I like the idea of self-protection and empowering women to take care of themselves. As a matter of fact, I write articles to help women overcome abuse and improve their lives. So why not have the arsenal needed to protect oneself against abuse? In our Damsel In Defense MLM Review, let’s see if this is a good way to make money and get great products for self-defense.
I love helping people, especially women, break free from the refrains of abuse that their mind remembers forever. There is nothing stronger than a girl who feels safe and protected. So without further delay, let’s see what Damsel In Defense has to offer us so you can make an informed decision about this MLM company.
| Company | Damsel In Defense |
| Cost To Start | $99 |
| Training Included | Yes |
| Trustpilot Rating | No account |
| My Overall Rating | 2/5 |
| What Is Better | The Laura Method (Affiliate Marketing) |
What Is MLM (Multilevel Marketing)?
An MLM, or Multilevel Marketing company, is a type of business that relies on its sales force to recruit additional salespeople, thus creating a “downline.” Which means, they receive a commission on the downline that they’ve recruited into the MLM.
Some people view MLMs as pyramid schemes or get-rich-quick opportunities to make quick money; on the contrary, one has to work really hard and will rarely recoup their money.
Who Is Damsel In Defense?
Business owners Mindy Lin and Bethany Hughes founded Damsel In Defense in 2011 primarily as a women’s defense company. Damsel In Defense is an MLM business model in Boise, Idaho.
Damsel In Defense Products
The company sells self-defense products for women, such as pepper spray, stun guns, and other personal protection items. In addition, they offer different types of products such as programs and personal care items. Furthermore, they sell safety accessories like conceal and carry purses, safes, and emergency kits.
Their flagship product or highest rated one is the Sabre, which is a kit with pepper spray and a stun gun.
A list of products Damsel In Defense offers:
- Stun devices
- Pepper Spray
- Security on the go
- Concealed carry purses
- RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) protection
- Safety hearts family education
- Digital defense
- Apparel
- Protect & Fortify Wellness
Damsel In Defense MLM Review
Nearly 2 million women experience sexual assault each year; equally important, according to the CDC, roughly 1 in 5 women has experienced rape in her lifetime. Damsel in Defense aims to help women avoid becoming a statistic by assisting them in defending themselves against sexual assault.
In 2014 they hired Bob Hipple, who worked for them for years, and made him the new CEO of Damsel in Defense. He has decades’ worth of experience in the MLM business model selling products, speaking professionally, running his own company, and consulting for others.
In my research, it appears Bob Hipple knows what he is doing when it comes to MLM companies. The company has no lawsuits against them, which are unusual for an MLM company in business for 11 years.
Additionally, in 2018, Damsel In Defense won an award for their sales training program from the Direct Selling Association.
Ratings
Damsel In Defense has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau but they have no complaints, which I find very strange. There is always someone unhappy, even with good companies.
After extensive research, I did find 2 videos on YouTube about the products and how flimsy they are. However, 2 reviews does not constitute a problem, in my opinion.
Damsel In Defense does not have a Trustpilot account which could be another red flag.
Price To Join Damsel In Defense As An Independent Damsel Pro?
The minimum investment is $99 for a kit in which you receive a few products and training materials also, an Independent Damsel Pro must be 18 years old.
Damsel In Defense Compensation Plan
Most Independent Damsel Pros promote the product through party sales.
With an Independent Damsel Pro business opportunity, you will earn commissions based on the number of recruits you sign up. Consequently, your entire downline has to keep a personal sales volume for you to make a higher percentage of income.
Which means that a new recruit will make a 25% commission rate on all direct sales, but they will only make a commission on their downline if they spend $150 a month on products.
As an Independent Damsel Pro recruits more downline, their personal volume requirements increase, in addition, the group volume downline requirements also increase. In other words, if they do not meet the PV (personal sales volume) and GV (group sales volume), an Independent Damsel Pro will not make any commission. Not to mention the monthly requirement does get relatively high.
