Complaint Review: Arbonne International

To the sister who has not given up... GOOD FOR YOU! Keep moving, and you will get there, all it takes is never giving up. The quitters never win in life. Unfortunately some of the closest people in our lives will try and sqash our dreams it's sad but true... it's where our mind set comes from in the first place. Keep dreaming, keep achieveing one day at a time... it beats going backwards and certainly beats going nowhere!

:) Shelley Giard-Talbott

Dear Melanie,

I read your comment regarding your disbelief that 14 people got Mercedes in Jennifer's success line. I do not know Jennifer, but hope that she reads this and maybe we can meet at NTC in Atlanta in April 2008! I had to laugh out loud, only because I PERSONALLY met, chatted and trained with a successline in Arbonne where 70 people have not only gotten their White Mercedes (that Arbonne Pays for as a reward for their consultants' hard work) but 70 in one line of success are all National and Executive National VP's. (the top level of income in Arbonne with the AVERAGE paycheck being $22,000/month which means they go higher) and yes, I have seen the paycheck stubs so it's not just a figment of my dreams or imagination.

Google the names Susan Hutton, Julie Newcomb, Sibley Gammon, Celcilia Stoll, Shelly Whitekiller, Robyn Lyle, Scott Bufton, Joanne Goughan,Trish Woods, Tina Bufton, Andrew Inman, Shannon Johnson, Deb Brewer, Stacy Thorne, Suzy Schilling, Deanna Herrin, Barbara Colby, Deanna Osborne... The list goes on, these are all NVP's, you get the Mercedes as an RVP, which is before you become an NVP. I encourage you to see for yourself and read the stories if you still don't believe in the Arbonne Opportunity. You can read their stories on the company website (www.arbonne.com) under "the Company" and "Success Stories". I must prepare you though for seeing HUNDREDS of names, not simply 14. All of them were regular people that are now living the life of their dreams because of this business. In Edmund, Oklahoma (tiny tiny town) there are 33 Moms picking up their kids from school in White Mercedes because of Arbonne! I AM NOT KIDDING!

In the above mentioned names, many are in my success line (Several in Edmund) I have felt, touched and smelled the leather of Janice Delosky's Mercedes, she sat in My Mom's living room with me, I talk to her on the phone several times a week... it's not a secret society of millionarires making a buck off of people who have no money... but I can assure you that I have been involved with some of those companies too.

Unfortunately, many of us settle for mediocracy as we settle into life and life consumes us. As children we knew how to dream and dream big, but the corporate life and "job" force re-programs us to work for a living, not to dream of a lifestyle. I don't know what you do for a living but I can bet that you, like many will never have the chance in your company to make what your boss is making, or sit at his desk in his position. That is how we all are or have been, but some of us simply choose to take the bull by the horns and change that aspect of our lives and begin creating a future by working with a company that gives us all a level field to play on. How quickly or how great we become successful is based on what we do with the opportunity... and that is life in general not just Arbonne. If you want a job, then Arbonne is not for you, if you want a life... then we need to talk!

Arbonne, is truly a relationship business that is built on a solid ground of integrity and I will tell you that you too could be driving a White Mercedes... it's not a sales pitch, it's the truth. The people that usually critique a business that is producing this kind of success are the people who have been programmed to believe that they cannot succeed and the people who need to believe and know that they can do ANYTHING they set their minds to. I truly hope you will read a few of the stories if nothing more than for curiosity, I can assure you that they are REAL... not fiction, and who knows you may be inspired to dream again!

I am a mother of two, hard working Entrepeneur having been a self employed hair, makeup, and wardrobe artist for 16 years. I am 33 years old, an Arbonne Consultant and am well on my way to my White Mercedes! Send me your e-mail and I will send you a photo when I do, then YOU will know someone with one :)
"Since we only get in life what we accept, accept Success!" s. giard 2007

In sincere faith,
Shelley Giard-Talbott

To Jennifer,
Don't give up! You are in a great line if your team is producing like that! Don't let anyone squash your dreams... GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY TO THE TOP, Hope to see you there!

