Limu Review: No autoship order, no commissions?
Limu was founded in 2004 and are based out of the US state of Florida.
Limu (interchangeable with “the Limu Company”) operates in the health and wellness MLM niche and is headed up by Founder, CEO and President, Gary Raser.
Having proven himself in the world of business, building his own success as a distributor in network marketing, Gary turned his strategic vision to create the LIMU dream: making better futures for families everywhere.
In a promotional video on the Limu website, Raser (right) claims to have been introduced by “a guy” who “called him up every day inviting him to one of those meetings”. Raser says that after he finally attending one of the meetings, he was “hooked”.
That was 25 years ago (and) we were successful right from the beginning, but not without disappointment.
Raser claims that after experiencing disappointment and frustration with MLM companies changing compensation plans to benefit the executive staff over “the field”, his wife suggested he start his own company.
This company was Dynamic Essentials, which Raser co-founded in November of 2008 with Kevin Jones. By the end of 2009 Dynamic Essentials was bought out by Nature’s Bounty Inc. (NBTY), who are
an American manufacturer of vitamins and nutritional supplements which are distributed under many third party brands in the United States and internationally.
Dyanamic Essentials continued on as an independent MLM company, operating as a subsidiary of NBTY. Dynamic Essentials’ flagship product was a seaweed extract named “Royal Tongan Limu”.
In 2002 Dynamic Essentials was issued a warning by the FTC in regards to their marketing material, which claimed Royal Tongan Limu
was clinically proven to cure, prevent, or treat a range of diseases and disorders such as allergies, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dynamic Essentials failed to adequately respond to the FTC’s warning and the following year in 2003 they were abruptly shutdown by the regulator.
Facing seizure of their product inventory, Dynamic Essentials instead opted to
voluntarily destroy its inventory of bottles of Royal Tongan Limu, along with the product’s related literature and materials.
NBTY was no stranger to FTC violations, having previously been pinged in 1995 for
falsely or without substantiation (advertising) that its products promoted weight loss, increased muscle mass, decreased body fat, promoted hair growth, prevented premature hair loss, lowered cholesterol, and prevented arthritis.
The result of the FTC’s 1995 action against NBTY resulted in a $250,000 consumer redress payment and a settlement order.
Under the terms of the order settling the matter, NBTY agreed not to make unsubstantiated claims about any dietary supplement and not to misrepresent the results or conclusions of any test, study, research article, or any other scientific opinion or data.
The FTC used Dynamic Essentials shutdown as evidence showing NBTY had breached the terms of the 1995 order made against them. The FTC took the matter to court and NBTY were ordered to pay $2 million dollars civil penalty.
In 2004, the year after Dynamic Essentials was shutdown, Gary Raser returned to the MLM industry with the launch of Limu.
Prior to Dynamic Essentials, Raser was an affiliate of National Safety Associates (NSA), achieving the top-level affiliate rank of “National Marketing Director”.
NSA marketed a series of water and air filters, coming under regulator scrutiny in 1992 due to the recruitment practices of some of its affiliates.
In response to the media attention surrounding the issue, Raser stated at the time that
(NSA) distributors are supposed to focus on sales, not recruiting.
Herndon and other ex-distributors, he said, did not follow all the sales training and became frustrated when they failed to sell the product.
Read on for a full review of the Limu MLM business opportunity.
The Limu Product Line
Like Dynamic Essentials before it, Limu market a range of seaweed-extract based nutritional beverages.
Searching for a unique product, Gary discovered a tradition in the Islands of Tonga that stretched back thousands of years: Tongan natives regularly harvested limu moui, a particular type of natural seaweed containing Fucoidan, a supernutrient that would prove to have scientifically proven health benefits. And it is Fucoidan that powers every LIMU product.
Limu’s flagship product is a “Fucoidan-enriched nutritional supplement” they call Limu Original, which retails for $50 a bottle. Limu Original is also available in a concentrated shot variety.
Additionally Limu markets a “BluFrog” energy drink ($65 for a case of 24 cans), which contains ‘a host of naturally power-packed fruits, herbs, minerals and added B vitamins‘. And there’s also “Limu Lean” ($220), a weightloss product that contains a meal replacement shake ($47.50 per canister), appetite controller ($20) and digestive health cleanse ($20).
The Limu Compensation Plan
Limu’s compensation plan provides affiliates with a strong foundation to generate retail sales, however most of the commissions and bonuses available are tied into recruiting affiliates via a Fast Start Pack, and making sure they sign up with a monthly autoship order.
Limu Affiliate Membership Ranks
There are ten affiliate membership ranks in the Limu compensation plan and, along with their respective qualification criteria, they are as follows:
- M – sign up as an affiliate and ‘create a monthly AutoShip of 100 PV or more‘
- 1K – maintain a monthly autoship order of 100 PV or more, personally recruit 2 affiliates who both have an autoship of 100 PV or more and have a downline generating at least 1000 GV
- 2K – maintain a monthly autoship order of 100 PV or more, personally recruit 2 affiliates who both have an autoship of 100 PV or more and have a downline generating at least 2000 GV (no more than 1200 GV from any one individual unilevel leg)
- 5K – maintain a monthly autoship order of 100 PV or more, personally recruit 3 affiliates who both have an autoship of 100 PV or more and have a downline generating at least 5000 GV (no more than 3000 GV from any one individual unilevel leg)
- 20K – maintain a monthly autoship order of 200 PV or more, personally recruit 4 affiliates who both have an autoship of 100 PV or more and have a downline generating at least 20,000 GV (no more than 12,000 GV from any one individual unilevel leg)50K – maintain a monthly autoship order of 200 PV or more, personally recruit 5 affiliates who both have an autoship of 100 PV or more and have a downline generating at least 50,000 GV (no more than 30,000 GV from any one individual unilevel leg)
- 100K – maintain a monthly autoship order of 200 PV or more, personally recruit 5 affiliates who both have an autoship of 100 PV or more and have a downline generating at least 100,000 GV (no more than 60,000 GV from any one individual unilevel leg)
- 200K – maintain a monthly autoship order of 200 PV or more, personally recruit 5 affiliates who both have an autoship of 100 PV or more and have a downline generating at least 200,000 GV (no more than 120,000 GV from any one individual unilevel leg)
- 500K – maintain a monthly autoship order of 200 PV or more, personally recruit 5 affiliates who both have an autoship of 100 PV or more and have a downline generating at least 500,000 GV (no more than 300,000 GV from any one individual unilevel leg)
- 1M – maintain a monthly autoship order of 200 PV or more, personally recruit 5 affiliates who both have an autoship of 100 PV or more and have a downline generating at least 100,000,000 GV (no more than 400,000 GV from any one individual unilevel leg)
Note that PV stands for “Personal Volume” and GV stands for “Group Volume”.
Affiliate Membership Rank Cash Bonuses
When a Limu affiliate qualifies at the 100K affiliate membership rank or higher for the first time, the company pays out a cash bonus for each affiliate membership rank achieved.
