# Can one make a living selling Herbalife? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658 "2012-11-11T05:06:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/42 "2013-09-03T22:13:00Z")
Aren’t KoolAid-swilling shills fun? To mock, that is. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/43 "2013-09-03T22:14:20Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > If I understand correctly that it is a multilevel marketing type company. > > The true owners of the company make enough to live on. > > You will not. > > You will join, pay your fees, buy the product, try to convince your friends and family that it is a good deal and they should get in on it. > > Then a few months later, you will realize you’ve alienated your friends a bit (but not much, because you weren’t really that agressive); you’ll be disappointed that your business didn’t take off, and slowly realize its easier to make a living doing something else. > > And you will be out some cash because you paid fees and had to buy stuff to get set up. This. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/44 "2013-09-03T22:53:07Z")
> [@herbalife](#): > > all i can say is my daughter and I make money!! Real Money! Got change of a quarter? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/45 "2013-09-03T22:59:04Z")
What is her balife… What is her bal if E… What is her Bali fe… Nope, can’t figure it out. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/46 "2013-09-03T23:02:32Z")
I have a Facebook friend who sells Amway, and he periodically PMs me and asks me if I want anything. He’s the son of a couple who go to the church I attended when I lived in their city, and I keep him on my list because his posts are a hoot. He’s about 20 years old, and his parents kicked him out of the house because he refused to go to school or get a job. :dubious: He lives with some friends, and he is allowed to visit whenever he wants; he just can’t live with them until and unless he becomes more responsible. Some people make a lot of money selling Lia Sophia jewelry, because there’s a huge market for it; Longaberger items and Mary Kay too. Does anyone here have experience with Watkins products? I don’t think they’re MLM, though. From what I’ve seen, however, most of the dealers of the products I just listed do it so they can get the dealer discount. Regarding Longaberger baskets: I used to work with a woman who collected their baskets, and also has a severely disabled son who’s about 17 years old. He can’t demolish them, so you KNOW they’re sturdy. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/47 "2013-09-03T23:19:23Z")
> [@whatisherbalife](#): > > I must agree that in many cases people fail and dont make money selling herbalife for many reasons lack of committment, lack of knowledge, cant see the wood for the trees and many other reasons. > > Its certainly not because of the products, the training and the shared knowledge base. > > many posts on this thread appear to be from people that havent themselves tried making money from herbalife but repeating what they have heard or read from others. all i can say is my daughter and I make money!! Real Money! Paragraph one blame the victim. Paragraph two miss the point. Paragraph three reject objective statistical evidence and make a claim based on unsupported anecdote. Yup, I’m convinced. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/48 "2013-09-04T00:10:24Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > What is her balife… > What is her bal if E… > What is her Bali fe… > > Nope, can’t figure it out. Anyone? _pssst…_ read it backwards. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/49 "2013-09-04T00:43:06Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > _pssst…_ read it backwards. 😉 efilabreh? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/50 "2013-09-04T00:45:03Z")
> [@want2befree](#): > > efilabreh? okay, that’s not it, either… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Tacit\_Knowledge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@Tacit\_Knowledge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tacit_Knowledge)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/51 "2013-09-04T00:46:04Z")
The realquestion is if anyone can sell that crap and still sleep at night. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/52 "2013-09-04T02:46:06Z")
> [@whatisherbalife](#): > > I must agree that in many cases people fail and dont make money selling herbalife for many reasons lack of committment, lack of knowledge, cant see the wood for the trees and many other reasons. But, but, how can people break free of this vicious cycle…is there a book, or a tape I can buy, or a seminar on DVD? I’d be willing to pay for it… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/53 "2013-09-04T02:49:52Z")
> [@Tacit\_Knowledge](#): > > The realquestion is if anyone can sell that crap and still sleep at night. They do make a sleep aid. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/54 "2013-09-04T02:50:36Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I have a Facebook friend who sells Amway, and he periodically PMs me and asks me if I want anything. From what I’ve seen from my mother-in-law, Amway’s more a cult than a business. I’ve developed a severe aversion to all things Scamway (as my husband calls that entity), and yeah, she’s severely damaged relationships with family members and friends by ramming Scamway down everyone’s throat. She’s a lot less pushy about her actual religion, which IMO ranks second to Scamway on her priority list. I don’t know if other MLMs are anywhere near this bad. Not being interested in being a salesperson or participating in a pyramid scheme, I don’t intend to try any of them to find out. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/55 "2013-09-04T03:18:10Z")
To be a successful MLM marketer you have to have no shame. Literally none. The successful people “get” the scam from the beginning and revel in the opportunity to con others. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/56 "2013-09-04T04:07:02Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > They do make a sleep aid. 😃 Betcha it’s never been proven to actually work though… ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/57 "2013-09-04T11:36:42Z")
I notice the latino community is particularly susceptible to this particular MLM scheme. I asked my wife why so many in her community hawk this snake oil and she said its a combination of belief in ‘traditional’ herbal remedies they had in their communities back home, a tendency to want to start their own little businesses vs working for someone, and a big market on their end. Latino people here are pretty close-knit and people have big families, so if some lady starts selling Herbalife she’s got a ton of nieces, nephews, siblings, friends, godchildren, etc to try and recruit. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/58 "2013-09-04T12:03:01Z")
A bunch of my FB friends were heavily into selling Scentsy up until a few months ago. Somebody asked one of them what happened to the spam posts. One posted that she quit because no matter how hard she advertised, she never had enough orders. She finally gave up on it. Lo and behold, a month or two later there she was shilling a totally different product. Somebody else asked her as to why. She replied that she needs to do something because she’s closing in on 60 and nobody will hire her except for minimum wage. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people attracted to MLMs are in the same boat. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/59 "2013-09-04T14:17:24Z")
I love it when people resurrect these threads to set the story straight. It seems like they wind up calling more bad attention to their scammy product. My daughter is a huge FC Barcelona fan, and it kills her that Herbalife is a sponsor. We saw them play a friendly in Miami and before the match they put out a huge Herbalife banner. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/60 "2013-09-04T17:29:00Z")
Their founder didn’t exactly lead a healthy lifestyle, and died from an accidental drug overdose. > **[Binge Led to Death of Herbalife Founder (Published 2000)](https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/12/business/binge-led-to-death-of-herbalife-founder.html)** > > Los Angeles coroner reports that Mark Hughes, Herbalife International Inc chief executive, died after four-day drinking binge; Hughes, 44, was found dead May 21 (S) Is Shaklee still around? I don’t hear much about them any more. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658/61 "2013-09-04T19:14:48Z")
Scam, scam, scam scam- SCAM! Wonderful scam… (to the tune of MP “Spam” song) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-make-a-living-selling-herbalife/640658.md?page=4)