Melaleuca is a scam

My wife got scammed into signing up for this after a so called �friend� saw her on Face book. She no sooner said hi when she was cajoling her into joining this pyramid scheme. That�s how they make their money, signing as many people as they can. Besides having outrageous prices ($26 for nothing more that a 16oz. bottle of glorified Lysol, or over $70 a month for their non FDA approved vitamins), when inquiring how to get out of this scheme, I got hassled by a snotty saleslady ("Director') out of Blaine, MN. (initials S.W.)who called the cops on me for asking honest questions which she wouldn�t answer! Plus they automatically charge your credit card a $60 minimum a month even if you don�t order anything. From what I read on other posts, it's very difficult to quit this pyramid scheme, having to send them certified letters and hoping it reaches the right people.

I would definitely steer clear of this outfit.

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They say the products are safe but THEY TRULY arent! especially the foods! contain all GMO SOY And Canola oil! YUCK!

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The comment "never been in any lawsuits" is shamefully naive and misinformed at best. Feel free to check for yourself just how many lawsuits have been filed involving this company. Register (free) for PACER, a federal gov website that allows anyone to search anyone else in the US about any lawsuit they may be a party to.

Secondly, the "ethics chair"? Can you back that up? Nowhere on the US Chamber of Commerce site (which by the way, is a membership open to anyone willing to pay the annual fees, not an appointed one) makes NO mention of Mr. Vanderscam (whoops, I mean Vandersloot) as sitting on this Board. As far as I am concerned, this is a MLM in the purest sense. No problem with that unless you have a reaction or side effect from their products because they are not regulated or monitored by the FDA because they are not available for sale through normal retail channels. At least the sh*t from China has to meet standards set forth by the FDA to be sold here. And, if there is a recall, it is MANDATORY that the public is notified. Who regulates their manufacturing? Who regulates their formulas? Noone has ever offered any proof that they comply with cGMP or OSHA in their facilities.... Wouldn't you want to know that they have met all of these regulations? Or should you ask yourself if they perhaps don't need to meet these criteria because they are simply a re-packager? In that case, they can buy a product like mineral oil in bulk, and the "original" manufacturer has the burden of meeting the FDA requirements, not the "re" packager... Then, it would make sense that they could re-label, re-sell, and jack the price up.... What do you know? Then they don't have to list the ingredients because they sell through private channels, and not through retail channels where they are REQUIRED to list ingredients on EVERY THING they sell.... Hmmm, is this starting to sound a LOT like what this company is really all about? Is this really something you want to "buy into"? Really, I mean really? The siren song of some Holy than Thou owner who took it upon himself to correct all the moral wrongs with another MLM and formed this company? Really, are you that sucked into the propaganda?

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This sounds like a confused spouse of the original member. Obviously he is way off the mark. WOW. Melaleuca is anything BUT a "Pyramid" or an MLM company. In fact, they go OUT OF THEIR WAY to explain why it's not one of either of those. Anyone can cancel with a simple phone call to an English-speaking representative at Corporate in Idaho Falls, in the U.S. There have never been any lawsuits against them, and the CEO sits on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the ETHICS Chair!

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I am a satisfied customer of Melaleuca, and a former lawyer, now a teacher. I want to point out that the FDA does not "approve" or "disapprove" of any vitamins, it is not their job. People often get fooled by that line, "non-FDA approved", when it really means nothing. This complainer was also probably quoting a retail price, whereas most repeat Melaleuca customer qualify for the Preferred Customer discount. This sounds like a crank.

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I've been with Melaleuca for 2 months. My sister signed up, then decided a month later that it wasn't the right time for her to buy the products. It was very easy to cancel her membership; she filled out a one-page form and faxed it to the company. The next day she got an email confirmation letting her know her Melaleuca account had been canceled. Simple and easy! By the way, this company has a BBB rating of A+ (the highest grade possible). I seriously doubt that a scam would rate so highly after being in business so many years.

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I am a single parent living off of a meager income. I have a bachelors degree in Integrative Therapeutic Practices with a minor in Nutrition; plus I am currently obtaining my Masters in Complimentary and Alternative Medicine through the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and plan on getting a PhD after my MS-IHW.

