Would You Fall for These Marketing Lies? | MLMs, Timeshares & More
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She’s in debt. She hasn’t made a cent. And she’s convinced her MLM will make her a multimillionaire.
Anne is joined by Emily Rask, host of Lies We Bought, to side-eye three Reddit stories about the promises we’re sold—from an MLM pitch on a hiking trail to a $20,800 vacation “investment.” Why do these pitches work, and when does persuasive marketing cross the line into deception?
She’s in debt. She hasn’t made a cent. And she’s convinced her MLM will make her a multimillionaire.
What makes us believe the things we’re sold?
Sometimes it’s the promise of financial freedom. Sometimes it’s urgency, aspiration, community, or a brand name we already trust. And sometimes, the sales pitch finds us when our guard is completely down...like while hiking with a dog.
In this Side-Eye Session for Nothing Felt Wrong, Anne Genduso is joined by Emily Rask, host of Lies We Bought, to examine three Reddit stories about MLMs, marketing deception, and a $20,800 vacation “investment.”
We start with an MLM pitch that turns a casual encounter on a hiking trail into a sales opportunity. Then, a woman already in debt keeps pouring money into her third network-marketing business because she believes she’ll become a multimillionaire within five years. Finally, a couple signs up for a $20,800 Wyndham vacation package before something feels wrong and they start digging deeper into what they were told.
Along the way, Anne and Emily get into fear marketing, FOMO, borrowed credibility, MLM psychology, why community itself can become part of the sales pitch, and what happens when the story surrounding a product becomes more powerful than the thing being sold.
SIDE-EYE QUESTION
Thinking about these stories, which one stuck with you? Have you ever encountered one of these offerings—or known someone who got duped by one?
MORE FROM EMILY RASK
Lies We Bought
Website: https://www.lieswebought.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@liesweboughtpodcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/33lHL2ndIReoPpZnBuyhfM
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LiesWeBought/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lieswebought/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lieswebought
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lieswebought
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lieswebought/
REDDIT STORIES FEATURED
Targeted on the Trail:
https://www.reddit.com/r/antiMLM/s/iaMYcjxt6f
Impact Global MLM:
https://www.reddit.com/r/antiMLM/s/IGtRcEK8vK
Wyndham Vacation Club:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Wyndham/s/GzDAWF4N83
ABOUT NOTHING FELT WRONG
Nothing Felt Wrong explores true stories about scams, fraud, deception, manipulation, social engineering, catfishing, betrayal, and the psychology behind how people get pulled into situations that feel completely believable.
Until suddenly, they don’t.
Hosted by Anne Genduso.
HAVE A STORY TO SHARE?
Email: stories@nothingfeltwrong.com
Your story may be featured in a future episode, and identifying details can be kept anonymous.
FOLLOW NOTHING FELT WRONG
Instagram: @Nothing_Felt_Wrong
TikTok: @Nothing_Felt_Wrong
Because nothing felt wrong...until it did.