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for a moment I thought you where saying that Spanish is only one of the 13 languages you speak :D Still good on you for speaking another language. Its supposedly really good for the brain.
As horrifying as the third story is, the visual of one Kirby guy after another coming out of the van like some sort of MLM clown car is absolutely hilarious
“If I had a nickel for every time someone told me I could use MLM toothpaste as deodorant, I’d have TWO nickels…which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.”
Huh. I wonder if the sodium monofluorophosphate would suppress bacterial growth? Maybe. I might try that some day when I don't mind being sticky and smelly and uncomfortable in the name of Science.
Just to add a lil info on the first story: mononucleosis is a viral illness, but strep throat is bacterial! Two different diseases but it's possible for them to sort of co-exist as a co-infection.
More specifically: mononucleosis is a viral infection that attacks part of the immune system (in infects one type of white blood cells) which can impact how well you heal from other illnesses and infections. A sore, swollen throat is a symptom of both mono and strep throat but I'd say the mono came first. People know it as a disease that makes you really tired, but it doesn't have to. You can only get a soar throat or not notice anything at all. I don't even know if a superinfection of strep over mono would make it worse or not. Just strep throat can be worse enough on the swallowing department. I guess the only thing worse is if you can't properly breath anymore, like what happened in the story. No matter if it's an allergic reaction, asthma attack, or something like pneumonia.
Mono made my throat close up, I had it really bad though. My dad went into a coma from it when he was in college . My daughter had it and I freaked out but hers wasn’t horrible. It’s a weird illness
Last story, OP should advise the grandmother to see a lawyer about making the will MLM proof. Having some sort of trust set up where there is a financial manager to ensure the mom doesn’t spend the inheritance on another MLM and inevitably become homeless again. Idk how all of that works, but it seems like the only way to protect her. Have to be careful that the grandmother doesn’t bring it up or involve you in any way
The vacuum guys gave me anxiety and turned on my fight or flight response. I legit almost yelled "GET THE EFF OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Being Nice gets you murdered!!! Be RUDE! Thank you for all you do Hannah! Love watching you while I work!
"We have three Roombas, thank you." In our household, that's even the truth; one for each level. We detest vacuuming. Hazel, Vlad the Inhaler, and Rosie do a bang-up job.
Hannah - Have you seen the recent video of Boss Lee where she took 16 girls on a trip to Columbia and she lied to them all about what they would be doing one day. It is all over anti MLM channels. It is sick.
I don’t watch other channels but I did somehow click on that one. She was calling them stupid but literally lied and told them to bring water for 2 hours!!!!!!
When listening to the Kirby vacuum salesmen story my mind immediately thought: "oh, vampires". Part of vampire myth is that if you invite them in once, they can come into your home whenever they want, good luck getting rid of them. And if you think about it, these Kirby folks are trying to drain your bank account and are rather parasitic, so yeah, I think it's a match. Anyway, definitely don't let strangers into your home if you can avoid it, especially if you're alone at the time. Good luck to everyone, stay safe.
The show “Angel” features an episode where Cordelia’s high school friend visits as a vampire and joins a vampire MLM, which is basically like a regular MLM since they’re both parasitic.
ugh kirby. they came to my house once, ended up with two men i didn't know in my home, also going in to bedroom to vacuum the bed, and when i told them i had to leave, they said 'that's ok we can keep vacuuming and well be here when you get back.' UM NO.
Remember, you can always revoke someone’s permission to be in your house and if they try to stay after you have told them to leave, they are trespassing.
That OP needs to intervene. There's no way her grandmother can defend herself if her MLM psycho daughter is abusing her... and if there's one thing we've learned from these stories, serial MLMers are often users and abusers, whether they understand what they are doing or not. If she finds signs of elder abuse and financial malfeasance, she can legally intervene in many countries!
As someone from Germany I can say: 1. MLMs are definitely not as predominant as in the USA 2. The few people here that were/are in MLMs used to definitely focus on selling (just like you said) 3. But this actually seem to change now (at least from what I saw in the last few months/years). People seem to try to focus more on recruiting now. Some reps tried to recruit quite a few of my college friends which shooks me since I thought Germany is not an “MLM country” (expect for Tupperware… we love that shit here)
Same in the Netherlands, Tupperware is a big thing since the 70's and everyone and their mom still loves the products, but new MLMs are definitely here. Just look around at your regular Christmas markets where people can buy their own booths. You will definitely see Doterra, Tupperware, YoungLiving, Herbalife, among others. I have been pitched by people my own age back in 2005 or something for an MLM called ACN. I did not join because I was too young, but I watched them for a year and I was like: nope. I felt like that system sucked, they were not making any money and spending all their own money on trips and events for it. Even though the MLMs seem less prevalent, they're definitely around!!
I am from czechia and its similar here. it's wasn't really big thing here either.. few avon ladies. Some Amway. on the other hand my mum used to sell Vorwerk for a short time. But they at least give her proper training and there were no montly quotes only commission based of each sell and sells of people bellow. If the mlm culture it's changing in Europe, I am not really aware. I am probably not really their target market and I keep to my self mostly.
From what I've heard from family and friends, same thing is happening in France. It's weird to see the switch from the "European" MLM to the classic American pushy MLM, and I for one do not like it one bit!
STORY #4: I recommend the "planting a seed" method. It will take some time, but will be worth it when they get out. We can be that flicker of hope. Currently applying this to my mother who is in 2 MLMs. I've had a few conversations and make sure to find a good time, be kind, patient, and respectful. There's also been some health scares with my dad where I took my opportunity to steer them away from ingesting oils. My next move will be to sit down with her and have her show me how much she spends in a year and how much she makes, might have to get her favorite snacks, lol. Wish me luck!
Omg I had the wildest and a very scary experience with a Kirby “rep” although there is a possibility he wasn’t actually a rep. One time this man came to my door wearing adidas joggers, a baseball cap, and a maintenance type shirt, so already confusing. He claimed to work for Kirby and he also claimed that my apartment complex had hired him to clean all of our carpets for free so he would need to enter my apartment and inspect all of the floors. He was very pushy and tried to enter before I even gave him permission. I almost let him in without thinking bc he was so pushy and I started to second guess my concern, but then I remembered my husband was home and so I called for him bc I felt really weird about this. Also keep in mind that my apartment complex ALWAYS lets us know in advance if maintenance or any other workers will need to enter our apartment as well as schedule it with us, ALSO my apartment office was closed and maintenance doesn’t even work when the office is closed except in emergencies, ALSO ALSO nearly every unit in this complex is entirely hardwood floors with the exception of maybe the bedroom, ours happened to have carpet in the bedroom but I know most units had been or were being remodeled to have all hardwood floors. Things weren’t adding up. He kept trying to convince us to let him in and inspect our “carpets” and that he definitely worked for Kirby and was hired by the office but wasn’t wearing anything official and couldn’t even name the person from the office who hired him. He would NOT leave. Eventually he gets mad and tries to force his way in and my husband immediately shuts the door and bolts it and this man starts aggressively trying to open the door while screaming and cursing at us and accusing us of being rude. I tried to Google if this was some mlm Kirby scam bc I knew Kirby was a vacuum mlm but that wasn’t fully adding up either. This felt more nefarious. I did find a few news articles about ppl posing as Kirby reps to rob people. Some would pose as Kirby reps to scope out the place in advance and rob it later and some would rob you then and there. Ofc I emailed my apartment office right away and called as soon as they were open. They did not hire him. I also called the police and they ended up scoping out apartment complex. Tbh idk how relevant that is and for all I know it really was a very super pushy kirby rep but that story reminded me of this experience. Now I never open the door for anyone bc I’m paranoid about being robbed or worse. Plus as stupid as it was of me, I almost let him in for split second, and if it wasn’t for my husband being there (he usually is still working at that time) I may not have given myself that extra second to think it through and have let a potentially dangerous man into my home alone.
Also wanted to add incase anyone thinks I’m an absolute baboon for even considering letting someone that sketchy into my apartment, I have anxiety and I almost always struggle to differentiate between when I have a genuine gut feeling, strong intuition, or I’m just overreacting/and thinking only in extremes as usual. So I almost let him in partially bc I thought I was prob just overacting and I was trying to learn to not let fear cloud my judgment like I always do. Sometimes that requires a few extra seconds to work out but I start tunnel visioning and get confused. But good lord in hindsight that was 100% a situation where being extremely worrisome and cautious was warranted so thank god.
