Objectivism and MLMs

Posted by Abaco 7 years, 9 months ago to Business
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I had to ask here. What is the Objectivist's take on multi-level marketing? We've all seen it: the starry-eyed soap-selling friend, "fake it till you make it", etc... I have my own take on MLMs but wanted to hear your opinions.


All Comments

  • Posted by mia767ca 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I read a lot of books on essential oils, which have been used for thousands of years for their curative properties...if the oils I use solve the problem...good oil...YL oils have performed as advertised...
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  • Posted by skidance 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I doubt many, if not most, of the claims made by essential oil companies. Show me the results of third-party, independent tests, and I may be convinced. Personally, I'm sensitive to, or even allergic to, strong scents, and my experience points to essential oils. While I think that certain scents, such as lavender, may have beneficial effects, the likelihood is that most such claims are unfounded, if not fraudulent. For example, have scientific studies shown that Thieves oil (not your product) actually is antiviral/antibacterial? I would doubt there is anything other than anecdotal reports. Not to mention that certain essential oils are toxic to pets. SHOW ME THE SCIENTIFIC STUDIES!
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  • Posted by mia767ca 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    thanks for the reference into Gary Young of YL...he is a total character....the essential oils speak for themselves...and I have researched their use and also use Do Terra...the spin-off...

    the whole medical profession has been co-opted by the pharma industry and today's medical profession is in the toilet...one has to educate oneself and do as much prevention as possible...
    just trying to stay away from the govt and medicals....
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  • Posted by Solver 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    It may be because some people think they’re entitled to make at least $15 an hour no matter how much actual value they create.
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  • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    This is why I do not understand how anyone could not find a job. I live in a rural little town on the east side of the Cascades in Oregon and I have never found it hard to find a job. Anyone can do this job. All you need is a cell phone, an email address, a pencil, a calendar, and a way to print out the lead lists the publishers send you. That's it! You make what you put into it.
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  • Posted by skidance 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    There are a few companies that offer good sales training. However, some people ignore it, or don't bother to participate.
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  • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I retired 4 years ago and after two years, I couldn't stand it. There is just so many paintings I can paint. so many games of World of Warcraft I can play, so many quilts I can sew for my 17 grandkids, so many dogs I can rescue, (4 so far), and so many plants I can raise in my greenhouse before I go stir crazy. So last year I got a job working for a tax preparer which goes against my principals, so this year I found a perfect work from home job selling sponsorships in magazines for two publishers. It is perfect for me. I set my own schedule and I am paid for what I accomplish plus bonuses. And I do it when we travel in our RV too. I love it!
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  • Posted by $ pixelate 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Thanks! The speech went all the way to up to District 9 (Washington, Idaho and Oregon) ... but since there was no Regional or International level for the Humorous Speech contest, it stopped at District. Based on the material and delivery, I could have taken it International, but oh well. Management continues to invite me to share the speech at conferences and to open the key-notes for our user-group meetings. Good times!
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  • Posted by LibertyBelle 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Oh, is it something like Amway? I think I have been
    invited to participate in something like that before. One time, I went to some meeting, when the guy said something like, "When you get these other salespeople working the sell the product..."without telling me how I was supposed to do this, and I knew right there that I wasn't going to fall for it. And a friend of mine once tried to recruit me into sales for Amway, but I didn't trust the idea (not that I thought my buddy would cheat me, but I think maybe he was being suckered himself), and I called it "Shamway", and didn't get into it.---I just don't get very enthusiastic about proposals that don't make sense.
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  • Posted by LibertyBelle 7 years, 8 months ago
    What is multi-level marketing? I don't recall that I
    ever heard of it before.
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  • Posted by Solver 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    It would be up to me. My choice. As stated above. Personally I would choose no. A choice not usually allowed by statists.
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  • Posted by ewv 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    No marketing method is "Objectivist". Objectivism is a philosophy. The philosophy also does not endorse scams or self-delusion in general, but philosophy and marketing schemes are different categories. But as you observed, people don't have to understand Ayn Rand to see through this scam.
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  • Posted by ewv 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Why? You would still lose. What you mean is that you'd take the right to refuse to participate?
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  • Posted by ewv 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    What does calling it "Objective" with a capital 'O' mean? If you intended Objectivist, it doesn't apply at all, even aside from the pyramid fallacy aspect. Objectivism is Ayn Rand's philosophy, not any kind of industrial or sales organization. There is no such thing as Objectivist science, let alone sales schemes, etc., let alone 'voluntary' pyramid schemes.
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  • Posted by ewv 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    A Bernie Madoff pyramid scheme is illegal because of how it is dishonestly promoted. The MLMs tell you in advance how it works and count on people believing they can get rich in their own fantasies.
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  • Posted by ewv 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    It's not a matter of whether the Gulch in Atlas Shrugged would "allow" it on libertarian grounds as long as it were "voluntary" -- the kind of productive individuals invited to the Gulch wouldn't think to engage in such a scheme.

    The nature of a pyramid scam becomes obvious much sooner even to those who can't see it conceptually when there is a small population that is quickly drained. Even James Taggart, if he had somehow snuck into the Valley, would not have gotten anywhere with it against the number or kinds of people there.
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  • Posted by ewv 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    An Amway leader high up in the food chain once told me that the big advantage is that the company is run by and for sales instead of manufacturing (production). Observing them in action reveals that that it operates with a cult mentality. The "products for sale" are essentially shiny objects used to keep the pyramid game going while spreading the myth that they are superior quality. The cultists believe their own propaganda.
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  • Posted by MrSmiggles 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I think the OP was talking more like Level, Amway, and the like. You can google "multi-level marketing companies" for a list.
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  • Posted by $ rockymountainpirate 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    True, and that way I determine my destiny. By the way, I don't sell anything. The company sells. I just show you how you get an online account like Costco married Amazon and I get paid for sharing that.
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  • Posted by MrSmiggles 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Oh I'm totally with you on that and the good mentors do help out their underlings. However that's not how the system is commonly sold. It's made to look like a get rich quick scheme, "All you have to do is sell! Then get others to make the money for you!"

    At the same time it's not you working with a W2 for your underlings. It's a company paying you like a contractor with a W9, meaning you owe Uncle Sam every year.
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  • Posted by $ rockymountainpirate 7 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    You don't make a residual income by dumping those under you and not helping them to succeed. You work with the willing. Its not a magic bullet, write the check and get rich. Just like anything worth while, it takes time and effort. If you don't want to put in that time and effort you should stay a W2 person a,d let someone else dictate your value.
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