The Amway scam: bloggers beware!

About a week ago I was sitting alone in a Panera eating a salad and drinking an iced tea. You’d think I got stood up on a first date. While that would have been sad, I’d have taken that over the feeling of just having been deceived. I had just met with someone about the Amway scam. Except she didn’t tell me it was the Amway scam until the very end.

Bloggers … pay attention

I’m writing about this experience because many of my readers are fellow blogers. We’re all a nice little community and I’d like to think we all have each others’ backs. I was simply talking about my blog, when my experience with Amway started. We bloggers talk about our blogs a lot, so this could be any one of us.

Now before I get into the story, let me explain to you what exactly Amway is. Amway is a multi-level marketing company (or pyramid scheme, basically), where you make commissions off of building a team. Thousands of companies operate this way (Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Scentsy … just to name a few). Sure you can sell a product in a market already saturated with consultants from that company.

You can also kind of sell the product and heavily recruit others into your “business.” Many are pressured into doing the later, especially since the person who recruited them also gets a commission off of their recruits (and the person above them and the person above them … see how it’s starting to look like a pyramid?). I sold Mary Kay for a short 3-4 months of my life. So I’m already put-off by the term multi-level marketing. Although I have absolutely nothing against buying something from say Pampered Chef at a party. I just never want to do direct selling again (although I’ve like 5% thought about Lularoe only because those dresses are SO cute and I could just set up shop at festivals all summer like gee … a normal business).

Amway scam

Anyway, so the basic premise seems to be that you have a website and sell these Amway products. It has been compared to a cult. This cracked.com story here tells it a little better than I probably can: Amway: 5 Realities of The Multi-Billion-Dollar Scam. Also when you google the word Amway, the next word that comes up is scam. You know that’s not a good sign.

My Amway scam story

So I was at the mall working a table for my side job, the Gutter Shutter. It’s not glamorous, but I’m a show rep for a gutter company on the weekends. I go out to fairs, festivals, home shows, etc. and talk to people about gutters. Several months ago, there was some event at the mall and we had a table set up. I was talking to everyone who walked by and this woman came by. She seemed nice and somewhat interested, so we struck up a conversation. She mentioned that she had a business where she has her own website and she partners with brands like Marshalls and Target to sell products. She said the whole focus was on driving online sales to those sites. Not once did she mention the Amway scam.

To me, that sounded exactly like affiliate marketing. Bloggers, I know most of you not only know about affiliate marketing but are probably also signed up for several programs. I am a part of several affiliate programs and  include affiliate links in my outfit posts. So I told her I was a style blogger and asked her if it was affiliate marketing. She responded with “yes.” “We train you, set you up with a website and then you have your business,” she said more or less (those were not her exact words … this all happened three months ago). I was thinking it was just another affiliate program, so I was interested. I gave her my phone number and we parted ways. Then I never heard anything and assumed that she had lost my number.

A few months later

Last week I got a voicemail from this woman following up. So since I was interested, I called back. I was very upfront with her. “I’m a blogger and I’m really focused on that. I have absolutely no interest in creating a new website. However if I can use the one I already have, I’d be interested.” She did not know the answer to this, which should have been my first clue. Also, I cannot believe I did not ask the name of the company. But I digress …

She is going to have to ask the owners of the company if I can use my own website. But she would still like to meet with me and is willing to come to the Panera by my house. Why not, I think.

The meeting

We start our meeting at the Panera by my house. A third woman who I never met shows up. I suppose she is with the company. But that was another odd tip off. The woman I initially met starts with a brochure. It seems odd to me that a supposed affiliate marketing company wouldn’t just open up the computer and show me how the website works. After all, she told me that it was all about having your own website to drive online traffic to online retailers.

The brochure does not say Amway or at least say it anywhere blatantly visible. She goes through some diagrams, the bogus money I could make (6-figure income … sure), etc. I feel confused. What does her website look like? How does she drive traffic there (social media … Facebook? Twitter?). She also says that she’s unfamiliar with bloggers using affiliate marketing? Well, if this was a legit affiliate marketing company, she’d have been super familiar. It’s kind of our bread and butter.

She hardly ever uses Facebook, she says. “Then how do you drive people to your website?” Family, friends, face-to-face, she tells me. Everything is face-to-face, she tells me. That’s what they prefer. We are about to call the company so I can explain to them what being a blogger is (since she clearly has no idea) when I ask to see her website. Right there … top left corner … Amway. I feel so dumb.

So this is Amway?

I feel so lied to. We make chit chat for another few minutes and I tell her “yeah, I think I’m just happy being a blogger.” I also ask her why she left out the part that it was Amway until now. “The negative connotation,” she tells me. “If you google it, lots of untrue things will come up.” Well that sounds super shady.

Then we awkwardly make small talk about my salad for another two minutes and then she claims to have another meeting in 20 minutes just down the road. Whether she actually did or just wanted me to think she was successful, I’ll never know. Her and that other woman tell me it was nice to meet me and leave. So here I am eating my salad all alone in Panera and processing my thoughts about the Amway scam.

It was a waste of time

That was such a total waste of time. I could have spent that 30 minutes writing blog posts, scheduling social media, updating my pinterest, writing my next e-mail newsletter or doing a whole variety of needed blog things. So here are a few tips to potentially avoid being in this situation:

  1. Find out the name of the company (I feel stupid for not asking).
  2. Do an Internet search and use your judgement. If one bad review comes up, take it with a grain of salt. However if 50 or more come up, then those bad reviews might be making a point.

Do you have an Amway scam story? If so, I would love to hear it! Feel free to share in the comments section.