Thank you for this story, this is super important for people to think about! Getting a room supposedly vacuumed for free isn't worth what might happen once they're inside the house, so just shut (or slam) the door and say no. Maybe with their feelings hurt enough, it'll also convince them to leave the MLM if they really are reps.
@@iloveapplejuiice I feel you on the anxiety. When mine is high it takes me extra time to process, and if there was a tall, pushy man trying to get past me I would probably be too busy still spinning my brain to react appropriately.
I have had run ins with Kirby, luckily I have a 100lb black dog who has no interest in admitting her 2 least favorite items into her house. #1 strangers. #2 vacuum/strange suspicious box (Christmas is her nightmare). She gets real bent out of shape about strangers hackles up, big mean dog bark. She's my furry anti door to door MLM security system.
To the person in the 4th story: You don't have to house her when she fails. You can turn away. It will hurt, but if she's been doing this to you and hurting you, you don't have to be the better person.
I was breifly a Kirby seller in my early twenties, and I can confirm, everything described in your story is EXACTLY how Kirby teaches its salesmen to act.
It always breaks my heart when I hear something like the first story. I hear that from friends in the US over and over again that the healthcare system is not healthcare but sick care. People only go to the doctor when things are really bad because otherwise it costs money.
Yea. I constantly want to tell my friends to go to the doctor but I always remember that unlike here in South Africa. A walk in appointment costs way way more than just say 350 rand. Which rn is like 19 dollars and 80 cents
I’m glad the first person is okay and able to share the story. It must’ve been a terrifying experience. Most parents would gladly spend money on a doctor’s visit when their child isn’t well, assuming they’re financially able to, and those that don’t have the money wish they did, I bet. Never put off care without at least talking to your parents. And yes, the US system sucks.
The other takeaway from the first story is if you or your child are given a medication by a doctor that doesn't require you to stay for observation, consult with them if new symptoms arise. The rash, the vomiting, and the more trouble breathing are all clear signs a doctor should recognise and tell you to stop that medication immediately. For my own allergies to antibiotic medication, I'd also add new dizzy spells and unexplained pain are all things to call your doctor about before your next dose.
100%! Especially if it's not a medication you've taken before! I had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic as a toddler, and it was my first time taking that medication. If you have taken an antibiotic many times in the past, a weird symptom like a rash might not be as concerning or easy to tie to it, but if it's a new med and you have a reaction in close proximity to beginning it, seek medical advice immediately!
Absolutely. I was put on a very strong antibiotic--Cipro--for a nasty infection in my ears. I started getting dizzy and having to hang onto things. I called, thinking it was just my ear infection. Nope, I was told to discontinue the medication immediately. One Z-Pak and a day later and I already felt better, with no dizziness.
It's honestly so hard to get your family & friends back from an mlm, sometimes they just can't bear to hear it. One of my friends described being scammed like they are in complete denial of the truth bc it's too terrifying to face the fact they've wasted everything on this fake opportunity. Even with all the red flags, they kept on going with the desperate hope they'll find that promised unicorn or pot of gold, because the alternative was feeling like a stupid victim with nothing left. They really need support and therapy when they wake up, but trying to force them to wake up may only drive them deeper into the fantasy. It's truly like a cult.
Wow, culture shock! I live in South Africa and we tend to have high walls and electric fences in the suburbs. We don't let strangers onto the property, never mind the house!
Even in places where we dont, like smaller towns. Strangers tend to stay outside of the yard. And they dont get to come inside the house until there has been some questions.
Story 2 is very interesting... I'm from Brazil and that's a very common practice here too, I'm still trying to figure out if Avon actually acts as an MLM here, because I know plenty of saleswomen but none of them ever talk about recruiting or ranking up! And yes, I did search for a compensation plan but could not find anything suspicious!
Omg no! As soon as I heard "take thieves" I was horrified. Thieves might be the worst possible one to take. You're actually not even supposed to touch it undiluted
As a European lawyer, I have been thinking a little bit about it: I do agree that the "American dream" argument is valid, this is the first thing that comes to my mind, but I also think that there are elements of labour, consumers and competition law rules in Europe that make the "we are not a pyramid scheme" argument more difficult to hold. I need to find the time to give it a deeper thought and seek some literature on the subject.
Omg hannah I had an ad for an mlm before this video. The crazy thing is I wouldn't have known it was an mlm without your educational videos. Thank you so much for your content on avoiding scams!!!
I had a friend send me an MLM "invitation." I might not have known it was an MLM without having watched videos about MLMs. I wouldn't have bit because I am busy, but I did reply that I wasn't interested in an MLM & that he would probably lose friends if he persisted in trying to pull people in
Another important point for the girl with strep throat: the use of oils caused her to delay care for her strep throat…. When strep throat is untreated with antibiotics you run the risk of developing a whole host of sequelae from it, including scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, or rheumatic heart disease (which will result in life long issues with your heart valves and often requires surgery for valve replacement). She’s very lucky she did not have life long ramifications of this.
Also Guttate Psoriasis can develop from Strep Throat. I had strep throat once and didn't realize it. Living with red spots for well over a year was what happened to me. ☹️
Don’t forget strep can attack your kidneys. And mono can put you at higher risk for a ruptured spleen. You’re exhausted when you have it, but I think you have to limit physical activity until your spleen is back to normal. Untreated infections are no joke. We think these things are no big deal now, but before antibiotics, they killed people.
This happened to me as well when my kids were babies! I finally demanded the Kirby salesman leave and they were so rude! Never let them in your house! It took me 3 hours to get them out of my house!
Strep plus mono is a somewhat common combination, but it’s absolutely brutal-I had both at the same time in early high school, and it was the most intense pain/fatigue combination I’ve ever experienced!
Me and strep used to be well acquainted (my cases of it have gone down since no longer being in school or working outside of the house). I couldn't imagine having anything else on top of it as it's brutal all on its own 😖
Mono lowers your immune system and if you don’t rest, you can open yourself up to a host of other issues. She got strep. I got a sinus infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, and ulcers I didn’t know I had got so bad I nearly died. All because a doc (who ended up fired) told me and about 70 others at my high school to take “take Tylenol and toughen up” when we complained of body aches, fatigue, and swollen glands. YUP.
on MLMs outside of the US - it is quite true, I have a colleague that sells Avon products or rather facilitates the sale of Avon products. she is purely doing it because she likes the makeup and as a rep she gets a discount, most of her sales are things she gets for herself and if someone does purchase from her, she only takes the same amount of money that she has paid for the product as a rep, so she makes no money at all, and she only asks people if they want to check the catalogue because when she orders more, she and her customers get a higher discount
I love all our anti-MLM RUclips queens, but Hannah, I adore YOUR horror story videos the absolute best, because you’re such a great reader! Not here to call anyone out, but with other creators, it can feel like being back in elementary school, being forced to listen while other kids poorly read from the textbook! 😬
Not MLM related, but I had strep throat and scarlet fever when i was little. Strep can become scarlet fever, but i had symptoms of both at once. No one knew I was sick until I was almost dying... (I never showed signs of illness until it was serious as a kid). Super scary considering how contagious it is and I was at my great-grandmother's when it was discovered...
Last time a door to door person refused to leave, I threatened to call 911 and said if they didn't immediately leave I would charge them with trespassing.
I worked at a daycare and also have grandchildren who wanted to spend lots of time with nana. I ended up quiting because it was no longer fun spending time with my grandchildren after spending all day 5 days a week with other people's kids.
I think the reason why (in Europe at least) MLMs focus on selling and not recruiting is because of relatively good employee benefits package under standard labour contracts (incl minimum wage, over 20 minimum vacation days, few weeks to few months maternity leave rules, notice period rules for employers granting employees time to find a new job in case of contract termination, sick leave rules, etc. + works councils involvement securing employee rights). Another reason might be strong consumer protection laws in the EU. If you buy a product online or outside of a shop (by telephone, mail order, from a door-to-door salesperson), you have the right to cancel and return your order within 14 days, for any reason and without a justification. Also, you have to be clearly informed about the total price of a product, including all taxes and additional charges. Contract terms that are unfair under EU law have no legal or binding force on consumers. Because of all this, I don’t see how large MLM teams could make their volume quotas if the products can be legally returned without justification. Further, because of the above, traditional MLM models don’t seem appealing both from the ‘boss babe’ perspective (you don’t have the labour law benefits) + the fact that you can’t easily sell scummy products (because of consumer protection laws). It will only make sense as a side ‘job’ to make small profit on the side.
