8
Are you excited 🥰 to join my business 💵 opportunity and make 6 figures 💸 working from your phone 📲📱? Made possible with @reddit2telegram (@r_channels). Not affiliated with r/AntiMLM. Admin: @thegreatporg
Preying on job seekers
Hi everyone. Quick little tale for you all today. I’m currently job hunting after being made redundant at the end of last year. It has been difficult. I’m applying to a lot so I’m getting a few interviews.
One such interview request comes through and something felt off. I couldn’t find the exact job title in my list of applied to and the invite said the next steps were an online meeting to “review the role, the company, training and next steps”. Because I’m that kind of paranoid, I try to see what company it is, but only find dead ends as the email is one for a meeting system. In any case, I accept the invite. The day comes and I get a reminder and more info.
It’s for a thing called “travel by Tilly”, which is apparently a shell for Archer travel. Not heard of either, but the wording from the emails made me add mlm to the end of search and whaddaya know. That’s what it is. So I didn’t go to the sales pitch. Either way, a little warning for fellow job seekers, always double check and do a little digging if the wording is a little off.
https://redd.it/1sn25ot
@antimlms
Had to blow off some steam
I was shopping for my wife's birthday at Walmart after work. I'm trying to surprise her. Ngl, today was a stressful day at work. So many meetings and work that needs to be done. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy and I enjoy it. But that stress needs to go somewhere.
As I'm shopping for some candles, some dude that's dressed in business attire tells me, "Hey, you look sharp". I was planning to blow off some steam by working out after the store, but fuck it. I immediately asked him if he was in a pyramid scheme. He said he wasn't. He asked for my occupation. I tell him. I ask him for his. "Financial Services", he says. So I respond with, "So you're with Primerica", and he says yes. I immediately go off and call it a scam, how they are involved in so many lawsuits, how they ruin people's lives, how hes a contractor and not a business owner, etc. He just responds with, "Wow you know my business more than I do!". Yeah, no shit. Then I tell him he's not supposed to he soliciting at Walmart and tell him I'll go get someone. He says do it, so I do. But then he disappears after telling him to fuck off. He finishes with, "Glad I was your therapist, I'll send you my invoice". Lol he wishes he could actually get paid. Dude apparently was an RVP. RVP's prospecting at Walmart? OK buddy. Tries to call me a Karen but idgaf.
These people need to be stopped. I know many people who lost money to Primerica. I know all of their bullshit excuses as to why people don't make it. Maybe I could've handled it better but nah fuck him. He got me in a bad day. I tried searching for him in Walmart to see if he was trying to prospect anyone else but didn't find him. I guess he left. Good. Fuck that guy.
https://redd.it/1smn1z7
@antimlms
Long time lurker - first time post
https://redd.it/1smh8y6
@antimlms
rest of the conversation, so I don't sound too redundant. I'll refer to her as R.
R: "What time is she off? I could come by later."
Me: "Oh, she works until 8:00 tonight."
R: "She works till 8:00 pm? That's pretty late."
Me: "Well, we try to structure our schedules to fit our clients."
R: "Hmm. Okay, well, I definitely won't be around that long today. What about the other stylists? When are they in tomorrow?"
*I had previously mentioned that the other two would not be in today*
Me: "Oh, I don't have access to their schedules. I only handle the owners."
*I do take this as an opportunity to text the owner NOT TO COME INTO THE SALON if she was nearby. She had an appointment booked about five minutes from then. I scared the crap out of her, but I kept quickly texting her not to enter the building. I did not have time to explain, just knew it would start a whole thing if she came through the door. And, boy, am I thankful I remembered to grab my phone.*
I fully saw her clock my lie. I was about to tell her that, unless she would like to book an appointment for hair, we had a policy about giving out their work schedules regardless. Luckily, I didn't need to. She did ask their names, which I gave, because honestly, if she looked the salon up on Facebook, she could clearly find them. She asked for a business card, and I told her we didn't have any. Which is true. I told her the exact reason, and I'll share it just for fun with you all.