Jennifer - if you're still with Arbonne, which I doubt since you sounded pretty sincere - can you please name these alleged 14 people who got a Mercedes from your 'team'? DO you know them personally?

Please, people get sucked into this company all the time reaching for that brass ring and perpetuating fictions like that 14 people in a given area got Mercedes Benzes is just wrong. My sister has been working this scam for two years now with nothing to show for constantly bringing in new people - except more expenses to Arbonne. She won't give up because she believes wealth isjust around the corner. Stop printing the lies... If you're talking about the company, talk only about what you PERSONALLY have witnessed to be true. And LISTEN to your customers and their complaints - don't just buy the company line, please.

I don't think many of the comnments here were helpful, especially the excuses from the other Arbonne reps. I am glad the situation finally got fixed, but reality is, Arbonne reps don't take no for an answer, even from friends and family members; and the consultants don't help you return products.

I have been to Cookie Lee, Pampered Chef, Southern Living and all sorts of parties at my friends and family's homes. The invitations always came in the mail and I either showed up or I didn't. I could but stuff or not. The consultant on hand was friendly, offered information about the products, but didn't press anyone to buy. I had a Southern Living pie plate arrive damaged and my friend who had the party called the rep, who bought it back from me and put through an order for the same plate, after I said I still wanted one. It came to my home two weeks later.

Not so with Arbonne. I was at a cocktail party at a friend's house that some of her family also attended. Her sister, an Arbonne Rep, yanked out her sample case and offered to give people make overs. We weren't biting, but she kept insisting and said it would be 'fun'. The host was mortified. The Arbonne rep didn't give in and eventually she sold products to some of the people present. She then relentlessly called and emailed everyone. She had been casually going around all evening getting people's business cards 'for her Christmas list'. That party was last spring and still every time I see that woman, the rep, she mentioned me coming over to one of her 'parties'.

I met another Arbot through work. Same thing, talk, talk, talk about her marvelous products and how much she believes in them (and that 'relationship' crap that MLMs sell their reps on too - just like the old Amway pitches - they want you to sell to relatives and friends because those people might feel beholding to you). I have politely refused to buy product each time this person (she works in our mail room so comes by my office often with my mail) comes by. Well, she had the chutzpah to access firm information and I received an invitation to an Arbonne party from her at my home address. She would have no way of knowing that other than using our 'emergency contact' list. Others in our office also got the invite.

These people are over the line and over the top. No means no. Oh, and that mail room worker has been warned she is in violation of company policy but the nitwit seems to think her pointless pursuit of a Mercedes from Arbonne is more valuable than her actual job - and I've caught her harassing new employees twice recently about Arbonne.

Hi
I am an independent consultant with Arbonne and have been for 2 years.
What I have read is an unfortunate set of circumstances that indicate misunderstanding of what Arbonne is and is not. The comments reflect a level of customer service by consultants that have not followed through and given good serivce. This is unfortuante and does a disservice to those who work hard and do well to treat people right.

Arbonne is a very legitamate company with more ethical people than not. And those who are not ethical are held to task. I have seen this. I have had to do returns for myself on behalf of customers and have helped other people wo purchase products from me get an exchange or refund. Arbonne is so generous that I have recieved replacement product and told to keep the one sent and not bother to return it. And they paid the shipping! Network marketing is simply a way for products to reach consumers. Pyramid schemes are illegal, of course and are defined by the fact that money is exchanged and no products are recieved. Consults who build a business usually do invest some money in products and literature,but it is not required that any one person spend any specific amount. People are people and regardless of what company there are people who can give any company a bad name. I have seen reputable firms in marketing, advertising and even law rip people off. So, I invite people to step back and examine what they are claiming. Arbonne has terrific ethics as a company and they unfortuantely do not have control over the actions of people and people not doing right. But in the end if they are not abiding by the ethics they are held to task in one way or another. Arbonne's products are really great. I have so many stories of how people have seen a difference. It shows up and is not just subjective hype. They look better and feel better. Arbonne rocks! And it happens through hard honest work!

