I'm not sure I'm asking this question in the right place, but I'm hoping someone might be able to steer me in the right direction. I am looking to create a website (an online biz really)... that people will plug themselves into, and upon signup they will receive the exact version of my website (for the sake of this example let's say signup cost $10)... I want to be able to collect $10/month from each person who signs up, but not only so, I want for them to collect $10/month from each person who sign up from them. What steps do I need to take to manage all this? Also, suppose a member cancels and has members under him/her, I would like at least 1 of those members to be placed under myself and the rest randomly dispersed amoung members.

I was thinking an affiliate software might be able to do this, but this sounds a bit more complex. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. You're welcome to private message me if you like.

Thanks.

First, unless you're planning to build the software yourself, this really isn't a database question.

Second, what you just described is a pyramid scheme.

Can you move the thread to a place where I can get answers please? Thanks.

Can you move the thread to a place where I can get answers please

Well not really, we can only move threads between categories. To get details of how to build a pyramid scheme you really need a different place entirely.

Originally Posted by chrishirst

you really need a different place entirely.

As in a different forum you mean?

While it's not a difficult coding task in any language, speaking personally and I feel sure that most the long standing members here would have lots of reservations about being involved in what is a pyramid selling scheme.
No offense, but there are other places where morals and ethics tend to be less important to many of the members.

I wouldn't call what I'm trying to do a pyramid scheme. I am not taking a % off anyone's sales. what you sell you get 100% profit of. e.g. the service is $10/month... those plugged under me pay me $10/month and get paid $10/month from the people under them (no levels). The only instant where I am directly benefiting is let's say for example if one member who has people under him/her cancels their membership.. well, those people would then need to be placed under someone. I would have one of those members placed under myself and the rest randomly placed under other members (this makes total sense since I am the creator of the system).

This is by no means a pyramid scheme... People are always quick to label things as a scam or a pyramid because they are cynical in their thinking. No doubt skepticism, doubt, negativity, etc... are the biggest scams to ever hit mankind. There is a big difference between, "hey this is a scam because he stole my money" and "hey this is a scam because I suck at marketing." And it's just a shame that most people label things as being scams for the later reason. I've always said to people, success is a mindset and the fact of the matter is the majority of people don't have the proper mental conditioning to succeed online in the first place... most are lazy and expect money to fall from the sky, and so when they fail to make any money whatsoever (surely because of their poor ways of thinking and their attitude), they blame the product and say it's a scam. People constantly feel the need to say they are victims, and nothing more than to get attention. Here is what I say - victims get victimized... victors remain victors even when victimized.

The long and short of it is, I am not trying to create a pyramid scheme, and those who feel I am, in most cases fit the profile of the type of person i just described. I am not attacking anybody, but seriously people need to suck it up and stop acting as though nothing in their life is within their control. Wealth doen't just happen... it is achieved, and the moment people stop being so critical of everything a lot more money will be made.

Of course it's a pyramid well actually it's more like a ponzi scheme

you are at the top;
10 people below you;
they each have 10 below them

if that doesn't look like a pyramid, I really don't know what does. Even if it it stops at the 2nd level what do the 100 people at the bottom do?
They are paying $10 each to the level above for a turnkey website which has the only purpose of recruiting a downline, and according to you they are not going to recruit a level below? What use is the site to them?
Why are they going to pay $120 per year for something they can't do anything with.

You seem to be under the impression that if you don't get a percentage take from the second tier, it's not a scam.
Well the mugs at the bottom are not going to think that are they.

Perhaps you don't understand me... the people they "recruit", if you like, will be paying them $10/month... at the same time they are paying the person who recruited them $10/month.

So let's say I recruit you... you are paying me $10/month

You then go out and recruit 10 people, so now you have 10 people paying you $10/month = $100

That's $90 profit for you every month

C'mon it's just common sense... This is in no way a scheme if everybody benefits...

Even if you only manage to recruit 1 person you are covering the cost of your monthly service and are therefore breaking even. 2 people and you are making $10/month. And the thing is you don't have to work for it anymore... As long as that person stays plugged in you get paid. And why would anyone want to unplug themselves if they could have even 1 person send them $10/month for doing nothing.

C'mon this is just common sense. Call it a pyramid, call it a ponzi, call it what you want... I like to call it simple mathematics with a hint of "duh."

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_scheme

A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves the exchange of money primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, without any product or service being delivered.

The people at the bottom don't "benefit", they are shelling money out for something that will never, ever repay their "investment" let alone make a profit.

Originally Posted by oceankid

No doubt skepticism, doubt, negativity, etc... are the biggest scams to ever hit mankind.

Sure. After earthquakes, tsunamis, famine, AIDS, poverty, and such, doubt is one of the biggest problems facing mankind.

Originally Posted by oceankid

There is a big difference between, "hey this is a scam because he stole my money" and "hey this is a scam because I suck at marketing." And it's just a shame that most people label things as being scams for the later reason.

Well if that were the only reason, you'd have a point. The scheme you're proposing is a transfer of wealth from people who get in "late" to people who get in early. It's unsustainable by definition - which means it leaves the last people to get in holding the bag.

Originally Posted by oceankid

seriously people need to suck it up and stop acting as though nothing in their life is within their control.

That's fine. One thing that's within all our control is the choice to swindle people or not to. And I think you'll find most people around here aren't going to donate their time to helping you figure out how to build a better Ponzi scheme.

Originally Posted by oceankid

C'mon it's just common sense... This is in no way a scheme if everybody benefits...

Speaking of common sense with a bit of duh, it's impossible for everybody to benefit. Just like it's impossible to make 2 and 2 add up to 7, or to extract blood from a rock. This is why it's (obviously) a scam, and nobody wants to help you build it.

Boo Hoo Hoo Newbie... say hello to the bad guy, right? Like, really, y'all need to chill. I never came in here begging for no one's help, i just simply asked a question, so don't feel too important. And your comment about earthquakes... I'm talking about mental conditioning, you're talking about natural disasters - I fail to see the logic. Like, really, this is just a forum... we're not voting the next president of the United States - we already got one, remember?

Anyway, Gentlemen, thank you for your help. Chris you can go ahead and close this one... and throw your boy a diaper.