The Answer, from Big Crumbs:

Absolutely not. This question results from a fundamental misunderstanding of what pyramid schemes are and why they are illegal.

Simply put, a pyramid relies upon those involved paying to participate. This is probably the single most important factor. In a pyramid, the participants pay a fee and that fee is used to pay those who recruited them. Further, pyramids typically do not offer a real product or service (although they may attempt to veil their activities with a product).

So, the only way to recoup one's investment is by signing up other people. In other words, any earning comes almost exclusively from others paying fees to join.

So, at the most basic level, pyramids are illegal because they take people's money, even when there's no real product from which to benefit and even when the so-called "earning opportunity" is derived from others paying money to earn as well.

It's a shell game that unfairly leaves someone holding the bag, which is why it's illegal. It's a consumer protection issue.

Some people are confused because BigCrumbs offers payouts on multiple generations, but our program in no way resembles a pyramid. Here are just a few reasons:

1. BigCrumbs is 100% free. There are no fees to join and no hidden costs, such as "training materials", etc.
2. The revenue comes from an outside source (the retailers) for whom BigCrumbs provides a valuable service. We believe that it's only fair that we share those fees with our members.
3. We provide a real and valuable service to our members as well (access to savings at places that people enjoy shopping).
4. There is absolutely no obligation to participate in the referral program to benefit from our service.

We have invested heavily in tools and technologies to help members succeed and we give it all away free.

We see a win-win situation that allows us to give money to members rather than take it from them. It's smart and it represents a new model. BigCrumbs pioneered it, though many will attempt to follow our lead.

Now ALL members who sell on eBay can create a Store with BigCrumbs!

You are no longer required to have an "official" eBay Store to list with us! As of right now, anyone who sells on eBay can create a "virtual" store on BigCrumbs. Here are just some of the benefits:

1. Your store will appear on your profile and in our Member Store Directory

2. Anyone who shops at your store through BigCrumbs earns cash back. It's a great marketing tool!

3. Your store items will appear in product search results alongside products from national retailers

4. Members can add your store items to their wish lists

5. Get a free scrolling Gallery widget to place on your auctions and elsewhere on the Net (New!)

6. Any member can also create a scrolling Gallery to promote YOUR store (New!)

7. Take advantage of new features as we add them

8. Always 100% FREE!

So don't wait another minute. Create your store with BigCrumbs and start earning more!

Click here to sign up at Big Crumbs now!