- 100K (must qualify for three consecutive months) – $10,000
- 200K – $20,000 over 12 months
- 500K – $100,000 over 12 months
- 1M – $250,000 over 18 months
Note that affiliates must maintain their qualifying affiliate rank over the period the respective bonus is paid out. Failing to qualify for any particular month results in the forfeiting of the Affiliate Membership Rank Cash Bonus for that month.
Experience Kit Order Commissions
Limu’s flagship product Limu Original appears to only be available from the company via what they call “Experience Kits”. Each kit is essentially a bundling of Limu Original in a multi-pack:
- Experience Kit 1 ($60) – 2 bottles of Limu Original
- Experience Kit 2 ($95) – 2 bottles of Limu Original and 15 Limu Original shots
- Experience Kit 3 ($120) – 4 bottles of Limu Original
Commissions on these Experience Kits are paid out weekly, using a six level deep unilevel compensation structure.
A unilevel compensation structure places an affiliate at the top of a unilevel team, with every personally recruited affiliate placed directly under them (level 1).
If any level 1 affiliates go on to recruit new affiliates of their own, they are placed on level 2 and so on and so forth down six levels of recruitment.
Commissions on the sale of Limu Experience packs are determined by which level of an affiliate’s unilevel team the sale is made:
- Level 1 (personal affiliate recruits and retail customers) – 25%
- Level 2 – 10%
- Levels 3 to 6 – 5%
Note that retail customers can “recruit” customers of their own to qualify for free Limu products, with these orders also paid out at 25% (counting as a level 1 sale).
Fast Track Pack Bonus
Fast Track packs contain Limu products and “sales tools”. If a newly recruited Limu affiliate purchases one of the Fast Track Packs ($499 and $999), the affiliate who recruited them qualifies for a Fast Track Bonus.
The Fast Track Bonus is paid out according to an affiliate’s membership rank, as well as the Fast Track Pack being purchased by the newly recruited affiliate.
Fast Track Pack ($499):
- M or 1K – $50 on level 1
- 2K or 5K – $100 on level 1
- 20K – $130 on level 1 and $15 on level 2
- 50K – $155 on level 1 and $15 on level 2
- 100K – $170 on level 1 and $15 on level 2
- 200K – $180 on level 1 and $15 on level 2
Fast Track Plus Pack ($999):
- M or 1K – $100 on level 1
- 2K or 5K – $200 on level 1
- 20K – $260 on level 1 and $30 on level 2
- 50K – $310 on level 1 and $20 on level 2
- 100K – $340 on level 1 and $20 on level 2
- 200K – $360 on level 1 and $20 on level 2
Note that “level 1” refers to personally recruited affiliates and “level 2” refers to the level 1 affiliate’s upline.
First Order Bonus
The First Order Bonus pays out on the first order placed by a newly recruited Limu affiliate, excluding any Fast Track Pack orders which are paid according to the Fast Track Bonus (see above).
The First Order Bonus pays out down six levels of recruitment and is paid out as a percentage of the volume generated by a newly recruited affiliate’s first order:
- Level 1 – 25%
- Level 2 – 10%
- Levels 3 to 6 – 5%
2K VIP Bonus
If a newly recruited Limu affiliate qualifies as a 2K affiliate within their first calendar month of joining, that affiliate is paid a $200 VIP bonus.
Note that a Limu affiliate must purchase a Fast Start Pack in order to qualify for the 2k VIP Bonus.
Residual Unilevel Commissions
Residual commissions in Limu are paid out using a unilevel style compensation structure. A unilevel compensation structure places an affiliate at the top of a unilevel team, with every personally recruited affiliate placed directly under them (level 1):
If any level 1 affiliates go on to recruit new affiliates of their own, they are placed on level 2 of the original affiliate’s unilevel team. If any level 2 affiliates recruit new affiliates of their own they are placed on level 3 and so on and so forth down a theoretically infinite number of levels.
Limu cap unilevel commissions down 8 levels of recruitment, with commissions paid out at 5% of the sales volume generated by an affiliate’s downline.
How many levels a Limu affiliate is paid out on depends on their Limu affiliate membership rank:
- Member – 5% on level 1
- 1K – 5% on levels 1 and 2
- 2K – 5% on levels 1 to 3
- 5K – 5% on levels 1 to 4
- 20K – 5% on level 1 to 5
- 50K – 5% on levels 1 to 6
- 100K or higher – 5% on all eight available unilevel levels
Leadership Development Bonus
Limu’s Leadership Development Bonus serves as an “infinite bonus”, effectively extending unilevel commissions past the eight level for 100K or higher qualified Limu affiliates.
In order to qualify for the Leadership Infinity Bonus, a Limu affiliate must have at least two 100K qualified affiliates somewhere in their unilevel team.
Once this condition is met, an affiliate will then earn 5% on their unilevel team volume, from the ninth level down to infinity.
Once another 100K qualified Limu affiliate is found in the unilevel team volume past the 9th level, 5% continues to be paid out till the level that affiliate is placed on but the percentage lowers to 3% after that level (down to infinity).
Leader’s Pool Bonus
Each month Limu set aside 2% of the “global unilevel volume” and pay it back out to their 100K or higher qualified affiliates.
The 2% of volume is split between two pools with the first being shared by 100K and 200K qualified affiliates, and the second by 500K and 1M qualified affiliates.
How much of a share in each pool a Limu affiliate receives is calculated based on their sales volume from the first eight levels of their unilevel team.
Car Bonus
All Limu affiliates who are at the 20K or higher affiliate membership rank qualify for a $600 a month BMW Car Bonus. Optionally a Limu affiliate can opt to receive the car bonus as a $30 a month cash bonus.
Note that only affiliates who purchase a Fast Track Pack within 30 days of joining the company can qualify for the Limu Car Bonus.
Reward Trips
Limu’s Reward Trips are “all-expenses paid” trips the company rewards affiliates with when they qualify as 50K or higher ranked affiliates.
- 50K (maintain rank for 6 months) – “five days and four nights on a cruise ship in the Bahamas”
- 100K (maintain qualification for 6 months during first qualification period and then every 12 months thereafter) – “locales like the Caribbean and Mexico”
- 500K (occurs “every other year”, must maintain 500K qualification for a full 12 months) – “Nine days and eight nights in one of a possible seven exotic locations (Italy, Central Europe, France, Australia, the British Isles or Tahiti)”
Note that the qualification period for the trips is annually (12 months) and that trips that don’t require 12 month qualification can be qualified throughout the year.
Also note that only affiliates who purchase a Fast Track Pack can qualify for Limu’s Reward Trips.
Limu Equity Program
Limu’s Equity Program is a bit of a mystery, with the company’s compensation plan material only stating
Upon reaching the rank of 500K and above, you will participate in the LIMU Equity Compensation Plan.
