I just figured out network marketing.

caddo man
caddo man Members Posts: 22,476 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited July 2015 in Strictly Business
I went to a seminar last night for OG (organo gold) and I had a apipheny. Network marketing is really marketing. Not a scam. The only thing is most people dont realize they are the customers also.

Case in point. To make money you need to either sell the product or get someone under you to join. You get paid for everyone else under you from either them reordering for more product or them getting other to join. Essentially getting paid off of their registration fee or reordering. In the end you are only getting a percentage of the true amount that is being made. You are profiting from getting the word out about this product (marketing) and buying the product from the company (customer) only to sell the product again for a profit on your end(distributor).

The company is making out because you are a salesmen or a middle man. You are not an employee of the company even though they are paying you. You are like a street team for a rapper that just so happen to sell his CDs out of your trunk.

Another industry that is similar but is more up front about it is building supplies or tool sales. The good thing about this is if you can sale water to a whale, you are perfect for this. But if you cant, you are always underneath someone and you usually have alot of product on hand.

Comments

  • traestar
    traestar Members Posts: 6,030 ✭✭✭✭✭
    True and for alot of the MLM marketing organizations thats the purpose of them. But make sure you get in the right one if you really want to get into network marketing.

    I've been in a few outta high school and I completely disliked them because of the work just to get paid. You've paid for everything and unless you are excellent in sales and marketing (products and recruitment), then this should be a great opportunity for growth.

    In my honest opinion, its a full commitment meaning weekly meetings, constant recruitment and promotion, if you are a higher up in the management tree you have to set up meetings, all of those things that IMO I would have to see actually progress before I jump into it. I'd never forget me being recruited by a family friend to a Real Estate MLM in which you are a middle-man searching and applying people for mortgage loans. Although at first glance, the process was simple, what turned me off was the fact that I went to their first meeting and didn't see a clear indication of progress, or people actually calling them for loans. And then getting older I thought, why not go straight online or to a bank or financial institution for pre-approval?? All in all, it sounded too good to be true.

    And if you've been in IC or have heard from other people, I know you may have heard of Vector Marketing??
    Yep network marketing...
    So if you want to invest in this, be my guess but for me, nah I'd rather have a real job/career where I can take my experience and build upon that and/or just start a small business doing something that you love to do or want to sell, etc.
    Because I see better growth in that than investing in something with short-term potential.
  • caddo man
    caddo man Members Posts: 22,476 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I am not into Network marketing but i am interested in saleing(sp?) them my social marketing services.
  • traestar
    traestar Members Posts: 6,030 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Selling your social marketing services, ok I got you!

    I was a sales associate for about 2 years, I'd say take that route or build up from a sales representative or consultant! Get into something in which your skills will be presented and represented on your resume. I remember putting that Real Estate MLM as one of my jobs on a job profile site ( I think it was called black business), I got a call from the owner of the Real Estate MLM ( the first time he ever contacted me) advising me to take off the business. And I mean although I didn't do anything in that company, he advised me not even 2-3 months into it...if you are a legit company, you should never have to call a co-worker or whatever to take their name off your list of jobs. RED FLAG!! Unless a company wants you to list them as a Fortune 500 company or Private, never trust that. And Vector Marketing BTW, if a job calls you after 8:00pm for a job interview, never trust that!! There are exceptions to the rule in terms of those calls like if its a casino or 24 hour constant shift business...even they do not call at nights, sends an unprofessional message to the job applier.

    Sorry to go hard on them, and I'm not saying there's not potential of making money, but its a complete waste of time and energy no matter what benefits they give you.
  • traestar
    traestar Members Posts: 6,030 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Oh and another thing that I just thought about, tis the season! You have to report all income to the IRS! What forms do they have you to sign for coverage on filing taxes?? Not saying that they don't have documents, but these are the things you have to look at. Because as a business, especially if you have your own, you deduct profits, losses, expenses, etc.
  • caddo man
    caddo man Members Posts: 22,476 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I was actually thinking about writing a paper on this topic. You have given me some cons to research on. Thanks.
  • traestar
    traestar Members Posts: 6,030 ✭✭✭✭✭
    NO doubt and I'm speaking on experience...
    since you've mentioned research paper, I'd suggest checking this out too http://entrepreneurs.about.com/cs/multilevelmktg/a/toogoodtobetrue.htm
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Legend in Two Sports Posts: 8,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    funny I was asked to join a situation where I sold vacation trips to others, as I sold the trips I could also build a team under me as I would be under someone else.....

