Are MLMs still a thing?

[gummybear]

I dint know if I’ve aged out or if I’ve successfully blocked all my MLM contacts, but I see literally nothing anymore. Are people still doing these? What are the popular ones?

It seems like the news swindling scam is “buy my digital marketing guide” bc I make 5 figures a month after doing it 60 days.

[UMaineTeach]

I still have a 31 person hanging on. There might be others (I think one sells 31 and Tupperware, but hasn’t posted recently). I have not gotten any ‘Hey how are you?” messages from long lost friends who were never friends in a long time.

[lindyanne]

I still have a friend that sells PC

[jinkies]

It has definitely died off. I still have a couple folks who are doing Beachbody but the tone of their posts has changed a lot. They are posting just about themselves and not overtly recruiting.

I also know someone still doing Arbonne but she posts very infrequently.

I think there was such a push against it in recent years, that those who hung on are laying low.

[donutsmakemegonuts]

I think they are still a thing, but many MLMs have probably realized that they can make more money cutting out the middle man and offering their products straight to the consumers. The FTC has been cracking down on MLMs because as much as they try to say they aren't pyramid schemes, they are. I think there is more social media awareness of MLMs now and how they scam women, so people are more aware when someone approaches them with a "hey girl" message. Apparently Tiktok has also "banned" MLM content from the app, but I'm not sure how they are regulating that.

[gretchenindisguise]

I have one friend who got into pampered chef within the past year. It's weird.

Otherwise definitely less, but I wonder if it's our cohort and younger folks are getting involved instead.

[slbride2003]

It has definitely died down. I still have a beauty counter friend but she rarely posts anymore.
I think the success of DTC brands utilizing social media has hurt their relevance. I see a lot more posts from companies like Il Makiage than I do MLMs.

[expectantsteelerfan]

I agree that they still exist, but aren't 'acceptable' anymore in general so the way they go about selling their stuff has to be very different. The only one I've purchased from in the past few years is that I buy Lash Boost from Rodan and Fields because it's the only lash serum I've tried that works for me. And I only knew the person I buy from is a rep. because she posts on fb *maybe* twice a year or so when she's talking about a new product that is coming out, and even then it's just like a 'I'm so excited to try this new product' than trying to convince anyone else to try it.

[fernweh]

They are - I have one person that still sells ColorStreet and my 18 year old niece recently started peddling some skin firming cream (like you’re 18 - your skin is already firm) but not many people seem to us Facebook anymore so I don’t see as much “marketing” as I used to.

[pandorica]

Yes, I have a couple of FB friends who sell (wellness/oils and colorstreet). One messaged me last year right after I had twins to see how I was feeling about getting my body back 🙄🖕

[cmeon]

You'll still see them at "craft" fairs (and trying to worm their way into art fairs). They also seem to pop up any time someone posts that they're looking for work, lol.

[beerlover]

With the caveat that I live in Central PA where we are behind on most things -

I have a friend who sells PC. She's a really cool person otherwise and this is hard to get past sometimes lol. She is always messaging me asking if I want to have a party. It has been difficult for me to say in a kind way that I will have a party when hell freezes over and please do not ask me this again.

I have a high school acquaintance who seems to be high up in It. Works. and always is posting about all the money she makes, and I do think it's actually true and she just got really lucky or something. It's wild to me that people are still signing up under her and buying these products.

Oh, I thought of more. The counselor at H's school sells Advocare products, and someone at my school sells SeneGenece makeup/skincare stuff and seems to do quite well.

[followyourarrow]

Is LLR still going? I know there were all kinds of lawsuits and a couple of documentaries, but I thought they were still going.

I was invited to a FB MLM party a couple of weeks ago.

[scm1011]

Jan 31, 2024 8:20:37 GMT -5 fernweh said:

my 18 year old niece recently started peddling some skin firming cream (like you’re 18 - your skin is already firm) .

This made me LOL.

Its definitely died down from what I can see, too. 

[donutsmakemegonuts]

Jan 31, 2024 8:47:05 GMT -5 cmeon said:

You'll still see them at "craft" fairs (and trying to worm their way into art fairs). They also seem to pop up any time someone posts that they're looking for work, lol.

Yes, I see this too in my area.  Fairs that are meant for small businesses, not MLM corporations.  It infuriates me when a MLM hun says that they own a small business and don't you want to support a small business???  No, you don't own anything and I won't be supporting you.

