We?ve all heard of MLMs, right? Probably you?ve seen it on the Internet, or maybe you?ve even been roped into it yourself. Some people love them. Some people hate them. Certain businesses refuse to admit they are an MLM. So what about Usborne Books & More? Is it an MLM company? Is it a scam? Let?s look at a few criteria.
What Is An MLM Company?
MLM is short for multi-level marketing. It?s also been referred to as a ?pyramid scheme.? In essence, it is a company in which one person (the top of the pyramid), recruits another, thus creating a new layer to the pyramid and the cycle continues. Each new level results in increased revenue for the level above them.
Are MLM Company?s Bad?
No, and yes. And yes, and no. Does that clear everything up? No? Let me explain.
Potential Pros
- Profit
- Connections With Others
- Discounts On Products
- Improved Self Esteem
Potential Cons
- Losing money
- Hurting relationships
- Having to manage an inventory
- Criticism
- Loss of Time
Are MLM companies bad? I don?t think I can answer that. I think that has to be determined by each and every person.
What Is Usborne Books & More?
Usborne Books & More (sometimes referred to as UBAM) is a direct sales company where consultants sell children?s books published by Usborne Publishing and Kane Miller.
They are most famous for their non-fiction titles including ?Shine-A-Light? Books which require a flashlight to read.
Another famous serious is the ?That?s Not My? touchy-feely board books with repetitive language.
In addition to direct sales, they also have an educational branch which services schools and libraries much as Scholastic does.
Is Usborne Books & More an MLM Company?
Usborne Books & More?s MLM status is one that is often debated.
On the one hand, their consultants have parties and frequently recruit, similar to most MLM companies.
On the other hand, unlike your traditional MLMs, consultants do not automatically gain revenue from the sales of their downline. Rather, they must reach new promotional levels based on sales and recruits before they?re able to earn.
Overall, however, I do personally consider them to be an MLM Company.
How Much Money Do Consultants Make?
Independent Usborne Books & More Consultants make 25% off of their regular sales, and 17% of book fair orders.
In other words, for every $100 a consultant sells, they will earn $25. So in order to make $1,000 per month, one would have to sell $4,000 worth of books. Considering books average about $15 each, that means selling more than 250 books every month at full-price.
As the consultant reaches new promotion levels, however, bonuses and raises certainly increase the revenue potential.
It should also be noted, that consultants regularly earn free books which then can then be resold.
What Are The Costs of Being A Consultant?
To become a consultant, one must either purchase a ?mini-kit? for $75 or a full kit for $125. Each come with a small selection of books and business supplies.
Consultants are encouraged (even expected) to give away prizes and/or discounts which come out of the consultant?s pocket.
In order to be able to work with schools and libraries, a consultant must pay $150 for background checks, training, and supplies. This is not required to be a consultant, however.
So Bottom Line, Is Usborne Books & More A Scam?
No. Like many direct sales companies, there are many UBAM consultants who do very well. For example, the December top sales consultant of 2019 sold more than $15,000 worth of books, which means almost $4,000 commission just in one month! That?s a bit more than my husband makes each month at his full-time job! And that is not a team leader (someone who has recruited people under them and received a promotion).
That being said, however, that is NOT the majority of cases. I believe it takes a very special person to succeed in the world of direct sales. It is NOT a get rich quick scheme. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, research, and patience to succeed.
But Usborne Books & More is NOT a scam. I say that because it is definitely possible to make a good living with them, earn free books for your family, and make some great connections with people along the way. This company has helped my family with some of our financial problems, and I definitely believe it can help yours as well as long as you?re willing to put in the hard work!
