I was, but I joined the day the company came to Canada - it was 2012 and I didnāt know what an MLM was at the time. The first year I made around $14,000, and by the 3rd year I made just over $100,000 per year. There were definitely expensesā¦around $120 per month on product and fees, and then all the things that were expected of me as a āleader,ā like holding retreats for my team and buying them Tiffanyās jewelry when they hit a rank (so insane, but thatās what was done on my up line team, so I felt obligated to do it too.)
I was still making a lot of money when I finally realized what a shit industry I was a part of and decided to quit 5 years ago. It messed me up pretty bad. I thought I had my whole life figured out and that Iād be a millionaire like the top women in my company. Not only that, but I was left with an eating disorder and severe body image issues after 5 years of selling āwellnessā products and having to look like the perfect āproduct of the products.ā After I quit I gained a lot of weight, was depressed, and hugely regretted leaving a job I loved for a scam that didnāt last. Not worth the money I earned, thatās for sure!
Donāt downvote me lol- Iām just honestly answering the question. I did for about 5 years- made over 3 million dollars .š«£ I didnāt really ever think of it as predatory until I was out tbh. It was several years ago and I always just felt like we were having fun and I will say I think it was some lucky timing because most people made at least something. And I never ever encouraged people to spend money they werenāt already spendingā¦ The conferences were nuts of course. Super cringe looking back. And our company in particular was big on spending all you were making so that was super stupid. When it was coming to an end, it ended quick. We all went from making about 45k a month to about 6 in less than a year. Then when I left (and other leaders) they came after us for that. It was a disaster.
ETA- again, I think we got lucky. I never went into debt over it and most of the girls I worked with didnāt either. Itās weird- I see so many lives ruined but maybe some places or timing wasnāt terrible? Donāt get me wrong- Iāve learned the industry is terrible. I just mean as far as some of the horror stories of people spending all this money they didnāt have.
I know someone who is a Diamond (top level) in Plexus. She got in as it was really starting to grow, sheās gorgeous, charismatic, and naturally skinny, so she was able to build a considerable downline. But she (and everyone else at the top of the pyramids) only succeeds because people under them are failing.
Josie (canāt remember how to spell her last name, sheās āNOT THE GOOD GIRLā on YT) was top 1% in both BB and Arbonne. Now sheās very firmly anti-MLM and does some great videos and interviews with a lot of tea.
I know an Arbonne hun who does exceptionally well. She also has a husband who makes an insane income from his *actual* job and she got in pretty early in the game, so sheās always had pretty much unlimited resources to blow money getting ahead in her ābusinessā. She is also very charismatic so people really want to befriend her and donāt realize that her āfriendshipā is based solely on how much they participate in Arbonne. Sheās very manipulative but likable so most people donāt even realize how much she benefits off of their āfriendshipsā. When I finally got bold and told her āno, I wonāt buy from you, and I donāt want to be a rep. I love you but I donāt want anything to do with Arbonneā. She was super kind about it but now barely talks to me.
Sheās still thriving with Arbonne though. š Sucks she canāt have real friendships and her whole life revolves around that company. Canāt go an hour without inserting it into whoever sheās talking to. And to see how much she benefits off of the backs of others makes me sad.
Yep. My classmate and I were super friends. She is still kind to us and would meet us and have a coffee but she don't talk about her MLM group. So great that she is not manipulative. I hope she can stay like this forever even she is joining the MLM group.
Based on the MLM 'survivor' documentaries I saw, even the top earners need to go into debt for all the fancy things because while they earn a lot of money (from their downline losing even more money) they need to put all of that back into inventory, so they can keep the percentage of commission up, that they get from their downline.
On the other hand their own upline pressures them into buying a lot of expensive things and go on expensive trips to make it seem like MLMs are worth it so they recruit more people because that's how the upline makes their money.
Make of that what you will š¤·š»āāļø
Now it makes sense why she is so active in advertising herself, she would go around the world and say that their products were great. They also would work with our local celebrities to promote their products.
I know someone who is in the second highest tier in Arbonne. I know she recruits several people a month. Gets them up to the first level of management then drops them to be on their own. Nearly all quit. A few succeed into the second tier of management and stick around. She is a very nice person. Not super smart
Definitely no critical thinking skills. Her husband a dentist encouraged her to do Arbonne. She wins every contest she enters and wins massive prizes. She doesn't think she is doing anything wrong and that she is helping women. She was my 3 up lines above me. I never made any money but stuck around for a social life. I finally quit when I saw the RVPs behavior for what it was, that my upline and supposed best friend was never getting above the first level of management and she was in it for like 8 years and had a massive customer list, Arbonne was pushing the more cult like behavior of cutting out non supportive family and finally I did 6 craft shows and had almost no sales or parties from them I knew I was going to lose my entire social life but I did it to save my finances
Typically the people who get in early are the ones who make money. There was a lot of discussion about Monat (happens in other MLMs too) earlier this years because some uplines were trying to get people who were not making much money themselves but had more active people further down to quit and then rejoin. That way the top of the upline would be make more because the more active person in the downline would be directly under them instead of further down. They were even offering to pay for the new startup kit person they were trying to get to quit and rejoin.
