Simplest way to know if it’s a pyramid scheme or not : in a regular corporate business money flows from the top to the bottom , in pyramid scheme it flows from bottom to top.
It's funny how in MLMs they pitch normal things you get by working a regular job as something exceptional. I work from home, go on trips (because when you're actually earning something, you can just pay for your own trips) and pay my debt, and that's just... expected. Nobody makes any fuss around it, nobody pitched me about it. Oh, and at 5 p.m. I can say bye to my colleagues, close my laptop and go about my day without my boss guilt-tripping me about not spending that time on work.
And paid-for work trips aren’t really that rare for a lot of typical 9-5 jobs. My dad worked as a pretty average employee at some random insurance company when I was a kid and he’d get 2-4 work trips a year that were fully paid for and had regular hotels and flights (not the cheapest possible like at mlms). Sometimes they’d even let him use the company card to get little souvenirs for us, and he literally just worked there. He got great “vacations” AND a stable income. Mlms love to demonize office jobs, but unless you have one you should be reporting to OSHA, it’s not much more than kinda boring.
I’m intrigued by the massive numbers of “haters” and negative folks these MLM folks seem to have in their lives. They all seem to be locked in continual battles in some sort of violent hellscape of negativity and people trying to “keep them from succeeding”. 🙄
someone may have already pointed this out, but the Monat lady changed her origin story on the fly there... which is it, wanting to be able to pay for sports or not being able to pay mortgage AND car payment? 😂😂
I’m sorry I don’t BELIEVE at all that this girl paid off her house and pool. When you need to go on social media and tell the world you paid off your mortgage and paid cash for her pool is LYING. Who does that?? Oh MLM huns. You don’t see ppl working high paying corporate jobs bragging they paid bills and you don’t see 9-5 ppl showing their weekly pay check online. Oh that’s because it’s not a big shock when we get paid . It’s an every week process.
She is superrrr high in the company, so I believe she can pay for it. But I completely agree that it’s very odd to be getting on social media and bragging about how much money you make and spend! Only people who are trying to recruit others would do that…
@@teslag23 right!! We know every week or 2 weeks we are getting paid. Not a big shock . I think they get so excited because they only get paid once in a while and 50$ is a huge deal. Yet they still are in the negative. Sad 😞
Gaslighting (believe what I’m telling you instead of what is actually happening to you), victim blaming (it’s your own fault why, not mine), and trying to cut them off from the ppl who care about them to profit off of their “loyalty” are exactly the same manipulation tactics abusive partners use to gain control over ppl they are in relationships with.
I wanted to thank you for your clear comparison of MLM & regular job “pyramids”. I do know the difference but the way you worded it made something click. Especially the people at the top of MLM’s chill out when the people below are working their butts off essentially for the person at the top even though they don’t think of it like that. Xo
Yay! I’m so happy that explanation was effective! I’m the same way, it makes sense that the two are different… but it REALLY makes sense when you think about how people in “corporate” jobs are still making a solid wage no matter what position they are at. People in MLMs can be working hard for years and STILL be losing money.
I just want to say I am absolutely addicted to this kind of content. I don't care if there's a million other creators doing anti-mlm videos, I'll still watch you because I like your videos and because I just need all the anti-mlm content!
Oh my goodness, the Monat girl seems so sweet. You can tell that she's not very confident and easily impressionable, which is probably how she ended up in an MLM. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was promoting a travel agency and not a hair product company.
She seriously is so sweet. Breaks my heart that she got involved. At this point, Monat reps will say/do anything to get people interested in the "business opportunity", even if that means lying about free trips.
The most important questions I'd ask: what's your net profits, gross expenses and gross revenue for the last X amount of years you've been in your "business"? What has your year-over-year growth been? If they can't produce annual financial statements, which is what a REAL business owner would have, they can't pass go with me. They live in vagueness and theoretical future dreams of success. It's never concrete and nothing is more concrete than hard numbers.
Do these bots understand that these so called companies they call their "own" ARE IN FACT CORPORATE BUSINESS THEY WORK FOR???? Or is it I'm the stupid one and I clearly lost brain cells?
