Usana Health Sciences (NASDAQ:USNA) had their convention last week, and as predicted, the new “energy drink” REV3 was a big hit! Those fully indoctrinated into the “cult” of Usana believe it is the greatest thing ever!
But not everyone at the convention was in the Usana fog. At least one service provider there saw right through all the hype. He commented here:
I was at USANAs convention this past weekend working [redacted]. It amazed me how many forty year old upper-lower class women who didn’t care for energy drinks had a change of heart when there beloved USANA released Rev3. USANA is not a company, but a religion. They depend on religious fanaticism to continue to sell their product. I firmly believe that i could have [put just about anything] in a cup labeled USANA and I could have sold it for 30 bucks.
That comment was left late Monday night, and by Tuesday, Usana was already on the phone to the service provider, complaining about the comment. So now everyone’s in an uproar because an “outsider” who was at the event tells it like it is.
This is typical from multi-level marketing companies: Silence any critics.
03 Sep 08 at 10:14 am
I don’t know why, but the first liquid I thought should be put in the cup priced at $30 is yellow and is normally dispensed at body temperature. The cult would say yum!
17 Sep 08 at 3:33 pm
So what… you are 55 yr old lifetime employee of Toyota and they come out with a Convertible Sports Coupe… you have no intrest in a sports car…. your not going to clap or have an excitement for the next step your company took? so a new energy drink comes out… its a new product or “vehicle” to the line-up. whooptie doo… your gonna crucify those people that didnt dirnk energy dirnks prior to this product coming out?
“religious fanatacism?” go to football or int’l soccer game, thats fanaticism… this is merely associates getting together to preview and promote a new product. Have you been to a car show before when they unveil a new car? yes people actually clap and take pictures. I doubt they will all go out and buy one but they support the company.
these blogs are trying way too hard. With articles like this, this website actually does the opposite of what its trying to do.
17 Sep 08 at 3:35 pm
I’ve seen the fanaticism in MLMs firsthand. It goes far, far beyond enthusiasm for a company’s new product. People in Usana and other MLMs exhibit cult-like behaviors… blind belief in what the leaders tell them, disregard for objective evidence, ignoring the logic of those who oppose the cult, and shunning of those who leave the cult.
17 Sep 08 at 5:23 pm
I agree with TC…
What is with all the energy drinks? These drinks are cons jobs on dupes willing to pay to play in these MLM scams. Jim, your comparisons of these schemes with people attending sporting events just doesn’t add up; these conventions of stupidity provide enthusiasm for money extracting fleecings of the flock that continue long after the event concludes. Enthusiasm before, during and after one of these events is cult fueled insanity! These products are intended for distributor consumption with the farce of retailing a badly overpriced product being a joke on you and me.
Amway is about ready to introduce their next scam in a can XS Gold. I consider most of these energy drinks to have an awful taste as well as a bad after taste and wouldn’t consider buying them even at 50 cents a can. A 12 pack of small cans will retail for $36 or $3 per can. But, wait, why bother with the retail price, because the distributors are the intended customers. Their price: $27.60 for a 12 pack or $2.30 per can. This is roughly 29 cents per ounce. Amway will sell these in what can only be described as a monopoly market situation. These new product introductions are designed to provide distributors something new to purchase each month and provide excitement in a can to help convince recruits that people will want these drinks. It isn’t long before they find out that retail selling is only a farce to help keep the FTC at bey. Distributors violate the retail sales rules in their contract routinely and the rules are not enforced by Amway who holds a monopoly over their only customers, the sales force. Usana, Herbalife, Amway, MonaVie: All Scams! Still enthusiastic? Is the term “money extracting schemes” new to you?
Recently Amway distributors pulled off some of the strangest huckster like flexibility demonstrations to promote Perfect Empowered Water, a scam in a silver colored plastic bottle. You Tube showed some of these water huckster shows. The same week these sham videos appeared the Amway lawyers filed a law suit against their MonaVie competitor for unsubstantiated claims for their $40 purple juice in a wine bottle. A very embarrassing hypocrisy of circumstance. Excitement for this whole class of questionable products attempts to keep the self consumption product pyramid schemes marching forward. Sorry if I’ve helped burst anyone’s bubble, but the best thing a person can do if their bank account is being raided is to get down to the bank and get your money out of harms way!
18 Sep 08 at 3:08 pm
Who’s word will I take, yours, someone who probably works a full time shift doing a mindless job and make less than what a teacher makes. or someone who is living life to the fullest, making 6 figures and teaching me how i can to?
no brainer
18 Sep 08 at 4:48 pm
Alex, I’m glad you’re willing to take advice from me. Here’s my advice: Stay far away from Usana!!!!
18 Sep 08 at 5:17 pm
Tracy…
By the way Alex sounds, it is too late to talk any sense into this dreamer. Alex, show this web page to your upline. Tracy, have you ever noticed that these MLM folks never debate the facts but make unsubstantiated income claims?
21 Sep 08 at 6:43 pm
Ah, yes, Jeff. The old “don’t listen to anyone who hasn’t been successful in MLM.”
Isn’t that kind of like someone battling cancer not listening to anyone who is not a cancer survivor? I mean, surely doctors are educated about cancer and can treat it well without having personally had cancer, no?
Think of MLM as a cancer. And I am the doctor. (Of course, I was in an MLM at one time and was considered “successful” by their standards prior to leaving the company.)
And yes, my only advice is to stay far, far away from all MLMs. If you’re deeply involved, get out fast. Stop the bleeding and stop the deception. Find the nearest anti-MLM support group to help you through detox and recovery. It is the only answer.
The MLM industry is so corrupt, that I haven’t identified any company “doing it right.” That’s what pro-MLMers promote… doing it right with a company doing it right. Well that’s just not possible. The entire industry is built upon endless chain recruitment, required purchases of overpriced products, and no creation of real value. GET OUT NOW.
21 Sep 08 at 6:44 pm
Oh… and a solution? Get a real job with a real paycheck. One you enjoy. One that helps others. One that makes you feel fulfilled while helping to feed your family.
