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Experienced MLMers' help needed

by Houcem Rihane
11 replies
Hi everybody.

I have discovered the online business world around 4 years ago through MLM and I was active in network marketing and mlm for a couple of years.

But then I was confronted to what seems to me an ethic problem:

The fact that the product in MLM is just an excuse to build the downline and not really the goal of that company. Most customers use the product just because they hope that they will build a downline and qualify for commissions sometime in the "near" future.

Evidence for this fact is that most companies sell the opportunity and not the product, they sell the possibility of making a living online through a downline and not through the sales of the product.

And you can not compare this with affiliate marketing because you are nor obliged to buy a certain volume of the product each predetermined period of time, which is the case with MLM.

Now my question:

Are there any MLM companies that:
a)are known for their honesty and business integrity.
b)have a product that really delivers a real solution to a real problem.
c)don't obliges you to purchase a certain volume in order to be eligible for you commissions.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Houcem
#experienced #mlmers #needed
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
    Hi Houcem,

    I tried to contact you via Skype but you seem to be offline at the moment?

    I believe you will find what I have interesting.

    Have a Great Day/Night!
    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    a) no mlm is known for it's honesty and business integrity.
    There are many MLM distributors who are honest and have
    integrity though. No MLM company is above reproach - they
    all have their detractors.

    b) Now that we've established the answer to the first question
    is NO - the answer to the second is YES. Though we must
    qualify that further because while many companies do make
    a nice product there is a problem of the products being
    way overpriced... ie. a $60 bottle of vitamins of comparable
    quality to what you could get for $20 at a vitamin store.

    c) I guess you are asking if you can recommend the product
    and make money without buying the product? Since
    there are millions of people looking for an MLM opportunity
    where they can make money without spending any there
    are probably MLMs out there that meet this criteria. Some
    of the bigger-ticket direct-selling programs have no monthly
    quotas. Most of the smaller-ticket MLM plans do.

    You might take a look at Discovery Toys, Avon, Mary Kay,
    the soy candle companies, Tupperware, and other "party
    plan" type MLMs. Those may be the safest solutions for
    you.
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
      Loren,

      To generalize all MLM's into one category is just shallow minded!

      I happen to know of a MLM company that has changed it's total
      perspective based on my own requests. Not only have they
      made changes to the commission levels they have also changed their
      website and many other things I found to be detrimental to their business model.

      The owner came to Louisville just this past weekend to help close a very
      large account that our group set up.

      The product that this company has to offer is the cats meow in my
      opinion and I also feel that the timing is perfect for it.

      It targets the Going Green Movement and Helps to Solve a Problem
      everyone has!

      Now, As for your other example/statements ie, b.) and C) I Agree!

      Have a Great Day!
      Michael

      General statement as you have made tend to place black marks on the MLM industry
      Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye View Post

      a) no mlm is known for it's honesty and business integrity.
      There are many MLM distributors who are honest and have
      integrity though. No MLM company is above reproach - they
      all have their detractors.

      b) Now that we've established the answer to the first question
      is NO - the answer to the second is YES. Though we must
      qualify that further because while many companies do make
      a nice product there is a problem of the products being
      way overpriced... ie. a $60 bottle of vitamins of comparable
      quality to what you could get for $20 at a vitamin store.

      c) I guess you are asking if you can recommend the product
      and make money without buying the product? If you want
      to do this what do you think your downline will want to do?
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Zalesky
    Originally Posted by houcemtrigun View Post

    Hi everybody.

    I have discovered the online business world around 4 years ago through MLM and I was active in network marketing and mlm for a couple of years.

    But then I was confronted to what seems to me an ethic problem:

    The fact that the product in MLM is just an excuse to build the downline and not really the goal of that company. Most customers use the product just because they hope that they will build a downline and qualify for commissions sometime in the "near" future.

    Evidence for this fact is that most companies sell the opportunity and not the product, they sell the possibility of making a living online through a downline and not through the sales of the product.

    And you can not compare this with affiliate marketing because you are nor obliged to buy a certain volume of the product each predetermined period of time, which is the case with MLM.

    Now my question:

    Are there any MLM companies that:
    a)are known for their honesty and business integrity.
    b)have a product that really delivers a real solution to a real problem.
    c)don't obliges you to purchase a certain volume in order to be eligible for you commissions.

    Thank you in advance for your help.

    Houcem
    It wouldnt be the Berry Tree would it? I find a ton of MLM companies all try and promote signing up people vs selling products. That is the way your upline makes money and if you actually build a downline you would to want everyone to build there team.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tsnyder
    First... if you're involved in a company that sells a product
    that is overpriced simply to fund the comp plan... get out now.

    Second... nobody in MLM gets paid for simply signing people
    up. That is the definition of an illegal pyramid scheme.

    Tsnyder
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    If you knew what I know you'd be doing what I do...
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
      I Totally Agree...
      Originally Posted by Tsnyder View Post

      First... if you're involved in a company that sells a product
      that is overpriced simply to fund the comp plan... get out now.

