OT: Team National

[T-TownDawgg]

Past few weeks have been glorious since bammer fans here are stammering to talk about anything but sports for a change. One guy at work has been after me about joining him in Team National. Never heard of it. I told him that what he describes sounds like textbook pyramid scheme.

After he brushes off my comments he describes, among other things, the discounts, which seem to be on big ticket purchases (cars, furniture, vacations, etc). He is convinced that if his little business model takes off he can quit work, and it would be worthwhile for me to take advantage of this "opportunity ".

Like most bama fans he will listen to nothing involving facts or logic. Quick Google searches send me to mixed reviews. The State fan in me just wants to let the dumbass go right ahead and jump off this cliff. Not a chance in hell I'm joining, especially since I have no big purchases in the near future. Any Pack members familiar with this?

 

[Jacknut1]

Pyramid scheme. I was suckered a few years back. Don't do it.

 

[1msucub]

Yes.
Don't.
Pyramid.

Have an older (60's or so) gentleman friend at church that sincerely made his pitch to me a couple of years ago. Really kind soul who would never try to take advantage of anyone, and I still said no. Those groups are ALL the same, ultimately.

 

[TrueMaroonGrind]

Someone at my wife's work tried to pitch this to us. It took them like 2 hours and that was way too long. There are to main benefits to joining:

- Discounts on certain purchases
- Recruitment of new members

I think the cost of joining was around $2300 with a $100-$200 yearly fee. It legally isn't a pyramid scheme, but it is to the members. The discounts aren't worth the price of admission. If you are a part of a large organization(AARP, large corp...etc) you will get equal or better discounts.

The only way to make it worth the money to join is to recruit a ton of people, who recruit a ton of people, who recruit a ton of people... I hate when people try to sell me social marketing products and I would never ever put my family and friends in that position. So... we didn't join and we did not become the couple that everybody avoids at family reunions. Join if you don't feel bad about taking advantage of your grandma, mom and cousins. You might make some money.

 

[Shamoan]

my inlaws got tied up in it. pyramid scheme and you will be far ahead of the curve if you dont lose money (a good bit in some cases).

all that multi-level marketing stuff is total ****. stay away.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

I had a coworker involved in one of these MLM products years ago. He brought it up to me as "it's kind of a side thing, so here's some material on it" to "well, are you going to order it" every. damn. day.

If the person has to pester other people incessantly to make the business model work, it's a MLM pyramid scheme.

 

[kired]

My next door neighbor just got involved with something... after a few ignored texts and FB messages I hope he gets the picture. I've literally cut people out of my life because they got involved with this kind of crap.

 

[TrueMaroonGrind]

My next door neighbor just got involved with something... after a few ignored texts and FB messages I hope he gets the picture. I've literally cut people out of my life because they got involved with this kind of crap.

This is the exact scenario I told my wife when I was explaining why we weren't joining. They become the "National" guy or the "Pampered Chef" lady. All you want to do is avoid them. Just like the salesman at a car dealership.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Just say NO!

I agreed to go to a recruiting meeting with my cousin just to shut him up. It appeared that a few wealthy/famous people in our area were members and would host the meetings. Lots of poor people would show up and be dazzled by the semi-rich and famous, then sign up under them since they were now friends.
My cousin quit his job so he could get rich quick by giving the rich guy $2000. It shockingly didn't pan out for him. You only make money if you can find a bunch of suckers to sign up under you. By now most of them have been snatched up.

 

[AFDawg]

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Man, this crap is all the rage now. Total garbage. Jewelry, shakeology, essential oils....all CRAP.

 

[thekimmer]

I will never get involved in any kind of business model where the primary focus is on recruiting reps instead of the product. I will never understand the number of people I have known who seem to be intelligent, well educated individuals who have gotten involved in these schemes (Amway, mellaluca, MonaVie, Herbalife, etc. etc.)

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Man, this crap is all the rage now. Total garbage. Jewelry, shakeology, essential oils....all CRAP.

^^^doesn't understand the benefits...

