Direct Cellars Scam – Truth [Revealed]

Pretty much all MLM opportunities do seem to be promoting similar products from supplements to skin care to diet or jumping on the latest craze or fad such as CBD Oil. 

Direct Cellars, is very different in their products range - Fine Exotic Wines. I do see the selling point here. People work hard, and fine wine does tend to be expensive.

And there is the social and relaxing aspect of enjoying a bottle or two, having friends round as you all try out the "Wine of The Month" at a dinner party or cheese and wine event with friends. 

I do have to say, the very nature of a wine club is complex and it is difficult for the company to give advanced information about what wine will be available and when. 

Thus, sadly, they offer no information at all. This I felt could be better managed. Due to having a system in place and manage things seasonally such as late autumn a European wine, early Spring Australian.

Personally, I don't drink wine or any alcohol at all by personal choice for that matter but I am very sure they can manage a system where they can tell you about what wine you will get and when. At least a newsletter or page on their site that gets updated on a monthly basis. 

How many bottles of wine you get delivered depends on what subscription you have chosen. 

• Customers: 2 or 4 bottles per month of red, wine or mixed (your choice) for $69.95/month (2 bottles) $99.95/month (4 bottles). 

• Affiliate Members: 2 or 4 bottles of Red, white or mixed (your choice) for $49.95/month (2 bottles) or $79.95/month (4 bottles)

I was quite surprised there was no option for Rose wine. And you don't get to chose what wine you get yourself, those get chosen for you by a trained expert.

Your only choice is Red or white (or mixed) and 2 or 4 bottles to be sent monthly. Basically, as a customer you really don't know what you are getting - just how many bottles and Red, White or Mixed. 

I have the saying that it is the religion of MLM companies to make their compensation plan complicated to follow. 

This is just how it is. Direct Cellars is no different in this area from any other network marketing opportunity's.

Their compensation plan is both unilevel and binary, paying residual & bonus commissions. Like it is with most network marketing opportunities the higher and better you rank the more you will earn. 

Direct Cellars  Ranks

With the Direct Cellars there are 9 ranks, which are as follows: 

• Wine Lover: The staring point for every one. Sign up as a distributor and sponsor an affiliate member.  

• Wine Enthusiast: Sign up as a Distributor AND maintain at least 2 affiliate members below you. 

• Wine Critic: To obtain this rank you need a minimum of 3 Wine Enthusiast members in your team.  

• Wine Specialist: Obtaining this level you will need at least 4 Wine Enthusiast members in your team.

• Wine Expert: Getting this rank requires you to have 5 Wine Enthusiast recruits. 

• Wine Connoisseur: Achieving the status of Wine Connoisseur requires 6 Wine Enthusiast Recruits

• Wine Aficionado: At this level you will need 7 Wine Enthusiast Recruits on your team

• Wine Master:  As a Wine Master you need at least 8 Wine Enthusiast Recruits in your team

• Master Cellar:  As a Master Cellar you are expected to have at least 9 Wine Enthusiast Recruits on your team

That part looks pretty straight forward..right?. I have to say though, recruiting is easier said than done. And you do have to maintain those recruits on a regular basis. Lose them and you can slide down the  "Pyramid". 

Becoming Commission Qualified

Before you can start to earn money with Direct Cellars you absolutely must refer at least 2 affiliate members that are paying $79.95/month for auto-shipment of their wines. 

You must also maintain a minimum of 2 recruits at this level. 

You have to do this for every rank level - maintain the required number of recruits or you will lose rank if you do not replace them. 

Direct Sales Commission

When you sell Direct Cellars Wine to retail customers you commission is $20 per set wine package. 

Referral Commissions

When you manage to bring in new members by referring them to the Direct Cellars wine club you will earn $125 commission for each premium wine lover member and $250 for each Premium Wine Lover Elite member that joins. 

That is a pretty healthy and cool commission. 

The following video explains the Commission structure and plan excellently well

If recruitment or face to face selling if not your thing, and you still have a strong desire to build up a passive income then I suggest that you Try This Opportunity

Warning only click if you are serious and want to put in the work. 

There are a couple options for you to join Direct Cellars. You do have to maintain your own autoshiping membership in order to gain access to the commissions structure that is available.

To join Direct Cellars as an affiliate you have to either "buy in" at the Premium Wine Lover Level - $250 which comes with 4 bottles of wine  or The Elite level which will cost you $500, which comes with 12 bottles of wine. 

You must also maintain your $79.95/month Autoship to qualify for earning commission. 

Direct Cellars is not Accredited by the Better Business Bureau but does enjoy a "B" rating. Customer eviews have them as a 4.5 stars. 

The Pros

What I Liked about Direct Cellars. 

• The product idea behind the MLM is pretty good - monthly wine subscription box. 
• Compensation plan is easy to follow. 
• Commissions are actually excellent for a MLM opportunity
• Replacement on damaged goods is pretty good. (I have worked at DHL and do confirm wine bottles can get broken (easily) during delivery process no matter how well packaged!)

The Cons

What I did not like about Direct Cellars:

• Not being able to actually select wines that you want.
• No information about what your going to be sent (will be a French wine, an exquisite wine from Da Lat?, Californian?)
• Recruiting..I'm not a fan of recruiting at all. Fastest way to lose family and friends.

Yes, I do think that is is quite feasible that you can make money with Direct Cellars - and enjoy a fine wine too.

However it is unlikely that you will get proper sales or recruiting training from the company - basic and limited maybe. MLM companies rarely do give proper full training. 

Which is one of the reasons why most inexperienced people entering the network marketing industry fail to make a full time income from the opportunity. 

Their product is good, and is actually a great idea but how many people can you get to part with what is a sizeable amount every month (just for wine) to remain a member? 

No, Direct Cellars Is Not A Pyramid Scheme. It is a viable and fully legal business opportunity operating using the business model of multilevel marketing. 

They have a very good product and, as I insist a great idea behind it - monthly wine subscription box!. 

If you need help identifying a Pyramid Scheme - watch the following video. 

No, Direct Cellars is not a scam. Not by a long shot. It is a genuine business opportunity where you can enjoy both some fine wine and little extra income if you manage to promote it well. 

Yes, direct cellars is a genuine and bonafide legitimate business, as I keep on saying it is a great idea. It might be using a business model that I don't particularly like or recommend, but none the less they are legit. 

Direct Cellars does appear to be a good company and a good business opportunity where, if you have good selling and recruiting skill and are experienced in the MLM industry you could do quite well. 

The commissions and compensation plan as well as the actual product is well thought out and planned. I can actually seeing these being not as difficult as other MLM opportunities to sell. 

Nothing makes you more anti-social or for folk to hit that block button on social media that someone harping on about the latest MLM opportunity and how they "must join".

The real truth being - network marketing is a spcialist skill that takes years to learn and to be successful at and is best avoided for most people. 

Industry wide something like 97.8% of people joining a MLM fail to make a full time income from it.  There are far better, easier and less complicated ways for you to make money online.