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I sell for two direct sales companies. I think the down fall for a lot of people in that kind of business is being too pushy. I let folks know that I sell x,y,z and leave it at that. If they want to place an order they will, if not that's fine too.

I sell for one, but I barely post about it. I did a bit more in the beginning but haven't since. I get people that approach me and that works best. I do it because I get use out of the products myself. Pushy people drive me insane. I had someone tell me "but I'll get more money if you sign up under me" then another I knew it was a pyramid thing so I asked flat out, and she's like "yep, exactly!! And it's only $150 a month for the products!" THAT is what I don't like. If I can buy a product outright, something that has use to me, then I will. Most of the stuff I don't need or have any use for.

@Mrs D: It's pretty annoying to have direct sales/MLM products pushed on you by your friends!

For me it depends on the business and how they operate.

Most of the home parties that women throw that don't have major requirements/buy in (that sometimes take advantage of well meaning women trying to make a little extra money), I'll support if I genuinely like the product.

One of DH's friends did whatever Amway is now called. I just hated the whole principle of what they did. DH tried to do the guy a favor and mentioned his business on Facebook, and the guy's managers asked the friend to remove the post. They don't want people to realize that it is what used to be Amway because the practices were so shady and advantageous. I feel like in some ways, they prey on people in tough situations to feel like they NEED to do this.

I think direct sales should be more like a hobby that people CAN make some money doing, but the ones that put the pressure on recruitment and down line sales are shadier IMO

I think most direct selling products have some aspect of MLM involved...or they wouldn't grow as much.

for me, I think it's an issue of how heavily the MLM part of it is pushed/forced.

@Mrs D: Yes, I do.

I think you've actually posted about this before. I understand that compensation is listed on the internet and I could find it out, but I don't want to do that when I'm buying something. It's the same reason why I rarely ask for opinions from sales clerks at a store when I think they make a commission - I think it's impossible to be 100% unbiased if you have a financial incentive.

Shopping is my cardio. I don't want to have to think about it and I sure as heck don't want it pushed in my face. If your product truly is great, I'll seek it out. I don't need someone to directly contact me about it.

Generally, I just don't like people pushing products on me. If I like something, I will buy it. I just don't like to have someone saying that I *have* to get something.

But, I think that's human nature

I have a few reasons. My main annoyance is that my profession is sales. I have spent a decade becoming better professionally. It rubs me the wrong way when these types of sales companies use Facebook and their friends and suddenly they are sales people. That's like me saying I taught my kid ABCs so I could easily handle a classroom full of kids.

I also feel like the companies prey on mothers and uneducated. People think they can get rich quick-just sell X and get X under you. Once again if you want to make money selling things, go into sales. I have sold lots of things and never once had to buy it myself in order to get a paycheck.

I understand the pushy people too. I deal with the used car salesman stigma (I don't sell cars). When you feel like your friends have turned into used car salesmen, it's not good.

@Mrs D: That is an accurate statement, but as @avivoca mentioned, this has never come-up. I don't believe there are holy grail products (and find the pricing sometimes absurd) that are only sold by direct-sales or MLM. This is a personal opinion.

@Mrs D: "If a company has a good product that they have simply decided to market through people rather than stores - is it really a good reason to not buy a product?"

I think what you might be missing is that no one needs a "good" reason not to buy a product. Not wanting to support a specific activity or company that someone doesn't like/agree with is a fairly straightforward concept.

I was recently invited to an at home party thrown by one of my friends for a direct selling company and I declined the invitation because I already have way too much "stuff" as it is and I didn't want to attend then not buy anything. Maybe I'm wrong but everything I've seen for sale is stuff I don't need so I tend to associate those companies like that!

I am so annoyed that almost all the girls only parties I'm invited are intend to sell me on something. I have been to 6 CAbi parties, 3 R&F, countless jewelry parties and lately a ton of Usbourne book parties. It's just annoying...

I won't go as far saying I would never buy from a direct sales person, but I rather buy from a non-friend. For some reason direct sales people think every customer will be a repeat customer and it's annoying to have products constantly pushed. I'd rather tell a stranger/ casual connection no than my friend.

@Mrs D: As an example: lots of people love Chick Fil A, but no longer eat there because of CFA's corporate stance on gay marriage. I could go on and on with examples about products tested on animals, child labor practices, etc. Not supporting a company/activity you don't agree with is a straightforward concept.

I find the products overpriced, and I usually have to pay outrageous shipping charges that you only find out when you've got your card out to pay.

I hate the peer pressure of the parties.

I prefer to support the local small businesses in my community instead.

But most of all I hate the pushy FB messages. If I buy from someone once I get a gazillion messages trying to sell me more.

I find it awkward when an old friend "reaches out" to catch up only to find out she's trying to sell me something.

I have attended in the past and I may in the future again. But I get 1-2 invites a week so as a general rule I just don't go to any. It's been years since I've bought anything from direct sales and i don't feel like I'm missing anything I can't get somewhere else

I avoid buying from companies like this because I'm afraid that if I do, I will constantly be hounded to buy more and more. I remember someone in my office who tried to ring me into buying something from her company and it was so hard to nicely get my point across that I wasn't interested. She kept trying to sell it to me, even when I said no. I couldn't be abrupt with her and just say "No!" I felt like I needed a good excuse. I thought the stuff was outrageously expensive, and didn't want to be honest about that. I'm a people pleaser so it's really hard for me to disappoint people!

I buy Girl Scout cookies, so I can't say that I won't buy from direct selling companies (although they probably don't count as a company, so nevermind).

But if someone was pushy or annoying, I wouldn't buy from them. I don't like to encourage that kind of behavior.