MLM schemes.

[BANGKOK RED]

No I am not pushing one yet, although I may be soon.

Iv'e looked at a few in the past and have generally dismissed them as a scam, which most are but I have stumled across one called Global Domains Inc. Has anybody heard of it?

I am dead skeptical about these things and despite relentless google searches the most negative thing that I can find about them is that it isn't as easy as it sounds, although it still works and big bucks have been made.

For only 10 USD a month I might give it a whirl after some further information (I need to feel more comfortable about the payment system as it is done by credit card?

Has anybody else tried an MLM/pyramid scheme, and did it work at all?

[Samdy Gray]

If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Nobody gets rich from MLM schemes apart from the con-men who start them.

Personally I'd steer well clear.

[Batch]

Has anybody else tried an MLM/pyramid scheme, and did it work at all?

If it's like a pyramid/reverse pyramid avoid at all costs unless you are the one setting it up at (or very near) the top. The first few get minted, the rest get stiffed.

It's basic maths, ultimately it's impossible to get out more money than people put in. And there isn't an endless supply of people putting in the cash. And the further down the chain you are the less likely you will see a return.

Or have I misunderstood what an MLM is?

[Samdy Gray]

Normally MLM's (multi-level marketing) are legitimate and pyramid schemes are the dodgy ones.

For example, things like the Kleeneze and Betterware catalogues are MLM's, you have to buy into them then sell on stock and take a cut of the revenue.

Pyramid schemes usually just involve sending money to people in the hope that people below you then start sending you money.

[BANGKOK RED]

The "Too good to be true" thing I generally agree on, and being a salesman by trade I am very very cynical about these things but I have dissected each point about it as much as I can and everything seems to have an damned good answer.

Again being a salesman I know that there is generally an answer for just about any question that is raised but theirs appear to be cast-iron. Also it is clearly very very well orgainsed and thought out (But then I guess that it would be). And it is just sooo simple.

They have appeared in inc 500 as the 37th fastest growing company in the world or the US (Can't remember which).

Also you are limited to 5 tiers (Yet unlimited to your own referalls in the tier immediately below you), meaning that in a sense you are always at/near the top of the pyramid (It is more MLM than a pyramid though)

It also appears to be a very popular and positive topic on the net (Google ect.)

I am still skeptical though and am looking for any dirt that I can find on this Company, I just can't seem to find any though.

[Lash_sumthin]

took me one google search...

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/269/RipOff0269037.htm

[BANGKOK RED]

took me one google search...

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/269/RipOff0269037.htm

It is the same company, I just stumbled across that myself on the 3rd page of google.

It is the only negative thing that I can find though and I am trying to find some kind of official site rather than just John Doe's opinions.

[Lash_sumthin]

too good to be true wouldnt touch it with a barge pole

[Lash_sumthin]

this site has more good discussion

http://www.glo-productions.com/2005/07/30/global-domains-international/

think this post porbably summs it up

Code:

I’ll share my experience with GDI. I used to do freelance work with Flash, and someone I did work for asked me to check out GDI’s trial. This particular client of mine was very generous, so I decided to give it a shot, since I felt like I owed her a favor (even though at that point in time I had some very negative previous experience with a couple “MLM” businesses and their affiliate’s questionable methods for signing people up).

Initially, nothing happened. In fact, I didn’t do anything with it for several months. I talked to a few people about it, and eveyone seemed skeptical, including myself.

I’m not a fan of spam mail, or spamming other people for that matter, but I will admit I did at one point try it. It didn’t feel right ethically and didn’t produce results. There were also consquences for this and the cost was considerable. I certainly would advise against it.

After talking about that particular experience, someone higher up in my “upline” suggested I find offshore servers to send bulk emails from. That’s certainly an option to avoid the spam laws here in the States, but I found it to be unethical and never pursued it as an advertising method.

I tried my own method at that point. I used Google’s Adwords to advertise. This brought in lots of people, but the cost associated with it got to be a bit much, so I’ve paused the advertising account with them. (Interestingly, I got an email not long ago informing me that I’m involved in a class action lawsuit with Google over their own [potentially, court has not determined] unethical/unfair actions with the Adwords program)

Basically, I’m still signed up. I don’t take the business very seriously and I’m not out there trying to sign people up all the time. Yes, I’ve received money from them. Although, another interesting twist that I should mention is that when I qualified for a bonus, I was required to provide a picture and testimonial before they would send it. I thought this was a bit odd.

When it comes down to it, money can be made with GDI. But, in reality, most people can’t or wont find reasonable methods to do so. The business itself isn’t a scam, but the way in which it and/or its affiliate’s presents itself can certainly be a bit misleading.

I’ve tried to keep this post as neutral as possible because I don’t particularly want to get involved in any arguments for one side or the other. I simply wanted to share my experience.