The thing about owning your own business is that it will take over your life to stay afloat. Every small business owner I've known had to spend so much of their life and heart on it. I never wanted that for myself. That was never the right answer for the MLM boss babes
I think the MLM culture in Europe used to be like you described, it was seen as a side hustle, something to "put butter in your plate" as we say in France =p. But it has changed in the past few years, they're pretty aggressive these days and they spew the same bs you've heard before in the US. I know a couple who fell HARD (well, the husband more than the wife actually) for one called Akeo, and they've been struggling financially, I feel bad for them but they refuse to listen to reason so....
My mother was in Shaklee in the 90s. It was definitely a side hustle for her. It's amazing to me to see what MLMs become a full time unpaid job. Even my sisters that were more aggressive in marketing Herbalife in the 90s had work/life balance though I am not sure if they made any money. Social Media has made MLMs a bigger disaster than they already were
I saw a girl from my area (in a european country) posting a video about farmasi in the exact same style I see in this channel all the time, I was super surprised
I've been very curious how the MLM pitch works in Europe. So many of the pain points reps use (no living wage, health care unaffordable, child care unaffordable, no free time from work) aren't an issue in many European countries. What are the manipulation tactics that work in Europe?
@@caitlin228 Before covid time I wouldn't know exactly but after 2020 it has been easier to sell the dream, many people lost their job , others realised that working from home is pretty nice, and you know, the promise of earning thousands with "your own business" is appealing even for the european crowd lol (also the energy and groceries prices are like bad BAD rn, people have to choose between eating or being warm...). From what I've heard first hand from the woman I know who is in Akeo, they also use grandiose gatherings with the CEO and all the reps and say that they're a big family and the usual nonsense.
I am always surprised that ASEA (uh-see-uh) has flown under the radar so well. My MIL tried to suck me into this a few years back - they promise to heal pretty much any problem with salt water. They don't outright say it's salt water because that would be underwhelming of course lol. They call it a cell signaling supplement drink that heals you at a genetic level and have even added actual supplements and skin care. It's definitely worth looking into, but this has inspired me to finally start writing up my own horror story to send you about my experiences with her up to the point that we actually had to cut contact with her after she joined a legitimate cult. Thank you for shedding light on the terrible experiences these MLMs bring on not only the victims, but their families as well.
That poor Alaskan girl! This also shows how f’d up our healthcare system is (I’ve been a medical biller for 24yrs & it’s gotten worse every year 😡). I am a fellow Alaskan (Anchorage since 1993). ❤
The first story is also highlighting how ridiculous the American healthcare system is. Of course people will take essential oils when it costs hundreds for basic healthcare.
I feel like in the UK oils, herbs, supplements etc are used as 'complimentary' medicine, alongside what you get from the pharmacy, rather than instead of. I actually saw an American lady online touting doTerra because it's 'cheaper than the doctor'!🤦🏼♀️
Years and years ago I had a Kirby rep come to my house and do the whole presentation routine. My mom and I were decorating for Christmas and we didn’t know how to say no so we bought a vacuum. They’re ridiculously expensive so they put me on a payment plan. Anyway, long story short I never did end up paying for that vacuum because they forgot to set up the payment plan correctly.
If I was the lady in the Kirby vacuum situation, I would’ve cut the police. Like I’ve asked to leave, you’re not leaving, you’re now trespassing, get off my property or I will contact the police to remove you.
The first story is even scarier when you realize that strep throat, if left untreated, can turn into scarlet fever which can cause organ failure, permanent heart damage and be life threatening
I feel like the first story is also a horror story about the American Healthcare system. If going to the doctor hadn't made her afraid of the costs, maybe she would have seen a doctor a lot earlier? 🤔
Story #4 makes me think her mother is an addict and her addiction is MLM. I remember reading a story about a young man that was advised to take up hiking for his health and now he is obsessed with it. I was thinking thank goodness the doctor didn't prescribe him oxycotion because he would have become addicted to the pills
For the person asking for advice for her mom being in an MLM, is it possible to talk to your grandparents to get them to put some sort of clause in their will that prevents your mom from getting money unless she meets certain stipulations?
Story #1 is a great lesson on how dangerous it is to not be seen by a health professional for a sore throat. There are horror stories out there of people dying/needing amputations from untreated strep throat 😰
The kirby people are a different breed 😅 as a real sales lady (I work in a store here in my town selling home appliances, I do not go door to door. They come to us) we all joke and say we want the confidence of a Kirby door to door agent 🤣 we clearly say it jokingly
I do think you are on the money about MLMs outside of the US. I'm in the UK and have seen Facebook friends dabble in The Body Shop and Avon but never once has any of them tried to recruit me or via general posts. I didn't even know these companies were MLMs until I started watching your content!
@@HannahAlonzo I'm usually an ad skipper, but this one, I purposely let their ad play right the way through, so you get paid 😉 serves them right 😂 We had a dodgy politician (who basically bought his way into politics) and he spammed everyone in my country with obnoxious ads. Rather than skipping them, everyone just muted them and let them run, so content creators would get paid by him for his insanely long ads. 😂
I work in an Oklahoma public school. It's so sad how many teachers are deeply involved in MLMs. I worked in one building where there were only 2 or 3 of us who weren't buying and selling LipSense. I then transferred to a different building and, while there were few MLM'ers, I became an assistant to a teacher who was in multiple and worked them during the day (she also believed that just smelling 'Theives' had miraculous healing properties). Even when I mentioned it to leadership that maybe this wasn't the most appropriate thing to do, MLMs had become so common that all they did was shrug it off. It's really sad that teacher pay is so low and it's so hard to retain teachers that we're reduced to having to accept this or lose staff.
When you talked about MLMs in other countries being different, I noticed that a lot of the MLMs often mentioned were 'older' style MLMs. Avon, Mary Kay, Tupperware, etc. The description of people using it as a side income and not with a focus on recruiting sounds a lot like MLMs functioned when I was younger, so I'm wondering if it's somewhat of an established MLM culture thing. They're in it for the long haul, and have a long history, so they're not all about the meteor rise and the online sell as much. I wonder if the newer MLMs aren't falling along the same lines as other 'disruptor' (🤢 I know, but they love that word) companies that have proliferated in the last decade or two. Using the idea of 'breaking the system' and doing things differently to mask the fact that they're not really a sustainable business model like the traditional companies are. They expand rapidly, exist mostly on investor capital, and then flame out. Apparently disruptive culture comes even for MLMs. 😂
I think the person with the chronic mlm-er mom with her grandmother's inheritance needs to get a lawyer to protect her portion of the inheritance. I'm not sure if she has a leg to stand on because I don't know the details of her grandmother's will and estate, but it's worth a shot.
I always find it ridiculous that housewives with no medical training are “prescribing” concentrated oils. I practice holistic medicine and herbalism - this is reckless and outside what a sales rep should be doing. Never listen to a sales rep about your health
Over a decade ago, I dated a "Kirby guy" briefly. I didn't know what he did or anything about the "business" when we met but I will tell you that I learned he had a record, as did many of his "coworkers" who were dropped off to go into the homes of strangers.
The first story is why low or no cost at point of need healthcare is important. It is cheaper for everyone if people go to the doctor earlier and conditions can be treated when easier and less likely to need impatient or more complex care. I wonder if the costs of healthcare and medication in US affects the number of mlms claiming health benefits. In UK they mainly talk weight loss and fitness.
I never cease to be amazed at the effect these MLMs have on peoples social awareness and sense of what’s appropriate. These people are constantly crossing boundaries and just literally not taking no for an answer. This is another reason why these are cults. Normal people wouldn’t act this way even for their job.
