Arbonne Scam

A little bit of Reality

I received this link from a Arbonneanonymous poster.  Check it out!  It provides a good realistic point of view.

http://www.cosmeticscop.com/bulletin/062107-full.htm

You will also notice that the author of the site has her own skin care line.  Personally, I think good skin care can be achieved without spending a whole lot of money so I am definitely not telling you to go to this site and buy her products.  But I suspect that some of you may prefer to purchase expensive products for your own reasons; maybe you just feel more motivated to take care of your skin when you've spent a lot of money on products.  I've been there!

A Modest Proposal

This was so perfectly put that I had to make sure everyone that visits the site had the opportunity to read this.  Thanks, J.  Fantastic post!

It is true that the information here may influence people's decision on whether or not to begin an Arbonne business.  As a result, many consultants will have to answer some questions about the concerns raised here.  It may be necessary to fully disclose the facts about the biz in order to persuade potential recruits to join. 

For example, inform them that while you have been satisfied with your results, far less than 1% of consultants make it to NVP.  Explain that it takes significant time and work to make it to DM, and they will not earn much (if anything) for their time and efforts for a long time if they are building it the right way. 

While 10 hours per week is what most consultants aim to spend, it often requires more than that, (much more), particularly when getting started, (and sometimes after getting promoted).  Let them know that at some point, cold market prospecting will be a necessity to maintain position, because they will run out of friends willing to spend money every month.  This may involve them needing to take up extracurricular activities and getting acquainted with people they don't know and wouldn't normally talk to in hopes to recruit them at some point.  They may be okay with this when you tell them that some of their friends will no longer want to be around them anymore if they are constantly "dripping" on them. 

Inform them that large upfront investments are risky, and that promotion from fast track front-loading leads to fast crumbling of teams.  Let them know that the likelihood of them losing any money spent up front is great, and that their odds of recouping their investment are greater at a slot machine in Vegas than with Arbonne (and, in fact, slot machines are less work).

When you're talking product and patents, you may need to disclose that Arbonne buys formulas from other labs and chemists, and that these labs also develop and sell formulas to Arbonne's competitors in the industry.  Please explain that Mr. Botiglierri does not work exclusively with or for Arbonne, and he in fact develops products for several other cosmetic companies as well, meaning there may be similar formulas available from other companies. 

For those that want to know if it's like Amway, instead of saying "No, of course not," try saying, "Well yes, it is.  It's multi-level marketing.  In fact, our CEO has Amway on his resume."  When they ask about saturation, explain that some areas are already saturated, as this is inevitable, as the goal of any corporation is market saturation -- it is how they make money.  You can only hope that they don't live in one of those areas.  Oh, and there are no sales territories.  They might be living next door to someone who has already sold the whole neighborhood.

Be sure they understand that they won't be allowed to sell on the internet without using the Arbonne template website and paying the Arbonne fee for it.  And be sure they understand that although this policy used to be enforced, eBay now has anywhere from 1500-3000 Arbonne product auctions going on any given day, where the products can be purchased for a discount of 50-80% off retail, usually sales tax free. 

Don't forget to add that even though these obstacles exist, the consultants have absolutely zero power or ability to do anything about them, as they are in reality at the mercy of Arbonne corporate, because that's who makes the rules.  Be sure to include that Arbonne has the ability to change their compensation plan at any time, for any reason, or just sell the company and leave them with a bill for a Mercedes and no paycheck. 

So, in short, disclose that the success rate is low, drop out rate high, financial risk is great, competition is fierce, and almost any Arbonne product can be purchased online anywhere in the world much much cheaper without having to pay the $29.  All of this with zero control over any of it.  But that's just capitalism, right? 

Other than that, it's a really great business opportunity that you're totally satisfied with and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. 

SymRoi Website

Just curious about what you think of this website...........

www.symroi.com/about.php

Helloooooo!!!!!

Hey guys!  I sincerely apologize for being away so long.  I can't say I'm completely back yet, but I thought I better check in to let you know I'm still on earth!  I haven't had a chance to get caught up with the blog, but I did try to skim through and I've received several emails asking about my husband.  He is doing very well and is almost 100%; thanks for the concern!  I'm glad to see everyone is still here and it looks like there are several newcomers as well.  You guys are the best!  Cat

Eric, So many posters have questions for you, and what's great is that you seem willing and very able to answer them.  Given that and the fact that you worked for the company, the information you have been providing has helped so many people already.  For some, it's just a relief to finally get information from someone with your experience and credibility.  It hasn't been easy for a lot (good grief, I started to spell it "alot"....thanks blastingpowder!) of people to deal with friends and family who don't see the deception Arbonne has created. 

I'm taking the suggestion of a poster and re-posting your first few posts in case anyone has missed them........

Ok,let me start by saying that I am no longer with Arbonne. I finally voluntarily resigned from the company August 18th, partially for reasons unrelated to the company or its management. Next, I think that a little history is in order here becuase the company (as some of you might know) underwent a "management buyout" (fancy name for "we've been sold!") and has been under complete control of a private equity firm called Harvest Partners (www.harvpart.com) since December of 2004. Formerly the company was owned by Levlad (http://www.natures-gate.com) and Harvest aquired Arbonne by buying Levlad.

I had known Stian for four years prior to my departure and I believe he is still a man of integrity and a very nice guy personally. But he now must do Mr. Bob Henry's bidding. His position with the company has been greatly reduced in the past two years and he was assigned the task by Bob Henry of heading up the compliance dept. However Bob Henry really oversees and overrules whatever that department does as with all departments within the company.

