Complaint Review: Melaleuca

This is not the same business that operated the company/website when this report was filed.

iMoms.com is currently owned by the E.W. Scripps company and is a network of local mom websites. We have owned the domain since 2007.

If you have any questions, I'm happy to address them. thank you

To whom it may concern,

The M.O.M. Team, and any other such group, is only recognized by Melaleuca. Such organizations as the M.O.M. Team are groups of individuals who choose to come together to capitalize on the Marketing Executive program offered by Melaleuca. These organizations are not allowed to refer to Melaleuca in any of their advertising, as they are not subsidiaries of Melaleuca. There is no real affiliation between the M.O.M. Team, or any other group, and Melaleuca other then the Marketing Executives themselves.

Many uninformed Melaleuca Marketing Executives mistakenly claim they practice Consumer Direct Marketing, not Multi-Level Marketing (please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-level_marketing). This may be the result of the company's An Introduction to Melaleuca booklet. Inside there is an article on What Makes Melaleuca Different? Consumer Direct Marketing (which is a trademarked phrase by the way) is covered as is a section titled Melaleuca Is Not Multi-Level Marketing. Discussed is what one might expect from a Multi-Level Marketing company as well as what one can expect from Melaleuca. What Marketing Executives are missing is that this is a statement of Melaleuca's priorities (or opinion about its self) not a statement of fact.

Organizations recognized by Melaleuca use Direct Marketing methods (please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_marketing). There should be no unwanted solicitations, which are sometimes referred to as cold calling, junk mail, and spam. As with any endeavor, there are those who lack ethic as well as those who are inept. Working to identify and contain any such person is a constant battle for groups like the M.O.M. Team.

When the M.O.M. Team or any other work from home group introduces Melaleuca the focus is on Financial Wellness. They seek to emphasis the business building opportunity provided to Melaleuca Marketing Executives. These groups use hype (meaning: to publicize extravagantly) when motivating their members to build a bigger business. The Marketing Executives involved with these groups want to be driven to succeed, and they expect others will as well. Their goal is financial freedom.

This said, I would recommend visiting: http://www.melaleuca.com. See for yourself what this company is all about, with out the business spin. After you have read everything in the introduction, please go to: http://www.melaleuca.com/wc/. Take the time to view and read about the individual products. Compare the prices and the quality. Be sure to check out the Product Experience letters at: http://www.melaleuca.com/wc/index.cfm?m=1&p=43.

Thank you for your time,

Melaleuca customer, future Marketing Executive, and past M.O.M. Team member.

I am too am a consumer & own my own business with iMoms/Momexecs. I have only been doing this for a little while. I just want to say I love the products, I have always wanted good, quality products for my family, and I couldn't ever have the chance financially to give this to them. Fortunately, now I can and I feel so much better knowing my family is getting the best. As for the comments on how Melaleuca not letting us advertise there name, I do have a comment regarding this. I have been an Insurance Agent for Commercial Property & Casualty for almost 9 years, and I have seen many types of law suits in those years. One of the great ideas I liked with this opportunity, is that Melaleuca is being very protective of all that start their own business with this great opportunity. I know from my career experience, not having the liability of "selling Melaleuca products" was one of the reason's I got excited about this. I sure feel better knowing that a Manufacturer that trusts the quality of their product so much, that they want to take 100% of the liability for themselves. That to me says a lot about a company. I was once an Avon Rep. & I also was involved with Amway for awhile years ago. Unfortunately with selling their products, the liability for lawsuits also falls under the person selling their products, being named as well for being the "Manufacturer's Rep". With Melaleuca, you are NOT a Manufacturer's Rep for the products, we don't sell the products ourselves to the customer, all we do is sign them up for membership, it is up to the "Preferred Customer" to look into the products and buy them for themselves, and if they want to advertise their website so other consumers can have the opportunity to do the same is all up to them, not for the person that signed them up. The same liability thought would also fall under say "Sam's Club" membership. If you are unhappy with a product that you purchase at Sam's Club, would you actually go back to the 'same employee' of Sam's Club and demand the employee refund this, or would you go to "Sam's Club" (the company itself) and demand refund on your membership if you were unhappy. I personally would go to the actual company selling the product to me. All I can see with Meleleuca is good things. That $29 for membership to be able to buy products 30-40% in savings, sure makes a lot of sense to me. And I did get this $29 back in my first month of ordering my own products for the month, as I saved $33.62 on my first order from the Retail Price, so it is true, NO RISK. I am an at home mom and love it, and knowing I can purchase better & safer products for my family is the main reason I joined as a Preferred Customer. If I can make money at this business (introducing other people to safer, better & wholesale priced products) to even just pay for the household products I buy every month anyway, this sure makes a big difference. I can see if someone is unhappy with the product, and that is why being human is wonderful, because everyone of us have a different taste in things (kind of like some like spinach, while others do not). And if someone joins to GET RICH FAST, what a mistake of thinking that is. If you look at ALL Legit Business Opportunities out there, there is NOT one "Own your own business" out there that you didn't spend money to make money. And what business out there makes you rich over night. I know for a fact that if you own your own business, there are expenses. I don't know of one company (you start on your own) that you don't have to pay something to start. Even me being an Insurance Agent, I can easily start a business of my own, but it takes money to make money. These are my thoughts, take what makes sense and leave the rest...