No further information is provided however judging by the name, this appears to be some sort of share-issuing scheme within the Limu compensation plan.
Joining Limu
Affiliate membership to Limu costs $135 and comes with 4 bottles of Limu Original.
An affiliate can also sign up with a Fast Track Pack, costing either $499 or $999.
Conclusion
With a solid retail product line-up it is somewhat puzzling to see Limu’s compensation plan stacked towards affiliate autoship recruitment.
One of the extremely positive aspects of the Limu compensation plan was that of enabling customers refer other customers and receive future orders of Limu Original for free.
There’s absolutely no financial incentive for the customer other than receiving product, and all generated volume is credited towards the affiliate who introduced the first customer to Limu’s product line.
On its own I thought this was a fantastic incentive to drive retail activity, however when you take Limu’s compensation plan as a whole, it’s unfortunately severely outweighed.
Before we get into those however I thought it was worth mentioning that I didn’t quite understand the point of Limu’s retail prices. I accessed the company’s online store and found that all prices quoted, even for individual product orders (not autoship) appeared to be wholesale.
Apparently retail prices to exist (Limu provide customers with projected savings off retail prices), however products don’t appear to be available at retail. At least not from a Limu affiliate’s online replicated storefront.
I suppose the idea is that Limu affiliates will try to sell products themselves at retail, however who will be buying the product I have no idea. Why shell out $50 for a bottle of Limu Original when 2 bottles are sold for $60 from an affiliate’s online store?
In this sense retail prices and quoted savings off retail appeared to be somewhat disingenuous, providing customers with a sense of saving when infact nobody is likely to buy at Limu’s, dare I say it, inflated retail prices.
Moving onto the non-retail aspects of Limu’s compensation plan, red flags arise when one takes into consideration Limu’s mandatory autoship culture. I did note one section of the company’s compensation plan mentions:
In order to be qualified for commissions as a LIMU Member, you need to either place an order of 100PV or more each month through our AutoShip program, OR have personally sponsored at least three Customers who have placed orders of at least 300QV in the prior month.
However elsewhere in the compensation plan, commission qualification appears to be solely tied into an affiliate’s requiring a monthly autoship order.
For example, the “Member” affiliate rank qualification, which is the starter affiliate position in the plan, simply states that to qualify for commissions, a Limu affiliate must
- Enroll as a new member (and)
- Create a monthly autoship of 100 PV or more
That’s it. Furthermore in the compensation plan glossary an “Active Member”, ie. an affiliate who qualifies for commissions, is simply defined as:
A Member who is actively enrolled on AutoShip when commissions are calculated and has Personal Volume of at least 100 PV during the calendar month.
The reason mandatory autoship for commission qualification is such a major red flag is because it calls into question the motive behind product purchases by affiliates.
A legitimate MLM company will have affiliates purchasing products of their volition and because they have a genuine need and appreciation of the value of the product(s).
When you force your affiliates to purchase products to qualify for commissions, how can you claim they aren’t just purchasing products “to qualify for commissions”?
You can’t, and therein lies a problem.
The second major red flag is the Fast Track Packs Limu market. Not the packs themselves but the way in which the purchase of them is integrated into the compensation plan, and the way these packs are marketed to prospective affiliates.
Limu will no doubt argue that their affiliates most certainly do buy their products, autoship or otherwise, because they want to, however it’s a hard case to make when Limu’s own marketing material advises prospective affiliates:
How do I get paid?
-Choose a Fast Track Pack.
-Set up your monthly AutoShip with 100PV.
-Promote The LIMU EXPERIENCE by sharing it with others
Conveniently, the above Limu corporate marketing copy brings me to the second major red-flag in the compensation plan, the Fast Track Packs. Not so much the packs themselves but how they are marketed and integrated directly into Limu’s compensation plan as a commission qualifier.
Here’s an example of the copy used to market the Fast Start Packs written and used by Limu themselves:
Why go the Fast Track Pack route? Well, the easy answer is that you’ll earn more and build faster than you would normally.
Again, the motive behind any Fast Track Pack purchase is immediately called into question by virtue of the fact that said purchase grants an affiliate increased earning potential.
Are affiliate’s buying the Packs because they see value in the packs themselves or just because, as Limu themselves state, they’ll “earn more”?
And “build faster” is of course just another way to say “recruit faster”, which is another problem with the way the Fast Start Packs are integrated into Limu’s business model.
Here’s how Limu suggest is the “fastest way” for affiliates successfully start off in the business:
The fastest way to become a 2K VIP is by starting off with a $499 Fast Track Pack and enrolling 3 new Members who also purchase a fast track pack.
Step 1, buy a Fast Start Pack and, Step 2, recruit others who do the same. Again, arguing that affiliates are purchasing these Packs for anything but commission qualification and “fast” success via the compensation plan doesn’t carry much weight.
Especially when affiliates who don’t purchase a Fast Start Pack lock themselves out of the upper tiers of Limu’s compensation plan bonuses. The Car Bonus, Fast Track Bonus and Luxury Trips bonuses all require the mandatory purchase of a Fast Track Bonus within 30 days of a newly recruited affiliate joining the company.
No buy? No bonus, regardless of whether an affiliate meets the additional affiliate rank qualifications or not.
This no doubt lends itself to Limu affiliates running around focusing on Fast Track Pack affiliate recruitment, building a business by encouraging their downlines to recruit (who in turn do the same).
Precisely not how you want to grow an MLM business as you pretty much ignore retail product sales and wind up with a company with close to 100% affiliate revenue generation.
Finally there’s the murky “equity plan” mentioned in the compensation plan yet for some reason not explained or clarified as to what exactly it is.
I did try to find some additional information but Limu themselves do not provide any to the general public (prospective affiliates).
I marked this as strange for something marketed as the ‘most exciting aspect of the Limu compensation plan‘ (actual quote taken from a Limu affiliate website).
All in all despite the great customer reward program Limu have, clearly the rest of their compensation plan is geared towards recruiting new affiliates with a Fast Start Pack and whacking them on autoship.
With free product the sole incentivization on the retail side of things, I’m not seeing it prevail or even strike a balance against the rest of the plan.
As a prospective Limu affiliate definitely ask your potential upline as to their retail vs. affiliate generated volume, and pay particular attention to how you were approached to the business opportunity.
Did your potential upline lead with the product or did they simply launch into a “the fastest way to make money is to sign up, buy a Fast Track Pack and “share” the opportunity with others” type spiel.
A potential upline might not be as blunt as how I’ve put it above but given the way Limu’s compensation plan is laid out, I’m pretty confident most prospects are going to find they’re approached via the latter.
It’s pretty well known that many affiliates, if not all, end up with garages and rooms full of product they purchased in order to qualify for top commissions. And many end up selling them at a discount on eBay and/or Amazon.com.
It would be quite interesting if somebody made a study at what discount MLM products go on Ebay. Maybe we will finally see their true market value.
