MLM HORROR STORIES #88 | Sharing MY OWN “horror” story & a new Hyla North America scam
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- Опубликовано: 11 июл 2024
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Hannah Thaler
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:38 My Story
9:29 Story 1
17:40 Story 2
31:52 Story 3
41:46 Story 4
SOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
Scout Wild in Target:
www.directsellingnews.com/202...
Hyla North America: www.hyla-north-america.com/
VIDEOS/PLAYLISTS MENTIONED
Anti-MLM Playlist: • ANTI-MLM
Poshmark Tips Playlist: • POSHMARK
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I can't believe I had an advert on this video for the product of a company that keeps changing their name (to various iterations of WellNee): e.g. TryWellnee with a com at the end, wellknee and WellNee with a dk at the end.
They dupe people in another way in that you think you order one box to try at a heavy discount, only to be sent/told you ordered 5 boxes! Combine that with automatic payment generation unless you cancel the direct debit they sign you up for automatically and the lack of any contact information for the company...
It's so, so shady! I just found out funny - and scary - that it was an advert by RUclips for your anti MLM video.
Maybe this is the new tactic by companies to seem legitimate and shut down their website as soon as negative reviews can be found to pop up again later. Might be worth a warning video?
I signed up on your last vid. My husband of 24 years (high school sweethearts) works in another state for months at a time and wow this was a great buy. Thanks for all you do Hannah!!
@bobbieeverly4618the worst thing was that the pink Caddy wasn’t yours. Only a lease. When your sales dropped, you no longer ‘leased’ it.
For the 3rd story something similar happened, the vacuum is called rainbow. We still have it, it works good, but def from an mlm and the salesperson did the same thing. Idk why my parents entertained it
I love, love, love the fact that your husband saw the name and thought of how it relates to something in your past. That's a man that gives thought and chooses sentimental gifts. ❤❤❤
To be loved is to be seen ❤
I thought that was soo cute
It's so freaking wholesome.
I agree!!
So cute!! 🥰
i get mad every time an mlm has an actually good product because they could just market it like a regular company but NOOOOO they decide to go full pyramid scheme.
There's one product I absolutely love, a mint clay mask. I'm not buying it only because it's an mlm product, I'd rather find an alternative product.
I totally get it, I have a few Scentsy wax melts bars at home that I purchased over the course of a couple of years, not knowing it was from an MLM, or even what an MLM was to be honest (I only fell down the anti-MLM rabbit hole recently). I love those wax melts, they smell so good and last for very long, but now I feel bad about using them, and it makes me mad too, why does it have to be from an MLM? I will use them up because I paid for them, but won't be purchasing from scentsy anymore.
Vitamix blenders...I've heard good things about them but I will not be touching one because of the company behind them. Would rather get a nice one from Ninja.
@vero_coloriage don't feel bad using them! I say it is better to use them, otherwise you just gave the MLM money for nothing. That is how I view it. I do the same with other bad companies, for example fast fashion. I bought from Shein when it was new because I was a dump teen who just had gotten my first job. Cheap clothes for plus size people? Count me in! Now I have a few left, the quality has been surprisingly good, and I use them for as long as they work.
Same.. pisses me off so bad. They could literally let the products speaks for itself. It has value and actually work. Yeah, maybe in an oversaturated msrket, there has to be a competition but playing the right cards can get their names out there without having to be involved with unethical business route. Wasted opportunity frfr
I'm the therapist who sent the third story! Thank you all for validating how terrible these experiences were, as I didn't get any validation at the time. And y'all are right - the coffee woman was accidentally right that the caffeine could be helpful! I 100% guarantee that she did not know this at the time 😆
Having ADHD, I can confirm that caffeine works as it is a stimulant. But in no way and form it should be deemed as a cure, nor should it be sold as a replacement of proper medical treatment.
keep fighting the good fight! as an ADD mum with audhd kid, we need the professionals to keep each other honest, this shit is insidious! it's bad enough getting "recommendations" from acquaintances, it would break my heart if it came from a professional!
also i've just started a nursing degree and we're deep in ethics, and how on EARTH is trying to make money off something she recommends to her patients not an ethics violation!
Thank YOU for stating unequivocally that if you are shamed or belittled by a therapist, it is 100% the therapist and not you. I’ve been on the receiving end of that and it feels horrible and gaslighty. ❤
Agree that any coffee (unless it’s just gross) is happy coffee.
The psychiatric hospital story scared me so much. I had to do a two-week outpatient program in 2022 and it changed my life. I feel so fortunate to have had such excellent care and now I worry that that's not the norm. I'm so upset for the people who put their trust in the hospital where you worked. 😞
Thank you so much for sharing. I sent mine in - but I was a patient in a psych ward and was targeted by a patient tech. Thank you Thank you Thank you for your story.
For your birthday your husband unknowingly got you Anti-MLM content. 😂 Happy birthday!! 🎂
At this point I am fully committed to never inviting a salesperson into my home and basically treating them like a vampire
I don’t even answer the door unless I’m expecting someone and know who it is!
Lol! I sometimes forget that old trope with vampires, but it's accurate! Don't let them in so they can't bite you 😂
if someone sees that you're home, just yell "i have covid and can't let you in" and they go away. also recently had someone come to the door while i was doing an exam on my home computer (which is visible from the front window) and it was amazing how much my people-pleasing urge went away when i was stressing about a time crunch. i hollared "go away i'm in a test" and then "NO THANKS" when he said he could come back later, and barely even registered it. it's actually given me the confidence to decline more in general, instead of feeling i need to be polite.
That's my general policy for sales people, religion recruiters and police officers.
Never let anyone in your house. Sales men, police, utilities workers you had no idea were coming
Girl, drink that wine 😂 just don’t buy it again.
That’s what I’m saying! You spent that money AND the wine is delish? Bottoms up! Do I have Jeffree Star highlighters? Yep! Imma still wear them too! We just won’t recommend or repurchase. You better hit pan on that bottle of wine sis….
@@SJTJ What's the dish on Jeffree Star?