21 Sep 08 at 7:26 pm
Jeff
My gosh, Tracy handled smacked you down pretty good. Whack a Shill! She took you to the woodshed dude. Just like pa says, I’m doing this for your own good! Ouch, ouch, awwwh!
Jeff. You’ve found a pro-MLM site that preaches a message you like, why not just stay there? Why come here and have your bubble burst? Having doubts? You should! You really should. Make sure you show this to the recruiter.
How can you disregard all the numbers that point to these pyramids making losers out of 99 out of 100. They always try to convince everyone that they can be that 1 in 100. Actually that would be a lot better odds that the dismal 0.003% that is more realistic. School for Suckers.
21 Sep 08 at 10:12 pm
“My gosh, Tracy handled smacked you down pretty good. Whack a Shill! She took you to the woodshed dude. Just like pa says, I’m doing this for your own good! Ouch, ouch, awwwh!”
…. are you guys for real? I actually thought this was supposed to be productive.
21 Sep 08 at 10:18 pm
..is quixtarisacult your husband? I just realized I represent about 50% of your website readership (at the moment). I can almost hear the joy of excitement as I respond… “hey we got someone!”
seriously try facebook or myspace, it might be better suited. And keep your accountant collegues away from this site… its emabaressing.
Your welcome for the traffic, I will do my best to promote your book for $30.36.
21 Sep 08 at 10:19 pm
Jeff,
If you’re going to try to insult the blog owner, please at least spell your insults correctly.
My book and my site traffic are doing fine without you. Thanks for playing.
21 Sep 08 at 10:22 pm
don’t bother responding, really don’t. im finished with the bookmark to this. I realized im helping you more than you care to hear or have a fair exchange. best wishes to you and your husband.
we all need to get some exercise. let’s stay away from the carbs ok?
21 Sep 08 at 10:47 pm
Jeff…
Sorry, I did not know how sensitive you are. I am sorry for side swiping you. Just consider it like me waiving smelling salts under your nose. I hate to see anyone seriously get involved in MLM scams and the like. These folks do some pretty heavy brain work on people they sell their “plans” to. Seriously, I have nothing against you, but maybe the scam you may be involved in or considering. Hey, there is always a lot of conversation going on in the comments section over on my blog. Knowing a little bit about you and your scam might help me help you.
click here
22 Sep 08 at 10:46 pm
I guess my opinion should be taken as a little biased since I am a USANA associate.
But I think the excitement over Rev3 is more excitement over the possibilities of the product. USANA products have been, for the most part geared towards people of an older age bracket. But with the release of Rev3, and the other product, Whey protein nutrimeals, it’s pretty clear that USANA is beginning to attempt to target a younger generation.
Now for a Baby Boomer, this gives them the tools to help them make customers out of people that usually would have no interest. Think of it as a “gateway” product. :]
That being said, I was also at international convention, and I assure you, most of the noise was being made by the young crowd.
22 Sep 08 at 10:47 pm
And at over $4 a can at wholesale pricing, they should be sooooooooo excited.
22 Sep 08 at 10:55 pm
I can definitely see where you’re coming from with the price comment.
But basic energy drinks aren’t far off from that price.
I don’t see a difference from people paying $1.29 for a bottle of Fiji Water as opposed to $0.99 for a bottle of Crystal Geyser.
It’s about the same price difference (percentage wise) but some people just believe that one is a better product.
Nothing wrong with that. Is there?
22 Sep 08 at 10:58 pm
LOL - Who am I to say what you waste your money on. But Usana is not in the same price range as other energy drinks, and that’s because they have to pay the commission to all the levels of the pyramid.
Retail is about $5 a can.
Wholesale is about $4.15 a can.
Other energy drinks retail for $2 a can.
No, I don’t believe Usana has any quality advantage. Like all their other products, they’re similar to what you can get at Target.
22 Sep 08 at 11:47 pm
Similar to what you can find at Target?
Your book is similar to what you pick up at a .99 store.
see how ignorant I sound with that statement?
tell me what the wholesale of a book that you are charging $30+ bucks for? Lie to me and tell me how much of a cut is the publisher is getting? and you?
Would’nt you like to tell me that you worked hard in research, that your education and experience helped you to learn about the topic of Corporate Fraud, how you put a lot of time in trying to create something useful for those who read it? Maybe…. how you have read other dated books on the topic and wanted to add to the cause?
and some ignorant jackass like me comes and says… oh i could pick a book like that off of the “free” section at rack on my college bookstore.
thats what your target comment sounds like … it’s really ignorant. Really really ignorant.
There’s one uglier than one with ignorance and overzealous pride and that is a hypocrite. And your basis for every one-sided comment is just that.
As an author your credibility is everything, its diminishing rather quickly.
22 Sep 08 at 11:50 pm
… if not gone completely.
23 Sep 08 at 12:14 am
Honestly you should think about doing research before you give a report. It looks like you have no idea what you’re talking about when dealing with USANA let alone any MLM company. You pay for quality, not quantity or name brand, and I say that with full confidence as a customer. If you try what they have to offer I can guarantee that you will feel a difference. So I understand you have had a bad experience with MLMs, do you always quit when things get hard? Obviously not since you respond quickly. Making it in an MLM company has the same success percentage rate as it would in lets say: the NBA, acting, business, and life in general. How many high school students that WANT to go to the NBA actually make it? Or how many people actually receive a career relating to their major? Not many. Same thing here; some have what it takes and most don’t. So you can’t really snarl at Jeff for being one of the few who become successful in LIFE. I’m pretty sure there are many writers out there who wish they could have their book published but they can’t and don’t, and why do you think that is? They don’t have what it takes yet. And does that mean the writing industry is a scam? Of course not.
23 Sep 08 at 5:54 am
anonymous…
All the enthusiasm at your rally was enthusiasm for a scam. Stupido!
Jeff…
You deserve the fleecing you’ll get from believing as you do. You are being taught at this very minute that if you fail and get fleeced it is your own fault. You will not be able to come back here at some future date and say that you didn’t know any better.
