Is Paparazzi Jewelry a Legal Pyramid Scheme? [The Truth Uncovered] (2024)

Welcome to my Paparazzi Jewelry review.

If you’re here because you’re thinking of becoming a Paparazzi Accessories Consultant, one concern you may have is whether they are a legal pyramid scheme, or even a scam…

They shouldn't be, right?

You probably have a friend or family member who introduced you to Paparazzi's opportunity and there's no harm in doing your research before joining.

In addition to the business, I'll also discuss their products, so this review will serve as your guide if you’re planning on selling Paparazzi jewelry and accessories (and maybe using them yourself).

I have a lot of friends who are in direct selling, so I know the ups and downs of this type of business and as legit as most MLM's seem, it's good to know what you're getting into.

Here are the topics I’m going to talk about:

• What is Paparazzi Jewelry?
• Who Are the Founders of Paparazzi Accessories?
• Is Paparazzi Jewelry a Pyramid Scheme or a Scam?
• How Does Paparazzi Jewelry Work?
• Is Paparazzi Jewelry for You?
• Reviews and Complaints
• What I Like About Paparazzi Jewelry
• What I Don’t Like About It
• Where Do You Go From Here?

Disclaimer:Please note, I am not a member or an affiliate for Paparazzi Jewelry This review has been researched with information and/or testimonials that are available online in the public domain. Any recommendations and/or conclusions are strictly opinions and may not apply to, or agree with, all persons or situations.See full disclaimer for more info

What Is Paparazzi Jewelry?

Paparazzi Accessories (also known as Paparazzi Jewelry) was established in 2010 in Hurricane, Utah (their headquarters is still located there). They’re an MLM (multi-level-marketing) company and similar to Premier Designs, they are known for their unique jewelry and accessories which are very affordable.

If you’re into fashion jewelry like me, you know how it feels like to wear these ornaments. They make you feel beautiful and also add to your confidence.

If you’re considering selling Paparazzi jewelry, part of your job would be to promote these to people with the same interests – and fortunately, we know that almost everybody loves these kinds of trinkets (especially if they’re affordable).

Affordability is, in fact, one of the selling points of Paparazzi jewelry. All their products sell for $5 (rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, hair accessories, etc.) except for those in the Zi Collection (these are priced at $25).

As a Consultant, you’ll earn $2.25 per sale from their $5 products (that’s equivalent to 45% profit). I know, it’s a decent commission.

What makes Paparazzi Jewelry’s products special (aside from their uniqueness and affordability) is that these are made to be nickel-free and lead-free. These elements (nickel and lead) are usually the cause of skin irritation on cheap pieces of jewelry – so that makes their products appealing to people with sensitive skin.

Who are the Founders of Paparazzi Accessories?

Paparazzi Accessories started with sisters Misty and Chani. They enjoyed selling customized jewelry “back in the day” so to speak, and this passion evolved into the MLM business with their husbands we now know today as Paparazzi Jewelry.

Their official website lists Misty and Trent Kerby, and Chani and Ryan Reeve as the co-founders of Paparazzi Accessories. Together, they represent their business to friends, Consultants, and the whole world.

Is Paparazzi Jewelry a Pyramid Scheme or a Scam?

If Paparazzi Jewelry were making money by deceiving people, I’d say they were a scam. However, they are an honest company who earns money by selling legit products (jewelry and accessories) – so no, they are not a scam.

Where things get murky, not necessarily with Paparazzi Jewelry but with other MLM's, is when it comes to false claims and/or tying the products directly to the recruitment process.

For example, if the only way you could purchase the company's product was to also become a member and recruit others, it would be considered an illegal pyramid scheme.

Here is what the FTC has to say about illegal pyramid schemes…

• Pyramid schemes now come in so many forms that they may be difficult to recognize immediately. However, they all share one overriding characteristic. They promise consumers or investors large profits based primarily on recruiting others to join their program, not based on profits from any real investment or real sale of goods to the public. Some schemes may purport to sell a product, but they often simply use the product to hide their pyramid structure.

They go on to state that two telltale signs of a pyramid scheme that may be illegal are…

• Inventory loading (forcing new recruits to stock a lot of inventory… which then becomes the companies primary source of product sales)
• Lack of retail sales (in other words, most of the products are being bought by recruits within in the pyramid).

One way Paparazzi Jewelry encourages retail sales is to require consultants to meet specific personal volume (PV) goals each month. Where things get a little dicey though (with all MLM's) is when distributors who struggle with retail sales end up buying their own products simply to prop up their personal volume.

Other deceptions that may get a company in hot water are deceptions and false claims about the product itself.

With jewelry this isn't as much of a concern as it is with MLM's that sell things like health and beauty products.

For example, skincare company Neora was recently sued by the the FTC claiming they are an illegal pyramid scheme. Part of the reason is that they made false claims about their supplements.

Another multi-level-marketing company recently shut down (and ordered by the FTC to pay $150 million) was AdvoCare, another promoter of health and wellness products.

