MLM Script and MLM Software

Why are Multi-Level Marketing Businesses EVIL?

Public Comments

1. i would not call it evil. if anything, it's more annoying. however, they are legit businesses, but they thrive on not only selling to consumers; they thrive on capturing people to market the company so that they could sell products to consumers. But, if you still think it's evil, then the only sound thing to do is walk away----i do!
2. Evil is certainly a little overboard since the majority of those in MLM are not doing anything intentionally bad, they are just naive. The bad connotation with MLM is based on a few things: 1 - They use an over abundance of hype to try to convince you to join. The idea is to sign up as many people as you can so MLMers tend to approach everyone they know trying to get them into the opportunity. Because its not sales based, the constant approach inevitably ends up being bothersome and annoying to the general public. In addition, because its hype driven, MLMers tend to be emotionally attached to their opportunity and do not take rejection well. All too often MLMers will disassociate with those who choose not to join their opportunity and consider them "negative" or "dream killers'. 2 - The business strategy doesn't add up. They present the opportunity as something where you can build a large business and make more money than you ever need, but they refuse to address the fact that an exponentially growing downline has limits that occur very quickly. Because the whole basis of making money in MLM is to build your downline and get a small piece of everyone's sales (sales mostly to themselves), if the last people into the downline don't also grow their business, there is no incentive to hang around. But doing simple math shows the flaws. Even a 2x2 matrix requires over a billion people to fill itself beyond 35 levels. So, mathematically it is not possible to ever build your downline and maintain it. MLMers claim that you never have a full downline, yet why do these MLMers never show the "opportunity" with half full downlines??? Not to mention, saying half a billion versus a billion really makes little difference. The reality is that its impossible to build a continually growing exponential downline. 3 - MLMers tend to believe anything about their product mainly because they are so emotionally attached to the idea of building riches via the opportunity. Therefore, you will find MLMers often present overprices products telling you how much they are needed (yet they rarely ever would buy these products if not in the business themselves). In addition, they take for granted everything they hear as fact, and thus often act as witch doctors trying to sell you things that are unconventional. You will notice that MLMers specifically in the health industry all suddenly are the biggest proponents of alternative medicine. How many were such believers before being duped by the "business plan"? You know the answer. 4 - Nearly all MLM companies push recruiting as oppose to personal sales. MLM would be far more reputable if you first had to sell enough to make a decent living, then recruit others. That way MLM would be based on moving product, as oppose to signing up people. However, none are like that, and thus it has become about finding some big fish in your downline as oppose to actually doing some work. Anyhow, this is merely the tip of the iceberg. Add to the fact that suddenly everyone in MLM is a "business expert", that MLMers consider anyone who doesn't do MLM as a "wage slave" (as though there is no other self employment available), MLMers meet in living rooms and such, labeling anyone who isn't in MLM as negative, failures, dream killers, never talking directly about the flaws mentioned above...etc. You get the point. There is not much about MLM that is reputable at all, thus the poor connotation.
3. I think it’s how you define “Evil”. Do I think MLM companies are connected to the Devil? A big pin Amway distributor was sued by Proctor and Gamble for spreading the rumor that there was a “666” in their logo. On the other hand, do I think they are immoral, deliberately causing harm, pain, or upset people? Not sure. I just know from friends who got involved with MLM companies and came to the realization that the dream was a lie took years to find a new path in life. “Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true?” B. Springsteen “The River”
4. It acts like it is something entreprenurial..... but in effect it destroys the entreprenurial spirit, with the close to 100% failure rate. God speed.
5. Only the ones who don't know how to run an MLM program are evil.
6. Oh Niki C....you can't really be that naive can you? To label a business as EVIL is more than a little childish. I suggest you speak to one of the many successful business owners affiliated with MLM or Network Marketing, listen to what they say, pay attention and learn from them, then post your question again. That's like saying that everyone in sales is EVIL, including your grocery store, all stores in the mall and yes, even your local real estate investor. There are some bad apples in every profession but to make a blanket statement like that seems a little out there. They are just business owners, marketing a product through a different avenue. Rather than paying the overhead for brick and mortar buildings, some companies choose to market their product out in the field. So the money they save in advertising and overhead, goes directly to the people who are doing the work by moving a product. Plain and simple. Could you tell me what is so evil about that? Most of the "facts" that have been posted for this answer are pure garbage posted by people who have no education in the field whatsoever. My Mother (God rest her soul) used to always say "Be careful who you listen to and take advice from, because you will end up just like them." I chose to get my education from people I wanted to be like, positive, goal oriented, intelligent, successful people. I'm proud to say "I'm just like them now, Mom!"
7. There have been some corrupt companies. There also some really good ones, you have to do the research on them. Generally if they have been around for several years they are probably legit or you should be able to find out if they have problems. Here is a 14 year old company with great ratings with the BBB and other companies. www.NonStopCashFlow.com
8. I don't know if over charging trusting people for a product they could buy for half the price in a local store is evil. I would call it dishonest.