A nervous new consultant

[Sassy_C]

Sorry Cullen30......truth is MK business just plain old sucks. 

Even if you did have a successful debut...it's so hard to "make it" in the MK world....it's designed to be hard and with a high turn over so that some other sucker (I was once a sucker!  ) front loads a pile of inventory.

The directors I worked with make a living off of front loading, high turnovers and lying their way to the top. Not so Golden rule-like eh?

Chin up girl... 

[gourmetgus]

Be very careful, Gus.  The immediate response from any MLMer when we say how little is made per hour doing MLMs is:  "So not true if you run your business like a professional, and treat your hostesses/hosts with integrity, and are willing to work (what a concept, I've never considered THAT!), and if you're not lazy losers, yada, yada, yada.

Those very responses assume we were complete lazy idiots with absolutely no business sense.  If that was the case, then tell me, Gus, how is it that the vast majority of the women on this site are VERY SUCCESSFUL in their chosen fields?  Hmmm?  Obviously, we're not of afraid of hard work.  We recognize a sham when we see it.

We can acutally build businesses that can be franchised, sold, willed, advertised, etc.  You cannot do any of these things.

Someday we will, with hard work and financial fortitude, reire on our investments and the work will be over. You, on the other hand, will be chasing your tail till you're 90.

Good luck.

P.S. You know me.  I don't give a rat's ass who likes me.

HI there.  Somehow you managed to take everything I said and make it all about me directing it toward you - which is ironic since we've never met and I have no clue who you are or what your story is.  Please don't do that - it's not good for either of us.  I stand by my original comment's messge - if you don't spend more money than you're making, especially up front, then you show a profit.  And I assure you that it's far more than $2/hour in my experience.  Period.  How you want to interpret that or feel attacked by that is up to you, but that is my reality and it's been an amazing seven years with an honest, direct sales company.  I never said anything about your work ethic or how you can or cannot "build businesses that can be franchised, sold, willed, advertised, etc."  So, again, original topic - I make more than $2/hour and know hundreds of other consultants that do, too, and we've never had to throw anyone under the bus to get there.

[Trigger]

Hi, Gus;

Thanks for responding.  By the same token, I'm not directing my comments at you either.  But I would really love any MLM consultant to go toe-to-toe with me on the points in that post.  They never do.  They only say, "Gosh, you're a meanie!  Let's play nice."

Well, I'd love to do just that; but when any MLM messes with people's finances, the war is on.  What do you do with the fact that 99% of the people in MLMs lose money?  There's just no arguing with that.  I'm sure you are a wonderful consultant.  I have no judgements about you as a person.  But trying to sell the 'wonderfulness' of any MLM on this sight will be an uphill battle.

I've said many times that I love many of the products of many MLMs, and I love the excitement of the rallies, etc., but it doesn't change the facts.

Have you noticed how many MLMs are really struggling since the economic collapse?  Gosh, I guess when they lost their loathed 'just-over-broke' jobs, MLMs could no longer be funded.

[gourmetgus]

HI there.  Happy Thanksgiving!  You made a very good point, and I will just quickly say that in 2008 3% of Direct Sales Companies were up, and Tastefully Simple was one of them.
It may be one of those things where we agree to disagree, and I can buy that.  But I also think it comes down to not spending money before you make money.  And it sounds like many people out there have been zapped by a pink cash register...and that's unfortunate.  BUT, I do want to repeat, with Tastefully Simple we are encouraged to NOT carry an inventory and we avoid this problem all together.  I also wonder something else as I read your most recent post - you use "MLM" a lot.  I admit to not knowing the differences between MLM and DSA companies.  I think it has something to do with marketing - as in through a home party or not through a party.  And when I've been pitched an MLM before, the person always says "And then, after awhile, you just sit there and watch other people do the work and make money for you...and it's only $1,200 to start."  Well of course I laugh in their faces!  For one, I want to earn every penny I make and not just sit around and watch people make it for me.  And two, the startup cost of a business like that would scare me away.
NOW, one thing I think I can admit is this - just b/c someone has a successful DSA biz, like Tastefully Simple, doesn't mean they should go out and quit their full time job.  But, it might mean that they have an extra $200 per month to put toward their three months behind mortgage payments, and I think that's darn great, too.

[Trigger]

Gus;

Yes, some people make $ with direct selling aka MLM (multi-level marketing).  If you have had a good experience with Tastefully Simple, that's awesome.  I am referring to the vast majority of consultants with ANY MLM (in my case Mary Kay) who are nearly forced into large up front inventory packages with the reasons, which include, 'can't sell from an empty wagon, a winner has inventory to service her customers immediately, no one will take your business seriously without inventory, you can't get your up-line's attention until you show her you are serious, etc.'  They will wear you down if you are not adamant about saying NO, and hell NO.