@@cretnotonic so many things: bad business behaviors, bad public behavior, creating drama in the make-up community, racist & sexist remarks, really bad "non-apology apology" videos for said bad behaviors, etc. it's been a multi-year thing at this point. I recommend checking out some of the summary videos, like Swoop does.
She could probably look up the vineyard that made it and see if they have anything similar, not connected to an MLM. Or go to a sommelier and have them identify the different notes and recommend a dupe.
@ellenkarlsson9490 not the point 😅
If these companies are just going to sell their products in stores, then why don't they just abandon the mlm model at that point?
I wonder if they start out. MLM, to gea customer base or as a guide to see the liability of customers , tweak the product. Somewhat make money while trying the products out. Free advertising from consultants. ?
Because their reps are guaranteed customers. Kind of like insurance, in case their products don't sell in the store.
What ladyv said + their reps can freely make claims which the company cannot, because they are indipendant distributors, so the company is not liable for illegal claims they may make.
The reps are the real main customers. That's why these MLM's are recruitment based. It means a guaranteed customer base with little to no effort on the part of the MLM.
It's a guaranteed customer base. Esp given the comp plans of most MLM's will have PV (personal volume) purchase requirements to advance past like the second or 3rd level or something like that. Meaning either the rep has to buy a minimum amount & or they have to get a minimum amount of sales. Of which some reps will make "ghost" acc's (a customer acc under a spouse or family member's name) & buy products under that.
Yeah. I kind of don’t mind buying from a shop as much, it encourages the businesses to move away from the reps.
I hate how nice CutCo knives are. If CutCo wasn't an MLM I'd 100% shell out for those knives, because they're legitimately good knives.
Wow. Hearing “Amway” is such a trigger. I was maybe 6 or 7 when my dad, who has always been obsessed with MLMs brought me door to door to sell cleaning supplies for Amway! He kept telling me that it’ll make me wealthy by my teen years…. I just wanted to ride my scooter.
It was the garage full of soap/vitamins & the "vacations" to Amway seminars for me. _Yay we're going to go..._ sit in a hotel watching MURICA slideshows & "motivational" crap 🤢
Late to this, but yeah WILD how visceral the frustration & disappointment can still be.
@@OverAnalyst yes!! Thankfully, I didn’t inherit the pyramid scheme gene… my dad still gets roped in to them to this day!
Omg! My experiences weren't this bad, but my dad got me roped into several MLM schemes! I got put in his downline 😣 He was convinced it was going to make me money! I cringe so hard now, for both of us. I think he is still in the last one, but I think he might just be using the product at this point
My biggest month in scentsy i sold almost $4,000 worth of product, which is incredibly difficult to do in a company with a $6 item being the top sold. I was the #2 seller in my team of around 450 people. I made zero dollars in profit still. Even with 20% commission after deducting my own purchases, mileage, website, wifi, labels, samples, business cards, etcetera. I did not have downline. So there is absolutely no way you can make a liveable wage in scentsy without any recruits. People do not think of everything you spend to "own" your own mlm business 😂
After having told the young ladies in my neighborhood about your channel, in hopes of educating them on MLMs, we now lovingly call you "The Fine Print Lady". 😉
Thanks for all you do, and keep up the hard work! You're definitely saving people from getting scammed by these predators. You may not wear a cape, but you're a hero all the same!
This comment is so adorable. I absolutely love this!
“Do you do business?” What a weird thing to say, hopefully that wasn’t in the UK because that is what one asks a ‘lady of the night’ 😅😳
Just don't ask what's in her fanny pack 😂
😂
It sounds like a street name for some new drug. 😅
"So, uh...do you do business?"
This is hilarious!
@annadavied7253 "do you spice?"
'I'm working with a bunch of millionaires who are going to retire between 23-30.' What a range! My first question would be 'so you're a millionaire?' and if he said yes, I'd be like 'so what business do you have asking me any of these questions? shouldn't you be off doing millionaire retirement things instead of hawking products?'
They're either vague or oddly specific.
But why is a millionaire recruiting? Lies. Lmaooo😊
The hopeful Amway millionaire-to-be with his one suit reminded me not all millionaires buy nice clothes.
I used to know a guy who owned 11 houses but on the clothing front the man was wearing sunglasses he had picked up poking through a skip.
Clothing wasn't something he was willing to spend his millions on haha, I guess you could call eccentrically stingy.
Broke is loud, wealth whispers
My phone opened this as soon as it was posted, I don't know why or how but here for it
Hahaha whoop whoop, thanks RUclips app! 😂👏🏼
God wants you to be here today😅 Just kidding 😂
@@ya_soy_una_senora😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 good one
Polite is overrated. I feel no obligation whatsoever to open my door to anyone I'm not expecting, or to answer my phone if I don't recognize the caller. When home improvement reps accost me in Sam's Club and ask if I'm a homeowner, I lie and say no. When others ask what internet/phone service we use, I tell them my big strong husband is in charge of all that 😂 Life's too short to entertain this kind of nonsense.
That Amway story is terrifying!
As a mom of 2 autistic adults, the shilling of this snake oil to people on the spectrum makes my blood boil. When my kids were little there were a bunch of Autism Moms™️ who tried to get me to feed charcoal to my kids in order to get rid of the "lead and other toxins causing the autism". And yes, their poor kids were bring force-fed charcoal. 😔
That's frightening, considering that activated charcoal can neutralize the prescription meds their kids may actually need! This goes not just for the supplement version but also the charcoal smoothies that are sold as a novelty or "cleanse" type nonsense at some health-themed smoothie/juice places.
Interesting… I had no idea charcoal did that
❤ to you
@@shan80luvs i assume you mean the neutralizing effect. Yes, it is a common practice (in specific cases) to give it to someone who took too many or the wrong meds for example.
I hope they didn't develop GI problems and malnutrition! I feel like these people are punishing their kids for being autistic.
I would say finish the wine (if it’s still good)! You already paid for it, no point letting it go to waste!
It's still possible to appreciate the thought behind the gift without imbibing it entirely. If it's soured for her, physically or emotionally, it won't be as enjoyable to finish. Finishing it just to finish it can also be a waste.