    I backed out.
  • Craig Robinson
    Craig Robinson Members Posts: 2,819 ✭✭✭✭
    edited June 2012
    caddo man wrote:
    I went to a seminar last night for OG (organo gold) and I had a apipheny

    Stopped reading here
  • traestar
    traestar Members Posts: 6,030 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 2012
    Be$T_1 wrote: »
    funny I was asked to join a situation where I sold vacation trips to others, as I sold the trips I could also build a team under me as I would be under someone else.....

    I backed out.

    Glad you did, and selling vacations is even worse! If anyone would want to buy a vacation, either they talk to a travel agent, do it themselves, or win it in a contest. Alot of these MLMs act like they are the ONLY option there; when you look at the premise or objective of these schemes, you'll see that there are many different options out there.

    Another thing I noticed about these companies, the associates involved are desperate. Besides the Vector Marketing, and Real Estate MLM that I mentioned, about two years ago I visited this Acupressure shop outside my city (for those from South Jersey, I'm talking about Pleasantville). Now after we talk about medicines or whatever the case was, they recommended me to come to a class that they ran on Saturdays, it was free and informative. I checked it out not knowing what it was, don't you know the class was a MLM program trying to sale a "rare product not sold in stores". To start, you had to buy the product, which was $500.00 may have been more...the funniest thing was I already made my decision to bounce but the presentation was so long they tried to keep me there. Man , I told them I had to go to the bathroom and I was out that muthafucka.

    The thing I'm trying to say is if these companies are so profitable or great, why do I have to buy products to sell the product? Again I'm not knocking but another thing you should do too is research immediately, especially the name. If its a scam, people have already talked about it.


  • caddo man
    caddo man Members Posts: 22,476 ✭✭✭✭✭
    caddo man wrote:
    I went to a seminar last night for OG (organo gold) and I had a apipheny

    Stopped reading here

    You need to change your name to Joe Clark then!
  • caddo man
    caddo man Members Posts: 22,476 ✭✭✭✭✭
    traestar wrote: »
    Be$T_1 wrote: »
    funny I was asked to join a situation where I sold vacation trips to others, as I sold the trips I could also build a team under me as I would be under someone else.....

    I backed out.

    Glad you did, and selling vacations is even worse! If anyone would want to buy a vacation, either they talk to a travel agent, do it themselves, or win it in a contest. Alot of these MLMs act like they are the ONLY option there; when you look at the premise or objective of these schemes, you'll see that there are many different options out there.

    Another thing I noticed about these companies, the associates involved are desperate. Besides the Vector Marketing, and Real Estate MLM that I mentioned, about two years ago I visited this Acupressure shop outside my city (for those from South Jersey, I'm talking about Pleasantville). Now after we talk about medicines or whatever the case was, they recommended me to come to a class that they ran on Saturdays, it was free and informative. I checked it out not knowing what it was, don't you know the class was a MLM program trying to sale a "rare product not sold in stores". To start, you had to buy the product, which was $500.00 may have been more...the funniest thing was I already made my decision to bounce but the presentation was so long they tried to keep me there. Man , I told them I had to go to the bathroom and I was out that muthafucka.

    The thing I'm trying to say is if these companies are so profitable or great, why do I have to buy products to sell the product? Again I'm not knocking but another thing you should do too is research immediately, especially the name. If its a scam, people have already talked about it.


    The concept is genius especially if you are apart of the founding owners. Push your product through Network marketing, guaranteed to make at least your bottom line.

