melaleuca deceptive, dishonest, tricky, bad customer service, BEWARE. Idaho Falls Idaho *UPDATE ..got all my money back! *EDitor's Comment

 

Sorry to hear about the fiasco you went thru. Proper explanation of the program would have avoided all of this. I have been using the products for almost six years and would not change one thing. Yes you can get cheaper products some where else. Ans when I say cheaper, I mean cheaper made.(you get what you pay for) getting rid of my son's asthma and my wife's severe dry skin was very important to me. Just getting rid of harsh chemicals did it for us.

This company will, if you do it right, re emberse ALL your money including membership. Except shipping. Why did it go on for months for you? I don't know. Maybe your new ex friend messed up. I will challenge any one to compare prices side by side even if you shop at dollar tree....if you use the product the right way. May be that your anger towards the company made everything smell bad. I don't blame you...I love the smell of every single product and the efficiency of it. And keeping the chemicals out of my home, is priceless. You are welcome to keep making the Waltons richer, keeping the repressed Walmart employees in poverty, that's a choice we are entitle to make. Good luck to you..

Hint. Next time use a credit card where you can dispute the charges and be credited by the bank faster..

Eva Marie - Santa Rosa:

It appears you require validation. I don't know who you are and really have no interest in finding out. I am not against or for the Melaleuca Opportunity. If you read the facts that have been stated it requires a person with a unbiased view to understand it.  (Which those against or for Melaleuca have not presented in their responses).

The statement regarding disingenuous comments referred to the identical diatribe defending the opportunity that requires no defending. You either like the opportunity or you don't.

What you have is called a guilty conscious. There was no need for you to even seek clarification from a stranger.

Why in the world would anyone posting on a board matter in your life. You have too much time on your hands and I suggest you engage in pursuits that will provide you a healthy return.

Providing an unbiased view based upon logic and facts will not be healthy to boast your self-esteem or motivate you.

If the opportunity is what you claim then why are you devoting this useless time on a board and not devoting this time presenting it to people offline?

Those reading this board already have an opinion good or bad and your testimonials will not assist in changing it.

Just discontinue contributing to this thread! Let it die!

Regarding the post following mine, I do hope you were not referring to my comments sir.  To accuse me of being disingenuous is not only rude, it's incorrect.  You cannot tell me that my personal experiences are not valid or disingenuous.  Everything I said is the truth as I see it. 

The reason I put in my "two cents" is because sometimes good companies and even good charities are criticized harshly based on the actions of one or more who have done something wrong.  Sometimes individuals are attacked this way too.  Case in point: I was unjustly accused of committing tort and subsequently fired.  I sued the company...not for money, but to defend the truth and my reputation.  The evidence was in my favor, and was so overwhelming the state offered to sue the company on my behalf.  The company settled and corrected their mistake.

In Melaleuca's case, I felt the need to come to the company's defense, because my experiences have been nothing but positive.  Like I said, it's been my personal experience, and nothing more.  However, everyone should have a right to speak up and say what they feel is the truth about an issue. 

So, no....I don't feel the thread should be left to die.  To quote Nietzsche:

"There is only a perspective seeing, only a perspective "knowing"; and the more affects we allow to speak about one thing, the more eyes, different eyes, we can use to observe one thing, the more complete will our "concept" of this thing, our "objectivity," be."

It is apparent that customers and business professionals of Melaleuca continue to

provide rebuttals and disengenious testimonies regarding Melaleuca. If the company

is good as advertised there is no need to defend it.

There is no company that is successful that is exempt from criticism and negative

experiences from those who use their products. Only with a bad product or service

do you receive a barrage of rebuttals citing the identical diatribe.

Just let the thread die. The disengengious posts keep it alive.

I am very saddened by this chain of events going on regarding customer issues with Melaleuca.  I am so sorry for any customer that experienced troubles with the company or a representative who may have behaved deceptively.  Quite frankly, that shocks me, and I'll explain why below.  Please note, I am NOT a current customer, so please do not attack me with inappropriate rebuttals. 

1.  I have used Melaleuca products on and off for over 10 years now as a CUSTOMER.  I did not have to become a representative to buy and use their products.  You have a choice with them.  I have started and stopped with them as financial situations changed because, yes, it can be difficult to be forced to take products at a set time when other bills must be paid then too.

2.  You CAN easily stop and start.  You just have to read what you signed and follow the instructions.  You can even get a full refund after completely using up a product if you don't like it.  I speak from experience because I did that successfully once when I decided there was a product I didn't like.

3.  With that being said, I love many of their products to this day.  I have found them to be EXACTLY as advertised.  My youngest son is allergic to chemicals and his rashes cleared up after changing to their laundry soap.  The major store brands of laundry soap which claim to be "free and clear" didn't do that.  My gums, which used to bleed (yes, I brush my teeth twice daily and floss) stopped after I started using their toothpaste.  They are DEFINITELY concentrated - so much so that I often don't need to replace them for a couple of months - even longer if I buy a pantry pack (2 bottles) at one time.  As someone who has been a professional purchasing agent for 22 years, I think paying about $6 for a bottle that replaces 5 bottles of a store bought brand at $2-3 a piece is definitely a cost-savings.

4.  I recently moved across several states, and I took the time and spent money to pack up the remaining Melaleuca cleaning products I still had after cancelling my membership in July of this year.  (Yes, I still had some because they last that long for me.) I wouldn't have brought them with me if I didn't like them.

5.  I am in the position now where I am ready to join again and I am eagerly awaiting a call from a representative in my area so I can sign back up.  I'm out of some products, and almost out of others.  I prefer natural products - will take them any day over chemicals.  Bottom line - I miss my Melaleuca products - plain and simple. 

I hope my "two cents" helps other reading this chain to get a better perspective on this issue.  I am not a rep, not even a customer at this time; so I think my opinion is unbiased and unemotional. 

I wish the best for each and every one of you.

I am a simple person and dont really have money to throw away. Before I buy products for my family, I do look if I am getting added value for my family. Its too bad that you did not get to experience this from Melaleuca and was so worried about the $6 charge for shipping or the $70 commitment that you husband did. But maybe your husband did see something in Melaleuca that made him signup, maybe he saw better products or a plan B, give him a little credit for thinking about your family.

I have been a customer for 3 years now. Personally, It is hard for me to leave Melaleuca, I have seen my grandsons asthma gone from severe to nothing; the eczema of my granddaughter heal in 7 days after 5 years of seeing her in long sleeves or since she was born; my wife whos artistic pains go to reasonable levels. Seeing people suffer is hard for me specially if its family.

For myself, previous to Melaleuca, Kaiser, my HMO gave me an oncologist to see why my white count levels in my blood went from normal to leukemia (cancer of the blood) levels and but after taking Melaleuca vitamins only, it did a 180 degree turn. I was already planning for the worst but Thanked GOD for making Melaleuca. This is now a way of life for me and if it has done good for me and my family. Its hard to put a price on good health.

I average about $150 or more a month. Doing the business was not my thing but after experiencing the products, I shared it to about 22 people and 4 of them decided to do the business too and for JUST sharing products, Melaleuca has paid me over $30,000 in the past 3 years. Even if I spend $200 a month for my family, Im still way ahead.  

Fraud,Scam or whatever people say really doesnt matter. Or maybe, people don't read the out clause or terms and conditions before signing their name on the dotted line. It does not matter. Here are the Facts about Melaleuca, they sold over a BILLION DOLLARS worth of products, so people must like their products, right?

Pyramid systems have been outlawed in the US a long time ago and they dont even sell any products. I dont think the IRS would allow legal deductions if they were an illegal business. We are paid just for referring people to Melaleuca or word of mouth advertising and helping them register and thats it! No inventory control, no billing, no carrying of products. We are paid on immediate commissions with several tiers of bonuses and a very handsome residual income or passive income, how GREAT is that!

They have paid out over 2.8 Billion in commissions to regular people out there in the past 27 yrs. What is really great about Melaleuca is they genuinely want to HELP. This is Very Rare for a corporate identity. Helping people better their health; getting them out of debt; having a good personal life, so too in preserving our environment, is that a BAD goal to have? 

This is more than a business for most of us. You would really have to experience Melaleuca, and when you do, you too would have fallen in love with them just it like the more than 850 thousand families that have joined them. Sorry, but its hard to find sad storys telling lies here. 

What you will find are peoples experiences in how lives have changed because of Melaleuca.  A Successful Melaleuca breeds successful people and its not too late to join us.
 
People are looking for a way out, a right business. Well, Melaleuca has all the right ingredients and with the proper guidance, its very hard to fail. So, If you want to succeed and willing to work and if you think you are coachable, We Will Help because Melaleuca wants us to.

We are just starting; more questions, give me a call, Tony 408-771-0296. If NOT, then, Good Luck on your travels and I hope you find contentment!

I am a simple person and dont really have money to throw away. Before I buy products for my family, I do look if I am getting added value for my family. Its too bad that you did not get to experience this from Melaleuca and was so worried about the $6 charge for shipping or the $70 commitment that you husband did. But maybe your husband did see something in Melaleuca that made him signup, maybe he saw better products or a plan B, give him a little credit for thinking about your family.

I have been a customer for 3 years now. Personally, It is hard for me to leave Melaleuca, I have seen my grandsons asthma gone from severe to nothing; the eczema of my granddaughter heal in 7 days after 5 years of seeing her in long sleeves or since she was born; my wife whos artistic pains go to reasonable levels. Seeing people suffer is hard for me specially if its family. For myself, previous to Melaleuca, Kaiser, my HMO gave me an oncologist to see why my white count levels in my blood went from normal to leukemia (cancer of the blood) levels and but after taking Melaleuca vitamins only, it did a 180 degree turn. I was already planning for the worst but Thanked GOD for making Melaleuca. This is now a way of life for me and if it has done good for me and my family. Its hard to put a price on good health.

I average about $150 or more a month. Doing the business was not my thing but after experiencing the products, I shared it to about 22 people and 4 of them decided to do the business too and for JUST sharing products, Melaleuca has paid me over $30,000 in the past 3 years. Even if I spend $200 a month for my family, Im still way ahead.  

Fraud,Scam or whatever people say really doesnt matter. Or maybe, people don't read the out clause or terms and conditions before signing their name on the dotted line. It does not matter. Here are the Facts about Melaleuca, they sold over a BILLION DOLLARS worth of products, so people must like their products, right?

Pyramid systems have been outlawed in the US a long time ago and they dont even sell any products. I dont think the IRS would allow legal deductions if they were an illegal business. We are paid just for referring people to Melaleuca or word of mouth advertising and helping them register and thats it! No inventory control, no billing, no carrying of products. We are paid on immediate commissions with several tiers of bonuses and a very handsome residual income or passive income, how GREAT is that!

They have paid out over 2.8 Billion in commissions to regular people out there in the past 27 yrs. What is really great about Melaleuca is they genuinely want to HELP. This is Very Rare for a corporate identity. Helping people better their health; getting them out of debt; having a good personal life, so too in preserving our environment, is that a BAD goal to have? 

This is more than a business for most of us. You would really have to experience Melaleuca, and when you do, you too would have fallen in love with them just it like the more than 850 thousand families that have joined them. Sorry, but its hard to find sad storys telling lies here. What you will find are peoples experiences in how lives have changed because of Melaleuca. 

A Successful Melaleuca breeds successful people and its not too late to join us. People are looking for a way out, a right business. Well, Melaleuca has all the right ingredients and with the proper guidance, its very hard to fail. So, If you want to succeed and willing to work and if you think you are coachable, We Will Help because Melaleuca wants us to.

We are just starting; more questions, give me a call, Tony 408-771-0296.  If NOT, then, Good Luck on your travels and I hope you find contentment!

We are not involved in the Melaleuca opportunity. But find it disconcerting when a representative from any MLM provides a bias point of view that attacks the Ripoff Report account of what someone experienced.

It is obvious that the poster is a entry level operative. A seasoned executive would understand that attacking other successful opportunities doesn't enhance the profile of their opportunity.

Everyone's experience in a MLM, Direct Marketing, etc varies and are different. Some are positive and the majority are usually negative. It requires dedication and hard work to be successful in  MLM and that isn't the picture recruiters present. 

Anyone seeking an opportunity that doesn't expect to invest long hours, hard work and  recruit good people are selling themselves a empty bill of goods.

When seeking an opportunity or being presented one reflect on the following before you sign-up:

1. Do you use the product(s) being presented for you to buy or sell?
2. Is the product of high quality? 
3. Does the opportunity require you to purchase products you can't  possibly use? 
4. Are the opportunities goals for you to realize a profit realistic?
5. Does it sound to good to be true?
6. Can the opportunity be explained in five minutes or less?
7. Does the person presenting the opportunity to you require someone else to explain to opportunity. 
8. Do you feel pressured to sign-up for the opportunity?
9. If you have answered any of the questions in the negative ask the person presenting this opportunity to discontinue presenting it if they want to maintain being a friend. 
10. Anyone presenting an opportunity should discontinue recruiting people you say you love. Present the opportunity to open ears. People who actually are seeking an opportunity. 
      There are many lists, websites, and generators that direct people interested to you.
11. Just reflect the most dissatisfied people in MLM are people who have been recruited.  There will be no dissatisfaction when people who want the opportunity understand the  obstacles in becoming successful. If it was easy everyone would do it. 

I have been approached by many MLM businesses. I, unlike many, do my homework. I am very quick to do the math and due diligence. Amway is a rip off. Melaleuca is not. All the companies listed here, I would not join. However Melaleuca I DID. Why?

I am an electrical contractor. I have to work very hard to make any money. I often put in 16 hour days to be able to keep it going. In 2010 the work all went away. We had to pack everything up and move to a location my wife could make money, and we could save on rent and other things. Again, I did this because I am good with numbers. We could survive while trying to get back on my feet. We also decided I would stay home with the kids due to high daycare costs until the youngest was in school. It worked and we started seeing the upside to our move. The youngest just started school this year.

One day a lady confronted my wife about Melaleuca and invited us to her house to watch a presentation. We went and I was impressed, well except for one thing. The monthy product requirement. I said, "I don't like being forced to buy something when I don't need it." She said, "I understand, but you are going to spend that money at another store anyway. Why not help you and I out by buying a better product for about the same price?" I was resistant to the end, but my wife signed us up anyway.

We were on a tight budget and I didn't want to end up paying for stuff I didn't want. She forgot to mention the other option of being just a direct customer ( no obligation ) After using up the old stuff and no longer buying it from stores, I did not notice much difference in the monthly budget. And my transfer of money did not hurt any store I shop at. We still buy food, clothes and other things that Melaleuca does not manufacture.

Anyway, we got our first items and I refused to use them. I wanted to use up the stuff we had first. Eventually I started using their products. I was blown away at how much better they worked then the stuff we bought from the store. The first thing I used was the automatic dishwasher liquid. It says 25 loads, but we get around 60 because we have softer water. The dishes are finally clean and so is the dishwasher. I can read through the glasses and no stains on the silverware. Amazing I thought and began testing each product. They all flat out beat anything from the store including the laundry soap.

I did think the gold bar scent was a little overbearing as well as the hand sanitizer. Being a Tide man for most of my life, I saw no difference in cleanliness, however the clothes were brighter and felt cleaner. The lint trap was practically empty each load. Why? Tide was tearing my clothes apart. My jeans were ripping after a few months and could not figure out why. I also was forced to use Cheer once. I got my clothes cleaner from washing in straight up water. Once home Melapower 6x got the camping stains out that were left even after drying. You can pretreat the same as Tide to get stains out. The Sol U Mel is unlike anything I have ever used. As an electrician I get ink and sharpy marker on stuff. Only thing that works on em was this stuff. I could go on and on about every product, but I would be writing a book. They already have one by the way.

As for the business side of Melaleuca, I have never seen anything so well thought out. NOTHING compares to this companies compensation plan. It was almost a year after I started investigating the company more deeply. The more I did, the more I was impressed. You are only allowed to have 5 people directly under you. 6 if you register a non profit org. or someone you want to donate to. I support Ronald McDonalds house. They help people who can not afford hotels when loved ones are in the hospital away from home. After that you have to put the rest of the people you enroll under them. This motivates you to help other people get a monthly income, too.

Not only do you get commission from it, so do they. The upline stops at 7 generations. Call it a pyramid if you want, but it is nothing like the others. And by the way. YOU do NOT have to buy a certain amount of product if you do not want to. You can be a direct customer only. You pay $12 to be a member (less then any other membership) for a year and can buy what you want , when you want. You just don't get the additional savings. Such as medical, internet, phone, cell service, additional cash back awards, $100 in free products, the benefits are never ending. Many do not mention this, I do. And from a business stand point I understand why they do, but to me 100% disclosure is important.

I have saved hundreds of dollars in the last year as a Melaleuca customer. THAT is why I decided to start the business side. Not only did I want to help people save money on better products, but also wanted to help people who had huge medical bills and job losses. I believe these products to be higher quality and safer. They are ALL definately safer for my family, pets, and the environment. AND they work better. You can believe whoever you want on here, but until you try the program and the products and make use of every one of their benefits, don't you dare bad mouth this company and call it just another MLM. IT IS NOT.

My first check for ONE customer, MY MOM, was $7.50. She absolutely loves the products and is old school. She is more interested in the vitamins then anything because of their higher quality and absorption. BTW Amway multivitamins are $72 or so and as a preferred customer with Melaleuca is $20 for a months supply. They have been scientifically proven to be better then store brands that cost more. She also loves the cleaning products that last longer and work better. She is allergic to most perfumes and synthetic ingredients. She has had no problems with Melaleuca's lines because they are all natural.

My aunt also uses the product, even though she isn't a customer (her daughter is) and cant stop talking about how good they work. They have hard water and their dishwasher is finally stain free and her dishes come out clean. She saves money even at non preferred price. She no longer needs jet dri, no longer has to use vinegar and other cleaners to clean out the dishwasher. She was in Amway when it was big. She liked the products, but they were too expensive. She also said she had  signed up 4 people and got $1.64 and that is why she won't sign up, yet. See Amway has some good products but charge way more then the store. The compensation plan is a joke and many of the checks are rebates from what you buy.

I have tried everything to get stains out of the carpet. Only Melaleuca works very well. Different ones work for different stains on different surfaces. BUT every product does what it says it does. Unlike the store brands, they actually work.

Many people have been hurt by MLMs. But rarely has anyone ever been hurt by Melaleuca. I can relate to Emily and her anger. I do not think she is a bad person, nor her husband, or even the guy that signed em up. I think there was a lot of misunderstanding on all parties. I certainly was not happy that my wife signed us up under my protest, but she is an individual, too. If she seriously wants to try something out, I can not stop her. I can only complain. I now am very happy she did. Melaleuca has changed our lives as far as savings goes. Just getting started on the business, but it has already paid off. I got several people enrolled now and am waiting for my next check. I know it will be more then $7.50 , but it is more about helping people in these hard times then anything. That is what motivates me.

I know there are some products that Melaleuca makes that I don't like. But to try only a few of the hundreds of products and say they are crap, only leads me to believe you didn't give them a chance. I know you are mad, and you feel duped. I really believe Emily has a legitimate complaint. However saying that this company is the same as another or it's marketing structure is less then an educated guess. And to the editor, shame on you for assuming that one or another of these people is right or wrong.

I have been working on my own company to keep the public educated about products and services. Melaleuca is the ONLY company that has been given my top grade. ALL the other products listed on these posts are dangerous. 1.5 million people are poisoned by household products, mostly children. A lot of people do not realize that there is nothing to regulate chemicals in products. Research has shown that the increase in cancer, ADD, asthma, etc. is on the rise. Research has also shown that they are all DIRECTLY linked to these cleaners. When these claims were made, test were done.

They were found to be true through testing. Chlorine, one of the most used poisons in WW1 , is in bleach. DAYCARES believe they are required to use it to disinfect everything, as required by LAW. They are NOT. They use is on everything. The toys, the floor, the changing station, table, chairs and anything children can come in contact with. WELL what do babies do? Everything they touch goes right in the mouth. Many do it with children present. This is also wrong. Look at the DSHS list for it. Well vented areas. Do NOT stay near vapors. LEAVE area until vapors are gone. Use gloves. Bleach is only used as an example of a common disinfectant. Many daycares use help that is not properly trained and mix the bleach too strong. Childrens clothes are coming home ruined and if the child comes in contact , they will be burned.

I saw one post on here trying to dilute the severity of the chemicals in many of the products we use. You can get all the facts through the EPA and other govt. agencies. Every product has to have a MSDS sheet to be used in any business.

 The Melaleuca company was basically started from the melaleuca oil many know as tea tree oil. Through investigation, this tree oil was the #1 medicine for bacteria until the discovery of antibiotics, at which point the tree oil was deemed a hoax. It kills bacteria as good as anything. And now that MRSA has become a problem and is becoming resistant to antibiotics, it is being sought after again. The aborigines of Australia have been using it long before their discovery.

Did you know Mel Gibson (Australian) demanded it be present for all fire scenes in the making of "Braveheart"? Why? because it instantly relieves the pain and reduces the damage to skin after a burn. It is well documented that it heals burns and most report NO scarring and often no peeling or dying skin.

Since the beginning of the company, they have only done what they thought was right. Unfortunately as companies get bigger, it is harder to keep an eye on all that are employed by or representing the company. I understand why Emily is mad. I don't understand all the attacks. She had a legitimate complaint. I think it is more the fault of the person's, who should have been properly trained and educated. I also understand why people believe Melaleuca is just another scam company. I did, too , in the beginning. It is hard to get a full grasp of what this company has to offer without signing up and checking it out for yourself.

I assure you, it is nothing like Amway, other than it sells directly and has high quality products. The biggest difference is Melaleuca does not try to lay the better products are worth more thing on ya. They could easily put these products on the shelves of Wal Mart, too. Problem is there products would end up costing more then the cheap crap on the shelf and would not move. Besides why would anyone that makes high quality products want to be associated with Wal Mart? And yes, I shop at WalMart too. I have to buy food somewhere. And they have a lot of healthy food alternatives I shop for.

If anyone would like a proper education on what melaleuca is or how it works, I would be glad to do so as best I can, but again, it takes time and research to see all that Melaleuca has to offer. So please stop calling Melaleuca, a scam, scheme, MLM, or any other negative picture without having all the facts. Please feel free to contact me @ (((redacted)))

Also to the person who listed the differences between Melaleuca and Walmart. Some are right, some are way off. I will be glad to show you the differences.

And anyone that has ever bought anything from WalMart or any other dollar store/discount store knows, it is cheap crap and in the end costs you more, directly and indirectly. You arent saving anything there.

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

And as far as education goes, MLMs are disproportionately populated with the less educated; that is how they get roped in. Unfortunately, these are some of the most vulnerable in society, and they are often unemployed or underemployed, i.e. they are the ones that can least afford the fleecing. 

On a related note, it may surprise you that people who are both educated and who travel in business circles don't generally use phrases like, "I'll bet your husband is proud of you Emily, I'll bet he likes you wearing his pants". These kinds of things don't exactly come out of the mouths of the elite. 

It is worth mentioning again how the OP's husband was taken advantage of by "a trusted friend". When an organization encourages you to exploit your family and friends (while at the same the organization is exploiting you), you just might want to rethink your decision. 

Emily,

Please educate yourself before making such false allegations, your crass example of Melaleuca and Amway may get points with the uneducated, but in most business circles you make yourself look like a fool. I'll bet your husband is proud of you Emily, I'll bet he likes you wearing his pants. Man-up Mr. Whatever your name is, your wife is making you look like your judgement in making good decisions is on display, and it isn't a pretty picture ... if you get the drift.

..is that the people who are getting fleeced are the biggest fans of the company, as they hope to get money from others someday! Trust me, all the people trashing the OP on this thread are in the MLM, even those that claim they are "just a loyal customer". 

Another pretty cool thing about it is that a good portion of the "income" one makes is really them buying their own products. The majority of the rest are their "downlines" buying their own products. It is like having your own personal Enron!

But the absolute BEST thing about MLMs is how they encourage you to try to make money off of your friends, families, fellow church members, whoever! Oh, and don't worry about taking advantage of the; you are just trying to help them succeed with this exciting opportunity! And those you have alienated, and avoid talking to you now? Well they are just negative thinkers, stuck in a J.O.B., and are so envious they do not want you to succeed! 

Oh well. A fool and his money should never have gotten together in the first place :)

Fraud, Scam or whatever people say really doesnt matter. Or maybe, people dont read the out clause or terms and conditions before signing their name on the dotted line. It does not matter. Here are the Facts about Melaleuca, they sold over a BILLION DOLLARS last year worth of products, so people must like their products, right? Nowadays, no matter what business you go into, its products, products, products.
 
Pyramid systems have been outlawed in the US a long time ago and they dont even sell any products at all. Melaleuca has over 350 products. Dont let people mislead you; this is NOT MLM or no break aways. Melaleuca works because they dont advertise and dont have any distributors (buy products to sell). All we do is word of mouth advertising, you like the product you share it! In turn, we are paid just for referring people to Melaleuca and helping them register and thats it! The savings in advertising is their revenue sharing program, simple. We have no inventory control, no billing, no carrying of products. We are paid on immediate commissions with several tiers of bonuses and handsome residual income, how GREAT is that!
 
This is not a lottery, people work at it. If you can find a system that will make you money without working for it, let me know, Im interested. They have paid out over 2.8 Billion in commissions to regular people out there in the past 27 yrs. What is really great about Melaleuca is they genuinely want to HELP. This is Very Rare for a corporate identity. Helping people better their health; getting them out of debt; having a good personal life and preserving our environment for our children, is that a BAD goal to have?
 
This is more than a business for most of us. You really have to experience Melaleuca, and when you do, you too would fall in love with them, just like the more than 850 thousand families that have joined them. Sorry, but its hard to find sad storys telling lies here. What you will find are peoples experiences in how lives have changed because of Melaleuca. If you have time, take a peek at this http://youtu.be/F3FewVDiFkw  
 
A Successful Melaleuca breeds successful people and its not too late to team up with us. If you want to succeed and willing to work and if you think you are coachable, We Will Help because Melaleuca wants us to. We are just starting, when a laid off woman made about $ 84,000 in less than a year, you know it works.
 
Facts are facts but if you have more questions, give me a call anytime; Tony (((Redacted))). If NOT, then, Good Luck on your travels and I hope you find contentment!

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

Just read the contract. It tells you everything.  A bad customer service rep/friend who doesn't explain the contract is just lazy, not manipulative--because that customer service rep knows that he is handing you a detailed piece of paper in black and white that explains everything that you can read on your own time. 

Our lack of reading a contract in NO WAY means that the business is bad. 

The contract tells you that shipping will not be returned. 

A scam means you can legally sue.  This was not a scam.

If you want to make a 1 time order you just have to cancel by the end of the month. The contract tells you that it must be a mailed in letter (or you can download a form from their website).

It's that simple. 

Bam. Try the products and cancel. 

First of All, you could have used the products for 60 days, then, return empty containers, box, bottles for 100% Money Back Guarantee, the only thing not returned is shipping because services rendered. But your husband never did read the terms and condition, right! hmmm.. The backup order plan from Melaleuca works, if and only if you fail to order your 35 product point commitment does it come into play, this is explained during the presentation and should have been explained by the person who invited you as I do. It is better than Auto Ship Programs with other company out there, wherein the same products each and every month is shipped because all they have to offer is a limited number of products. I have heard 'It's HARD to cancel", NOT TRUE! If you decide to cancel your membership, it's really easy to do. All you do is print a cancelation form and fax in your request, why fax?, because of your legal signature, simple! If faxed on or before the 25th of the month, account is canceled for current month and if after the 25th, it will be for the following month. With Melaleuca, There are more than 350 consumable products to choose from. So, Auto Ship Program dont work. As far as the 35 points commitment to get products at wholesale is nothing, just switch stores do your shopping at Melaleuca. I have NOT ordered lesser than 64 points each and every month that I have been with them. Second, like Amazon,  Ebay or any other sites that do business except for companies that issues RMA (electronics), shipping and handling are services rendered or when you return products, you pay. The question is, when you have used up your vitamins for 90 days and decide that they dont work or didnt FEEL any improvement or energy, can you return them? With Melaleuca, YES, up to 90 days warranty, no questions asked. Third, I paid $29.- to join Melaleuca for the promise of non-chemical base products and it did make my family healthier with Natural based products, in fact my grandson who had asthma for 6yrs. was healed just by using their detergent, as per me, for the past 4 yrs, my oncologist or cancer doctor has blood test after blood test done on me because I might have Leukemia or cancer of the blood. And after taking their Vitamins for 4 months, I cried when they told me my white cell count went down to normal to everybody's amazement. Tell me, What price do you put on your HEALTH?   Added to that, the revenue sharing program has helped me, I made over 25K last year, my sponsor made 89K and her sponsor made 129K just for telling people about products that are GREAT and this all happened for a $29 investment, call me crazy, if you calculate even if you spend $70 or 35 points for a year that's only $840 for a year for products that my family uses yearly, CHEAP, and this is not even part of cost of doing business, we came out way ahead. And even if, I didnt make money, just with the deduction I had on my schedule C, because I did signed up also to become an Independent Marketing Executive with them and it was worth it. Listen really hard for those don't have any deductions. Value of products was my main concern; addition income was a pleasant surprise". I'm sorry, I have not made my first Million Dollar yet on Melaleuca but I'm already a big big Winner when it comes to good health for my family and myself, that is KING to me!  I welcome any questions about Melaleuca, their products or even the research I have done, which are now a part of me and my family now as a Blessing'. Call me at 408-771-0296.. God Bless!                    

First of All, the backup order plan from Melaleuca works, if and only if you fail to order your 35 product point commitment does it come into play, this is explained during the presentation and should have been explained by the person who invited you as I do. It is better than Auto Ship Programs with other company out there, wherein the same products each and every month is shipped because all they have to offer is a limited number of products. I have heard 'It's HARD to cancel", NOT TRUE! If you decide to cancel your membership, it's really easy to do. All you do is print a cancelation form and fax in your request, why fax?, because of your legal signature, simple! If faxed on or before the 25th of the month, account is canceled for current month and if after the 25th, it will be for the following month. With Melaleuca, There are more than 350 consumable products to choose from. So, Auto Ship Program dont work. As far as the 35 points commitment to get products at wholesale is nothing, just switch stores do your shopping at Melaleuca. I have NOT ordered lesser than 64 points each and every month that I have been with them. Second, like Amazon,  Ebay or any other sites that do business except for companies that issues RMA (electronics), shipping and handling are services rendered or when you return products, you pay. The question is, when you have used up your vitamins for 90 days and decide that they dont work or didnt FEEL any improvement or energy, can you return them? With Melaleuca, YES, up to 90 days warranty, no questions asked. Third, I paid $29.- to join Melaleuca for the promise of non-chemical base products and it did make my family healthier with Natural based products, in fact my grandson who had asthma for 6yrs. was healed just by using their detergent, as per me, for the past 4 yrs, my oncologist or cancer doctor has blood test after blood test done on me because I might have Leukemia or cancer of the blood. And after taking their Vitamins for 4 months, I cried when they told me my white cell count went down to normal to everybody's amazement. Tell me, What price do you put on your HEALTH?   Added to that, the revenue sharing program has helped me, I made over 20K last year,  just for telling people about products that are GREAT and this all happened for a $29 investment, call me crazy, if you calculate even if you spend $70 or 35 points for a year that's only $840 for a year for products that my family uses yearly, CHEAP, and this is not even part of cost of doing business, we came out way ahead. And even if, I didnt make money, just with the deduction I had on my schedule C, because I did signed up also to become an Independent Marketing Executive with them and it was worth it. Listen really hard for those don't have any deductions. Value of products was my main concern; addition income was a pleasant surprise". I'm sorry, I have not made my first Million Dollar yet on Melaleuca but I'm already a big big Winner when it comes to good health for my family and myself, that is KING to me!  I welcome any questions about Melaleuca, their products or even the research I have done, which are now a part of me and my family now as a Blessing'. Call me at 408-771-0296.. God Bless!                    

I joined Melaleuca in 2010.  I don't sell the products, I just purchase them.  I do understand the rules and you can cancel at any time.  I suspended my service before and it worked.  I wanted to talk about the products.  I suffer with high blood pressure.  I took a chance and tried their provex cv that is suppose to help you with your pressure.  I took it for two months and my blood pressure reading was normal.  I would never say that ever product is the best, but their lotion, cleaning products and health items are superb and I did not want you to try and talk bad about something that really works.  You do not have to join, but next time give certain things a try before you bad mouth their products.

I had a slick saleswoman from St.Charles, IL talk me into trying Maleuca. She was not upfront about the autoship and automatic monthly charges to my credit card. Being a logical person, I realize it was my responsibility to read the fine print on their website. I did not. Shame on me for that mistake. However, after refusing the next shipment, Maleuca has called me twice a day for the past week (during the holiday season) saying I have to pay the shipping charge of 15.95?! for the return. That is half the amount of the autoship. They would not cancel my membership. I had to block my credit card so they wouldn't be able to charge it further. The customer harassers would not listen to a word I said, but merely repeated the company policy over and over to me. My blood was boiling and a stream of explicatives ensued. I now have to print out the customer agreement, sign it, and mail it to them in order to have my account cancelled and closed. 

They are a fraudulent and unethical company.  I may contact my state's attorney general and file a formal complaint against them. 

uhh employee of melalueca,

Why should emily have to call every week to cancel her account? One call is all she should have to make! Did it ever occur to you that emily has other things to do with her time besides call melalueca?

She has every right to change her mind. Furthermore, it doesnt matter when she faxes her form-end of month, beginning of month, whenver, if she says no she doesnt want melalueca, thats all that matters! Mellaluca should honor her request!

Unknowingly, you just confirmed what I already thought. Melalueca is a MLM scheme designed to ripoff innocent hard working people like me. I will have nothing to do with it. So thanks in a way for posting your report. You made me realize Melalueca is the scam Emily says it is.

My suggestion lady is get a real job with a legitimate company.

YOu the one offering to help"Emily" are the one with the problem. Stop with that passive agressive "I can help  you". You are the one who needs help. Bravo to Emily for her comments and helping me realize not to get sucked into this MLM scheme.

You cannot prevent head lice.  This is simply a false statement.

A reminder to those who are in the Melaleuca Marketing business it does your business no good attempting to defend something that can not be defended. This report began with a irrate customer complaint that could only be resolved via Melaleuca corporate.

It is apparent that those in the business attempting to disguise themselves as just customers are also misrepresenting. It is apparent to anyone with commonsense.

I am not for nor against Melaleuca.

Any direct marketing opportunity has positives and negatives.

Anyone attempting to be apart of any opportunity that requires recruiting and monthly requirements will need a good team, a good product, and luck.

The sad fact (Anyone recruiting for a downline will never tell you) is that everyone will not be successful. But the experience learned should assist in future opportunities.

Every opportunity isn't for everyone.

Hopefully this commonsense approach will allow this report to die. Mary will not be satisfied even if she was given triple her investment.

The real culprit is her husband who made a decision without her conscent.

Everyone stay out of this domestic mess.

The attacks on either side will only tarnish the hardwork of the owners and those committed to making the Melaleuca business successful.

If I am not a founder and creator of an opportunity I wouldn't ever get involved. To be successful at mostly anything you need to control it.

For saying "get over it, I have"

I just got screwed by Melaleuca, and I was up set by the awful treatment I received. But at the end of the day, there are lots of deceitful businesses out there, and Melaleuca is just one of many business that cares more about taking money than earning money.  If the company's products could stand alone they would.

But for me, you're right, they aren't worth thinking about, other than to let others know this company is dishonest and disreputable.  I will do my part to discourage anyone from joining this bozo organization.

Emily, good luck and many blessings to you

For those of you whom had a bad experience,Sorry!!
2nd Slander of the product isnt needed!
3rd of all there are choices and a time to read small print in any contract!
As well as honesty,with the person who enrolled you. The product i the bomb....Oh my goodness! My skin is so soft and refreshed. As many people who have said on here as well as a good Marketing Executive would have told you that you have to order 35 product points which is good someone posted that the bottles are smaller yes they are however there is nooooo water added!The shampoo has get this no alcohol in it....So its a better product......I love it.....If you have a problem please call the number so they can correct your problem minus the shipping fees in some cases, and if you had a person dishonest with how it works...Happy to say report them....Everything is natural and good for the earth...So with that said the product is not poop!

Oh, yeah! You have a choice to become a customer or a business partner full or part-time! just extra money....if you look at life as a pyramid. you go to work pay taxes,pay bills why not work for your self and help the enviroment!! Melaleuca you rock!
And my skin is soooo soft!

first -- anyone who does a presentation they should be showing you "New Horizons" if they are not, be careful. This presentation is very simple and straight forward -- it clearly shows the mission of Melaleuca, the products and the compensation plan which includes the 35 point back up order for EVERY customer.

Second -- IF something goes wrong call customer service but try to remember the saying your grandmother taught you. You get more flies with honey than vinegar.

Also, if you think a Rep has scammed you or has told you you must do anything that is NOT in the New Horizons, you should call the customer service number ask them if they have a policy department. They might ask why, just tell them.

Here's a perfect example. I ran into this myself and because I am trying to build a business I knew it was wrong. I found a set of people who are "selling" a supposedly super lead system that costs $99 and gives you 5000 leads a day every day.. the catch you must become their customer. Problem is they want you to become a Melaleuca customer and this "piggy backing" is 100% against the business policies and practicing of Melaleuca. I called customer service got the policy departments number and told them what I found. They will be investigating and getting this practice to stop. If the reps won't change their behavior they will LOSE their businesses. Melaleuca prides itself on being an honest company with integrity.

Remember even honest companies make mistakes. When you really get to know Melaleuca and look at Frank the owner you will see, he is trying to make this world better for everyone.

Also all businesses are not right for every one, its not the businesses fault. For example, I could not run a McDonalds with the long hours; the constant need for employees because people come and go so much. Just too much stress for me. But is that McDonalds fault?? No

YEAH THIS IS CRAP,SORRY YOU ARE HAVING A BAD TIME WITH THIS PERSON,HOPE YOU FIND A BETTER JOB,

I like how everyone is blaming this woman for being ripped off. It sounds like she had unauthorized debits, and the rep lied. Seriously, if you don't want the product you should be able to return it and get your money back. this is why instead of spending $80 on products, I spend maybe $20-30 and often less, every two months, because I simply walk to the grocery/drug store/dollar store. I do agree in consumer responsibility, but I also agree companies need to be equally empathetic, and their sales reps need to be responsible, and honest (whoa did I say honest?). I would never join one of these MLM schemes. Evidently it turns people into jerks.

Yes I called the company a psychopath- meaning the people running it allow for this stuff to happen, and take advantage of more vulnerable people.

What a thread! No matter what anyone feels about Miss Emily, this is definitely a great educational thread on the pros and cons of any kind of MLM marketing. There will always be disagreements but I love these in-depth words by people on both sides of the fence. I had considered Melaleuca a few years back. The products are okay and I never had any of the drama that has been discussed here. I just backed out for my own quirky reasons.