Hubby put thought into what he got her, tried to connect it with her past and continued a tradition he created for her - all that is the true gift. This year, instead of learning she did or didn't like a new wine, she was given a story for her channel and was able to share the gift with us all!
There was a time when all of my FB posts were getting "liked" and "loved" by a friend of a friend in an MLM. The friend of a friend began messaging me with so much kindness & loving energy, trying to recruit me for days. I repeatedly turned the offer down.... And wouldn't you know it.... She stopped interacting with me altogether like I never everr existed. Cold turkey dropped me like a bad habiit. I hate the fake "friendships" and fake kindness that MLMs spawn.
Same!!! Had someone reaching out to me all friendly from school and then she tried to recruit me and gave me the same lines to use on other people. 🫤
Anyone who approaches you with a "business plan" should make you instantly say; "no thanks! Not interested!" A fool and his money are easily parted. 😥
That is exactly what I think when people yammer on and on in youtube comments about getting rich, bit coin, or a specific book to get rich.
I'm not your bank or investor - I don't need to see your business plan.
The understanding of autism has been making a lot of progress in the recent years. That means that a bunch of people that weren't diagnosed when they were kids now receive a late diagnosis, and more kids are diagnosed in time so they can live a better adapted life from now on. A lot of people see this as an epidemic, and MLMs prey on that more than ever to sell more products. Never forget that an autistic person is only different, not less ❤️
Yup! The latest understanding is that 1 in 36 are autistic, as opposed to 1-2 in 5,000 as thought in the 1960s.
I like to say, "I'm just running on a different OS." 😉
@@tangentartists6876that's a good one! I'm 63 and essentially self diagnosed after a lifetime of struggle and masking that pretty much broke me.
@@tangentartists6876 Love it! 😂❤️❤️❤️
ADHD too, (got my diagnosis last week, i'm 35) and argh the "epidemic" rhetoric shits me so much.
My husband is a veteran and he goes to a VA clinic , the doctors are contracted. While at this clinic the Doctor!!! Pushed for my husband to join a MLM. My husband declined and he was hounded by the nurse for days after about joining. It was unbelievable, there a lot of older veterans that were going to this clinic and most all of the ones there that day walked out with these supplements they were pushing. It really upset me because most of them had no idea what was happening.
Report it to the ombudsman
It can be hard sometimes, but under no circumstances should you let a stranger into your home. Never ever. If they persist, call the cops. No mercy for these people. There are way too many instances where salespeople have harmed homeowners, especially women.
There have also been cases of door-to-door mass killings. September 2022, in Saskatchewan (🇨🇦), 11 people lost their lives and 18 others were injured because they answered their door to the wrong person.
Install proper deadbolts and ask yourself if being polite is worth risking everything everytime a stranger, even one in uniform, is at your door. Just because *they* require a signature for 'the delivery' doesn't mean you have to provide it then and there. You can ask them to leave a delivery slip for the recipient through the closed door. It's better to have to pick a package up at a business the next day than to open your door at times. If it's someone "serving you papers," ask for the attorney's office to call to confirm. And *always* remember your rights and enforce those boundaries with the police because they "forget" their legal limits far too often. (If officer impersonation is the concern, you can call the precinct to confirm their badge numbers and that they are there on official business.)
Never heard of missionarys? Certain religion going door to door pushing their religion?
That young man's story about Amway really tugged at my heart. I thought it was great to call his mom but my momma alarm bells started ringing! It was a good scenario to hear and think about because if my daughter ever calls me with something like that my first thought will now be: Get her a car and new hotel to stay at until I get there to pick her up immediately! Parents take these culty people serious and get your kids out of any situation they are uncomfortable with immediately, time really can be of the essence.
Thank you! I was so concerned at that Mom’s response to her son. If ANY of my family called saying “This is a cult…I want out,” whether it was a figure of speech or serious, I would immediately take action to get them out that minute. It doesn’t matter if it’s my son, sister, dad, or grandmother…I’d advise them to leave the building at their earliest and safest moment, gather their essentials (wallet, ID, etc), and just physically leave. You don’t need Owen’s permission to get out. You don’t even have to notify Owen that you want to leave. Any bad feelings can be smoothed out once you are safe. I will pay for a cab, a hotel room at a different hotel, food, medical care, or any service that helps you get to safety. I might end up in debt, but I will gladly do it as long as you remember this lesson: “Safety before manners.” Never sacrifice your safety for the sake of being polite.
I was out gardening when a Kerby person came by. Dude tried the "my boss just needs to see that I do one more demo". I said, "I understand you're trying to make money, but I'm not letting you in my house."
He left. I feel for people who need money, but I am not the one.
This has to be one reason Cane Corsos are popular, besides that a well trained one is a great family dog. "Ok, let me hear you out. Oh, that's just Maximo. Wait, where are you going?"
It’s shocking to me that door to door salespeople still operate. I cannot fathom letting a complete stranger into my home, for any reason. There must be plenty of people who do though, or they wouldn’t be out there knocking.
ObiWan ‘this is NOT the household you are looking for’ 🖐
To be fair, Kirby is an excellent product. My grandmother had one that lasted 20+ years, I bought one in 2010 that still works like brand new. Of course, I bought mine from a friend who needed to practice her demo, not a stranger just knocking on my door.
@@bricktastic2602never heard of people with certain RELIGION going door to door?
My heart goes out to the gentleman who was nearly roped into Amway. Dragged hundreds of miles from home and pelted for hours with Amway spiels. And then guilt-tripped when wanting to leave! I'm shocked you went back to the same gym, dude, as I probably would've given a wide berth of space from ever seeing that guy again 😅. But I'm happy you made it home safely.
I remember the story where they had to listen to Amway propaganda or motivational CD’s or whatever. Trapped in a car for hours and forced to listen to MLM spiels with nothing but sugar and caffeine to eat or drink sounds like legit torture. I’m not sure how much I could withstand before I’m tempted to hurl myself out of the moving vehicle. 30 minutes?
