The wierd world of multi-level marketing

[johnnyboy]

Has anyone ever been involved in this stuff before?

I was flicking through a copy of the Exchange and Mart a little earlier, when, to my surprise, I saw a 'Gavin Scott' advertising his Kleeneze opportunity.

I know it's not our very own, beloved Gavin, but it did remind me of the time when I got into Amway for two months in 1997.

I'm quite a brainy, cerebral sort of bloke, who prides himself on never being suckered. But I was suckered, and it was relentless for those two months.

They say that highly intelligent people are often amongst the most religious as they can find multiple reasons to justify their beliefs to themselves. What I saw in Amway was a bunch of mainly well-qualified, reasonably-successful people being suckered into a con.

The products were very expensive, and all distributors in my line were press-ganged into signing up to weekly double motivational tapes, books and seminars.

In the space of 2 weeks, I had become convinced that I had seen the light and the rest of the world were fools for not seeing what I saw. Tacit and ill-disguised pressure was put on me to 'disown' the people in my life who did not get the 'plan' - they were all negative losers with J.O.B.'s (Just Over Broke) who'll be working 40 hours a week for 40 years of their lives to retire on 40% on their incomes.

Six weeks later, I shook myself out of it when I realised I had become an 'Ambot' and had deliberately veneered over the illogicality and unworkability of the system in my own mind.

Ever since then, I have kept a close watch on these types of organisations.

Have any of you had similar experiences in Amway, other MLMs or cults?

[Gavin Scott]

Before I respond, I must say the word "beloved" has set me up very nicely for a Friday afternoon, cheers jb

I too (and this is a coincidence, is it not?) got involved with Amway; and if memory serves it was around the same time.

I went to the meeting but wasn't convinced enough to go further. Neither, I assumed, was my mate.

I found out some weeks later that he had signed up (secretely) and was desparately trying to involve my extended family in selling. The products we ok, but nothing special, and he ended up wasting months trying to offload this stuff.

Waste of time, really.

[Jamez]

Before I respond, I must say the word "beloved" has set me up very nicely for a Friday afternoon, cheers jb

I too (and this is a coincidence, is it not?) got involved with Amway; and if memory serves it was around the same time.

I went to the meeting but wasn't convinced enough to go further. Neither, I assumed, was my mate.

I found out some weeks later that he had signed up (secretely) and was desparately trying to involve my extended family in selling. The products we ok, but nothing special, and he ended up wasting months trying to offload this stuff.

Waste of time, really.

Stick to selling Avon products on doorsteps, Gav!

[Brad]

What is Amway? I have heard of these sort of things before on Watchdog and shows like it. The name is familiar. I've seen things that drop through the door saying "Become a millionaire from your own PC" etc and so forth, and a letter the other day addressed to a Nick Jones (no idea who he is, although the Jones bit was right) inviting me "and a guest" to a posh dinner to hear about a new business opportunity in North Yorkshire. I notice that the letter was postmarked 'Seattle' and I threw it in the bin. Sleepness in Seattle? No thanks.

Though I have been tmepted by Kleeneze and Betterware before.