The only real "shame on you" I have is for the ad hominem attacks by one participant who implies that all the (female) participants of this thread who disagree are fat lazy housewives. Has he met these women? Are they fat? If so, how is that relevant to opinions on an unauthorized charge on a debit card, customer service errors, or the scent of tea tree oil? If they are fat, does that mean they are lazy? I've known plenty of overweight people who are, indeed, very hard workers. Are housewives fat and lazy?

My mother was a housewife as far back as I can remember. Never once was she fat or lazy. She was always very slender and busied herself non-stop with cleaning, yardwork, balancing the family budget, and keeping herself up-to-date on current events and new products, on top of taking care of us and listening to our whinings and woes well up into our 30's and 40's. Pardon if it sounds like a digression. I just hope, for the sake of Melaleuca, that said participant is not, was not, nor will ever be a Melaleuca sales rep.

I have been an independent contractor with Melaleuca for over 12 years. I can assure anyone (including the person filing this complaint) that Melaleuca would not have been in business for 23 years with continued growth and debt-free if this company was not above reproach. I can assure you that everything is explained regarding the monthly commitment (order) from Melaleuca before anything is signed. Your "friend" even if he was new to the company would have had to go through an experienced Melaleuca agent to finalize the preferred membership.

Melaleuca is a wellness company with over 400 products. All the cleaning products are in a concentrated form, so when you spend $12.00 for this product and compare it to a similar product purchased at Walmart. The Melaleuca product will save you money, since it will last longer. Also, Melaleuca products are toxic free, unlike anything you would purchase at a grocery store or major retailer.

I am sorry for your misunderstanding of the legal documents that your husband signed, but Melaleuca also states right up front that anyone can cancel the membership in writing by the 25th of each month to stop shipments. Also, anything used within the last 60 days can be returned (empty bottle policy) with no questions and a full refund will be used.

Can you get that from your local grocery store or retailer? I think not!

I have been an independent contractor with Melaleuca for over 12 years. I can assure anyone (including the person filing this complaint) that Melaleuca would not have been in business for 23 years with continued growth and debt-free if this company was not above reproach. I can assure you that everything is explained regarding the monthly commitment (order) from Melaleuca before anything is signed. Your "friend" even if he was new to the company would have had to go through an experienced Melaleuca agent to finalize the preferred membership.

Melaleuca is a wellness company with over 400 products. All the cleaning products are in a concentrated form, so when you spend $12.00 for this product and compare it to a similar product purchased at Walmart. The Melaleuca product will save you money, since it will last longer. Also, Melaleuca products are toxic free, unlike anything you would purchase at a grocery store or major retailer.

I am sorry for your misunderstanding of the legal documents that your husband signed, but Melaleuca also states right up front that anyone can cancel the membership in writing by the 25th of each month to stop shipments. Also, anything used within the last 60 days can be returned (empty bottle policy) with no questions and a full refund will be used.

Can you get that from your local grocery store or retailer? I think not!

I have been an independent contractor with Melaleuca for over 12 years. I can assure anyone (including the person filing this complaint) that Melaleuca would not have been in business for 23 years with continued growth and debt-free if this company was not above reproach. I can assure you that everything is explained regarding the monthly commitment (order) from Melaleuca before anything is signed. Your "friend" even if he was new to the company would have had to go through an experienced Melaleuca agent to finalize the preferred membership.

Melaleuca is a wellness company with over 400 products. All the cleaning products are in a concentrated form, so when you spend $12.00 for this product and compare it to a similar product purchased at Walmart. The Melaleuca product will save you money, since it will last longer. Also, Melaleuca products are toxic free, unlike anything you would purchase at a grocery store or major retailer.

I am sorry for your misunderstanding of the legal documents that your husband signed, but Melaleuca also states right up front that anyone can cancel the membership in writing by the 25th of each month to stop shipments. Also, anything used within the last 60 days can be returned (empty bottle policy) with no questions and a full refund will be used.

Can you get that from your local grocery store or retailer? I think not!

I have been an independent contractor with Melaleuca for over 12 years. I can assure anyone (including the person filing this complaint) that Melaleuca would not have been in business for 23 years with continued growth and debt-free if this company was not above reproach. I can assure you that everything is explained regarding the monthly commitment (order) from Melaleuca before anything is signed. Your "friend" even if he was new to the company would have had to go through an experienced Melaleuca agent to finalize the preferred membership.

Melaleuca is a wellness company with over 400 products. All the cleaning products are in a concentrated form, so when you spend $12.00 for this product and compare it to a similar product purchased at Walmart. The Melaleuca product will save you money, since it will last longer. Also, Melaleuca products are toxic free, unlike anything you would purchase at a grocery store or major retailer.

I am sorry for your misunderstanding of the legal documents that your husband signed, but Melaleuca also states right up front that anyone can cancel the membership in writing by the 25th of each month to stop shipments. Also, anything used within the last 60 days can be returned (empty bottle policy) with no questions and a full refund will be used.

Can you get that from your local grocery store or retailer? I think not!

I have belonged to Melaleuca for about 5 years now and it is not a rip off by any means. Everything was very clear up front as to what you would be required to do. And yes, its a little more expensive, but you are not running out of things nearly as often and they are all natural. Its worth it for the fact that you are not loading your house and body up with chemicals. Their vitamins are unbelievable and their cleaning supplised are remarkable. If you mix certain products together you can make other things, such as a bug spray....all natural! Its an amazing product and I wouldn't change anything. My mother has MS and they are saying its probably from cleaning homes, which she did for a living for 10 years. I dont want to put the chemicals in my house and chance my health, or my family/animals' health.

I am a member of the MOM Team and work for Melaleuca and I am so glad. Here's why:

1. I love the products
2. I don't have to worry about accidental poisoning of the 3 year old
3. I don't use any allergy meds any more
4. I have enough friends that like the products, that they actually make up my whole order some months or make my order so large that I get $20-30 dollars in free products of my choosing EVERY month

Am I rich from this..no. The economy is such at this time, that doing this business is tough. And I also realized that this kind of home business is not for me

Am I making money.YES! YES! YES! I have been able to take off so much money off my income tax (+++ $5000) because I have a home business (part of the rent, a/c, water, electric , gasoline, each melaleuca monthly order..etc) that last year I got an a extra $2000 back in my IRS refund. ..Geez what an easy way to make money..

I just became a preferred customer last month. I've decided to give the business opportunity a try. I was shocked to see all the negative comments here. I've come across prior customers who would sign up again. They have moved or canceled their account for one reason or another.

I tried the mela-gel on my three year old daughter's itchy bug bite. She was crying and after I put it on the bug bite, she said, "Mommy it's better" and she stopped crying. You can't buy advertisement like that. The shampoo is great and smells good. I literally use only two drops that are about the size of a couple of chocolate chips. lol I think the shampoo will last about 3 or 4 months and I wash my hair every day.

Melaleuca has given a lot of people an opportunity to change their life by improving their financial situation. I was sold on it when I read their printed material that the company stresses living debt free. There is even a mortgage burning party they promote. Physical Wellness, Financial Wellness, Environmental Wellness and Personal Wellness are the the companies core values. How can you knock that?

Lots of people are spending $30.00 + on other brands of shampoo and making someone out there extremely rich. Switching stores and putting money into the hands of a end level consumers is not a scam or misleading. The cancellation process, the back-up order, as well as the monthly 35 points requirement was explained to me to the point of understanding at the time I signed up. Personally I spend over $80.00 for these items in any given month.

My enroller is a mom just like me, trying to make some money, stay in the home and raise her children. I think that is what Melaleuca stands for.

Brandy

I've never heard of this Company before, but after reading how all the people associated with it shredded the poor victim to pieces, I am convinced now that is a scam. If they were decent people, they would just return her money and be done with it.

Emily & Company;

I was searching information on Melaleuca because I too saw an ad in my local newspaper via the net about the company. The pitch was echoed several times in the presentation offered me I read in this venue, ie: "no sales, no BIG investment, no inventory, etc.," I am so glad that I found this forum because your complaints are echoed in several other reports submitted on this site.

It is truly scary to think that in a time when you are down, such as myself with having recently lost my employment, that you can fall prey to people who would only want to stretch sticky fingers into your bank account and take money you really do not have, because it is NOT disposable income (is it ever?), without recourse to them stopping the charges on a timely basis.

I think it's also awful that they would not refund any shipping charges for items you did not order after your first contact to them to cancel the "membership".

For those of you for whom the program is working, I am happy for you in all sincerity. However, some of your attacks on Emily, whether she was expressing herself emotionally or not, have regrettably given me an even worse impression of this company and it's not the kind of business that I wish to be in partnership with.

Thank you all for your very revealing information about Melaleuca. It has helped me come to a decision that I believe will honestly save me money, time and heartache in the long run.

Be well, all.

First of all Melaleuca has an incredible shipping rate of $3.90 per order, regardless of weight, plus 5% of your subtotal, which if you compare that to other shipping rates, usually always based on weight and the price of the gas you save by not having to get in your car and drive, you are actually saving quite a bit.

Also, correction, Melaleuca is not an MLM (multi-level marketing) Company. They are consumer direct marketing. There are several differences between the two. One being that we do not sell any products, we are not required to carry any inventory. One big difference is that usually the only one who every makes any money in an MLM is the one in charge, whereas with Melaleuca we all have the same opportunity to make just as much money as the next guy. If anyone would like this explained further please feel free to contact me.

I am really sorry that you had such an unfortunate experience with Melaleuca. They really are such an amazing company.

Lastly I would like to say that this Suave shampoo you are so happy with is actually made carcinogens (cancer causing agents), so if you ask me, I would much rather spend the $12 and save myself the medical bills, not to mention the sorrow and grief and pain and suffering that would accompany the cancer.

Good luck in the future!

Yet another ticked off person slamming Melaleuca. I am offering my personal comment at a customer of Melaleuca. I was formely involved in building a business with them through the Stayin Home and Lovin It team. The teams are built for training, support, contests, etc. Stayin Home and Lovin It is the team name for the Melaleuca people I worked with and joined under. I found Melaleuca myself after having been a customer years ago. I lost track of my enroller years ago, and had been looking for Mela becuase I missed their products. Their products are excellent, environmentally conscious, most are CONCENTRATED so it costs less PER USE, not per bottle. And yes, you can probably get stuff cheaper at Walmart (as you mentinoed, Suave shampoo at $1 per bottle). But have you ever seen what Suave can do to your hair after yeras of use?

Melaleuca's products are heavily researched, well formulated (some with proprietary formulas), and most are concentrated so you use LESS. this too helps with the protection of the environment, because less waste is put out into the landfill. Melaleuca's CEO, Frank Vandersloot, is highly recognized. The company has excellent status with the BBB also. Melaleuca is a LEGITIMATE home based business opportunity as well. It's just asking people (friends and family particularly) to try shopping through Mela as opposed to where they normally buy their stuff. I find I save money by getting things shipped because it keeps me out of the grocery store a bit more, and when I go there, I usually pick up other things I don't need, which costs more money. They also have opportunities to save through phone services, internet, credit card, home mortgage, car buying, money back for free products if you order earyl in the month, money back in free products if you use the Mela credit card, money back if you shop online in Mela's Marketplace which offers rebates on purchases at stores online such as Target, Barnes and Noble, etc etc.

Melaleuca has grown continually through the economic ups and downs. They are an ethical, strong, recognized and legitimate company which offers an opportunity for a home based business if you want it. This opportunity, along with any other home based business opportunity, does not mean you'll get rich quick with no effort. Nothing will give you that!

One thing I noticed was that your husband got you into this deal, and it appears he was hasty about it. don't slam the company because your husband didn't read all the details of enrollment. Don't slam the company because you didn't read the policies and procedures information they send when you enroll which CLEARLY indiate that you can drop ANY TIME (which I've personally done before and it worked well), and just have to notify them in writing (signed letter to them) prior to the 25th of the month, and you'll get one month's order beyond that, then no more. I've done this, and know that it works to cancel, and I did get my money back. I was also free to re-enroll later than I so missed the products that I HAD to have them back in my home again. They have a soap that I just can't do without, and believe it or not, it's the soap that made me find them again! I love all of their products, though. They are some of the best I've ever used. In particular though, the cleaning products and meal bars are some of my favorites. There's also an opportunity to join a weight loss site - Vitality for Life - and you can win contests and money if you are a winner in the "weight loss race".

Melaleuca is excellent, and I am very very picky about companies I endorse, believe me. I do NOT endorse companies like SMC which are legitimate, but offer cheap crappy merchandise that you can profit on, only because it's so cheap and cheesey that SMC got it cheap from China in mass shipments. I'd be embarrassed to build a business with a company selling cheap cheesey products that fall apart.

Check out your facts before slamming companies on line. You are making people turn away from a company that may have been just what they are looking for. If you want to chat about this or contact me, or if anyone that reads this wants more information, I can be reached at nant43@hotmail.com. Be sure you put Melaleuca in the subject line, because I don't open emails unless they are familiar.

I support Melaleuca, and feel bad that some people who enroll just arean't paying close enough attention to the details, and may be looking for something that will bring in money while they do very little effort on their part. I fully suggest that whenever you enroll in a home based business opportunity, research it heavily, look into ALL the details, don't get so excited about being nice to someone or about getting going with a home business that you don't take the time to read the fine print, the policies and procedures, etc etc.

I hope you reconsider your Melaleuca opinions. If not, that's okay with me. It's your loss, not mine. Next time though, I'd ask my husband to read read read and then take some time to think about things before signing and enrolling in ANYTHING. I'm sure you've probably read him the riot act about this already though...I would. If you want more info, or wnat to discuss, feel safe contacting me...I won't push you to enroll under me or anything. I'm not involved in the business building side of it right now - I'm just a customer. I'm with them because I love their products, not because I think I'll get rich quick. I know if I put the time and effort into telling people about Mela, I would get customers and referrals and would start making some bigger bucks with them....because they are so good. But I have started a Life Coaching business and don't have the time for another business. Before you close the door on Melaleuca's opportunity, go to their website (melaleuca.com) and research a bit further. This is a great opportunity, and a great company. Best wishes for your success.

Call your bank immediately to cancel the debit card. They can reissue you a new card. If your husband's name is not on the card, he can't use it. That was illegal for them to use the card. Cancel the debit card first and foremost. File a complaint through your bank, you'd be surprised how helpful they can be. I hope this helps!

Also, send back product "certified" so that they have sign for it. Then you have a receipt that proves you sent back the box.

Call your bank immediately to cancel the debit card. They can reissue you a new card. If your husband's name is not on the card, he can't use it. That was illegal for them to use the card. Cancel the debit card first and foremost. File a complaint through your bank, you'd be surprised how helpful they can be. I hope this helps!

No its not the companies fault that u were misled it was ur friend, the rules on the stuff u r complaining r documented in the kit u should have recieved so the next time u want to help any friend or relative do ur homework on the company 1st, i have heard way too many stories like this on other companies & when the smoke has cleared it wasnt the company at, it was bad judgement on ur part but i'll bet that the mistake u made will never make here & u saying i made a mistake.

Every single person that has offered a rebuttal of some kind, makes a good point one way or another. However, at the end of the day, "It is what it is"! Convincing someone to all of a sudden taks vitamins, supplements, and juices is one thing. The one thing All of us have in common, without the involvement of any MLM, NETWORK MARKETING, DM, CDM, ETC..., is that we will ALL purchase some type of bar soap, laundry soap, dish soap, tooth paste, and cleaning products for our home. These products are a necessity. They always have been even before any of these marketing companies ever existed.

Most of us over our lifetime (as we do at no regard or unconsciously) will share/refer our good experiences (shopping at a particular store or using a particular type of product) with persons A B C D E F & G. Some of those people will not have the same similar experience that we enjoyed. Some of those people (A D & F) will and because of their good experience will share/refer as well.

Think about this, have you ever referred/shared a store or product that was referred/shared with you. You probably did. What you don't know and probably didn't care, is how many people that person referred/shared with. Referring and sharing is a natural thing. None of us ever thought anything about it.

The only difference today is a company like Melalueca has said, (just like the commercials on TV do only they save millions of dollars and use word of mouth) come to my store and use my products. They are safer and better for you. Some people will believe it and like it, some people won't. If you believe it and like it, you'll share/refer. With Melalueca, they will pay you about $3.50 per referral through 7 generations of people (you refer A, A refers B, B refers C and so on through 7 people). Our response is different because we know we're being compensated for it.

These are all facts. It's not difficult to find wrong something. We all have a choice. We can accept compensation for something we've all been doing for free or we cannot.

Melaleuca is not an MLM.

Your husband commited credit card fraud

Your friend was horribly misleading, Melaleuca did not ruin a good friendship. The situation pointed out that he was not a friend to begin with!

Your letter does need to be signed because they are a reputable company and not just anyone can cancel a membership that you want. It does not need to be mailed. A signed, faxed letter is enough.

Please, pick your friends, don't let yourself be pressured into buying girl scout cookies and be happy that all you lost out on is your shipping when I am sure you could have gotten yourself into much more of a mess with a different company.

I am sure Melaleuca would prefer their customers that stick up for them to be more diplomatic but sometimes there is no polite way to say it. Stay home or you may hurt yourself.

Wow! This thread has been going on for years!

I have never heard of Melaleuca before this, but am interested now. Luckily I have not fallen for any MLM scams or Pyramid Schemes, though I have come close. Thanks to websites like this one!

Anyways...

Melaleuca kind of sounds like Avon or Mary Kay. There are many other similar buisnesses as well..... The Body Shop has independant sales people too. You can even attend "Passion Parties" to buy sex toys and accessories from an independant sales person. I have friends and family who sell these things. Yeah, it sucks sometimes that I can't always afford to buy from them when I want something, but they aren't annoying me at every wedding or party or whatever...

It seems like the difference with Melaleuca is that the customers can also benefit from not only the product that they enjoy, but from telling other people about it..... eccetera.

I guess I don't understand exactly how $$ is distributed or anything, but it sure does have me curious.

Also, wow. Emily seems very pissy. At first I felt bad for her, but then after reading a bit.....WHEW!! She just strikes out at everyone! Even the people trying to help... yikes.

And really, NO ONE should shop at Wal-Mart. I guess unless you're okay with buying clothes that some little kid helped make. Why else would Wal-Mart REFUSE to sign a document stating that they would not get products from places that use child labor?

Okay. Well there's my 2cents. I felt like I needed to say something after reading so much!

toodles.

Hello everyone,

Like many on here, I have been considering joining the company as a consumer and essentially a membership-recruiter. I am adamant about doing research before blindly walking into anything, and have spent hours reading threads on here about Melaleuca (I'll admit I couldn't get to the very end). While I understand that there will always be positives and negatives to working in any organization, there is something that I realized that I think was the key in my decision not to join this business.

They are adamant in telling you that "you do not sell!". This is simply UNTRUE. You are selling their business model, you are selling memberships, you are in fact selling! It's just a different type of selling than telling them about a specific, individual product. Instead you are telling them about many products and the intangible sell of the business model.

To me that was deceptive and a way of 'dancing around' the sales stigma, which makes me not trust the company. Essentially being lied to in the beginning is not a good way to gain my confidence. I think that is a fair statement.

I also was told that most of the marketing (all if you want) can be done online and you don't need to approach family and friends. However, it is clear from many, many comments on here that you are highly encouraged to sell this to your personal contacts. I would not want to annoy my friends and family with pushing this on them and I was disappointed to see that this is a common practice with this business.

I have heard many people on here defend Melaleuca by saying that it's unfortunate that their recruiter didn't do things as they should have been done or say what needed to be said. I'd like to ask, when did companies not become responsible for their employees success or failure?? In a 'regular' company, wouldn't you be representing the company you work for? Shouldn't Melaleuca be responsible for their employees? This is a problem I see with this company model....they will let almost anyone become a representative. In most organizations you have to interview and they select you if they think you have the necessary skills for that organization. Pretty hard to trust that the level of service by reps will be consistent and reliable, despite whatever 'training' is given.

I am debating whether to join just as a customer and may try the products, as I do believe in environment-friendly and health-conscious, non-toxic product use, but I intend to price compare to other similar products out there and see if I will actually save before joining.

Whatever you do, please be aware that you WILL be selling if you join this company, and if you are comfortable with that and with exhausting all your 'contacts' in working for them, I wish the best of luck to you.

Sincerely,
L.

I understand you because I "so-called" had the same thing happen to me. When I found out they were taking money out of my account without my permission I called my bank and had them change my check card number and pin. I wasnt going to sit here and have this company take money from me that I NEED to get things for my kids. I dont work and my mom help me mostly with stuff that we need until I finish school. But I think you shouldve changed your account number and stuff with your bank and tell them the reason you want to change it.

I also had a similar problem to Emily's. I signed up and understood everything under the contract. I will say that I thought their products were good, but the problem is the required 35 points a month it way too much. I have a family of five and I ended up with so much product laying around because it lasts so long which is good but when you have to order such a large quantity it just ends up sitting around.

With that being said when I decided to cancel I sent my letter in as it states in the contract and I was told twice that they never received it. The third time I sent it certified and was notified that they received it, yet the representative on the phone tried to tell me they didn't. I continued getting charged for back up orders.

Just an FYI for anyone this has happened to go to your bank they will fight it for mine did. I find it ironic as soon as my bank got involved and had their fraud department call melaleuca it all got resolved very quickly. I agree with a lot of people that said it is just like an MLM I think it is, I don't think that means they are a bad company, but when they tell you that it is easy to cancel that is a lie they make it very difficult and that makes getting involved with them not worth the trouble.

By the way I am not bashing the representatives here they were always friendly and I believe they are doing their jobs to the best of their abilities.

I also had a similar problem to Emily's. I signed up and understood everything under the contract. I will say that I thought their products were good, but the problem is the required 35 points a month it way too much. I have a family of five and I ended up with so much product laying around because it lasts so long which is good but when you have to order such a large quantity it just ends up sitting around.

With that being said when I decided to cancel I sent my letter in as it states in the contract and I was told twice that they never received it. The third time I sent it certified and was notified that they received it, yet the representative on the phone tried to tell me they didn't. I continued getting charged for back up orders.

Just an FYI for anyone this has happened to go to your bank they will fight it for mine did. I find it ironic as soon as my bank got involved and had their fraud department call melaleuca it all got resolved very quickly. I agree with a lot of people that said it is just like an MLM I think it is, I don't think that means they are a bad company, but when they tell you that it is easy to cancel that is a lie they make it very difficult and that makes getting involved with them not worth the trouble.

By the way I am not bashing the representatives here they were always friendly and I believe they are doing their jobs to the best of their abilities.

I also had a similar problem to Emily's. I signed up and understood everything under the contract. I will say that I thought their products were good, but the problem is the required 35 points a month it way too much. I have a family of five and I ended up with so much product laying around because it lasts so long which is good but when you have to order such a large quantity it just ends up sitting around.

With that being said when I decided to cancel I sent my letter in as it states in the contract and I was told twice that they never received it. The third time I sent it certified and was notified that they received it, yet the representative on the phone tried to tell me they didn't. I continued getting charged for back up orders.

Just an FYI for anyone this has happened to go to your bank they will fight it for mine did. I find it ironic as soon as my bank got involved and had their fraud department call melaleuca it all got resolved very quickly. I agree with a lot of people that said it is just like an MLM I think it is, I don't think that means they are a bad company, but when they tell you that it is easy to cancel that is a lie they make it very difficult and that makes getting involved with them not worth the trouble.

By the way I am not bashing the representatives here they were always friendly and I believe they are doing their jobs to the best of their abilities.

Wow. I truely, honestly do not know how I ended up sitting here for almost 2 hours, but at last I am done. I am truely amazed at all of the educated comments, suggestions, testimonials and concerns that I have spent a good part of my night looking over. I have to say that aside from all of the people bashing that has gone on in this thread it has been a worthwhile experience.

I currently work for Melaleuca, The Wellness Company at the home office in Idaho Falls, Idaho. I myself do not have a monthly commitment that I have to meet to take advantage of Melaleuca's exeptional products but I do have one commitment to Melaleuca. The commitment that I have made is to provide our customers with the best customer service there is to offer. That goes right along with Melaleuca's mission statement which is "Enhancing lives of those we touch by helping people reach their goals."

Melaleuca is a company that provides exceptional products at reasonable prices along with the oppertunity to make a living enhancing others lives. Does that mean that there are not people out there who make mistakes? No, it doesn't. Does that mean that there are not people out there who make decisions that put their own best interest in front of someone else's? No, it doesn't mean that either. Anyone can sit here and say that there is something wrong with basically anything that goes on in this world. Any company, any organization is going to have its critics. Does that really mean that everything is bad? No, it doesn't.

I have worked for Melaleuca for over 4 years now and I absolutely love my job more than any other I could ever even imagine. Although I am what some may call one of the "little people" in the big scheme of things, there is never a time that I feel as if I am not appreciated or that I don't have a huge impact on the success of this company. Without going on for days about what an amazing company Melaleuca is to work for I must simply say that in my opinion, there is not a President and CEO of a company out there that takes care of his/her employees better, offers as many career oppertunities as, or is as family oriented as Frank Vandersloot and Melaleuca.

I am only 24 years old and already have my dream job with endless possiblities of career paths that I could choose from if I felt so inclined to. I have never heard of another company that has such good morals and such a passion for it's customers, employees and anyone that they come in contact with. I, in the past, have been one who struggles with change. Working for Melaleuca has completely rid me of that characteristic. Melaleuca is the most conisistent change (for lack of a better phrase) that I have ever experienced. And that means a lot being a mother of 3 small children. And I absolutely LOVE it.

The company that I work for strives on a daily basis to find new products, new procedures, new approaches to everything in order to please our customers and enhance their lives. I can't tell you how many times our procedures have changed over the last few years because of the comments and suggestions of our customers. It has been stressful at times but it has always been worth it. It has always had a positive outcome in the end. Whether it be positive because it worked and everyone was all the better for it, or because it did not and we in turn learned a better way to take care of our customers.

Every company has it's own agenda. Every company has to make money to be successful. But Melaleuca understands that honesty, integrity, and a passion for it's customers happiness and well-being is the only true way to claim a successful business. I am not in any way shape or form trying to downgrade any negative experience that anyone has claimed to have had with Melaleuca. Nor am I trying to deny that anyone affiliated with Melaleuca has ever made a mistake.

My greatest wish for the sake of the amazing company that I work for and for all of the honest, hard working people in this world that may ever have the chance to be introduced to Melaleuca is that everyone that has or will represent Melaleuca could have the morals and passion of our President and CEO, Frank Vandersloot. If that were the case, there would be no mis-representation of this company. In a business where the people that work for or represent a company become an "employee" based on a referral program and every one cannot just be hand-picked from a select group of honest and trust-worthy people, there are inevitably going to be bad apples that get mixed in with the bunch. That is an unavoidable fact. These are the people who create a bad reputation for a company who's morals are better than most of the would be "misinformed" may possibly be.

Because we cannot personally be in the room with each Marketing Executive as they are presenting the products and possibly the buisness at any given time, there is no way that we can guarantee that every piece of information given about the company is accurate and complete. The one security that we CAN take, we DO take. In order to sign up as a preffered customer with Melaleuca, a person is required to fill out and submit what's called a "Customer Membership Agreement Form" and sign it stating that they have read over and agree to all of the terms and conditions of being a preferred customer. Everything that you would need to or want to know about what kind of a commitment you are making by signing this agreement is in perfectly legible text. There is no small print or funny business of any kind trying to hide the responsibilities of being a preferred customer.

In order to be a preferred customer which includes but is not limited to an automatic 30-40% discount on all of the Melaleuca products which there are over 400 of; participation in exceptional services that Melaleuca offers including local, long distance, mobile and voice over internet phone services, internet connections, Heath Savings Cards, Travel Savings Cards, No fee Visa and Mastercards and assistance in purchasing a new home or vehicle to name just a few.

My favorite service is vitalityforlife.com where you can start on your path to being the most healthy happy person you can be. Along with this you also earn what used to be called "Advantage Dollars" and is now called "Loyalty Shopping Dollars" every time you place your order early on in the month.

Currently, after a customer has ben with us for 5 months, 10% of all of the product points that are ordered before the 16th of each month gets put in the customers loyalty shopping dollar account. Because we are so confident in the products effective Nov 1st, when you sign up to be a preferred customer you get $20 (US) in Loyalty Shopping $'s right off of the bat EVERY month for the 1st 5 months totaling $100 worth of free product in addition to your monthly order.

After the 5 months, some use it each time they have aquired the required min of $20 for US or $24 for CND and I have seen others who save it up and use it to pay for Chrismas! The only requirement for anyone to take advantage of these exceptional benefits is to make the commitment to order product totaling a minimum of 35 product points each calendar month. This will end up costing roughly $50-$70 each month including shipping and tax. This ensures that there will always be enough product filtered thoughout the organization to keep the business running. And there is a large percentage of customers that order well over the required 35 points each and every month because it is not an obligation to them, it is a necessity.

Believe it or not, it will SAVE YOU MONEY when considering that the other option would be to purchase products from the store that in my opinion and that of MANY, MANY others are in no way comparable to the quality, value and safety of the Melaleuca products. MANY if not MOST of which do not contain Melaleuca Oil for any who are not fond of the fragrance. If the order is not placed for whatever reason throughout the month, we would send out an automatic shipment that the customer PRE-SELECTED products for to keep up their preferred membership.

Some customers choose to ONLY recieve the auto shipment every month instead of calling in every month or going on-line. Not only that, but the information on how to close your preferred membership at any time and completely void out your commitment to order product is typed in bold lettering not even a quarter inch underneath where you would sign it because we fully believe that an informed customer is a happy customer. We want each and every customer to be fully in charge of anything and everything that goes on with their Melaleuca account at any given time.

Some don't understand why we require a written letter with a signature to close out the agreement that has been made for us to get product into your home. This again is because we want you, the customer to always be fully in control of your Melaleuca account. We do not require a signature to join and to close your account to make things difficult for anyone. It is done because that is the security that we need to take in order to have the most informed customer base that a company could hope to have. This is to insure that there are no "unauthorized" charges made to anyone's personal banking account or credit card or any "unauthorized/not requested" orders sent to someone's home.

I find it amusing that I am on a site called "ripoffreport.com" writing in reference to the most legitimate company I've ever heard of. As passionate as some on this board are about MLM companies and pyramid schemes I'm almost afraid to even bring up the fact that Melaleuca is NOT a pyramid scheme. Marketing Executives do not make money off of the people that are enrolled underneath them, they make money off of the products that are filtered throughout the entire organization. And products should only be purchased by those who want and need them in thier homes.

Melaleuca's Marketing Executives work hard to earn their money. And believe it or not, a rough estimate would say that only about 30% percent of Melaleuca's customers choose to actually build the buisness. The majority of the customers are customers because they love the products. The basis of this company is it's phenominal products and there is absolutely no question in the world that Melaleuca would not be anywhere near as successful as it is today if it weren't for the exceptional products. The products sell themselves, bottom line.

I use 40-80 product points worth of products in my home and would never even consider for a second going back to the products that I purchased before Melaleuca. My entire family is all the better for it. And don't think for a second that there have not been continual changes to things, like the compensation plan, that help safeguard any misinformation by requiring new enrollees to have placed a certain amount of orders on their own and been active for a certain amount of months before any money is paid out to insure that does not positively affect Marketing Executives to push someone into something that they do not understand so that they can get a monitary bonus before the customer realizes what they have commited to and cancel their membership.

I am just now realizing how long this post is and how I have gone on and on for so long. I'm sure it is obvious right now that the point that I am trying to get at is that Melaleuca is a great company. I have worked in many different departments within the company including speaking with the customers and supervising and training the associates who speak with the customers.

I can tell you for a fact that Melaleuca is a "yes" company. All customer service representatives are empowered to use their own judgement and everything isn't always all about "policy". There are guidlines that we like to follow, but if a gut instinct says "we need to take care of this customer" then that is what is going to be done. Not every person hired can always be "Mr. 100%" but we sure do try.

To anyone who has ever had a bad experience with Melaleluca, my heart goes out to you. It breaks my heart that anyone could have ever been hurt by anyone affiliated with the company but also breaks my heart more to know that because of that experience, you may not have the chance to see what Melaleuca is really all about.

It is all about educating yourself. Do the research, be in charge. See for yourself how Melaleuca can enhance your life and the lives of those around you. If I had another 5 hours I would give you examples of others and my own testimonials of the products that would blow your mind. I never guessed that I would have seen or heard of so many lives changed for the better at my age. But it is true, and if you don't agree we will always honor our 60 day satisfaction guarantee. :)

As a disclaimer I must say that there is not a single soul who has requested, suggested or even has a clue that I have submitted this very long pro-Melaleuca speech. It is all 100% me and I thank you for letting me share with you how I truely feel about the company that I work for.

In this situation, any time someone debits your bank account without YOUR permission. Just call your bank and tell them that the debit in question is fraud. With some banks you have to pay a small fee, and they will block the establishment from charging your card in the future. Some banks also reverse charges, or at least attempt to contact the establishment to get you reimbursed. Hope this helps anyone who has repeat charges.

I would also like to add:

"Multi-level marketing businesses function by enrolling unsalaried salespeople (also called by MLM companies as Distributors, Independent Business Owners, Franchise Owners, Sales Consultants, Consultants, Independant Agents, etc...) to sell products and meanwhile earn additional sales commissions based on the sales of people enrolled into their downline, an organization of people that includes direct recruits, recruits' recruits and so on. This arrangement is similar to franchise arrangements where royalties are paid from the sales of individual franchise operations to the franchisor as well as to an area or region manager. There can be multiple levels of people receiving royalties from one person's sales."

Acutal definition of MLM = Melaluca *Smell-a-puka*

You've said that this ISN'T multi-level marketing. Call it what you want. However, ask yourself what you're doing for the company and what the company has done for you. Don't form your opinion on what you've been told it WILL do for you, but only on what it HAS done. These are a few things that you should consider:

- you had to pay to join the company
- you have to obtain a certain level of sales to earn any money
- if you are not able to obtain anyone in your downline, you make nothing
- the business isn't paying for advertising like a normal company would
- instead, you are paying the company to advertise for them

I have done many of these "non-MLM companies". I have also, since, learned that they don't work. Yes, you paid to join the company. Yes, they tell you that you have a huge opportunity to make money. However, in reality, most people want to have a regular job. Most people want to have a steady income. Most people have to worry about paying bills or supporting their families and can't spare the initial investment of money or time to be able to join, which will make it increasingly difficult for you to get more people "in".

In order to get people in your downline, you will find yourself constantly talking to your friends and family about the "opportunity". The truth is, they don't want to get into the company, but they love you and want to support you. If you drag them in too, they become disappointed with it and hold their resentment against you. You will feel desperate to get people "under" you and to make some means through your investment so the company/product will become all that you talk about. You'll find yourself talking to waitresses, your checker at the grocery store, anyone that will listen (or that has to for a brief moment). People will become annoyed with the fact that this company has consumed you and won't want to be around you to have to hear you talk about it. I'm not saying any of this out of resentment. I learned my lesson already. I've seen many other people go through the same thing and it not only hurts them financially, but it hurts their relationships too. It's not worth it.

Since you already put money into it, you don't want to admit that you're wrong. Since you've already told people that it's going to change your life and that it can change theirs too, you don't want to admit that you're wrong. It sucks anytime that you have to tell yourself that you messed up or made a wrong decision. But those wrong decisions aren't really wrong. We all make them and they help us to call the shots more clearly in the future. You may even be angry as you read this, but it's only because the truth hurts. If your anger keeps you from clearly analyzing the situation, that's okay. If you don't want to believe this now, time will force you to.

Whether the company is a pyramid, a geometric shape or would like to completely disassociate themselves with geometric principles, they are USING YOU in order to sell their products. They don't care if YOU make it, you're just another number to them.

Hey people, heard of blaming the victim. Hey she got raped, serves her right for wearing that shirt and talking to that guy. Gee, too bad he got his rolex ripped off, but that's what he gets for walking in the park at night. This is sooooooooo condecending.

Look when someone rips you off, they rip you off---period. How many old people are ripped off every day from someone making promises to them and because they are looking "trustworthy" the person signs the paper. Many of us do not get jaded and extra distrusting until someone screws us over. And they were screwed. When you sign a contract at the mortgage office the broker asks you to either read it or have your lawyer read it, that is if they are ethical. Which brings us back to the beginning now doesn't it?

Charging someones card automatically should be illegal!!! Period. And anyone who is asking you to sign a contract with them should either ask you to read it, have a lawyer look at it, and/or explain its terms to you implicitly.
The more patronization you all do to all of us who were victims or near victims, the less you are trusted.

P.S. When you are a customer service rep----a good one--you let people yell at you and you validate how they feel. Take a good course in communicaton skills. It just my help you with your MLM business.

This is for everyone who wants to do nothing but complain about Melaleuca. We all make our own choices in everything we do. If you choose to try Melaleuca and like the products, then fine. But, if you don't, then you have a choice on whether you want your money back. You can choose to send the empty containers back and get a total refund (will Walmart or Kmart do that) or you don't.

Life is nothing but choices. You can choose to buy products with very harmful chemicals in them or you can use natural products. As for me and my family, we love the products. I know that I can breathe alot better now when I clean my home. My kids are doing alot better also.

Every single company in this world has complaints against them. Like I said, you can complain if you want, but, don't you think you have better things to do than waste your time on something you haven't even given a chance. This company would not be in business for 22 years if they were a fraud. All I can say is get over it and move on with your life (chemical free or not).

Hi this is Susanne I have been with Melaleuca for about 4 and half years. We are not Multi Level Marketing! We are consumer Direct Marketing! My experience with this company has always been a very positive one. Nobody in this world is perfect and no company is either. So I would not try to tell anyone this company is Perfect! I can absolutely tell you that Melaleuca is a company who cares. And I have never seen that in a company before. If you go to them and say I disagree with a decision you have made they are going to take it into consideration and I have seen them act upon it many times! Each policy they have has a very good reason behind it. They always give everyone a chance to explain their situation and make changes to go with policies! They will give everyone the benefit of a doubt! Anyone can do this business but not everyone will have the desire to put the work and effort into it that it needs. Or some may try to cut corners and get where they want to go in a quicker maybe less ethical way! Being a very ethical company we do not have a tolerance for any of that! We have been raised in a society that is negative. To believe in yourself and reach for your goals is definitely out of the norm. I would suggest to anyone reading this. Check us out! Melaleuca is with the Better Business Bureau. We were inducted into the BBB Hall of fame in 2005! We are with the US Chamber of Commerce and we have received numerous awards! Our Mission statement is Enhancing The Lives Of Those We Touch By Helping People Reach Their Goals. This is an unlimited income opportunity! And No one can loose anything! You can not say that about other companies! If you are sick to death of your situation and want to do something about it! Let us know and we will help you!!
Susanne Hurr
Executive Director II
susannehurr@sbcglobal.net

Emily I too like you and your husband have been ripped of my Melaleuca. I feel that maybe one or two products out of everything they have are worth even having. The only issue I had with what you said is that direct selling is in the same boat as MLM. We are in a sense really similar but it is truly dependant on the company you represent. I am with a company that I have a choice were there to or not recruit it is not a necessary in the company. For a career with the company yes you do need to recruit but you could easily reach Presidental status with as little as 10 recruits. The company is based on sales versus recruits when it comes to promoting. Our company carries products that can be found in stores but people prefer to have a party to purchase our products. My suggestion as anyone who is looking to join any company like this if they say that they are not MLM out of the gate they are, If they say you can sit at home in your PJ's and make $10,000 a week huge red flag. Any profession no matter what it is requires work and devotion. MLM typically you will not produce sucess unless you are in the ground floor which is a huge risk. In turn look for something legitimate before joining a company always research it and if you can't find what you are looking for a dead set on working from home simply cruise the classifieds for a telecommute position but always be sure to interview the company because there are scams out the on work at home postions. Do a google search with the name of the company with (scam) next to it? If the company has had any fishy activity it will come up. So in short before joining any co. not matter what it is do your research don't be afraid to ask questions and always be informed and educated before joining.

