Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Evidence of USANA Inventory Loading Their Distributors

Inventory Loading is a key sign of a modern day product-based pyramid scheme.

USANA requires their associates to purchase a MINIMUM of 100 points worth of product every 4 weeks. This comes out to about $120 in product purchases. Each "active" associate made such purchase. But why? Every active associate who I have conversed with on the internet has claimed that they "wanted" the product, so the purchase was okay. But are those claims true, or just something USANA has conditioned these active associates to say to make excuses for these ongoing purchases?

If active USANA associates were just consumers of their own product and is why they purchase about $120 worth of product every 4 weeks, then why is it that Preferred Customers (those who are actually consumers who "want" the product) only purchase on average $70 worth of product every 4-weeks? Perhaps you are wondering where this $70 figure comes from.

According to USANA's latest financial SEC filings 67,000 Preferred Customers were responsible for $15.4 million in net sales, which is 10% of USANA's total net sales (associates accounted for the remaining 90%!). This works out to an average of $70 per preferred customer every 4 weeks. I use a 4-week calculation because USANA requires purchases from their associates on a 4-week cycle (13 times a year).

To me, this is proof that associates are primarily making these ongoing $120+ purchases every 4-weeks so they abide by USANA's rules and remain "commission eligible" for the 4-week period. If the associate fails to make this mandatory purchase, that associate is no longer considered "active", is stripped of all accumulated groups sales volume generated from their preferred customers and downline associates, and unable to collect any commission. That's a pretty severe penalty, especially when upline associates (typically the leaders) are continually pressuring their downline to remain on "autoship" and make those $120+ payments every 4-weeks.

Since most product purchases from USANA are from the active associates (219,000 of them), and each of them has to purchase about $120 worth of product every 4-weeks in order to participate in USANA's compensation plan, and the fact that preferred customers only account for about $70 on average, it is no wonder the primary focus in USANA is to market a business opportunity rather than product. The product is only a disguise as well as "tokens" used in a grand elaborate modern day product-based pyramid scheme.

This mandatory requirement for associates to purchase USANA products is known as "Inventory Loading". That is, the associates are being forced to purchase more product than they can actually resell. Assuming the associate only really consumes at most $70 worth of their $120 purchase, they are left with $50 sitting in their cupboards. USANA claims they can "retail" this product to make a profit. However, preferred customers obtain the product "at the same discounted price as the associates do". This means, there is no chance that any associate can resell their personally purchased product for more than they paid themselves. Unfortunately, the associate is also stuck with a nice shipping charge as well. To top it all off, many USANA associates resort to EBAY to "dump their inventory loaded purchases". These typically auction for 50% less than the associates own cost. Inventory Loading is one of the key indicators of a product-based pyramid scheme.

So if active associates were telling the truth, and that they really wanted $120 worth of product every 4-weeks ($1560 a year), then why does USANA have this "Mandatory" purchase in the first place? What would happen if USANA could no longer be allowed to "force" their associates to make these $120 purchases in order to participate in the compensation plan and be eligible for commissions? I think the answer is obvious. USANA would go out of business in a matter of months because associates would only purchase the amount of product they actually wanted. I would go as far to claim that most associates would not purchase any product at all.

So here's a challenge to USANA. Why not be one of the first MLMs that does not require their distributors to personally purchase the product they are trying to sell? What would USANA be afraid of, reality???

If you are an ex-USANA associate or know someone who is, I suggest filing a complaint to the FTC if you feel you have been cheated out of your money. I have an blog posting that explains how to go about filing a complaint and why it is extremely important to do so. See my Filing FTC Complaint Against USANA posting.

151 comments:

  1. what are the benefits of filing a complaint? do we get our $ back

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    1. If The FTC investigated USANA and eventually charged USANA with operating a pyramid scheme and if found guilty, USANA may be required to refund those who were victimized. The biggest benefit in filing a complaint is that the FTC would actually look into USANA's business practices, and I am fully convinced that if an actually investigation by the FTC took place, USANA would be found guilty of operating an illegal pyramid scheme.

      Lets look at it this way. If your town was hit by a hurricane and a group of roofers came in afterwards to fix everyone's roofs at a discounted rate, and took a bunch of deposits from everyone and then vanished, would you feel more inclined to file a complaint just so the crooks can be caught and not harm others with the same scam even if you couldn't get your money back?

      Sometimes it's just the right thing to do.

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    2. Wrong! USANA have been investigated twice. It´s not a pyramid Scheme. I can send you the link to a FORBES article from 2008 talking about this.

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    3. Wow! There is no answer! i wonder why!!!!

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    4. Sorry, I already answered this in a previous posting. SEC doesn't say USANA isn't a pyramid scheme. My response is below the one the link takes you to.

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    5. Sorry USANA Watchdog. I just purchase the product when my customers do order. Sometimes my account got inactive. Honestly, I don't want them to be a member. I make more money by selling to them. Anyway, they find it a hassle being a distributor because they lack information and experience. Good for me.

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  2. Right on target, Watchdog. The reality is, NONE of the smart distributors/leaders in Usana would ever vote to eliminate the monthly purchase requirement. Only the ones who don't really know how this business works will.

    I've been bringing up this exact point for some time now and I believe it's the ONE and ONLY thing that can basically make Usana 100% legit, to the point where this blog of yours would basically die out since you won't have much to say and no one will really come looking for dirt on Usana.

    To All Usana Reps:

    Think about this. Your boss, Usana, has a way to eliminate all the naysayers, all of the scam accusations, simply by removing the monthly purchasing requirement. You all claim that your vitamins are fairly priced and that it's the best vitamins in the market. Well, put your money where your mouth is.

    I challenge any Usana rep to start an online petition to remove the monthly requirement. I'm sure if someone can get thousands of Usana reps to sign, Usana will notice.

    Doing this would only make sense. Take away all of the negativity and shut up the haters once and for all.

    Usana claims it's not about recruiting and that there is a real demand for their products. Reps claim they would buy the products regardless of the requirement. If these things are true, why in the world is there even a purchasing requirement?

    I hope some of you Usana reps can see the real purpose of the requirement. I know you've been brainwashed to think that the reason why there's a requirement is to make sure you're not promoting something you don't even use but please realize this is just an excuse to enforce a requirement that is giving the company you are defending a bad name.

    The reality is, the monthly purchasing requirement is the bloodline of the company. Take that away and the company, your business, will die.

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    Replies
    1. Usana ,'bad name'? give me a break,. It has been there 20 years and winning EVERY award that any company can win.Either you are Jealous or really low I Q .Do your research. If it was a scam, it would have been delisted from the Stock Market long ago and founder in Jail. By the way the Founder is the only one in his field who was awarded the Albert Einstein Award for his work in the Health Sciences.Look up his resume.His work building free hospitals in Africa and Children's Hunger Fund.99% of proceeds go to the children. Name ONE other fund that even comes close. Most are themselves 'scams'. Cheers D

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    2. And yet, here you are arguing on a site that says Usana is a scam. You should know that this isn't the only site talking badly about Usana. It must be fun constantly having to defend what you do. There was once even an Anti-Usana group on Facebook with hundreds of members and you don't think this silly monthly purchase requirement is giving Usana a bad name? You wouldn't be here defending Usana if this wasn't the case now would you?

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    3. And yet, Logic, you haven´t answered anything to Dick...

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    4. Most high-profile people build up foundations to lessen their taxes significantly; another thing, it's also funded by voluntary contributions as well as the purchases of USANA's associates and as customers.

      A lot of superstars do this.

      Another thing, is Dr. Wentz awarded because he formulated the USANA products? No. He was awarded because of his scientific research. Also, I find it shady -- only people that have to do with USANA (the website itself, the associates, etc) are posting this news.

      Honestly, I'm not saying that USANA per se is a scam, nor the products are below par (I don't believe their products are that topnotch though), so I'm not answering on the paragraphs on why USANA is still running up to now.

      It's just that there is something wrong with the majority of the associates -- rather than helping other people, they are ripping them off by telling them a lot of lies (e.g. Great business opportunities, monthly autoships are not required if you want to earn, etc).

      This is what makes other people think that USANA is a pyramid scheme and a scam.

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    5. "And yet, Logic, you haven´t answered anything to Dick..."

      Why should I? His assumption is wrong to begin with. He's saying that Usana doesn't have a bad name stating that they've been around for 20 years. Amway has been around for 50 years, has buildings named after them, so what? Do you realize what many people think of Amway? If Usana didn't have a bad rep, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

      Then he goes and brings up awards that the founder received. Why? We're debating the business not the vitamins. Stick to the topic. Then he throws the low IQ comment which to me says he's a child who hasn't developed the ability to have an intelligent debate.

      Again, stick with the topic of this article. I still have yet to see 1 Usana rep state that they would support taking the monthly requirement out. If you guys really want to talk product quality, quit the mumbo jumbo and prove your confidence in the product by petitioning to take the requirement out and shut us all up once and for all.

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    6. I'm in Usana. I am not required to make monthly purchases. The end.

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    7. Quoting USANA's SEC filings: "To be eligible to earn commissions, an Associate must purchase a certain amount of product each month ("Qualifying Purchases"), which they may resell to consumers or use personally."

      Sure, I can join USANA for $20. But if I am expected to earn any commission from preferred customers or downline associates, then I would be required to personally purchase at a minimum 100 Sales Volume worth of product (about $120 on average).

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    8. @Jennelle - You forgot to mention that you also don't make any money. The end.

      Seriously, how can these Usana reps even make statements like this? I would understand if one clueless rep says something like this but there has already been several stating this.

      I don't know what kind of brainwashing is going on at those meetings but to the people running them, kudos to you. You guys are true masters of manipulation.

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    9. @illogic - "..how can you make statements like this.."

      Quite easily. We are successful, and you tried, like a dumbo, to sell USANA to your friends and family, and failed miserably.

      You don't understand commission sales, and you don't know how to lead a team. Others can and do.

      Delete
    10. "Quite easily. We are successful, and you tried, like a dumbo, to sell USANA to your friends and family, and failed miserably."

      It's statements like this that make Usana reps look uneducated. You Usana reps sure like to get off topic don't you? I was talking about the monthly requirement and because you had no answer to it, you resorted to putting me down instead, just like Dick did.

      Either stick to the topic or re-enroll into college and learn some debating skills. Calling people names who disagree with what your leaders told you makes you look like a 5 year old.

      I still have yet to see ONE Usana rep publicly state they would support removing the monthly purchasing requirement.

      What are you afraid of? If there really is a demand for Usana products at those price levels like you reps claim, you all will win in a BIG way. No more haters. No more having to defend what you do. Usana will be the absolute best MLM company out there, bar none. You will all make a lot more money. It just makes logical sense.

      Of course, if Usana products really are overpriced and taking out the requirement will just cause paychecks to diminish, leading the company to an inevitable collapse due to inflated/fake demand, then I can understand why no Usana rep would even DARE talk about removing the monthly requirement and instead go off topic and call us logical people dumbos.

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    11. ilLogic: Please identify successful direct sales companies that do not have monthly sales quotas for their distributors? Or for that matter, any successful company that does not have a monthly sales quota? I'll venture that 100% of Fortune 500 companies have a monthly sales quota for each of their sales people, whether they use an internal sales force or distributors. I don't see why this is a difficult concept for you to grasp, I'm sure they covered it in your MBA program right?

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    12. To the person who calls Logic "illogic":

      Every company has a target (I'm not saying "quota") over their sales. Yes, that is a given. But in USANA as well as some other MLM companies, it is not required, but it IS needed for you to earn from your downline. In a traditional business or some direct sales company like Avon, the target is more like a milestone and does not have any huge impact over your commissions.

      Some bosses also force their salespeople to hit the target, as this is how they measure their performance. This is now what you call "quota".

      Also, the difference is: Who buys the products?

      No salesperson is going to buy the products he or she is selling to earn more, right?

      By the way, it doesn't matter how successful you are, but on how you got that success. If you have downlines who can sell the products to non-associates (read: without coercion, force or whatsoever), then you deserve my utmost respect.