Tracy…
hehehe, I am a faithful reader, I didn’t know that would elevate me to husbandry?
23 Sep 08 at 6:36 am
Well, I think I was being pretty civil on my side of the discussion, so if you’re gonna call me names, i’m just gonna say something lewd and the conversation is gonna end there. So how bout you do more than just throw out words like “scam” and “stupid” alright? Thanks.
As for the price range of Usana products.
That’s completely fine if you don’t feel they have a quality advantage. Product appeal is always objective. Please don’t insult me by saying i’m “wasting” my money though. I’m sure if I went through your spending records, a lot of things would come out as pretty frivolous in my eyes, but that’s OK because we’re 2 different people.
In terms of prices, in my whole time in Usana, i’ve never once seen a product sold at retail. In my organization at least, we utilize the PC system.
I don’t know if this is relevant at all, because i’m pretty sure people are just gonna respond with “LOL” and “SCAM!” with no explanation, justification, or even provocation, but I find that Rev3 gives me a nice little energy boost. The cans are pretty good, but the surge packs are amazing. They remind me of tea and have gotten me through a couple tough days already.
I’d ask for your opinions of Rev3 compared to other energy drinks but something tells me that would be a waste of breath.
23 Sep 08 at 8:10 am
There is no objective evidence supporting the claim that Usana products are of a higher quality than any run-of-the-mill vitamin out there. There are only Usana shills who say it, but they can’t prove it. Find me a medical journal citing a double-blind study that proves Usana vitamins are of a higher quality and then I will believe it.
Jeff - A nap will give you “a nice little energy boost” for free! Or you can have a cup of coffee. Usana studies show the coffee is more effective anyway.
23 Sep 08 at 8:11 am
Quixtarisacult - I’m afraid we may have to divorce, however. You are not meeting my expectations for a husband.
23 Sep 08 at 8:26 am
Good try, Stantheman. I’ve never been to a .99 store, so I don’t know whether they have something similar to my book or not.
But I will agree with you that you’re an ignorant jackass. (Your words, not mine.) You’re shilling for a company that lies to take the hard-earned money of consumers. You know not of what you speak, yet you speak it still.
See the difference is that I’m not trying to recruit you to sell my book. Heck, I’ll even come right out and tell you that you SHOULD NOT buy the book because it’s not for you. The economics of the book are irrelevant, because I’m not trying to sell you on it or get you to sell it.
23 Sep 08 at 8:51 am
I’m sorry that you feel USANA has no third party sources to back up their claims, apparently you have not done your research. Their products are in the Physicians Desk Reference. Go to ANY doctors office, absolutely ANY and you may ask to see it. Look up USANA. It is in there. These are pharmaceuticle grade products and that is not equivilalent to the junk on the supermarket shelves. So I suggest you do your research before you make claims about anything. There are also many many many third part accolades for USANA. Do you know what third party means? Maybe not since you seem pretty ignorant, you should look it up. Also, I don’t see any SCAMS listed on the NASDAQ. I’m done, if you do not get it by now you are a waste of time.
23 Sep 08 at 8:55 am
The Physician’s Desk Reference is not a study. Find me a double blind study cited in a medical journal that proves Usana’s products are of a higher quality than off-the-shelf vitamins. You can’t find such a thing because it doesn’t exist. Those “third party accolades” are paid for by Usana, created by Usana, or participated in by Usana and its distributors. You can’t find an objective, scientific, actual study to prove any of the quality claims, because they don’t exist.
But I’ll invite you to go ahead and post a link to any that you can find.
And there are scams on the stock exchange. Remember good old Enron? Fraud. On the NYSE.
Please try harder with your arguments next time. I’m looking for actual facts with actual proof.
23 Sep 08 at 9:08 am
You are an absolute waste of time, sitting around on your computer all day just waiting for people to comment on your blog. Why don’t you get out of your own way and do something with your life you bitter hag. If you want to argue for a living become a lawyer and actually help people. But in my opinion you are wasting your life away writing on this stupid blog. I will not post any more on here because it is what you want. But please for yourself and everyone around you, grow up.
23 Sep 08 at 9:21 am
Oh, I’m sorry, you did not receive my permission to post that especially with my last name. Take it off now you bitch.
23 Sep 08 at 9:26 am
Well if that gives any sort of character reference to this bitch tracy, I’m sure everyone is done here. You’re rude enough as it is.
23 Sep 08 at 9:59 am
Nice email I just received from Stephanie Bearden:
I don’t give a shit about your stupid blog so I prefer not to write on it anymore because isn’t that what you want? You are rediculous seriously. Get a life and stop insulting people. Have fun in hell when you get there.
23 Sep 08 at 10:06 am
Stephanie - If you’re going to send me such things, you should consider the fact that I might post them.
23 Sep 08 at 10:42 am
Hey “Stephanie” I thought you were never coming back here? Or was that another lie?
You seem awfully angry. Maybe you should talk to somebody about that.
23 Sep 08 at 12:47 pm
Tracy…
I used to think that the Amway folk were raving fools for their scheme. These Usana devotees got them beat hands down! Folks following the Usana product based pyramid scam, just consider Tracy’s Blog one of many road signs you will encounter along your happy path to riches that says: Danger, Turn Back, Quick Sand, Sucker, Stupid, Duped, and Quit. The riches are at the end of the Usana Rainbow where the kingpins keep moving it so you’ll never find it but you will keep paying to playing in their shell game. Notice, I didn’t have to get nasty, and crude to prick a the Usana balloon that you bafoons have put your money down on. Spin the Roulette Wheel for these folks Usana Kingpins and see who wins? hehehehehe!
Tracy, you don’t expect money to keep you living in the manner you’ve gotten used to while being married to me? It must have been my political views that killed our romance. Smile.
23 Sep 08 at 12:50 pm
Yep, once you came clean politically, the fire I once felt went out.
