Thread: Got a great opportunity offered today ACN ! Please criticize

Originally Posted by Mike39

Thanks, just wondering for future reference

Your welcome man, that dude calls me at 3:30pm asking if I was going to attend the 4pm meeting and ready for the road to success im like no dude, dont have the money to attend. He says " Who did you talk to " Im like "No one its just that I dont have the money at the moment" the thing that has me a bit thinking is that I wrote my debit card number on that application he gave me and the expiration date of my debit card..... Could he take money out ? He also gave me a book after the name "The Business Of The 21st century" by Robert T. Kiyosaki, he texts me earlier I need my book back. Im like alright ill drop it off later

Originally Posted by 21elnegocio

Your welcome man, that dude calls me at 3:30pm asking if I was going to attend the 4pm meeting and ready for the road to success im like no dude, dont have the money to attend. He says " Who did you talk to " Im like "No one its just that I dont have the money at the moment" the thing that has me a bit thinking is that I wrote my debit card number on that application he gave me and the expiration date of my debit card..... Could he take money out ? He also gave me a book after the name "The Business Of The 21st century" by Robert T. Kiyosaki, he texts me earlier I need my book back. Im like alright ill drop it off later

Well he was just being nice so that you would sign up and I would just keep a careful eye on your bank account and make sure there is nothing being removed even though I doubt he would do that

Originally Posted by PatrickP

This is PURE GOLD right here!

Read it and reread it. In 2 paragraphs he says it all.

Cmon folks, it isn't a SCAM, but just a typical MLM.

There are drivers, and there are hitchhikers.
There are leaders, and there are followers.
There are entrepreneurs and there are sales people.

Choose your path.

Likwid is partially right. But remember, like MJ stated in his book, you want to be the one who created the MLM not the one who is working. Unless you are EXCEPTIONAL at it. I have done a few of them myself. They are not "scams" or they would all be illegal. Are they hard work? Hell yeah! I have made a little money on a few of them and I have some friends that make some decent monthly income and one or two that make what some of us would currently consider a lot of money right now.

A true friend or family member is not going to hold it against you for asking them to join or buy in. Unless you you somehow got them to lose $10,000 or hounded them month after month after they said no. If you ask once and they say no and you leave them alone...how much can they really hold that against you? Obviously some MLMs are better than others.

Also, there are some very rich people who state that an MLM is a great way to make money. Even MJ. Although he said he would create an MLM, not join one. I would not fathom how to create one.

I have a very good friend who is making some good money in an MLM right now. If you feel $499 is worth getting some experience to see what it is truly all about, then go for it. LIFE is all about a LEARNING experience.

I am trying to take everything I have learned in life and move into the fastlane, over and over again.

As for what you do with your money. You have to make your own decisions on that. I don't even know what ACN is. Is it a product? Is it something you have to buy every month?

The other thing you have to remember about MLM is that everyone makes it seem like a get rich quick scheme. It is NOT. although a few do get a lot of money very fast, I would say that is not the norm.

In the end, the choice is ALWAYS yours.

Every day is a school day. Every day is learning day.

Originally Posted by hedgehog757

Cmon folks, it isn't a SCAM, but just a typical MLM.

There are drivers, and there are hitchhikers.
There are leaders, and there are followers.
There are entrepreneurs and there are sales people.

Choose your path.

Likwid is partially right. But remember, like MJ stated in his book, you want to be the one who created the MLM not the one who is working. Unless you are EXCEPTIONAL at it. I have done a few of them myself. They are not "scams" or they would all be illegal. Are they hard work? Hell yeah! I have made a little money on a few of them and I have some friends that make some decent monthly income and one or two that make what some of us would currently consider a lot of money right now.

A true friend or family member is not going to hold it against you for asking them to join or buy in. Unless you you somehow got them to lose $10,000 or hounded them month after month after they said no. If you ask once and they say no and you leave them alone...how much can they really hold that against you? Obviously some MLMs are better than others.

Also, there are some very rich people who state that an MLM is a great way to make money. Even MJ. Although he said he would create an MLM, not join one. I would not fathom how to create one.

I have a very good friend who is making some good money in an MLM right now. If you feel $499 is worth getting some experience to see what it is truly all about, then go for it. LIFE is all about a LEARNING experience.

I am trying to take everything I have learned in life and move into the fastlane, over and over again.

As for what you do with your money. You have to make your own decisions on that. I don't even know what ACN is. Is it a product? Is it something you have to buy every month?

The other thing you have to remember about MLM is that everyone makes it seem like a get rich quick scheme. It is NOT. although a few do get a lot of money very fast, I would say that is not the norm.

In the end, the choice is ALWAYS yours.

Every day is a school day. Every day is learning day.