I am part of the iMoms team, I uderstand all of your concerns and statements. I had many concerns and reservations before I began to work with iMoms/Melaleuca, in fact it took me two months to decide to join, what intrigued me after many, many questions to the team and to Melaleuca (their contact info is not hidden from us!!) was that it was the first company I have found that would not leave me hanging. I have worked with Avon and I even did an in-home travel agency where I was an outside travel agent that cost me $7500.00 to get involved, in addition to travel agent classes and the advertsing was outrageous only to find that I was left alone to search for my customers, to hunt down vendors for commissions that weren't even worth the time being housebound waiting by the phone for traveling prospects to call only to have me work for free and then book their travel on the internet or directly with the airline or just simply shopping around for a dream vacation with no intent to travel. I thought it would be a dream home business, but it wasn't again as I said it made me housebound to my agency hours and the industry simply does not pay enough commissions to compensate all of my work(airlines 5%, car rentals 10% and hotels varied, the real money was cruises, but more difficult to sell within central Illinois)and on top of it I had a spring break compnay rip me off for 700.00 commission for a group I booked, with no help from the agency I worked with it was the last draw. Now with Avon, I was running around town every week either picking up orders and filling them or collecting money and delivering products, I had people to never to be found and be stuck paying for the products that I didn't order, the shipping was more then the value of the product and was not worth returning. Avon's direct line is not toll free and they are rude and keep you on hold. Your enroller is usually no help. I worked hard for 3 years and did not make any money with it.

I have been with iMoms and Melaleuca since June of this year, I have tremendous support through my mentor, training calls, team meetings and directly with Melaleuca all over the phone and I never have once needed to leave my house or even needed to be housebound to do this. I set my own schedule and I do not waste gas and since I do not sell products I do not get stiffed by customers. I have never been put on hold by Melaleuca or never had a disgruntle person within in the company speaking to me, they have always helped with any questions I have and have nothing to hide!!!! NOTHING!!!! AND>>> I know when my check is coming every month (an actual check!!!) and it has always cam on time for the right amount.
If you want to ask a question call them!!!

Now I suppose some people marketing Melaleuca, some may even be an iMom, may not always be great or have a great personality and unfortunately they may put a bad taste in someone's mouth or give them a bad impression of what iMoms and Melaleuca is all abou, but I can tell you this much those type of people should not be marketing and probably are no t successful and then complain that it doesn't work and quit while hurting others in their path. We are all not like that.
But this is why Melaleuca has the policy to not advertise their name, becuase they simply cannot keep track of the way their name is being advertise, they have existed for approximately 20 years and have millions of people within their company and there is no way they could keep a tally on every use of their name in advertisement. I respect this, it can be frustrating because some people think we are hiding something when we're not!! It is just their policy.

