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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cutco is the worst of all. Being the mom of a recent highschool grad, all my sons friends are selling cutco. It is such a scam on these poor kids and their parents' friends!

Cutco is direct sales. This thread is about MLMs. If there's not a pyramid scheme involved, it's not an MLM. Cutco is basically just a door-to-door sales job for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine is filled with the Stella and Dot "hoopla" in Las Vegas.

Mine also! The best part is all of the women saying things about how awesome their job is and look how much fun I'm having at work.

Be honest. Are you being paid to attend this or did you pay them to attend and pay your own way for tickets and meals? Because if the later is the case then you're being duped big time. Or you're not being honest.

I am a very successful real estate agent and other companies and agents try to recruit me. Last week I had a settlement with an agent who works for an MLM and the agent begged me to have coffee with her. The purpose of course was a pitch to join her 11 agent team. After a minute if drilling down, she confessed that her 11 agent team did about the same amount of business as I did last year as a sole agent.

The top agent recruited the first level of 2 agents and the other agents recruited others. Each if the agents takes a cut of the earnings of the agent below her. This agent told me she was on the third level. Last year she made about $20,000 from agents she recruited. After cuts and referral fees were taken from the commissions she earned, she made about $85,000. As an example, we closed on an $850,000 house and the commission to her company was $25,500. She went through the math with me. After her company took its 10% split, the team leader took her split (agent would not say how much) and she paid the person who recruited her, she would receive about $7,800.

Obviously if you st up one of these teams MLM and can persuade people that they need you money is easy to make at the too. But the ,owner level people are better on their own.

I do know that I was forced to go to a Stella/dot party and bought the least tacky necklace I could find for $150. I saw a very similar necklace at an overpriced boutique for $95. It depends on what the markup is between what the Stella/dot person pays for the necklace and what portion they have to give along the MLM ladder. IMHO it can't be much as it is small dollars

This is KW, right?

[Anonymous]

Ten years ago I went to a "party" like this in the seller's home, except it was for sex toys. Sex swings, dildos, and oh the vibrators! It was sweet and the sort of girl bonding event that I am terrible at, and I tried, but then the lady next to me whipped out her boob to demonstrate something and her nipples were hairy and I kind of gave up.

Still, probably a better and more educational wares party than overpriced necklaces and rick rack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Id really like to see someone's paycheck. I know they aren't allowed to show them in real life but maybe someone could do it annonymously

Wait a sec, they're not allowed to show their paychecks? WTF? Why not?!

I have a Facebook acquaintance who is a "double diamond" for it works! And she posts "I'm not allowed to show you my paycheck.... But I am making an average of 6,000 each month! My husband thinks perhaps she/"her team" is selling that much in products each month - so yes - it is passing through her account, but after purchasing the products etc she is only left with about $500. That is just speculation, but it made sense to me...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine is filled with the Stella and Dot "hoopla" in Las Vegas.

Mine also! The best part is all of the women saying things about how awesome their job is and look how much fun I'm having at work.

Be honest. Are you being paid to attend this or did you pay them to attend and pay your own way for tickets and meals? Because if the later is the case then you're being duped big time. Or you're not being honest.

I am a very successful real estate agent and other companies and agents try to recruit me. Last week I had a settlement with an agent who works for an MLM and the agent begged me to have coffee with her. The purpose of course was a pitch to join her 11 agent team. After a minute if drilling down, she confessed that her 11 agent team did about the same amount of business as I did last year as a sole agent.

The top agent recruited the first level of 2 agents and the other agents recruited others. Each if the agents takes a cut of the earnings of the agent below her. This agent told me she was on the third level. Last year she made about $20,000 from agents she recruited. After cuts and referral fees were taken from the commissions she earned, she made about $85,000. As an example, we closed on an $850,000 house and the commission to her company was $25,500. She went through the math with me. After her company took its 10% split, the team leader took her split (agent would not say how much) and she paid the person who recruited her, she would receive about $7,800.

Obviously if you st up one of these teams MLM and can persuade people that they need you money is easy to make at the too. But the ,owner level people are better on their own.

I do know that I was forced to go to a Stella/dot party and bought the least tacky necklace I could find for $150. I saw a very similar necklace at an overpriced boutique for $95. It depends on what the markup is between what the Stella/dot person pays for the necklace and what portion they have to give along the MLM ladder. IMHO it can't be much as it is small dollars

This is KW, right?

Yes. Plus they put this BS at the bottom of each email about how they contribute a portion of each sale to a children's charity. To me that is the most manipu,active thing this agent did. Even if they do. The point of charity is not to brag about it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd love this thread if we got real answers, but I think the MLM people are either too much in denial or too embarrassed.

Agreed. I'd love a real answer, but we'll never get one. Bits and pieces come out - the numbers include stuff they have to buy back, the cars are leased and they're responsible, etc. but I admit I'm curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love this thread if we got real answers, but I think the MLM people are either too much in denial or too embarrassed.

Agreed. I'd love a real answer, but we'll never get one. Bits and pieces come out - the numbers include stuff they have to buy back, the cars are leased and they're responsible, etc. but I admit I'm curious.

It's like a cult. No one will admit anything while they're still "in." We need to find an escapee!

[Anonymous]

I've never sold, but I've (sadly) been involved in producing sales manuals for MLMs (some you know, some never took off) through my company. The manuals are all based on the same information -- "no" really means "tell me more," etc. Same "creative ideas" of who to prospect next, how much time to set aside each week for making calls, how to change your outgoing VM message, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love this thread if we got real answers, but I think the MLM people are either too much in denial or too embarrassed.

