Why I Don’t Join Royalè and other MLM-related Business

Having friends who are into the Royalè Beauty Products business, the title of this post may sound negative or even controversial. But there’s more to this post than the title alone. I hope you read on to know why I don’t join Royalè and other MLM-related businesses.

When I signed in to my facebook account today, I saw an invitation to like a fan page from one of my friends. I checked the page and found out that it was related to the currently trending Royalè Beauty Products. I scrolled down a bit on the page to find out more about the business. I was surprised when I saw two of my other friends’ names tagged on a post. The one who invited me to like his page was a friend from our province.  The second was a colleague from my previous job, while the third was my schoolmate in college. What a small world indeed!

I knew that these guys don’t know each other personally (before) but became a part of each other’s network because of Royalè. And that suddenly inspired me to write this post.

Actually, I have been invited by a couple of friends to join their network with Royalè. I have nothing against this business. Royalè has great products and I know for sure that it’s not a scam. But I find it awkward and shameful to say no to their invitations. I couldn’t explain to them either the reasons behind my refusal to join their business. I’m afraid that they might misinterpret a ‘NO’ as offensive or being unsupportive especially because they are my friends.

Multi-Level Marketing or MLM is not new to me. I believe in this kind of business and as a matter of fact, I’ve joined various MLM-related businesses in the past. Let me share you a few…

I signed up with Herbalife twice. The first was when I was in college. I was in search for a part-time job back then when I saw their ad somewhere (I already forgot where exactly that was).  I attended the presentation at their office in Makati and since I didn’t have money that time, my ‘upline’ (I forgot her name too), allowed me to stay in their office and make calls to invite my “circle of friends” to join Herbalife’s programs and opportunities. Apparently, that didn’t work out.

The second time was when I was invited by my college friend. I was already employed that time so when she invited me to their presentation, I was again amazed listening to the success stories of the members. Some of them were the same people I’ve seen when I first attended the presentation. And because I was already earning from my job then, I signed up and paid the membership fee. I tried marketing it through my friends and colleagues, but that didn’t work out either.

MLM multi-level marketing 

Before Herbalife, I also attended the BOM (Business Opportunity Meeting) or BOP (Business Orientation Program) with other MLM companies. The very first was with Globelines. It sounds like a big company but it’s not related or affiliated with Globe Telecom. Not at all. In fact, it turned out to be a scam. I wrote an article about this experience a few years ago and I’ll share it on a separate post.

I also remember attending business presentations with Four Quadrants, DXN, Nu Skin, and a few more which I don’t remember any more.  The last was with Vmobile, which was a one sim-load-all kind of thing. I was invited to their BOM by a colleague and for the nth time, I was amazed with their convincing and kind of ‘hypnotizing’ presentation and success stories. It was a very good timing for them because: 1) it was pay day, 2) I just got my 13th month bonus not too long ago, 3) I received the full amount of my share from a paluwagan, and 4) I had a few savings in the bank. It wasn’t much but it was enough to pay P30,000+ in full. And it all happened in just 3 hours. I was totally hooked. I’ll share the full story of this experience in a separate post but to conclude this part, unfortunately, my P30,000 ‘investment’ was put to waste.

I’m sharing these experiences to you without any intentions of convincing you not to join MLM business. There is nothing wrong with Multi-Level Marketing.

It is a legitimate marketing strategy in which members are compensated not only for the products or services that they sold but also for the sales of their recruits.

It is different from Pyramid Scheme which is an unsustainable business model that primarily involves recruiting and enrolling people to join the business. Most of these schemes don’t have products or services involved. The membership fees are used to pay the people on top or ‘uplines’ thus in order for you to earn, you have to recruit more people.

And I believe Royalè is a multi-level marketing company but certainly not a pyramid scheme.

MLM multi-level marketing

I may have not succeeded (yet) in this kind of business but that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to try it again. Maybe I will or maybe not. But one thing is for sure. I will be more vigilant and responsible now in all my decisions and actions. The common denominator of my failures was not mulling things over  long enough to make sound and better decisions. And these failures have taught me a lot of lessons. Sadly, it took me a hefty sum of money before I realize that I did something that I should’ve not done too soon.

I guess you know now why I don’t join Royalè and other MLM-related businesses. At least not yet and not for now. I feel like I’ve had enough of this kind of business in the past and I’ve never been successful. It’s not because of the business itself. The products are good. I can use and sell them if I want to. The management and the so called ‘uplines’ are supportive. Some of them even provide trainings and workshops. And I know that there’s money in this business.