Hannah! I just had a great idea! One of the last stories you told, you asked if anyone had a gentler way to nudge people away from MLMs. If you get enough critical mass going on a question like that, it would be awesome if you could make another playlist. You've got MLM horror stories, and MLM fails -- Why not MLM De-Conversion? Or something like that. You might even be able to re-purpose some of your older horror stories for a playlist like that.
Several years ago, my nephew joined Kirby as a sales trainee in Pawtucket RI but he quit during the training because of unethical, aggressive training methods such as in the story at 25:37
I'm from Romania and I can say that Avon is still going on there, I actually buy products from them through my mom's work colleague. She never pushed us to become like her, she only places orders. Also, that's a side job for her, she works as an accountant for a few companies. I actually think most of these reps(hopefully that's the right word) don't want others to join, they want people to place orders through them. Another thing people do is get memberships at all sorts of places and put orders through for themselves and other people, when you buy a shit ton of stuff you actually get really good discounts.
Strep throat and Mono are caused by two different organisms, so one cannot develop into the other. However, they both cause inflammation and pain in the throat, so double whammy!
thankfully, the few ladies I've encountered dealing with MLMs like Avon were literally just selling the stuff. they never tried to recruit; they'd just send the little makeup catalogue around the office in case anyone wanted to order.
I have an essential oil diffuser for my room since our dorms don’t allow candles. I was refilling it and (unbeknownst to me) spilled a little on my fingers. I rubbed my face and some got in my mouth. I cannot IMAGINE willingly ingesting that, especially for sore throats. It burned and made me gag. I had to wash my mouth out with water. I can absolutely see how oils made her throat even worse in that first story. I’m not sick and it made MY throat sore for a bit.
Oh my gosh! I’m a high school teacher. I can’t IMAGINE posting side-kick MLM content while in class?? Even with a student teacher! You are so right- the “master teacher” still has to kind of watch and mentor the student teacher. Unbelievable! Every time I think I’ve heard it all about MLMs? Nope. It’s staggering how many more stories there are. Keep this up! I love it and am always very intrigued. ❤
I'm from Germany. Here it is against the law to do network marketing without beeing focused on selling an actual product. If you are "your own boss" for Tupperware, Avon or Vorwerk (Thermomix), you have to get a licence for opening a business and you have to pay taxes. The Government on different levels is checking on you and you can go to prison if you don't pay your taxes over multiple years. So if people do it, they can't make living out of it and so they do it as a side job, to get some extra money. The downlines are way shorter, because pyramid schemes are illegal. People can order directly at the companies, without visiting parties or knowing someone who sells the products as a rep. The same as in the US people most times still meet up for those events because it is a chance to do something with your friends, getting out of the everyday life for a couple of hours and just to have fun. There are good companies with good products and a tradition in Germany, but in the last few years there showed up more and more wellness products on the market, which were gone fast again, because people checked fast that they were scam.
I HAD (had) a friend who worked for Kirby. I didn't realize it was an MLM at the time but cringed so hard at the idea of her walking door to door and asking ppl If they can vacuum 😆💀
To the second story: I feel like those older MLMs like Avon, Mary Kay, Tupperware, etc are more focused on selling the products then recruiting in general. Those are common here and I've never been pitched to join/host a party like I have for other MLMs. These newer MLMs are mostly focused on recruiting, I can think of 1 that's not so much (Martha and Mary)
37:09 , honestly the best way is to sit down with them and have them tally what they are putting into it and getting out of it like a budget of the MLM , oh 50$ a month for auto ship etc.. and how many sales and etc to see how much money and then like let her know you do realize that you are making money off the people below you so if they suck so do you and its no way to live
I legit just wrote Hanna Alonzo on my paper work just now🤦🏾♀️🤣🤣🤣. I wrote that instead of my clients name on the contract.🤣 I love these videos. I listen to them inbetween appointments for work in the car. I've always been fascinated with and against these schemes. I realized that I have a little history in my family because of Tupperware and Avon . I also have a neighbor who keeps trying to give me my her nail strips then asks me to plant her tulip bulbs or watch her dog for free while she goes to one of these color street conventions in Florida😐🤦🏾♀️🤣.
Not sure about the focusing on sell vs recruiting here in Australia but I can say that my mum bought young living thieves oils (until I asked her not to ever support that company again) and they told her to put it on her feet and never mention ingestion. So I wonder it those claims are different as well. Also coffee that grows back limbs????? Unfortunately some of these reps must be so brainwashed not to realise these claims make literally no sense and can’t be possible.
The Kirby "salesmen" tactics fiercely remind me of vampire horror movies!! Seems like both of them need a direct invitation to cross the threshold of your home! Another viewer below had the same thoughts that I did!! Way to go, @feywoodlander!
These videos are such a nice break from my true crime addiction...a great way to listen to interesting stories while I do mom stuff but without the negative energy that eventually plagues your soul after hours and hours of truly horrific crimes that us crazy woman for some reason love! Lol thank you!
I was a "Kirby guy" for one whole day (though I had mentally checked out after the first hour). Yeah, they're instructed to be aggressive. The vacuuming the bed thing is part of the sales pitch.
LMAO (Story 3) - The idea that Kirby Vacuum Salesmen are simply vampires and under no circumstances are you to invite them into your home or allow them to cross the threshold is putting me in stitches. 😂😂
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for a moment I thought you where saying that Spanish is only one of the 13 languages you speak :D Still good on you for speaking another language. Its supposedly really good for the brain.
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As horrifying as the third story is, the visual of one Kirby guy after another coming out of the van like some sort of MLM clown car is absolutely hilarious
“If I had a nickel for every time someone told me I could use MLM toothpaste as deodorant, I’d have TWO nickels…which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.”
And more than most people in mlms make
Huh. I wonder if the sodium monofluorophosphate would suppress bacterial growth? Maybe. I might try that some day when I don't mind being sticky and smelly and uncomfortable in the name of Science.
@@MrsDrJiggles LMAOO
Just to add a lil info on the first story: mononucleosis is a viral illness, but strep throat is bacterial! Two different diseases but it's possible for them to sort of co-exist as a co-infection.
More specifically: mononucleosis is a viral infection that attacks part of the immune system (in infects one type of white blood cells) which can impact how well you heal from other illnesses and infections.
A sore, swollen throat is a symptom of both mono and strep throat but I'd say the mono came first. People know it as a disease that makes you really tired, but it doesn't have to. You can only get a soar throat or not notice anything at all. I don't even know if a superinfection of strep over mono would make it worse or not. Just strep throat can be worse enough on the swallowing department. I guess the only thing worse is if you can't properly breath anymore, like what happened in the story. No matter if it's an allergic reaction, asthma attack, or something like pneumonia.
Mono made my throat close up, I had it really bad though. My dad went into a coma from it when he was in college . My daughter had it and I freaked out but hers wasn’t horrible. It’s a weird illness
I had mono once with a severe gastrointestinal infection it was god awful. I would cry because I was tired but I was so tired of sleeping. Lol
Mono was the worst. I got mono in 2017 and it took me like 6 months to fully recover.
AND the allergic reaction!
I imagine that as like having covid, the flu, and opioid withdrawal all at once and it sounds like hell on earth
I think if coffee grew back an amputated limb, we'd all have heard about it.
I think that was the most insane claim I've ever heard from these stories! OMG!!! CRAZY
Wow I read this before getting to that part of the video and assumed you were exaggerating a claim to make a joke...
nope! That's the claim🤦♀️
I feel like there would be people with like 17 legs in MLM world 😭
It must be one of those "one weird trick" secrets that the medical industry doesn't want anyone to know about.
100,000 euros is rich?
Last story, OP should advise the grandmother to see a lawyer about making the will MLM proof. Having some sort of trust set up where there is a financial manager to ensure the mom doesn’t spend the inheritance on another MLM and inevitably become homeless again. Idk how all of that works, but it seems like the only way to protect her. Have to be careful that the grandmother doesn’t bring it up or involve you in any way
This!
I agree. At the very least grandma needs to make sure her will is up to date to prevent the mother from misusing her inheritance
The vacuum guys gave me anxiety and turned on my fight or flight response. I legit almost yelled "GET THE EFF OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Being Nice gets you murdered!!! Be RUDE! Thank you for all you do Hannah! Love watching you while I work!