I suppose you could call me an Employee of Arbonne, since I signed up to be a consultant, however I really don't "sell" anything. I just don't want all consultants to get a bad rap. I use Arbonne products and love them, so I signed up to be a consultant to get the discount. When ever I can I tell someone about how great their products are and If I can I give out samples of their products that I have on hand. After that Its all up to them, I leave my name and number and if they have any questions they are free to call me. Not all of us are pushy, there are many who just love the product, and belive in it's benifits.

Hello,

I too have been treated poorly. I never got a complete refund for sending my products back a couple of years ago. They gave me enough cash back to keep me quiet I guess. I expected at least a refund in the $100's, not less. I had no choice but to send the products back due to people saying "Arbonne was too expensive" and I was in a cosmepolitan area at the time and I was moving. I even gave Arbonne my forwarding address in the box. I returned some Re9 products as well, never used and never opened. I was even warned by my upline not to return things to Arbonne Corp. hmmm, I wonder, "now why would they say that?". I even asked my upline that and I never got a full response back.

What really made me quit, is that I never got much help and whatever questions I had, I had to fight to get answers to, or my upline said that I was getting "to short" with them and only after a month, they dumped me like a hot potatoe, no important arbonne business emails nothing. I was merely asking questions and all my upline did was quote the system without answering the "why's and how's".

Bottom line, is "don't question the system", yeah right. I would have been a loyal distributor, but you lost me, because I was insulted for asking to many questions and I guess I was getting to close to home. I wasn't the one they wanted to "play up" or fully support.

Janine

These days, you can find absolutely everything up on eBay, so it's not surprising that people have put Arbonne products up there. I doubt very highly, though, that the majority of the people putting the products up for auction are affiliated with Arbonne. In fact, I did a spot check on quite a few pages and out of the 10 that I looked at, every single one of them had "I am not affiliated with Arbonne" somewhere in their listing. My guess is they are buying from a consultant, then turning around and trying to cash in on what they know is a beneficial product.

As has been mentioned before, consultants are not required to keep inventory of product, so anyone who has excess product was not forced into buying and keeping it in the first place, they did so of their own accord.

I have not paid Arbonne to sell their products. To be honest, I don't feel that I do any selling at all. I talk to people about network marketing, Arbonne as a company, and skincare and wellness. Of course we discuss the ingredients and benefits of Arbonne's products because they are more beneficial and safer on your skin than the majority of skincare products on the shelves. And please remember, just because it's on a shelf at Wal-Mart, doesn't mean it's good for you.

This is not some fly-by-night get rich quick scheme. Arbonne has been around for 26 years and you have to work hard in order to move up in the company, just like any other company. The difference is that you determine how hard you're going to work your business and that determines how quickly you move up in the company.

For those that state it is just a pyramid company and the people at the top are the only ones getting rich. Visualize this, for me, if you will. You work at a large corporation. You have a supervisor, who also has a supervisor, who possibly reports to a Vice President, who reports to a President, who may even report to a CEO. Each of those people, all the way to the top have multiple people they support, right? Wait a second... what shape did that take on? Oh yeah... a pyramid.

Now how do you get to the top of that pyramid? Someone has to get fired, step aside, or (God forbid) die. Chances are pretty slim that's going to happen for you to move up, don't you think?

In Network Marketing, it's similar to an upside-down pyramid. Everyone starts at the bottom and decides just how hard they want to work to make it to the top. In a GOOD Network Marketing company, you don't have to wait for the person above you to promote in order to move ahead. In fact, in Arbonne, you can surpass your upline completely if you happen to work your business harder. There is no cap to your earning potential, and there is not a certain number of spots available at the top, then once their filled everyone is out of luck. There is room at the top for as many people as have the dream and the drive to reach it.

Network Marketing is becoming huge. Many of the negative thoughts that people have come from 20 years ago when it was misunderstood and many illegal schemes saw a golden opportunity to cash in on a fantastic system. Donald Trump has even recommended being involved in Network Marketing systems because he sees and understands the potential. Coca-cola, Sara Lee, and Citicorp have all developed network marketing subsidiaries and there are more developing daily.

I recommend doing your own research into Network Marketing. It's at the beginning of a huge boom, and Arbonne is at the forefront.

