Careful with network marketing schemes

A warning to be careful with network marketing 'business opportunities'. Last week I got invited by an acquaintance to join a wondrous business venture where I would be making easy money and work flexibly and independently.

Sounded sletchy to me (never in my life did I make an easy living by any definition) but she seemed so passionate that I agreed to take a look. (turned out she was desperate to make her monthly selling quota)

She sent a link to a video and within the first seconds I felt like I was being brainwashed/recruited into a cult.

Even if I had money to burn I would never give into such questionable business practices or pester friends with buying products.

The brand in question was Arbonne (which appears to mainly sell natural skincare products) but there are other corporations doing similar scams.

Not quite a pyramid scheme I suppose and not clearly fraudulent business practices, but their tactics seem shady and promises made in their business pitch/recreuting vid are simply misleading.

To my surprise I only found one lawsuit against them, from a consumer who suffered health issues from using their product. Not saying it is impossible to make revenue through these businesses. The chances seem low though (unless you are one of the managers) and the price (apart from inveting your money, the potential loss of friendships) not worth it.

Been around forever these things.. 20 years ago it was Amway products..

I think generally the product is not the issue it's the pyramid model. When My friends tried to recruit me years ago that was my question. When do we actually sell product? The answer was that selling product was less important than recruiting others to sell the product.

Standard pyramid scam.

Otherwise known as "how to lose friendships"