Paparazzi Jewelry is not an illegal pyramid scheme, but these cases point out that many MLM companies walk a fine line and need to operate within a strict set of rules and guidelines, as Paparazzi does.

Another area that can get a little tricky though is that Paparazzi Accessories can't personally monitor every distributor/consultant and it's common in all MLM's for some overly-aggressive recruiters to make false income claims and fall into the trap of selling “lifestyle” rather than the companies products.

That doesn't make Paparazzi Jewelry a scam, but it is possible for a “rogue” consultant to be running something of a scam. Again, this is not unique to Paparazzi. It's a danger with all MLM's.

At the end of the day, Paparazzi Jewelry has legitimate products to sell, whereas a potentially illegal pyramid scheme is primarily concentrated on recruiting people (with products being a secondary concern).

How Does Paparazzi Jewelry MLM Work?

Here’s the big picture…

As a Paparazzi consultant, you’re going to sell Paparazzi jewelry and accessories to your customers and earn commissions (called direct selling).

In line with the MLM business model (the pyramid aspect), you’ll need to recruit team members to be in your downline. They, in turn, also need to recruit other consultants into their downline.

Legal or illegal, this does resemble one big pyramid.

As a legit business, people are earning income as multi-level-marketers (also known as network marketers) by selling products to a retail market (usually friends, family and co-workers).

But if you want to make the big bucks as a Paparazzi Jewelry distributor, you’ll need to concentrate on building your team in addition to making your own sales.

In short, you’ll earn commissions by direct selling (through your own efforts) and through commissions from your downline (which serves as your passive income).

Paparazzi Jewelry Review – How Much Can You Earn?

As a rule, most Paparazzi Jewelry products are sold at $5 (except for those in the Zi Collection). This is part of their branding (and strategy), so you’re not allowed to increase the selling price when you’re promoting their products.

Note that you’re getting their products at wholesale price ($2.75), so selling them for $5 each will earn you a profit of $2.25 per sale (that’s 45% commission).

You’ll also earn additional commissions of 5 to 10% for sales made by your immediate downline and another 2 to 3% from your downlines’ downline (the levels get deeper and deeper as your team grows).

Paparazzi Accessories Review – The Compensation Plan

Paparazzi Jewelry’s compensation plan (below) shows just how much you can earn as a Consultant (as you progress in the pyramid structure). As you can see, reaching the Luxe Jetsetter and Impressionista levels will position you as the high earner in this business model.

It’s not as easy at is sounds though, as there are requirements to stay in the game of earning commissions. For one, you should be an active member. Also, a minimum of 50 PV (Personal Volume) is required from you every month (this is equivalent to $100 sales of $5 products).

You’ll also get these benefits as you increase your rank in the pyramid and make more sales:

• 10% rebate for 1,000 PV in a single receipt
• 15% commission from your downline’s initial starter kit
• More bonuses as you level up in your team
• $25,000 bonus when you reach Luxe Jetsetter level
• $50,000 bonus when you get to the Impressionista level

To learn more about Paprazzi's compensation plan you can download it as a pdf here.

How to Become a Consultant at Paparazzi Jewelry

There are 3 steps to becoming a Paparazzi Distributor/Consultant

1. Find a Consultant (as your upline sponsor). Just go to the Paparazzi Accessories site and you’ll be able to choose from the Consultants in your area. Once accepted, your name will also be included in the list of Consultants (for future registrants).

2. Buy a Starter Pack. They have 3 packages to choose from:

• Starter Kit – Priced at $99, valued at $175 (it contains 35 pieces of jewelry).
• Small Home Party Kit – Priced at $299, valued at $600 (it contains 120 pieces of jewelry).
• Large Home Party Kit – Priced at $499, valued at $1,000 (it contains 200 pieces of jewelry).

3. Launch your business. You can do this by hosting parties, promoting on your website, and posting on social media.

Why Paparazzi Jewelry Might be For You

Here are some reasons why selling Paparazzi jewelry may be for you…

Paparazzi Pros

• Their products look good and they are fashionable.
• Their products are very affordable, so there’s a good chance you won't have difficulty with retail sales. People will buy more than one item.

Your Pros

• You're an extrovert and enjoy being around people.
• You have an existing network of people to tap into.
• You enjoy sales and recruiting

Why Paparazzi Jewelry Might Not be For You

What makes an opportunity good for one person doesn't always mean it's good for someone else. Only you know (and can decide) if Paparazzi Jewelry is for you.

Some of the reasons the business opportunity might not be your thing…

Paparazzi Cons

• It's an MLM (right or wrong, MLM's have a negative reputation)
• Passive income requires recruiting

Your Cons

• You're an introvert and don't particularly enjoy being around people (close friends and family excluded).
• You don't know many people and you don't have an existing network of potential customers/recruits to tap into.
• You don't like sales and recruiting.

The simple truth is that most people who succeed at multi-level-marketing either have an uncommon charisma and love for speaking to people, or an existing network of people to tap into (if they owned a dance studio with many students for example).

They can also handle rejection well.