One of the things I’ve noticed on my site http://www.pinktruth.com is the number of serial MLMers who kick themselves at some point. Some people learn with one company. Others take 2 or 5 or 7 companies…
But eventually they add up all the losses and can’t believe how stupid they were to believe in this nonsense. They worked hard, did what they were taught, and still had no success. Is it because they’re lazy losers? No. In my opinion, it’s because MLM is systematically flawed.
The owners of MLMs get rich because it is such an inexpensive business model for them. A tiny fraction of 1% at the top will make a decent living. Everyone else will lose money or make peanuts. And these companies are churning through millions of consumers a year. Yet they sell the dream, and for whatever reason, people are more inclined to believe the hype than the cold hard facts.
23 Sep 08 at 1:10 pm
“There is no objective evidence supporting the claim that Usana products are of a higher quality than any run-of-the-mill vitamin out there. There are only Usana shills who say it, but they can’t prove it. Find me a medical journal citing a double-blind study that proves Usana vitamins are of a higher quality and then I will believe it.”
…I don’t recall anyone at any point asking you to believe the products were of a higher quality.
23 Sep 08 at 1:11 pm
At any point? Actually, I’ve been asked to believe that Usana products were of a higher quality at MANY POINTS.
23 Sep 08 at 1:18 pm
Well unless I saw/heard it, I can’t recall it right?
All i’m saying is “it’s OK if you don’t like them, but I do.”
And you’re telling me “There’s no quality difference blah blah blah.”
But from your responses, I’m starting to get a very clear picture of why you might have a grudge against MLM companies.
23 Sep 08 at 1:21 pm
Oh, no, it’s not a grudge. It’s called hundreds of hours of research into the practices of the companies and the results for the participants. Anything that causes more than 99% of people to lose money (while promising profits) has got to be bad, right?
You should take a look at this information on the financial losses to participants in MLMs:
http://pyramidschemealert.org/PSAMain/news/MythofIncomeReport.html
23 Sep 08 at 1:27 pm
Tracy…
If it makes you feel any better, I used to be a very strong supported of President Reagan. I still admire him these many years since.
Your observation about how these enthusiastic people are for the con that is being perpetrated against them in light of the facts is “SPOT ON”!!!
Being an auditor and the like gives you an insight many people’s experiences do not allow. Little things like facts in the pure numbers is something upline people in these MLM’s like Usana expect their believers to disregard to their utter and eventual harm. The history of these just merely legal is truly an American Shame.
It is sad that our government probably views the Amway Scam (which brings foreign money extracted from foreign dupes as a good thing). They just sort of hold their nose and let the American citizens get fleeced as well. Hey, I wrought a rather extensive expose on Amway corruption and if your would consider making it a guest article I would email it to you for your consideration. QIAC
In all my life I’ve never witnessed the incredibly scary situation going on with the fiscal health of our great nation. Almost makes all the MLM scams pale by comparison. I can still see in my minds eye how tough it was for James Braddock the boxer in the recent movie about his life, how his children were barely fed, and how his wife had to break wood off of the bottom of a billboard to heat their apartment. Let’s just hope that these times do not return. Will the technological age stop prevent the degradation that hungry broke people living out a nightmare could represent?
Hey, there is an upside
We could all become Usana, Mary Kay, and Amway distributors and watch the cash roll in!
23 Sep 08 at 1:29 pm
Heh…
I don’t really feel a need to check that link out. I know how I feel, but I know that alternatively, there is lots and lots of persuasive evidence out there that would definitely show MLM in a less than perfect light.
I’ve already gone through my share of material on both sides, so don’t worry about me. I’ll be OK.
I was actually paying more attention to the manner in which you responded. It all adds up. From the strange grudge against USANA products, the condescending tone, the unwillingness to listen, and even the career choice of “Author”.
I’m done here. Thanks for the discussion.
23 Sep 08 at 1:30 pm
Yeah, feelings are much more than cold hard facts. And I’m such an ass for writing about the facts.
And who know “author” was something to be ashamed of. Ah yes, the alternate universe that MLM cult members live in. Isn’t it grand?
23 Sep 08 at 1:34 pm
Tracy, again your nose is up in the air. Your pride exudes ignorance. My apologies for thinking that you may have ever walked into a 99 cents store. Your plight for corporate fraud in USANA is laughable. To put it plainly: you’re a hater. Once you choose a side, it doesnt really matter what others say … and you are proof. Its quite evident in politics as well. So your on a side and sticking to it. God Bless America… but this attitude of yours doesnt help your plight… your communication skills are horrible (well at least via this forum). You run circles when someone is asking you stop and dialouge a little. Its like asking someone not to be defensive… and regardless of their response it will fufill the status of your accusation. sometimes its nice to hear something and not be so defensive yourself … did you have a hard time in high school and college? seriously. Did kids make fun of your face and weight? This actually may play in a role in your felt plight and communication tactics. Its like the next level parking enforcement agent.
23 Sep 08 at 1:37 pm
Hey Anonymous, maybe if you actually made something with your own two hands, or actually owned your own business, you wouldn’t feel the need to disparage the accomplishments of others. That’s not a success-oriented attitude.
23 Sep 08 at 1:41 pm
Stan - What do you wish to discuss that I haven’t discussed here about Usana or MLM in general?
You’ve offered no substantive criticism of my book. You’ve not read it. What are you expecting me to say about your silly comparison to a 99 cent store? And why should I give any consideration to what you have to say about a book you haven’t read and isn’t really directed at you anyway? You may not have noticed, but this thread isn’t even about my book.
I admire your ability to make fun of my weight and my appearance, but what value you are you adding to this conversation about Usana?
23 Sep 08 at 1:42 pm
Anonymous…
I am not sure if you are directing your comment at me or Tracy, but I will take it on.
