From the Vault: Online MLM parties

I found this unpublished post in my draft folder and thought why not?  Why not post this completely formed post from three years ago as is?  I haven't been invited to any online MLM parties in a long time--are they still a thing?  Or are my friends and relatives just not having them?  Anyway, here ya go:

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Have you noticed that more folks are hosting their MLM parties online these days?  The first I was invited to was in April(ish) of 2020, so I'm not sure if it was happening before then, or if online parties were born of pandemic necessity.  I kinda like the online format.  It means that I can "attend" parties thrown by far-away friends, and I don't feel as pressured* to actually buy anything at an online party.  The most important positive factor of online parties is that I don't have to interact with anyone in real life.

I'm not a fan of the Facebook forum, because ugh, Facebook.  I am also not a fan of the week-long party.  My favorite was that one in April(ish) of 2020, where most of the action happened on one day, and then we had 4 or 5 days to place our orders.  I was able to devote one afternoon to refreshing the page, and I was sure that I didn't miss anything.

Here's what's bugging me today.  The past three of these things that I've participated in, I have asked the sales consultant for a link to a specific product that I was not able to find on the website.  None of the three actually gave me a link, and one of them, when I said I couldn't find a specific product and could they give me a link, sent me a screenshot of the item.  I guess to prove that it was, actually, available?  But dude.  I just told you that I can't find it on the website.  A screenshot is not going to help.  And in order to get that screenshot, you went to the product page.  Would it not have been just as easy to just give me the stinking link at that point?  Do you want to make a sale, or not**?

That's what gets me.  I'm expressing interest in buying a product, and asking you, the sales consultant, to make it a little easier for me.  I know for darn sure that if we were at an in-person party, you wouldn't be giving me a product number or a screenshot.  You would be finding the item, and writing it down on the order form for me.

Is anybody here an MLM sales person?  Do you know why these people are unwilling to give out product links?  

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* Notice, I didn't say I don't feel pressured at all.

** I did not purchase anything from that party.