Multi-level marketing: work from home. Should I do this?

[GreenPartyVoter]

I am trying to make some moeny from home and I have been checking into a company that is partnered with a pharma company and essentially acts as its marketing firm.

I would have to hand out flyers, call people, or contact them via the internet and enroll people in the program in order to make money. It also appears that I am supposed to buy the company's products myself, though they are tax deductible.

I have been searching google for more info on the companaies and I have seen people who either love them or hate them. Either it's a scam or it's all on the up-and-up.

Anybody ever participated in these things? Was it worth it? Did you make any money worth the headache?

[jrw14125]

1. it's a pyramid scheme, don't do it

[NYCGirl]

2. If you have to buy the products yourself, it doesn't sound legit. NT

[rox63]

3. Run away

These things are often no more than pyramid schemes.

[Botany]

4. no

"......enroll people in the program in order to make money."

ponzi scam

[Avalux]

5. What kind of pharma co?

Pharmaceutical or herbal? If you don't want to give details here, you may PM me. I have some knowledge.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. It's this one: Melaleuca

http://www.melaleuca.com/

[LeftyMom]

16. It's a scam

You can get the same stuff (it's just tee tree oil) at any HFS and many drug stores for much less money.

[Radio_Lady]

20. One of the local merchants at an art store carried these products.

I don't think he is anymore, but it didn't look as if the ones he had were "flying off the shelves" exactly...

I'd stay away from it if I were you.

[RebelOne]

6. Sounds like a scam to me. n/t

[obxhead]

7. Pyramid SCAM especially if...

they require you shell out money before you can make any.

[pitohui]

8. no please don't do it

you don't really get any strangers to sign up for yr mlm scheme, so you end up alienating all yr friends & family, seen it happen many times

[stalphonzo]

9. it is a scam!!!!

99%+ lose money. blackjack in vegas has better odds


lots of good mlm scam info here
http://worldwidescam.com/

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. Neither the product or marketing company showed up there

[stalphonzo]

18. the odds at profiting at craps

the most "fair" casion game compared to mlm

The odds of winning with a roll of snake eyes in a game of craps in Las Vegas*** is—

323 times as great as the odds of profiting from enrolling as an Amway/Quixtar "distributor"
54 times as great as the odds of profiting from enrolling as a Nu Skin "distributor"
25 times as great as the odds of profiting from enrolling as a Melaleuca "distributor"

CONCLUSION: The worst pyramid schemes are product-based, or recruiting MLMs***, such as these three. One can far do better gambling in Las Vegas

[YDogg]

10. If it's anything like M*#y K*y, I'd stay away from it, if ...

... you are required to put up any money on the front side. I think the usual deal with those companies is that very, very few people make any money on this.

[terip64]

11. Look for the name of the CEO and google his name.

It is probably a RWer running it. It's their style.

[mandyky]

13. Think Amway

Unless you have money, like the products and are really good at talking people into joining, don't bother!

[LTR]

15. Good reading here

http://www.ripoffreport.com/results.asp?q1=ALL&q5=melaleuca&submit2=Search%21&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0

[stalphonzo]

17. quote form a vey good website on mlm

A “recruiting MLM” is a multi-level (or network) marketing system that depends upon recruitment of new distributors to replace a continuously collapsing base of new participants in a pyramid of recruits. As such, it constitutes an endless chain scheme of marketing by recruitment of distributors as primary customers. It is a pseudo-business with no significant customer base and is dependent on a large network of distributors, approximately 99% of whom lose money from investing in products and services (including “success tools”) offered by the sponsoring MLM company. The extremely high loss rate and aggregate losses make recruiting MLM’s, or product-based pyramid schemes, the worst of all types of pyramid schemes.

Thus, recruiting MLM’s are inherently flawed systems that promise ongoing residual income, but deliver very little except financial loss at the least, and loss of treasured relationships and values of honesty and integrity at the worst. They maintain themselves by continuous recruitment of new recruits, as investing participants give up or run out of funds and leave the system, seldom understanding what happened to them – even blaming themselves for their “failure.” Victims of MLM programs are seldom aware enough to file complaints with authorities, so law enforcement rarely takes action.

So – to be successful in a recruiting MLM, one must first be deceived, then maintain a high level of self-deception, and finally go about deceiving others. Some would label this "theft by deception," except that few of those doing the deceiving are aware that they are deceiving and defrauding those they are recruiting. They may even put on a display of being "successful" by buying expensive cars and homes and inviting others to be like them.

http://www.mlm-thetruth.com/

I was involved in one several years ago and know first hand that they are a ripoff. overpriced items you could buy for less elesewhere or items of dubious use and effectiveness

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. Thanks. The red flags page on this company does it for me. No way will I

get involved in something like this. I don't have the time to waste or the money to lose.

http://www.mlm-thetruth.com/melaleuca.htm

[graywarrior]

19. Not all are pymarid schemes

I've been using a product from Tahiti for 5 years now. It's MLM. I can't live without the stuff now. But I don't push it on anyone. I don't care if people don't want it.
But to make money with MLM's you have to work it like your own business and that means 60 to 80 hours a week. And, look for people who are only interested in the business part of it. Selling the product to make money SUCKS!

[Innoma]

22. Just Say No

MLM schemes are a horrible idea. I can't tell you how many friends I've had who got stars in their eyes after going to meetings where they came out convinced that early retirement was just around the corner. Naturally, in their enthusiasm they try to drag everyone they know into as well, so I've been to more than a few of these things - always an appalling, depressing experience, to say the least. And if you express any misgivings, they are aghast: "What's wrong with you? Don't you look forward to financial independence?" My reply has always been, "If you can prove the programs worth by attaining success, I'll follow, but not until then."

Most of them stuck it out 1-2 years with nothing to show for it but a lot of time and effort lost. 1 couple stuck around for 5 or 6 years, gung-ho, pulled out all the stops, and afterward sheepishly admitted it was a complete bust.

Maybe this kinda things works for some people, but I've certainly never witnessed it.

[graywarrior]

23. Just don't fall for the rah rah shit.

Stay away from AMWAY. If you sign up, don't go to the stupid seminars. Don't take it serious. Don't make a list of all your friends and call them with an exciting opportunity.