Here's a new one. On my flight from DCA to Chicago, the woman next to me tried giving me her doTerra sales pitch! It started off friendly- she asked me if I was from DC, what I was visiting Chicago for, explained that she was in DC touring colleges with her son, la la la. Then, somehow the conversation shifted and BAM! The next thing I know she's handing me a business card, telling me how essential oils are so much better than that "chemical-ee" (her word) junk, and I'd feel SO much better "about it all" if I tried the essential oils. She ended with a friendly, "I'm always available at this number if you have questions," and all I could think about was coming back to report to DCUM. So, if you're reading this, Essential Oils Lady in row 15 on Delta yesterday, congratulations on your infamy.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have any dirt on Primerica?

YES, please. My childhood friend is currently sinking money into getting trained on this BS. I can't wait until her fb is full of offers to evaluate my life insurance needs or whatever. But the people who recruited her are making six figures a year, she says excitedly! Ugggggggh.

By the way, this is pp above, I actually don't mind the ones like Stella and Dot (at least it's cute jewelry, sometimes) or Pampered Chef - I bought a few things from a friend who sold that. But many of them are total schemes without a good product.

Ugh, my friend who used to lament the R+F sellers just signed up as a "distributor" for Advicare. How much is this going to suck?

I have a family member who was into network marketing. From what I saw, they get brainwashed ... A few at the top of the scheme do make money but it is next to impossible for the people lower down in the totem pole to make much. In these companies you make the most by signing people under you not by actual selling the product.

Thanks for posting that PP, makes me really want to go to shop at the MAC or EL counter now. I never knew that!

I just wanted to make a quick comment on "counter girls" at makeup counters vs. the RF Lady MLM. When I first moved here, I worked for Estee Lauder at Hecht's. I had worked as a makeup artist through my college training, which was theater. In the five years that I worked for them (started f/t then switched to p/t when I got a job in my field), they paid for countless trainings on products and skincare and makeup techniques, they paid for my licensure as a makeup artist (this is back when DC and MD required that - they don't anymore except for permanent makeup/tattoo), they gave me around $900 of free products per year to make sure that I used and knew the products, and they had contests and incentives for superior sales and service - I won a handbag and airline tickets one year, and cash bonus when our store won counter of the year for sales. I also had the opportunity to advance from sales to counter trainer to counter manager, and when I moved on to my chosen field they still had me on part time to work promotions as a makeup artist. And all the while they paid a solid hourly wage plus commission, and I got health insurance and vacation benefits. And they never charged me for product, or to set up my "business". They were a great company to work for, and they stood behind their products.

I'm posting this because there was an earlier comment to the effect of "I probably know more than a MAC counter girl", and it really rubbed me the wrong way. A number of very famous makeup artists got their start at MAC counters, and MAC and EL train their staffers very well. A friend of mine was selling Mary Kay, and I was surprised when she had me apply all the products on my skin myself, as they are trained not to touch the person - to avoid licensing legality issues. So you invite people over for a "pampering party", and they end up putting their own facials and creams on because you don't have the training to do so or want to avoid the licensing in your state?

Go to your local Sephora or Ulta and talk with one of their line specialists (BeneFit, Anastasia, Lorac, etc.) I bet you they will know their products inside out, as well as show you how to apply them and new tips and tricks. Same for the big counters at Nordstroms or what have you. The R+F "I know these products because I use them" argument is the case for any over the counter company. And you walk up to the counter or makeup chair to start your purchase, vs. being pressured by a friend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a lady who was one of the top ten sellers for Stella & Dot a few years ago. This woman is gorgeous, bubby, worked her ass off, did parties every weekend, knew tons of people, etc. Definitely one of the few who you'd expect would be making the big bucks, and her FB statuses also gave that impression. She quit abruptly because apparently S&D changed the commission structure and screwed a lot of people at the top, including her. Another of my friends was considering signing up, so I asked the former rep what she thought about it. Former rep told me flat-out that no matter how hard you work at S&D, you will NEVER make more than $2-$3k per month. It's just not possible, given the commission structure and the amount of jewelry the reps have to buy, etc. Plus, the amount of hours she was putting in were absolutely insane. She probably did 2-3 shows every weekend, which is way more than most reps would ever be able to book. I don't know about anyone else, but if I needed an extra $2-3k per month, I'd work at Starbucks or something before I'd go into MLM, but whatever. I have no idea how much she netted overall, but I'm guessing it wasn't a particularly impressive figure.

There's no way you can make $2-3k per month at Starbucks, even if you worked there full-time.

This is my income at my full time, professional job.

Anonymous wrote: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.

My mother sells Tastefully Simple and has for 16 years now. She worked a corporate job for 13 years prior to selling and overlapped the last two years. She happened to be in the right place at the right time and built a team in the hundreds and was at the very top for many years. She's still in the top leader category, but the business overall isn't doing as well so her salary is more on par with what it was a few years ago. In the hayday though, she was making six figures and is still pretty close.

If you are passionate about the product, you can make it work. And for most people, sometimes all they want is a discount on the product and an extra $500 a year is a lot to some people.

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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.

I can't even. Who counts the digits after the period when bragging about how much money you're making. "Six digits" ya'll. That's why people are getting scammed. Because the MLM are "promising" things they can't deliver on.

How is that not accurate? It is 6 digits, what did you want me to call it? That's how many digits there are. And no one tells you that you will 100% make that kind of money, but it's possible and many people in the company do just that. I never ever promise anything bc how are you supposed to know how much that person will want to work? how motivated they will be, etc.? Most people want to get the product discount and make extra couple of hundred bucks a month and that's fine, but some really make it a career money making business. You get in not expecting much and sometimes it becomes much more than you thought. I'm just sharing my experience. It's the truth and I'm trying to be nice and explain, but you seem to just want to insult me, which is ok I guess. I'm not bothered by it.

It's just not how normal people phrase things. They'd say four figures, not six digits. Six digits sounds like you're trying to be literally truthful, but misleading.

Sorry, I posted this before reading the whole thread (procrastinating at work!). I didn't mean to pile on.

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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.

I can't even. Who counts the digits after the period when bragging about how much money you're making. "Six digits" ya'll. That's why people are getting scammed. Because the MLM are "promising" things they can't deliver on.

How is that not accurate? It is 6 digits, what did you want me to call it? That's how many digits there are. And no one tells you that you will 100% make that kind of money, but it's possible and many people in the company do just that. I never ever promise anything bc how are you supposed to know how much that person will want to work? how motivated they will be, etc.? Most people want to get the product discount and make extra couple of hundred bucks a month and that's fine, but some really make it a career money making business. You get in not expecting much and sometimes it becomes much more than you thought. I'm just sharing my experience. It's the truth and I'm trying to be nice and explain, but you seem to just want to insult me, which is ok I guess. I'm not bothered by it.

It's just not how normal people phrase things. They'd say four figures, not six digits. Six digits sounds like you're trying to be literally truthful, but misleading.

LOL at the Office pic.

Anyone have dirt on Thrive Le-vel? Vitamins and shake.

Anonymous wrote:

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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!

Yep.

On neighbor kid got me. But I do love that pizza cutter.

My parents are the only people who bought Cutco knives from my brother when he sold them as a high schooler nearly 20 years ago...but they're still using some of those knives!

Mine, too - except I'm the one who sold them for a summer in college. 20-something years ago. Parents are still using them. Good knives!

RF lady seems really busy at work during the day, taking the time to respond individually to all these posts,