Approached by MLM, how to say "No thanks"...

[CMHusband]

Thank you but with all due respect, I've never met anyone in an MLM that's really making money, consistently, over the long haul. I've met many people including myself who have tried them though, and spent hours, days, weeks, months and even years getting no-where.

Anyone who tells me they are making money, I going to say "show me your tax return"

On a positive note: I do like pampered chef products!

 

[*BTMRR*]

The key really is to remind yourself that are WASTING the salesperson's precious time if lead them on at all when you already know for sure that you're not going to buy in. It's rude to knowingly waste someone's time. And you don't want to be rude, right? Of course not. So just say no thanks, politely and firmly, and realize that you're doing the right thing.

 

[Imzadi]

Now I have to disagree with this a little. There are lots of MLM type products out there that are really good stuff. The companies exist in this structure not just to sell product, but to give ordinary folks the chance to earn $$. I would guess, too, that this marketing strategy can be less expensive for the companies than major ad campaigns and that sort of thing.

I don't mind if someone wants to let me know they're selling XYZ product or invites me to a party or something. I'm ok with saying no when I don't want to. Frankly, if I like the product, I'd much rather see a friend or acquaintance make $$ rather than some big brand corporation. I just make it clear when I'm not interested in the product and that I'm not interested in selling it.

I respectfully disagree. You're missing the point. The reason for the hard sell from these sales people and the reason they don't take no, is because the products don't really sell well. If they really were doing well, they could say, "Fine, just walk away." The reason also to need to hook someone else at a level below, is again because the product doesn't sell well. people can't just make money off of selling the product alone. That's why they need these levels. It's about selling a DREAM of making money to each other. Ordinary folks getting the chance to earn $$.


Take a look at the opposite: Girls Scout cookies. Everyone knows why Girl Scouts sell them, to make money for their troups. That's not hidden. So while people do buy them to help out the Girl Scouts. The cookies actually sell themselves. Most people like the cookies. We wait all year for GS cookie time.

Other than the fact that there are less & less cookies in each package each year, while the price goes up, and that there are fanatical mothers who try to push cookies to get their daughters the "most sold" award, for the most part, the cookies sell themselves.

Back to my example of Coca-Cola. It is a publicly owned company. It is a blue chip stock, Fortune 500 company. Warren Buffet owns massive stock in the company. People who own stocks in the company don't need to hook in other people to support the company through multilevel marketing. People voluntarily buy & sell shares of the company. And if I own stocks, I don't have to try to then sell shares to you or to my neighbor or my co-worker. There is a line of people I don't know who already want to buy the stocks - because the product sells itself.

That' what's wrong with the MLM paradigm. It's not just about selling the product. That same person has to sell the company, too, and hook someone else into buying into the company AND the product and then SELL both. Their profits depend on that.

 

[Ceila]

Now I have to disagree with this a little. There are lots of MLM type products out there that are really good stuff. If you are talking about home-show products (Longaberger, Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple), I'll agree with you on this point, since I do like those products. I have no experience with Amway products or other schemes like that, so I can't give an opinion on those. The companies exist in this structure not just to sell product, but to give ordinary folks the chance to earn $$. Sorry, but no. These companies exist to make a profit, not to help others. They may try to convince people otherwise in order to create a "good feeling" about their company, but it's not the case. They are in business to make money, just like any other business. I would guess, too, that this marketing strategy can be less expensive for the companies than major ad campaigns and that sort of thing. I can see how this could be true.

I don't mind if someone wants to let me know they're selling XYZ product or invites me to a party or something. I'm ok with saying no when I don't want to. Frankly, if I like the product, I'd much rather see a friend or acquaintance make $$ rather than some big brand corporation. You do realize that some big corporation IS making money, right? The people selling this stuff don't keep all of the profits. I just make it clear when I'm not interested in the product and that I'm not interested in selling it.

My responses are in blue.

 

[minkydog]

This is great!

But, how do you stop the circle and end it. If they keep going at it after you've repeated the above phrase? Do I just have to get right down to it and say, "Look, I said I'm not interested, please leave!" That's what I want to avoid, but from the responses, I guess I should just be ready to do that.

Why does it have to be that way? I hate high pressure tactics.

How? The same way you stop your children from whining and begging after you've said no. I call it the "broken record" effect. Keep say, "I'm sorry, that doesn't fit the business model that I want to use." It's okay to say "I"m not interested" too. You don't owe anyone an explanation for not wanting to attach yourself to this group.

 

[Robinrs]

I think this is part of the problem right there. If you compliment the product AT ALL, they don't hear anything else.

They don't get you are only being polite. They zoom in on the fact you may be interested and then they become obsessive with beating you down till you buy.

These people are relentless. They don't care about you. You are an ATM machine for them. Your saying No stands in the way of them making money. They just have to figure out your PIN code, to get you to buy.

The compliment/Not for me approach is very effective. It gives them no basis to explain what you think is wrong, WHICH is what they're trained in.

Agree with them, YES, it's great, but it's not for me. PERIOD.

I've used this against all kinds of piranha. IT WORKS. If I tell them my problem with their product they have an answer, they are not prepared to fix what you like but don't want.

It's how I've stayed at just about every timeshare in Orlando without owning one...

 

[Heidict]

That' what's wrong with the MLM paradigm. It's not just about selling the product. That same person has to sell the company, too, and hook someone else into buying into the company AND the product and then SELL both. Their profits depend on that.

It's the high pressure tactics that get under my skin. They push and push and push and just don't let up till you say yes. They are hoping to wear you down till you buy something to just shut them up. Then once you give in and buy something they are all over you trying to get you to sell their stuff also.

The people who do these high pressure MLM have no respect for you. No respect for your time or your budget. I have no problem getting short with them if they seem to have gone stupid and forgot what the word NO means.

Good luck OP, I don't envy you.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You just outlast them. You keep repeating the same sentence over and over uintil they stop asking. Even if you have to repeat the same sentence 42times in the same conversation.

It's the classic way to deal with manipulation.

Yep.

 

[Nancyg56]

I just say no. Thank you, no. And then I'm done. I'm not rude, but I refuse to meet for coffee, have lunch, or chat on the phone about any " opportunity" I am not interested in. I agree that "No thank you." Is a complete sentence

 

[Allison]

This happened FIVE years ago folks and was resurrected by a spammer.

 

[Nancyg56]

Oops! Teach me not to look at dates!

 

[DawnM]

I don't do MLMs and resent people who try to get me to sign up and "have my own business" after I have nicely said no. You simply are NOT a friend if you hound me to buy your overpriced products.

And you are NOT a business owner. You bought a kit.

Crud, 5 year old thread, sorry.

 

[Tinker74]

Is that beachbody coach thing a MLM? my FB is full of coaches living wonderful millionaire lifestyles on this thing??

 

[CPanther95]

Hopefully the OP said no.

Wish we could get an update to find out how much money, and how many friends the salesperson lost before finally realizing what 95% of people already know - that MLMs are ALL a scam. And the quality of the products has no bearing on whether or not it is a scam.

 

[cijay]

Oh lordy I didn't realise this was a resurrected 5 1/2 year old topic.