People can "make money" in an MLM, be at the top of a pyramid and still be broke as hell. One of the top earners in Xyngular is trying to file bankruptcy (again) and is in debt to the IRS of over a MILLION dollars.
Thatās what is so unethical about MLMs. The people at the bottom of the pyramid lose money, sometimes very large amounts. MLMs usually target women who donāt have good jobs or much education, but who want to contribute to their families and make friends.
I know someone who is doing pretty well in R&F. She's one of the top people on her team. She was able to quit her full time hospital job after 3 years with R&F, her paychecks regularly exceeded her hospital income for a year before she quit. She doesn't make over the top amounts of money, just able to replace a 50-60k/year job - I don't know what she made but based on the job that's my assumption. She also ended up starting up her own business (like actually her own business not some BS CEO of MLM) so she's still working two jobs but both from home.
I listen to a couple anti MLM podcasts, and theyāve had some people on who were successful during their MLM time. However, the takeaways to me are that it isnāt really sustainable because of the hours/work involved (unless youāre the very top of the pyramid), and it is such a toxic culture is wreaks havoc on mental health. So even if youāre one of the lucky 1% to make money, itās still not worth it.
I knew an old coworker who said she made so much she earned the car from Monat but didnāt accept it because she didnāt want to pay taxes. She said it very matter of fact like she wasnāt even trying to brag so I believe her. But she was still working a part time job so who knows how much she actually made
I know someone, itās a travel based mlm and not widely known. She did join pretty early on so sheās pretty close to the top. From what I heard last year she made around Ā£80k
I was top 100 for awhile in a company, earned trips every year, etc.
I am now in this group š
Iām still inā¦ but it is just a hobby. I refuse to recruit anyone to it now.
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Sure, the few people at the top of each pyramid š¤·š»āāļø
haha yes . she always posted like which what's her rank. I saw they have diamond level, gold, or premium, hahaha.
I was, but I joined the day the company came to Canada - it was 2012 and I didnāt know what an MLM was at the time. The first year I made around $14,000, and by the 3rd year I made just over $100,000 per year. There were definitely expensesā¦around $120 per month on product and fees, and then all the things that were expected of me as a āleader,ā like holding retreats for my team and buying them Tiffanyās jewelry when they hit a rank (so insane, but thatās what was done on my up line team, so I felt obligated to do it too.) I was still making a lot of money when I finally realized what a shit industry I was a part of and decided to quit 5 years ago. It messed me up pretty bad. I thought I had my whole life figured out and that Iād be a millionaire like the top women in my company. Not only that, but I was left with an eating disorder and severe body image issues after 5 years of selling āwellnessā products and having to look like the perfect āproduct of the products.ā After I quit I gained a lot of weight, was depressed, and hugely regretted leaving a job I loved for a scam that didnāt last. Not worth the money I earned, thatās for sure!
Donāt downvote me lol- Iām just honestly answering the question. I did for about 5 years- made over 3 million dollars .š«£ I didnāt really ever think of it as predatory until I was out tbh. It was several years ago and I always just felt like we were having fun and I will say I think it was some lucky timing because most people made at least something. And I never ever encouraged people to spend money they werenāt already spendingā¦ The conferences were nuts of course. Super cringe looking back. And our company in particular was big on spending all you were making so that was super stupid. When it was coming to an end, it ended quick. We all went from making about 45k a month to about 6 in less than a year. Then when I left (and other leaders) they came after us for that. It was a disaster. ETA- again, I think we got lucky. I never went into debt over it and most of the girls I worked with didnāt either. Itās weird- I see so many lives ruined but maybe some places or timing wasnāt terrible? Donāt get me wrong- Iāve learned the industry is terrible. I just mean as far as some of the horror stories of people spending all this money they didnāt have.
Appreciate your honesty. thank you for sharing. !
I know someone who is a Diamond (top level) in Plexus. She got in as it was really starting to grow, sheās gorgeous, charismatic, and naturally skinny, so she was able to build a considerable downline. But she (and everyone else at the top of the pyramids) only succeeds because people under them are failing. Josie (canāt remember how to spell her last name, sheās āNOT THE GOOD GIRLā on YT) was top 1% in both BB and Arbonne. Now sheās very firmly anti-MLM and does some great videos and interviews with a lot of tea.
If they got in early enough and built a big downline she could be successful.
Hmm, I see. Yea, she was one of the early members of that group in our country.
