Multi Level Marketing.

[BaaBaa.]

My brother has recently joined a cult, Monavie and is really testing my patience.

Obviously this stuff is Gods own tears in a fancy wine bottle.

What are peoples opinions on MLM/Pyramid schemes?

[STEVE G]

What the hell is it, something like Amway?

[BaaBaa.]

What the hell is it, something like Amway?

You're spot on Steve, exactly like Amway.

[redzonerocker]

Obviously this stuff is Gods own tears in a fancy wine bottle.

apparently not

http://www.onlinescamsuncovered.com/mon ... -scam.html

read it & make your own mind up
i remember for years the slogan 'lucozade aids recovery' , but actually it didn't really

[margaretcarnes]

For some reason I can't open that link Redzone. 'Pyramid' selling though has been on the go for so long, and I'm surprised people still fall for it.
But in this case, from the way BaaBaa descibes it, as a 'cult', it does sound as though this company is using almost a brainwashing technique.
I have little time for these people and their methods, which usually play on the vulnerability - and need too these days - of people who are desperate to make a living.
A true salesman can turn his hand to any product convincingly without becoming sold on it himself.

[redzonerocker]

For some reason I can't open that link Redzone.

just tried the link & it opened ok.

i agree on the pyramid sales pitch, my argument is, if it's that good a product, why do they need to sell in this way, surely it just sells itself anyway?

[Big Boy]

It worked for me as well.

[Spitfire]

I remember the Mrs dragging me off to a big Amway "meeting" a while back as she sometimes sells a bit of Amway stuff to people she knows for pocket money when she wants some extra cash and, well, it was more like a "pep" talk to massage everyones' weak personalities to put some fire into their bellies to go out and sell the stuff. I'll admit that the products are of good quality, due to the fact that they are imported from the US, but somewhat overpriced which pays for the "system" they employ.

I found the conference somewhat distasteful from a western persective but it was designed for the Thais/Viets/Philipinos etc and it was like a Thai show on channel 3, you know, indoor fireworks and clips of exessive wealth for the locals to swoon over and dream, it was easy to see what they were doing but I said nothing so as not to let the Mrs get the hump but I was a bit . The things you do for a easy life sometimes

It is possible to make good money from these schemes but you need to get in early in the so-called pryamid and you need to be the marketing loony that's prepared to be brainwashed by the speakers at these functions and follow their pre-designed dream sequences etc IMHO they sell hope of a distant dream which few ever make and take peoples money off them while the people dream.

The thing I noticed with it is that these things are actually several businesses in one. OK, you have the 'selling the product' business, the marketing of the pryamid extention business, the selling of paraphernalia (CDs/starter packs etc) and the attending of conferences or as they put "Weekend Leadership Seminars" , which is why they insist that the brainwashed section attends the functions and buy the stuff as these are almost as lucrative as the profit on the products.

The conference, at Bitec in BBK, I got dragged to through duress was 2000 baht a ticket plus extras on food etc for 2 days and 4000 people from all over Asia turned up, do the math, that's about just under 10 million baht for one conference.

I was glad I went, only once mind you, as it gave me some insight into this and it's big here in Asia, I found it (the conference) somewhat of a paradox, educational and eye-opening about the Asians regarding how it is viewed locally as I was the only farang in the audience, but also disturbing that they were all acting like this and lapping up the cheesy bolloxs the Indian speaker was spouting whilst hamming up everything he could . I found myself getting those spine shivers when the embarressment levels get to the red-line. I know you can see it on Thai TV but it was wierd actuall being in the midst of it.

Hmmmmm.........strange environment, I reckon, and can see why many describe it as a scam but there are a fair few who do make money out of it but they are all nuts and probably realistically represent only about 5% of those that attempt to walk this path.

[sandman67]

The local scamorama inverse trapeziod marketing scheme here is KANGSEN who sell over priced makeup and other beauty cack

Last year it seemed half the lasses in the bars were touting this stuff about - now after getting ripped off the company has apparently lost most of its touts.

Theres no telling some people.

[STEVE G]

Some years ago I gave another Westerner a lift to a meeting in Jakarta for an unspecified marketing seminar.
There was a mix of Westerners, Indonesians and Chinese all sat in large meeting hall.
The meeting started and this guy walked onto the stage and flipped over a display board that had the single word 'Amway' on it. The Asians all looked mystified as just about every Westerner in the place stood up and walked out.

[elem]

Single level: the original and oldest form of direct selling, going back more than a hundred years with companies such as Avon. Companies that use it employ area sales managers whose task is to recruit (and train) Consultants, follow up on their progress and support them.

Multi Level or Network Marketing was developed in the 1960s by pioneers such as Amway. The Consultant can opt to earn not only from personal selling but also from recruiting, training and supporting a team of Consultants, in effect doing the job of a sales manager. Earnings come from the sale of all products within the network.
One benefit for the company is that a large share of company cost becomes flexible instead of fixed – but the real advantage is that the 10-15% of all Consultants who are serious about their business have an opportunity for limitless growth without making any other investment than their time. These Consultants are 100%-committed to the success of their own business, which creates very strong, dynamic growth for the company as a whole.
In the last 10 years there has been a general shift in the industry towards MLM and Network Marketing. Today 85% of all companies in the USA have an MLM compensation plan – 10 years ago it was only 20%.
The direct selling industry is growing

Since 1988 the global retail value of direct selling has grown 350% and in 2005 reached over the 100 Billion USD level.
In most markets around the world direct selling grows faster than traditional retail.

[elem]

Pyramid schemes are illegal, fraudulent ways of cheating people out of their money. Do not confuse it with legitimate direct selling.

Pyramid schemes either have no product (e.g. a game), or one or perhaps several products to make them look legitimate.
Earnings come from recruiting rather than from the sale of products.
Pyramid schemes thrives on high joining fees (e.g. $600).
Legitimate direct selling companies belong to the Direct Selling Association (DSA), which imposes a strict code of conduct.
Serious companies should belong to local DSAs as well as to the European Federation of DSAs and the world federation, WFDSA.

[charlesh]

Well in my readings and talks with ex:culties the only way you can make "good money" its to basically bleed and con your friends and neighbours in either sales for things they don't really need or for memberships lower down the pyramid.
With friends like that who needs enemies.
PS some Amway products I bought in the past appeared to be good quality and certainly not a bargain.