![scout and cellar scout and cellar](http://www.thekitchenpitchin.com/uploads/1/1/5/5/115599999/img-4240_orig.jpg)
Here are the red flags I found quoted word-for-word below: The first step is reading all of the terms and conditions before you can order your business kit, but who really reads all of those? In this particular case, I did and what I found was fascinating. Like the investigative person that I am sometimes, I decided to click on the get started button to see what joining was all about. You can also find testimonials from people boasting about how this multi-level marketing company has allowed them freedom and professional skills such as building a team (aka building a downline). Apparently if you’re in North Dakota, there is a state law that protects you from being required to purchase a kit. If you’re wondering, the Business Basics Kit costs $249, and the annual renewal fee is $99.95. When you visit their website, you can find link that says, “become a consultant.” This page explains what it means to be a consultant, but the real kicker is the is the Business Basics Kit complete with shareable materials, four bottles of wine, and what Scout & Cellar calls “must-have” products. And wine naturally has sugar… What else would the yeast eat in order to produce alcohol? As a consultant, you’re not allowed to claim that the wine is headache or hangover free or even saying that the wine is good for you. I don’t know if the CEO knows this, but sulfites are NOT the cause of headaches (otherwise raisins would be giving everyone migraines), but that’s another post for another day. Personally, I don’t trust people who use the words “yucky” and “yummy” unironically. Their CEO Sarah Shadonix has coined the term “yucky stuff” to describe these extra additives. According to Scout & Cellar’s website, their wine is free of pesticides, synthetic additives, added sugar, and most sulfites. So what exactly is Scout & Cellar? Scout & Cellar is a multi-level marketing company that sells clean-crafted wine. Most money is made from recruiting people whether you’re given a commission based on the amount of people you recruit, your downline’s sales, or both.
![scout and cellar scout and cellar](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ae/35/4a/ae354a6fffaccf11bb8642026882b6f5.jpg)
While they sell products, the primary focus is on recruiting people into your downline. In this blog post, I talked about how MLMs were essentially legal pyramid schemes. If you’re reading this, you probably Googled, “Is Scout & Cellar an MLM” because someone cold messaged you on social media asking you if you were interested in joining the wine business or trying to sell you on “clean-crafted” wine or you’re just curious.