Direct sales programs that call themselves “multilevel marketing” (MLM) companies run the gamut from being merely annoying to full-blown pyramid schemes, and the folks at the Federal Trade Commission are responsible for holding MLMs accountable when they cross that line from irksome to illegal. But two pieces of legislation, both backed by a trade group with direct ties to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, are attempting to limit the FTC’s ability to investigate and prosecute rogue MLMs. [More]
multilevel marketing
Group Tied To Betsy DeVos Is Trying To Block Feds From Investigating Multilevel Marketers
By 9.19.17
Herbalife To Pay $200M To Members Who Lost Money; Must Change Business Model
By 7.15.16
Five months after Herbalife was reported to be working on a settlement to resolve a federal probe into its often controversial business practices – or what some people claim is a pyramid scheme – the company has agreed to restructure its business model and pay $200 million to consumers who purchased large quantities of its products and lost money. [More]
Herbalife Working On Settlement To Resolve FTC Investigation Into Business Practices
By 2.26.16
Nearly two years ago nutritional company Herbalife revealed that it was under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission for its often controversial business practices, or what some people claim is a pyramid scheme. Now, it looks like the company is ready to put the federal probe behind it. [More]
FTC Investigating Herbalife
By 3.12.14
For more than a year, some have accused nutritional supplement company Herbalife of operating a pyramid scheme and called for federal authorities to investigate the business. Today, the company confirmed that it is indeed under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, though it did not reveal exactly why. [More]
How To Tell Multilevel Marketing Friends To Buzz Off
By 11.22.11
The more friends you have, the more likely someone you know will eventually get sucked into a multilevel marketing scheme and start asking you to attend parties to celebrate the guilt-based selling of overpriced household items, magical healing juice, cooking utensils or other annoyances. The business model for these scamtastic enterprises is built on recruiting other saps to sell products as part of your team, as well as getting them to find other victims, even if it requires them to exploit friends and family. [More]
Are You A Pro-Sumer? Let Bill Quain, PhD, Show You How!
By 6.16.09
Amway! There, we just saved you the trouble of reading Pro-Sumer Power!, Bill Quain’s riveting get-rich-quick book from 2000, which Alan Scherstuhl found in a thrift store recently and recaps for your amusement over at the Village Voice. You see, producers make money. Consumers spend money. And Pro-sumers make money while they spend. Still not clear? You’re a banana when you should be some sort of banana-gorilla hybrid.