I tried melaluca products and I really like them, but being forced to buy every month at least $35 dollars or points, which at the end with tax and shipping add another $10-15 dollars is rediculous, I will buy melaluca products but as I need them, if they decide to change let me know.

I was researching this company and ran across this web page with all the responses. I couldnt believe that this has been going on for 5 years. I wonder if any of the orginal posters are even paying attention to these comments. LOL.

Have a great day everyone.

Dear Emily, I am sorry that you had a bad experience, but I am a customer who enjoys using the products. You should not balme the company. It's your fault for not learning more about the company. The time that you spent blaming the company you should take the time to investigate these products and put them to use.

I will not balme the enroller either because if you had gone through your business kit, everything is there, you have all the numbers for any problems that you have. There are many people who made this work because of their dedication and the results they themselves experienced and continue to experience.

In reading the many comments made to the originator of this Melaluca rip-off report before the rule change, it is clearly seen why the Founder has changed the rebuttal/response rules. It is to protect victims like this one.

For too long responses were allowed that amounted to nothing less than vicious verbal assaults on rip-off reporting victims.

RULE: "Rip-off Report is also not accepting comments like those found on many sites that have "threads" with meaningless comments, ...in most cases using foul and insulting language against others, similar to those assaults on victims who have come to the Rip-off Report for justice."

Thank you, Founder!

It looks to me like the majority of the responses on this issue are from employees of the company, or people that think they are going to profit from this.

My wife signed up for this crap at a "party" at one of her friend's homes. I encouraged her to go to it as a social event. Little did I realize what it was going to cost me. $70 bucks worth of nothing every month....and just you try to get out of it.

The verbage used by the employees is very soothing and non-confrentational. The products are such an exceptional value. Only a very small amount of products is required every month. You'll save lots of money by using the products. If you decide you want to get out of it, it's very easy to do so.

The fact is, it is not an exceptional value. I have a family of 4, and I assure you we do not use $70 worth of cleaning products in a month. The required order is not necessarily even what the customer wants. Items can be swapped by melaleuca. Of course, melaleuca is obviously a multi level marketing scheme, no matter what the official description of it is.

What upsets me though, is the very difficult process of stopping it. My wife got suckered in. It was clearly her own fault. I do not think I am owned a refund, or anyone else crazy enough to go for this is. It should just be a simple thing to stop. It is definately not, I assure you. The customer service people are very helpful up to the point of ending the service. I'm sure it is set up that way for a purpose. I am positive that melaleuca makes lots of profit every month while suckers like me are still getting charged for their useless goods.

If someone approaches you touting this junk, take this as a warning. Once you dive in, it is very difficult to get out.

-Melaleuca is the only company that forces your enroller to place people in your downline. In as little as 6 months, you can make more money than you spend, for doing nothing.-

That is misleading and illegal in Minnesota. My uncle is in Melaleuca and has been struggling with it for years in fact he has givin up on the money making part of the company. He orders product from time to time. He has no reps under him at all.

In my state "Melaleuca is the only company that forces your enroller to place people in your downline" sounds like an opportunity of chance and the way you worded that, if in fact the company does do that then they are breaking the law and therefore is illegal. Thats what is worded in the lottery laws in my state and in most other states too.

A true reputable MLM company/Distributors will not rely on chance to get them financially sound.

So in just a few positive words that you typed Jimmy turned into proof that melaleuca is in fact illegal and can be lumped into the "pyramid" scheme category

When the company first started I worked for this company. I lived in Idaho Falls for a long time so it was easy. Anyway, their products use natural ingredients so they have a smell that people aren't used to. Other companies use perfumes and whatever else to make their product smell good. Good smell MUST mean it works, right? Not necessarily. Ever taste Ny-Quil? It's awful but it works so I put up with it. Same with Melaleuca. As far as MLM, maybe. Seems like it could be. Like Amway or some other such company.

To whoever really cares if the truth is known,

People are people and anyone can give misinformation if they are unaware or not trained. (or in the case of many here, angry.) Melaleuca has a customer agreement, much like Sam's, Costco, BJs, that entitles the customer to wholesale prices. This agreement can be cancelled at anytime by writing a SIMPLE letter to the company(name on the original agreement, telephone number and "I want to cancel my account" is all it takes). Melaleuca will also refund the full membership cost up to 4 months. (I dare you to ask Sam's for your money back!)

Yes, there is a minimum purchase amount each month that is required. It is a small amount required (about what a family of ONE would purchase)in order to track purchases to estimate quantities to be produced. Melaleuca does not let their products sit on a shelf in a warehouse. They are made fresh because they DO contain natural ingredients and DO NOT have the preservatives that other brands have. There are over 350 products to chose from. Who doesn't shop somewhere every month?

No, Melaleuca does not ship water. The products are highly concentrated. Melaleuca recommends an ounce of laundry detergent per large load. I use a half-ounce because my water is soft. A tablespoon of Dishwasher Detergent is recommended and works well. Some of the cleaning supplies have a reusable pump bottle for mixing to dilute. This means the county dump has about 1/4 the plastic that some people don't recycle. You know, if you use the product the way it is instructed, the prices compete with Wal-Mart...and those "economy" sized bottle last for months.

With the membership cost of $29.00, a membership kit is shipped to the new member. The very first page inside the portfolio tells you where all the information you need to know is found. Anyone who has a fifth grade education can maneuver through the business kit. (My 11 year old easily can and has for 3 years!) Every negative piece of information I have seen on this website is answered clearly and succinctly explained in the kit.I checked the box "employee" because there was no category for a member. I am not an employee but I am informed because I own a business kit. I refer to it regularly when I have a question.

There is absolutely NO REASON why anyone that has ever joined Melaleuca should be mad at the company. They provide the information and the system. They did not make you join! You chose! And if you chose to sign an agreement without reading it, is that really smart? Does you husband use your debit card at other locations like Sam's or Target? Mine does. Don't blame Melaleuca for your or your spouse's decisions. If they are over 18, the Federal Government allows them to sign their name and it be binding. Why shouldn't Melaleuca?

There are rip-off companies out there, but why, when there are SO many, do people single out the good guy? I have yet to see Melaleuca not make something right. They are all about customer service and they do a fine job. Melaleuca is a 21 year old company that is privately held and is being run by the same people that founded it in 1985. How many other companies can claim that?

I will continue to shop with Melaleuca like I have for the past 3 and a half years. I like the service I get. I like using my money to promote an American Company. I like the fact that the products sold here are made in America by Americans. I like the fact that their Research and Development departments finish their research before they introduce a product unlike most pharmaceutical companies. You do not have to shop with them! And I really don't believe your friend immediately became sly and dishonest when he began representing Melaleuca.

Proctor and Gamble never gave me a check for recommending their products to anyone. Neither did Lever Brothers. If anyone is upset with Melaleuca they should look at themselves first and realize that they belong to a generation and a time that just has to put the blame on someone else. It really is funny how Melaleuca always recieves my letters...

What is wrong with all of you who freak out about someone else's experience? Everyone that talks about Emily getting sued for slander really needs to take a step back and think for a second. Maybe ask yourselves why your panties are all in a bunch over what someone said about a company. It's not like she bashed everyone the company and said that you were all terrible people.

I could understand your outbursts had she called you soul-less minions that are damned to hell because of what you do, but alas, she did not. So why don't you use some of those products that you sell/purchase and calm down.

For those of us who are not involved in something of this nature I pose a question. Is it just me? Or when someone has had a bad experience with this type of company and says something about negative about it on a public forum, that some of those involved in it freak out. As if all of her comments were directed solely at them and that they must defend themselves or lose their "honor".

p.s. for the people that actually had a rebuttal that was well thought out, and free of wonton emotion, you are exempt. At least there are some people out there who can see this for what it truly is, a bad experience, not a personal attack.

Just wanted to say how helpful this report has been. To see such an educated and thoughtful person like Emily get ripped off shows you how clever and deceptive the MLMs can be. Thanks Emily.

Just wanted to say how helpful this report has been. To see such an educated and thoughtful person like Emily get ripped off shows you how clever and deceptive the MLMs can be. Thanks Emily.

Nancy Writes:
I'm truly sorry for those who encountered bad experiences with so called MLM companies; however, they're not all "scams". There are verified "success stories" of people who reached the top as reps with Melaleuca, Shaklee, Amway, Mary Kay, Avon, BeautiControl, to name a few....they ALL started at the bottom and, obviously, didn't give up! These companies have been around many years, so any "shady stuff" on their part would have closed their doors long ago

To Mary from Arkansas who (falsely) thinks getting a "real" job is the way to success: apparently, you don't notice that the majority of "real" jobs pay near poverty wages, require long and rigid work schedules, usually offer more criticism than praise.

I'm truly sorry Nancy said anything at all.

Loved her reference to Amway and Shaklee. If I were doing a free association, and the phrase scam company names was given, those 2 would be INSTANT answers. I've been hearing about them for over 20 years, and its never been good, in all that time.

The mob happens to be a bit more established, in terms of have been around many years, yet, nonetheless, can't help but say the mob's shady stuff hasn't closed THEIR doors! Being that years of existence evidently is the hallmark for legitimate - guess I've given Nancy a good job lead! Hope the first thing she does with all her business acumen is advise them their shady stuff will prevent them from a flourishing future.

No idea where Nancy gets her information, but if she really believes "the majority of 'real" jobs pay NEAR POVERTY WAGES'" - lololol. Apparently, Nancy's job prospects are pretty grim! Being that it sure appears that the U.S. is the most affluent nation, despite being filled with "the majority" of jobs paying "near poverty wages" - wonder how we got that way?

Also have 2 thoughts about Nancy's definition of poverty. Either that's her chosen lifestyle, or she has NO IDEA what real poverty is. I say chosen because even a LITTLE education, which can only be obtained by choice, will lift you immediately into a better job class than minimum wage. I can say that BECAUSE I HAVE DONE IT. And it HASN'T been 2 years of college, even. It's been taking short-term courses to acquire rudimentary business skills that have allowed me to surpass the minimum wage.

"Long and rigid work schedules" - yeah, FORTY HOURS A WEEK - that's a killer. Having to wait until the same designated time each day for my smoke break - wow, will God quit punishing me! Ever heard of a SWEATSHOP, Nancy? ANY familiarity whatsoever with the life of a farmer, or what our ancestors suffered through in the Industrial Revolution, just to name 2 instances of TRUE HARD WORK.

"Offer more criticism than praise" - doesn't sound like Nancy does too well in the "real" jobs what with her poverty wages and implied sub-par work ethic. Get the sub-par impression from her evident feeling that businesses are SUPPOSED to be making millionaires of all their employees, as opposed to just making it possible for the majority of U.S. residents to live as luxuriously as we do.

Yes, even in the true poverty environments, is TV a necessity? Is cable a necessity? Are fast food and alcohol and tobacco necessities? Are cars necessities? Do the Third World countries where poverty is the national standard have such necessities, or are they not luxuries? I am NOT condemning any of us for having access to these things, it's just, COME ON. Find out what poverty is - living not even hand to mouth - before you start decrying the average working individual in the U.S. as being paid poverty wages.

Wondering how Nancy defines success, as well. Seeing how many people she can poison with her poor me, I'm not a millionaire - not that I probably have any qualifications whatsoever to BE one - but wow, it's the world of businesses fault attitude - if that's success, I hope we are all flaming failures.

Definitely DYING TO KNOW what Nancy's answer to these "real" job dilemmas are, since she was so busy she couldnt provide us with the answer, although she would seem to be in possession of it. Come on, Nancy, break your heart and actually do something NICE, and tell us! If she's an MLMer proponent, I AM impressed she was able to omit the plug for her own scam.

I am not a highly educated person with a 6 digit income, and while that'd be great, doubt that will happen. But to live in a country where, if I devote even a LITTLE effort to education, I can have a job that uses my skills and serves a larger good, and to have my own place to live and be able to pay my bills, and hopefully have some left over for the fun and frivolous - that's pretty d**n good. You don't think so? Fine, make a million, YOU CAN DO IT HERE. Look at all the countries where there truly IS no hope for any kind of even a HEALTHY life, and then complain.

To say it sounds like Nancy is a negative, and probably toxic, person to be around doesn't seem farfetched. No, nothing from Nancy sounds inspiring. I can only pray she has no influence over ANYONE, especially children.

To offer such a dismal scenario without even a pretense of an alternative, what was the point? That kind of ugliness is NOT a stepping stone to success. Hope to hear no more from her.

I'm truly sorry for those who encountered bad experiences with so called MLM companies; however, they're not all "scams". There are verified "success stories" of people who reached the top as reps with Melaleuca, Shaklee, Amway, Mary Kay, Avon, BeautiControl, to name a few....they ALL started at the bottom and, obviously, didn't give up! These companies have been around many years, so any "shady stuff" on their part would have closed their doors long ago!

To Mary from Arkansas who (falsely) thinks getting a "real" job is the way to success: apparently, you don't notice that the majority of "real" jobs pay near poverty wages, require long and rigid work schedules, usually offer more criticism than praise. Success is there alright ....for those at the top with increasing large salaries produced by the work generated from the poor workers way below who keep the company rolling! They can work themselves to death but be guaranteed no further reward than their "peanuts" for a paycheck! Sounds real inspiring, huh?

I was looking at consumer reports because I am considering at least becoming a preferred customer with Melaleuca. I have used some of the products with much satisfaction. I like the reference of the "Wellness Company" because it is positive. I am greatly concerned with our environment and would like to make any positive contribution that I can. I am 50 years old, mother of 3 wonderful sons,I have 5 fantastic grandchildren and an exceptional husband. We have several pets; dogs and a cat, that we consider part of our family. I live in the country and love nature. I couldn't help but notice the frequent comparison between Wal Mart and Melaleuca.

Until very recently, I worked for Wal Mart (8 years). I worked in the warehouse and at store level, most recently as a customer service manager. I loved my job, the people I worked with and many customers that I had gotten to know over the years. As I learned more and more about the company, I became very disappointed. Wal Mart has made its' fortune by being cheap and easy. I don't think most people stop the think exactly where their money is going when they buy at Wal Mart. Do you think it goes to some sweatshop in China who pay their employees pennies a day? Maybe it goes to the giant manufacturers in the U.S., the ones polluting our environment and exposing us and our children to harmful chemicals every day in the products that they make or if they don't play their cards right with Wal Mart, can go bankrupt virtually overnight? Or maybe it's Wal mart's hourly associates, the ones that have to sign up for public assistance to make ends meet, the ones that work hard for little pay and not so great benefits, the ones that have to be available 24/7 to get all of their hours, working holidays and nights. What about families? It's the Wal Mart way or the hiway. Sorry if I sound a little bitter, but the almighty Wal Mart is not the answer to all of your problems. I am done working there and shopping there. I am going to switch my home to Melaleuca products and go from there.

to who all it concers I use to work for melaleuca and I know that it is a good company, I do know that things do happen that can cause harsh feelings, some instances are when the people who enroll you are not truthfull to you. I have seen so many great things happen out of this company,if you give the products a try I know that you will love them just as I do and I don't even work with them anymore, but I still believe that it is a good company and the thing is they don't ask for thousands of dollars up front from you so you know that it is not a scam, and also if you read what you are signing in the first place then you would know what was going on and know that you have to place an order every month. they don't lie to you if you want to know the truth call them and ask them yourselves. its all about miscommunication. also for your information the founder of this company gives back millions to the community, he is a very kind and generous man and he's not out to rip anyone off.

I am so very sorry to see people bad mouth MLM without ever being personally involved, MLM can be a very rewarding experience,BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET TO THE TOP,I have yet to ever see a financial success without shedding some blood, sweat and tears along the way, doesn't make a bit of difference what you are doing!

I used to be a Melaluca distributor, but I live in a very rural area, very few people,very little time and I am single, so the auto ship was way too much for me, AND I had absolutely no problem cancelling my membership. they were very cordial about the whole thing. I want to add I did like the products very well. the problem was that with one person in the house they lasted way to long and piled up.

As for rewashing with Tide, how absurd, the laundry soap was one of the best I ever used, of course to each his own,I don't like Tide anyway!

I really think after reading these posts that you should be angry with your husband not Melaleuca. he was not authorized to use your Debit Card, evidently he did not read the paper work, whether presented by a friend or total stranger. especially as you stated "He was just helping him get started", that in itself should have prompted your hubby to read everything before signing anything!

I am a distributor for another MLM company and have been with them for over 13 years, and I love the products and have a downline, we all use them, (broadscale products for all species), most of the distributors are horse people, once used they would never change, I read the fine print before I signed a thing even tho it was my daughter that signed me up, not just a friend or some stranger.

As for the Tea Tree Oil, I think that people catagorize all Oil of Melaleuca as one single oil, which it is not, my company also carries the pure Oil of Melaleuca (Tea Tree Oil) and it is in its own right one of the best things you could keep in your medicine cabinets.

All MLM's are not created equal, Melaleuca and the other company I am a distributor for are 2 of the very best!!!

I am so very sorry to see people bad mouth MLM without ever being personally involved, MLM can be a very rewarding experience,BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET TO THE TOP,I have yet to ever see a financial success without shedding some blood, sweat and tears along the way, doesn't make a bit of difference what you are doing!

I used to be a Melaluca distributor, but I live in a very rural area, very few people,very little time and I am single, so the auto ship was way too much for me, AND I had absolutely no problem cancelling my membership. they were very cordial about the whole thing. I want to add I did like the products very well. the problem was that with one person in the house they lasted way to long and piled up.

As for rewashing with Tide, how absurd, the laundry soap was one of the best I ever used, of course to each his own,I don't like Tide anyway!

I really think after reading these posts that you should be angry with your husband not Melaleuca. he was not authorized to use your Debit Card, evidently he did not read the paper work, whether presented by a friend or total stranger. especially as you stated "He was just helping him get started", that in itself should have prompted your hubby to read everything before signing anything!

I am a distributor for another MLM company and have been with them for over 13 years, and I love the products and have a downline, we all use them, (broadscale products for all species), most of the distributors are horse people, once used they would never change, I read the fine print before I signed a thing even tho it was my daughter that signed me up, not just a friend or some stranger.

As for the Tea Tree Oil, I think that people catagorize all Oil of Melaleuca as one single oil, which it is not, my company also carries the pure Oil of Melaleuca (Tea Tree Oil) and it is in its own right one of the best things you could keep in your medicine cabinets.

All MLM's are not created equal, Melaleuca and the other company I am a distributor for are 2 of the very best!!!

I am so very sorry to see people bad mouth MLM without ever being personally involved, MLM can be a very rewarding experience,BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET TO THE TOP,I have yet to ever see a financial success without shedding some blood, sweat and tears along the way, doesn't make a bit of difference what you are doing!

I used to be a Melaluca distributor, but I live in a very rural area, very few people,very little time and I am single, so the auto ship was way too much for me, AND I had absolutely no problem cancelling my membership. they were very cordial about the whole thing. I want to add I did like the products very well. the problem was that with one person in the house they lasted way to long and piled up.

As for rewashing with Tide, how absurd, the laundry soap was one of the best I ever used, of course to each his own,I don't like Tide anyway!

I really think after reading these posts that you should be angry with your husband not Melaleuca. he was not authorized to use your Debit Card, evidently he did not read the paper work, whether presented by a friend or total stranger. especially as you stated "He was just helping him get started", that in itself should have prompted your hubby to read everything before signing anything!

I am a distributor for another MLM company and have been with them for over 13 years, and I love the products and have a downline, we all use them, (broadscale products for all species), most of the distributors are horse people, once used they would never change, I read the fine print before I signed a thing even tho it was my daughter that signed me up, not just a friend or some stranger.

As for the Tea Tree Oil, I think that people catagorize all Oil of Melaleuca as one single oil, which it is not, my company also carries the pure Oil of Melaleuca (Tea Tree Oil) and it is in its own right one of the best things you could keep in your medicine cabinets.

All MLM's are not created equal, Melaleuca and the other company I am a distributor for are 2 of the very best!!!

I am so very sorry to see people bad mouth MLM without ever being personally involved, MLM can be a very rewarding experience,BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET TO THE TOP,I have yet to ever see a financial success without shedding some blood, sweat and tears along the way, doesn't make a bit of difference what you are doing!

I used to be a Melaluca distributor, but I live in a very rural area, very few people,very little time and I am single, so the auto ship was way too much for me, AND I had absolutely no problem cancelling my membership. they were very cordial about the whole thing. I want to add I did like the products very well. the problem was that with one person in the house they lasted way to long and piled up.

As for rewashing with Tide, how absurd, the laundry soap was one of the best I ever used, of course to each his own,I don't like Tide anyway!

I really think after reading these posts that you should be angry with your husband not Melaleuca. he was not authorized to use your Debit Card, evidently he did not read the paper work, whether presented by a friend or total stranger. especially as you stated "He was just helping him get started", that in itself should have prompted your hubby to read everything before signing anything!

I am a distributor for another MLM company and have been with them for over 13 years, and I love the products and have a downline, we all use them, (broadscale products for all species), most of the distributors are horse people, once used they would never change, I read the fine print before I signed a thing even tho it was my daughter that signed me up, not just a friend or some stranger.

As for the Tea Tree Oil, I think that people catagorize all Oil of Melaleuca as one single oil, which it is not, my company also carries the pure Oil of Melaleuca (Tea Tree Oil) and it is in its own right one of the best things you could keep in your medicine cabinets.

All MLM's are not created equal, Melaleuca and the other company I am a distributor for are 2 of the very best!!!

It is very obvious that posts like this hit a lot of nerves and tend to rile up a great many emotions for folks. Some of those, as we have seen, have nothing to do with Melaleuca, but with MLM's in general. They have more to do with people's failures and perceptions, than with factual information. And I also tend to agree with some of the others, on both sides of the ledger, that criticizing and insulting others does nothing more than inflame those emotions even further and hurt feelings and credibility of the posters.

In the end, all we have is who we are and the choices we make in life. For those of us that choose to be with Melaleuca (and I do), some will be successful and some will not...that is a given in life. Some are willing to put forth the work and effort it takes to be successful and some are not. I coach football at the high school level..it is the same there..the teams that are successful work harder and have better team support than those that are not as successful. Do the schools give up on football and drop their teams because the schools don't win? Of course not!! When Ford had a problem with Explorers a few years ago, did they fold up and not make Fords anymore? No they did not, but many folks decided to try a different auto maker like Chevy or Toyota because they didn't like the product or the "supposed" defects in said vehicle. Not ALL people researched Ford to see what the true problem was or whether it was corrected...they went on hearsay and innuendo from others (second hand information from angry consumers).

In the end, we all have choices to make...

Melaleuca or Wal-Mart or some other store?
Vioxx or Counter-Act by Melaleuca?
Cascade (which can kill children)or Diamond-Brite (which doesn't)??
Ford or Toyota??

Don't leave it up to anyone else to make your choices...
YOU decide on your store of choice!
YOU decide on your products!
YOU decide on your job/vocation/passion!!
YOU decide how to respond to angry, hostile, or negative people!

I already have!!

Have a great day!!

There are so many people with negative views on Melaleuca, and unfortunately, most of you seem to be re-iterating the same thing. That you were somehow 'deceived' by Melaleuca.
Sorry, but this is just NOT possible!
Melaleuca delivers exactly what they say, and all with a 100% FULLY GUARANTEED REFUND OFFER on ALL products and MEMBERSHIP.
Now, let's look at that word there - MEMBERSHIP. There is NO pressure to join Melaleuca, but for a poultry $29, you can save upto 40% on shopping with them, as opposed to paying full price (still a bargain even so).

It's unfortunate that you WERE deceived, by an unscrupulous Marketing Executive. (There are no 'distributors' in Melaleuca, because we don't sell anything! We REFER, and there's a BIG difference.)

Melaleuca is based on truth and honesty, and YES, of course they've made mistakes on the way to great success. But haven't you too? Does you making a mistake make you a person no-one should deal with anymore? OF COURSE NOT!

If you're a person of average or above intelligence, make your OWN decisions, and be FULLY aware of what is involved before joining ANY service or business. That way, you'll be making your own informed decisions.

I would like to add that there seems to be some difference in the way that certain countries do business with Melaleuca. (Operations of business at the head offices). This doesn't mean that when you get lied to by some telephone operator, that the company itself is trying to rip you off. Remember, people are people, and some like to think they're more than they actually are by playing bigger roles. This in turn causes trouble.

Melaleuca has made a HUGE difference in my life, and my wife and son's life. He no longer suffers from asthma attacks like before; our drains no longer smell; I no longer have headaches, and I have more energy (thanks to Vitality for Life), and my wife and I have a great little business that helps us pay for flights twice a year to my home country! Not to mention gas in the car, oh, did I mention we have TWO new cars?
Melaleuca is a CHANCE to have your OWN business, and it takes TIME and WORK. But it's NOT impossible.
Check out the FACTS before believing in just one person. If it's not for you, fair enough, but please, be an adult and don't gripe about it. Move on and find something that works for you.

The only people that will rip you off are the dishonest ones, and Melaleuca doesn't want them either!
Peace out Y'all!
MELALEUCA WORKS!
------------------------------------------------
The only place where 'SUCCESS' comes before 'WORK' is in the dictionary!

There seems to be a disagreement regarding the profit structure of Melaleuca here.
Visit this address, perhaps it will help you all decide:

http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2004/1011/089.html?rl04

Also, remember, if the work you choose is satisfying to you and makes YOU happy....go for it. Just be careful and know what you're getting into first!
Good day to you all!

This is a comment for Emily. I am not with the company. I have started buying some product for my psoriasis. The oil is good for my skin. I think that tea tree oil has a clean smell but that just shows "each to their own". In the situation you describe, your husband has committed fraud by using and signing for your debit card. If he had done so in a store, the store would not give you a refund. You would have to take it up with the financial institution that issued the card. Good luck getting a refund through the bank. When you get a debit card, you sign that you will be responsible for all debits made using the card. If your husband used the card it would be deemed that you let him and therefore are responsible for the transaction. You could legally charge your husband and get your refund that way. I think charging a spouce with fraud would be determental to a marriage. The issue of MLM or matrix or anything else you want to call it has no bearing on your situation. Every business in existance is multi-level. You have the executive management, vice management, supervisors, and the workers. As you move down each level, there are more and more people on the level. Each top level person has a number of people from the level below reporting to them. This makes the second level larger than the first. Each person in the second level has a number of people from the third level reporting to them which makes the third level larger than the second. This continues down each level till you get to the largest level which consists of the peeons. You should be thankful you got any money back if you use the issue of your debit card as the reason. You were right in the first place when you were angry with your husband.

To Whomever Has Issues with Melaleuca,
We apologize for your problems. There are less than desireable people and events in any business. However, as far as the way the products smell, that is because there is tea tree oil in them. You probably only smelled the naturals line of products or the sol-u-mel, which are the strongest tea tree oil smelling. But there are several other bath and body lines that smell wonderful. And for the tea tree oil, it is a beautiful property our awesome earth has given us, and if you use the products for a few months, the smell becomes a very clean smell, and it isn't unpleasant at all. In fact, it is a powerful deoderizer. Please understand that our company is not a get rich quick scheme. As a business model, it is genius. As a company, it is honorable. Melaleuca would never purposefully misrepresent any aspect of the company or false advertise anything. If you read the book written about the company and the literature from all the many scientists and businessmen, you will see that we have solid morals and a secure foundation. The facts are that we are 20 years old now with 20 years of straight growth. There may be a few who refuse to see the benefits of our business model and customer incentives, but there are over half a million strong and growing who believe in us.

Thanks,

Customer for 4 months.
24 years old, just purchased my first brand new car and went to Hawaii last month. Thanks Melaleuca.

In response to this thread I would like to add my own comments.

I have been a Melaleuca customer and independent marketing representative for 2 years/ Last year I made $5000 dollars working a few hours a week. $5000 I would NOT have had for some extra luxuries like taking my kids on small vacations or other outings. While this is not a lot of money it was MY choice to work when I wanted to and certainly could have made a lot more had I worked more.

However the money side of it is NOT why I am with the company. I love the products and have seen significant results in my health and my family's health. I was an excema and all of us were asthma sufferrers. We got this way because I was poisoning my own family with bleach, ammonia, and other toxic chemicals.

A week after getting my first product order ( a Value Pack) I started noticing that we were using our inhalers less and my excema was GONE.

These products are not " crap" as Emily states. They are very high quality, wonderful products with a ton of research behind their making.

Recently they recieved a patent for one of their products which can help with heart disease ( they hold many patents by the way and are the only company to have a patent on their vitamin process).

I don't get a " mystery box " every month and never have because I place my OWN order of what I want and love to buy.

If you want to blast anyone then blast Procter and Gamble, Lever Brothers, etc. They don't CARE that they are poisoning us with toxic products and they certainly have no environmental concerns. It's all about the money for them.

I am not " brainwashed ". I love the company and I choose to shop there. I have enrolled quite a few very happy customers. I explain the program to them very thorougly and they too are happy customers and have been for quite a while.

What someone said about them refunding money without returning the product is absolutely true.
Twice I have called them for a product that was damaged in shipping. Both times I was told to keep it and they would send a replacement free of charge. Try calling Walmart and asking them to do that.

Melaleuca is an honest and ethical company with an awesome customer service staff and an even more awesome CEO whom I have personally met. He truly cares for each individual that is part of this company and allows each of us to gain financial freeddom with Melaleuca as a vehicle IF we chose to.

I am NOT an employee of Melaleuca, I am an independent rep and OWN a business I am proud of that does not hurt other people. I will continue to be a customer for the rest of my life.

Kim
Oregon

In response to this thread I would like to add my own comments.

I have been a Melaleuca customer and independent marketing representative for 2 years/ Last year I made $5000 dollars working a few hours a week. $5000 I would NOT have had for some extra luxuries like taking my kids on small vacations or other outings. While this is not a lot of money it was MY choice to work when I wanted to and certainly could have made a lot more had I worked more.

However the money side of it is NOT why I am with the company. I love the products and have seen significant results in my health and my family's health. I was an excema and all of us were asthma sufferrers. We got this way because I was poisoning my own family with bleach, ammonia, and other toxic chemicals.

A week after getting my first product order ( a Value Pack) I started noticing that we were using our inhalers less and my excema was GONE.

These products are not " crap" as Emily states. They are very high quality, wonderful products with a ton of research behind their making.

Recently they recieved a patent for one of their products which can help with heart disease ( they hold many patents by the way and are the only company to have a patent on their vitamin process).

I don't get a " mystery box " every month and never have because I place my OWN order of what I want and love to buy.

If you want to blast anyone then blast Procter and Gamble, Lever Brothers, etc. They don't CARE that they are poisoning us with toxic products and they certainly have no environmental concerns. It's all about the money for them.

I am not " brainwashed ". I love the company and I choose to shop there. I have enrolled quite a few very happy customers. I explain the program to them very thorougly and they too are happy customers and have been for quite a while.

What someone said about them refunding money without returning the product is absolutely true.
Twice I have called them for a product that was damaged in shipping. Both times I was told to keep it and they would send a replacement free of charge. Try calling Walmart and asking them to do that.

Melaleuca is an honest and ethical company with an awesome customer service staff and an even more awesome CEO whom I have personally met. He truly cares for each individual that is part of this company and allows each of us to gain financial freeddom with Melaleuca as a vehicle IF we chose to.

I am NOT an employee of Melaleuca, I am an independent rep and OWN a business I am proud of that does not hurt other people. I will continue to be a customer for the rest of my life.

Kim
Oregon

In response to this thread I would like to add my own comments.

I have been a Melaleuca customer and independent marketing representative for 2 years/ Last year I made $5000 dollars working a few hours a week. $5000 I would NOT have had for some extra luxuries like taking my kids on small vacations or other outings. While this is not a lot of money it was MY choice to work when I wanted to and certainly could have made a lot more had I worked more.

However the money side of it is NOT why I am with the company. I love the products and have seen significant results in my health and my family's health. I was an excema and all of us were asthma sufferrers. We got this way because I was poisoning my own family with bleach, ammonia, and other toxic chemicals.

A week after getting my first product order ( a Value Pack) I started noticing that we were using our inhalers less and my excema was GONE.

These products are not " crap" as Emily states. They are very high quality, wonderful products with a ton of research behind their making.

Recently they recieved a patent for one of their products which can help with heart disease ( they hold many patents by the way and are the only company to have a patent on their vitamin process).

I don't get a " mystery box " every month and never have because I place my OWN order of what I want and love to buy.

If you want to blast anyone then blast Procter and Gamble, Lever Brothers, etc. They don't CARE that they are poisoning us with toxic products and they certainly have no environmental concerns. It's all about the money for them.

I am not " brainwashed ". I love the company and I choose to shop there. I have enrolled quite a few very happy customers. I explain the program to them very thorougly and they too are happy customers and have been for quite a while.

What someone said about them refunding money without returning the product is absolutely true.
Twice I have called them for a product that was damaged in shipping. Both times I was told to keep it and they would send a replacement free of charge. Try calling Walmart and asking them to do that.

Melaleuca is an honest and ethical company with an awesome customer service staff and an even more awesome CEO whom I have personally met. He truly cares for each individual that is part of this company and allows each of us to gain financial freeddom with Melaleuca as a vehicle IF we chose to.

I am NOT an employee of Melaleuca, I am an independent rep and OWN a business I am proud of that does not hurt other people. I will continue to be a customer for the rest of my life.

Kim
Oregon

In response to this thread I would like to add my own comments.

I have been a Melaleuca customer and independent marketing representative for 2 years/ Last year I made $5000 dollars working a few hours a week. $5000 I would NOT have had for some extra luxuries like taking my kids on small vacations or other outings. While this is not a lot of money it was MY choice to work when I wanted to and certainly could have made a lot more had I worked more.

However the money side of it is NOT why I am with the company. I love the products and have seen significant results in my health and my family's health. I was an excema and all of us were asthma sufferrers. We got this way because I was poisoning my own family with bleach, ammonia, and other toxic chemicals.

A week after getting my first product order ( a Value Pack) I started noticing that we were using our inhalers less and my excema was GONE.

These products are not " crap" as Emily states. They are very high quality, wonderful products with a ton of research behind their making.

Recently they recieved a patent for one of their products which can help with heart disease ( they hold many patents by the way and are the only company to have a patent on their vitamin process).

I don't get a " mystery box " every month and never have because I place my OWN order of what I want and love to buy.

If you want to blast anyone then blast Procter and Gamble, Lever Brothers, etc. They don't CARE that they are poisoning us with toxic products and they certainly have no environmental concerns. It's all about the money for them.

I am not " brainwashed ". I love the company and I choose to shop there. I have enrolled quite a few very happy customers. I explain the program to them very thorougly and they too are happy customers and have been for quite a while.

What someone said about them refunding money without returning the product is absolutely true.
Twice I have called them for a product that was damaged in shipping. Both times I was told to keep it and they would send a replacement free of charge. Try calling Walmart and asking them to do that.

Melaleuca is an honest and ethical company with an awesome customer service staff and an even more awesome CEO whom I have personally met. He truly cares for each individual that is part of this company and allows each of us to gain financial freeddom with Melaleuca as a vehicle IF we chose to.

I am NOT an employee of Melaleuca, I am an independent rep and OWN a business I am proud of that does not hurt other people. I will continue to be a customer for the rest of my life.

Kim
Oregon

I, like many other, have heard about this opportunity, and have come here as part of my research.

The original complaint was from a woman who had felt she had been ripped off by the company, the "ex-fried" who had gotten her husband involved in the company, and (I think most people would think most importantly) her husband's fraudulant use of her debit card.

In the end she got all her money back and as she said, she (and hopefuly her husband as well) learned a valuable lesson. The problem arises from the fact that she started ranting and venting her anger BEFORE she and the company involved could fully resolve the situation. This is a situation I am very familiar with as I am married to a woman who is quick to "shoot first and ask questions later". :)

She was upset and at the time had every right to be, but attacking the company is not the way to do that since some people earn a living from this company. This would make all those who are associated with them have to begin defenting the company which feeds their families. Emily and those who jumped on her "band wagon" (not meant as an insult, but as the only choice of words I could think of at this moment)would not be happy if someone was to attack the place they work for (since by attacking them you hope to destroy the business and close them down) possibly putting them out of a job.

However, that having been said, all the people who are associated with the company did not help their own cause either. Many of them either attacked back (throwing insults and the such at the attackers), or even worse, some of them tried to turn their comments into "sales pitches" for the company and/or its products. That is what leads people to start trowing out terms like "brainwashed". Honestly even I thought some of you guys went over the top. That in itself might turn people off of trying the products or joining the business (even more so than a little bit of bad "word-of-mouth" by unsatisfied customers)

Now that dealing with the people are out of the way, lets talk about the products and the opportunity for a minute.

I have not used any of the products (before now I had never even heard of the company). It is a fact of life that not everybody likes the same things (otherwise there wouldn't be so many brands and varieties to choose from). Some people will use whatever is the cheapest, and some people will only use the most expensive believing (sometimes rightfully, sometimes not) that it is better. We all have different opinions, you wouldn't like someone dictating to you that YOUR choice is wrong, so don't do it to others.

As for the company (or more accurately its multitudes of representatives), they all come in different varies as well. You get those who are out to make their fortune no matter what they have to do (or say) to people to do it, and you have those who are not willing to sacrifice any other person or their well being for any amount of money.

The person who I heard the presentation from emphasized that you should NOT approach friends and family to get them into the business under you. The way they do it is to advertise the opportunity to make money at home, and people call them. These people have their names put on a list, then those names are divided up and distributed to those who wish to get people under them. That person then calls those individuals. Even those who don't want to do the calling would probably get people under them because of the way this oganizational structure works, it just wouldn't happen as fast, therefore they wouldn't recieve as big of a reward as those who actively called people to try and get them interested in the business.

Between myself and other members of my family, we have tried different MLM and similar business opportunitis. Amway, telephone calling cards, etc. Just from what I have heard so far this does have similarities to all of them, but it also has differences. But just like any other traditional job or workplace, you will only get out of it what you are willing to put into it.

