Donald Trump and Network Marketing

October 25, 2005 by Ty | 54 Comments

Did Donald Trump really endorse Network Marketing?

Len Clements:

Did Donald Trump ever say he’d turn to MLM to make back his fortune? (insert drum roll here…)

Yep, he sure did.

But alas, that’s not the whole story. The MLM grapevine has managed to fold, spindle and mutilate the facts just a bit. Here’s the actual, absolutely factual, events that occurred during that fateful Tonight Show episode:

It indeed happened on the Tonight Show, and it was Johnny Carson at the helm. The date is fuzzy, but it’s probably circa late ’80s, early ’90s since Johnny did indeed ask Trump what he would do if he ever lost his fortune (so it must have been pre-Trump-thump and Artful Comeback). And what Donald Trump said in responses was, “I’d join Amway.” He said it with a rye grin, and the audience laughed accordingly.

They got the joke. Apparently some MLMers didn’t.

Yes, Donald was being facetious. He was poking fun at us, or more specifically our granddaddy, Amway. He wasn’t being serious about joining us, he was MOCKING us! But hey, technically, he DID say exactly what he was rumored to have said. Technically.

Of course, this all begs the question, how the heck do I know this?

Well, glad you asked, because I could not have gotten this from a better source than to have asked Johnny or The Donald himself. I asked Fred De Cordova, the producer of the Tonight Show for over 30 years. The opportunity came when a good friend at the time (a member of a famous band) was performing on the Tonight Show and I was invited to tag along. I got to sit in the green room with Martha Stewart and Sinbad. But I digress. Anyway, while strolling backstage with my friend we happened upon an elderly gentleman standing alone near the stage entrance (where Jay now emerges from each weeknight). It was Mr. De Cordova. He had since retired but, I was told later, still liked to hang out around his old stomping grounds. This chance meeting occurred just a few months before he passed away in September of 2001.

My friend and he spoke for a short time, as I stood silently aside, then we parted ways. I remember thinking just moments after about the Trump “myth” and regretted my missed opportunity to ask him about it. But a short time later I was allowed to explore on my own. Sure enough, Mr. De Cordova was still there. With more than a little apprehension I approached him and sheepishly introduced myself. He shook my hand and remembering me from our earlier indirect meeting asked if I was “with the band.” Once I had giddily provided him with may to much information about my utter lack of musical talent, I took a breath, and popped the question. With only a moment’s pause, he replied that he did recall such a conversation. And I was surprised to learn that I was not the first to have asked him about it! He did not recall the details of the previous inquiry, but he was clear on the Trump/Carson exchange…

…and that Donald Trump was just kidding.

Update: Donald Trump has since changed his tune about Network Marketing and now is paid to endorse ACN.

In Network Marketing Trends

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Comments

  • Christian on March 26th, 2006 at 2:19 pm

    It seems now Donald is “endorsing” the ACN MLM. Guess he was serious huh?!

  • John Barnwell on March 30th, 2006 at 3:45 pm

    Could I get your email address? I have something about your Donald Trump story. John

  • Annon Noone on April 6th, 2006 at 11:27 pm

    Yes it is true “The Donald” is endorsing and promoting ACN and is to be “Launched” with the company april 22nd 2006. He will be featured in the PBR promotional DVD and will be appearing at a select few national conventions held through out the country. I would be happy to give anymore info that I can but I need to remain Annon…ya know?

  • Gossip Queen on April 26th, 2006 at 9:09 am

    Trump is endorsing ACN and I know the whole scoop. If you want to learn about ACN’s opportunity in California write back. It is legit. It is a great opportunity. It is working for my family right now. ;)

  • dana on May 7th, 2006 at 11:15 pm

    Would you like me to send you a copy of Donald Trump’s dvd speaking so highly of ACN??? ACN MLM scam? Uumm… I don’t think so!!! Those people who said ACN is a scam are the ones who sat around waiting for money and success to fall right in their lap… obviously, they fell out the business because they did not work… Problems with ACN or problems with lazy people???

  • bureau credit report on May 23rd, 2006 at 5:57 pm

    bureau credit report…

    collectively agreeing selectman garlanded casual credit http://credit.available-credit-report.com/

  • Iso on May 24th, 2006 at 8:00 am

    BS on the lazy people issue. I worked HARD at ACN for 15 months….literally every single night with meetings at my house, people to Monday night meetings, etc. and made next to nothing. I had all my customers in 20 days and missed my 2 reps by 2 days…by two days! In those 15 months I saw two checks. One for $13 and one for $10. I would agree that I had some LAZY reps but I wasn’t lazy. I busted arse. Now I assume you will tell me I had the wrong people and didn’t stick with it long enough??? I can show you my contacts list. It had over 600 names (all of whom were approached)…

  • Jason on May 30th, 2006 at 6:55 pm

    Well with 600 names…you obviously need training on how to taproot your contacts and ask for referrals… and 18months is nothing in this business…you should of stuck it out…your lost.