Let me put it this way:
I know a lot of Tongans, and even a Tongan Royalty or two.
And none of them take that seaweed stuff. ‘nuf said.
I don’t know about the compensation if it is good or bad but I do know that my health & the health of my family has improved drastically…especially my mothers who had aggressive cancer…no claim of cure but she is 100% free of angry cancer with no CHEMO or MEDS…
I am a teacher & haven’t been sick in over 2 years so for me its not a problem to enjoy drinking something that will keep me healthy. JS
Are you sure? “100% free of cancer now” sure sounds like your crediting Limu with curing it to me.
And how many other reasons can you come up with that would explain your mothers situation “WITHOUT” Limu being involved ?
Forget what the FTC letter of the law says, you are clearly inferring Limu had something to do with your mother being in remission.
Perhaps you should take to adding a “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” when you make such “no claim of cure” statements.
Interesting that David did not say LIMU Affiliates had garages full of product. I know some “affilates” of amway and avon, avicare who have a boatload of product.
Anyway a “I know” statement trumps a “pretty well known” statement.
Remissions without medications or treatment do happen. But chance for it is less than 0.1%. Thats how Popes get their sainthoods. They have to touch enough sick people hoping that two of them go into remission without treatment. Theoretically it is quite possible even without fakers.
In your case, you are really fast to mention “no claim of cure” due to Limu, but the whole post say exactly the opposite. This disclaimer can not be a coincidence. You were taught how post these messages. Which means your story is bogus.
This reminds me: fucoidan has NO proven effect on humans, as per Wikipedia. So far, only inconsistent results in rabbits, and some human cells in a petri dish.
Woo until proven otherwise.
I’m not saying right or wrong on this, I know nothing about it and have no opinion…
But, I will say wikipedia is notorious for it’s biased information and the way it ignores and removes any information that disagrees with it’s bias.
Wikipedia is NOT a trustworthy resource.
Thom
NO LINK:cancercenter.com/discussions/blog/fucoidan-may-help-fight-cancer-but-research-is-still-early/
see, she’s only free of ‘angry cancer’ which we all know doesn’t exist. Unless that’s new code for the need of anger management.
No research with Limu products and academic research. Don’t be fooled by the hype.
Do your research first. Why isn’t the product more readily available if group claims to help out?
I’ve been a LIMU affiliate for about a year, just working part-time sharing the products. I’m a full-time State employee.
I have past experience with other NW marketing companies and have definitely found that is was easy to have loads of product on hand. This is not the case with LIMU.
What the reviewer I don’t think clearly spelled out is that all affiliates, even low-key like me………. have the opportunity to earn more commissions if they want to recruit. But it is not required.
If they just want to take the product, they have the option and added bonus/incentive…….. to get their product for free.
Very simple…they get on autoship (not uncommon) and all that is required is to have three other people who also want to just use the product….. if they are on autoship too for the convenience…….then mine is free.
Of course, the three that generate mine for free also have the same option….. Plus $130 for a month supply of liquid supplement is not out of range….
I like the simplicity of drinking a liquid supplement twice daily instead of popping pills/vitamins.
Many people choose LIMU due to inability to easily swallow supplement……… I’ve found that most “bashers” of the product have probably never even tried it.
And to reference something from Wikapedia is like saying you read it in the National Inquirer……that’s funny. Seriously?
Whether it is required or not is irrelevant. That recruitment commissions are offered at all is the problem.
So recruitment commissions and autoship… sounds like I was spot on.
From its most basic precept… LIMU (MLM/pyramid type promotion) falls flat on its face.
Whenever the focus is on getting people to work beneath you INSTEAD of the product itself, then something is fundamentally flawed. Wake up.
Condemnation without PROPER investigation is the height of all ignorance. Then it’s just NOT for you! More for us. Have a Blessed day! 🙂
Can’t get much more thorough than Limu’s own compensation plan.
Yawn, next.
and yet here you are doing exactly that.
That may very well be so.
But, if you DO perform proper investigation and find all the elements of an illegal pyramid scheme selling overpriced and overhyped scientifically unproven products, what then ??
Responding to Previous posts:
Well it’s a good thing the Limu Company is not illegal. If you do proper investigation you will see LIMU is not illegal and the reason that Royal Tongan Limu was shut down initially was because of a misprint that said it’s product could “cure” certain diseases and ailments, which it could not, obviously.
Yes you have to promote and sell a product to gain profit, just like any business, but imagine this: What if all of (or most of) the main companies, like Apple, Windows, Redbull, etc. did not have promoters, or sponsored people for events or had commercials? How would you know about it?
If you saw it and bought it at a store, with no advertisement, how would you tell your friends about it and how well it works for you? The promoters are the “billboards” for LIMU and you have to pay for advertisement.
What better way than to reward your promoters than with incentives and bonuses for obtaining new promoters and customers? That’s how they pay for advertisement, through their promoters.
You have to promote and with LIMU, as well as any “Multi Level Marketing” (which is what MLM means) program you have to have multiple levels of promoters who promote and inform people in order to get the product out to the general public and yes you may have to believe in and or indulge in the product you’re selling.
People need stories and something to believe in or else marketing in general fails. the next time you see a commercial for Coca cola or Iphone or games apps for mobile devices,
I dare you to start a forum thread about how it is a scam and try not to compare it to how LIMU works.
Think of how their employees are paid to promote, and don’t think they aren’t out there because they are and will try to get you to play or buy their games. It’s all marketing.
If you force your affiliates to purchase autoship to earn MLM commissions, you’re operating a product-based pyramid scheme (see Vemma).
Who cares? None of them are MLM companies.
Neither Coca-cola nor Apple require their salesforce to purchase product in order to earn MLM commissions. Again with the dumbass non-MLM comparisons.
None of which has anything to do with an MLM company forcing its’ members into the sort of autoship arrangement that characterizes illegal pyramid schemes.
Ah, there’s the waffle… In order to be a promoter, you have to be a customer (so your upline can make money off you).
Which basically means you totally miss the point of SALES. The idea is to make the OTHER party want whatever it is you’re selling. Whether (you) the seller want it is irrelevant.
There are plenty of stuff being sold or marketed that the seller cannot / will not use. Huge machineries, freight services, large trucks, mutual funds… list goes on and on.
You’re basically repeating what your upline taught you by rote because they need to JUSTIFY why you have to buy to make them money, because now, you’ve been Borg’ed… You’re repeating the stuff to your downline because YOU need to justify why they have to buy to make YOU money.
A childhood friend called me tonight asking if I had 20 minutes to talk about a new side business of his. After spending 30 minutes on the phone with a 3 way call between him and his “mentor” I’ve discovered Limu.
It totally baffles me now someone could be naive enough to get involved with these types of pyramid scams.
Once someone tells me I have to buy a product to sell it, I’m out. Worst part is the monthly auto-ship…
Limu profits off the uneducated and intellectually challenged. Every pyramid scam I’ve ever heard of has the same stupid car bonus.