The compensation plan is just plain complicated; with this in mind, the percentage increases with more downline recruits, and no one makes money if everyone does not buy products. Not to mention, if one doesn’t keep their PV up, they may not be considered active downline and cant make a commission.
Basically, the compensation plan is like so many other MLM business models, and the company makes money from the representatives making a purchase each month.
Here is a diagram of the plan for a better understanding.
Video Of The Damsel In Defense Compensation Plan
Pros And Cons Of Damsel In Defense MLM
So now that you have the most relevant information let’s examine the Pros and Cons and determine what the potential truly is.
Pros
- The products are reasonably priced.
- Its mission is to empower women and promote safety
- They provide sales training
Cons
- It is an MLM business model
- It is a pyramid scheme
- An Independent Damsel Pro has to purchase and or sell a certain amount monthly to keep their income potential up.
- It feels like they censor the reviews because there are very few negative comments.
Damsel In Defense Income Disclosure Statement
I did not find an income disclosure for Damsel In Defense. They are not required to produce one, but not having one concerns me and might be part of why they do not have any lawsuits against them. If they don’t disclose what an Independent Damsel Pro makes, no one can use it against them.
Why Damsel In Defense Does Not Need An Income Disclosure
The FTC allowed David Vladeck, the chief of the Consumer Protection Bureau, to make all MLM companies exempt from requirements to release an income disclosure. Yet some MLMs release disclosures that set a standard for all other companies.
A direct selling company such as the Damsel In Defense Multi-level marketing business model may take advantage of the legal exemptions given by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They recruit distributors based on the absence of facts.
Is Damsel In Defense A Scam?
A scam is a fraudulent business where the company is dishonest in what they offer; with this in mind, I think Damsel In Defense products is not a scam. You pay money for a product, and Damsel In Defense provides you with the product. Their products are reasonably priced and do not appear to be a possible scam.
Is Damsel In Defense a Pyramid Scheme?
To answer this, I have to go off the definition of a pyramid scheme, and with this in mind, I have to say from my Damsel In Defense review my conclusion is yes, it is a pyramid scheme.
The definition of a pyramid scheme, according to Wikipedia, is: In a pyramid scheme, an organization compels individuals who wish to join to make a payment. In exchange, the organization promises its new members a share of the money taken from every additional member that they recruit.
Overview Video Of The Damsel In Defense MLM Review
My Recommendations Regarding Damsel In Defense
I like the Damsel In Defense mission statement and love that women have the opportunity to feel safe in our changing world.
The products are reasonably priced and have an excellent lifetime replacement guarantee.
But in light of the good qualities, I cannot recommend this MLM company. Consequently, it is not a good way to make an income or extra income. As with any direct sales company, the compensation plan is complicated. Not to mention, the amount of money one would have to spend to make a commission is only keeping the company in business.
They do not provide an income disclosure which, in my opinion, feels like they are hiding something. And the reviews are just too sweet for my taste.
By accounting and IRS standards Damsel in Defense is a fraudulent company. They bill your credit card as soon as the order is placed but products are not shipped for 7-10 days maybe longer if problems with a vendor. This practice misrepresents several things – inventory and revenue, unless revenue is billed as a liability as unearned revenue. I also believe they collect the money from the ‘Pros’ for their products and then buy the products from their vendors. DID uses their Independent Damsel Pros to fund their inventory. This practice is used most likely because they have no credit. One of the husband-wife team filed bankruptcy and unable to fund their operation with legal streams of capital – debt, equity, or stock. DID uses their Pros as investors without their knowledge – hence no income disclosure and likely no legally filed financial statements showing fraudulent recording of income. MLMs should be outlawed. Absence of facts is misleading the public and FTC, like every government agency, does not serve the public.
Green, You have given me a lot of information I was unaware of. As for using their reps to fund their operation, this is common practice with most MLM companies. The independent reps must purchase products each month to get a commission from their downline. Thus DID is a pyramid scheme. The FTC has filed numerous lawsuits against MLM companies, yet the MLM companies are still in operation. This is a clear indication that no one should join an MLM operation.