Hellobee Boards

I'm lucky that I've never actually been contacted by someone doing this, probably because I've been off Facebook for a couple of years. But it would create a chill in the friendship. I'd rather find things I want to buy, I don't want to be marketed to by friends, because that changes the nature of friendship. I don't want an economic element in a friendship, and I certainly don't want to buy something because a friend will make money or receive a discount because of it. Plus, I'm not convinced that ANY product sold in this way represents the best of its kind. Your question is essentially marketing research, so I'm honestly reporting that I perceive DS and MLM businesses as shady schemes, and can't shake that perception.

@Truth Bombs: Thank you. I have been writing and re-writing responses to this, but you've covered it all for me very nicely.

It is also not my responsibility to help you earn more money by becoming a sales rep. I don't want to sell products and I don't want those products or your financial success to get in the way of our friendship (or be responsible for the end of our friendship).

I think any kind of sales role is a challenge. A lot of times people capitalize on their relationships and network to make a sale, whether it's a car, a financial product, a house, whatever. They're not usually on social media with a hard sell, but I am beginning to see it, especially with realtors and car salespeople (the guy who sold me my toyota and I are linked in connections, for example). And I think financial services isn't too far behind.

But where I see the difference with direct sales is that it's often touted as being able to be done very part time, work only when you want to and you too will be making 6 figures. I believe that you have to put in the time if you want to be successful. There's no such thing as just working an hour here and there a week. It doesn't work that way and it's misleading.

I tend to avoid all of these types of products. For me it's rooted in the advertising tactics. I really hate the high pressure of it-even if someone is not pushy I kind of feel obligated to "be supportive" if a friend invites me to one of the events. My mother in law sells health supplements and it's shady at best and I feel like this company has really taken advantage of her. She keeps telling everyone the products were tested by Stanford- it says right on the pamphlet that they paid for the testing though which means they also set the bar so they therefore exceeded it. It's so hard to sort out which companies are reputable and do well by their sales reps and which are just out to make money.

I also get frustrated by pricing, pampered chef for example has products that I am interested in but I can walk into Williams Sonoma and buy the same type of product for less. At that point I may as well just hand my friend $10 and go shopping myself.

I cannot stand the marketing on social media. I come to social media to interact with my friends, not to be sold to. But lately I have to be pretty aggressive about unfollowing and unfriending if I don't want to deal with the hassle all the time.

I avoid them because I don't want to get hounded to be a repeat customer. I have a few friends who sell and they aren't pushy but I think I would still feel bad if they asked me to buy again and I said no (either because I didn't like the product, price, etc).

@BadgerMom: Not to mention they usually (if not always?!) have a monthly sales quota. So, there in itself lies pressure to sell to anyone you possibly can.

@BadgerMom: I wanted to buy Jamberry as a Christmas gift for someone. No one pitched it to me I had just heard about it from a friend who liked it and used it. So I purposely asked around for the name of a consultant I could buy through so she could get credit. Well after my purchase she sent me emails, sent me a card in the mail, sent me a Facebook message, etc. I was like dude get off my jock! So from now on I'm skipping the consultant.

@lawbee11: @Mrs D: True! That makes me feel better

I was pondering this a bit more and I think one of the reasons I dislike the advertising techniques is the companies frequently push hard that their product is the only one worth using. I 100% an aware that all brands do this but I think it's a bit more grazing grating hearing a friend tell you that what you are currently using is worthless and that you need to switch to their product. My mother in law sold scrapbooking supplies through creative memories and she really pushed the idea that their products were far superior than others on terms of archival safety. They are now out of business and my mil won't scrapbook anymore because she's totally brainwashed. I also realize this is a case of "a few bad apples" because I know most people aren't militant about the things they sell. In fact I am more likely to buy from someone who says I love everything we sell except X.

@Mrs D: Yep. That's where having a different junk/shopping email address comes in. I can look at it when I want and search for things but it doesn't clutter up my inbox. That has helped relieve my annoyance with every company's spam male (not just direct sales) a lot, but unfortunately it's not quite that easy on Facebook.

For the most part, I am really against MLMs. I went to a few meet-ups as a new mom when my son was tiny, and at each one, a majority of the people there were trying to sell their products/promote their businesses (DoTerra, Arbonne, Thirtyone, etc.). 6 months ago I was at the post office with my infant son, and the woman in line next to me starts talking to me about how hard it is to lug a baby around on errands, how she's totally been there, etc. Next thing I know she's shoving a pamphlet in my face and trying to force me to buy a bag from her. Come ON.

