Opportunity for whole SA

[Dave A]

The suggested 12 Week Strategy has been very successful for many, many people to acquire gold and increased prosperity. The more people who work at it and are successful within the plan, and with the volume of gold and packages being purchased, the more commissions are generously paid out to the entire Karatbars family, from top to bottom, and then back up again.

I confess this (and a few other points besides) does make it sound like an MLM reward plan rather than affiliate marketing (at least by my definitions of the two).
And perhaps I'd better explain that:

To my mind affiliate marketing is essentially a company-to-marketer pay-per-conversion setup.
The moment you get into team sales rewards, you're into the territory of multi-level marketing.

While lots of people are allergic to the mere whiff of a multi-level compensation plan, the presence of multiple levels isn't in itself a bad thing - it really depends on how the compensation plan is set up.

I'm not going to try to go into depth on what makes up a "good" MLM plan vs a "poor" one here, but there is little doubt that if it is an MLM plan, and you are trying to market it as an affiliate plan, you're probably not going to market it in a manner that will produce good results.

Believe me, there is no shortage of South Africans of all ages with ambition. Frankly, taking you at face value - sounds like you might be one of them
All you need to do is find more people like you.

[Basment Dweller]

To my mind affiliate marketing is essentially a company-to-marketer pay-per-conversion setup.
The moment you get into team sales rewards, you're into the territory of multi-level marketing.

100% correct.

I'm very excited about affiliate marketing but completely turned off by MLM. I've been down the Amway road many years ago and resolved never to entertain it or anything that resembles it.

Typical MLM snake oil salesmen tactics, claim it's affiliate marketing, pique interest, then offload a 2000 word copy pasta diatriabe about something else resembling MLM.

OP, do more research and speak to people who are experienced in business. MLM 'gurus' prey on enthusiastic youngsters like yourself with flashy presentations asking you to 'recruit' people starting with friends and family. Once you expose yourself as a MLM zealot to the world, you will be shunned and ostracised and its very difficult to recover your reputation when the scheme fails and you have to withdraw, it's embaressing, I know from experience.

My advise is to stay the hell away from MLM schemes and rather start sell insurance if you have to, to learn the game.

[Dave A]

I'm very excited about affiliate marketing but completely turned off by MLM. I've been down the Amway road many years ago and resolved never to entertain it or anything that resembles it.

I confess, I'm kinda the other way around, at least on the affiliate vs MLM aspect.
With affiliate programs there's no leverage, and effectively you're not building a business - you're essentially self-employed.

I'm with you some of the way on the Amway aspect - it certainly comes with challenges. But condemning the entire MLM industry as a result is like saying "retail is bad and I'm never touching it again because I opened a shop (selling x) once with (y) strategy, and lost money."

Sometimes I think success is a bit like a combination lock. The real trick is getting enough components in alignment that is starts producing results for you. And happily there are all kinds of combinations that work. And work well.

At the end of the day, I think the keys are to try to keep an open mind, to pick carefully, and to do what you do with enthusiasm, commitment and professionalism.

Unfortunately far too many people miss some element in that mix...

[Basment Dweller]

Sorry I was a bit quick to judge here so just took the time to read OP's description of this organisation: Karatbars International GmbH.

Lots of fluff talk in there. Something about selling gold, using affiliates and a '12 week Strategy'. Claims it's NOT a MLM or a ponzi scheme but a WIN WIN WIN for all. They appear to purchase through a Mastercard.

Still confused.

Checked website, company founded in 2011.

The whole system is built around the principle of the movement of money (upwards, downwards and laterally) and the velocity in which that money moves toward gold. This movement is organic and cyclical and it benefits ALL of us. For that reason, we stress team work, helping each other, and not internal competition.

Sounds like prosuming (i.e. I buy you, you buy, we all sell, scheme) but can't be sure if it's MLM.

I'm suspicious.

[saentrepreneur]

I respect the fact that everyone has his own opinion. I've got a downline of 7'000 people and accumulate gold weekly. Those who fail are always the ones who start calling it fraud and scam. Of course it also depends on how the compensation plan works, but karatbars isn't that hard. I didn't recruit any of my friends or family, because I know what can happen. We've got MLM in the system, but it's still an e-commerce company. I'm not here to argue about that. But I recieved good answers from you guys and I thank you for that. I'm just not marketing it good enough in Africa. It's because I didn't grow up in Africa and also that I don't live there. I've gotta change my way of thinking. Thank you guys.