Multi-Level Mail

I occasionally get mail from people concerned about my views on pyramid schemes. I'm sorry, I meant to say "multi-level marketing". Of course, most of the mail I receive about MLM is spam.

See some answers to MLM scams here.

This collection of mail about multi-level marketing and pyramid schemes covers correspondence received since January 1, 2006.

From: "Shawn D" Subject: Mannatech Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2006 15:55:42 +0800
YOU ARE A FOOL MATE, YOU ARE DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD. YOUR FACTS AND FINDINGS ARE SOLELY BASED ON YOUR OWN OPINION AND THE MINISCULE LENGTHS YOU GO TO TO VERIFY YOUR FACTS. YOU SHOULD BE SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW IT'S NO-ONE ELSE'S FAULT, EVEN YOURS, THAT YOU WERE OBVIOUSLY SERIOUSLY ABUSED AS A CHILD AND PERHAPS IN YOUR LATER YEARS. HOW DO I KNOW THIS? AFTER CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF THE BS ON YOUR SITE, IT IS OBVIOUS YOU'RE JUST AN ANGRY LITTLE MAN WHO CAN ONLY FIND FULFILLMENT IN DESTROYING OTHERS HOPES AND DREAMS, BY PROVIDING THESE SO-CALLED FACTS THAT QUITE FRANKLY ARE DOWNRIGHT LIES. WHERE IN ANY OF YOUR ATTENTION SEEKING PEOPLE DESTROYING LIES IS THE PROOF TO BACK UP EVERY CLAIM YOU MAKE?? ON TOP OF THAT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY ANSWER OBJECTIONS, BUT RATHER ATTACK THE SMALL DETAILS SO THE AVERAGE PERSON WILL JUST LISTEN TO YOUR OPINION AND MAKE OTHERS LOOK BAD. SOME PEOPLE DO HAVE A LITTLE MORE KNOWLEDGE THAN TO BE SUCKED IN BY A PLAYGROUND BULLY WHO NEEDS SERIOUS DISCIPLINE. YOU ARE AN INCOMPETENT FOOL WITH A VOCABULARY THAT IS TOO BIG FOR YOU TO HANDLE AND WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO STOP GATHERING NEW INFORMATION TO SUBSTANTIATE YOUR CLAIMS? IF YOUR SO INTELLECTUAL LIKE YOU MAKE OUT THEN DON'T YOU REALIZE THE WORLD WE LIVE IN IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND NEW RESEARCH AND FINDINGS ARE BEING DISCOVERED EVERY DAY!!! YOU NEED TO FIND SOMEONE PROFESSIONAL TO HELP YOU OVERCOME YOUR OBVIOUS SOCIAL AND MENTAL ISSUES SO YOU CAN STOP SPREADING HATEFUL HERESAY, AND DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE WITH YOUR WORTHLESS EXISTANCE THAT MAY ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE MOVE FORWARD, NOT DRAG THEM WITH YOU WHILE YOU TAKE GIANT LEAPS BACK. EITHER THAT OR I SINCERELY HOPE KARMA CATCHES UP WITH YOU, AND A GREAT MISFORTUNE IS PLACED UPON EVERYTHING YOU EVER TRY TO ACHIEVE, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS YOU START TRYING TO GENUINELY DO SOMETHING FOR THE HUMAN RACE. WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW IS CLOSED-MINDED NEGATIVE NASTY VINDICTIVE SHIT THAT CAN ONLY COME FROM SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH SEVERE TRAUMA AT SOME STAGE OF THEIR LIFE. YOU PITIFUL EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING!!!!!

See more about Mannatech here.

Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 12:29:41 +1000 From: Michael Borg Subject: Har! Har! Hearty Har! Har! So sue me for saying it
The above is the comment you made regarding the collapse of Omegatrend.
I have no idea what you find so satisfying or funny about peoples livelihoods being destroyed. I would say you know nothing about the business.
If you had paid attention to what I wrote you would have seen that I expressed sympathy for the people who were deceived into joining this scheme and who had subsequently lost money. It is also probably worth thinking about the idea that if Omegatrend had been such a good business to be in and that participants had in fact been able to make it their "livelihood" then it might have been moving enough product and money to keep the doors open.
I would like to say burn in hell but I sincerely hope that pain and misery find you before death. But then again, it's quite obvious that you are a pethetic and miserable individual in any case.
You are scum
Thank you. I always take it as a compliment when I am called names by pyramid scheme enthusiasts.

See more about Omegatrend here.

I examined some advertisements for business opportunities in my local newspaper. Most of them at least had something to sell, but one was a pyramid scheme which only offered more instances of the same scam as products. Someone offered to help me by offering the same scam.