Thanks yeah I just went, gave him his book back. He asked me politely dude why didnt you want to be part of it who did you talk to ? I said no one I just dont have money to spend right now, I just didnt want to say because I read it was a scam. So he said ok man thanks though, and he said this was a great opportunity for you to make some income.

The book move is a trick.

They let you 'borrow' the book for two reasons:

1) if you're reading the book, they are furthering their sales process on you, which in turn increases the likeliness that you will buy in. The book will always be pro network marketing (aka mlm) and support things they told you in the original meeting.

2) More importantly, they have given you something that you will have to return. This opens the door for them to draw you back in when you go to return it. He doesn't care about the book, he just wants another run at you.

I spent a few years in an MLM company, and the methods they use to deceive people could be straight from a grifter handbook.

To help cut through the noise:

Forget about the photocopies of checks they show you. This is what they call 'building a story'. I recruit you, I drive your downline for 30-60 days, and get you a respectable check. Then I photocopy it, put it in a flip book for you, and you now have a story that goes like this:

'When I started with ACN I was skeptical, like I'm sure most people are. However, I figured I had nothing to lose, so I gave it a try. 60 days later, not even knowing what I was doing, I made this check for $3,500 and I've never looked back. Now, 8 months later, I am making enough money that I was able to leave my $75k per year job; I have more free time than ever, and my life is on a completely different path. I am building a business, instead of working a dead-end job."

Sounds awesome, but all you really know is that I made $3,500 one time. You will want to believe that I said I'm making more than $75k/yr after only 8 months...but I cleverly left out the specifics of what I am actually making. All I said is I was able to leave my job. What does that mean? In the MLM world...nothing.

They are all about flash and 'act as if', but almost none of them are making what you would hope. In fact a lot of them are buried in credit card debt from trying to put up a believable front.

Cut through this noise by insisting on proof. Forget checks, and ask for income figures in annual numbers. These guys will notoriously quote their largest check ever as being 'the norm', and some will extrapolate that into annual income even though they were nowhere close. You wouldn't buy a business without having a look at their books, so treat this the same. Ask for a copy of his most recent 1099. In addition, ask for a look at the 1099's of his other successful recruits.

The #3 producer in the company I was in consistently showed checks for $10k his first month, $18k his third month, and $50k by his 7th month. I became close with this guy as I opened up offices, and when he finally quit he told me what he was making....$32k per year! He had everyone convinced he was making millions, and it was all smoke. The only people making money were the founders.

Read MJ's book, as it sounds like you haven't. He does the best job I've seen at spotlighting the fallacies of the MLM model. As MJ says, you aren't a business owner in an MLM, you are basically just a sales rep who can enlist a sales team.

Good luck bud.



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Originally Posted by Hambone

The book move is a trick.

They let you 'borrow' the book for two reasons:

1) if you're reading the book, they are furthering their sales process on you, which in turn increases the likeliness that you will buy in. The book will always be pro network marketing (aka mlm) and support things they told you in the original meeting.

2) More importantly, they have given you something that you will have to return. This opens the door for them to draw you back in when you go to return it. He doesn't care about the book, he just wants another run at you.

I spent a few years in an MLM company, and the methods they use to deceive people could be straight from a grifter handbook.

To help cut through the noise:

Forget about the photocopies of checks they show you. This is what they call 'building a story'. I recruit you, I drive your downline for 30-60 days, and get you a respectable check. Then I photocopy it, put it in a flip book for you, and you now have a story that goes like this:

'When I started with ACN I was skeptical, like I'm sure most people are. However, I figured I had nothing to lose, so I gave it a try. 60 days later, not even knowing what I was doing, I made this check for $3,500 and I've never looked back. Now, 8 months later, I am making enough money that I was able to leave my $75k per year job; I have more free time than ever, and my life is on a completely different path. I am building a business, instead of working a dead-end job."

Sounds awesome, but all you really know is that I made $3,500 one time. You will want to believe that I said I'm making more than $75k/yr after only 8 months...but I cleverly left out the specifics of what I am actually making. All I said is I was able to leave my job. What does that mean? In the MLM world...nothing.

They are all about flash and 'act as if', but almost none of them are making what you would hope. In fact a lot of them are buried in credit card debt from trying to put up a believable front.

Cut through this noise by insisting on proof. Forget checks, and ask for income figures in annual numbers. These guys will notoriously quote their largest check ever as being 'the norm', and some will extrapolate that into annual income even though they were nowhere close. You wouldn't buy a business without having a look at their books, so treat this the same. Ask for a copy of his most recent 1099. In addition, ask for a look at the 1099's of his other successful recruits.

The #3 producer in the company I was in consistently showed checks for $10k his first month, $18k his third month, and $50k by his 7th month. I became close with this guy as I opened up offices, and when he finally quit he told me what he was making....$32k per year! He had everyone convinced he was making millions, and it was all smoke. The only people making money were the founders.

