Donald Trump’s Naturopathic Weight Loss Pyramid Scheme

[Frank Cannon]

http://www.naturopathicdiaries.com/donald-trumps-naturopathic-weight-loss-pyramid-scheme/

Wonder why Trump doesn't tout this business on the stump as another one of his successes?

In 2009, Donald Trump started The Trump Network as a multi-level marketing (MLM) company to sell nutritional supplements and weight loss products in addition to home business marketing packages designed to recruit affiliates and earn commission off their sales. The business was essentially rebranded by purchasing Ideal Health, Inc., a Massachusetts-based company that already sold health products through a vast pyramid structure.

The most effective way to profit as a member of The Trump Network was not to sell individual products, but to get others to sign up as members to sell more products and recruit more members. One could make lots of money by not selling any material products at all, but only by recruiting sellers and earning commissions off their sales.

The Federal Trade Commission has come down hard on pyramid schemes, but has run into trouble with ones that actually sell products within a pyramid-referral structure. There are differences between an MLM company and a pyramid scheme, but the distinction can be subtle and seems to depend on the proportion of revenue that comes from recruitment versus real product sales. From learning about The Trump Network, I think it is fair to consider it less of a MLM and more of a pyramid scheme.

Let’s take a look at how the Trump Network concept was advertised. On the former Trump Network website in 2009, there was a letter posted by Donald Trump himself who pitches economic opportunity for families who were suffering financially from the Great Recession:

    At no time in recent history has our economy been in the state that it is today.

    The economic meltdown created by Wall Street greed, financial industry ineptitude and the mortgage crisis has hijacked the dreams of millions of people. We need a new plan to achieve financial independence.

    My experience in real estate has taught me that the greatest opportunities emerge when economic times are at their worst. That’s why, after the real estate crash of the 90’s, I came back stronger than ever.

    The first thing I learned is that when times are tough you need to hedge your bets. You need to diversify.

    The good news is: The Trump Network can provide you with a solution to help you and your family create a more secure future. Diversifying is a way to protect your income so that you can continue to do what you know and love, and still make money.

    The second thing I learned is that the economy goes in cycles. When some industries fail, others take off.

    For example, when the real estate industry was challenged in the early 90’s, the network marketing industry exploded. During hard times, people with an entrepreneurial spirit flock to network marketing opportunities.

    That’s why I have put my name and expertise into supporting this opportunity. The team at The Trump Network have phenomenal products, provide easy to follow training and have a great support network available to all their members.

    The Trump Network offers you a financial solution that you can believe in.

    The Trump Network offers products that help make people healthier, an opportunity for you to make as much money as you want, based on your own efforts, and the support of a great company.

    Join me in this worthwhile endeavor.

Trump positions himself as a man to dole out opportunity. He pitches directly to suffering families by casting the venture in terms of success, money, and security. Potential customers are told to join him and prosper by selling health products through “network marketing,” which is a less loaded term than “pyramid scheme.”

To be sure, let’s take a look at what The Trump Network had written on its webpage for how the compensation plan works:

    There is no limit to the amount of rewards you can earn. With The Trump Network, you’re positioned for success. You earn money from the products that the people in your network purchase for personal use as well as ones they sell to their customers. In addition, you have the opportunity to receive $100 to $225 commission for each 1st level FastStart Way purchase. Plus, you can also earn Infinity Bonuses from $10 to $125 for each FastStart Way purchase in your network to unlimited levels.

    Imagine if you were a Platinum and you enrolled 1 person the FastStart Way, you would earn $170. However, it doesn’t stop there. If that person enrolls someone the FastStart Way, you would earn a $70 Platinum Infinity Bonus, and if that person did the same, you would earn another $70. This continues to unlimited levels. It works the same way when you become a Diamond and Executive Diamond.

    Can you imagine 10, 100, or even 1,000 people on your team living healthier, fuller lives and duplicating your efforts with The Trump Network? You could be rewarded monthly on their product purchases. This is leveraging your time and your efforts efficiently for long-term residual income. And you can feel even better because you know you are also working to build strong bodies, develop bright minds, and generate free spirits at the same time.

    It’s a win/win strategy for everyone.

This herald may sound great to an economically desperate family member, yet by definition, a pyramid scheme cannot offer success to everyone in the affiliate network. The people at the top always win, and those at the bottom always lose.

It was unlikely anyone signing up for The Trump Network would be able to drum up a new, wide reach, as Trump already sat at the peak of the pyramid inherited from Ideal Health. Thus, Trump’s aims seemed to be solely to broaden his base to enhance the vertical flow of cash to himself without any real opportunity for new recruits. Is this the type of person some Americans are considering to be the next President?

[Frank Cannon]

Company failed was fire saled in '11 because Trump wasn't paying vendors....

[Frank Cannon]

You could buy monthly pee tests. Don would sniff it and tell you what you needed to buy from him to make you healthier/smarter/stronger/luxuriouser.

[A-Lert]

So what happened to the company that bought Trump's company? How about the rest of the story?

He spent more than 21 straight hours railing against any government funding for Obamacare. Then Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas joined the other 99 senators from both parties in voting Wednesday to move ahead on a spending plan expected to do just that.

[katzenjammer]

So what happened to the company that bought Trump's company? How about the rest of the story?

He spent more than 21 straight hours railing against any government funding for Obamacare. Then Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas joined the other 99 senators from both parties in voting Wednesday to move ahead on a spending plan expected to do just that.

Rest of the story?

None of that matters to Cruzbots....  hell, some of them are willing to vote for the fraud knowing full well that he is a naturalized citizen!!  What does it matter?  He's OUR fraud!!   

(And.... he's on OUR side!  Yep, Saint Ted of Alberta, the Constitutional Scholar!!   )

[Frank Cannon]

Rest of the story?

None of that matters to Cruzbots....  hell, some of them are willing to vote for the fraud knowing full well that he is a naturalized citizen!!  What does it matter?  He's OUR fraud!!   

(And.... he's on OUR side!  Yep, Saint Ted of Alberta, the Constitutional Scholar!!   )

Right. Pull out the Trump tried and true tact of irrational birtherism to deflect from him running a tangible pyramid scheme (which he FAILED at)  to fleece the uneducated (his favorite people). Gonna make a great President.

[Frank Cannon]

You have a comment?  or do you just like to repeat?

Why so angry? Didn't you get to send your pee bottle to Drumpf today?

[Frank Cannon]

So what happened to the company that bought Trump's company? How about the rest of the story?

He spent more than 21 straight hours railing against any government funding for Obamacare. Then Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas joined the other 99 senators from both parties in voting Wednesday to move ahead on a spending plan expected to do just that.

While Trump did what exactly to stop Obamacare? I must have missed it while he was praising Socialized medicine during that period.

[katzenjammer]

Why so angry? Didn't you get to send your pee bottle to Drumpf today?

.

[katzenjammer]

While Trump did what exactly to stop Obamacare? I must have missed it while he was praising Socialized medicine during that period.

.

[A-Lert]

While Trump did what exactly to stop Obamacare? I must have missed it while he was praising Socialized medicine during that period.

In case you were unaware, Trump didn't have a vote.

He spent more than 21 straight hours railing against any government funding for Obamacare. Then Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas joined the other 99 senators from both parties in voting Wednesday to move ahead on a spending plan expected to do just that.

[NavyCanDo]

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This kind of talk is an an example of "making America Great Againg"?  Take it somewhere else. TBR is far better than that.