2020 Arkansas Code
Title 4 - Business and Commercial Law
Subtitle 7 - Consumer Protection
Chapter 88 - Deceptive Trade Practices
Subchapter 1 - General Provisions
§ 4-88-109. Prohibition of pyramid promotional schemes — Definitions

(a) A person who promotes any pyramid promotional scheme engages in an unlawful practice.

(b) As used in this section:

1. (1) “Bona fide inventory repurchase program” means a program through which an entity repurchases from an independent salesperson current and marketable inventory in possession of the independent salesperson, upon request and upon commercially reasonable terms, when the independent salesperson's business relationship with the entity is terminated;

2. (2) “Commercially reasonable terms” means the repurchase of current and marketable inventory within twelve (12) months after the date of purchase at not less than ninety percent (90%) of the original net cost, less appropriate set-offs and legal claims, if any;

3. (3) “Compensation” means a payment of any money, a thing of value, or financial benefit conferred in return for inducing another person to participate in a pyramid promotional scheme;

4. (4)

   1. (A) “Consideration” means the payment of cash or the purchase of goods, services, or intangible property.

   2. (B) “Consideration” does not include:

      1. (i) The purchase of goods or services furnished at cost to be used in making sales and not for resale;

      2. (ii) Time and effort spent in pursuit of sales or recruiting activities; or

      3. (iii) Payment for sales demonstration equipment and materials furnished at cost for use in making sales and not for resale;

5. (5) “Inventory” means goods and services, including company-produced promotional materials, sales aids, and sales kits that an entity requires independent salespersons to purchase;

6. (6) “Inventory loading” means the requirement or encouragement by a plan or operation that its independent salesperson purchase inventory in an amount that exceeds the amount that the independent salesperson can expect to resell for ultimate consumption or to use or consume in a reasonable time period, or both;

7. (7) “Person” means an individual, corporation, trust, estate, partnership, unincorporated association, or any other legal or commercial entity;

8. (8) “Promote” means to contrive, prepare, establish, plan, operate, advertise, or otherwise induce or attempt to induce another person to participate in a pyramid promotional scheme; and

9. (9)

   1. (A) “Pyramid promotional scheme” means any plan or operation through which a person gives consideration for the opportunity to receive compensation primarily from the introduction of other persons into the plan or operation rather than from the sale and consumption of goods, services, or intangible property by a participant or other persons introduced into the plan or operation.

   2. (B) “Pyramid promotional scheme” includes any plan or operation that limits the number of participants either expressly or by the application of conditions affecting the eligibility of a person to receive compensation under the plan or operation, and includes any plan or operation under which a person, on giving any consideration, obtains any goods, services, or intangible property in addition to the right to receive compensation.

(c)

1. (1) This section does not prohibit a plan or operation, or define a plan or operation as a pyramid promotional scheme, if all of the following occur:

   1. (A) The participants in the plan or operation give consideration in return for the right to receive compensation based upon purchases of goods, services, or intangible property by participants for personal use, consumption, or resale;

   2. (B) The plan or operation does not require inventory loading; and

   3. (C) The plan or operation implements a bona fide inventory repurchase program.

2. (2)

   1. (A) An entity shall clearly describe a bona fide inventory repurchase program in an entity's recruiting literature, sales manual, or contracts with independent salespersons.

   2. (B) The recruiting literature, sales manual, or contracts shall disclose any inventory that is not eligible for repurchase under the bona fide inventory repurchase program.

3. (3) A bona fide inventory repurchase program is not required to apply to inventory that is no longer within the inventory's commercially reasonable use or shelf life period or has been used or opened.

(d) Before an independent salesperson of an entity purchases inventory, the entity shall clearly document the inventory that is excluded from the bona fide inventory repurchase program as “seasonal”, “discontinued”, or “special promotion products” and indicate that the inventory is not subject to the bona fide inventory repurchase program.