But think about it!!! How many times do you see Avon's name!!! It is worn out along with Amway, why?? Because how it is advertised by people with no advertising skills and if you have people marketing in unethical ways it makes that name into a bad one and that is exactly what Melaleuca is preventing and I really, really respect that.

Okay, I said I joined in June this year (2004), have I been successful?? Yes, I am already director and all of the women under me including their husbands and mine, love Melaleuca products. I don't have to say the products are good because they prove that to me, they tell me what they love!! They love the support I provide and look forward to speaking with me. They are not, except one, my friends and family, but we have become friends and family and not all of them are doing the business part of Melaleuca because they simply love being just a customer and I think that is awesome. I've never been this successful with anything like this in the past, I even tried SMC where you have to pay for coaching, because nothing had ever given me the support I needed to succeed and all for free!! The support is free and the business is what you want to put into it and that doesn't come free, but hey we would all have to pay daycare upfront, gas, clothing to go to work and work hard for 2-3 weeks until we see a paycheck and all the while the house is not getting clean and you are missing out on your kids (that is not my sales pitch, just so you know, but what I personally feel.)

While I agree that this may not be for everyone, I do not agree for those that it is not for to bash a company they do not know or even gave the chance long enoguh to get to know them because if you did get to know them they would find Melaleuca is a company built on integrity and treat all their customers and executives with respect and smiles. I am a Christian too and know that there is no better compnay out there than this, they ahev not made me feel unethical in anyway. And by the way.... the products are by no way overpriced. Check them out and if you want a price comparison, let me know... all of their products are concentrated and safer for the environement, me and my family.

www.melaleuca.com you can look at the whole website the pc price are for those who become a preferred customer for one time fee of $29 (no different from any other buyers club, well it is cheaper than Sams and costco and the $29 is not annual it is $12 annual after that) the preferred customers make their personal decision to make money with Melaleuca or not. Again, keep in mind their products are concentrated, the laundry detergent only takes 1/8 cup (1 oz) for a large load and works as well as and is safer than Tide and is only 14.99 for 96 large loads where Tide is approx 18.99 for 96 medium loads. Here's the proof we do not hide things go check it out, you search the whole store, you just cannot fill the cart.

again... www.melaleuca.com

http://iworkfromhome.internetmoms.net
paintdrose@sbcglobal.net



Let's face it... it is very difficult to find work from home that does not involve some kind of selling or marketing, the secretary jobs are all scams unless it is something you create for yourself. An most work at home jobs have you leave your home than ever where Melaeuca does not!! I market them just Like I market my favorite restaurant, my doctor or bakery when I refer them to a friend or stranger I meet or how I mraket pepsi when I walk around drinking a bottle. The difference??? my restaurant, my doctor, my bakery or pepsi does not pay me to do it (melaeuca does), but I do it because I love these places, just like I love Melaleuca.

So, please.... everyone cannot agree on the same restaurant, doctor, bakery or brand of soda just like everyone cannot agree with home businesses, but there is no reason to bash them unless you really have a genuine legitimate complaint about the company itself and not the person representing them. :-) Have a good day!!

I want to respond to this posting regarding Melaleuca and certain mom teams such as imoms and others. I recently joined a team that is partnered with Melaleuca. When joining these teams they are RISK FREE. You can try it and if within 120 days (depending on the team) you are not satisfied your membership fee of only 29 dollars is returned. Like other responses this is a legit stay at home business! Try it. I have a wonderful mentor and so can you.

I have a friend that works from home for this company. It is her own business. It has worked well for her. I'm not sure how long she has been in this business but she is making close to $2,000 month. It is a business and like anything you have to work at it. Money is not going to come on a silver platter. You can't start one day and make a fortune the next. Instead of putting these company's down, maybe we all should take a long hard look at what we really want and are we really willing to work for it? My guess is that we want it now! It doesn't work that way even though it would be nice. My friend never kept the name Melaleuca from me. I guess it all depends on where you get your information. There are a lot of rip off companys out there but I know MELALEUCA is not one of them.

