Good news for the anti-MLM girlies: I’m back with another post. Bad news for this particular MLM? I’m back with another post.
This time we’re talking about WineShop At Home — aka the company that took one sip of wine and thought, what if we made it predatory?
Quick Refresher
MLMs (multi-level marketing companies) are essentially legal pyramid schemes dressed up in “girl boss” branding. They’re technically legal because they sell a product, but that’s not how most people make money. The real money (and I use that term loosely) comes from recruiting other people into your downline. Which is just a nice way of saying “more people to lose money under you.”
Want a deeper dive into MLMs in general? I’ve got a blog post for that.
So, what is WineShop At Home?
WineShop At Home is an MLM that sells wine via in-home tastings. You’re supposed to convince your friends or family to host a wine party, buy a sampler kit from you, and then get their guests to order wine (also from you).
Why not just… host your own wine tasting and keep all the credit (and actual profit)? Wild idea, I know.
I braved the website so you don’t have to
First red flag? Giant Become a Consultant button up top. Classic MLM move. Scroll a bit, and you hit the “Get Started” section, featuring three starter kits that you pay for in order to start selling wine. Yes, you’re paying a company to let you sell their product. Make it make sense!
The $25 Virtual Vino Kit gets you a month of access to their online services, a personalized website, app access, social media tools, and training materials. Again, why are you paying for training? In the real world, jobs pay you to train.
The $99 Social Sip Kit includes wine accessories, two bottles of wine, and the same online access. And the $239 Premium Pour Kit adds branded glasses, demo bottles, brochures, and a Wine Away emergency kit. Not sure what the emergency is… maybe realizing you spent $239 to work for free?
Let’s talk money, honey
Their FAQ section says you can earn “as much as you want.” Y’all, if I had a dollar for every time an MLM said that, I’d make more than their average rep.
They admit you earn commission and money off your recruits, plus bonuses for climbing the ranks. Sounds suspiciously pyramid-shaped to me.
“But it’s your own business!”
Nope. Not even a little. When you join an MLM, you’re not a business owner, you’re a glorified sales rep. And you’re paying for the privilege.
Someone once asked me how affiliate marketing on my site is different. Great question. Here’s the tea:
I own this website. Every word and every photo is mine. If a company wants to use any of it, they have to ask. If I joined an MLM, they could take my content and use it however they want without compensating me. That’s not ownership. That’s being exploited.
Also, joining my affiliates is free. I don’t pay to promote brands. I make a commission on sales, and I keep the rest. MLM reps? They pay to join, then hustle to break even.
The FTC says 99% of MLM reps lose money. Not me. I read the fine print.
Speaking of fine print…
TQ over at OnlineBzDog found a 2015 WineShop At Home compensation plan. Not only was it buried in the depths of the internet, it’s also from a decade ago. Nothing screams transparency like outdated documents and dead links.
In that plan, reps could earn up to 35% commission based on monthly sales volume. To stay “active,” you needed to sell at least $300/month. Don’t hit that target? Many reps just buy wine themselves to stay in the game. So now you’re spending hundreds just to stay in a club that isn’t paying you.
And hey, shoutout to WineShop At Home for not making a chart of their compensation plan. If they did, it might accidentally look like a pyramid. Oops.
Some real gems from the Consultant Agreement
“I’m not an employee, agent, or franchisee.”
Translation: You’re not a business owner and this should not go on your résumé.
“I’m responsible for all my expenses.”
Translation: You’re footing the bill for travel, food, and wine, and hoping your cousin’s friends buy a bottle or two.
“WineShop At Home can use my name, photos, and social media content however they want without paying me.”
Translation: They can take your wine pic and slap it on an ad without so much as a thank you.
So if I, as a wine blogger who isn’t affiliated with them, post a photo of their wine? They’d need permission to use it. But if you’re a consultant under this agreement, they can just grab it and go.
In conclusion: my head hurts
This site is a mess. The business model is worse. If you’re genuinely interested in wine and want to work in the industry, there are so many better (and legitimate) paths out there.
2025 Update
Yes, they’re still around. Yes, people are still falling for it. And yes, it’s still a terrible idea. Do your wallet (and your wine credibility) a favor: skip the MLM and grab a bottle from a real winery instead!
