...would you join?

Philippines
May 1, 2012 10:41pm CST
for the nth time, somebody invited to a MLM (multi-level marketing) business opportunity. I was forced to sit and listen to product orientation of practically every kind and listen again to a '4 ways' of earning. Aside from that, the people in front of me are constantly telling me that I will be a complete idiot if I didn't join - I will lose the opportunity to on a car, house and lot and travel perks. I won't have the opportunity to travel abroad or to afford luxury cars or gadgets. They even told me that getting an education is a complete waste of time. Why study if you can hundreds thousand bucks in this business? Personally, I have nothing against these people, we all have our ways to earn money and survive in this world. But would you join the group if they keep calling you like an idiot if you don't join? That it is stupid to doubt if it really works? There was even this guy who told me to sell anything just to get eh start-up money or if I can't do that, steal from my parents. even my friend kept asking when I can give the money. I cannot believe what I am hearing. what experience do you have with these kind of marketers? I know they mean well (or I am assuming so) but maybe I been too biased because I felt insulted from the very beginning. Personally, I don't like being called an idiot or being constantly asked for money.
1 person likes this
9 responses
@coldnpale (555)
• Greece
2 May 12
I have actually joined a particular mlm company, just because I like using a couple of products. I really don't like mlm as a job, as all they do is talk about it every time they get the chance to meet someone new, or someone that they know already but hasn't yet joined their company. They have a "secret-cult" attitude, praising the people who are making a lot of money out of mlm like gods, and always pretendeing to laugh with their jokes and trying to persuade you to join their . And for god's sake education IS important. An educated persons life, even if he's not making money out of his education, is always of a higher level. Able to see life from a different perspective.
• Philippines
2 May 12
Well, that really turned me off because I always have a high regard for education and for learning. my parents always told me that it is the only thing that they can give me without an expiration date. money can come and go but I can always survive with what I know and what i can do with it. I also like the products, even though they are pretty much expensive. Also, they are effective sure but I don't really think I can convince anyone (especially with a budget) to forego it and buy beauty products. I mean, I know some females who are really vain and conscious about their looks but I don't think they will really starve themselves just for products. Also, I notice that it's the big time earners who always speak. I haven't heard anyone who is you know, starting out. I tihnk I can relate more to that person than a man who has already Eben in eh game for a lot of time. May I ask if you are still active in MLM?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 May 12
I also thought of that, being a member but not really selling or recruiting. but the one who referred em to the company will ask question why I haven't generated anything (either in product or in people). I don't like being nagged for doing what i want (that is use the product and keep eh results to myself. But people will say that won;t make em rich or anything. However, it can be argued that I wanted the products to make a healthier choices in life - which they still press the nature of the business - to make money. Ultimately, it is really good that these products are available even though they fetch quite a sum but I think I can be content that I am using them for my need rather than coerce people into going into the business if they don't want it.
• Greece
2 May 12
I am still part of that specific mlm company, however the only thing I do is use 2 specific products that I like. I don't talk to anyone about it, and I don't plan of using it to make any money at all, since I don't like talking to other people, trying to convince them about the quality of the products and the potential to make money etc. :)
@allknowing (135823)
• India
2 May 12
I was a distributor for an mlm company. I realised that as long as your down lines do not perform there is nothing much you can do. I stayed there for a while but realised that it is a lot of hard work - organising meetings, talking, trying to get business. I don't do it any more.
• Bangalore, India
2 May 12
I have experienced MLM marketing when I was in third year of my Engineering degree.it was product for engineering students and it has goo chances of earning.I have earned three checks also but this type of business totally depends upon your downline.You can not build whole downline on your own.it requires very much strength of pursuing peoples and understanding their nature.Though it has lots of opportunities and it may be a good source of earning to you it requires lots of efforts.
@allknowing (135823)
• India
2 May 12
It is a pyramid structure and only if the base is strong that one can expect success.
• Philippines
2 May 12
@ allknowing. Well, I don't know if I can recruit any downlines in the first place. i have a very small network and many of friends are already in this business. I think thy are trying to recruit me in hopes that i will recruit more members. The organizers keeps telling me that it is passive money, but I think that only happens if you have many recruits and they work hard in the business. @sachinkulale. yes, it does depends mostly on the people that you can recruit. However, I'm not good at that thing. Also, i found the people who speak (the guys who earn millions) as kinda arrogant. I mean, I feel like a beggar on the street the way they tell the mounts of money they receive.
@jazel_juan (15746)
• Philippines
3 May 12
I used to be in an MLM ..well i still am but i stopped inviting and all.. i got tired honestly. It was not just me. I got tired of with all the 'learning" they want to teach which i could say are annoying. They were saying those things to you as part of what they should say.. i got tired and could never get myself to say those to someone and could not promise something i later on could not fulfill.
• Philippines
7 May 12
Who knew? the people who invited me told me that it was a very good experience and I have nothing to be worried about. But really, I kinda didn't believe them because it kinda only looks too good at the beginning. I know that you still need perseverance in this type of business because there is the selling and recruitment part. But some people don't think of the legwork and some even chastise em for bringing it up because it somehow ruins the image of the business (but it is true). I understand why they did that but somehow I don't believe in exaggerating details or excluding some just to get followers.