We have a male client who is in love with one of our stylists and would come in multiple times a week to get an appointment card. Because our old cards had our pictures on them. We threw those away and just write on blank cards now.
But that's also the reason we are all apprehensive about sharing schedules outside of booking appointments in general. I just didn't want her to come back. Worried she will. After she left, I explained to the owner, we laughed, and everything is fine. But I did immediately jump on this sub and look up Global Life. I knew it in my bones it was an MLM situation, but I just needed to confirm. I did text the other two stylists about what had happened and let them know that if she comes back when I am in the building, I will handle it. I plan to let her know that I looked into Global Life, and we are not interested.
To wrap it up, though, she had it all down pat. The confidence, the questions, the perseverance. I honestly feel so dumb that it didn't register that something was off right away. I chalk that up to the fact that we do have a couple cooky clients, and sometimes I have to ham it up. I'm hoping she doesn't come back, but I'm prepared this time. I am a little disappointed in myself because I'm usually so good at handling tense situations at work so well!
TLDR; not once but twice I've been suckered into an MLM presentation and could not get out of it.
edit: just wanted to add another fun story. We have another client who does Plexus. She had an appointment last week, and the next day texted me to ask what level the toner was that the stylist had used. Because her "company" was getting her clip-in extensions for their "branding trip". My boss and I were cackling, theorizing that there will probably be a post about how Plexus has worked wonders for her hair.
https://redd.it/1sljgvk
@antimlms
My Instincts Failed Me Today
Just to get this started, this is an old story, and a new story. The old story happened about 9 years ago; the new story happened about fifteen minutes ago. This is also going to be lengthy. I think I just need to get this out. I'm incredibly long-winded.
When I was in college, I worked at a bank that placed customer service above all else. We were basically famous for it amongst the branches. Customers even knew if they wanted a rule bent or broken, we were the branch to visit. Nothing illegal, of course. But our Branch Manager would do any and all workarounds he could for customer satisfaction. I was a teller, but again, really heavy on customer service. If you wanted to tell me an hour-long story about your grandmother's left foot, I was listening to the whole thing. If you told me a close-by resturant had something particularily good, I was telling you I would be checking it out (and most of the time I did). You get the picture.
We had this regular customer, D, who we saw every few weeks. There was a huge push to be friendly with everyone, so we knew our regulars very well. D had come in and was doing a transaction with another teller. Somehow, my name had come up in their conversation, so I joined in. I don't really recall how it came about, but she was suddenly in my window, asking if she could send me some links for the "community work" she and her husband did. I said yes because I assumed she would send it to me, and that would kind of be the end of it.
I get the email with the link. And it's a fifteen-minute video that I didn't really pay attention to. I just remember seeing a bad clip-art triangle. I ended it there because I knew this was not a "community project" after the brief view--and in all honesty, I, 9 years ago, had no clue what I was looking at. The real issue is that the next day, she asked me if we could meet for coffee to discuss the "project" the following day. I was way too nice, and probably still in the mindset that because this was a bank customer, I was still Tellerpercy-a, despite being in the comfort of my home at 10:00 pm as this was transpiring. So, I said yes. I worked at a coffee shop across from the bank as well (hooray, full-time student with two jobs!) and said we could meet there at x time when I got off.
The day comes, I'm slinging espresso and chai lattes, and I pull the video up to watch it again because I know she'll ask me questions about it. Two of my coworkers were watching it over my shoulder, and one said, "This is a pyramid scheme." College-me had never heard that term before, so then the whole coffee shop started giving me a crash course. I had a panic attack, cried, and said I was meeting her here later to discuss. We contacted the baristas who would be in at that time and gave them the rundown; they said they would have my back if things got scary.