Just remember, not everybody would enjoy (or be capable of) being an acountant, or a professional athlete, or a distributor/prefered customer etc.

Don't run them down for that since you wouldn't want them to run you down for being one. And Vise versa.

Thank you.

I just read through a lot of the initial comments made against Melaleuca. Over the years I have been a part of several MLM's. I never lost money in any of them. I couldn't see the point of joining the one's that I had to pay out thousands of dollars either.

We've been Melaleuca customers for about 5 months now and have been absolutely satisfied with the products. We researched in depth how much we were spending previously (at Wal-Mart) and know we are spending less money shopping with Melaleuca. We also researched the chemicals that are found in the products we were previously buying (through legitimate sources) and found that they contained toxins and poisons we didn't want in our house. Melaleuca lived up to its claim "Healthier, safer, more economical products." We found that the minimum purchase requirements didn't even come close to what our monthly needs were.

So we started building a business (which is ABSOLUTELY NOT required). In four months our check has always gone up and we have made more money with Melaleuca than all of the other businesses we started COMBINED! Even if these products cost us more money (which they do not) we would be customers for life because of the health benefits we've already experienced, and even if there were no opportunity to make money. You don't have a 95% reorder rate every month if you have "mela-crappy" products. Only one customer has cancelled his membership out of about 50, and they weren't even upset.

And as far as "getting a real job" goes...I've had one of those for years and haved loved it and counted it as a privilege to work. But it doesn't provide me with the time to spend with those who are most important to me...my family. I could lose my job tomorrow and nobody would care and nobody would be looking out for my financial future. Melaleuca is not the most important thing in the world. It is simply a PROVEN vehicle to give me the freedom to do what I want with my time. If you think it's one of those "pyramid" scams you should really take a look at it again (or for the first time). It is legit.

And the coolest part is that I'll get another check this month...and next...and that money pays for stuff just like the money from my job. But next month my paycheck from my job won't go up! My Melaleuca check will!

I find the complaints against Melaleuca to be very unfactual and untrue. I'm sorry for those who misrepresent what Melaleuca is. I'm sure it makes people more skeptical and that makes it a bit more difficult, but that's ok. Reasonable thinking people see through it.

Integrity. Honesty. Principled. Those are words that describe Melaleuca in my experience.

Mary may have hit the nail right on the head! It is a well know fact that these companies seldom thrive in a satisfactory economy! During good times, most people are focused on their jobs! Contrary to popular myth, people thrive on going to and coming home from work! the myth about household products killing housewives is just that: a myth! when you get past the right wing think tanks, you find that children of working parents are more self reliant ( albeit a little lest trusting of authority) I have seen the ISTAT test and their scores are higher than most ACT scholars!
enough of that rant!
If there were jobs to focus on, I think we would not be having this conversation!

I have been reading this thread for sometime now and I have never ever seen so many adults that blame others for their short commings. First allow me to say that I have heard the presentation seen the products and they are just what they are; A healthier safer way to maufactured products.

First Emily. Do not blame Melaleuca, blame your husband. 1st of all I work for a billing company and when a customer pays a balance on a account with a credit or debit card, the last names and billing addresses must match. That is it. So that is how your husband was able to use your card. As far as him having no authorization to do so, that is something you need to discuss with your husband within the boundaries of your marriage. Not at all Melaleuca's problem. Additionally, if you were that broke and struggling that bad why would you all agree to a anything that requires money?

Secondly, to the "mela-crappa" smart person. Anything that is naturally and holistically created has a not so pleasant aroma. So that explains why the soap you used smelled the way it did. That is what Melaleuca prides themselves on. So, please educate yourself and your friend before submitted ignorant rebuttal's because to people that know the background of natural and herbalist products you look, "mega-stupida".

Lastly, as with any contract or agreement in life, you have to read a contract before signing it. If you do not read a contract, fine print included DO NOT blame the company for you ignorance. Children lack responsibility, not adults. So the next time you get angry because you cannot get out of something that YOU got YOURSELF into, blame it on you.

In closing, I am not a consumer nor employee of Melaleuca simply because I do not have time. Any home-based business takes an investment whether it be time, money, or effort. So before you all blame the company for you short commings be sure that you have a full understanding of what you are getting into. NO ONE EVER GOT RICH QUICK!!!! It doesn't happen. So maybe, just maybe, home-based businesses may not be for you.

I have empathy for you Emily. I've been ripped off by companies in the past, but never by Melaleuca. And absolutely never at the hands of my husband. He knows better than to get into my purse or wallet without my consent. Not that he ever would even with my consent, he has more respect for me, than to violate my privacy that way.

Consider yourself lucky that it was Melaleuca your HUSBAND was "lied to" about. Had it been any other company, you MAY NEVER have gotten your money back plus the cost could have been a LOT higher.

The ones you should be angry with are...

#1 Yourself, for allowing your husband to obtain access to your card in the first place.

#2 Your husband, for not consulting you before signing anything.

#3 The so called friend who failed to allow either you or your husband to read the contracts before signing as well as not having you present for the presentation &

#4 The so called friend's enroller, for not giving him proper training before allowing him to do it on his own.

The company "Melaleuca" is not at fault. It's the few in the field that try to operate their business the way so many other companies do and have done, (by lying, cheating, omiting facts and truths, and making fraudulent claims), that ARE at fault. Melaleuca is strictly opposed to these practices and work hard to prevent them. Unfortunately, someone of this nature will slip through from time to time and cause good people like yourself to have a bad experiences.

Yes, there are scammers out there. I won't argue that. However, Melaleuca, the company, is not one of them.

Through reading this string of complaints and rebuttal comments, I have to agree with Sara from Colorado. I am now a bigger fan of Melaleuca than ever before.

Thank you Melaleuca for a healthier home and a healthier family.

I recently reviewed a bunch of scams, er, work at home opportunities. I have a 2 year old and am a single mom, so working at home would be great. Everything I looked at (and yes I got suckered into Vertical Skip Marketing/Herbalife) involved deception, huge amounts of investment... which by the way they drag out and string you along in increments...then, Melaleuca.

Finally, something I can do and sleep soundly at night. Not only are the products all natural, but I don't have to lie to people and do the "hard-sell" pressure thing. I can tell them the entire deal, fine print and all, and PEOPLE WANT IN.

Why? Money back guarantee, longest in the business, it doesn't cost much at all. The products you buy replace the toxic (albeit cheaply perfumed) products you already buy but last longer and cost less and don't kill you and your family. You know what a 95% re-order rate means? People who like the products, keep buying the products. Nobody is forced to stay in it...

Some of these other schemes make you feel forced to stay in it because of the huge monetary commitment you've already sunk into it (like the 3-5k Herbalife wants you to do right off the bat)... Melaleuca isn't even close to that. The products you buy is stuff you use. And if you don't, then you stop!

Bottom line, it's a great legitimate opportunity for people who are responsible with their money, the environment and helping others.

As for Emily - I get that you prefer Walmart. I get that you don't like MLM's, and ... frankly I get a lot more than what is necessary for this forum. And that's ok! That's your right ;)

But I gotta tell ya, reading your post and the rest of them, I'm a bigger fan of Melaleuca than ever before!!!

I have been reading this thread for way to long, and now must go to sleep. I, however will make my observations first.

Manufacturers: Produce what will make you money.

Merchants: Sell what will make you money. It takes money to make money-any parent whose children operate a 25 cent lemonade stand knows this. It is also true that you may never sell any lemonade.

Buyers: Beware, and buy what you like.

MLM, Pyramids, shop from home, school fundraisers, restaurants, stock markets, and service businesses are all just variations on a theme with different levels of perceived ethics and values.

Welcome to the Free World! Enjoy it, and understand that there are consequences and rewards for most actions in it.

Respect the rights of others to speak up for what they think is right and wrong--just like this forum...

Good night.

I have been reading this thread for way to long, and now must go to sleep. I, however will make my observations first.

Manufacturers: Produce what will make you money.

Merchants: Sell what will make you money. It takes money to make money-any parent whose children operate a 25 cent lemonade stand knows this. It is also true that you may never sell any lemonade.

Buyers: Beware, and buy what you like.

MLM, Pyramids, shop from home, school fundraisers, restaurants, stock markets, and service businesses are all just variations on a theme with different levels of perceived ethics and values.

Welcome to the Free World! Enjoy it, and understand that there are consequences and rewards for most actions in it.

Respect the rights of others to speak up for what they think is right and wrong--just like this forum...

Good night.

I have been reading this thread for way to long, and now must go to sleep. I, however will make my observations first.

Manufacturers: Produce what will make you money.

Merchants: Sell what will make you money. It takes money to make money-any parent whose children operate a 25 cent lemonade stand knows this. It is also true that you may never sell any lemonade.

Buyers: Beware, and buy what you like.

MLM, Pyramids, shop from home, school fundraisers, restaurants, stock markets, and service businesses are all just variations on a theme with different levels of perceived ethics and values.

Welcome to the Free World! Enjoy it, and understand that there are consequences and rewards for most actions in it.

Respect the rights of others to speak up for what they think is right and wrong--just like this forum...

Good night.

The iddiot that wants them to sue the lady and her husband is exactly that an IDIOT!!

I was a member of this organization (MLM) there i said it too, so sue me I will wear their butts out in court arguing the facts about his fraude company of theirs. I was signed up with all the packets back in 92 and it was crap then and i should have said no but my EX-Wife now wanted to do it, so I did. The people tell you all kinds of stuff promise you to make millions,drive big cars own your own airplane and go to exotic places,but truth be known thats how they make the money getting large groups of people together 200-or more sometimes and getting 60% or more to sign up and doing that 2 or 3 times a month thats where all the people and money comes from. Think about it how many AMWAY retail stores do you see in your town? thats right I said AMWAY thats exactly what it is with just a new Corp. Name. So if you want to know the truth I guess I lied to as many people as they have but I got tired years ago and left their lying butts sitting in Dallas at the Dallas Convention Center,Listening to Gladas Knight and her husband then tell lies to even more of the people but I am sure Those 2 were paid nicely for the tongue twisting they did that evening.

Any one saying Melaleuca is bad was uneducated on the company to begin with and I'm sorry for that.
I have been a member for 1 year and our family has been the healthiest it's been.Store products contain ingrediants that are harmful to the body/mind which was obviousley not told to you.Go visit web pages that indicate the dangers of toxins to the body/mind.If you believe the goverment will protect you are crazy.They have also not told you the truth about vaccaines either.Read Michael Palmers books also.
Stephanie Caves,What doctors don't tell you about vaccaines.The Bible also says we are to use plants for our health Genesis 1:12.Realize also that was all that was available at one time HERBS.
Drugs are bad for the body /mind.Study Nutrition.
Drugs will eventually do things to mess you up long term.

G'day folks,

I have been with Melaleuca for 3 months now on a part/time basis. In those 3 months my cheques have been $388, $847 (Director bonus) and my last months cheque was $208. The last cheue was lower because there were no commission for packs sold.

I think Melaleuca is a pritty good company overall. It sure is better than the last MLM company I was with. There is no doubt the money is much more evenly spread in Melaleuca, for example the top income earners in Mela earn around $1.5-$2 Million pa where in companies like Herbalife it is more like $10 Million pa.

The Melaleuca products are high-quality - no doubt. I don't believe anyone can disagree with that. But some of them are a bit expensive. But there is a market for products that are unique and there is a % of people happy to pay a premium for them. An interesting comparison between Melaleuca and the last MLM I pursured USANA (Stay away from this mob) is...

ProvexCV 120 tablets @ 10.08gr Grape seed extract = $49.95pc

Proflav90 56 tablets @ 11gr Grape seed extract = $68.00

You can see the Melaleuca product is much better value, even when you compare it to the retail Grape seed extract products. I do agree there is alot of hype surrounding all MLM products. I sometimes wish the company would give us more information, rather than just marketing slogans.

The top income earners in Melaleuca Australia and NZ were terminated from Melaleuca last month for breaking the company policy. I know Graham Duck and he is a nice guy. Melaleuca is not going to pay them their $30, 000 cheque for the month they were terminated...fair enough I guess.

But what really interested me was when he told me that even though he thought he was mis-treated by the company and has lost LOTS of future income, he would never consider using another company MLM or non-MLM products. He said "Melaleuca has the best products, period". Now he has no financial interest in saying this.

Food for thought, but I think overall Melaleuca is a good company, but I don't get into all the hype about it.

Just my thoughts,

G'day folks,

I have been with Melaleuca for 3 months now on a part/time basis. In those 3 months my cheques have been $388, $847 (Director bonus) and my last months cheque was $208. The last cheue was lower because there were no commission for packs sold.

I think Melaleuca is a pritty good company overall. It sure is better than the last MLM company I was with. There is no doubt the money is much more evenly spread in Melaleuca, for example the top income earners in Mela earn around $1.5-$2 Million pa where in companies like Herbalife it is more like $10 Million pa.

The Melaleuca products are high-quality - no doubt. I don't believe anyone can disagree with that. But some of them are a bit expensive. But there is a market for products that are unique and there is a % of people happy to pay a premium for them. An interesting comparison between Melaleuca and the last MLM I pursured USANA (Stay away from this mob) is...

ProvexCV 120 tablets @ 10.08gr Grape seed extract = $49.95pc

Proflav90 56 tablets @ 11gr Grape seed extract = $68.00

You can see the Melaleuca product is much better value, even when you compare it to the retail Grape seed extract products. I do agree there is alot of hype surrounding all MLM products. I sometimes wish the company would give us more information, rather than just marketing slogans.

The top income earners in Melaleuca Australia and NZ were terminated from Melaleuca last month for breaking the company policy. I know Graham Duck and he is a nice guy. Melaleuca is not going to pay them their $30, 000 cheque for the month they were terminated...fair enough I guess.

But what really interested me was when he told me that even though he thought he was mis-treated by the company and has lost LOTS of future income, he would never consider using another company MLM or non-MLM products. He said "Melaleuca has the best products, period". Now he has no financial interest in saying this.

Food for thought, but I think overall Melaleuca is a good company, but I don't get into all the hype about it.

Just my thoughts,

G'day folks,

I have been with Melaleuca for 3 months now on a part/time basis. In those 3 months my cheques have been $388, $847 (Director bonus) and my last months cheque was $208. The last cheue was lower because there were no commission for packs sold.

I think Melaleuca is a pritty good company overall. It sure is better than the last MLM company I was with. There is no doubt the money is much more evenly spread in Melaleuca, for example the top income earners in Mela earn around $1.5-$2 Million pa where in companies like Herbalife it is more like $10 Million pa.

The Melaleuca products are high-quality - no doubt. I don't believe anyone can disagree with that. But some of them are a bit expensive. But there is a market for products that are unique and there is a % of people happy to pay a premium for them. An interesting comparison between Melaleuca and the last MLM I pursured USANA (Stay away from this mob) is...

ProvexCV 120 tablets @ 10.08gr Grape seed extract = $49.95pc

Proflav90 56 tablets @ 11gr Grape seed extract = $68.00

You can see the Melaleuca product is much better value, even when you compare it to the retail Grape seed extract products. I do agree there is alot of hype surrounding all MLM products. I sometimes wish the company would give us more information, rather than just marketing slogans.

The top income earners in Melaleuca Australia and NZ were terminated from Melaleuca last month for breaking the company policy. I know Graham Duck and he is a nice guy. Melaleuca is not going to pay them their $30, 000 cheque for the month they were terminated...fair enough I guess.

But what really interested me was when he told me that even though he thought he was mis-treated by the company and has lost LOTS of future income, he would never consider using another company MLM or non-MLM products. He said "Melaleuca has the best products, period". Now he has no financial interest in saying this.

Food for thought, but I think overall Melaleuca is a good company, but I don't get into all the hype about it.

Just my thoughts,

G'day folks,

I have been with Melaleuca for 3 months now on a part/time basis. In those 3 months my cheques have been $388, $847 (Director bonus) and my last months cheque was $208. The last cheue was lower because there were no commission for packs sold.

I think Melaleuca is a pritty good company overall. It sure is better than the last MLM company I was with. There is no doubt the money is much more evenly spread in Melaleuca, for example the top income earners in Mela earn around $1.5-$2 Million pa where in companies like Herbalife it is more like $10 Million pa.

The Melaleuca products are high-quality - no doubt. I don't believe anyone can disagree with that. But some of them are a bit expensive. But there is a market for products that are unique and there is a % of people happy to pay a premium for them. An interesting comparison between Melaleuca and the last MLM I pursured USANA (Stay away from this mob) is...

ProvexCV 120 tablets @ 10.08gr Grape seed extract = $49.95pc

Proflav90 56 tablets @ 11gr Grape seed extract = $68.00

You can see the Melaleuca product is much better value, even when you compare it to the retail Grape seed extract products. I do agree there is alot of hype surrounding all MLM products. I sometimes wish the company would give us more information, rather than just marketing slogans.

The top income earners in Melaleuca Australia and NZ were terminated from Melaleuca last month for breaking the company policy. I know Graham Duck and he is a nice guy. Melaleuca is not going to pay them their $30, 000 cheque for the month they were terminated...fair enough I guess.

But what really interested me was when he told me that even though he thought he was mis-treated by the company and has lost LOTS of future income, he would never consider using another company MLM or non-MLM products. He said "Melaleuca has the best products, period". Now he has no financial interest in saying this.

Food for thought, but I think overall Melaleuca is a good company, but I don't get into all the hype about it.

Just my thoughts,

Emily, like everyone, I'm sorry you had such dramas with your marketing executive. I trust you're well and truly over it - this thread is yonks old.

I enrolled with Melaleuca on 25 June this year. I've followed "the plan" if you like, kicked it in the guts and I'm treating all the people willing to give it a go with me like the gold they are. I love the products, the smell, the opportunity.

I received my first cheque this morning - over $1000.

I have a "real job" earning over $100 an hour. But I might only get 15 hours work in a good week. Then I sit around for 30, 60 or 90 days waiting to see the one-time reward for my efforts. This cheque I received this morning is my commission, my ONGOING commission for loyalty to a company that makes sense to me.

I'll repeat what I did last month again in the next 30 days and see what happens. I'm going on blind faith, but with a grand in my pocket (or bank account) and no huge risk to me, WHAT HAVE I GOT TO LOSE?

By the way - to those of you who think I'm on a fast track to becoming a friendless MLM loser, I think it's worth adding that if I get a "NO" from a friend or acquaintance about Melaleuca - I NEVER mention it to them again - unless they bring it up. It's all about your own integrity - if you want to turn into a brainless moron who bores the pants off everybody and turns any time with your friends into a sales pitch, thats a choice you have. You can choose not to.

Waiting for next month's cheque - will keep you posted.

My pastor first introduced me to Melaleuca. I attended an in-home presentation at his house and the presentation was given by an RN from Good Samaritan Hospital located in Cincinnati, OH. The information that she gave was so intense that it aggravated me to the point of completely converting my home to Melaleuca. The reports of the hazards linked ot the toxins in our daily products was just shocking. With the info that I was given and the research that I have done myself, there is no way that I could ever go back to using retail products (ie, P&G, Johnson &Johnson, etc.) Knowing what I know now, I would feel like I am doing my kids and injustice I backslid to P&G products.

Do you see what I am getting to? A presentation that is done correctly has great results. One bad apple does not spoil the whole bunch. I have given quite a few one on one presentations. I have explained in detail the value of the products and I have repeated the backup order and cancelling procedures so much that my tells me that I am taking way too much time giving the presentation. The fact is, I want to make sure that the folks I am talking to understand everything completely. It must work because I am receiving a decent check every month.

Call it what you will, but Melaleuca is the best thing that I have came across in years. I could tell you success story after success story about the products. Yes, some things are a little higher than going to Wally World but the benefits from the products outshine the "cheap" ingredients that you get from those retail stores.

Let me ask this? Does Michael Jordan's picture on a box of Wheaties make them taste any better? No, absolutetly not. Did you also know that roughly 68 cents of every dollar is spent on distribution and marketing of the retail products? That leaves approx 32 cents for profit and manufacturing. A good example is this: A 99 cent 2 liter bottle of Coke has only about 5 to 7 cents worth of ingredients. The rest is packaging, profit and marketing. Not good quality ingredients,right?

The presentation is everything. If it is done incorrectly, terrible results will come from it...as it has already been stated. I do apologize for the misfortune of some out there, but please let me assure, Melaleuca the company is not the horrible money grabber that it is made out to be. And yes, I have had products that I did not like and was reimbursed for those products in a timely manner.

One last question and remark: Will Wal-mart give you back your money if you take back an empty bottle of Tide and tell them that it didn't do the job it was meant to do? I don't think so. The bottle is empty. They will laugh at you. The Melaleuca difference is that within 60 days, even if the bottle is empty, Melaleuca will give you your money back if you are not satisfied.

There is so much more but time and space limit my thoughts. Once again, I am sorry that you have had a bad experience. I do wish that there was soemthing that I, or any other Melaleuca customer could do to chagne your mind and really give the products and the company a good solid chance.

My 2 cents

Emily-

I can relate to what you went through with Melaluca. My story is a little different though. I cancelled after my first order. I suffer severe allergies and everything I got broke me out like crazy. Not only that I told my enroller that I would no longer be at the address they had on file because I sold my house. I spoke with Emily in customer service, she was a very rude airhead I might add. She told me I cant cancel because I need to send a letter, which I did. They swore they never received it and I sent it with signature reguired and guess what it was signed for. She then gave me a fax #, which was the incorrect #. This company sucks. I cancelled my debit card and took all my money out of the bank so they wont be getting money from me. Dont listen to these idiots that are trying to dog you. For the guy that said he makes $4000, prove it dude because you are a LIAR! Get a real job.

Emily,
There is little you can do to help them see reason. Sometimes It just helps to ignore them and continue with the warning. I for one am glad you did what you did. I helped me decide that mature people don't sell Melaleuca. Mature people actually value their reputations.

I regret that your husband was duped by the Melaleuca group. I was contacted by this group. However, after I asked one question too many, they ended the conversation.

Most companies like these keep the important stuff i.e. the truth and fine print, on the back pages.Somehow the back pages come out better in a phone conversation.

As for dumping your husband: don't.

Mary,
Jimmy has obviously had a hard life( some gal kicked sand in his face) So he is taking out his anger with a keyboard. I think his problem would be solved with exercise. I might also suggest a bit of the latest antidepressant. Gainful employment is a good solution( you know a real job).

Dave and John,
Although you have the right to post your opinion on this subject, I'm thinking your posts may have been made in vain.

I'm wondering if you read through the rebuttals/responses since the original post, which was made over two years ago. Granted, there are MANY responses and it would take quite some time to read through them all. However, if you had read through them, you would have seen that the original poster, Emily, said she has moved on from this situation, and her last response was almost a year ago.

I'm guessing she probably hasn't read responses to this report in quite awhile. You may want to double-check dates and make responses to more recent reports, which would more likely be read by the person to whom you're responding.

I apologize if you had read through all the responses and were assuming Emily is still reading this thread.

Grow up, whiner. You married poorly, and you live blaming others for your lousy choices. Some advice on your discontent with Melaleuca (or any other business):

1. Get your GED.

It is obvious that neither you nor your husband learned to read in public schools. Otherwise you would know not to sign anything without reading it.

2. Do your homework.

Research the facts before blasting someone on a public internet forum.

3. Learn some humility.

What if someone who relied on YOU was disappointed - and decided to spread a bunch of lies about you on the internet - just like you have done?

4. Start a business.

Learn just how difficult it can be to earn and keep the respect of a customer. Melaleuca does it repeatedly with about a million customers each month.

5. Dump the bum you married.

nuff said.

Emily,

It sounds like you took your frustrations out on Melaleuca for your husbands foolish decision. I've heard that Melaleuca is a very well respected company and is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

I would think that if they were involved in any type of deceptive practices that would jeopardize their membership with the U.S. Chamber.

I've studied the Network Marketing Industry and it is a very solid industry and its reputation has been tarnished by people such as yourself because you think differently than someone that is extremely ambitous and refuses to settle working for someone elses dream.

I envy those individual's that pursue entreprenurship over someone's 9 to5. The Network Marketing Industy gives everyday people the opportunity to become financially successful if they put in the work.

The industry is for someone that understands or wants to learn about business; however, so many people do not focus on the education aspect of the industry. The #1 focus is on the financial success of the industry.

For example, the network marketing industry is responsible for over 100,000 everyday people becoming millionaire's in America.

And the person that educated you about all businesses being a network marketing venture is absolutely correct; however, someone that doesn't understand the basic business model only see's the name of the company and not the infastructure.

So Emily, before you slandered the name of Melaleuca, you should have done your homework about the company and the industry.

I would also recommend you take a look at yourself and your relationship with your husband. As statistics show, the number #1 reason for marrital break up is financial conflict.

Just think you brought a third party into your household issue. I suggest that you take the remaining Melaleuca products and clean up your house before trashing theirs.

Life is about thought; not ignorance.

I fell into Melaleuca's grasp way back in 1997. I totally fell for the "safer and cheaper products" line, even though I had to spend $50 a month on products that I did not normally buy or spend that much on on a monthly basis. I was a marketing executive from the start, and overall spent probably THOUSANDS on marketing tools, business cards, business kits, tapes, conventions, new products, traveling to do presentations, etc., etc. The whole line that Melaleuca spews about how most consumer products are toxic is totally true. And the truth is, the Tea Tree Oil is all that they say. But----the buck stops there!!! Melaleuca adds a FEW natural ingredients to a brew of toxic ingredients found in ALL grocery store and salon products. Of course, they cannot tell you what exactly is in their cleaners or Gold Bar because it is a trade secret!!! I dare any one of you brainwashed ME's to read an Advanced Expressions label, and then read a label from ANY salon brand----no difference--just as toxic.

The truth is, your friends and relatives DO avoid you because they know that any time they spend with you alone WILL be a sales meeting!!We know this firsthand!!! We signed up all of our family and friends, who did use the products and liked what they used, but could not afford $50 or more that is required EVERY month!!! They all ended up dropping out, and then avoided us because they did not want to hurt our feelings.

You can make money doing Melaleuca, but trust me, it is usually a pittance compared to what you spend on product, training meetings, conventions, etc. etc..............Melaleuca is flat out LYING when they say their products are safe and naturall and better for you than grocery store brands. I used each and every one of their products every single day, and I took the vitamins every single day, and I never felt really good. I told myself it was all in my mind, because Melaleuca vitamins are SO much better than anything else and the products are so natural and safe...........

Read the labels, then look up certain ingredients on the internet and you will find Melaleuca is anything but natural. I found better vitamins that are CHEAPER, and I found truly 100% natural personal care products------and guess what---I don't buy a boxful every single month. So I am saving money, and saving my health and that of my family by switching from Melaleuca--WOW---and they told us (promised and guaranteed too) just the opposite!!

We were totally brainwashed until 2003, when I woke up and read my labels!!! I suggest all of you ME's out there that read this and do Melaleuca because it is "safer" do your own research and find a different way to make money because you are being brainwashed by pseudoscience to make Frank and his Mormon army in Idaho Falls really, really rich by pushing and selling and marketing their bogus products for them while they just sit back and rake in the bucks!!!

I fell into Melaleuca's grasp way back in 1997. I totally fell for the "safer and cheaper products" line, even though I had to spend $50 a month on products that I did not normally buy or spend that much on on a monthly basis. I was a marketing executive from the start, and overall spent probably THOUSANDS on marketing tools, business cards, business kits, tapes, conventions, new products, traveling to do presentations, etc., etc. The whole line that Melaleuca spews about how most consumer products are toxic is totally true. And the truth is, the Tea Tree Oil is all that they say. But----the buck stops there!!! Melaleuca adds a FEW natural ingredients to a brew of toxic ingredients found in ALL grocery store and salon products. Of course, they cannot tell you what exactly is in their cleaners or Gold Bar because it is a trade secret!!! I dare any one of you brainwashed ME's to read an Advanced Expressions label, and then read a label from ANY salon brand----no difference--just as toxic.

The truth is, your friends and relatives DO avoid you because they know that any time they spend with you alone WILL be a sales meeting!!We know this firsthand!!! We signed up all of our family and friends, who did use the products and liked what they used, but could not afford $50 or more that is required EVERY month!!! They all ended up dropping out, and then avoided us because they did not want to hurt our feelings.

You can make money doing Melaleuca, but trust me, it is usually a pittance compared to what you spend on product, training meetings, conventions, etc. etc..............Melaleuca is flat out LYING when they say their products are safe and naturall and better for you than grocery store brands. I used each and every one of their products every single day, and I took the vitamins every single day, and I never felt really good. I told myself it was all in my mind, because Melaleuca vitamins are SO much better than anything else and the products are so natural and safe...........

Read the labels, then look up certain ingredients on the internet and you will find Melaleuca is anything but natural. I found better vitamins that are CHEAPER, and I found truly 100% natural personal care products------and guess what---I don't buy a boxful every single month. So I am saving money, and saving my health and that of my family by switching from Melaleuca--WOW---and they told us (promised and guaranteed too) just the opposite!!

We were totally brainwashed until 2003, when I woke up and read my labels!!! I suggest all of you ME's out there that read this and do Melaleuca because it is "safer" do your own research and find a different way to make money because you are being brainwashed by pseudoscience to make Frank and his Mormon army in Idaho Falls really, really rich by pushing and selling and marketing their bogus products for them while they just sit back and rake in the bucks!!!

I have two concerns about this company that I'm hoping either past/present consumers, or those who have been more successful in their research than I, can address.

First, I've been approached to become a Melaleuca customer. The products sound very interesting, although I don't understand why an order must be placed every month. I do understand how easy it is to meet the requirement, but not why it's a requirement.

Secondly, I read a brochure given to me by the Melaleuca customer (Let's Stop Poisoning Our Children) citing studies and statistics regarding how dangerous commercial household cleaners are. I was very interested in finding out more about these studies. However, I've been unsuccessful in finding these studies on the internet.

For example, the brochure says there was fifteen-year study which found women who work at home had a 54% higher death rate from cancer than women who had jobs away from home, and that the study concluded this was due to daily eposure to household cleaner chemicals. In my search, it brought up sites referring to a seminar given by Dr. Joyce M. Woods. I tried to find more information about her but only came across more websites regarding the information she presented at her seminar.

I brough this up to the Melaleuca customer who said she would try to find this information, but so far she hasn't been able to.

This makes me very skeptical about the company when the studies they refer to aren't easily found. I will admit that all research studies are not available through the internet, and I also know I'm not the best at searching on the internet.

If anyone has further information on where I can find this particular research study, I would greatly appreciate it! Please, would someone who knows post some info below?

My experience with this company's products began 5-6 years ago. I was in a bad bicycle accident on my college campus. I looked & felt like I landed on my face resulting in many abrasions, cuts, a split lip, swollen nose, a cast on on wrist and the other arm in a sling. My aunt gave me Mela-Gel and I took zinc as well. Every single abrasion and cut cleared up with the exception of one small line that you can barely see. After that I always made sure I had that gel on hand, purchased by my aunt with her discount.

Fast forward to earlier this year. My sister gets introduced to the company from someone at work who is trying to sign people up. I sense a bit of defensiveness when I ask questions about what happens if I sign up then decide to stop ordering or am unable to make an order ($50 is a lot out of my single income budget) I get a sarcastic respone, still have not been supplied with an answer. My sister on the other hand is gung-h*o, ridiculously. Mind you I've been learning about health products and healthy living for years, my sister is just getting started. Now I believe that they have SOME good products.
I had a bad case of adult acne many years ago, took antibiotics, when years of that upset my stomach and no longer helped I took one of the most potent products on the market, the one that you should not get pregnant while taking unless you want to give birth to cyclops. Supposedly I would never have problem with acne again after finishing it. I have it again. Upset and desparate not to take this drug again as I would like to have healthy children in the future, I try melalueca oil. I was my face, use a toner, then apply the oil. Every time the oil further lifts dirt and other accumulation from my face and has cleared up my acne.

Will I pay to sign up to be a preferred customer, not on the terms of REQUIRING me to purchase a minimum fixed amount of products a month. As a conscious consumer I prefer health products when my budget affords. Seeing how I purchased a lifetime preferred member at a local health store that sells everything, 30% off all non sale items, no requirements. Bonus for me, competition - I hold the choice of which enviroment company gets my business. I would love to be able to purchase the mela products I enjoy here, but their loss, I will not pay them yearly to be required to do anything. I will buy their products under someone elses membership to help allieviate some of their monthly burden (yes it can be a burden depending on your circumstances)

When I have a family to help consume maybe I'll feel different, but putting expectations on me requiring me to purchase gives me a bad taste. I wouldn't even mind recommending them and still will - expressing the requirements and my thoughts on them as well. If your products are great let them sell themselves, don't encourage people to be your pushers with your current 'preferred customer' set up, turning them into mela-mongrels out to make money off innocent uniformed people who want a safer place for their families. There are other options.

Kind regards,

I AM A VERY SATISFIED CUSTOMER!!!

There is a BIG difference between being ripped off and a complaint. Emily's situation was a complaint.

Every company or entity receives complaints. Every human being receives complaints. If you're married, haven't you received a complaint from your spouse at least once? They didn't like the way you did this or the way you did that, or how you performed in bed? Folks, let's get real here. It doesn't matter how good a product is or how good a company is. You will NEVER have 100% customer satisfaction. That's life!!!

I have been a Melaleuca Preferred Customer since March 1993. I have an Associates Degree in Marketing and a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. I worked as an Accountant for a Manufacturing Company and then as an Executive Sales Manager for a Direct Sales company for 25 years.

I am so thankful to the person who recommended that I try the Melaleuca products. Why? The products have truly enhanced my life and the lives of other family members and friends. By the way, I still have the same friends I had eleven years ago and have made many more new ones. No one runs the other way when they see me. Many of them have actually thanked me for recommending that they try the Melaleuca products.

I was taking two prescription medications prior to Melaleuca and now eleven years later at 50 years old I'm taking no prescriptions. One of the drugs I was taking was Lithium for depression for about 10 years prior to becoming a Melaleuca customer. My doctor told me that I would probably have to take the legal drug for the rest of my life. Thanks to Melaleuca's Patented multi-vitamins (The Vitality Pak), switching my home to the Melaleuca personal care and home hygiene brands, and drinking more water (I recommend reading a book titled Your Body's Many Cries for Water by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D.), I have not had to take Lithium for almost 11 years now. Coincidence? I don't think so. According to some experts, depression can be caused by a mineral deficiency, chemicals in household and personal care products and dehydration. Look at the money I have saved on doctor visits, blood work and the drug. And look at the money I have saved my insurance company. I think my insurance company should be paying me for the thousands of dollars I've saved them. And who knows if the drug would have damaged my liver by now.

Prior to Melaleuca, my identical twin brother and I were going to a dermatologist and taking a prescription medication (for several years) to help us with a skin condition called seborrhea dermatitis. According to our doctor the condition was caused by stress. Isn't it interesting that neither one of us has had to use the drug or go back to the dermatologist in almost 11 years since becoming a Melaleuca customer. Coincidence? I don't think so. We stopped using grocery store brands and we switched to the Melaleuca EcoSense laundry system, we wash our face with Melaleuca's Anti-bacterial Liquid Soap and we take Melaleuca's Patented multi-vitamins (The Vitality Pak). Again look at all the money we've saved on medication and doctor visits. And our insurance companies sure thank us too.

My aunt who is now 76 years old used to have her teeth cleaned every 3 months because she had such a problem with tartar and plaque. She did everything her dentist and hygienist told her to do and used the products they recommended. And yet she still had the same results. Then, she switched to Melaleuca's tooth polish (which has T36-C5 Melaleuca Oil in it). Isn't it interesting that at her very next 3 month check up they said she could come back in six months for the first time in 8 years? Coincidence? I don't think so. By the way, she now goes every 9 months to have her teeth cleaned. About 3 years ago she said, you know that Melaleuca stuff saves me $130 every 9 months. I said, It does, how? She said, Well, I only spend $65 every 9 months instead of $65 every 3 months to have my teeth cleaned. By the way, my aunt has placed a Melaleuca order every single month for almost 11 years. She has never received a back-up order and usually orders between 50 and 100 product points even though she only has to order 35 points to qualify for the 30%-40% discount off of retail prices.

About six months ago I referred a lady to Melaleuca. She answered an ad on the Internet. About two weeks after becoming a Melaleuca Customer her son burned one of his hands so severely from gasoline that the doctor predicted he would lose his thumb. Luckily, she had ordered the T36-C5 Melaleuca Oil, MelaGel and The Triple Antibiotic Ointment. She used all three products on his hand and within two days saw improvement. Within two weeks, when she took him back to the doctor's office, the doctor could not believe how well the hand had healed. She could not thank me enough for finding her and recommending she try the Melaleuca products. By the way, his hand completely healed and he did not lose his thumb.

Will you have the same benefits as these examples? Maybe. Maybe not. Everybody is different. That's why the company has a 60-day unconditional money back guarantee (even if the bottle is empty). As Emily stated the company did refund her money. Bottom line. It would only have been a rip off if the company did not honor its guarantee. It may have not gone smoothly and I personally apologize for that. However, Emily's situation is the exception not the norm. That's life!!!

Well said Judith! Life is too short to alienate friends and relatives.

Regarding the differences between Amway and Melaleuca, there are no distributors. The good news is you don't have to depend on someone who is working a pt business in addition to a ft one and end up at the bottom of the pile. Everyone orders direct....unless you have a select few people that want to buy one or two items only. A better way to not allientate family. It's up to you.

You are right on the comparison with Sam's Club, the difference is I don't have to drive anywhere and I buy just what I need, avoiding being enticed by nicely displayed items in the store.

I have allergies too, so avoiding strong chemicals is a concern. It turned out that I saved money in switching to Melaleuca as my prior laundry detergent built up in the drain and plumbers are expensive.

Good luck. You might want to try attending a meeting in your area to check out the people. It is optional, I attended after I enrolled. It may be very low keyed compared to Amway.

I am a person who is looking into the possibility of buying the Melaluca products and maybe becoming a distributor. However, I am asking many questions about the company, the compensation plan, what is exactly required per month so that I would be able to get paid on a monthly basis if I choose to become a distributor.

Now the reason that I am responding to this line is because I noticed that many spoke about Amway in the same sentence as they spoke about Melaluca. Years ago, I was introduced to Amway but they would not tell you that they were introducing you to Amway, that was to be kept a secret. I read the paperwork and choose to become a distributor, but what I didn't know then and now know is that you can read all the paperwork but you need to know your upline or sponsor. You can have all the information that you need to make an informed dicision but like it was with me in Amway, as much as I like the Amway products and really need them because of some allergies that I have and only the Amway products stopped those allergies, it was my upline who was the one where I could no longer get my product. They did not want to deal with any person who just wanted to be a customer.