Same!!! I was so mad that they got inside and dismantled her bed!! They basically ambushed her!
"We have three Roombas, thank you." In our household, that's even the truth; one for each level. We detest vacuuming. Hazel, Vlad the Inhaler, and Rosie do a bang-up job.
@@BronzeDragon133 I love vlad the inhaler
@@KendrykWynn13 He has an enormous Romanic moustache a la Vlad the Impaler on him as he motors around, cleaning the rugs.
One of these days, they're going to barge into the _wrong house_ 🤦♀
The amount of stories of ppl getting held hostage by Kirby salesman is both incredible and infuriating
2A. Just tell them your rights.
Hannah - Have you seen the recent video of Boss Lee where she took 16 girls on a trip to Columbia and she lied to them all about what they would be doing one day. It is all over anti MLM channels. It is sick.
I don’t watch other channels but I did somehow click on that one. She was calling them stupid but literally lied and told them to bring water for 2 hours!!!!!!
The hike?! I heard about. That woman is a horrible human. I hope Hannah does an expose about it!
I am waiting on Hannas toughts on that one to! :)
I know we’re not supposed to diagnose but she’s sociopathic!!!
I've seen that one. Terrible people. I've got an anti MLM video on my channel too
When listening to the Kirby vacuum salesmen story my mind immediately thought: "oh, vampires". Part of vampire myth is that if you invite them in once, they can come into your home whenever they want, good luck getting rid of them. And if you think about it, these Kirby folks are trying to drain your bank account and are rather parasitic, so yeah, I think it's a match. Anyway, definitely don't let strangers into your home if you can avoid it, especially if you're alone at the time. Good luck to everyone, stay safe.
I’d be too worried that he’d kill me and try to use the vacuum to clean up the mess…
I was about to post the same thing!! Heck, I still might because that story angered me!!
Same!
The show “Angel” features an episode where Cordelia’s high school friend visits as a vampire and joins a vampire MLM, which is basically like a regular MLM since they’re both parasitic.
@@EEsRUclipsChanel HA! Never kept up with Angel (watched most of Buffy), but that's comedy gold.
ugh kirby. they came to my house once, ended up with two men i didn't know in my home, also going in to bedroom to vacuum the bed, and when i told them i had to leave, they said 'that's ok we can keep vacuuming and well be here when you get back.' UM NO.
Remember, you can always revoke someone’s permission to be in your house and if they try to stay after you have told them to leave, they are trespassing.
I think we should redefine “The American dream” from working 1 job and being able to support a family to not having to choose between food and rent.
The story of the mother who literally gave up everything and everybody to be a serial MLMer, was one of the saddest horror stories you've featured.
Agree. Completely heartbreaking.
That OP needs to intervene. There's no way her grandmother can defend herself if her MLM psycho daughter is abusing her... and if there's one thing we've learned from these stories, serial MLMers are often users and abusers, whether they understand what they are doing or not. If she finds signs of elder abuse and financial malfeasance, she can legally intervene in many countries!
As someone from Germany I can say:
1. MLMs are definitely not as predominant as in the USA
2. The few people here that were/are in MLMs used to definitely focus on selling (just like you said)
3. But this actually seem to change now (at least from what I saw in the last few months/years). People seem to try to focus more on recruiting now. Some reps tried to recruit quite a few of my college friends which shooks me since I thought Germany is not an “MLM country” (expect for Tupperware… we love that shit here)
Exactly the same here in Argentina
Same in the Netherlands, Tupperware is a big thing since the 70's and everyone and their mom still loves the products, but new MLMs are definitely here. Just look around at your regular Christmas markets where people can buy their own booths. You will definitely see Doterra, Tupperware, YoungLiving, Herbalife, among others. I have been pitched by people my own age back in 2005 or something for an MLM called ACN. I did not join because I was too young, but I watched them for a year and I was like: nope. I felt like that system sucked, they were not making any money and spending all their own money on trips and events for it. Even though the MLMs seem less prevalent, they're definitely around!!
I am from czechia and its similar here. it's wasn't really big thing here either.. few avon ladies. Some Amway. on the other hand my mum used to sell Vorwerk for a short time. But they at least give her proper training and there were no montly quotes only commission based of each sell and sells of people bellow.
If the mlm culture it's changing in Europe, I am not really aware. I am probably not really their target market and I keep to my self mostly.
Which is kinda crazy, considering how much people are into alternative medicine and stuff.
From what I've heard from family and friends, same thing is happening in France. It's weird to see the switch from the "European" MLM to the classic American pushy MLM, and I for one do not like it one bit!
The exchange student's story was so well written. She writes more articulately in English than most Americans do!
At the beginning of every video, Hannah always says she's "so happy [I'm] here," and I BELIEVE HER. 🥰
I really like watching her content, but I'm starting to get a bit miffed at her lack of pregnancy face puffiness. She still looks amazing. So rude!
Of course she’s happy. More people watching more money she makes duh. I
STORY #4: I recommend the "planting a seed" method. It will take some time, but will be worth it when they get out. We can be that flicker of hope. Currently applying this to my mother who is in 2 MLMs. I've had a few conversations and make sure to find a good time, be kind, patient, and respectful. There's also been some health scares with my dad where I took my opportunity to steer them away from ingesting oils. My next move will be to sit down with her and have her show me how much she spends in a year and how much she makes, might have to get her favorite snacks, lol. Wish me luck!
Wishing you all the luck! (Good move on the snacks). Hope to see your happy ending in the comments one day!
So... what you're saying is Kirby people are like vampires? Once you invite them in you are in grave danger.
Is it a vacuum? Or a b l o o d s u c k e r
This is exactly what I was thinking! Lol.
I think Id prefer the vampire tbh. It seems quicker
I was looking for this comment lol
Omg I had the wildest and a very scary experience with a Kirby “rep” although there is a possibility he wasn’t actually a rep. One time this man came to my door wearing adidas joggers, a baseball cap, and a maintenance type shirt, so already confusing. He claimed to work for Kirby and he also claimed that my apartment complex had hired him to clean all of our carpets for free so he would need to enter my apartment and inspect all of the floors. He was very pushy and tried to enter before I even gave him permission. I almost let him in without thinking bc he was so pushy and I started to second guess my concern, but then I remembered my husband was home and so I called for him bc I felt really weird about this. Also keep in mind that my apartment complex ALWAYS lets us know in advance if maintenance or any other workers will need to enter our apartment as well as schedule it with us, ALSO my apartment office was closed and maintenance doesn’t even work when the office is closed except in emergencies, ALSO ALSO nearly every unit in this complex is entirely hardwood floors with the exception of maybe the bedroom, ours happened to have carpet in the bedroom but I know most units had been or were being remodeled to have all hardwood floors. Things weren’t adding up. He kept trying to convince us to let him in and inspect our “carpets” and that he definitely worked for Kirby and was hired by the office but wasn’t wearing anything official and couldn’t even name the person from the office who hired him. He would NOT leave. Eventually he gets mad and tries to force his way in and my husband immediately shuts the door and bolts it and this man starts aggressively trying to open the door while screaming and cursing at us and accusing us of being rude. I tried to Google if this was some mlm Kirby scam bc I knew Kirby was a vacuum mlm but that wasn’t fully adding up either. This felt more nefarious. I did find a few news articles about ppl posing as Kirby reps to rob people. Some would pose as Kirby reps to scope out the place in advance and rob it later and some would rob you then and there. Ofc I emailed my apartment office right away and called as soon as they were open. They did not hire him. I also called the police and they ended up scoping out apartment complex. Tbh idk how relevant that is and for all I know it really was a very super pushy kirby rep but that story reminded me of this experience. Now I never open the door for anyone bc I’m paranoid about being robbed or worse. Plus as stupid as it was of me, I almost let him in for split second, and if it wasn’t for my husband being there (he usually is still working at that time) I may not have given myself that extra second to think it through and have let a potentially dangerous man into my home alone.