I'm impressed that he didn't let that guy drive him away from a gym he likes.
I had a massage client who was a wild tree rep and jumped on the epicure train after they closed. She was so hooked on the dream that she didn't understand how much she got screwed. One week she came in almost in tears because she lost her income with no warning, and by her next appointment, she was bright-eyed and bursting with energy over the amazing new "opportunity" and went on about HER new business.
She's hooked on the scam 😢
that is so sad. i watched a friend do like 4 different mlm things before i unfollowed her on everything and told her if she invited me to another online "party" i'd block her. then she invited me to another one! bye friend.
it is so sad but like... not my responsibility
I’m from Grand Rapids area, where Amway was founded. The DeVos and VanAndel names are EVERYWHERE! A hospital, arena, hotel… They are revered like gods, it’s so crazy. The MLM’s are strong here, too… almost every woman I know has been in at least one, and a dear friend has been in over 12 MLM’s in the past 20+ years and is still in.
Tupperware moving into Target stores was a smart business decision in some ways (not saying I support the MLM side) to appeal to Millennials and Gen Z. Most of us grew up with Tupperware in the house, and a lot of it is collectible in secondary markets. But no one has Tupperware parties anymore, so by putting those products into a trendy store like Target, they're getting that nostalgia factor. I'll admit, I'm tempted every time I see them because of the bright, gem colors (versus mustard yellow and brown of olden days). But I don't need any more storage containers, and am actually shifting from plastic to glass.
Millennial here who loves vintage things that fell for thinking that because they were in target ment they were no longer an mlm 😅
@@RyneKlym I love vintage things, too. I still have the original Tupperware sugar and flour containers my parents used on display above my kitchen cabinets. I had a long pause the first time I saw the new collection in Target, but the price turned me off buying them that day. Glad I didn't, too. :)
I feel like this is a good time to remind people of Buyers' Remorse Laws. They depend on where you live, what you bought, and how you were contacted, so check with your consumer protection office.
I hope the therapist who sent you this story sees this comment. I worked in mental health for 10 years. I was never a therapist but I worked with many of them. The amount of therapists who push essential oils and other shady practices is frankly terrifying. Unfortunately it’s a rare experience that I hear a mental health professional speaking about their work and their relationship with their clients in such a responsible and ethical way. There are a lot of savior complexes in the mental health field. Thank you for holding these hard lines and doing the best by your clients. You’re doing great. The field needs more workers like you.
They did! They're in this comment section 😊
I'm a therapist and I get approached all the time to sell oils and heath products in my lobby. It's creepy.
I have to roll my eyes every time I hear "The Secret" mentioned. I was required to watch part of the movie (if one can call it that) of the same name and content for work once, because my coworker convinced our supervisor it would be good team-building material. I sat in stunned silence until one of the "experts" in the video said something to the effect of, "We don't actually know what electricity IS, but we know it can cook a man's dinner!" I snort-laughed and had to leave the room.
A quick search will fix that, but nooooo
When everyone was recommending "The Secret," but no one could describe what it was about - 🚩🚩🚩
For your confusion about the MLM focus on ADHD/ Autism/ AuDHD people: it's because a LOT of people are late diagnosed these days. Mental Health awareness is much higher than it used to be and both of these disorders, as mentioned by the writer, can be debilitating. Even when you have a diagnosis the transition to healthy coping & working with your diagnosis is a lot and, as a childhood diagnosed ADHDer- it's hard. And sometimes we're excellent victims. Especially if we're people pleasers (we often are) so we end up in situations that are hard to extract ourselves from. What you're seeing is a sea of predators being shown a new pool of victims: it used to be single moms. Now it's ADHD/Autism/AuDHDers. Ten or twenty years from now the MLM's that are still around will find a new victim pool as they'll have put the current one through enough trials that we get smart. But in the meantime a LOT of people with these disorders are desperate just to live 'normal' lives and find their balance. On the bright side when ADHDers/ Autism/ AuDHDers do finally start kicking MLM's in the rear it'll be an awesome thing to witness. All of those people hyper focused on ripping down MLMs? I'd be there just to see the fireworks.
I LOVE the sound of this! Bring it on, I say...!
I can't believe this is all still happening. Over 40 years ago (I'm 67) a friend invited me to a business conference. Yes, it was Amway which wasn't revealed until almost an hour into the "conference." I just got up and left. Luckily it was held in the city I lived in.
A couple of years after that I answered a job a vacuum cleaner technician. Except at the information meeting, it turned out that they weren't hiring for techs yet, because the business was just hiring. It was Rainbow Vacuums, and they needed people to sell them and recruit more associates. I Googled the company after watching your video, and they are still in business and looking like they are doing the exact same thing! And the Rainbow vacuum looks and works just like the Hyla vacuum!
Keep up the good work. You may not destroy the rats, but you will help people avoid them.
i said in a comment earlier that it soulnds exactly like rainbow vaccuums!! I wonder if it's the same product with a different badge. i'm going on a google hunt
Other MLM brands that have stores or sell in stores : Body Shop (until it's collapse); Neal's Yard; Usborne Books; Anne Summer's. - and apparently Avon is beginning to branch out into retail stores.
I never knew about Body Shop.
Tupperware is in our Target. I'm excited though, I haven't bought anything avon or Tupper since venmo and PayPal became the more requested forms of payment. I refuse to download those apps and have only paid on a connection link once with them. Got my first spam email afterwards
Body shop really upset me because I used to do huge shopping around holidays to get small things for acquaintances and as stocking stuffers. I used to get a 6 pack of hand lotion for )$12-$15 and it was so nice
When was Body Shop an mlm?? I only knew it from the store in the mall 30-odd years ago. It was like a precursor to Lush.
@@Shetooktothewoodsin the UK there was a whole arm of Body Shop called Body Shop at home. This was the MLM side of it. It was incredibly popular until the close the arm earlier this year.
Regarding Hyla:
I'm pretty sure the picture you showed is of their "top of the line" vacuum cleaner. The air purifier really does look like a clear bowl with a colored lid, almost spherical.