When nobody sells the product but instead sells the idea of signing people up, it’s a dead giveaway. Stay away!
When looking at Limu as a business venture consider the facts and see if you’re willing to work with them.
1.) Company requires an auto-ship because of the model it chose, MLM. If you do not think you can acquire 3 customers to eliminate the cost, don’t attempt to build this as a business. This requires sales skills you either have or need to learn. Sales are THE foundation of every business.
2.) You can recruit and train people to do this business and earn a % of their success. If you are uncomfortable with the idea that someone that invited and trained you to do this business with make $200 for every $1000 you make then don’t do this. If you are uncomfortable with the idea that for every person you train you’ll receive % of their success, don’t do this.
3.) If you are not willing to socialize with people with the intent to bring up the product or business, then don’t do this.
4.) If you are not willing to discover that this business model is for people that are excited about the business model and/or product and NOT for people that see it as negative or a scam, don’t do this.
Other’s will look down upon you for being involved in one of those “things”. If you are not comfortable with that feeling then don’t do this.
Most people fail to make real money because they jump in and are not properly directed to focus on sales of the product to people that are LOOKING and mentioning the business to people that are LOOKING. You are not suppose to trick people into hearing or attending something they do not want to hear!
All people run their own business so it’s not regulated and Limu promoters will continue suck practices but if you are ever on my squad, you’ll be PROPERLY trained.
(Ozedit: Recruitment spam removed)
As for the product, get real nay sayers, no one SHOULD be making health claims of treatment and cures because they aren’t proven. Do the ingredients look healthier then other stuff you consume, if yes, well maybe worth a shot.
Honey helps a sore throat. Oh crap shut me down because I didn’t quote a science journal! haha. My sarcastic way of saying that promoters should promote it as healthier then alternatives that people are buying and are looking for something NEW.
MLM doesn’t require affiliate autoship recruitment, product-based pyramid schemes do.
You should be selling products to retail customers, not exclusively focusing on recruiting affiliates on autoship.
The MLM industry is most certainly regulated. And the company is responsible for the conduct of its affiliates.
If you were going to market a product with honey in it via medical claims, then yeah you’d need FDA approval.
You don’t seem very educated about the MLM industry in general. I hope you’re not misinforming your “team”.
I ran a search for Limu’s compensation plan to get some insight as I was comparing with other types of MLM plans. Most of my interest is educational as I believe this to be a fantastic industry but one that’s unforgiving if a person doesn’t continue to grow.
As often is the case with online articles, the comments tell a different story, or at a minimum, add to the story.
Oz, I appreciated the depth and time it took to complete the write up, however I also found it consistently negative about The Limu Company.. not necessarily about everything but yours was generally a negative response.
You obviously take issue with requiring of an autoship. Ok, fair enough.
To me, it makes perfect sense to require an autoship for this type of MLM product. Hopefully, that opinion is ‘fair enough’ too. As I read your responses though to the comments made, it seems you’re just itching to be argumentative.
If your write up is solid enough, then let it stand on its own. Defending it as you are suggests that there are holes. Or, if that’s not a fair statement, it suggests that you may have approached this with your mind made up already. Personally, I was hoping for a more unbiased article.
Those are my thoughts. Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed article.
Me and every US regulator regulating MLM.
Affiliate autoship recruitment in MLM = pyramid scheme (ref: Vemma, Herbalife).
Opinions don’t compare to facts. While you’re welcome to provide your opinion on pyramid scheme business models, the facts are as they stand.
There’s a difference between defending mistakes and pointing out incorrect information.
Your comment is a great example of someone attempting to counter established MLM regulatory guidelines with incorrect information (“opinion”).
Having dismissed that affiliate autoship recruitment in MLM = pyramid scheme, for no provided reason, the only bias here is coming from you.
I have an appointment with a LIMU affiliate tomorrow. I was doing my homework tonight.
Thank you for the article & comments. I have learned lot on both sides.
jeff
No worries Jeff, glad you found the information and discussion useful.
I posted this once and refreshed the page and never saw it so I apologize if it ends up posting twice…..
I am definitely a promoter within the company. I have never been in any other MLM company before this and I have been in this one for quite a few years now.
When I first started in LIMU it was introduced to me with the products. Well, one specifically was a healthy alternative to something that was terrible for my body and mind that was I was consuming daily. Then, eventually I got into the business side of things.
One thing I have realized is that this company can work for you if you work it. If you enroll and do nothing you will achieve nothing.
Again, I have no other network marketing experience but I do have sales experience. I worked at ATT for four years before I finally stopped and took a step back into Limu and chose to truly invest my time and energy into it.
I can honestly say that I sell NOTHING with the LIMU company. I told myself when I left ATT that I would never be in a sales position again, and I’m not.
I share the product that I bought originally and the product that I buy monthly with people so that they can taste it for themselves. I also drink the majority of my monthly autoship because it’s actually a really good energy drink.
Many, many, many people within the company are successful. When I was introduced to the business side of LIMU rather than the customer side it was presented to me in a way that touched my heart, and I feel like this article is strictly an article to “debunk” what isn’t kosher to the writer.
I understand you have your own experience and “facts” to argue and that’s okay but it’s obvious that you’ve never truly been a part of who we are in LIMU.
Your article makes it feel like a cold and desolate waste of money for a fast track pack and that autoship is the devil when (if you really work) you can get all of that money back immediately and your monthly product paid for immediately.
My main point is the way that limu was introduced to me was in a way that really hit home.
If you join the team the person that gets you in is 100% there for you and want to see you succeed (obviously or they won’t make anything) but this brings together people in such a way that is almost magical in my opinion.
Most people have something in their life they want to change. That may be more financial freedom, that may be more time with their kids, or that may simply be filthy rich.
Any of it is possible if you just put the work in and get the right people on your own team.
I have people within the company that are waaaay above me in rank coming to my town, my house, my LIMU parties to help me out at mine. Everyone within the company does everything they can to help you achieve success.
The black BMW is a real thing. It’s also attainable. Maybe a little gimmicky but honestly, if you can achieve the ability to get a black BMW and have it paid for what’s wrong with that?
The thing I’ve realized the most being in the company is that LIMU is literally about helping people change their lives one day at a time while introducing something to them to help them become healthier and wealthier.
I’m not trying at all to get anyone to join the company with this post or to even argue with the economics briefing you posted originally. I’m just trying to give the true identity of who we are in LIMU and why we do what we do.
Sometimes, it’s not only about what the bad mean company is doing to rip you off sometimes it’s about coming up with a way that people can share a product and idea that they can be passionate about with people they love and make a difference in their own lives and the people they share with.
Okay, that’s my two bits. Hope maybe I could give a little more insight to “the other side” of what LIMU is as a whole and maybe not have such a negative connotation on the entirety of its being.
I will say you definitely did your research. It might be because of when the post was made but there’s a rank of 750k I noticed was missing in the breakdown of the prosperity plan.
