MLM HORROR STORIES #47 | Arbonne upline illegally signing up 17 year olds

#hannahalonzo #antimlm #mlmhorrorstories
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:47 Story 1
9:43 Story 2
16:18 Story 3
26:42 Story 4
30:47 Story 5
SOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
Gary Young Sketchy Behaviors: thesnappingpoint.com/gary-you...
BITE Model of Authoritarian Control (Checklist for Cults): freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-c...
VIDEOS/PLAYLISTS MENTIONED
Young Living Deep Dive: • YOUNG LIVING DEEP DIVE...
Anti-MLM Playlist: • ANTI-MLM
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[@lindseyfarr8539]

Its one thing to have a random stranger compliment your hair, but when they start getting deep and asking what you do for a living as you're shopping at target, they clearly have ulterior motives because that's just weird.

[@jehneey]

Agreed. This story reminded me how that happened to me once at Target too. I was creeped out with all the personal questions and she could tell so she walked away lol I am pretty sure she thought I was ready to scream for help or something 😂

[@charlisays]

I had a herbal life hon ask me if I wanted to start losing weight. I was just buying fruit in the supermarket and didn't know her!

[@krk6216]

Exactly. I’ve never had it happen to me so far, but I’m pretty sure I would know immediately. Because you’re so right! They always ask personal questions or say off color things.

[@niecy4402]

Yep. Same thing happened to me. I was in Walmart and she started by complimenting my glasses frames and ended with how much I made a year and what I did for a living…. Girl bye!

[@karyng4448]

Ugh!!! I felt so irritated when I had this happen., someone complimented me on my shirt and we had a shirt conversation and we exchanged numbers. Then she called me to tell me about her “opportunit” and “mentors” and demanded to know if I was in a relationship with my boyfriend so I could get him involved in this “mentorship.” I literally said, and why does that matter? Anyway I have to go to Work now. I’ll let you know” I blocked them immediately. 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

[@sideshowratt]

Someone: Good morning! Person in a pyramid scheme: IT'S NOT A PYRAMID SCHEME

[@TahTwinkletoes]

🤣😭

[@skaio.5279]

bahahahaha

[@rustyshackleford4238]

Best comment 😂 gave me a chuckle

[@CarrieJess]

😂😂 💀

[@anonymouse9833]

Young Living’s “negative influence” sounds a lot like Scientology’s “suppressive person”

[@jtidema]

I was just getting the same vibe, in that first story where the girl was told to drop all her friends who tried to HELP her by explaining that it was an MLM. Very much like a cult.

[@CarrieJess]

Wow, I wish I had made that connection! You are absolutely 💯 on this.

[@3martiniplaydate]

I.m watching this a year later and laughed so hard when I read that. Don.t stop at the suppressive person. Scientology itself is the world.s BIGGEST pyramid scheme. .... Those people are dangerously scummy. 🍸🍸🍸

[@MandaMerea]

My video lineups primarily consist of SPtv and anti MLM right now.

[@SilverHairSimmer]

At 17 I don’t even think you even can be held to a contract

[@adriancarrillo2749]

Here in Mexico uplines say “you need” adult supervision, which means someone else signs contracts

[@teliahnovotny882]

Thank you for using my story in this video❤ I want to spread awareness of how so many mlms are recruiting minors!

[@c.w.8200]

I wish my dad would have divorced my mom, he just quietly paid her losses and let her treat us with snake oil for every little illness and then sneaked us an Aspirin later.

[@watsonwrote]

I feel so bad for the kid in the first story. She and her friend were totally taken advantage of when they had little life experience to prepare them for what a legitimate job is like. She worked so hard for nothing :(

[@calendarpage]

I'm not surprised her mom was one of her few customers. Moms want to be supportive. However, it would have been better if mom had sat with her, looked up info on the company, looked up MLMs, and also read the company's own policy that said don't recruit people

[@nursebee-vomit5058]

@@calendarpage I'm grateful my mom talked me out of joining an mlm in college. She had many friends who joined them and saw the stress it caused. Not to mention I was already poor lol.

[@miadzag]

It's fortunate they learned young, when they didnt really have anything to lose. People get themselves tens of thousands of dollars in debt with these scams when they have kids and house payments etc. 😢

[@milkteamachine]

The reveal of the Herbalife bags gives me “it’s people! Soylent green is people!” vibes haha

[@SjofnBM1989]

omg!! 😂😂 it's so true

[@mintuwu4699]

Aside from making you envision a future, I think the "what can this money do" question is a good method of finding your vulnerability/what to manipulate you with. If you answer, for example, "give a better education for my kid" now they know you have a kid, which they later can use to guilt you into joining by saying things like "dont you want to provide for you child???"

[@reneew9125]

Yes! This is how my pure romance upline kept me in the company for months.

[@tuschi8039]

So true. This question seems so simple yet it is so revealing

[@JulieAnneStCyr]

Also.... the gift for a SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD, a person who cannot legally drink is a personalized champagne glass.