Now I am looking into Melaluca and the information that I am getting and which includes this site, it seems that if I want to be just a customer and not a distributor, I can buy the products from Melaluca just as if I were buying them from Wal-Mart, Target or any other retail store. The difference that I see in this is the fact that Melaluca has chosen to market their products through this MLM or Consumer Direct Marketing Program in which you can only get the products if you are a member of the club such as Sam's Club or Cosco. I don't have to hope that my upline sponsor will make sure I get the products to me. If I had had an upline in Amway that treated me with respect as a customer then I would never have left Amway. Therefore if I find that Melaluca treats me with respect as a customer and I find that the products work as they are purported to work and I like them then yes I will become a customer.

Now there are other companies out there that sell products at wholesale prices but you again have to be a member of their club to get the products at wholesale prices. Therefore I submit that as a potential distributor of Melaluca, anyone needs to know their upline sponsor very very well before they sign anything, because you will alienate friends and relatives if you turn every visit into a sales meeting. You need to, as my son says, separate your business from your personal time and you will make more time for your family and friends if you will treat them with the respect that they deserve for putting up with you.

I have been watching alot of things said about Melaleuca, this is my first time on this site and I have read alot of comments said and rebuttals given. If I was you (person who originally placed the report) I would have stopped it straight away until a full understanding of what your husband was doing. The ME who introduced him should have spoken to the both of you and not just one, that is what I call unethically and morally disrespectful.

I have no problems with the company or there business compensation, majority of peoples problems is lack of the actual facts. It's the people you deal with that gives the companies a bad name just like any other job.

So by the sounds of things it was not the company's fault, it was not knowing the full facts and the disrespect of the ME.
After all was done and the amount of times it took you to get your refund I would blame that on the CS and Accounts dept for basically, a man made error of inconsiderately being slow.

After all that it's has left another customer who has been tarnished and scarred because people never considered to ask you and even explain things to detail.

Getting back to common sense.

I too have concerns with all MLM models. But unlike many of you I am not renal about it.

MLM's are not all created equal but neither are corporations. Look and Enron, P&G, GM, Microsoft or any other business. They all have consumer complaints and that, in the long run, makes them better companies or they are out of business.

Just because Melaleuca choose to market its products via the MLM model does not invalidate its products, its research or its on-going commmitment to helping the environment.

But they are still a business and need to survive, grow and generate a profit. It seems as though no one wants to spend $25,000 for a car but that seems to be the average price. Wages, middlemen and sales organizations are all in place to make a profit too. I think you need to cut Melaleuca some slack. The MLM model is less disciplined then other models and lends itself to very entrepreneural types of intrepretations. Is that not the basis of our free enterprise system.

We still need to hold their feet to the fire if anything is amis but we do not have to make ourselves victims either.

Hey, if you do not read the fine print or know what you are getting into then you will be hurt. If you later cry "I didn't know" then at least with them you have 120 days to come to your senses or possible lose a little money.

So what, you got a little education and will proceed with a little more caution. Most of what I am reading is child talk. "You did this to me" or "I didn't know."

Think what our country would be like if all we had were monopolies. Only McDonalds, Microsoft, General Motors and Bell Telephone...

Suggestion #1: Read the documents before you sign... make an informed decision and ask questions.

Suggestion #2: Do not sign up under anyone that you feel is pressuring you.

Suggestion #3: If you become involved do not hurt others by being deceptive. Reveal the truth upfront about the business and do not candy coat it and you will have a clear path to success.

The ultimate ripoff is when you allow yourself to be ripped off and ripoff others.

I have spent the last hour reading all this nonsense regarding Melaleuca. I am with Melaleuca and find it worthwhile. Melaleuca is not for everyone, especially the immature audiences that have nothing better to do then bash other companies just because they have no other life outside their own home and wish to be heard because those individuals think people that they do not exist. So in order to allow others to know that they are out there in the world but cannot be seen, but can be heard, they need to write bad comments about other businesses.

Individuals that know that certain businesses are not for them should realize that and keep their mouths shut. Because all they are doing is thinking they are doing something good by opening up a can of worms. When in fact they are really losing their own credibility by putting their name out there. To sum it all up: tattle-tale, tattle-tale!

How childish is this in a world that is supposed to be made up of mature adults and positive role models, from the young to the old?

Melaleuca has no room to put up with negative people and will turn the other way when encountered. Melaleuca does not push anything on anyone, that is something a lot of people are not understanding about the business.

In a nutshell, only mature people shall look into Melaleuca, only those who know they have an open mind shall look into Melaleuca. Only those who want to make a positive change in their lives shall look into Melaleuca.

If Melaleuca is doing something so wrong, it would have been stopped a long time ago. But since it is still running and having a lot of success and successful people, it must be doing something tremendously right.

The ones who like to bash businesses are the ones who are brainwashed into thinking that every single business out there is wrong and a ripoff. In cases like these, a simple solution is this, think before you speak and research thoroughly before making any comments of any kind of any business. Do coomparisons, see which is the better quality and better health friendly, not which is cheaper.

The individuals who are only seeking cheap products can expect cheap results and also they are cheating their own families by deciding to poison their health with cheap products that are watered down, that put lies or keep most ingredients off their labels. For your sake and your families sake, do the research first.

If Melaleuca's facts and so-called "scare tactics" are so wrong, then also resort your frustrations to the reporters of all the news channels and see what they tell you, better yet where to go, because they will tell you where to go and they will tell you to get an education first before having the balls to try to be heard on something that you have no education on even though you think you do.

To all business bashers out there:

Get an education about the business world. If not, you are the ones that everyone will be laughing at. It may not happen now or next year but trust me it will happen!

My regards to you all that love sleeping with toxic chemicals!!

I tried Melaluca products for two months after being highly pressured from a close relative. The products were Ok-that's it OK. They were very over priced and I found myself not needing to purchase anything but being forced to spend money when I didn't need anything. I was told how I was poisioning my family with grocery store brands but I can't seem to find a MSDS or ingredients on many of there products. If this stuff is so great, why isn't it on the shelfs? Is the road to their "financial freedom" worth family and friends not wanting you to come around and being embarressed because you are pushing some majic potion? The brainwashed Mela -greeders are spending to much time at night watching get rich quick shows. I have a MBA and know a MLM when I see one.

If Melaluca is so wonderful then why am I getting $23.00 back for two shipments that were sent to me and I sent back. They sure didn't mind charge my debit card. These shipments were about $60.00 for each one. Mela feels that the $23.00 is all I should get back. What's up with that? Plus, I have a $19.00 credit. Like I want anymore of this overpriced stuff...

Thank you Jim in Washington.
I heard about this site on one of the message boards because people began to bash one of our support teams. I have been involved with Amway and Melaleuca. Mela is much different than any other company I have been involved with. I am sorry for those that have had bad experiences but I encourage those that are looking into Melaleuca to please look at the facts not presented on this message board. There seems to just be a battle of different opinions going on and everyone is entitled to their own of course. I think that everyone has to try something personally for themselves before giving up on it. Mela is a risk free opportunity. If you decide within 4 months, 120 days, that you don't want to be involved the $29 fee is fully refunded to you. That is providing that you have followed the proper procedures. Please read anything you might sign in its entirety. This use to be common sense but after reading what happened to poor Emily I guess we need to look a little closer. ALso, regarding the toxicity of products in your household- these are not scare tactics nor are they biased. They may be presented by a Mela marketing executive but the source is usually the National Center for Poison Control or the Environmental Preotection Agency. Those agencies are not biased. In regards to using Tide, it is true that some people don't have a problem with it but do you know that the flakes ar actually fiberglass particles? I don't want my child sucking on a blanket that has been washed with that. In closing, thank you Jim for showing us what a pyramid really is.

Thank you Jim in Washington.
I heard about this site on one of the message boards because people began to bash one of our support teams. I have been involved with Amway and Melaleuca. Mela is much different than any other company I have been involved with. I am sorry for those that have had bad experiences but I encourage those that are looking into Melaleuca to please look at the facts not presented on this message board. There seems to just be a battle of different opinions going on and everyone is entitled to their own of course. I think that everyone has to try something personally for themselves before giving up on it. Mela is a risk free opportunity. If you decide within 4 months, 120 days, that you don't want to be involved the $29 fee is fully refunded to you. That is providing that you have followed the proper procedures. Please read anything you might sign in its entirety. This use to be common sense but after reading what happened to poor Emily I guess we need to look a little closer. ALso, regarding the toxicity of products in your household- these are not scare tactics nor are they biased. They may be presented by a Mela marketing executive but the source is usually the National Center for Poison Control or the Environmental Preotection Agency. Those agencies are not biased. In regards to using Tide, it is true that some people don't have a problem with it but do you know that the flakes ar actually fiberglass particles? I don't want my child sucking on a blanket that has been washed with that. In closing, thank you Jim for showing us what a pyramid really is.

Thank you Jim in Washington.
I heard about this site on one of the message boards because people began to bash one of our support teams. I have been involved with Amway and Melaleuca. Mela is much different than any other company I have been involved with. I am sorry for those that have had bad experiences but I encourage those that are looking into Melaleuca to please look at the facts not presented on this message board. There seems to just be a battle of different opinions going on and everyone is entitled to their own of course. I think that everyone has to try something personally for themselves before giving up on it. Mela is a risk free opportunity. If you decide within 4 months, 120 days, that you don't want to be involved the $29 fee is fully refunded to you. That is providing that you have followed the proper procedures. Please read anything you might sign in its entirety. This use to be common sense but after reading what happened to poor Emily I guess we need to look a little closer. ALso, regarding the toxicity of products in your household- these are not scare tactics nor are they biased. They may be presented by a Mela marketing executive but the source is usually the National Center for Poison Control or the Environmental Preotection Agency. Those agencies are not biased. In regards to using Tide, it is true that some people don't have a problem with it but do you know that the flakes ar actually fiberglass particles? I don't want my child sucking on a blanket that has been washed with that. In closing, thank you Jim for showing us what a pyramid really is.

Thank you Jim in Washington.
I heard about this site on one of the message boards because people began to bash one of our support teams. I have been involved with Amway and Melaleuca. Mela is much different than any other company I have been involved with. I am sorry for those that have had bad experiences but I encourage those that are looking into Melaleuca to please look at the facts not presented on this message board. There seems to just be a battle of different opinions going on and everyone is entitled to their own of course. I think that everyone has to try something personally for themselves before giving up on it. Mela is a risk free opportunity. If you decide within 4 months, 120 days, that you don't want to be involved the $29 fee is fully refunded to you. That is providing that you have followed the proper procedures. Please read anything you might sign in its entirety. This use to be common sense but after reading what happened to poor Emily I guess we need to look a little closer. ALso, regarding the toxicity of products in your household- these are not scare tactics nor are they biased. They may be presented by a Mela marketing executive but the source is usually the National Center for Poison Control or the Environmental Preotection Agency. Those agencies are not biased. In regards to using Tide, it is true that some people don't have a problem with it but do you know that the flakes ar actually fiberglass particles? I don't want my child sucking on a blanket that has been washed with that. In closing, thank you Jim for showing us what a pyramid really is.

Most of the previous postings regarding "Pyramids" are utter non-sense, and some are just incorrect.

Here is a simple (and, according to the Federal Trade Commission) and correct way to think about "illegal pyramids".....

1. Person 1 buys something from "the company", and cannot get a full refund for it. He must sell it to recoup his investment.

2. Person 1 unloads ("sells") his goods to person 2 - and receives money for it from Person2. At this point, person 1 may have marked the goods up in price, or the Company may pay a bonus upon evidence of the sale. The Company is NOT involved in the transaction with person #2.

3. This process repeats in various forms, each time moving products and between persons (not the company). Each purchaser must sell what he gets, or is stuck with the goods purchased.

Here is the use of "Pyramid Scheme" is incorrect with regard to Melaleuca...........

A. All purchases are made from Melaleuca, not from another "person." There are NO dealers, distributors, inventory holders, sales reps etc.

B. When a dissatisfied customer returns products and receives a refund, the Company deducts previously paid commissions and bonuses from EACH and EVERY customer benefited from the original purchase.

If you read the national Better Business Bureau File (www.bbb.org) you will find no UNRESOLVED complaints. There will ALWAYS be complaints from people whose experience differs from their expectation - even if their expectation was NOT based on carefully reading documents before signing them!

I have PERSONALLY returned products to Melaleuca for a full refund - so have some of my referred customers. In each case, all previously paid commissions were deducted from my next check.

MARY: I HOPE EVERYTHING BRIGTHENS UP FOR YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE. LIVE AND LEARN. AND DON'T BE MAD AT THE SMALL PEOPLE(SALES MEN, TELEMARKETERS, LIARS & THIEVES) IN THE WORLD. THEY KNOW HOW DO NOTHING BUT DECEIVE. THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO EARN THEIR $6.50 AN HOUR. "HA"! MY ADVISE TO EVERYONE OUT THEIR IS: "IF YOU WANT A PERSONAL HYGEINE PRODUCT "GET OFF YOUR LAZY BUTTS & GO TO THE STORE" LIVE A LITTLE. DON'T EVER FALL PREY TO MARKETERS(OF ANY KIND)!

AND MY ADVISE TO THE "SALES PEOPLE" OF AMERICA- GET A JOB, A REAL JOB. GET SOME COLLEGE EDUCATION,USE YOUR BRAIN.

I KNOW I WOULDN'T LIKE IT IF I HAD A JOB THAT PISSED SO MANY PEOPLE OFF.

First off, I'd like to say that I'm glad things worked out in the end for Emily, and I wish you much luck in the future. I've read pretty much every response and rebuttal in this thread, and it just makes me wonder, am I reading something written by mature adults or little kids? Yeah, Emily's husband may have screwed up, but I don't think anybody has the right to criticize either one of them or tell Emily what she needs to do with her husband or her marriage for that matter. And for the record, I don't think anybody here is unintelligent (yes, even you people who can't seem to spell correctly), despite what other people may have said. I pride myself in not making it a practice to ridicule, criticize, and put down others, especially people I know nothing about. Because I know that everyone leads different lives and has different opinions about things, and I respect that. But to sit there and constantly put someone down without having walked a mile in their shoes, well that's just plain mean and the people who do it are being immature and childish-just some of the characteristics of what I like to call A BULLY! Please, everybody just grow up, get your heads out of grammar school, and quit sticking your nose where it doesn't belong and stick to facts about the company.

Anyways, that's enough about that. I have been contacted recently with the opportunity to join the company and become a member myself. I have not yet made my decision and was hoping to find someone or something to convince me to proceed. Things are looking very dim right now. The initial startup fee is not bad, $29 with I think it was 120 days risk free. The problem I have is that the members are required to purchase a certain amount of product every month. I was not informed of this. I didn't know this until I began reading the comments today. I am a full time college student, a mother to a fourteen month old son, and I also hold a job part-time doing data entry and office work (In your face, Jimmy!). So I don't have money to waste on product that I may not even use, especially if what some others are saying about the product is true. And I wanted to get into this because I wanted to have something I could do on my own time in the convenience of my own home so that I could spend more time with my son. But if I have to go around advertising and getting all up in my friends' and family's faces, how am I supposed to have more time to do what I'd like? Don't know.

Now, I understand and believe in defending your company and standing up for what you believe in. Go ahead, knock yourself out. But I also believe in the Golden Rule (For those of you who don't know or may have forgotten at some point in your life [I'm not going to name any names, you know who you are], "Treat others the way you'd like to be treated"). I've read a lot about people who've had problems with Melaleuca in the past, and I've also read quite a bit of defense for the company. But most of what I've read has just been down right rude, inappropriate, and completely out of line. And if these are the kind of people who respresent the company, then I think this may just be one opportunity I'll have to pass on!

Emily,

You rock! Congrats on your success in getting your hard earned money back where it belongs. Give your hubby a kiss...anyone can make a mistake. :)

Jason,

I learned a long time ago to follow my natural, innate instincts. Do what your gut tells you is right. Forget rationalizing the "facts", processing all of the "info" and being swept away by canned "motivation."

Take a good hard look at those who would seek to recruit you, Jason. Their interest in you is strictly monitary. Anyone that has a fiduciary interest in you becoming "part of the family" should be kept at arm's length, in my opinion.

You sound like a young man with dreams. Persue those dreams with the same dedication and focus you would have to persue your family and friends to buy, buy, buy and you will probably succeed. Why? Because you will be doing what you want to do and not trying to take shortcuts to riches.

People in MLM, Pyramids, Matrix, CDM etc, always talk about money; how much money you "could be making." What about self pride, satisfaction and enjoyment? Do something you enjoy, will be proud to tell others you do and will give you that euphoric feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day - most days, anyway. If that means selling tea tree oil products, then by all means do it; if it means going to college and working your a** off for a Teachers Certification, MBA, or PhD then, do it! There are a shortage of great teachers almost everywhere.

Be true to what YOU believe in no matter what it is. Follow your instincts and remember, riches aren't always monetary.

Best of luck,

P.S. Stay at home mothers DO have real jobs and seldom sit around eating bon-bons a la Peggy Bundy. Although I am not one of these exhaulted women, I do admire their choice to give the best of themselves to those who need them the most.
Me: College Grad, Well Paid Professional, Mommie of 2 (had my last child at 40, year and a half ago), worked my a** off to put myself through college, worked three jobs to do it - 1st one in my family to have the opportunity to accomplish this. I can say, unlike some of those who have posted here, that I am proud of what I do. My friends, parents and extended family are also proud of me and look forward to seeing me at every opportunity.

Good luck in what ever you decide to do Jason.

I've just spent three hours reading everything hear to try and get a clear and concise view on whether this is a viable and/or safe venture to get into. Because it's now 3am i am only going to make one point and then make another tomorrow after i'm rested.

Almost (not everyone), but the majority of people here have let one key fact slip them by. Whether or not you believe this company is for good or worse, or whether it's about selling a product (which it is--save the feedback), every person who has posted here has proven that they are in fact the ADVERTISING mechanism which this company needs in order to survive and prosper.

You're all right, they don't need to pay for TV ads/shelf space/storage/etc..etc. Instead, they turn to you, the people to use as their advertisement through word of mouth, web sites you create to promote your own success, news paper ads, whatever, you name it, the advertising has been taken care of at less of an expense by completely and wilfully manipulating you.

In the end, they have saved millions, the odd person here has made a tiny fortune and the rest lose interest over time only to be replaced by more who want to get rich quick..but 90% never do.

Now don't get me wrong, I am still interested myself and have developed mixed feelings after reading everyone's rants and raves about whether it's ligit, or whether it's MLM or CDM but the truth is; it really doesn't matter much. You advertise and make a few dollars instead of a media based company turning the profit. In the end, you have effectively sold Melaleuca's product to a wide range and variety of people who continue to do the same. Everyone gets a piece of the cut and only as much as you want, if you want any at all.

Even being a consumer and nothing more has advertised that this system works and the product has some potential value. (though i will have to check into this rather large unresearched side of Tea Tree Oil).

Just to remark on Chef's comments about bleach, I am also a chef and have been exposed to many highly concentrated agents, except in my case, i now have severe allergic reactions in the form of skin so dry, it peels and cracks for a month on my hands and no moisturizer helps, that i can't even work in a kitchen anymore. I suspect it had a lot to do with bleach, the iodine solution used in part of the rinse procedure for aluminum pots and various industrial cleaners. I can't even wear latex gloves, or dishwashing gloves anymore. Ironically, the only thing safe for me is Irish Spring soap, even Dove (991/4% pure crap) does a nasty job on my skin.
Anyway, i have more to say but not tonight.

first off ill say this feel free to rag on me for my lack of spelling abillaties.
to start with ill say im glad she got her money back and advise her to tell her husband to always talk with her whenever he gets an idea like this because i belive that both should have been ther to get input from each other after all it is a joint venture. now for those who read my name youll find im a chef for 20 years iv used many cleaning agents and id say iv used more toxic cleaning agents then anyone in thes board and i must report im not sick and am in great health im 41 and still kicking. my sister introduced me to the aussie tea tree oil or mali a few years ago and even game me some samples i agree the smell is not apealing and the body wash left me fealing slimey nut not bad i guess. she showed me the info on it and here is what i decided. if most products are concentrated and i am very familuer with concentrated cleaning agents i decided in about 3 months id have enough to last me for around 2 years so why would i want to have it to continue to be delivered to me every month. i really couldent see how id save money unless i cut them off from my bank account and ordered once every year i dont need 40 bottles of window cleaner every month. geting my point anyone?and i dont need everything i use to stink like tea tree oil i can go to wal mart and buy a bottle of tea tree oil and add it to the things i want it in and thats what i did for five bucks you can get a bottle of tea tree oil and add a bit to say some hand lotion for a bug repelent or add some to a bottle of shampoo if the kids come home with head lice. and if you are thinking of using it on your cat or dog id advise you not to it can and will kill your cats and if you think i lie do a web search on it. thhe tea tree oil is made up of 100 compounds and thus far only around 3 have been studied by fda and sicence. so to tell people it is a safe harmless item is to decive your family and friends for the allmighty dollar as for me and my loved ones anf friends i choose them and you would be wise to do the same. dont argue with everyone about a tree oil that all of its compounds have yet to be identefied and say its ok its safe eat it drink it bath with it ect it is the same as the wd40 oil you know it and use it. and it was first made for arthritis and it was used for it untill the fda said nope not safe for that. but im sure friends and family said hey want the pain to go away use wd40. if your common sence tells you to sell and recrute people to buy a product that you dont know all the facts. then i say when the day comes when all the facts are out you will hear us say i tryed to warn you but you just wouldent listen. because all you could say was my minds made up dont confuse me with the facts. now a little insite when i use tea tree oil in anything for more then a week i break out in a rash and it lasts for around 2 weeks and the same goes for tide and irish spring soap. but i can use bleach and oven cleaner undiluted oven cleaner and other so called toxic things and no problem. as for missouri theye will take anything you put in the trash and i have never seen a osha requirement for people who use bleach to wear a gas mask and hazmat suit and i deal with the labour dept and osha all the time the only way bleach is toxic as far as fumes is if you put any amonia in it clorine is in your drinking water to kill germs and in your swimming pool.i belive people are over stating the dangers of just about everything i mean comeon people how long do you really want to live? have you ever been to a nursing home is that what you want to live to go through. not me. my grand mother is in one she cant do carp she can bairly talk and yet wants to live another 10 years to be 101 she cant walk she cant feed herself if someone dosent take her to the pot she has to do it in her bed and lay in it untill someone can clean her and theye cant be with her 24 7 there are many other people in there too. so enjoy the years you still have with your family and friends in peace if you want to retire at a young age join the army and retire after 20 years. that option was available when you turned 18 to retire at 38 and you cant say theye dident advertise. for me i enjoy my line of work so to try to make it sound like a dead end is foolish i have my friends and my wife of 17 years and 4 wounderfull sons for me that is all the wealth i ever need. and if you dont have what i got youll never make enough money to buy it regardless of what you sell or how you sell it. and a last note for the person who thinks people who cant spell are imbaseals know this i taught my self everything i know. including english im also a self taught computer tech and auto mechanic plumber,electrician and carpenter my wife and sons and i have built our house by ourselves and its awsome and it will out last any of the homes that are made nowa days and we had fun doing it so please dont call me a dumb a*s just because i havent perfected the art of spelling im sure you grew up in a nice home i grew up on the streets i was abandond at the age of ten i also went to truck driving school just to learn how not for a job just because i wanted to learn. so please dont judge people and as a very wise man said he who is without sin cast the first stone and then he knealed down and wrote something in the sand and i belive if you think hard enough youll figure out what he wrote.

first off ill say this feel free to rag on me for my lack of spelling abillaties.
to start with ill say im glad she got her money back and advise her to tell her husband to always talk with her whenever he gets an idea like this because i belive that both should have been ther to get input from each other after all it is a joint venture. now for those who read my name youll find im a chef for 20 years iv used many cleaning agents and id say iv used more toxic cleaning agents then anyone in thes board and i must report im not sick and am in great health im 41 and still kicking. my sister introduced me to the aussie tea tree oil or mali a few years ago and even game me some samples i agree the smell is not apealing and the body wash left me fealing slimey nut not bad i guess. she showed me the info on it and here is what i decided. if most products are concentrated and i am very familuer with concentrated cleaning agents i decided in about 3 months id have enough to last me for around 2 years so why would i want to have it to continue to be delivered to me every month. i really couldent see how id save money unless i cut them off from my bank account and ordered once every year i dont need 40 bottles of window cleaner every month. geting my point anyone?and i dont need everything i use to stink like tea tree oil i can go to wal mart and buy a bottle of tea tree oil and add it to the things i want it in and thats what i did for five bucks you can get a bottle of tea tree oil and add a bit to say some hand lotion for a bug repelent or add some to a bottle of shampoo if the kids come home with head lice. and if you are thinking of using it on your cat or dog id advise you not to it can and will kill your cats and if you think i lie do a web search on it. thhe tea tree oil is made up of 100 compounds and thus far only around 3 have been studied by fda and sicence. so to tell people it is a safe harmless item is to decive your family and friends for the allmighty dollar as for me and my loved ones anf friends i choose them and you would be wise to do the same. dont argue with everyone about a tree oil that all of its compounds have yet to be identefied and say its ok its safe eat it drink it bath with it ect it is the same as the wd40 oil you know it and use it. and it was first made for arthritis and it was used for it untill the fda said nope not safe for that. but im sure friends and family said hey want the pain to go away use wd40. if your common sence tells you to sell and recrute people to buy a product that you dont know all the facts. then i say when the day comes when all the facts are out you will hear us say i tryed to warn you but you just wouldent listen. because all you could say was my minds made up dont confuse me with the facts. now a little insite when i use tea tree oil in anything for more then a week i break out in a rash and it lasts for around 2 weeks and the same goes for tide and irish spring soap. but i can use bleach and oven cleaner undiluted oven cleaner and other so called toxic things and no problem. as for missouri theye will take anything you put in the trash and i have never seen a osha requirement for people who use bleach to wear a gas mask and hazmat suit and i deal with the labour dept and osha all the time the only way bleach is toxic as far as fumes is if you put any amonia in it clorine is in your drinking water to kill germs and in your swimming pool.i belive people are over stating the dangers of just about everything i mean comeon people how long do you really want to live? have you ever been to a nursing home is that what you want to live to go through. not me. my grand mother is in one she cant do carp she can bairly talk and yet wants to live another 10 years to be 101 she cant walk she cant feed herself if someone dosent take her to the pot she has to do it in her bed and lay in it untill someone can clean her and theye cant be with her 24 7 there are many other people in there too. so enjoy the years you still have with your family and friends in peace if you want to retire at a young age join the army and retire after 20 years. that option was available when you turned 18 to retire at 38 and you cant say theye dident advertise. for me i enjoy my line of work so to try to make it sound like a dead end is foolish i have my friends and my wife of 17 years and 4 wounderfull sons for me that is all the wealth i ever need. and if you dont have what i got youll never make enough money to buy it regardless of what you sell or how you sell it. and a last note for the person who thinks people who cant spell are imbaseals know this i taught my self everything i know. including english im also a self taught computer tech and auto mechanic plumber,electrician and carpenter my wife and sons and i have built our house by ourselves and its awsome and it will out last any of the homes that are made nowa days and we had fun doing it so please dont call me a dumb a*s just because i havent perfected the art of spelling im sure you grew up in a nice home i grew up on the streets i was abandond at the age of ten i also went to truck driving school just to learn how not for a job just because i wanted to learn. so please dont judge people and as a very wise man said he who is without sin cast the first stone and then he knealed down and wrote something in the sand and i belive if you think hard enough youll figure out what he wrote.

first off ill say this feel free to rag on me for my lack of spelling abillaties.
to start with ill say im glad she got her money back and advise her to tell her husband to always talk with her whenever he gets an idea like this because i belive that both should have been ther to get input from each other after all it is a joint venture. now for those who read my name youll find im a chef for 20 years iv used many cleaning agents and id say iv used more toxic cleaning agents then anyone in thes board and i must report im not sick and am in great health im 41 and still kicking. my sister introduced me to the aussie tea tree oil or mali a few years ago and even game me some samples i agree the smell is not apealing and the body wash left me fealing slimey nut not bad i guess. she showed me the info on it and here is what i decided. if most products are concentrated and i am very familuer with concentrated cleaning agents i decided in about 3 months id have enough to last me for around 2 years so why would i want to have it to continue to be delivered to me every month. i really couldent see how id save money unless i cut them off from my bank account and ordered once every year i dont need 40 bottles of window cleaner every month. geting my point anyone?and i dont need everything i use to stink like tea tree oil i can go to wal mart and buy a bottle of tea tree oil and add it to the things i want it in and thats what i did for five bucks you can get a bottle of tea tree oil and add a bit to say some hand lotion for a bug repelent or add some to a bottle of shampoo if the kids come home with head lice. and if you are thinking of using it on your cat or dog id advise you not to it can and will kill your cats and if you think i lie do a web search on it. thhe tea tree oil is made up of 100 compounds and thus far only around 3 have been studied by fda and sicence. so to tell people it is a safe harmless item is to decive your family and friends for the allmighty dollar as for me and my loved ones anf friends i choose them and you would be wise to do the same. dont argue with everyone about a tree oil that all of its compounds have yet to be identefied and say its ok its safe eat it drink it bath with it ect it is the same as the wd40 oil you know it and use it. and it was first made for arthritis and it was used for it untill the fda said nope not safe for that. but im sure friends and family said hey want the pain to go away use wd40. if your common sence tells you to sell and recrute people to buy a product that you dont know all the facts. then i say when the day comes when all the facts are out you will hear us say i tryed to warn you but you just wouldent listen. because all you could say was my minds made up dont confuse me with the facts. now a little insite when i use tea tree oil in anything for more then a week i break out in a rash and it lasts for around 2 weeks and the same goes for tide and irish spring soap. but i can use bleach and oven cleaner undiluted oven cleaner and other so called toxic things and no problem. as for missouri theye will take anything you put in the trash and i have never seen a osha requirement for people who use bleach to wear a gas mask and hazmat suit and i deal with the labour dept and osha all the time the only way bleach is toxic as far as fumes is if you put any amonia in it clorine is in your drinking water to kill germs and in your swimming pool.i belive people are over stating the dangers of just about everything i mean comeon people how long do you really want to live? have you ever been to a nursing home is that what you want to live to go through. not me. my grand mother is in one she cant do carp she can bairly talk and yet wants to live another 10 years to be 101 she cant walk she cant feed herself if someone dosent take her to the pot she has to do it in her bed and lay in it untill someone can clean her and theye cant be with her 24 7 there are many other people in there too. so enjoy the years you still have with your family and friends in peace if you want to retire at a young age join the army and retire after 20 years. that option was available when you turned 18 to retire at 38 and you cant say theye dident advertise. for me i enjoy my line of work so to try to make it sound like a dead end is foolish i have my friends and my wife of 17 years and 4 wounderfull sons for me that is all the wealth i ever need. and if you dont have what i got youll never make enough money to buy it regardless of what you sell or how you sell it. and a last note for the person who thinks people who cant spell are imbaseals know this i taught my self everything i know. including english im also a self taught computer tech and auto mechanic plumber,electrician and carpenter my wife and sons and i have built our house by ourselves and its awsome and it will out last any of the homes that are made nowa days and we had fun doing it so please dont call me a dumb a*s just because i havent perfected the art of spelling im sure you grew up in a nice home i grew up on the streets i was abandond at the age of ten i also went to truck driving school just to learn how not for a job just because i wanted to learn. so please dont judge people and as a very wise man said he who is without sin cast the first stone and then he knealed down and wrote something in the sand and i belive if you think hard enough youll figure out what he wrote.

first off ill say this feel free to rag on me for my lack of spelling abillaties.
to start with ill say im glad she got her money back and advise her to tell her husband to always talk with her whenever he gets an idea like this because i belive that both should have been ther to get input from each other after all it is a joint venture. now for those who read my name youll find im a chef for 20 years iv used many cleaning agents and id say iv used more toxic cleaning agents then anyone in thes board and i must report im not sick and am in great health im 41 and still kicking. my sister introduced me to the aussie tea tree oil or mali a few years ago and even game me some samples i agree the smell is not apealing and the body wash left me fealing slimey nut not bad i guess. she showed me the info on it and here is what i decided. if most products are concentrated and i am very familuer with concentrated cleaning agents i decided in about 3 months id have enough to last me for around 2 years so why would i want to have it to continue to be delivered to me every month. i really couldent see how id save money unless i cut them off from my bank account and ordered once every year i dont need 40 bottles of window cleaner every month. geting my point anyone?and i dont need everything i use to stink like tea tree oil i can go to wal mart and buy a bottle of tea tree oil and add it to the things i want it in and thats what i did for five bucks you can get a bottle of tea tree oil and add a bit to say some hand lotion for a bug repelent or add some to a bottle of shampoo if the kids come home with head lice. and if you are thinking of using it on your cat or dog id advise you not to it can and will kill your cats and if you think i lie do a web search on it. thhe tea tree oil is made up of 100 compounds and thus far only around 3 have been studied by fda and sicence. so to tell people it is a safe harmless item is to decive your family and friends for the allmighty dollar as for me and my loved ones anf friends i choose them and you would be wise to do the same. dont argue with everyone about a tree oil that all of its compounds have yet to be identefied and say its ok its safe eat it drink it bath with it ect it is the same as the wd40 oil you know it and use it. and it was first made for arthritis and it was used for it untill the fda said nope not safe for that. but im sure friends and family said hey want the pain to go away use wd40. if your common sence tells you to sell and recrute people to buy a product that you dont know all the facts. then i say when the day comes when all the facts are out you will hear us say i tryed to warn you but you just wouldent listen. because all you could say was my minds made up dont confuse me with the facts. now a little insite when i use tea tree oil in anything for more then a week i break out in a rash and it lasts for around 2 weeks and the same goes for tide and irish spring soap. but i can use bleach and oven cleaner undiluted oven cleaner and other so called toxic things and no problem. as for missouri theye will take anything you put in the trash and i have never seen a osha requirement for people who use bleach to wear a gas mask and hazmat suit and i deal with the labour dept and osha all the time the only way bleach is toxic as far as fumes is if you put any amonia in it clorine is in your drinking water to kill germs and in your swimming pool.i belive people are over stating the dangers of just about everything i mean comeon people how long do you really want to live? have you ever been to a nursing home is that what you want to live to go through. not me. my grand mother is in one she cant do carp she can bairly talk and yet wants to live another 10 years to be 101 she cant walk she cant feed herself if someone dosent take her to the pot she has to do it in her bed and lay in it untill someone can clean her and theye cant be with her 24 7 there are many other people in there too. so enjoy the years you still have with your family and friends in peace if you want to retire at a young age join the army and retire after 20 years. that option was available when you turned 18 to retire at 38 and you cant say theye dident advertise. for me i enjoy my line of work so to try to make it sound like a dead end is foolish i have my friends and my wife of 17 years and 4 wounderfull sons for me that is all the wealth i ever need. and if you dont have what i got youll never make enough money to buy it regardless of what you sell or how you sell it. and a last note for the person who thinks people who cant spell are imbaseals know this i taught my self everything i know. including english im also a self taught computer tech and auto mechanic plumber,electrician and carpenter my wife and sons and i have built our house by ourselves and its awsome and it will out last any of the homes that are made nowa days and we had fun doing it so please dont call me a dumb a*s just because i havent perfected the art of spelling im sure you grew up in a nice home i grew up on the streets i was abandond at the age of ten i also went to truck driving school just to learn how not for a job just because i wanted to learn. so please dont judge people and as a very wise man said he who is without sin cast the first stone and then he knealed down and wrote something in the sand and i belive if you think hard enough youll figure out what he wrote.

You know those rodents that run off cliffs by the hundreds for some "unknown" reason.
Well, Melaleuca is just the same thing.
These people that defend the company, are greedy, and do not want their chances of recruiting others to be jepardized.
So even after they themselves have stopped believing the lies.
At first they have to save face,
When they start to add up ALL that was spent, in time, money, products, listening to bullshit "mentoring" tapes or presentastions.
It usually hits them like a ton a bricks....
"I've been had"

DUH!!!

Feel sorry for idiots like "POOR JIMMY", who has nothing better to do that attack someone about their wieght.
Is that woman's weight really that a valid "Melaleuca" concern??

But don't worry, he probably suffers from small p***s syndrome, or maybe even lack there of?
Hey Jimmy, maybe melaleuca will invent "tea tree cure all for that????
And it will be non toxic....oooooooh!

MELALEUCA~ HOME OF THE LEMMINGS!!

PS Mary and Emily.....YOU ROCK !!

You know those rodents that run off cliffs by the hundreds for some "unknown" reason.
Well, Melaleuca is just the same thing.
These people that defend the company, are greedy, and do not want their chances of recruiting others to be jepardized.
So even after they themselves have stopped believing the lies.
At first they have to save face,
When they start to add up ALL that was spent, in time, money, products, listening to bullshit "mentoring" tapes or presentastions.
It usually hits them like a ton a bricks....
"I've been had"

DUH!!!

Feel sorry for idiots like "POOR JIMMY", who has nothing better to do that attack someone about their wieght.
Is that woman's weight really that a valid "Melaleuca" concern??

But don't worry, he probably suffers from small p***s syndrome, or maybe even lack there of?
Hey Jimmy, maybe melaleuca will invent "tea tree cure all for that????
And it will be non toxic....oooooooh!

MELALEUCA~ HOME OF THE LEMMINGS!!

PS Mary and Emily.....YOU ROCK !!

You know those rodents that run off cliffs by the hundreds for some "unknown" reason.
Well, Melaleuca is just the same thing.
These people that defend the company, are greedy, and do not want their chances of recruiting others to be jepardized.
So even after they themselves have stopped believing the lies.
At first they have to save face,
When they start to add up ALL that was spent, in time, money, products, listening to bullshit "mentoring" tapes or presentastions.
It usually hits them like a ton a bricks....
"I've been had"

DUH!!!

Feel sorry for idiots like "POOR JIMMY", who has nothing better to do that attack someone about their wieght.
Is that woman's weight really that a valid "Melaleuca" concern??

But don't worry, he probably suffers from small p***s syndrome, or maybe even lack there of?
Hey Jimmy, maybe melaleuca will invent "tea tree cure all for that????
And it will be non toxic....oooooooh!

MELALEUCA~ HOME OF THE LEMMINGS!!

PS Mary and Emily.....YOU ROCK !!

You know those rodents that run off cliffs by the hundreds for some "unknown" reason.
Well, Melaleuca is just the same thing.
These people that defend the company, are greedy, and do not want their chances of recruiting others to be jepardized.
So even after they themselves have stopped believing the lies.
At first they have to save face,
When they start to add up ALL that was spent, in time, money, products, listening to bullshit "mentoring" tapes or presentastions.
It usually hits them like a ton a bricks....
"I've been had"

DUH!!!

Feel sorry for idiots like "POOR JIMMY", who has nothing better to do that attack someone about their wieght.
Is that woman's weight really that a valid "Melaleuca" concern??

But don't worry, he probably suffers from small p***s syndrome, or maybe even lack there of?
Hey Jimmy, maybe melaleuca will invent "tea tree cure all for that????
And it will be non toxic....oooooooh!

MELALEUCA~ HOME OF THE LEMMINGS!!

