Wife determined to do multi-level marketing, key risks?

[Tweak155]

Well, I'm pretty sure one of the primary requirements is that it is objective, not subjective. Since self-help books are 99% the latter, they don't qualify when a thinking man's standards are applied.

Which books have you read that make you think this?

Sorry bud, after you so illustriously put your inability to read and comprehend on display, I'll probably not put too much stock in the books you read, the YouTube videos by which you live your life, and this "multiple six figured household income" you allege. You lack credibility.

I do not lack any credibility other than your trying to state it. And my household income is multiple six figures whether you believe it or not. Given your ability to only believe what you think is true, though, I'm sure you won't believe me even if I posted my tax returns.

I'll make you a deal, I'll watch Strangest Secret if you watch Illusion of Superiority.

This is the reason I decided to reply one more time. I was tempted to take this challenge because I see no lost benefit, but I do not think you will take my clip seriously. However, if you would sincerely make the earnest effort, I will too and watch your clip. Let me know.

 

[BoberFett]

You don't need downlines if you can push enough volume.

The way most of the comp plans are written, you will never move enough product on your own to make more than a tiny check. They're designed to get you to bring in new people.

 

[bignateyk]

MLM. Is that some kind of fancy way of saying pyramid scheme?

 

[bas1c]

I'm not asking why you believe MLM's are wrong. I don't believe you understood my post, or perhaps I was unclear.

Which is why I based my advice off of the fact the OP stated they can financially attempt the venture without much risk. Feeling like something is wrong is not the same thing as telling someone they cannot do it. Explain why you feel MLM's are wrong which focuses your negative opinion on the company, rather than the person's abilities or limitations.

Here.

 

[Hacp]

Why MLM products though? Can't she make a profit selling something else if she thinks she's a good seller? If she wants to make some extra money selling something, encourage her, but guide her away from herbalife and towards something else that isn't MLM.

 

[BikeJunkie]

Which books have you read that make you think this?

I already asked you on whose authority are self-help books "common sense" books. And before you tell me I didn't, I suggest you read the thread this time 😉

I do not lack any credibility other than your trying to state it.

See "which nutritional products did you sell" and bas1c's "why MLM's are wrong" debacles.

Given your ability to only believe what you think is true, though, I'm sure you won't believe me even if I posted my tax returns.

As an INTJ, quite the contrary. I'm married to no one's beliefs - not yours, not my own. When I see facts, I take them at face value and wipe whatever beliefs are in contradiction to those facts. That's why arguing with you is such an odd experience, because you don't deal with facts at all. You speak in empty platitudes, vague sayings, and with references to books based not in the subjects at hand (business, primarily), but self-help and personal growth.

This is the reason I decided to reply one more time. I was tempted to take this challenge because I see no lost benefit, but I do not think you will take my clip seriously. However, if you would sincerely make the earnest effort, I will too and watch your clip. Let me know.

If your clip is grounded in facts, professional studies, and peer-review, you can bet I'll take it seriously. If it's just warm fuzzies and Zen, then no.

 

[BikeJunkie]

Here.

LOL That's twice he's done that!

WTF 🙄

We need an emoticon that's concussed.

 

[Vdubchaos]

The way most of the comp plans are written, you will never move enough product on your own to make more than a tiny check. They're designed to get you to bring in new people.

Ding ding ding

Sell our shit to your friends/family, let us know who they are.

Free contacts/connections essentially.

 

[Tweak155]

snip

If your clip is grounded in facts, professional studies, and peer-review, you can bet I'll take it seriously. If it's just warm fuzzies and Zen, then no.

The material IS grounded in facts and can be proven by professional studies, however since it is a quick-guide, that information is left out. Read "Think and Grow Rich" which is a book written by interviewing the richest people in the United States at the time (early 1900's), information compiled over 20 years and then published. It is one of the best selling business books of all time.

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_and_Grow_Rich

However, that will not take 30ish minutes 🙂

 

[Tweak155]

Here.

Explain why you feel MLM's are wrong which focuses your negative opinion on the company, rather than the person's abilities or limitations.