[@Silversky627]

I basically got cornered today by our pest control people who were trying to convince me that my house was going to be destroyed if we didn't get their termite traps. While I understand this is important, we are moving in the next year and get regular pest control done. Anyway, I had to text my husband inside and tell him to help because this guy wouldn't leave me alone or stop talking and I was incredibly uncomfortable. For some reason he immediately backed down when my husband came outside. It's ridiculous that people still respect men telling them to stop over women.

[@annabarclay7321]

Yeah I had a guy that cornered me when I was working in the yard and I couldn’t get him to leave until I pretended I was interested but had to talk to my controlling husband so he needed to come back then (he did not, fortunately) (my husband is not controlling but I did not feel bad lying because he would. not. leave.)

[@reviewsgoodnbad7695]

As a woman, I don’t understand why women wouldn’t be able to tell a man - no! You’re allowed to be firm, you’re allowed to say no, you’re allowed to increase your volume and you’re allowed to be rude. The latter two if they don’t get the message.

[@wendyj.3858]

That's when i get irate and crazy and they leave.

[@ratedr9672]

Yup, happens all the time. I’m convinced men do not view women as people that have any rights 🥺

[@ratedr9672]

@@reviewsgoodnbad7695 Yet, even applying all the methods that you outlined, they don’t listen. Instead they’ll snap and get rough with you. 🫤

[@youngbubbles]

I had soooo many people that tried to get me to do a scheme while I was bartending. I can smell them a mile away now 😂

[@bethewalt7385]

What kind of scheme? Not mlm's, something else?😮

[@yukil.spencer3848]

Hell yeah for the dude who got his kids back and is now remarried, glad the story ended great despite the divorce. Hope it helps keep more people outta mlms or whatever they decide to call themselves in the end

[@Talkingdaisy-no6nu]

Arbonne sucked me in when I was a mom of young kids, living in another country with no friends/family and I was really lonely. I was love bombed to the point where I thought these people were my friends. They had a whole system of how to manipulate people into buying from you. Like a whole binder full of tips and tricks, what to say etc. Once I decided to stop selling, those “friends” dropped me immediately. It was so disheartening. I hate that I was duped into spending a lot of my own money and I feel stupid for falling for their manipulation tactics. I did like the products but the whole experience made me hate the company altogether

[@loveitorleaveit9673]

Gosh, it kinda sounds like cult tactics, doesn't it?

[@tcort]

When they ask what the money can do for you, it reminds me of lottery commercials. They want you to dream so they can offer you a path to get there. Seems like you have a better chance of making money playing the lottery than joining an MLM; would be interesting to run the stats on that.

[@rapdactyl]

At least with the lottery you (as a sucker) don't have to scam anyone else in order to profit from it. In fact, it's the reverse! 🤣

[@PacificallyYours]

And with the lottery you know there’s a small chance of winning. They don’t tell you small amounts put in work accomplish dreams. Lotto you know the money in may be 100% loss up front. (Not to diminish those with a lottery addiction which doesn’t make this obvious to be known just that it’s stated well in comparison to an MLM)

[@lauren.13]

I hope the YL huns will actually listen to what you say about Gary Young in the third story, because they were BIG MAD on your video about using oils during pregnancy. 😂

[@HannahAlonzo]

Were they??? I haven't looked! 😂

[@ladygogogurl]

Oh boy! I didn’t see this either. I would love to see you react to any videos they made in response (if thats something you feel comfortable doing!)

[@Clairelaferret]

@@ladygogogurl I would also like to see a reaction video, but I suggest Hannah get a friend to pre-screen the videos for personal attacks. I've seen CC Suarez respond to a few response videos and these huns are RUTHLESS! I wouldn't want Hannah to have to deal with any of these attacks without forewarning, especially if they say anything nasty about her pregnancy or becoming a mother.

[@puppyfeet1194]

They are something else. I don’t even like using oils around my pets.

[@theunderstatement6842]

​@@puppyfeet1194 oils can be deadly to pets so you made the right choice

[@Africandiva128]

Love this video For the first story - it’s important to flag that we shouldn’t “bully” people who are trapped in MLMs, it only makes them sink even further into the MLM huns’ claws.

[@MrJSpicoli]

Everyone I grew up with was bullied. They are fine. Grow a pair or a callus

[@bethewalt7385]

They're only trapped if they choose to be, it's all a choice, sad, they need to just cut off, ghost everyone and anything related or connected, so nuts

[@clobberelladoesntreadcomme9920]

The fact that her friends took her back immediately after she left the MLM makes me think she wasn't "bullied," by them but rather her friends called bullshit on her.

[@thelonleyUchiha1]

@@MrJSpicolilol because people are open about their mental health scars if your gonna say bullshit like this don’t be a dick

[@shawnconway6009]

So one thing I've never understood about these people in schemes: they're awful salespeople. Ignore the fact that they're not trained, because they're encouraged to use tactics which are actively bad tactics for recruiting and sales. The fact that they're told to keep bothering people who aren't interested is a huge waste of time as well; that's a great way to never get anywhere if you were legitimately trying to succeed at anything recruitment wise.