I get it-as a mom it would be really nice to be able to make money from something like this! However, I, too, have my own business (tutoring), and would never even hand out a business card unless I was specifically asked.

As a rule, I don't attend parties like that having already been to some, and feeling like they're just forcing me to spend money. However, there are a few Mary Kay and Arbonne products I use and like, and I've made it clear to the friends who sell it that I'll be in touch with them when I want something, and if they try and force a party on me I'm out.

@sorrycharlie: Out of curiousity, is there a way to find out which DS companies have a MLM component and which ones don't? It always seems kind of hush hush so I've always grouped the two together thinking some companies were just better at hiding it than others.

One of the things I dislike the most is the level of deception in marketing these things.

I'll just use a personal example, I wanted to try 21 Day Fix, which is a Beachbody program, and I have an acquaintance who is a Beachbody coach. At the point when I asked her about 21DF she wasn't heavy into marketing the whole thing so I felt fine about going through her to make the purchase - why not give her the kickback, right?

I so regret it! Since then she's gotten WAY into pushing the program and every social media post she has is about why everyone should become a coach and change their lives. She touts herself as a fitness coach and says she offers one-on-one health coaching and nutrition advice, etc. The thing that gets me is these are completely false claims! To become a Beachbody "coach" you pay a monthly fee and then you gain the title. I mean I know there's some networking/training/personal development involved but in no way do you become a certified, qualified fitness coach. It drives me insane. I feel like it takes away from the people who have actually gone through rigorous training and education to become actual coaches. I am always getting messages from this acquaintance now about how she thinks I'd "make a great coach" yada yada...and I know it's all BS and she's trying to get me to join under her so she can make a profit.

Then there is the constant posting about being your own boss and taking on interns and all that. You're not your own boss. You work for a giant MLM.

I also think there's a level of deception when these people are talking about how much money they are making. You need to buy in, so you need to recruit a certain number of people per month to make back your investment. My BFF's husband's best friend's wife does Beachbody too and the husband hates it and says it's a total scam...she's constantly posting on IG about how much money she makes each month, when in reality, they're losing money...she just posts that to entice people to join in hopes of ACTUALLY making money.

So, yeah. I can get behind the concept of some of these things...exercising and eating healthy, which can be done with Beachbody, is great! But I don't think the way the MLM is run and marketed is great, so I'd rather find a fitness program I can purchase independently.

Also, do not get me started on the It Works and wraps companies where people deliberately target women who are vulnerable or self-conscious about their appearance. Gross.

@IRunForFun: see that's what I would see as a scheme - if they have to keep paying in. The only money I "lose" is what I spend on myself, which I see as no different than if I went to Lush or Origins or even Target and bought a ton of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, scrub, facial stuff, etc.

@avivoca: thank you! that means a lot - I really try not to bombard. I oftentimes use instagram to post to facebook, which is why there are posts in both places.

It makes me uncomfortable to "support" one friend or family member's MLM business and not another because I like one product better than the other. So I have just made it a policy that I don't participate in anything related to direct sales ever so no one can ever take it personally.

I saw a product on Facebook the other day that for the first time seemed like something I couldn't find somewhere else for a better price and less hassle. So I guess another big reason is I see no need.

@BadgerMom: "What I hate is the parties where you're invited basically with the expectation of buying something and then you spend more time learning about the AMAZINGLY AWESOME business opportunity and how the sales person quit their job and has UMPTEEN hours a week with their kids and YOU CAN TOO, and oh yeah, here are some products..."

YES. Thank you! That's the problem I have with it, too. My best friend started selling Mary Kay last year. I went to her very first party along with a few of her family members to let her "practice." The girl who "recruited" her was there, to teach her how to run the party. Well, this girl was so aggressive about wanting to recruit ME (and that is sooo far way from my personality/anything I'd be interested in). I was 35+ weeks pregnant at the time and she went on and on about how I could stay home with my kids, etc. I was like "um I have a month until I have a newborn, I don't want to start anything right now." She then went on to tell me stories of people she knew who started right before their due dates and made so much money... Ugh! I couldn't get out of there fast enough! But I went to support my best friend because she supported me when I started my (photography) business. I've basically told her since then that I'll let her know when I want more stuff, but I just can't handle all the parties, etc.