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This Online Community Roasts MLMs And Pyramid Schemes One Screenshot At A Time (30 New Posts)
Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) is a method based on distributors selling goods or services, in the meantime attracting new recruits to the company. These salespeople are incentivized to draw others in by receiving a percentage from their sales. The same way, the newbies are encouraged not only to sell products but to look for likely candidates to join under their wing.
“Sounds a lot like a pyramid scheme,” you might think. And you’re right. The two are definitely alike; however, one is legal, the other—not so much. Also known as network marketing, MLM is a legitimate process, yet the line between the two can often get somewhat faded.
Whether it’s a pyramid scheme or a MLM company, some distributors can get way out of line to increase their sales. Such instances deserve shaming, and that’s exactly what the ‘Anti MLM’ community members on Reddit do. They share screenshots and memes and roast them one image at a time. We collected some of the best examples, covering the heartless, the crazy, and the foolish of multi-level marketing representatives for you to enjoy.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
An Mlm I Could Get Behind
Multi-level marketing is often also called direct sales, which is based on person-to-person pitches. According to Statista, the US is the global leader when it comes to this. Back in 2021, direct sales generated nearly 43 billion dollars, which is more than double the amount in Korea—the follow-up country on the list. Germany, China, and Japan line up behind the two respectively.
IBIS data indicated that now, in 2023, the US market size of direct selling companies is over 65 billion dollars. It also revealed that it has been steadily growing for the last five years.
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#2
Holy Personal And Possible(?) Hippa Violation. I Hope This Lady Loses Her Job
#3
Chatgpt Got Wise To Mlms
Multi-level marketing is not a recent innovation. It’s believed to date back to the junction of the 19th and 20th centuries. Determining the exact year is difficult; so is finding out who were the first ones to introduce it, but such companies as AVON and Nutrilite are considered to be among the flag bearers.
According to Zippia, AVON recently had roughly 23,000 distributors and an annual revenue of 3.4 billion US dollars. The largest MLM company in the US (Amway), is believed to have around 15,000 distributors and nearly 9 billion in revenue.
#4
They Better Leave The Poor Rats Alone!
#5
Came Across This Beaut In One Of My Facebook Groups
Lakota Wolf 2 years ago
I worked vitamins/supplements (retail) in a grocery store for nearly 3 years. SUCH a disheartening, soul-sucking job... my dept manager kept berating me for not pushing supplements onto people. I'm science-minded, so I did a lot of research and reading about our products, and found out that, for example, "keto" supplements are total B.S. and you should NOT even be putting your body into ketosis. And MCT oil isn't going to blast away body fat. And collagen powder won't stop your hair loss. And liquid bentonite clay isn't going to "detox" you. And taking activated charcoal capsules won't "detox" you either. I hated lying to customers, so I wouldn't. Customers loved me because I was kind and honest, but my manager HATED me, and I was mysteriously "let go" without cause. Honestly, working retail supplements is almost as bad as MLM... I just got paid a lot less as I was just making minimum hourly wage :p
Back in the day, distributors would have to go door to door selling their products. Nowadays, there are numerous ways to reach a person without having to show up at their house. People are connected through phones and social media, which means a salesperson can reach them in a matter of minutes.
A lot of them choose the latter option to spread information or try to recruit others—online platforms are mostly free, readily available, and easy to use. However, looks can be deceiving, and some MLM companies that seem to be flourishing on social media might not be in real life.
#6
Now This Is Heartwarming
#7
Taken From Facebook, But Huns Are Getting Bold
#8
I Was Sick To My Stomach Thinking My Friend Got Sucked In
The way multi-level marketing is introduced usually sounds very appealing. Recruiters tend to emphasize that you can work from anywhere, at any time, and make loads of money. Seems too good to be true? Well, because it most likely is.
The overwhelming majority (91%) join such schemes with hopes of earning money, yet as many as 47% admit to losing it in the end. The numbers show that these options are far from the easy peasy lemon squeezy kind of options they are often presented as. Fundera pointed out that 52% of MLM distributors say that the way the company presented making money is “not too accurate” or “not at all accurate.”