  • Jason on May 30th, 2006 at 6:58 pm

    With 600 ppl … and referrals you would still be in business..with more than enough people to talk to..not to mention that you should be re-contacting yoru original 600 ppl every 3-6months as a check up to see how life is going.

    In my opinion you just need more training in the art finding people’s hot button and customizing your mlm opportunity to fix that burning need in their life…that my friend is an ART…takes time…commitment…and a lot longer than 18months.

  • AndyG on May 30th, 2006 at 9:24 pm

    Doues anybody know about how usefull the Trump University thing is?
    I joined up but after I joined & paid I heard not so much as a whisper!
    Anyway I have a better university now…
    chech this baby out…
    http://agravina1.successuniversity.com/Rtr/Cpy/MtC1b.aspx

    Lots of love,
    AndyG

    PS Would like to know if anyone else has joined the Trump show… wish I hadn’t :-0 lol

  • jbox on June 20th, 2006 at 5:57 pm

    yeah josh….you definetly need some training….and as far as lazy reps…..thats bs… look in the mirror…you’re looking at the problem and you’re looking at the solution….

  • WM on June 22nd, 2006 at 12:27 pm

    How about a pumpernickel grin? Can we spell “spell check”? Trump University? How about Grammar 101?

    I want to offer my editorial skills to any and all writers. Please respond on this board. Thank you.

    WM
    (making my own wealth-building opportunities happen)

  • James W on September 4th, 2006 at 1:07 pm

    I’ve only just heard about Donald Trump’s apparent endorsement of network marketing. Unfortunately I came across this article straight away, and was disappointed to hear that he wasn’t being serious. I was just about to write an article on this to promote my mlm programs, but I guess I’ll have to scrap that now :-)

  • Jeannette R. on September 11th, 2006 at 1:31 pm

    My husband & I recently returned from the ACN International Convention this weekend were ..YES Donald Trump was there. He gave a very true introspect of how he became successful and gave us key points on how to be successful with ACN. He didn’t show up on some televised pre-recording either. He was on stage in the flesh answering questions from the audience even! I was totally blown away. My husband and I have never been given a training on success from a multi-billionaire before as I’m sure many of you haven’t either. I can vouch that Mr. Trump was not simply “being serious”.

  • Nykhan on September 26th, 2006 at 5:37 am

    everything jeannette said above me is sooooo true. i too just recently got back from the international event in baltimore, and to tell u the truth, i wasn’t really taking acn seriously until i saw donald trump himself on stage. i get told alot that ACN is one of those “pyramid scams”. i just look at them, laugh, and say “you mean like your job?”. what people don’t realize is that, the term “pyramid scam” is just the poor man’s description of a business. for a billionaire like donald trump himself to say that ACN is better than real estate, i would probably rather listen to the billionaire promoting a so-called “pyramid scam” than the poor guy whose totally against it. it only makes sense

  • Ivan on September 28th, 2006 at 9:59 am

    My opinion is that I do not believe that Donald Trump is supporting a business that is illegal or a fraud. It seems to me stupid to put in risk his name and its reputation for a few more dollars.

  • Cody on October 11th, 2006 at 6:25 am

    If anyone actually doubts Donald Trump and thinks that what people are saying about Baltimore is a bunch of crap, I have proof that is truly is endorsing ACN and if you want to see the proof bad enough you will need to ocntact me: cctayl@hotmail.com.

    14 years being in business, the endorsment of a multi-billionaire, 3 former attorney generals & the laws and regulations of 19 countries (including the United States) say this is no scheme.

    Because ACN allows everyone the opportunity to make money from people paying their bills…those things that come in the mail once a month that were are going to pay for anyways, why are you doing this too?!

    http://thesystemworks.acnrep.com

  • Cody on October 11th, 2006 at 6:28 am

    I meant to say “why aren’t you doing this too?” Sorry about that.

  • jim on November 15th, 2006 at 10:31 pm

    ACN is a scam!!!!! Its a joke that Trump even endorsed it!

  • work4yourmoney on December 4th, 2006 at 1:52 pm

    You are all a bunch of brainwashed, gullible, and lazy people that want to make a buck fast at others’ expense. Just because there are a few billionaires out there that made their money from your MLM doesn’t mean you’re going to! Doesn’t it tell you something that people are getting rich off of you signing up? Sounds like a red flag to me.

    And when I say “others’ expense” I don’t just mean scamming people; i’m also referring to all of those people that actually did make money by pressuring all their family and friends to join using deceitful and tricky methods. After all, there’s only two ways to make money in an MLM: Bug the he** out of your friends and family or get lucky.

  • work4yourmoney on December 4th, 2006 at 1:59 pm

    Oh yeah, and by the way: Do you think Bam Margera would endorse Extreme Right Guard deodorant if he wasn’t paid to? Would Jessica Simpson endorse ProActive Solution? What about Michael Jordan and Hanes? George Foreman and a lean mean fat reducing grilling machine?? Come on.