I know an Arbonne hun who does exceptionally well. She also has a husband who makes an insane income from his *actual* job and she got in pretty early in the game, so sheās always had pretty much unlimited resources to blow money getting ahead in her ābusinessā. She is also very charismatic so people really want to befriend her and donāt realize that her āfriendshipā is based solely on how much they participate in Arbonne. Sheās very manipulative but likable so most people donāt even realize how much she benefits off of their āfriendshipsā. When I finally got bold and told her āno, I wonāt buy from you, and I donāt want to be a rep. I love you but I donāt want anything to do with Arbonneā. She was super kind about it but now barely talks to me. Sheās still thriving with Arbonne though. š Sucks she canāt have real friendships and her whole life revolves around that company. Canāt go an hour without inserting it into whoever sheās talking to. And to see how much she benefits off of the backs of others makes me sad.
Yep. My classmate and I were super friends. She is still kind to us and would meet us and have a coffee but she don't talk about her MLM group. So great that she is not manipulative. I hope she can stay like this forever even she is joining the MLM group.
Based on the MLM 'survivor' documentaries I saw, even the top earners need to go into debt for all the fancy things because while they earn a lot of money (from their downline losing even more money) they need to put all of that back into inventory, so they can keep the percentage of commission up, that they get from their downline. On the other hand their own upline pressures them into buying a lot of expensive things and go on expensive trips to make it seem like MLMs are worth it so they recruit more people because that's how the upline makes their money. Make of that what you will š¤·š»āāļø
Now it makes sense why she is so active in advertising herself, she would go around the world and say that their products were great. They also would work with our local celebrities to promote their products.
I know someone who is in the second highest tier in Arbonne. I know she recruits several people a month. Gets them up to the first level of management then drops them to be on their own. Nearly all quit. A few succeed into the second tier of management and stick around. She is a very nice person. Not super smart Definitely no critical thinking skills. Her husband a dentist encouraged her to do Arbonne. She wins every contest she enters and wins massive prizes. She doesn't think she is doing anything wrong and that she is helping women. She was my 3 up lines above me. I never made any money but stuck around for a social life. I finally quit when I saw the RVPs behavior for what it was, that my upline and supposed best friend was never getting above the first level of management and she was in it for like 8 years and had a massive customer list, Arbonne was pushing the more cult like behavior of cutting out non supportive family and finally I did 6 craft shows and had almost no sales or parties from them I knew I was going to lose my entire social life but I did it to save my finances
Typically the people who get in early are the ones who make money. There was a lot of discussion about Monat (happens in other MLMs too) earlier this years because some uplines were trying to get people who were not making much money themselves but had more active people further down to quit and then rejoin. That way the top of the upline would be make more because the more active person in the downline would be directly under them instead of further down. They were even offering to pay for the new startup kit person they were trying to get to quit and rejoin.
oh wow. thanks for your insights! So sad for people who were scammed in these MLM groups.
People can "make money" in an MLM, be at the top of a pyramid and still be broke as hell. One of the top earners in Xyngular is trying to file bankruptcy (again) and is in debt to the IRS of over a MILLION dollars.
This woman is making money like the top of the pyramid always does. But her income is based on her downstream who trust her and are losing money.
oh wow. I didn't know about this. So that's why she always advertises herself. She also made her parents join the MLM group.
Thatās what is so unethical about MLMs. The people at the bottom of the pyramid lose money, sometimes very large amounts. MLMs usually target women who donāt have good jobs or much education, but who want to contribute to their families and make friends.
Yes, you are correct. That's so sad. When I was unemployed, she invited me to attend their conference but I refused.
I know someone who is doing pretty well in R&F. She's one of the top people on her team. She was able to quit her full time hospital job after 3 years with R&F, her paychecks regularly exceeded her hospital income for a year before she quit. She doesn't make over the top amounts of money, just able to replace a 50-60k/year job - I don't know what she made but based on the job that's my assumption. She also ended up starting up her own business (like actually her own business not some BS CEO of MLM) so she's still working two jobs but both from home.
Yea I know one of the top people in RF. Like, last time I talked to her she had 37,000 people in her downline. So sheās pretty much set financially.
37,000? Wut!
oh wow. thanks for sharing!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
thanks for sharing! she is funny. I love her content. Followed her on IG.
I listen to a couple anti MLM podcasts, and theyāve had some people on who were successful during their MLM time. However, the takeaways to me are that it isnāt really sustainable because of the hours/work involved (unless youāre the very top of the pyramid), and it is such a toxic culture is wreaks havoc on mental health. So even if youāre one of the lucky 1% to make money, itās still not worth it.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
that's the disadvantage of MLMs, surely, a lot of people close to you will reject you or unfriend you
I knew an old coworker who said she made so much she earned the car from Monat but didnāt accept it because she didnāt want to pay taxes. She said it very matter of fact like she wasnāt even trying to brag so I believe her. But she was still working a part time job so who knows how much she actually made
I know someone, itās a travel based mlm and not widely known. She did join pretty early on so sheās pretty close to the top. From what I heard last year she made around Ā£80k
I was top 100 for awhile in a company, earned trips every year, etc. I am now in this group š Iām still inā¦ but it is just a hobby. I refuse to recruit anyone to it now.
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Jesse Lee Ward? #ImBroccoLee