#9
Coffee Shop Isn’t Having It
#10
How Friggin Sad Is This
#11
As Seen On Whitepeopletwitter
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
I hope you showed her the malleus maleficarum and said "gonna use this on you if you do not back off"
According to Fundera, roughly one in 13 adults have taken part in MLM at some point in their lives. In addition to that, Direct Selling Association revealed that over 16 million Americans in 2021 alone signed independent contractors’ agreements with direct sales companies.
#12
My Optometrists Office, Of All F***ing Places
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
I can understand people taking herbalife in the same way as I would understand runners drinking eggnog. It's basically a nutrition-deprived diet that will make you lose weight. But it's not really food.
#13
I Like Sharing This With The Mlm Huns; They Always Have The Same Thing To Say, "Those People Didn't Try Hard Enough"
#14
The Only Possible Explanation
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
head of major govt agency, owns a mega corporation, something like that. Not on a normal american salary, no way.
In some ways, multi-level marketing companies resemble a cult. According to the author and mental health professional Steven Alan Hassan, they both use similar strategies, such as appealing to people’s emotions and creating false portrayals of certain situations.
“Most MLMs use tactics of recruitment, financial manipulation, and the promise of large profits. But, like all cults, they employ thought control, magical thinking, thought-stopping, and self-blame. Failures are blamed directly on the consultants, for lack of hard work or competence. The group has no accountability, and the leaders do not allow questions or criticism,” he wrote in Psychology Today.
#15
Last Minute April Fool I Did For My Husband
#16
Using Her Husbands Death To Sell Nails Strips
#17
Just Getting Straight To The Point
Someone from your close circle might have tried to convince you to join such endeavors. Whether it’s an uncle taking his shot at it during another family gathering or a classmate with eyes full of enthusiasm, they most likely mean well, but it’s important to take their assertions with a grain of salt. What sounds like legitimate MLM can end up being a pyramid scheme.
#18
Soon As I See These I'm Checked Out
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
Anyone who uses these in a non-ironic way doesn't know what they mean. "Detox" - oh, precisely what POISON are you removing from my body with your detox-cleanse? Do you know its chemical formula? Is it cyanide? Strychnine? Arsenic? What...? Oh, you mean butter? f**k off. "Organic"... yeah... so... contains hydrated carbon molecules, like almost everything above the lithosphere and exposed to the atmosphere. Oh you mean not mass-farmed? So unsustainable and resource-intensive food for privileged rich people, got it. Superfood? Oh you mean like, you can totally eat only that and not die of malnutrition? You go ahead first. I will watch. If you live longer than a month I'll consider it. Anti-ageing. Sure. That's why you have crow's feet Sharon. Antioxidant. You mean a reducing agent? You mean like pure hydrogen? That reduces substances in a redox reaction. Because the opposite of an oxidising agent (antioxidant) is a reducing agent. So I must huff hydrogen ? or what?...
#19
Well This Seems Unethical
#20
The Nerve. My Grandma Passed Away The Day Before I Got This Message
A pyramid scheme is a fraudulent system based on promises of high returns and emphasis on recruitment. In such cases, the founder attracts X amount of people, who then have to do the same, creating a snowball effect leading to rapid expansion. Newcomers usually have to pay a certain amount in order to be able to join.
In these schemes, people receive money for recruiting others, not for selling the goods. One of the main differences between that and legitimate MLM is that no product is actually sold in a pyramid scheme.
#21
Oven Roasted!
Zaphod_000 2 years ago
But... Subway has vinegar at their stores, *gasp* Subway is a secret MLM!!!!!
#22
At What Point Will Huns Begin To Realize This Isn’t Normal?
#23
No Words
The pyramid scheme always leads to an inevitable collapse. That is why it’s important to look for possible red flags before signing up for anything of that kind. Associate Professor of Economics at Hamline University, Stacie Bosley, spoke about how to spot a pyramid scheme in a TED-Ed Video.
She distinguished three main signs to be on the lookout for—urgency-based pressure, promises about life-changing amounts of money, and having to pay in order to be able to sell goods and services.