If this stuff is so great, could someone please explain to me why at this very moment there are not less than TWO THOUSAND of these products up for auction. Actually the figure is probably triple that because quite a few of the auctions are selling 8 or nine pieces in a lot.
I bet the original person who posted could have found the EXACT same products that she paid $400.00 for for $150.00 with out a competitive bid (buy it now price). If they were willing to watch bids, it would be that much less.
If arbonne states that they dont want you to keep any stock on hand, I am dying to know why so many people have these so called surpluses.

I dont use the stuff so I cant say if the stuff really works or if it is just a case of the emperor's new clothes, but I do know that many of these 'consultants' cant seem to get out of the business quick enough and are cutting losses by the thousands.

and if the website is correct, they are taking HUGE losses. The 7 piece lot that is 255.00 on the arbonne website is selling or $130.00 on average.

If this set is to last you for a month that is a pretty big savings over a year....
If this company cared about its consultants, they would do more to keep it from being sold on popular auction sites....

First, in response to the initial complaint about the return problems, I want to say that based on my experience with my returns, that what Jaunita experienced is not the norm. I've had several instances of returns, or pumps not working or missing items in a shipment, and Arbonne has promptly taken care of these things with little questions. They offer superior customer service in my opinion and my clients would agree.

Also, I would like to respond to the question "if Arbonne is so great, why don't they sell in the department stores?" I think there is a lack of understanding of network marketing and I would like to elaborate on that a bit.

First of all, the same question could be asked of Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Cookie Lee jewelry, and so on. why don't they sell in the stores? Arbonne, like many of these other types of businesses, chooses to use Network Marketing as a method of distributing their product.

Unlike traditional retailing, which channels products from manufacturer, to wholesaler, to warehouser, to advertiser, to retailer and eventually the consumer, Network Marketing distributes directly from manufacturer to the consumer through the assistance of an independent consultant.

In general, because all the middle-men and related expenses are eliminated in a network marketing company, the consumer in many cases can actually get a better, quality product that is still affordable. That is why I personally shop with many home based businesses they're usually better products.

For Arbonne, they invest much of their profits into research and development. If they chose to market their products through a retailer, they would have to dramatically increase their prices to maintain the same quality of products they currently manufacture.

So, Arbonne and many others, have turned to network marketing, where they can use independent consultants to market their products, pay them a compensation related to their SALES efforts (NOT recruiting efforts) and still provide an exceptional product to the consumer.

It's a win-win for all involved. It's also really important to note that consultants don't get a commission on anyone that just signs up. There needs to be sale of a product to receive a commission. This is NOT a pyramid scheme that pays you by the bodies that are recruited. True Network marketing is a viable and potentially lucrative business opportunity.

I hope this clarifies how and why Arbonne sells their products the way they do. And like the other responses from Arbonne consultants, I agree that Arbonne has exceptional products that offer a non-toxic solution to the health and beauty industry.

Barbara - Portland, OR

Arbonne is a relationship business, the company does not recommend door to door, we sell to our family, friends, co-workers and bosses (until we get to RVP and quit), because these are the people with whom we have relationships.

We sell to the people we care about because we don't want the people we care about to have to have their eyelashes surgically removed when they get old because of using petroleum jelly to remove their eye make-up (true story). Arbonne products are botanically based which means they do not contain mineral oil or petroleum products (among many other things) that clog our pores and age us quicker.

If you don't care about your appearance continue to make your local drug/department store and the major cosmetic company that doesn't know you or care about you, richer, instead of someone you know who has become passionate about the people they know and their health.

I own a talent agency and I can't tell you how many times talent have done TV commercials and infomercials with all kinds of products and came back to the office telling how the product did not work. But Americans will buy anything because it was advertised on TV.

98% of over-the-counter products contain mineral oil or crude oil derivatives because its cheap(compared to botanical oils),and our country is fascinated with oil profits, not because its healthy for us. This is not true in Europe where, in many countries, use of petro ingredients are banned. If you want to be angry about someone making profit on you, be mad as hell about major corporations that don't care about our health, only their profit margin.

Of course, we are out to make a buck - we have to pay our bills too - You don't think your boss is making a big buck on you while you slave away for him/her. You bet they are! That's because we live in America, a capitalist society.

