Team National -- does anybody have first-hand experience?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Razorette and I were invited by an acquaintance to talk over an “investment” opportunity. Turns out, it was Team National, a multi-level marketing company that resembles a pyramid scheme. Recruiting new “managers” is only part of the operation, and while recruiting opportunities are limited in our little town, it doesn’t meet the Colorado Attorney General’s definition of pyramid; if it did, it would be illegal.

However, the part we are interested in is the “direct buying power” side. We allegedly would save thousands of dollars a year at retailers like Home Depot and Wal-Mart by being members of the National Companies. I’ve read a lot of stuff online, and find either sites that are dedicated to debunking (which also makes me suspicious – some of these guys would debunk government bonds) or “shill” entries in discussion threads that praise Team National to the heavens.

But there’s a common thread even among the pro-Team National folks. When pressed, they all admit they’ve never really saved as much money as the videos say, but they blame themselves for making mistakes – not “staying with the program,” or not buying the items that are deeply discounted (probably because they don’t need them?)

Does anybody out there have any personal experience with Team National? I mean, have you actually paid the one-time $2,100 memberhsip fee and realized savings you thought were worth the fee?

2

I’ve heard good and bad things about TM. Not so much here in New Enlgand, but when my wife and I lived in Phoenix, AZ we had a group of friends who all got in it together and worked off each other…sort of reverse scaming the company so as a comglomerate they made money. I think there were 6 couples involved. Mrs.P and I did not particiapte because the whole AMWAY feel about it wasn’t very nice. So we opted out. I don’t think our friends made too much but they were always goin on cruises to Mexico and things like that. They were not Millionaires by any means…but they may have made a buck here or there.

3

I was approached about joining Team National (National Companies) by a woman who is a member of our local town chamber of commerce. I did my research and ended up turning her down because it works pretty much like Amway/Quixtar. You have an upline, you move up in the organization by getting more people to join under you, and it costs $$ to get in.

In fact my research turned up something very interesting. The company’s CEO, Dick Loehr, used to be a car salesman in my old home town of Kalamazoo, MI until he went out of business. From what I remember about him, his reputation as a car salesman was dubious at best.