Why Melaleuca is a Big, Fat Scam
84Melaleuca is a company based out of Idaho Falls, Idaho. If you need money, this is something to avoid. While I was away at college my mom got involved with the Melaleuca scam. This was a really scammy company from the get-go, but she did not pick up on it.
Many readers have stated that the problem was with the upline, not necessarily with the company. I would like to point out that I address how the company acted throughout this ordeal within this article. This includes the company charging my mom's card AFTER she had cancelled and telling her that she was bound by some verbal contract she was never signed or even saw. This was the company itself telling her this! Not her upline! Please read the whole article if you have a comment.
Anyway, please read the remainder of this article on Melaleuca fraud or really why I think Melaleuca IS a fraud! I enjoy constructive comments whether they align with my standpoint or not. And please, be nice (or at least respectful) of me and other hubbers. Without further ado, here is what happened with Melaleuca:
What Happened to Us
My mom called me and told me about these “natural” products that she is buying from this catalog. It sounded kind of interesting to me, I definitely wanted to check out this catalog and see if there is anything that I wanted to buy. Then she asked me if this lady could call me and talk to me about it. When I asked her why, she told me that they just wanted to get my information to send a catalog. The she said, “I don’t know why I just can’t give her your address and they can just send you one…” That was exactly what I was thinking. At this point, I was starting to lose interest in these natural products. If they have a catalog, can’t I just look at it without some weird lady calling me on my cellphone? Anyway, my mom had already given her my phone number. My mom told me she’ll call her and tell her I’m not interested since she’s got to give her permission to call me anyway.
Right after ending the phone call with my mom, this woman called me… so obviously my mom hadn’t even had the chance to dial the woman’s phone number. I was polite, although I really was starting to feel a little wary about these products. She said that she can give me access to the website and send me a catalog and that this is associated with some sort of make money program. She then said that she can get me started. I asked, “Get me started with what?” The way she’d worded it was that she wanted to send me the catalog, but the words “get me started” just sounded fishy. To that she said that if I go through the make money program I can save money since the products will be cheaper. She said that I can also sell the products to my college friends for extra cash to spend on clothing and parties (the woman was obviously trying to talk to me like she “knew me” because I was a college student, when I didn’t identify with this stereotype, which kind of perturbed me.) Anyway, I told her that I wasn’t really sure if I wasn’t going to buy anything because I want to take a look at the catalog first. She then asked me if I buy dish soap, laundry detergent, and shampoo. I said yes. She said that I would definitely buy from this catalog because everything in it will replace things I already buy. This really angered me because I mean what is it of her business what brands I buy and why is there an assumption that all I’m going to buy is the Melaleuca stuff. Furthermore, what made her think I would buy into some sort of program without even using the product? I said no. She was persistent, but at this point I really had no more patience for this stuff. I said I’ll think it over and call her back because she really gave me no other option out of the conversation.
My mom was really hurt that this woman called everyone on her “warm list” which is a list of people she was told to make of people she is close to. I have to admit it was kind of dumb of my mom to give her this information, but it was unethical of this woman to lie to my mom about what she was calling about and lie to her about waiting for my mom’s permission to call these people. My sister-in-law was on my mom’s “warm list” and from what I hear, she wasn’t as nice on the phone as I was, which kind of made me a bit happy about the whole situation.
A couple of weeks later my dad and I convinced my mom that this was a scam and that she should cancel. She was paying a monthly fee to be a part of this monthly scam. At this point I had tried the products at my mom’s house and I didn’t really care for them. The hair conditioner made my hair feel really gummy.
The Company DID NOT CARE
My mom called the Melaleuca scam people (the company itself, not the lady in her upline) and they told her she had to send a written and signed statement that she wanted to cancel. My dad made sure that this letter was also notarized and registered so they couldn’t pull a fast one. My mom had gotten involved with companies like this before so he knew the drill. Anyway, the next month rolled around and my mom received another charge on her credit card. She called the Melaleuca people again and they told her that it can take a while to go through… sometimes months. My dad immediately got on the phone with the credit card company and filed a chargeback and had their credit card number changed. A few days later my mom received a phone call from Melaleuca (the company itself, not her upline( saying she was bound by some verbal contract she was never signed and that all she needs to do to is give them her credit card number! Yeah right! My mom handed my dad the phone and he told them that they can go ahead and file a lawsuit if they want and if they can furnish proof that my mom agree to a verbal contract, then they will pay it.
This is to kind of serve as a warning to not get involved with this Melaleuca scam. I’ve never been sucked into a scam, but I knew that there are people who get involved with these types of scams quite often. A lot of these people actually need money and this program is designed to look like you’ll make money, but you end up just paying them.
