agent817
Fry's dog Seymour
Doesn't Know Whose Ring It Is
Posts: 21,435
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Post by agent817 on Jan 25, 2023 18:45:01 GMT -5
So recently a friend of mine had me go on a Zoom call with a friend of hers. Initially I thought it had to do with my friend's weed business, which she has, but then when the guy I talked to asked me questions and what I do, I was like "Why is he asking me these things?" Then he mentioned Primerica. I was like "oh, shit." I have done my homework on organizations like Primerica, Premium Financial Alliance, etc. Hell, back in 2007, I remember a friend had me and another friend attend something at a freaking Starbucks once. I had been in situations where people ask if I could make money without having to actually work much. I still remember the one for YOR.com (which later became YOR Health) when I was told that I needed to pay $390 to get in. I was like "What the hell?"
Personally, I never got into anything like this. I have seen people on social media who have alleged success in this type of thing, but I have very little trust in companies like these, whether they are legitimate or not.
What are your personal experiences?
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Cranjis McBasketball
Crow T. Robot
Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
Peace Love and Nothing But
Posts: 42,058
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Jan 25, 2023 18:46:26 GMT -5
They are a pyramid scheme. The end.
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Post by Big DSR Energy on Jan 25, 2023 19:04:04 GMT -5
I want to say 10 years ago, a close friend from high school that I hadn't seen in a good long while hit me up over Facebook asking if I was interested in a business opportunity. So we went to this other guy's house and sat there for a presentation. The guy giving the presentation insisted it wasn't a pyramid scheme, but other than not drawing it in the shape of a pyramid, it was obviously a scheme of the pyramid variety.
I told my old friend I'd have to think about it, looked up the company on my own (I forget the name), and saw that literally everybody said it was a scam. I have not talked to that friend since.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2023 19:09:48 GMT -5
I knew a few people who almost got suckered into such a scheme way back when but then quickly came to realize that if it was possible to make money (especially the type they proclaim) without having to work everyone would be doing it.
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Cranjis McBasketball
Crow T. Robot
Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
Peace Love and Nothing But
Posts: 42,058
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Jan 25, 2023 19:11:37 GMT -5
I want to say 10 years ago, a close friend from high school that I hadn't seen in a good long while hit me up over Facebook asking if I was interested in a business opportunity. So we went to this other guy's house and sat there for a presentation. The guy giving the presentation insisted it wasn't a pyramid scheme, but other than not drawing it in the shape of a pyramid, it was obviously a scheme of the pyramid variety. I told my old friend I'd have to think about it, looked up the company on my own (I forget the name), and saw that literally everybody said it was a scam. I have not talked to that friend since. Well, for whatever it’s worth to you and OP, MLM’s are not pyramid schemes. Pyramid Schemes are illegal, MLM are not. They’re just identical. Plus, it only takes something like 11 or 22 “levels” before every single human on the planet is part of it.
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Post by Jedi-El of Tomorrow on Jan 25, 2023 19:32:30 GMT -5
Just watch John Oliver's takedown of MLM's, it's tremendous. It's over 30 minutes, so longer than usual for his featured stories.
I've worked with 2 people who got into MLMs, both asked me to join. One person after I told him "No", never asked me again. The other person was a true believer, asked me multiple times, and always started with "It's not a pyramid scheme." Bro, if you have to start with that sentence, you should be asking why you should have to begin with that sentence. Hint, it's because it is a pyramid scheme.
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Post by Cyno on Jan 25, 2023 19:36:56 GMT -5
At first I thought this would be about "mlems," the adorable faces cats and dogs make when their tongues stick out of their mouth towards their noses.
Sadly it's "totally not a pyramid scheme."
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Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
Posts: 121,397
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Post by Mozenrath on Jan 25, 2023 21:43:45 GMT -5
Well, I've never dated a guy, but-
Oh, this kind of MLM. Carry on.
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chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
Posts: 28,085
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Post by chazraps on Jan 25, 2023 21:55:05 GMT -5
Stay the f*** away from any and all MLMs.
Also, f*** NFTS, f*** Crypto and f*** Tesla.
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Post by Rolent Tex on Jan 25, 2023 23:35:03 GMT -5
I went to work for Aflac and they are a big MLM. After day two of my training I peaced the f*** out.
