irksome mlm

one of the things i don't like is mlm schemes. don't ever talk me into one because i know how to calculate yields, expected returns and risk. i will rather sink my money into some penny stocks than put them into such schemes.

i just had a traumatized evening with an ex-colleague. she is a ex-colleague whose company i have enjoyed through the kk trip some years ago. i was not expecting her to bring me to some 'seminar' of some mlm scheme. i got suspicious over dinner, only to have my fears confirmed as she ushered me into a cramped room, where i was suppose to listen to some 'sharing'.

i wanted to walk out of it immediately, but i felt bad doing so. she tried to tell me some stuff related to it, but i wasn't listening much.

i quickly sent dearie an sms, "damn it's mlm. how am i going to get myself out of it?"

in the end, with dearie's help, i lied my way out before the 'sharing' started.

if she was to approach me again, i will be direct and upfront with her. i will politely decline her, stating that i will never be interested in such schemes, so let's not waste hers and my time.

i hate the way they try to put it across. they are not selling products. they are helping others achieve something in their lives. they questioned whether i was unhappy about my life and what i was doing for a living.

i replied, "actually, i'm happy doing what i do. at least i know i am getting somewhere."

well, i rather you tried to sell me a product, than to tell me you can help me achieve my dream. i don't think anyone has a perfect formula to success. i don't think achieving dreams happens over night..or by getting more people join the bandwagon of some organisation.

i know what i want for my career. definitely not trying to recruit people to join some 'achieve-your-dream' scam.

perhaps there are people who found their calling in mlm, but not me.

from the ministry of trade and industry website, i extracted the following information of mlm.

1. What is Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) and Pyramid Selling?

A Multi-Level Marketing or Pyramid Selling scheme will typically require participants to pay an upfront charge. In return, the participants are promised financial rewards for each additional participant recruited, as well as all new participants who are in turn brought in by their recruits - hence the pyramid-like structure.

As more salespersons are recruited, participants hope to recover their upfront charges and earn sizeable profits. However, such a pyramid schemes will eventually collapse when they run out of new recruits, resulting in those salespersons at the bottom of the pyramid losing all their upfront charges.

In the interest of consumer protection, the Government's regulation effort is targeted at preventing the proliferation of such high-risk schemes.

2. How do I recognise a pyramid selling scheme?

Many pyramid schemes often disguise themselves as sellers collectors' items, software, training programmes, etc, when all they are interested is to make a quick buck through recruitment. Members of the public who attend sales talks must be vigilant to such schemes. Illegitimate MLM schemes usually share the following characteristics:

• When the promoter hype about how easy it is to earn money, people can get very rich in a very short time and that the way to earn money is by recruiting others to join the scheme;
  
• The so-called product that you are supposed to sell is not something you would normally buy at its price;
  
• Participants are required to invest money into the scheme, whether in the form of a joining fee, or buying inventory.
  

Remember - there is no easy money, you must believe in what you are selling and you should not put your money at unnecessary risk.

relating to the extract, i agree that all these mlm organisations like to 'rara' their people. use some catchy taglines, which are more like corny than professional to me. they only share 'success' stories, people who have made it big with the schemes..but in truth, how many others out there have sunk in the money and made nothing much from it? are they going share those unsuccessful stories too? (feels like those funds performance reports. they only report of those performing funds.. and leave out those funds which have ceased to exist..making their annualised returns exceedingly attractive)

anyway, in conclusion, i know this is not for me. i am going to shun it for good. please do not approach me with such get-rich, realise-your-dream things, unless you want me to hang up your calls and ignore your sms-es.