#24
Our Daughter Passed Away Last Month. My Husband Received This Message Today From Someone He Knew In Highschool
#25
Who’s Gonna Tell Her?
#26
I'm Doing This At 6cm Dilated!
Pyramid schemes as well as MLM are typically very superficially appealing, especially to those going through hardships in life. The prospect of earning large sums fast might seem like the only way out for some of them. Sadly, certain people use others’ unfortunate circumstances to make money.
#27
Girl On My Facebook Posted This… She’s Dead Serious…
#28
Posted By A Hun Who “Owns Her Own Business” Selling I’m Sure You Can Guess Which Essential Oils
Hotdogking 2 years ago
Not to worry I know just the thing for struggling teens with gullible or neglectful parents. I can’t remember its name, but the company that makes it is known as C-P-S. I suggest giving them a ring, they’ll definitly be able to help your daughter
#29
Paparazzi Paid For Her Gas
Such fast ways of generating money can be not only dangerous, but annoying as well. These images are great proof that certain distributors take it too far with their pitches. And when the recipients’ patience runs out, they might turn to the online world to let out their despair or shame the irritating salespeople.
#30
God, Just Shut The F**k Up Already!
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
they also can't afford to sink 4000 USD in buying c**p stock and then trying to sell that to their family and friends
#31
Got Em'
#32
Took My Cat To A New Vet Today... Immediate No
Lakota Wolf 2 years ago
Instant infuriation button-press for me. SO MANY essential oils are toxic to cats. Peppermint is TOXIC TO CATS. If "Peace & Calming" has lavender... TOXIC TO CATS. That is not even considering that essential oils are CONCENTRATED oils... meaning their scent is super-concentrated and is likely incredibly overwhelming to your cat, even if the particular oil isn't directly toxic. Anyone who uses essential oils on their pets is a horrible human being and is abusing their pets. ESPECIALLY if they are using essential oils in lieu of necessary medical treatment or pain management. Full stop.
#33
Spotted At Hobby Lobby And Got A Chuckle
Darren Brown 2 years ago
Well, that is appropriate. Having Hobby Lobby in a thread about evil companies.
#34
Just Got This Text From A “Friend”
#35
I Reported An Herbalife “Nutrition Club” To My Local Food Safety Authority And They Are Investigating! It’s Unlicensed!!
#36
Because Regular Old Water Apparently Isn’t Hydrating
#37
Got Sent This Shit After A Bridal Expo I Didn’t Even Go To But Got Tickets For
#38
And Then Her Ob Called Her A Boss Babe
#39
Saw On Fb Today 😂 At Least She’s Got A Good Sense Of Humor
#40
I Think This Is Extremely Disrespectful! Poor Possum Didn't Ask For This!
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
it's a cult, and like any other cult, the members can't see they are in a cult and they are not selling the truth.
#41
Wedding Photographer Received This Message From A Potential Client To Join Her Mlm Or The Client Wouldn’t Sign The Contract
#42
Seen At Local Target. You All Know Why
#44
Ok But Can U Not
#45
Defaced Some Cutco Posters I Saw At My College
#46
She Was The Reason I Had To Say No Mlm Recommendations
#47
I Am Pretty Sure Tsa Does Not Allow "Medical-Grade Water" In Your Carry-On But Ok Cult Leader Hun
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
medical grade water, what... like distilled water? that you buy at the hardware store for your car battery?
#48
My Military Friend Posted This
#49
I'll Take Things That Didn't Happen For $200
#50
After Long Time Lurking This Sub, I Found A Post Worthy One On My Fb Feed
#51
Uf
#53
Jokes On You, I Won’t Pay For Either Because They’re Both Overpriced Nonsense
#54
I Emailed Younique While Pretending To Be A Reporter So They Could See The Meme I Made Of Their CEO
#55
Woah Look At Those Results!
#56
So A Student Sent This To The Entire College System…
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
I'd think commercial announcements on a campus-wide mailing list would not be tolerated by any university??