Comments
Brian, I can see where you're coming from. However, when a company does not set a standard for their marketing practices or punish those who just use horrible marketing practices it's as if they condone this behavior.
Also, when getting a hold of Melaleuca themselves, they offered no support, but instead hid behind some legal mumbo jumbo that no-one on our side read or signed.
Wow I'm really surprised. Well If you are still having problems I'm sure I could get you numbers to people who could help you out but I haven't talked to them in ages. That is the downside of Network Marketing as a whole. so few companies care and put the customers then distributors then the owners.
It ends up just like big business greed often enough.
Melbel, I read your article with interest, This sort of marketing is to be frowned upon and many of these networking companies actually promote this sort of behaviour. Many marketers come to these companies very green and have no knowledge of 'best pratice'.
I am sorry you and your Mum had such a bad experience, it's an all to familiar network marketing horror story.
Regards
Neil Ashworth
Neil,
Thank you for your comment. I am glad we got out of it as well. What my mom ended up having to do was file a chargeback and getting a new credit card. It's a shame that these companies cannot take no for an answer and can lie about some sort of contract that my mom verbally signed. I have been getting a lot of comments from Melaleuca robots attacking this hub saying things such as "as a college student, I should have researched it more and that since I didn't I'm a crappy college student." Since I deleted those comments because they are so full of ignorance, I cannot really reply to them directly, but I will here:
I said no to Melaleuca. At the time, I didn't have the time to hold my mother's hand in making a business decision. That's not my job. I feel that my instincts on the decision to not be a part of Melaleuca were a good thing for me to follow. I still feel the same way. I do not feel comfortable selling anything to my friends as I feel that it's not a good idea to put your friends in a situation where they feel I am pressuring them. I respect my friends. Also, I was a college student. I didn't have $XXX per month to spend in some program that I have no time to promote.
Another comment said that I interfered with my mom's decision to be scammed and that my dad and I stole her independence. This commenter is right, I should have not gotten in the way with my mom's credit card being charged a monthly fee that she was unhappy about. I should have let Melaleuca continue to scam her. (Sarcasm.) Do people REALLY think like this? If this is how Melaleuca stands on their business, then just WOW! I hope they go out of business.
I read your hub about Melaleuca.
I don't buy or build a Melaleuca but I do know many folks who do.
I do market online and have spoken to Melaleaca customer service and they where always very polite and pros.
A good friend of mine makes 10k monthly and his mentor makes much more by helping others build their business.
A gentleman above said that it is often the distributors of the company who are the problems and he is right on.
Networking is a very good way to make money but it's easy to get in and out since it usually doe not cost much to start so the same for quiting.
You seem to not be too aware of these types of businesses but this is the direction the world is going.
The first thing I tell folks is to work on their attitude and then work hard to be a pro.
nwind,
Thank you for your comment. It is one of the more respectful I've received from Melaleuca backers. I must argue that this is not the direction the world is going in business. This business type is harmful. To steal and lie to people is just wrong and I just wonder how Mr 10k sleeps at night knowing he makes his money from being deceitful.
Companies like Melaleuca feast off the ill educated and it's just sad to see that these types of companies are allowed to do this. It's sick to tell people they can make 10K a month when this is not the average case of someone working for Melaleuca. Companies like Melaleuca make it sound like it's the norm for people to bring in money like that when most of the people Melaleuca brings in with their scam probably make less than $300 a month with it.
Does anyone know the median earnings of a melaleuca affiliate?
Sounds like a pyramid scheme to me I have heard of them before I really don't know much about there products but I have certainly steered clear. The worker bees at the top reap the rewards, your mom and dad did the right thing. Keep this hub up and do not fear anyone, if they harass you capture there ip address and report them to there provider for harassment also notify HP that you are being taunted and it will be resolved immediately. :)
It was a horrible experience for you. Of course, it is essential to know about the products and be aware of business types, than believing in the advertisements posted on the internet.
The problem is that most of these companies do not even realize that many do have great products.
I believe if they spent more time on retail and less time on recruiting they could do much better.
I came one click away from spending almost 5000 bucks a few years ago in a company very similiar.
Something else I noticed is when these companies actually find themselves paying their distributors too much money they change the rules.
Some people do well with MLM but it is not the business of the future, its just a business that will never go away and yes many of them are borderline illegal.
I will be honest and I did get my start in MLM until I wised up and found there were far better ways to earn online and I will never have to beg friends and family to sign up to anything.