  • Grant on December 9th, 2006 at 10:42 am

    Dear Work4yourmoney:
    It’s great to hear people like you make comments because there are 2 types of people: 1)people who think money can be legitimately made ONLY through their OWN direct efforts

    2)people who understand the power of leveraging OTHER people’s time and resources.

    CONCLUSION: The second group loves the first group because they make them lots of money. The first group makes for great employees!! Leadership can not truly be taught but can only be discovered in yourself.

    Afterall, somebody has to wash our cars, right?? That’s not an insult either. It means that there are only a minority of people that understand leverage. It’s why the minority own the majority of the wealth.

    Thanks
    Grant

  • Grant on December 9th, 2006 at 10:47 am

    One other thing…in about 4 to 5 years EVERY HOME will have a Voip video phone. People don’t understand the technology yet, but for someone who has been in the IT industry for 5 years, this is a gold mine.

    I actually can hook this video phone to my laptop using my Verizon wireless broadband Internet connection and make unlimited calls from Starbucks. Heck, I’ve reduced my cell phone minutes and saving $50/month.

    If you are opened minded and want to speak to someone who understands this product, contact me. I will help you make lots of money. gspollet@gmail.com

    Thanks,
    Grant

  • simo on December 18th, 2006 at 6:56 pm

    well well well my first time here and ill say one thing to ppl who make us laugh , means ppl who dont understand business , whyyy bother keep your job dont look at us , i am a leader in ACN in canada , when i started i didnt know no bobody here i just came to canada now its boooming so shut up and mind your own business employees ;)

    contact me if you really wanna know what we do and not listening to gossip ;)

    lenoble4@hotmail.com
    ciao

  • J on December 20th, 2006 at 10:00 am

    Trump doesn’t need to endorse anything, he endorses what he is interested in. He was not being sarcastic with Amway. However, Trump made his money in real estate and therefore you should not consider him an expert in MLM.

  • Fer / Netherlands on February 22nd, 2007 at 7:49 am

    ACN is only for those people ,who realy want to help other people to be sucessful.

  • SeaBass on February 25th, 2007 at 10:22 pm

    I just finished my convention in Texas today Feb 25th and I had the pleasure of seeing Donald Trump speak up on stage. I’ve also had the pleasure of listening to the Co-Founders, my personal RVP who spoke after Donald Trump (For those of you that were there know who I’m talking about) And what they say makes plenty of sense. I’ve heard stories of people making RVP in 16 months, 3 years, or being stuck at a certain level for X numbers of years. I’m relatively new to the business and I’m begging to make sense of what I’ve been hearing. What I’ve been hearing is that I have a decision to make, I have to work hard, and work or job or whatever you do, you have to work hard. So when I get back from Texas, I’m going to bust my arse. If I don’t hit a certain level by a certain time, I’m not going to give up. Just because so & so did it in 6 months, a year, 2 years doesn’t mean I won’t get there. It just means that I need to learn more about this business and stay positive. Because it’s true people will quit on you, people don’t get you the results you expect. But that’s life, get over it. Anyways guys I’ll see you in Detroit in June, hopefully I’ll be up on that stage this time, and if not in June, I promise you this, my day will come!

    SeaBass

  • KCnJoJo on February 27th, 2007 at 2:08 pm

    ACN’s compensation plans are horrible. I’ll just show you the facts. Don’t you people actually look at that? All the money is made off of recruiting. Okay just in case you didn’t look at ACN’s comp plans, here they are:

    level 1: (.25%) not one percent, not half a percent, a QUARTER of a percent. That means for your great residual income that you rave about, if you’re customer is getting a $50 phone bill, you’re only getting $ .13 cents of that!
    level 2: (.25%)
    level 3: (.25%)
    level 4: (.25%)
    level 5: (.25%)
    level 6: (1-2%)
    level 7: (7%) This is the level they like to hype up and talk about.

    Just wanted to present that to you.

  • Gina Woodruff on March 10th, 2007 at 12:24 am

    MLM is a wonderful concept. I was one of those people who said I would never do it after attending one Amway meeting about 20 years ago. I have had my own service business for 17 years. I started a second business in Wellness a MLM promoting business opportunity with physical, mental and financial wellness at it’s core. I love it! I believe in creating multiple streams of income so I plan to attend an ACN overview this week. I am spending the next two days at the Real Estate and Wealth Expo…Tony Robbins is Amazing…as are Donals Trump and Robert Kiyosaki. If you enjoy your job that’s wonderful..it takes all kinds of people to make the world go around…but do your self a favor…find a MLM that has a product you can get excited about and build another stream of income on the side. Be patient, consistent and sincere and you will be glad you did it 3-5 years from now if not sooner.

