She’s Been Approached By Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) Employees While Shopping At Discount Stores On Multiple Occasions And Is Revealing Their Recruitment Tactics
Multi-level marketing companies, or MLMs, have been around since the 1920s and the 1930s. The industry still exists today, duping many unsuspecting participants into believing they can get rich quickly.
These businesses follow a structure where the people at the top make money off the sales commissions of the people who work underneath them. Their success relies on recruiting new members under the guise of financial freedom, leading MLM employees to relentlessly pursue people and convince them to join their cause.
In a video that has received hundreds of thousands of views, TikToker Kate Kowalsczik (@lcswkate) is describing how she has been approached by multi-level marketing employees while shopping in discount stores on several occasions. She’s wondering if others have experienced the same phenomenon and if anyone knows which company these people are trying to recruit for.
“Are other people also getting approached to join an MLM? Or maybe it’s a cult in discount stores? Because this has happened to me like four or five times,” she began the video.
She then launched into an explanation of the tactics these individuals usually employ, stating that it all “follows the same exact setup every time.” First, they will strike up a conversation with a shopper who’s just minding their own business by complimenting the person on something they’re wearing.
From there, they’ll engage in some more regular chitchat as strangers often do in stores. But after a little while, they start to extend beyond normal, casual conversation. She also noted that MLM employees will not have a cart or basket of items with them.
“If they can keep you talking about the initial point of discussion, they will then introduce a second point of discussion that’s adjacent,” said Kate.
She gave an example of how a lady complimented her shoes and then brought up a different brand of shoe. Kate added that MLM employees might also point out something you’re looking at in a store aisle.
Once they’ve been able to carry you through small talk, they will start to ask you questions about yourself until they reach the topic of what you do for work. Finally, they will introduce the MLM element of their sales pitch.
nenetus – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
“Eventually, the reveal will come that this person has a friend, an investing mentor, and they’re going to retire early. I always decline receiving more information about that because it sounds very pyramid-shaped, but I am so curious, like what is this?” said Kate.
This has been a regular occurrence for her over the course of eight years in two different states, Utah and California. Many TikTok users shared similar experiences, and others speculated that the company in question might be Amway, an MLM company that sells health and beauty products.
“I saw a story time like 6 months ago from someone who was approached like this and invited to a housewarming party that ended with an Amway pitch,” commented one user.
“I used to get approached by Mary Kay ladies all the time in my 20s. It always started with ‘you’re so pretty!'” shared another.
“This literally just happened to me in TX last week at Michael’s! I was so freaked out by her asking where I worked that I walked away and left the store entirely. When I saw her walk out behind me, I called the store I’d just been in and the store next door to tell them she was there,” wrote a third.
@lcswkate Please get this to anti-MLM-tok so i can finally know what scam this is. Maybe an old fashioned ponzi scheme?!
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