 

[The Peeper]

Had a close friend recently hit my wife and I up over dinner about one of these schemes that was promoting some kind of supplements and health drinks. They were already making retirement plans for after they hit it big. They conned a couple other mutual friends into it and were conned themselves by some other mutual friends. None of them are still doing it a year later. The only people I've ever heard of that made $$ doing this is the company selling whatever over priced products that are being peddled in the scheme.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Wife has a friend (well, maybe an acquaintance) that is literally cultish about one of the jewelry ones. No matter how times you say no, there's always one more party where you can see the 'NEW JEWELRY!!!11". It's like they lose their mind over the stuff. They have parties and conferences to talk about how it changed their lives. Yet it's all about manipulating other idiots.

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

I have a few friends on the Advocare train... that program seems sketchy to me. Not to mention, all they every post on social media is hashtag advocare this and that.

 

[xxxWalkTheDawg]

I have a few friends on the Advocare train... that program seems sketchy to me. Not to mention, all they every post on social media is hashtag advocare this and that.

Thats basically a MLM scheme with a pretty good product. I've seen people make a ton of money with that but you have to sign people up under you to sell stuff and you be tagged as the supplier.

its not much different than selling cocaine if you think about it.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Rule of thumb is, if you are getting in when it's popular to get in, it's too late. Just like the stock market, real estate, etc.

 

[RocketDawg]

Past few weeks have been glorious since bammer fans here are stammering to talk about anything but sports for a change. One guy at work has been after me about joining him in Team National. Never heard of it. I told him that what he describes sounds like textbook pyramid scheme.

After he brushes off my comments he describes, among other things, the discounts, which seem to be on big ticket purchases (cars, furniture, vacations, etc). He is convinced that if his little business model takes off he can quit work, and it would be worthwhile for me to take advantage of this "opportunity ".

Like most bama fans he will listen to nothing involving facts or logic. Quick Google searches send me to mixed reviews. The State fan in me just wants to let the dumbass go right ahead and jump off this cliff. Not a chance in hell I'm joining, especially since I have no big purchases in the near future. Any Pack members familiar with this?

If he keeps trying to sell it at work, he may not need to quit ....

 

[snoopdog]

I find it interesting that the success stories they promote...

On Team National involve videos of people who were down on their luck financially, hit it big time with Team National, only to go out and buy boats, big houses, cars and ****, which is ultimately the type of habits and decision making that got their asses financially strapped in the first place. Oh, and if you ever go to a meeting, just say no and use that person who invited you as the deflection when you get other calls, which you ultimately will. I always just say," I promised so and so I would join under him if I ever do join." That ends the conversation.

 

[Tigr2ndbase]

I've got to defend here as I've been a member with TN for about 5 years now. I joined from the savings aspect and I can honestly say I've saved well over what the membership cost. I've been to the national conventions and meet lots of people that this company has changed their life. Like every direct sales company you're going to get what you put in.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

FARRRRRRRT

 

[CochiseCowbell]

I thought this was a thread cheering on Dak & the NFC in the Pro Bowl Dodge Ball Game.**

 

[mstateglfr]

I've got to defend here as I've been a member with TN for about 5 years now. I joined from the savings aspect and I can honestly say I've saved well over what the membership cost. I've been to the national conventions and meet lots of people that this company has changed their life. Like every direct sales company you're going to get what you put in.

 

[TrueMaroonGrind]

View attachment 5975
Going through finance docs for tax season and found this gem. Enjoy. The financing options are hilarious.

 

[EngDawg]

View attachment 5976

 

[aTotal360]

My cousin quit his job so he could get rich quick by giving the rich guy $2000. It shockingly didn't pan out for him.

Gold.

 

[Hankp22]

Take 30 minutes and watch John Oliver's perspective

This may save you some headaches in the future. If not, maybe it will at least provide a few laughs for others. The youtube below is one of the best segments I've seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6MwGeOm8iI

 

[The Peeper]

That video lost me when he said "all I need is 30 minutes of your time...."

 

[Hoover Dawg]

No question he could have explained it in 5 minutes, had he done away with all the stupid jokes that do not help his point at all. He sort of went rogue liberal there, attacking stupid crap that didn't matter.