What do you think about the referral/downline system of business?

@owlwings (43915)
Cambridge, England
November 13, 2006 10:23am CST
Is it moral to have other people working on your behalf (especially in Internet Marketing) for which you get a percentage of their earnings? This is the system by which the vast majority of Internet 'businesses' work and almost the only way for most people to make reasonable money out of an Internet business. Does it matter to you what is being sold and the methods used to sell it?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@AJ1952Chats (2332)
• Anderson, Indiana
23 Nov 06
It seems fair enough to me. In most cases, you don't take away anything from your downlines' income. Instead, your downlines will get a specific amount, and you will get a percentage of that amount--but it won't be taking a percentage of their actual pay but, instead, getting a matched amount. For example, if one of your downlines earns $2.50 and you get ten percent of that, you would get twenty-five cents. However, your downline would still get $2.50 and your pay would be ten percent of $2.50--but not ten percent out of his/her $2.50. He/She would receive $2.50, and you would receive twenty-five cents.
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@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
24 Nov 06
That is a good point, of course. I find it's not easy to explain, sometimes.
@crofter9 (150)
18 Nov 06
I don't think it is any different than working for a company. You work for a company, producing a product for example, the company sells it for far more than they paid you to make it & the materials so they are getting paid for your hard work. The people who are making the good money from this system help and support the people in the downlines if the didn't the downlines would leave and they would not earn anything so it is a two way street.
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@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
18 Nov 06
That seems to me a sensible and matter-of-fact way of looking at it. Perhaps I have been thinking of it incorrectly.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
22 Nov 06
I am surprised that nobody else has commented on this discussion so far!
@ability (692)
• China
23 Nov 06
I think it's normal, it's a way to stimulate
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@crofter9 (150)
23 Nov 06
I'm surprised at how few people have made any comment. I'm an independant representative for a very large company and this is very often what I'm asked by people that look at the industry for the first time. Many people have tried making money on the internet and failed because they have not had the support and think it is wrong or a scam, but if you find a good company and have a team above you ready & willing to help and support you it is very rewarding.
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@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
24 Nov 06
Thank you for posting again! I was beginning to wonder if this discussion had dropped off the bottom of the list!
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
26 Dec 06
it matters to me what is being sold and the methods well yeah as long as it is legal..the methods of referral system is fine and good its what we called networking..and theres nothing wrong about that..
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