I understand how this gentlemen feels, but we at iMoms represent ourselves with the highest level of integrity. We tell all new customers that this business is not a get rich quick scheme and that it takes hard work.

You can make money if you put some effort into it. You can always cancel your account by writing into Melaleuca and cancelling. And to address the website issue, we are not allowed to advertise Melaleuca on our website, but if we talk to customers we do let them know how we are paid!!!!!! And that is through Melaleuca!!!!

Maybe you got a bad marketing representative, but all of us are not like that and are making a wonderful salary with Melaleuca!!!! And we tell our customers everything up front before they sign up. Ask the questions, and you will get the answers. I love iMoms and Melaleuca and the products and I don't appreciate your negatively about my company!!!!

I had the same experiance with imom's 3 years ago, anly I listened to the whole pitch and spoke with the advisor and was, very briefly, an employee. The problem was this: money. They wanted it from me before I had any reason to trust them. They wanted me to but the membership, buy the start up kit....sound familiar? When I voiced my hesitancy and concern the representitive used high preassure and guilt tactics to try and get me to change my mind. "you can't make money before you spend it..." sound familiar? " You'll make back your initial investment within the first month..." sound familiar? Now I have kept high hopes and tried many many companies who operate this way. I was involved with Kirby. I have fallen victem to several mail from home scams. I have done all of this because as a very young single mom it is hard to work and go to school full time when you are not recieving government assistance. By this time I know enough about marketing and sales to recognize the type of business, the sales pitch being used on me, and how it is supposed to make me feel in order to get me to go with the company's goals. All's fair in marketing people, and companies will do just abut anything to sell their goods and services. These work at home make a million bucks or even just make a good living companies are all about moving product. They don't care if they are only selling stuff to their sales reps. They still make money. And the more sales reps you can recruit the lower your company's employee satisfaction rates need to be. I mean come on, if yo have 20 new sellers every week each buying a start up kit for a couple hundread bucks.....do you really need to make sure they can sell they crap you just sold them so they stay happy and keep selling? heck no. They work for a month or two, recruit a few dozen drones just like themselves to but the kits and then get disillusioned and quit. But by then the company's made between 500-1000 bucks or more. And while they are still enamoured of teh franchise they spout off the brain washed defences of the company to anyone and everyone who will listen, swearing up and down it's not a scam, the product is good, blah blah blah. The worst part is, they believe everything they say. Untill they go broke. Or get screwed. And even then many still have the guilt pitch in their mind and they blame themselves for not being a more motivated seller, for not pushing harder to sell, for not being good enough when in reality they just didn't find enough people gullible enough to pay way too much for something they don't want or need.

I am a wah graphic designer, looking for a way to increase my earnings. As I look at the imoms web site I would like to understand why there is no clear indication of what "exactly" the company is all about. I did not feel comfortable enough to provide my information and when i tried to enter the web page Linda provided for more information, I got a message that says the page does not exist. Please advise, LInda.

David,
You say that you believe that when an MLM company comes on the marked that does not use hype to sell the products, does not have to over price it's products, and delivers what it claims it will make a difference in the market full of snake oil and con artists. If you truly believe that you need to look into this company further. Melaleuca is committed to SAVING people money, eliminating debt and paying for hard work, not hype.

The company publishes the average income at each level along with the high and the low. They NEVER make any income claims. The only word in the list you declaimed that they have ever used is exclusive. That's because many of their products do have patens in the U.S. and Canada. However, they do not charge more based on this.

Personally, I don't market through my friends and family at all. How is this possible? We don't sell products. This is why we are not an MLM we use Consumer Direct Marketing. We don't take orders. We don't deliver products. We don't collect money. Because of this we are able to market our business just like any other online company. I don't have to worry about how I will get things to the customer. Melaleuca does that and they have distribution centers set up like I never could.

I am an average person. I've never been good at selling things from the days of Girl Scout cookies on. I can now work in my home so I can stay with my daughter. If you would like to chat you can come to www.momsdream.internetmoms.com and get my contact information. We have online presentations that tell you more. I'd be happy to answer any and all questions you might have.