      But if you have downlines who have to buy the products so you can earn some PSV, then there's something wrong with how you got your "success". Nevertheless, congratulations -- you got the type of business that you wanted.

      I hope this answers your question.

      It's just weird that I'm only seeing personal attacks here. Now, now, can't we all be civilized here?

      Delete
    13. Are you serious? A sales quota is nothing more than a goal to reach in terms of sales. Sales quotas are achieved by sales reps going out and selling products to REAL customers who actually want to buy the products for the sake of using the products.

      With Usana and MLMs, most of the products are bought by the distributors themselves (the sales reps) and not because they truly want to but because they have to in order to qualify for a commission. How can you not see a problem with this? Fortune 500 companies don't have their own employees buying their products to stay in business. You do know that right?

      Those Usana leaders sure messed up your brain. Again, stop avoiding my question with your uneducated nonsense and just answer it if you dare:

      Would you agree to removing the monthly purchasing requirement or not?

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    14. What happen with those salesmans who dont reach their quotas??? In many traditional companies they dont get paid! right??

      Network marketing is about being part of a net for buying and promoting, not selling, it´s different, and if you think it´s the same, i can´t help you with that. If you tell me it´s the same, then i suggest you to stop telling people about the movies, clothes or restaurants you like, ´cause you will be promoting (and i´m sure you do).

      It´s that simple, people complaining about the "quotas" are the ones who dont do anything or do things wrong. Most of the people complain about anything in life specially when it involves some kind of effort. Do you want the prize? Pay the price!

      And let me tell you something, I´m ok with the "quota", for me it separates people who really care about Networking from those who wants a miracle and things for free...

      And about buying stuff we dont want, you are wrong again. If people get involved into this network marketing business just for the money and not for using the product, It´s their own mistake! It´s like "i want to win a Marathon, but i dont like training".

      Let me tell you something, i use the product and i love it, i usually double the "quota" for personal use. And i dont have to sell anything. I´m ok with the "quota". Please USANA keep it!

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    15. I take it you've never been in sales before. If you don't hit your quota, it just means you're about to get the boot. You still get paid for anything you sell.

      As for people not truly wanting the products for the sake of using it, evidence is in the amount of people who quit Usana and also stop buying products. Numbers don't lie.

      In a real business, you have a product and you have demand. At a certain price point, the demand is high, sales are made. Put the price too high, and demand drops. In the real world, prices would drop to meet demand. In Usana's case, they force demand by requiring a monthly purchase. In other words, it's false demand. What people are really paying for is the paycheck qualification.

      And let me tell YOU something, the ONLY reason ANY Usana rep would vote to keep the "quota" is because they know without it, their paycheck would plummet. If you really believe most Usana reps buy the products because they love it and they'd continue buying it even if they left Usana, then you shouldn't care whether or not there's a monthly requirement. In fact, you should vote to ban it since it will prove your confidence in the products.

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    16. It does not matter what business model you work under. I think Usana makes it sound like it is easier to make money than it actually is but at the end of the day if you want to make any money from Usana or anything for that matter then you have to apply yourself. If that means recruiting people that you think will use and possibly recruit others to do the same so you can make money then so be it. The more effort you put in to achieving this the more sucess you will have. Usana is not a scam, they may make it sound easier than it actually is but it is a legal product ready to be sold. I think people get the wrong impression from Usana that it is going to be easy to make money but then realise it is a little harder so yeah they maybe a little misleading all sales people have been guilty of this from time to time. I see the monthly purchase as no different to a franchise fee and ongoing royalties to the franchisor.

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    17. Above poster writes "Usana is not a scam, they may make it sound easier than it actually is but it is a legal product ready to be sold."

      Problem is, product is not being resold.

      Does USANA sell product? Yes

      To whom? 91% of USANA's net sales goes to USANA associates. 9% goes to preferred customers.

      Do USANA distributors resell the product? Hardly ever.
      In fact, Most USANA associates are forbidden to retail product because they are signed up as "non-distributing" associates. SO they get to pay sales tax on the wholesale price. Few associates are "distributing" associates and are allowed to retail product to the public. However, they pay sales tax on the retail price, not the wholesale price.

      Interesting though, the FTC has this on their website: Pyramid Schemes
      QUOTE
      There are two tell-tale signs that a product is simply being used to disguise a pyramid scheme: inventory loading and a lack of retail sales.
      UNQUOTE

      1) USANA inventory loads their associates because they are required to personally purchase over $1300 in product every year.

      2) USANA associates hardly ever retail product mainly because the product is overpriced, even at the associate's cost. And not to mention the fact most USANA associates are forbidden to retail product.

      USANA is a pyramid scheme whether they have a product or not. What they are doing is not legal. They are part of the Direct Selling Association (run by executives from various MLM pyramid schemes) and have hundreds on millions of dollars at their disposal to ward of those pesky state and federal regulators.

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    18. Anon, if you have ever been to a training presentation you will hear the blatant lies taught to new distributors to convince potential customers to buy the products.

      Lies about how you will not get enough nutrients from food these days and you need supplements like Usana's essentials.

      Then second major lie is the prospect of financial freedom and getting rich. It's a pyramid scheme where a few at the top make money at the expense of others from forced purchases.

      All you need to do is map out a hypothetical scenario where a diamond director makes a couple of hundred thousand, and see how many in-the-red associates are required to support them. It's quite sad.

      Delete
    19. By the way, it doesn't matter how successful you are, but on how you got that success. If you have downlines who can sell the products to non-associates (read: without coercion, force or whatsoever), then you deserve my utmost respect.

      Thank you.. so my wife deserve your utmost respect? Her boss buys them from her and even now after she successfully lost weight without losing nutrition.. Usana was the 6th product she tried..and she tried not eating in the past but lost only 1 pound. .Then someone told her about usana's success but that person is not in usana because she doesn't like direct sales.. so she pointed to my wife and her boss ask her does it really work? My wife said others had tried it and it works.. (my wife didn't have to because she is thin naturally). Then viola.. her boss lost weight.. 25 lbs in 1 month and she continues. At the end of 3 months, her boss actually said thank you to her. Think about it.. this is HER boss.. if it doesn't work.. she should be scared.. but she knows it works.

      She my wife deserves utmost respect from you. Thank you. And btw, yes she is making money WITHOUT recruiting. averaging $500 per month, passively.. ALL due to repeated customers one of which is her boss.

      Delete
  3. To Logic,

    Usana reps would never do this because the company would die as well as distributors income.

    It would be fantastic if Usana eliminated the monthly requirement because it would instantly give the company credibility and would be fair to the distributors.

    Like you said, if the products were so amazing and fairly priced, then there shouldnt be an autoshipment forced upon you. People would buy the vitamins when they wanted.

    I really hope something happens to the company for all the time and money so many of us has lost.

    Great post Logic.

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  4. i wouldnt mind the autoship thing if usana would allow me to sell online.. dont give me that unfair competition bull.. usana is the only company i know still living in the stone age!

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    1. They do allow you to sell online. They just don't let you auction it off (EBAY). However, there is zero demand for the product above the distributor's autoship price.

      On EBAY, distributors dump their inventory at HALF the autoship price just to clean out their cabinets and the shelves in the garage. USANA has done nothing to stop the auctioning on EBAY.

      Delete
    2. You can sell online, see Amazon.

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    3. Hmm, just looked at eBay. May want to check your facts (since this is an objective, unbiased, fact-based, empirical site, right ;-) ?

      {"...distributors dump inventory at HALF the price...

      I have to ask USANA Watchdog, are you shorting the stock?

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    4. Perhaps you should check the "Completed Listings" box.

      Here is a couple Health Pak on EBAY that retails for $260. The Seller sold the pair for a total of $108. That's half the distributor's autoship.

      Perhaps you should see the prices I datamined a couple years ago on EBAY regarding USANA products. EBAY ANALYSIS ON USANA PRODUCT

      In that analysis, you and others can see the actual sale price from each ebay seller compared to the autoship price of that product. I seriously suggest you check it out...

      And no, I don't short the stock. I'm really not interested in making any money from this. I get the feeling that it is hard for some people to grasp the concept of doing something good without expecting something in return.

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    5. That appears to be the gap - your perception is that you are doing something good. Is it good or is there an agenda for a past failure, like the pinklady site?

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    6. I have no agenda for a past failure. I have never been a MLM distributor. I didn't need to "fail" to know something is a scam.

      Do you have any opinion on the fact the Ebay auctions showing distributors dumping their inventory at "half" their autoship cost? My above comment has a link to a recent sale of Healthpaks at half price as well as some datamining I performed a couple years ago that show each completed sale for a month long period.

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    7. I'm just not getting a sense that you (USANA Watch Dog) are an unbiased, objective analyst. The perception is that you have an axe to grind. I find it interesting that the link to the chunky redhead forensic financial who went to Marquette sometimes appears on your site and sometimes doesn't. On her site, she explains that she in fact did try to do Mary Kay but lost money. On this site, you had an earlier post that did Usana in college but lost money on it. But then you removed that post. Interesting, you know, full disclosure in the interest of transparency and visibility, right? ;-)

      Delete
    8. Hey, what happened to my post about the Mercedes distributorship? Why are you deleting posts? Geez, what is this, a cheerocracy?

      Delete
    9. Anonymous writes "Hey, what happened to my post about the Mercedes distributorship? Why are you deleting posts? Geez, what is this, a cheerocracy?"

      You mean this posting?

      Perhaps you shouldn't jump the gun so quick.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous wrote "On this site, you had an earlier post that did Usana in college but lost money on it. But then you removed that post. Interesting, you know, full disclosure in the interest of transparency and visibility, right? ;-)"

      I'm not Tracy Coenen.

      I've not deleted any postings on this forum, perhaps you should look harder for the posts in question.

      I've never been a distributor in any MLM company and never will.

      Delete
    11. Watch Dog, That's funny. I sell on average about 20-30 HealthPaks from my home a month to people who want to start Immediately and I sell them for the Retail Price of $132 + shipping and tax usually averaging approx $16. I literally can not keep USANA product in stock. If the product were not heads and shoulders above ANYTHING else out there I wouldn't sell out so fast at that price ;-)
      But please keep yapping, your ignorance is priceless!

      Delete
  5. usana is calling distributors who sell online or on ebay any other site to stop...and they are threatened of having their account cancelled if they persist!
    you wouldnt know that usana watchdog so now im telling you

    yes you can freely sell online without someone bugging you

    if you were a gold director that is!

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  6. I am NOT FORCED TO BUY the products. I need VITAMINS for my stress ful job as a childcare businesswoman who takes care of 30 children. You need vitamins AND it does not matter where you get it and it does not require your belief either of taking one. Your body requires it. I used to buy GNC vitamins I can only get the discout on the first day of the month. And with USANA company once you become a regular customer you get 10% discount no matter when you buy it.
    Aside from that, and because I AM VERY SATISFIED USANA Customer I can share it with my family and friends and GET PAID FOR IT! SO, WHAT DO YOU MEAN IS PYRAMID SCHEME? ITS ALL PRODUCT SATISFACATION! Therefore, there is no such thing A PYRAMIND SCHEME WITH USANA WHETHER YOU ARE CUSTOMER OR A SALES ASSOCIATES!

    OH by the way, my mother who suffered with stage 4 breast cancer for almost2 years, we gave her the product last January 24, this year and after 30 days her results became normal according to her doctor. So, again do you really believe that USANA IS PYRAMIND SCHEME without even experiencing the products potency. I think you just have a little bit OR LACK of information about how USANA REALLY WORKS AS A BUSINESS AND WITH OUR HEALTH!

    riza H.

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    Replies
    1. If you did not purchase the 100/200 minimum personal purchase during any 28 day period, then you would lose all the points you have accumulated from your downline associates and preferred customers. That becomes a "FORCED PURCHASE" if you as an associate choose to participate in the so called business opportunity. As for you satisfaction of the product, how wonderful. Congratulations on your mother's results coming back normal.

      Assuming you are an associate, you would have your account terminated and possibly fined by federal regulators a hefty amount for making an illegal claim about USANA products curing stage IV cancer. USANA mentions this in their policies and procedures, but you probably are not aware of it. Besides, these health claims are made all the time orally, but hardly ever in writing. That's because it's easy to get caught if it were in writing.