      Second... nobody in MLM gets paid for simply signing people
      up. That is the definition of an illegal pyramid scheme.

      Tsnyder
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  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    Believe me Michael, no MLM can go long without
    negative press. That's just the nature of the
    game - but if you want to portray your mlm as
    the saviour for the entire industry that's your
    perogative.

    I'm promoting an MLM myself right now - and
    I'm actively recruiting distributors just as you
    are. I won't claim it's perfect though because
    the natures of MLM is that they CAN (and many
    will) cut distributors loose and change compensation
    plans whenever management chooses to. As
    a distributor you are in a position of limited power
    and if you don't like policy changes you can
    stuff it.

    In spite of that there are advantages to the
    mlm distrubution model and that's why it's worth
    looking into for some people.

    If any distributor in your MLM screws somebody over
    then that person will have bad things to say
    about the MLM - even if a new MLM has a shiney
    reputation it's impossible for it to be maintained -
    any business will have dissatisfied customers, no
    matter how pure and altrustic the motives of
    the people who started the company.
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
      Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye View Post

      Believe me Michael, no MLM can go long without
      negative press. That's just the nature of the
      game
      I agree and the company that I am talking about has had their fare share also.
      - but if you want to portray your mlm as
      the saviour for the entire industry that's your
      perogative.
      I never claimed that the company was any kind of saviour for the industry.
      I'm promoting an MLM myself right now - and
      I'm actively recruiting distributors just as you
      are. I won't claim it's perfect though because
      the natures of MLM is that they CAN (and many
      will) cut distributors loose and change compensation
      plans whenever management chooses to. As
      a distributor you are in a position of limited power
      and if you don't like policy changes you can
      stuff it.
      I never said that this company was perfect as I don't believe that such a thing exists in the business world.
      All business models can be improved upon.
      In spite of that there are advantages to the
      mlm distrubution model and that's why it's worth
      looking into for some people.
      I Agree.
      If any distributor in your MLM screws somebody over
      then that person will have bad things to say
      about the MLM - even if a new MLM has a shiney
      reputation it's impossible for it to be maintained -
      any business will have dissatisfied customers, no
      matter how pure and altrustic the motives of
      the people who started the company.
      I Agree with that too.

      The thing that I found really interesting about this company was the fact
      that they actually listen to their distribution chain and make changes in
      order to help the distributors by providing new tools and training.

      They don't just teach you how to build your down line like most do, They
      also help you to move the products.

      One big difference between this company and many others that I have
      dealt with is the fact that you don't have to maintain your own inventory
      in order to keep your back office.

      This helps the newer distributor by not filling his/her basement with
      products while building their down lines.

      Everything that my group has asked the company for they have delivered.

      Let me ask you, How many MLM companies will do that to help their
      people?

      They had changed their compensation plan just before we entered the
      game and after we entered we asked them to make changes to the plan
      and they made every change we requested.

      At first they asked us if we were trying to bankrupt them...lol

      We told them that the plan we proposed will work and motivate the
      distributors there by increasing both product sales and help to build
      down lines.

      After they did the math, they made the changes to the compensation plan
      and not only has it caused an increase in product sales it also increase sign ups.

      I've been in many MLM companies and I have never seen one that
      compares to this one. Plus, This one is new so the opportunity to score big
      is very good.

      I'll stop there as I don't want to appear to be soliciting people to join.

      Thanks for your perspective,
      Have a Great Day!
      Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author Takuya Hikichi
    Houcem,

    Find something that you can HONESTLY say even if income isn't attached, you don't mind using.

    If you can answer YES, then it can be something you're looking for.
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  • Profile picture of the author KatieWilliams
    Hi Houcem

    I'm a full-time network marketer.

    We all have different ideas of what's ethical and what isn't; I personally wouldn't get involved in any company if I didn't believe in the products the company offered.

    How can you sincerely build a team and take people's money if you have no belief in the importance of the product?

    I started out as a nutritionist looking for supplements I was happy to recommend to my clients and it happened that the best I found were made by a network marketing company. For years all I did was use and recommend their products, then I gradually learnt the importance of multiple streams of income and got started building the business.

    But would I compromise my name and my values to join a MLM with shoddy products and a great pay plan? No way. I wouldn't want to be associated with a company like that.

    As with anything, there are good and bad MLM companies out there.

    Good luck finding the right one for you

    Katie
    Signature

    Katie

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  • Profile picture of the author Houcem Rihane
    Thanks everybody for the participation.

    I am actually not asking because I want to join some mlm or so.
    My path is actually clear: Affiliate marketing + Own product creation. I am getting pretty good at it so there is no reason to change a winning team.

    I just see a lot of people taking the direction of MLM without having any thoughts how ethical this is (exceptions confirm the rule). So I was wondering if there is even a share of this business that can be considered ethical.

    @Michael Mayo: If you want to contact me then use a PM since I live in another time zone (europe).
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