  • David Thornton on April 3rd, 2007 at 12:41 am

    Trump Manifesto

    A STRANGE THING HAPPENED ON MY WAY TO THE LEARNING ANNEX

    Curious about One King Street West Toronto Ontario I conducted a preliminary inquiry. On the surface the project looked suspiciously interesting. You know not your “run of the mill� sort of business venture. So, I was looking forward to Harry Stensen’s motivational seminar since he was one of the star attractions. It was he and Donald Trump I wanted to hear at this gala event.

    Suddenly I see Harry Stinson is in financial difficulty being sued for approximately $11,000,000 but a keynote speaker at the “Learning Annex� to teach others how to succeed. I had also been Googling� Donald Trump to familiarize myself with some of his operations so I might better understand his lecture.

    But there again, I was amazed to find that his casinos in Atlantic City I had assumed were making “tons of money� are actually losing millions and were, as I understand, looking at bankruptcy. Becoming a bit more disillusioned I began looking into some of Donald Trump’s other enterprises only to find he endorses, an obviously promotes ACN.

    Now, understanding illegal pyramid schemes I certainly did not expect a find the famous billionaire Donald Trump involved in that sort of “snake oil� type of illegal pyramid selling scheme. But there it was. He causes students and the some of the most desperate and vulnerable in our society to give up the last few thousand they have and even go into debt, when this is nothing but “pocket change to this billionaire bastard.�

    ACN according to the provisions of the section 206 (1)(e) of the Criminal Code of Canada is an illegal pyramid recruiting scheme. Upon further investigation I find they were actually charged criminally in Canada. Apparently, according to the judge an incompetent, prosecuting attorney was unable to satisfy the judge that ACN is Multi-Level Marketing let alone an illegal pyramid scheme. So the judge sent the prosecuting attorney packing with his tail between his legs until he could get his “Act together� and return to court. The judge didn’t rule ACN is legal, only that the prosecutor is incompetent.

    That made me scratch my head! All the King’s unscrupulous lawyers, and all the King’s corrupt RCMP wasting millions in taxpayers’ dollars; access to researchers and precident case law, and months of investigation etc, etc, couldn’t put together a simple mathematical case of fraudulent pyramid selling? They even received hours of explanation and instruction from a world famous investigator and president of Pyramid Scheme Alert, Robert Fitzpatrick of South Carolina, a world renowned expert witness and authority on fraudulent pyramid schemes. In my opinion the prosecuting attorney, for some reason, perhaps sinister, either ignored the advice and information, or like a corrupted prize fighter held it back and “took a dive.� Hell that’s happen before; both in the prosecutor’s office and the prize fighting industry; probably far more often in the prosecutor’s office.

    Now, the reason I find this incredible, is that I’m being sued for $10 million by two corporations represented by a 24 lawyer law firm (they are now off the case): corporations I claimed were operating pyramid fraud schemes. About nine months ago they filed a motion for an injunction to shut my website down for defamation. Within three weeks, with no legal counsel, a grade 10 education, (plus ten months barber school) limited access to case law, (I relied on two criminal cases) and material I had researched and about a half hour on the phone to Robert Fitzpatrick I was not only successful in having the injunction to shut my website tossed out, I turned the tables on these two corporations. After taking six months to review the material (this was no rush job) the judge ruled I had established a prima facie case of the violation of both the Federal Competition Act and the Criminal Code of Canada. Victims had been told for years, by police and other questionable Canadian authority that these frauds were “perfectly legal.� Neither the Competition Bureau nor the RCMP has since moved to close these corporations down. One of the top people, an RCMP officer’s father; Dave Stewart has now opened in Flint Michigan scamming Americans. Do you see, that that court decision really should make one “scratch one’s head!�

    In my view, the prosecutor is either, (borrowing a MLM term), “Lame and Lazy,� absolutely incompetent, hopelessly stupid or outright corrupt. Regardless, victims including vulnerable students using credit cards and seniors using life savings, are being scammed for millions in ACN and thousands of other exponentially exploding pyramid schemes.

    My desire to learn how to legally make a million at the Learning Annex has been shattered and overshadowed as a result of “due diligence.� ….My “due diligence instead has revealed that…

    DONALD TRUMP IS THE PIED PIPER OF ORGANIZED CORPORATE FRAUD

    Now, Donald Trump, you relish “reality shows� paying people for the privilege of insulting and bullying them. So I challenge you, Donald Trump, to a real “reality show;� in front of a real judge, in a real Ontario Court with as many real and unconscionable and ruthless lawyers as your billions can buy. I will appear undefended armed with only my research, grade 10 and my post secondary education in the “School of Hard Knocks,� and I will kick your billionaire pyramid fraud “snake oil salesmen’s� sorry ass, on behalf of victimized students, seniors, immigrants, the financially unsophisticated, and the financially desperate who become prey to you unconscionable corporate scum and less than ethical lawyers! You are promoting a criminal conspiracy to rip off citizens in my country. I want you to denounce ACN as a criminal pyramid fraud, or take your sorry ass and your criminal conspiracy to defraud Canadians the hell out of my country, or take me on in court for defamatory libel and try to prove what you are doing is legal you corrupt scum.