Also wanted to add incase anyone thinks I’m an absolute baboon for even considering letting someone that sketchy into my apartment, I have anxiety and I almost always struggle to differentiate between when I have a genuine gut feeling, strong intuition, or I’m just overreacting/and thinking only in extremes as usual. So I almost let him in partially bc I thought I was prob just overacting and I was trying to learn to not let fear cloud my judgment like I always do. Sometimes that requires a few extra seconds to work out but I start tunnel visioning and get confused. But good lord in hindsight that was 100% a situation where being extremely worrisome and cautious was warranted so thank god.
Thank you for this story, this is super important for people to think about! Getting a room supposedly vacuumed for free isn't worth what might happen once they're inside the house, so just shut (or slam) the door and say no. Maybe with their feelings hurt enough, it'll also convince them to leave the MLM if they really are reps.
I highly doubt he was a Kirby rep. They don't hire out to clean carpets. Their income is solely from direct sales.
@@iloveapplejuiice I feel you on the anxiety. When mine is high it takes me extra time to process, and if there was a tall, pushy man trying to get past me I would probably be too busy still spinning my brain to react appropriately.
I have had run ins with Kirby, luckily I have a 100lb black dog who has no interest in admitting her 2 least favorite items into her house. #1 strangers. #2 vacuum/strange suspicious box (Christmas is her nightmare). She gets real bent out of shape about strangers hackles up, big mean dog bark. She's my furry anti door to door MLM security system.
To the person in the 4th story: You don't have to house her when she fails. You can turn away. It will hurt, but if she's been doing this to you and hurting you, you don't have to be the better person.
What I'm hearing is that Kirby reps work by vampire rules. You have to invite them in, otherwise they can't hurt you.
I was breifly a Kirby seller in my early twenties, and I can confirm, everything described in your story is EXACTLY how Kirby teaches its salesmen to act.
I am in tears over the girl glad to die looking at the beauty of Alaska. :(
I had mono as a young mother. I ended up in the hospital with hepatitis. It took 3 months to recover.
It always breaks my heart when I hear something like the first story. I hear that from friends in the US over and over again that the healthcare system is not healthcare but sick care. People only go to the doctor when things are really bad because otherwise it costs money.
Yea. I constantly want to tell my friends to go to the doctor but I always remember that unlike here in South Africa. A walk in appointment costs way way more than just say 350 rand. Which rn is like 19 dollars and 80 cents
I’m glad the first person is okay and able to share the story. It must’ve been a terrifying experience. Most parents would gladly spend money on a doctor’s visit when their child isn’t well, assuming they’re financially able to, and those that don’t have the money wish they did, I bet. Never put off care without at least talking to your parents. And yes, the US system sucks.
The other takeaway from the first story is if you or your child are given a medication by a doctor that doesn't require you to stay for observation, consult with them if new symptoms arise. The rash, the vomiting, and the more trouble breathing are all clear signs a doctor should recognise and tell you to stop that medication immediately. For my own allergies to antibiotic medication, I'd also add new dizzy spells and unexplained pain are all things to call your doctor about before your next dose.
100%! Especially if it's not a medication you've taken before! I had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic as a toddler, and it was my first time taking that medication. If you have taken an antibiotic many times in the past, a weird symptom like a rash might not be as concerning or easy to tie to it, but if it's a new med and you have a reaction in close proximity to beginning it, seek medical advice immediately!
I passed out from a new common medication after just a few doses. It ended up impacting my heart rate. This is also apparently an allergic reaction.
Absolutely. I was put on a very strong antibiotic--Cipro--for a nasty infection in my ears. I started getting dizzy and having to hang onto things. I called, thinking it was just my ear infection. Nope, I was told to discontinue the medication immediately. One Z-Pak and a day later and I already felt better, with no dizziness.
It's honestly so hard to get your family & friends back from an mlm, sometimes they just can't bear to hear it. One of my friends described being scammed like they are in complete denial of the truth bc it's too terrifying to face the fact they've wasted everything on this fake opportunity. Even with all the red flags, they kept on going with the desperate hope they'll find that promised unicorn or pot of gold, because the alternative was feeling like a stupid victim with nothing left. They really need support and therapy when they wake up, but trying to force them to wake up may only drive them deeper into the fantasy. It's truly like a cult.
Wow, culture shock! I live in South Africa and we tend to have high walls and electric fences in the suburbs. We don't let strangers onto the property, never mind the house!
Even in places where we dont, like smaller towns. Strangers tend to stay outside of the yard. And they dont get to come inside the house until there has been some questions.
Story 2 is very interesting... I'm from Brazil and that's a very common practice here too, I'm still trying to figure out if Avon actually acts as an MLM here, because I know plenty of saleswomen but none of them ever talk about recruiting or ranking up! And yes, I did search for a compensation plan but could not find anything suspicious!
Omg no! As soon as I heard "take thieves" I was horrified. Thieves might be the worst possible one to take. You're actually not even supposed to touch it undiluted
As a European lawyer, I have been thinking a little bit about it: I do agree that the "American dream" argument is valid, this is the first thing that comes to my mind, but I also think that there are elements of labour, consumers and competition law rules in Europe that make the "we are not a pyramid scheme" argument more difficult to hold. I need to find the time to give it a deeper thought and seek some literature on the subject.
Omg hannah I had an ad for an mlm before this video. The crazy thing is I wouldn't have known it was an mlm without your educational videos. Thank you so much for your content on avoiding scams!!!
Check out the PSA I posted to my RUclips Community tab this morning!
@@HannahAlonzo it was a course on how to excel in network marketing!
I had a friend send me an MLM "invitation." I might not have known it was an MLM without having watched videos about MLMs. I wouldn't have bit because I am busy, but I did reply that I wasn't interested in an MLM & that he would probably lose friends if he persisted in trying to pull people in
Another important point for the girl with strep throat: the use of oils caused her to delay care for her strep throat…. When strep throat is untreated with antibiotics you run the risk of developing a whole host of sequelae from it, including scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, or rheumatic heart disease (which will result in life long issues with your heart valves and often requires surgery for valve replacement). She’s very lucky she did not have life long ramifications of this.
Also Guttate Psoriasis can develop from Strep Throat.
I had strep throat once and didn't realize it. Living with red spots for well over a year was what happened to me. ☹️
Don’t forget strep can attack your kidneys. And mono can put you at higher risk for a ruptured spleen. You’re exhausted when you have it, but I think you have to limit physical activity until your spleen is back to normal. Untreated infections are no joke. We think these things are no big deal now, but before antibiotics, they killed people.
This happened to me as well when my kids were babies! I finally demanded the Kirby salesman leave and they were so rude! Never let them in your house! It took me 3 hours to get them out of my house!
Strep plus mono is a somewhat common combination, but it’s absolutely brutal-I had both at the same time in early high school, and it was the most intense pain/fatigue combination I’ve ever experienced!
Me and strep used to be well acquainted (my cases of it have gone down since no longer being in school or working outside of the house). I couldn't imagine having anything else on top of it as it's brutal all on its own 😖
Mono lowers your immune system and if you don’t rest, you can open yourself up to a host of other issues. She got strep. I got a sinus infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, and ulcers I didn’t know I had got so bad I nearly died. All because a doc (who ended up fired) told me and about 70 others at my high school to take “take Tylenol and toughen up” when we complained of body aches, fatigue, and swollen glands. YUP.
on MLMs outside of the US - it is quite true, I have a colleague that sells Avon products or rather facilitates the sale of Avon products. she is purely doing it because she likes the makeup and as a rep she gets a discount, most of her sales are things she gets for herself and if someone does purchase from her, she only takes the same amount of money that she has paid for the product as a rep, so she makes no money at all, and she only asks people if they want to check the catalogue because when she orders more, she and her customers get a higher discount
Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, or MLM’s- You can’t help someone that does not want to be helped.
Kirby salesmen are why I always answer my door with my iguana under one arm. She has also successfully scared off the JWs.
I love all our anti-MLM RUclips queens, but Hannah, I adore YOUR horror story videos the absolute best, because you’re such a great reader!
Not here to call anyone out, but with other creators, it can feel like being back in elementary school, being forced to listen while other kids poorly read from the textbook! 😬
Not MLM related, but I had strep throat and scarlet fever when i was little. Strep can become scarlet fever, but i had symptoms of both at once. No one knew I was sick until I was almost dying... (I never showed signs of illness until it was serious as a kid). Super scary considering how contagious it is and I was at my great-grandmother's when it was discovered...
