A couple of weeks ago, I encountered an Avon rep, touting from a stall at the front of my local shopping centre. Now my usual Avon lady is a bit erratic, and I am lucky to get brochures on time, so I thought GREAT! I can grab a book, and order a couple of things I like.
Instead I copped the full business spiel. I argued that I was only interested in being a customer, got talked into signing up anyway (ostensibly as a “customer member”), and then had to tolerate the whole “business package”, including so-called training. This training involved me sitting with the Rep, and having her read a booklet to me. What struck me most, is how Avon plays on the materialistic wants of a person.
One question asked is “list your hopes and dreams”. Here I think Avon is hoping to play on the desires of your classic SAHM ….. income, new car, pay off the house, and have luxuries …… all things you wish for when you are living on a tight budget. My dreams, don’t centre on material things ……. healthy children, a happy marriage and enough fabric to keep me occupied. And I see no need to discuss those dreams with a stranger.
But then the kicker. You even get coached, on how you sell the Avon business …. not the products, the business …. to friends and family, including phrases you use, aspects you should highlight.
Having gone through the evangelical christian process as a teenager (and never really getting it totally), this approach reminded me markedly of a religious witnessing. You highlight the deficits in a persons life, and then make the group you are touting seem like the only way to take away the woes. Even to the point of saying that you have some visual indication on how you need the group. (just a hint Avon rep: telling a mid-40’s woman she needs a 50+ range of face creams, is just plain insulting, and does not encourage me to buy the product). Its nothing more than a way to play on a persons vulnerabilities.
So, today I cancelled the membership. I just don’t see how I need to support a company that seeks to use the doubts and fears of others, to make money. Avon may think they are doing “good business”, but behaving like a religion does not make it a good business.
Good for you! I completely support your decision. It’s insulting to treat people as if they can’t think for themselves.
I sat through an Amway presentation once (to please a flatmate) and it sounded pretty much like this. The alarm bells start ringing as soon as a pitch starts talking about signing people up as the road to glory, rather than dealing in the product yourself. Not only do all these pyramid schemes have resemblances to religious fervour, some “self-help” movements and Christians (and probably Hare Krishnas, no doubt others but
I haven’t encountered them ) borrow their style and even their ethos from sales and marketing. Yuk.
Good for you for signing off. Laughed about the 50s plus – I had a similar experience in the body shop, aged in my late 30s, i wanted a simple face cream and the woman was desperate to sell me rejuvenation cream for the 50 pluses. No sale…
Oh yes, Amway …. “how to lose friends and piss people off!”. I have been through that merry-go-round as well, and lost a couple of good friends as a result.
Good on you for being skeptical! Unfortunately there are many people out there who are vulnerable to this kind of thing; perhaps when going through a difficult time of unemployment or illness, or they just haven’t been taught critical thinking skills.