Is It Ethical to Join an MLM?

Question

What do ethics say about joining a MLM considering the controversies around it? And what do I need to know?

Answer 1

Involvement in an MLM is completely voluntary, but it is a decision that should be made only after understanding the nature of the business and its inherent drawbacks. There are people who appreciate the community or products of an MLM; however, they should also understand the possibility of great financial damage, they should be prepared for a great deal of work, and they should not be surprised if the characteristic features of cults emerge. Also, one ought to reflect on the moral issues of inviting more and more people into a structure from which, in all likelihood, the majority will not benefit financially.

Comments

I was in MK for years.  Loved the products.  Didn't like asking people for money or to join so that they could spend more of their money.  So, I was very low producing for my upline.  The thing that broke it for me was when my director (who I really didn't like personally) was giving a pep talk and told us that if we wanted to succeed, we needed to be just like her (perfect hair, nails, dressed to the nines driving a company Cadillac).  I realized that I didn't want to be her, I wanted to be me (far from perfect!).

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The problem with a product in an MLM is that it's usually not the best quality and is overpriced. That little onion chopper that you love...guaranteed you could find one similar for less that isn't connected to such a predatory and deceptive industry. This especially applies to skincare and supplements.

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I belong to an MLM, one known for its tea tree oil. I love the products, but never have even tried to recruit someone. The person above me checks in on me about once a year to see how I am personally, but once I made it clear I'm in only for the product, there's no pressure. I have no idea what goes on in conferences or meetings because I've never been. The website where I purchase the products doesn't push recruitment either.  I feel about belonging to this organization like I do owning an Amazon Prime membership. I may or may not agree with the company, but I enjoy the benefits.

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It’s very frustrating when your spouse gets caught up in one of these schemes. My wife was involved in one of these for a few years selling and using diet products. She was brainwashed that she had to have this specific product to lose weight. All it consisted of was cheap processed food with low quality vitamins added to it. She did lose weight, but it wasn’t because of the food.  She could have just as well lost weight eating twinkies and Flintstone vitamins. People lost weight from reducing their calorie intake not the special weight loss bars which were super ridiculously expensive.  Even with her selling the bars to other people, we still paid more for her diet than she made selling the bars to other people. With all the time she spent trying to sell her bars to other people I calculated her making about two dollars an hour. I was never able to convince her that it was a scam, but she ended up stopping because we just didn’t have the money for it anymore. I think I remember it costing about $700 a month.

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Just here to say I hope this goes viral. I like some MLM products and buy them and some of my best friends are involved in them. But I am not comfortable with the business model, recruitment process, or marketing strategies of MLMs.

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When in our early twenties my wife and I had a couple befriend us at church, we were really excited that someone wanted us to be friends.  They invited us  to hang out , and then to a get together at someone’s house where they gave their sales pitch, I didn’t join and also didn’t really have friends.  This was
32 years ago and is still what comes to mind when I hear about mlms,  it’s not fun feeling used for someone else’s gain.

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Thank you so so much for addressing this! Several of my friends and cousins have been roped into Monat. Seeing all the fake lifestyle posts and empty promises is so frustrating!
I am so very grateful that a prominent Christian is using her platform to inform and warn against these unethical companies!