    There’s your prima facie case made out for you, Donald Trump. Defamation!!! Right now I’m accusing you of participating in criminal activity in my country! See if you can now prove in front of an Ontario Judge that’s defamatory libel and get an interim injunction to shut my website down. No one has succeeded Yet!!! Not Treasure Traders International or Business in Motion suing me for 10Mil. Not the following who have threatened to sue me…American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) themselves assisting in promoting pyramid fraud, The Sum-It Club Woodbridge Ont.., not even an “affiliate� of Canadian Diamond Traders, and many others and I have called crooks gangsters and thieves all over the world-wide net some of whom can’t muster the guts to even send me a warning letter or e-mail. I’m a senior: they all appear afraid of the “old alligator?�………..You’re not, are you Donald???

    I did learn something from you, Donald Trump. You said “Wall Streeters are scum.� (But I say, so are “snake oil salesmen� and pyramid fraud artists). You said “Hit those suckers back fifteen times harder they’ll never do it again.� (That’s what I intend to do, Donald, legally). You said, “Fear is bull.� (And you and your billions don’t frighten me at all Donald Trump). “Never give up.� You said “Go with your gut, even if it’s against the tide� (I say against the tide of world-wide pyramid fraud and Ponzi Schemes promoted by corporate scum like you, with corrupt lawyers, cops and politicians in your pocket. i.e. Toronto mayor and corrupt cops, and the Canadian Federal Government).

    It’s you and me Donald; David and corrupt corporate Goliath. Take the challenge, or are you chicken! You can hardly write me off, I’ve proven myself a worthy opponent in Superior Court. All you have to do is sue me and prove to the Ontario Judge ACN is legal and not a fraudulent pyramid scheme. You will win the prize, and have my site shut down. The last two corporations and their firm of 24 lawyers couldn’t. This is a legitimate challenge considering that court decision! The Gauntlet is down. Your move Mr. Trump; you unconscionable, bulling piece of scum. I would, of course, expect a handicap as given by knights of old and since money means nothing to you I would expect you to pay the few hundred dollars it will cost for my filing fees, a few expenses like a couple of witnesses etc. It won’t be much since I will not employ expensive counsel.

    David John Thornton

    President – World-wide non profit organization CrimeBustersNow. www.crimebustersnow.com 905-963-3389

    P.S. to the reader out there…. I need a computer graphic designer that can help me with a cartoon of this pied piper of organized corporate fraud.

  • Ivan on April 3rd, 2007 at 6:51 pm

    KCnJoJo

    You forgot to mention how many people you are going to have in each level if you follow the system. Let’s see.

    level 1 (.25%) - 2 Representatives
    level 2: (.25%) - 4 Reps
    level 3: (.25%) - 8 Reps
    level 4: (.25%) - 16 Reps
    level 5: (.25%) - 32 Reps
    level 6: (1-2%) - 64 Reps
    level 7: (7%) - 128 Reps

    So that’s means that ACN’s compensation plans are horrible because its pay you more in the level were you have more people. What a shame!!!

    Let’s do the math, if at level 7 you have 128 reps and each one have 20 customer paying $40.00 dollars monthly for their telephone service.

    128 reps x 20 customers x $40.00 x 7% = $7,168.00 in monthly residual income.

    with 5 customers per Reps = $1,792.00
    with 10 customers per Reps = $3,902.00
    with 15 customers per Reps = $5,853.00

    Definitely ACN’s compensation plans are horrible!!!!!!

  • Ivan on April 3rd, 2007 at 7:09 pm

    No. No.
    Level Reps. Customers % Income
    1 2 15 0.25% $3.00
    2 4 15 0.25% $6.00
    3 8 15 0.25% $12.00
    4 16 15 0.25% $24.00
    5 32 15 0.25% $48.00
    6 64 15 1.00% $384.00
    7 128 15 7.00% $5,376.00
    Total Monthly Residual Income: $5,853.00

  • Ivan on April 4th, 2007 at 5:04 pm

    What is a Pyramid Scheme and What is Legitimate Marketing?

    Pyramid schemes now come in so many forms that they may be difficult to recognize immediately. However, they all share one overriding characteristic. They promise consumers or investors large profits based primarily on recruiting others to join their program, not based on profits from any real investment or real sale of goods to the public.

    “ACN Disclaimer: Success as an ACN Representative is not guaranteed, but rather influenced by an individual’s specific efforts. Not all ACN Independent Representatives make a profit and no one can be guaranteed success as an ACN Independent Representative.”

    Some schemes may purport to sell a product, but they often simply use the product to hide their pyramid structure. There are two tell-tale signs that a product is simply being used to disguise a pyramid scheme: inventory loading and a lack of retail sales. Inventory loading occurs when a company’s incentive program forces recruits to buy more products than they could ever sell, often at inflated prices.

