Direct Selling Association

==Pyramid schemes==
The DSA has said that [[pyramid scheme]]s which disguise themselves as direct selling companies have caused confusion in the industry.<ref name=spotting>{{cite news|last1=Greenberg|first1=Herb|last2=Frayter|first2=Karina|title=Why Spotting a Pyramid Scheme Isn't So Easy|url=https://www.cnbc.com/id/100364484|accessdate=31 July 2015|work=CNBC|date=9 January 2013}}</ref> In 2013, [[Tupperware]] left the DSA citing industry changes and concerns over pyramid schemes.<ref name=splits>{{cite news|last1=Ehrenfreund|first1=Max|title=Avon splits with trade group, citing risk of pyramid schemes|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/09/16/avon-splits-with-trade-group-citing-risk-of-pyramid-schemes/|accessdate=31 July 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|date=16 September 2014}}</ref> In 2014, [[Avon Products|Avon]] (a founding member) left the DSA citing that its bylaws were inadequate in protecting consumers from fraud. News reports have connected Avon's quitting to pyramid scheme allegations against DSA member [[Herbalife]], which was under investigation by the [[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]] at the time,<ref name=splits/><ref name=cbsavon/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Ernie|title=It's Not Me, It's You: Why Avon Left an Association it Helped Found|url=http://associationsnow.com/2014/09/avon-left-association-helped-found/|accessdate=31 July 2015|work=Associations Now|date=19 September 2014}}</ref> and has now been ordered agreed to pay two hundred million dollars in a settlement.<ref name="reuters.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-herbalife-probe-ftc-idUSKCN0ZV1F7|title=Herbalife settles pyramid scheme case with regulator, in blow to Pershing's Ackman|date=15 July 2016|publisher=[[Reuters]]|accessdate=15 July 2016}}</ref> The DSA made a statement that they would look at Avon's concerns.<ref name=cbsavon>{{cite news|last1=Berr|first1=Jonathan|title=Why Avon quit direct-sales group|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/whats-behind-avons-surprising-decision-to-quit-trade-group/|accessdate=31 July 2015|agency=CBS News}}</ref>