Three are many people in management who will be shocked and surprised to see me on here. But I felt it was my duty to exposed the mismanagement that I have seen in this company over that past year and a half. This mismanagement has cause both financial and emotional difficulty (and in some cases ruin) for thoudands of consultants and I can tell you factually and frankly that Mr. Bob Henry could care less about that as long as Harvest Partners (who put him in his position) is making what ever money they can   from you, the consultant.

Rita Davenport has, is and always will be a figurehead and "spokesmodel" for this company rather than a real management person. She rarely is seen at Arbonne corporate headquarters in Irvine,California preferring to work out of her home in Phoenix,Arizona when she is not dispensing the standard Arbonne propaganda at ACTNow, NTC or other similar meeetings around the country. I can say that I have actually spoken no more that five or ten words to her in these past four years because like I said, she is nothing more than the "face" of Arbonne or you might say "honorary president" Bob Henry runs Arbonne. He is the CEO.

There is a lot more going on that just unethical conduct by consultants . I realize that that is the problem that a lot of people on this board face and that is one of the principal reasons for its existance.

To answer one question up front, I do not know of very many RVPs and NVPs what are being terminated for ethical violations.

I realize that many of the following things that I will bring up are not going of interest at first glance because they do not  address the up line/downline ethics and puppy dog issues. But I think they paint a portrait of what I have found to be very shoddy management and thus should be of interest to all who want the truth about Arbonne to be told.

Most of the calls--at least 75% percent by my observation-- that come through Arbonne's call center are complaint calls. These complaints are generally ignored by the upper management of the company. I was told that the marketing department did not want to hear complaints --that, in fact, "they did not care how the consultants felt"

That is a pretty bad attitude in my estimation!

Here are a few of the complaints:

1. A long standing comoplaint concerns the poor quality of the containers , especially the RE9 product containers. The pumps on the  RE9 products continue to to be faulty and the company has had to spend literally thousands of dollars to replace the bottles that are bad. I would think that any company would want to fix a problem like that rather than put a lot of its customers through so much hassle and rather than having to spend thousands of dollars that could be spent elsewhere.

2. Another major complaint concerns packaging. Especially with the new Indiana warehouse, the company has completely thrown out packaging that worked and substituted much cheaper packaging that has resulted in lots of damaged goods and missing products for thousands of consultants.

Again, maybe you have not personally experienced these problems but I have received too many phone calls and emails from those who have. These poor gals were all excited about sharing the product with their friends and new customers etc. But they call up so very disappointed and emabarrased becasuse the have promised their cusytomers products that they can't deliver due to cheap uncaring company practices. I am sick and tired of having to represent a company who treats its customer base as poorly as Arbonne has.

The third and most recent complaint I heard before I left concerned allergic reactions, which I already briefly addresed under another heading on this board. The company is getting hundreds (that I am personally an "ear-witness" to) of comments all saying that the RE9 products are causing major facial and skin breakouts and turning away a lot of customers. Is Levlad (the manufacturer of this line) looking into this? At the time I left, they were not.

As far as the puppy dog thing and other unethical practices, look for those to continue unabated as long as the company is making bucks off of those people! Right before I left, I started hearing from many people in Hawaii who wre being asked to start out their new consultants at $2500 (as their first purchase) so that their upline could move up the ladder. And they are doing it with PUPPIES!!!

So It looks like the Andy Inman gang has infected the islands too. And that is sad!!!

I would finally ask that those who are still consultants and need to have dealings with Arbonne customer service by phone or email, that you be patient with the CSRs. They, (like I was) are sincerely trying to do their job as honestly and effectively as they can. They are not to blame fr the company's misdeeds, yet they often bear the brunt of consultant anger. The answers they are given to work with are the answers that the Bob Henry gang has given to them to say to you. They are often inadequate and contradictory. And in some cases, the field support phone and email staff are not given any answers at all! (Even on the pro-Arbonne boards I read comments about how field support did not know that answer to questions the consultants wre calling about- you can blame Mr. Henry for that!)

A NOTE TO ARBONNE MANAGEMENT:

If you are reading this , rather than be disappointed at a former employee for airing your dirty laundry in public, why not do the honest thing and admit your mistakes. Kick out the RVPs and NVPs who are promoting unethical practices. Improve and restructure your product manufacturing and distribution. The "cheapest way" is not always the best way" Stop trying to make a fast buck for Harvest Partners and yourselves and start doing right by your consultants and retail clients.

A Little Housekeeping

Just in case anyone is unsure..........I very rarely post on other Arbonne or MLM sites.  If I do, I ALWAYS sign Cat.  I do not lurk or post anonymously.  I have never sent any anonymous emails to ANY consultants.  Having said this, please feel free to post any ugliness towards me here.....instead of sending me anonymous emails.

I stumbled on this site and found it entertaining. 

http://www.mediabistro.com/bbs/cache/t25719_1.asp

Another Amazing Opportunity

Has anyone heard of Antares Corporation or Natural Choice?  Well, I hadn't until I received a very impressive looking invitation to a demonstration being held in Atlanta this weekend.  Google Antares Corporation.  Let me know what you think..........

Arbots Gone Wild

This was an article that I found interesting and thought you all might too. 

http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=4908398&nav=menu99_2_15

Hey! I have a fantastic opportunity to share with you.....

What’s your favorite MLMer line?  Maybe you used one that you are especially embarrassed by?  I have to hold back the fits of giggles when I get the “Wave of the Future” bit.  MLMer’s often use celebrity names to give the product credibility and then as your eyes get wide with interest they will more than likely throw in that the secret isn’t out, but that so-in-so is interviewing the celebrity of choice and then the secret will be out.  Usually the interview is within a few months which is just enough time to sign up and start recruiting…funny how that always works out, isn’t it?  What about all the predictions that Multi-Level-Marketing will be taking over!?  Get in while it’s still affordable!   And let’s not forget the income claims….my gosh!