And which person did you focus your negative opinion their abilities or limitations? The statement was being applied to the OP. Possibly I worded it poorly, but it is the reason this thread exists and what we are discussing.

It was a suggestion as to what the OP should have done vs what he did.

Does that clear things up?

 

[glenn1]

Why MLM products though? Can't she make a profit selling something else if she thinks she's a good seller? If she wants to make some extra money selling something, encourage her, but guide her away from herbalife and towards something else that isn't MLM.

Who knows why MLM, certainly not me. As I said earlier, we're basically beyond the point of trying to rationally assess this as a business prospect. The fact that she let me know in advance this time is an improvement; the last time it came up only after I asked her about it. She had asked me to bring her the credit card and I casually asked her what she was buying; I do this as a matter of routine just so I when I see transactions post to the account I know it was a valid purchase (it's never caused an issue before).

This time however, her response was that she was going to buy the $700 starter kit of cosmetics for a MLM program and had to complete the purchase within 2 hours to get her "bonus supplies" we had a long chat. Needless to say I was a bit upset because our standing agreement is to consult each other before large purchases (anything over a couple hundred dollars) as a courtesy. While trying to keep the discussion from getting too heated, I asked her questions about whether she had a business plan, how compensation would work, etc. and she agreed to defer going forward until she sorted these out. Until last night, when she brought this up again with a new company this time, and telling me she planned to proceed regardless even if she had to use personal "allowance" funds for the initial enrollment. She also dumped the returning to grad school thing on me at the same time.

Kindly withhold any suggestions of counselling, etc.

 

[alkemyst]

Direct Marketing will always exist and is not necessarily MLM. Some companies don't want their products in stores. They want exclusivity and they want people they know / trained to be the ones selling them.

 

[Tweak155]

Who knows why MLM, certainly not me. As I said earlier, we're basically beyond the point of trying to rationally assess this as a business prospect. The fact that she let me know in advance this time is an improvement; the last time it came up only after I asked her about it. She had asked me to bring her the credit card and I casually asked her what she was buying; I do this as a matter of routine just so I when I see transactions post to the account I know it was a valid purchase (it's never caused an issue before).

This time however, her response was that she was going to buy the $700 starter kit of cosmetics for a MLM program and had to complete the purchase within 2 hours to get her "bonus supplies" we had a long chat. Needless to say I was a bit upset because our standing agreement is to consult each other before large purchases (anything over a couple hundred dollars) as a courtesy. While trying to keep the discussion from getting too heated, I asked her questions about whether she had a business plan, how compensation would work, etc. and she agreed to defer going forward until she sorted these out. Until last night, when she brought this up again with a new company this time, and telling me she planned to proceed regardless even if she had to use personal "allowance" funds for the initial enrollment. She also dumped the returning to grad school thing on me at the same time.

Kindly withhold any suggestions of counselling, etc.

This sounds much different than your OP, were these 2 separate occasions? Also if you aren't looking for suggestions, what are you looking for?

 

[BikeJunkie]

Who knows why MLM, certainly not me. As I said earlier, we're basically beyond the point of trying to rationally assess this as a business prospect. The fact that she let me know in advance this time is an improvement; the last time it came up only after I asked her about it. She had asked me to bring her the credit card and I casually asked her what she was buying; I do this as a matter of routine just so I when I see transactions post to the account I know it was a valid purchase (it's never caused an issue before).

This time however, her response was that she was going to buy the $700 starter kit of cosmetics for a MLM program and had to complete the purchase within 2 hours to get her "bonus supplies" we had a long chat. Needless to say I was a bit upset because our standing agreement is to consult each other before large purchases (anything over a couple hundred dollars) as a courtesy. While trying to keep the discussion from getting too heated, I asked her questions about whether she had a business plan, how compensation would work, etc. and she agreed to defer going forward until she sorted these out. Until last night, when she brought this up again with a new company this time, and telling me she planned to proceed regardless even if she had to use personal "allowance" funds for the initial enrollment. She also dumped the returning to grad school thing on me at the same time.

Kindly withhold any suggestions of counselling, etc.