God Bless America! -Where we can dream of having a better life and start our own business at any time for as little as $29 and have people we know, order better quality products than what they could buy at the store, from us.

To Lisa in Paducah, I challenge you to read and research every ingredient on every bottle of anything you put on your skin. If you do and you really care about your health, I promise you will be dumping it in the garbage and running, not walking, to your nearest consultant that sells botanically based products and begging for their catalog.

Although there are bad apples in any organization, I am sorry you have mistaken someones passion for their product for being an annoyance.

I haven't used any product of any kind on my skin except Arbonne in over 5 years. Arbonne is not the only botanically-based products out there, it's just the best in my opinion. But you won't find quality botanically-based products at the department store.

I know of several Arbonne consultants and they do NOT take no for a answer. I don't know if the company tells them to keep calling customers to sign up even though they tell them they are not interested in selling or what. They sell to family, friends, co-workers, bosses..... To me, they are making money off of their friends and family. I agree with one person who said, if it was so great, why don't the big department stores sell it. Also, why do you PAY someone to sell THEIR products?? Stay clear of the arbonne consultants because once you sign up under them, they will keep on you to get other people signed up... The more people you sign up, the more money for them!! STAY CLEAR!!!

First, I want encourage you to check out the Arbonne International web site. A quick check will asssure you that this is one company that tells it all. I have not found any other company web site that reveals so much information about the products and company polices for everyone to read.

Second, the products really are wonderful. They are safe and do produce the results that they claim. I have many satisfied clients.

Third, if you have any concern about paying by check with a consultant, you should know that you can always use your own credit card. You can order right from the Arbonne web site or a consultant's web site. Simply register as a client or sign up as a consultant (directly from the consultant's web site or use that consultant's ID# on the main Arbonne web site). Use your own credit card and place your own order and you can deal with Arbonne directly if you need a refund.

There is no obligation to do anything if you sign up as a consultant. You can order products at the consultant discount just for yourself. If you encounter any consultant that tells you something that makes you uncomfortable, check the web site or call Arbonne for clarification. As with any large organization of independent business people, there will be a few bad apples. Don't let that discourage you from a great company.

This is a real business. Real people are working and making income sharing information about the great products and alternative business opportunity.

I am incredibly sorry for your experience with Arbonne International. It sounds incredibly frustrating and I would be angry too! I'm glad your refund has been resolved - I wanted to respond to a few of your questions and clarify a few points.

Arbonne is an MLM company - Multi Level Marketing or Network Marketing is simply a form of marketing products. We choose to use the more effective system of word of mouth instead of costly advertising campaigns and high cost models. A MLM System is NOT a pyramid scam - Pyramids only filter money, and do not offer any product - they are illegal. In a Pyramid only the top echelon have the ability to make money - with a MLM system everyone has the same opportunity. Many major companies are buying into MLM's or starting their own (Body Shop, Victoria Secrets and GM are examples) because of the overwhelming success that MLM's have. These are commen misconceptions and I want everyone to have the facts.

To become an Independent Consultant with Arbonne, I paid a $29 fee for the sign up kit. That is the only requirement - When you renew your contract once a year, there is a $15 fee. Arbonne does not encourage their consultants to keep stock on hand, if fact the endorsement area on our checks state that in signing we are agreeing to have sold 70% of any stock we have on hand. Our promotions to higher levels are based on sales not recruitment.

In order for you to have placed the RVSP package you have mentioned (that your consultant received the $50 bonus for) you would also have signed up as a consultant and should have received a Welcome to Arbonne Kit, A consultant ID and a Pin Code. In your kit would have been a Policies and Procedures handbook - this outlines our compensation plan as well.

I disagree with the consultants who told you that you could build your business while being laid up at home, Arbonne is a business you could sustain in that situation but it would be very difficult to start one. On the whole, Arbonne Consultants are very ethical and care about the people they are sharing the products and opportunity with - I'm sorry that has not been the case in your situation.

Many Arbonne Consultants find great success, I have seen 14 members of my team receive their Mercedes Benz this year - For myself, I have not gotten the car yet, but I know that I will. I have found amazing personal growth tools through Arbonne and met some wonderful people.