      So what USANA products did the curing? Do you happen to know what vitamin or mineral was responsible for it?

      BTW, what do supplementing vitamins do for anyone with a stressful job? USANA supplements don't do anything for stress.

      Delete
    2. My friend was heated in the moment so he might be having me on about an ACCC case, but if its true, thats pretty big news! I was part of USANA once but got over it pretty quick. Im interested in following this case closely if it happens...

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    3. Did Riza H really just claim that USANA products cured her cancer ridden mother? Are you kidding me?

      Delete
  7. Usana is a Company that SELLS it's products and like any business must make a profit or it would go broke. If your company went broke ,you would be out of a job.Like is happening all over the world.Usana chose to sell via Network Marketing.The best way to market anything is "word of mouth".Especially when one "feels the difference"after using the products.I have never felt better at 63 yrs of age.Even if Usana had NO compensation plan, I would still share these products to help fellow humans.The Comparitive Guide to Nutritional Supplements shows Usana as THE No1 Supplement in the world.NOTHING even comes close.At 97.8% and Solgar at 56%.The rest at low or near the bottom ,only a person with no value for their real Health would take the inferior products. Health is more important than money .But we all need both too.Even Paul Zane Pilzer writes that the "TREND" of the 21st Century is Networking.Jobs will go to the lowest bidder.95% will be in THAT market.No one is forced to buy any Usana product ,even Associates.It stands to reason ,if you took the time to learn properly, that the only way Usana could pay Associates for their efforts is for Usana to make a profit so they can distribute up to 53% of profit to Associates.If you don't perform (like in a job) you don't get your reward.Best of all in the Usana Plan ,if one helps their downline to success then one alsogets success. No job will ever allow that as all are in competition with each other.Dog eat dog in that world.And As Usana says -Scientifically Proven -Best in World Supplements.If you think otherwise- take them to court.Keep your money handy,you will need to "donate" it to the winners.Cheers Dick

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  8. To Dick and to Riza,

    From what I understand, this blog is not critizing the vitamins themselves or the purity of them.

    If either of you two PAID ATTENTION, you would see that the watchdog's problem with USANA is the required purchase of a monthly auto shipment of at least 100 to 200 points. Whether or not you sell the vitamins, you still must pay for the autoshipment. This is ridiculous.

    The MLM industry is the only industry I know that forces you to buy their product on a recurring monthly basis. This monthly autoshipment is what pays for your uplines commissions. And Usana is the worst I have seen.

    Riza if you take the products and feel a benefit, that is fantastic. I too take them and feel the benefits. But I was formerly a distributor and made no money, and am now a preferred customer. It is beautiful, because I never have to pay any more monthly autoshipments to retail eligibility commissions (ha ha what commissions), and I still get the same discounts on the products as if I was a distributor.

    Dick you sound like Usana text book. Quoting Paul Zane, the comparative Guide, 53% commissions paid to associates bla bla bla. That is exactly what Usana wants you to believe and YES associates are forced to buy for products aka monthly autoshipments otherwise they lose the eligibility to receive commissions.

    The comparative guide by the way is biased. The so called nutrition experts who created the blended standard of the perfect vitamin have a vested/financial interest in Usana.

    You forget to mention the Physicians Desk Reference Guide. Yes Usana is listed in the PDR but did they tell you that they simply bought there way in?

    The 53% commissions is the most ridiculous claim of them all simply because there is no way in heck an associate makes 53% commissions on what they sell. One of the most misleading claims Usana makes to lure new associates in. If you sell a box of Essentials for $45, how much commission you make? $0. You have to sell at least 500 points of product on each leg, which is minimum of 1000 points which equals approximately $1,200. How much commission do you make on this? $100. No factor in your monthly autoshipment that you must make, and you made no money this month.

    Less not forget about the Usana convention. "If you want to grow your business the fastest, you must attend convention etc". Have they pulled that one on you yet? You want to know what convention really is. USANA's PAYDAY! Over 10,000 people (associates) in one arena for 4 days. GOLD MINE for the company and the elite diamond directors who make extra bonuses on Usanas profits. Don't be fooled, convention will do nothing for your business.

    The principles of network marketing and the unlimited income potential look fabulous on paper. I know because that is what lured me in. Then reality hit when after 2 long expensive years, I realized I would never see that income and that all my hardwork and saled were benefiting my upline who did nothing.

    So the products are great, very expensive, but great none the less. And contrary to what you and Riza say, the business model is terrible for associates. Usana't motto is: Feel the benefits and share the benefits with you those you care about most. If it were really that simple, then over the 99% of the associates who never make any money, would actually make some money.

    Perhaps you and Riza should do some more independent research and not preach the company lines.

    PS. I too would very much like to find a supplement that reduces stress.

    ReplyDelete
  9. To Riza and Dick:

    You two are absolutely right. No one is FORCING you to make the monthly purchases just like no one is FORCING you to make your monthly cellphone or mortgage payments. That's about the most ridiculous argument to make on this topic.

    You two seem to be true customers of Usana and that's great but let's drop the nonsense and get back to the issue at hand.

    Would you agree to eliminating the monthly purchasing requirement or not? If so, awesome, let's find a way to make that happen. If not, then deep down you know doing so will kill the company, thus, proving that it's all about recruiting in order to sell the products.

    I understand if no one working for Usana wants to debate this specific issue and would rather go off topic and regurgitate stuff every other Usana rep has said already as shown by the responses for this article.

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  10. BIG NEWS!! BIG BIG NEWS!!! My friend who left Usana after being out of pocket many many dollars informed me 4 days ago (Friday) that the ACCC intends to monitor USANA's MLM model from July 1, 2012! He received a letter from the ACCC... After TVI Express (google it) was revealed to be an MLM-pyramid scheme and deemed illegal and shit down (with fines for its 3 main distributors of up to $220,000 AUD each!), the ACCC has received at least 82 complaints about USANA last financial year (more than enough for a class-action) and the ACCC has been forced to investigate! STAY TUNED VIA THE INTERNET!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Can you provide evidence of this? I am very interested in this. If allowed, can you SCAN the document your friend received regarding the ACCC and USANA? Black out any personal information (Name, Address, etc...).

      Thanks

      Delete
    2. What is the ACCC?

      Delete
    3. And??? it's been a year.. has it been shut down? I thought they are investigating? usana is still up and rising and expanding to other countries in 2013. I guess they investigated and it's legal because it's still running instead of getting shut down? lol, you guys are ridiculous.

      Delete
    4. still running and expanding. i guess watch dog needs a bone. it's a business not employment. independent not dependent. unlimited not limited. i honestly believe it's another way too make money. all this negative about MLM just another hater. time too think about the future!

      Delete
    5. Usana needs to expand to other countries in order to survive.

      People in America have wised up to the scam and the number of distributors isn't growing here.

      Delete
  11. Not sure what would happen to Usana if the ACCC in fact determined that Usana was operating as a pyramid scheme, but I hope they get punished for their greedy business model but not lose the ability to keep manufacturing their vitamins. The vitamins are expensive but even with the biased comparative guide, and all the other crappy vitamins out there, I do believe Usana does make the highest quality vitamins. True Star (a Canadian based company who also received a 5 star rating in the comparative guide) is the only other company I would switch too but they are even more expensive if you can believe that.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Alright so I noticed 2 of my mates had been really busy for the past month, about a week ago one of these guys tells me he and other guy had started a business, & asked me if I wanted to join. So they arranged a time for me to meet them. Moving on - he explained the whole thing to me, network marketing, usana 96% whatever the hell, lots of money, "DIAMOND directors" fancy name, points accumulation & the best part, pay 900$ for a package deal then you can start. it was clear he tried his best to imitate what was said to him by some charismatic up the line usana rep. At the end of the chat they asked me what I thought, in my head I was thinking "you have gotta be kidding me" two of my closest mates were naive enough to think they'd profit from this, I didn't even have to read about usana and their schemes to know that the only reason they and so many other people buy these packages is because they want to be elligible to become reps themselves, never have try ever been interested in taking supplements. At the end of their not so charismatic presentation they told me the bottom line is about helping you and helping people close to you.

    This all happened today, at the very end one of my mates pulled out a form and told me to fill out my details, and put in my bank details, i told them I'd think it over, I'll admit at first it all sounded very appealing, money always does, especially easy money. When I got home a told my gf about it, she is currently doing her masters in commerce at the number one university in all of australia and she got mad, really mad. She couldn't believe how naive my friends were and how I even thought it sounded appealing. She saw right through the whole thing and for a good hour told me just how she couldn't believe it. These so called diamond directors prey on the young and uneducated people and appeal to them by trying to be charismatic and talking about thousands and thousands of dollars they could make.

    Look even if there are reps that make it to a stage where they make heaps of money then they would be one in a thousand if not thousands, and the other 99% lose their money and continually pay a fee to continue being a rep while filling their homes with supplements. Apparently so 13% of reps do intact profit, but that in no way means they make thousands, this 13 percent could mean reps
    Just breaking even and only making a little bit more then they pay each month, reps profiting 10-20 or 30% , I wonder what percentage makes thousands and thousands, 2% and what about the ones making 100k per year, maybe 0.3%?

    Usana may carry themselves as a company that want to benefit people but what they're doing is wrong, even if by some miracle they're aren't intentionally running a borderline pyramid scheme it is still wrong. I'm no
    Expert in business but anyone smart enough would know not to sign up this crap.

    I only went to this meeting today and warned two of my other mates to not join, however with the two that did I'm
    not going to tell them my opinion and don't want to blatantly tell them they just wasted their hard earned money, I don't want to make them feel bad, but sooner or later they'll realise. They tried to tell me that I'd make more doing what they did then working in the film industry which is what I want to do, apparently I'd make more money in the first few months of working for usana compared to working in the film industry for years, funny thing is they only joined about a month ago and I'm 100% sure they've made no profit or else they would have told me about it.

    To the diamond directors and top dogs of Usanas sales, good on you for making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, id rather make 300$ a week wrapping up mintees
    then that much while talk people's hard earned money and given them nothing in return.

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    Replies
    1. I'm sorry that you have bad experience especially when your friend is an untrained professional. But like with any business you do not have to be a millionaire.

      Currently with my PASSIVELY WORKING on the business, I'm making a revenue PER WEEK of AT LEAST $100, which equates to actually AT LEAST $1000 PER MONTH..and AVERAGE of around $1500 PER MONTH. Yes, there are autoships, but I take them as daily vitamins anyways.. Plus the autoship cost is $130 to $200 so average is $165...depending on what you want to order. So my net income (not revenue) is

      $1500 avg revenue - $165 avg cost = $1335 average profit PER MONTH passively

      I'm not like other bs usana reps who tells you the highest amount.. these are real numbers.. Also to be MORE conservative if I use the lowest revenue of $1000 and the highest expense $200 ..

      I have $1000-$200 = $800 profit per month MINIMUM PASSIVELY. (even if I spent say $400 per month which haven't happen, I'm still have $600 passive income)

      Only other PASSIVE income people can get is from rentals or being a business owner.

      Hey, it's not a 100K income and it's not a millionaires income.. but who wouldn't want about $1000 PASSIVE income per month? you don't? I don't believe it.

      Note that this is after 2 years with the company and still working part time/flextime. Now at times I don't even work that much in usana. In the beginning of my 1st year, it was crazy as I worked my butt off.. 20+ hours of usana in addition to my 50 hours full time job...That was the first year ONLY...and I was working wkends on usana. But now.. I'm barely recruiting or selling. In fact, I don't think I spend more than 5 hours PER WEEKS now on usana and I still get about $1000 income coming in with less than 5 hours of work.

      Moral of the story is, if you don't take it seriously, don't analyze it properly and don't work, you will not get anything to succeed..just like with anything else. (You think steve jobs got to where he is by sitting on his butt complaining. You think Tiger woods got to where he is by not working hard. You think Michael Jordan became great because he watch bball and be an analyst? NO.. they all work their butt off and take it seriously.)
      Anyways, that's all I'm going to say. I don't have to convince you or anything. What I say about my income is the truth..and also my customerse are benefiting from usana vitamins. (note, I don't recruit.. I sell them and they are preferred customers..so you don't have to recruit to make them work.. They are just like clients who constantly order..like netflix. BUt your friends are recruiting because their motto is only about money.. not health).