I'm from Germany, and so far it has been blessedly un-MLM-y here. We've had tupperware (big when I was a kid in the 90s), but as far as I can see even that was less come-and-join-this-business and more I-wanna-sell-products here than it seems to be in the US. In recent years, especially on tiktok, I see more and more MLM stuff though. And the Hyla vacuum cleaner is EVERYWHERE. The hyla-bossbabe-ladies are claiming that it's gonna solve all your cleaning problems, but basically, it's just a "wet vacuum" (not sure how these are called in English) whith a 1000 different attachments. It's seems to be a slovenian company, maybe that's why it's currently bigger here in europe than in the US.
Edit:
As is obvious, I commented before the video was over😅
i think the appeal of mlms is the idea of being self-made while still operating within a corporate structure that provides a roadmap. additionally, as someone who is in sales myself, i think in addition to the whole mathematically impossible pyramid scheme aspect, many of these people are also just really bad at sales.
You nailed it.
I do think mlm can have a place in some people's lives; although not necessarily to make them 6 figures. Sadly, Hannah & others gives mlms such a bad rap that even someone who had great mlm products & was a good salesperson would be losing the battle before they started. Hannah never mentions how RUclips is similar to mlms in terms of her monetization for views, subscribers & sponsorship. She is the pot calling the kettle black.
@@AellaMaudno girlie it’s not… at all
@@AellaMaudI’ve read your other comment and not trying to be rude at all but you are clearly very uneducated on this topic and even what Hannah does for a living.. This is her job, how she makes money. Her sponsors are not “useless” and I know she only accepts sponsors she truly believes in. She is not scamming vulnerable people which MLMS do.
@@AellaMaudand girl the only person “making money off your back” is your up line!! Cmon now
"Some MLMs do have quality products ..."
*eyes the Pampered Chef apple corer in the kitchen*
it's true. Sometimes. Sometimes it's true.
Also let's be real Tupperware has had periods of excellent stuff.
Anyway happy Monday! Happy Eclipse! Stay awesome
This is so funny! I was actually just watching one of your videos (can't remember if it was new or older) where you exposed that most recent tea shops sell Herbalife. As I had nearly the exact experience as the woman who wrote to you (feeling horribly sick after purchasing my very expensive tea down the road) my husband and I went to do some digging. Sure enough, the tea shop sells Herbalife. Even crazier, when I went to share this story with my mom, she started to laugh in surprise & commented her shock that Herbalife was still around. Apparently she'd had an aunt who'd sold it back in the 80s! Needless to say we will never go back, but I still hate they were so tricky about it.
So true! I used to sell Herbalife in the early 1980's by way of my parents promoting it (was a short lived misadventure). Till one day I got so sick on my way delivering newspapers from the powder you would add to orange juice. Since then taking any product with powder usually has me gagging. I thought it had gone by the wayside till I was working in a communications dept. and heard Herbalife being prompted by people from India.
I recently read Cultish because I've been binge-watching your content for a few weeks. If you haven't read it, it has an interesting part about MLMs. I jokingly told my husband that since I'm not a people person and I get tired of things quickly that I'd get fired from an MLM. Lol.
Okay, but almost 30 years ago now, we had a Kirby salesman stop by. At the time we had a DirtDevil vacuum and three cats. We had a couch in front of a window that was a cat hair magnet! I told the Kirby guy if he could get the cat hair off the couch, I’d buy the vacuum. It was amazing! We had always struggled with it before. 30 years later, that Kirby still rocks. The only downfall is that it is heavy. I’m not saying they have a great way of selling, but those vacuums are good!
Thanks for the insightful videos. Have you ever done one on Yoli?
Yah, Kirby makes a good vacuum. But like Hannah said, some MLMs have legitimately good products, but the business model and sales tactics are predatory and wrong for everyone involved.
sigh, when therapists sell something with those claims i will always question their ethics, as a therapist, this is what troubles me. also you can report these activities to the licensing boards they get their license from if they are not being ethical.
OMG! The Jolene story with the vacuum and the phone calls as if she was being surveilled made me remember a friend of mine who worked in an MLM, told me that they made FAKE PHONE CALLS to either encourage people to buy (they act as if they're asking their boss to give you a special promotion or discount) or to guilt trip you into buying, which is what I guess Joelen was doing. I must say that the call itself isn't fake, they are indeed talking to someone on the phone but the person is also the MLM and it's all set up.
I don't blame your husband. That was such a sweet idea. He didn't know. ❤
It's in Target sitting there looking innocent, if I were gift shopping I might reach for that pretty bottle.
I swear 90% of the german speaking MLM content i get on my Instagram Feed is about Hyla . Makes so much more sense now knowing now that Hyla is a German Company
There is German anti-mlm content? I'm German and have never heard about hyla, but provin is everywhere.
@kathageeck1566 i have yet to see german anti MLM content. I was referring to the content from reps. I have, however, seen an uptick in general anti scam content in german.
I've never seen this but an American immigrant with no friend circle, probably why. I'm sure I'll find more as kiddo joins classes and KiTa this year.
@@JessTalkingBooks it's quite subtle here. I only had one mom hun in our toddler group and she was never pushy. But MLMs are not as promising in countries with minimum wage, benefits and public health insurance 😅
@@kathageeck1566 that's actually a lovely thing to hear. I'm from Atlanta, home of Primerica. Just. Woof. Helps I'm allergic to most essential oils and perfumes. Easy no.
Woah, Hannah! 243K?! Amazing
I’m shocked!! So cool! 😱
@@HannahAlonzo 244 k now
Forreal!! I just recently started listening to her and she was at like 165k! Major jump in a month or 2. So proud!!!
@@kristinabava8718she was pushing for 100K by the end of 2023 and didn’t meet that goal. Then exploded! So excited for her!!
@@businessacc179 makes me so happy!! I binge her stuff all the time!
Hey Hannah, do you think you could do a horror stories focussed on the stories with autism and ADHD involved? I'd really like a single resource to turn to when it comes to how MLMs treat these conditions.
i second this, it's a really important topic
That would be amazing!