Bottom line is stay away from MLM
I am really sorry to hear about your mom's misfortune with this distributor. It is not the company's fault and should not be blamed if they don't know about her. Call the company and report her. They will do something about her. This is NOT how this company works at all. I use to be involved with them and it is the distributors fault. It is very unfortunate your family had so much trouble with her. Please report her. I personally really like their products and all you have to do is go online and you can order whatever you want. Q
This is a good hub in regard to patterns that most MLM companies use. Although there are comments here that it's a distributor's fault, with all due respect, if they can't control their distributor's ethics, why in the world are they doing business with someone unethical? You can't pass this off as someone else's fault simply because if the distributor isn't in line with the company's values and principles, it's up to the company to create or find a distributor who IS in line with them.
You can't pass the buck on this stuff, people. You can't If there are problems with ethics and business principles, it originates inside the founding company, despite the mumbo jumbo. To pass the blame to an associated company is nothing short of immature and childish. Why would anyone want to do business with such a company? Think about it.
My comments may be hard hitting, but it's because I've had quite a bit of experience with MLMs as well as family and friends. Yes, it's true, I don't like them and never will. And for those who do like them and prosper because of them, that's all good and well, but at the end of the day, it's okay for us to agree to disagree.
Very interesting read! I love the 'craveblocker' chocolate bars from malelueca- my sister is a member so she orders them for me. I think if you become a member through the website- there would be less chance of scams (I hope).
Bad car salesmen get fired by dealerships. No excuses about this. Bad distributors need to be fired, and obviously people are having bad experiences with this MLM and many, many others.
In other words, this saying may apply:
"There's nothing like good service, and this is nothing like good service."
It's unfortunate what happened to your mom. It's these types of situations that give Network Marketing a bad name. Having said that, i don't think Melaleuca is a scam (i'm not a ditributor, by the way). I jst think she got involved with a HORRIBLE upline person. Making a list of your warm market is just plain DUMB, and it's a shame that your mom had to go through that. She needs to learn how to generate her own leads, on autopilot. In other words, she needs to learn internet marketing skills.
Typical MLM marketing. It's all about the downline. MLM is not something I ever get involved in. But I can tell you that from experience some of the Melaleuca products are actually quite good and high quality. But I also think they are overpriced for what you get. It's just how they choose to run their business that makes people unhappy. I believe any MLM is bound to create scams and problems.
I am a Melaleica believer. You had one bad experience abd that person who enrolled your mom had horrible business ethics. But not everyone is that way. The head honchos realize that not everyone is great at customer service but they are looking at this from a business point of view and they realize that those who have poor ethics are not going to survive in this business very long and they will fizz out(usually). Even still they will contniue to make money and provide opportunity for others to earn a decent income, not to mention provide superior products at a better value. I personally would never approach anyone the way the enroller for you mom approached you but like we all know... everyone's different. Some people just don't have professional courtesy. I like this business so far and beleive that my efforts will go a long way. (key word efforts)
Sahm9227, thank you for your comment.
Hopefully the company will start doing something to protect its name, something in the line of weeding out the bad guys -- the liars, in the system.
I do want to say that when my mom cancelled her account with Melaleuca she talked to actual Melaleuca customer service and not her upline and they were NOT helpful and gave her the same run around as the woman in her upline.
Hi Melbel.
I've been busy marketing online but saw your response back.
First Mr. 10k is a really great and honest guy.So is his mentor.
I make money online and work very hard at being honest and feel I have integrity.I don't like hype,spam or the way most MLM ,networking companies do business because they do use hype and spam..etc.
There are many very good companies though.
Now do you know that 95+% of folks don't make money online?
Does that mean I'm dishonest because I make money and most don't?
Why don't more make money? Because people for the most part have very shallow commitment levels; look how fat North America is getting.People are lazy and far too many have an entitlement mentality. It's pervasive in NA.
Network marketing is exploding globally because it is easy to get in and out.So Is affiliate marketing,Direct response marketing,information marketing etc...
The biggest thing I fought online and off before (14 yrs in Amway in the 80's and 90's) is how complacent people are.
Network Marketing takes work.So does online marketing.It's all a process. I treat my business like a job every day.
I get up with my kids ,have my coffee and when they go I'm plugging into Tony Robbins or someone like him.
Why? Again the biggest job is working on yourself and most people don't get that or deny that or are too lazy.
There is nothing wrong with Meleleaca or networking or online businesses.
The problem is almost always the people who want something for nothing. I'm not saying your Mom was that way.
It's no different here in Canada thanks to the main stream media.
I hope that helps put a couple of things in perspective.
Have a great day!
Don't forget: The only free cheese is in the mousetrap!
I myself, got caught up in Melaluca scam, I soled
elaluca, tried it, here they were taking money out of my checking account without my permission. I kept having overdrafts on my checking account I also called Melaluca and had to sign an paer they send me and I had it notorized also and closed my checking account. melaluca costed me. I payed the price for their scams. I understand and agree with you Melaluca is a scam. Be careful, Be watchful I say! Thanksd for sharing this, I know I do not stand alone now and this did not only happen to me.
