HellBender Posted June 6, 2004 Share Posted June 6, 2004 Okay, so a friend of mine fell for a pyramid scheme. He went to a get-rich-quick seminar, learnt about a scheme where he becomes filthy rich by selling long distance plans, and signed up. Now he thinks he's the best business man ever, a great entrepreneur, and has a kickass vision. Oh, he also thinks that soon he'll be driving ferraris and vipers like the millionares at the seminar. So I really need to put this poor sap out of his misery by shooting him. But being as he's my friend, I really do want to help him out. Can anyone point me to some links that show the evilness of pyramid schemes? PS: Definition of "pyramid scheme" A pyramid scheme is a system of selling goods where commissions are paid to recruit new sellers. The commissions are based on the number of sellers recruited. The right to sell the goods is sold to an increasing number of sellers at lower and lower levels. Pyramid schemes, as currently defined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): "generally ignore the marketing and selling of products and services, and concentrate on the commissions you could earn just for recruiting new distributors." Pyramid schemes may or may not involve the sale of products. (In this case, it does involve the sale of long distance plans) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Dragon Posted June 6, 2004 Share Posted June 6, 2004 Err... I dunno, came up with this through a bit of surfing + google... Not sure how much it would help. Might be easier to just shoot him like you said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellBender Posted June 6, 2004 Author Share Posted June 6, 2004 A google search gave me a bunch, actually.. phew, and I just typed in "pyramid schemes" :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Dragon Posted June 6, 2004 Share Posted June 6, 2004 Yeah, that's what I searched too... :p I still think murder is the best option in this situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danellis Posted June 6, 2004 Share Posted June 6, 2004 I still think murder is the best option in this situation. I gotta agree wiv ya mate ;) The only person who wins in pyramid schemes are the ones who do it :ninja: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhangm Supervisor Posted June 6, 2004 Supervisor Share Posted June 6, 2004 The basic concept behind how a pyramid scheme works is pretty simple. The top tiers benefit because they can have hundreds of thousands of victims giving them some percentage of the profits, while those only a few tiers down lose, because there simply aren't enough victims to go around. Think of it this way. One simple pyramid scheme, starts with a single individual, who sets up some basic rules. Each participant must recruit 10 new members into the scheme. Sounds simple, right? Each of those 10 new members must also recruilt 10 new members each. There, you have 111 people involved already, and we're only down to tier 3. After that, 1000 + 100 + 10 + 1. And fifth tier must involve 10000 + 1000 + 100 + 10 + 1. And the next... 100000 + 10000 + 1000 + 100 + 1. And the next, you get over one million participants needed. That's tier 7. So, you see, it doesn't take long for the number of participants needed for you to make a profit, to exceed the population of the planet. Which is why pyramid schemes only benefit the top tiers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted June 6, 2004 Share Posted June 6, 2004 (edited) what is the name of your friends company? if your friend is a part of excel communications its far from any thing of a pyramid scheme. ive been with this company nearly 3 years and have worked with the top performers of the company. i can honestly say if you stick with it you can succeed and i am a testament of it. until late last year a drove a c5 corvette purchased on my own because of this company. its not a get rich quick company or how many might want to perceive it as, but its a great avenue to begin to make a great amount of income to blossom into becoming wealthy. edit: hellbender, since you are from california i assume your friend is looking into excel communictions. there is a fairly large group under shawn herrick and a couple of people. it is true they drive ferraris and other exotic cars, but they also have been in this business for over 7 years. i am in no way trying to promote this company but to only give you some insight of it so you do not think this is just another "pyramid scheme". please visit http://www.exlos.com (click presentation) and that will give you a good amount of info on the company, excel communications. you can also look at http://www.bbb.org and search excel communications and vartec communications. ::suggestion to your friend:: if he wants to succeed he must stick to it. Edited June 6, 2004 by mohennessey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellBender Posted June 6, 2004 Author Share Posted June 6, 2004 If you're going to get a dime out of me registering, I don't believe a word you say :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted June 6, 2004 Share Posted June 6, 2004 If you're going to get a dime out of me registering, I don't believe a word you say :unsure: you might feel that way but my family and i own a couple of businesses and myself is building a computer business from the ground up. if you are willing to make any serious money theres always an investment to be made. i will tell you the truth. there are a lot of internet get rich quick schemes out there so someone looking into the market can be easily mislead. a couple of my friends have fell victim to the vass amount of internet get rich quick schemes and any asking you do only invest 20-60 dollars up front is a load of bs. any legit company asking you for that much up front has no real future. meaning you cannot make any real good amount of money from them. let me explain to you how this works, that is, if your friend joined excel. no one makes a dime just for your signing up. that would be illegal. when someone does sign up under you and they get only a few customer points then yes you do get a bonus. there are various other ways you get paid but im not here to promote the business. edit: by the way, i like your avatar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elliot Posted June 6, 2004 Share Posted June 6, 2004 Do you actually speak like that or was it copied and pasted from a script? :huh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted June 6, 2004 Share Posted June 6, 2004 Do you actually speak like that or was it copied and pasted from a script? :huh: :huh: huh? edit: yes, i "actually" speak like that. whatever that means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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