To sum it up: it was Amway. I tried to tell her I wasn't interested, and it did not go well. So, then I told her I would need to speak with my parents before getting involved in anything, as I still lived at home. She immediately got defensive and started saying that, as a college student, I needed to break free from the nest and make my own choices. She had no clue that I very often threw my parents under the bus to get out of sticky situations, of course. But she still was not talking no for an answer, and then asked if I would listen to some CD's, and think about it. I said yes because I was too scared to say no. I didn't listen to them. But I did tell my parents about it, and my dad knew what Amway was, and laughed that I had gotten myself into this situation (we use humor to cope in my family, and a little light bullying. But my dad did offer to send her an email detailing how detremental and predatory MLM's were, and to leave his daughter alone). The next day, I sent her an email asking if I could meet with her at the coffee shop again to return the CDs, as I had spoken to my parents and was not interested. That meeting was very tense and awkward. Every other time she came to the bank,
Story and Rant Time - Admin of a group and I got propositioned to join an MLM
https://redd.it/1sli74c
@antimlms
MLM Behind the Scenes
I worked at the manufacturing facility for an MLM when I was fresh out of college. I was a buyer and I sourced the raw ingredients used to make the supplements. I knew absolutely nothing about MLMs before I worked there. MLM + supplement industry is about as shady as it can get. Dodgy wording to avoid making claims, misleading advertising, zero studies on final products.
The core marketing involved bee products that were "locally sourced". Their marketing imagery was bees in a desert background (based in AZ). WELL, 0% of their products were made from local bees. They sourced directly from Chinese suppliers mostly. They justified their "locally sourced" claims by purchasing their pollen from a local supplier, who imported their products directly from China.
The Facility Manager was a piece of work. During the holiday lunch, he was making his speech and said that he had 10 of his factory floor employees in his downline and that selling for this company "really works!". Selling to your own low-wage workers is so beyond predatory. He was also very vocal on his belief that you need to speak English if you want to live in America. Obviously, that did not apply to half of his poorly-paid employees who only spoke Spanish.
Oh, also, when they broke off from another company located in Utah, a lot of the Mormon employees came with. That added a whole other level of cultiness. They were very cliquey and only ever looked out for each other.
They have distributors in about 150 countries. I remember seeing photos of the products in African villages.
I felt so crappy working there after I started picking up on all the shadiness and I left in less than a year.
https://redd.it/1sl8wdn
@antimlms
I backed out of PHP within 12 hours, here’s where i’m at
a friend i’ve known for 12 years got pulled into PHP a few weeks ago. he’s a smart guy, he knows what’s going on, he knows it’s a MLM. But his mindset is he wants to see where it goes. I didn’t fully understand it at first so I went over with him to check out the office and see what’s what. Instantly i recognized what this is. The whole program relies on you getting recruits and selling life insurance to those recruits. Personally, I want nothing to do with life insurance, but instantly i knew this company relied on making a salary off of new recruits rather than actual leads. that’s when i realized its a clear MLM, after a lot of back and forth with my friend, he convinced me to just see it through, i was still a bit unsure what this all was and he played into just seeing where it goes and going on a random side quest so i agreed and pay a $199 fee to sign up and a few seconds later I feel instant regret. If it wasn’t my friend, I would have never been pressured to sign up for this.
Now their policy states a 3-day window to refund, i’ve already done all the appropriate steps to cancel and request that. If it doesn’t work, i can do a charge back with my credit card. I sent an email and a message through their CRM platform. I’ll see what happens with that but honestly money isn’t my main concern, now that i know what’s what, i did my research, i read some forums here on reddit, im hoping to convince my friend to back out.
i sent a text to my friend explaining what i think and how he should quit now and focus on something better. He’s coming from a tough financial spot so I understand his situation, and for a brief moment I figured i’d see it through with him and be there to see how it plays out, but after all the research i’ve been up late doing, it’s just not worth the time. It’s so clearly a scheme that relies on someone somewhere getting scammed no matter how you dress it up. I just don’t want any part in it. Even if it’s not technically a scam, my morals are too important to me and it’s not something i’m going to compromise on and I hope I can convince my friend to see it that way too.
https://redd.it/1sl2oip
@antimlms
Limelife’s top leaders, these white “Christian” nationalist Trumpers paying homage to their Man. This is after targeting Spanish speaking (although comically unsuccessfully) women to join their MLM.
https://redd.it/1skut0o
@antimlms
Is ascendleadership.org a pyramid scheme or am I just paranoid?