[gummybear]

Jan 31, 2024 8:52:14 GMT -5 followyourarrow said:

Is LLR still going? I know there were all kinds of lawsuits and a couple of documentaries, but I thought they were still going.

I was invited to a FB MLM party a couple of weeks ago.

I don’t know about current sales but I saw something on Twitter the other day where someone said they use LLR leggings in porn bc the rip apart so easily. That had me LOLing 😂

[tacokick]

I think it’s a cycle. One unexpectedly takes off and it becomes super popular and then you have a few years where is it just the old standbys like Pampered Chef. I bet there will be a new one soon because people are really hurting with the increase of food prices.

I think memories of some of the scandals like the leggings are starting to fade too.

[ssmjlm]

I got an invite to a pampered chef online party a couple months ago. I think that's the only one hanging around.

[gerberdaisy]

They are definitely still there in my feed, but its changed a lot. Cyclical makes sense. Less in your face, and more just posting about their lives, which happen to be better because of XYZ MLM.

[NewGirlNic]

I have a "friend" who was big into one of the snake oils and she has completely stopped all social media, so I can't imagine she's still selling. 

I still see random posts on FB about some of them. A workout clothing one and a skincare line.. something with a "P" pomeria maybe?

I agree that the new thing on Instagram is the digital marketing guide thing. "make $$$$ in passive income". Oooookay.  

[cjcouple]

It's definitely died down in my circle.
I still see pampered chef on occasion. I have a friend (not close anymore) that might finally be done with LLR. last post she made in her group was 11/5 posting sweaters . there's nothing about stopping her "business" or clearancing.

I'd honestly love to know if it was worth it in the end. I can't imagine 10 years of selling that. I know she had great months/teens but she had to be losing money in the end. And I'm sure she had a ton of stock she is stuck with. We used to be close but she stopped initiating contact and I found I was constantly messaging her to check in with little to no responses so....unfortunately we just arent friends any longer it seems.

There's still a couple "shake" places around that I know are affiliated with herbalife.

[livinitup]

There is a former “hun” on TikTok that posts content about the dangers, deceptive practices, coercion, etc. and she is pretty busy with new MLMs popping up. She’s also taken a turn to covering the new shenanigans of Billy McFarland who is hyping Fyre Festival 2, if you can believe it.

[lavenderblue]

My one friend who has done Tastefully Simple for years and years is finally hanging up her hat and I'm kind of bummed because I actually like those products, even if they are overpriced. Other than that, I have one friend that does Arbonne, and while she does post a ton in her stories, she doesn't really heavily recruit.

[madringal]

I see more "join may 'masterclass' to learn how to gain a billion IG followers" type stuff. I think tying to get rich being an influencer is the new MLM. People will pay all kinds of money for classes, "mentors", editing tools, etc.

[gottadobe]

Some friends got in on the ground floor of Le-Vel and flaunt their lifestyle in a pretty garish way. I'd unfriend, but I'm intrigued and kinda waiting for it to blow up.
Otherwise, a few PC people.

[7costanza]

I don’t see much about MLM’s anymore, but do see a lot of former colleagues and others in my field (HR) becoming life coaches. Almost all of them are people I would never take advice from, lol.

[pumpkin]

I know of a couple people still into EOs, one still selling LLR, one doing the wine thing, and one into whatever some drink is.

ETA: I totally forgot that I have a co-worker (older woman) who sells Avon.

[missva]

I know several people still selling Optavia (is that a MLM) though many have had to pivot b/c of Ozempic.

[wildrice]

I have a friend who sells Mary Kay. She's been doing it for several years so I assume she must be making some money, but other than an occasional post she's not aggressive about it.

I was also recently invited to a Pampered Chef party virtually. I guess both of those companies have been around since before I was born, though, so they may be outliers?

I no longer see many others, but that may be partly because my cohort is getting older and most of the people who were likely to join this sort of thing probably already did so in past years and learned not to do it again! I wonder what the social media of someone in their 20's looks like in this regard.

[SusanBAnthony]

I have two coworkers who sell PC and the snake oils for the discount. Neither seems to be trying to get parties/sales. I can't imagine buying enough of either of those to be worth it but to each their own I guess. I mean how often do you need to replace your pota or knives?