[@Elle_M717]

I was in a weight loss MLM. My very first conference I flew alone but woman who signed me up was going to fly home with me. From the time I got there, B, the woman who signed me up and the rest of the team ghosted me. I didn’t see them the entire week. Toward the end of the conference, I left. I rented a car and visited a friend who lived four hours from where I was staying. I wasn’t missed until B noticed I wasn’t on the plane. I guess she wanted some company on the ride home.

[@Kalaydascope]

I’m so sorry that happened to you. The people who can do that to another will have karma kick them in the butt one day.

[@Elle_M717]

@@Kalaydascope Thanks! I quit the MLM and don't speak with any of those people anymore. I unfriended them on Facebook and LinkedIn as soon as I got home.

[@Amandasux666]

I’ve made a lot of mistakes and done dumb things in my life but thank goodness I’ve never joined a pyramid scheme lol

[@MyPixelJourney]

Amway. The MLM in the second story is almost certainly Amway. Sounds 100% like my own experience.

[@chimeiamv]

I legit just learned that there are like 3 Herbalife nutrition cafes in my area and they’re all in the sketch part of town. Makes me sort of miffed that the less well off individuals are being sucked so hard into the MLM.

[@ravrkandi]

A friend got suckered into a "Nutrition" shop and the minute she got out I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Herbalife is so suspicious and shady.

[@kaylamarie6878]

I had a "friend" of the family do an arbonne party when i was 17 and she tried to get me to be a part of her downline. Literally calling me at school

[@TheWickedGuide]

There are 3 "nutrition" shops that have popped up in the area around my home town. A few of my coworkers were obsessed with the teas they sold, so I was looking into the places, but there wasn't much online. When I went to investigate one of them I saw the little bars on the counter, not entirely sure what they were specifically, and sure enough they were Herbalife.

[@backgroundambience4373]

Speaking of MLMs illegally targeting minors... There have been several stories that you have read regarding people under the age of 18 attending Pure Romance parties without knowing what kind of party they were attending. This stuck out to me, because, at least in my home state of Wisconsin, you LEGALLY have to be at least 18 to even enter into an "adult store". They are supposed to card when you enter, but just like in bars, that doesn't always happen. So I checked Pure Romance's site and on the frequently asked questions page it said that people under 18 aren't allowed to attend a Pure Romance parties (admittedly I did go back to double check that for this post, but for some reason the FAQ page now only says "Share details about your shipping policies, item returns, or customer service." I don't know if that's a glitch or something?). Either way Pure Romance consultants might actually be breaking the law by having minors attend their parties.

[@thatfuzzypotato1877]

Cutco is the other one notorious for targeting minors around the 16/17 mark. They left a card on my car saying they pay $16/hr so I went to the "interview" it set off ALL the alarm bells in my head and I refused the "job" then they haunted me for a couple weeks

[@kerryconklin9828]

Ohhh! Never thought of that! I'm in Arkansas and our law is the same. Even to get those types of magazines you have to be 18. That's such an excellent point, and now that you've pointed it out, seems pretty obvious. Thank you for bringing it up!

[@Mirrima]

@@thatfuzzypotato1877 wait, how could they think you're a minor if they attached it to your car? Is it legal in your country to drive as an underage person?

[@thatfuzzypotato1877]

@@Mirrima I apologize I failed to explain lol. In my case it was just my car and being a minor was a coincidence. But almost everyone else at this "interview" was around my age. But they put it on my car parked at a mall popular with teenagers, but it was still a coincidence in my case. And yes, at that time the driving age was 16

[@scottydu81]

@@Mirrima16 is about the age most people start driving

[@BlueMoon-qv6tm]

I was raised in a religious cult and it is absolutely INSANE (and fascinating) that there are companies that work in such a similar way. I just found your channel and I am definitely going to binge your videos tonight haha. Keep up the amazing work

[@LovedLisa]

Slight correction on the whole Seed to Seal (Young Living): that has been pulled again, it doesn’t show on any of the now bought bottles. Assumptions are that it has to do with the latest things uncovered (I believe Savannah Marie has been covering it). If you go on their website you can’t find anything about it anymore. Doesn’t change what the reps say though 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@HannahAlonzo]

Oooh good to know! I haven't checked in on that since I filmed my YL deep dive. Thank you!

[@brookeporter4014]

I went to check because I remember hearing about that a while back, but it’s still on their website if you click on “quality and purity”. It takes you to a page with “Seed to Seal” everywhere. 🫠

[@LovedLisa]

Interesting. I just checked in several languages, it seems to be different depending on which language 🤷🏼‍♀️ I know as a fact that the new bottles here in Germany don’t carry the seal anymore. They seem to be in this weird state where they are changing things bit by bit

[@koppsr]

The reps haven't gotten the message yet. Or YL is preparing new sales rep courses, so they can drain even more money out of them and their downline. I'm joking, but honestly, would you put it past them? 😎

[@moriah1202]

I've never been this early to a video. Let me just say I've been binging your content and it's really helped me through a hard time. Your voice is so calming and you're so sweet. Also your cats chirping in the background confuses my 3 cats so much 🤣 it's very amusing.