#57
Still Feeling Bummed About The Breaking Up With My GF So I'm Binge-Watching The Simpsons. The First Episode I Put On Has Homer Getting Scammed By An Mlm
#58
Elon Musk Sliding Into Your Dms Like "Heyy Hunn"
#59
I Just Wanted To Sell A Skillet
#60
It’s The Order For Me
#61
Anyone Else See Any Huns Capitalizing On The School Shooting To Market Their Mlm Today?
#62
My Stepmom Reached Out To Me After Two Years Of No Contact
Shark Lady 2 years ago
A friend of my parents did really well out of Mary Kay, she started sometime in the late 80s. She got really high up, had a car and fancy cruises etc. She's obviously one of the very few lucky ones who made a lot of money and is used to lure new unsuspecting victims to sign up by showing what is possible if you "work hard enough".
#63
Doterra Is Now Also Good For Your Plumbing
Detroit Citizen 2 years ago
BP Staff: Do I have permission to print this one out and share it with my co workers? I work in the plumbing department of a major hardware store (Orange is their favorite color) and they'd get a good laugh at this one
#65
"Lady Gaga" At Monat Reunion
#66
It’s Spooky Szn, Huns!
#67
Yes, She Is Being Serious
#68
This Is So Tiring
OmBoyGanesh 2 years ago
“They just supply ALL of our ingredients & soft inventory. We ordered the tables & chairs from another supplier.”
#69
This Was In My Son’s Bag Of Halloween Candy
#70
My Former Upline “Enjoying Her Tea”…. The Bottle Is Still Sealed
#71
Plunder Consultants Will Soon Be Wielding Welding Machinery
Nannychachi 2 years ago
And if you ever have to have surgery or an MRI you can kiss that jewelry goodbye.
#72
Is It Just Me Or Is This Absolutely Not Enough Food For A Day??
#73
Not Really An Acceptable Answer
#74
And Then The Nursing Staff All Signed Up!
Nannychachi 2 years ago
I'm a nurse. Yes, I'd let you keep those on because you'd argue the benefits of them (of which there is none) with me. Then I'd just chart that you refused to remove them so I wasn't responsible.
#75
Guilting People For Spending Their Money How They Want
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
but what is the value proposition? 1. be entertained by famous artist OR 2. starve to death on fake cellulose-based shake drink? (I'd still choose 1 and I don't care much for TS as an artist).
#76
Godfucking Damnit
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
jesus even on bumble. They must put a filter on there "do you work for or sell MLM products such as"
#77
How To Spot A Narcissist …
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
if you WERE a six-fig earner you wouldn't be a normal person at a coffee shop like that,.. you'd be posting actual photos of you in actual exotic locations etc.
#78
Friend-Turned-Velovita-Hun Pesters Me About My Diabetic Doc Clearing Me To Use Her Bs Product
#79
The Owner Of The Chick-Fil-A That's Asking For Slave Labor Is An Advocare Hun
ConstantlyJon 2 years ago
ok, so, I work for CFA part time... what even is this? I'm so confused. So they are looking for people to work 1 hour at a time but not for money as an employee, but for free food? What??
Add New Image
What do you think ?
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
I f*****g hate MLMs with a passion. They make poor gullible people poorer and more desperate. They ruin families and marriages and destroy friendships. They are a cult that turns normal functional human beings into desperados who think they will be rich by flogging garbage products through direct in-person marketing in an era where everything legit is advertised online en-masse in a much more efficient product value chain. They pester friends and family and spouses until they are abandoned and left destitute with a garage/house full of c**p they cannot sell that they bought in order to fulfil their monthly sales quota. In reality, the people making the money are the recruiters who recruit people actively, not those who sell products. They are nothing short of cults because you ruin your existing social network to join a different one, and if you express doubts you are taught "truth" incantations to repeat to unbelievers. If you try leave they penalise and ostracise.
censorshipsucks 2 years ago (edited)
TWO of my partners got sucked into this c**p and lost $1000 and $3000 respectively at the exchange rates at the time. Neither were stupid; they were just gullible and desperately did not want to work office jobs, and had no talents that were valued enough to pay well in non-office jobs. MLMs prey on desperate and gullible people. They must be banned and shut down. If you are an MLM company owner, f**k you and I hope there really is a hell so you can burn in it, for all the lives you have ruined. You are as evil as a petrol company that sends "veterans" to die in your oil wars. There is ONLY ONE MLM product that is ACTUALLY worth anything, viz Tupperware, but I refuse to sign up with them, and I only buy from them IF i need a container of the sort they have on offer at the time, which is like once a decade, because that s**t lasts forever.