The products that Melaleuca manufactures are LESS expensive than what you are buying today. They do work better as well but Melaleuca is dedicated to its mission statement "Enhancing the lives of those we touch by helping people reach their goals." And notice too, THEIR GOALS not OUR goals. We don't tell people what they want and then push them to gain it. We ask people what they want then support them in their efforts. We have no quotas or demerits. This company understands that a person reaching for their own goal is much better than trying to drive people to their goal.

If this company had, or allowed questionable ethics I would not be involved. I'm a strong Christian and believe that we are here to help each other. Not trick each other for our own gain. This company is succeeding by providing something that people need. Contact me and I can give you information on why these products are needed or about the company itself. Whatever you wish.

Sir,

As someone who is intrigued with the mlm framework and also is grounded in 'reality', I wonder if there are any legitimate mlm companies out there.

The non-mlm types cry out that they don't want to sell to their family and friends and that the products are too expensive as compared with regular stores.

The mlm junkies/advocates try to sugar coat and explain the need to 'cut out the middleman' whilst at the same time are acting as middlemen. They say the product is 'worth' it and 'better' than what is available but they can't back this up. The fact that their mlm is such a hard game doesn't convince them that they are hyping overpriced products/services, but only confirms their belief that most people aren't 'up to it' or that those who quit don't 'have what it takes'.

I have yet to come across a networking company that doesn't go overboard on the hype meter, using words like 'secret/exclusive formula', billion dollar market, best paying program, 'exploding' incomes, fantastic, incredible, amazing, essential, ultimate, 'your last chance', 'don't miss out', 'chance of a lifetime'.

In no other business sector other than 'opportunities', do these hyperbolies exist or would be taken seriously. Whilst some large corportations are actively toying with mlm, very few have 'gone for it' as far as playing the 'we are the best and greatest' game.

I feel for people like the writer of the imoms article. If only mlm companies were to be set up so that people could be up front and honest, not having to play tricks and shell games with their friends and family. There are millions of people out there who would love to work hard and get paid for their efforts.

When the day comes when an mlm company will structure and price it's products so that the business opportunity is not stigmatised (un-needed, overpriced, un-proven) as a money game and they do allow average people to 'do business' marketing valued products and services in a manner that is not socially unacceptable, then that company will be great in this industry of con artists who trade in on people's vulnerabilities.

I don't agree with the writer that a CV is needed to 'vet' potential business partners as mlm is an all volunteer type of business that rewards work. How it rewards work (product value and quality, price, compensation plan) and how it presents itself to potential partners is the point at issue.

Sincerly,

I have four major points to make in response to your comments. First, in both scenarios you clearly state that you never even listened to the entire proposal, much less work with the complies you are mentioning. How can you know that something is not what it claims if you have only a gut emotional response to go on with no solid evidence?

Second, Melaleuca is significantly different from Amway and if you had listened t EITHER proposal you would know that.

Third, you've never worked with iMoms. You've never worked with Melaleuca. You have NO grounds to judge our methods or results. IMoms stresses from the first contact on that we are NOT a get rich quick scheme. If you want to make money with this group you will work hard to earn your reward. No one has ever made a pie In the sky promise in our group and we work diligently with all new enrollees with extensive training and mentoring to make sure they have the tools they need to be a success.

And finally, as to your rules for a legitimate opportunity, This is not a JOB it is a BUSINESS. When was the last time you heard of someone filling out a resume to open a diner or a hair salon. We don't check you out Because we are not hiring you. Every Marketing executive works for themselves not for Melaleuca or their enroller.

We do not put the name of the company on our web site for the very reason illustrated by this forum. We want people get legitimate information for people that know the company and the iMoms support group up front. We want to be able to address concerns of people like you in person, not in an arena like this where we never even know who will bother to read the rebuttals after they've been turned off by the harsh words of ignorant bystanders.

We do not charge people a dime to get the information we offer in fact, we even pay all the long distance fees so there is absolutely no risk at all to any person that ever inquires into our opportunity. Over 3000 mothers are making a viable business with Melaleuca and the support of the iMoms team. We are staying at home with our children and we have a safer home to show for it.