Home › Forums › Buying and Selling › Selling on eBay › Selling Amway or other MLM Products
- This topic has 18 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 3 months ago by Suzanne in TX.
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05/21/2020 at 5:10 pm #77658
Hey, does anyone have any recommendations or thoughts on reselling Amway products / MLM products? I’ve sold some in the past when I’ve run across sealed products in goodwill or random picking. But have come across a large inventory.
I have seen Amway specifically sue or harass eBay sellers for selling products from retired distributors or when sellers listed lots of products.
I thought first sale doctrine protected eBay sellers but the more I research it seems these companies can still throw law suits at you and hurt you financially if you sell there products without being a “certified” member or distributor. I would not use their copy right photos or descriptions when listing but do not want to be threatened with a law suit either.
The products sell well on eBay and could profit a fair amount.
*I have not purchased items yet so thats good, just wanted input to see if I should just pass on buying them.
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05/21/2020 at 5:16 pm #77659
eBay is just a marketplace and cannot dictate legal actions. Corporations protect their copyrights and trademarks all the time on eBay, Amazon, etc. And just because a company claims something doesnt mean its true. Their trick is you have to take them to court to find relief.
So would you become someone’s downline, buying directly from the MLM company? Or are you looking to buy some sucker’s inventory that they can’t sell?
(and you do know all that stuff is a scam, right?)
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05/21/2020 at 5:27 pm #77661
Definitely know its a huge scam, would just be buying someones old inventory
Would you feel comfortable listing a large amount of the stuff on eBay?
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05/21/2020 at 5:34 pm #77663
I think those products are junk and wouldn’t think they’d sell well. Do people actually prefer Amway to actual store brands?
And because Amway and MLM companies are scams, I imagine they defend their brands best as they can. If you could buy their products on eBay, then the whole point of scamming people to be their reps would disappear.
I see people sell Amway, but who knows how long you could get away with it until they ask eBay to VERO you. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=amway&_sacat=0&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1
Can you give an example of what you would pay for an item and what it’d actually sell for on eBy?
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05/21/2020 at 5:31 pm #77662
A few weeks back we had a few posts going about Ebay’s VERO Program and the link to the list was posted.
Yes, Amway Corporation, USA is on the first page of that VERO list.
The topics we covered in those thread posts were: How active is Amway searching for their name and products being sold on e-commerce platforms, do they have a team of employees looking specifically for non-authorized sellers, Ebay doesn’t care they will just take your listings down at the request of the VERO registered company, do others sell the VERO company products [yes they do], are they supposed to be doing that [no really], does everyone get caught [no but it is still not Kosher, do some get caught [Yes], if caught will I get a VERO violation letter [most likely, and Ebay pulls your listings], if I get more than one VERO what happens “Only The Shadow Knows”.
Jays past comments have been many people speed a lot of times, but only a few get caught, but those do get a ticket and pay a fine.
You call.
Here’s a novel idea…. Call Avon directly and ask if you can sell their products on line if you got them at an auction or estate sale. Nothing like straight from the horses mouth.
mike – MDCGFA in Atlanta
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05/21/2020 at 5:38 pm #77664
Thanks for the advice! Will just pass on it, I don’t like the products or the company itself anyway so its probably best to pass. No shortage of other things to sell. Just seemed like easy money, but not worth the headache or worrying about it
- This reply was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by fatcateclectic.
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05/21/2020 at 5:48 pm #77666
The items are Artistry skin care products – random ones but all sealed in box and range in selling price of $25 – $150 and actually do sell. Huge lot, would probably end up paying very little per item (maybe a $1-3?)
But from everything you’re saying its sounds like they would definitely see the listings over time and I don’t won’t to lose my eBay account or have problems listing in the future. Or threatened by the brand itself.
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05/21/2020 at 6:05 pm #77667
Yeah, I’d be curious if anyone here has experience selling MLM items on eBay. But those companies are so gross, I woudlnt want to deal with any of it.
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05/21/2020 at 6:08 pm #77668
My wife susan used to work for Phizzer [??] Corp. who made Coty Cosmetics and she said there was another issue. That would be storage, product stability and after application skin reactions.
She said cosmetics need to be stored at room temp. or cooler. The emulsions, oils, and lanolins will separate with time and break down with age. Then a buyer gets a jar of something and there is a puddle of oil sitting on top. Then the buyer has to stir that oil back into the mix to thoroughly emulsify it.
She also said that some items will turn rancid in the jars. They have what could be called a shelf life. If we came across those types of cosmetics she wouldn’t want us to buy and sell it because of the liability. A buyer could react to the product after they put in on their skin or around there eyes or sensitive areas then here they come at you.
She said they would pull inventory when they did their annual counts and send back aged cosmetics that had not sold.
Sounds like she knows what she is talking about, so think you are better off.
Now as far as nail polish, proably last forever. Ask Ryanne, she has been selling some for a few years now. Wonder if she has opened a bottle and smelled, checked one out? Probably OK.
