Donald Trump has jumped on the MLM bandwagon with the debut of his Trump Network.
Great. Just what we need. Another celebrity lending their face to an MLM scheme.
After all, if Donald Trump has gotten into MLM that must mean that MLM is a valid business structure as all the MLMers tout, right? If Donald Trump is in MLM it must be great, right?
Wrong and wrong.
Obviously associating Donald Trump’s face with a “business opportunity” is an attempt to add legitimacy to not only his little MLM venture but the industry as well.
I can just hear all the MLMers now, in their recruitment schpeels: “MLM must be great. After all, Donald Trump apparently thinks so.”
The Trump Network products are a strange lot: There’s an in-home test to assess whether you’re getting the proper level of nutrients; The Silhouette Solution, a meal plan that looks similar to things like Jenny Craig, to help you shed that unwanted weight; and QuikStik, described as a “Mood Infusion beverage.”
Oh brother…another supplement and nutrition MLM. Why? Because you can make up anything you want and market it as effective. The FDA doesn’t regulate these types of supplements, so you can basically claim what you want without fear of having to prove it. Then charge a pretty price.
And like a good businessman, Donald makes sure that if you sign up to sell his products, you must accept a monthly auto-ship of the products, which will cost you $129.20 per month.
All the typical trappings of an MLM are there, including a “fast start bonus” for recruiting others quickly and your own website, which you can have for $19.95 a month.
Donald Trump is a businessman who’s counting on his name recognition to add credibility to his MLM business and thus make him a fortune. With this venture, however, he’s completely lost any credibility in my eyes. His MLM is just the same old hype in a new package.
Im not against Trump putting his name to anything it is the autoship I have a problem with. I think people should just be able to call in or get things when
they want them not when it is being forced upon them. He is in a good position he and Oprah can lend their names to anything and people will buy it.
Excellent points Colleen!
Autoship is how MLM companies make their money. Classic way to make your representatives your primary customer, which is a key feature of MLMs.
you are all crazy and bitter people!
Wow, ragdoll, you sound a bit on edge yourself!
Just remember…don’t feed the trolls 🙂
This is the *same* company my mom got involved with, which was called “Ideal Health.” The wording is exactly the same, including the “PrivaTest” and “Custom Essentials.” Their basic idea is that you take a urine test, then they find what you are deficient in and send you customized vitamin blends. It’s kind of ridiculous… because they have set formulas of vitamins, so it’s not really customized.
Go to idealhealth.com. It’s exactly the same!
As Andrew Weil says, the best way to get vitamins into your diet is eat food!
I think you should probably do a little more research before you lump all MLMs together. There are some extremely good MLM companies, as well as some very bad ones, but that is the case in any industry.
The same holds true for nutritional supplements. Nutritional supplementation, along with a healthy diet and exercise, are the keys to our nation’s healthcare crisis. Until we start promoting wellness and preventing disease, we will never begin to solve our healthcare problems.
While it is extremely important to make sure that the company manufacturing a supplement is reputable and has a very high standard of quality control, to say that because the FDA doesn’t regulate this industry so people can say whatever they want is completely false. Nutritional supplement companies must be very careful when it comes to their labeling and what claims they make. Also, to hold it up to the FDA standards is somewhat laughable, due to the corruption within this organization because of the tremendous influence of the pharmaceutical industry.
So before throwing all MLM supplement companies under the bus, you should definitely do some more research.
Duker, well said. I saw this post earlier and was going to respond… There is absolutely wrong with multi-level marketing. I know there is alot to be skeptical these days but if you start coloring everything based on your past negative experience.. You will be stuck fo life and frankly I dont trust advice from that type of person….
on supplements…. I have to say that the MLM companies do tend to do alot of research and invest alot into their products and though they are pricey they tend to be better.. for that reason I tend to just join just to use the product for myself…
Because 90% of our nutrition is absorbed through the colon, it does not matter how powerful the supplement is if you have a toxic colon… Often times people complain that the supplements did not work, yada yada. the problem is not with the supplements but rather the condition of their digestive system which is where disease tends to start and if you suffer from chronic sinuistis, cold and things of that nature is because your digestive system is so toxic you are not absorbing enough nutrrients to have a healthy immune system..
I know I got a little off topic but I guess I said this to say that my life was changed when I started using supplements through a direct sales/mlm company, when the doctors couldn’t even properly diagnose and treat.
There are those that may make false claims but the ones I have dealt with have been legit.
@Colleen, there are some companies where you dont have to be on autoship and still have an opportunity to earn limited commissions. Of course you do make more if you are on autoship. I just thought I would share that.
Where to start…
I’m sure I’ve done more research than most and most likely more than you have.
I’ve yet to see any MLM that is worth the time and energy. Most people would be better getting a part-time job or starting their own business. But then again, most people aren’t cut out to run their own business.
MLMs are great for the MLM company. It’s a great way for the COMPANY to make money.
Regarding info on the FDA and supplements, you would be wise to read this from the FDA’s section on supplements:
There’s lots more info on the FDA website.