I have been a customer of Melaleuca for three years now. I stayed with them because their products are biodegradable and safe to use around children and pets. I also found that since many of their products are concentrated, they are actually cheaper per fluid ounce than most store-bought products and last a lot longer.

Because of my degree and career path, I emphasize the importance of nutrition and health. I have studied hundreds of phytochemicals used in botanical pharmacology, ethnobotany and aromatherapy. I support the use of herbs and essential oils in a multitude of therapies, including touch therapy, Chinese Medicine, aromatherapy, tea therapy, etc. I also have studied many chemical constituents in plants which are offered in supplemental forms by various companies. Dietary Supplements are not regulated by the FDA. Rather all non-drug articles are regulated by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. DSHEA prohibits any non-drug from making claims to diagnosis, cure, treat, or prevent disease. All of Melaleuca's supplements adhere to DSHEA strictly. Honestly, supplements are left up to the consumers' discretion and only pulled of market if proven harmful. With any supplement, it is important to know the source, batch number, and chemical constituents of the product you are buying. I encourage everyone to do the research before buying ANY supplement, whether from GNC, Walmart, or online. I like Melaleuca's dietary supplements because I know the chemical constituents come from the natural source and the products contain botanical extracts that I would expect the product to have. For instance, in my training, I learned that bilberry has been proven effective in clinical trials to improve eyesight. Not surprisingly, dietary supplements with bilberry extract support vision. Melaleuca is one out of a few companies that offer bilberry supplements. Other plants offer health benefits as well: echinacea, st. john's wort, cranberries, peppermint, red grapes, eucalyptus, tomatoes, garlic, pomegranate, ginger, turmeric, etc. There are actually thousands of herbs I can list that do all sorts of nifty things. Unfortunately, Melaleuca's line of supplements are limited. However, I use most herbs in raw form organically grown on farms within the US.

But I digress; I am sorry that you had a bad experience with this company. I personally have not had any bad experiences, but I simply just buy their products. I had realized early on that my $60-$80 per month has been reallocated from buying products at the supermarket to buying them online; and in the beginning I realized how asinine it was of me to buy similar products at the supermarket that I already had ordered online. Once I established a routine, I was able to coordinate shopping lists and stop duplicating competing products. It was only at this time that I found I was actually saving money shopping from Melaleuca.

One last thing I have to mention is that my sister is in law enforcement. What she likes about the cleaning products of Melaleuca is that they are safe and noncombustible. In her 4 years in law enforcement, she has witnessed many incidents involving teenagers using cleaning products as weapons, "science projects" gone bad, drugs, pranks, or suicide tools. She also notes that recipes for the aforementioned are found on the internet and use common household cleaners. In fact, just a few months ago, teenagers in her local area were putting aluminum foil in the bottles of a certain cleaning product that were still on the shelves at the store and waiting for the bottles to explode in customer's carts as a joke.

In the end, the only advice I can offer to you is that I hope wherever you shop, be it Sams, Cosco, Walmart, Walgreens, GNC, local supermarket, or online, please know exactly what you are buying and where it came from. Its your money, your health, and your life!

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WOW!!! This is a good one...by the way I''ve read alot of god feed back so far on this poor dudes situation but to tell ya the truth sometimes --it just happens. Our family save an average of 30-35 dollars every month over what we used to spend...the products are not only safer to use but they work better and I don't have to go anywhere to get them....I'm quite sure that every now and then someone somewhere will run into a snag...but that will happen with any business and if ya look at Melaleuca's record over the last 25 years you'll notice.....well look for yourself and see...This is a great company and where else can you get paid for helping others save money

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Some people are just so ignorant. I joined to help out a friend and love the products. Yes, you can buy cleaining products in the stores but not with out harsh chemicals and not so concentrated that you have to buy 4 bottles to the one bottle thru melaleuca. All the chemicals in store products are linked to many illnesses. You have to buy cleaning products any way, might as well buy eco-friendly economical products that are good for you and the environment.