      Check out the nonprofit organization where it ranks usana in the top 3.

      http://multivitaminguide.org/

      eat that watchdog... btw, they are scientific research about the product..NOT about the MLM business model.


      Delete
    2. Okay, let's assume that USANA is a high-ranked product... But quoting below:

      "I'm making a revenue PER WEEK of AT LEAST $100, which equates to actually AT LEAST $1000 PER MONTH..and AVERAGE of around $1500 PER MONTH."

      Are you referring to a revenue of at least $100 per leg? If that is so, then I wonder how many individuals have you recruited since you said that you only use the autoship for yourself, since you quoted:

      "Yes, there are autoships, but I take them as daily vitamins anyways.. "

      Hence, proving further that the only way you can earn is by recruiting. Okay, call it a business as you say, but doesn't that sound the same as a PYRAMID SCHEME?

      Don't compare a pyramid scheme to a real business -- in a real business, even those in the lowest part of the "pyramid" earns money. In a pyramid scheme, due to market saturation, those in the bottom LOSES money.

      PASSIVE INCOME. Sure, you do have passive income, but it's by ripping other people off by telling them that they can get rich by buying the supplements, which is in reality, it's just an upscale version of the customer referral program, you refer customers and you get money. Only that you FORCE customers to buy the product.

      Delete
    3. Moon, from your response, it is quite obvious you are a usana hater so it will blind your judgement and making ASSumptions.
      Let me explain.

      Are you referring to a revenue of at least $100 per leg?
      Be more specific. Per leg? you cannot earn anything it is PER leg if you clearly know the system. I dare you to explain how to get $100 per leg to prove that you are not a usana hater. If you cannot explain, you do not need to say anymore as it prove that your claim is INvalid. The system is designed so that newer associate can overcome the earning power of the upper associate. You simply CANNOT earn money with the way you are describing. Before you impulsely response, read the 3rd point below first..as you do not need to recruit.

      If that is so, then I wonder how many individuals have you recruited since you said that you only use the autoship for yourself, since you quoted:
      "Yes, there are autoships, but I take them as daily vitamins anyways.. "
      Hence, proving further that the only way you can earn is by recruiting. Okay, call it a business as you say, but doesn't that sound the same as a PYRAMID SCHEME?


      1) How is having autoship prove that it is a pyramid scheme? Proactive, Extent life, and many other products offers a 'loyalty' program which equals to the same autoship that Usana offers - Auto monthly product shipping. Last time I checked they are not pyramid schemes and also they are the traditional productline. So they are scams too in your terms.

      2) You are making another ASSumption. I don't need to recruit. Unlike close minded people like you, they tried the products, researched it and they like it. Then they order it either monthly as a preferred customer (like any other business ..if you disagree with this statement you are naive and a usana hater because even wine business have special clients which orders monthly automatically) or whenever they feel like it. Some actually like it to a point they are will to market out their networks and they just joined and earn some money back or can turn into a full fledge business.

      3) Even the 'bottom feeders' as you like to say, can make money if you clearly know the system which I dare you to explain to prove you don't know what you are talking about. As long as there are demands for the product, there will be money made just like anything else. People are not stupid, if the product sucks you think it can last this long for 30 years. You can argue that the associate's business tactic is wrong..by forcefully making people join, that I agreed with. But you cannot just blindly argue that the vitamin is not as good just because it's using MLM model and that you cannot make money as the 'bottom feeder'. Hey I made money without recruiting people in the beginning and it grew by itself.

      4). Do you use tubber ware or Avon products? If you do and many people do (so please be honest), you are a hypocrite because tubber ware is based on mlm model. case closed. thank you.

      Delete
    4. Oh moon, also please stop cherry picking your attacks.. you
      don't have any comments about my post where it said:

      why the nonprofit organization where it ranks usana in the top 3.

      http://multivitaminguide.org/

      btw, they are scientific research about the product..NOT about the MLM business model.

      Delete
    5. To Anon making $1000 per month passive income, how much time do you spend on recruiting and going to presentations?

      What about fuel costs for transport and promotional material?

      Why would your downlines continue to participate in the scheme if they are not making money? Surely there's a high turnover of associates.

      There is no such thing as passive income in MLM as the system can collapse anytime. You need to keep the ball constantly rolling...

      Delete
    6. Anon gets to deduct a percentage of fuel costs, mortgage payments, utilities, and many other expenses. On average an owner of a home based business saves $500 per month in income taxes. That alone will cover the costs of your products and expenses you incur which is why former IRS agent Sandy Botkin is quoted as saying "You would have to be brain dead not to have a home based business."

      Delete
  13. Over one year ago, I got ill and USANA supplements were recommended to me. I ordered as a Preferred Customer, with autoship. I was taking The Essentials, 2 bottles of Proflavanol C100 monthly, Ginko PS and Active Calcium. Even though I was not an associate, that represented a good deal of volume monthly. I liked their products so much, I added on Biomega, Palmetto Plus, Nutrimeal and the Nutrition Bars. Yes, I was spending a lot of money monthly but I was getting tremendous health benefits so I didn't object. I eventually decided to become an associate because I saw not the business opportunity which to me was secondary, but the real benefit of using very high quality products that I believe distinguish them from most other supplement companies on the market. Personally I could not care less about the 100 or 200 volume minimum to maintain active business centre(s). I exceed the minimums and all for personal consumption. I am a consumer, and I am also a promoter of the product and I am earning commissions having enrolled Preferred Customers only and no associates. I make no false pretenses to others when talking about the business aspect of USANA. Network marketing is hard work and commission cheques do not flow freely at first. I've been doing this for 7 months, by choice, understanding fully well how their commission stucture is based which is publically and fully disclosed. No one is going to get rich quick. That's just the way it is. It is hard work. In order to really recommend these products, it is a good idea to be consuming them and understand them. They have a broad premium product line. Network marketing is not for most people and thus it's best to order the products as a PC if you are not interested in the business aspect. I have never encouraged one person to jump in as an associate. I want people to try the products and feel better. If they wish to consider the business aspect afterwards, so be it. USANA has been running a solid business for 20 years and they continue to grow nicely and expand globally and are publically traded. I'm quite proud to be part of the USANA family. I'm not getting rich from them (yet, and have no expectations, but my business is growing). I get more satisfaction seeing people feeling better with good supplementation. In network marketing, the majority are not going to make any money. USANA publishes the income statements which if you read the details, you will see that about 85% of associates do not earn commissions. Most are buying the product for personal consumption whether they are commission eligible or not with the 100 point minimum. There is minimal cost for opening a USANA business. So, if you have the skills to promote the product, become an associate; otherwise there is nothing wrong with being a PC. I really don't think there is anything sinister going on. However, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. Just no mud slinging because that loses credibility.

    ReplyDelete
  14. To the poster above. This was an excellent post. You are personally consuming the products and feeling the benefits. That is excellent. And from the sound of it, you are growing your business with the true intention of helping people, which I do believe is Dr. Wentz's true mission. I have met Dr. Wentz and he seems like a genuine guy. I didn't feel that way about his son Dave as Dave seems to be more monetarily driven.

    You spend more than $100 for the monthly autoshipment to stay active and are using the products anyways so for yourself, that autoshipment is irrelevant.

    The problem I see with Usana is the greedy associates who paint a different picture and do nothing but recruit other business associates to make money off of them. The other piece of it I do not like is the required monthly autoshipment. Without that required monthly purchase, the company wouldn't exist. For you that autoshipment doesn't matter, but for so many others it really does.

    And if your stats are true that 85% of the associates don't make any money, but are personally consuming the products, then why the heck are they even associates in the first place?
    That 85% statistic in itself doesn't paint a pretty picture of the business model.

    This autoshipment is the lifeline of the company. If USANA didn't require this autoshipment then there would never be a complaint about the company or even the hint of a pyramid scheme. But until they change the model (which they never will) the company is running a scheme off of its bottom level associates which comprise the majority of the assoicates.

    Glad to hear you are feeling the benefits and sharing them with your friends. Like yourself, I do not it when people try something and fail and then throw mud but in this case, with so many people losing so much time, and money trying to fulfill the dream their uplines sold them on, the complaints are very real.

    Best of luck to you. Sounds like you are running your business with good intentions and wish you much success.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am the previous happy poster. I thank you for the kind words. From my perspective, I am thankful that USANA products helped me get my life back. Prior to getting ill, I was not a believer in supplementation. This changed everything.
    I followed with interest the difference being a PC and an associate. No one ever came after me to seduce me to becoming an associate. I was PC for months and the decision was all mine to become an associate. My upline sponsor in fact was quite resistant at first for me to become an associate. She is a Silver Director and has been with USANA for about 12 years and never painted any unrealistic pictures for me as an associate. I told her this is what I wanted to do.
    I agree it is abhorrent for untrained associates to quickly try to recruit new associates. It is a business model that I am not fond of. I believe the emphasis should be more on the PC than on recruiting new associates. However, the income potential is greater with recruiting associates. That being said, I am earning commissions with just PC's at present, so it can be done. If a PC wants to switch over as I did, so be it. It is important to understand the whole structure BEFORE signing up as an associate. Understand the commission schedule. Read clearly the income statements and the SMALL print. There is nothing hidden.
    Regarding autoship, it makes things convenient. I do think that all associates should be consumers. The 100 SVP is the cost of doing business....it is the business overhead...and it's not like money down the drain....it is purchasing consumables that are of the highest quality. I have no intention of stopping my supplements. I am grateful for Dr. Wentz. People who buy and dump, I call that abuse, not a sign of a pyramid scheme.
    So, in summary, I feel it is important for associates to have a realistic expectation of the business model. It is called informed consent. One should do due diligence. That's why it is so much easier in my opinion to enroll PC's than associates. Recommend these fantastic products and you don't have to go crazy with the associate recruitment aspect. I think it's better doing it the way I did where people want to become associates rather than people being coerced into becoming associates with unrealistic expectations.
    My goal is to help people live life better and I strongly believe USANA products were designed to to that. The income stream that follows is secondary.
    Incidentally I will be attending the 20th anniversary convention. It will be my first and I'm looking forward to it.
    Regards,
    IPB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In response to "Over one year ago, I got ill and USANA supplements were recommended to me. I ordered as a Preferred Customer, with autoship. I was taking The Essentials, 2 bottles of Proflavanol C100 monthly, Ginko PS and Active Calcium. Even though I was not an associate, that represented a good deal of volume monthly. I liked their products so much, I added on Biomega, Palmetto Plus, Nutrimeal and the Nutrition Bars. Yes, I was spending a lot of money monthly but I was getting tremendous health benefits so I didn't object."

      So here we have another USANA associate who insinuates USANA food supplements cured their illness. What was this so called "illness" and is it really necessary to be spending $346 every 28 days (or $4500 per year) on USANA food supplements to fix your illness? I know USANA associates are encouraged to have a "story" to tell people (whether it is true or not).

      So why couldn't you get the same results from a supplement off the shelf for a tenth of the price? Food supplements are just that, food supplements. So whether or not a single pill contains 100% of the labeled dosage or 90% does not matter. Unlike "Drugs", it is not important whatsoever for the user to get the EXACT amount listed (say 100 mg). However, a drug must be exactly the listed amount because too much or too little can kill the person.

      Case in point, Not all bananas are the same size. Are you going to spend 10 times the price to purchase bananas from a food vendor who only sells the same exact size bananas every time, or from a vendor who sells whatever size bananas they have available (at a much lower price)?

      There are tens of thousands of supplement manufacturers. There are no independent studies that show USANA supplements are "high quality" (relative to what? define standard quality first) or better than even half of the total supplement manufacturers in the world. USANA sources the raw materials from the same vendors as everyone else.