    “ACN offers Telecomunication Services, so you don’t need to have an invetory of Local and Long Distance or Internet lines in a warehouse. You only make the order online when the customer is ready to order it. Also you don’t need to buy more than the one that you are going to use in your home. One or two lines depend on how many telephone lines, internet lines, Voip system and Video Phones or wireless phones you need ; you decide, not ACN.”

    If this occurs throughout the company’s distribution system, the people at the top of the pyramid reap substantial profits, even though little or no product moves to market. The people at the bottom make excessive payments for inventory that simply accumulates in their basements. A lack of retail sales is also a red flag that a pyramid exists. Many pyramid schemes will claim that their product is selling like hot cakes. However, on closer examination, the sales occur only between people inside the pyramid structure or to new recruits joining the structure, not to consumers out in the general public.

    I repeat for second time in ACN you don’t need an inventory. Everything is online and mailed to the consumer via FedEx. No Inventory!!!!!
    One of the product that we offer is Wireless telephones form companies like Cingular, T-Mobile, Sprint- Nextel, Verizon, etc. Now the question is: Are the cellular phones selling like hot cakes or what?

    By the way in ACN all consumers are from the general public because an ACN Representative can’t be the consumer of another ACN representative, he is his own consumer.

    I still looking what part of this statements make an ACN a Pyramid Scheme.

    Can somebody please help me with that, I will be appreciated?

  • greg on April 12th, 2007 at 11:47 pm

    I just started at ACN about a week and a half ago, and I am doing pretty well considering i’ve only been in twice. My best friend told me about so i’m obviously thinking that its legit because my best friend would never scam me. However, my first day there they made me pay the $499 to begin the day of training and starting getting my first reps and customers. But for some reason it didn’t actually charge my credit card, but they didn’t notice so i’m starting this for free. So now after reading all about ACN from here and a couple other places i have come up with a question. should i just stay and see what i can do since i’m not really paying anything? Or should i just get out while i’m a head and not waste my time? Its gonna be really hard for me to leave because i’m really popular and i could, and am getting a bunch of people to do it. please help me out because i would rather get out now than just stay with something that isn’t going to work for me.

  • Lmac on April 17th, 2007 at 7:39 pm

    Well, until reading these comments, I hadn’t heard of ACN but I do know Trump is in an article in Home Based Business and discussing Vemma, the first and final place you will ever have to look to find a truly phenomenal product and home based business - they do 80% of the work for you- it’s simple and the product helps millions of people! That ACN comp. plan is horrible compared to VEMMA. Check out my site and take a free tour - you won’t believe how great and easy it is. www.myvemma.com/lizzym424

  • Ivan on April 19th, 2007 at 3:38 pm

    Dear Greg,

    Is going to work for you only if you follow the system and if you don’t quit. You need to believe and follow the system and the most important part never, ever quit.

    This is going to take time but at the end you will be surprise. If you plant a 5 inches orange tree today, when you expect that you can drink your first orange juice glass with the orange from that tree? If some body ask you “Have you make some money yet? Just remmenber that you already plant that tree and is going to take sometime, but at the end you are going to enjoy your orange juice. Also remmenber that the time is going to pass doing ACN or not.

    A last recommendation study your prospects and choose only the ones that really understand the system and really wants to work hard. This way you are not going to waste your time. Do not sign any body that is not really commited to do this.

    http://www.acnintegrity.com/index.html

  • am1206gb on May 4th, 2007 at 7:16 am

    ACN is the best!!!! I love it!!!!! It will work if you have the work ethic and dedication.

  • Donald Trump on May 7th, 2007 at 12:27 am

    Donald Trump is just another business man, he’ll do whatever to make money… wake up ppl…

  • Tyler on May 20th, 2007 at 9:06 pm

    ACN people, don’t waste your time convincing/explaining stuff to non believers. We know what we have, spend that time getting to work!

  • CHUDEW on June 4th, 2007 at 10:33 am

    I think it’s a scam. For all you believers, how much money are you making right now every month????
    How much is Donald Duck Trump getting paid buy the ANC members? (Like he really cares about the little guy)
    I have a good way of making money. Why don’t you give me money so I can give you the right to sell my product, which after some funny math and “hard work”will make you rich. Thanks suckers and tell your friends.

  • Business Minded on June 6th, 2007 at 3:36 pm

    Trump is a business man. Do what he does and you will have what he has.

    If you ever owned or operated a store or franchise, would you invite your friends and give them a good deal?

    There are tax advantages of owning a business that employees don’t have. Check with your accountant. So as your building your MLM/Network Marketing business, you have over 100 business deductions. A person who is a W-2 Employees has far less than that. You have to be in business with the intent to profit to qualify.

    Trump/Kiyosaki’s latest book endoreses MLM/Network Marketing, you have to have what people want and need.

    Why are you reffering to a clip that was done in 80’s?

    The internet as we know it didn’t even exist.

