ACN: A Crock of Nothing?

The first time I heard about ACN was about 4 years ago. I was currently involved with a small consulting team with a proposal to open the Noveau Riche real estate model into Thailand on a corporate level. (That company has undergone some significant changes). We worked closely with a lot of direct marketing companies and I was very interested in basis behind the ACN model.

4 years and number of recruitment meetings later, my analysis of ACN is this:

  • Compensation Plan: Not bad, but it really does require a high volume of downline to start seeing some money.
  • Product: The product pretty much stinks. I mean, they don’t offer anything new, except another step between the real service provider and the consumer. Unfortunately, none of my experience or research has indicated that ACN really offers superior customer service, reliability or anything.
  • Distribution and Promotion: Telecommunications isn’t nearly as intriguing as health and life, so it doesn’t surprise me that they have to stress the money and family/friends network so much. They have some good supporting tools, but unfortunately my experiences left a sour taste in my mouth when they stressed the “ask your friends for a favor” line too much.
  • Sustainability: An entire company based solely on the regulation of an industry doesn’t seem too long-term to me. I can see a company like them building a huge clientale and then selling them off to real communication companies that offer better products and services but I just can’t see a strong place for them 5-10 years down the road. Especially with the advent of more affordable and reliable VoIP and other network communication services.

Four years later, ACN is still alive. I can’t argue past history of sucess. I think this company is best suited for the homemaker, or very young and eager salesman. (Both Demographics that can call on a number of close friends in their network for sympathy sales).

Let me know what you think.

One thought on “ACN: A Crock of Nothing?

  1. Chris Williams

    Well I just went to my first ACN meeting. I’m a bit burnt out of MLM. Phone service is not flashy enough for me. I originally was excited about ACN for the VoIP possibilities, but quickly saw this was not there main focus.

    I agree with John that the “ask your frds for a favor” was a BIG turn off. “Hey mom can you do me a favor and switch your phone service so I can make 30 cents a month?” “Ya mom after you I only need to sign up 5,000 more people!”

    But it does make since to switch people over and make a dime. With the 500$ buy in a buddy of mine will see 5,000$ in just four weeks of work. So it’s working for him.

    My interest in going to the meeting was to see there plan for Asia penetration. They really don’t have plans yet for Taiwan or China…So count me out!
    -Chris Williams

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