Frugal D - sorry you feel that way, but no, not every single product marketed via MLM is worthless. I'm not involved in any now, because at the end of the day, it's still about selling, and I don't like selling. But, there's plenty of good products and decent companies. There's plenty of crappy ones, too, granted. Just like any product you'd buy on a retail store shelf. Some you'll like, some you'll love, and some you'll throw in the trash.
I agree that the "warm market" and "hot market" aspect of mlm are difficult for most people, me included. It brings a level of personal responsibility and rejection to the whole business which I don't like. If I were forced to be a salesperson, I'd only do cold market, and never start with people i know.
THat said, yes, there is big money to be made, but again, it's a business, and you have to be suited to it, and treat it as such. It's also so personal that you really need to be tuned-in to your industry niche. If you're a couch potato who lives for junk food, beachbody is probably not your niche, LOL. Contrarily, if you're a fitness buff already, and agree with their health and dietary recommendations, it could be a good fit. But again, it's a business, and it's about moving product.
The fact is, they don't make a ton of money off people signing up as distributors - it's the product that gets moved because of the distributor agreement - the monthly autoships. Distributors are going to buy more product, refer more people, and keep doing both, because there's something in it for them. Product is moving, that's the bottom line. And if you're more likely to buy and keep buying product because you're now a "distributor" and you get "wholesale pricing", then right on. THat's a good marketing strategy.
The marketing that goes along with the "opportunity" side of the business is very fluffy, I agree. They're pitching an affluent lifestyle, with very little work required. Not totally accurate. But, then again, show me any large retailer who has marketing that is completely accurate and not at all fluffy.
What is truth is that there are companies who do give the cash and bonuses you hear about. Tupperware is alive and strong. My friend has been driving her TW rigs for decades, LOL. Her daughter is also a leader and hasn't bought her own personal vehicle since she was like 19. My girlfriend from high school quit her full time university job last year and went full time with her Mary Kay business. Is she rich, no. Is she paying her bills and putting her daughter through college? Yep. The last company I was involved with has like 3 of my high school girlfriends driving the free Lexus and making upwards of $3k-$5k cash per month on top of that. THere's another 8-10 ladies in our hometown who are also driving the Lexus and making less per month. (and they're all working their hiney's off for it - make no mistake). For every success story are there 300 people who quit, and never made a dime? Yep. That's how it goes. They made an impulse purchase of a "business franchise" and they didn't prepare for it, they probably didn't work it, and they probably weren't at all suited to being an entrepreneur, particularly a personal network salesman. That's okay.
It's easy to bash on, but it is a legitimate form of business and marketing. It's just way too uncomfortable for most people, and way more work than most people realize. And that's okay. That's why I don't do it anymore, LOL. I have acknowledged my limits and my niche. But to think that it's a scam, or all the products suck, that's not realistic. I've got my mlm face cream on this morning, and will every morning forever, LOL! It will become more and more popular, too. Personal recommendations and social networking is the basis for huge growth.