'Fess up...if you sell for mlm companies, give us the dirt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll bite. I sell R&F and have been for over two years. I have a decent team under me and sell to many customers. Look, it's true that some of the language and caps used in posts that people copy are very salesy and annoying. I do use FB, but try to make all the posts my own. I've done well and would be considered successful, top 1%. It's a few thousand per month at this point, but growing steadily and I keep track of every penny I put back into the business, I still come out quite a bit on top after all the expenditures. I don't stalk people and I don't talk about it to friends who I know aren't interested since they already know I'm doing it. Products are good. I def. use them myself and that's about it. I also have a full time job so it's a side thing for right now. Can't say I totally disagree with some of the comments here, but there are many people who actually make very real money doing this.

So if you're top 1% you're only making a few thousand?

Yes, but I'm at the bottom of the top sort of speak. People right above me are brining in in the 6 digits/month, consistently. I've reached a decent level and yes, even a low percentage get where I am, but it's really bc most people quit before they start seeing the ROI. If you stick it out, everyone will absolutely be where I am and much higher.

I'm sorry. Am I really supposed to believe you know people effectively making seven figures selling what boils down to department store level face cream (because that's what a year of someone making six figures a month amounts to)? I know an Obagi rep and their stuff is 1. expensive and 2. works and while she has a lovely life, she's nowhere near making that kind of money. I simply don't believe you.

I didn't say 6 figures, I said 6 digits, so yes, many make 10-30K/month. We pay our own taxes as 1099 contractors, so we have to account for that as well. These people have usually been in the business for 2-4 years. There are few that get there in under 2, but very few. You don't have to believe me, I've seen their checks, they share their numbers with us as a motivator.

You have to be careful with this. This may mean the team they have sells at retail this amount of product and they then say "I made $10K last month" but they really didn't net that amount to their own pocket. That's different then what they actually net. Self employment tax takes about 25% right off the top of any earnings as well. Then as an independent corrector there are other costs - health insurance, life insurance, etc - if they don't have these through a spouse. That takes another cut. Top this off with the fact that none of this is really a steady income. I think MLMs are great for someone who needs something to do and wants to make some spare money but I don't believe anyone is making it rich except for the people who founded the MLM.

[Anonymous]

Lack of internet kept all the shady details of MLM in the dark for a really long time.

Selling/recruiting via the internet took MLM to all-time highs.

The easily searchable truth about MLM on the internet will eventually kill it...thank god.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also think they quit because they don't take it seriously from the beginning. They don't treat it like a real business and you have to treat it like a business and grow it as such. I think it's like training for a marathon. It's long and tedious and sometimes very emotionally draining, but at the end, if you stick it out and consistently work at it, the payoff is there.

Because it is not a business. It is an opportunity to become an independent contractor to a business.

To become a business the person has to set up a business themselves - say they form a corporation - and then purchase the products and sell them to customers. They do not need to recruit anyone to get more business they only need to find customers to buy their goods. When you go to CVS, CVS does not try and recruit you to work at CVS in order to get a discount on Neutrogena do they? Of course not, because that's not how a business works.

I agree, yes, that is very true, but I personally treat it as my own business and take it very seriously. I also get a brand name, all of their corporate PR/advertising done for me, website, etc. I should've said a mini-franchise or sorts, but a different model, of course bc of the recruitment factor. I don't mind the recruiting part and the fact that someone recruited me and I will recruit someone else bc that's what creates residual income and I want that and so does my team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Look, clearly you will think what you want and I'm not here to convince you. I just wanted to share my personal experience bc it's been positive and answer real questions people have. BTW, 90% of consultants have full time jobs and do this on the side and some do end up quitting their full time jobs eventually to do this full time bc they are done with corporate world. Pretty much everyone I know is college educated and yes, some are mothers who want to be able to be home with their kids and have their own income or just have something for themselves and others aren't. There are teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, pilots, pretty much every profession you can imagine represented. I know many personally, otherwise, I wouldn't say that. I just hate blanket statements like it's all "desperate housewife middlewomen" because that's just not true. I'm not being defensive bc really I don't care if you believe me, etc. but I want to set the record straight.