[@Katjj]

Meeee2!!!!!! 😊 she's so lovely!

[@elisabethrankin7702]

Same! Her voice is really soothing but, tbf, my kitties are easily confused. I love it when Zeke and Cooper make cameos 😁🐈‍⬛

[@lindadesantis9958]

I agree ! Her cat has a lot to say ! Love hearing the little “ meows “!

[@Andreamom001]

I had a home waterbirth with my child. You don't leave the baby under the water!! As soon as the baby is born, you pick it up. Good gracious! Ideally, you also have a midwife or doctor there with equipment so they can recognize problems and deal with complications. My midwife had oxygen, medical equipment, etc., in case it was needed. The warm water helped SO much with the pain of labor. I highly recommend i, ,even if it's just a hot shower in the hospital. I Know some people believe in unattended births with the idea of women who used to squat in a field and have the baby then go on about their day or whatever...but I Don't think it's a good idea. Untrained parents don't always know what is normal and what is a danger sign...a trained medial professional can see when intervention is needed.

[@Galworld761]

Why do people want to go back to birthing methods responsible for high infant and mother mortality rates? Good for you for recognizing the need for modern precautions and advancements. I hope baby is happy and well.

[@bluewillow91]

@@Galworld761 Why would you want to go to a hospital where they bully you during your pregnancy and birth and don’t let the mother lead the birth? You should mind your own business and let mothers birth however they want! It’s not your child and it’s not your business.

[@ghostnebula8805]

@@bluewillow91 😂

[@lorenainslie6369]

@@Galworld761 having a baby is a massive life experience for a woman. They should be supported to deliver in ways that make them feel safe. Many hospital prey on moms not knowing a lot about birth to push them into unnecessary procedures which causes trauma. Having a good support system, good experience, and good outcomes are the ideals of birth!

[@thenewmae]

You look radiant!! Your pregnancy glow is beautiful. Thanks for the video!

[@camillelively]

Ugh, an Herbalife 'cafe' opened in the last town where I lived - all 'teas' and 'smoothies' and the whole town is obsessed with the new 'healthy' place to 'eat'. It's a common place for businesses to buy treats for their employees for appreciation days or the like. I just won't drink them whenever they're offered and I always tell people it's part of an MLM and that it's not actually 'healthy'. Some locals have lost a lot of weight by basically living only on their smoothies and teas so the craze is only growing in this very small, very remote town. :-(

[@Abwavey]

A dottera ad popping up on this video feels especially heinous 🤣

[@CarboneCat]

Holy Cannoli! What occurred in both stories 2 and 3 really shows how MLM can wreck havoc in relationships.

[@HoganSantalucia]

This story brought back a memory from when I was a college senior. I ended up skipping class and taking a bus home for an “interview”. This was in the 1980’s. My father drove me to the address and it was a house/home. The women sat and tried to sell me on buying into a “fine art” business. The “fine art” was prints and over priced. I never signed up for the company because there was a fee and when I told my father about the whole “interview” we both agreed it wasn’t a job but just a version of Tupperware or Avon. I can’t remember if she ever called me back but I do remember being angry that she caused me to spend money I didn’t have to travel home and to skip class.

[@batdad34]

Herbalife clubs are actually not allowed to display or advertise that it's herbalife. It keeps herbalife not liable for any lawsuits. There's a whole contract the reps have to sign when they open a club. They have to keep windows tinted, products hidden, and no herbalife signage out front or in store.

[@_gabiggy]

Ugh, in Puerto Rico the "nutrition clubs" are opening up in every single corner, and they're all the same thing. Selling these "mega té" which are 32oz herbalife teas, "protein" waffles and some other sweets. Not so sure what's so healthy about those. They barely post that they're using herbalife so that's also sketchy. Also they have some crazy hours, these people are desperate to sell for sure, some are open or available for delivery till 3am. I'm so sure that many of the clients don't know that they're just consuming herbalife products. Thanks for the video! Edit: they're also promoting that hustle culture of course

[@baileymch7088]

Your editing is so good, there's so many small cuts but there's never a pause in your speaking or anything and I know that's difficult to achieve

[@babyvia6712]

Honestly even when there’s no cuts she doesn’t pause or say “umm”. I have a suspicion that she might just be that eloquent but maybe she’s using a script.