If you’re not selling a product or service to retail customers, you’re doing MLM wrong.
An MLM company forcing affiliates onto autoship or making a compensation plan unattractive to the point autoship is the obvious commission qualifier, with commissions qualified for mostly paid out on recruited affiliates also on autoship, is a pyramid scheme (ref. Vemma and Herbalife).
Whatever you read into our analysis beyond the blatant pay to play mechanic of the Fast Track Packs is neither here nor there.
Limu is not some magical unicorn culture company exempt from facts or regulation.
Granted this review was written in 2013 and might need an update, but if autoship is still the core of Limu’s compensation plan then the central problem identified in 2013 still exists.
Chris’s honesty is refreshing.
Amway definitely had it pegged with “Buy from yourself and teach others to do the same.”
Too bad it decribes a pyramid scheme as is the case with MLM.
@OZ
Thank you for staying true to your article in your opinion and kudos on your dedication for argumentation.
I guess it’s the fact that I’ve never been in any other MLM’s that keep me from having literally any problem with this company or perhaps it’s that I know what’s in the hearts of the people I know that are in it.
Either way, in reference to the selling the only thing I could say I even come remotely close to “selling” would be my dedication to helping you achieve success to help you change your life.
My team consists of my friends that I actually do care about and want to see succeed. As well as some people I don’t know that I’m happy are succeeding.
Not every part of LIMU may be a “magical unicorn culture company exempt from rules and regulations” but it sure does feel like it comes close sometimes.
Literally the only way you get paid is based on the volume of LIMU that is purchased in your organization.
As a promoter you can only get paid conissions if you started with a fast track pack. Meaning, you bought your own LIMU products and you’ve had other people on your team but products.
You also make money on someone’s purchase if they aren’t a promoter. I suppose I just don’t quite understand the point you’re making and how it applies when you absolutely pay for a product, receive that product, and the people above you in the team get paid because they have talked you into buying product.
Despite whatever dreams and ideas come out of buying that product. It’s a legitimate business model and a pretty decent compensation plan if my bank account tells me correctly.
Now, personally despite what I think about the products (which is good) that’s not the main part I y’all about if someone is interested because that’s not where MY passion is.
Yes, the products are great in my opinion and I consume them myself but I share with people the ability to change your life because I’ve seen it done by too many people not to believe it and have my own experiences with that idea.
But the only way…. ONLY way I make money is if someone buys products. So, I don’t understand how that’s not receiving a commission based on product sales within your organization.
@Char
I pretty much explained my thoughts in the previous post to “OZ” but I have always thought a “pyramid scheme” was applicable if you pay for something you don’t receive, when in LIMU you do pay for whatever product you’d like for the month.
Again, I have never been in any MLM company before and I’m not in control of anything the company does or says. These are my own opinions and ideas.
I don’t know MLM rules and regulations but I do know what I’ve researched myself and the only things that I can confirm is that I only get paid if someone buys products (not a pyramid scheme I believe) and I and my downline always receive the products they paid for (also not a pyramid scheme) as far as I’m aware.
Again, @OZ kudos to staying true to your original post and finding whatever it was you didn’t like about specifics I said and picking them apart.
@Char thanks for the little tag at the beginning of your post I try to keep it honest because I can’t speak on what I don’t know.
@Chris,
I’m curious…what would you decide to do if you found out that you were participating in a pyramid scheme?
@Yo Well, seeing as how that particular build of marketing (or whatever you’d like to call it) is illegal I definitely would not be a part of it anymore.
At this point wouldn’t you think the company would have been shut down if it did have this structure though?
I mean 14 years is a LONG time to go unnoticed after plenty of other companies have been shut down because of their shade and non delivery of products in exchange for money.
I have no doubt that I’m a promoter in a legitimate multi-level marketing company. But I’m not the type of person to want to cheat other people. It’s not fair to people and I have no reason to do so.
@Chris,
What would I need to do, if I joined your downline, to earn?
What would be the first three steps you would suggest that I follow?
@Yo
To be capable of earning commission you start with purchasing one of your own Fast Track Packs which includes enough product for you to host your own “Experience Party” and let everyone sample the products and set up your monthly autoship of whatever products you would like for yourself.
I personally get the second version of our energy drinks because I really like energy drinks.
Then, you set up a date and time for your party and we have it and share how your friends/family/guests can do the exact same thing after they see/taste the products for themselves so they can see what the experience is all about and see what products they like the most. Then we help the ones that sign up do the same thing.
I typically have most of my new promoters sign up at Experience Parties. I would say about 90% of all new promoters come from Experience Parties actually.
@Yo
I just realized you said three things to start, I didn’t catch that the first time.
1. Purchase a fast track pack from the person that told you about LIMU
(I also suggest you work very closely with the person that told you about it if this is the case because they are your upline for a reason. They can show you what we call “the process” and how to share correctly and effectively.)
PS: Your upline or at least myself NEVER will tell you to push someone. If they have no interest or desire to be part of the team don’t try to convince them.
A lot of us always say “If you have to drag them in, you’ll have to drag them around.”
2. Choose your autoship products.
3. Start sharing the experience and products with people and start getting rewarded to do so.
Hmmm, I guess I did cover three before. They just weren’t as concise.
@Chris,
So for me to earn, a good strategy is to get on autoship immediately, then get three others or more who do the same, then help those to also repeat this process?
@Yo
Yes, that’s exactly right. Starting with one of the Fast Track packs.
Without a Fast Track pack you can’t become eligible for the BMW Club bonus.
@Chris,
What percentage would you say that members of your team are recruiting others, versus members that are not recruiting anyone?
From what you are saying, it appears that the only way to earn is by recruiting since there is not really any money in simply selling the products.
Am I correct?
You actually do earn on simply product sales. You earn the same amount of money on someone only buying product as you do if someone comes in as a promoter and buys product.
The only way you are eligible for commission is if you are a promoter as well.
25% of my business is customer based only (meaning they didn’t purchase a fast track pack to become a promoter and earn their own commissions for sharing the product).
To put it simply anything anyone does under your downline if it involves purchasing product from the company you make commission on it.
Now, the fast track packs do earn you more than single product purchases because they have more product in them, so naturally that pays you more than say ordering one bottle of product.
You make commission on every single purchase that takes place within your business up to a certain level.
You want to help other people become and start as promoters because first of all you do make more comission if they buy a fast track pack because it costs more but you also want them to become a promoter so that you can help them do exactly what you’re doing and make money themselves as well.
Our goal is to get your initial investment back in 7 days. That’s what we always shoot for. And once you have three promoters under you in your downline your monthly product is also paid for.
We always try to get each new promoter to this point at least so they end up being out 0.00. Everything past that point is profit.
Plus, when you add promoters into your own business you know that as long as you help them build their team you’re also gonna get commission on all of the promoters and customers that joined under them!
Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions.