This is the clearest and most complete explanation of "pyramid scheme" versus the "corporate pyramid" that i've heard out of all the (probably hundreds) of anti-MLM videos i've watched!
the next time I feel too late to the game in whatever it is I'm setting out to do, I'm going to remember that the best anti-mlm creator on this platform felt that way as well
First! Lol. That was one of the most perfect, simple explanations of pyramid schemes and debunking of "corporate jobs are pyramid schemes too!" that I've ever heard. *chef's kiss* And side note: I also watch many of your fave anti-MLM youtubers but I really enjoy your perspective as well. You definitely have a place in the community. Please keep it up!
1. Clearly off topic, but the balance of your top and your hair is perfection. 2. Thank you for mentioning toxic positivity. “No bad days” makes my skin crawl. It’s okay to have negative feelings ugh!! 3. I’d love a deep dive on Beach Body. 4. I’m a Poshmark seller and have no business being on this video but it’s highly entertaining.
Lacks servant mentality...... like wtf?!? I dont wanna be a servant, ta hunbot 🤣 weird. Why would I want the mentality of a servant.. and what even is that??
Hi Hannah. I love your channel. I just had the thought that MLMs also promote overconsumption and contamination when they make their coaches buy the same crap everymonth and hoard it till it goes bad. It's just a new reason to hate MLMs and I would know if you have a video about this topic. Luv ya. Hugs from Peru
Hannah I'm always so impressed by the amount of work and thought you put into these videos. Very intelligent and very easy to understand all at once, thank you for great content and a really interesting perspective on these crazy MLM people.
I’m going through and watching all of the MLM fails I missed before I found your channel.. but that girl from Monat you follow absolutely broke my heart. She seems like such a sweet sweet baby angel 😭 I’m curious where she is now a few months later
My lordy! These gals touch their hair so dang much! That would be such a red flag in any interview for a job. After awhile, it is all I can notice. It is like the Monat reps version of the rapid repeated eye blinking. A sign of distress perhaps??
Hi Hannah, that was another great video. I was wondering if there are MLM'S that target men. I only ever see women promoting these mlm companies. Kinds looks like they only prey on women because they can pull at our heartstrings😥well, thanks again for the amazing content❤Karie
It’s absolutely a female-dominated industry, but there are MLMs that target men as well. Some examples are legal MLMs like Legal Shield, insurance MLMs like Primerica, stock trading MLMs like Forex, and cell phone/internet MLMs like ACN.
What makes me sad about these otherwise sweet and friendly women like her is you can tell she thinks she truly found a lucrative career. She has bounce and hope. For so many it might be the first time they feel like they found something where they did it on their own. Maybe they’re the sibling the family always implies always needs help. Always needs training wheels. And before they have proper feedback they genuinely believe they’ll finally make their family proud. And instead of getting meaningful, truthful insight from these loved ones, their upline interferes and closes their minds and ears. With my own family I have a lot of nieces/grand nieces that I take personal umbrage to preying on young girls like that. Both making me angry and sad. Glad you are getting the message out there.
Hi Hannah, I recently came across your channel and have been loving watching through all your videos! You mentioned you had a zoom call with the sweet Monat rep and her up line, did you make that video, I would love to watch it. Thanks for your kindness and clear approach to exposing the dangers of MLM, the way you present the information is respectful and factual and you are really nice to listen to.
So well put! Can you do a video of Word Wide Dream builders that are with Amway? They seem to big really big and try to recruit you at any grocery or shopping store!
Once I was a finalist candidate for a real job, and they flew me out for an in-person interview at their expense. Free flight, free food, free hotel, and reimbursement for transportation. It was a pretty short trip, but I didn't even work for them yet, I was just being interviewed. Free trips are not a flex in the working world depending on the job/industry
The first lady is a classic example of something that isn’t entirely wrong but just doesn’t apply to MLM’s because of its unethical business structure. And the fact her saying what she is saying is purely to hit an emotional string in people.
If that's not enough, the midroll ad on this video is a literal "training" scam to help MLM huns be more successful at gathering online victims! Targeted ads are scary.
WRONG. Her attitude is appropriate for people who mock folks who deliver pizzas, do Doordash, work evenings in fast food, etc. to make extra money. Those people can go to hell. But people who warn you that what you're joining will absolutely NOT make you extra money? Those people are trying to help you. Also? I have two kids, and it's appropriate to say "NO" sometimes. And if what they want is a luxury, and you need extra money, what a teachable moment to help them sell some toys on FB Marketplace, do a lemonade stand, create something to sell, etc. Not joining an MLM to display how you lose money.. then they're gonna get double "No"s! Ugh, stop using your children as a reason why you can't think critically about an "opportunity."
