Amway/Quixtar MLM Scheme.

[TylerSVT]

So i have a buddy who has recently gotten into the MLM scheme (see, Pyramid scheme made legal through technicalities). How the hell should i let this guy know he is an idiot and most likely going to be pissing away money for a while.

Anyone have any experience in dealing with these kinda of people...

He's trying to sell me water and laundry detergent.... FML.

[chemgear]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot31XhgE_XE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgnvMfDu47c

Hmmm, not sure why I can't embed - oh well.

[MelBridgeman]

sometimes people need to learn the hard way, do your best, but don't expect much.

[Kybosh]

Get new friends.

[Josh]

Good luck getting through to him, he's pretty much in a cult now.

[HotHotHeat]

It takes a supreme level of idiocy and vulnerability to get involved in that stuff.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Some funny stuff in this Quixtar thread - http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=24035&

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by TylerSVT

How the hell should i let this guy know he is an idiot

Just tell him he is an idiot?

[TylerSVT]

Been reading about this stuff all night... how can anyone be this stupid?

[burnin_vernon]

Anybody who has been in this awkward situation should see the movie "Go". One of the funniest series of scenes I've ever seen.

[pylon]

I know of a family that Primerica litteraly tore apart culminating in total bankruptcy, and a shotgun under a chin. These places are just foul, evil business models that suck people dry, have zero remorse, and take no prisoners. In my opinion, they can be cults more dangerous than scientology. There is probably a 1% or less chance you can actually make a viable living off of these MLM scams, and even the ones that do, or the ring leaders, typically end up going broke theselves... google Don Lapre or Kevin Trudeau to see what I mean.

It's a loser opportunity... for losers to be blunt. Tell your friend that, bluntly, and he may think otherwise.

[Table 5]

This little blurb from the Amway wiki page pretty much sums up how successful your friend will be in his new endeavour.

Amway was ordered to accompany any such statements with the actual averages per distributor, pointing out that more than half of the distributors do not make any money, with the average distributor making less than $100 per month.

[Locke]

You have to let it run its course. This stuff generally appeals only to the desperate.

[WilsonFourTwo]

You should be supportive, and be ready to help pick up the pieces when the inevitable collapse comes. The motive (money) for getting into this garbage will be the same reason (lack of money) he eventually gets out.

I had a buddy that sold pens and crappy knick-knacks at bus stations and C-Train platforms years ago. It took about 8 weeks of being constantly broke before he realized that it wasn't working, and why.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by pylon

It's a loser opportunity... for losers to be blunt. Tell your friend that, bluntly, and he may think otherwise.

Ya - a couple of us had a mini-intervention with our friend (this was about 15 years ago). It's tough telling your close friend that they've been targeted by a scammer......particularly when you have to explain the traits that make them a good target.

What got him over the hump, you ask?

"Jim, you've been putting in 10 hours per day, 6 days a week, and have actually lost a ton of money despite the awesome effort. It was worth a shot I guess, but if you'd have taken that mailroom job, you'd have been making $7.00/hr the whole time".

[troutman]

http://www.mlmwatch.org/

Accurate information about multilevel marketing is not easy to get. Few publishers, editors, and broadcasters are willing to examine this topic in depth. Most reports reaching the public express what the companies and individual distributors would like people to believe. Nearly all MLM companies selling health-related products exaggerate their value, and the vast majority of people who become distributors do not make significant income.

http://amway.robinlionheart.com/articles.htm

[Jackpot_Smooth]

Don't be surprised to hear lines like "let's compare bank accounts in a few months...".

Don't they try to recruit all their friends and family once indoctrinated?

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by pylon

I know of a family that Primerica litteraly tore apart culminating in total bankruptcy, and a shotgun under a chin. These places are just foul, evil business models that suck people dry, have zero remorse, and take no prisoners. In my opinion, they can be cults more dangerous than scientology. There is probably a 1% or less chance you can actually make a viable living off of these MLM scams, and even the ones that do, or the ring leaders, typically end up going broke theselves... google Don Lapre or Kevin Trudeau to see what I mean.

It's a loser opportunity... for losers to be blunt. Tell your friend that, bluntly, and he may think otherwise.

When I first came out of university, and was desperatly looking for a job, I posted me resume on monster.ca, and someone from Primerica contacted me asking if I wanted to attend a seminar. Being the naive and lack of world experience person that I was, I went thinking it was some sort of job interview.

So I attended, and it quickly dawned on me what they were trying to do. They basically wanted me to sucker friends and relatives into buying their crap. The whole seminar experience was kind of creepy. They had guys go up there extolling the awesomeness of the company and how it made them steady 6 digit incomes every year. Then, they played a clip of the Primerica founder, and after the clip finished, people were standing up and clapping and cheering.

By this point, I figure, heck, I'm there, might as well get in on the free food before I go. I was surprised there were people who bought into this garbage. It honestly felt like a cult. I made my exit pretty quick after that, but they kept calling me afterwards asking if I was interested. I finally had to basically tell them to fata off before they'd stop calling.

[Raekwon]

You guys have this all wrong, just let me come by your house and talk to you about this great business opportunity.

[Prototype]

I bought in, attended a few meetings, had the binder and the inspirational CD. Cost me I think about $100 at the time. Got a card to book hotel rooms at a discount. Saved about $100 over a two night stay. Haven't touched anything to do with Quixtar since.

I win.