Something similar happened to my husband and I regarding Amway but as soon as they assigned us a book to read, I was like this is not a real opportunity and I never talked to those people ever again!!! I was so angry though, because these people wasted our time our money, and our emotions by not being upfront from the beginning
That therapist story is rough! I have allergy and I am super sensitive with fragrances especially in diffuser and candles and I had to tell my therapist to make sure the scented candle she set up to give a little bit more ambiance is covered during our appointment. It was not an issue and she even took it a step further and makes sure its cover the night before so its not a problem for me. I couldn't imagine a therapist not wanting to make accommodation for a patient! as a patient this would be a huge break of trust and I would not want to work with that therapist at all.
i'm so glad she listened to you.
Your therapist sounds amazing. I'm a therapist too and trust isn't shallow in the therapeutic relationship. I would never ask a client to trust me with their inner most feelings and emotions if they feel they can't trust me to make the environment comfortable and safe for them too.
I hope the move went well! Also happy 1st birthday to Harper! And Happy birthday to you🎉
56:42 Nah, when someone shows up at my house unanounced, I just politely smile and say “No, thank you.” While I close the door.
I have mixed feelings about MLM products being offered in retail stores (specifically the non-scammy products like the wine you tried or something like Tubberware). On one hand, I don't want to unknowingly buy an MLM product, but on the other hand, I want the products to be successful enough in stores where the MLM model no longer makes sense for the company and they shut down that portion of their business. (Wishful thinking, I know) It's a bit of a double-edged sword.
I have ADHD and Autism and it makes me so furious when people try to turn neurodivergence into some horrible thing that needs to be ‘cured’ or that it’s inherently bad. It’s not! My brain processes 42% more information than the average person. I am really creative and find solutions faster than my neurotypical peers. The problem is the world doesn’t fit me, not that I don’t fit the world.
Da*n straight! Different neurotypes are a divergence from the so-called 'norm' or 'typical' - NOT a deficit that needs cure or correction.
I love this comment!!!
Loll got any citations on that "42%" 😂😂 You're 100% fake
@@nom3nnescio www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3870924/ bitch, I always have citations
15 years ago my husband was “suckered” into buying a Kirby vacuum/carpet shampooer by a door to door “salesman”!
Spending thousands of $ we didn’t have to spare. I was so angry at him for being sucked in and scammed by that salesman! We STILL have that stupid vacuum and he just spent $110 to get it serviced! Every time I see it I get so upset that he fell victim to buying such an expensive vacuum that we couldn’t afford. With all that said… it has kept working well over the years! But, it’s so heavy and annoying to use! Maybe someday it will break and I will be blessed with being able to get a new vacuum I enjoy using! God willing! I look with envy while others get to use these beautiful lightweight Dyson vacuums! Sure wish I had one & wasn’t stuck with this stupid Kirby that looks like it’s straight out of the 1950’s! ❤ Love your videos! ❤
I volunteer at a military base thrift shop. We are retired now, but I’ve been doing this for decades to support military kid and spouse scholarships. My current job is pricing donations… the detritus of our capitalist society, consisting of much mlm merchandise…SO MANY brands I never realized were mlms until I watched your channel, lol. The military has a real mlm problem. I often think there should be training for the new troops about this danger to their families.
I'm new to your channel and so, I don't know if you've already talked about Mary Kay. Well, about 10 years ago, a ton of friends were giving my phone number for referrals and I was so sick to get called by reps trying to recruit me!! I've learned that once I was saying "Oh I already have a rep, my best friend!" They would leave my alone, as they can't steal clients.
What are the consequences of stealing a client? I'd love to know what kind of ostracizing they do within the company. There are for sure ugly stories...
I honestly had no idea that Beach Body was an MLM. I guess I always just thought that it was just the companies that have “parties” to sell their products and recruit, and didn’t realize that some MLMs don’t recruit in the same way. This whole series has just blown my mind with how many companies are MLMs and how they work.
Also wondering if you could do a deep dive into Primerica? I didn’t know they were an MLM either and they actually have my 401k. Not sure if I should be concerned and move my investments elsewhere?
oh interesting, i'm not american so not sure how 401ks work, but how does a company "having it" work?
As an adult with Autism & ADHD this makes me so upset! Stop trying to treat us with snake oils. Psychiatric meds can work sometimes if you have the right combo for your body. But acceptance is the key! We’re neurodivergent humans not experiments so that neurotypical humans can make us fit in a box. There is no cure. We’re okay as we are stop trying to change us.
Exactly. They're complex conditions with no simple cures.
Oh the Hyla 😅 The "shocking" reels keep appearing in my feed (I'm German) and I always wonder who would invest in such an expensive yet shady advertised vacuum.
For wine drinkers 🍷 if you like a certain wine, look up the Grape and the Region it's from ...you will find a similar tasting wine. 🥂
Hannah if you see this, please don't feel bad drinking the wine! You both didn't know, at the end of the day it's just fermented fruit water, might as well use it up. Lol! If anything, you can use it for cooking there's so many delish dishes that require wine :)
People with a lot of trauma often go into freeze & fawn responses to pushy sales tactics. I used to beat myself up because I couldn’t understand how I was so smart but routinely let people walk all over me. Now that I understand trauma responses better, I know that it wasn’t me being stupid or weak. It was just showing that I’m a trauma survivor.
I’m in love with your content! I’ve done a lot of exposé content (including 2 books) about scams in the online life & business coaching world.
Jeez, the Amway story reminded me strongly of my childhood and early teen years when my parents were Jehovahs Witnesses. The conventions, boring repetetive speeches and whatnot. The same scheme with everlasting life instead of money as false promise.
I truly wish you the best on your husband’s upcoming deployment. My husband and I are duel military( he is in the navy, I am in the national guard but I work for them full time). He recently came back from deployment, so I know exactly what it is like. I truly wish you the best of luck.