Susan even says that powered eye shadow and face powders, foundation items, moisturizers and lipsticks can have issues. Heat being the culprit of a lot of the damage.
Oh, well enough said.
mike – MDCGFA
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05/21/2020 at 6:30 pm #77670
Also good points, thanks for the advice
Definitely going to pass on it
I prefer selling weird old stuff, but have had a harder time finding unusual stuff right now so I’ve been selling more commodity items lately.
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12/30/2020 at 11:43 am #84746
I feel the same way about MLMs but I do occasionally sell select LuLaRoe clothing pieces when I come across them for the right price. For whatever reason, the Lula Zombies have created a cult following among certain kinds of prints, and some sizes are in higher demand than others. I always double-check the specific model and size on Terrapeak before buying though.
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01/01/2021 at 10:11 am #84803
I guess I’m in the minority, but to me, these MLM-made products are no different than anything sold in stores. Likely made in the same factories. And some people really like these products.
I don’t think I’ve ever used an Amway product, but I have a relative who sells Mary Kay just because she likes the makeup. She sells it at cost for herself and her friends and does not recruit anyone.
I rarely run into an ex-dealer selling their stock for cheap, but when I do, I jump at the opportunity. Don’t buy stuff that is expired, obviously, but a lot of Mary Kay/Avon has no exportation date. I’ve sold stuff that goes back to the 90s and people will want it and use it. Occasionally, I get a return because something has gone bad, but that’s rare. Never been VEROd (knock on wood). I would guess these MLM companies don’t care about discontinued items.
The last time I found an ex-dealer, I filled my entire car full for $100. Discontinued items take a while to sell, but over the next year, I probably made at least $2K.
Anyway, my point is this: MLM product or not, look up the comps on eBay. If the numbers make sense, buy it.
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01/01/2021 at 11:29 am #84804
I agree with Zach. As long as a company makes a legitimate, good product…who cares who they share their profits with. Pyramid schemes and MLM’s are often not the same thing. I like products from a certain essential oil company (after doing my own research and testing), they are MLM. I am never pressured to recruit, sell nor have minimum requirements to meet. The fee I pay yearly for wholesale prices, I view as no different than a Costco membership. These products are sold on Ebay and are sought after, and to my knowledge not an issue. Maybe not a great idea to lump any company as gross or bad without personal knowledge. That’s like saying all sellers on Ebay are “hustlers”. Only my opinion ☺️
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01/01/2021 at 12:21 pm #84806
Tupperware is a brand that has been around for decades, and the vintage stuff does pretty well on eBay. Sometimes it is people looking for a lid that was lost or adding coordinating pieces to what they have, but some use it for decorating similar to the old Pyrex.
I don’t think Tupperware is a pyramid scheme, at least not as bad as other companies.
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01/01/2021 at 2:10 pm #84809
You guys are very generous to these companies. As a scavenger, I see no issue with selling someone’s product the couldn’t sell, especially if they are dumping it. It’s just stuff.
But google any of these MLM companies: Amway, LuLaRoe, Young Living….. God help anyone naive enough to become someone’s downline. Instead of selling a good product on the competitive open market, these companies sell a fantasy to people looking for flexible work. They take your money, demand minimums, charge for motivational workshops, and harvest all the good will you have with your friends and family. You are left with a garage full of generic items, a feeling of failure, and people who think you’re a chump.
Like with “prosperity ministries”, its not illegal if you give all your money to a TV minister or an MLM. Caveat emptor.
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01/01/2021 at 3:02 pm #84810
Like I said “personal experience”. I have not experienced any of the claims you mention with the company I deal with. You can find information to support any idea/opinion on “google/internet”. Oh well…
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01/02/2021 at 6:37 am #84814
While I have no desire to become a Young Living representative, I don’t see how it’s so different from selling other products. First – How are they not sold on the competitive market? When I am making the decision to buy them or not, I can check all of the other essential oils for sale online or in local stores to compare, and also check reviews online.
When I worked in very large well-established high tech companies (similar to but smaller than Cisco), there were sales people that sold direct to customers, and also a lot of partner teams whose sole goal was to sign up other smaller companies to re-sell our products. Both parties have to do the research to see whether the reseller deal is worth it to them. It’s slightly different because both parties provided a value add, and not just a pass-through, but how is being a pass-through different from being a distributor of any other product?
Now, if you buy up a lot of YL products without knowing you have customers lined up, well, that’s the same buying any other kind of inventory you intend to resell without knowing whether you’ll be able to sell it or not.
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01/02/2021 at 7:19 am #84815
Yeah, maybe Young Life and other MLM’s are good.
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01/05/2021 at 12:25 am #84918
I’m not a big fan of MLMs, either. For those who enjoy investigative podcasts, I recommend listening to “The Dream.” Season 1 is about MLMs and Season 2 about the wellness industry. Fascinating stuff.
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