Wednesday is therapy day.
“I feel awful now that I have family members with these product packs in their basements who won’t even speak with me now….”
How did that happen?
“I was taught to sell the opportunity to make $1000 profit, as was everyone upline from me. I was taught to not make judgements regarding what I thought they might do, even though I knew they weren’t going to do it.” (See Naturegirl’s comments to What if your product’s on eBay?)
Feeling regret at what happened is a good thing. Resolving not to do it again prevents feelings of guilt and allows you to move forward.
We know front loading destroys people’s relationships. We also know that for most people, their relationships are more important than the few dollars they have earned at the expense of those relationships.
Yes it’s hard to turn down quick money and the promise of promotions from the big orders. But perhaps it’s better to “Just say no” and offer smaller packages to start, instead. They can always buy more, can’t they? Plus, you’ll have a place to go for Christmas dinner.
Okay, so you feel awful. So what. Question is whatcha gonna do about it?
There has to be a way to do this business, build a decent volume under you and still hold tight to your integrity. Yes?
What I’m trying to wrap my brain around is why this *isn’t* happening in our company ?? (Eunice and I are related) … At least not rampantly.
I seriously doubt that we’re some how “better” or more “moral” as a group.
I think it has to do with the way that the company has set-up the early level advancement.
EVERYONE starts as a customer. There is no other way … no kit, no fee you can pay or amount of product you can personally purchase to be ‘instant’ anything.
And the only way to get up to that first level (and also get the ‘distributor price’) is to bring business to the company.
There’s no way TO frontload people … there’s no benefit to them …
There’s very little on eBay because there’s no way to buy it in volume. In fact, I understand that there was some minor problem with in this direction and they (the company) took the flagship product OUT of the ‘package deals’ that they were previosly offering.
How well do you think this company has a handle on the reality that given the opportunity, someone’s gonna undercut suggested retail? I’m pretty proud of them myself.
So what does that leave? Training that focuses on product experiences and customer referrals.
Lovers are what we’re seeking. And lovers is what we’re finding.
Talk about a solid way to build 🙂
Andrea
PS. Btw, If you should want to know what we’re doing … more than happy to talk to you, and if we’re a good match to invite you to come and play with us.
But, just fyi, this is Eunice’s party first this time, so you’d be joining her leg (grin).
Hi Kim,
In my 26 years of networking I have conclusively found
that there are more people interested in being customers
of our wonderful industry than there are people who would
like to build a business.
This is one of the many reasons
why building a strong customer base will always be a much
better way to build than the practice of front end loading.
One of greatest strengths of our industry is the fact that the MLM industry is known for innovative, cutting edge products that truly benefit and enrich the lives of the consumer. My mentors stressed to me the importance of “being a product of the product”. Being a product of the product allows me to tell my product story and how the products have been of benefit to me.
I remember years ago when one particular
couple was impressed with our products but in no way, shape
or form was going to build a MLM business.
This couple faithfully used the products for 11 months as satisfied customers. Finally after 11 months of being consumers they decided it was time to build a business.
The happy result for this couple was that they
joined our ranks as members of the “million dollar earner’s club”.
Sometimes our best customers become our best business builders.
Thus, I always mention the product first and talk about the business on the back end. How do I know this approach works? Well, I have been the top income earner for the last 11 years in my company.
In conclusion, as a long term strategy, building a
customer base will always win over the ill advised practice of
front end loading. – Johnny Keller, RBC
Front-end loading is just another example of the recruitment evangelism that has spread through Network Marketing over the last 10 years.
The recruiting evangelists are only in it for the money they earn from each recruit, either in the form of a sign-up bonus, or in the form of commissions from the product sales they make by front-end loading…or both.
My question puts this squarely back where it belongs: “What responsibility do company management and field (cheer)leaders have regards the practice of front-end loading?”
I suspect company management loves to see all that product flowing out the door and into the garages. It helps the bottom line.
Field leaders, who are mostly just rah-rah cheerleaders and couldn’t seriously lead or manage a business if their lives depended upon it, benefit financially, and egotistically because they can proudly claim they have “business builders” in their downlines that are racking up huge sales volumes and recruiting big downlines. You’ll see them at the big conventions parading across the stage to get their next pin level that was built upon recruiting finagles and the hard-earned money of people who were front-end loaded (and are now probably out of the business).
It doesn’t happen in every business, but it happens in enough of them to create a serious problem for the industry, and to attract the attention of regulators like the FTC.
If the regulators don’t shut down this practice, and we know the company management and field leaders aren’t going to, then it falls to the average Network Marketer to force the change from below. Just say “NO!” when your sponsor asks you to buy more product than you can use yourself. Tell your sponsor you’ll sell product as you get orders for it, and you won’t warehouse it against future orders.
And if they insist, go find a company where you’ll not only love the product but you won’t be forced into front-end loading and recruitment evangelism.