      BTW, do you tell your prospects that you spend $4500 on USANA supplements each year? Or that you take 2500 mg of vitamin C each day? Do you inform them that 2000 mg us considered the upper tolerable limit for vitamin C, and that high doses can cause headaches and diarrhea? That longterm high doses may increase risk of kidney stones and that the abrupt withdrawal from longterm high doses can cause rebound scurvy?

      Or do you do what many USANA associates do and tell everyone that USANA cured an illness you or someone else you know had, but say it orally knowing that it is illegal to make unsubstantiated health claims regarding USANA's supplements? I've heard some ridiculous claims. Most came from Ladd McNamara himself during one of his boiler-room style speaker of the night events where he has people line up telling them their illness and Ladd prescribing which USANA products to take to "cure" their illness. I asked him how he is allowed to make these health claims afterwards and he told me he is a doctor and can make any claim he wants. That's not true because he is also a USANA distributor, which makes his statements illegal and grounds for termination. But he is allowed to get away with it. Watching him prescribe USANA products to the audience members was a real eye opener. I never joined and never planned on joining, but was invited to the event by a family member. I thought it would be a good experience to see first hand how corrupt USANA is.

      Sorry to go off on you like this, but you give much of the same story line as many associates do as if it were scripted.

      Delete
    2. Dear Watchdog,
      This is IPB again. I'm sorry to hear you are very angry person. I'm not sure I can help that but let me clarify my situation. Firstly I never made any claims for cure for my illness. My illness in fact does not have a cure. However, I have dramatic symptom control allowing me to function again. This is not a false claim. This is fact that can be verified by all those who know me and saw me over the past year. I have never made any false claims to others about curing any disease. Secondly, I am not only a patient who takes supplements, but I am also a family physician. I have also studied nutritional medicine. I am competent to provide sound advice and I never coerce people into buying USANA supplements. I provide information and allow people to make their own informed decision.
      My story line is not scripted. It is quite real. If you cannot accept that as fact, I'm sorry there is nothing I can do.
      The amount I spend on my supplements for my health is my choice. No one is forcing me to take them. No one ever coerced me into taking them. I was provided with recommendations. I chose them on my own volition and I will continue to take them as long as I feel I am benefiting.
      I provide advice on other supplements as well. If someone is taking a good supplement, I won't tell them to change. If someone cannot afford The Essentials, I will make recommendations for other products that are still good but may be less expensive. I'm not in this for selfish greedy reasons.
      I need not defend myself. As I said, I will not get involved in any mudslinging or insults. I have provided my perspective, that's all. I don't consider myself corrupt. Nor do the people for whom I'm providing services.
      IPB

      Delete
    3. To IPB,

      Actually, I applaud you for that. You are the one of the few people who sees USANA as a company with products to sell and not merely as a business opportunity. You are using USANA's business model just for the sake of spreading the products.

      How I wish all of the other associates are like you! Not spreading lies, and definitely not being greedy.

      To Watchdog,

      I don't think there is anything to argue with this person. The guy's not the type of person who'd like to rip others' wallets off.

      Like I would always mention before, if a product is bad, the demand would fall. If USANA is really that overdosed with such nutrients and if those greedy associates wouldn't exist, USANA would strive to develop better products, right?

      Delete
    4. In response to "As I said, I will not get involved in any mudslinging or insults."

      I'm not mudslinging or insulting, I'm pointing out facts. You pay $4500 for food supplements. USANA believes you should be able to retail that to customers for $5430 per year. I'm suggesting that one not need to spend but a tenth of that price per year for the products you are taking.

      USANA's only third party source claiming their products are ranked #1 in the world (Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements) was actually done by a USANA distributor, Gregg Gies. There's nothing to suggest USANA products are better than GNC, Centrum, or Bayer's one-a-day. Again, the raw ingredients are all sourced from the same vendors. Most USANA sales reps use the Physician's Desk Reference as a book that lends credibility to USANA products because they are listed in the book for "drugs" instead of the book for supplements and herbs. Fact is, USANA paid to have it listed in the "wrong" book. USANA products are not drugs, unless there is something USANA isn't telling us.

      Since you are anonymous on here, it wouldn't be a problem if I asked you what your illness is that you feel you are benefiting from by taking USANA supplements..?

      Delete
    5. In response to "Like I would always mention before, if a product is bad, the demand would fall. If USANA is really that overdosed with such nutrients and if those greedy associates wouldn't exist, USANA would strive to develop better products, right?"

      I believe there are 3 major frauds with USANA.
      1) Business Opportunity fraud (Pyramid Scheme).
      2) Stock fraud
      3) Vitamin fraud

      In regards to #3: USANA strive to develop a better product? Really? They spend less than 1% of their net revenue on Research And Development. The product might not be "bad", but it most certainly can be over priced and a complete waste of money. Is it necessary for every human being to take a food supplement that contains 1300 mg of vitamin C each day. USANA believes so and they are not alone. However, most companies aren't ripping off their customers/sales reps like USANA does.

      The most effective part about USANA products is the Placebo Effect, and there seems to be a whole lot of that.

      USANA used to have a vice president of Research and Development named Tim Wood. This is what USANA had on their website regarding his education. "Dr. Wood holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California and a Ph.D. from Yale University, both in biology." However, according to Yale his degrees were both in forestry. He earned a master’s in forest science from Yale’s professional school of forestry in 1972 and, in 1980, a Ph.D. in forestry and environmental studies from Yale’s graduate school. That's not biology and USANA tried to fool the public. If you can't trust USANA, why would you trust their product?

      Delete
    6. Tim Wood? Would his son be David Wood? http://workwithdavidwood.com/usana-scam-business-mlm/

      Delete
    7. Quote by WatchDog and is it really necessary to be spending $346 every 28 days (or $4500 per year) on USANA food supplements to fix your illness? I know USANA associates are encouraged to have a "story" to tell people (whether it is true or not).

      So why couldn't you get the same results from a supplement off the shelf for a tenth of the price? Food supplements are just that, food supplements.


      Get a clue. I think people spend MORE than $4500 per year on medicine and medical expense to fix their illness to no available.

      Your 2nd section proves to us you have no clue about nutrition and scientific research and insulting people who has Ph.D in science and thus lost your credibility. Why not get food that you get from .99 cents store instead of walmart. Or use a 99 cent hair shampoo instead of pantene? Try it and you will see the results.. (I did it by going cheap with a shampoo and know the results. tsk hater will always be a hater without logical scientific backups about the product.).

      Delete
    8. same reason why you pay more for and get more when you buy an Acura as opposed to a honda. By the way they are the same company just in case you didn't know just like ford and lincoln and toyota scion and lexus. Better quality more money.Ever heard of the age old saying you get what you paid for? I bet you didn't know anybody can make supplements in their home slap a pretty label on it and have it on the shelves. Now in that manufacturing you think you'll get the same quality and same effects from taking the supplements?

      Delete
    9. Was approached by Usana recruiter recently. Was told the max usage of Vitamin C is 10000mg . They never told me anything about the autoship and they put more emphasis on hope to get "passive income".



      Delete
  16. It is noteworthy that USANA Health Sciences has received an A+ Accreditation rating by the Better Business Bureau.

    http://www.bbb.org/utah/business-reviews/multi-level-selling-companies/usana-health-sciences-in-salt-lake-city-ut-2000510

    Network marketing is not for everyone and not unfortunately like in any industry there are going to be some bad apples (specifically some associates with questionable recruiting practices). The whole company need not be tainted on this basis and this is clearly not another Enron like you have referenced elsewhere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know a millbreeder of a certain exotic animal specie that scored the same in BBB. They sell these animals that are still too immature to be weaned and they teach wrong animal care practices to the owner.

      That's one of the reasons why I don't trust BBB.

      Delete
  17. To watch dog, quite simply what is your deal with Usana? In you previous posts and comments you state you have never been a Usana associate, and make no money with this blog. Why the vicious slaying of Usana?

    Most of us who have tried the business model have failed, and are dead set against network marketing given the required monthly authoshipment. And most of us have lost a lot of money chasing that elusive dream that we were promised. So yes most of us do have a lot built up negative emotion towards Usana, but to take the time to keep this blog updated, and then rip anyone who even says that the products make them feel better is disgusting.

    Who are you to tell people that the benefits they feel while on the products are made up, exaggerated, or even placebo effect?

    My wife and I are on the products. We have health conditions. We have taken supplements from almost every manufacturer out there, GNC, Centrum, Mens One a Day, Women's One day etc and felt nothing.

    We found Usana and have been on them ever since. I am no longer an associate, so I don't have anything to gain by this but I can tell you without a doubt that no other supplements make us feel as good as Usana's. Period. End of story!

    Yes the vitamins aren't cheap, yes we get our shipments every 28 days whether we have finished with our previous order or not so that part is annoying. But the price we pay for the vitamins is really insignificant to the health benefits we feel. You can lash out and call me a liar all you want because that seems to be the case in all your posts when anyone even mentions a benefit from Usana.

    What do you have to gain by telling people who are on the products that they are making up health benefits?

    The IFB person consumes a lot of vitamins and seems to be one of only a few associates that is actually trying to grow his business in a genuine way but you trashed him because he spends over $300 a month on supplements. That is his choice and if they make him feel better, so what.

    When you say you can buy cheaper vitamins and even have the nerve to compare Usana's to Centrums, now that is just down right insulting to our intelligence.

    I personally like Usana because, first and foremost, I feel much better while I am on them (there is no placebo effect, I have been taking them for years now), and because they are the only nutritional company that I have found to offer a $1 million athleter guarantee to guarantee the purity of their the product. Athletes are testing positive for drugs all the time from other supplement companies for hidden ingredient etc. To my knowledge has ever tested positive for anything while on Usana.

    With all the other garbage vitamins sold in the marketplace, isn't it better to take a product from a company who has all the certifications you can think of, and offer a $1 million guarantee to their professional athletes who are at risk of losing millions if they get caught with an illegal substance in their bodies?

    And people need to take supplements these days because the nutritional content of our foods suck. Monsato is taking over and genetically altering all of our foods. This is sacrificing nutitional quality and quantity. This has nothing to do with Usana either, it is just fact. The crops aren't as pure as they once were.

    So until you finally tell us what your true intention is for this blog other than your bull sh+t excuse for trying to make people aware of Usana's pyramid scheme, then stop telling people how they feel and don't feel while on the products.

    Your million dollar question to Usana Associates is how much commission they make off of their associates vs preferred customers. My million dollar question to you is why are you so angry against Usana since you claim to never be an associate, and why do you so viciously attack anyone who says Usana's vitamins make them feel better?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In response to "Why the vicious slaying of Usana?"

      Why not? Why does everyone have to do something for money or for something in return? What's wrong with focusing a debate on a single company that portrays themselves as the best of the best in MLM. What's wrong with criticizing the products that MLM company manufacturers who claims their products are #1 in the world?

      That's great if the product makes someone feel better. What's wrong with criticizing the price at which one pays for USANA's vitmains ($4500 at cost)? I think that is a rip off and there are no reasons for USANA's vitamins costing their distributors as much as they do except for the fact 45% of the cost goes toward paying the commissions which mostly go to the top 1% of associates in the pyramid scheme. What's wrong with highlighting the placebo effect? Many people "feel better" because of the placebo effect and that is a fact. Why should USANA be excluded from that?


      In response to "The IFB person consumes a lot of vitamins and seems to be one of only a few associates that is actually trying to grow his business in a genuine way but you trashed him because he spends over $300 a month on supplements."

      The person is also a family physician who is in a position to prescribe or recommend treatment for their patients. This is straight out of the Medical Code of Ethics:

      QUOTE
      "In-office sale of health-related products by physicians presents a financial conflict of interest, risks placing undue pressure on the patient, and threatens to erode patient trust and undermine the primary obligation of physicians to serve the interests of their patients before their own."

      "Physicians may not accept any kind of payment or compensation from a drug company or device manufacturer for prescribing its products."

      "Physicians should not urge patients to fill prescriptions from an establishment which has entered into a business or other preferential arrangement with the physician with respect to the filling of the physician’s prescriptions."
      END QUOTE

      I have little respect for any medical professional who peddles their own product. It probably explains where their preferred customers come from - patients. You think that is growing their business in a genuine way. I think that is growing their business by peddling and violating the Medical Code of Ethics.


