Hellobee Boards

I read it this morning and it was very intriguing. I was very into LLR last year as the leggings were super comfy and fit over my giant pregnant belly. However...the luster is gone. I left all of my LLR groups and I don't even really like the things I got anymore. My black leggings leave stains on everything. They ruined my diaper bag. The skirt I have will not stay up, and it's my size. And most of the patterns are not my cup of tea.

I don't feel as marketed to as a new mom with LLR though. Most of the MLM that have been preying on me have been the weight loss people (It Works, Plexus, BeachBody).

I think the history of MLMs was the most interesting to me. They used to fulfill a need of supplying product to areas without nearby stores. Well, now we have the internet, so they either have to be unique highly-desired products (like LuLaRoe to my disgust) or they pretend to be easy ways to support your friends in their financial goals. Except you most likely aren't.

I hate MLM consultants that prey on my friends. I'd love a way to report people using their FB account solely for MLM promotion to get that crap out of there.

I understand some people (even on this board I'm sure) are the lucky ones that make it work for their families. But by being part of the company, you are enabling/endorsing the actions of every other predatory consultant out there. In my mind, I view it like I'd view any other job. If you took the job, you must tacitly approve of the industry. You wouldn't work for Budweiser if you disapproved of alcohol for example. I personally no longer buy MLM products.

You don't think people should be pressured into going into debt to buy inventory to bulk up the sales of the upstream? Good! Don't participate in the industry, buy from Etsy or something.

My sister sells Lularoe and I think she is getting scammed but our relationship is not great and I don't want to rock the boat by saying anything. My DH wants me to send her that article (I read it last night) but I'm scared she has already drank the koolaid and will shoot the messenger. She's been selling it almost a year and is still in debt. She also had to pay her own way to their annual conference last month, which seems insane to me. She had to spend all this money for a flight hotel etc and all she got in return is a free pair of hideous leggings and a surprise Katy Perry concert? The company seems very fishy to me.

John Oliver dedicated an entire show to MLMs and it was fantastic:

@avivoca: It's more the cultishness of the way she talked about the conference, and the company in general, that turned me off.

Super interesting article. I try to stay away from mlms at all cost, so I had no idea people couldn't choose what they sell for lularoe. That seems like such an incredible red flag right off the bat if you were considering it.

@codeitall: I agree on the history being fascinating and the evolution.

Like, I can buy anything from most anywhere in the world with a few keystrokes on a handheld device. It's so nutso to think I have to buy some 'exclusive' item from the lady down the street. So now it's become about 'supporting' women and moms and that guilt that you aren't supporting friends or family. And of course the faux exclusivity. The language they use is so interesting. I would buy anything a friend or family member handmade or support their business or restaurant in a hot second, but no mlms anymore.

I read this article a few days ago and found it so fascinating! I really dislike mlms but I have tried a rodan and fields kit and lipsense in support of friends who started selling. I felt both were basically overpriced junk. It annoys me the way the reps talk about making great money and then turn around and try to tell you what a great value it is when it's clearly priced sky high to facilitate profit distribution to the various tiers. They eye cream is $100 because everybody up the chain needs to make their cut of that sale, not because it's a great eye cream.

The thing about LLR is that although I don't think the cuts look all that bad (in my very limited experience- I have two solid colored things, OS leggings and a S Nicole, which I imagine is too long for many women), it's the prints. There may be a few cute ones out of many, many ugly ones. So there's competition to get the select few nice ones, but the consultants can't really make any money off that. They're forced to buy tons of prints they can't get rid of to sell a few nicer ones that go for a certain price range that, correct me if I'm wrong, LLR determines.

I had NO idea LLR couldn't pick their own inventory. No wonder some of them are trying to sell some God awful prints I mostly avoid MLMs, but I have def tried (and enjoyed) a couple of products. On principle, 100% buy them from the least pushy sales person I know. I cannot tell you how many people I've unfriended or unfollowed on Facebook bc I get so sick of their sales pitches. And the best is when you get a random message from someone you havent talked to in years--"hey!! You look so beautiful, love your family! Oh and ps buy my crap".