Correct, the broken record of denial you'll hear any time you really question an MLM'er for facts and the truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll bite. I sell R&F and have been for over two years. I have a decent team under me and sell to many customers. Look, it's true that some of the language and caps used in posts that people copy are very salesy and annoying. I do use FB, but try to make all the posts my own. I've done well and would be considered successful, top 1%. It's a few thousand per month at this point, but growing steadily and I keep track of every penny I put back into the business, I still come out quite a bit on top after all the expenditures. I don't stalk people and I don't talk about it to friends who I know aren't interested since they already know I'm doing it. Products are good. I def. use them myself and that's about it. I also have a full time job so it's a side thing for right now. Can't say I totally disagree with some of the comments here, but there are many people who actually make very real money doing this.

So if you're top 1% you're only making a few thousand?

Yes, but I'm at the bottom of the top sort of speak. People right above me are brining in in the 6 digits/month, consistently. I've reached a decent level and yes, even a low percentage get where I am, but it's really bc most people quit before they start seeing the ROI. If you stick it out, everyone will absolutely be where I am and much higher.

I'm sorry. Am I really supposed to believe you know people effectively making seven figures selling what boils down to department store level face cream (because that's what a year of someone making six figures a month amounts to)? I know an Obagi rep and their stuff is 1. expensive and 2. works and while she has a lovely life, she's nowhere near making that kind of money. I simply don't believe you.

I didn't say 6 figures, I said 6 digits, so yes, many make 10-30K/month. We pay our own taxes as 1099 contractors, so we have to account for that as well. These people have usually been in the business for 2-4 years. There are few that get there in under 2, but very few. You don't have to believe me, I've seen their checks, they share their numbers with us as a motivator.

You have to be careful with this. This may mean the team they have sells at retail this amount of product and they then say "I made $10K last month" but they really didn't net that amount to their own pocket. That's different then what they actually net. Self employment tax takes about 25% right off the top of any earnings as well. Then as an independent corrector there are other costs - health insurance, life insurance, etc - if they don't have these through a spouse. That takes another cut. Top this off with the fact that none of this is really a steady income. I think MLMs are great for someone who needs something to do and wants to make some spare money but I don't believe anyone is making it rich except for the people who founded the MLM.

Yes, you're absolutely right, but I mean actual net income. The woman who I'm directly under has a total team volume of over 500K every month. She's got almost 1,000 under her and you make a cut off everyone's sales. BC we write everything off dealing with business expenses, taxes haven't been too bad, but yes we are all paying our own taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Look, clearly you will think what you want and I'm not here to convince you. I just wanted to share my personal experience bc it's been positive and answer real questions people have. BTW, 90% of consultants have full time jobs and do this on the side and some do end up quitting their full time jobs eventually to do this full time bc they are done with corporate world. Pretty much everyone I know is college educated and yes, some are mothers who want to be able to be home with their kids and have their own income or just have something for themselves and others aren't. There are teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, pilots, pretty much every profession you can imagine represented. I know many personally, otherwise, I wouldn't say that. I just hate blanket statements like it's all "desperate housewife middlewomen" because that's just not true. I'm not being defensive bc really I don't care if you believe me, etc. but I want to set the record straight.

Correct, the broken record of denial you'll hear any time you really question an MLM'er for facts and the truth.

What did I deny? People are really questioning me here and I'm honestly answering. I don't know what I am denying here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, you're absolutely right, but I mean actual net income. The woman who I'm directly under has a total team volume of over 500K every month. She's got almost 1,000 under her and you make a cut off everyone's sales. BC we write everything off dealing with business expenses, taxes haven't been too bad, but yes we are all paying our own taxes.