I don’t seem to be able to find any latest company affiliate income disclosures?
@Yo
It’s because they keep it simple and call it the prosperity plan.
A quick Google search for that verbiage may give you the results you’re looking for.
@Chris
You would do well to educate yourself on the concept of a “product-based pyramid scheme” and the recent FTC litigation against Vemma and Herbalife.
Having a product is not a regulatory exemption. Technically it never was yet “having a product” was trotted out till roughly the early 2000s by supporters of pyramid schemes attempting to justify fraud.
When there’s little to no retail activity in an MLM company, the product doesn’t matter – it’s the income opportunity being marketed and sold.
Any attached products or services then serve as a vehicle to fund to the compensation plan. In this scenario recruitment over retail activity is what is focused on.
The hallmark of a pyramid scheme is paying participants to recruit new participants, on the promise they’ll earn income if they recruit others on the promise of income, if they recruit… and so on and so forth.
The product-based pyramid scheme model is a variation of this, where emphasis is placed on the product in an attempt to divert attention away from how the majority of commissions are earned company-wide: recruitment of new affiliates and they’re continued spend of money in the pursuit of recruiting others to recoup their losses.
The counter to this is “Oh but we have plenty of affiliates who aren’t interested in recruiting, they love the product and are happy to pay for it”.
Unfortunately this argument holds no merit in the absence of significant retail sales activity. If genuine retail demand existed for the product or service in question outside of the income opportunity, significant retail sales would be occurring.
This came up in both the Vemma and Herbalife litigation, with neither company able to redefine the definition of a pyramid scheme or be willing to pursue the matter in court.
Ultimately where your passion might or might not be is irrelevant, when you’re paying a monthly fee to qualify to earn commissions on recruits who also pay a monthly fee to qualify for commissions, looking to recruit others who will also pay a monthly fee to qualify for commissions, who will… and so and so forth.
I say this bluntly as a matter of fact without any malice or accusation: You’re in a pyramid scheme.
There is no opinion to it or negotiation of facts: If you’re in an MLM company and not making retail sales, you’re getting paid to recruit.
This is the “if it was illegal it’d be shut down” argument. Doesn’t hold any water because a pyramid scheme can be identified irrespective of whether authorities have taken any action against it.
With respect to an MLM company, a pyramid scheme is identified by going over the business model and likelihood of retail sales activity.
Regulators do exactly the same thing in their investigations, with the added step of demanding evidence of retail sales and figures.
A regulator taking action against a company is an attempt to hold those behind a suspected fraudulent business responsible.
A lack of regulatory action in no way implies the opposite.
If I could break it down even further, the “but we haven’t been shutdown” argument is akin to a bank robber claiming no identifiable crime has been committed because they haven’t been arrested.
@Oz
When someone buys a fast track pack to become eligible for their own commission I make commission on that retail value of products purchased.
That money doesn’t just disappear. You are buying products to become eligible for commissions.
I personally do not agree with the way you’re forming the comission structure to fit within your agenda. Which is fine.
I have honestly thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts and seeing what all information you might come up with.
Great information! Thank you for your feedback and opinions! Appreciate your research! Have a great day and I enjoyed having an outlet to voice my own opinions!
I appreciate your timely responses to my posts and hope you have luck in whatever you do. Thanks again!
Otherwise known as pay to play, and a major compliance red flag.
That’s not the same as earning a commission on the sale of a product or service to a retail customer.
You’ve recruited an affiliate who is spending money to qualify to earn commissions, likely when they recruit new affiliates, who will also spend money to qualify to earn commissions, who will recruit… and so on and so forth.
Point is you’re getting paid to recruit, no matter how you dress it up.
Getting paid to recruit in MLM with insignificant retail sales = pyramid scheme.
I’ve presented hard facts and you’ve attempted to counter them with opinions, mistaking my own presentation of facts as opinions in the process. The “agenda” trope has also been trotted out.
Best of luck with the scamming. At least now you can’t say nobody took the time to spell it out to you.
@Oz
Don’t you understand I get paid on any volume that goes through my business? Customer sales or Promoter sales?
It is an option to bring in promoters into your business. Not mandatory. It is a choice. I do not scam people I will not scam people. I love the people that I’ve gotten into my business and only want the best for them.
I literally make the same comission on their product purchases ether they are a customer or a promoter. No matter what. Feedback was referring to your “facts” and opinions were referring to your opinions.
I understand that you’re telling me the “rules and regulations” of pyramid schemes VS. MLM VS. Direct Sales. But I simply don’t agree with the way that you’re spinning different outliners in the compensation plan to put negative connotations on it when it’s a choice for an individual to make themselves.
You have no right to assume what I’m doing to or with the people I recruit, nor does your condescending attitude have any needed input in your snarky remarks.
I was trying to remain civil with you and just try to understand more of what you were trying to say and see if you’d ever really known what LIMU was about really.
As I see now it really doesn’t matter because you’re sinply combative and looking for someone to argue with. That will no longer be me.
I hope at this point, just for the sake of your sanity you have other forums with people to argue with because it sadly seems like all you’re willing and ready to do is attack.
Again, have a good day Oz. May you find what it is you’re looking for.
Don’t you understand that has nothing to do with getting paid to recruit?
Retail customer sales are clearly not happening. And why would they when the focus of Limu affiliates is to buy in for hundreds of dollars to qualify for commissions, sign up for autoship to continue to qualify for commissions and then recruit others who do the same to earn commissions?
Choosing to participate in a recruitment-driven pyramid scheme does negate participation in a scam. You might be in denial about it but facts are facts.
I haven’t provided any opinions. I’m not interested in debating the merits or justifications of a pyramid scheme.
Once a fraudulent business model has been identified, that’s the end of the discussion as far as I’m concerned.
I don’t need to. You’ve confirmed participation in a recruitment-driven pyramid scheme in your comments.
I can appreciate your used to dealing with easy marks. I’m obviously not one.
The shock typically brings out the conspiracy theories, whinging and ultimately a retreat.
You cannot defend a pyramid scheme, simple as that. So instead we get a litany of excuses as to why you’ll no longer try to.
I’ve been nothing but polite in stating the facts pertaining to your business and how you’re earning commissions in Limu.
Rather than acknowledge the facts, you’ve taken them as a personal insult and thrown up the blinders.
What you should be doing is reading up on the recent FTC litigation against Vemma and Herbalife and educating yourself. But you won’t, because it’s easier to remain in denial and continue make a quick buck at the expense of others.
Cut the crap and try being honest. Failing that, best of luck with the scamming.
The claims I read about were made on making health claims. Like curing this or that. So, I did look into what you were talking about and that’s what I found.
The president of our company recently kicked a lot of people out for making claims like that. (And he wasn’t made to do so)
I’m not “throwing up the blinders” I just realize that talking to you is a waste of time. And when you do tell me I’m scamming people when there’s much more to it than that you are attacking my character.
