network marketing
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An old friend ask me to attend a talk on network marketing today. Any of u out there has been to similiar talks or is doing this business right now??
Care to share with me whether this is a good business to be in?? I've seen people getting their BMWs and heard people telling me about the bad thing about this. So, i would appreciate all comments/views out there.. -
ugh! i hate it when an old friend comes out of the woodwork, invites me to some "very important meeting" run by people who wanna start a business.
And then 20mins later, i realise i've been suckered into a fucking MLM talk.
DIE MOTHERFuckers!!!!!! -
Hmm.. it's quite long.. but hope it helps
MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING
Rules to limit number of levels in MLM needed
By Andy Ho
SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
LOCAL university and polytechnic students have been bitten by the multi-level marketing (MLM) bug since January.
Afflicted tertiary students are trying to push loony products such as a 'biomagnetic mattress that improves nerve function', and recruiting classmates, friends and family to do the same.
They seem not to realise that if the product is indeed such a boon to mankind, it would be sold through everyday marketing channels. There would be little need for some special marketing scheme and certainly none for inexperienced distributors to market it.
Not that these activities on campus are illegal: The MLM & Pyramid Selling (Excluded Schemes and Arrangements) Amendment Order 2001 provides that MLM arrangements which satisfy certain conditions are permissible here.
But legal or not, what is undeniable is that nearly everyone loses money in an MLM even as so many keep trying.
Superficially, MLM looks like a form of direct sales where independent distributors sell products, usually in the customer's home, or by phone.
Initially, you buy the products at a discount - 'wholesale' - and sell them 'retail.'
Many 'pay to play', stocking up on products to meet sales goals.
This 'front-end loading' supposedly pushes the new distributor to higher bonus-levels quickly, but you may get stuck with unsold products that cost you thousands of dollars.
Meanwhile, you must recruit other distributors to do the same to become eligible to collect a percentage of their sales.
Yes, money can be made from such sales - but even more from those of other distributors you recruit, provided you can recruit them.
This could all work out if MLMs were immune to forces of supply and demand - but, alas, they are not.
In any real business, if you plan to make and distribute, say, a million widgets, you have to gear up factories, set up dealer networks and manage inventories at each level.
If you underestimate demand and run out of widgets, you would miss out on profits that could have been made. But if you overestimate demand, your company goes belly-up.
Then, there are territorial considerations too.
Imagine a Burger King (BK) opening four franchises at the Orchard-Scotts intersection. But not everyone wants a BK burger for lunch every day, so the outlets are sure to die a slow death.
Even the best products have only partial market penetration, and that is why, in the real world, BK does not have four outlets sitting squat opposite each other.
Yet, in the MLMer's fantasy world, he can tell the recruit: 'Everyone will want this product!'
That is, its demand and market share are infinite.
So, the MLMer says, all you have to do is convince 10 people in your location that everyone needs this product, and get them to also convince 10 others in the same location. And so on.
This geometric expansion is usually portrayed as an expanding matrix, with kickbacks at certain levels.
The word 'pyramid' is studiously avoided: Yet, at a mere three levels deep, it is already 1,000 people, while at six levels deep, a million people will be selling to yet others.
If the model really worked, MLM company Amway would be larger than even the United States economy in just 18 months.
The rebuttal: 'Only some succeed, so the market will never be saturated.'
This despite them saying during the sales pitch that anyone can make it with this opportunity of a lifetime.
Yet, mention saturation and you'll be told: 'Most will fail, but not you, because you are a winner.'
Actually, the gullible recruit won't get this far: Queries are quickly defused with a joke or a personal story, and the MLMer quickly returns to the main point: 'Now is the time to join up.'
Even if you don't know how many 'distributors' are already above you.
Ominously, Amway's 'Business Review, 1998' of its distributor data from April 1994 through March 1995 showed an average 'gross income' of only US$88 (S$154) per month per distributor.
No rational person would try selling something knowing full well the company openly over-hires 'sales reps' - without pay - for the same products in the same prospective territory.
So, the MLMer's main thing is not selling the product, but selling others on selling others who sell yet others a fantasy.
Which is why every MLM brochure appeals blatantly to unbridled materialism - a mood shot of a bungalow, a BMW in the driveway, a beautiful couple on some exotic vacation, and so on.
The egregious appeal to greed should make you sit up and think if a legitimate business opportunity might not, instead, focus on the product and the market instead.
But greed suspends good judgment and common sense flies out of the window.
Not being professional salesmen, MLMers may not be very obnoxious when pushing their products. But when it comes to signing you up as a 'distributor', they go over the edge because an MLM rewards people to recruit others.
They will resort to every trick in the book to get you to their 'meetings' where a slick presenter, presented as a successful distributor, gets everyone worked up into a frenzy of greed.
Before you can say abracadabra, you are signed up, then let loose on gullible, expendable friends, and even close family.
