Helping Backpackers Support Their Travels

• 

  the-mal on 27/01/2015 - 12:11

  +6

  How does this work exactly? You want backpackers to sell your low cost GoPro alternative and they get a cut of sales? How many cameras would they need to sell to get by? It's a very specialist item. And they're selling this all over the globe? So how does a warranty work? Do they send it somewhere local or have to send it back to China or Australia?

  Maybe it's just me but I'd be pretty suspicious buying electronic goods from a backpacker…especially once I figured out s/he was in it for the commission not because it's a great camera.

  From your website:

  Not only that, but if you share with just 3 people watch your income grow. You will then qualify to start earning commission from people they share with as well! The possibilities are endless!

  That sounds very "pyramid" like…

• 

  [Deactivated] on 27/01/2015 - 12:20

  We pay a large commission percentage to the backpackers when they tell people about ODYCEE action camera.

  A large commission is paid just for telling people about the camera? That sounds quite generous.

  Best of luck selling $60 SJ4000 action cams for $150 in your MLM scheme.

  • 

    the-mal on 27/01/2015 - 12:24

    A large commission is paid just for telling people about the camera? That sounds quite generous.

    Commission is paid on sales, and your referrals sales…in other words like a triangle…or what's another thing shaped like a triangle…those things in Egypt?

    Absolute MLM. Back to the drawing board OP.

• 

  kaza87 on 27/01/2015 - 18:02

  -4

  Hey

  Thanks for the feedback.

  So the camera on the website is not the actual camera we will be selling. The website is currently not yet being prmoted and the picture/ specs are just a fill in for the real camera. It will be a much higher quality than the Sjcam.

  It is MLM for backpackers. Not pyramid scheme. I have checked it out with DSAA (direct selling association of Australia) And they have looked over it for approval on their website. To be approved by them it must stay very clear from being a pyramid scheme and they have told us that we have all the right criteria of being a legit MLM program. MLM is a great concept after researching as it serves two purposes- 1. giving people a great product that they will use and is relevant to them and 2. allowing other people to be rewarded for sharing the brand with someone. If only we got paid every time we recommended a restaurant to someone or a product :)
  Where other companies fall into PYRAMID scheme is when they are not selling a tangible item or simply inventing a non relevant item just to recruit ppl into the scheme. Also if they charge people for being part of the scheme. Also in a pyramid you cannot earn more then the person above you (triangle shape formation). This is where compensation plans are heavily scrutinized by authorities to ensure it is not a pyramid scheme. With this ambassador program someone you have referred can make more money than you as you only make money from their first 2 referrals. Anyone after 3 referrals you won't get anything from.

  With our ambassador program travelers can be an ambassador for free. The backpackers meet people on their travels every day. Having traveled myself I know the challenges and situations backpackers face each day. The ambassador program is free to be a part of. When they meet people and tell others about the camera and show them the camera and its features/ quality and affordability it will sell itself. The other travelers will then be given the website where they can order direct from us with safety and assurance. The camera will be drop shipped to them. Through our software we will know where the referral has come from and pay the referrer their commission. The cameras are sold world wide (just like online orders for any other product) and come with a 1 year warranty.

  I do like that you have pointed out LARGE commission. It seems wrong to say because it devalues what the product is actually worth when we are buying in buld which is why we get wholesale rates. Good point :)Again a legit MLM program has to have a fair mark up on product which we have kept in with competitors and what the product is actually worth.

  Thanks again for the feedback guys.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 27/01/2015 - 19:41

    I do like that you have pointed out LARGE commission.

    The bit I was highlighting was your saying that you'll pay people to "spread the word".

    Kickstarter (no mention of selling at all):

    When people buy an action camera that they love they will tell people about it, so why not earn commission for this.
    We pay a large commission percentage to the backpackers when they tell people about…
    We want to give back to the people promoting us by word of mouth.

    On your website's Ambassador Program page:

    … we help you finance your trip if you spread the word…
    … tell people about it, so why not get paid to do so?

    Are you really paying people for just mentioning your camera without selling anything?

    PYRAMID scheme … Also if they charge people for being part of the scheme.

    Don't people have to buy into your Ambassador Program by buying a $150 camera and/or a $5/mth app?

  • 

    the-mal on 28/01/2015 - 07:32

    +1

    So the camera on the website is not the actual camera we will be selling.

    In that case you're probably breaking Kickstarters rules as you don't have a product or prototype. You only have an idea.

    With our ambassador program travelers can be an ambassador for free.

    Really? Because it says $5 per month.

    PYRAMID scheme is when they are not selling a tangible item or simply inventing a non relevant item just to recruit ppl into the scheme. Also if they charge people for being part of the scheme.

    Your non-existent camera is a non relevant item sold with the sole purpose of recruiting people into the scheme, and the Ambassador program costing $5 a month is charging people for the scheme. By your own definition you're a pyramid scheme.

    If the camera is great in its own right, then sell it without the ambassador program and "app" (another thing I'm guessing doesn't exist yet). And if you tried to do that it'd fail since there is already a glut of cheapo GoPro rip-offs on the market that undercut your price or offer better warranty and returns.

    Name a successful well respected MLM scheme that isn't just a money grab that uses social networks to con and guilt friends out of money. You won't be at to, because the business model is terrible. Ever had a friend sell Avon? Host a candle party? Yeah, no one likes those "friends".

• 

  kaza87 on 29/01/2015 - 10:20

  Thanks for your email.

  Kickstarter actually told me that if the product was existing then it was against the rules. When I told them it was the idea and plan for the product only then did they allow the project to go live.

  $5per month is for the Travel review APP. This is where the residual comes in. for those who want to earn commission off the app and upload reviews its $5 per month. To be an ambassador for the cameras and earn money from promoting the cameras it is free. The $5 for the app also includes the duplicate website and admin fees. A legal MLM company is allowed to charge a small fee for maintenance and membership materials if it helps building their business.

  The camera is existent however we are still finalizing which camera we will be using as it needs to be of high standars. Kickstarter is not our marketing strategy to get people on board, this is just funding the project idea. When the company is launched the camera will be available. ALso the APP is being built as we speak. You don't invest money into something without testing the market.

  Can i ask then what your thoughts are for a business idea that could serve the 2 needs I mentioned. How could you see this work for backpackers?

  The idea behind this was not to 'make ppl rich' like a lot of MLM companies claim, it was simply to help fund backpackers travels. hundreds of thousands of backpackers come to Australia every year and pay money for certificates and licenses to work eg RSA or mining tickets. They then get paid minimal wage and taxed very high and at the end of their year they saw nothing of Australia as they were stuck working the whole time.
  As i mentioned there is a high need for backpackers to support their travels without being forced into bad working conditions and waste their hard earned saving.

  I do think MLM marketing strategy is really the only way. You could hire them to work directly under you but then they could only earn in Australia. What about when they leave for another country.

  I also know many people who are part of a respected MLM company and enjoying the products as well as earning money from it. I did a lot of research into the system first before I went down that path as I too like you are against rip off scams.

  Whats the problem with these companies if people are promoting products that others use anyway and instead of big companies making the money through them they get to earn commission for refering? How different would it be if I just sold the cameras in hostels (which I know would sell anyway) and make all the money myself like a mainstream business? Why not share the profits with people that actually NEED it?