 

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The LBD’s of 6 different bloggers

LBD's of 6 different bloggers

Today in the spirit of the upcoming Little Black Dress party, we’re looking at the LBD’s of 6 different bloggers. One of my favorite things about blogging is the community of women I have found across the world. This list includes bloggers from the Netherlands, Angola, El Salvador and Canada, as well as bloggers in other parts of my own county, the United States. We’ve met each other through link ups and Facebook groups. We read each others’ posts and leave words of encouragement (comments). Blogging can often feel like a one-woman journey with no one set path. The support we find in each other is so wonderful. It for sure keeps me going.

I’m excited to share these women with you. I hope you’ll click on all their blogs and take a look around. Each woman has her own unique voice that she puts out there.

1. Shelbee on the Edge

Shelbee is such an active member of the blogging community. I’m constantly seeing her commenting on others posts. Also, she hosts a weekly link up Fridays. The thing I love about her is how down to earth and real she seems. She doesn’t claim to be some sort of expert. She’s just your every day woman, wife and mother showing off her personal style. Bonus, you can also shop her closet right on her blog! Check that out here.

LBD's of 6 different bloggers

LBD's of 6 different bloggers

Dress: Old Navy; Scarf: Cato; Necklace: Cato; Shoes: DSW

Check out her post about the LBD here. Also make sure to follow her on these social networks: Instagram, Twitter Pinterest, Facebook

2. Nancy’s Fashion Style

Nancy is my blogger pal from the Netherlands. She also hosts a Friday linkup called Fancy Friday. She blogs about all things personal style in her corner of the Internet. One thing that you would not know from just browsing her posts is that she has inherited lung disease and is awaiting a transplant. So right now blogging is her vocation and passion.

She sent me three photos of three different LBDs. I figured why not post all three? So here they are:

LBD's of 6 different bloggers

LBD's of 6 different bloggers

LBD's of 6 different bloggers

I especially love her first one! However they all are amazing. Also make sure to check her out on these platforms: Instagram, Twitter

3. Looking Glass

Meet Maria. Maria is a blogger based in Vancouver, Canada. We are both a part of an Instagram message thread of other kickass fashion bloggers. When one of us posts, we notify the group and then go like each other’s posts. Maria’s focus is on edgy fashion and thus the photo she gave me is just that. The black and white is just perfect. I’m also in love with this neckline!

Maria’s words: “I love this lbd because of the cool strappy cutout neckline, and the shift silhouette is so comfortable! It’s also really versatile because I can wear it with heels for going out, with sandals as a summer dress or with ankle boots for a day look.”

LBD's of 6 different bloggers

Make sure you follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Youtube.

4. Elegance and Mommyhood

Ada is also writing about her little black dress today. Super fun! Ada is a style blogger who blogs about fashion and motherhood. Her daughter sometimes makes appearances when she writes about mommy and me fashion. It’s always super adorable. Also she hosts a weekly linkup on Thursdays called Thursday Moda. I love linking up with her each week.

Here are two LBDs she has worn in past posts. You can read the full posts here: Eyelet LBD and Kimono-Sleeve LBD.

LBD's of 6 different bloggers

LBD's of 6 different bloggers

Make sure to follow Ada on Instagram, Bloglovin and Pinterest.

5. Miss Cunha

Rossely is a vintage-enthusiast blogger living in Luanda, Angola. She, like Maria, is a part of our Instagram support group. She has so many adorable dresses. Her blog is very much inspired by the power women of the past … Audrey Hepburn to Nina Simone to Tina Turner, and the like.

LBD's of 6 different bloggers

I just love how much of a classic LBD this is. It just looks fabulous on her.

Make sure to follow Rossely on Instagram and Pinterest.

6. Blog de la Meli

Melissa is my Salvadoran buddy who I met through a Facebook group called Newbies Who Blog. My blog is less than a year old, so I’m still very much of a newbie at this. Since Spanish is her first language, her blog is entirely written in Spanish. You can always hit the translate button, though. She blogs about DIY stuff, makeup reviews, recipes and other lifestyle-related things.

She sent me a photo of herself in a LBD at her friend’s wedding.

LBD's of 6 different bloggers

Make sure you follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

7. BONUS Ms. Chanda, Birth of a Fashion Blogger

IMG_4125

Ms. Chanda hosts a weekly link up on Monday all about being fabulous. I had the pleasure of co-hosting with her several weeks or so back. She lives in Detroit, Michigan with her husband and two children.

This dress is just adorable! The pink shoes make it pop. I love taking another color of shoes and adding them to a LBD outfit!

 

The thing I just love about this list is the group I’ve gathered from all around the world. Everyone looks amazing in their LBD! Also Cincinnati friends, remember that the LBD party is right around the corner. This Sunday, June 26h (also my birthday), is the party! We are partnering with several local businesses and two non-profits to bring you all a classy and fun evening. The fun will start at 4 p.m. Details here.

Linking up here today:

Wednesday

Jersey Girl Texan Heart, Happiness at Mid-LifeShopping My Closet, Pumps and Pushups, The Pleated PoppySydney Fashion HunterThe Mummy Chronicles, Cappuccino and Fashion and Posh Classy Mom

Thursday

Elegance and MommyhoodDoused in Pink, Curly Crafty Mom

Friday

Two Thirty-Five DesignsNancy’s Fashion Style, Jeans & a Teacup, Claire Justine, Rachel the Hat, A Poketful of Polka Dots, Forage Fashion, Fashion Should be Fun, Sincerely Paula, Birdie Shoots

 

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