabbit hole in itself and can get illegal pretty quick. I think they swap out Christianity with promises of sportscars in Fiji with no boss to rule over you and your new Rolex while you use your laptop on the beach.
I also think a lot of these rackets target women is because there's a lower risk factor. To explain:
While men would be more likely to pay more up front to get started on an MLM, the things that may draw them are either very volatile or require certain licenses to really go further (which may deter a new salesperson since they're the ones who'd have to pay for it) and the product they may be selling isn't low cost (to put it into perspective, some of the Kirby vacuums are $2k).
By comparison, bunches of women buying "sales" kits for $300 and hustling to their circle of friends who spread the word that they're selling an item that has multiple pricing options? And a consumable that they may have to get more of? That happening repeatedly across a country adds up VERY fast for the person up top who doesn't have to worry about large scale liabilities inevitably biting them. No licenses, no high entry fees, and no borderline illegal things (except for the weird medical claims the essential oil MLMs try to make). Because of the low entry fee, they have the advantage of having enough numbers of people to fight any dissidents as well as get a lot of free social media and word-of-mouth PR. All of it either totally legal or at least light enough on the grey market not to set them off and shut them down.
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- Joined
- Mar 11, 2017
I feel bad for the kids allergic to essential oils. Don't these heffas realise how heavily concentrated essential oils are? You're going to keep using something your kid is allergic to because "lol doctors are so stupid". And some people, like Anna, think it's ok to ingest them. They can cause nasty organ damage like renal and liver failure. You know there's some kid out there having peppermint oil forced down their throat because of a common tummy ache.
I don't know how people get themselves into this. You'd think that MLM being a scam would be common knowledge by now. Everyone wants to make fast money. They don't think about the real cost.
I remember neighbors doing Avon. They'd drop off the catalogs then you'd contact them with your order. That's how I usually see it done. Sometimes they'd put them in doctor's offices. Honestly, I don't see much Avon anymore around here. It's hard to track down anyone who has a catalog.
I don't know how people get themselves into this. You'd think that MLM being a scam would be common knowledge by now. Everyone wants to make fast money. They don't think about the real cost.
I remember neighbors doing Avon. They'd drop off the catalogs then you'd contact them with your order. That's how I usually see it done. Sometimes they'd put them in doctor's offices. Honestly, I don't see much Avon anymore around here. It's hard to track down anyone who has a catalog.
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2018
Avon skin so soft is the best mosquito repellent money can buy. Just throwing that out there.
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2018
Maybe, and I say maybe, it could be a good idea to start monitoring those MLM and "be financially emancipated" Facebook and social media pages on a dedicated thread in Community Watch.
I was thinking about starting it, but it wouldn't be correct towards @AnchuentProphecy and @Cosmos , since they had the idea first, plus I lack materials.
I know the other thread is already in Community Watch, but it seems dead as of December 2017.
Maybe it would be the case to merge, or move this one?
I was thinking about starting it, but it wouldn't be correct towards @AnchuentProphecy and @Cosmos , since they had the idea first, plus I lack materials.
I know the other thread is already in Community Watch, but it seems dead as of December 2017.
Maybe it would be the case to merge, or move this one?
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2013
There's tons of pictures on /r/antilmm of idiots putting essential oil in their food, despite the huge 'FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY' labels:
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2018
Doncha know, those are just there because of dem pesky gubberment laws.
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2018
Because shilling cheap make-up by cosplaying a victim of domestic abuse is a tasteful and efficient marketing tactic.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Youniqueam...nbot_uses_poonique_makeup_to_create_a_highly/
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2014
I actually learned about these POS scams because of Chris.
My friend got into Cutco after we graduated high school, we were both sent cards being scouted but I ignored it. His family isn't exactly the richest and having to buy the knives was a set back for them, so his mom bitched out whoever was above him and I think they let him go and just took the knives back. He did a presentation for my mom, grandma, and I and we learned our old and incredibly dull cutco knives could be sharpened for free, when we got them back we spent a month accidentally cutting our fingers really bad because before getting sharpened a plastic butter knife would've been more useful.
There's a guy who would set up a booth at school job fairs and hand out vector cards, he was dressed in a suit and looked kinda slimy, also tried to get me as I was walking down the hallway.
A close relative of mine wasn't in a great place at the time, she needed something to do and I think she found some cleaning product one, but she would light Facebook up about it and everyone was talking behind her back about what a scam it was and tried to politely bring it up, but again she was incredibly depressed and didn't really see it. I assume she got bitched at by a few people because she ended up making another fb profile specifically to sell shit, I assumed it was one of those fb friend scams, but she assured me it wasn't (But still a scam). No idea what happened with that but she hasn't mentioned it to my knowledge and goes dumpster diving where she actually turns a giant profit and talks fondly of it, while no mention of the stupid pyramid schemes.
Tl;dr literally digging through garbage is better and more lucrative.
My friend got into Cutco after we graduated high school, we were both sent cards being scouted but I ignored it. His family isn't exactly the richest and having to buy the knives was a set back for them, so his mom bitched out whoever was above him and I think they let him go and just took the knives back. He did a presentation for my mom, grandma, and I and we learned our old and incredibly dull cutco knives could be sharpened for free, when we got them back we spent a month accidentally cutting our fingers really bad because before getting sharpened a plastic butter knife would've been more useful.
There's a guy who would set up a booth at school job fairs and hand out vector cards, he was dressed in a suit and looked kinda slimy, also tried to get me as I was walking down the hallway.
A close relative of mine wasn't in a great place at the time, she needed something to do and I think she found some cleaning product one, but she would light Facebook up about it and everyone was talking behind her back about what a scam it was and tried to politely bring it up, but again she was incredibly depressed and didn't really see it. I assume she got bitched at by a few people because she ended up making another fb profile specifically to sell shit, I assumed it was one of those fb friend scams, but she assured me it wasn't (But still a scam). No idea what happened with that but she hasn't mentioned it to my knowledge and goes dumpster diving where she actually turns a giant profit and talks fondly of it, while no mention of the stupid pyramid schemes.
Tl;dr literally digging through garbage is better and more lucrative.
A
AF 802
Guest
kiwifarms.net
Oh boy, MLM. I have one that the mom of one of my good friends in elementary school was involved in: Melaleuca.
https://www.melaleuca.com/
It's supposed to be like this "wellness" brand where everything is supposed to be hypoallergenic and organic. I grew up with these products, and they worked fine, but the company always seemed somewhat shady. Their big product was Renew lotion, which they claimed something that their exclusive blend of tea tree oil would be the last dry skin lotion you would ever need, which I would guess is really just like any tea tree product out on the market.
According to Pissed Consumer, many of the products are expensive and low quality, with problems of cancelling accounts, which I guess is pretty typical:
https://melaleuca.pissedconsumer.com/review.html
Never got why MLM was so big, anyway.
https://www.melaleuca.com/
It's supposed to be like this "wellness" brand where everything is supposed to be hypoallergenic and organic. I grew up with these products, and they worked fine, but the company always seemed somewhat shady. Their big product was Renew lotion, which they claimed something that their exclusive blend of tea tree oil would be the last dry skin lotion you would ever need, which I would guess is really just like any tea tree product out on the market.
According to Pissed Consumer, many of the products are expensive and low quality, with problems of cancelling accounts, which I guess is pretty typical:
https://melaleuca.pissedconsumer.com/review.html
Never got why MLM was so big, anyway.