These things are almost always said to you in the back room of a success meeting when your defenses are down.  When you state that you always talk over financial decisions with your husband, they immediately make him the enemy.  Do you know how many divorces are a direct result of such manipulation?  I went to a Princess House meeting in Phoenix one time and as I sat there absorbing every word from the Princess House Godessess mouths, another consul. leans over and says, "Did you know that every woman up there on stage is divorced?"  She went on to explain to me that they encourage dumping everyone in your life who isn't supportive of your decision to build PH.  And that included husbands.  And this consul. who told me this was fantastic as selling PH.  Back in the mid 80's when we were doing PH, she consistently had $600 parties.  That's a good party when the average was about $300.  She was phenomenal at selling, but she was a sharp cookie  - she never got sucked into the rest of it.

My world went black.  I lost my hearing for a few minutes.  I couldn't breathe.  What a dipstick I had been.  What a sap.  I felt like I had been assaulted, you know, dirty and used.

I love selling PH.  Did I make money.  No.  I did it for the dinnerware and fun with other women.  My husband was very kind about the whole thing.

But never again was I as naive about MLMs.

I won't go into our Amway experience.  Never have you met such masters of manipulation.  Mary Kay SDs run a close second.

Those who try to get you to buy inventory packages of anywhere from $600 to $4800 and beyond are well-trained masters of guilt and manipulation. 

Now, I am still a MK cons., but a much wiser, much older one.  I love the products (and as I said in an earlier post, I love at least some of the products from just about every MLM out there) and I love to get invited to the parties; but when the consul. starts the recruiting part of the program, I feel sorry for her. I know how desperate she is and how much she probably believes she is doing the right and noble thing for herself and her family. 

I always tell her she did a great job (even if she didn't) and that I know she will be a success (yes, I lie thru my teeth) b/c the mom, grandma in me can't make her feel bad.

Gus, I think, as I have said in other posts, that MLMs are going to change.  The economy will force them back to a more reasonable decent type of selling.  I mean, we can't sell our children to buy inventory, right?  With credit all but a thing of the past, the next generation of SDs and beyond will actually have to have their downlines sell to real customers.  Now that's something I can get excited about!

[Trigger]

has anyone here ever actually been to a Tastefully Simple party?

[BabyBlues]

Me Trigger,  My friend who sells the candles just started doing TS...this is taking off better for her!  She does works a full time job and does both on the side... the food is really good!  She had an open house a couple of weekends ago and made everything that is new...and all was very good!  Yes I ordered   All the stuff seems easy to prepare and taste good and I like having it on hand for the unexpected company...

[Sassy_C]

I only have one question....what's in the food? I'm always weary of pre-packaged spices and food items....sold by an MLM...I know, I know....I'm weird...I've already accepted these things in my life! 

[Trixie]

Certainly not health food - but easy to prepare & it does taste good!

[Trigger]

I love the food at Pampered Chef parties.  However, I, too, am concerned about the yucky ingredients - but I guess that's what makes it so good.

I don't do biscuits in a can, or pie crusts from my grocer's freezer, or frozen bread, etc.  There's nothing evil about it; it's just not my cup of tea.  But, oh baby, the goodies they come up with using those very things will make you melt.  The problem is, their recipes are difficult to convert with real homemade basics.

I go to every MLM party I'm invited IF IF IF I receive a hand-writen invitation and I actually know the hostess. (barring a big ole' storm and the wash doesn't flood.  I can' resist the fun and goodies.  And, yes, I almost always book a party.  The only parties I avoid have more than one MLM at a time.  I only have so many brain cells.

[Trigger]

Hi, Trixie;

Where ya' been?

[Trixie]

Busy two weeks - husband's birthday - went to Atlantic City.  Trying to fit 4 workdays into three for the trip, then again for the holiday.  Daughter #2 was in the hospital for three full days (collapsed lung) - Daughter #1 - boyfriend of over a year broke up with her (she's thought this would be the one).  Now trying to figure out Christmas - ugh!

thanks for asking - aren't you glad you did???

[BabyBlues]

Holy crap! Poor you and Yours... It always amazes me how when things happen they always happen in mutiples  Wishing you all the best...hope the Ex falls off a curb...and speedy wellness to daughter 2...How was AC? Are you a Jersey resident?

[Trixie]

Thanks BB - love the ex 'falling off the curb'.  His BIG loss!

I was born & raised through high school in Brooklyn, NY.  I've lived in CT for almost 35 years, but had never been to AC.  I was surprised how nice it was.  We stayed at the Tropicana for two nights - won a bit - had some really nice meals - walked along the boardwalk - out on the pier - will definitely go again - a 3-1/2 hour trip.

[Trigger]

Hi, Trixie;

Yikes!  No, I'm not sorry I asked.  You are human therefore you will have the yucky days.  So sorry about sick DD.  Is she O.K. now?  And right before Christmas. And no kidding about the lame ex.

Chin up, though.  We, here at PLH, are holding you and yours up in prayer.

Godspeed.