From: bglazier@buffalo.asd.sgi.com (Bill Glazier)
Subject: Re: Nuskin
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 16:55:13 GMT

In article <1a98huINNstd@agate.berkeley.edu>, abulloch@garnet.berkeley.edu (Anthony Bulloch) writes:

|> "the nature of MLM is just that: it is too easy for less than ethical people
|> to make a quick killing.....I believe the vast majority of people have 
|> a very poor experience with MLM...the rewards at the top...slick....
|> a lot of human potential psychobabble....They take the money and on 
|> to the next program.  And they all seem to come from Utah....My memory 
|> is quite clear...I get angry at many companies....Most MLM companies 
|> care only about the owners....Nor do I expect to begin hosting 
|> 'No Money Down Real Estate " Seminars, or begin a second career 
|> as a born again televangelist....I despise...."
|> 
|> From "I believe" to "I despise". A few prejudices showing along
|> the way here, Bill. There are MLM companies in every state of the
|> country, and I can think of several whose owners have more vision,
|> and more commitment to integrity and the promotion of human good
|> and happiness, than most non-MLM companies.  It's regrettable that
|> your family member had a bad experience, but Gary's right about
|> Nu Skin: superb products and top-notch business ethics, and generally
|> one of the best companies around.

This is the same old story the other guy used.  "Oh, never mind the fact there
are a few bad apples in the industry (or company as the case may be) - we're
better than bad, bad Corporate America."  More psychobabble and rationalization,
nicely tailored to an audience that wants to dream - wants to believe. 

First, I stand firmly by everything
I said above.  You selectively pulled out what could be considered inflammatory.
Clearly disprove any of the above statements.  It is NOT an across the
board condemnation of every and any MLM.  It is a statement regarding the types
of people who are most often the owners/managers of these outfits.  There are
hundreds of thousands of good, honest, hardworking people who regretfully get
involved in these situations.  Anyone who does earn even a reasonable living
given the odds against success in these programs deserves a great deal of
respect.  Personal sales is damn hard work.......
 
|> Your sweeping condemnation of MLMs is grossly unfair. There may be
|> some mediocre or questionable concerns among them, but corporate
|> America has plenty of bums and rascals too.

Read my original post again.  I don't believe Corporate America has a drop out
rate of 90%+.  MLM does.  


|> Nu Skin is currently developing a program which is probably going to save the lives 
|> and radically improve the health of hundreds of thousands of people 
|> over the next few years; 

Just like they grew heads full of hair on hundreds of thousands
of bald men in the 1980's right?  Oops, that didn't work so well.... time to
move on to a new product.   Vanity (i.e. hair treatments) was in in the '80's.
That's over now.  Time to move on to the environment and personal health.  Yep,
that's in this decade.  That'll snooker 'em! 

|> We could do with more people like the owners of Nu Skin and Espial.

I'm kind of shocked that someone from Berkeley would be so supportive of these
kinds of ventures.  The possible explanations are 1) you are a paid spokesperson for a
company, 2) you intend to finance your college/graduate education via MLM, or 3)
Berkeley's student body population has changed more than I imagined.

Like I said, I'm not a professional MLM baiter.  Just someone willing to stand 
up and express my opinions.  

  
 


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