When I was in college I lived with my grandma in a trailer. We had a Kirby salesman just after I had left for work. It makes me so angry because 1-he was a strange man alone with my grandma and 2-he roped my grandma into financing a $1k+ vacuum cleaner. He gave her a similar sob story but I think it was a Six Flags trip. How can companies be okay with manipulating poor elderly people this way? You would think these aggressive sales tactics would fall by the wayside because of how dangerous it is for both the salesman and the homeowner.
That's disgusting, especially since the rep was probably struggling himself. I hope you were able to help her get out of the deal.
@@maryeckel9682 I asked if she wanted to return it. She said no because she liked it. I think she was trying to save face because she didn't want to admit she got scammed. No worries, she's living with family now and it won't happen again.
Ok, you had a bottle of wine for several days?!? Kudos to you! I live in a wine grape growing area of California and it just amazes me that MLMs are now doing this now.
Keep up the well researched and articulated work you do.
Poor hubs, bless his heart. What a sweet backstory, though. You got a good 'un.
Omg that air purifier looks like a failed coffee maker.
We had a scout and cellar local mom hun try to take over our wine club. She would get her friends to host and then she would provide the wine and give her pitch. After she did that two times (and I heard the wine was nasty) the creator of the club made a rule that there could be no sales pitches at meetings (unless we were having an actual wine tasting at a local restaurant or growler store)
Separately: I went to a “Wine and Wills” estate planning for parents with young children and the wine was provided by Traveling Vineyard. The hun talked almost the entire time, the local estate attorney mom finally got up to go over her stuff (the entire point of this meeting!) and I could only stay for about 10 minutes before I had to leave for other plans that I had. It was so annoying.
I’m here, I’m excited, and Hannah is talking about her own MLM horror story? Delightful!
I am so glad you said something about Scout Wine. I totally would have been someone who bought this. It is right up my alley, has the name of my cat, and is beautifully packaged. I have been almost sucked in by many an MLM, and am thankful for channels like yours that have helped me educate myself about the problems with MLMs.
Same!! Now I am going to have to check my wine
The fact that people don’t think of labor and time as an expense is a huge problem with mlm’s
I was in Amway for 4 years, but left 5 years ago. The “mentorship” group was World Wide Dream Builders. We were told to seek perspective from our uplines, which really meant permission. We were told to own our decisions. But when things went wrong by no fault of my own, I was stuck in a strange place mentally where I couldn't rightfully blame anyone else. We were called losers for quitting and were told that too many people quit two days before their breakthrough. This kept us in longer for fear we would miss out. The manipulation, deception, brainwashing and gaslighting was real. Every waking hour of every day in every conversation, everywhere was spent on building my “business”. I felt like I always “ON” and could never clock out. I lost myself in that cult and felt such a burden lifted when I quit. I’m glad to finally have my mind back.
Couldn’t you argue that buying mlm company’s products from retail stores indicates to them that there’s a demand for their products, and encourage them to phase out their mlm business model? I mean, it seems like Target is Tupperware’s last attempt before they file bankruptcy
Exactly my thought
I tend to agree. Buying from a regular store would in theory discourage the whole MLM phase.
The second I saw that "air purifier" I knew it reminded me of something. First thought was a blender or dehydrator, but when you said it was a vacuum, I remembered my grandmother's "rainbow machine." She bought it in the 80's.
Did it make rainbows?
@@maryeckel9682 LoL, no. I think that was the brand name. It came with a little rack of scented oils to put in the water. Each one had a very-1980s rainbow label on it.
😂😂😂😂@@maryeckel9682
In the mid 90s my mom and dad were approached by a door to door salesman selling the Rainbow vacuum cleaner and with 3 dogs and my dad’s horrible allergies and asthma, they loved the vacuum. It too trapped dust in water that they then dumped outside and filtered through an empty flower pot with holes on the bottom. This was years before bagless vacuums and for a customer to SEE the dirt that their other vacuum left behind, was the best closing tactic. My parents loved it so much that I did a side by side of it against my vacuum and I was sold, I bought one too. That vacuum lasted at least 5 years and I eventually replaced it with my first Dyson.
Hyla sounds like rainbow vacuums. I almost got sucked into working for them. I went on a demo with someone and never went back. 😂
Oh. My god. The air purifier! What do you want to bet it has some kinship to the Rainbow vacuum cleaners that worked the same. exact. way!
No. Wait. I just googled it and saw an eBay listing for the Hyla vacuum air purifier! 😂 scream laughing! Ooh! Ooh! And there is an Etsy listing for a refurbished Rainbow vacuum that is visually IDENTICAL!!!
How I wish we could add pictures! 😂🤣😂
Anyway, the Rainbow sales people used all the same tactics and were absolutely relentless.
My parents were hilarious with those door to door vaccum salesmen... Everytime they would invite them in and have them clean the ENTIRE HOUSE, mattress and everything, by acting like they were definitely going to buy just wanted more demo... Then 8 hrs later would say no thank you 😂
my mum did that on a small scale, making sure he got every pillow of the house done when he was demonstrating how much dust would come out of them (he like put them in a bag and sucked the air out?)
I wonder if you could get a Kirby rep to leave voluntarily by acting like you might not let them leave? But that requires a level of acting ability I don't have.
I think that’s pretty dishonest.
@@christinewallace9251 my parents were very dishonest 🤷 they are also one of the only people I ever knew who scammed the scammers in terms of timeshares lmao
@@christinewallace9251I couldn't do that either. Id just feel horrible. Still, I am weirdly impressed w ppl who can pull this off.
My dad was in Amway and he didn’t have that bad of an experience he actually did really well and didn’t have a lot of people under him. This was back in the early 90s but he got major surgery and had to quit and didn’t go through passive aggressive behavior from anyone. Sadly all these scammer businesses are getting worse.
Herbal life, discovery toys, longaburger baskets, southern living, party light, norwex, Mary Kay, alovea, pampered chef, stampin up…the list is endless and definitely a “chapter” of life
Re: the horror stories involving therapists and aromatherapy. I’m a therapist and I am very conscientious about using any scents in my office. Odors and scents can be VERY triggering. Scents can be very associated with memories and if someone has trauma memories associated with scents, it can create a horrible situation for the client. I had a client who was triggered by the scent of cinnamon-a common aromatherapy scent. Therapists can never guess if a scent might trigger someone, so I suggest not using scent unless discussed beforehand.