But inviting and convincing other people to join the business is just my greatest weakness. I tried. In fact, I tried it several times with several companies. But I just couldn’t do it well. Maybe MLM isn’t just my thing or maybe it’s not really for me or maybe this is something that I need to improve more on.

Like what I said early on, I have never been successful in any MLM business. But that doesn’t mean I’m never going to involve myself in any MLM or networking-related kind of thing again. This is a good business and if the right time, with the right people, and the right business come, why not?

If it’s for me, then it’s for me. Likewise, if it’s for you, then it’s definitely for you.

But we wouldn’t know if it’s for us until we try it. So if you think that this is worth an investment, go ahead and try it! Good luck and I wish you all the best.  

“Malay mo, maging upline pa kita pag nag-join ako.” 🙂

Janice

Certified WAHM l Licensed Financial Advisor & Professional Teacher l Financial Literacy Advocate l Founder of www.pinayinvestor.com

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17 Responses

  1. PINASforGOOD says:

    My cousin is actually part of the Herbalife in our province. She is actually the very first in our province and I heard her business is really going well. She got invited to Korea and all and she even got an award. While I am happy truly happy for her, I don’t support MLM,too. MLMs, I feel like a recruitment thing wherein you can get more money by recruiting rather than the products. I never tried Hebalife but I heard there are serious issues with it. I don’t know. For me naman, I don’t want to forever take the product to maintain a slim figure. It’ll just burn a hole in your pocket lang. Might as well go primitive- exercising and eating right

    • Janice says:

      Oh, hello there! That was the quickest comment I’ve ever received. 🙂
      Thanks for visiting my blog.

      Yeah Herbalife is a really good company. Like I mentioned, I signed up twice with this company because I believe in its business. And you’re right. They send out qualified members abroad to attend meetings and all for free. And their success stories were incredible. Nagniningning ang mga mata ko at pumapalakpak pati tenga ko while I was listening to them. 🙂

      But I guess, not all businesses or investments are for you. And after trying it twice, I realized that it wasn’t really for me.

      And I agree with you. There are other alternatives out there that we can try to have a slimmer and healthier figure… Ouch! And I’m guilty of not doing that… 🙂

  2. Marge says:

    I’ve been with MLM business too when I was in college and after college. It was through networking business I improved my skills in marketing. I’ve tried to be on the top, top as in enough to pay my needs in school(college) and my sister needs in college. I am so grateful I was once a networker. With their training I was really a good speaker and marketer until now (maybe)
    MLM is like hotcakes too, sales are high when it’s hot..well there are some thrive longer out there especially if the products are really good.

    I’ve tried various networking business, from beauty and health products, kitchen utensils, e loading, insurance, telecommunication and more. Based on experience, it last 2-3 years I got a good income then beyond that no more. Reasons are, there are more new MLM business sprouted and better.
    Please don’t quote me for my statement because I know a lot of people who are successful-have cars, earn millions from MLM too.

    For me, I am just tired to recruit and recruit. I prefer to just sale the products(but anyway as netwroker you should use the product first as living proof and it would be easy to explain once you’ve tested it).

    When I know friends who are part or member of networking business? I am very happy for them because like me, that was my marketing or shall I say my entrepreneurial skills started. The trainings and seminars are way more than the money you’ve invested “that if you attended the ladderized trainings”. Then all you’ve learned will be useful the rest of your life.
    -sorry for a long post-

  3. Janice says:

    Thank you so much Marge for sharing your MLM experiences…
    Glad it worked for you.

    Like I said, there’s nothing wrong with MLM especially if you think that this is for you and if you believe that you’ll grow personally and professionally in this kind of business. You’re right, the training and seminars are
    worth your investment. Not only you earn, but also you learn. Plus, you also get to share both your earnings and learnings with others.

    I also agree that recruiting people gets tiring eventually. It’s exciting at first especially if your recruits believe in the business just like you. But when you try another MLM business and you recruit again, it may not be as exciting as the first time. And the people you recruit may also get tired of listening and accepting your new offers.

