However I wouldn’t characterise those posts as “wasting their time” just because I haven’t changed my own opinion. I mean, who cares if I did change my opinion? Who does it effect? Nobody.

No, I’m much more interested in what happens when someone else comes along from Google or elsewhere and reads what’s written and becomes enlightened. And for that, I have to thank everyone who has contributed to this thread.

Debates like this help to make the world a better place, I think – no matter what I believe.

There is a distinction between “legal framework” and “operating practices”. What’s more it’s quite clear from my direct interaction with a salesperson that ACN exploits the naivete and aspirations of potential resellers.

Most people aren’t capable of understanding a complex legal agreement, let alone all the ramifications. Particularly people who haven’t been in business before.

Therefore it is incumbent upon ACN to operate ethically, or upon the government to stop them from doing business. This is why ACN was investigated by the Australian Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman for potential violations of the Trade Practices Act because they were behaving like a pyramid scheme.

Say what you like about the fact that ACN avoided conviction – they don’t investigate for nothing. As far as I can tell both customers and resellers have nothing but complaints, or at least apathy, towards ACN’s service.

I never said what they’re doing is illegal. I said it’s immoral. There’s a difference. An immoral company is one that should be out of business, but isn’t because they hired a bunch of former attorneys general to protect them.

@Dan.
The difference of network marketing and pyramid selling is as follows:

Network Marketing — also known as MLM (‘multi-level marketing’), relationship marketing and referral marketing, is the 21st century way for entrepreneurs to build a high income, without having to make huge financial investments. Most MLMs don’t need any premises beyond a computer desk and perhaps a filing cabinet (though some may need storage space for product). Unlike franchises (the business opportunities of the 20th century) in general the upfront investment is small and training is usually free or very cheap. Overheads are low or non-existent, profits can be very high indeed.

At first glance, MLM is very similar to the pyramid schemes which have been made illegal in most of the West. In the pyramid, a representative pays his initial stake when he is recruited and is then shown how to recruit other representatives. Every representative recruited brings a bonus and adds to the potential residual income. But, if no customers are required, sooner or later the whole structure will collapse, because there is nowhere for the income to come from. In pyramid schemes, the people at the top are the only ones who can make money, because there is a limited pool of potential recruits, and no other source of income. It’s pretty obvious that no company can survive for long without any customers.

In a pyramid scheme, your place in the matrix is fixed. You cannot overtake your sponsor. Even if they do nothing after recruiting you, they will still make more money than you.
In MLM, nobody makes any money until there is a sale: the company’s income derives from its customers, and so does the income of the company’s representatives.

-In a pyramid scheme, you are paid bonuses for recruiting other representatives, regardless of whether or not they achieve any sales or gain any customers. Because there is no income to the company, sooner or later this scheme will collapse.

FYI i am also an ACN rep. and customer and i have no complains. Like any other company when its searched on the internet you will find the good, the bad, and the stupid. Thats life.

Have a great day!