When a family member gets sucked in to a MLM

JohnInCarolina

That’s a multi-level marketing scheme for the uninitiated.  I had somehow managed to avoid finding out about these... until today.



This is my sister in law.  Uggh.  Not sure exactly what to do about this but as you can imagine it’s probably not going to end well.  The wife and I are just assuming we’ll be receiving ketone supplements for Christmas.  Or maybe we’ll receive *discounts* on supplements.

DoubleEgger

You had never heard of MLM before today? 

lousubcap

Well that in-law connection could play heavily in this gig.  I'm sure you don't know where she is positioned in the food-chain heirachy but it's her deal.  I would let SWMBO offer the first shot.  Arm's length transactions may still be too close. 

But all in a pre-Halloween entertainment evening!

JohnInCarolina

DoubleEgger said:

You had never heard of MLM before today? 

I knew them by the more precise name of “pyramid schemes.”

g8golfer

Good to see I’m not the only person with crazy family members 

Spaightlabs

Multi level marketing is used in many legitimate businesses and they can provide a great opportunity to create a little extra income or even incredible wealth.

If you believe that I would like to talk to you about an opportunity...

You have 2 choices.  Pizz your SIL off or change your name and move.

JohnInCarolina

Spaightlabs said:

Multi level marketing is used in many legitimate businesses and they can provide a great opportunity to create a little extra income or even incredible wealth.

If you believe that I would like to talk to you about an opportunity...

You have 2 choices.  Pizz your SIL off or change your name and move.

Fortunately she does not live anywhere close to me.  But I had to mute her on FB, less I comment on one of these posts and make my brother’s life more miserable than it already is.

DoubleEgger

At least she’s not peddling Jamberry

JohnInCarolina

DoubleEgger said:

At least she’s not peddling Jamberry

I’m not googling that.  I really do not want to know what that is.

Spaightlabs

My SIL did/does the same thing for some scrapbooking outfit, Precious something or other I think,  She's spent dozens of thousands of dollars to make hundreds, but we have avoided a single purchase for 10 years.

She lives 1000 miles away so we don't talk often and I have thus far avoided saying anything, which is unlike me really.

Good luck.

DoubleEgger

JohnInCarolina said:

DoubleEgger said:

At least she’s not peddling Jamberry

I’m not googling that.  I really do not want to know what that is.

Press on fingernails. 

caliking

Clear brain? Better mood? AND less inflammation??

 Sign me up. Ski flavor please. ‘coz I’m a baller, and don’t need no stinkin’ discount. 

DoubleEgger

If she starts talking about “essential” oils, run! 

JohnInCarolina

caliking said:

Clear brain? Better mood? AND less inflammation??

 Sign me up. Ski flavor please. ‘coz I’m a baller, and don’t need no stinkin’ discount. 

Right? The Ski flavor sounds AMAZING!

Spaightlabs

duplicate of John's thoughts...

U_tarded

They are seriously the worst.   Utah is the motherland for a lot of these.  They give lots of hope and promises usually just leave debt and burnt relationships.  

There are tons of anti mlm groups out reddit r/antimlm shares stories and real life devastation from these things.

This is an antimlm blog and real life story of how being involved in one and the consequences of it. 

https://ellebeaublog.com/poonique/

Cornholio

My FIL is a sucker for these..  2by2, juice+, really anything that makes it seem like an easy way for extra income when in reality working a $10/hr fast food job would net you more $/hr.  

GrateEggspectations

I have great disdain for MLMs and pyramid schemes - they always rely, in a parasitic fashion, on existing social networks to make opportunistic sales, whereby the sellers pressure existing friends and family members to support them in these doomed, short term ventures. Once the seller has exhausted the existing network (enthusiasm having dwindled over time), they invariably give up on the initiative and move on to another scheme. 

I have had friends and family fall prey to such “business opportunities”. I have wanted to slap them silly time and time again. 

Ozzie_Isaac

I tell them to **** off followed with links explaining why they are selling snake oil, unless it is wine. Then I just go to the parties and drink free wine. I may not value familial relationships as much as you.

Grillin_beers

Hahahahahaha hahahah.   My wife has a friend that is always trying to sell sh$t like this.  A couple of years ago it was wraps that magically made you lose weight.  Now it’s shakeology. Who knows what it will be next year.

My wife just tells her that she doesn’t do business with friends and she leaves her alone about it. 

HeavyG

Our Secretary of Education (the Amway/Quixtar heiress) will tell you that not all MLM's are pyramid schemes. Only those "other ones" are.

JohnInCarolina

Grillin_beers said:

Hahahahahaha hahahah.   My wife has a friend that is always trying to sell sh$t like this.  A couple of years ago it was wraps that magically made you lose weight.  Now it’s shakeology. Who knows what it will be next year.

My wife just tells her that she doesn’t do business with friends and she leaves her alone about it. 

My wife today told me there’s half a dozen moms in our neighborhood pushing some product or another.  I was like... nobody realizes it’s a scam?

ryantt

@JohnInCarolina I prefer the term triangle of wealth.   The term pyramid scheme has such a negative connotation   

lousubcap

@JohnInCarolina and you are still on speaking terms after that enlightening remark??

FarmingPhD

Sad how gullible folks are.  Knew a guy who was selling crypto currency in one of these, then was peeved when he lost money.  Risky investment to start with and then make it an mlm on top of it.

Gulfcoastguy

DoubleEgger said:

You had never heard of MLM before today? 

I always called it a pyramid scam.

Legume

This is crack for stay at home moms.  Turns Starbucks and hanging out into “working” opportunities.  Positive, motivational messaging, good, well-researched products to improve your quality of life and discounts!

JohnInCarolina

lousubcap said:

@JohnInCarolina and you are still on speaking terms after that enlightening remark??

My own wife is thankfully not one of the people pushing frozen boiled water on her friends and neighbors.

JohnInCarolina

I will say that looking into this particular company - PruVit - I was impressed by the lengths they’ve gone to cover up the fact that it’s a scam.  If you google “PruVit scam” - the first links that come up are sites and videos explaining how, well it might seem like a total scam, this is only because of the haters out there who think every MLM is a scam.   And that if you just work at it, you will find that actually it’s a totally legit company and in no time you’ll be driving a Ferrari around town, just like me.

lousubcap

Perhaps a high-end Maserati will be enticement enough-you don't have to get so far up the chain to get a Ferrari tuned engine in your daily driver 

DoubleEgger

I don’t remember if this was posted here or somewhere else...