    The internet has changed the way business is done today. Don’t miss the boat.

    Love it or hate it, do your research and study both the positive and negative. Do your due diligence and run with the trends.

  • Phili P on June 29th, 2007 at 11:58 am

    Hi everybody!

    Anyone went to Detroit last convention?? AWESOME!!! Larry Raskin and George Zalucki were on fire!!! As Tyler tells so well, we don’t waste our time to convince people to ”enrole” because, by the way, we need customers to… :P

    We have a big business opportunity because of the switch from analog to digital technology and the fact that there is TO MUCH money spend world wide on bills every month and that the deregulation law helps us to capitalise on this money going anyway to monopoly… Because of that, you should already be waking up and contacting your rep who called you up for a meeting! If not… You are not the kind of guy I would want to work with me. (I usually say that I work for them, with them, because I do whatever is possible to help them in their business)

    I would have never ever sells pills, lotions and potion, shakes, nutritions things… well… products! as well as financial service if you know what I meen… Because knowing that your customers you add to your organisation will pay their bills every month makes sense! This is TRUE RESIDUAL INCOME. Did you will have to sell them products they don’t want to buy month after month? Not really! They will SAVE money month after month on something they are already paying… Think about it…

    The things I say to relate it to other kind of business:

    There is broker in real estate who makes money on others people sales;

    There is broker in trading forex who makes money from others people trades.

    There is now new ”kind of broker” in telecommunication with ACN and we are not using employees but other ”broker” to make money with their works. In fact, we give you the right to do exactly as we did! To add not much than 5 to 10 customers (makes you about 10 and 25points in Canada) and duplicate your acts by adding new reps to your orgnisation! This is not done in other business because ONLY ONE guy is on head of the structure… why? controling all the money? That’s not the vision of the 4 co-founders… You can even go faster and earn more money than the rep who introduce you to this opportunity so work hard, be wise and everything will follow.

    You MUST all think about it and if you would give a 100% energy because this is AWESOME! As I say to my reps… Do it seriously and others will do the same. I will guide them from TT to RVP but they have to TRUST me and think about looking a little bit ahead to work for it step by step, knowing why you do it and most important of all, don’t let others to make you stop dreaming on what you believe!!! Never, ever, ever, ever quit! The only failure, if you are sleazy and not mind about it, is yourself!!

    Part of Global Vision, an organisation in the Momentum Group, Quebec

  • Mr. D on July 19th, 2007 at 12:03 pm

    Wow, are there some very ignorant people in this world. The last time I checked, a scam is a business venture that cheats you out of your money. In other words, you put time and/or money into the venture and it was designed to never give you a positive return.

    Also, people that implement scams can only do so for short periods of time. It catches up to them before long. ACN has been in business for 12 years.

    I make an average of $12,000 a month with my ACN business. Been doing it for 2 years now. What a life I have. If ACN is a scam….I love scams. They give me financial freedom.

    I am very grateful to those skeptical people that continue with their traditional “trade time for dollars” jobs. Otherwise, the opportunity to be successful would not be as great for me. Now that I have been involved with ACN, I fully understand why 1% of the population in this country controls 90% of the wealth.

    Let me make it clear that I am not defending myself or ACN. Neither of us need defending.

  • Honest John on August 2nd, 2007 at 5:29 pm

    The people that are skeptical are right. ACN started 12 years ago but they were in a different business then. They used to sell gas and utilities, and were a reseller of long distance service. I think it was 1996 when they sold off their gas and utilities division and concentrated on long distance. During this time ACN became a pyramid scheme. What they have done is changed the business model of Amway/Quixstar and Excel and have hidden it by selling their product. Why do you think they have 3 former Attorney Generals on their staff? To make sure they do not break any laws nor can be sued for their MLM. The fact that they technically by the law do not meet the qualifications of a pyramid scheme does not mean they aren’t one. The cost to be a rep proves it- a whopping $500. Then there’s the cost of their products. Some of their products are competitively priced- others are way inflated. The fact is the above examples of success took a lot of time in most cases to reach a level of income where you could be financially independent. Another fact is, because of the legal team they have employed to keep them free of tanglements they will probably never get busted. They have done their homework to keep the pyramid hidden. That means this company will not face the same things that faced Amway or Excel. You can join them and be relatively at ease knowing you will make money without any ramifications. For those of you who are in it and don’t believe it’s a pyramid scheme I suggest you keep reading. It seems ACN is having troubles with the law in some of the countries in which they do business, hence the need for a powerful legal team which they have. The following was taken from Wikipedia:

    On 19 March 2007, ACN France was found guilty and fined €15000 for its use of misleading advertising. Inspectors created a simulation which found that only representatives with a position of “Team Coordinator” or higher (less than 1% of total qualified independent representatives) could potentially earn a satisfactory income (defined as €1345 per month). The position below “Team Coordination”, “Executive Team Trainers” (less that 8% of total qualified independent representatives) could only earn a meager income or possibly lose money. Qualified independent represents consist of the representatives that have reached the level of “Team Trainer” or higher. [5]

