Any potential business venture requires exceptional due diligence — whether it is entrepreneurial, franchise, corporate or MLM. Every opportunity is not the right fit for everyone, and the buyer always needs to beware.

Editor’s note: comment edited to remove promotions.

Yes, Primerica agents are better than bank and insurance company marketing schemes. But everyone knows that banks and insurance companies aren’t there to help you while Primerica claims to be an agent in your best interests. But they sell a narrow set of products, unlike an independent agent who sells what he wants and what is the best for his client.

She did try and get me to sell though, repeatedly. I was a little interested at first, but when I asked for info all I got was a dvd with a bunch of fluff about working for myself and selling great products and empowering women garbage. I wanted hard numbers!!! When I asked her and her upline about those numbers I still didn’t get anywhere. I felt like they didn’t like my questioning them about the details and should just trust them and get involved and go with the flow.
T

I have no problem turning these down, most of the time I go out of my way to tell other people who I know will be a target of the sales pitch all about how it’s a bad idea. Luckily, due to these actions, I rarely have to hear about these type of scam nowadays. Unfortunately I still have to see the requisite social media message about how I can make a huge fortune with just a few easy steps….

She aint been to one since (except for one product she likes which isn’t priced to bad so I lifted the ban for that one. :) )

Solution: Quit your job and become a blogger. They’ll stop asking you because they don’t see you at the office. :D

-Erica

As it turns out, many of my wife’s friends are selling everything from that overpriced jewelry to cooking stuff. She goes to these parties primarily out of guilt I guess. I mean, they are good friends and by saying no or saying “just stop inviting me to this stuff”, it would cause a rift in the relationship. But she enjoys the social aspect, it’s an excuse to get out of the house and get a break from the kids once in a while and she has a good time. So, she drops 30 bucks on a dumb bracelet. On one hand, one could consider it entertainment money for a night out, on the other, a total waste. I don’t fault my wife so much, she’s a reasonable spender overall, it’s the principle of the situation that bothers me. It is annoying that these friends continue to host these “parties” and continue to invite their same friends and family over and over to basically make money off them though. In all other aspects, they are good friends and help us out in many ways with sitting, handing off clothes for our kids, etc., but I find this aspect to be rather annoying.

But all this makes for a great business model for the companies. I’ve had my share of cease and desist letters and legal threats when I post criticism of specific MLMs, but for the most part, they’re scammy companies started by snake oil salesmen that prey on this human guilt factor while exploiting the people that can least afford it. Many entrants at the bottom of the pyramid can ill afford the signup fees, ongoing monthly fees and everything else they get you for. The data shows the vast majority of these participants never make any money, but that doesn’t bother the people at the top.

Personally, I would much rather give someone a donation than buy something overpriced. If I buy something overpriced by say, $2, the friend/coworker/etc’s child/organization/etc gets maybe $0.50 to $1 of that and the fundraising products company gets the rest. Not worth it.

Any friend that gets offended if you don’t go to their sales pitch is not much of a friend. But I’m a guy and as stated by other responses, we seem to be less susceptible.

The best part was that she actually had the nerve to bring her kid’s fundraiser stuff to work. I suppose I could/should have been the bigger person, but I had no problems whatsoever declining any purchases.

Karma, I tell ya.

As far as the parties I feel like my wife is pressured into it a lot more than me, actually I can’t think of one I have ever been invited to? I don’t know if it is a guy or because I will eat all their thin mints. Most of the MLM stuff is makeup, tupperware, jewelry, stuff that is not really for me…I do remember one juice thing once, but it was such a half assed attempted I Just said I am not buying a bottle of $40 juice

For parties and things that are easier to avoid, I just turn down invitations, talk about being grad students & keeping finances tight, etc. Works for now.