Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Pyramid

Buying odd dice in bulk

Mozai — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:10:05 -0800

Where would I purchase dice in bulk? Not just six-sided dice you'd find in Risk or Monopoly, but tetraherdral (4-sided, pyramid) or dodecahedral (12-sided, cries itself to sleep)? It seems the cheapest place -- indeed, the source for many places -- is Chesshex. I was hoping for a better price than $0.55 per unit since my game idea requires 32-50 of the pyramid-shaped dice.

Is this MLM business worth a look?

terrier319 — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:51:27 -0800

Does anyone have experience/views on this particular MLM, ShopToEarn? Like many, I view pyramid marketing with a lot of skepticism. But someone is urging me to take a careful look at this one (yes, there's clearly something in it for him) because he has done well with it in just a few months. I'm not a sales guy, and I would be embarrassed to push something like this at a party or with co-workers, so is it really something worth pursuing? Not looking to become a millionaire but every little bit helps in this economy.

Anyone up on Web 2.0 MLM scams?

Roach — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:20:53 -0800

Looking for background on a new (to me) type of MLM scam. A friend with a background in legitimate marketing (he runs the marketing dept. for our local semi-pro football team) has recently begun spamming his Facebook friends and signing all of his emails with ads for his new "business". Googling the name of his product and his website turns up all sorts of hits related to "attraction marketing". It seems like another MLM scam to me, related to selling websites instead of actual products. Does anyone have any experience with this "attraction marketing" stuff? It's very difficult to search for legitimate info on.

I'd like to have material, examples, etc to show him how it's one giant pyramid scheme scam and makes his own work look less professional and less ethical.

If you Google "intlmlm guru" the first result is a 5-minute YouTube video presentation of this thing by his apparent partner. I watched the whole thing and was more confused than ever.

Scamway?

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:27:46 -0800

Why, exactly, are pyramid schemes so bad? Should I try to convince a relative to leave one, and if so, how? A relative I don't know very well invited me out for coffee, flattered my "excellent people skills" for a while, then pitched me an unintelligible "business opportunity". From her jargon-filled and very vague pitch, I took this to be a pyramid scheme of some type. The specific company was called Network Twenty One, which is affiliated with Amway and Quixtar (not linking them on purpose).

My bullshit detector started beeping really loudly the moment her odd little speech began, but then I realized that while I smell fish, I don't actually understand exactly what I'm being wary of. I have only a shadowy idea of how a pyramid scheme works, why they're so bad, what I would have to pay/do to join, and what she stands to gain if I join.... a percentage of my "business" startup fees? I don't get it. She sells Amway products (weight loss pills, shampoo, etc) on a weird, generic little website, but she wasn't trying to sell me products- in fact, she only gave me her product URL reluctantly. What she really wanted was for me to come to some meeting to hear more about these opportunities.

She's so nice, and frankly kind of pathetic. After being somewhat insulted that she took me for a gullible idiot, I started feeling sorry for her and whatever crappy situation made her vulnerable to this outfit in the first place. I would like to gently convince her to leave this "opportunity" before she gets scammed any more- she told me she invested $600 to start and mentioned some motivational CDs she listens to, which I assume are also part of the scam. I have an idea of what her salary is, and if I'm right, this is more than she can afford.

Any ideas about the etiquette of doing this? I genuinely think she's confused and desperate, rather than scummy or evil. What should I tell her?

Throwaway email is ScramScam@gmail.com, thanks.

Did the Onion invent the Reagan Pyramid?

geos — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 11:40:28 -0800

Is this story from the Onion the original source for the idea of building a pyramid to honour Ronald Reagan and interring Bush I with him in it? I feel like the idea goes back to the eighties... punk song? zine?

"Buried with Reagan will be his finest treasures," Meese said, "including 2,500 MX intercontinental ballistic missiles, 15 Stealth bombers, a golden chalice of jelly beans and his most prized servant, George Bush."

Bush told reporters, "It is my honor and duty to have my sinus passages ceremonially packed with sand before my still-living, pain-racked body is forever locked with my leader's within the Great Reagan's final resting place. Let us all praise Osiris."

Do we need a lawyer or a deprogrammer?

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:05:21 -0800

Some family members have gotten involved with a cult/pyramid scheme called Psi Seminars. They've been spending money they don't have (up to $4000/seminar, for which they travel to another state and have to stay in hotels) and it's wreaking havoc on their lives. One has lost his home, two are threatening to end their marriages and are alienating their grown children. They are demanding that our relationships with them be within the context of us paying them to attend these seminars as well. One of the family members is my godmother. One is recently detoxed from a heavy chemical addiction. All are vulnerable as hell and looking at this as the cure for sadness, loneliness, addiction, boredom and the heartbreak of psoriasis.
Now they are trying to start seminars here in our state and on top of their being taken advantage of, We're worried that by bringing a pyramid scheme accross state lines, they are opening themselves to criminal liability. How can we open their eyes to the danger that they are in, emotionally, legally and otherwise? Does anyone out there know a good deprogrammer?

I have some nice waterfront property to sell you for cheap.

ashbury — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 22:37:54 -0800

I was wondering if anybody has any knowledge of Canadian Diamond Traders Inc. They advertise a scheme to join a group of traders for $100 and get an awesome return on your investment, plus a diamond. Is this a pyramid scheme? An Amway system? Some sort of scheme? Legal?
CDT Inc.
google query
CDT program

I ask because my parents are interested and I don't want them to get ripped off, even if it is by a small amount.

Should I become an IBO?

j-urb — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 18:02:20 -0800

Tonight at 7:00pm I had representatives of Quixtar come into my home. Should I join or not? Apparently by being an Independent Business Owner (IBO), I can make tons of money just through referrals. As a poor college student, this sounds enticing. If you are not familiar with Quixtar, they are doing what Amway used to do. I am skeptical of their claims, however, I am looking to see what everyone on askmefi thinks. It never hurts to get a second opinion and besides this hasn't been addressed on askmefi yet.

The pitch went something along the lines of "this is not a pyramid scheme" and "all you are doing is refering people to a virtual mall."

Website at: http://www.quixtar.com/

Pyramid blade sharpener - real or urban legend?

afroblanca — Sun, 20 Feb 2005 11:43:43 -0800

I remember reading a while back, possibly in Cosmic Trigger or some other such book, that the pyramid shape is naturally conducive to the sharpening of blades. According to this source, if you put dull blades inside a pyramid-shaped object, they will naturally sharpen over time. I don't think it matters what material the pyramid is made from, or how big it is. Anyway, as implausible as this idea seems, I know that I've heard it at least a few times, and cannot find anything about it on Snopes. So my question to the MeFi Mythbusters- real or urban legend?

Greens plus

loquax — Fri, 18 Jun 2004 07:49:01 -0800

Does anyone have any experience with "greens plus"? Is it a waste of money, or can one really absorb 7 servings of vegetables with three tablespoons of powder? Google seems to be biased as to that question, and I haven't seen it mentioned in any of the other health and nutrition questions on here. Help?

Tell me about Mary Kay.

oissubke — Mon, 16 Feb 2004 21:36:46 -0800

My wife is considering getting into Mary Kay. The sales pitch sounds good, and everyone she knows who's involved with it has said it's a good thing. So naturally I'm suspicious that it's too good to be true. Is there a catch? Anyone had personal experience with Mary Kay?