[@shanel4294]

@@babyvia6712 she’s mentioned before that she has to do multiple takes and has a hard time even getting sentences out sometimes. So I guess she just uses the best takes

[@babyvia6712]

@@shanel4294 omg it’s so seamless

[@PacificallyYours]

I’ve made it like a game while watching trying to find the cuts it’s so dang smooth and sometimes question if it was really a cut. Lol. Hannah is def got the touch with video editing

[@MsGlitterBombz]

At my old job a coworker left the company to "start his own business". I almost had an ex apply there but once the ex coworker said he needed to meet us cause "it's a bit complicated." I knew right away it was an MLM and then figured he was selling Herbalife at that shop. It's still there years later and I hope he's doing ok.

[@wanwan2180]

Oh thank god the divorced dad got the kids, i hope the mom has no chance of slathering them in oil!

[@angieemm]

You're so respectful! Even after all of what you've taught us, you still call it a "business opportunity" while discussing them.

[@slavbarbie]

More like a non-opportunity, am I right, ha ha!

[@raven4090]

@@slavbarbie Yeah. We know it's a code phrase 😂

[@AngelofHogwarts]

I was offered an "opportunity" on LinkedIn and I didn't think it was an MLM. The guy interviewed me and I did think that it was weird that he started talking about his friend who travels whenever he wants to and has a lot of freedom to do whatever he wants. He told me that he told another guy to read a book (some self-help/motivation thing) and sent me the PDF. I gathered that he was in sales or something but he never quite explained the job or what they were selling. It was all just so weird and I never contacted him again. :/

[@megschmeedafamc]

Hannah, I love your videos. You have such a calming presence (bonus points for kitty cameos) and your videos ease my anxiety. I hope your feeling much better during your 2nd trimester. I can't have children but am always so excited for others! Thanks for all you do!!

[@staceywadzeck9537]

Your videos remain affirming, positive, and kind. Congrats on your little one.

[@mlhoverstreet1005]

Amway. Those creeps prowl Target and similar places looking for young parents or young married couples to drag into their bullcrap. It's always, "Oh, I love you hair/outfit/whatever!" Then they tell you about their "business" and then their "mentor" and then you're doing a zoom meeting and reading some garbage book like Rich Dad, Poor Dad and going to trash can seminars where you get roped into buying their awful products. They are insidious! I've seen so many friends get dragged into Amway, especially when we were all younger and starting out.

[@SirThinks2Much]

Amway is also big on getting married couples, which is probably why that hun was getting irritated that the husband wasn't showing.

[@karyng4448]

Exactly block them! It happened to me but I figured it out and blocked the person immediately…also told them I was going to work!! Yes a real job. Had to tell a friends obsessive mlm uplink the same thing. Said “sorry can’t talk!! I’m going to work!” They said “okaaayyy……” Block

[@karyng4448]

@@SirThinks2Much yeah this lady I met was obsessed w whether or not I had a partner to bring into this “mentorship” I’m like no thank you cult freak

[@libertymedicalcommunicatio4908]

Good grief! Why is it that you always save the most heartbreaking stories for number three? Excellent analysis as always Hannah!

[@lauriechan1426]

For me, the herbalife clubs are kind of what beachbody is doing with their rebrand...they can't sell on their name alone anymore bc A LOT of people now know it is a sketchy as hell MLM, so they are trying to be sneaky. CC Suarez did a FANTASTIC deep dive into the clubs where she explains how they operate, their rules and the signs on how to identify them

[@kellyinCT09]

It's Awful! There are so many popping up all over the place around me

[@marykatecraig4283]

After the story where the marriage was destroyed, the next story was a great palate cleanser. Absolutely loved the unspoken team communication between that couple

[@Butterweed-hu9vx]

A new drink store opened up near my house and I've been meaning to check it out as a fun treat. I would never ever have considered that it might be an MLM storefront unless I had watched your video. Sure enough, at the very bottom of this store's website it says "this is not an official Herbalife website." The 5 star reviews on Google include people happy to be supporting a "veteran-owned small business." So deceptive.

[@cutandgo]

My colleague has entered one of these cults. She is very active trying to recruit every client that comes to seek service at our workplace, which is a government office.

[@kadeelacayo4806]

The second video : same for me. I have never been part of an mlm and the videos got randomly shown on my feed and I’m obsessed . After I tried to watch other creators and I just can’t . Only you 😂

[@HayleighPaige]

There was a “City-Name Nutrition” near me that I honestly had no idea about until the poor girl working there was murdered in the shop by a random guy near close… her family owned it, it’s now permanently closed and that story already had me reeling (I used to close shop alone ALL the time when I worked restaurant jobs) but now I’m wondering if it was an Herbalife thing too… what the heck. Edit: Turns out was an Herbalife “nutrition club” and part of Herbalife’s rules for these establishments is that you can’t be able to see the interior from the outside and windows should be covered based on a news article that my local paper ran a year ago. I don’t know how closely they followed that rule but the windows are heavily tinted and it’s just giving me the chills thinking about the whole horrible situation 😓

[@maryeckel9682]

That's horrible!