It really sounds like she's aimless right now and trying to "find herself," in a sense. Good luck bud 🙁

 

[SlitheryDee]

Who knows why MLM, certainly not me. As I said earlier, we're basically beyond the point of trying to rationally assess this as a business prospect. The fact that she let me know in advance this time is an improvement; the last time it came up only after I asked her about it. She had asked me to bring her the credit card and I casually asked her what she was buying; I do this as a matter of routine just so I when I see transactions post to the account I know it was a valid purchase (it's never caused an issue before).

This time however, her response was that she was going to buy the $700 starter kit of cosmetics for a MLM program and had to complete the purchase within 2 hours to get her "bonus supplies" we had a long chat. Needless to say I was a bit upset because our standing agreement is to consult each other before large purchases (anything over a couple hundred dollars) as a courtesy. While trying to keep the discussion from getting too heated, I asked her questions about whether she had a business plan, how compensation would work, etc. and she agreed to defer going forward until she sorted these out. Until last night, when she brought this up again with a new company this time, and telling me she planned to proceed regardless even if she had to use personal "allowance" funds for the initial enrollment. She also dumped the returning to grad school thing on me at the same time.

Kindly withhold any suggestions of counselling, etc.

This sounds more like some kind of phase she's going through than anything else. Something to do with regrets about not having done enough in life or having been independent enough or having gotten enough education mixed with the sense of the clock running out on her life and other things people tend to think about at certain ages. I think the most telling thing is that she's trying to quickly grasp at multiple different angles at once with the two different MLM schemes and the grad school bid without really doing much research into them. Actually I think it's pretty common for people to hit a point in their lives where they start having those feelings. Explaining any of this to her isn't going to get you anywhere though since all of it comes from a emotional state rather than calculation on her part. This is probably where your only option is to be as supportive as your finances will allow or else get ready for some rough times in the short term and resentment forever.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Who knows why MLM, certainly not me. As I said earlier, we're basically beyond the point of trying to rationally assess this as a business prospect. The fact that she let me know in advance this time is an improvement; the last time it came up only after I asked her about it. She had asked me to bring her the credit card and I casually asked her what she was buying; I do this as a matter of routine just so I when I see transactions post to the account I know it was a valid purchase (it's never caused an issue before).

This time however, her response was that she was going to buy the $700 starter kit of cosmetics for a MLM program and had to complete the purchase within 2 hours to get her "bonus supplies" we had a long chat. Needless to say I was a bit upset because our standing agreement is to consult each other before large purchases (anything over a couple hundred dollars) as a courtesy. While trying to keep the discussion from getting too heated, I asked her questions about whether she had a business plan, how compensation would work, etc. and she agreed to defer going forward until she sorted these out. Until last night, when she brought this up again with a new company this time, and telling me she planned to proceed regardless even if she had to use personal "allowance" funds for the initial enrollment. She also dumped the returning to grad school thing on me at the same time.

Kindly withhold any suggestions of counselling, etc.

Forget about the scheme she is getting herself into and focus on the fact that she broke the rules/boundaries you both agreed on.

That's the problem at hand. You need to know why it is that she is breaking these boundaries and how it's going to impact your relationship going forward.

 

[Hacp]

Who knows why MLM, certainly not me. As I said earlier, we're basically beyond the point of trying to rationally assess this as a business prospect. The fact that she let me know in advance this time is an improvement; the last time it came up only after I asked her about it. She had asked me to bring her the credit card and I casually asked her what she was buying; I do this as a matter of routine just so I when I see transactions post to the account I know it was a valid purchase (it's never caused an issue before).

This time however, her response was that she was going to buy the $700 starter kit of cosmetics for a MLM program and had to complete the purchase within 2 hours to get her "bonus supplies" we had a long chat. Needless to say I was a bit upset because our standing agreement is to consult each other before large purchases (anything over a couple hundred dollars) as a courtesy. While trying to keep the discussion from getting too heated, I asked her questions about whether she had a business plan, how compensation would work, etc. and she agreed to defer going forward until she sorted these out. Until last night, when she brought this up again with a new company this time, and telling me she planned to proceed regardless even if she had to use personal "allowance" funds for the initial enrollment. She also dumped the returning to grad school thing on me at the same time.