    The dumbest ? I saw was Clear internet. You sell it and that is it unless you are getting residuals from the monthly payment. Also I saw one where it was pretty much skype. 5linx I think it was. I felt bad for them when I saw that. They spent all there money and the Ipad came out like 5 months later and crush the building.
  • traestar
    traestar Members Posts: 6,030 ✭✭✭✭✭
    caddo man wrote: »
    traestar wrote: »
    Be$T_1 wrote: »
    funny I was asked to join a situation where I sold vacation trips to others, as I sold the trips I could also build a team under me as I would be under someone else.....

    I backed out.

    Glad you did, and selling vacations is even worse! If anyone would want to buy a vacation, either they talk to a travel agent, do it themselves, or win it in a contest. Alot of these MLMs act like they are the ONLY option there; when you look at the premise or objective of these schemes, you'll see that there are many different options out there.

    Another thing I noticed about these companies, the associates involved are desperate. Besides the Vector Marketing, and Real Estate MLM that I mentioned, about two years ago I visited this Acupressure shop outside my city (for those from South Jersey, I'm talking about Pleasantville). Now after we talk about medicines or whatever the case was, they recommended me to come to a class that they ran on Saturdays, it was free and informative. I checked it out not knowing what it was, don't you know the class was a MLM program trying to sale a "rare product not sold in stores". To start, you had to buy the product, which was $500.00 may have been more...the funniest thing was I already made my decision to bounce but the presentation was so long they tried to keep me there. Man , I told them I had to go to the bathroom and I was out that muthafucka.

    The thing I'm trying to say is if these companies are so profitable or great, why do I have to buy products to sell the product? Again I'm not knocking but another thing you should do too is research immediately, especially the name. If its a scam, people have already talked about it.


    The concept is genius especially if you are apart of the founding owners. Push your product through Network marketing, guaranteed to make at least your bottom line.

    The dumbest ? I saw was Clear internet. You sell it and that is it unless you are getting residuals from the monthly payment. Also I saw one where it was pretty much skype. 5linx I think it was. I felt bad for them when I saw that. They spent all there money and the Ipad came out like 5 months later and crush the building.

    I'm so glad you've mentioned 5linx, thats another great example...I believe thats Black owned too. I see soo many people jump on that, I'm like smh.

    But hold on tho, Clear Internet is not legit??
  • caddo man
    caddo man Members Posts: 22,476 ✭✭✭✭✭
    traestar wrote: »
    caddo man wrote: »
    traestar wrote: »
    Be$T_1 wrote: »
    funny I was asked to join a situation where I sold vacation trips to others, as I sold the trips I could also build a team under me as I would be under someone else.....

    I backed out.

    Glad you did, and selling vacations is even worse! If anyone would want to buy a vacation, either they talk to a travel agent, do it themselves, or win it in a contest. Alot of these MLMs act like they are the ONLY option there; when you look at the premise or objective of these schemes, you'll see that there are many different options out there.

    Another thing I noticed about these companies, the associates involved are desperate. Besides the Vector Marketing, and Real Estate MLM that I mentioned, about two years ago I visited this Acupressure shop outside my city (for those from South Jersey, I'm talking about Pleasantville). Now after we talk about medicines or whatever the case was, they recommended me to come to a class that they ran on Saturdays, it was free and informative. I checked it out not knowing what it was, don't you know the class was a MLM program trying to sale a "rare product not sold in stores". To start, you had to buy the product, which was $500.00 may have been more...the funniest thing was I already made my decision to bounce but the presentation was so long they tried to keep me there. Man , I told them I had to go to the bathroom and I was out that muthafucka.

    The thing I'm trying to say is if these companies are so profitable or great, why do I have to buy products to sell the product? Again I'm not knocking but another thing you should do too is research immediately, especially the name. If its a scam, people have already talked about it.


    The concept is genius especially if you are apart of the founding owners. Push your product through Network marketing, guaranteed to make at least your bottom line.

    The dumbest ? I saw was Clear internet. You sell it and that is it unless you are getting residuals from the monthly payment. Also I saw one where it was pretty much skype. 5linx I think it was. I felt bad for them when I saw that. They spent all there money and the Ipad came out like 5 months later and crush the building.