[@samanthahope1316]

There’s one in the town I grew up in and the windows are covered in white paper. That just seems like a bad idea. That poor girl :(

[@megschmeedafamc]

Also how sad is the first story and ILLEGAL or against compliance. So gross and greedy!

[@charliewright6273]

The one where the partner texted the boyfriend to come help her escape was awesome. I'm so glad he was supportive. It's absolutely unacceptable to tell a young woman that it will be a one on one meeting and then have 3 men show up. That's a good way to get maced. False pretenses are bad enough, but I cannot even begin to describe how scary it is for women to show up to what's supposed to be a meeting and have 3 men ambush you with pushy tactics. No way. 10/10 partner right there for having the silent rescue code and for shutting that down immediately.

[@abracadabra1479]

I feel bad for the first girl she didn’t deserved to be bullied by her “friends” for joining the MLM

[@D64nz]

There's a special skill required to talk to someone in either a cult or an MLM, and most of us don't have that skill. Some people just need to burn bridges to protect themselves. It's not the best way to handle the situation, but MLM's prey on people staying polite and kind, and actively take advantage every change they can of a persons good nature. Sometimes it's whats required.

[@isabellamorris7902]

​@@D64nz wait wait wait though... choosing not to associate with someone isn't the same as bullying or antagonizing them

[@mrtempleton5302]

​@Isabella Morris you are so right, she doesn't know what real bullying is I think. She was just ostracized for being someone who would prey on others.

[@isabellamorris7902]

@@mrtempleton5302 I believe OP was bullied, because why would I not believe it? But I don't believe that choosing not to engage is always the same thing as burning a bridge or antagonizing someone.

[@mrtempleton5302]

@@isabellamorris7902 hhhm good point

[@pinkbunny6272]

I'm dealing with the hypermania time right now. Overate, indulged on everything and now I'm stuck on a endless loop of doom. Neve been so glad for anti MLM content.

[@Amarieethepriest]

Monat is in fact an MLM. And the way she approached that writer in target (or any store really) is a very common tactic to break the ice.

[@brittneydinn]

I knew where the smoothie story was going. They’re popping up all over my town. I refuse to visit them!

[@windyacresfarm1122]

I've been sharing your brand specific videos with so many people lately. I think mlms prey on people during the holidays so I've had a lot of friends asking "I'd love to have long healthy hair....anyone have info on monat?" Then I share your monitor video. So yay, think you for the videos

[@monstertoy4620]

😢 Disgusting how low can you go recruiting children. I wonder if the upline was also the upline of my oldest friend in the world as I'm in Australia and she doesn't talk to me or engage in any further conversation when I contact her because I only tried a few products and am not interested in being stuck in auto ship monthly products or sign up

[@writerj9129]

Omg Hannah thank you so much for the info on the bite model, I've been deprogramming myself from a cult the last 2 years and it's very interesting and good to know

[@kierstinl3787]

Cc Suarez has a great video with Steve Hassan talking about it if you want further info. I'm so glad you got out!

[@melissanunez1957]

What terrifies me about the Herbalife smoothie shops is that they will sell their “nutrition shakes” to anyone. Parents think they are getting a healthy drink for their kids, but it’s filled with adult doses of vitamins. Is your mlm really worth harming a child and an innocent family just trying to make healthy choices?

[@genc5436]

This! A million times this. I didn’t know until I went to a “smoothie” shop. Immediately, I got a migraine. When I asked how much B12 was in it all the employee could parrot was “it’s natural and good for you.” Uh no, too much b12 can mess with people who have certain neurological conditions. It took me days to recover and I only drank about a quarter of it.

[@Puddleduck1]

If she was forcing you to pay then it was never a "gift" in the 1st place!

[@melissacoviello2886]

I just discovered that my town has an Herbalife shop. I’m still not sure how to deal with it. I let a few prominent local people know so we will see what happens.

[@sierrasnode]

Oh my goodness - the 5th story made me remember that there’s a place in our town called *Local College* Nutrition. Looked it up and sure enough - Herbalife. It doesn’t say that, but I can tell because of the aloe concentrate on their menu 🤮 Now I know to stay away from that!

[@creativeness991]

OMG! There's an herbalife club opening by my gym! They followed me on IG a few weeks ago and at first I thought it looked like a cool smoothie place. It just dawned on me that it could be an herbalife club! Upon investigating their page more, a lot of the drinks they advertise are "fat loss" and "slimming" drinks. They were also being kind of aggressive with messaging me constantly about their opening, which I thought was odd but now it all makes sense. Please do a dedicated video on these - I think it's so interesting!

[@meganheraghty946]

Thank you for this entire series, I have learned so much thanks to you and Jessica Hickson (thank you for recommending her as well) you both do such amazing work!! I was recently pitched on a run in the city I live in, and I can honestly say I wouldn't of seen the red flags immediately if not for your content!! Thank you Hannah!!

[@russellstone9056]

The thing I hate about MLM people is they sell something they have no clue about. Typically they have done no research themselves. Typically they don't care if you ruin your relationships by shilling some scam. They want money and will lie, cheat and steal to get it. They don't care that their wealth is usually built off of the poverty of thousands. I don't allow these people into my life.

