Economy, multi-level marketing scam or?

Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (Full Version)

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Lockit -> Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/22/2009 12:07:31 PM)
Having lived a long time, I've seen many multi-level marketing scams which appear to be a pyramid type business. You get in and get others to come in after you and make money on the money they put in however that happens. I've never known anyone who actually was successful in these opportunities. I have however known lots of people who tried and failed, while driving every person they knew to avoid them. The economy is so bad now, we have people scrambling to save themselves and the sales pitch on these product scams is something I feel will entice some to use their marketing stratagy to save their families. I have a family member who is now trying to get involved in one. They are young and I am saying, please don't... but they have been sold on the whole idea. After all... this is based on the research of a well respected doctor. (Don't they all have a doctor that stands for the product, created the product or gets rich on the product?) Do any of you know of any multi level marketing system/product that works and know people who have had it work for them? Do you think they are mostly a marketing scam like I do? Do you think the economy will entice more to get involved in these things? How do you prove to someone that these things are bad or are they all bad?

subtlebutterfly -> RE: Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/22/2009 12:17:02 PM)
I know people that are successful (as an extra income) when it comes to selling herbalife, and the one who brought it to this country is the biggest in the business so it works for him and some others who I know personally, but I don't think it works for everybody. Besides it aint exactly healthy either..there're always some, don't know how many, that come to the ER because the diet includes so many pills that the liver doesn't keep up.... (a friend's a nurse workin in the ER)[8\|] Pyramid type of business doesn't have to be a marketing scam..but some are, but if you're good at marketing yourself it can work. Remax (the real estate thingy..) is another....some can be lucky and get plenty of customers while others don't. However it's not exactly "respected" because usually the dudes there just want to selll the friggin properties..to hell with the rules, at least that's the way it is here. It can work and it can flop. By using pyramid type of business as the only source of income you're setting up for a failure. It can take months if not years to get enough clients to gain something that could come close to being a steady income.

Lockit -> RE: Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/22/2009 12:22:12 PM)
Thank you!

subtlebutterfly -> RE: Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/22/2009 12:40:34 PM)
I have 2 friends who love the stuff (both of them had troubles digesting something and this helped them stabilizing their bodies) then a few use it, one to lose weight and then I know others using it for fitness and it works for them, so of course it aint all bad. When you're in this business, selling pills or supplements, you never know whether the customer actually needs it or not. You can never be sure how the supplies work for each individual nor can you tell for sure what the correct dosage is even though you may use some standard calculation formula. A 110 lbs person with nutritional deficiency may need a different dosage compared to a very active 110 lbs person who takes care of what they eat and has plenty dosages of everything in their body. Noone but a doctor or nutritionist could tell what the correct dosage is. But if you don't mind it and just want to sell, it can be an okay extra income..but never as the only source, at least not to begin with. It's a risk you have to take. I for one wouldn't want to take responsibility for anyones health so it's not for me. Finido![8D]

Aylee -> RE: Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/22/2009 12:44:27 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lockit Do any of you know of any multi level marketing system/product that works and know people who have had it work for them? Do you think they are mostly a marketing scam like I do? Do you think the economy will entice more to get involved in these things? How do you prove to someone that these things are bad or are they all bad? Amway?

Lockit -> RE: Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/22/2009 1:24:47 PM)
This is a product that a doctor and researcher for cancer and immune type issues has created. Based on different kinds of berry seeds. They plan to really come out so to speak in Nov. I have tried to counsel them and say, know your game... know your customer base and their motivations... which would mostly be good health and energy and beware. There isn't anything bad on them because they are new. So I can't use that angle. When she told me of what they said and how nice these people were.. I mentioned with a laugh that most salespeople are nice and I heard that same pitch from network marketing when she was three. Go check out other business's like this and hear their pitch, it will be almost the same. Oh well... I told them to be prepared to not make a dime and to be able to handle the loss and anything they do get out of it is bonus, but know your business and they are being realistic so far. Idealistic in a sense, but what rich person wasn't? lol I don't want to crush their spirit... but had to give a bit of advice. lol I am shutting up to them now.

