Last night, a poor, lost soul posted a comment on my post about the 20/20 expose on multi-level marketing company Mannatech. She’s posted her own lengthy analysis of the company at http://glycofamily.blogspot.com/2007/06/long-entry-about-mannatech-and-response.html. Sadly, she buys into all the hype and false logic that MLMs are so fond of repeating.
Mannatech sells sugar pills. Yes, sugar pills. They give them a fancy name, but they are nothing more than sugar. Yet independent distributors claim that they do things like cure cancer, cure multiple sclerosis, shrink tumors, and the like. There is no scientific evidence to back up these claims, but they’re made over and over at opportunity meetings.
Yet people like this woman still put their faith in Mannatech. One of the claims she makes:
Obviously, if Mannatech was a fly-by-night company that was truly guilty of anything sinnister, they’d be falling apart right now and those who have been duped would be running to hide their heads in shame. But since Mannatech actually IS a stand-up, scientifically sound wellness company that is truly making a difference in people’s lives, many people are stepping forward to help set the record straight. It’s a shame the entertainment/high ratings industry can cause such a scramble but it looks like good things are coming out in the end!
A common argument by MLM supporters is that if the company was doing anything wrong or breaking any laws, it would have been shut down. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The Federal Trade Commission is responsible for regulating MLMs and business opportunity schemes, but has a track record of inaction. That doesn’t make these MLMs right or legal.
The writer has lots things supposedly written by highly respected medical professionals, who say the sugar pills are a miracle (or something like that). Of course, Mannatech claims that 20/20 aired a totally biased piece and the doctors interviewed by 20/20 are know-nothings.
Sorry, after all the research I’ve done on MLMs, I’m inclined to believe 20/20.
23 Jun 07 at 8:36 pm
Tracy you say … “Sorry, after all the research I’ve done on MLMs, I’m inclined to believe 20/20.” Perhaps you should direct SOME of your research time on the Science behind AMBROTOSE before you chose to believe 20/20. Just because Mannatech uses Networking as a form of ‘Advertising’ and ‘Marketing’ their product doesn’t make it a ‘non-scientifically validated, standardized, stabilized, efficacious product’ based on cutting edge CURRENT science. Consider that 92% of people who came into Mannatech came in because of a Health concern — so why are they still buying and supporting the product if it didn’t ‘benefit their quality of life’???? Also if you believe 20/20’s version, you’d better have a look at what Angie Rhoades’ blogspot says “ REALLY happen with regard to her MRI results”. Angie is not a money hungry ’sales-person’ she is a true believer because of the joyful ‘Results of this Lovely little Sugar Supplement’ !! Perhaps a little more time spend investigating the science might someday truly benefit all those YOU love and care about!!! http://www.angie-rhoads.blogspot.com
24 Jun 07 at 12:38 am
You’ve been drinking the kool-aid!
26 Jun 07 at 1:57 pm
So, the body is requiring “SUGAR” as a necessary nutrient? I’m all for holistic medicine, but have nothing against medicine when necessary. If someone offers me medicine vs. sugar as a cure…let’s face it, we know which I would pick. False advertising for financial benefits, that’s all it is…a hoax, a fraud…period.
26 Jun 07 at 8:21 pm
Well it is a fact that the body breaks down nutrients into sugars that are required to function. However, it is questionable whether these “sugar” pills actually do anything at all.
28 Jun 07 at 9:09 am
Exactly my thoughts. I feel if it’s just another “placebo” pill, what real benefit is it providing? It’s very disturbing to me that companies (like Mannatech) make claims that they have “cure-all” pills (like Ambrotose) that cure diseases such as cancer and the like and get away with it. Linda asks Tracy “Consider that 92% of people who came into Mannatech came in because of a Health concern — so why are they still buying and supporting the product if it didn’t ‘benefit their quality of life’???? “. I would have to answer because THEY WANT TO BELIEVE that it’s working for them. When a person who is diagnosed with a debilitating health issue (or anyone for that matter) invests their time, effort and thoughts in believing that something works, they usually continue on regardless of any doubts or fears they have whether it will actually help. It’s natural to believe something is working when you are surrounded by people who are telling you it works, even if they know it doesn’t.(Gee has a resembling feel to another MLM that I am familiar with.) Now I’m going to tell you a brief story about my cousin who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in her late teens. At that time she was given a placebo pill and just the thought of someone trying to ease her pain helped her feel better (even though years later she confided to me that the pill did nothing for her). Unfortunately, she was surrounded by people telling her how much better she looked and was moving around and even the doctor said she “seemed” better. That being said, she continued treatment on that “little wonderful pill” and ended up seriously worse. I will get to the point…after many trials with medications she has found one that is helping her now. Most medications do help individuals but each are thoroughly researched and even further so by doctors and individuals to make sure that any other supplements or medications they are taking are compatible (thus warning labels and listed side-effects). As I see it, even thoroughly researched medications ask us to take heed to their labels because they are not considered “cure-alls”. So now, tell me this…how can Mannatech state claims of a cure-all called Ambrotose that has not been backed by thorough research and the FDA? By thorough, I mean have these glorious little pills been tested on anyone other than Mannatech independent distributors? Ambrotose is NOT currently FDA approved, so it’s baffling how the FTC has not asked for concrete validation on Mannatech’s fraudlent claims.