It looks like someone goes away with a seed of doubt sown in their mind. Let it grow my friend. Sometimes people assume that the MLM critics are mean spirited. Not the case. It is just that people enthusiastic for their scam are very hard to reach. They exhibit cult like tendencies that in a even worse set of circumstances have allowed people to make very bad choices against all reason and common sense. It is no stretch to understand how people can drink poison and think they can hitch a ride on a comet. People in MLM drink not poison, but the propaganda the company spews, and then they hitch a ride on their dream which doesn’t get them any closer to promised riches than these folk that hitched a ride on a comment. Nothing personal. I take my time to hopefully help people see through the deceit. You can accept or reject, but it is my sacrifice to take the time to say what you need to hear. People that stop listening to the tools, the CDs and tapes and the like sometimes have a hard time living in the real world where MLM is not a good deal unless you happen to be the operator of the business or a tool kingpin very early adopter. If you do not fall in that category now, you probably, most assuredly never will.
Tracy “wrought” should have been “wrote”. I
23 Sep 08 at 1:44 pm
I’m used to being referred to as mean, or negative, or biased, or any of a number of bad-sounding words. It’s just that I refuse to buy into the hype of MLM when I know THE TRUTH. I know the numbers. I know the facts behind these plans. I know the results achieved by people who have worked years at these schemes. I’m not going to be swayed by those who call me ignorant. I will stand firm in my belief that the facts are far more compelling than some warm fuzzies you get at a rah-rah convention put on by an MLM.
23 Sep 08 at 1:49 pm
Tracy…
Amen to that. Same here.
23 Sep 08 at 2:20 pm
yea high five Tracy! ur over it quixtar.. geez.
I actually feel bad for you. The reality of your “research” , numbers, i know this and I stand firm… deep down inside is a tainted for so many different items for publishing, mlm, internet advertising, stocks, commercial and residential real estate, healthcare etc.
studies that you discuss can be swayed to prove any point you wish. The fact is any type of commerece in the U.S. can be critqued and analyzed… we are trillons in debt as a country! the fact that you CHOOSE to select MLM as your “flavor” is funny because if you dont notice that the people you are arguing with see that there is good being done in thier lives and the lives of those you come into contact with. So your discussion of facts numbers etc. etc. are just your own aspect of self-fulfillment for this discussion. I mean you created a website dedicated to it. you kind of have to ya know? you got tons of pride and I cant imagine you doing anthing else but to stand firm.
however would you take into consideration that the SEC thought of all this as well? and there is a reason that they cleared USANA of anything. they ran the bases and came home….your still on first base or havent gotten out of the batters box.
your drawing attention and making enemies for what cause ?
i object to the fact that you were successful in MLM. you may have been involved yes but not successful… ill be the first to admit that MLM is not perfect … but what is? seriously before spatting out a impanted response …. what is fair?
then think to yourself maybe…. if nothing is absolutley perfectly fair… then what does more good than hurt? and before spatting out again… think that maybe those of you that you are badgering feel and know the difference and good it has made it peoples lives. awwwww heartwarming i know, but realize that your not helping the cause… the cause is to dialougue and try and understand each other. communication is the key and your horrible at it. … and thats ok too, but dont act like you are being productive as opposed to being destructive to yourself, your plight and ultimately to those that are just another human being trying to make it by helping others…. (because in deep down inside, i dont know if your trying to help, to hurt, to sell more books?) …. all i get from you is that you are speaking to hear yourself talk and you are impressing yourself.
23 Sep 08 at 2:22 pm
excuse the typos. i didnt exactly set aside time.
23 Sep 08 at 4:35 pm
Here I go spatting again… Stan, I’m not sure if you meant to make a point with all that or not. I have facts. You have feelings. Good luck with that. If someone has to flush thousands of dollars down the toilet that is MLM to feel good about themselves, so be it.
As for me, I’ll keep discussing the facts. If I can save just one life from the clutches of MLM…
23 Sep 08 at 5:21 pm
Associates and pc’s; don’t waste time here. We’re giving her too much reader time, and she’s obviously set in her ways. Her entire website is based on finding the negative, and as associates we develop better, stronger and more productive lives.
When you throw dirt, you lose ground.
And trust me, even she’s not worth throwing.
23 Sep 08 at 5:23 pm
How’s that lead you’re ingesting doing for ya? Sounds healthy to me!
23 Sep 08 at 10:16 pm
Tracy says: “How’s that lead you’re ingesting doing for ya?” Sounds healthy to me!”
Hows that Donut you ingesting every morning doing for ya? Sounds pretty healthy to me as well.
It seems to be doing alot for you and your ankles. Thanks for utilizing just a headshot to promote yourself and your $39 book (30 if you get it from amazon right now).
What do you know about staying healthy? Are offended by a leading Health Science company because it some how insults your own lifestyle? Again, I’m trying to get to the root of your plight… im getting close.
if your going to be self-righteous & prideful, stick to your forte, and it probably isnt anything to do with health.
23 Sep 08 at 10:29 pm
Describing Usana as a “leading health science company” is hilarious. I doubt any reputable company in the industry thinks that Usana is “leading.”
24 Sep 08 at 4:34 am
Tracy, shame on you!
Did you not know that every single MLM health-science company around is a market leading one ? I mean, it’s common sense. You needn’t even doubt it.
And stop bashing USANA promoters. They know the thruth in their hearts. They feel it (or at least they drink it). That’s pretty solid evidence. Better than numbers and figues…
Best Regards
24 Sep 08 at 5:55 am
Usana Sucks!
Tracy say so!
24 Sep 08 at 2:48 pm
The SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)and FTC (Federal Trade Commission) both gave USANA the green light as being a legitimate business. That’s proof, for it does not have to come in the form of figures.
Just because a high quality product is distributed through network marketing or direct sales does not mean it is not a good product. The reason why USANA’s products are distributed through a network marketing system is to keep the cost of the product competitive with all the subpar products on store shelves today.
What am I talking about? Consider a can of soda. It would normally cost about ten cents to actually make the finished product. By the time the product gets to you Tracy/Quixtarisacult, you pay about a dollar if not more. What happened there? I’ll tell you, there is a mark up. From the manufacturing facilty to you the consumer, it first has to go through a national distributer (they mark it up), regional distributor (they mark it up more), local distributor (mark up again), advertisement costs (a celebrity promotes the soda on tv), and lastly a retail mark up from the local grocery store. USANA’s products would cost way too much if they did it through the traditional system of distribution. By going through a network marketing system, you can bypass the middleman, and keep the price of the product relatively low.