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Post by Zaq "That Guy" Buzzkill on Jan 26, 2023 4:23:34 GMT -5
My brother and his wife were deep into Amway for a couple years. Luckily they gained some common sense and quit, but I've resisted the urge to say "I told you so" several times since.
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Post by The Dark Order Inferno on Jan 26, 2023 6:44:54 GMT -5
m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSbFZp8s7tcz0FldGCpt34eiE7P7Mkz9_Iilluminaughtii on youtube does good breakdowns of the varied and numerous MLMs, pyramid schemes, supplement sales and other scummery that pop up to try and convince people they're their own boss and can make big bucks scamming their friends. She's a wise and entertaining pyramid.
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Post by peaches1 on Jan 26, 2023 6:47:51 GMT -5
A family I knew was huge into Amway and one time they asked me to listen to their pitch as 'practice' for them. They never tried to sell anything me on it beyond that.
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Post by Lizuka #BLM on Jan 26, 2023 7:18:41 GMT -5
Just out of high school I was sent something about a company that sells knives and went to an interview for it. Went through that whole process and at the end they told me I had the job, but I was getting really sketchy vibes from it and looking it up found them sketchy as hell so I never looked into it further and they never contacted me again anyway.
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Glitch
Grimlock
Not Going To Die; Childs, we're goin' out to give Blair the test. If he tries to make it back here and we're not with him... burn him.
Watching you.
Posts: 12,732
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Post by Glitch on Jan 26, 2023 7:21:36 GMT -5
It's a pyramid scheme plus a cult mindset layered on top. It's the same tactics used by a cult. They make people think they are in on a secret strategy that those suckers working 9-5 don't know. And if you fail, it wasn't because the company is bad. It's because you didn't work hard enough. Victims who are in deep will get extremely over-defensive if you criticize the mlm they are a part of.
This is why it fills me with joy seeing a lot of negative attention toward mlm companies suddenly surge in the media recently. Those sons of bitches have preyed on members of my family for years and I'm always glad to share videos tearing them a new one.
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Sephiroth
Wade Wilson
Surviving
Posts: 29,089
Member is Online
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Post by Sephiroth on Jan 26, 2023 8:50:37 GMT -5
Well one did get stuck in my throat one time but I think all the craziness about their mascots is crazy, it’s just candy.
Oh wait you meant…
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Post by Rolent Tex on Jan 26, 2023 9:18:30 GMT -5
m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSbFZp8s7tcz0FldGCpt34eiE7P7Mkz9_Iilluminaughtii on youtube does good breakdowns of the varied and numerous MLMs, pyramid schemes, supplement sales and other scummery that pop up to try and convince people they're their own boss and can make big bucks scamming their friends. She's a wise and entertaining pyramid. I can be my own boss? Cool? Wait…why am I getting shit over not annoying 20 businesses on the phone and 20 businesses in person 5 days a week? Funny thing is if you leave before you’re vested in 5 years someone else gets to take over the accounts of your friends and family. Funny that.
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Post by YAKMAN is ICHIBAN on Jan 26, 2023 9:25:45 GMT -5
My only personal experience is my wife's cousin getting super into selling the weight loss stuff "It Works!" and spamming stuff on Facebook. That led to a nearly immediate unfollowing.
If you've gotta call your stuff "It Works!" I'm assuming it doesn't.
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Post by Natural Born Farmer on Jan 26, 2023 11:06:04 GMT -5
Back when I was job hunting in 2010, I saw an ad for Vector Marketing in the paper advertising "management trainee" positions with no experience required. I called the number and they invited me to an introduction session for potential new recruits that same day.
First clue something was off was that they didn't have an office, it was a suite in a strip mall they had apparently rented just for the presentation. I was also the only person who showed up in a shirt and tie.
Presenter was a young guy dressed nicely who spent about 20 minutes talking about how great the business was and how much it had done for him, then another ten minutes or so explaining they do require a deposit for their product, but they DO NOT cash it.
Then it was awhile longer explaining that what the company actually does is direct sales of knives to customers, and the presenter assured us this was super easy and he'd never had any problem finding willing customers.
Other people sitting in the presentation seemed at least somewhat interested, but I walked out after he started giving demonstrations of the knife's cutting power.
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Fundertaker
Vegeta
Hideo Kojima should direct every ending ever!
Posts: 9,004
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Post by Fundertaker on Jan 26, 2023 13:26:19 GMT -5
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