--This is not an MLM promotion thread. I heard about this "business" from someone I know and I would like some input from forummers here on whether this business model is legit, or it's just another one of those concealed Ponzi-Pyramid schemes.--

Today while at dinner with a few people I know, I came upon a discussion for something called Score-A by a company called Kenshido International Sdn. Bhd.

Resource:
1. http://www.score-a.com.my/
2. http://www.skor-a.com.my/
3. http://www.kenshido.com/

From what I understand by the explanations I got, it seems like a destined-to-collapse pyramid scheme to me. I'll try explaining it here. Any information on this "business" would be very much appreciated.

**Again, this is NOT a promotion for an MLM/Pyramid/Ponzi business**

The Product
Okay so from what I understand, Kenshido has developed a online education program. Basically what this program does is that, you have an account with Score-A and you can log in to do question papers for subjects thought in schools. It's just like how people used to do questions on revision books, but it's online. Also this web application has a number of features, it does grading for the online exams, sends the scores to the child's parents via SMS and so on.

In my opinion, this online exam thing is nothing beyond what an ordinary Multimedia University (MMU) student from the Faculty of Information Technology (FIT) can do for their Final Year Projects.

Kenshido makes money, I guess, through the subscription fee which you have to pay for the Score-A account, which is insanely expensive.

The Business
Alright, now for the business part which is the fishy part.

Normally when a legit company creates this kind of software with the legit intention to improve education while making some profit from it, the company would try to engage the government, schools, tuition centres and parents. They would also sell CDs and DVDs for the account and other apps through prominent bookstores like Popular, MPH and Kinokunia.

However, this Kenshido seems to have taken what I think is an MLM approach for distributing and selling it's Score-A product. As I understand it, this is how it works:

*quick notes:
Kenshido calls what we know as web accounts as "Portals"
Kenshido calls what we know as account subscription extension as "Top Up"
Figures such as prices are rough figures, I can't remember the exact amount.
Error on my part is +/- RM50 for all except profit calculation where error is +/- RM300

- You invest about RM1780.00 in a 5-account pack of Score-A
- You find 5 people to sell these accounts to for about RM620.00 each, which gives the buyer 6-months validity (only!!)
- If you manage to sell all 5, your profit would be: Profit = Revenue - Cost = (RM620.00 x 5) - RM1780 = RM1320
- After 6-months, the buyer will have to buy an extension, which is another RM200++ (yeah... not joking)
- When your buyers pay to extend, you earn commission

Additionally, you can recruit other sellers too, who like you will buy 5-account packs and resell it to others, and you earn commission too when they buy the 5-account packs (I think... not so sure also). And then each of your recruited sellers will recruit more sellers and the pyramid grows la... Apparently the target is to get 14 "generation" or layers of recruits under you, which will apparently help you earn RM1192.00 per day.

The Fishy-ness
1. The pyramid keeps growing at a rapid rate. Not only do you need more sellers, each of these sellers need to sell the accounts to other users (parents of school-children).

2. Since the product is an e-learning, online examination thing, access to computer WITH internet connection is vital. The number of households in Malaysia with school-going children which has a computer with internet connection and parents who are tech-aware is very small compared to the population. Basically, the pie isn't very big, just look at Malaysia's broadband penetration rate, and subtract out all families without school-going children and all families who can't afford about RM800/year on a bunch of online test papers, which you can get in print for like RM12 from Popular.

3. The pricing of the product itself is extremely high for such a simple application. It's unjustifiable for most middle-to-low-income parents to fork out hundreds of Ringgit just for a system that puts exam questions online and lets parents see the results of the child's performance through SMS and other means. It's much better to just buy a few exam question books from Popular Bookstore and let the child do it and mark the questions once the child is done. Also doing it on paper allows for better simulation of a real exam, rather than clicking answers on a screen.

4. For a company that is trying to promote their product in a genuine way, I don't see why they need to resort to MLM methods to promote their product. MLM methods serves only to tarnish the brand name of the product and company.

The Question
Does anybody here have any experiences with Skor-A or Kenshido International Sdn. Bhd.? Please do share your knowledge here.

Also, anyone know how to verify if this is a legit business? I see MLM schemes becoming more and more sophisticated nowadays, I don't know if the current Malaysian laws are keeping up with this.

This post has been edited by DeniseLau: Jul 25 2009, 03:39 PM

If you're not a good salesman, even if the program/product is the best in the world, you'll still fail to sell.

So just look at the value of the product, against the current market product. This will allow you to gauge the marketability of its said products/services. If its weak, then its only relying solely on membership recruitment.