    I'm so glad you've mentioned 5linx, thats another great example...I believe thats Black owned too. I see soo many people jump on that, I'm like smh.

    But hold on tho, Clear Internet is not legit??

    It is but why would a company with ties to several fortune 500 companies and backed by sprint got that route. Whomever sold them on that ? needs an award or the CEO is dumb as hell.
  • traestar
    traestar Members Posts: 6,030 ✭✭✭✭✭
    caddo man wrote: »
    traestar wrote: »
    caddo man wrote: »
    traestar wrote: »
    Be$T_1 wrote: »
    funny I was asked to join a situation where I sold vacation trips to others, as I sold the trips I could also build a team under me as I would be under someone else.....

    I backed out.

    Glad you did, and selling vacations is even worse! If anyone would want to buy a vacation, either they talk to a travel agent, do it themselves, or win it in a contest. Alot of these MLMs act like they are the ONLY option there; when you look at the premise or objective of these schemes, you'll see that there are many different options out there.

    Another thing I noticed about these companies, the associates involved are desperate. Besides the Vector Marketing, and Real Estate MLM that I mentioned, about two years ago I visited this Acupressure shop outside my city (for those from South Jersey, I'm talking about Pleasantville). Now after we talk about medicines or whatever the case was, they recommended me to come to a class that they ran on Saturdays, it was free and informative. I checked it out not knowing what it was, don't you know the class was a MLM program trying to sale a "rare product not sold in stores". To start, you had to buy the product, which was $500.00 may have been more...the funniest thing was I already made my decision to bounce but the presentation was so long they tried to keep me there. Man , I told them I had to go to the bathroom and I was out that muthafucka.

    The thing I'm trying to say is if these companies are so profitable or great, why do I have to buy products to sell the product? Again I'm not knocking but another thing you should do too is research immediately, especially the name. If its a scam, people have already talked about it.


    The concept is genius especially if you are apart of the founding owners. Push your product through Network marketing, guaranteed to make at least your bottom line.

    The dumbest ? I saw was Clear internet. You sell it and that is it unless you are getting residuals from the monthly payment. Also I saw one where it was pretty much skype. 5linx I think it was. I felt bad for them when I saw that. They spent all there money and the Ipad came out like 5 months later and crush the building.

    I'm so glad you've mentioned 5linx, thats another great example...I believe thats Black owned too. I see soo many people jump on that, I'm like smh.

    But hold on tho, Clear Internet is not legit??

    It is but why would a company with ties to several fortune 500 companies and backed by sprint got that route. Whomever sold them on that ? needs an award or the CEO is dumb as hell.

    I have to agree, thats not a good marketing strategy...especially MLM for a more established company.
  • traestar
    traestar Members Posts: 6,030 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Wanted to bump for reference and a quick update. Went to a 5linx event last year, it is white owned. This is to correct my statement I've made years ago
  • Fosheezy
    Fosheezy Members Posts: 3,204 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2015
    There's plenty of writing on the net about unsuccessful efforts of those who joined a given MLM type company. But I want to know which ones are good to join from a view based on how big the demand (market) is for the services or product offered compared to the success rate of those who: 1)have an understanding of the service/product itself, 2) have an understanding of marketing and running a business in general, and 3) were simply willing to do the work. Not that there aren't other critical factors to consider.
  • traestar
    traestar Members Posts: 6,030 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I've only spoke in my point of view. You could talk to people who are in a MLM and try to get their honest POV. I say TRY very specifically because its their job to sell you the product or recruit others in it.

    I have not met anyone who has been successful in it and has demonstrated revenue generated from it. And I've been approached for things like Real Estate, actual reselling of products, service providers, travel agents etc.
  • BrazilianHairMoney
    BrazilianHairMoney Members Posts: 2,481 ✭✭✭✭✭
    people think everything is a scam.. im with world financial group. its life insurance and u need a license to do the business.. people still call this a scam or pyramid scheme =))