      In response to "When you say you can buy cheaper vitamins and even have the nerve to compare Usana's to Centrums, now that is just down right insulting to our intelligence."

      So now it is okay to criticize Centrum vitamins but not USANA's? What's wrong with supplementing one's diet? Are you looking for a cure?


      In response to "they are the only nutritional company that I have found to offer a $1 million athleter guarantee to guarantee the purity of their the product"

      So what?

      In response to "Athletes are testing positive for drugs all the time from other supplement companies for hidden ingredient etc. To my knowledge has ever tested positive for anything while on Usana."

      So list the companies that failed.


      In response to "With all the other garbage vitamins sold in the marketplace, isn't it better to take a product from a company who has all the certifications you can think of..."

      Do you know what a Rubber Stamp is? BTW, is USANA USP certified?


      In response to "And people need to take supplements these days because the nutritional content of our foods suck. ... The crops aren't as pure as they once were."

      Not true. The crops today are loaded with nutrients that get added to the soil for better production. There is no such thing as a "pure crop". Farmers rotate their crops in order to replenish many nutrients. The only problem with many crops are the pesticides that get sprayed on them. But if people don't like that, they can buy organic.

      Delete
    2. USANA Watchdog, I would venture to say this is a little more than focusing a debate. Generally in a debate, facts on both sides are acknowledged. I've yet to see anything encouraging about acknowledged, from your perspective USANA appears to have no value whatsoever. Therefore, your premise about focusing a debate is poorly formed. You clearly have an agenda.

      Delete
  18. This is IPB once again. It appears it does not matter what anyone says, Watchdog has dedicated his or her life as an angry person and company basher. People are entitled to opinions whether based on fact or fiction....that is freedom of speech.
    Once again although I have no need to defend myself to you for being a content consumer of USANA products, I will discuss my roll and your concerns about conflict of interest. I provide patients with a disclosure statement that indicates that I purchase USANA products for myself at the same prices as Preferred Customers. I disclose that I am an independent associate of USANA and that associates are eligible for commissions based on group sales volumes. Patients do not seem to have a problem with that. I do not stock and sell retail. I am an non-distributor associate. I provide interested persons instructions how to order at the lowest pricing as a PC. I feel strongly personally that as a physician, I must disclose potential conflicts and that is why I do. I also feel strongly that I must recommend products that I believe can improve the lives of people. If you choose to believe USANA's nutritional products are crap, so be it. Your choice. I indicate that I recommend any highly rated nutritional products and I will and do recommend non USANA products as well that are still rated reasonably well (3.5 star rated and up) but are less expensive when individuals state they cannot afford the USANA prices. I generally find that these products are about $10/month less expensive than USANA's Essentials. I have no problem with any patient taking a decent product. I do use the Comparative Guide as a starting point to help patients select good products (I'm not going to get into a pissing match now about the Comparative Guide). I do however strongly recommend against a poor product such as Centrum as I can guarantee there will be no significant health benefits with such products. My training and expertise now in nutrition will confirm that, and if you don't believe that, tough.

    Your statement "The crops today are loaded with nutrients that get added to the soil for better production." is absolute rubbish. Please learn from the experts. I would strongly recommend to anyone to read the book, "Eat Well Age Better" by Aileen Burford-Mason, PhD http://aileenburfordmason.ca which will help educate anyone in nutrition and proper supplementation. This book has nothing to do with USANA nor are there any references to USANA. Stick to the facts.
    I incidentally contribute to the USANA True Health Foundation, helping the lives of people in need around the world, certainly an appreciation for the health improvement in my own personal situation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You suggest the USANA product first and then admit that the patient can take something $10 cheaper and still get the same benefits. Interesting. Then you reference the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements and quickly mention that you don't want to get in a pissing match about it. Obviously you read my article about USANA distributor Gregg Gies actually being the one who's responsible for "Research, Editing and Layout" for that book. Of course USANA would be ranked #1. It was fixed that way from the beginning, which means absolutely nothing in that book has any credibility whatsoever. Do you tell your patients that Gregg Gies is USANA distributor #285320 and was also co-owner of NutriSearch?

      And again, crops are loaded with nutrients. To suggest people need a supplement with thousands of percent more than the RDA without any diagnosis of a vitamin deficiency is bad science. Again, a centrum or one-a-day vitamin is more than sufficient. What is your beef with those vitamins anyway? Not even anti-oxidants for your taste? These are food supplements, not food replacements. I would recommend people simply eating healthier.

      You wrote "I do however strongly recommend against a poor product such as Centrum as I can guarantee there will be no significant health benefits with such products. My training and expertise now in nutrition will confirm that, and if you don't believe that, tough."

      What's this "HEALTH BENEFIT" you are insinuating that USANA gives than Centrum does not? You won't seem to answer this question. As for your expertise in nutrition, one who uses the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements as a source of information is surely not an expert in Nutritional Science. Again, the book was written by a USANA distributor.

      Delete
  19. i used the sense facial products and I got pimples. I asked a gold director why my pimples are happening. She said keep using it and it will go away. 2 years later I still get pimples. So i gave it to my guy friend. He uses it and nothing happens. I also took the healthpak for 2 years daily. I gained 13 lbs. i asked a gold director. she told me you need to exercise. But I never exercised before why do i need to now with the healthpak. my uncle took the visionex and procossa. he said it works for him. he said his eyes are clearer. i used the rev energy but i get sleepy after drinking it. my friends however get more energy when working out. but i was just thinking why would you need energy drinks if youre already pumped up on working out. no need for rev. just live healthy. the products have pros and cons.. some of my friends have better skin because of the essentials. All these are true story . i swear on my life.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. What's wrong with Centrum? As a multivitamin, lots. First for general guidelines on helping to choose an appropriate multivitamin and mineral supplement, please read:
    Eat Well Age Better by Aileen Burford-Mason PhD. She does not work for any pharmaceutical or nutriceutical company.

    Now as for Centrum: Look at the trouble they are in this week for their false claims posted on Consumer Labs on July 6, 2012:
    Latest News: Centrum Multivitamins: Breast and Colon Health Claims Pulled
    (Date Posted: 7/6/2012)

    On July 5, 2012, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare announced it will withdraw breast and colon health claims from its Centrum multivitamin advertising and labels, and will revise health and energy claims made on other Centrum products. The change comes in response to concerns expressed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) that the claims mislead consumers and imply that the vitamins offer protection from cancer.

    Centrum Ultra Women’s and Centrum Silver Women’s multivitamins will no longer be labeled or promoted as supporting breast health, and Centrum Ultra Men’s and Centrum Silver Ultra Men’s multivitamins will no longer be labeled or promoted as supporting colon health.

    CSPI noted these claims were based on the formulas’ vitamin D content, but that the evidence for vitamin D supporting breast and colon health is inconsistent. (See ConsumerLab.com’s Reviews on Vitamin D and Multivitamins for tests of related products.)

    Pfizer Consumer Healthcare will also revise the heart health and energy claims made on other Centrum supplements. The heart health statement will clarify that the supplement is not to replace medications, and the energy claim will be clarified as support for metabolic function. (See ConsumerLab.com’s Reviews of Cholesterol-Lowering Supplements and Vitamin B Supplements, Including Energy Shots for tests of related products.)

    For more details regarding this warning letter, use the link below.

    http://cspinet.org/new/201207051.html

    ReplyDelete
  21. For another analysis of Centrum as a muultivitamin, see below from another expert in nutrition:
    http://www.joshgitalis.com/chemical-cocktail-or-health-product/

    Chemical Cocktail or Health Product?

    Posted on April 10, 2012 by Josh Gitalis



    Natural health products are safe. You can go into a health food store and try something from the shelf, and be sure that it isn’t going to harm you.

    The downfall of having supplements readily available, is that many people think that they can self-prescribe correctly.

    I often hear people say that “natural health product didn’t work for me”. With further investigation I find out that they did not take the product at the right time, or in the correct dosage or form, for their body type.

    Many people believe that since these products are so accessible and don’t require a prescription, they must be simple to use. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

    I have spent countless hours studying which supplements are the best. Also, when I put a personalized nutritional protocol together for a client, it takes me about ten hours of research before I make a single recommendation of what to take.

    One of the most popular supplements on the market is the multi-vitamin Centrum. What many people don’t realize is that this multi-vitamin is probably doing more harm than good.
    A Few Centrum Facts

    Centrum is a product produced by the company Pfizer, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.
    The dosages of most of the nutrients in Centrum are negligible and not even close to therapeutic levels.
    The forms that the nutrients are provided in are the cheapest and the least absorbable forms.
    Supplements that come in tablet form are often hard to digest and contain binders and fillers (more on this below).
    Water-soluble nutrients (vitamin C and the B-vitamins) are either used or excreted within about 4 hours. Thus, a one-a-day multi is completely useless and a sure sign that it is of pour quality.

    The Ingredients In Centrum

    Calcium Carbonate This is the least absorbable forms of calcium on the market. A very small percentage is actually absorbed.

    Ferrous Fumarate This form of iron is incredibly constipating.

    Pregelatinized Corn Starch This is used as a binder to hold all of the ingredients together. It most likely a genetically modified corn which presents a number of problems for sensitive people.(1)

    DL-Alpha Tocopherol This is vitamin E and they are using two forms. The “D” form which is natural and the “L” Form which is synthetic. The “L” form is used to “water-down” the more expensive more bioactive “D” form.

    continued....

    ReplyDelete
  22. Centrum continued....(From Josh Gitalis)

    BHT Butylated hydroxyanisole has been shown to be toxic to the liver, thyroid, kidney, lungs, and affecting blood coagulation.(2) BHT can act as a tumour promoter.(3)

    FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake Why is there food colouring in a health supplement?

    Gelatin Vegetarians watch out!

    Hydrogenated Palm Oil Hydrogenating any oil turns the oil rancid and makes it into a strong free radical. Free radicals promote cancer and heart disease.

    Nickelous Sulfate and Tin I have never come across any nutrition book discussing a nickel or tin deficiency. Have you? We most likely don’t need to supplement it.

    Sodium Benzoate A preservative that may cause organ toxicity.(4)

    Talc Has been shown to cause cancer. (5,6,7)

    Sodium Aluminosilicate Used as a food additive for its anti caking effect.

    One of my rules when shopping for nutritional supplements is to never buy supplements in a drug store.

    Centrum is only available in drug stores and is advertised as the “#1-recommended doctor multivitamin” (doctors receive no more than 40 hours of nutrition training).

    When it comes to a multi-vitamin I recommend going to a health food store and talking to to an employee about a good-quality multi-vitamin.
    Tips For Choosing A Multi-vitamin

    Looks for a multi where the dosage is at least 2-3 capsules per day.
    You pay for what you get. The more expensive the multi is, the better the product.
    Don’t buy it if it says “doctor-recomended” on the label or if a pharmaceutical company distributes it.
    Consult with a certified nutritionist to determine the right multi-vitamin for you.

    see the link for the references.


    For USANA Watchdog, I suggest you take your Centrum and be happy.

    ReplyDelete
  23. To previous poster who provided such an in depth analysis of the centrum products. I do not have the expertise that it appears you have, but have done a lot of research on supplements.

    I read many books on supplements and nutrition and they all basically confirm what you said about the purity of the ingredients and that if the nutrients are not in the right form, the body will not be able to absorb them to the fullest potential and that some of them may even harm the body.

    I was just wondering if you analyzed Usana's vitamins in such detail as Centrum and if you found anything alarming about Usana's products.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What fullest potential? The best possibile way to get vitamins and minerals is from the food that you are already eating. Not only is it better for you than getting it from supplements but it is so much cheaper.

      Delete
  24. All of this talk about how good Usana is or how bad Centrum is, is pointless.

    Look, as I've said many times before, if Usana reps really have faith in the quality of the products they represent and believe that there is a legitimate demand for the products at its current price level, then prove it by petitioning to remove the monthly distributor purchasing requirement.