The reason so few succeed in this type of business is because it's so far out of their comfort zone that motivation becomes very difficult to maintain. They don't like selling and they don't like recruiting.

That doesn't mean Paparazzi Jewelry (or MLM's in general) don't work. For many people they do. But if you're not that type of person DO NOT get down on yourself or feel discouraged if it's a struggle. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses; their individual talents.

Multi-level-marketing requires a very specific skillset, one that most people don't have. And an ideal situation doesn't hurt either.

What are your options if it's not for you?

It depends on what you're looking for.

If you're looking for something that doesn't require a commitment and you're happy just earning a few extra bucks in your spare time, online survey sites may appeal to you.

Companies likeSurvey Junkie and Inbox Dollars pay you for sharing your opinion as well as doing small tasks online.

Of course, they won't make your rich or provide you with passive income. If that's what you're looking for,an online business may be what you want.

You may have health issues you're dealing with, children at home to look after or you may be struggling in a job you really don't like.

If that’s the case, knowing how (and where) to get started is what youneedin order to get what youwant.

Now, I'm going to give you afreestep by step beginner's guide to making money onlineand you can get it by Clicking Here

Paparazzi Jewelry Reviews and Complaints

I found both positive and negative reviews for Paparazzi Accessories.

The positive reports are mostly about having fun selling their products, earning decent commissions, and promoting a product that’s easy to sell (because they’re cute!).

The negative reviews I found concerned uplines (not getting along with them), the recruitment process (recruiting people is difficult), and sometimes being pressured into buying Paparazzi Jewelry products (for Personal Volume).

With regard to the above reviews, I think it’s a case by case basis. Your success will mainly depend on your selling techniques, recruitment skills and really… as mentioned earlier, whether multi-level-marketing is for you.

I also searched for complaints on Paparazzi Jewelry and found a decent amount at the Better Business Bureau (BBB) site. I saw that the complaints are mainly about the product itself (not being of high quality) and not getting help/support from their upline.

Please don't shoot the messenger, I'm only reporting what I found.

There are also complaints about getting no assistance for lost/failed shipments which have already been paid.

To be fair, I think it there are common expectations when buying a $5 product. It's not going to be that great (quality-wise). The age-old saying you get what you pay for can be applied here, so I really think people shouldn’t expect much from an inexpensive product.

As for not getting help and support from your upline or the company itself, that (for me) is disappointing. I think this part of the whole scenario should be improved and maybe it's something the company is working on. Again, these are not my words but what some other's are having difficulties with.

One thing they could improve on is that I noticed many of the complaints at the Better Business Bureau are unanswered by the company.

What I Like About Paparazzi Accessories

• Decent commission (45% per sale).
• Easy to sell in bulk (products are nice and cheap).
• Low price (very affordable).
• Variety (each piece of jewelry is unique).

What I Don't Like

• You’ll only earn $2.25 per sale, so you need to sell a lot of items to earn a decent income.
• Recruiting people can be awkward. Most people don't like to recruit, and most people don't like being recruited.
• Hosting parties means spending money on food and drinks.
• The quality for the price may not be bad, but at such a low price you're often dealing with a lower quality product.

Where Do You Go From Here?

So, is Paparazzi Jewelry an illegal pyramid scheme? No, they’re not.

Are they a scam? No. They’re a real business with real products.

As you can see in this Paparazzi Accessories review, they’re a legit MLM company selling jewelry and accessories for a very cheap price. They’re also giving their consultants up to 45% commissions and bonuses, which is good overall.

They are not for everyone, and I'm not only speaking of Paparazzi Jewelry. I'm speaking about all MLM's in general.

To succeed you’ll have to be comfortable with (and skilled at) recruiting people, because for me that’s not easy. You’ll need to find people who are interested in jewelry and selling them an MLM business model.

It’s definitely not for me because I’m not good at selling and I hate recruiting. But it might be for you. I like buying $5 jewelry and accessories though 😀

If you know the hard work involved in this kind of business, then maybe you should consider it. I think it would make for a nice side hustle, but difficult for full time work.

An alternative for the person who is little more introverted and would rather find something they can do from home (rather than selling), is to earn an income online.

You might be a student in school or a single parent at home. You may have medical difficulties that interfere with your work. Maybe you just hate your job and you’re desperate for a way out.

If that's the case, an online business is what you want.

With all the scams and schemes out there though, knowing how and where to get started the right way is what you need in order to get what you want.

Now, I'm going to give you afreestep by step beginner's guide to making money onlineand you can get it by Clicking Here

If you're just looking for something with no commitment or drama… a simple way to make some extra spending money is withonline survey and get-paid-to sites.

Survey Junkie is one example of a company who will pay you for your opinion. Inbox Dollarsis another that offers rewards for doing things like watching videos, visiting websites and searching the web.

To be clear, sites like these will not make you rich, but if you've never made money online before, they can be a good first step to bigger things down the road like (as mentioned above) an online business.

I hope my Paparazzi Jewelry review has been helpful and if you have any comments, questions, or experience with Paparazzi Accessories, please share in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading,
– Angela