Yes, I do take that as a personal insult. You can’t play coy and professional now. I don’t know enough about the rules and regulations of network marketing to give you hard facts on policy.
As I previously clearly stated. I’m not going to give information that I know nothing about. It wouldn’t be fair to anyone that would want to read this.
But the way you accuse me (and other people in this thread) of doing something that I’m not and assuming you know what someone is thinking or doing is naive and at best conceded.
There is no “crap” I know what we do and I know how we do it.
I’m happy to give my friends and family a chance to change their lives and have seen many close friends do it because of LIMU, and my families happiness and wealth is proof enough for me.
Thanks again Oz. You’ve actually helped me realize a little bit more about why I’m here in the first place. Thanks bud.
Accepting the facts is a waste of time to anyone trying to make a quick buck screwing people over through pyramid recruitment. This comes as no surprise.
There is no other word that more accurately describes someone knowingly recruiting people into a pyramid scheme.
You don’t want to hear or acknowledge it? Awesome. Welcome to the real world.
One thing you certainly cannot do now is plead ignorance. If you continue to recruit people into a pyramid scheme after its been laid out for you, you’re scamming them. Period.
Well how about shutting the fuck up until you’ve done the research then? I’ve spent almost ten years reporting on MLM regulation and it’s too early in my morning for this garbage.
Have a nice day!
You knew from the very beginning when I said I didn’t. Why did you even respond if it bothered you so much?
“Combative” “looking for an argument” yeah…. I’m not the only one who noticed that about you. It’s funny you’re so bothered when I clarified at the very beginning I didn’t know much about it and that this was the first MLM company I was in.
Don’t respond if you have an issue with it jerk. It’s no surprise now you make it a point to throw MLM’s under the bus. I don’t see how anyone in any company would want you on their team.
It doesn’t bother me. Couldn’t care less.
You are the one having a big boy cry about being factually identified as a scammer ripping people off in a recruitment-driven pyramid scheme.
Yet you present yourself as bull-headed as any scammer in denial I’ve come across.
You can’t plead ignorance and challenge facts pertaining to an MLM business model centered on recruitment being a pyramid scheme with any authority.
We’re at the point in the conversation where I start marking your waffle as spam.
This isn’t Facebook, so unless you’ve going to build a case for why an MLM company with little to no retail isn’t a pyramid scheme – seems we’re done here.
Do yourself and your victims a favor, go and research the FTC vs. Vemma and Herbalife cases.
If you started this conversation with recruitment on your mind… Bloody hell, talk about a fish out of water.
This isn’t about your feelings. This isn’t about how you see yourself. This isn’t about why you think you’re here or what you hope to get out of it.
Take a step back and digest the facts pertaining to how you earn commissions in Limu and what that means from a regulatory standpoint. Or don’t, and continue to scam people.
Again, don’t really care. But please stop wasting my time arguing regulatory compliance when you admittedly know nothing about it.
I know all I need to know in reference to any information coming from you anymore. Thanks though.
You could have saved us both a lot of time if you just opened with “I know fuck all about MLM regulation and am not interested in expanding my knowledge of such matters in the slightest”.
Take heed dear readers, past, present and future. Maintaining a record of conversations like this for the benefit of others is a part of why I do what I do.
If recruiting someone would have been my intent by commenting I would have gone much further speaking with “Yo.”
And what you’re not understand is it’s not quite as easy to apply the fact that this isn’t about my emotions or how I see myself because (Ozedit: marketing spam removed)
What you’re failing to understand is this isn’t about you and there is no justification for pyramid schemes.
I don’t care what your personal story is, you’re recruiting people into a scam and ultimately your profit is their loss.
A sob story about hardship doesn’t change the facts.
Wtf?! How was that marketing spam?! That was legitimately the point I was trying to make to tell you how I was coming into this. Damnit I typed a lot too.
Anyway, the part I’m not understand is why you’re saying it’s a “scam” because you buy the products to host your own experience parties so that you can make commissions.
If you wanted to you could get free product as just a customer as well?!
As I stated, how you began scamming people in a pyramid scheme or why is irrelevant.
The parties are a vehicle for recruitment. They shouldn’t be but owing to Limu’s compensation plan, they are.
What is tacked onto a compensation plan that is driven primarily by recruitment is irrelevant. An MLM compensation plan driven primarily by recruitment is a pyramid scheme.
You need to be earning the majority of your commissions through genuine sales to retail customers.
Giving away samples you have purchased as an affiliate != retail sales.
Not withstanding secondary compliance issues such as pay to play and inventory loading as a result of widespread autoship commission qualification.
Okay. Note taken. Thanks for clarifying. I need to look into the legitimate regulations I realize.
You honestly just made me combative with just being such a jerk at times. Maybe that’s your version of passion for what you do. I dunno.
I realize now this is not the forum for beliefs or life changing passion in something. It’s just hard to put stock into a point that’s made when you’ve spent a good portion of your adult life fighting to make something of it.
I will do my own research into the rules and regulations of MLM’s. Thank you for kindof toning down for a minute so I could understand your point without filling up with rage at you.
I can appreciate that but it’s also never too late to make changes and reevaluate what you’re doing with your life.
@Chris
For the sake of explanation, let’s assume the drinks are just cheap sugar water for $50 each. As long as I’m making commissions, as one who recruits and promises others to make commissions, what does it matter when the money is “changing my life”?
You can say no one would buy it then – not true. They would if they also thought they’d make money. See how that works?
Throw in some b vitamins, or whatever, just enough so honest people believe in the product, and get them on board too. You’ve heard of beer goggles? Money makes the juice look so much better.
The point here is the product must have real retail viability. This is proven by those not incentivized by the income opportunity. Otherwise you could bottle sugar water and run a Ponzi scheme.
All the product is doing is masking the shuffling of money. That’s why it’s a scam.
Get the majority of people to buy it retail without any reward and it would be legit. But MLM doesn’t work that way which is why MLMing is a scam.
That’s another conversation though – proven many times over.
@Char
Thank you for your explanation.
@Yo Well, seeing as how that particular build of marketing (or whatever you’d like to call it) is illegal I definitely would not be a part of it anymore.
Aside from the legality of both participating in and / or owning a pyramid / endless chain recruitment scheme, there’s one very important thing members and potential members should remember.
Such schemes are illegal because they are guaranteed to fail, leaving members out of pocket.
Today, tomorrow, next week – who cares?
It IS going to fail, sooner rather than later.
Gamble you are smart enough to escape in time, if you like, but, let’s not pretend arguing about legality or not is the only problem facing recruits.
@Yo
Yes, thank you for the reiteration. You’re clever and stuff.
Upon completing my own research I will make the best decision to maintain my character and integrity. IF I find the information irrefutable.
All I know is that ever since drinking Limu for a couple of years I now have have a thyroid disorder call Hashimotos.
I was completely healthy before drinking this product. The Limu Company stole my health and now I pay for it daily.