I really enjoy your content! But I will say I’ve never heard of a “free trip” that offers more than lodging, flights, AND a food stipend. That’s pretty generous compared to other MLM trips and that’s what my corporate job covers for work trips too (plus ground transport and parking).
They pay taxes on the cost of these trips. So.. if the company paid for hotel, transportation, and food, it ends up as part of their income at the end of the year and the reps pay tax on that "income"
My cheapest face moisturizer costs me $170. I will pay for quality. I will never buy MLM products. Such cheap crap. Who are they selling this overprice trash to?! Also, I love the videos
On Wednesday I got contacted by a tech recruiter who was a cheerleader from WSU, and I discovered your channel on Thursday and I think you said you were a cheerleader for UW. :) (I'm originally from Seattle and I went to UW for 1 quarter. My mom went to CWU 😀)
Just a weird moment in my past. No real point. I had a conversation with someone a few years ago (not about MLM). They kept telling me how they felt, and I kept giving them facts. Eventually, the conversation hit a standstill when they said I was making them feel dumb. I was confused because they relied on my ability to look things up. I don't think facts help someone get away from cultish communities. We don't talk about that subject anymore.
“When moms don’t even want financial gain” 2 seconds later “maybe they just want some extra money for sports or to decrease their hours” THATS MONETARY. Sometimes these ladies are so disconnected they don’t even hear their own words.
I think the saddest part of the 2nd one is if she was talking to someone trying to start a legitimate business of any kind then most of us would probably be right there with her encouraging the person to go for it. It just stinks when what seems like a nice person falls down the rabbithole.
lol that arbonne one was funny about thats weird. if i got a job at starbucks, i wouldn't have to make posts, or be on optional team calls, or do extra-curricular personal development courses, or be coachable. i could literally only try for a week, too, and in my state assuming im owrking a 40 hr week at min wage, i could make 600 bucks. the only thing i'd really have to do taht she listed was be on time and ocnsistent to work..
LOL! $160/YEAR won't give you vacations, pay for your house bill or provide your kids the sports equipment & fees they need. You may however get groceries for 1 of the 52wks out of the year. 😂😭🤣💀
I just wanna point out that needing money to pay for your kids travel sports teams/equipment means you already had the money to get them to that level (and likely to buy enough products to make sure you keep your rank).
Unpopular opinion: If you are struggling between paying your car payment or monthly mortgage payment, you are living above your means. Why is it that so many people feel untitled to a huge house or fancy car when they simply don't bring in the money to pay for it? No wonder people like this get sucked into pyramid schemes, they are clearly not the best at making good financial decisions.
Not necessarily. Maybe they got a mortgage with a variable interest rate and were duped into thinking it was a great deal; then their monthly payment suddenly increased. Or maybe they've experienced a layoff and are now making less money than before. Going through a divorce can also mess up people's finances, too. It could definitely be bad financial decisions, but it could also be life circumstances out of their control.
It may be unpopular, but you are on to something. To be successful, live BELOW your means. I used to work as a caseworker in a welfare office. I had so many people wanting to apply for food stamps and housing assistance because they were paying over $1,100 a month in RENT (and this wasn't in NYC or a large city; it was in central Pennsylvania). Yet they refused to even consider downsizing to a smaller rental in a different part of the area because they wanted to live in the "nice" area. Pay a low amount of rent, save your money and then buy a house in the "nice" area. Your mortgage will never increase the way your rent will with a fixed rate mortgage. But no one listens to me.
Hun: Not coachable, not on team calls, lacks servant attitude Me: Am I getting compensated for my time spent being "coached" and on these "team calls? These Huns all get hot & bothered by the thought of someone recommending a product, restaurant, book etc without getting paid for it. Yet don't see the irony in that they do all the coaching, trainings, team calls etc (either giving & or recieving). Yet are NOT getting paid to do any of those 🤷🤦♀️
I will say when you remove the mlm from the mix most of these girls inspire me to get off my butt and pursue my passions such as photography as a side hustle but that’s a legitimate job when you throw in they’re pitching an mlm it’s just face palm
The "my version of success" lady is grinding my gears real bad. All of these huns talking about "side hustles" and saying how they joined their MLM because they just wanted some "extra money", why not work in a clothing store? It's also selling stuff to customers. Oh, right, because working in retail requires standing on your feet and being paid hourly without the mirage of getting rich quick. God forbid these huns had to do any actual work.
