Is it because saying “This is not about Multi level Marketing” is such a great line to prospective recruits?
Catchy isn’t it?
You say, and I quote: “Lets break down the phrase Multi-level marketing. It means in its most absic [I think you mean basic] form, that you market to multiple levels. Meaning that you buy somethign [sic] and then re-sell it.”
“Multi level means that you market to multiple levels… that you buy something and then re-sell it” ???????
What a pathetic definition, Mike. Could you not come up with something better.I’m sorry, I have to say it again, “… that you buy something and then re-sell it.” Oh, my god, you crack me up.
I suppose that means all retailers are MLMs???They all buy stuff and then re-sell it.
MLM is making MONEY from multiple levels. Just like you can in Melaleuca - you know, all those generations you try to recruit and then SELL them on your products and then SELL them on the opportunity.
Melaleuca is no different from any MLM; Amway, Herbalife, DS Max etc etc - they are all the same and offer no better or worse opportunity then any other business. You even support this claim yourself Mike. You say, and again I quote: “Dont forget folks just like any business, you have to work at it.” Exactly, Just like ANY other business. No work, no money. So, why bother joining; and having your friends and family hate you and be embarrassed at how you constantly SELL SELL SELL your OPPORUNITY to every single person with whom you come in contact.
I am happy for you all to succeed, and I sincerely hope you do, but please do not insult my intelligence by saying something is not what it most assuredly is.
- Mark - Sydney, Australia
Hillel on May 30th, 2006 at 10:29 am
I would like to know if you have heard of this new company called Agel
check this out www.agel.com
Miles on November 18th, 2006 at 1:07 am
The URL is a site I was at recently…it has some good research there about Melaleuca oil (I’m not affiliated with them at all).
I do know a little about why Melaleuca doesn’t want to be lumped in with MLM companies though. Firstly, there are other companies that have given that have given MLM a bad name, so they obviously would want to differentiate themselves as much as possible. They are similar in that it is direct selling and problems come about since they’re harder to control unlike a regular employee. And that’s probably always a challenge with that business model.
A primary way they’ve differentiated themselves though is that people don’t have to carry inventory (all sales are direct from the company) and a majority of the revenue comes from actual product sales as opposed to enrolling other people into the business (or whatever term they use for it). They also don’t claim that people will get rich doing it–it’s for people who want to make some extra money on the side.
I know a little about them because my aunt buys their cleaning products and gives them to all of us. She heard the ‘business pitch” but she’s retired and wasn’t interested. She likes some of the products though and I admit that even though that kind of business isn’t for me, I like the the laundry detergent and the protein bars a lot.
Anyway, I’m sure they’re valid criticisms and I’ve only tried 5 of their products. I wasn’t crazy about the mouthwash, but the laundry detergent and protein shakes/bars are better than anything I’ve found in stores (really). I haven’t tried any of their other things yet.
Miles on November 18th, 2006 at 1:17 am
By the way, I’m not saying the negative comments aren’t true–I respect that. I’m just relating my personal experience and what I know. We have some of their other cleaning products around the house but I admit I only do the laundry and not much else of the cleaning, so can’t comment on how they compare to store bought products.
Cathy on March 17th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Why are some people so afraid of not calling Melaleuca an MLM?
Cathy on March 17th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Why are some people so afraid of realizing that it’s ok for a company not to want to be too associated with a particular industry?
Ty on March 18th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
If a company doesn’t want to be associated with a particular industry, it shouldn’t have chosen the industry’s business model.
John on June 19th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
I must agree with Miles in the fact that there are people out there that for whatever reason are not giving people they talk to the whole Melaleuca story. There is no way that Melaleuca can keep track of what they are saying, but you have to give them some credit because at least they are trying.
I also have to agree with Cathy and do not understand what Ty is afraid of. If people would take the time to learn about a company before talking about them there would be a lot more properly informed, successful people out there.
With Melaleuca you are a customer who, if you want to - it’s not required, simply shares the store with other people who then become just customers. Melaleuca’s customers NOT your customers. How is that anything like MLM? It seems to me that it is more like Costco, Sams Club, Kroger, Safeway, WalMart, or your local dollar store than MLM.