DomKen -> RE: Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/22/2009 1:47:02 PM)
Multi level marketing is just barely legal. For all intents and purposes its a Ponzi scheme. No one ever makes any real money selling the product direct to consumers. Those who make money are those who distribute it to people they've recruited. Unless you're getting in at the very beginning and have no ethics what so ever avoid multi level marketing schemes. To convince your relative make him get the information from his distributor on how much he's going to be charged compared to the MSRP. Then get him to make a realistic projection of how many of these items he can sell to his family and friends. It is important to keep in mind that the distributor is likely recruiting heavily in the area so sales outside your relative's social circle will be rare. That should put an end to his participation in the scheme.

Lockit -> RE: Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/22/2009 1:53:06 PM)
DomKen, I tried that... so far they are still sold on the idea. They combined have lost three jobs or hours in the last few months. Went from forty an hour to under ten on one job and it's looking like there isn't going to be a bounce back anytime soon. So I can imagine there are many in the same boat who are reaching out or grasping at something that will even give them a couple hundred a month. These are good solid young people and I admire and respect them a lot, but no one walks into adulthood knowing the game, even with a jaded mom like me! lol

pahunkboy -> RE: Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/22/2009 1:56:58 PM)
...they might extend unemployment once again.

DomKen -> RE: Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/22/2009 2:39:57 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lockit DomKen, I tried that... so far they are still sold on the idea. They combined have lost three jobs or hours in the last few months. Went from forty an hour to under ten on one job and it's looking like there isn't going to be a bounce back anytime soon. So I can imagine there are many in the same boat who are reaching out or grasping at something that will even give them a couple hundred a month. These are good solid young people and I admire and respect them a lot, but no one walks into adulthood knowing the game, even with a jaded mom like me! lol Well if they won't listen there isn't much you can do. I will warn you to keep a close eye on them. These operations are associated with a lot of suicides.

Arpig -> RE: Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/22/2009 8:32:42 PM)
Well you know there is always the traditional method of earning extra income...flipping burgers or other similar McJobs (like mine[:)]).

DarkSteven -> RE: Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/23/2009 6:37:18 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DomKen Multi level marketing is just barely legal. For all intents and purposes its a Ponzi scheme. No one ever makes any real money selling the product direct to consumers. Those who make money are those who distribute it to people they've recruited. Unless you're getting in at the very beginning and have no ethics what so ever avoid multi level marketing schemes. Pyramid schemes are illegal. That's when the first people in get paid "returns" with the money from the latecomers. MLM skirts this by having something of value change hands, overpriced, but aside from that it has the same structure as a pyramid scheme. People DO make money with MLM. They're the first few in on the scheme. Everyone else loses money. quote: To convince your relative make him get the information from his distributor on how much he's going to be charged compared to the MSRP. Then get him to make a realistic projection of how many of these items he can sell to his family and friends. It is important to keep in mind that the distributor is likely recruiting heavily in the area so sales outside your relative's social circle will be rare. That should put an end to his participation in the scheme. Lockit, I'm sorry to say this, but I don;t think you can dissuade your relative from learning a hard lesson here.

Lockit -> RE: Economy, multi-level marketing scam or? (9/23/2009 9:22:14 AM)
That's just it Steven, I can talk, advise, warn and then my job is done. She listened, she repeated to hubby and my one demand if you can call it that was... run this by his dad and if he says okay I won't say another word and will support you. I had hoped of course that he would pretty much say what I was saying and he did. I think what we both were saying is we don't like it, don't know as much as other's might about it, but you know... if this is what you really want to do, there may be a lesson in it for you. That is how it should be. People have to learn their lessons and sometimes it comes in the form of a tough lesson to learn and a bit of embarassment for not listening. lol I do respect them trying so hard to support their family and life style though. They are trying harder than most their age would. To go from making forty dollars an hour at the ripe old age of twenty three, to a walmart job... one of the higher hourly paid people, but still, under ten dollars, shows me the man will do anything he has to do to support my daughter and her boys from a prior relationship, he treats as his own. My daughter already had two jobs and hours were cut, but she is still trying to find more work and this thing came up. There is a man almost my age that lives by me and he went from a job like my son in law's and ran out his unemployment and now is ready to lose everything, including his long marriage because he won't go flip burger's or something. He is expecting that high pay still. So even though I know that most likely this won't work out... I do respect the kids for trying so hard and will be glad if they cover their butt's and learn a lesson.

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