One of our regulars is in this business.

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=833988&hl=

recently I had been introduced with this scheme as well, presentation is

pretty convincing but again same old trick with similar concept. Its just that

it is a systematic e-learning tool which is then abused by business

opportunities elements to make money.

for me , this is good opportunity for our child in preparing their education future and examination

please dont judge this programme from MLM point of view . you can register as a user ...to let your child learn with smart learning, not hard learning

ya , for me , this programme has no competitor ...trust me ...

at first , i'm also felt something else on this programme ..but after i heard briefing after briefing on how Kenshido doing their research and test it on several child as their subject , then i understand how scorea.com works .

for me , it is good program for our child

try not judge it from MLM scheme point of view...just think for your child and you want them to pass exam in this "examination country"

i love to share this programme to my colleague or some family who want see their child to be success in their study ...and i will never ever influence them to join the network marketing unless they are really interested to do the marketing with other prospect/colleagues

can you imagine , 598 ringgit for 6 month and just top-up 248 ringgit for next 3 months ..? And just add 50 ringgit for lifetime , if you had more than 2 child ?

i'm pretty sure , those tuition school will be "gulung tikar" if this new smart e-learning already circulated among student in whole Malaysia ..huhu..i can't imagine how it's gonna be if this programme going to boom around Malaysia

Actually, there is nothing fishy about it.

1. Just like everything else, you need more ppl to buy to sustain the market. the more you sell, the more you earn.

2. Nowadays, those family without computers is losing out. Everything is about IT age, and i think almost all families in cities will have at least a computer at home with connectivity. Primary schools are already using PCs in labs and classrooms. Government has plans by next year 2010, all schools will be converted to smart schools (with PCs as a learning tool). E-learning is the way forward.

3. The pricing is actually very affordable. Lets say you have 2 kids. You buy the starter package for RM596 for 2 kids for 6 months. Each kid costs only RM 298 for 6 months. Divide that again by 6, each kid is only paying RM 49.60. Divide that by average of 6 subjects, each subject costs you RM 8.30. Isn't that cheap? And when you top up after that 6 months, you pay RM 248 for the 2 kids for 3 months. Do the maths, and you'll see it gets cheaper. Imagine if you have 3 or 4 kids. Thats like RM 20-25 per month.
Also your point of being unjustifiable for the cost, well, that is pretty subjective. Some ppl see the value the service offers to them, some don't.

4. Imagine you have a great product but do not have the market yet. How do you capture the market? Not all MLMs are bad or scams. There are some ppl making money out of it, but of course there are those who failed as well. Those who failed gave up, cos i think they thought since this is MLM, you get to get rich quick. Sorry man, just like any other business, one has to work had for it.

Well, Kenshido has gotten the Direct Selling license from the government, so i think we can safely say it is legit.

What i can say about this is that it is a good programme. Dont think about the MLM part. Just see whether you think that the product is sellable for you or not. Me personally, i am in a different field now. Heard my downline is moving kinda fast but i don bother anyway. If your're interested, I can recommend my friend to u

I don't think this is good programme. A lot of peoples go in just to earn money. How many of them care about the goodness of the system?
I personally think study book is better than looking at the computer.
It might be attract the kids to learn at the first place, how long can it last?
To me, I rather not to spend money on this system, too expensive due to MLM binary system. It turns to money game.

Those who join the system said it being promoted by our minister... blar blar... supported by our deputy PM lar.... those things benefit those politician, they sure will support. I don't want to talk in details. Just to note here, our education system has been changing so many times without solid reason. Not sure did u know the history subject also being modified I don't trust this at all...

[quote=kevler,Aug 3 2009, 11:33 PM]
for me , this is good opportunity for our child in preparing their education future and examination

please dont judge this programme from MLM point of view . you can register as a user ...to let your child learn with smart learning, not hard learning
ya , for me , this programme has no competitor ...trust me ...

at first , i'm also felt something else on this programme ..but after i heard briefing after briefing on how Kenshido doing their research and test it on several child as their subject , then i understand how scorea.com works .
for me , it is good program for our child

try not judge it from MLM scheme point of view...just think for your child and you want them to pass exam in this "examination country"

i love to share this programme to my colleague or some family who want see their child to be success in their study ...and i will never ever influence them to join the network marketing unless they are really interested to do the marketing with other prospect/colleagues

can you imagine , 598 ringgit for 6 month and just top-up 248 ringgit for next 3 months ..? And just add 50 ringgit for lifetime , if you had more than 2 child ?

i'm pretty sure , those tuition school will be "gulung tikar" if this new smart e-learning already circulated among student in whole Malaysia ..huhu..i can't imagine how it's gonna be if this programme going to boom around Malaysia

How sure are you? I don't think this program can replace teachers. Undeniably, this program does have its benefit, but not everyone is going to use it. As mentioned, look at the broadband penetration rate in Malaysia, not every school children's house has a PC and internet connection. Furthermore, some parents will not encourage their kids to use the Pc that often. Most important is, nothing can replace the teachers, teachers are always there to teach, guide and explain.