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Marcellus II 2 years ago
Just came to the realisation how religion fits here. Signing up family members is just how it starts.
Elio 2 years ago
There's a reason why there's the joke that mlm=Mormons losing money. There's a lot of them in Utah. They push a fake feminist narrative of women's empowerment but have a very 1950s attitude to women in the workplace. So they often target mothers and try to guilt trip ones who have an actual job for not "spending more time with their babies". They also market to stay at home moms as a way to earn extra money while staying home. However, you actually lose money and these things have a worse work/life balance than a normal job.
Load More Replies...
Janet C 2 years ago
Amway cost me a friendship. A friend invited me to a "party" that turned out to be an Amway pitch. When I confronted her she said they were told to lie otherwise people might not come. I never talked to her again.
Seabeast 2 years ago
Sounds like the couple that conned us into driving two hours to what turned out to be a Primerica convention. (It's a MLM financial services outfit) In our defence, we were both laid off from our jobs at the time due to a deep recession.
Load More Replies... censorshipsucks 2 years ago
I f*****g hate MLMs with a passion. They make poor gullible people poorer and more desperate. They ruin families and marriages and destroy friendships. They are a cult that turns normal functional human beings into desperados who think they will be rich by flogging garbage products through direct in-person marketing in an era where everything legit is advertised online en-masse in a much more efficient product value chain. They pester friends and family and spouses until they are abandoned and left destitute with a garage/house full of c**p they cannot sell that they bought in order to fulfil their monthly sales quota. In reality, the people making the money are the recruiters who recruit people actively, not those who sell products. They are nothing short of cults because you ruin your existing social network to join a different one, and if you express doubts you are taught "truth" incantations to repeat to unbelievers. If you try leave they penalise and ostracise.
censorshipsucks 2 years ago (edited)
TWO of my partners got sucked into this c**p and lost $1000 and $3000 respectively at the exchange rates at the time. Neither were stupid; they were just gullible and desperately did not want to work office jobs, and had no talents that were valued enough to pay well in non-office jobs. MLMs prey on desperate and gullible people. They must be banned and shut down. If you are an MLM company owner, f**k you and I hope there really is a hell so you can burn in it, for all the lives you have ruined. You are as evil as a petrol company that sends "veterans" to die in your oil wars. There is ONLY ONE MLM product that is ACTUALLY worth anything, viz Tupperware, but I refuse to sign up with them, and I only buy from them IF i need a container of the sort they have on offer at the time, which is like once a decade, because that s**t lasts forever.
Load More Replies... Marcellus II 2 years ago
Just came to the realisation how religion fits here. Signing up family members is just how it starts.
Elio 2 years ago
There's a reason why there's the joke that mlm=Mormons losing money. There's a lot of them in Utah. They push a fake feminist narrative of women's empowerment but have a very 1950s attitude to women in the workplace. So they often target mothers and try to guilt trip ones who have an actual job for not "spending more time with their babies". They also market to stay at home moms as a way to earn extra money while staying home. However, you actually lose money and these things have a worse work/life balance than a normal job.
Load More Replies... Janet C 2 years ago
Amway cost me a friendship. A friend invited me to a "party" that turned out to be an Amway pitch. When I confronted her she said they were told to lie otherwise people might not come. I never talked to her again.
Seabeast 2 years ago
Sounds like the couple that conned us into driving two hours to what turned out to be a Primerica convention. (It's a MLM financial services outfit) In our defence, we were both laid off from our jobs at the time due to a deep recession.
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