Again, I'm sorry your Arbonne experience wasn't a positive one. I hope you are able to find skin care that you like and works for you!

Jennifer

I finally received my refund on January 9,2006. An Arbonne VP responded to my BBB report and issued the refund to the consultant's credit card on which the order had been placed. One month later, the consultant still had not issued my refund so I informed the Arbonne VP of the situation who promptly got in touch with the consultant and applied the necessary influence to get her to issue my refund. The BBB process was the right approach to getting the problem solved and once the upper level echelon at Arbonne was apprised of the situation they were very forthcoming in resolving the matter.
Now hopefully the consultant's check won't bounce!! I feel sure that Arbonne will resolve the matter if that does happen. I think the company itself does have integrity even though it operates as an MLM.
End of Story...

First, I want to say that i believe the latest response to my original report is right on target. Arbonne is an MLM company and the Arbonne consultants that hit me up were all about getting me to sign up as a consultant also, so that they could profit from any sales I made. Ethically, I agree that there is definitely something wrong with paying a company to sell their products. Something about that picture just isn't right.

Secondly, in addition to reporting my problem with Arbonne to this site, I also reported them to the Better Business Bureau. I was finally contacted by phone last week by one of their executive VPs who assured me the matter would be resolved promptly and without delay. (It has now been 5 months since the return). Since the consultant I ordered from decided it would be best to use her credit card, instead of my check, to place the order, I now have to wait for the refund to show up on her card and get the $$$ from her. Hopefully, I won't have to go to war against her, as I did with Arbonne, to get my refund.

As a sidenote, I want to add that the consultants that visited me at my home a few days after I broke my leg in 5 places were, in my opinion, taking advantage of my condition at the time. They both stated that I could sell Arbonne even while I was recuperating and that the products that I bought from them would make all the difference in how I felt during my recovery. Neither of them lifted a finger to help with the return of the products or in getting my refund. I do feel I was taken advantage of but I'm a big girl and should have been more wary...

I sincerely hope this story helps someone when they run across this kind of opportunism and greed. One other interesting note...one of the consultants that pressured me into this purchase was a family member. She has also pressured other family members into buying Arbonne, even when they came to her home after my mother's funeral. In doing so, she promptly told us all that she was making $50.00 off of each sale she had made. Just goes to show...we don't get to pick our families...

When and if I do finally get my refund I will update this report.

First, I want to say that i believe the latest response to my original report is right on target. Arbonne is an MLM company and the Arbonne consultants that hit me up were all about getting me to sign up as a consultant also, so that they could profit from any sales I made. Ethically, I agree that there is definitely something wrong with paying a company to sell their products. Something about that picture just isn't right.

Secondly, in addition to reporting my problem with Arbonne to this site, I also reported them to the Better Business Bureau. I was finally contacted by phone last week by one of their executive VPs who assured me the matter would be resolved promptly and without delay. (It has now been 5 months since the return). Since the consultant I ordered from decided it would be best to use her credit card, instead of my check, to place the order, I now have to wait for the refund to show up on her card and get the $$$ from her. Hopefully, I won't have to go to war against her, as I did with Arbonne, to get my refund.

As a sidenote, I want to add that the consultants that visited me at my home a few days after I broke my leg in 5 places were, in my opinion, taking advantage of my condition at the time. They both stated that I could sell Arbonne even while I was recuperating and that the products that I bought from them would make all the difference in how I felt during my recovery. Neither of them lifted a finger to help with the return of the products or in getting my refund. I do feel I was taken advantage of but I'm a big girl and should have been more wary...

I sincerely hope this story helps someone when they run across this kind of opportunism and greed. One other interesting note...one of the consultants that pressured me into this purchase was a family member. She has also pressured other family members into buying Arbonne, even when they came to her home after my mother's funeral. In doing so, she promptly told us all that she was making $50.00 off of each sale she had made. Just goes to show...we don't get to pick our families...

When and if I do finally get my refund I will update this report.