MLMs grow by exploiting relationships, which is rationalised away as 'building your business' or 'networking'.
MLMers can't see how they appear to their lifelong friends and family members, who try desperately to avoid them.
But the pyramid is unsustainable.
Sooner or later, you realise you have been had. Yet people do not easily admit defeat but go into denial and depression.
When you do eventually give up, you are too embarrassed about having participated to file a complain with the authorities.
So, the MLM continues to exploit the most vulnerable, the desperate, the retrenched, the ignorant, and the gullible.
Short of banning them, as China did in April 1988, enforcement authorities should limit the number of hierarchical levels allowed, prohibit distributors several levels above the seller from profiting more per sale than the actual seller, and require all MLM schemes to make public a complete breakdown of their payouts for all levels of distributors. And this would not be over-regulation.
After all, a sucker is born every minute. With some apparently even ending up in our institutions of higher learning, they all must be better protected.
Andy Ho is a senior writer with The Straits Times. -
so, in other words, it's a scam...
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There's always 3 sides to a story.. Yours, Mine & The truth. What I suggest is that you research abt the company 1st before you sign up. Ask questions, its your own money you're putting in anyway & more importantly, your own precious time. There are even scams in normal business ventures, so how is this different? Like what PCK always says... Use your brain, use your braaaain!! hahaha.
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SCAMS..............................Originally posted by thoreldan:An old friend ask me to attend a talk on network marketing today. Any of u out there has been to similiar talks or is doing this business right now??
Care to share with me whether this is a good business to be in?? I've seen people getting their BMWs and heard people telling me about the bad thing about this. So, i would appreciate all comments/views out there..
Only IDOITS goes for these talks -
the surveyer ask mi go
(call mi twice liao...damn 
)...but i didn't bother to go....i lied say i in ns.....n DUN BOTHER TO CALL MI AGAIN -
Originally posted by thoreldan:An old friend ask me to attend a talk on network marketing today. Any of u out there has been to similiar talks or is doing this business right now??
Care to share with me whether this is a good business to be in?? I've seen people getting their BMWs and heard people telling me about the bad thing about this. So, i would appreciate all comments/views out there..
Ask your friend what it is really. There is no way your friend wouldn't know if he invites you.
And if there's secrecy......well, I think it's bad.
Things that are bad are normally kept as secrets. -
I believe there are merits to MLM. Like joining it to improve ur PR skills, EQ etc. But i dun think it's a viable source of income in the long run.
Frankly if i were to join an MLM company, i would learn more about their logistics/sales methods, to improve my PR skills etc rather than see MLM as a way to really earn money cause most can't and i really mean most. Those who make money are those who start at the top of the pyramid, mainly those who started the company n those 1 or 2 lvls below them. But it's a good place to see how u can scam... well lets not say scam, u put down ur money willingly, u asked for it... a better word is 'convince'. Such PR skills can help u in ur other areas of ur normal work life. This is the only merit i see of MLM. It should only be done part time as a way to improve ur comm. skills n nothing else. Dun expect to earn money from it cause u can't... -
not all are bad lah...but see wat means they undertake lor...
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hey... fcuk u... go sell ur shit to others pls... dun turn this forum to a market place to scam pple..Originally posted by Garis:-edited- -
Well... what can I say?? I can only suggest that you all know your facts first before posting anything. For your info MLM is legalised in Singapore..... separation act had happened... SIngapore Government is not so stupid to let a scam happen here for goodness sake!!! so dont bring down an industry with comments that have got no base to prove.Originally posted by MetalGear:I believe there are merits to MLM. Like joining it to improve ur PR skills, EQ etc. But i dun think it's a viable source of income in the long run.
Frankly if i were to join an MLM company, i would learn more about their logistics/sales methods, to improve my PR skills etc rather than see MLM as a way to really earn money cause most can't and i really mean most. Those who make money are those who start at the top of the pyramid, mainly those who started the company n those 1 or 2 lvls below them. But it's a good place to see how u can scam... well lets not say scam, u put down ur money willingly, u asked for it... a better word is 'convince'. Such PR skills can help u in ur other areas of ur normal work life. This is the only merit i see of MLM. It should only be done part time as a way to improve ur comm. skills n nothing else. Dun expect to earn money from it cause u can't...