PS Mary and Emily.....YOU ROCK !!

This is Jason answering back regarding Melaleuca. I am a new Melaleuca customer / representative who just received his products and is in "testing phase".

I find that Melaleuca has good products after initial use. However, after my initial analysis of what I received versus what I paid, I do find the products to be pricy. I received Shampoo, Conditioner, Shaving Gel, Dishwashing Detergent, Soap, and a few other materials I haven't tried yet..

To be a Melaleuca customer you are required to purchase a minimum of $50 per monthly order value (in U.S. dollars) or what they call 35 BP's (Base Points).

I have not mentioned Melaleuca yet to anyone except a few close and trustworthy friends at my place of employment. Their first reaction was "this looks EXACTLY like another Amway". and "These prices are high", "A few products are reasonably priced, but most of these are high"... and "I can get that compound down at Wal-Mart for less than 1/2 the price listed here".

It was good to get some real-time and true to life comments by close friends. I just mentioned to them that I made a purchase and was evaluating products. (They have no idea that I automatically became a "distributor".)

Yet my sponsor, I found out is one of the top dogs.. he is earning over 100K per year. He, I gather is one of the minorities who are making it big with Melaleuca, or with any MLM I presume.
The result of his success is what prompts me to dig into this thing much further. If my sponsor was only making $1K per month while working another job, then I wouldn't take Melaleuca seriously. However, he is earning over 100K per year and Melaleuca is his one and only job, and he owns 3 different homes in different regions of the US, and he also put his 4 children through schooling with his Melaleuca earnings.

I often ponder that perhaps it isn't that one system is better than another, rather it is the chance to be taken "under the wing" of someone who has really succeeded. Maybe that's the secret! If you can "hook up" with someone who has become thoroughly successful, maybe YOU stand a good chance to be successful as well if you are willing to take the risk, follow his lead, be persistant and patient.

Still there is 1/2 of my conscious that says "don't bother". I have tried the products and have found the following:

1) They are good (but not earth-shattering) in quality

2) They are over-priced in comparison to local merchants such as Wal-Mart or grocery stores.

Then there is the other 1/2 of my conscious that asks "well then there is Paul who is earning over $100K per year, he did it, why can't I?"

Still more time is needed to decide. He has been honest through the whole thing. As I will be if I decide to venture into this thing. That is my input for those who maybe in the same situation as I am. Most of the time with MLM's you are only as good as those who are underneath you. If they are not making money, you are not making money. Your responsibility is to motivate them. However you have to be a mentor and be motivated yourself by whatever you are selling.

The long and short of it is that you are selling no matter what is said or how it is presented. They call it Consumer Direct Marketing.. it is still MLM. You work for a large corporation... you are generating income for your company's CEO and shareholders. Essetially you are still a stepping stone on the grand pyramid structure in your workplace anyway. The question you have to ask yourself is "do I want to go into business for myself and do the direct selling myself, instead of doing it indirctly for someone else?"

It is much more comfortable to be in a position where you are not directly selling in my opinion. Some people love to get out there and sell. MLM programs are for them. I am not that type of person. I am a more technically inclined person who would much rather keep the backbone of the system operational rather than going out there and promote the system.

Ok I have done enough babbling here. Just food for thought I suppose. That is my stance and hopefully my comments help someone else out there who could be considering going into business for themselves through the MLM program avenue.

Take care and god bless everyone!

I have been a customer of Melaleuca for 4 months. I enjoy the products and they have helped my Mom live a better life. I say this because her allergies were so bad she couldn't do very much. I believe that every person needs to make up his/her own mind and do the research. There are many websites that have no connection to Melaleuca, But they talk about the household cleaners you use everyday. I was a customer and used the products for 2 months before I ever told a single person I used it. Please except my thoughts as just that my thoughts. God Bless you all. Tammy

Jason,

I have been somewhat negative about Melaleuca. I must also point out that I am negative about MLMs. However, provided one goes into an MLM business with all the facts, I really don't see too much wrong with it, PROVIDED you can find the right company.

And right there is the problem. Who?

I'm not sure that there is one that lives up to all the promises; and believe me, everyone I have encountered makes alot of promises.

At the risk of getting a thousand rebuttals, most of them have the same structure and use the same techniques to recruit, retain and develop the business. This is where I have the problem.

1. They encourage you to sell, not only to your friends and family, but to everyone. What a life - constantly on the sell! (When I say sell, I mean the products and the "opportunity".

2. Most require you to pay as if you are running your own business (which I'm sure they will argue, you are ) without any or much income. You will also find yourslf buying tapes, books, pamphlets, brochures etc ( a different person saying the same things over and over) and paying to go to seminars, workshops, "vacations" etc etc.

3. You are constantly bombarded by meetings, phone hook ups etc to "lock you" into the business. You are encouraged to bring new people along to meetings etc.

4. The pie in the sky dream and the message that their business is the best and everyone not in it is somehow missing the point. I first joined an MLM about fifteen years ago, my wife is still in one. I personally know or have met hundreds of people over the years that were/are in MLM companies. Yet, even the top people, the ones supposedly earning 50K or 100K a month years and years ago, are still at it, working away like a normal job. The truth is, you will never retire. See, MLMs need lots of people, continually proppping up those above them. If you have a long and strong organisation, you will still need others to replace those that inevitably and continually leave.

5. Finally, what I hate most.
The sugar coating, the deception and the misleading statements. Every MLM (from my experience) misleads people. Usually it is when you start and you don't understand how the company works. They give you all the rah rah rah and all that hype and fake positivity and then hope you are so switched on by the time you find out the truth that you will stay anyway. If only they could be honest...

When I first heard about Melaleuca, from a close relative, she said that there was no selling and it was not an MLM. This is Melaleuca playing the semantic game. Euphemisms like "introducing people to the company" (ie SELLING PRODUCTS); and "consumer direct marketing" (ie MULTI LEVEL MARKETING) certainly don't fool me.

If only they could be honest...

So Jason, I guess you will do what is best for you. I hope it all works out for you. I'm sure if you do give it a shot you'll have one thing going for you; honesty.

I believe it is the most important (and lacking) quality Multi Level Marketers can have.

PS - I stand by what I said a few posts earlier; MLM is just a job like any other, with the same opportunity. If you work hard you may be successful. If you work it part time, you'll earn a part time income.

Cheers and good luck,

I am a new customer of Melaleuca. Seriously I have been contemplating the idea of becoming a "business builder".

At first glace, Melaleuca seems to have their act together, with a wide product line, present a notion of being careful with the environment, and offer seemingly unmatchable opportunities for those who decide to "jump on board" and start a business.

I think there is plenty of misleading information presented by Melaleuca. They specify that they are not MLM, however, the commission structure mirrors MLM to the "T". That would then open up a "can of worms" to rebut what defines MLM. There are so many conflicting views, which leaves me at a loss. I am royally confused as to what to believe!

Therefore, I have determined that the "majority" rules and will go with that in making my decision. Right now, I am still undecided actually. In spending hours reading these threads it seems to be close to a 50/50 split of those in favor or are opposed to this "opportunity".

The fact is that Melaleuca has been around for over 17 years and has millions of customers, many of which who are satisfied. They must be doing something right.

However, when joining they do want you to mention the product line to your "warm market", i.e. family, friends, etc. That is something that turns me off immediately. I do not want to negatively influece my family and friends with something I am unsure of (which anybody is when they are first approached with a new opportunity).

They should suggest that you find alternative ways to build your "Melaleuca" business until you are thoroughly convinced that it is the best thing for you and your family. Because we all want the BEST for our friends and family and don't want to introduce something that is substandard. Who wants to disappoint friends and family due to haste?

That is my input on Melaleuca. Right now I am stand-off-ish because of the many conflicting remarks made. I still believe I need more time to determine whether or not this is right for me. If anyone has any clear cut advise, that would be much appreciated.

In the meantime, I am going to try the products and determine for myself the value and cost ratio, and if these products are really superior.

My sponsor was very articulate and concise about the monthly 35 minimum point value of consumption (which is not a problem for me). I still think there are a lot of representatives who are not clear to their new customers regarding this. To me, that is the single most important detail that cannot ever be left out in their presentations. Do not deceive! Have a great day everyone, and your feedback will be worth it's weight in gold.

Sincerely,

Ronald,
There is so much to get through:

You say you are not selling anything. You are "educating others about their choices."

Nice euphemism. A car salesman, realtor, street vendor or business executive could all use the same language. You go on: "I do not sell the products. I give a product demonstration. The customers buy the products from Melaleuca, not me."

Does the Xerox saleman buy the products from Xerox and then sell them to a business? Do car salesmen buy vehicles from Ford and then sell them to customers?

Of course not. Yet they are still salespeople who SELL. Why not just admit that YOU sell the products? I would respect you more if you were honest.

You say: "The entire presentation is about the products and not the money making opportunity."
Please. The entire presentation is about getting someone to buy the products A/ so that your cheque is bigger or B/ to recruit them into the company to again increase your income.

You say: "Face it. We all have to buy these products from somewhere and some prefer the ones from Melaleuca over the grocery store brands. Many have found these to work better and I have a ton of success stories from customers that prove this."

To this I simply ask that you look at all the companies who have been around for many years selling their products to the consumer. If the consumer is unhappy with their product - for whatever reason - the company is forced by the market to change its products to suit the customer. Melaleuca, on the other hand attempts to change its customers perceptions to sell their own products. (Toxins etc etc)

As far as your price comparisons (The typical ones straight out of the Melaleuca Sales Manual)-I did a little market research for myself. These are the results:

Melaleuca Denti Clean - 4 Times more expensive than what I can buy here in Australia.

Breath Away - 3 Times more expensive

Advanced Expression Hair Shampoos & Conditioner -

A STAGGERING 7 Times more expensive than what I could buy on special!!!!

You say that companies like Wal Mart (which we do not have in Australia) "have to advertise and buy shelf space in the stores. This drives up the expense. Melaleuca shares the profits with those that spread the word about their products instead of paying the TV Advertisers and the stores."

Again, nice euphemisms; I particularly like "shares the profits", and "those that spread the word." Wal Mart doesn't - like Melaleuca - have to pay 7 generations of Melaleuca Directors and Preferred Customers all wanting their cut on each sale. I would say that these 7 generations all "drive up the expense".

You say: "Problem, they offer you nothing for recommending that others shop at their store."

Big deal Ronald.

I don't want anything for recommending a product to someone. How good a friend are you that you want to be compensated for helping them out?
Are you saying that you will only assist a friend if there is some benefit to you?

This comment made my day: "Try to take back an empty bottle of Tylenol after 59 days and say it didn't work, but you used them all anyway. You will get nothing. Melaleuca will still refund your money."

I laughed when I read this. Why would you continue to use a defective product?
How ridiculous!

If the last part of your statement is correct, however, I've got a good idea for you. Why don't you just send ALL your empty bottles back every month and get a refund after you use them all. Now, if that happens SIGN ME UP TODAY, I was wrong about Melaleuca!!!!

Finally, you say "I continue to work my 9-5 job and make this extra along the way. I let Melaleuca pay my bills and I enjoy using my other funds doing fun things."

This really gets to the heart of my complaint with Melaleuca and other MLMs. They are just jobs (without all the benefits of employment) and to represent them in any other way is unconscionable and misleading. Anyone can get an EXTRA job to pay the bills. MLMs, for most people, are simply a part time job with a part time income. True, Some people get rich, but they are in the minority and they have to work d**n hard and be d**n good...just like the real world.

My criticism is that these companies are not open about what they do. Melaleuca is not out to save the world, they are out to make money...No problem with that, just be honest, stop the crap about the environment, toxins etc. One of Melaleuca's suppliers in Australia was recently closed down because of unhygenic work practices. (Granted, the problems were not with Melaleuca
products... so they say) However, it does make me wonder how strict Melaleuca's own quality control and "research" are, when a company they buy products from is closed down because of bad work practices. Particularly when Melaleuca's "sales force" is out in the street pitching the "eliminate toxins" manifesto.

The point is that it is about money; the toxin stuff, the "Consumer Direct" line, the "we are not an MLM" platform and the "There's no selling" speil are just the punchlines of a bad joke.

Be honest, and then you can do what you want and I won't be forced to respond.

Cheers

Ronald - Cincinnati, Ohio
U.S.A.

Mark,
First, I would like to say that after 3 months of dedicated time to Melaleuca, I received a check in excess of $1,000. I have friends that are making in excess of $15K a month after less than 2 years and I have seen the checks to prove it. I say this to point out that YOU CAN MAKE MONEY WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY. but yes, it requires work. No one will pay you that type of money without hard work and dedication.

Secondly, I do so by educating others about their choices. The entire presentation is about the products and not the money making opportunity. Melaleuca is a way for me and others to get products that do not have toxins, carcinogens, or harsh chemicals. Third, I have many customers that are not trying to make any money at all, but just enjoy the products. Face it. We all have to buy these products from somewhere and some prefer the ones from Melaleuca over the grocery store brands. Many have found these to work better and I have a ton of success stories from customers that prove this. It is these customers that tell me that I am doing the right thing. If I quit tomorrow, I would still order these products and no it is not brainwashing. I simply love what I am getting and feel healthier as a result.

Now for my rebuttal...
Your comments - Why not just reduce the price and forget about the royalties?"
My response - Example: Tide, 409, Fantastik,Tilex, Windex,Listerine, Rembrandt,Clinique,etc. are more expensive than our brands, just to name a few. Do you know why? They have to advertise and buy shelf space in the stores. This drives up the expense. Melaleuca shares the profits with those that spread the word about their products instead of paying the TV Advertisers and the stores. Irregardless of how, the end customer must pay someone for distribution. Why not allow the customers to share in this profit??? Also, if these products were in the store on the shelf, I would not know of the health benefits unless I did the research myself. I have never been educated on other products that I used prior to now. Many have simply enjoyed the education they have received about their environment.

Your comments - When was the last time a Wal Mart 'Director' tried to get you to invest in the company, ringing you day after day?
( NO means not NOW, doesn't it?)
My response - WalMart does this by TV advertising and this comes all the way from the Board of Directors and down. Problem, they offer you nothing for recommending that others shop at their store. I know that I have been responsible for many folks buying some item at a particular place just by sharing my story and I got NOTHING for it, but Mr. CEO got paid.

Your comment - When was the last time your pharmacist didn't??? If they don't, you better go to another. That's just BASIC customer service, nothing special.
My response - Try to take back an empty bottle of Tylenol after 59 days and say it didn't work, but you used them all anyway. You will get nothing. Melaleuca will still refund your money. They can afford to do this because they are confident that the majority will love their products.

Your comment - Every two bit company has reward programs. All designed to keep you buying, again nothing special.
My response - What's wrong with incentives that are designed to simply say "THANK YOU FOR BEING A CUSTOMER"???

Your comments - There are about a thousand companies offering the same. Gee, this Melaleuca sounds like Herbalife.
My response - No one ever said the Melaleuca has the only good vitamins, but they are definitely one of the better vitamins. And Yes, it is the better vitamins that offer you a guarantee. My doctor gave me a prescription for a multi-vitamin and I can not return them if they don't work out.

Your comment - Or you can parrot the positive hyperbole.
My response - Negativity is fine, but have that attitude because it is based on the truth that you have experianced, not someone elses opinion. I go into all things positively unless I experiance the bad for myself. As a result of this, I live a happy life and continue to reap benefits along the way. I continue to work my 9-5 job and make this extra along the way. I let Melaleuca pay my bills and I enjoy using my other funds doing fun things.

Your comments - people should always get more than one opinion. They should get independent opinions. The shouldn't just listen to me. I'm negative about Melaleuca and all MLMs (Yes, Melaleuca are an MLM) And they certainly should not just listen to you, who have a vested interest in the company.

My response - There are some good MLMs and there are some bad ones. There are some good stores and there are some bad ones. You should always do your research and develop your own opinion. Melaleuca has been good for me and many others.

Your comment - Don't listen to those with a financial interest in you purchasing the products or becoming a seller of them (which is what you will be, if you want to make decent money).

My response - I do not sell the products. I give a product demonstration. The customers buy the products from Melaleuca, not me. This is a major reason why I joined as a business builder. Also, many customers have joined based on the opinions of those that are not doing this as a business, but are only involved as a customer. If Money is the only motivator in anything you do in life, you will fail. You must enjoy and believe in what you do with any profession.
Cheers

William,
let me take this one step at a time. I'll put all your comments in parenthesis and then take them on:

"... direct from the manufacturer in a system that allows up to 7 families to benefit from each transaction as customers enjoy home delivery and wholesale prices and the prospect of receiving a check for referrals by yourself"

Bill, can I call you Bill?, it takes less time. Bill, how can a product go direct from the manufacturer (by which I believe you are inferring a manufacturer direct price) and yet 7 families benefit (in royalties, residuals, profits etc)? Why not just reduce the price and forget about the royalties?

"When was the last time Walmart sent a check to your house or offered you the opportunity to earn ANY income for simply referring a customer?"

When was the last time a Wal Mart 'Director' tried to get you to invest in the company, ringing you day after day?
( NO means not NOW, doesn't it?)

"When was the last time your pharmacist refunded your money for a prescription that didn't do what it was supposed to do?"

When was the last time your pharmacist didn't??? If they don't, you better go to another. That's just BASIC customer service, nothing special.

"When was the last time Walgreen's offered you a long distance program that would cut your long distance bill in half and had no pitfalls from top to bottom?"

Every two bit company has reward programs. All designed to keep you buying, again nothing special.

"When was the last time you purchased a vitamin supplement from the grocery store and were guaranteed that you would have more energy, renewed endurance and a better overall sense of well-being or for up to 90 days you could receive a full refund of the purchase price?"

There are about a thousand companies offering the same. Gee, this Melaleuca sounds like Herbalife.

"Life is about choices - you can choose to believe and parrot the negative hyperbole...."

Or you can parrot the positive hyperbole.

Bill, people should always get more than one opinion. They should get independent opinions. The shouldn't just listen to me. I'm negative about Melaleuca and all MLMs (Yes, Melaleuca are an MLM) And they certainly should not just listen to you, who have a vested interest in the company.

Just like when you need a doctor, lawyer, dentist, plumber or mechanic, get a second opinion.

Don't listen to those with a financial interest in you purchasing the products or becoming a seller of them (which is what you will be, if you want to make decent money).

Cheers

Let me start of by clarifying the difference between a FACT and an OPINION - a FACT is an unbiased description of an event uncolored by perception or emotion whereas an OPINION is a representation of an event based upon a person's emotion, feelings and perception. Therefore a "fact" represented with a clearly jaded tone is easily recognizable as an opinion. Unfortunately some people are always going to see the cloudy water because they refuse to take off their cloudy glasses - as much as we'd like to try to improve their view they persist in holding on to those glasses. The best way to deal with them is to remove their audience and eliminate the attention they so desperately crave.

There are always going to be those who dislike Melaleuca and those who have bad experiences as Melaleuca cannot control 100% of the activities of all their Marketing Executives - no company can - but for those of you who would like to paint ALL those involved and satisfied with Melaleuca as the same misguided, confused or duped group - that is simply ludicrous and exhibits an inability to grasp the concept Melaleuca developed.

It is really very simple: Non-toxic, environmentally safe, wellness oriented products direct from the manufacturer in a system that allows up to 7 families to benefit from each transaction as customers enjoy home delivery and wholesale prices and the prospect of receiving a check for referrals by yourself and/or others to the Consumer Direct Marketing program. Products that were once a budgetary drain can be purchased with proceeds from a part-time business or one-time referrals - not only that but no one can deny that the average person will save money on internet service, long distance service, travel, prescription drugs or even now on automobile purchases. As for the claim that the prices are expensive - on a cost per use basis as well as on a direct comparison with most products you'll save money with Melaleuca AND if you order in a timely manner you will always receive an additional rebate benefit.

When was the last time Walmart sent a check to your house or offered you the opportunity to earn ANY income for simply referring a customer?

When was the last time your pharmacist refunded your money for a prescription that didn't do what it was supposed to do?

When was the last time Walgreen's offered you a long distance program that would cut your long distance bill in half and had no pitfalls from top to bottom?

When was the last time you purchased a vitamin supplement from the grocery store and were guaranteed that you would have more energy, renewed endurance and a better overall sense of well-being or for up to 90 days you could receive a full refund of the purchase price?

Life is about choices - you can choose to believe and parrot the negative hyperbole or you can experience the company and understand why oh so many people have made Melaleuca their source for wellness products for their families and their health.

In Health and In Truth,
William B

Well, I get a call from a lady in Canada. Very nice of course, talking to me of joining Melaleuca. Well she found out I was interested in working at home. Which I am interested if it is right. Well, she did NOT promise riches. Said she made about about 25,000 which is basically like a part-time job.

Well when she told me it was an internet store I told her I want to check into this first. Well, I am not a preferred customer and have no ID so can not get in. Tried to sign up as first time user and again I have no customer ID. I figured if they are going to have me trying to push product I want to see what it is. Also how much. But I can't get in there.

As for the person who listed all those wonderful products and prices THANKS. I made my mind up and it is not for me. All the melaleuca workers keep saying is we are not MLM and all the same thing for every workers posts You compare to Walmarts most expensive items. Well NO ONE that I know buys the best of every cleaning product. Also when I shop I have to open the shampoo and smell it, the laundry deter. to smell it. I will not buy something I do not know how it smells. Since I have to use it then it has to smell good. Since I read Sundays paper and look for sales I sometimes stock up. So there may be a month that I do not need to buy everything and do not feel I should be committed to buy every month. You also forget to ad shipping. Is it really 6$ when you are ordering-laundry detergent, farbic softener, window cleaner, tub n tile cleaner, some spring water(gee with all these healthy cleaners you can not spoil the product using tap water) some energy bars for all the cleaning I am gonna have to do since my cleaners are no good.

Before people respond that I know nothing of this place, you are right! I don't.

As for having whole family at home making money... HE** NO I do not want that. If me and hubby had to spend day in day out trying to recruit people or ANYTHING where we are together that much we would NOT be together. I do not know of any couple that could do this.

I have been an at home mom for a year now. I am fortunate enough to have a hubby who makes enough for me to do this.

Emily sorry of your experience but I use my husbands debit card all the time. Even at the stores. Most do not ask questions. Though I am not authorized to use this all money in our household is our money. He, like my hubby would do, Was looking at the now. Some good talk would have made my hubby sign up.

A few RAVE of this no lice shampoo. Well when my kids were in day care, the day care looked up articled of how to get rid of, and prevent lice and keep it away. Well, if you but suave or white rain coconut shampoo then it will supposedly keep lice away. There is something in the coconut oil that prevents this. Are you sure it prevents lice? Is every child around you people lice ridden except yours? Lots of people around here use reg shampoo-alberto VO5-suave-store brand and have never had lice. You make it sound "if you do not use this they will come".

Well someone said it offers housewives their own business. Last I saw you were recruiting for a company. You do not run your own business. Also with internet it is easy to run your own business. And without selling for someone else.

As soon as the lady said a 29$ fee it also steered me away. It reminded me of that get rich quick stuffing envelopes. I knew someone who actually responded. Come to find out you send 10$ to find out this secret. The secret is you, in turn, put an add in another paper and charge THAT person 10$ to teach them this scam to run it in a paper. At least the lady on phone did not say this was all healthy products. It might be ok for some but I do not believe the hype on it. Just like we are a steak & potato family at dinner. Could not see us eating a boca burger. Not knocking vegetarians just not for me.

Thank everyone for posting.

I'm sorry for everyone who had a bad experience with Melaleuca. I saw their marketing ad in a local paper and decided to check them out because they boosted "making money at home" (I'm a full time student without a car so of course this interested me). Certainly, the people who contacted me were very friendly, but the pricing really turned me off. The products claim to be concentrated, sure, but jesus friggin christ, I couldn't afford those prices! And the products they compare themselves to...well I don't use those products anyway. I use mostly generics, which are far cheaper than name brands or Melaleuca.

To those boosting "All natural ingredient products", check out your local health food store, or even look up some online. I know out here we have a wellness store that sells the exact same stuff as Melaleuca (it's an organic food/natural products/wellness store) at a fraction of the cost. There's no membership to buy there either.

If Melaleuca works for you, great. Keep with it if you desire to do so. To those considering joining up with Melaleuca, I suggest you check your budget. Unless you join up as just a plain customer (the product prices are even higher, that's why people jump at preferred customer status) you are required to order a certain amount of products each month. If you are on an extremely tight budget like I am, that can really eat into your funds. To those who have friends or family "taken in" by Melaleuca or other similar pyramid scams (sorry folks, good or bad, it IS a pyramid scheme...scam, whatever) all I can say is be patient. Hopefully they will see the damage their great money-making plan is doing to their relationships and call it quits. To those who say you have to "really work" at making money...well, if you are like me, your time for such things is short. If you have time to "really work" at making a couple hundred bucks a month, my advice would be to go out and get a part time job where you can make a couple hundred bucks in two weeks and save yourself a lot of grudges.

I'm sorry for everyone who had a bad experience with Melaleuca. I saw their marketing ad in a local paper and decided to check them out because they boosted "making money at home" (I'm a full time student without a car so of course this interested me). Certainly, the people who contacted me were very friendly, but the pricing really turned me off. The products claim to be concentrated, sure, but jesus friggin christ, I couldn't afford those prices! And the products they compare themselves to...well I don't use those products anyway. I use mostly generics, which are far cheaper than name brands or Melaleuca.

To those boosting "All natural ingredient products", check out your local health food store, or even look up some online. I know out here we have a wellness store that sells the exact same stuff as Melaleuca (it's an organic food/natural products/wellness store) at a fraction of the cost. There's no membership to buy there either.

If Melaleuca works for you, great. Keep with it if you desire to do so. To those considering joining up with Melaleuca, I suggest you check your budget. Unless you join up as just a plain customer (the product prices are even higher, that's why people jump at preferred customer status) you are required to order a certain amount of products each month. If you are on an extremely tight budget like I am, that can really eat into your funds. To those who have friends or family "taken in" by Melaleuca or other similar pyramid scams (sorry folks, good or bad, it IS a pyramid scheme...scam, whatever) all I can say is be patient. Hopefully they will see the damage their great money-making plan is doing to their relationships and call it quits. To those who say you have to "really work" at making money...well, if you are like me, your time for such things is short. If you have time to "really work" at making a couple hundred bucks a month, my advice would be to go out and get a part time job where you can make a couple hundred bucks in two weeks and save yourself a lot of grudges.

I'm sorry for everyone who had a bad experience with Melaleuca. I saw their marketing ad in a local paper and decided to check them out because they boosted "making money at home" (I'm a full time student without a car so of course this interested me). Certainly, the people who contacted me were very friendly, but the pricing really turned me off. The products claim to be concentrated, sure, but jesus friggin christ, I couldn't afford those prices! And the products they compare themselves to...well I don't use those products anyway. I use mostly generics, which are far cheaper than name brands or Melaleuca.

To those boosting "All natural ingredient products", check out your local health food store, or even look up some online. I know out here we have a wellness store that sells the exact same stuff as Melaleuca (it's an organic food/natural products/wellness store) at a fraction of the cost. There's no membership to buy there either.

If Melaleuca works for you, great. Keep with it if you desire to do so. To those considering joining up with Melaleuca, I suggest you check your budget. Unless you join up as just a plain customer (the product prices are even higher, that's why people jump at preferred customer status) you are required to order a certain amount of products each month. If you are on an extremely tight budget like I am, that can really eat into your funds. To those who have friends or family "taken in" by Melaleuca or other similar pyramid scams (sorry folks, good or bad, it IS a pyramid scheme...scam, whatever) all I can say is be patient. Hopefully they will see the damage their great money-making plan is doing to their relationships and call it quits. To those who say you have to "really work" at making money...well, if you are like me, your time for such things is short. If you have time to "really work" at making a couple hundred bucks a month, my advice would be to go out and get a part time job where you can make a couple hundred bucks in two weeks and save yourself a lot of grudges.

I'm sorry for everyone who had a bad experience with Melaleuca. I saw their marketing ad in a local paper and decided to check them out because they boosted "making money at home" (I'm a full time student without a car so of course this interested me). Certainly, the people who contacted me were very friendly, but the pricing really turned me off. The products claim to be concentrated, sure, but jesus friggin christ, I couldn't afford those prices! And the products they compare themselves to...well I don't use those products anyway. I use mostly generics, which are far cheaper than name brands or Melaleuca.

To those boosting "All natural ingredient products", check out your local health food store, or even look up some online. I know out here we have a wellness store that sells the exact same stuff as Melaleuca (it's an organic food/natural products/wellness store) at a fraction of the cost. There's no membership to buy there either.

If Melaleuca works for you, great. Keep with it if you desire to do so. To those considering joining up with Melaleuca, I suggest you check your budget. Unless you join up as just a plain customer (the product prices are even higher, that's why people jump at preferred customer status) you are required to order a certain amount of products each month. If you are on an extremely tight budget like I am, that can really eat into your funds. To those who have friends or family "taken in" by Melaleuca or other similar pyramid scams (sorry folks, good or bad, it IS a pyramid scheme...scam, whatever) all I can say is be patient. Hopefully they will see the damage their great money-making plan is doing to their relationships and call it quits. To those who say you have to "really work" at making money...well, if you are like me, your time for such things is short. If you have time to "really work" at making a couple hundred bucks a month, my advice would be to go out and get a part time job where you can make a couple hundred bucks in two weeks and save yourself a lot of grudges.

I feel sorry for you, John. You have that 'new person naivete`' that comes when all these pumped up freaks fill your head with trash. I could say many things to you, but instead I'll just correct you on one point. MLM marketing companies do not offer a better (and easier, less time consuming) method of money making. You say that you will earn an average income from only a few hours work per week with Melaleuca. THIS IS CRAP! I should know. I was involved in MLM fro many years, and my wife is still involved (approaching ten years). I've made lots of money in MLM. And I've made lots of money in conventional business too. There is direct relationship between the amount of time and effort that you put into ANY business and your return. The only difference between MLM (including Melaleuca) and conventional business is that MLMs force you to harass your family, friends and anyone you come into contact with, either to buy products (or as a Melaleuca rep would say, 'introduce you to the company') or to recruit them. I would rather have a clean conscience and a happy life. By the way, my wife has been in Melaleuca for about six months. She goes to about three four hour meetings a week, interviews people for about another six or seven hours a week and spends about another ten or twelve hours a week on the telephone. All this and she's making about $100 a month. Great business. And she's trying hard too!

I have read through most of the comments and sugeestions about your experience with Melaleuca and a Marketing Executive. I have a question for you... Where are the comments from your husband?

I see this situation as this... Your husband (and possibly yourself) was probably agreeing to become a marketing executive to make some money in the opportunity presented by your previous friend. In signing the "Marketing Executive Agreement", it clearly states the agreement between both parties... and this clearly states that purchases of 35 base points must be made by a deadline to REMAIN a Marketing Executive. This is an incentive to both reward the person who signed you up, and for you to get more customers so you can get the same rewards.
If your husband simply wanted to be a customer, all he would have HAD to pay is a one time $29.00 membership fee and sign a "customer agreement". There is a major difference between the two.

As far as the $70.00 per month stated as "unauthorized", it was authorized by the person who both signed the Mktg Exec Agreement, and gave the account information as part of the agreement. This is not an attempt to steal money from you, but rather a fulfillment of the agreement. Because a "contract" was signed, to cancel requires a "counter-signature" on a letter. At least there is a way out... many contracts could be seen as far worst than having to write a letter. Some companies would require a settlement payment to cancel your contract.

Let me suggest this... calm down and think this out. Melaleuca is a great company with a great opportunity to easily make some money AT YOUR LEVEL OF DESIRE. This means that you are in control of how hard or how little you want to work.

You mention that your husband makes far more than the $4,000.00 per month qouted by another person. This is true... but it requires that he GO to work and be away from the family for 8 to 10 hrs a day... wouldn't you feel better if you made the same or better without any of your family HAVING to got to work 8 to 10 hrs a day? This is something that the whole family can do in just a few hours a week, and from anywhere in the world (depending on your source of communications).

I feel for your situation and understanding, but try to look at what you have in front of you... you may have a diamond in the rough, all it takes is getting through the rough.

Thanks for your time,
J. Douglas, Seattle

PS: I am a very new Mrktg Exec., and I recently had to request in writing to stop the monthly "backup order"... that saves me the $70.00 per month until I can get back into the program. They will do this for six months, then you have to resign a new contract (I think). This gives you time to reconsider. Also, if you order what you want (or your friends would like to try), then you don't just get what they send you.

Wow, a whole year has gone by. Anyone rich yet? First a question...Does Melaleuca encourage the recruitment of imbeciles who cannot spell? Just curious. I haven't read this page in quite some time, because frankly, I couldn't care less anymore, but after reading the brilliance of Mark from Australia, I just had to thank him. That post made my day. That was some funny stuff. Thanks Mark! Although I laughed at a lot of your post, I can tell that you are really pissed off. In all seriousness, I sincerely hope your relationship with your wife will be alright. I wonder if anyone has ever sued an MLM for brainwashing their spouse. I'll bet there are a lot of divorces that would otherwise not have happened if it weren't for MLMs. Kari from Nebraska, I feel so bad for you. Married only six months and having to deal with this s**t. It's just not right. I really wish some judge somewhere would declare all MLMs illegal, whether products are sold or not. MLM, CDM, whatever, is a sham no matter how good the products are. I also just have to reply to a couple of clueless people.... Rose honey? you need to take your meds. Reading comprehension is not one of your strengths, is it. Go back and reread my fax story and then read what you wrote to me, and then just laugh and laugh like i did. Also-- I am not a dude. Valarie? do us all a favor and just shut up. I know its fun to copy and paste, but I just couldn't read both novels you wrote. No one read it. You remind me of those aspartame freaks at my urban legends forum. You probably forward emails with "DEADLY NEW VIRUS" in the subject line. You've embarrassed yourself enough here. Go back to conspiracy-theorist-ville and have a good life. Narcissa? Narcissist? Crisscrossa? Sri Lanka? Nacrissa? I'm entertaining myself trying to imagine what its like being you. Do me a favor and look up the word 'proofread'. and lastly, Jimmy. I really hate dignifying his pathetic existence with a response, but I have to at least let anyone who could still be considering signing up in any MLM know that Jimmy is lying when he implies he makes 4000 per month. I don't believe it for a second. I think that could be his goal, but he's nowhere near that in reality. If he happens to be one of those people who does end up making decent money, it will be at the expense of all the relationships with any friends he may have had. Maybe that's why he's so nasty. He has no friends and he only makes 4,000 a month. What is that....48 grand a year? Hmm. Hardly seems worth it. Its funny how Jimmy says "In as little as 6 months, you can make more money than you spend, for doing nothing." I already do that. I'm one of those housewives whose husband works at a REAL job, and brings home WAY more than 4,000 a month, while I 'do nothing'. Well, I take care of 4 kids and a big house on 3 acres, but I dont really 'do' anything. (smart people will get the sarcasm here.) My point is, please do not get into Multi Level Marketing based on what Jimmy McWomanhater claims. He's full of Melaleuca oil. At least he's gotten rid of that pesky lice problem. Wow, I sound really condescending dont I. until next year....toodles! :)

I just had to have my say on this Melaleuca thing. I am not involved in melaleuca although my wife is a distributor, so I'd like to express my feelings. I have been involved with MLM before and after six years of making money and then losing money I got out. It was the best thing I did. My wife thinks that she is going to be rich and financially secure etc etc. Maybe SHE will be, but there is, I believe, just as much chance of being rich in any other field of endevour. - Some people want to be sports stars and they make sacrifices to help them achieve their goals. - Others want to be good at business and so work extra jobs to go to college/university to become educated and trained. - Some simply work hard at the job they have and through dedication, perserverance and loyalty are rewarded. - Some want to be actors and actresses and go to Hollywood where they spend most of their time waiting tables (or worse). Others go on to stardom. In effect, some make it and some don't. The difference between MLM (and I don't want to hear any s**t about Melaleuca not being MLM) and the others is the crap that the prospective distributor puts their family through. I work, go to university full time and often have to then look after my daughter or clean the house, cook meals etc because my wife is not home. (She doesn't work, by the way. ) Or, I'll be trying to study and all these fakes are at the house having another meeting to con others. Now, I don't mind looking after my daughter or cleaning the house and I LOVE cooking, but something is missing. It's my wife. She is obsessed. EVERYBODY, and I mean EVERYBODY she talks to (my friends, her friends, our friends friends - the few that we have left) are browbeaten about Melaleuca. Every conversation is about Melaleuca; every situation is an excuse to talk about Melaleuca. It is insidious. It was like that when she was in Herbalife, now it is worse. I guess some exec from melaleuca would be happy at this. She's a great advocate for the company. But what price do you have to pay? Is it worth losing friends and family to (possibly) become financially independent? Maybe one day my wife will be wealthy but perhaps I won't be around to see it. And before some 1st class neanderthal like 'Jimmy' bothers to reply, let me say this: I have worked in MLM before, I have been successful (not your $4k per month - My biggest pay day was about AU$ 9,500 for ONE WEEK. Yes, that's right ONE WEEK, Jimmy.) I didn't leave because I couldn't do it, I left because I didn't like how it had changed me and made me the a*s hole that you are Jimmy. One day you'll wake up. To Emily, Tim and The Fraud Chic, I'm right with you. MLM companies are structured to make HUGE profits for the owners or founders PERIOD. Yeh, it's just like any other business, I hear all you brainwashed idiots saying. Yes, spot on. The difference is that the CEO of XYZ Inc. doesn't pretend to offer something that MOST people in the company will never obtain. He/She doesn't run the business through bullshit hype designed to sell products and retain employees. The other important difference is that traditional business owners take responsibility for their business. They EMPLOY people and don't hide behind a facade of 'Independent' contracts that absolve them of all responsiblility. MLMs use their 'drones' to do all the work, while the founders bask in all the wealth. MLM is a great idea to get rich, but only if you are the one to start it and have the capacity to forget that your actions can and will ruin the lives of others. One more thing, if Melaleuca, and comapnies like it are so 'different' from traditional businesses why do they continually use established awards as a measure of their success? ie 'Top Blue Chip Company blah blah??? whatever' It is like they (the drones) know that their company is suspect and seek to sublimate their own uncertainty by quoting any award from the 'establishment' that they can. I know, I used to feel the same way. And why are the prices of the products so high? (And don't give me any s**t about them being concentrated. Why don't they just reduce the concentration and sell them for less? The same reason that Coke sells a 2 litre bottle for $1.80 at the supermarket and a 1/2 litre for $1.30. It's the packaging that costs the money. The s**t inside costs nothing. (These figures are for illustrative purpose only) I digress. The products cost so much so that they can pay for the 'rewards' to the distributors and line the pockets of the founders and the big kahoonas. They have all these distributors running around and 'selling' (please don't say you don't sell, you'll make me mad) products for free. No advertising, no wages, workers insurance, payroll tax, etc etc. It's a great way to make money, if you own the company. And if the distributor leaves, what has it cost the company ? Nothing, just get another foolish distributor. One final thing, to those people who say that MOST people love Melaleuca and 95% re-order rate etc etc. What a croc. My wife has I don't know how many people on her organisation, but I always hear her on the phone trying to talk people into remaining customers or staying a distributor. That 95% thing I've heard since my wife started in the company. Bullshit! And as to all you GOOD distributors saying that Emily's EX FRIEND was just a bad apple and none of the others or you all are like that, I say this: It is the system and the structure that makes people turn out that way. Little Jimmys. You are forced to be; hardened - to cope with all the negatives - and persistent - if you always took the first 'no' as a "NO" you wouldn't make many sales. The system corrupts you because you make money by signing people up or talking them into buying products. It's human nature, utilised by the founders of the company in the way they have structured it to make themselves loads of cash. They're very clever, but very ugly. I wonder how the conversation went when they were dreaming up this company........ Founder A (I don't know who the demi god, guru, god like messiah of Melaleuca whom everybody worships is): "Yeh, let's start up a company. MLM is good, no expenses, low overheads, easy to sucker people in ..." Founder B: "Yeh, but we can't call it MLM. MLM has a bad rep. Call it something else." Founder A: "What about LML, level marketing level. You know a level playing field. Then we can talk about how everyone has the same opportunity..." Founder B: "No, that's not catchy... I was thinking about Customer Direct Marketing." Founder A: "Customer Direct Marketing...Hmmm What about Consumer Direct Marketing, we'll have products that they can consume." Founder B: "Sounds great!... Now what are we going to sell?" Founder A: "I've got about five hundred cartons of that Blue Amway s**t that I couldn't sell" Founder B: "I've got all those pills and bottles of tonic from Herbalife in the warehouse I'm renting." Founder A: "Why don't we mix them all together and see what we get." Founder B: "Let's go, I've got my family coming over for a BBQ on Saturday and I want to have the s**t ready so that I can start flogging some of it off. I've got a car payment due in a week." Founder A: "What's the tag?" Founder B: "The tag?" Founder A: "Yeh, we need a tag." Founder B: "Ah, something like ah...what's current at the moment?... the hole in the ozone... let's say the products will cover up the hole in the ozone!" Founder A: "Nah, even the idiots won't fall for that. How about just saying it's... friendly for the environment and doesn't use any harmful chemicals??" Founder B: "Done." Founder A: "Let's empty out one of the swimming pools and start mixing the s**t."