Read MJ's book, as it sounds like you haven't. He does the best job I've seen at spotlighting the fallacies of the MLM model. As MJ says, you aren't a business owner in an MLM, you are basically just a sales rep who can enlist a sales team.

Good luck bud.



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Yeah that first paragraph sounds similar of what he said, screw him though im glad I didnt give that guy my $499. I did my research quick ! If I woudnt of done my search I would of already payed those 500 dollars earlier this afternoon today. Your right, im like on the 120 page of MJ's book I need to read it quick ! Before I fall for one of these scammers

Originally Posted by 21elnegocio

Yeah that first paragraph sounds similar of what he said, screw him though im glad I didnt give that guy my $499. I did my research quick ! If I woudnt of done my search I would of already payed those 500 dollars earlier this afternoon today. Your right, im like on the 120 page of MJ's book I need to read it quick ! Before I fall for one of these scammers

That's pretty good advice. One thing I never liked about MLM. Don't tell them WHY they are coming to the meeting. Let them find out when they get there. I don't really have the right personality to do MLM. And that is exactly why they give you the books/magazines, so you have to bring them back.

MJ makes some great points about it in his book.

Originally Posted by hedgehog757

That's pretty good advice. One thing I never liked about MLM. Don't tell them WHY they are coming to the meeting. Let them find out when they get there. I don't really have the right personality to do MLM. And that is exactly why they give you the books/magazines, so you have to bring them back.

MJ makes some great points about it in his book.

Damn tell you guys the truth I dont really like receiving gifts from anyone, I heard a quote once that went like this "Nothing in this life is free" when people want to give me stuff im like no thanks im alright sometimes people get offended they say im an asshole, its just the way I think though. I only took it because I really thought this was an opportunity and plus I thought a free book from a wealthy guy wouldn't matter much too him. I need to hurry up and spend some good hours reading MJ's book today, im on it

A gift is a gift. Eventually someone who gives you a gift may get it back in some other way. Not even from you. The book wasn't a gift. It was a business proposition. He needed it back. A gift is something someone gives you when they expect nothing in return.

Originally Posted by Hambone

The book move is a trick.

They let you 'borrow' the book for two reasons:

1) if you're reading the book, they are furthering their sales process on you, which in turn increases the likeliness that you will buy in. The book will always be pro network marketing (aka mlm) and support things they told you in the original meeting.

2) More importantly, they have given you something that you will have to return. This opens the door for them to draw you back in when you go to return it. He doesn't care about the book, he just wants another run at you.

I spent a few years in an MLM company, and the methods they use to deceive people could be straight from a grifter handbook.

To help cut through the noise:

Forget about the photocopies of checks they show you. This is what they call 'building a story'. I recruit you, I drive your downline for 30-60 days, and get you a respectable check. Then I photocopy it, put it in a flip book for you, and you now have a story that goes like this:

'When I started with ACN I was skeptical, like I'm sure most people are. However, I figured I had nothing to lose, so I gave it a try. 60 days later, not even knowing what I was doing, I made this check for $3,500 and I've never looked back. Now, 8 months later, I am making enough money that I was able to leave my $75k per year job; I have more free time than ever, and my life is on a completely different path. I am building a business, instead of working a dead-end job."

Sounds awesome, but all you really know is that I made $3,500 one time. You will want to believe that I said I'm making more than $75k/yr after only 8 months...but I cleverly left out the specifics of what I am actually making. All I said is I was able to leave my job. What does that mean? In the MLM world...nothing.

They are all about flash and 'act as if', but almost none of them are making what you would hope. In fact a lot of them are buried in credit card debt from trying to put up a believable front.

Cut through this noise by insisting on proof. Forget checks, and ask for income figures in annual numbers. These guys will notoriously quote their largest check ever as being 'the norm', and some will extrapolate that into annual income even though they were nowhere close. You wouldn't buy a business without having a look at their books, so treat this the same. Ask for a copy of his most recent 1099. In addition, ask for a look at the 1099's of his other successful recruits.

The #3 producer in the company I was in consistently showed checks for $10k his first month, $18k his third month, and $50k by his 7th month. I became close with this guy as I opened up offices, and when he finally quit he told me what he was making....$32k per year! He had everyone convinced he was making millions, and it was all smoke. The only people making money were the founders.

Read MJ's book, as it sounds like you haven't. He does the best job I've seen at spotlighting the fallacies of the MLM model. As MJ says, you aren't a business owner in an MLM, you are basically just a sales rep who can enlist a sales team.

Good luck bud.



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Legendary post. Anyone thinking about diving into MLM should heed the above.

On another note; a lot of "gurus" will recommend MLM for one reason and one reason only: It's a great sales channel to move books. If you are pro-MLM, then suddenly, you can sell your books to millions of people in various downlines. It simply is an awesome sales channel.