Kindly withhold any suggestions of counselling, etc.

If she's working two jobs, why would she need "allowance' money?

 

[alkemyst]

If she's working two jobs, why would she need "allowance' money?

QFT, but at the same time this doesn't mean they are financially secure. They may still be living paycheck to paycheck.

If not, and this is something I recommend anyone should do; one should have their 'own money' for gifts, whims, even just blowing on throwing it into a fire if they wanted.

I don't believe in an allowance system. What I am willing to do is give someone that may not make close to what I do time to get some savings together for emergencies and then just these kinds of whims. Once that happens they really need to pitch in at the max of their ability if that doesn't hit 50% of our joint costs.

The $700 buy in is probably the typical "if you pay this now, you go right to the [NEXT] level!" The problem is those levels usually have to be met each month or you lose it.

Keep in mind also a lot of the guys that are making tons of dough in these things really are making most of their incomes in other ways.

There is always an inner circle in any business that doesn't share all the secrets with the worker bees.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I think at this point you should make sure she knows that the get rich scams are just scams and not really ways to get rich. She appears to be gullible enough to believe garbage lies which are spewed on tv commercials. I know you need to choose your battles, but, this sounds like a battle worth choosing. Otherwise, every time she hears about one of these stupid scams she will say "OMG IT"S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE SO IT MUST BE TRUE".....

 

[DaveSimmons]

Given drugstore.com, Amazon, Super Supplements and other health stores, the grocery store aisle, etc. she's going to have a tough time finding buyers.

If she insists on doing this purely based on "make money fast" dreams instead of a rational plan then it's a hobby not a business and it should come out of her allowance just like if you wanted to buy a new gaming PC or a TV for your man cave.

So you might argue: all expenses come out of her allowance, but all sales / income goes back into her allowance too. She risks her fun money but any rewards go right into her fun money.

That's being logical though. It's your relationship not mine.

 

[CountZero]

Yeah, exactly. It's gotten beyond the point of whether MLMs are a good idea or not, whether she's a good candidate for one, how much I respect her abilities, or any other concern. Her stated objective is to make money, my mostly unstated one is to limit the amount of money we could lose and preserve the relationship (or at least not further strain it). My feelings about the business prospects (and quite frankly, my opinion of and respect for her for doing this despite my very reluctant buy-in) are secondary at this point.

If making money is the goal then she needs to be able to sell joining the MLM. If she can't convince you to get on board does she have any chance of convincing others?

Sounds like you are in it no matter what at this point. Set up an account to limit how much you invest in it and put down some ground rules on how it is sold (or not) amongst mutual friends/family and how involved you have to be. The two risks seem to be financial and friends/family so come up with an agreement on how to treat those two areas. Some people do actually succeed at these but it is rare but better to let her try at this point unless joining signs you up for major financial issues.

 

[waggy]

If she's working two jobs, why would she need "allowance' money?

because mortgage/car/kids/retirement come first

I'ts not a big deal. i know a few couples that do it. each get a "allowance" for hobbies.

 

[Hacp]

because mortgage/car/kids/retirement come first

I'ts not a big deal. i know a few couples that do it. each get a "allowance" for hobbies.

From everything he's posted, I'm thinking that Glenn's wife is looking for a new income source so she can divorce him. She's not happy with the marriage, especially not with this "allowance" thing.

 

[waggy]

From everything he's posted, I'm thinking that Glenn's wife is looking for a new income source so she can divorce him. She's not happy with the marriage, especially not with this "allowance" thing.

lol wow i gotta say thats a reach.

many couples have a "allowance" in fact my marriage counceler said the same thing. have an allowance that you can spend HOW you want.

 

[Hacp]

lol wow i gotta say thats a reach.

many couples have a "allowance" in fact my marriage counceler said the same thing. have an allowance that you can spend HOW you want.

Yes, the thing is, Glenn's has control of the finances, so she's asking him for her allowance, not taking the allowance from her own bank account. He has control and she wants OUT.