    On 15 November 2004, Australian Communications Network Pty Ltd (the Australian branch of ACN inc.) was investigated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for alleged breaches of the Trade Practices Act 1974 in regards to provisions in the act relating to pyramid schemes.[6] On 23 March 2005, ACN was found by Justice Selway to have participated in, promoted and induced or attempted to induce persons to take part in a pyramid selling scheme. A federal court appeal later reversed the earlier decision made by Justice Selway. The ruling indicated that the alleged “recruitment payments” did not fall under the definitions of the law. The ACCC was ordered to pay court costs.[6

  • David on August 5th, 2007 at 6:50 pm

    I am so excited about the new MLM company that I am getting into. I am second level to the company and feel that this is the greatest opportunity I have ever had in my life! Tom Mower, founder of Neways International, is starting a brand new network marketing company called SISEL International. He has already invested over $110 million of his own money and the company will be manufacturing its own products. The company is in pre-launch right now and will officialy launch in October. Are there any other people sizzling out there!

  • rahul singh on August 5th, 2007 at 10:17 pm

    if ACN is a Pyramid???..what is your job(JACK ASS OF THE BOSS, JUST OVER BROKE) ???..BOI UR WORKING UR YASELF IN A PYRAMID….stupid people quit ya job pyramid n come on in to ACN pyramid n make more $$$$$$$$$

  • sammy on August 14th, 2007 at 10:48 am

    Does anybody know how I can hook up my acn video phone with my wireless internet card.

  • parker on August 23rd, 2007 at 1:43 pm

    to honest john

    hey there john, u did quite some homework..to u maybe the world still is flat and also think that MLM businesses r the only business to form some kind of a “pyrmid”…So we (ACN) have 3 former attourney generals..ur saying that people should not b properly equiped to handle business..honest john ur comment was so powerfull i’m even thinking of canceling my car and house insurence, ur right, y should i b properly insurred??? as for a few bad ACN reps that got the company n some trouble over seas, thats a reason i’m sure acn was happy to have them

  • C on September 11th, 2007 at 10:00 am

    Do your homework. I was just at an ACN meeting yesterday . . they became VERY pushy in getting people to sign last night.

    They sprung out the $500 bill on us and handed out the papers. One person even pushing a pen on me, saying “You need something to sign it with?”

    The red flag went up right then. I told them I had to get the money together and I’d get back to them this week.

    So I did what ANY HALF INTELLIGENT PERSON SHOULD DO and researched outside of ACN and it’s representatives. THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY.

    If you’re making lots of money with ACN. Good for you. Congrats, honestly.

    But people . . do your homework. That’s all I’m saying. Find out both sides of the story and make up your own mind. Don’t let anyone pressure you.

    And if anyone argues with THAT, we know your true colors.

    (for anyone interested, after researching, I’m running from ACN . . I feel sorry for the people I know that are in it)

  • carebear on September 16th, 2007 at 10:55 am

    Who is getting scamed the sale reps or the customers? From what i have seen and heard you say the sale reps, well wehn they give that $500, they get that back really from the other reps they bring in and so on and so on!!! And as for the customers i dont think they are being scamed!!

  • carebear on September 16th, 2007 at 10:58 am

    oups left something out, i say go for it!!! :) i guess you just have to nkow how the pyramid works amd how you work with your team, so its your job really to make the money come in, you really can’t count on the customers DUH!!! so thats why you have to make a good team!!! sounds right or not!!! :)

  • audiofest on November 12th, 2007 at 10:35 pm

    Having worked at HQ for several years, you are a fool to sign up. Most checks printed were under $100. Ask them what happened to JD, the 5th co-founder. Energy was ugly. They’re glad not to be in jail but on the other hand they never hesitated to buy the best legal help. Then they throw some Jesus in there for extra effect. Very convincing, very slick.

  • Dan on March 8th, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    The problem with these kind of programs is that most of the drive is only behind making money. Money will bring you only temporary happiness. At the end of the day, ask yourself if you are truly following your passion in life. Are you making a living doing what you truly love? If so, then you already have success. Are living just to make money? If so, than you are not being true to your talents. Money does not equal success or happiness. A true sense of accomplishment is going to come from something other than your wallet. A false sense of pride and buying your way through life will come from too much cash.

  • RN on May 6th, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    Hey fellows !
    I respect all different opinions but something I have to tell to those who religiouly think ACN is a scheme. ACN is perfectly legal and the proof is that is on the market for so many years and in several countries ( 15 of them in Europe ) where people takes law very seriously ! So, those who don´t believe in ACN, no problem, try our produts, save money and YOU will be giving us money, ok ? In two months in ACN I already earned money and I laugh about you non believers ! Stay in your miserable jobs and spend your time telling noncenses about this GREAT COMPANY ! You do the bad talking and WE make the money, ehehehehe

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