Why I Can't Participate in MLMs or Direct Marketing

Jobs are still hard to come by, and everyone's still looking for extra money. I've been asked several times in my life to join some sort of Multi Level Marketing (MLM) or Direct Marketing program. Maybe it's because I'm pretty outgoing and have no problem raving about products I love. I also don't mind writing about products I like. People tend to think that because I like working from home I'd be willing to join an MLM.

As much as I seem like a good personality fit for MLMs, I just can't do them. I'm much better off as a customer.

Not that there's anything inherently wrong about MLMs. They aren't much different than conventional businesses. There are just too many things about what it takes to truly succeed in the MLM world that I want no part of. This list may or may not apply to you. But if someone's approaching you to join their networks, consider this list.

I prefer to be direct. I sat in on many sales pitches and MLM offers to me and my mother. I noticed that many first approaches don't involve telling you what the product is, what you're selling and why people need it. They start off as "great at home working opportunities" or "business opportunities". Look at Work at Home United. What can you tell that they sell from their pages or member's advertisements? "Healthy living "or "wellness" is all you get. Once you make contact with someone, you find out they are nature-based cleaning products with a company called Melaleuca. Nothing wrong with that, but why not tell me at first? What's keeping you from saying "I sell Melaleuca and you can, too"? We tried it 10 years ago. Probably has the best detergent I've ever used on clothes. I just can't sell it if you don't want people to tell me what it is up front.

My circle of friends is too tight. This was another problem I saw that affects my family and friends. You get two people to sell something like Pampered Chef. They invite three people to sell Pampered Chef. They invite three people each to sell Pampered Chef. We went to three Pampered Chef parties. Guess who was there? All the same people! I know that Mona Vie has a 3-foot rule for creating networks. My 3-foot rule closes into about 3 inches real quick.

We love Pampered Chef and own many of their products. But I don't have a big enough separate network of folks that I want to have sell Pampered Chef so I can get discounts, bonuses, etc. from their successes. This goes with ANY product or system. The most successful MLM money makers I've seen have vast networks that never run into each other.

MLMs take REAL time. MLM sellers have told me that I can do it part time. I could. But I wouldn't make any money, like most people don't. More than 90 percent of businesses (conventional or MLM) don't succeed because it takes an uncanny amount of time and effort at the beginning to reap rewards in the end. To find those untapped networks or make money from product sales, it would require lots of travel and expenses, talking, convincing...I don't have it with my current lifestyle.

I don't shop at the same store every week. That's something you may find yourself doing if you want to make money in an MLM. If you want another brand or you're stocked with what you bought last month, you'll still be buying this month. I remember this with Quixtar when people showed us the business model. You get bonus cash if you or people purchase a certain amount of products. To keep qualifying for other bonuses, you had to be responsible for or credited a certain amount of points. So if you aren't selling products or people in your down line aren't selling them, guess who's buying 200 more tubes of lipstick this month?

6. I pledge allegiance only to my country and my faith. Some MLMers get a little crazy with seminars, webinars, membership drives, and other promotional tactics. They want you to live, eat, and breathe the MLM system. I only pledge allegiance to my country and my faith. It's one thing to be enthusiastic about your work; it's another when you become obsessed. Besides, where does the money go for those CDs and seminars anyway?

Again, I have nothing against Direct Marketing or Multi Level Marketing as a way to make money or a living. It's not that I'm going to be making someone else money. I've never been employed by a poor person, so I understand that. I just don't think it's the right lifestyle for me.