I saw a post in a foodie Facebook group about an upcoming free event registration required about engaging session on building smarter financial habits and planning for the future. Why is the event on something like this such a big deal? It sounds like a pyramid scheme to me or maybe I’m wrong.
https://redd.it/1ske1qk
@antimlms
Bravenly, it does all the things. Also, let me introduce you to the word, moderation.
https://redd.it/1skfpa7
@antimlms
Advice
Hey guys, first time poster here just wanted to share my experience and ask for thoughts. So i met this guy at the gym, he came up to me and complimented my physique and then we talked a little about life and goals for the future, overall super chill guy. As we’re ending our conversation he’s telling me about how he does e-commerce(super vague) and invites me to chat with him about it at starbucks later that week. So anyways i go meet with the guy we talk about life and honestly he had some good advice and some insightful things to say, but as far as the business that im getting into not much other than that its a network marketing job, he then gives me a book “the business of the 21st century” and tells me to read it before i meet with him and his mentor next week. Now, im not naive(for the most part) and honestly even going into the meeting i was incredibly skeptical so obviously the first thing i did was search up the book and the author and every source basically said it was classic MLM playbook from the references to his mentor, the charisma of the guy, and the vagueness of the actual business. Let me preface this by saying that i am completely convinced that this is a pyramid scheme and nothing is gonna change my mind on that. That being said do we think it would be a good idea to go to this next meeting just for the hell of it and honestly just to figure out how these guys minds work?
https://redd.it/1sjp90j
@antimlms
I can't believe it...
https://redd.it/1sj1hr4
@antimlms
Arbonne Obsessed Family Member
Hi there- this is my first post on here, but I’m always entertained reading other people’s stories and comments.
OK SO… my partner’s family member was deep in the Arbonne.. but then moved onto ‘Happy Blend’ which obviously didn’t go well as they are back to Arbonne again after a year.
What is very infuriating is that they have a health condition but they are claiming Arbonne has helped with all their issues… including their new GLP-1 supplement that’s miraculously made them lose 11kg… 4kg in two weeks with no exercise, apparently.
It’s just really sad. They are posting all the time.. quite cringey posts too, there’s usually about 4-5 a day, as well as Instagram stories (most posts have 1 or 2 likes). I don’t believe many people buy from them, apart from their other family members. I even got a message from them the other day after they promised they wouldn’t do Arbonne like they used to, and that things would be “different this time” (not spamming people with sales messages)… I guess they must be desperate.
They truly believe they’re going to LA even though they don’t live in the US and have only just started back up on Arbonne.
Anyway, it drives me absolutely nuts and I’ll have to hide their posts because it’s making me more sad than pissed off now.
ALSO… do they all get given a template to talk like that? “I’m doing things differently this time. I’m showing up for me.” That type of b.s?? It’s sickening.
https://redd.it/1sieslg
@antimlms
Nothing like trying to monetize off the death of a teenager!
https://redd.it/1si31l9
@antimlms
I guess one of the diamonds in plexus is figuring out that making affiliate links makes you more money than her mlm. Of course she will never admit to that 💀
https://redd.it/1smyxb3
@antimlms
There's going to be some rather upset Bravenly huns tonight as Erin B’s taking on Bravenly.