Tim - Grand Rapids,

Just wanted to comment on your statement about claims of toxins in foods and household products and "There are things we know are bad such as second hand smoke and oven cleaner fumes." Please remember there was a time when doctors RECOMMENDED people take up smoking to relax and improve their overall health. It was only after decades of research and uncovered coverups that it was exposed how damaging smoking is.

The same is true for the chemicals we use in our household. It is only now coming to light how dangerous many of the chemicals are. OSHA regulations require on-the-job bleach users to wear a ventilator, gloves, protective eyewear and protective clothing. Our garbage collectors will NOT take household cleaner containers because they are considered hazardous waste. We have to take them to a hazardous waste site.

There has been some mention of brainwashing - Does anyone else remember the legal cases regarding subliminal message advertising? The big companies would flash messages between frames of commercials that -in essence- brainwashed you into wanting their product. They still brainwash you showing their smiling mommies using their wonderful product to make everyone in the family extrodinarily happy! Tide spends $1 million per DAY on advertising. The chemical companies collectively spend a huge amount of money on PACs to make sure their products are not taken off the shelves by congressional acts - just like cigarettes are still on the shelves. They have their warning labels, do you read them? Do you take them seriously?

Each family, each individual is so vulnerable to the big influences of big companies. That's why this site is helpful.

I said here for almost 2 hours at work reading the Melaleuca complaints and rebuttals. I recently was introduced to this company and part of my research that I have conducted on my own before starting was to make sure that this company could produced what it said. Not only the business side of it but the product side of it. In my findings I came across this website among others and i would like to share my decision based on the information given here and all other sources I used.

I would like to address first the standard jobs or careers, MLM vs CDM and the whole homebased business deal.

We all have choices. And when it comes to accessing income we have very many choices.

Melalueca as given two choices with there company:
An employee or an independant marketing executive.
we are discussing the independant marketing executive.

Now Melaeuca calls it's marketing structure Consumer Direct Marketing, I personally still believe it is MLM not based on the negative conotations associated with MLM but with the definition of MLM which is Multiple Levels of Marketing. They have a 5 x 7 matrix which demostrates different or "multiple" levels in which the IME markets the products on. Now their MLM is done through CDM (consumer direct marketing). They won't tell you that but that is because MLM has such a bad name and they don't want to associate themselves with it...who would. But there MLM through CDM works and is successful whether they say the term MlM or not.

You see MLM is simply "Multiple levels" of Marketing.

My current employer does mlm on 1 level. I show you how.My employer pays $100 to $1000 bonuses to employees who refer people to apply for different positions in the company. They pay these employees upon succeful hire of the person referred.They also don't pay out these bonuses until the person referred is with the company for at least 3 months. Now they are a regular corporation that utilizes referral marketing. Many companys do (Columbia House, Sam's Club, Dell Computers, Microsoft, At&t Cellular services) I could go on and on but the list is endless. The difference is that that's it. That's all you get a one time bonus which may be a lifetime customer for them. Not of these companies pay you a percetage of the money that the person you referred are spending or either profiting for the company.

Melaleuca's whole concept is to compensate those who have not only been loyal(preferred) as a customer but who refer new customers to the company. They don't pay you hourly to do this..neither does the company I work for. But they do pay you residually meaning they never stop saying thank you. I like that.

(Emily your one bad experience with inexperience does not warrant you the right to try to discredit a company that by facts after facts helped many people become debt free, enjoy a better healthier enviornment and have more time with their families.)

How do I know you say I haven't even joined? Well this just help make up my mind. You see most those who have had problems with this company basically didn't want to believe this company was about anything in the first place. Because even if you beleive in something if something goes wrong you will make sure it really went wrong if before you discredit it.

Well the products...personally i will find out if these statements are true about the quality and benefits of these products. I do know that you can find information anywhere about toxins in the home not just through Melaleuca. There a few other companies that are selling products that are designed to be safer for the home. Product safety is reall and the mass media is not going to tell you that because they get paid big money to advertise Tide, All, and Every other household product that is dangerous to you.

The creditability of not only the company but the president himself should alone reveal to you that this is not a scam. Frankally every point made on this website against melaeuca has no real creditability except a few bad experiences. But if every basketball player decided to play ball based on the few bad experiences players have encountered, (injuries and deaths occured in direct relationship to basketball) they should just band the sport all together. And every other sport for that matter.


I work as a data entry clerk at a multi-million dollar business. I get paid 10.71 per hour to enter in accounts for this company. Others in this company make more than I do. They have "higher end" positions so they get paid more.
They either worked years to get there or spent thousands of dollars for an education to be placed there. It "cost" them something, rather time or money. That may not be multi level marketing but it is multilevel something.

Melaleuca allows you to share in their profits as a customer. "We are in this thing together" is what I get from summing up the company. Walmart may not ask you to by monthly from them but you do anyway (Walmart, Sam's club, or any other retail store you go to on a regular basis to get things you need). And surely they are not paying you their paying people to service you which cost you. You figure that out. And the people servicing you don't even get a reasonable compensation. Just what's reasonalable for the companies budget. Melaleuca decided to change that and let the customers that they service benefit from them in more than just the product but the referral of the product.

And for those who say that if their products what so good it would be in the mass market. Understand the mass market...they don't care about you they care about making money. Those commercials isn't out there because the products are no good. But because they know that most consumers don't really "shop" just "buy".

I am not just a buyer I shop. I look for things that will benefit me more than anything. And I am going to stop spend my money on products made over and over again that could harm me. On businesses over and over again that could destroy me. I don't have that everybody else is doing it mentality and when you rid yourself of that you will find the true values in life. Whether it's products, business, family, friends, a balanced evaluation leads to the truth of a situation.

I hope this help some of you who have been messed over by shady Mlm's but remember you've been messed over by shady CEO's too. Just make a choice which one you would like to find honesty in. For me is MLM, CDM or whatever you call it, because it gives me the chance to not only help myself but others without the BIG MAN breathing done my neck cause he allocated a measily 1400.00 a month for his work to get done. I can make 5,000 a month just for using products that I would use anyway and telling others about it.

I said here for almost 2 hours at work reading the Melaleuca complaints and rebuttals. I recently was introduced to this company and part of my research that I have conducted on my own before starting was to make sure that this company could produced what it said. Not only the business side of it but the product side of it. In my findings I came across this website among others and i would like to share my decision based on the information given here and all other sources I used.

I would like to address first the standard jobs or careers, MLM vs CDM and the whole homebased business deal.

We all have choices. And when it comes to accessing income we have very many choices.

Melalueca as given two choices with there company:
An employee or an independant marketing executive.
we are discussing the independant marketing executive.

Now Melaeuca calls it's marketing structure Consumer Direct Marketing, I personally still believe it is MLM not based on the negative conotations associated with MLM but with the definition of MLM which is Multiple Levels of Marketing. They have a 5 x 7 matrix which demostrates different or "multiple" levels in which the IME markets the products on. Now their MLM is done through CDM (consumer direct marketing). They won't tell you that but that is because MLM has such a bad name and they don't want to associate themselves with it...who would. But there MLM through CDM works and is successful whether they say the term MlM or not.

You see MLM is simply "Multiple levels" of Marketing.

My current employer does mlm on 1 level. I show you how.My employer pays $100 to $1000 bonuses to employees who refer people to apply for different positions in the company. They pay these employees upon succeful hire of the person referred.They also don't pay out these bonuses until the person referred is with the company for at least 3 months. Now they are a regular corporation that utilizes referral marketing. Many companys do (Columbia House, Sam's Club, Dell Computers, Microsoft, At&t Cellular services) I could go on and on but the list is endless. The difference is that that's it. That's all you get a one time bonus which may be a lifetime customer for them. Not of these companies pay you a percetage of the money that the person you referred are spending or either profiting for the company.

Melaleuca's whole concept is to compensate those who have not only been loyal(preferred) as a customer but who refer new customers to the company. They don't pay you hourly to do this..neither does the company I work for. But they do pay you residually meaning they never stop saying thank you. I like that.

(Emily your one bad experience with inexperience does not warrant you the right to try to discredit a company that by facts after facts helped many people become debt free, enjoy a better healthier enviornment and have more time with their families.)

How do I know you say I haven't even joined? Well this just help make up my mind. You see most those who have had problems with this company basically didn't want to believe this company was about anything in the first place. Because even if you beleive in something if something goes wrong you will make sure it really went wrong if before you discredit it.

Well the products...personally i will find out if these statements are true about the quality and benefits of these products. I do know that you can find information anywhere about toxins in the home not just through Melaleuca. There a few other companies that are selling products that are designed to be safer for the home. Product safety is reall and the mass media is not going to tell you that because they get paid big money to advertise Tide, All, and Every other household product that is dangerous to you.

The creditability of not only the company but the president himself should alone reveal to you that this is not a scam. Frankally every point made on this website against melaeuca has no real creditability except a few bad experiences. But if every basketball player decided to play ball based on the few bad experiences players have encountered, (injuries and deaths occured in direct relationship to basketball) they should just band the sport all together. And every other sport for that matter.


I work as a data entry clerk at a multi-million dollar business. I get paid 10.71 per hour to enter in accounts for this company. Others in this company make more than I do. They have "higher end" positions so they get paid more.
They either worked years to get there or spent thousands of dollars for an education to be placed there. It "cost" them something, rather time or money. That may not be multi level marketing but it is multilevel something.

Melaleuca allows you to share in their profits as a customer. "We are in this thing together" is what I get from summing up the company. Walmart may not ask you to by monthly from them but you do anyway (Walmart, Sam's club, or any other retail store you go to on a regular basis to get things you need). And surely they are not paying you their paying people to service you which cost you. You figure that out. And the people servicing you don't even get a reasonable compensation. Just what's reasonalable for the companies budget. Melaleuca decided to change that and let the customers that they service benefit from them in more than just the product but the referral of the product.

And for those who say that if their products what so good it would be in the mass market. Understand the mass market...they don't care about you they care about making money. Those commercials isn't out there because the products are no good. But because they know that most consumers don't really "shop" just "buy".

I am not just a buyer I shop. I look for things that will benefit me more than anything. And I am going to stop spend my money on products made over and over again that could harm me. On businesses over and over again that could destroy me. I don't have that everybody else is doing it mentality and when you rid yourself of that you will find the true values in life. Whether it's products, business, family, friends, a balanced evaluation leads to the truth of a situation.

I hope this help some of you who have been messed over by shady Mlm's but remember you've been messed over by shady CEO's too. Just make a choice which one you would like to find honesty in. For me is MLM, CDM or whatever you call it, because it gives me the chance to not only help myself but others without the BIG MAN breathing done my neck cause he allocated a measily 1400.00 a month for his work to get done. I can make 5,000 a month just for using products that I would use anyway and telling others about it.

I said here for almost 2 hours at work reading the Melaleuca complaints and rebuttals. I recently was introduced to this company and part of my research that I have conducted on my own before starting was to make sure that this company could produced what it said. Not only the business side of it but the product side of it. In my findings I came across this website among others and i would like to share my decision based on the information given here and all other sources I used.

I would like to address first the standard jobs or careers, MLM vs CDM and the whole homebased business deal.

We all have choices. And when it comes to accessing income we have very many choices.

Melalueca as given two choices with there company:
An employee or an independant marketing executive.
we are discussing the independant marketing executive.

Now Melaeuca calls it's marketing structure Consumer Direct Marketing, I personally still believe it is MLM not based on the negative conotations associated with MLM but with the definition of MLM which is Multiple Levels of Marketing. They have a 5 x 7 matrix which demostrates different or "multiple" levels in which the IME markets the products on. Now their MLM is done through CDM (consumer direct marketing). They won't tell you that but that is because MLM has such a bad name and they don't want to associate themselves with it...who would. But there MLM through CDM works and is successful whether they say the term MlM or not.

You see MLM is simply "Multiple levels" of Marketing.

My current employer does mlm on 1 level. I show you how.My employer pays $100 to $1000 bonuses to employees who refer people to apply for different positions in the company. They pay these employees upon succeful hire of the person referred.They also don't pay out these bonuses until the person referred is with the company for at least 3 months. Now they are a regular corporation that utilizes referral marketing. Many companys do (Columbia House, Sam's Club, Dell Computers, Microsoft, At&t Cellular services) I could go on and on but the list is endless. The difference is that that's it. That's all you get a one time bonus which may be a lifetime customer for them. Not of these companies pay you a percetage of the money that the person you referred are spending or either profiting for the company.

Melaleuca's whole concept is to compensate those who have not only been loyal(preferred) as a customer but who refer new customers to the company. They don't pay you hourly to do this..neither does the company I work for. But they do pay you residually meaning they never stop saying thank you. I like that.

(Emily your one bad experience with inexperience does not warrant you the right to try to discredit a company that by facts after facts helped many people become debt free, enjoy a better healthier enviornment and have more time with their families.)

How do I know you say I haven't even joined? Well this just help make up my mind. You see most those who have had problems with this company basically didn't want to believe this company was about anything in the first place. Because even if you beleive in something if something goes wrong you will make sure it really went wrong if before you discredit it.

Well the products...personally i will find out if these statements are true about the quality and benefits of these products. I do know that you can find information anywhere about toxins in the home not just through Melaleuca. There a few other companies that are selling products that are designed to be safer for the home. Product safety is reall and the mass media is not going to tell you that because they get paid big money to advertise Tide, All, and Every other household product that is dangerous to you.

The creditability of not only the company but the president himself should alone reveal to you that this is not a scam. Frankally every point made on this website against melaeuca has no real creditability except a few bad experiences. But if every basketball player decided to play ball based on the few bad experiences players have encountered, (injuries and deaths occured in direct relationship to basketball) they should just band the sport all together. And every other sport for that matter.


I work as a data entry clerk at a multi-million dollar business. I get paid 10.71 per hour to enter in accounts for this company. Others in this company make more than I do. They have "higher end" positions so they get paid more.
They either worked years to get there or spent thousands of dollars for an education to be placed there. It "cost" them something, rather time or money. That may not be multi level marketing but it is multilevel something.

Melaleuca allows you to share in their profits as a customer. "We are in this thing together" is what I get from summing up the company. Walmart may not ask you to by monthly from them but you do anyway (Walmart, Sam's club, or any other retail store you go to on a regular basis to get things you need). And surely they are not paying you their paying people to service you which cost you. You figure that out. And the people servicing you don't even get a reasonable compensation. Just what's reasonalable for the companies budget. Melaleuca decided to change that and let the customers that they service benefit from them in more than just the product but the referral of the product.

And for those who say that if their products what so good it would be in the mass market. Understand the mass market...they don't care about you they care about making money. Those commercials isn't out there because the products are no good. But because they know that most consumers don't really "shop" just "buy".

I am not just a buyer I shop. I look for things that will benefit me more than anything. And I am going to stop spend my money on products made over and over again that could harm me. On businesses over and over again that could destroy me. I don't have that everybody else is doing it mentality and when you rid yourself of that you will find the true values in life. Whether it's products, business, family, friends, a balanced evaluation leads to the truth of a situation.

I hope this help some of you who have been messed over by shady Mlm's but remember you've been messed over by shady CEO's too. Just make a choice which one you would like to find honesty in. For me is MLM, CDM or whatever you call it, because it gives me the chance to not only help myself but others without the BIG MAN breathing done my neck cause he allocated a measily 1400.00 a month for his work to get done. I can make 5,000 a month just for using products that I would use anyway and telling others about it.

I said here for almost 2 hours at work reading the Melaleuca complaints and rebuttals. I recently was introduced to this company and part of my research that I have conducted on my own before starting was to make sure that this company could produced what it said. Not only the business side of it but the product side of it. In my findings I came across this website among others and i would like to share my decision based on the information given here and all other sources I used.

I would like to address first the standard jobs or careers, MLM vs CDM and the whole homebased business deal.

We all have choices. And when it comes to accessing income we have very many choices.

Melalueca as given two choices with there company:
An employee or an independant marketing executive.
we are discussing the independant marketing executive.

Now Melaeuca calls it's marketing structure Consumer Direct Marketing, I personally still believe it is MLM not based on the negative conotations associated with MLM but with the definition of MLM which is Multiple Levels of Marketing. They have a 5 x 7 matrix which demostrates different or "multiple" levels in which the IME markets the products on. Now their MLM is done through CDM (consumer direct marketing). They won't tell you that but that is because MLM has such a bad name and they don't want to associate themselves with it...who would. But there MLM through CDM works and is successful whether they say the term MlM or not.

You see MLM is simply "Multiple levels" of Marketing.

My current employer does mlm on 1 level. I show you how.My employer pays $100 to $1000 bonuses to employees who refer people to apply for different positions in the company. They pay these employees upon succeful hire of the person referred.They also don't pay out these bonuses until the person referred is with the company for at least 3 months. Now they are a regular corporation that utilizes referral marketing. Many companys do (Columbia House, Sam's Club, Dell Computers, Microsoft, At&t Cellular services) I could go on and on but the list is endless. The difference is that that's it. That's all you get a one time bonus which may be a lifetime customer for them. Not of these companies pay you a percetage of the money that the person you referred are spending or either profiting for the company.

Melaleuca's whole concept is to compensate those who have not only been loyal(preferred) as a customer but who refer new customers to the company. They don't pay you hourly to do this..neither does the company I work for. But they do pay you residually meaning they never stop saying thank you. I like that.

(Emily your one bad experience with inexperience does not warrant you the right to try to discredit a company that by facts after facts helped many people become debt free, enjoy a better healthier enviornment and have more time with their families.)

How do I know you say I haven't even joined? Well this just help make up my mind. You see most those who have had problems with this company basically didn't want to believe this company was about anything in the first place. Because even if you beleive in something if something goes wrong you will make sure it really went wrong if before you discredit it.

Well the products...personally i will find out if these statements are true about the quality and benefits of these products. I do know that you can find information anywhere about toxins in the home not just through Melaleuca. There a few other companies that are selling products that are designed to be safer for the home. Product safety is reall and the mass media is not going to tell you that because they get paid big money to advertise Tide, All, and Every other household product that is dangerous to you.

The creditability of not only the company but the president himself should alone reveal to you that this is not a scam. Frankally every point made on this website against melaeuca has no real creditability except a few bad experiences. But if every basketball player decided to play ball based on the few bad experiences players have encountered, (injuries and deaths occured in direct relationship to basketball) they should just band the sport all together. And every other sport for that matter.


I work as a data entry clerk at a multi-million dollar business. I get paid 10.71 per hour to enter in accounts for this company. Others in this company make more than I do. They have "higher end" positions so they get paid more.
They either worked years to get there or spent thousands of dollars for an education to be placed there. It "cost" them something, rather time or money. That may not be multi level marketing but it is multilevel something.

Melaleuca allows you to share in their profits as a customer. "We are in this thing together" is what I get from summing up the company. Walmart may not ask you to by monthly from them but you do anyway (Walmart, Sam's club, or any other retail store you go to on a regular basis to get things you need). And surely they are not paying you their paying people to service you which cost you. You figure that out. And the people servicing you don't even get a reasonable compensation. Just what's reasonalable for the companies budget. Melaleuca decided to change that and let the customers that they service benefit from them in more than just the product but the referral of the product.

And for those who say that if their products what so good it would be in the mass market. Understand the mass market...they don't care about you they care about making money. Those commercials isn't out there because the products are no good. But because they know that most consumers don't really "shop" just "buy".

I am not just a buyer I shop. I look for things that will benefit me more than anything. And I am going to stop spend my money on products made over and over again that could harm me. On businesses over and over again that could destroy me. I don't have that everybody else is doing it mentality and when you rid yourself of that you will find the true values in life. Whether it's products, business, family, friends, a balanced evaluation leads to the truth of a situation.

I hope this help some of you who have been messed over by shady Mlm's but remember you've been messed over by shady CEO's too. Just make a choice which one you would like to find honesty in. For me is MLM, CDM or whatever you call it, because it gives me the chance to not only help myself but others without the BIG MAN breathing done my neck cause he allocated a measily 1400.00 a month for his work to get done. I can make 5,000 a month just for using products that I would use anyway and telling others about it.

I live in an area where it takes an hour to go to WALMART, an hour or so there and then an hour to get home. I like Melaleuca for the fact that I don't have to waste a whole day just to go get something. I agree Melaleuca is not for everyone. I have done the AMWAY thing and Melaleuca is no comparison. Then again that may be because my AMWAY upline did leave a few major details out like cost!! I read the fine print and did alot of comparisons before joining Melaleuca. For me it is about $150.00 cheaper a month than going to WalMart. That is not including the things the kid wants when you go to walmart or the extra stuff you pick up that is not necessary. Oh lets not forget we must also eat out on that day!!

Anyhow, I enjoy the melaleuca products, the convenience of mail order, and also the convenience of being able to build a business when and where I want. I have a few people under me and so far I place my order around the 18 th of month because I get my check about then and that uaually covers it. Nice when you are a full time student in college and can't really get a full time job.

Like I mentioned before. Melalueca is not for everyone. Not everyone likes Tide or All that is why there are so many things out there on the market. Not everyone likes to shop at home I have one friend who says she will not join because WalMart is her time away from the kids. She loves getting the products for b-day and holidays though!! Everyone has there own opionion.

Dear Sher, thank you so much for your fantastic insight. You must be so incredibly intelligent to have your very own legitimate JOB. You are truly extraordinary Sher, how do you manage this? I now see the error of my ways and plan on changing immediately. Poor Melaleuca, what will they do without me? I'm sure that there are plenty of successful career women like yourself that will be willing to send me a check each month. Sher, about $4000 a month should cover it.

Thanks again ace,

Love

You faxed them a copy of the enrollment form that your husband signed! Hello, thats how the reps let the company know you joined. They fax in the signed enrollment form. Dude no wonder the company that someone was re-enrolling you. What possible purpose did you have in faxing that to them? I'm sure they already had it on file hint hint otherwise how would they be referencing your debit card. You were soooo upset about the re-enrollment thing buy Emily that was from your actions and the company was calling you back to see why it was being done. Just thought I would point that out. I am not an exec at this time, am checking it out right now.

OK People,
I can understand there is some frustration to your experiences. I know, because I handle the phone calls.

First off, to the person who started this, Emily... I am VERY sorry that you were not given proper information ( or rather your husband was not given proper info. when he signed the Customer Agreement form.) If you would have told the person that you were talking to who exactly it was who "enrolled" your husband, they would have taken actions to speak to or help the "Marketing Executive" understand what information NEEDS to be explained before signing ANYONE up with the company. Also, many of the things that you are blaming Melaleuca for are not the company's fault. It is the Marketing Executive who was the "smooth talker", not the company. I don't know what was said to your husband at the time that he was signed up, but he was VERY misinformed, and the company DOES take action against those people. I know.

As for your debit card being charged so many times, in order to keep your account valid, you need to have a form of payment "on file". Basically, when your husband signed the form, (even though it was YOUR debit card) he gave the company authorization to take money from the account. As far as that goes, you will have to speak to your husband on why he used your account, and not his.

As for the employee who told you to FAX a letter of cancellation in, that has never been the policy, and never will be the company policy. Somehow, perhaps the employee was trying to tell you something that you wanted to hear, because, sadly you were probably not the easiest of customers to speak with. Perhaps they were just uninformed on the business measures.
I have personally spoken to Kennedy many times, and in her defense, I KNOW that she is not a mean person. Again, perhaps it is because you were not the nicest of people to talk to... how would you like someone yelling at you for something that you did not do, and telling you to fix it? Melaleuca is a company that prides itself in it's customer service. Employees are trained EXTENSIVELY on customer service, at least once a month. We can only do so much for a customer when they are "on edge", and it did sound like you were a little " on edge" to say the least. Who wouldn't be, with all of your frustrations?

My question for you, Emily, is why did you not try calling every week to see what you could do to cancel your account if you were so ADAMANT about cancelling? Why did you wait for the 3rd package to arrive to do something about it? "When you want something done, you have to do it yourself." Which, you ended up doing anyhow. There is only so much the company can do without recieving that letter, with the original signature on it.(As, I might add, most credit card companies require for you to truly cancel an account, and no longer be affiliated with them whatsoever.Capital One is an example.) If you send it a couple of days before the month ends, do you really expect it to get there in time to close your account before the month is over? The postal service takes a little more time than a couple of days, especially from Missouri.

I am not trying to bash anyone, rather just trying to clear up any misunderstandings. Again, I WORK at Melaleuca, I am not a "customer" building a home business.

Feel free to call me what you want "brainwashed", whatever.
I just thought that you should hear what REALLY goes on at the "call center". To tell you the truth, most of the customers that I talk to are VERY happy with the company, and stories like Emily's are not that common.

In a nutshell, when it all comes down to it people, read what you sign, ask questions before you sign anything, and when all else fails, get a second opinion. A lot of trouble will be saved if people would be a little more responsible when they make decisions like the one Emily's husband made.

My personal experience with Melaleuca has been a VERY positive one! They treat their employees, and customers extremely well. As for the products, of course Melaleuca Oil doesn't smell the greatest at first whiff.(Alcohol doesn't smell the greatest, but does that keep you from using it? Of course not, because you know what it does.) I personally didn't like it (Melaleuca Oil) when I first smelled it, and I am sure that others will atest to the same thing. However, I gave it a shot, and you know what? I found that it was SUBSTANTIALLY better than anything that I had ever used, and that goes with ALL of the products, not just the oil. Even after my days of being a Melaleuca employee are over, I plan on joining the company as a customer, not necessarily to build the business, but to continually have Melaleuca products in my own home.
I am not trying to get anyone to join the company by this rebuttal either. I am simply just adding my personal experience, as many others have to this site.

By making these claims companies like Melaleuca can charge exhorbinant fees for products that have not actually been shown to be of any value by any reliable research institution.

What?? Exhorbinant fees?? Here is our price comparison list... You do the math.
PRODUCT PRICE COMPARISON:
WAL-MART vs. MELALEUCA
November, 2002
TIDE, 300 oz, 96 loads, $17.08, 18cents per load
MELAPOWER LAUNDRY DETERGENT, 96 oz., 96 loads, $14.99, 16cents per load
** TIDE COSTS 13% MORE THAN OURS!**
DOWNEY Enhancer, 34 oz., 34 loads, $4.74, 14cents per load
MELASOFT FABRIC SOFTNER 32 oz., 64 loads, $6.99, 11cents per load
**DOWNEY COSTS 27% MORE THAN OURS!**
WINDEX 32 oz., $2.47 8 cents per oz.
CLEAR POWER GLASS CLEANER, 8 oz. concentrate, 72 oz. $2.99, 4cents
**WINDEX COSTS 100% MORE THAN OURS!**
CASCADE COMPLETE, 45 oz., $4.29, 6.5 uses, 66cents/use
DIAMOND BRITE GEL, 38.8 oz, 25.7 uses, $6.99, 27cents/use
**CASCADE COSTS 144% MORE THAN OURS!**
TILEX, 32 oz., $2.97, 9cents per oz.
TUB & TILE, 16 oz., concentrate, 96 oz., $4.99, 5cents per oz.
**TILEX COSTS 80% MORE THAN OURS!**
PRO 409 DEGREASER AND ALL PURPOSE, 32 oz., $2.94, 9cetns per oz.
MELAMAGIC, 32 oz., concentrate, 512 oz., $4.99, 1cent per oz.
**PRO 409 COSTS 800% MORE THAN OURS!**
ADVIL 50ct., $4.78
COUNTERACT IBUPROPHEN, 50ct. $3.79
**ADVIL COSTS 26% MORE THAN OURS!**
REMBRANDT WHITENING TOOTHPASTE, 3 oz., $6.97
DENTI-CLEAN CLASSIC TOOTHPASTE, 3 oz., $2.99
**REMBRANDT COSTS 133% MORE THAN OURS!**
Note: Wal-Mart prices do NOT include gas and car expenses to drive there, nor your TIME.
Safer, More Effective, Exclusive
Walmart Products Cost More! Your Choice!
WAL-MART Size/Use No. of uses per purchase Ratio to Melaleuca Cost of each pkg. Total Cost
TideLiquid 50 oz 12 5.30 $4.47 $23.83
Downy Care Fabric Softener 60 oz 60 1.60 $4.74 $7.58
Windex 32 oz 1.50 $2.47 $3.71
Tilex 32 oz 2.00 $3.27 $6.54
Pro409 Degreaser/ All Purpose 32 oz 32.0 $2.24 $71.68
Listerine 8.5 oz 2.35 $2.47 $5.80
Scalpicin Medicated
Shampoo 1.5 oz 5.00 $5.24 $25.85
Lamisil Antifungal 42 oz 1.19 $8.87 $10.56
Tylenol PM 50 Caplets 1.00 $6.27 $6.27
Glide Dental Tape 27.4 yds 2.01 $3.24 $6.51

SUBTOTAL $168.33
Tax (8.25%) $13.89
TOTAL $182.22

MELALEUCA Size/Use No. of uses per purchase Ratio to Melaleuca Cost of each pkg. Total Cost
MelaPower Laundry Soap 64 oz 64 loads 1 $11.98 $11.98
MelaSoft Fabric Softener 32 oz 96 uses 1 $6.99 $6.99
Clear Power Glass Cleaner 8 oz 48 oz 1 $2.99 $2.99
Tube and Tile 16 oz 64 oz 1 $4.47 $4.47
MelaMagic Heavy Duty Cleaner 32 oz 1,024 oz (8gal) 1 $4.47 $4.47
Breath-Away Mouth wash 4 oz 20 oz 1 $3.99 $3.99
Naturals Shampoo 7.5 oz 1 $6.99 $6.99
Dermatin Antifungal Crme 0.5 oz 1 $6.32 $6.32
CounterAct PM 50 Caplets 1 $3.99 $3.99
Exceed Dental Floss 55 yds 1 $2.99 $2.99

SUBTOTAL $55.18
Shipping (3.90 + 4% of order total) $6.10
Tax (8.25%) $4.55
Less Advantage Rewards (Preferred Customers) $-4.30
MELALEUCA TOTAL $61.53


*For example it takes 5.33 50oz. bottles of liquid Tide to equal gallon of Melaleucas MelaPower AND it takes 2 32oz bottles of Tilex to equal one bottle of Tube and Tile.


The only evidence as to the quality of these products is anecdotal and extremely unreliable. Many physicians claim that the use of Melaleuca dietary and pharmaceutical products is extremely dangerous because the users inevitably rely on them too much and don't seek medical attention for serious illnesses.

??? Show me proof of that please. ANY claim from a physician would be nice.

The bottom line is that Valarie's statements come from an extremely biased and unreliable source, as do most of the claims surrounding the effectiveness and value of Melaleuca's products.

Have you ever researched tea tree oil? Do you know the value of it when it comes to alternative healing?

I think that one thing anybody who reads Valarie's post should realize is that all of her facts, based on purported research, come from an entirely biased source. If I were to attend what I thought was going to be a lecture on indoor air quality, toxins and health, by led someone who I thought was a knowledgalble and reliable source, who concluded the lecture by giving a sales pitch for a certain line of product, I would recognize that the entire lecture was just one big sales pitch.

The fact is that while the claims about the prevalence of toxins in our food, household products and air are somewhat viable, the claims as to their effects often are not. There are things we know are bad such as second hand smoke and oven cleaner fumes, but the majority of the other claims made above have never actually been proven by legitimate research. Think about it, if we are all surrounded throughout our daily lives by a cloud of deadly toxins, why aren't we all dead, or at least deathly ill?

These claims focus on how in the past several decades we have become more and more exposed to toxins and our air quality has decreased, but oddly enough our overall health has increased dramatically! By making these claims companies like Melaleuca can charge exhorbinant fees for products that have not actually been shown to be of any value by any reliable research institution.

The only evidence as to the quality of these products is anecdotal and extremely unreliable. Many physicians claim that the use of Melaleuca dietary and pharmaceutical products is extremely dangerous because the users inevitably rely on them too much and don't seek medical attention for serious illnesses.

The bottom line is that Valarie's statements come from an extremely biased and unreliable source, as do most of the claims surrounding the effectiveness and value of Melaleuca's products. Valarie, if you have evidence that is not anecdotal and comes from an unbiased, respected research institution I would love to hear it, you might even be able to change my mind about the subject, but to the best of my knowledge no such research actually exists.

We don't try to scare people, we try to educate people. And we are not the only ones. Here is the dirty dozen list I found on the web.

http://www.libertyzone.com/LC-Toxins-Dirty12-cpc.html

THE DIRTY DOZEN CONSUMER PRODUCTS: COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES (2)

Talcum Powder - Johnson & Johnson. Inc.
Labeled Toxic Ingredient
TALC, Carcinogenic. Lung Irritant.
NOTE: Also evidence of Causal relation to ovarian cancer.
SAFER ALTERNATIVE: Corn Starch - Johnson & Johnson, Inc.

Cover Girl Replenishing Natural Finish Make Up (Foundation) - Procter & Gamble. Inc.
Labeled Toxic Ingredients
BHA, Carcinogenic;
TALC, Carcinogenic. Lung Irritant;
TITANIUM DIOXIDE, Carcinogenic;
TRIETHANOLAMINE TEA), Interacts with nitrites to form carcinogenic flitrosamines;
LANOLIN, Often contaminated with DDT and other carcinogenic pesticides;
PARABENS, Contact Dermatitis;
FRAGRANCE, Wide range of unlabeled ingredients. Contact Dermatitis.
SAFER ALTERNATIVE: Max Factor Pan-Silk Ultra Creamy Make-Up - Max Factor, Inc.

Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste - Procter & Gamble. Inc.
Labeled Toxic Ingredients
FD&C BLUE #1, Carcinogenic;
SACCHARIN, Carcinogenic;
FLUORIDE, Possible Carcinogen.
SAFER ALTERNATIVE: Tom's of Maine Natural Toothpaste (Non-Fluoride) - Tom's of Maine, Inc.

Alberto VO5 Conditioner (Essence of Neutral Henna) - Aibert-CuIver USA. Inc.
Labeled Toxic Ingredients
FORMALDEHYDE, Carcinogenic. Neurotoxic. Contact Dermatitis and Sensitizer;
POLYSORBATE 80, Can be contaminated with the carcinogen 1,4- dioxane;
FD&C RED #4, Carcinogenic;
FRAGRANCE, Wide range of unlabeled ingredients. Contact Dermatitis.
SAFER ALTERNATIVE: Earth Preserv Hair Vitalizer (all scents) - Earth Preserv, Inc

Clairol Nice 'n Easy (Permanent Haircolor) - Clairol. Inc.
Labeled Toxic Ingredients
QUATERNlUM-15, FormaIdehyde~Releaser. Carcinogenic. Neurotoxic. ContactDermatitis and Sensitizer;
DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA), Interacts with nitrites to form a carcinogenic nitrosamine;
PHENYLENE-DIAMINES, Includes carcinogens and other ingredients inadequately tested for carcinogenicity. Contact Dermatitis;
PROPYLENE CLYCOL, Contact Dermatitis; FRAGRANCE, Wide range of unlabeled ingredients. Contact Dermatitis.
NOTE: Also evidence of Causal relation to lymphoma, multiple myeloma and other cancers.
SAFER ALTERNATIVES: Igora Botanic - Schwarzkopf, Inc. or Logona Henna Black - Natur Kosmetik
THE DIRTY DOZEN CONSUMER PRODUCTS: HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS AND PESTICIDES (3)
Aiax Cleanser - Colgate-Palmolive. Inc.
Unlabeled Toxic Ingredients
CRYSTALLINE SILICA, Carcinogenic. Eye, Skin and Lung Irritant;
WASHING SODA,Caustic.
NOTE: Carcinogenicity of silica is admitted in 1994 Material Safety and Data Sheet (MSDS).
NOTE: Manufacturer claims to have reduced silica levels since 1993.
SAFER ALTERNATIVE: Comet Cleanser - Procter & Gamble, Inc.
Zud Heavy Duty Cleanser - Reckitt & Colman. Inc.
Unlabeled Toxic Ingredient
CRYSTALLINE SILICA, Carcinogenic. Eye, Skin and Lung Irritant.
NOTE: Carcinogenicity is denied in MSDS.
SAFER ALTERNATIVE: Comet Cleanser - Procter & Gamble, Inc.
LvsoI Disinfectant Spray - Reckitt & Colman. Inc.
Labeled or Unlabeled Toxic Ingredient
ORTHOPHENYLPHENOL (OPP): Carcinogenic. Irritant.
NOTE: Carcinogenicity is denied in MSDS.
SAFER ALTERNATIVE: Airwick Stick Up - Reckitt & Colman, Inc.
Zocliac Cat & Dog Flea Collar - Sandoz Agro. Inc.
Labeled Toxic Ingredient
PROPOXUR, Carcinogenic. Neurotoxic.
SAFER ALTERNATIVE: Trader Joe's Herbal Flea Collar for Cats or Dogs
Ortho Weed-B-Gon Lawn Weed Killer - Monsanto Co.
Labeled Ingredient
SODIUM 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXYACETATE (2,4-D), Carcinogenic. Neurotoxic.Reproductive Toxin.
NOTE: Also evidence of causal relation to lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma and other cancers.
SAFER ALTERNATIVE: Safer pesticides


Create a Safe and Healthy Home!