Fortunately, the tax on a business loss comes out to zero dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Look, clearly you will think what you want and I'm not here to convince you. I just wanted to share my personal experience bc it's been positive and answer real questions people have. BTW, 90% of consultants have full time jobs and do this on the side and some do end up quitting their full time jobs eventually to do this full time bc they are done with corporate world. Pretty much everyone I know is college educated and yes, some are mothers who want to be able to be home with their kids and have their own income or just have something for themselves and others aren't. There are teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, pilots, pretty much every profession you can imagine represented. I know many personally, otherwise, I wouldn't say that. I just hate blanket statements like it's all "desperate housewife middlewomen" because that's just not true. I'm not being defensive bc really I don't care if you believe me, etc. but I want to set the record straight.

Correct, the broken record of denial you'll hear any time you really question an MLM'er for facts and the truth.

What did I deny? People are really questioning me here and I'm honestly answering. I don't know what I am denying here.

Facts, a link, a paycheck...anything other than words on a screen saying "It's great! A+ Fun times! The best!". But you won't because there aren't any.

And here's the real truth....if I was sitting on a goldmine, I wouldn't tell a soul. Misery loves company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Look, clearly you will think what you want and I'm not here to convince you. I just wanted to share my personal experience bc it's been positive and answer real questions people have. BTW, 90% of consultants have full time jobs and do this on the side and some do end up quitting their full time jobs eventually to do this full time bc they are done with corporate world. Pretty much everyone I know is college educated and yes, some are mothers who want to be able to be home with their kids and have their own income or just have something for themselves and others aren't. There are teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, pilots, pretty much every profession you can imagine represented. I know many personally, otherwise, I wouldn't say that. I just hate blanket statements like it's all "desperate housewife middlewomen" because that's just not true. I'm not being defensive bc really I don't care if you believe me, etc. but I want to set the record straight.

Correct, the broken record of denial you'll hear any time you really question an MLM'er for facts and the truth.

What did I deny? People are really questioning me here and I'm honestly answering. I don't know what I am denying here.

Facts, a link, a paycheck...anything other than words on a screen saying "It's great! A+ Fun times! The best!". But you won't because there aren't any.

And here's the real truth....if I was sitting on a goldmine, I wouldn't tell a soul. Misery loves company.

But who's miserable and if you were why would you spend your time doing this? Why would I keep doing it if it wasn't giving me any ROI? I have a full time job and can be perfectly fine with just that, but I wanted to diversify and do something more fun and it actually turned out to be pretty lucrative. I can send you my paycheck right now. I have no reason to lie whatsoever. I'm not my check on DCUM, lol!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, you're absolutely right, but I mean actual net income. The woman who I'm directly under has a total team volume of over 500K every month. She's got almost 1,000 under her and you make a cut off everyone's sales. BC we write everything off dealing with business expenses, taxes haven't been too bad, but yes we are all paying our own taxes.

Fortunately, the tax on a business loss comes out to zero dollars.

After taxes and everything, I netted $15K last year. My initial $1K investment went a long way, I think.

[Anonymous]

I like some of the Stella and Dot costume jewelry, but it is way too expensive at the parties. I will attend a party, look at the stuff and then I'll buy it for a fraction of the cost on Ebay, Craigslist etc. I even found some pieces for a just a few $$ at a yard sale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: 17:33

Wish there was an intervention show for these people. I'd watch!

Me, too!!! It's a great idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, you're absolutely right, but I mean actual net income. The woman who I'm directly under has a total team volume of over 500K every month. She's got almost 1,000 under her and you make a cut off everyone's sales. BC we write everything off dealing with business expenses, taxes haven't been too bad, but yes we are all paying our own taxes.

Fortunately, the tax on a business loss comes out to zero dollars.

After taxes and everything, I netted $15K last year. My initial $1K investment went a long way, I think.

How much time did it take and how many friends did you lose along the way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I didn't say 6 figures, I said 6 digits, so yes, many make 10-30K/month.

The vast majority of people in MLMs make six digits a month: $00.0000

[Anonymous]

Can someone explain why Proactive (a great product) is sold in stores like Target, but the other R+F products are all sold via pyramid scheme?