    If your goal is to change the minds of anyone who is against Usana, your facts and figures of this and that won't do a damn thing. It just tells me you reps would rather avoid the main issue. The ONLY thing that will make us "haters" to actually like Usana, or at least be neutral, is if they take the requirement out. Doing so will basically make the statement that you stand by your products 100%.

    Sadly, I have yet to see any Usana rep come up with a good reason why the elimination of the requirement shouldn't take place. This just tells me all of this 'Usana is #1' talk is just that, all talk.

    Instead of avoiding the issue and going off topic, at least have the guts to state what you know to be true, that if the requirement is taken out, Usana would plummet.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I totally agree with Logic's statement.

    Before speaking that USANA is number one, USANA Associates, why don't you try having at least a hundred people rely purely on sales for at least a year in a same city? Meaning these people will do NOTHING but sell the products at the same price that the associates sells them, market them to the people they totally do not know, and of course, they and their potential customers must be OUTSIDE anyone's network in USANA. Also, they must not be in a city nearby or in Utah.

    Let's see if these 100 people will be able to sell (plus use, for basic consumption) a greater volume of products that 100 people get for 13 autoshipments (so this means more than 130000 points). Let's also see if these people who buys from them actually get the results you claim.

    This will, once and for all, prove that USANA is number 1 or otherwise. If this can't be done, or the expected amount can't be reached, then USANA is nothing but a mere pyramid scheme. :)



    tl;dr: Why not sell them even just for a meantime in a traditional way to prove that USANA is number 1 and not a pyramid scheme once and for all?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Why is it so hard for people to admit that even though Usana's products are expensive, they are good products.

    I have been to GNC, I have looked up other nutritional companies online etc, the price differences between these and Usana's really isn't that significant. And in some cases their products are even more expensive then Usana's.

    The monthly autoshipment for associates sucks, no question about it. But Usana is no different then any of these other vitamin mlm companies that force you to make monthly purchases, have products that they also claim to be the best etc., yet the watchdog and some others only seem to mercilessly attack Usana.

    If anyone has ever started their own business, they know the monthly expenses for your rent, inventory, overhead, employees (employees absolutely suck by the way, they will never care as much as you do, will steal from you whether it is time or tangible products, you train them and then they quit or move on, all that time and effort wasted, so having employees is such an emotional drain), and staying in business is so much greater than having to spend $120 a month for Usana. So I just really can't understand why anyone with a business mind doesn't see this difference.

    It is very hard to make money in Usana, no question about that either. But is the compensation split really that different than the rest of the world. 1% of the Usana Associates make 99% of the moeny as many have claimed on this blog (would like to see the numbers to see the real ratio but regardless will use those numbers). 1% of the US population controls 99% of the wealth while the other 99% work very hard just to survive. The Ceo's and senior level management of any company maximizes their incomes by minimizing their employees, and the average CEO of a large corporation has an annual income of at least $2 million per year while the average employee makes approximately $35,000.

    I am not defending Usana, just making an observation that seems to be missing from the Watchdog's insights and narrative.

    Speaking of the Watchdog, there are so many other MLM companies out there who operate just like Usana, why don't you crush them too? You said in a previous post that this is a debate forum. Hardly. You bash anyone and eveyone who says anything positive about Usana. This is not a debate nor an unbiased forum. You keep reiterating how biased the Comparative Guide is, well sir/madam, your blog is 100% biased against Usana.

    Also, how is it that you have access to private associate Id numbers? I have also seen several comments from posters asking you to state your true intention as well as how you get your inside information which you have conveniently avoided answering. If you have inside information/access to private info like associate ID's, isn't that illegal since you also state you have no affilation with Usana?

    Lastly, the IPF associate sounds like a good person who really cares about helping people. In med school they only teach doctors how to diagnose conditions and perscribe medicine. That is the biggest scheme going, multi billion dollar scheme. Doctors hardly receive any training on preventative care or nutrition. So the fact that IPF fully discloses to his patients what he does and tries to help them, even going so far as recommending different vitamins besides Usana (which by the way all the medical reports state we should be taking a multivitamin), is very commendable. I don't see any conflict of interest as he is trying to help his patients, unlike so many doctors who do whatever they can to perscribe medicine with horrible side effects just to make money off their patients. That is the real conflict of interest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This blog is focused on Usana because it's called Usana Watchdog. Do you realize how many MLM's are out there and how much work it would take to go in depth about them all and know enough to defend every MLMer's comments with facts and figures?

      And please don't compare businesses expenses to the monthly requirement. You should know that the purpose of the monthly requirement is ONLY to push products in order for Usana to stay in business. Their products may be good but the prices are too high relative to the general market's demand. This is why almost no Usana rep can make a decent living only selling products to real customers without having to recruit. Usana knows this and rather than lowering their prices to meet actual demand, they decided to force their associates to buy the products which from the owners' perspective, is genius.

      And I'll also say this, ALL MLMs that use this same model are creating false demand for their products. In other words, if any of them take out that monthly requirement, they won't last very long.

      As for the 1% talk, sure, CEOs make way more than the janitor at the bottom but keep in mind that every single person in a traditional business can make money without more employees being added.

      With Usana, the bottom folks can NOT make decent money unless more people is added. By DESIGN, most reps cannot make a decent income. It's just math. For more than half of the reps to make a decent income, recruiting would need to go on forever which is impossible.

      If you still can't see the problem with this, let's lower the numbers to make this concept easier to grasp. Imagine there's only 100 people living on Earth. Once everyone is in Usana, then what? How do the bottom people make money? In the real business world, each of those 100 people would work to create and provide goods that others would gladly pay or trade goods for.

      Again, if the products are so damn good and there's real demand for it, Usana wouldn't need to have a monthly requirement which is the main reason people call it a scam.

      Delete
  27. My brother recently has become involved with this damn company and everything I say to him and show him he ignores. He has borrowed money from me, my parents, and my grandparents and I doubt I will ever see that money again if he stays in this damn company. What would you recommend me do to get him out.

    I mean he literally only received a single paycheck for 100 dollars last month. I made more than that working at mcdonalds!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Unfortunately, if his heart is set on doing Usana, you will have hard time convincing him to stop.

    Only thing you can do is talk to your family and make sure nobody lends him any more money. If he can't earn enough money to pay for his own monthly autoshipment, then that should tell him in itself that the business isn't working.

    If he can't pay for his own monthly autoshipment, he will lose all accumulated points, and will no longer be commission eligible.




    I would challenge him to purchase 3 boxes of essentials on his monthly autoshipment and to then go out and sell those 3 boxes of essentials. If he can't do that in a month, then there is no reason to continue doing this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Or do what it appears many USANA associates do and dump it on Ebay. That way he can recover at least half of the money back. USANA restricts associates from using Ebay, but distributors do it anyway since it is very difficult for USANA to actually catch anyone unless USANA is the buyer and then just checks the serial tracking numbers on the boxes.

      And selling USANA product on Ebay would actually meet the "5 customer rule", but USANA does not not enforce their 5 customer rule anyway.

      If he is trying to make money, he should go out and get a legitimate job instead of participating in a world wide pyramid scheme where the only way to make a profit is to recruit dozens of family, friends and neighbors into your downline.

      Delete
  29. i have been invited to join usana..should i continue or not?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 99% of the people who joined USANA and activated their business centers (costing at least $200 worth of product purchases) have never made a profit as a USANA distributor. Can you afford to lose money and a vast amount of time trying to recruit everyone you know into the same scheme?

      Delete
    2. Here are a few questions that you should ask yourself:
      a). Do you have commission sales experience, or the capacity to learn? Are you keeping your current job (recommended) while you start?
      b). Do you believe in the products, and are enthusiastic about them?
      c). Do you have a clearly defined sales and marketing campaign? Do you understand that even with Facebook marketing, you still need to call all those leads and speak with them on the phone?
      d). Have you studied people who have become highly successful in direct sales such as Todd Falcone, Mike Dillard, and Jonathan Budd?
      e). Have you determined that you will receive "not interested" from 19/20 people that you reach out to?
      f). Have you adopted Brian Tracy's recommendation to read a new sales book for 30 minutes each morning (and thus a new sales book a week)?
      g). Do you understand this is a small business, and not a hobby, that you must treat it as such?
      h). Do you understand this is not a get rich quick scheme, and that you will be doing a LOT of work initially, for a very small return, until your residual income starts to kick in?

      If you have done all these things, essentially strengthened and prepared yourself, than you can be successful if you proceed in a deliberate and intentional way, and don't let anyone get in your head to stop your falling forward. It is brutal, you will discover gaps in yourself, but as you address them and persevere, you will be a very, very strong, capable, and successful person. As part of your recruitment, ask for the cell numbers of members of the team who will be available to help you. They will assist you with your QUALIFIED prospects. Only recruit people who have a (perceived) economic status that is equal to or better than yours. Sign up people for the products at a minimum.

      Delete
  30. The following information is quoted from USANA's quarterly financial statements:
    http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/displayfilinginfo.aspx?FilingID=8606179-969-90359&type=sect&dcn=0001104659-12-035865

    "Overview

    We develop and manufacture high-quality, science-based nutritional and personal care products that are distributed internationally through a network marketing system, which is a form of direct selling. Our customer base comprises two types of customers: “Associates” and “Preferred Customers.” Associates are independent distributors of our products who also purchase our products for their personal use. Preferred Customers purchase our products strictly for their personal use and are not permitted to resell or to distribute the products. As of March 31, 2012, we had approximately 219,000 active Associates and approximately 67,000 active Preferred Customers worldwide.

    Customers:
    Because we utilize a direct selling model for the distribution of our products, the success and growth of our business is primarily based on our ability to attract new Associates and retain existing Associates to sell and consume our products. Notably, sales to Associates account for the majority of our product sales, representing 90% of product sales during the quarter ended March 31, 2012. Additionally, it is important to attract and retain Preferred Customers as consumers of our products. Increases or decreases in product sales are typically the result of variations in product sales volumes relating to fluctuations in the number of active Associates and Preferred Customers purchasing our products. The number of active Associates and Preferred Customers is, therefore, used by management as a key non-financial measure. "

    USANA Watch Dog's statement above that 99% of associates have never made a profit is not correct. According to their widely available document "North America Average Total Earnings", approximately 13% of all associates earn commissions and even at the Sharer level, the average annual commission received is $3848. This amount would exceed the minimum autoship requirement. The USANA states "The primary reason 17% of USANA independent business owners join the company is to improve their financial future" This would suggest that for 87% of associates, they are more interested in consuming the high quality products, more so than selling them. They are technically Preferred Customers that have the ability to sell the products.
    In my opinion, anyone who promotes network marketing as a get rich quick scheme should be punished and anyone who is misled into believing it is easy would likely account for the loss of associates in the North American market compounded by a not so robust economy which may reduce the buying power of these premium products.
    No matter what your opinion is regarding the business model, the quality of the products do speak for themselves and ultimately that is the key to the business. It is a top notch product line and without that, they would be toast. Instead, the company is growing globally (despite the weakness in the North American market), backed by their superior products.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will follow this up with a lengthy blog posting in a few days as this is an ongoing issue with USANA's deceptive "Average Earnings" claim.

      But for now I will demonstrate just how absurd the following statement you made is. You stated that "even at the Sharer level, the average annual commission received is $3848"

      A Sharer by definition can make only $40 during any given week. If they make any more, like $100, they become a Believer.

      $40 * 52 weeks = $2080

      You have been so misled and is exactly why the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) needs to step in and shut this fraudulent company down.

      Delete
  31. I have not been misled. I am a Builder after 7 months all with Preferred Customers. I comprehend the binary compensation system. It is fully disclosed. It is up to me to build my business.
    Your claim of fraud is laughable. I understand what fraud is because I have been a victim of fraud before. I suspect will go to your grave with your delusional beliefs. You can send all your paranoia that you want to the FTC. They will have more important things to worry about. However, you would be doing yourself a favor if you just went on with your life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In response to "I have not been misled."

      You most certainly have. You claimed that "the Sharer level, the average annual commission received is $3848". If you believe that, then you have been misled. And here you are misleading others. Do the math....

