A friend tried to recruit me for a pyramid scheme
I thought this was kind of a weird but interesting story. So if you feel like reading, feel free. If not, read the title and you will know what happened. lol.
Alright, so I have been thinking about getting a second job recently and one of my friends overheard this. Let us call this friend Jim. Jim tells me that he knows a group of guys and he is going to be going to a business meeting in a couple of days with them. He told me they were looking for people to be, sort of a telemarketer. He sounded a little nervous, almost like he didn't really want to go. At first I thought I was mistaken, but then he brought it up out of the blue later, and said I should seriously think about going! Again he sounded a little nervous, but this time, I could tell it was because he didn't know the business group very well. I got the hint! He wanted a friend there. Besides, I thought it didn't sound too bad. I have done sales irl before. How bad could over the phone be?
I told Jim that I would check out their site and get back to him. He texted me the site and I had a look. It appeared to be a site where they just offered some big name brand phone and internet service companies for you to switch too. It wasn't anything too impressive and it wasn't really what I was expecting. I thought the company was going to be selling a product of their own. So, I decided I wasn't interested and texted him back, "I don't think I am interested, but I would be willing to go if you need some company!" He texted me back and said, "That would be great actually!" A while later, a couple of people mentioned that a business meeting that invites people sounds kind of like a pyramid scheme. I told them that "I checked out the site, and it doesn't appear to be one, but I could be wrong." Weather or not it is or isn't, I didn't care. My friend needed someone to be there, so if it was a pyramid scheme, more reason for me to be there for moral support so we could get out of there.
A few days later, he stops by my house and picks me up to go out to the meeting. I get there and we all sit down in a little conference room attached to a cafe. There is a projector and a computer hooked up. Someone else walks in and I found Jim invited them also. Odd. Everyone then looks at me and the other guy and says, "Good job bringing some people to hear about the great opportunity Jim!" Jim already paid 500 dollars and was part of the pyramid scheme and I was there for him to try and recruit me.
You suck Jim. You suck.
I then had to pretend to be interested for an hour. (even though he said 30 min) It was so strange to hear all the excited people who thought they were going to make so much money. I felt a little bad for them, especially when one younger guy said he was sooo excited because he can move to live closer to his daughter if he makes good money. I then heard some amazing stories and watched some life changing videos about the exciting adventures of residual profits flowing back into my pocket!
Jim still sucks. I didn't buy in for $500. I went home. >.<
13 Comments • Newest first
Shouldn't he be training at aliens at that level?
[quote=br333]It was ACN. Have you been in one of these before or something?[/quote]
Friend took me to one. Sounded good on paper but was really stupid to me.
[quote=doomnight92]Vector or ACN?[/quote]
It was ACN. Have you been in one of these before or something?
[quote=DragonBandit]My friend actually worked at vector and actually made money. Although he said he didn't invest any money. He said he also didn't make as much as they claim. Due to you finding your own work/people to do a show with or w.e[/quote]
Yeah, I don't doubt you can make money, but these types of schemes require ambition to be successful.
Referral systems mean you will have to exhaust your whole (and extensive) network of family and friends, who will consequently think lowly of you, because your profit is generated through their loss or the loss of those they refer. I don't know how your friend did it, but as far as I know, people "buy in", meaning they cough up like $500 for a set of knives they later sell and some marketing tools.
[quote=Boss]Companies like Vector are notorious for their barely-legal marketing methods.
Mind you, however, some of those people were definitely actors; these companies are all hype and the more convinced you are, the more they earn.[/quote]
My friend actually worked at vector and actually made money. Although he said he didn't invest any money. He said he also didn't make as much as they claim. Due to you finding your own work/people to do a show with or w.e
Companies like Vector are notorious for their barely-legal marketing methods.
Mind you, however, some of those people were definitely actors; these companies are all hype and the more convinced you are, the more they earn.
@LeonDragneel When a bunch of people buy something worthless in hopes of reselling for more, which is the pitch line
Wait, so is your friend named Jim?
What's a pyramid scheme?
Lmao they see companies trolling they riching it.
Vector or ACN?
Oh in my elementary and middle school, pyramid schemes were used each year. It looked interesting but were expensive scams forced upon the kids who could afford. Parasitic
Oh wow... You should have just gotten up and told everyone what was going on, but oh well. Hey at least you didn't buy in!