Dee Foster, I’m not basing my opinion on negative past experiences but info and research. Not just how I feel. Not dubious info like “toxic colons” or ” you do make more if you are on autoship.” Your comments scare me.
What’s scarey is that some people will be influenced by some of the comments and not make up there own minds to start building a business with some legitimate mlms if they so choose.
Yes there really are reputable companies that you can just earn a comission without being on autoship. People that don’t wish to build a team benefit from that.
No need to be scared
LJ,
I think you should read this article before touting the FDA as an authoritative entity on food and drug safety that should never be questioned: http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/fda.htm.
Is aspartame a dietary supplement?
Has anyone ever tryed to market aspartame through the multi-level-marketing business model?
Did you read LJ’s comment Duker?
The problem is, in my opinion, there are no legitimate MLMs. There are a few companies who are MLMs that you CAN make a little fun money doing. But the MLM structure is designed for the company, not the person signing up.
There are just so many things wrong with MLM and we’ve discussed them on this site (and continue to).
If a person’s goal is to run a REAL business and make real money, then MLM is not the solution. It’s lots of rah-rah and smoke and mirrors.
LJ, you are intitled to your opinion, which is what it is.
I do agree with you that there are so many things wrong with MLM. And I believe if anything that the companies need to hold the independent reps more accountable for how they promote and hype things up that are not so. It sickens me to here people get up and say that they started earning 10k per month in 6 months… to a crowd of completely newbies…… But what they dont tell them it took them over 10 years to learn how to start from scratch and make it to 10k in 6 months..
I experienced this first hand…. with a company that I was affiliated with…
This lady made a copy of all of her check stubs for a 6 month period. Gave my husband and copy of them along with all the other people in attendance…. BUT (and this is a BIG BUT….) But what she failed to tell them was that she already had a hugh network of people that she tapped into through her other business(NOT MLM) and ministry. I googled her and was frankly more than a little peeved that she would promote and just a little ole me that started earning 5 figures per month.
LJ, we agree on more than we disagree on. For that reason, I continue to commend you for helping others be more realistic and to do their research and know what they are getting into.
Every multi-level marketing company I have ever been involved with was a great company. However, I came in contact with some underhanded people where their focus was on get rich quick at the cost of deceiving people and left a bad taste.
One person that I held in high regard was making thousands of dollars per month started his on company and commenced to trying to take all the reps from the other company. I could not believe he would do such a thing. The company had given him access to so much, (including conducting his own training at the conventions). I have lost all respect for him.
But I also know there are good people out their that have integrity that I continue to associate with to this day and buy products from.
In my humble opinion, there are plenty MLMs on the up and up. Just do your own research and be the boss of your own business and stop relying on upline or sponsor who don’t always have your best interest as heart and clearly they dont when they say yiou need to purchase inventory as soon as you sign your agreement and you have not even learned how to market your business or determine who you market will be. If you meet someone like that….
Anyone reading this and is about to sign an agreement and your sponsor has not mentioned inventory to you, go back and ask them the hard questions… If they don’t answer it honestly or try to change the subject, run the other way. Does not mean you have to forget about the business, but sign up with someone that shares your values or with answer you honestly, if you still choose to do so. There are plenty people here already that know the truth that you could also consider partnering with.
Dee, I think it depends on what you define as “legitimate” and “on the up and up.” There are MLMs out there that are honest companies, meaning they aren’t just started by people hoping to make lots of money (which so many of these MLMs are.)
But if you want a real business that isn’t about selling high priced products and recruiting others into the business, then I have to say there really aren’t any MLMs that fit that criteria.
MLMs are based on recruiting others into the business. The companies really couldn’t care less if you’ve learned how to sell the product because YOU are the customer.
If you really want to run a business, start your own.
LJ, just for the record…I do have my own business. I also enjoy developing other streams of income through MLM companies that have products that I truely find value in.
I’m a little late to this conversation, but just wanted to say I have been part of a MLM for over 10 yrs now. I also run a successful business outside of the MLM business. Just to be honest I make a little over $1000 a month from the MLM business (not a big deal at all). I have had much more financial success with my FT business, but I have had a blast with the MLM. My point is I think it is silly for ppl to write articles like this that are clearly uneducated/uninformed about what is really going on with EVERY MLM program. Are there some valid points in the article? Absolutely! But way more incorrect, at least from my experience. I have seen ppl make hundreds of thousands in a single month and I have seen ppl that have been “in” for over 15 yrs and still make hardly anything. I have met a ton of great ppl, gone to lots of great places and would definitely recommend MLM programs to others.. .. My number is .. .. Lol- JK! Seriously, I just tell ppl not to count on the MLM being their path to riches bc although that does happen, it is not the norm– BUT you can definitely make a few bucks and have a blast doing it! Nothing wrong with that, right!?
Trump is a jerk, and now he is supporting any industry full of scumbags.
BTW the MLM scammers have been claiming “the don” as one of their own for 15 years now, so I am not surprised.
Trump isn’t the first person with a name that is supposed to bring validation to the MLM biz model. Remember Zig Ziglar? His MLM folded after a brief run.