    (I don’t mind your long comment. I even appreciate it 🙂

  4. Jeff says:

    Great post (and blog) you have here 🙂

    Hmm..same here, I was invited more than once by my friends who love to flood my FB wall with their uhm, “Yumaman ka na ba sa pagdududa mo?” posts while flashing their P500 and P1000 bills (I’m actually more concerned with their safety than their business though. haha!) Well you’re right MLM is a good opportunity. Mahirap lang talga para sa iba makita ang good sa bad or worse, scam. By the way, I’ve also written an article about MLM (http://www.pisoandbeyond.com/2014/03/is-network-marketing-business-scam.html) and a simple guide how to find a good one, which must be able to answer atleast 5 questions –>> http://www.pisoandbeyond.com/2014/04/5-questions-to-ask-in-every-mlm-company.html

    Thanks and continue to share! Cheers ^_^

    • Janice says:

      Hi Jeff, thanks for visiting Pinay Investor and thanks for your comment. 🙂
      I’ve seen similar posts din on fb and I’m equally happy for them who truly earn from MLM.
      Not everybody does and sadly I wasn’t one of them.. 🙁

  5. Joseph says:

    Hi Janice, I am a member of a well known Pharmaceutical company in USA. And we are now carrying their nutritional products here in the Philippines. Please email me if you are interested and I am happy to discuss

  6. Butch says:

    Hi Janice,
    Very well shared. I just have one question for you, though. 🙂

  7. dantoy says:

    hi there Janice.. Awesome post, indeed a very informative article about MLM. After reading your whole post, seemed you belong to what they called “burned-out networker”. I just wanted to highlight what you said about “you are not quite good in recruiting” One thing I’ve learned about MLM is that “Learning is everything.. ” you have to learn how to do the business first (for you to be able to share/present the business with confidence, in this case, you have to attend massive training and do your homework. Leaders and successful MLM networker starts by knowing how to effectively share/present the business confidently.

  8. Gene Rose says:

    I’m sorry to hear about your story. This video on youtube is worth watching. The truth about binaries https://youtu.be/8CGDRjcbKWU

  9. Gene Rose says:

    Your last line ” Malay mo maging upline pa kita, pag nag join ako.” Nakakatuwa lang. I can feel your sentiments because I myself have been to few networking businesses before but failed. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, hindi na talaga ako mag nenetwork business. But just recently, binigyan ako ng sample product ko ng friend ‘Shake Off phyto fiber’ detox and colon cleansing from Edmark International Group of companies. I decided to join kasi discounted yung mga products bilhin if member ka. I love their products kasi. Yun ang reason nag join ako. I wasnt even interested to know and check sa marketing plan nila. Wala akong plano mag network kasi gusto ko mag product user lang. Binigyan ko din ng product nung isa kung friend and she liked it. Nagpa member din pero pareho kami, product user lang. But when our upline explained to us the marketing plan ng Edmark, ay ang unique at ang ganda. Sabi ko, matalino ang gumawa ng marketing plan nila. So I decided to give it a go. It worked kasi yung products are very effective talaga, mura at madaling ibenta. So I’m happy to be Edmarker. Check mo lang. Google it. Malay mo nga, if you liked it give it a try! 🙂

  10. Dolly says:

    Maybe it hasn’t get to you yet. But MLM’S are a scam and a pyramid scheme, even with the products. You say, it just doesn’t work out for you cause you have not done enough. It really doesn’t work, bottom line is for you to recruit people. You are the consumer of the products.

  11. Emman Garcia says:

    WOW! just wow, nabasa ko lang yung article since I’m already a member of royale recently and just to look for some infos regarding this company, and i read this, i used to be part other MLM businesses na rin kaya hindi na bago sakin tong MLM, pero regarding kay royale infairness ang hands on ng mga upline. especially this time of pandemic ko pa sya ginawa… nice review maam janice! janice din pala name ng
    upline ko.=)

  12. Reallyn Hipolan says:

    Hi, Ms. Janice. I just entered the Royale Business Club. As an introvert person, dealing with this business is a huge challenge. I may not earn high easily but I believe this would help me improve my personality and in building relationship with other people and so my self-esteem. Best regards!

  13. Jackie says:

    I read all your comments and I could not help to have that kind of “laban” or “bawi” thoughts. I am not good about recruiting- I guess I do not have that skill, more so I do not have the courage to post financial achievements in public (just in case, I will be successful if I join). But looking at the other side- wow the return of investment is very huge- as long as you have that skill in marketing. So good luck to me and to those who are also in discernment. Miss Janice thank you

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