First, I want to say that i believe the latest response to my original report is right on target. Arbonne is an MLM company and the Arbonne consultants that hit me up were all about getting me to sign up as a consultant also, so that they could profit from any sales I made. Ethically, I agree that there is definitely something wrong with paying a company to sell their products. Something about that picture just isn't right.

Secondly, in addition to reporting my problem with Arbonne to this site, I also reported them to the Better Business Bureau. I was finally contacted by phone last week by one of their executive VPs who assured me the matter would be resolved promptly and without delay. (It has now been 5 months since the return). Since the consultant I ordered from decided it would be best to use her credit card, instead of my check, to place the order, I now have to wait for the refund to show up on her card and get the $$$ from her. Hopefully, I won't have to go to war against her, as I did with Arbonne, to get my refund.

As a sidenote, I want to add that the consultants that visited me at my home a few days after I broke my leg in 5 places were, in my opinion, taking advantage of my condition at the time. They both stated that I could sell Arbonne even while I was recuperating and that the products that I bought from them would make all the difference in how I felt during my recovery. Neither of them lifted a finger to help with the return of the products or in getting my refund. I do feel I was taken advantage of but I'm a big girl and should have been more wary...

I sincerely hope this story helps someone when they run across this kind of opportunism and greed. One other interesting note...one of the consultants that pressured me into this purchase was a family member. She has also pressured other family members into buying Arbonne, even when they came to her home after my mother's funeral. In doing so, she promptly told us all that she was making $50.00 off of each sale she had made. Just goes to show...we don't get to pick our families...

When and if I do finally get my refund I will update this report.

Hey T. in Geneva, Illinois
Have a question for you, Is this a pier med marketing scam?

How much money did you have to pony-up so you could sell their products? Are you willing to post how much money you had to PAY THEM to sell their products? Funny how people will pay a company to sell the company's products.

Did they tell you when you signed up, that if you sign up a bunch of new would be sellers that you get a pieace of all of their action of what they all sell?

I ask anybody to post how much money do they want from people to sell their face cream. How much money do you have to part with to sell their products. Does anybody know?

Why would would you have to PAY THEM to sell their products? What's up with that? They should PAY YOU to sell, not you pay for a sack of over priced war paint as samples.

When you have to pay a company to sell their products, SOMETHING IS WRONG! When a major department store does not sell it, That's a BIG HEADS UP.

More people need to post how much money this company asks for if you want to sell their products. Sounds like a multi marketing scam to me.

Let's get the MONEY picture OUT IN THE OPEN for all to see the real picture!

I would like to say, first of all, that I am SO sorry you have had this frustrating experience.

I have been a consultant with the company for several years and have had to return products, on behalf of my customers a few times. I have yet to have a problem doing so. I have found Arbonne to be a company of integrity.

Unfortunately, the last several months have been a challenge in many aspects for the company due to growth. There has been some frustration on the part of even those of us who have been with the company for a long time. We know it will get better, and believe the benefits far outweigh the frustration.

Basically, we have been experiencing some growing pains, and Arbonne is actively trying to increase the number of customer service representatives, update their computer and phone systems to handle the increased volume, and have even implemented a call back option so you no longer have to spend a lot of time on hold.

You didn't mention this, but I wonder if you had placed your order through a consultant or via the Arbonne website. Even if you placed your order via the website, upon receiving a customer ID#, you would have been assigned to a consultant in your area. You would have been e-mailed some contact information.

I suggest that you attempt to contact your consultant and see if you can receive some help from her in dealing with this problem. I know I have mediated between the company and a customer before, and I find it much easier to do as a consultant because I "know the ropes". Also, your consultant is actually responsible for returning to you her commission part of your order...which is very painful...but necessary to maintain the integrity of the system as well as the company.

You could also try putting 'Arbonne International Vice President GA' (your state) into the search engine in your computer and contact the one closest to you via e-mail, explain your situation, and see if she can help you. I have found that MOST (yes, not all) consultants, managers, and VPs are very committed to maintaining the integrity of the company. I, peronsally, have helped many customers and consultants that were not in my personal downline, and from whom I would not financially benefit. This is, to me, what it means to be an Arbonne consultant.

I do hope some of this proves to be helpful for you.

With great respect,