Hi Heather; ========== P.S. I'll tell you my sister's MLM story later. LOL. It's hilarious. ========== Where's the story???? LOL. Okay, here goes. I'm laughing just remembering it as I type it. I have five sisters. One of them went through what I call "the MLM phase" several years ago. Like most people that get into MLM, she figured it was an easy way to make money. She'd join up under someone that could teach her the ropes, and lo and behold, she'd make money. lol. Except, of course, it never worked that way. She joined some jewelry MLM and a makeup one and Amway. I forget what else. Each time, it would be the same schtick. She'd call me up one day and ask me if she can come over for coffee. I'd say sure. Then she'd try to sign me up. LOL It got to the point that she'd call and ask to have coffee and I'd say "Sure, but I'm not joining anything." LOL Like many people, she'd hit up family and friends and when no one wanted to buy or join, she'd dump it and try another one. Finally, one day her and her husband came over for coffee. (Peter will roll his eyes remembering this one. LOL) So, she gets there and after a brief visit, says "I have to show you something really neat." She grabs a bucket and sponge from under the sink and fills the bucket with water. Then, she runs to her purse, as excited as a little kid at a party. She grabs this plastic ball and throws it in the water. "Watch this" she announced. Then, she dips the sponge into the water, wipes it on the wall and says ... LOOK. It's a replacement for soap. And it's just plastic. It lasts FOREVER. And you can use it in your laundry and never have to buy detergent again. I admit I was dumbfounded for a minute. Then I took the sponge, wet it under the tap and swiped the wall again. "Look" I say.... "Water actually removes dirt!" LOL So then we sat down and had a "chat." (I'm 6 years older than her) I told her that if she wants to keep joining MLMs, she's going to have to actually learn how to sell or she's going to wear out her welcome with her own family very shortly. And, I told her that chasing rainbows and pipe dreams is a huge waste of time and if she IS going to join an MLM, at least join one with worthwhile products. And then learn how to SELL them. To people out there, not just her family. That was the last MLM she joined. LOL

First of all, as Elvis was prone to say: Winston, sir, "thank ya verra march." Linda... most amusing. Key paragraph: ===================== "Like most people that get into MLM, she figured it was an easy way to make money. She'd join up under someone that could teach her the ropes, and lo and behold, she'd make money. lol. Except, of course, it never worked that way." ====================== It rarely does. Gary Simpson

Hi Gary: Actually, I think THIS is the key paragraph: ========================================== ... LOOK. It's a replacement for soap. And it's just plastic. It lasts FOREVER. And you can use it in your laundry and never have to buy detergent again. ========================================== Know why I think that's the key paragraph? Because WAY too many MLMs sell hot air, crappy products that cost more than they should. And why is it that people "rarely" make the money they think they will? Because the products they're selling are hot air, crappy products that cost more than they should. If they had products that blow people's mind with the quality and fair price, they wouldn't have trouble selling them and the ratio of people achieving success wouldn't be - "rarely" ;) Linda

Linda, You said.. "Because the products they're selling are hot air, crappy products that cost more than they should. " I agree but I also believe there are more good products than bad products. Bad products get more attention. You don't have to look too far to see bad products promoted with misleading information. I don't like to be hard on people who sell the products because they were lured by misleading information. Althought it is unfortunate that some people who sell the products are quick to make personal attacks against the people who point out the poor quality. I don't mean to get off topic with the next statement since I think it is relevant to human behaviour. Think of what we now know about going to war against terror. No one is immune to the negative result of constant promoting, marketing and bombardment of what is supposed to be a good thing. I remenber not too long ago making some money selling long distance plans. There was and there is still nothing wrong about the product/service. The introduction of NW/MLM to sell phone rate plans created lots of competition. The problem is much higher. It's at the corporation level and I believe that has already been pointed out in this thread. In fact I experienced the situation where the company made changes to the compensation model and promoted it as a good thing. My upline was convinced it was good. You know why? He had too much invested (time/money) and couldn't understand the benefit of cutting your losses. I quit and within 6 months the company filed for chapter 11. If resellers took more time to get to know the corporation behind the product and service, I am sure it would lead to higher quality product and service.

Hey Jack; You make some good points. I particularly like the one at the end, about the company changing it's compensation plan - you quit - and they filed for Chapter 11 within 6 months. Most people probably didn't even see it coming. Why? They had blinders on. You didn't. =========================================== I also believe there are more good products than bad products. Bad products get more attention. You don't have to look too far to see bad products promoted with misleading information. I don't like to be hard on people who sell the products because they were lured by misleading information. Althought it is unfortunate that some people who sell the products are quick to make personal attacks against the people who point out the poor quality. =========================================== Boy, that part (in red) is a conversation in itself, hey? All I have to do is say to some of them "but your product sucks" and I've opened a Pandora's box. On the flip side, there's people why *say* a product sucks, but it's really their failure to learn how it works that sucks. For example in my sister's story. The product sucked. A plastic ball put into water is not a substitute for soap. It was so stupid it was funny. In the very same breath, I can also note that there are people who buy a product, fail to read the instructions, fail to use it as instructed and then wail "this product sucks." Due diligence goes a long way, as you've pointed out repeatedly. : ) Linda