Are the products still too expensive? It’s not too expensive, you just might not be able to afford them. Just because something is expensive does not mean it is a scam. Have you ever heard the phrase, you get what you pay for? That’s exactly what it is with USANA’s products, quality. Louis Vuitton charges over $600 for a pair of leather shoes. Is it a scam? Be careful before you’re so quick to respond to this question.
If you’re questioning or doubting the quality of the products, let me try to clarify. The products are high quality. In order to be in the PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference), you must meet USP (United States Pharmacoepia), be Pharmaceutical grade which is higer than FDA (Food and Drug Administration) standards, and adheres to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices). USANA’s products are NSF certified as well. The stuff you mention being equal to USANA that you can buy at Target does not have any of that credibility.
Vitamins are not all the same. That is like saying Porsche is the same as Kia. Yes, they are both cars, as Porsche and Kia are both cars. But the reason why Porsche charges $100,000+ for their 911 Turbo (I own one) is because of the quality. Kia will charge about $20,000 for their nicer car model. Yes, both Kia and Porsche have doors, tires, wheels, engines, windows, seats, a/c, steering wheels, trunk/boot, transmission, etc. but it does not mean they are the same. The quality, performance, feel, comfort, etc. is the difference. QUALITY. It is very true with vitamin supplements as well. They may contain the same types of ingredients but they may not be made correctly in the right form and balance. I’ll give you a little bit of information to help you better understand what I am talking about.
SHOW ME THE SCIENCE: Criteria to consider in judging the quality of a supplement:
1. COMPLETENESS - Does the product contain the full spectrum of nutrients and nutrient categories lised in the Blended Standard and considered essential for optimal health? To qualify, a nutrient or nutrient category must be present at a dosage that is at least 20% of the value in the Blended Standard.
2. POTENCY - For each nutrient in the product, what is the level of potency relative to the potency for that nutrient in the Blended Standard?
3. MINERAL FORMS - For those minerals included in a formulation, how many are found in their most bioavailable forms as amino-acid chelates or organic-acid complexes?
4. BIOACTIVITY OF VITAMIN E - Does the product contain the natural (d) isomer of alpha tocopherol or does the product contain the synthetic (d/l) isomers of alpha tocopherol?
5. GAMMA TOCOPHEROL - Does the product contain gamma tocopherol at a potency of up to one-half the potency of alpha tocopherol in the same product?
6. ANTIOXIDAT SUPPORT - Does the produc contain vitamin C, vitamin E (including alpha tocopherol and gamma tocopherol, or mixed tocopherols), vitamin A, beta-carotene, alpha-lipoic acid, lycopene, coenzyme Q10, and selenium at potencies up to 100% of the potencies for these nutrients in the Blended Standard?
7. BONE HEALTH - Does the product contain vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, boron, calcium, magnesium, silicon, and zinc at potencies up to 100% of the potencies for these nutrients in the Blended Standard?
8. HEARTH HEALTH - Does the product contain vitamin E, beta-carotene, coenzyme Q10, calcium, magnesium, l-carnitine or acetyl-l-carnitine, procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs), phenolic compounds, and lycopene at potencies up to 100% of the potencies in the blended standard?
9. LIVER HEALTH (DETOXIFICATION) - Does the produt contain vitamin C, n-acetyl-csteine, selenium, vitamin B2, and vitamin B3, at potencies of 100% in Blended Standard?
10. METABOLIC HEALTH
11. OCULAR HEALTH
12. METHYLATION SUPPORT
13. LIPOTROPIC FACTORS
14. INFLAMMATION CONTROL
15. GLYCATION CONTROL
16. BIOFLAVANOID PROFILE
17. PHEOLIC COMPOUNDS PROFILE
18. POTENTIAL TOXICITIES
I would elaborate on all of them but I don’t think you would spend the time and do your due diligence in understanding them. One must not be ignorant and one sided when making a debate. This is fact, not emotion.
24 Sep 08 at 3:08 pm
Let’s clear up all the misconceptions in Bryant’s blathering about Usana.
1. The SEC and FTC DID NOT “give Usana the green light as being a legitimate business.” The SEC and FTC have decided not to formally investigate Usana. That’s very, very different from giving them a thumbs up. They have not endorsed Usana in any way.
2. The cost of the Usana products is nowhere near “competitive,” so your assertion that they use MLM to distribute the products to keep costs down is false.
3. The “bypass the middleman” argument is completely false. In MLM, the companies are ADDING MANY MIDDLEMEN to the process with the pyramid recruiting. There may be 8 or 10 middlemen in an MLM, while a product bought at Target probably has 2 or 3 at the very most.
4. A higher priced vitamin is not necessarily better, so you don’t really get what you pay for. Usana tries to position itself as higher quality, but there is no objective evidence to support that claim. The PDR and organizations you’ve cited don’t prove that Usana is any better than any other vitamin. Show me a double-blind study reported in a legitimate medical journal that proves Usana vitamins are of higher quality. There is no such study, so your claim that Usana is of higher quality than the average vitamin out there is false.
5. You’ve listed all sorts of “criteria” for judging a vitamin, but haven’t provided any objective evidence that proves Usana is any better than other vitamins out there. And I’m not talking about propaganda promoted or paid for by Usana or its distributors. I’m talking completely unrelated, objective, credible third-party analysis of the product.
Bryant - Like other commenters here, I’m going to invite you to provide proof for your claims, or to quit making the bogus claims.
24 Sep 08 at 3:54 pm
Tracy,
1. The FTC and SEC’s job is to MAKE SURE illegitimate companies get shut down. If there was any doubt of USANA being a BAD company, they would formally investigate USANA. Are you saying that the FTC and SEC are not doing their job?