16 Jul 07 at 1:47 am
We first heard about Mannatech a couple of years ago, when my partner worked with someone who marketed the products in their spare time.
We read the pamphlets, watched the DVD… were even given free samples from the work collegue.
A mannatech marketer was sent around to our home one weekend (imagine how thrilled I was, being the skeptic I am… and firmly believeing that Mannatech’s promises were BS.)
She immediately told us about people she sold the products to - cured of diabetes, no more depression, no more allergies, etc etc… Funnily enough, I don’t remember her using the “but they’re only food” disclaimer… hm.
She was also quick to flant her new laptop and new car… profits were rolling her way rather nicely. I guess the first rule of deceptive marketing is to throw your conscience out the window!
Anyway, I wasn’t willing to throw out the nasal spray and the prozac just yet. I was getting the “sugar pills” for free, so I took them. And just as I expected over the 3 months I experienced no difference. I was not about to bury my face in a stack of hay anytime soon.
It seems to be scammers fortune in life that gullible people seem to be the ones with money.
Our friendly neighbourhood Mannatech marketer even gave us a “radio” station you could listen into on your phone - which we did for a laugh - and heard many testimonials concerning cancer, etc being cured. It was sad really.
Let’s face it “hope” is a very powerful thing. Many the psychological paper has been written on the topic. I could start selling ‘mircale cure’ gummi bears and perhaps eatting them would make you “feel” better and maybe even prolong your life - why? It’s not that the gummi bears are good for you or even are helping your infliction, you’re simply believing in something and keeping a positive attitude. Cancer patients are the same, if they have a positive attitude sometimes they get better. The mind is a powerful thing.
Does that excuse scammers? Should we applaud their ‘noble efforts’ of giving the masses false hope at a price?
Absolutely not.
I’d rather buy a bag of gummi bears and give my money to my kids or a worthy charity that can actually make a REAL difference, instead of squandering my hard-earned dollars on snake oil.
I wonder how the CEO of Mannatech sleeps at night in his 1.3 million dollar mansion?
12 Feb 08 at 6:47 am
If these supplements are such a scam, how is it that a doctor can get continuing education certification from studying about them? And as far a placebos go…they don’t generally change the body in a way that can be recognized in lab results. But I can assure you that if the mind was powerful enough to do that and a sugar pill could trigger it to do it when nothing a doctor can do is able to, I take the placebo!
New categories of vital nutrition are coming to the forefront, as well as new ways providing products that stabilize their vitality. It is not snake oil neither is it a silver bullet. It is no more ridiculous to give the body real nutrition a see impact than it is to pour water on a wilted flower and see it revive. It seems to me that you’ve got just enough of a picture of this to keep you in the dark ages. I hear they ate off of lead plates!
There is freedom to nay say, as well as freedom to embrace.
12 Feb 08 at 7:34 pm
Karen,
I’ve developed some new products and you’d make the perfect salesperson. Will you help me out?
First, I’ve developed something I call N-80. It’s roughly 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen. Not only is it healthful, I’ve found it to be essential. A recent study at the Mayo Clinic found that fully 100% of cancer survivors were users of N-80. Even more astonishing was that 100% of the patients who didn’t utilize N-80 sadly passed away. At $1 per cubic foot*, it is a bargain yet has tremendous profit potential. I’ve already completed work on the production facility (code named “James Woods”) and it is fully functional.
I also have developed something called Dihydrogen Oxide (brand name HoH). Participants in an HoH study lived an astonishing 5,000 times longer than those who did not use HoH! At 3 bucks a gallon, it is as cheap as gasoline (and has zero calories!). As soon as I figure out how to use this complicated divining rod, I’ll have a good idea where to build my HoH facility.
I’m currently working on generic AMBROTOSE (brand name Sweet N’ High). This water-soluble form will have all the benefits of AMBROTOSE but you can also use it as a flavoring for coffee, cereal or even bake with it (blackberry pie being my favorite)!
Karen, I’m counting on motivated sellers like yourself to promote these all natural, healthy (in reality, life giving!) products.
*at STP
30 Apr 08 at 12:50 pm
People can be real jerks when they don’t know Mannatech.
30 Apr 08 at 1:04 pm
Not much to know about Mannatech. Pyramid scheme selling bogus sugar pills. Simple.
10 Jun 08 at 5:17 am
Pity these promoters of schemes (scams) like mannatech are still capturing people. My partner is searching for ‘freedom’ through all these scams, and just come across mannatech. These people prey on those who are attracted to psyco suggestive marketing promising financial freedom that you deserve, and you don’t even need to work at it. If it is too good to be true, then it probably is. Read all the stuff said before about mannatech, objective research shows it is a scam. I wish there was a way to get rid of them.