When I wrote TMF, I knew I had a big decision:

1) Lie about MLM and say "It's great! The best thing out there!" just so I can exploit the sale channel and sell gazillions of books to the MLM channel. (Sound familiar? Most gurus aren't concerned with truth, but concerned about book sales.)

Or

2) Tell the truth and kill any chance of selling millions of books to hundreds of downlines.

Obviously, I chose #2.

My two cents. If was briefly brought into this group a few years ago by my cousin. The products were legit, phone service, heating and I think electric? My "adviser" told me to call all my friends and family with a sob story of how I needed their help and to come to my house at a certain time. I couldn't explain why or tell them I was selling anything. My "adviser" basically took over the meeting and hard sold everyone to "help" my cause. I was horrified and very embarrassed. I had some signups, but I didn't feel good about it. I stopped the whole process a week later. These programs make money for people who are slick salesmen. I wanted to sell things to help my family and friends. Not hard sell them to pay more than they should just to put a few bucks in my pocket.
The conventions get introverted people together and makes everyone feel like a family, but it's all a big game to have everyone pay dues and fees so the top brass get paid the bucks. Then you feel guilty about leaving the group since they are your friends. Most of them are great people, but there are ones that are tasked with keeping the team filled by whatever means.
So do your research and check it out, but I would be very leery.

Originally Posted by MJDeMarco

Legendary post. Anyone thinking about diving into MLM should heed the above.

On another note; a lot of "gurus" will recommend MLM for one reason and one reason only: It's a great sales channel to move books. If you are pro-MLM, then suddenly, you can sell your books to millions of people in various downlines. It simply is an awesome sales channel.

When I wrote TMF, I knew I had a big decision:

1) Lie about MLM and say "It's great! The best thing out there!" just so I can exploit the sale channel and sell gazillions of books to the MLM channel. (Sound familiar? Most gurus aren't concerned with truth, but concerned about book sales.)

Or

2) Tell the truth and kill any chance of selling millions of books to hundreds of downlines.

Obviously, I chose #2.

That's why you are always better off reading everything all the way through before making any decisions. In the end, you always have to make your own decisions. But it helps to have all the information. MJ always gives some great advice and gets straight to the point. I would read look up a lot of his posts and read them along with his book if I were you.

My understanding is the real money is made by the founders, NOT from selling the product and NOT from their underlings selling product but from selling Video courses and classes on how to sell MLM.

Originally Posted by PatrickP

My understanding is the real money is made by the founders, NOT from selling the product and NOT from their underlings selling product but from selling Video courses and classes on how to sell MLM.

That is probably true. As MJ pointed out. A lot of "gurus" advocate MLMs but why are NONE of them involved in MLMs was something I always wondered? Donald Trump and Robert Kioysaki say MLM is a great way to make money and neither of them has an MLM company that I knwo about. Although I think Trump had an MLM Vitamin company a few years ago.

I believe that Kioysaki wrote his first book and it didn't sell.

That was until it was sold in a MLM company.

Sort of strange that he wrote a book on succeeding in business when as far as I can tell he never had a successful business.

Originally Posted by PatrickP

I believe that Kioysaki wrote his first book and it didn't sell.

That was until it was sold in a MLM company.

Sort of strange that he wrote a book on succeeding in business when as far as I can tell he never had a successful business.

I'll be honest: if you can get away with that, then props... because most authors don't make any money. Making millions with books isn't any easier than making millions another way.

On the brighter side, to be fair, Kiyosaki still has some good info, despite his "global real estate business" consisting of a duplex in Mexico (or whatever the back-end story was).

Originally Posted by 21elnegocio

Thanks man, but damn I signed the application FML and put my card information. I will talk to my bank tomorrow first thing in the morning about it. Its funny how this damn guy had his nice condo and crap, and even got my dads boss into the ACN company as well.

With ACN, there is a 30-day money back policy. My best friend at the time told me about ACN about 5 years ago and he has been doing it ever since. He is the biggest ACN guy where I live and maybe pulls in $5-6k a month? We're not that good of friend anymore because I couldn't talk to him about anything without it involving me signing up in his downline. By the way, he has worked 80+ hours a week for 5 years in order to make that amount of money, which is not worth it in my opinion. $1k a month luxurious? Come on man =]

Originally Posted by itsme

With ACN, there is a 30-day money back policy. My best friend at the time told me about ACN about 5 years ago and he has been doing it ever since. He is the biggest ACN guy where I live and maybe pulls in $5-6k a month? We're not that good of friend anymore because I couldn't talk to him about anything without it involving me signing up in his downline. By the way, he has worked 80+ hours a week for 5 years in order to make that amount of money, which is not worth it in my opinion. $1k a month luxurious? Come on man =]

Yeah definitely not worth it, too much work for 1k a month