Hello Melbel and Starbug5052,
I agree with both of you about your feelings of being scammed, and so do many others feel that MLMs are scams because they make it seem as if everyone can become rich selling for the profit of others. But no matter how much you make, there are others who make money from your efforts and they are those above you in the pyramid which is the organizational chart of all MLMs. The lowest and largest group is the base of sellers. The next up is a smaller group of distributors, and next up is the wholesalers, and at the very top is the MLM owners, who make more than any individual worker because they make money from the workers anf drom all the levels below them. As someone else above noted, as soon as sellers begin to make money, they change the profit potential even when product costs have gone down. The person above who believes the problem lies in lazy workers and not in his MLM scheme is either a superperson or else a adistributor who's afraid his workers might see your article and decide to find better work.
I believe hub that "Capitalism Creates Crooks" and all American consumers are their prey. That does not mean all capitalists are crooks, but it does mean the system as it stands is incapable of protecting the unwary and those of us who tend to be too trusting of others.
You show a lot of logic with your review of that one company, but all of us, yes, even the distributors and co. owners, are potential victims of all who have no respect for the Golden Rule, and their numbers are very large. You both did us a favor with your reports. Thank you.
So, I'm googling Melaleuca so I can place my order on line and I found your blog. Both sides of the arguments do have points but I'm happy to say in the 17 years we have been Melaleuca customers, I have never had so bad an experience that I felt I needed to close my account. Even when they shipped me the wrong product, they would reship the correct product and told me to keep the incorrect product. We started out as just customers, then needed some extra money and started building a business. If a new customer wanted to build a business, we did everything together. Including phone calls. My goal was to work with people so they could reach their own goals. Many people decided they didn't want to do the work and they just wanted to be customers. That's OK, we love our customers. Other customers went on to build their own businesses and there came a time when they don't need me anymore. I have also played middle man to help people close their accounts if they felt Melaleuca was no longer for them. When my daughter started high school, I spent less and less time on my business and more time at her school. I never received a phone call telling us we had to sell or else. We have always been customers partly because I can't get the same quality products anywhere else (Yes, I love the products) and I save so much money from the personal care and cleaning products that I get to buy the "extra" stuff like the highly effective Vitality Pak or Access Bars. I love the Renew lotion too. I have tried everything on the market for my eczema - even prescriptions - and nothing has worked as well as this lotion. By all means go in with your eyes open but take it from a skeptic (me) this is a very good company. If you have a complaint and you don't feel you are getting satisfaction from customer service you should always feel free to take it to the next level until you get to the person who helps you. Even if that person is the VP or CEO. You're important and that person who enrolled your mom should be reported to a manager, just not customer service.
A warning we should all heed. There are some really unscrupulous people out there.
Hi my name is above; I like to explain a little bit of how Melaleuca works:
1. You are given a presentation by a marketing executive (note: a marketing executive is anyone that sings up to Melaleuca, keep that in mind) about Melaleuca.
2. If you are interested you sing up with a subscription fee of $29 plus tax ($31ish), sing two contracts; one to be a prefer customer and the second just in case you decide to be a marketing executive.
3. As a prefer customer, as you agree in you contract, you will buy monthly 35 points (from $60 to $80 plus tax an shipping) in products.
4. If you decide to become a marketing executive you do so by giving your self the presentation and if people are interested they will do the same as you buy the 35 point in product monthly and as your self if they decide to become marketing executive give the presentation them self and so on.
Now to explain the details:
1. Look at Melaleuca as club (like Sam’s Club) were you subscribe to be able to buy in their store but with the difference that the few is $29 (and just once not every year).
2. If you do not buy your monthly order you will be charge $55 (backup order), because is more or less what you would have spend in your order, plus tax and shipping (I think you get that at this point. You also agree to this in your contract) and this is so you don’t lose your subscription, as you are legally bound to uphold your part of your contract, unlike a loan or a credit card that you get late fees, your service cancel (like utilities like water or power) and so on.
3. If you ever decide to cancel you do so before the 25 of the month so you don’t get charge the $55 in case you don’t make your monthly order.
4. What you will get a customer (just a customer) is 10% (if you buy before the 25 of the month) of the points you buy, 35 points = $3.25 (note: you can buy more than 35 points), as a marketing executive the 10% thing plus 20% (of the purchase points) of the people you subscribe to Melaleuca then 7% the following months until you get 8 people then is 14% until you get 20 people then is always 20%. There are other bonuses but this is long enough so I won’t be getting into that.
To finish this up; did the “evil lady” told you mom all of this?
And now to fill the holes…
When you subscribe the $29 are for you marketing executive kit (even if don’t plan to be one, you will want to know about the company and the products, I mean that’s just me I don’t know about you) which has brochures of the products, how the marketing executive compensation plan works (all about Melaleuca). You purchase online or by phone and since I’m on the subject, the problem you may have had with the credit card is that if you mom never purchase her first month order or current month one and she was send the backup order and since the products aren’t free they will charge you the $55; a note about this Melaleuca will never talk to you on terms or “verbal agreements” so what that seems to me is that the “evil lady” was buying herself products and reselling them to people like your mom and whatever phone she gave may have been her own phone or one from her shady organization (real phone: 1-800-282-3000).
Beyond the business…
The products are superior (better quality, cheaper) than anything you may buy in any store and all they sell are stuff that you just may need and that you should use like vitamins, but don’t believe me just ask the experts, go ahead ask: Expert should I take vitamins? Go on, and on that note look up the suability and properties of Melaleuca vitamins versus leading brands, *cough* Centrum *cough* One a Day (don’t take those), so that you body can actually absorbs the minerals on the vitamin… go ahead look it up, look up the leading, independent from Melaluca, authority in vitamins in the world and what they got to say about the findings (scientific findings) about Melaleuca vitamins and the others (that you shouldn’t take) and like that with any other product they make like cleaners, laundry detergents, soups, shampoos, toothpaste, basically your every day essentials against the equivalents like the one a big monster call protocol and gamble makes, just go ahead buy any shampoo or laundry detergent or cleaners and take them to a chemist professor from a renown university or college, your pick and ask them about the ingredients that the product label has and the effects they can have on humans (the same goes for the rest of the products like toothpaste). Side note: and like that wasn’t enough protocol and gamble experiments on animals.
In short…
Get you fact from the sources that know what they talking about a not from the “evil lady” and her goons squad.
Wilfredo, thank you for your comment. As I've said before, my mother dealt with this lady as well as Melaleuca. The lady, obviously was a liar about the program, but Melaleuca stood by the "well, you signed a verbal contract." The dealings with the company itself were as bad as with this "exec."
Melaleuca:
Also lied to my mother
Also made her stick by this "verbal" contract
Continued to charge her credit card, etc, etc.
Like I said, to get rid of the Melaleuca monster, she had to cancel her credit card and get a reissue. She stopped dealing with her exec right away and got on the bus with Melaleuca and they were really no better than her exec.
Melaleuca is a terrible company and I honestly don't understand how anyone with any brains can support a ponzi scheme like this one! It's a horrible company! I really do hope they go bankrupt!
Someone I know is involved in this company scam and is trying to get me involved. I have told her I want no parts of this. I can see though how your Mom would be able to think it is a good thing. The people really have ways to make it sound that it is a good company.
It is interesting some people love them some do not. How do these companies differ from avon,,and mary key,they also worked with down lines?But take a look at Acorn,we fund them,millions of our tax money and they have quotas to meet, and look at their consultants.????This was not for your mom. And once a letter is writeen, it should end.But magazines, leases,so many things. do not end correctly/
great!
Thanks
Hi, My husband and I signed up with Melalueca a few months ago and we have had nothing but good experiences. I'm sorry to hear that your experience was so negative. It does sound like the representative that you dealt with was doing so unethical things. Did you guys report her to the main company? And did you call the main number that the other person who commented put on here? It is possible that she gave you wrong info and that you weren't even ever connected with the official site or company. If you were, as it seems that you believe is true, I'm sorry for your bad experience. My husband has signed up a few people so far and we have already gotten paid some money. We knew we were signing up to order a certain amount each month (in place of purchasing them at the store) so it hasn't felt at all like a scam and the products are really wonderful - I have had great experiences with them. I did have a similiar thing with the conditioner, but I think it was because my hair is not very thick and I was using a hydrating shampoo conditioner. You can hate MLM as much as you want! There are a lot of bad ones... but they can be viable and they do provide money that you don't have to work an hourly job to make... it does take effort though... :) Best of luck in whatever you choose to pursue.
That was a terrible experience. I would have left too. I've also tried several MLM companies before (haven't heard of Malaleuca though, probably not available in our country) and I saw how others succeeded while others didn't. I also saw how others work with integrity while others did not. But I guess, how the distributors or company representatives behave will reflect on how the people will have an impression on them.
OK, I understand your mom had some difficulties with joining a Melaleuca Team. Melealuca makes awesome products but some people involved with growing the business can make a mess out of everything. Although this happens to a lot of people who join MLM businesses, it doesn't necessarily make the company a scam. If you have concerns about the person who enrolled you, call the company and tell them you don't feel comfortable with their approach. Melaleuca is a 24-year-old company and is certified by the Better Business Bureau (BBB)! Therefore, you need to be more careful in calling a company a SCAM! The team your mother enrolled in is to blame, not the company. For example, there is a couple who joined Melaleuca seven years ago, and they never received help from the person who enrolled them, in fact once they began receiving bonuses and enrolling so many new customers, the person who enrolled them asked that they be kicked out of the company! Melaleuca refused, and she was the one who left. And this happens to so many people who join an awesome company but got signed up by a lousy person.
Faye and others, please do not ignore the part where I talked about the resolution the company itself offered. They were not helpful. Please re-read the article and focus on the part where Melaleuca itself was contacted.
MLM schemes like Malaleuca and Primerica feed on easily impressionable and uneducated people. If you notice, the people who promote MLM schemes like Malaleuca never respond to you specifically. Pay attention. They always seem to have a "party line" that they follow. They also don't really look you in the eye. It's as if they're staring through you. They are soul-less creates, and their MLM is a cult. I'm not kidding! I wish I were. These people literally Google themselves, looking for criticism to respond to. They can't help it.
I've lost a good friend to an MLM marketing company. They gave her the presentations, and even tapes to bring home to listen to. These tapes seemed to have subliminal messages in them. Eventually her personality changed, and she became listless and single minded. It's as if she was a 2D cardboard cutout of her former self; a listless zombie.
These places are creepy. Stay far away. The people who get sucked in don't realize that they've been brainwashed.
Also, on a more practical note, there's 100 different magnitudes of WRONG with the way pyramid schemes operate. They are anti-social, inefficient, and force you to buy things whether you use them or not. They're more about recruiting than selling an actual product! What a waste of time.
To sum up real quick, MLM is inefficient and extremely creepy. Stay away.
I have to send a comment to the "College student" I feel bad for your mom, and i suppose also for you, but if you think that network marketing is just a way for people to get used and abused, You are the illeducated, as you stated!!! I know, many many, doctors, lawyers, airline pilots that are in these types of business and I can assure you THEY are not crooks of any kind. The world most certainly is going in this direction, because people are losing they jobs everyday and trying to find other alternatives to making a living.
Companies offer opportunities, they cannot always prejudge who will be honest and who will not.
And lets look at some of the BIG COMPANIES, (AIG, Enron)and some of the larger companies, are they to be looked as as SCAMS as well??? No, it was the people who worked for the companies that made the mistakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its people that make companies look bad, its not always the Companies themselves
And "As a college student" I doubt your educated enough to know how business works or doesnt work
Its closed mindedness that is bringing this country down!!
TOO BAD FOR YOU
Imaxx, please re-read the article and look for where I state, more than once, and in bold at one point, that the problem was NOT just the upline, but the company itself. I know it's a large article, but it's important to read the whole thing before forming an opinion as your comment makes you appear like you rush into things without thinking. Also, I would recommend running spell check before questioning someone's intelligence.
OK, MLM are not great! After work over a year with a lady who used the products from Malaleuca. I use to joke about how it was a scam. Then one day, I was moving from an apartment which had very bad stains. I tried everything to remove them (Steam cleaning, Shampoos, and even carpets dyes). She came over and after using Malaleuca products, the stains were gone. I told her to tell me more about the products. I was blown away! Cheaper, safer for my daughter, pets, and our Eco system. I buy the product and LOVE it. I had problems with stuff too. However, I did have better luck with customer service then you, but that doesn't say it's great every time for everyone. Long story short. I shop Malaleuca for the product, I don't push the products on ANYONE! However, friends have come to my home and see the products and ask. I inform them about the products and why I like them and the products I don't. If they want to buy product, fine. I really don't care. I just like the products. Not that any of this matters. Hate to hear how it worked out for you. This is not a Pro Malaleuca comment, but one that says I like the product and don't care to push it onto others. If someone asks, I will inform them and then help them get signed up. If I never sign someone up, no calls from anyone saying too. I will still buy the products they offer.
I have just faxed through a letter to Melaleuca to cancel my customemr agreement. I don't have a credit card or debit card, so Iopted to pay by direct debit. Because I was unsure when they would take the money from my account it wasn't in when Melaleuca wanted it. A "mistake " was made and they took the money from my friends card. So not only did an unpaid charge go on my account but effectively everyone else was let know about it. Apart from that I felt like i was pushed into it and the products are absolute crap! I only hope that my agreement is cancelled because , this thing about a "Back up order" being put through automatically is crap as well. Who wants a load of "cleaning stuff that doesn't clean sent to them every month. I'd advise anyone who hears the Word Melaleuca to keep well away from it.
is Melaleuca Inc a scam? Do the majority of people in it make no money?
My husband has just been called by friends of ours to go hear a speaker tonight on the Melaleuca product. But I have told him in no way shape or form will we ever be part of an MLM ever! I was younger, single mom and left my good paying job to join what I thought was a great company a friend told me but I was never really told the true story until I went to some seminar where they were still vague. Bottom line it ended up being a very cultic company where they would tell you not to mention or say certain things to people who are not involved as they just would not understand. I watched as many many people left their good payting jobs to join this company ( Herbalife I was soon to find out). Because I had my Christian Background I was able to discern the cultic measures this company was preaching (literally)and it all revolved around getting other people to join and not so much on the selling of the product. Of course people who buy into these MLM will get greedy as the only way to truly make the money is to get the people under you. That is not product marketing in my book. From personal experience I would just say no to them all.
From someone who has been there done that, won't let that happen to me again. Thanks for sharing the story for other's ie my husband to find and learn from.
My husband had experience with Melaleuca from 20 years ago. When he and I got married, 10 years ago, he still had the last of his Body Satin Lotion from Melaleuca. I loved it, but we could not buy it because he was no longer a member. I signed up on the website for a representative to call us, we agreed to become "preferred customers," since we did not want to sell the product ourselves. We must buy a minimum amount of product per month, but that has never been a problem for us. We love the vitamins, some of the household products, and the Nicole Miller makeup and skin care products.
Having been involved in a couple of MLM schemes in my time, I knew what that I did not want to be involved with one. Those who are interested in making money should probably have backup income before joining Melaleuca. However, I never have had any problems with the company, and have not heard from the lady who signed me up since the first year we were members.
I have just had a similar experience with Melaleuca. I signed up as preferred customer, but I was not told that if you do not order in a given month, the company will simply send you their products anyway. I have been sent an order this month (I don't know what it is, since I didn't order it) and charged for it. After talking to several Melaleuca representatives (4 to be exact), I was told that after I receive the product, I can send it back and then they will refund my money (minus the shipping to and from). Furthermore, if I want to cancel my membership (which I do) I must send them a letter, they will not cancel over the phone. I am definately cancelling my debit card today after reading the blogs here.
I am actually suprised at how simple a scam this is. It is a fairly easy way to stay in business. Send people your product (whether they ordered or not) and keep charging.
Thank you for this posting, I had a friend approach me today about Melaleuca and asked if they could call me later to tell me more. I explained to them I have become familiar with network marketing through companies such as monavie and ACN. But she was persistent, and I didn't want to hurt her feelings.
Of course the first chance I got I googled Melaleuca and found this page, so I will be prepared for our talk later.
It is unfortunate that these companies do usually offer excellent products at discounted prices (compared to the store). But we all know the thing that makes them more money than the product itself, is the membership fees they gain from their marketers.
I too, had a bad experience with Melaleuca as a customer. I didn't like their "back up order" process. Because I didn't order for the month, they charged me anyway and sent me some products. THAT was NOT cool. Their company, their policy, that's why I am no longer a customer. Your mom did right to get out. No matter how you squeeze it, badgering someone's warm market is NOT cool.
However, not all MLMs are bad. Check out the integrity of the company first. That's usually tells you ALL you want to know.
You get out, what YOU put in. Just like with a job, you gain over time, not in the short term. Most people can't stand,the putting in the work part, but you do when you are on a job. It's your choice. Do you want a 30 retirement plan or a 5 year retirement plan? In this recession, traditional 30 year retirement is a thing of the past.
If you haven't been part of a MLM, it is only theory to you.
NOTE: In my experience, there are MORE negative stories than positive ones.
AFTER 15 years of research, I am a part of one that WORKS. No hoax, no jokes, no fluff, no scam. Just the truth. Hit be back at acrobinson3@yahoo.com for more info.
Thanks so much for posting this. I found the company via the Woman's Dream Team website. Literally, I'm listening to the presentation right this instant. I wanted to learn how to make money with a home business. I wasn't interested in learning about all the products offered. Some day I would like to have my own home business, but I don't think this one is for me. I appreciate your posting here. The comments allowed me to see things from both sides. This business definitely isn't for me.
I had a friend from Facebook come by my house tonight to talk to me about a company that allows you to work from home and you only put in about 15-20 hours a week. She would not give me any info about the company and just kept telling me that she would like to see me in person to explain how it works. This gave me reason to be suspicious. Its like she didn't want me to do any research before she got a chance to give me her spiel. When I finally did talk to her and find out the name of the company there was something that caused me to distrust the company is that she said "We don't consider ourselves to be an MLM because we have been around for 27 years".
Another thing that bothers me, and I have yet to find any complaints about (I did a bit of googling before finding this hub), is that many of their vitamins have a disclaimer at the bottom of the catalog page saying "*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." To me, this sounds like some of their products are not FDA approved. I asked my friend about this and she said she didn't have the information and would have to get back with me on that but she did mention that the company "has its own scientist". I cannot find anything in a science journal about their products either.
Their website is not very accessible unless you have signed up so my search to find info on their "scientist" has not been very fruitful. I am also curious as to why many of their products say "patent pending". If they have been around for almost 30 years shouldn't they have their credentials by now?
Mikey, all vitamins say that because the FDA doesn't regulate those products. That's not unusual.
I would like to thank everyone for their comments and Melbel for this hub. A friend has been asking me for weeks to hear about his "new venture." He's told me about people making 100's of 1,000's of dollars. I will listen, because I'm that kind of friend. However, I will NOT commit to anything - or sign a contract - that will ship me a product I didn't order and charge me for it.
And a co-worker gave me a great comeback when he questions my decision .... I'll simply state "Come back and talk to me when you make 100's of 1,000's of dollars!"
I was an Amway rep at one point and I was terrible at it because I take no for an answer; I don't like to bother people and I'm not pushy. I was seriously lacking in the traits necessary to succeed. :) I'm sure I will be for Melaleuca as well.
And one thing about Malaleuca which I forgot to bring up: I did research on this company and was not impressed with the products and here's why: Most of the products they do not list ingredients and I found some of the personal care products when they do list ingredients list caustic ingredients, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and propylene glycol...both which you should stay away from if you are concerned at all about "safe" "non-toxic" products....so, therefore, I do question the integrity of that company and their products....they tell people how natural they are, like I said above....do the research! I have stayed away from Malaleuca and their products because of this, even though one of my friends is very involved with it.
Thanks for your post, melbel. I called Melaluca to see what their obscure ad for a "secretary" was about and decided to do some research. I seem to put my faith in humanity too too many times and have ended up at a number of these companies' "visual presentations" (because the phone just isn't good enough). And since I will not walk out on them (consider it rude...) it wastes an evening. So yeah, not going! lol
Thx
I have bought products from Melaleuca before, and had a very different experience. The person who told me about the products was polite and up front about everything. And the company was great to work with. One time they sent me the wrong package, and they gave me some of the best customer service I have experienced. I'm not a customer now, but I remember when I went to cancel, they were very helpful and polite. I'm sorry you didn't get the same service I did.
Very interesting story.
I rescently got approached by a melalueca representative to become an "account broker" and I kept asking her during the presentation if I would be trying to sell something to people and if it was a commision based job and she kept giving me the run around about me not being in sales but an "account broken" which is someone who informs consumers about Malaleuca through advertising. She couldnt give me straight answer. I eventually got frustrated and politely told her I wasn't interested and was sorry for wasting her time and I didnt want to waste anymore of her time and procedded to end the call. Out of nowhere she snaps at me and throws in my personal life telling me that I will never make any good money in real estate compared to being an "Account broker" for Malaleuca!! She knew I was in the process of getting my real estate licence while making small talk with me when she called me the evening before to schedule the presentation. Oh man was I thrown off this woman was completely out of line and unprofessional! Well Melbel I applaud you for bringing your personal story forward and maybe people will be more careful online from now one. I sure learned my lesson.
I too have tried twice with no success to quit Meleleuca. I faxed letter, mailed letters and phoned. Still the product kept coming. There are a couple products I do really like but its not enough to cover what I have to buy every month. So I get candles and give them for presents. But its getting old. I am going to attempt again to quit and will keep posted.
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BrianFanslau says:
4 months ago
I sympathize with you Melbel but I must say it is not Melaluca themselves that is the one in the wrong it is the independent distributor for Melaluca that is really at fault and should be revoked by Melaluca to be a distributor any longer in the first place since they did not serve you at all in a regular business manner.
My mother has been in Melaluca for over 10 years and I've seen many distributors like this lady you had wrote about who simply steal lists and begin calling instead of taking time and truly selling the products for what they are and not getting greedy and ruining it for the rest of the distributors but that is the risk in Multi Level Marketing.
When a company sacrifices control over their marketing to their distributors and trusts them to be the face of the company then depending on who you meet in the company you will be given a different impression of their motives.
I've researched Network Marketing myself and have experience in/out/frustrated/excited/pain stricken/success and I know how they work from the inside out since I've joined and left 9 of them in 9 months meeting their leaders some owners and many distributors.
What I'm trying to say is that Melaluca and other companies are like them are not intrinsically scams they start out with the idea that by not spending the millions of dollars on advertising like coca-cola and Tide they can save people money on their products and pay the people who are spreading the word about their products directly. But often greed gets in the way as the companies and other distributors Hype Hype Hype the company to get more distributors.
Just some insight from a guy who has been there and done that.
Sincerely,
Brian Fanslau