2. & 3. Nowhere near competitive? Compared to what? Our products would cost a couple hundred dollars to distribute through traditonal marketing. So yes, USANA’s products are still a more expensive, but I think they are pretty well priced compared to how much they would cost if done through traditional distribution. I rather take a product like USANA that Olympic athletes trust their performance, career, and health to rather than some brand from the grocery store/Target that doesn’t disintegrate properly, isn’t balanced, doesn’t have the potency, isn’t bioavailable (and if it is, the levels of toxicities are unhealthy).
4. If USANA wasn’t higher quality, why are they the only company able to back up it’s potencty, purity, safety, and efficacy with a Million Dollar Athlete guarantee? I challenge you to find one nutritional supplement company out there other than USANA that can guarantee their products to be free from substances that can ban/disqualify an athlete from their sport. Why was USANA chosen as the official health supplement supplier for numerous atheletic organizations, including the Sony ericsson WTA Tour (Women’s Professional Tennis)? Why didn’t they pick a company like One A Day or Centrum? 90% of all vitamin companies in the United States are based in the state of Utah, just like USANA. With that in mind, why was USANA awarded the Utah Best Of State award for Best Dietary Supplement for numerous years up to now? I think there is quite a lot of competition in that sector Tracy. The PDR is a very credible source of medical literature. Any medication or prescriptions you were ever given came from that PDR.
5. What’s with this double-blind study term you keep using as if you know what it really is? Does everything that holds true have to have gone through a double-blind study? No, so stop trying to act all intelligent and sound like you know what you’re talking about when everyone that stumbles onto this sad website will see that you don’t. All USANA products go through a double-blind study before the finished product is marketed. Why don’t you compare the labels of USANA’s products with other vitamin companies out there. You can see the difference. All the “criteria” I mentioned in the previous post are what makes USANA better than most other companies out there. We are made right.
IN SUMMARY…
-Groundbreaking nutrional research– USANA invests significant time and money in extensive scientific operations, information systems, research services, worldwide scientific alliances, and technical suppport. USANA experts are at the forefront of nutritional science.
-First-class ingredients– USANA’s unique ingredient formulas are based on sound, scientifcally proven, and clinically tested ingredients.
-Guaranteed potency–USANA guarantees the potency of its products. Most of USANA’s nutrient formulations are manufactured in-house, following stringent analytical and quality control procedures. USANA verifies each production batch so that what you read on a product label is what you’ll receive in the product.
-High-quality manufacturing– USANA’s manufacturing facility complies with pharmaceutical-level Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). A variety of government agencies conduct periodic inspections, requiring strict control of procedures and documentation.
-Confidence of top athletes - USANA’s Good Manufacturing Practices ensure the safety and quality of each product–products that have been proven so safe, effective, and free of contaminants that renowned organizations such as U.S. Speedskating, Speed Skating Canada, Biathlon Canada, the elite athletes of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, and a myriad of other professional athletes worldwide, trust their health to USANA.
I have time to waste on this site because USANA has created great residual income for me and my friends. The health of my family and friends is better than ever since USANA came into my life. And if only the people at the top make the good money, I guess I’m 13 years late? I joined USANA September 2005. USANA has been around since 1992. I guess you can say I got lucky? No, because I took the time to learn what was necessary to sell a good health product. I had to personally develop myself, and my mindset to be self motivated, driven. I had to take the time to learn how to sell, communicate, train, duplicate, and market USANA and myself. Was it easy, of course not. But anything worthwhile is challenging. Nike doesn’t pay Tiger Woods millions of dollars to wear their gear if Tiger Woods didn’t have to work his guts out. The truth is, all business has risks, all business has failure. Most people don’t succeed in most things. The ones that do, stuck with it and learned what was necessary. You’re sayin 99% (which isn’t true) of all network marketers fail and only 1% make money. Well let’s put that in perspective. 92% of all small business’ fail within the first few years of openning (SBA - Small Business Administration). So I guess we should give up and not even think about openning a restaurant then huh? If we don’t have aspirations, goals, and dreams, then where do you think the U.S. would be right now? We wouldn’t have Michael Jordan, Lance Armstrong, Abraham Lincoln, Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Benajamin Franklin, Martin Luther King, etc.
Food for thought.
24 Sep 08 at 5:53 pm
Bryant - This will be your second and final warning. We do not allow false, unsubstantiated claims by MLM supporters here. I’m posting your comments this time with responses, but if you break the rules again, your comments won’t be posted.
1. Yes, I’m saying the FTC and SEC do not do their jobs. The FTC has flat-out refused to enforce the laws that apply to MLMs for the last 20 years or so. The SEC simply doesn’t have enough staff to investigate everything it should investigate. So again, the inaction of these two agencies is NOT some sort of endorsement of Usana.
2. Where is the support for your claim that the products would cost “a couple hundred dollars” to distribute thru normal retail chains? You have no support. In fact, the MLM method of distribution is far more expensive than traditional methods. How do I know? Simple. A comparison of products and prices:
Usana Health Pack 100 - $4.25 daily cost at WHOLESALE pricing
Animal Pack - $0.84 daily cost at RETAIL pricing
An independent lab verified that these are comparable products in terms of ingredients. Usana is over 300% more expensive, even when comparing Usana’s cheaper wholesale pricing to Animal Pack’s retail pricing.
Usana Chelated Minerals - $0.27 daily cost at WHOLESALE pricing
Now Full Spectrum Mineral Caps - $0.13 daily cost at RETAIL pricing
Usana is twice as much at wholesale than Now at retail. And again, an independent lab determined that the products are comparable.
Why the difference? The multiple layers of commission that must be paid from that wholesale pricing.
You claim that products at Target aren’t as good as Usana. Prove it with independent data. I’ve got independent data that says the products are comparable.
4. The Million Dollar Athlete guarantee - Sadly, this doesn’t prove anything about Usana’s products. It is simply a marketing tactic. You have no proof that other products couldn’t offer a similar guarantee if they wanted to. Again, provide me some independent proof.
You cite the PDR as “a very credible source of medical literature.” Really? Then why don’t you explain to me what the PDR proves. It doesn’t prove that Usana is of any better quality than any other vitamin. If claim that it does prove that, I challenge you to provide support for that claim. (Again, Usana propaganda doesn’t count.)