[@kingty6221]

I'm not sure how you got on my recommendations because I'm not a part of your demographics. But this definitely tells me to REALLY pay attention to red flags for MLMs and interviews. Great information!

[@PhoenixAngel429]

Great to hear the dad got the kids. I've heard too many divorces where the judge gives custody to the mom because they're the mom.

[@ksen333]

ooooh love being among the first to the party!!!

[@kpik23]

You're right on. If it wasn't bad enough that they take advantage of people with the structure of the business, they also deceive customers and friends on top of it! I had a funny feeling about all those nutrition smoothie bars all around my city so I did some research and sure enough! MLMs. People who I considered to be smart were going there all the time! Also, I was laid off twice this year and one time this person I vaguely knew sent me a dm in LinkedIn. I responded as she said it was a job opportunity but I noticed that she didn't say where it was. She finally revealed that it was an MLM! She also started with "there's a lot of misinformation out there about this company..." I would like to not be lied to, thank you.

[@Lailer10]

Super excited when I see new videos drop to keep me entertained during my dreaded 9 to 5. An herbalife nutrition shop opened in my town. My friend visited it and told me about it. She also told me she recommended my graphic design services to them as they had a terrible logo and just really looked like they needed some design help. I almost went in to follow up with potential business, but never did because my friend had mentioned about it being expensive and reminding her of herbalife shakes. After little research, I found it was herbalife and looked into it a lot more. I didn't even know much about mlms, but I did recognize they were deceptive and predatory. Fast forward a year later. I binge watch your videos, know so much more about these companies, and definitely anti-mlm. I'm so glad I didn't use my degree to help an MLM advance their "business" in my town.

[@anna-catherinerees888]

Story number 3 also his full name is Donald Gary Young. He shortened it to D so it would sound like doctor and that it would seem that he had a license.

[@brandib3275]

So glad I found your video and that you went over the story on the Herbalife storefront. I would never had had a clue that the shop I was visiting in my hometown was a front for Herbalife. I thought it was strange that they never put prices on their products, don't list the ingredients, and make you give a phone number to purchase. Thanks so much ! Can't believe I fell for it.

[@happypiplup21]

Hi Hannah! Your channel has had me in a chokehold for the last couple of weeks lol I really enjoy your content and how you present your opinions! The psychology behind MLMs is so interesting! Wishing you a safe and happy pregnancy ❤

[@slenderman2741]

Am I evil for making MLM recruiters think I’m interested before ghosting them. I let them tell me allll about it and then I’m like yes, sounds good, and they send me the links and how to pay and then I go ghost 😂🥺

[@nicoles7126]

I think you're alright! My hubby does that with telemarketers too. You're taking up their time and therefore reducing their ability to bug other people. Sounds alright to me if you don't mind using your own time that way. 😊

[@qsm2978]

how were grown women okay with isolating a 17 year old from her (same age!!!) peers just because they were trying to warn her about multi level marketing... just evil. i hope the person in the first story is okay now

[@aechawk]

There was a study done, I think in Ireland or Scotland, not 100% sure, that showed people are more likely to believe info or ads that follow their own beliefs. Even when the people were told the ads were false by the people in charge of the study, they just couldn't believe the ads were false since it verified what they think. The same is true for ads that go against what someone believes, the people automatically thought they were false and struggled when they were told they were true. That as human beings we struggle to take in info that is not along the same lines of our beliefs, adding brainwashing to that almost seems impossible to reach someone involved in anything like this.

[@whimsical_flower]

I definitely got bombarded in Target before. Actually twice. And once in Ralph's. Lol.

[@watsonwrote]

21:56 For the record, it wasn't like the baby was only underwater for a little bit. He wanted her to remain underwater, so she was kept in that pool for *an hour.*

[@mbs8001]

Every time I think about that, I feel sick. As soon as that placenta detaches, that’s it! No more oxygen to that baby. This man had no medical knowledge at all.

[@FullMoonOctober]

How did he get away with calling it an accident at that point? Every time I hear the story it sounds like intentional infanticide. He should have been locked up then and there!

[@sukru6797]

😲

[@TelinaASMR]

i LOVE these videos I’ve been binging them for a couple days now 😂

[@JTAH86]

That lady with the young living oils missed an opportunity, I know the student debt is a lot but being a doctor would be much more helpful to people than Oils, she would probably have realized the oils do not work as she believes and being a doctor would be more lucrative.

[@barbaraminerva]

But, the thing is she knew she could not pay with her "business" remember she wanted to prove him wrong, so if he is not paying, a part of the illusion would be broken, "It brings you a lot of money" because if the HER oil business doesn't pay she would need a 9 - 5, what would contradict the MLM speech, she knew and acknowledged that (in a way), and that's why she gave up on the idea, a big part of the illusion would be shattered.