I have asthma that is triggered by certain perfumes, chemicals and essential oils. The second I get a whiff of air freshener or diffusers I panic because I never know if it will trigger an asthma attack. It's so popular now that I encounter it way too often and it really makes me angry especially when it's somewhere I expect people tp know better like a daycare centre or doctors office. People can have really serious reactions to these things.
Heavy scents often trigger migraines for people as well! There’s a myriad of reasons to avoid scents in a common area. As far as I know, most medical professionals are even encouraged to avoid perfumes at work.
Nooooo target 😂 back when the Tupperware was first coming out in stores I mainly stocked the kitchen section and I wish I could have not put it out!!!! I live in a dry state though so hearing you have wine in your target is wild to me. We have to direct guests to the state store down the street 😂
You baught the wine already! You enjoy it! Drink the wine girl!!!😂😂😂 no sense in stopping noww!
244 THOUSAND SUBS!!! I’m so happy for our girl Hannah! Seems like just a minute ago I was celebrating when you got 50K. This is epic and you absolutely deserve this growth. Love your channel!
Your last story reminds me of something that happened when we bought our house on our moving in day! Ok it was almost 24 years ago but still. Here's the tactic used: I get that phone call about a water softener system. The guy is in the area and can he come to do a demo. My answer is very clear: if you want but I am not buying a water softener system. No problem. He shows up. I insist again that we are clear that I am not buying that system. And then the demo that takes forever and ever. When he mentions financing plan, I repeat that it doesn't matter because I am not buying it. But you can use your home equity line to finance it. No, not interested. He wants to continue his demo. And it goes on until he bluntly asks me when can he make an appointment to set up the system. I am floored. I reexplain that I was very clear from the beginning that I didn't intend to buy his system. And then he loses it, almost insulting me that I made it waste his time??? Anyway. That misadventure shook me because being French, in the US for a few years and not used to this methods, I didn't see it coming. I can totally see vendors like that taking advantage of new homeowners, overexcited by their new purchase. I didn't bulge, even when called names and I showed him the door. But I was shaking for a good while. I still remember that story today, so. He probably stayed for 90 minutes if not 2 hours. Was that a MLM? Does it qualify as so? I don't even remember the name of the company and it was so long ago, but still it shows how they manipulate. I felt bad not saying no on the phone, or not letting him in the house. Why? I was simply thinking everybody needs to make a living. If he needs to make a demo to get paid, why not. But I learned my lesson😉
I’ve never dove into any RUclipsr’s entire catalogue of content, like I’ve watched yours over the last few days. Also (& I mean this totally non-creepily), you are beautiful & the cadence to your speech is so calming. ❤
I cannot stop watching these 😂
I will say that having money doesn’t necessarily mean you have or wear lots of different clothes!
I don’t want this to come off sounding a certain way, but my husband and I live quite comfortably; he’s an executive editor for Disney, and I used to be a NICU/PICU PharmD.
However, I’m on the Spectrum and only have about five different outfits that I can tolerate wearing!!
33:11 "I don't know what flip has switched somewhere" 😂
Story 4 is why I'm super careful if someone rings my doorbell and I don't expect anyone or see a bus for delivering packages. So many sellers nowadays that try to come in with lies. I had one a few days ago pretending that he needed to check my glass fiber internet connection. And I was immediately: Huh? Why? At the end it was a sales tactic, of course. I didn't let him into our apartment building.
Hannah, I would like to say that I'm proud of you for the work you put into your channel! I started watching back in 2021 (I think) when I was out of work for a time. I truly think you're the best anti-MLM RUclipsr out there because you do research, are kind and compassionate, and remain free of judgement. All of your followers are well-deserved.
36:17 To be fair, stimulants are known to help those with attention deficits, which includes caffeine, i.e. regular coffee.
Hannah! I have a cleaning channel and no idea why your page popped up for me bc I usually only see cleaning content or how to grow your channel content. Anyway, SO HAPPY YOU POPPED UP! Boy have I been binging your content. It’s consumed my life at this point 🤣 I’ve learned soooo much about these sleazy companies and that I’ve supported them in the past not knowingly. Anyway, I’ve subscribed 🤍 Love your content! I think you are amazing 🙌
I was driving back from holiday and saw and ad for Doterra on a truck driving in front of us. It was kind of a shock because I didn't think doterra was available in South Africa and I could help but think of your channel.
Holy cow Hannah! Your gains are massive. I’ve been watching your channel since the beginning and I just saw you’re at 244k. Keep up the great work, I hope your family is doing well.
My husband and I worked for the same company for 9 years - drove to and from work often, had lunch together, etc. Now we both work remote so while we work for separate companies, we do work together and it’s amazing!
Your scout wine story brings me back to the body shop. 😭 When I was younger, I LOVED the body shop. Here is the US (as far as I know) their products are sold as legit products in Ulta. But in Europe it's a full blown MLM.
You have to be careful not only what you are buying where you live, but what does the company do in other countries. I thought I was innocently buying body butters that smell pretty and instead was supporting an international MLM.
Consumerism is fun
Actual bday gift was your very own story for mlm horror story!😂
I'm fairly new to your channel, and like the vast majority of your viewers, I'm absolutely hooked! You are FANTASTIC. Are you still accepting new horror stories?
Happy belated b-day! Hello to the fam😊
Edit: you said you are taking stories, my bad🙂
I was a "Platinum plus" in Amway and part of "worldwide dreambuilders" this guys story only scratches the surface. I was a part of it for 7 years. They are currently having their quarterly conference for the west coast in las vegas as we speak. Hindsight is 2020 and my wife and i are so happy we left. As "leaders" it was even harder and we chose to part ways with our "business" aka team because we couldnt continue living that way. Had it not been for the pandemic and the whole quarantine situation breaking us out of the echo chamber we were in we might still be associated.
The MLM ad commercial breaks on this video are cracking me up lol