This is my personal point of view. Not again anyone or company.

I think this company or system does not mean for education, just for Biz and MLM plan only. Why I say tat?

1. The website content, system, color and etc does not mean for educational at all. Those who use it.. will know that its not user friendly at all. You u tried those educational stuff available in the market? Nicely drawn, user friendly, and good features.
2. They started the biz purely on educational, but fail to get any revenue, then turn into MLM. If the educational sales were good, then why do they need to turn into MLM?
3. The whole system and content were develop for pure info only. They did not make research on how to make teaching effective and etc.

I used to be in online educational biz, and the company close due to lack of income. I m still into online biz, that why I know how the market flow around.

And now, I m also into educational stuff, so there its much research to do, not simple put in info, then sell. It does not work this way.

No competitor? You wish.. do u think if there its big money on this, other public listed or MNC will not come in and create the same system? They have more fund, manpower, technology and etc. There its no unique selling point of this product.

Anway, its just my 10 cent opinion.

Online education work in Malaysia for higher level such as Degree, Master and etc. Being running for years. Purely educational.. no MLM plan at all. Most Uni and College have it.

Tuition centers will not gulung tikar. Know why? Because not all students are good with self access learning. They still need someone to teach and explain.
How can you identify misconceptions (which usually happens in Science subjects)?
They have no one to turn to.

Totally agree with solsekuin44 as this can assist in their learning and will not replace the traditional way of teaching. Teacher is still needed.

Yeah, I talk based on my own experience. Those who are really putting their mind in classroom, maybe can self learn better. Because they already get the idea on certain topics, just revising at home..

Those who are not? That's why they go to tuition centers, to be guided.

are tuition centers guiding the kids to score a or just raking in tons of money from parents who doesnt really know wat's going with their kids education background?

to me it sounds like a pyramid scheme. some of my friend decided to join the MLM business and they promised a high return rate. BUT, based on the presentation, the product is not important.

meaning you just have to get more downline to join under you and you can generate income monthly and the company itself will pay you on weekly basis.

whats the point of the company being there when they don't even really need to sell their products? by just getting downline you get income weekly and commisions. a MLM business should be caring for their product, to distribute their product.

Hm, I'm not sure la.. Tuition is really beneficial if the kids want to learn. But if they just go there because of their parents, it will be a waste of time.

Yeah, I was really tempted to join this program last time. But, thinking of how hard to get downlines, terus cancel.
I did ask several of my best friends about this, are they willing to invest their money.
None.

Are you sure you need not sell the products? As far as I know, all MLM have this requirement called MAINTENANCE. You need to achieve certain sell quota to enjoy commission. Without this, the company will goes bankrupt.

Anyway, i quite liked the concept of e-tuition. Just not sure how reliable this system.

I was cheated by friend and made me attend their business review the other night..made me angry with the fella like want to slap the face somemore i am not fan of MLM.I would like to advise anyone out there dont do your friends like this.

but somehow my comment it is one of the many oppurtinities out there for everyone who is serious to look for side income. It is no different from other MLM business plan but their educational product IMHO got present and future potential. I dont really trust the speakers who retired from their job with salary 15K-18K per month just to do MLM, judging from their look may be they almost retire or already retired.

Peter Drucker's talking is pure bullshit, Network Marketing only market bullshit things that can't be marketed traditionally. You're never going to see good products like Windows 7 or iPhone or Rolex being marketed through network.

well.. i don't think its kinna stupid bout Direct sales. I mean.. look at Amway and Avon, a direct sales which being listed in most major country.

Its just because some stupid fellow twist the idea and make it into "skim cepat kaya".. and those being burn and listen to it, got a very negative feedback.

well.. i being into many direct sales company.. amway, cosway, new way.. until i tell them "GET AWAY!"... yet its nothing wrong as long as they do it in the right way.

Just some of the members.. its kinna over push.

In my experience and personal opinion.. if you wan to go into direct sales.. do it BIG. Go for those in the international market, well establish, rather then the small kacang putih one.

Oh ya.. do u know that Amway did sell CK perfume? U will now know tat one day Amway might sell Microsoft product.

Cheers....