Agreed. I'd love a real answer, but we'll never get one. Bits and pieces come out - the numbers include stuff they have to buy back, the cars are leased and they're responsible, etc. but I admit I'm curious.

It's like a cult. No one will admit anything while they're still "in." We need to find an escapee!

There have to be some out there. Wondering who's paying the R+F attorneys? I know a formerly completely normal girl (initials JZ if anyone knows her) who's gone off the deep end with this stuff. It's kind of scary, actually..

[Anonymous]

I wonder if they have very strict NDAs which could explain while people aren't talking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I used to sell Tupperware. I'd dress up in 50s dress and do the whole schtick at parties. I can tell you that I sincerely loved Tupperware! I could see the ridiculous aspect of it, but there was also something sweet and optimistic about this roomful of women oohing and ahhhing about the latest food-storing innovation.

I made a little bit of money, but mostly I had fun. I don't have much Tupperware anymore, but no regrets!

I love your idea of dressing up as the fiftie's style wife PP.

I grew up with my mom having Tupperware parties and they used to be so much fun. I loved the games, food and just the camaraderie in our home. And my mom loved getting free gifts.

I heard now everyone uses Rubbermade so Tupperware is outdated.

But...Does Rubbermaid make the "Pop a Lot...??" Didn't think so.

[Anonymous]

I signed up to sell Wildtree earlier this year. I really do like most of the products and knowing they're (mostly) organic and GMO free is an emotional motivator to buy the stuff. I mean, you only want the best for your family, right? I think there is a lot of benefit in Wildtree for someone with gluten sensitivity as a large portion of products are GF and prices are comparable to what you find in the store, without having to go digging through the store.

My "upline" is very upbeat, she likes weekly check ins (which I've been dodging for a while now) and the entire organization up to a certain director level (or something, I'm not clear on the heirarchy) has a weekly call to discuss a variety of things; new products, sales strategies, overcoming objections, blah blah blah. I've been a very slow starter because I just don't like to push anything on my friends. If I love a product, I will sing it's praises until the cows come home, but I'm not going to go for the tough sell. That's not my style and never will be. My launch party was great, I like the freezer meal workshops, although the Wildtree workshops have a significant amount of prep that seems to be an obstacle for several people. I will say it has helped me quite a bit with meal planning, but you get out of it what you put in. As far as income, I've probably made $1000 since I started, but I've put little time in to it. I've met my minimum sales requirement so if I don't have another party for a year, I'm good. It was about $60 to start and I probably spent another $100 on office supplies. Of course you can itemize all of this as an expense.

As far as the conference, I didn't go because I didn't want to spend the money. If you recruit enough, have enough parties, sell enough, you can earn points to cover your registration fee. I'm not sure if it helps with hotel or travel, but those items are certainly itemized as business expenses. I suspect the conferences, like with any other MLM, is a giant pep rally and all about pushing the Kool Aid that is (insert company name here.) The energy is likely contagious and everyone comes home all jazzed up to sell more _______.

That's my MLM story. Now, who's ready to do some meal planning and eat simple. healthy. natural. meals with Wildtree!

FWIW, I had a couple Lia Sophia parties a a few years back and all that shit is falling apart now. I would be majorly pissed off if I paid full price for that stuff. I also have some Tupperware, from a party last year, which I love. If you really want a rep, just go to the website and search your area. It's usually not a requirement to have a party to order anything, but the host scores freebies for having the party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I used to sell Tupperware. I'd dress up in 50s dress and do the whole schtick at parties. I can tell you that I sincerely loved Tupperware! I could see the ridiculous aspect of it, but there was also something sweet and optimistic about this roomful of women oohing and ahhhing about the latest food-storing innovation.

I made a little bit of money, but mostly I had fun. I don't have much Tupperware anymore, but no regrets!

I love your idea of dressing up as the fiftie's style wife PP.

I grew up with my mom having Tupperware parties and they used to be so much fun. I loved the games, food and just the camaraderie in our home. And my mom loved getting free gifts.

I heard now everyone uses Rubbermade so Tupperware is outdated.

But...Does Rubbermaid make the "Pop a Lot...??" Didn't think so.

Wildtree PP here I totally dressed up in 50's gear for my Tupperware party last year! I also have Rubbermaid in the house and it kinda sucks, but it's good for like a packed lunch or leftovers. The seals don't stay as tight over the years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But how much does she have to spend to "earn" that six figure income?

I'm in PA (just bought a house in DC- moving soon) but there is no product- it's getting people to switch their energy away from PECO to their lower cost energy or something- cheaper rates when they deregulated the state or something. I don't know. But I know it's her full time job and she's done well.

.

Different kind of "scam". After a few months the customers will get exorbitant bills once the teaser rates expire.

[Anonymous]

I once sold Tastefully Simple.

I liked most if the food but it was pricey for what it is.

I did not "work" my business which means I had a couple parties, delivered the products, and sent a couple follow up emails but did little else. The person who recruited me got a job out of state, moved , and decided to drop out herself. I did too a month or so later.

I may have made $50 in a year. The cost of supplies was crazy - everything from little tasting cups to little party bags you were supposed to hand out to party guests. The time commitment was also way higher than I anticipated. Each party took at least 3 hours of prep, the party took @3 hours. I never met one person who was selling who was making anything even close to a part time salary.

I still like their stuff and do buy it on occasion.