eikin & centuryegg,
A few clarification here. Most ppl will associate MLM as those who sells the Amway stuffs (I used Amway as example since it was mentioned in the thread), etc..
What I am trying to bring across is the MLM industry. Some say pryramid, which is not entirely false. Basically MLM is a System. Which of course has a lot of variants. Its a marketing strategy which emcompasses a lot of different kinds of common seen industries.
Like Insurance, it is a MLM. Like a commission to the agent, which followed up to the agency leader, etc. It can be a 2-level thing now, which is still Multilevel. (Note: 1 Level = Direct Selling)
Insurance started with more levels. Which thru the years they revised the rule. Like commission for only 6 yrs, etc. (Any new revision, experts, please correct me)
As said, Insurance has matured throughout the years. It is a successful MLM model in Singapore in fact. Please note that it is MLM, just that the PRODUCT they are selling is POLICIES. Just like last time, when you have friends doing insurance, then you are like siam-ing them like plaque. All MLM has to go thru this maturity stage.
Today, insurance has matured in Singapore. Most of the time, it is the people who goes to the insurance company to look for agent, and not the other way around anymore. The 'bad-eggs' where people get you to buy policies for their own profit has slowly been weeded out in this maturation process. It is more of ppl trying to help others to deal with their finance, or be able to help in cases of accident.
Same as the 'traditional' MLM which ppl is coining as today. Likewise in the states, MLM is a normal way of selling. In fact, a preferred way. As things are delivered to their doorsteps. OF course, in Singapore, people now will be like yesteryears in Insurance... Avoid them like plaque. However, give it some time to mature and weed out the Bad-eggs. As I said, a lot of people looks at MLM in a view of make millions in a flash thing. This is bad viewing. There is no free lunch in the world. Work hard, and you will reap what sow. Only how is the proportion is like. This proportion differs in Industries & systems you are in however.