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1. 

   MySavingStyle
   

   Novice
   Joined: Sep '11
   Posts: 22

   Has anyone here had success with doing Network Marketing or any type of MLM?

   My husband (we are newly married) has a side business that he has let go dormant (only uses for personal purchases) but with a little work (he built the business in years past, and it was profitable) he seems to think it could bring in $500/$1000 a month. I figure if we worked a little extra now to build it again, we could have some nice residual income for early retirement.

   Just wondered if anyone has personal experience with doing something like this.

   Thanks!

   Posted 1 year ago #
2. 

   jacob
   

   Expert
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 3,297

   Yeah, a friend of mine once talked me into selling alarm systems as part of an MLM scheme. I was young and very naive. Also not a natural salesman. Total failure.

   One thing that's typically true of these things is that when you finally hear about them, there are so many at the bottom of the pyramid that the market is saturated with sellers. I suspect the top makes most of their money on unsold inventory of the bottom level salesmen. BTW Anyone wanna buy an alarm?

   Posted 1 year ago #
3. 

   Maus
   

   Master
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 504

   In high school I had a friend who tried to rope me into his Amway lineup. My dad warned me of the unlikely profitability, but let me hang myself. I ended up with $125 worth of products no one wanted, zero downline marketers, and a valuable lesson learned. Many years later, when another friend tried to rope me into his brother's MLM nutraceutical scheme. I just laughed and asked if they had any powdered bacon capsules because that was the only nutritional pill I was interested in. I felt some chagrin when his brother filed for bankruptcy a couple of years later, but absolutely no regrets.

   These schemes are just one step up from a Ponzi scam and certainly subject to Venkat's Gervais Principle.

   Posted 1 year ago #
4. 

   dragoncar
   

   Expert
   Joined: Oct '10
   Posts: 1,287

   Am I correct in assuming the "side business" was MLM? If so, and it was profitable, then I would be less hesitant (having already made money doing this). Or are you asking if you can use MLM to sell your husband's products?

   Posted 1 year ago #
5. 

   MySavingStyle
   

   Novice
   Joined: Sep '11
   Posts: 22

   His side business was MLM (not his products, but those of the company) and he worked hard for a few years, developed a team, etc. he was able to make a net monthly profit between $500-/$1000- from a combination of his and his teams sales. Now he has the option to buy back in to 'reactivate' his position. Not a significant investment, it would cost less than $500- to get back in, with no loss of his past team.

   I thought if he was keeping the business for his personal purchases, we might as well put a little time in, and try to get that residual income back on track.

   I was looking to see if anyone had success in this manner. It does seem that the vast majority does have negative experiences with Network Marketing or MLM. The company does have legitimate products, but I can understand the concern (given the pay structure) for some to say it's just a step above a Ponzi, which does alert me.

   Posted 1 year ago #

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