It drives me NUTS when reps are like "when you buy from me, you're not helping a CEO...you're helping a mom make ends meet" or whatever. Um. No. Pretty sure there's still a LARGE chunk of my money making it back to your CEO 🙄 Whoever designed MLMs is genius, I'll give them that.

Ok. I think I'm done ranting now.

I rarely buy MLM. Friends usually give me MLM stuff from their overstock or addictions. I don't mind MLM when people are not pushy and am not totally love or hate. I would not be a consultant/coach/retailer for one nor recommend it but it is like shopping at walmart. I don't agree with all their values but I get stuff I like there when it is convenient. ETA: I do love my Beachbody. I do my purchases online, belong to a free app community, so I actually forgot it started out as a direct marketing thing. It is just another way of consuming. I do feel sorry for people who get into financial messes but somehow I think they don't have much business savvy to begin with or they just really enjoy it and get carried away. I bet many people break even and just get out. It is like a gamble. Not for me.

So - I have experience with MLMs and I dont have issues buying from them if I like the product. I do not buy from them just to support a friend...I'd rather take her to dinner or buy her a birthday gift frankly.

I also used to sell jewelry for a DS company (not an MLM - this is what was initially attractive to me)...I used to get so enraged with their tactics. There was a small group of us who spoke freely with each other and just discussed how its sad the consultants dont realize they ARE the best customers. I drew the line when I saw alleged "mentors" repeatedly tell women in rural areas "just buy more statement pieces...they are eye catchers and will encourage people to become interested"...RIGHT lets tell the poor girl in rural Idaho to rock a $148 necklace to the local grocery store to get attention and sales. NO. Thats not how this works. Her buying that necklace is $111 less for her family who might REALLY need it. Especially if she is one of the many trying to do this to support her family. The answer isnt buy more if you arent selling much. Ridiculous.

As for LLR - I cannot believe all these consultants are comfortable with a $6K investment...that is so much money to have on the line. And then - dont even get me started on having no say in your prints/pieces. Just ridiculous. I would never sell anything where I had to carry inventory.

I am currently a part of a different company that is an MLM but has a primary focus of advocacy in legislation - I respect the moral code and ethics of the company. I also have no intention of "recruiting"...just sharing the products. So its ok for me. I just listened to a training call from a managing director in our company who has reached that level without selling to family and friends - I was super intrigued by the call and it did not disappoint.

I wish more people who choose to enter in to direct selling would 1) consider the risk and investment 2) ensure they will not rely solely on family/friends as customers and 3) realize we all dont want our facebook feeds filled with this crap non stop. Oh and stop the cold calling...no one likes it...dont reach out to me like you care about me just to sell me products. If I'm interested, I'll ask. If I dont, assume I'm not interested.

I have no comment on the selling part; I own a few pieces of LLR mainly to support my friends selling them. I do like that a lot of styles also worked as maternity and great post postpartum clothes and in general are comfy and forgiving. I don't buy prints I don't like and I usually buy when I win a discount and I have quite a few pieces I won for free. I normally don't spend this much on clothes but like I said; I'm only in my friends groups and no one is forcing me to buy!

This was such an interesting read - thanks for sharing @Anya:

I, personally, do not own any LLR items, it's just not my style, and I truly don't get the hype... I have purchased from other MLM's though, to support friends, and out of curiosity since MLM's generally have excellent marketing/social tactics - it's hard to avoid!

I think a HUGE part of what is making these MLMs so big, is that there really is a huge population of stay-at-home moms, and working moms actually, that want to be a part of something.... MANY of my friends are involved with these (none pushy about selling their products to me, so I've been lucky in that regard) and most of them stay at home, and I think they like that 1 - they're a part of an adult community and have other moms/adults to talk to about NON-KID things, 2 - They are working to bring a little extra income into their homes, and in some cases, a lot of extra income, 3 - This gives them a sense of accomplishment that maybe they weren't feeling just being home, and 4 - for those that I know that also work full-time and do this, they like the social aspect and feel like they belong to a group.... I get it.

It's so hard as a Mom and an adult to make new friends, feel like they're included and want to do something that is fulfilling.... and I think this checks a lot of those boxes for people!