r/antiMLM • u/Cynically_Sane • 3d ago
Help/Advice Would you?
I just discovered that my elderly Mother is buying Bellame beverage products from "a friend of a friend of a friend's son's wife", whom she only interacts with on Facebook. This has also led to a realization that she's previously targeted my Mother in various other schemes. Thankfully the last one was so irrational that my Mother figured it out on her own and stopped buying into the products.
Yet, here we are again. I am fairly certain that my Mother is only buying products from the MLM hun and not falling victim to actually joining herself. But I am also not willing to wait around and allow the chance to present itself either.
I plan on having a conversation with my Mother about this tomorrow and show her some of the resources I found here. However, I am having a hard time talking myself off the ledge of messaging this person myself and letting them know that I will not allow them to continue targeting my Mother with this predatory behavior and that it would be in their best interest to remove my Mother's contact information as well as any payment information she may have provided for these products.
What say you all? Take the matter into my own hands and reach out to the hun directly or see how this conversation goes with my Mother?
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u/Cynically_Sane 3d ago
I really appreciate everyone who has commented and offered excellent helpful advice.
Now I feel like I have gone from one extreme to the other in the fact that I'm feeling apprehensive about broaching the subject altogether now with my Mom. Any suggestions on how I should break the ice with this one? 🤦♀️
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u/Opposite_Stranger242 2d ago
Just present her with the info you know about MLMs and tell her why you don't like them! She's an adult so she gets to make her own decisions and mistakes.
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u/Comfortable-Bass9193 2d ago
Oh id message that person absolutely
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u/Cynically_Sane 2d ago
Well hello bad influence 😆 Glad I'm not alone with this initial thought.
I ended up having a good conversation with my Mom. She thanked me and agreed to see about finding a locally sourced product that touts the same claims and has a similar composition. I told her that there's really only two types of people who are in this cultish community and I would ask her to think hard about if she's willing to continue patronizing the one half and/or being taken advantage of just to "keep the peace". One is still yet ignorant to the fundamental truth of the MLM scheme and the other is blatantly manipulating you into their predatory web. I call it a win for now.
I still want to message the person on principle alone though.
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u/mancemancerevolution 2d ago
Maybe also make sure your mom’s docs have cleared these supplements as okay with any meds she might take or conditions she may have (for example, my grandma has to be careful with potassium levels)
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u/Cynically_Sane 2d ago
Oh my goodness! This is the best and most logical information that I know for sure she will not be able to dismiss (not that she has thus far). She is actually awaiting her first appointment with a cardiologist after some concerning symptoms have become a fairly regular occurrence these days. I believe it's about a week to 10 days out from now and I will definitely mention it over our coffee time here shortly as well as make a huge notation in bold with red ink on my notes to discuss. Excellent advice and I thank you very much!
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u/RatedPG922 1d ago
I'm beginning to loathe the word "hydration" almost as much as the word "protein"
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u/Dear_Boot9770 1d ago
Is your mom ok squandering money on this stuff instead of saving her money for her retirement and possible medical bills that come during old age? Why does she need hydration or beauty boost? Has she talked to her doctor about these supplements?
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u/meddleofmycause 3d ago
I think it depends on your mom's age and mental capacity. Your mom already knows this person has sold bad products and stopped purchasing them before, I would try to figure out why your mom is again. Does she feel bad for the woman? Is she being manipulated? Or is she lonely and enjoying the connection?
I would not contact the woman unless your mom tells you the woman has been being predatory/giving sob stories. It's right to look out for your parent, but unless she's lost capacity to care for herself you don't want to take her autonomy.