From: "Renea Rootes" Subject: Re; Pyramid selling Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 22:12:29 +1000
Hi,
My name is Renea and yes I do agree with most of what you have to say in regards to MLM as I have had some of these experiences, it is just a shame that the only way certain companys market great products is through MLM and to be able to afford them is to get people to buy them eg sign up underneath you, however I have finally found an oppurtunity to market my products and not ever have to prospect people again if I choose not to,this is the way of the future people shopping online for what they need.I have a number of great products that I love and like to offer to other people and this system allows me to advertise up to 6 products- and I haven't had to do the big MLM selling thing to anyone, the products are there and if you want to use them great.
I know about this scheme. I recently did an investigation into "business opportunities" advertised in my local paper, and this particular scam stood out because it had no product except the scam itself. By the way, I didn't see it using anything like the URL of your web site, but instead at www.happierlifestyle.com and www.prosperityautomatedsystem.com. To your credit, however, neither of those sites had a picture of an expensive car but yours did.
Yes I can make unbeleivable money just from promoting the system however I don't do the sale the company does that for me, then if that person was to buy into the system I don't stand to recieve pyramid money from that person- it is direct selling. I will give you my website to have a look at ask for a call back to talk to someone about this system. www.megawealthy.com/16512
If it isn't done by referral, then why does the main web site at www.megawealthy.com insist on seeing a distributor identifier as an introduction before letting anyone see the "opportunity"?
Renea

And what does Pegasus Mail have to say if you click on Renea's link?

Computers are smart!

Don't you just love this? I don't like scamsters selling sugar and pretending that it can cure things, and that makes me a homosexual? I think this email says much more about the mental state of the writer than it does about me.

Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2006 22:57:23 -0600 Subject: About mannatech From: Harrison Salisbury
You're a homo--you have no idea how well glyco helps the body. Wow! Stop fighting that which is doing so much good. It will knock you're socks off if you looked at it without the pride barrier.

Is he talking about gay pride? You can see more about the Mannatech scam here.

From: "Mark + Katrina Schonell" Subject: Date: Sat, 16 Dec 2006 22:28:31 +1100
Dear Peter,
I have just stumbled across your site and read some of your comments and now I feel very sad for you. You must have a very unhappy and bitter life. It sounds like you think you are doing good by complaining about other people who actually are doing good. I hope you can stand back and have a look at yourself one day and realise how much of your life you've wasted hiding behind a keyboard and complaining when you could be out there actually helping disadvantaged people to have a better life. Could you possibly think of someone other than yourself ?
Mark
My response:
Thank you for your comments. I am always open to suggestions about how I can improve my life and help others. How do you suggest I do this? Please don't advise me to join a multi-level marketing scheme. If I feel the need to take money from people without giving anything in return I will use a sawn-off shotgun and a ski mask. This is quicker, the victims know exactly what is happening to them, and they don't feel a loss of self-respect afterwards.

Date: Wed, 07 Feb 2007 10:14:15 -0800 From: Lindsey Littleton Subject: Lindsey Littleton-Mannatech is Not A Spam.
I just want to tell you that you have no idea what you're talking about. Mannatech is not a scam at all. I personally know people who sell it and I take it because I have eczema and over the past 5 years, I don't even look like the same person. You really need to get your facts straight because Dr. Gunter Blobal isn't even the doctor that discovered these glyconutrients. You're an idiiot dude.

You can see what I had to say about Dr Blobel and Mannatech here. Perhaps it's not me who is the "idiiot".

From: "Andrew" Subject: Wondering and having a jolly good laugh at the same time Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 22:37:24 +1000
Goodness me, you certainly are a ratbag aren’t you?
Even with all your logic, you can’t explain why the Amway Corporation continues to prosper and why people volunteer to “have a go” and why some, not all, achieve their aims and that really sticks in your craw doesn’t it?
(Where’s your rant against the bumble bee, then? How dare it fly and defy physics! To the laptop!!!)
Why? What is so reprehensible to you that you must embark upon such vitriolic perambulations of the mind?
What is causing you to choose to project an image of being such an unpleasant individual?
You’re obviously not involved, and have no interest, so why get so hot and bothered? Why display your baseless hostility so blatantly? What’s the payoff?
Do you do the same when some prospect refuses your software/hardware? That would be fun to watch, I’m sure….
If I were to say that you a lying crook for offering someone your highly suspect software/hardware products and call anyone buying them a sucker then I daresay you would do one of two things. Dismiss them as ignorant or get undone. From the tone of your writings I’m thinking the latter. I may be wrong.
As I don’t know what products you’re offering, I wouldn’t embarrass myself by appearing ignorant.
You are choosing to remain clueless about Network 21 and unwilling to learn different. Good for you.
You obviously choose not to agree with the judgement of the authorities in the United Statesthat the business model is not an illegal pyramid, a view supported in Australiaand at least another 90 countries/territories. Bully for you.
In the end, your opinion can be summed up in two words.
“So what?...”
Right minded individuals will investigate and judge the business on merit and on how it can help them achieve whatever it is they want.
Others will succumb to the preachings of a naysayer like you. At least you’re assured of being less misguided than them.
It’s a pisser of a way to get recognition though…
Relax a little. Find something useful to do…
Regards,
Andrew Curling

I didn't bother to reply, because I have said it all before and they either don't listen or don't hear. I love the bit about bumble bees. I bet that bit of long-refuted nonsense is offered by uplines as a guaranteed objection-stopper. It's a pity that there is nothing in physics which suggests that a bee can't fly once you know how it actually moves its wings. Still, why should facts interfere with a sales pitch.

