Multilevel marketing, are they always a scam?

sillymofo

Banned
Aug 11, 2003
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Or can you actually make money at it? I don't know if any of you are familiar with World Financial Group, which recruits people to sell insurance, health care and things of sort under a multilevel marketing structure. Base on past experience, most multilevel marketing schemes are scams, but a friend is firmed on you can make money with WFG, because they are "different" and he personally knows other "friends" of his are making money or have made money (He said 22K last X-mas season). Your thoughts?
 

iamme

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
21,058
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the thing i've noticed about multi-level marketing, is that you only make money when you are able to recruit LOTS of people.

which in turn, means you have to spend time bugging family, friends, and random people about your "money making opportunity".
 

ThePresence

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
27,727
16
81
It is possible to make some money. It his highly unlikely though. I would drop it like a hot potato. I remember when my friend was trying to recruit me for a multilevel thingy, he also "knew" people that made millions.
rolleye.gif
 

sillymofo

Banned
Aug 11, 2003
5,817
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Originally posted by: iamme
the thing i've noticed about multi-level marketing, is that you only make money when you are able to recruit LOTS of people.

which in turn, means you have to spend time bugging family, friends, and random people about your "money making opportunity".
Actually, from what he told me, you don't really need to recruit people, but you do make straight commissions of every deal you sale. But if you DO recruit people, then you get a cut of what they sell.
 

iamme

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
21,058
3
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Originally posted by: cr4zymofo
Originally posted by: iamme
the thing i've noticed about multi-level marketing, is that you only make money when you are able to recruit LOTS of people.

which in turn, means you have to spend time bugging family, friends, and random people about your "money making opportunity".
Actually, from what he told me, you don't really need to recruit people, but you do make straight commissions of every deal you sale. But if you DO recruit people, then you get a cut of what they sell.

again, i can't speak directly about WFG, but with most of these multilevel marketing ploys if you want to make the "big bucks" you've got to recruit people.

i believe Primerica also sells insurance. it's been discussed here before.
 

cressida

Platinum Member
Sep 10, 2000
2,840
5
81
I knew this guy that did a MLM (internet 2 by 2), he was so full of sh1t. Told me that 2by2 is great and that I would need to deposit 400 dollars down to join. All of his friend made sh1t too that he recruited. When I talked to them they kept saying "oh I just haven't been working as hard and it has potential to be something great".

Well around xmas time, I saw him again and this time he drove a 1991 Acura NSX (10k miles on it) that he had bought for 45k. Well hearing from his friends, he just lived at home with his parnets and saved up around 30k within two years. He was trying to make the impression to everyone to join 2by2 and make as much money as he is.
 

Jhill

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2001
5,187
3
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I work at a convention center and at least once a month a MLM company will start having meetings and everyone will think it's the next big thing. They always have a "millionare" speak and tell everyone they will be rich. They always say "in 6 months we will have 1000 people here" After a couple months they always dissapear.

STAY AWAY

Keep in mind they all say "This one isn't like the others this is going to be big" They ALL say that/
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
You CAN make money on them, but usually on the top 2 or 3 tiers do really well, and only if they're very very good salespeople and can get a ton of people under them.
 

dirtboy

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,745
1
81
If you think you can make money selling the products that WFG sells then you don't need WFG. Go out and get independantly contracted and you'll make alot more money.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
Originally posted by: silverpig
You CAN make money on them, but usually on the top 2 or 3 tiers do really well, and only if they're very very good salespeople and can get a ton of people under them.
... all of whom lose money.

So maybe you can make money if you get in on the scam early and you don't mind lying to and ripping off a bunch of people.

Yes, MLMs are always a scam. Get a real job instead.