Not to mention their credentials. No MLM is listed in the Inc 500 Hall of Fame or the Better Business Bureau Hall of Fame. No MLM has received the Blue Chip Award from the US Chamber of Commerce for Inovative Marketing. No MLM has had 21 years of steady, increasing growth. No MLM has received the Torch Award from the Better Business Bureau for their Integrity.
My point is that you can say what ever you want about Melaleuca and that will still not make it true. Plus, anyone who actually tries to check them out by talking to customers, management, customer service people, the BBB, the US Chamber of Commerce, the Attorney Generals in any state, CNN, USA Today, just to name a few, will see that with Melaleuca there is no bad news and, no matter what you think, the fact remains that they are not MLM.
To those of you who will probably comment to this that I am wrong, I say that you were either mis-informed by the person who told you about Melaleuca, or you didn’t really do your research, or both!
Have a great day and I wish you all the best in whatever you do!
Saul on June 27th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
I totally agree with you John, thank you for stating the credibility of Melaleuca… no “MLM” company out there keeps growing steady like Melaleuca after 22 years…and by the way, if you want to know more about Melaleuca there is a book you can purchase with the whole story of the company….just google Melaleuca story book and you should get the results…
Remember, the mind is like a parachute, it must be open to function properly.
Hemingway Forbes on September 10th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
I am firstly not affiliated with Melaluca. Do I use their products? Absolutely. Why? Non Toxic. Exceptionally products ranging over a number of items usually bought for personal use and for household use. NOW. Bottomline MLM not. One could say that with a number of Companies but the FACTS show Melaluca as different. In fact their people do make money for referral. They also refer quality product and make fodder out of a number of so called competition. Do the Due Dilligence. It pays. As to Blogs and so call expert opinions bottomline is ignorance is bliss. You are ignorant Jimmyboy. People who talk like you are usually losers in any field. I know for a fact you have done NO Due Dilligence based on your comments. Get educated. In fact get a life loser.
David on October 8th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Say what you want but Melaleuca is not a MLM.
You refer people to the company with a catalog, via the website, in person, etc.
I am affiliated with them.
Do I do the business? Well, I try but my family and other career comes first.
I do not sell the products (MLMs do). I do not keep an inventory (MLMs do). There is even a CAP on what I get as monthly commission so as to discourage inventory-loading. My company has no breakaways (MLMs do). I & my upline make $0 commission when we buy sales aids (MLMs like Amway do). Would you want to be associated with a the stigma of MLM (with has had such a bad reputation in the past) if you are not? Someone that says that Melaleuca is a MLM just doesn’t get it (or does NOT want to get it).
I have heard said at Melaleuca-sponsored meeting, “If your friend does not want to join Melaleuca, that is fine, they are still your friend” and “Melaleuca is NOT the most important thing in your life” (which means that there are other more important things such as family, religion, etc. This is not the case when I have gone to other meetings for MLMs.
Good Luck in whatever you chose to do & God-Bless.
Azmi on October 10th, 2007 at 9:07 am
I’m not a affiliated to melaleuca but i’ve bought some products of melaleuca and they are quite good actually.But it’s a little bit pricey though.
matt m on November 9th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Most of the counterarguments here are laughably logical fallacies- claiming that Melaleuca is not an MLM because there are things that some other MLMs do that it doesn’t (akin to claiming tennis isn’t a sport because you don’t wear a helmet). However, there is one necessary and sufficient condition for being an MLM: You have an upline, you have a downline, you’re an MLM. Face the facts…
Jen on June 25th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Melaleuca let’s each person be the center of his or her own business meaning they can and often do advance higher and make more income than the people in their support line. How many MLM’s do you know that work like that? And having a support line and an organization of your own is not much different than let’s say Bill Gates being at the top of his food chain unless the peons working for Bill have a chance of doing better than Bill. Ever gonna happen? Not a chance. With Melaleuca, I can and do so much better than several of the people in my support line. Just more information since you seem to WANT to know so much about Melaleuca and clearly don’t.