• Mexico
3 May 12
Hi jeanney vonne: Oh dear, I can hardly imagine a situation like this. How disrespectful they were to you. I won't accept an offer from them either because i would feel attacked after hearing a speech like that. I think it's too good to be truth and it must be this way. I have read a little about MLM and it's not as good as described. I am not good at selling things so I think it's not the type of business model for me. ALVARO
• Philippines
7 May 12
yeah, I am not going to be a good or a competitive sales person or a business woman. majority of the people that I asked said the same thing in different terms - some are very curt while others really took tine to elaborate the matter to me (for which I am very grateful). I guess it just a good opportunity for the right kind of people - which turns out I'm not part of those people. Anyway, I think that it is really not the right thing for me too.
@momof3kids (1894)
• Singapore
2 May 12
Frankly I think they are the idiots. They do not know first thing on marketing, which is not to insult your prospect. Every business has to start slow. In my opinion those who are young entrepreneurs get by on their parents cash or that they are brilliant like Bill Gates (does he have rich parents, I dunno tho). Other than that all successful businesses has only people who works hard and work long hours and long years. People who pester you are those who wants to get rich fast. Stay on your ground and find something that suits you instead. Next time someone asks you to join something like this, why dont you make up something and pester them with your "business" instead? But to be on the safe side, find something first..lol
• Singapore
3 May 12
Once i saw Suze Orman on Oprah. She advises that we have only ourselves to trust and that we can find out about financial issues on our own. I suggest that after finding out yourself, check with several experts on the matter, just to see if what you have is correct. Suze says the financial adviser is also like a salesperson, trying to profit his/her own pocket. Glad you like my idea to 'counter attack' your persistent mlm-ers. I want to try it too but I havent found a 'victim' yet. *evil laugh*
• Philippines
2 May 12
Well, I did feel that it's their message - join us or be poor. And you're gonna be poor forever. The person who invited me kinda discourage me in opening a business. she said that the there was a lot more capital in the business that I am thinking about compared to the amount of money that I can invest in the MLM business. I am thinking of investing in my cousin's bank which deals with stocks. Currently, I am reading research on the stuff. I am kinda slow when it comes to finance. I love the idea. I am amazed that I haven;t thought of that. I might just try that.
• Philippines
2 May 12
I've been invited to join an MLM for like more than 10 times already and I still couldn't join even if I want to because I don't have enough trust. I trust my friends who wants me to join but I don't trust myself that I can recruit other people because I was not born to be like a saleswoman. I am not good in convincing people. They're actually suggesting that you steal from your parents? That's unacceptable. In the many times that I've been invited to join this type of business, I have never been insulted. Yes, I hear words too like we don't get rich in studying and I can see the point in that but they don't have reasons to insult you and suggest that you steal from the parents.
• Philippines
2 May 12
trust is a really big and important issue. I mean, you got there because you trusted your friend that this might be a good opportunity. if this didn't work out, your relationship with your friend might suffer. Like you, I am no saleswoman. I am the girl who buys the products but can't recruit. Yes, they did...along with other suggestions to get the money. Paw this or that. Or beg from your friends. Or even convince others to give you money then recruit them. I was exclusion other suggestions they have because personally, it was ridiculous. The moment that they said that I should steal made me sick to my stomach.
1 person likes this
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
2 May 12
i dont think that i want to join MLM program now.. sometimes i think their approach is not good how come they can recruit somebody else without payment proof?? i can say many people can be their referral if they show their payment proof
• Philippines
2 May 12
I was thinking of joining but somebody did advice me to research first before jumping in. However, the one who invited me will gonna nag into joining. I d think they recruit by doing excellent sales talk and of course, serious persuasion. I thought that a member is gonna eat me alive if I don't join.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
2 May 12
Calling one an idiot is not a good way of convincing prospective down line in a MLM business orientation. I think such a word is too harsh to say to a prospective downline in a product orientation. Anyway , I guess their speaker would say everything and promising anything just to lure prospective applicants. Maybe there are some who would made it big in that kind of business but not all.So I think the person's determination and dedication is the key not in what encouragement and bonuses they are promising.
• Philippines
2 May 12
well, I guess if you are in sales, you'll say anything just to get the end result. As others have said, there is really hard work in this business but the speakers make it look easy and they say that the people in the business support each other. I did some research and some contradict this statement. Which chi kinda confused me too. there are many people who claim that they did got rich 9temproauirly or in permanent status) and some doesn't validate the claim. But I guess it is a case to case basis.
@yel812 (174)
2 May 12
I've experienced that before, they also told me to be a thief and stole anything from our house, they even ask me to burrow money from other people just to join their business, they told me a lot of sh!^ too. I didn't join them because of what they said. I mean, their words obviously came from a man who is so desperate to recruit someone just so they can get money, I have heard a lot of stories about how other people lost money and didn't got any in return because of this. My father said that you can get a lot of money here if you're a pioneer, but if I were you I will never join this kind of scheme.
• Philippines
2 May 12
I completely agree with your father because that's what otehr people who got involved say too. If you join early and recruit many members under you, you might see some of the benefits and experience that the speakers are saying. currently, I am convinced not to join and put my money elsewhere - sortieing stable, perhaps traditional but it is a tried and tested formula. and at least, I won't be told or steal just to start up a capital.