Andrew was not happy that I didn't reply. I was right, though - replying would have been a waste of time because it has all been said before.

From: Andrew Curling Subject: FW: Hello again Date: Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:55:16 +1000
Peter,
You didn’t reply to me because you had no response that could or would paint yourself in a pleasant, intelligent light. You haven’t “said it all before” at all.
Re: your comments about the bumble bee. It’s good that you’re prepared to examine more thoroughly the physics involved.
It’s a shame you have chosen not to investigate this issue objectively and thoroughly. I'm sure you did your best. It just wasn't good enough...
Your comments regarding Jay Van Andel were reprehensible but not unexpected. You must pander to your disciples, the “even-more-pitiful-than-you”… or EMPTY’s, for short.
I’d pay good money to see you repeat them in front of his family but given your cowardice I’m betting my money won’t be spent. You're just not good enough, after all...
People who lose money in ventures fail to properly investigate the responsibilities and risks involved. It doesn’t matter if it is in business or investments, traditional or otherwise.
In the case of the Amway or indeed any other business, there is a need for an “employee” to understand the change in mindset required to run a business. Too many remain locked in the employee paradigm and are unwilling to learn different. That is why they fail.
I’m sure that even in your university days, so many, many, many years ago, fewer finished courses than started them. Was the course wrong or could the students simply not “cut it”? (It’s alright, I know the answer.)
Look, you obviously believe you’re educated enough. You're not,...obviously.
Your paradigm encompasses narrowness of mind and scepticism, so you do satisfy the requirements of that charter. Well done!
You can’t or won’t change your views because it would be too difficult for you to explain all the decisions you’ve already made. (Big loss of face involved upon realising the stupidity of your thoughts and actions).
Your contempt for everything, apart from your own delusional ilk, and your lack of humility ensure your place as a member of the vanguard for insignificance and obscurity. ("Follow me, EMPTY's!", "Where to?", " Nowhere! Let's go! I know a shortcut!")
You are a fine example for people, especially your children, of what not to be. Again, I'm sure you did your best. It's just that you're not good enough...
Bye-bye.
Andrew

Subject: Amway...Ntwrk 21 Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 07:33:42 +0200 From: "Paola Young"
Just reading through the commentary of some sceptics really irritates me. There is no promise from Amway or Ntwrk 21 that you’ll get rich quick. In fact they emphasise HARD WORK. It is also made very clear that it is a form of passive income. How big you go or get is up to you; your vision, skills and what you put in results in what you get out. You make people aware of quality products that have a 90 day guarantee. Someone decide to purchase a product and the product speaks for itself. A one time customer will land up becoming a regular because of the results of the product. The money that would have been spent on advertising is put in research instead. Direct selling reduces the retail price as middleman etc is cut out. 30% of a sale goes into your pocket or 25, 10 etc. You decide on what % of profit you want. You are not allowed however to exceed 30%. Every product has a point value, if your sales are good and you collect many points, a commission is paid out to you. If you add to the team as a group on business volume that you move you get paid a further commission. If you get to a point that you expand & create your own team naturally your commission increases. It is not a pyramid scheme because in simple terms, you don’t ever sit back and let “your little ants” work for you. You don’t get to take their profit in any way. All that happens is a group incentive & a larger commission on a larger group. Some people run with the motivation & vision they see available to them through this opportunity and others are content with a bit of pocket money here & there. Big things can happen if you have the incentive and work for it. All the bitching & griping! Honestly what for?! Yes, we live in a paranoid world with unrealistic expectations, wanting the easy way out. Please people get your facts STRAIGHT. Work = results. Mouthing off = crap that some people might slip in. Thanks. P.S. I am not a crook, hustler or con-artist…just a herd worker who enjoys making a little extra when the payslip of my regular job doesn’t meet my needs.

Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:02:04 +1000 Subject: AMWAY
i thought i'd say a few words on AMWAY..
This company has operated since 1959,
It was once primarily a soap company, but now it works in association with Nutrilite (the worlds largest viatmin and seupplement company) as the Wellness revolution is going to be the next huge trend (it already is),
Amway sales increase every year,
More IBO's in the business than ever before,
Amway opens in new markets and new contries every year - making it available in over 90 countries,
There is no salesman from Network 21 doing the presentations.
Every Network Marketing company tries to copy Amway - but none can.
I feel sorry for you unintelligent and petty minded individuals for being so misinformed and believing the first thing you're told.
I'm in Amway and i have the freedom to work when it's convenient for me, earn more money than all you wowsers put together and will continue to live my dreams, all because i bought a few products and found that the products were awesome then just told a few people..
How easy..
Hahaha
You poor cynics: