What do you know about Melaleuca products?

**Mrs. Jones** · 11-10-2005, 06:26 PM

What about the company? A friend has asked me to sign up and I just don't like doing those "sign up to be a part of our great company and get things at a discout" things. KWIM???

**SHOPGIRL** · 11-10-2005, 06:28 PM

Well, I know of them. Their products are probably o.k. I order all my vits and herbs through nature sunshine and so far I've been very happy.

**kaykwilts** · 11-10-2005, 06:32 PM

They are supposed to be outstanding products but to tell you the truth I wouldn't buy them because of the price.

**mom22grls** · 11-10-2005, 06:42 PM

They *are* expensive! I used to use them years ago.
Honestly, I have done fine without them, though.

Oh, and the cough medicine tastes like crap! YUCK!!! It reminds me of drinking cleaning solution and I swear I was sick to my stomach for hours last nite from it!!!!

I'm out of robitussin & I wanted to use up what I've got in my cabinet before I bought anything else (see the Nov grocery challange

) so I took that. DOUBLE YUCK!!!! I can't believe I made Ashleigh take it awhile back! I'm a terrible mother!

Also, I didn't like the shampoos & soaps because they all smell the same....I got tired of the smell after awhile.

My mom used to get the stuff for me. She still buys some once in awhile, but not as much as she used to.

**canadian gardener** · 11-10-2005, 07:08 PM

It's an MLM or multi level market product, which means that a good chunk of the price you pay is kickbacks to the "upline" which is the dealers who got your dealer in on the scheme. They in turn will ask you to join.

It's not legally or technically a pyramid, since a product actually does get sold, but there are a lot of hidden costs to friendships and relationships when you join something like this.

The products usually are good quality but similar quality stuff can be found retail for much much less. Which means that when you buy a product, you are losing money, and when you get into selling it, you are asking others to pay more for a product than it is worth.

The melaleuca one is based on tea tree oil. they have a line of products based on that oil. Now I'm a tea tree oil fan, but I buy my oil at Superstore, and formerly Costco used to have it for a ton less than they charge. Cleaners with tea tree oil in it, another melaleuca product can be found at many health food stores.

I have a friend who sells a similar product, this one is Mannatech she is the only MLM person I know of who hears the word no but she still tries to sell me on the stuff.

Anytime I discuss health issues with her, it's time for a pitch.

this is the addy for MLM watch which will tell you the downside of mlm stuff.
http://www.mlmwatch.org/

and another one I think is good is the mlm survivor group, for ex mlm people trying to put their lives and relationships and finances back together when their mlm doesn't pay off as promised and all their relations and friends are strained to the limit. http://www.mlmsurvivor.com/

here is another who explains why MLM companies fail their loyal sales people http://www.vandruff.com/mlm.html and the faqs for mlms http://www.vandruff.com/mlm_FAQ.html

and cagey consumers http://cageyconsumer.com/mlminfo.html

and another one http://www.quatloos.com/mlm/mlm-links.htm

**canadian gardener** · 11-10-2005, 07:13 PM

and here is what the mlm survivor site has on Melaleuca: http://www.mlmsurvivor.com/melaleuca.htm

Upshot? I'd avoid it like the plague. You will be doing your friend a favour. She's been sold a bill of goods, and in turn she is trying to live up to the expectations, by pulling her friends into her "downline".

here is another good link "the ten big lies of mlm" http://www.mlmsurvivor.com/fitzpatrick.htm

which has the pitches that you will likely hear if you go to a sign up meeting.

**canadian gardener** · 11-10-2005, 07:21 PM

there used to be a really good article on mlm's in church, because many times churches are unwittingly used as good sources of new people to form downlines because of the ready made social network but dh is home, and I can't find it fast, so maybe as you poke thru the above you will see it.

**hollyhill** · 11-10-2005, 07:39 PM

Wow, thanks for the links Margery. There is a homeschooler here who is pushing Young living essential oils. One family after another are starting to be distributors, and I had been wondering about it. Their products are SO expensive. It seems to be very similar to the companies mentioned above.

**SHOPGIRL** · 11-10-2005, 07:50 PM

You've got to use your head when it comes to things like this. It all depends on what is important to you. There are a lot of companies out there where you can make money. In every sales job I've had, its been based on commission. If I had a certain sales territory, then I would get bonuses off my team.

Any company that I've worked with, its because I've liked the product I was promoting. I'm not the type of person that could sell something I didn't believe in.

There are good MLM's and then there are a bunch of scams. It's true when they say, if it's sounds too good to be true, then it is.

A lot of money can be made in sales, but it is really hard work.

Some of these companies have speciality products that you just can't find on the store shelf. A lot of people like being able to order online and get the products shipped to their door.

I order herbs and vits from Nature Sunshine every couple months. My dh and I both use herbs and vits daily. Once and awile I puchase similar products from my local health food store. The price is comparable to what I'd pay in the store, and I know that I'm buying quality herbs. So, I'm really just a consumer of the product, I'm not out there promoting it. Of course, if people are talking about herbs, I give them the product list and might mention it, but it's certainly not a huge money maker.

I have a friend that orders maybe 4 times a year. She's a consumer too.

What you really have to be careful of is companies that front load(make you, or encourage you to place a large order). I did that once and was successful selling the product plus I consumed a bunch of it.

Also, you have to think are you signing up because you really like the product or do you want to build a business. I've never heard of people making a lot of money with Melaleuca. So, I'd just think about it before I jumped into anything.

**canadian gardener** · 11-10-2005, 07:50 PM

there are good products, in fact I've got no beef with the products themselves, just the method of marketing.

that's a new one to me Hollyhill, but there are new MLMs formed all the time. The newer ones make most of their money on the first few downlines they build, then after that, it peters out.

In fact there is a certain amount of cross marketing going on (remember the real product they are selling is "your home business as a distributor" and the other product is the whatever it is, soap to vitamins).

People who do one mlm and are faithful to it, are targeted by other mlm's as likely candidates thru newsletters and so forth with the idea being that you can sell vitamins from one, and magnets from another and soap from a third, and triple your "profits".

several churches I've been in, have had more than one MLM scheme working away at the social network.

It's hard to critique because it's friends, it's people you know and trust, and they aren't "bad guys" at all. They are just duped like the rest, and it's tough to point out the problems without taking it in the neck for being "anti home business". Which I am definitely not.

Dh and I ran our rental business thru our home and it provided income, and learning opportunity for our teens till the market tanked and we moved, in that order.

**Mrs. Jones** · 11-10-2005, 10:42 PM

Thank you all for your input. I was in another direct sales organization for about 7 years and in reality, I feel like I lost 7 years of life with my DD, it about ruined my marriage, I don't remember rocking my youngest son and I put us in debt about $26,000 trying to make it work, keep it going, and not give up.

Umm... I think I'll pass on the Melaleuca "opportunity".

**SHOPGIRL** · 11-10-2005, 10:46 PM

I think Young Living is a good company. Years ago, I bought one of their sampler products. I'm not sure how they compare with other companies.

**hollyhill** · 11-10-2005, 11:33 PM

I just checked out the Young Living info. on the MLM watch site. That is SCARY stuff. There are 4 distributors in our homeschool scout group now. What should I do? should I say anything? The guy who started this is a real wacko!

Mrs. Jones I am so sorry you had such a horrible experience! Thanks for the warning and advice.

**SHOPGIRL** · 11-10-2005, 11:40 PM

What site did you get your information from?

**dhmunoz** · 11-11-2005, 01:18 AM

Well....I have been purchasing Melaleuca products as a "preferred customer" for over a year now. I signed up as a favor to a good friend who is REALLY trying to make a go of the "business opportunity". Technically, I should also be recruiting people, but I don't. I just place my order for my own personal stuff each month to fulfill my requirement. Melaleuca's cleaning products are the best I have ever used...there are a couple that I don't use but the Sol-U-Mel is a must for me. Also, I have allergies to a lot of different laundry detergents, but I can use the MelaPower with no problem at all and it really is cheaper in the long run. You have to purchase 35 Product Points a month, which runs about $50. I agree that it sounds like a lot, BUT the products are concentrated and last a very long time. I don't like everything--for example, I HATE the shampoos/styling aids. There are a couple cleaning products that I won't use. But the laundry and dish detergent are second to none, and that Sol-U-Mel is so wonderful, it can be used for anything. Those things alone are worth the price for me.
For what it's worth...the friend that signed me up has never once asked me why I haven't signed anyone up, or if I'm going to. I have spoken to Melaleuca's customer service people on multiple occasions and have never had anyone try to influence me to sign people up.
I simply use and enjoy the products.