Last time a door to door person refused to leave, I threatened to call 911 and said if they didn't immediately leave I would charge them with trespassing.
I worked at a daycare and also have grandchildren who wanted to spend lots of time with nana. I ended up quiting because it was no longer fun spending time with my grandchildren after spending all day 5 days a week with other people's kids.
I think the reason why (in Europe at least) MLMs focus on selling and not recruiting is because of relatively good employee benefits package under standard labour contracts (incl minimum wage, over 20 minimum vacation days, few weeks to few months maternity leave rules, notice period rules for employers granting employees time to find a new job in case of contract termination, sick leave rules, etc. + works councils involvement securing employee rights). Another reason might be strong consumer protection laws in the EU. If you buy a product online or outside of a shop (by telephone, mail order, from a door-to-door salesperson), you have the right to cancel and return your order within 14 days, for any reason and without a justification. Also, you have to be clearly informed about the total price of a product, including all taxes and additional charges. Contract terms that are unfair under EU law have no legal or binding force on consumers. Because of all this, I don’t see how large MLM teams could make their volume quotas if the products can be legally returned without justification. Further, because of the above, traditional MLM models don’t seem appealing both from the ‘boss babe’ perspective (you don’t have the labour law benefits) + the fact that you can’t easily sell scummy products (because of consumer protection laws). It will only make sense as a side ‘job’ to make small profit on the side.
The thing about owning your own business is that it will take over your life to stay afloat. Every small business owner I've known had to spend so much of their life and heart on it. I never wanted that for myself. That was never the right answer for the MLM boss babes
I can’t for the life of me imagine allowing a stranger into my home to vacuum it!
I think the MLM culture in Europe used to be like you described, it was seen as a side hustle, something to "put butter in your plate" as we say in France =p. But it has changed in the past few years, they're pretty aggressive these days and they spew the same bs you've heard before in the US. I know a couple who fell HARD (well, the husband more than the wife actually) for one called Akeo, and they've been struggling financially, I feel bad for them but they refuse to listen to reason so....
My mother was in Shaklee in the 90s. It was definitely a side hustle for her. It's amazing to me to see what MLMs become a full time unpaid job. Even my sisters that were more aggressive in marketing Herbalife in the 90s had work/life balance though I am not sure if they made any money. Social Media has made MLMs a bigger disaster than they already were
@@brucheweinberger6863 That and covid hit everyone pretty hard. Many lost their job and MLMs smelt the opportunity like the vultures they are.
I saw a girl from my area (in a european country) posting a video about farmasi in the exact same style I see in this channel all the time, I was super surprised
I've been very curious how the MLM pitch works in Europe. So many of the pain points reps use (no living wage, health care unaffordable, child care unaffordable, no free time from work) aren't an issue in many European countries.
What are the manipulation tactics that work in Europe?
@@caitlin228 Before covid time I wouldn't know exactly but after 2020 it has been easier to sell the dream, many people lost their job , others realised that working from home is pretty nice, and you know, the promise of earning thousands with "your own business" is appealing even for the european crowd lol (also the energy and groceries prices are like bad BAD rn, people have to choose between eating or being warm...). From what I've heard first hand from the woman I know who is in Akeo, they also use grandiose gatherings with the CEO and all the reps and say that they're a big family and the usual nonsense.
I am always surprised that ASEA (uh-see-uh) has flown under the radar so well. My MIL tried to suck me into this a few years back - they promise to heal pretty much any problem with salt water. They don't outright say it's salt water because that would be underwhelming of course lol. They call it a cell signaling supplement drink that heals you at a genetic level and have even added actual supplements and skin care. It's definitely worth looking into, but this has inspired me to finally start writing up my own horror story to send you about my experiences with her up to the point that we actually had to cut contact with her after she joined a legitimate cult. Thank you for shedding light on the terrible experiences these MLMs bring on not only the victims, but their families as well.
That poor Alaskan girl! This also shows how f’d up our healthcare system is (I’ve been a medical biller for 24yrs & it’s gotten worse every year 😡).
I am a fellow Alaskan (Anchorage since 1993). ❤
The first story is also highlighting how ridiculous the American healthcare system is. Of course people will take essential oils when it costs hundreds for basic healthcare.
I feel like in the UK oils, herbs, supplements etc are used as 'complimentary' medicine, alongside what you get from the pharmacy, rather than instead of. I actually saw an American lady online touting doTerra because it's 'cheaper than the doctor'!🤦🏼♀️
Years and years ago I had a Kirby rep come to my house and do the whole presentation routine. My mom and I were decorating for Christmas and we didn’t know how to say no so we bought a vacuum. They’re ridiculously expensive so they put me on a payment plan. Anyway, long story short I never did end up paying for that vacuum because they forgot to set up the payment plan correctly.
If I was the lady in the Kirby vacuum situation, I would’ve cut the police. Like I’ve asked to leave, you’re not leaving, you’re now trespassing, get off my property or I will contact the police to remove you.
The first story is even scarier when you realize that strep throat, if left untreated, can turn into scarlet fever which can cause organ failure, permanent heart damage and be life threatening
I didn't know that about strep throat. That's some scary stuff!
Helen Keller went blind and deaf from her battle with scarlet fever.
I feel like the first story is also a horror story about the American Healthcare system. If going to the doctor hadn't made her afraid of the costs, maybe she would have seen a doctor a lot earlier? 🤔
Story #4 makes me think her mother is an addict and her addiction is MLM. I remember reading a story about a young man that was advised to take up hiking for his health and now he is obsessed with it. I was thinking thank goodness the doctor didn't prescribe him oxycotion because he would have become addicted to the pills
For the person asking for advice for her mom being in an MLM, is it possible to talk to your grandparents to get them to put some sort of clause in their will that prevents your mom from getting money unless she meets certain stipulations?
Story #1 is a great lesson on how dangerous it is to not be seen by a health professional for a sore throat. There are horror stories out there of people dying/needing amputations from untreated strep throat 😰
People tend to forget how dangerous viruses and bacteria can be because our modern medicine is so effective. Its like double edged blade.
And developing heart issues.
The kirby people are a different breed 😅 as a real sales lady (I work in a store here in my town selling home appliances, I do not go door to door. They come to us) we all joke and say we want the confidence of a Kirby door to door agent 🤣 we clearly say it jokingly
I do think you are on the money about MLMs outside of the US. I'm in the UK and have seen Facebook friends dabble in The Body Shop and Avon but never once has any of them tried to recruit me or via general posts. I didn't even know these companies were MLMs until I started watching your content!
It’s happened again! I clicked on your video and the beach boss influencers ad showed up again. This is an anti-MLM video that I’m watching 😂
Check out the PSA I posted this morning on my RUclips community tab!
@@HannahAlonzo I'm usually an ad skipper, but this one, I purposely let their ad play right the way through, so you get paid 😉 serves them right 😂
We had a dodgy politician (who basically bought his way into politics) and he spammed everyone in my country with obnoxious ads. Rather than skipping them, everyone just muted them and let them run, so content creators would get paid by him for his insanely long ads. 😂
American culture tends to be hyper-individualist and hyper-capitalist, so it makes sense that MLM hustle culture is the most aggressive here.
That teacher one is so sad. Maybe if we paid teachers a fair wage she wouldn’t have been so susceptible to and MLM.
I work in an Oklahoma public school. It's so sad how many teachers are deeply involved in MLMs. I worked in one building where there were only 2 or 3 of us who weren't buying and selling LipSense. I then transferred to a different building and, while there were few MLM'ers, I became an assistant to a teacher who was in multiple and worked them during the day (she also believed that just smelling 'Theives' had miraculous healing properties). Even when I mentioned it to leadership that maybe this wasn't the most appropriate thing to do, MLMs had become so common that all they did was shrug it off. It's really sad that teacher pay is so low and it's so hard to retain teachers that we're reduced to having to accept this or lose staff.
When you talked about MLMs in other countries being different, I noticed that a lot of the MLMs often mentioned were 'older' style MLMs. Avon, Mary Kay, Tupperware, etc.
The description of people using it as a side income and not with a focus on recruiting sounds a lot like MLMs functioned when I was younger, so I'm wondering if it's somewhat of an established MLM culture thing. They're in it for the long haul, and have a long history, so they're not all about the meteor rise and the online sell as much.