It starts in 10 mins. I'm ready, I've got my wine and snacks, I can't wait for her take on this scam.
https://redd.it/1smlocp
@antimlms
Magic water cures everything
https://redd.it/1slorrw
@antimlms
she went out of her way to avoid me, to the point where my Assistant Branch Manager noticed and asked me what was going on.
Over the next few years, I would find delight in anti-MLM groups and stories. My current job actually has me right next to one of those Herbalife "cafes".
Now, to the incident that happened today. I now work as a manager for a hair salon in a small town, where everyone knows everyone. We're having a slow day, so there was about an hour when I would be in the salon alone. We are by appointment only, and because we are such a walkable town, it's not uncommon for people to pop in and ask for appointments or price quotes. When I first started here, I had a bad habit of leaving my phone at my desk when people came in, and I would have to run back to grab it to make appointments. That is semi-relevant to the story. I've gotten much better at making sure I have it when I walk to the salon floor.
So, I'm sitting at my desk, toiling away, and I hear the door open. So, I grab my phone and walk out to greet the potential client. This woman is smiling, looking around, and tells me how cute the space is, introduces herself, and asks for my name. Not uncommon. She asks a couple of random questions--"How long have you all been open?" "How long have you worked here?" "Are you a stylist?" "Your hair is cute. How long does that take?" I have really honed my customer service skills since the bank days, but I still have some of those customer satisfaction ideals, so I answer every question with a smile. She then launches into this...speech...about how she's been meeting with business owners around town, and "helping them", "doing some work with them", and was hoping I had a few minutes. She tells me she's with Family Heritage. Which I've never heard of, so I write it down so that I can look it up.
We are a very small salon, and as the manager, I typically just take information from people, assess it, and pass it along to the owner. I tell her that, thinking that this was something related to the business, and the owner is not in at the time. She tells me that she just meets with people individually, and starts name-dropping some of the town locals that she's met with recently. Again, she asks if I have a few minutes, and I say I do.
And then it happens. She pulls an iPad out of her bag. And it hits me that something is off. I'm not sure what it is, but I know it isn't good. Most people grab some sort of flyer or pamphlet.
She starts going through this presentation, and I zero in on the logo, "Global Life." It looks familiar, but I can't place where or why. She's clicking along, asking me "what I relate to" and asking more personal questions. At the first "which of these do you relate to?" it hits me that this is an MLM presentation. My smile falls, I can no longer look at her, and I just lock in on her iPad. I'm trying to figure out how to tell her to stop, that I'm no longer interested in listening, but I can't. She's asking me questions about my husband, my child, and my living situation. I keep it vague and short. I don't have it in me to be outright rude, because I understand that some people are just trying to make money. But I know she can tell that she's lost me. However, she powers on. She gets to this slide, which is just a list of people's names and where they live. And I'm just looking at it because I don't want to make eye contact. She asks me point-blank if I know these specific people. Without missing a beat, I say no. But the funny thing is, that's actually my second cousin and her husband. She says, "You don't? She's a nurse here in town." I felt crazy, honestly.
Moving on. She's scrolling through this list, telling me that it's all people in my area whom she's spoken to, that she works with. I'm just nodding along because I'm still panicking, trying to just get out of this conversation. She then asks if I know when any of the other stylists will be in, and I tell her the owner comes in later, but she has back-to-back clients and probably won't have time to speak with her. The following is the
My colleague is promoting two MLMs at the same time??
Hi!
My colleague from a very part-time contactor job texted me a few days ago with a very generic 'hey, hun' voice message, saying that she had a 'business opportunity' for me. Well, I am a big anti-MLM content consumer, so I spotted the red flags immediately. Since I had no real evidence that she was in an MLM or promoting an MLM (she didn't mention the company, just the casual, confusing MLM hun voice about sales and promotions), I turned the offer down politely. I was really busy at that moment and did not think about asking additional questions, just wanted to get it off of my to-do list.