Know your A B C's By Dr. Joyce M. Woods Dr.
Joyce Woods worked as a medical/surgical nurse, public health nurse, nursing instructor, nursing school administrator, occupational health consultant.

She holds Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Arts
(Specialist), Master of Education degrees, and has completed her doctoral degree in the area of "Indoor Air Pollution, and ...it's Effect on Your Health"

A. Begin by thinking of your home as a toxic waste dump. The average home today contains 62 toxicchemicals - more than a chemistry lab at the turn ofthe century.

B. More than 72,000 synthetic chemicals have been produced since WW II.

C. Less than 2% of synthetic chemicals in wide spread use have ever been tested for toxicity, birth defects or their mutagenic or carcinogenic effects.

D. The majority of chemicals have NEVER been tested for long-term effects.

E. An EPA survey concluded that indoor air was 3 to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air.

F. Another EPA study stated that the toxic chemicals in household cleaners are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air.

G. CMHC reports that houses today are so energy
efficient that "out gassing" of chemicals has nowhere to go, so it builds up inside the home.

H. We spend 90% of our time indoor, and 65% of our time at home. Moms, infants and the elderly spend 90% of their time in the home.

I. National Cancer Association released results of a 15 year study concluding that women who work in the home are at a 54% higher risk of developing cancer than women who work outside the home.

J. Cancer rates have almost doubled since 1960.

K. Cancer is the number one cause of death for
children.

L. There has been a 26% increase in breast cancer
since 1982. Breast cancer is the number one killer of women between the ages of 35 and 54. Primary suspects are laundry detergents and bleach, household cleaners and pesticides.

M. There has been a call from the U.S./ Canadian
Commission to ban bleach in North America. Bleach is being linked to the rising rates of breast cancer in women, reproductive problems in men and learning and behavioral problems in children.

N. Chemicals get into our body through inhalation, ingestion and absorption.

O. We breathe 10 to 20 thousand liters of air per day.

P. There are more than 3 million poisonings every
year. Household cleaners are the number one cause of poisoning of children.

Q. Since 1980, asthma has increased by 600%. The
Canadian Lung Association and the Asthma Society of Canada identify common household cleaners and
cosmetics as triggers.

R. ADD/ADHD is an epidemic in schools today.
Behavioral problems have long been linked to exposure to toxic chemicals and molds.

S. Chemical and environmental sensitivities are known to cause all types of headaches.

T. Labeling laws do not protect the consumer - they protect big business.

U. The New York Poison Control Center reports that 85% of product warning labels are either inadequate or incorrect for identifying a poison and for first aid instructions.

V. Formaldehyde, phenol, benzene, toluene and xylene are all found in common household cleaners, cosmetics, beverages, fabrics and cigarette smoke. These chemicals are known to be cancer causing and toxic to the immune and nervous systems.

W. Chemicals are attracted to, and stored in fatty tissue. The brain is a prime target for these destructive organics because of its high fat content and very rich blood supply.

X. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has found more than 2500 chemicals in cosmetics that are toxic, cause tumors, reproductive complications, biological mutations and skin and eye irritations.

Y. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, circulatory disorders, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and hormonal problems are diseases commonly related to chemical exposure.

Z. Pesticides only have to include active ingredients on the labels, even though the inert (inactive) ingredients may account for 99%, many of which are toxic and poisons.
***********

The following are more facts from the Indoor Air
Pollution Seminar given by Joyce last October.

Our homes should have a complete change of air 3 or 4 times a day. New homes are built so air tight that it is impossible to get a complete change of air. We should leave our windows open on each side of our house for better cross ventilation. In Alberta last year accidental poisoning statistics were as follows:
Between the ages of: 0 - 4 years - 11, 515 poisonings
5 - 10 years - 1,52411

Top three culprits according to Poison Control:
Household cleaners, bleach and medications.

In the USA the #1 cause of accidental poisoning is Dawn Dishwashing detergent. WHY? Because it is the #1 seller.

Tide contains lye and is the #1 polluter. It is also the #1 seller. -Did you know the little shiny things in Tide Powder are fiberglass?

Did you know that "Formula 409" is considered
a legal pesticide?

Deep Woods, Off and many other insect repellents have an ingredient called DEET. DEET is known to cause seizures and in some cases, even death in children and adults. Deet has now been banned in Canada.

Inert (or inactive) ingredients in products are
protected by trade secrets and very dangerous.
In the work place Material Safety Data Sheets must accompany any product used. The work place and the outdoors are considered "legal environments" while homes are not. Thus, regulations for outdoor air pollution and toxins in the workplace are much more
strict than in the home.

The ideal rate of humidity is between 35% and 45%. Anything higher causes mold. When we use humidifiers or dehumidifiers with standing water we are encouraging mold growth in the standing water. The ideal temperature in the home is between 68 degrees and 72 degrees anything higher makes chemicals more active.

When we shower, the hot water combined with the
chlorine in the water can cause headaches. Using
aerosols can cause dizziness and headaches.

Steam from our dryer vents is extremely toxic, because of the chemicals from dryer sheets and residue from laundry soap and bleach.

Chemicals used to dry clean clothing are very
dangerous and can cause cancer. When you bring dry cleaning home, you should hang it outside for at least 3 days.
Dry-cleaning chemicals are the same cancer causing chemicals that are found in mothballs.

There are 4700 chemicals in tobacco smoke.

Chemicals from carpets and plastic have been found to cause kidney and liver damage.

More products that contain Formaldehyde:
Antiperspirants, Mouthwash, Toothpaste, Tupperware, Baggies, Permanent Press clothing, Floor waxes and furniture polishes, Coffee, Wax, Paper and Money. Some symptoms caused by formaldehyde are: Allergies, cancer, immune system failings and asthma.

Products that contain Phenols: Acne medications, Baking Powder, Computers, TV sets, Mouthwash, Sugar substitutes, Wallpaper.
Some symptoms caused by phenols (which are absorbed by lungs and skin) are: Caustic burns, kidney and liver damage, hyperactivity and possibly even death.

"Lysol" is even more dangerous than we thought. Lysolcontains phenols and dioxin (Agent Orange).

Fungicides used on fruit trees in the Okanogan, BC and in southwestern Ontario have been found to cause babies in both areas being born with no eyes or very tiny eyes.

When using chlorine, antiseptics or bleach in
industrial settings you are required to wear impervious protective clothing including hard hats, boots, gloves, apron or coveralls, chemical goggles or full face shield. You are required to use them only in well ventilated areas.

When using Easy Off make sure all your skin is
covered, wear protective clothing, do not breath in and don't get on your enamel, (if this product will hurt the enamel on your stove, can you imagine what it will do to us.)

Air fresheners desensitize the nerves in your nose so you cannot smell.

1970 - NTA's were banned, 1980 Lobbying Proctor &
Gamble brought back the use of NTA's in our products although they are extremely cancer causing. What are they used for? ONLY to make more suds in our laundry detergents so that you think your clothes are getting
cleaner.

Our immune system is very powerful, like a janitorial system giving our bodies good nutrition means our body can repair itself and be able to handle what we face in the world.

Household chemicals cause all kinds of problems that you would never suspect could be related to cleaning your home and clothes such as: cardiovascular problems, panic and anxiety attacks, and bedwetting.

Eliminating the cause of the environmental illness is more effective and much less expensive than treating the symptom.

Prevention - 80% - 90% effective Treatments - 50% - 60% effective.

Throughout Joyce's entire presentation, she never
mentioned the word Melaleuca once. But at the end of her presentation, when asked, she pointed to the Melaleuca display and said, "These are the products I use. I have done extensive research and I have not been able to find better products anywhere."

I started with Melaleuca over 2 years ago, to be able to stay home with my children, and I can.
I didn't start out for all the reasons above, but the 3 reasons I have at home. Now, I try to help other Mother's try to do the same. If nothing else I just want them to be aware of the toxins in their household products.

Don't take my word for it, do your own research. There is plenty of info on the web that will show you.

Melaleuca rewards us for "helping other's" You can say I am brainwashed, lol, but I am better for it. And my family is healthier for it.

Wow, thsi thread is almost a year old :)

::::::Melaleuca requires reps to #1. buy products on an ongoing, continual basis, and #2. to recruit others to become reps. HELLO?? THAT'S MLM!!:::

Im amazed that nobody raised this point when it was made,

The fact is that #2 is wrong. There is absolutely no REQUIREMENT of any Melaleuca Preferred Customer to recruit others.

Melaleuca Inc does not have Reps, we are all customers, some (most) are happy customers and choose to share our happiness with others, statistically 95% of all people that ordered last month will order again this month.

I am a happy customer of Melaleuca of Australia, I can only assume that USA/Canada systems are similar.

JJ, you have become somewhat of an adversary to me on this site, and I commend you for it! Without the opportunity for debate between two sides of an issue the truth will not come out.

Although we we are at odds concerning a few different reports on here, I want you to know that I respect the fact that you are willing to so adamantly defend your organization. In your last post, however, I think you twisted and combined some different people's words to suit your point.

TFC was commenting on the fact that many pyramid schemes which have been deemed legal barely squaeked by the legality radar and are only legal due to certain loopholes which have been deviously exploited. I was comenting on the fact that comparing the term "pyramid" in terms of how respected organizations operate their business and the term "pyramid" in respect to MLMs are not the same thing. CDM and MLM are, in fact, different terms for the same thing.

The term "consumer direct marketing" wasn't used until MLMs got a bad name, nowadays every MLM refers to themselves as CDMs, or some other euphamism - nobody wants to admit that they are an MLM.

I would also like to comment on the J.O.B. thing. I find it insulting to people who have spent years in college and those who have worked their asses off for years to claim that they are on the "journey of the broke." This is a simplistic MLM tactic used to scare potential recruits into thinking that there is no way they will achieve success unless they sign on with your organization.

The statistics have shown that normal avenues of success are consistently far more fruitful than even the best MLM, or CDM, or whatever you wish to call it. Lastly, if consumer direct marketing was such a beautiful thing, then it would represent far more than the

"...claiming that "pyramid" in the sense of organizational/chain-of-command structure means the same thing as "pyramid" in the sense of a money making marketing scheme."

Logic?

Where did I say that a "pyramid" in the chain-of-command-structure is the same as an illegal pyramid scheme?

This is precisely my point. I must thank you for poiting it out, even though somnewhat sarcastically.... I don't own an "MLM Book." I'm not involved in "MLM." I'm instead involved in "CDM." I do have several "books" on CDM.

Listen Carefully:

The "gifting program" is an illegal "pyramid" scheme. There is no exchange of product for the end consumer's money. You put up money and expect to get more money because of the false expectations that were created in your mind,as a result of what someone explained to you as to "how the system works."

Melaleuca is a legal "pyramid" because there is product exchange for the end consumer's money. You put up money and you expect to get a product for your money, just like you do at ANY store in the world.

Both "pyramids" have a structure.

My point has always been that it is the lack of understanding, as a result of all the misinformation that's thrown around, in the mind of the uneducated (on Network Marketing), which causes that uneducated individual to immediately believe that if an organization like Melaleuca, or any bona fide MLM company like Mary K., that have a network of customers and representatives, (be these reps Independent Marketing Executives or Distributors) must be a "pyramid."

Therefore, and like I have pointed out in many postings before, the question in the person's mind should not be "is this a pyramid," but instead, it should be, "is this a legal pyramid.

As far as I understand it, (I don't hold a MA. or Ph.D) this is the question that we should ask ourselves . It's very simple. There is no need to complicate things with emotion-filled, biased and bitter allegations and innuendo, because all this accomplishes is to confuse the uneducated person even more than he/she already is.

What else can I tell you?

Consumer Direct Marketing, it's a beautiful thing...

JJ... you know the little section in your MLM handbook where it defends pyramid schemes by saying that every organization is a pyramid? Well, this a logical fallacy called "equivocation" wherein two things that have the same name, but are not in fact the same thing, are presented as being the same. You are claiming that "pyramid" in the sense of organizational/chain-of-command structure means the same thing as "pyramid" in the sense of a money making marketing scheme. Should we take it one step further and say that both of these are the same thing as a triangular shaped, four sided building in the Sahara?

There is a profound difference between a pyramidal organization structure and a pyramid scheme (and a pyramidal tomb for that matter). One is a ceturies old, responsible way of running an organization. One is a new way of ripping people off and destroying lives. The last one is a good place to store your dead Pharoah.

You obviously know that the company is a pyramid scheme. You can call it whatever you wish, it is what it is.

You lose a lot of credibility in your responses when you launch into personal attacks upon people you don't know. Before you start in that I am "another overweight housewife", I will nip that in the bud with a newsflash: I am very gainfully employed in a legitimate position and am not overweight. You have no idea who the people are that you made the unsubstantiated and potentially hurtful remarks to. All you show when you do that is your own lack of character, as well as the fact that you are using these remarks to divert attention away from the REAL issue.

Dear JJ,

Im not sure you know what a pyramid scheme really is. What you have demonstrated is that you know your shapeshow nice.

McDonalds, Microsoft and Dominos Pizza are not pyramids just because the organizational charts are shaped like pyramids. A pyramid scheme is all about the money flow not the shape of the organization. These businesses do not meet the definition of an illegal pyramid.

Most of the people who come to this sight suffer from ethics and good tastethey will not be moved when shills such as you wheedle them.

Melaleuca flows like an illegal pyramid scheme. If the owners of Melaleuca want folks to stop viewing them that way then they should reconsider their sales concept.

Now, as for the governmentthink more towards the concept of a Ponzi scheme.

TFC

Is the U.S. Gov't a "pyramid?"
Is McDonald's a "pyramid?"
Is Your J.O.B. (Journey of the Broke) a "pyramid?"
Is Your own household a "pyramid?"

The answer to all of the above is "yes." They all have someone at the top and someone at the bottom. However, they are all 'legal' "pyramids."

Melaleuca, like any other organization that has people at the top and at the bottom, is also a legal "pyramid."

Your concern then, should be if the "pyramid" is illegal, which is also possible in the real world. The gifting programs are illegal pyramids. They involve no product sales.

Do you honestly believe that:

- the U.S. Chamber of Commerce would award Melaleuca "The Blue Chip Enterprise" Award if Melaleuca was an illegal "pyramid?"

- INC. magazine would induct Melaleuca in its Hall of Fame (Where you find other legal "pyramids" like MicroSoft and Domino's Pizza), if Melaleuca was an illegal "pyramid?"

My suggestion to you is very simple:

Do your research before getting involved in anything in life, and stop making excuses instead of money.

If you are not going to do something about your J.O.B., do not impede others from doing something about their J.O.B. Get out of the way, you are blocking traffic.

I have spent the last hour reading the complaints, rebuttals, and simply endless B.S. on the Melaleuca co.

I was almost drawn into this very company by a flashy website promising independence and prosperity.

I made contact and was almost immediatly called by a represenitive. As I listened to the "pitch" of said rep, I began to have horrid memories of a time my brother "bought into", shall we just say a telecommunication co, and as you commented, it was as if he had the plague.

Everytime he came around the conversation was always transformed into a sales pitch. There came a time when no-one wanted to be around him.

I can say I made money on his company tho. It was a sure bet as to what the topic of Sunday lunch would be.

I, personally thank you Ed, for the informative site you provide for the consumers of the world.

Signed "Convinced Curtis"

wow! after reading thru the comments here I can only conclude that melaleuca has a lot more supporters than detractors. I wonder how this can be if they are going around ripping people off?

I have to admit that I have been a loyal customer of Melaleuca's for almost 8 years so my opinion is biased, however, that being said, I do not collect any $ from them so my bias is minimal at most.

I am just a satisfied customer. I think it is unfair to blame their enroller when we haven't heard their side of the story- I mean, Emily can blame him, however who is to say that her husband wasn't fully informed at the time he enrolled?

It's just that it does absolutely NO good to deceive somebody into joining melaleuca because unlike MLM's that encourage front end loading (buying a whole lot of stuff in the beginning because they won't be around soon after)- a Melaleuca rep can only make $ up to the first $100 of product purchases by their enrollees-

As you can see by the responses, Melaleuca customers are a feisty and loyal bunch and it aint cause they are all brainwashed- this is a decent company that looks out for everyone, big fish and little fish alike. Unfortunately for Emily she will never be able to see that.

My husband is entrapped in the mire of Meleleuca admiration. That has now also been extended to Tahitian Noni, too. My main complaint here is Meleleuca (or its distributor, salesperson/thief..whatever you want to call him/her, to remain unnamed)gave my husand an "information sheet" (regarding a call-in "product education call with Joe Clementi--who that is, I don't know) saying how household products can give people cancer, etc. It went on to precisely name certain companies for the following items:

Dove (soap)--according to the Meleleuca sheet, contains parabens--hmmm, that's odd, I have a coworker who is deathly allergic to parabens, and dove is one of the few soaps she can use because it does not have parabens in it!

Tide (detergent).. again, according to the sheet, contains phosphates...On the Tide label, it says it contains no phosphates. Interesting. Please do not even attempt to convince me that Proctor & Gamble & the Big companies are paying the Federal Trade Commission, FDA, other Federal & State agencies, good money in a conspiracy to keep consumers unaware of the health risks.

Lysol contains Agent Orange, according to this information sheet.

Let me also quote the dangers of Clorox Bleach:
"Never use Chlorox or sodium hypo chloride (corrosive, can cause or inflame allergies, its deadly if swallowed, eye/skin/respiratory irritant,especially hazardous for people with heart conditions or asthma."

Do you all make a normal habit of ingesting Chlorox? Or maybe putting it in your eyes? Oh, that's right--it could be dangerous for the kids--If you can't watch your kids better than that, to make sure they're not playing in the undiluted Chlorox, then you have no business reproducing. I find these "scare tactics" to be ridiculously hillarious.

Speaking of Tide vs MelePower--I was raised in a family of 5 for twenty six years using Tide for laudry detergent. No one got sick, skin irritation from Tide or Chlorox or Bounce Fabric Sheets. However, our clothes, towels, etc. did get clean. I have yet to have one load of laundry washed with Meleleuca's products which even came out marginally clean. These are simple dirt/stains to remove, should not be difficult. I have noticed, however, holes in towels, and faded clothing due to their product (I can say this with accuracy, as these towels were brand new six months ago, when I married my husband & received them as wedding gifts. A lot of these clothes which are now faded are newer, too. And its not the water causing these problems!)

To the people out there who think we are getting cancer & ADD from these household products--
Maybe the rapid increases in cancer rates in the 80's through 00's is actually not from our household products, but from the air we breathe--I'm sure there is still Chernobyl fallout in the universe. We all know what that did to those poor people there. Maybe ADD comes from children not getting enough attention from human beings & too much attention from violent classmates, day care providers, abusive homes, & certainly horribly violent media. Maybe its actually a side effect from fertility drugs, or vaccinations or something else. I don't claim to be a doctor, & have not highly studied this--being an accountant, CFM with an MBA, I just don't have the time to be proficient at studying all fields of intelligent study! (I know Jimmy from OH ought to enjoy that--I'm not a overworked housewife, I do have a career & A life! (So do homemakers--I think you all are wonderful who stay home & tend your homes & take care of your children, even if Jimmy doesn't think so!) But to scare consumers into purchasing at overinflated prices with inconclusive data is bad business in my opinion. Meleleuca can claim its products are better priced because their concentrated--but when you have to use twice as much of something to obtain the strength of another product's single dosage strength--then you really haven't achieved that bargain, have you?

At the rate this is going, Meleleuca will have a major part in destroying my marriage, since my husband is brainwashed. Maybe they can add that to their impressive statistics!

I really wish there was something I could to to mend the perception of this company. Unlike MLM, this company doesn't thrive off the "it's a positive thing" video tapes and motivational speakers whom are full of greed, mindwash and hogwash.

That's what people are ASSUMING about Melaleuca. In a world full deception, misrepresentation, dirt, smoke and mirrors, there's a lot to assume about a company such as this. far too many people take that liberty because it's easier to identify it with something familiar, such as the unfortunate existence of the true MLM companies. Understanding how Melaleuca works vs. how MLM works is important, because i personally don't see the point in doing any "true" MLM company. yet melaleuca makes perfect sense.

as for my argument about assumption, the ASSUMING begins when a company is gaining popularity, more people are joining, and the bad experiences are climbing simply because of increase in numbers... and it's up to the representatives to set the record straight.

a good number of us representatives realize that there are very successful people who are BAD for the company --and they are joining all the time. people who don't GET that the mission of the company is to "enhance people's lives" (as printed on all their documents)- and these deconstructive people simply ignore that because they're in it for the money. But it's the products that make this company so amazing, and make me stand up to correct this misconception that is almost always ASSUMED upon mention, or association with MLM or any business "pyramid."

yes, I work for them. I come here to tell you all that Melaleuca only remains dirt free when one is doing the Business side of is because of their adoration of the products. this kind of dedication is NOT brought on by "it's a positive thing" video tapes, it's brought on by experience with the products. The very same week I began using the products, my life changed. Today, i contiinually feel better, i never get sick anymore, my health is phenomenal, and it reflects off me in my everyday life. That is the nature of Melaleuca, my friends. Tlak to the company president, the staff- that's what this company is about.

I DID NOT know that a company could have this effect on me. i was stuck in the "wal-mart" niche, where i though MLM was very bad, and I bought all these products that were slowly hindering my health in numerous, yet subtle ways. (read the FDA reports on most of the chemicals in commercial everyday products, it's cancer after tumors after mutations...) but as good faith to a friend, i gave melaleuca a sporting chance. Now here I am, having been where many of you are coming fron, trying to tell y'all that it's not what you think it is.

so, please- if you don't want to take Melaleuca seriously, at least see a presentation and understand what you are bashing. see the similarities to MLM are many, yet modified- so nobody gets anything they don't want.

Once again, I'm sorry for the bad apples. They do tend to spoil the whole bunch.

Sorry, I would have been here sooner but I had to wade through miles of shills to get here. On the way here I read in several posts where the authors likened Wal-Mart to a MLM. Are you kidding? No one could be that foolishI am going to assume it was written in jest. But, just in case someone actually believes thatallow me:

MLM: Recruits members
Wal-Mart: Nope, hires folks

MLM: Members pay a fee to gain entry into the MLM, matrix, geometric scheme, etc.
Wal-Mart: Nope, it pays its associates for services rendered

MLM: Money flows up to the top
Wal-Mart: Money flows down to the bottom

MLM: Sometimes required to make purchases on monthly basis
Wal-Mart: Nope

MLM: Requires or encourages through monetary advantage its members recruit others
Wal-Mart: Nope

MLM: Encourages members to suck in friends and family warm market to pay money to MLM
Wal-Mart: Nope, doesnt push its associates to bring in people. Hopes folks buy stuff from the store.

MLM: No benefits
Wal-Mart: Health and dental benefits, paid leave, bonuses, stock options, profit sharing, etc.

Anyone who likens any corporation like Wal-Mart or small business like a pet store to a MLM is not thinking or has been badly deceived.

I have only one question to the MLM shills who have responded to poor Emily. By the way, Emily has a right to be angry with her husbandbut thats a private matter. Emily hit it square on the nail when she pointed out that a good friend misled her husbandthats the downfall of the MLM! Relationships and families have been torn apart because of them. These schemes almost always fail because mathematically the numbers eventually run out. MLMs like Amway have gone a different route, theyve begun to push special tapes and videos to the distributors that promote positive thinking. (If positive thing tapes are so good why is it that only MLMs sell them?) Anyway, Ive strayed from my question, here it is:

Why is it that MLMs, which are so famous for building the individual psyche through positive thinking, destroy members who dont go along with the MLM? All the shills have trashed Emily, whatever happened to positive thinking and kindness towards thy fellow man, hmm?

Just a thought,

Sorry, I would have been here sooner but I had to wade through miles of shills to get here. On the way here I read in several posts where the authors likened Wal-Mart to a MLM. Are you kidding? No one could be that foolishI am going to assume it was written in jest. But, just in case someone actually believes thatallow me:

MLM: Recruits members
Wal-Mart: Nope, hires folks

MLM: Members pay a fee to gain entry into the MLM, matrix, geometric scheme, etc.
Wal-Mart: Nope, it pays its associates for services rendered

MLM: Money flows up to the top
Wal-Mart: Money flows down to the bottom

MLM: Sometimes required to make purchases on monthly basis
Wal-Mart: Nope

MLM: Requires or encourages through monetary advantage its members recruit others
Wal-Mart: Nope

MLM: Encourages members to suck in friends and family warm market to pay money to MLM
Wal-Mart: Nope, doesnt push its associates to bring in people. Hopes folks buy stuff from the store.

MLM: No benefits
Wal-Mart: Health and dental benefits, paid leave, bonuses, stock options, profit sharing, etc.

Anyone who likens any corporation like Wal-Mart or small business like a pet store to a MLM is not thinking or has been badly deceived.

I have only one question to the MLM shills who have responded to poor Emily. By the way, Emily has a right to be angry with her husbandbut thats a private matter. Emily hit it square on the nail when she pointed out that a good friend misled her husbandthats the downfall of the MLM! Relationships and families have been torn apart because of them. These schemes almost always fail because mathematically the numbers eventually run out. MLMs like Amway have gone a different route, theyve begun to push special tapes and videos to the distributors that promote positive thinking. (If positive thing tapes are so good why is it that only MLMs sell them?) Anyway, Ive strayed from my question, here it is:

Why is it that MLMs, which are so famous for building the individual psyche through positive thinking, destroy members who dont go along with the MLM? All the shills have trashed Emily, whatever happened to positive thinking and kindness towards thy fellow man, hmm?

Just a thought,

Sorry, I would have been here sooner but I had to wade through miles of shills to get here. On the way here I read in several posts where the authors likened Wal-Mart to a MLM. Are you kidding? No one could be that foolishI am going to assume it was written in jest. But, just in case someone actually believes thatallow me:

MLM: Recruits members
Wal-Mart: Nope, hires folks

MLM: Members pay a fee to gain entry into the MLM, matrix, geometric scheme, etc.
Wal-Mart: Nope, it pays its associates for services rendered

MLM: Money flows up to the top
Wal-Mart: Money flows down to the bottom

MLM: Sometimes required to make purchases on monthly basis
Wal-Mart: Nope

MLM: Requires or encourages through monetary advantage its members recruit others
Wal-Mart: Nope

MLM: Encourages members to suck in friends and family warm market to pay money to MLM
Wal-Mart: Nope, doesnt push its associates to bring in people. Hopes folks buy stuff from the store.

MLM: No benefits
Wal-Mart: Health and dental benefits, paid leave, bonuses, stock options, profit sharing, etc.

Anyone who likens any corporation like Wal-Mart or small business like a pet store to a MLM is not thinking or has been badly deceived.

I have only one question to the MLM shills who have responded to poor Emily. By the way, Emily has a right to be angry with her husbandbut thats a private matter. Emily hit it square on the nail when she pointed out that a good friend misled her husbandthats the downfall of the MLM! Relationships and families have been torn apart because of them. These schemes almost always fail because mathematically the numbers eventually run out. MLMs like Amway have gone a different route, theyve begun to push special tapes and videos to the distributors that promote positive thinking. (If positive thing tapes are so good why is it that only MLMs sell them?) Anyway, Ive strayed from my question, here it is:

Why is it that MLMs, which are so famous for building the individual psyche through positive thinking, destroy members who dont go along with the MLM? All the shills have trashed Emily, whatever happened to positive thinking and kindness towards thy fellow man, hmm?

Just a thought,

Sorry, I would have been here sooner but I had to wade through miles of shills to get here. On the way here I read in several posts where the authors likened Wal-Mart to a MLM. Are you kidding? No one could be that foolishI am going to assume it was written in jest. But, just in case someone actually believes thatallow me:

MLM: Recruits members
Wal-Mart: Nope, hires folks

MLM: Members pay a fee to gain entry into the MLM, matrix, geometric scheme, etc.
Wal-Mart: Nope, it pays its associates for services rendered

MLM: Money flows up to the top
Wal-Mart: Money flows down to the bottom

MLM: Sometimes required to make purchases on monthly basis
Wal-Mart: Nope

MLM: Requires or encourages through monetary advantage its members recruit others
Wal-Mart: Nope

MLM: Encourages members to suck in friends and family warm market to pay money to MLM
Wal-Mart: Nope, doesnt push its associates to bring in people. Hopes folks buy stuff from the store.

MLM: No benefits
Wal-Mart: Health and dental benefits, paid leave, bonuses, stock options, profit sharing, etc.

Anyone who likens any corporation like Wal-Mart or small business like a pet store to a MLM is not thinking or has been badly deceived.

I have only one question to the MLM shills who have responded to poor Emily. By the way, Emily has a right to be angry with her husbandbut thats a private matter. Emily hit it square on the nail when she pointed out that a good friend misled her husbandthats the downfall of the MLM! Relationships and families have been torn apart because of them. These schemes almost always fail because mathematically the numbers eventually run out. MLMs like Amway have gone a different route, theyve begun to push special tapes and videos to the distributors that promote positive thinking. (If positive thing tapes are so good why is it that only MLMs sell them?) Anyway, Ive strayed from my question, here it is:

Why is it that MLMs, which are so famous for building the individual psyche through positive thinking, destroy members who dont go along with the MLM? All the shills have trashed Emily, whatever happened to positive thinking and kindness towards thy fellow man, hmm?

Just a thought,

It distresses me greatly to hear stories of fellow marketing executives duping people into joining Melaleuca- by either leaving out information or simply being naggy about joining. THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE ONLY OF THE INDIVIDUAL, NOT THE COMPANY. Unfortunately there are always people who are less than helpful in any situation, whether they are signing you up, or trying to help you exit the company because you weren't introduced corectly. SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T GET IT. The world is full of negative personalities- which gives the company a bad name where none is deserved. It's sad to hear that it's name already has a connotation of MLM and the like, because it's far from it. But then you'd have to actually be in Melaleuca to know why.

When the business is done properly, the rules are relayed clear and concise, and nobody ever gets anything they don't want- and all of the referred customers should be delighted with their change in lifestyle that comes with experiencing the products. Personally, the company has changed my life. Since joining 2 years ago, my wounds heal 3X faster, and according to my doctors, my health is simply astounding. I see better, feel better, and GOD d**n if it's not the products of Melaleuca, Inc.

That's exactly what this company is about, too. IT WOULD BE NOTHING without THE AMAZING PRODUCTS that arrive in my mail every month.

and when i attend business-buliding seminars, there is always a new customer with a new amazing story to tell. A recent newbie of a friend of mine -- her FIBROMYALGIA went in to REMISSION after being on the vitamins for two months. She is eternally grateful that she found us. Or the man whose diabetes has started to actually get better when doctors said that it would never stop getting worse. And this is just from talking to people who attend. it's really inspiring.

THAT is the power this company has.

I'm sorry if your impression is negative. but that's supposed to be one of the responsibilities of the company's independent marketing execs. - and the company always gets heat for bad and misrepresentative people. some people who join for the business JUST DON'T GET IT. it's not about the money- if you are a pushy and greedy person, then Melaleuca may bring you money- but it will give the company a bad name. PLEASE, FELLOW EXECS. ---DO THE BUISNESS RIGHT.

and i know for a fact that the company means well. it changes people's lives every day. especially mine. and my business drive is to share that with others.

but there are always people who don't get it. both in the buisness and unfortunate victims of those people-potential loyal customers whose lives would have been enhanced- now ex-customers.... and i'm sorry for your loss.

we all must remember- nothing is perfect. not even companies who just want to make you feel better.

sorry,

Dear Ms. Staci-

I have heard all this crap about MLMs before; "the warm market" "the new corporate paradigm" "cut out the middle man, so you can share more in the profits" "the more you make the business grow, the more profit you get." Am I right? Of course I am.

Please see my other comments about this very destructive form of sales. What it does is capitalizes on the sales personnels' relationships and consequently changes the nature of those relationships. Every family reunion you are avoided. Friends feel awkward about being around you because social events become sales meetings. This is the difference between Wal-Mart and an MLM.

Very Sincerely,

ED Magedson
EDitor@ripoffreport.com

First of all I'm not in Melaleuca in anyway. I have an at-home business [deleted].



Emily,



Do you or your husband work? If you do then you are working the biggest MLM scam yet. Unless you are the CEO of the company, you are working 45 years + to make the CEO's Rich.

So they can have the time freedom.

Time to spend with their family when they want it and how they want to do it.



A company you and my husband works for looks like this.



CEO

PRES PRES

VICE PRES VICE PRES

MANAGER MANAGER MANAGER MANAGER

SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER

WORKER WORKER WORKER WORKER WORKER WORKER WORKER





AND SO ON



SO YOU AS THE WORKER IS WORKING TO MAKE THE OTHERS RICH...... IN FAMILY TIME!

THE CEO - MANAGER THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE WORKING UNTIL THEY ARE 65+.



YOU WILL!!!!!!



IS A WAY FOR THE WORKERS OF THE 45 YEAR PLAN TO BE A CEO OF THEIR OWN BUSINESS WITH OUT THE HIGH START UP COSTS.



I'M SORRY ABOUT THE PROBLEM'S YOU HAD WITH THIS COMPANY.

NOT ALL ARE LIKE THIS!!



NOT ALL HOME BUSINESS ARE BAD!



THEY ARE A GREAT WAY FOR A GOOD INCOME WITHOUT TAKE FROM YOUR FAMILY LIFE!



AVON, MARYKAY, HOME INTER, CANDLE LIGHT, WALMART, SEARS, JC PENNY, ANY WHERE YOU SHOP THEY ARE ALL AN MLM IN SOME WAY!

IF YOU ARE A MANAGER REGULAR BUSINESS YOU FIND SOMEONE TO WORK FOR YOU.



In an at home business as a manager you find someone to work WITH you NOT FOR YOU. At least in the home business I'm doing we are a team we work together.



You had a real bad experance. And i'm sorry for that.



Take care!!

And may GOD be with you!!!

Jen, I'm guessing your another very overweight housewife with no real future. I'm sorry that your life so horrible, but please don't take out your frustrations on other people. Jen, you have the power to change. Make the decision to evolve into a winner. I know you can do it! Turn off the tv, get off the couch and Get a Life!



Love,

You're an A******! Why don't you lose the serious attitude problem and "maybe" people will find one reason to listen to you.



Ever worked in telemarketing? You'd be perfect!

Hi Emily,



I stumbled on this site and on your letter about your problem with Melaleuca while searching the web. I am a Melaleuca "preferred customer," which means I order products from them every month (that is I actively place an order for what I need each month.)



I love the products, especially the dishwasher liquid, the arthritis pain ointment, and the energy bars. They also have the only candles I have ever found anywhere that do not have toxic lead in the wicks. I am entitled to actively work the business, bringing in others who want to be customers and or who want to build their own Melaleuca business, in order to bild my own business.



However I am busy doing other things right now and just prefer to be a customer. For your information, even though I am just a customer and not doing anything to build a business for myself, just by being a customer since last February, I've acquired an income from them. The person who brought me into the company puts new members in my downline and I actually do get a check the 15th of every month from Melaleuc JUST FOR BEING A CUSTOMER! I'm sorry you had a bad experience. As in any business, some salesmen can be really pushy or may misrepresent things. And we always have to remember to read everything and understand it before we sign. I can understand how your husband didn't get everything clear first.



Sometimes we just slip up. Perhaps the friend who signed him up was deceptive or maybe the person who signed that friend up did not spend the time with him to make sure he was properly trained. Anyway, it sounds like you finally got your problems worked out. I'm glad. Sorry you got a bad impression of Melaleuca. From my experience what happened to you is very unusual for this company. Just as a person who is a happy customer of theirs I'd like to apologize to you and wish you well.



Sincerely,

Emily,



Just wanted to support your freedom of speech from living in America. My suggestion to all consumers who are not getting the refunds they deserve (as stated on the contracts and products) is keep speaking up and notifying supervisors until you get your money back.



I am however shock at the amount of people who are judging you and your husband. Unfortunately I have been misled in the past by people trying to help, but they left out some of the details. I know if you and your husband would have had the whole story this would not have happened in the first place.



I would like to suggest to all who purchase anywhere that you stand up for yourself when miscommunication happens. And to those of you who cannot handle a woman who is upset I suggets you take some sociology classes or communication classes to get you to a place in your life where you don't judge others. I bet you'd be much happier in life.



I do know people who use Melaleuca products and are very happy with them. I myself shop at Walmart cuz I can't see paying that much for health products. I guess the bottom line is check things out and thanks to all who had constructive things to say. That teaches others to be more aware of their decisions. To the angry people I hope you get help.

All of the Melaleuca Reps are trying to make a living. You must have too much time on your hands to think of other things. If your husband did not read the contract then it is his fault. And when you discovered that he did this you should have stopped it if you did not authorize him to use your card. Did you ever READ the agreements? I guess not since you had to b***h and complain your way through. Find something more productive to do with your time than this.

Wow! I had forgotten all about this page! It sure doesn't take a genuis to figure this out. Looks like some Melaleuca employee (maybe Kennedy herself?) discovered my rant and got even MORE employees to get on here and tell me where to go! Why didn't you guys go to the other pages at this site that bash melaleuca and yell at them? Boy have I been put in my place! Even tho none of you knows how to spell the word "you're", the degree of degradation and sarcasm in your posts was perfect! How passionate you all are about working for peanuts! You have convinced me that Melaleuca is a superb company, full of wonderful employees.



People? ITS OVER. Let it go. I did.

Ok why are you slamming the company? It's clearly your husband's fault! If you don't like the products or anything about the company, fine. Leave it at that! I've been in Melaleuca for a year and as far as saying "dream on, you'll never make any money", I clear over $2000 a month and I feel pretty d**n proud of that.



Please don't go around slandering a company just because you've been burned before by Amway or your ex-friend neglected to go over the terms and conditions with your husband who used your credit card.



Everyone in my business knows and understands about back up orders because I explain that over and over before I even let them sign any paperwork! And if they don't like Melaleuca and decide to quit (which isn't often)they've never ever had a problem getting a refund in a timely manner.



Again, I'm sorry you feel this way and this isn't for everyone but the real person you need to be pissed at is fraudulent hubby.

Sounds to me like Emily has a very dishonest husaband and a very dishonest friend and the only thing she can do about it bash someone or something else. It is very typical of sour people that can find no good in anything.

Sounds to me like Emily has a very dishonest husaband and a very dishonest friend and the only thing she can do about it bash someone or something else. It is very typical of sour people that can find no good in anything.

Sounds to me like Emily has a very dishonest husaband and a very dishonest friend and the only thing she can do about it bash someone or something else. It is very typical of sour people that can find no good in anything.