5. Double-blind studies - These are done in the medical community to prove or disprove hypotheses about medications, illnesses, and the like. Studies like this could give credibility to the Usana “quality” claim. They’re the most reliable third-party verification of the claims you’re making. I challenge you to produce any sort of objective third party data in support of your claims.
You say: “All USANA products go through a double-blind study before the finished product is marketed.”
Really? Prove it. You have no idea what you’re talking about.
You also claim that Usana spends significant money on R&D. That’s flat out untrue. The company spends less than 2% of its budget on R&D, which is pathetic for a company that claims to be so cutting-edge.
As for my claim that 99% of people invovle in MLM lose money… I suggest you take a look at this report. It lays out the methodology and uses data supplied by the MLMs themselves to calculate this figure.
http://pyramidschemealert.org/PSAMain/news/MythofIncomeReport.html
You cite a figure of 92% of all small businesses failing in the first few years. Prove it. Provide a link to this statistic. (You can’t, because it’s an untrue number.)
I’ll again invite you to provide objective, third-party proof of your claims made here. If you can’t provide support for your claims, don’t bother to reply again because no one will see your comments.
24 Sep 08 at 6:23 pm
The PSA and FDI are all a joke of authorities. Where is their credibility? Barry Minkow? HAHA! Robert Fitzpatrick? Please… hahahaha, those guys are garbage. If their research was so good with independent lab studies, then why didn’t they succeed against their lawsuit against USANA? The judge does the judging, not you, Minkow, Fitzpatrick, or any of the other guys that failed at MLM and created the PSA. I dont’ care if you don’t post this, You’re a joke. You have no credibility and other people can see it. You’re using data that is skewed and biased made from Barry Minkow and his associates. That data is wrong, like you. I’m no longer posting on here anyway, you’re wasting my time.
24 Sep 08 at 6:26 pm
LOL - Barry didn’t have a lawsuit against Usana. You can’t even get facts straight.
Skewed data? Are you suggesting that the independent lab who tested the vitamins is lying?
Skewed data? Are you suggesting that Usana is providing false data on its site?
I will again invite you (is this the 3rd time or 4th?) to provide verifiable, objective support for any or all of your claims made here. Zero and counting for proof provided by you.
24 Sep 08 at 6:29 pm
Yes I am saying that the independent lab who tested the vitamins is lying. How do I know? because the lab supposedly tested for an ingredient/substance in the USANA products which is impossible since the lab did not have the equipment to test for that particular substance.
No more posting from me. You’re bad for people’s health.
24 Sep 08 at 6:31 pm
Really? Awesome. What is this piece of equipment the lab doesn’t have? And where is the proof that they don’t have it?
Somebody is getting grumpy because he can’t provide proof for any of his claims!
24 Sep 08 at 6:56 pm
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/plan/getready/SERV_SBPLANNER_ISENTFORU.html
As for the lab, Barry Minkow claimed the USANA TenX bar only had 2.6 times the antioxidant power of grape juice when he knew he wasn’t comparing equal amounts of the product? Why did he claim the Health Pak 100™ contained no N-Acetyle L-Cysteine when the lab’s test wasn’t designed to detect this ingredient?
What a credible lab…
24 Sep 08 at 7:05 pm
Commendable effort, but you have failed.
The 2.6 calculation was based upon a serving to serving comparison of the products. Usana’s description with their original claim is what prompted the serving to serving comparison.
Barry had no idea that some other measure was being used by Usana, and never made the claim again after Usana clarified its measures. However, Barry and team did later criticize Usana’s measure because it was a silly measure.
Barry reported exactly what the lab reported to him: None detected. This may have been a mistake on the part of the lab, but it was an honest mistake that no one tried to cover and that Barry reported in good faith. In addition, the presence or absence of this ingredient was completely irrelevant to the report that was issued on the Usana fraud.
Thanks for the page from the SBA, which proves your earlier assertion to be false, as I stated. The page states: “According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, roughly 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years.”
This is obviously a far, far cry from your false statement that 92% of small businesses fail in the first few years.
I’ll invite you again to provide evidence that supports any of the claims that you’ve made here. Shooting you down each time you post something is getting a little tiring, though.
28 Sep 08 at 1:19 pm
Tracey,
I have read everything on this page and because I know nothing about Usana, I cannot agree or disagree with what is being said about the product. Because of this, I have an open mind. Hoewever; objectively speaking, I will say this: you come across as a righteous, arrogant, closed minded and “know-it-all” type of individual who prefers to be argumentative and combative rather than show people the respect of their choices. I think your personality/communication skills are actually hindering the points you are so desperately trying to make. If mlm’s aren’t for you, so be it. If driving a garbage truck isn’t for you, so be it. But who are you to criticize someone elses decision as to how they spend their money or income producing choices. The overall impression I get from your responses is that you are taking all of these people’s decision to believe in a particular way of earning money, MUCH TO PERSONALLY, and therefore coming across as quite defensive. I cannot help but think it is because you see their endorsement of mlm’s as a direct attack on the authenticity of what your book is reporting. That is really unfortunate, as I believe you are turning people away from the very thing you are trying to persuade them to believe, strictly by your stonewall approach. I guess what I am trying to tell you is…LIGHTEN UP!! There are many more important things going on in the world for you to direct your energy to something that is really none of your business, and effects so few people in the entire country. You do sound like a rather bitter person, and not because of mlm’s. I don’t think you realize how you come across in your responses to others.
Just for the record I personally know many people who have made money in mlm’s and have only positive things to say about their experiences.
What you may not recognize is that corporate America is based on the same hierarchy as a “pyramid”. You will always have the people at the top making more money than the people at the bottom. The harder the people at the bottom work, the more likely they will be to eventually make the kind of money the people at the top make. And what business is successful without referrals by others. If someone reads your book and likes it, wouldn’t you want them to refer others to buy it?
30 Sep 08 at 9:43 am
Hi everyone, Tracy Coenen you are right on the money. I view Amyway etc as nothing more than a scam, right up there with scientology.