Another thing let me ask you; yes I agree that in some Network marketing companies, the people who are at the top earns more than the bottom........ isnt this the same as other non mlm companies?? when you go to work at the office as an admin assistan for eg, is your boss or supervisor earning more than you?? Lets say you are in sale department earning commissions..... is your boss or company earning too? oH!! you just realised!! so... you not happy?? dont go to work lah!! -
one piece of advice for budding and current MLMers....Don't be LAMers k?
go and find a proper job which gives u a stable salary.u will thank me for this in due time.If u intend to go into the sales line,at least find one which gives u a moderate basic salary.MLM or "pyramid" is just a business which exploits relationship.i'm speaking from past experience.i had a friend who "changed" alot to become more confident when he was in MLM.he asked me to go for a meet-up and his "boss" talk to personally.he know i wouldn't join up,then he used the lame method of putting me down.he asked me in a serious tone,"Do u intend to get pocket money from your parents ur whole life? Can u think of ur future now?" That was it...he insulted my intelligence.my mind was going..."I rather take pocket money from them for the time being b4 i start to work,then make them pay alot more now for my foolishness." Thats how desperate MLMers or LAMers are in order to hire u.
i had no choice but to avoid this friend of mine....our relationship suffered.till now..it has not recovered.btw,the last time we talk...he told me truthfully that he regretted joining MLM cos he spent a few hundred dollars but his pay per month is less than $30.is this plain greediness or what? then he confided in me that he appeared very "confident" cos he was taught to do so in order to clinch deals.luckily,i was smart...no i mean honest enough to fall for their trick.
just my 2cents worth...keep the change!
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Originally posted by Augustin:
can u please dun act so cocky?
Well... what can I say?? I can only suggest that you all know your facts first before posting anything. For your info MLM is legalised in Singapore..... separation act had happened... SIngapore Government is not so stupid to let a[b] scam happen here for goodness sake!!! so dont bring down an industry with comments that have got no base to prove.
Another thing let me ask you; yes I agree that in some Network marketing companies, the people who are at the top earns more than the bottom........ isnt this the same as other non mlm companies?? when you go to work at the office as an admin assistan for eg, is your boss or supervisor earning more than you?? Lets say you are in sale department earning commissions..... is your boss or company earning too? oH!! you just realised!! so... you not happy?? dont go to work lah!![/b]
yes MLM is legalised in singapore. but do u have any idea how many MLM companies are actually following the rules?
I know that there is at least 1 stupid MLM company in singapore that doesnt follow e rules...in fact it is still breaking all the rules til now.
CHECK OUT THE FACTS PLEASE... -
Then let me tell you that my company is. Lets say you go to a chinese restaraunt, and you find that the food was bad, you wouldnt want to go back there again. but does that mean that ALL chinese restaurants are bad? You will still go to other restaurants right??Originally posted by shutthehellup:can u please dun act so cocky?
yes MLM is legalised in singapore. but do u have any idea how many MLM companies are actually following the rules?
I know that there is at least 1 stupid MLM company in singapore that doesnt follow e rules...in fact it is still breaking all the rules til now.
CHECK OUT THE FACTS PLEASE...
The point here is, no matter what proffession you are in whether finance, law, accounting, meidicine, etc, there are bound to be bad eggs. Network marketing is just the same.
The following is meant for the reply before this:
I do agree that some people in this business tend to mislead people into their plan. Forgive them, for most of us are less than 2 years old in this business because Singapore law only allowed this to happen only recently. But let me say it once and for all: It takes pure legitimate hard work to do this business successfully. just like any other.
There are still no shortcuts to success. Only workable systems will get you there, and no shortcuts. Someone has to sell something before anyone makes money. No matter how much products you use or invested, how much tapes, cds of motivation you bought, how much thousands and millions of dollars$$ you spent, you still have to sell something before you make money.. pure common sense!! Any business no matter how much invested will not make money and profit if he doesnt sell!! not just in network marketing.
I hope I clarified something here. -
A pc of advice...
DUN FALL INTO IT!!!
My products oso ppl sell under MLM. Always hear customers complain abt them cheatin ppl who buy fr them... -
i went b4 but i gave them 15 mins.
but they wun give up when time is up. anyway i left when 15 mins is up. nothing can stop my decision!! -
straight from the book called "fad surfing in the boardroom"....
everyone else's product which was hammered was deserving of being hammered EXCEPT MINE!
sheeshOriginally posted by attitudewins:My empathies to those of you who've been suckered into companies that do not have products with real value. Sometimes, it's just reality that good approaches tend to be abused.
However, I'm doing also nutritional products but it works and has world-wide at least 85% retention rate. It's quite lengthy to defend anything in this forum but do check it out yourself.
This company that I've joined has excellent products - endorsed by the U.S. Olympic Council, used by U.S. Olympic atheletes, certified banned substance free by ConsumerLabs.com and in many products rated number one by U.S. supplement consumer watchdog SupplementWatch.com
I've put everything together at http://discovervalue.com/abc if you are interested to research more. -
i bought a magnetic mattress from a mlm company (lets not name it) for 1500+. (again lets not give the exact price as tt will tell the whole world which mlm im tokking abt). after tt i went on the internet n found magnetic mattresses selling for less than 200 in australia n other countries like US.....
anyway anybody heard of internet marketing or home-based businesses. U can find out more here. http://www.ezinfocenter.com/8326685/SIM n here http://www.ezinfocenter.com/8326685/IAHBE
i feel tt it is much more ethical than mlm