When a close friend or family member has an at home business and is forever giving you catalogues or asking if you want to buy something, how do you manage it?

Have you had a close friend or family member in a multi-level marketing scheme Multi-level marketing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia who was passionate about the product and wanted you to at least talk with their 'up-line'?

How do you manage it, if the friend has been good to you, you really like them but you honestly believe that it isn't going to make them much money and you definitely don't want to sign up to be forced into buying a certain amount of product every month (in this case $70 a month + shipping costs)

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No matter what the product is, I always entertain the idea, in show of support. Especially if it's something I have never heard of before. I will be genuinely interested in hearing the spin on the product, checking it out when I can, and if I want to order something I will. I don't feel pressured to, or maybe I just don't allow myself to. I have gone to many a home party and not bought a thing. If I don't "need" it, I don't buy it!

However a friend of mine just started a "barefoot books" business and those books are AWESOME on so many levels. I bought quite a number of them and plan on hosting a party this Summer!

I always tell people I'll go to their parties and listen, but can't promise I'll buy anything. One time I helped a friend get the food ready for her party but didn't buy anything. I think there are different ways you can show support without buying the product itself.

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I don't have any friends/family that have ever done 'home parties' or MLM. I've had acquaintances invite me to parties, and I've typically declined because I'm just not interested. I have attended parties in the past, and not bought a darn thing...I'm not going to buy something (something I don't want) just because someone invited me, that's silly. I'm also not going to buy things from a 'good friend' that I don't want or can't afford, or feel pressured to "sell" for a friend...a good friend wouldn't expect you to do that...kwim?

I would have to just tell them that I really am not interested. I would never let anyone's upline come talk to me!!! My dh is terrible about buying into things once someone gets into our house!

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I'll go to see if there is anything I like, and if I like it, then I'll host a party so I can get the stuff for free :D

I have a friend who is one of those people that actually does make money at those thing - she did Mary Kay for a few years, and is now doing Arbonne, and doing quite well. She was in sales when I met her - she's a great salesperson, and I just had an Arbonne party last week here, and we had a great time. One guest didn't buy anything, two bought one small thing, and one bought a ton of stuff (she was planning on getting a ton). I ended up with a whole slew of goodies too.

I've hosted 3 home parties, and generally have the same core group invited. They don't like hosting parties, but they seem to like the stuff, and they seem excited to come. Maybe it's because I bake for the things! LOL I like trying the stuff out and playing with the different products. Like I said, I like hosting because most of those systems the host gets X amount of free product, and that's how I can treat myself to things I normally wouldn't buy.

I wouldn't sign up for something that you had to get monthly amounts.

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One of the first things I would do is to not refer to it as a MLM scheme. It's an insult and shows ones complete and total ignorance of how MLM/ Network marketing/ Direct Marketing fuctions.

Second thing is to show support, if you are not interested in buying, tell your firend that flat out, don't be "nice" and string her along. Being nice and stringing her along while behind her back calling it a MLM scheme would really upset me if I was supposed to be your friend.

But this one is an MLM. There are no parties. I can only buy if I sign up and sign others up. She even called it a multi-level marketing program but said how it was a great way to earn money. This is where I think she is missing something. She now has to spend $70 a month on products. If I signed up, I would have to spend $70 a month (If I didn't they would charge my credit card). She was honest about this. She said you only start making 'real' money when there are 50 people under you. It's not an insult and it's not ignorance. It's what she said when talking about it.

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I admit to some ignorance here. I hate that kind of party, so I never participate. How can it not be MLM? Aren't there multiple levels where a higher level gets something for bringing in sales people and more sales?

Cathleen

I have to disagree with you. I'm in the process of getting out of a MLM cosmetic company. And it is a Multi level marketing company because it is direct selling. Independent consultants buy the products at cost from the company and sell them at retail to the customer and we made money from recruiting other consultants based on their purchases from the company, not their actual sales. It's been 3 yrs and I had top sales(NOT purchases) in our unit and I barely made any money. The company I work for is against being called a pyramid scheme, but with a turnover rate of almost 70%...and directors buying their own way into directorship...something is wrong with this picture. It took me this long to realize that my director always placed an order that would make it to her unit production level...so she could keep her car. I wouldn't want to be in debt like she is(although she'll never admit it).


I had a lot of friends who were hesitant to talk to me because they were worried about me asking them to go to an event or host something or try something....I understand being supportive, but usually you fall back to the supportive friends when you're asked to bring someone to a meeting or to meet with your director just to listen to the marketing plan. The director's goal is to sign you on.

My advice, don't be supportive just to be nice, if you don't want to do it, don't do it.