[@JTAH86]

@@barbaraminerva Oh I understand the young living stuff would not pay for college, I am just saying it would have been a positive thing to do if she was passionate about helping people and/or healthcare

[@barbaraminerva]

@@JTAH86 Yes, I agree with you 100%. What I tried to say was why she dropped the idea so fast, I mean going to healthcare area is great, but in her case (she just wanted to prove her husband wrong) she was not interested in that aspect, what is really sad, and that's why I pointed out the broken illusion (she was not making money from her business), she does not care about helping others, she just wanted to prove him wrong.

[@namebrandkids2558]

I had my kids at home and in a pool...my son was under water for about 15 sec. Before the midwife lifted him out. That mlm dude kept the baby underwater for around AN HOUR! If i remember correctly. Nothing wrong with waterborne. Everything wrong with LEAVING the poor baby in the water 🤦‍♀️

[@namebrandkids2558]

*water birth

[@abigaildespina4689]

I was ready to listen to one of your other HS videos for the 27th time, but then I saw this 😄 perfect timing THANK YOU

[@costepps2788]

Just commenting that your videos are so soothing. I have a migraine and could not listen to anything else, your voice is just very calm and relaxing. I'm sure you'll be a great mom. ☺️

[@ravenm8623]

I need to get cues like the couple in on e of the last stories. Great editing, great stories!

[@czarownicaikoniki]

Perfect timing, I love falling asleep to your videos, your voice is so smooth 🤍

[@missychan63]

Am I the only one that wishes the "14-year marriage" guy had told us what happened with his ex-wife's career? 😅

[@centerfear-mysterycrimerec3627]

I'm always happy to support anything that helps stop MLMs. Subbed, liked, and commented.

[@jenniebalmert2417]

Second story about Target is Amway - likely LTD (Leadershop Team Development)

[@trackydoo]

I nearly fell for an MLM hon. She messaged me on IG and was so sweet. Started off just being friendly. Then slowly tried to get me to join. I panicked last second and blocked her. This was 6 years ago. So glad I did! This was before I had really heard much about MLMs.

[@caramellbrixon9686]

Love how you always post in time for my lunch break

[@TheLauraLedesma]

Selling Tupperware put a strain on my marriage, but wasn't responsible for the breakup. He ended up with a bunch of Tupperware though, better him than me! Seriously though, it's just so sad how much an MLM ropes you into thinking it's the most important thing in your life. Then someone is the voice of reason and you can't hear it because brainwashing is real. I hope your pregnancy is progressing well. I don't know which one of your cats sounds just like my cat...I have literally opened the door to let her in while watching a video to find out it's your cat I'm hearing! It confuses my dog and it's so funny!

[@DarkFire1536]

Tupperware was a huge strain on my marriage as well.

[@sinicalbeautyqueen2975]

Ugh those Nutrition shops are popping up all over my state now. We probably have at least 5 in a 3 town radius. They scream scam to me and I personally have never been to one, but so many locals I know are obsessed 🤢

[@callietanzini6170]

I once tried to say something to my mom about Gary Young and she said "not everything on the internet is true". She doesn't even sell YL, but has a friend that does/did for quite sometime so my parents house is littered with YL oils. They are somehow even brainwashing their "supportive" friends which is scary. But yes, on the conversation of the "seed to seal", Savannah Marie has uncovered evidence that they have a lot of their oils imported and have been called out on it so they removed it from most of their marketing.

[@tonichan89]

Oh god, I've just-- The first story's got me heated already. a) where were her parents?? b) was she really bullied by her friends or... other people in her school? did they actually stop when she quit? c) how can you yell at a child for attending SCHOOL?! im just im-- gjngbjlrbgjldbskjnfksng

[@tuschi8039]

A) her parents paid for the entry fee B) apparently yes. We would have to Take her Word on THIS. C) i really think those MLM "huns" are so deep into the whole...Thing that they can't see anything else. I mean they signed them up when they where minors. But yeah...i also feel qochehqofpqnacbduaoq 🥺

[@teliahnovotny882]

So my parents used to be in amway, I knew about it but didn't know it was an mlm, they stopped it a long time ago but never told me about mlms and encouraged me when I told them about the "job opportunity". I was bullied and excluded by friends and others from school, and the bullying mostly stopped after I left and stopped posting about it. And yea, they yelled at me, relentlessly until I gave in and joined a zoom call. It was the worst, but I am so much more aware now and learned from the experience ❤️

[@sjastram]

Omg....the smoothis shop...one of those opened in my little town. Same thing- name of town nutrition

[@AyaDragonheart]

That first story was absolutely heartbreaking to me. The power difference between this poor high schooler and whoever recruited her makes me furious, and I'm so glad she got out and was able to start rebuilding those lost friendships.

[@RobynNanae]

The easiest way I’ve found to identify the four(!) Herbalife shops in my tiny town is to look at their Facebook pages. The owner’s shop link will be there as their website, or they will post about Herbalife specials.