Big Country Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Background - I am super skeptical of those MLM pyramid scheme things. Friends of ours have gotten into this "Visalis" product which I guess is some vitamin thing. Typical pyramid scheme where you get 5 people under you and they eac hget 5 under them that you make money off of. Anyway, my wife caved in and agreed to go to their place for dinner so we can hear the spiel. No chance we'd agree to do it, but we'll humor them. Anyway, I did a quick google search and couldn't come up with much other than links for other schemes like don't follow their method, use ours. Anyway, any Huddlers out there either have some info on this that I can arm myself with (either pro or con, I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt, but it will need to be a very convincing pro argument to sway my opinion of these things) or have the time and willingness to find some links so that as soon as I get home I can do some quick research on this thing before heading out. At least I guess we are getting a free meal out of it, but I could use the all might power of the Huddle Nation to give me some info so I am not heading into this onslaught blind and unarmed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Controller Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Don't know anything about it. I googled it and it came back "ViSalus". Their website looks like a typical vitamin MLM setup. In other words: AVOID AT ALL COST. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch Oven Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I wonder if they make meG - a - DiK? I always get spam for that. Folks seem to be happy with the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Can you make money on this...I guess, but much like Amway, it's the early joiners that have the only shot. They're all BS! Stay away! You pay in more than you'll ever get back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Please watch the movie "Go" before you attend this dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 i think i would rather go to a couples' shower with spain than to dinner with someone trying to get me in their pyramid scheme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chester Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 (edited) IF you decided to do it, and IF you'd make money, you'd still become the guy that everybody tries to avoid and won't want to go to dinner with. Edited October 2, 2007 by chester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H8tank Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I'd rather go to a scrapbook party with atomoranic in a genie constume than waste another brain cell on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 i think i would rather go to a couples' shower with spain than to dinner with someone trying to get me in their pyramid scheme. +1. We had some friends once who got into this racket and wanted us to buy all sorts of cleaning stuff at an insane price. For what they were charging, I could have had an underground tank put in and had it delivered by the tanker load. They were put out when I fell about laughing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Country Posted October 2, 2007 Author Share Posted October 2, 2007 +1. We had some friends once who got into this racket and wanted us to buy all sorts of cleaning stuff at an insane price. For what they were charging, I could have had an underground tank put in and had it delivered by the tanker load. They were put out when I fell about laughing. I'm sure I'll have the same reaction and my wife will be mad at me for laughing at this couple for falling for it. She just wants to go so they'll stop bugging her about it. Better be some good food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Avoid. And if I may be so bold... I'd question these people as "friends", too. JSMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Avoid ...really not a good idea as either you screw somebody or you will get screwed Bad karma written all over this imho And maybe skip or cancel the dinner nicely as it may not be worth the time or energy to hear the spiel Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Country Posted October 2, 2007 Author Share Posted October 2, 2007 ISMHO, it'll be like the time I took a free trip to Tahoe in exchange for listening to the time share spiel. Not really worth it, but I sure had fun with the guy when I started throwing some numbers down on paper and showed him how I would be a lot better off just purchasing a place outright for the amount they were charging. He resorted to attempting to belittle my decision making and Itold him and his manager in some not so polite ways, in front of their other potential clients what Ithought of their tactics and their offer. THey were nice enough to get us out of there and back to the hotel quite quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Country Posted October 2, 2007 Author Share Posted October 2, 2007 Avoid. And if I may be so bold... I'd question these people as "friends", too. JSMHO. Ahh.. they're good people... just IMO a little taken in with this idea that you can make money off of this with a minimum of work. I'll enjoy the dinner, enjoy laying out the facts once the spiel stats and maybe open their eyes that it is not so lucrative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Ahh.. they're good people... just IMO a little taken in with this idea that you can make money off of this with a minimum of work. I'll enjoy the dinner, enjoy laying out the facts once the spiel stats and maybe open their eyes that it is not so lucrative. Yeah.... I had two "friends" (one female, one male, separate incidents) that tried to sell me on these kinds of things. In some cases - and I believe in both of my cases - they're simply trying to make more money. Off of you. That's not what friendship is about, IMO. Anyways, enjoy the dinner, keep an open mind, but if they start questioning your decision (if they do, in fact, do this) then tell them no dessert! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Controller Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 ISMHO, it'll be like the time I took a free trip to Tahoe in exchange for listening to the time share spiel. Not really worth it, but I sure had fun with the guy when I started throwing some numbers down on paper and showed him how I would be a lot better off just purchasing a place outright for the amount they were charging. He resorted to attempting to belittle my decision making and Itold him and his manager in some not so polite ways, in front of their other potential clients what Ithought of their tactics and their offer. THey were nice enough to get us out of there and back to the hotel quite quickly. Given this info, I think you will be fine. And I agree 100% with Chester - even if you did it, and made some good money doing it, it wouldn't be worth it. In these days of Caller ID, how many of this couples "friends" actually pick up the phone when they call, do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiggieFries Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Ha, my cousins are into a similar MLM product called Mona Vie. They tried to get us into it. I tried it and it tasted like ass. I had no interest. I have also written software for an adult oriented MLM site. I wouldn't get in on your friend's offer. As others have said, it's not worth it unless you get in on it VERY early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 i just keep thinking of that southwest "wanna get away?" commercial... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 I heard there's a guy who makes over $20K a month selling that stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 it tasted like ass This is an eckspurt...I'd believe him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy n Dirty Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 When did we add an S to IMHO? And what does the S mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 When did we add an S to IMHO? And what does the S mean? NTTAWWSM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 When did we add an S to IMHO? And what does the S mean? S for Secret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_am_the_swammi Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 BC, Your post about your trip to Tahoe brings up an OT tactic I use for these types of offers, where they give you either a prize/free hotel for listenign to their 90-minute sales pitch. Me and the swammette do this all the time. We have had weekend in Myrtle Beach, Boston, Atlantic City, Seven Springs resort...and I got a set of Tommy Armour 845 irons, and a 20-inch flat-screen for the kids playroom. Our tactic: when they bring you in to try to close you, I tell them that their place is terrific, and we are strongly considering it, but we are co-investing in the property with three other couples, and just can't make a decision for the group without them seeing it. I tell them I will be in touch the next day to set up a time for them visit (if its close-by), or tell them we'll be down for a tour in the next several weeks. They then try to hard-close, saying its a "today-only offer"...I then say "sorry dude, but I can't move forward without my co-investors seeing the property, and I'm not screwing them by investing without them...we like your place, and it is definitely an option, but I can't do it without them"...after about 5-10 minutes of this, we are out of their office, prize in hand. Certainly worth 60-90 minutes of our time. Never fails, and since I am in hotel sales/marketing/consutling, I actually get a kick out of hearing their presentations...I usually find lots of things to tell my clients what NOT to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinL Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 In defense of MLM programs . . . Those that are successful in these companies rely on getting people to dream. They find out what is your hot button, a bigger house, car, vacation, whatever. Then they ask you if you can achieve these dreams doing what you're doing. Most Americans can't, they are stuck living paycheck to paycheck, with minimal chance for a significant lifestyle change. Then they offer you their plan. It's a ray of hope, a chance that there is a way possible for you to change your life and get those things you always dream of. It's a small chance, but (maybe) a small chance is better than no chance (if that's what you have now). People that buy into this then take on the task of promoting this system in their own circle of acquaintances. The dream is what drives them, and what the product is, really makes no difference, as long as it is a consumable that people will buy over and over (vitamins, soap, ...) If your friends really believe in what they are doing, they think they are offering you a chance to get out of the rut. Don't hold it against them for taking the chance themselves, and trying to share it. Hold it against them if they persist after you've said no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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