11:27 - "lacks servant mentality" ... My brain, it can't. It makes me think of two things: 1) Telling me I should be subservient to you (that's disempowering, thank you), or 2) A faith manipulation tactic (the "not coachable" bit strikes me as this also). In the Bible, Jesus tells us that "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.." (Matthew 20:27, KJV) The trouble here is (at least to me) is that "servant" here actually means someone who wants the best for you. If I'm your servant in this sense, my role then becomes that of someone who cares about you, supports you in getting what you need. I, as an empowered individual with agency, am choosing to seek what's best for you based on what God says is best. To my Christian mind, this is a sick twisting of something that's supposed to be holy, really. And all for money. It disgusts me.
Telling people to ignore facts and statistics is not a one-off for the MLM Industry. Dexter Yager (the man who has made more money from MLM Motivation material than anyone in history) Used to say over and over again when the Dream is bigger enough the facts don't matter. He even released a tape Called - When the Dream is big enough the facts do not matter.
@@HannahAlonzo I would love for you to do a video on Dexter Yager he is the man who started the motivational part of the MLM Business he made literally hundreds of millions of dollars from tapes, cd's and functions.
Perhaps but statistically that would be an outlier. All this people quit college because “Bill Gates..:.” Lo and behold, they aren’t Bill Gates or Steve Jobs - they hit reality and then I CANNOT hire them without a degree.
7:30 - translation: "sacrifice yourself so I can have more". I don't doubt an extra $50/mo was life changing for her in her past. But no one has to be envisioning a million dollar paycheck in order to say "um, that's not likely to work". Your loved ones are trying to save you from something that is set up to bleed you dry and leave you with nothing but hopes and dreams (which can't support your family, no matter how awesome your dreams or hopes are or how completely you believe in them). And this lady is trying to help herself, not you. She wants money for her future....and that happens at the cost of yours, irrespective of whether she gets that or not! Corporate "pyramids" aren't problem free, but I didn't give my time to Target for nothing back. These MLMs ask for not just your time, but your future. Your family's future. And, to me, that costs too much.
I'm curious how many of these prey specifically on dissatisfied Christian housewives who have been taught from a young age that their value lies in 'servant mentality' especially to their children and husband, being 24/7 available to them which is antithetical to basic corporate structure...
You know, I have been branching out a little because I will eventually run out of your videos and you only drop 2 a week and I need more content to devour. I haven't been through all of your favorite anti-MLM creators yet but something I have noticed so far is there's a lot of exclusively MLM creator focused content and most of what I take away from them is snark. Like don't get me wrong, I love a good snarky video, there's a reason I watch Charlotte Dobre. When I watch you, your focus seems to be more on information, facts, explanations, and rarely do you make me sit down and listen to a 45 minute call or something and just be snarky for like 10 minutes over the top throughout. You, especially while your top fails and horror stories have grown really give a lens to a more untalked about set of experiences and offer some understanding and while I do often wish you'd be a TINY bit less understanding with the face blurring and protecting identities, mostly you are, thus far, uniquely humanizing among the anti-MLM community and it's nice to see that. Also there's a Bomb Party or whatever it is, jewelry packed in bath bomb gunk, rep who apparently does live streams dressed as Winnifred from Hocus Pocus and I deeply need to see you blind react to her. Unfortunately... I really like her. She's entertaining. I caught a Savannah Marie episode (about a month old as I write this) on this woman and it's the closest I have ever been from wanting to participate in MLM activity. Not because the MLM has a good product even, but because she provides entertainment on a scale that actually pays for the participation, in my opinion. You take on the weird niche cases and have a really great take on the oddball stuff, even create learning moments. I need you to cover her and more than that I just really need you to blind react because I think you'll be pleasantly, and disappointingly because she's doing it for an MLM, surprised.
I know I'm so late on this but I love how she tries to make it seem like she can't afford to buy her kids basic toys just to turn around and talk about leveling up on their paid games on their expensive consoles... your kids play hockey? First world problems.
