You cracked me up Gregory!
In a nutshell, more than 2 tiers PLUS a start-up fee or "kit" you have to buy, means its MLM. Many times they call it affiliate marketing but it's not.
Also if their copy isless about selling the product
and more about recruiting others to...
go under you
join your downline
or create "spillover"
Those are all warning signs its really MLM.