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I had heard about Melaleuca and wondered if it could be legit. Thanks for the info.

I found a ton of more details about http://MelaleucaScam.com

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It may not be a true "scam", but it is very expensive. Yes the products may be better than in the stores, but who can afford that much money EVERY MONTH on cleaning products in this economy?? And as far as making money in this "business", good luck with that ! All the reps that are cheerleading here: I challenge you to prove you are actually earning any money after expenses. I was a rep, so I know the truth. Stay far away from Melaleuca...

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So sorry you have had a bad experience. In my opinion, it is a great company and the reps I had encountered are very thorough and explain everything to you. The membership, the back orders, the points. I find the products very effective, less expensive and I get them to my door. No more schlepping heavy stuff around. I am saving money with Melaleuca. Am thinking on becoming a rep myself.

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I actually was going to work the business a few years back then had some priorities that arose that me me incapable of doing so. It was so easy to cancel all of my future orders and subscription. They did charge my credit card once when I did not order anything but your rep who signs you up should have explained that it's a back up order in the event that you forget to place an order. Mine did but I had completely forgot. I am actually considering getting back into the business after seeing many of my freinds work the business and do okay with it. I like the fact that this is not a "get rich scheme" where you have to "fake it til you make it." Rather, it's an opportunity to invest in your family's well being, the environment, and your pocket book.

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1st off are you an idio???t!!! That is not even close to the prices! No vitamins are FDA approved! They say that they are 85% absorbable unlike all other brands! I understand the network marketing industry has a bad name and it's bullsh*t to knock a company based on a poor rep! It's all about who you get involved w/ and how they are willing to help you IF you choose to do the business side of it! They ask that you redirect your budget to there store not to the one you're already shopping w! They are better products and even guaranteed and never had any problems w getting money back or cancellations. I got my sister involved and she made more money then I in the first month. It's an absolutely legit company and if you get approached the question you should ask is how are you going to help me? I go and do presentations for all my business builders and teach them how to duplicate the process. It's not reinventing the wheel and in no way a get rich quick scheme. It takes time and perseverance. Clearly you are not that person and if you can't afford $60 a month on healthier, better, safer products then you never will! Clearly you don't see the big picture! Do you even know your own budget and realize that $60 a month is already spent?! You prob go to wal mart and buy cheap China made sh*t and point the finger and never take responsibility for your own actions! Buy USA support USA we the people screwed this up and it's time we took responsibility and pride in our own nation. Look at the bottle of your lysol, windex, and so on....do you care about your family? Then you would never have that stuff in your house! It's all how you see it and you see it poorly!!!! Change your mind and change your life!

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I am sorry you had a negative experience. Melaleuca is a great company. Whomever you dealt with is not representing the company correctly. You can cancel at any time. They tell you upfront in the DVD presentation that the only commitment is to place an order every month and you choose a backup order. It is set up very honestly. Last year they won the BBB Torch award which is regarding integrity and ethics. This is not a scam or a pyramid scheme. You can cancel at any time. Their products are amazing and they strive to be an upfront and ethical company.

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I am having the same issues, Melaluca is definantly a scam. Don't trust the folks here who say otherwise. You'll end up with unauthorized charges on your credit card, and the only way to stop it is to shut down the card. Stay away from Melaluca!

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I ve been doing online business for sometime. I find that most pepole (like the one above, just think they are going to get rich by doing nothing)

Iam working with Melaleuca and love the products....So, dont think the complaint above is worth much....

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I am a happy Melaleuca customer. I read the posted complaint and know from reading the paperwork provided me w hen I enrolled, the conversation I had with the person who enrolled me as well as reading their website that this complaint is not accurate. All prices are posted and accurate. Agreeing to become a member means making a monthly purchase. Many of the products are highly concentrated and need to be mixed with water. I am quite comfortable in stating that Melaleuca is a quality company.

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First, this is not a pyramid scheme, because the people at the very top do not make all the money. It is a legitimate and very successful organization that enables individuals to start thier own businesses.

The products are custom made with organic and natural ingredients, but they are no wear near the exaggerated mentioned price tag.