联邦贸易委员会警告消费者—如何看待多层次传销

英文文章网址
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/pyrdalrt.shtm

FTC Consumer Alert

联邦贸易委员会警告消费者谨防传销

The Bottom Line About Multilevel Marketing Plans

多层次直销的底牌

Multilevel or "network" marketing plans are a way of selling goods or services through distributors. These plans typically promise that if you sign up as a distributor, you\'ll receive commissions - for your sales and those of the people you recruit to become distributors. These recruits sometimes are referred to as your "downline."

多层次直销或者网络直销是一种通过分享者销售产品及其服务的方法。典型的它会承诺：如果你签约成为分享者，你会得到佣金-依据你的销售额以及那些你发展成为分享者的人的销售额。这些发展来的人经常被称作你的“下线 ”

Some multilevel marketing plans are legitimate. However, others are illegal pyramid schemes. In pyramids, commissions are based on the number of distributors recruited. Most of the product sales are made to these distributors - not to consumers in general. The underlying goods and services, which vary from vitamins to car leases, serve only to make the schemes look legitimate.

有一些多层次直销是合法的。但是，其它的则是非法的金字塔计划。金字塔计划的计酬方式是基于发展分享者的数量。大部分产品卖给了这些分享者自己而不是普通的消费者。从维生素到小车出租，产品和服务仅仅作为表面使得它看起来合法。

Joining a pyramid is risky because the vast majority of participants lose money to pay for the rewards of a lucky few. Most people end up with nothing to show for their money except the expensive products or marketing materials they\'re pressured to buy.

加入一个金字塔是危险的，因为绝大多数的参与者丢掉了他们的钱，用来支付极少数侥幸者的报酬。多数人到了最后在金钱上会一无所有，只剩下他们在困惑中买到的昂贵产品和销售资料。

If you\'re thinking about joining what appears to be a legitimate multilevel marketing plan, take time to learn about the plan. What\'s the company\'s track record? What products does it sell? Does it sell products to the public-at-large? Does it have the evidence to back up the claims it makes about its product? Is the product competitively priced? Is it likely to appeal to a large customer base? How much is the investment to join the plan? Is there a minimum monthly sales commitment to earn a commission? Will you be required to recruit new distributors to earn your commission?

如果你想加入一个看起来合法的多层次直销计划的话，请拿出一点时间来了解它。这个公司的成长过程是怎样的？它卖的是什么样的产品？它是把产品卖给大众吗？有明显的证据能够证实它对其产品的声明吗？产品的价格有竞争力吗？产品像是有大量的消费者群作为基础吗？加入这个计划的投资有多大？它有承诺给你的最小月销售额的盈利能力吗？你是否被要求要发展新的分享者来挣得你的报酬？

Be skeptical if a distributor tells you that for the price of a "start-up kit" of inventory and sales literature - and sometimes a commitment to sell a specific amount of the product or service each month - you\'ll be on the road to riches. Often consumers spend a lot of money to "build their business" by participating in training programs, buying sales leads or purchasing the products themselves. Too often, these purchases are all they ever see for their investments.

该质疑了：如果一个分享者告诉你，你在付出最初阶段的代价后就会踏上致富之路。这种最初的代价是卖掉一些产品和学会销售技术，有时你还得承诺每个月卖掉一定数量的产品和服务。通常情况下，消费者花掉了大量的钱去“买事业”，这些钱花在了分享者的培训课程、购买销售率、以及自己购买产品。太经常看到的就是，他们购买的产品正是他们所看到的投资。

Your Responsibilities

您的责任

If you decide to become a distributor, you are legally responsible for the claims you make about the company, its product and the business opportunities it offers. That applies even if you\'re repeating claims you read in a company brochure or advertising flyer. The Federal Trade Commission advises you to verify the research behind any claims about a product\'s performance before repeating those claims to a potential customer.

如果您决定成为一个分享者，你就要承担法律责任：对你的公司、它的产品以及它提供的商业机会做出的声明。这种责任还适用于你不断的宣称你已经读懂了公司的机制以及你所作的广告式宣传。联邦贸易委员会忠告你：在不断地对潜在的消费者宣传之前，去研究证实这些宣传背后的产品性能。

In addition, if you solicit new distributors, you are responsible for the claims you make about a distributor\'s earnings potential. Be sure to represent the opportunity honestly and avoid making unrealistic promises. If those promises fall through, remember that you could be held liable.

另外，如果你招揽新的分享者，你对分享者盈利潜力的宣传也负有责任。应确保诚实的描述这种机遇避免做出不现实的承诺。如果那些承诺失败，记住你是有责任的。

Evaluating a Plan

对计划进行评估

The FTC suggests that you use common sense when evaluating a multilevel marketing opportunity and consider these tips as you make your decision:

联邦贸易委员会建议： 在评估一个多层次直销计划的机遇，作出你的决定时按照普通的常识你应该考虑如下几点：

1. Avoid any plan that includes commissions for recruiting additional distributors. It may be an illegal pyramid.
   避开任何包含（依据发展新分享者的）计酬方式的计划。它可能一个非法的金字塔。
2. Beware of plans that ask new distributors to purchase expensive products and marketing materials. These plans may be pyramids in disguise.
   当心那些要求新加入者购买昂贵的产品和市场材料的计划，这些计划可能是伪装的金字塔。
3. Be cautious of plans that claim you will make money through continued growth of your downline, that is, the number of distributors you recruit.
   警惕那些宣称在下线（就是你发展的分享者的数量）不断增加时你会挣钱的计划。
4. Beware of plans that claim to sell miracle products or promise enormous earnings. Ask the promoter to substantiate claims.
   当心那些宣称可以卖出奇迹般产品数量、许诺有巨大盈利能力的计划。要求发起人具体证明它。
5. Beware of shills - "decoy" references paid by a plan\'s promoter to lie about their earnings through the plan.
   当心雇用骗子，由计划发起者花钱举荐的“假鸟”在对这个计划的盈利能力说谎。
6. Don\'t pay or sign any contracts in an "opportunity meeting" or any other pressure-filled situation. Insist on taking your time to think over your decision. Talk it over with a family member, friend, accountant or lawyer.
   不要在一个机遇分享会议或其他狂热气氛环境下付款签约，要坚持拿出时间仔细考虑你的决定，与你的家庭成员、朋友、会计、律师仔细讨论。
7. Do your homework! Check with your local Better Business Bureau and state Attorney General about any plan you\'re considering - especially when the claims about the product or your potential earnings seem too good to be true.
   做一下家庭作业：查看一下当地商业信用局和州司法部、有关你正在考虑的任何计划的情况。特别是宣称其产品或者潜在盈利能力看起来好的难以置信的时候。
8. Remember that no matter how good a product and how solid a multilevel marketing plan may be, you\'ll need to invest sweat equity as well as dollars for your investment to pay off.
   记住：不管一个产品如何好，或者一个多层次直销计划怎样完美。 你都需要支付相当的汗水以及美元来为你的投资买单。

 
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