However, the next day she made a story about being accepted at a company and being their 'overseas' team member - she was sharing the company's official post that went like 'Let's welcome this-and-this in our team'. When I googled the company, it's an MLM operating from 2009.
The thing is, we are both international students and we both know a lot of other international students who she could prey on. So, I made a close-friend story on Instagram about MLMs in general, warning my friends that they might be the next target. Nothing about her or the company, just a general warning. Additionally, my friend also got messaged from another girl from a completely different company so I took this as a sign that maybe now MLMs are targeting young adults in the country I am currently in.
But, that colleague of mine posted about products from a second MLM company and now I am confused a lot. If she is part of one MLM, how is she promoting things for another MLM? I googled and the first MLM does not allow their reps to be part of another MLM. Additionally, they are both beauty companies.
Have you ever heard of something like this? Is there a tier in MLMs that doesn't make you a rep but allows you to promote their products? She is also sharing a link to join her team and making posts that she is searching for people to work with.
Thank you!
https://redd.it/1sljj45
@antimlms
How do uplines make THAT much money?
I’ve been really struggling to comprehend how some up up lines in whatever MLM make 6 to 7 figures.. in my brain if it is a “trickle up” effect, a portion of a portion of a portion of a portion…. Would be like… pennies?? (i know not literal pennies but exaggerated for my point)
So is this just a testament to the SHEER number of people in their downline that contribute to someone’s 6 figure salary? Or is it not as many people reaching in the fresh meat/downline cookie jar as I think?
What am I missing?
To be supppper clear, I’m just asking for educational purposes, not because I’m interested in joining an organization! Very anti mlm!
https://redd.it/1sl9vfi
@antimlms
Jesus says, “no.”
https://redd.it/1sl6rak
@antimlms
Is Daisy from Below Deck in an MLM?
I just found the Instagram account called DestinationsWithDaisy and it looks like an MLM, which would be honestly devastating 😩 Does anyone know if it's an MLM and which one it would be? She posted about two different businesses she's with to get commissions and passive income which smells like an MLM
https://redd.it/1skwxlu
@antimlms
⚠️ WARNING: Devil Corp operating in Dublin — Don’t fall for it (Logic Promotions & Fenix promotions / Milan & Courtney)
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1ske50z
https://redd.it/1skph1f
@antimlms
SHE SPENT 9 YEARS MAKING IT TO THE TOP 1% OF AMWAY AND IS READY TO EXPOSE IT ALL #ANTIMLM
https://youtu.be/_hKW92H6Wp4?si=rAi35cth4bnsErJA
https://redd.it/1skhnu6
@antimlms
For the love of Bowie, take a remedial English class! Also, kudos on your meaningless INC 5000 rank that you had to pay to appear in in the first place.
https://redd.it/1skeucf
@antimlms
Her Last Car Ride Was The Pink Cadillac
https://redd.it/1sjlnch
@antimlms
Are you admitting that your Bravenly products don't work? Because, it kinda looks that way.
https://redd.it/1sis4ct
@antimlms
Why do they never name the company?
So an acquaintance did a vaguepost on FB yesterday with phrases like:
* New Business Alert!!!
* this opportunity means having an extra income stream
* part of XXXXX’s fast-ranking team
No other information.
So I clicked the upline's name. Same thing. Flowery language about teams, money, opportunity, entrepreneur, potential, etc.
So I clicked on the "mentor" mentioned in their posts. Same recruiting nonsense. After some scrolling I finally saw LegalShield.
If this garbage is so wonderful, why do they go to such great lengths to never (or reluctantly) mention the company?
(BTW, my acquaintance's upline is a "Platinum Executive Director" who claims to have >100 on their team. Who knows what fancy title their upline has. 🙄)
https://redd.it/1sieww0
@antimlms
Why are you hated? Gosh, I don't know. Could it be you're still a high school mean girl? Why don't you ask Chat GPT, it’s already doing all of your ‘work.’
https://redd.it/1si209j
@antimlms