I wonder if the newer MLMs aren't falling along the same lines as other 'disruptor' (🤢 I know, but they love that word) companies that have proliferated in the last decade or two. Using the idea of 'breaking the system' and doing things differently to mask the fact that they're not really a sustainable business model like the traditional companies are. They expand rapidly, exist mostly on investor capital, and then flame out. Apparently disruptive culture comes even for MLMs. 😂
I think the person with the chronic mlm-er mom with her grandmother's inheritance needs to get a lawyer to protect her portion of the inheritance. I'm not sure if she has a leg to stand on because I don't know the details of her grandmother's will and estate, but it's worth a shot.
I always find it ridiculous that housewives with no medical training are “prescribing” concentrated oils. I practice holistic medicine and herbalism - this is reckless and outside what a sales rep should be doing. Never listen to a sales rep about your health
You assume they're an expert because they present themselves as such. And for £20 you can print your own Aromatherapist certificate off the internet!🤪
Over a decade ago, I dated a "Kirby guy" briefly. I didn't know what he did or anything about the "business" when we met but I will tell you that I learned he had a record, as did many of his "coworkers" who were dropped off to go into the homes of strangers.
This is one of the best MLM Horror Stories yet!
Omg I so would have called the police if the vacuum guys wouldn't leave
The first story is why low or no cost at point of need healthcare is important. It is cheaper for everyone if people go to the doctor earlier and conditions can be treated when easier and less likely to need impatient or more complex care. I wonder if the costs of healthcare and medication in US affects the number of mlms claiming health benefits. In UK they mainly talk weight loss and fitness.
Ahahah I also started cackling at the limb regrowth claim -- too funny!
I never cease to be amazed at the effect these MLMs have on peoples social awareness and sense of what’s appropriate. These people are constantly crossing boundaries and just literally not taking no for an answer. This is another reason why these are cults. Normal people wouldn’t act this way even for their job.
Hannah! I just had a great idea! One of the last stories you told, you asked if anyone had a gentler way to nudge people away from MLMs. If you get enough critical mass going on a question like that, it would be awesome if you could make another playlist. You've got MLM horror stories, and MLM fails -- Why not MLM De-Conversion? Or something like that. You might even be able to re-purpose some of your older horror stories for a playlist like that.
Yay! You're getting me through to lunch time queen 👑🙌
Essential oils without a carrier oil WILL burn mucosal lining. Never ingest “neat” oils
Several years ago, my nephew joined Kirby as a sales trainee in Pawtucket RI but he quit during the training because of unethical, aggressive training methods such as in the story at 25:37
I'm from Romania and I can say that Avon is still going on there, I actually buy products from them through my mom's work colleague. She never pushed us to become like her, she only places orders. Also, that's a side job for her, she works as an accountant for a few companies. I actually think most of these reps(hopefully that's the right word) don't want others to join, they want people to place orders through them. Another thing people do is get memberships at all sorts of places and put orders through for themselves and other people, when you buy a shit ton of stuff you actually get really good discounts.
Strep throat and Mono are caused by two different organisms, so one cannot develop into the other. However, they both cause inflammation and pain in the throat, so double whammy!
thankfully, the few ladies I've encountered dealing with MLMs like Avon were literally just selling the stuff. they never tried to recruit; they'd just send the little makeup catalogue around the office in case anyone wanted to order.
I have an essential oil diffuser for my room since our dorms don’t allow candles. I was refilling it and (unbeknownst to me) spilled a little on my fingers. I rubbed my face and some got in my mouth. I cannot IMAGINE willingly ingesting that, especially for sore throats. It burned and made me gag. I had to wash my mouth out with water. I can absolutely see how oils made her throat even worse in that first story. I’m not sick and it made MY throat sore for a bit.
Voice. Of. Gold!
Thank you Hannah!
Oh my gosh! I’m a high school teacher. I can’t IMAGINE posting side-kick MLM content while in class?? Even with a student teacher! You are so right- the “master teacher” still has to kind of watch and mentor the student teacher. Unbelievable! Every time I think I’ve heard it all about MLMs? Nope. It’s staggering how many more stories there are. Keep this up! I love it and am always very intrigued. ❤
I'm from Germany. Here it is against the law to do network marketing without beeing focused on selling an actual product. If you are "your own boss" for Tupperware, Avon or Vorwerk (Thermomix), you have to get a licence for opening a business and you have to pay taxes. The Government on different levels is checking on you and you can go to prison if you don't pay your taxes over multiple years. So if people do it, they can't make living out of it and so they do it as a side job, to get some extra money. The downlines are way shorter, because pyramid schemes are illegal. People can order directly at the companies, without visiting parties or knowing someone who sells the products as a rep. The same as in the US people most times still meet up for those events because it is a chance to do something with your friends, getting out of the everyday life for a couple of hours and just to have fun. There are good companies with good products and a tradition in Germany, but in the last few years there showed up more and more wellness products on the market, which were gone fast again, because people checked fast that they were scam.
I HAD (had) a friend who worked for Kirby. I didn't realize it was an MLM at the time but cringed so hard at the idea of her walking door to door and asking ppl If they can vacuum 😆💀
To the second story: I feel like those older MLMs like Avon, Mary Kay, Tupperware, etc are more focused on selling the products then recruiting in general. Those are common here and I've never been pitched to join/host a party like I have for other MLMs. These newer MLMs are mostly focused on recruiting, I can think of 1 that's not so much (Martha and Mary)
You can now get Tupperware at Target. Excellent product 🤷🏽♀️
37:09 , honestly the best way is to sit down with them and have them tally what they are putting into it and getting out of it like a budget of the MLM , oh 50$ a month for auto ship etc.. and how many sales and etc to see how much money and then like let her know you do realize that you are making money off the people below you so if they suck so do you and its no way to live
It's super common to have strep and mono at the same time. Miserable!
I legit just wrote Hanna Alonzo on my paper work just now🤦🏾♀️🤣🤣🤣. I wrote that instead of my clients name on the contract.🤣 I love these videos. I listen to them inbetween appointments for work in the car. I've always been fascinated with and against these schemes. I realized that I have a little history in my family because of Tupperware and Avon . I also have a neighbor who keeps trying to give me my her nail strips then asks me to plant her tulip bulbs or watch her dog for free while she goes to one of these color street conventions in Florida😐🤦🏾♀️🤣.
No solicitor sign! It doesn't deter everyone, but it does stop a few. Also, just because someone rang your bell does NOT mean you have to answer it.
Thanks!
Thank you Amber!!
Yayyyy always so happy to see new vids. Also, walked by a Mary Kay van this weekend and cringed so hard
Love watching these horror stories on my lunch break!
Not sure about the focusing on sell vs recruiting here in Australia but I can say that my mum bought young living thieves oils (until I asked her not to ever support that company again) and they told her to put it on her feet and never mention ingestion. So I wonder it those claims are different as well.
Also coffee that grows back limbs????? Unfortunately some of these reps must be so brainwashed not to realise these claims make literally no sense and can’t be possible.
The Kirby "salesmen" tactics fiercely remind me of vampire horror movies!! Seems like both of them need a direct invitation to cross the threshold of your home!
Another viewer below had the same thoughts that I did!! Way to go, @feywoodlander!
Yayyy love the new videos totally obsessed 🎉
Oof I had mono once. It was horrible. It is the second worst illness I've ever had following behind Sepsis lol yikes to have mono and strep 😭
These videos are such a nice break from my true crime addiction...a great way to listen to interesting stories while I do mom stuff but without the negative energy that eventually plagues your soul after hours and hours of truly horrific crimes that us crazy woman for some reason love! Lol thank you!
I was a "Kirby guy" for one whole day (though I had mentally checked out after the first hour). Yeah, they're instructed to be aggressive. The vacuuming the bed thing is part of the sales pitch.
LMAO (Story 3) - The idea that Kirby Vacuum Salesmen are simply vampires and under no circumstances are you to invite them into your home or allow them to cross the threshold is putting me in stitches. 😂😂
There must be a portal inside those Kirby vacuum vans. Every time I hear about them, there's always a clown car full of employees lying in wait.