      Delete
    2. I've done the math. Those amounts include all bonus payments (Pacesetter), incentive payments and contests. Call Distributor Services and see for yourself

      Delete
    3. Again, you are grossly misleading people. If you multiply the number of associates in each of the leadership levels represented in that average earnings report by the average annual commission, you would end up with a number of total commissions paid out for the North American region that is several times higher than the net revenues brought in from that region. You claim you did the math. I'm sorry but you need to go back to school. You and USANA are misleading everyone.

      This is why the FTC needs to get involved.

      Delete
  32. The $ earnings reports are not entirely true. They say sharer makes 40 a week? Only if you sell 500 points total a week which is equal to about 600-700$ because of shipping tax depending if youre buying rev sticks cheapest for the most points or rev can 16pt for rediculous 42$ . Trust me I know I use to be a director and had directors under me as well. I have never met a sharer that can move 700$ worth of products a week. One reason it is impossible because if they could consistently do it they would never want tostay at sharer because 700$ worth of products left and right 250 points.... You're wasting 20$ a week ..you should rank to believer 500 and 500 on each side for a 100$ commission.. Same points as a 2 week sharer but 100$ instead of 2 week sharer at 80$...... What I also want to point out is that a director made one 600$ paycheck he is a director but little do anyone know that he paid for a few pro packs that week on a Friday run for their friends.. I have never met a person in usana that sell products and be a residual and keep making that residual paycheck... So the only rich one in usana are the top diamonds that have a sick amount of people ruining and sacrificing their time and ready to recruit and use time that they cannot refund back in their life.... You cannot do it through products... If you could I would definitely love to do usana but word of mouth advertising in such little commision is way too hard..... Not like a realtor.. One customer one big paycheck.. Even in usana.. 100 customers couldn't pay any bills.. Maybe just your autoship..

    ReplyDelete
  33. I am an usana associate..

    What do i think about autoship?

    It's great! Obviously starting out i barely could afford autoship..so i simply stopped! :P There's no reason that to pay usana money when you aren't getting paid..that's why in the beginning..i stratagized to build a team frist, then turn it on..

    my point is autoship isn't a bad thing at all..Usana is not forcing anyone to participate in autoship, but that doesn't mean you cannot build a team and turn it on later..even with all the "logic" and the "watch-dogs" out there..you can never understand just looking at what usana is from the outside..of course i was damn skeptical about it..until i found a solid organization that can help me while i make a lot of mistakes developing my social skills..

    do I think autoship should be removed? NO!! because autoship also serves as a way to create residual income from either teamates, or from pc's...and if you are trying to tell me that I am morally wrong obtaining "points" from my teamates and customers, then why not look at a corporate job where ONLY CEOS can get that kind of leverage? How many CEOS are in the company you work for? chances are, the people who are posting hate, don't even get that kind of benifit, nor would they understand the power of leverage.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In Response to "my point is autoship isn't a bad thing at all..Usana is not forcing anyone to participate in autoship, but that doesn't mean you cannot build a team and turn it on later." and "autoship also serves as a way to create residual income from either teamates, or from pc's."

      Thank you, you proved my point. You only paid your autoship because you are forced to in order to participate in the compensation plan. You admit that you do not need to be on autoship unless you have a downline. Then you lay out the pyramid scheme all by yourself - "autoship also serves as a way to create residual income from either teamates, or from pc's".

      So you recruit new distributors in your downline by selling them all the false dreams of making money like CEOs. When they start to accumulate GroupSalesVolume from their downline, they go on autoship because if they don't, they lose all their accumulated points.

      That's fraud. USANA pays more in commission to those who recruit massive downlines than they do paying anyone who actually sells the product. In fact, if someone actually sells any product directly to the user, they don't receive any commission for that sale. However, their upline does.

      It is sad that today's educational system can't seem to teach such simple concepts as these...

      Delete
    2. Watchdog, I think you should make a blog post about "the statements USANA associates frequently say/post/talk/do" and your reply about it, as well as some FAQs.

      Maybe I can list the following things they usually say/point out:
      1. The never-ending Comparative Guide by Lyle MacWilliam
      2. Some awards given to USANA, like the one in Forbes
      3. How USANA's products benefit them away from certain sicknesses
      4. The difference between MLM and traditional business (e.g. Autoship =! Restock, CEO to lowest level is like a pyramid, blah blah, yadda yadda)
      5. They say that you're related to someone who has ill intentions towards USANA/someone who fails
      6. And a looooot more.

      This will save you time from replying from the same statements over and over and over and over and over .... and over again.

      Haha, just saying.

      Delete
    3. I agree with having a FAQ page. That way, all you'd have to do is link to it and point out which number to read.

      Besides, with so many people using "Anonymous", it's hard to keep track of who is saying what and so easy for these Usana reps to go off topic in order to avoid the tough questions.

      To the rep who said:

      "What do i think about autoship? It's great!".. and... "even with all the "logic" and the "watch-dogs" out there..you can never understand just looking at what usana is from the outside"

      I guarantee that Watchdog knows more about Usana than most Usana distributors. Why? Simple. Watchdog went out and did unbiased research while most Usanians simply take whatever their uplines tell them as the truth and don't even bother questioning it.

      Seriously, if you reps just take a minute to THINK before you comment, there would be less comments that make Usana reps look soooo utterly uneducated. Use some LOGIC, geez.

      Are you folks too blind to see that the autoship's only purpose is to make sure the company sell products whether there's a real demand or not? Basically, your "residual income" is forced which is why so many MLMers have to keep rebuilding when a part of their organization collapses.

      With REAL residual income, you're making the money from genuine customers who actually WANT to buy the products like what cellphone and internet companies do. That's sustainable while endless recruiting and creating false demand is not.

      The challenge with using your head and searching for the truth is that you might have to admit that you're wrong and that scares you. I know most of you have friends or family members who turned down Usana and after stating that you're going to make it big with this business, the thought of being wrong is too embarrassing to admit so you'd rather just put up some blindfolds and block yourself from realizing the truth.

      The sad thing is that many people get in way too deep, where they feel like there's no going back, to the point where they're doing deceitful things but in their minds, they truly believe they're helping people. Their mind just won't let them go through the pain of being wrong and having to potentially face all of the "I told you so's" from their "negative" friends and family members. As a result, their thinking becomes fuzzy.

      Try to step back, take money and pride out of the equation, and really analyze what us "haters" are saying. I don't have any financial gains in hating on Usana. My logic isn't shrouded by money. I just comment because I'm fascinated by how the MLM system can mess people's logic up so much. It's a lot easier to see the truth when your eyes aren't covered with dollar signs.

      Perhaps taking a month off from all Usana related activities will help you think more clearly.

      Delete
  34. Well done logic. From reading your comments, USANA associates fully understand and agree with what you are saying but for whatever reason, they are in self-denial to the facts.

    As an ex-USANA associate, I can confirm the following:
    Quote:
    'autoship's only purpose is to make sure the company sell products whether there's a real demand or not? Basically, your "residual income" is forced which is why so many MLMers have to keep rebuilding when a part of their organization collapses'.

    Quote:
    'With REAL residual income, you're making the money from genuine customers who actually WANT to buy the products like what cellphone and internet companies do. That's sustainable while endless recruiting and creating false demand is not'.

    Quote:
    'I know most of you have friends or family members who turned down Usana and after stating that you're going to make it big with this business, the thought of being wrong is too embarrassing to admit so you'd rather just put up some blindfolds and block yourself from realizing the truth'

    Quote:
    'The sad thing is that many people get in way too deep, where they feel like there's no going back, to the point where they're doing deceitful things but in their minds, they truly believe they're helping people. Their mind just won't let them go through the pain of being wrong and having to potentially face all of the "I told you so's" from their "negative" friends and family members. As a result, their thinking becomes fuzzy'

    Based on the above quoted reasons from logic, I bravely withdrew from the USANA business. My sponsor was very disappointed but I took the bold move to withdraw once and for all and never to be involved in any form of MLM ever again. It's definitely against public interest 99% of the time. Save on paying autoship every 4 weeks. I now get my USANA products from eBay which is so much cheaper. The products are pretty good but not the business concept of endless recruiting and ripping off aquaintances, friends, relatives and family members. Best decision I have made to quit. I'm now at peace with my conscience and back to my pre-USANA days.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Funny how some here don't even know what a pyramid scheme is.

    ReplyDelete
  36. What's funny about that? It means lack of education, if people were educated, then they can take better decisions in their life... You think you are so wise because you know what a pyramid scheme is? shame on you..

    ReplyDelete
  37. This is hilarious!
    I have been taking USANA's products for over a year now and lost 30 lbs and kept it off, no longer spend hundreds on allergy & asthma meds, no longer have heartburn issues. My triglycerides are lower than they have been in 20 years and my BP is back to healthy. Our family purchases over 700 sales volume points worth of product a month and would easily continue even if we were not earning a healthy residual income.
    With USANA it is a product driven company in which the products are based on 40 years of cell culture technology. Their products are your best defense against oxidative stress to your cells you can find.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A product driven company with vitamins that are so good that they have to mostly rely on the purchases of their distributors to stay in business? Right.

      Stating that your family would continue buying $700 worth of vitamins each month even if you're no longer a distributor is suggesting that most distributors would continue buying just as much as they are now even if the monthly requirement is dropped.

      You sure about that? Either you don't know the true nature of how Usana makes money or you're indirectly trying to mislead people.

      You may think the world of Usana products but the people who run Usana apparently don't feel the same way. The fact that they need the monthly requirement to stay in business tells you how confident they are in the demand for their products from their own distributors.

      Without the monthly requirement, very few people would have anything negative to say about Usana.

      Delete
    2. Logic, you obviously a business minded person as anyone with any business sense knows that in order to share or recommend a product you, yourself need to be on the product. It would be like yourself working for say Pepsi, going up to people holding a can of Coke telling them they should drink pepsi. Our business is not that of "Sales" if it were I wouldn't be doing it. When someone comes to me with a health problem I simply share information with them about how the products helped me and then they in turn start using the products and voila` their health improves. I've watched a number of loved ones rot away with degenerative disease and I really do feel sorry for people who are not part of the USANA Family.

      Delete
    3. Anon, wake up!! Usana does not cure anything.

      They're food supplements at best. Stop spreading lies... It's so sick.

      Delete
    4. Logic, the thing you don't understand is that $700 previously mentioned is not in addition to your current expenses. Most people replace products they are currently using with USANA's products. I know our family uses well over $700 a month yet we are saving about $200-$300 a month on our total expenses. Then if you are an associate you are able to save on average $500 a month in income taxes. I know, we have for 3 years straight. Our Net monthly savings are $700-$800 a month and that is before we ever earn a check. So let's say we only make $200 a week, which is very simple to do as most of my team is able to do that within their first month. OK now you have $800 in income and are saving $700-$800 a month for a net gain of $1,500-$1600 a month spending as we do, 3-5 hours a week. Call me crazy, but that is just under 50% of my take home pay at my current job, and I think that is awesome. 2-3 years from now I will be replacing my current job's income and will be able to retire if I choose. It's just good business sense. I'm sorry you and watch dog don't get it and would prefer to trade hours for dollars. I love life too much to do that.

      Delete
    5. Let me first start by quoting USANA's policies:
      USANA Policies and Procedures 3.4.2
      Income ClaimsAssociates may not make income projections or claims or disclose their USANA income (including the showing of checks, copies of checks, or bank statements) when presenting or discussing the USANA opportunity or Binary Compensation Plan, except as set forth in official USANA literature.

      USANA Associate Claims Most people replace products they are currently using with USANA's products. I know our family uses well over $700 a month yet we are saving about $200-$300 a month on our total expenses.
      USANA products are typically 2 to 3 times more expensive than comparable competitor products available in retail stores.


      USANA Associate Claims Then if you are an associate you are able to save on average $500 a month in income taxes.
      The tax benefits are only a fraction of the expense. The tax rate times the expense. The tax deductions are only good if you have a source of income to deduct them from and the tax benefit is only equaled to the tax saved.

      USANA Associate Claims So let's say we only make $200 a week, which is very simple to do as most of my team is able to do that within their first month.
      Product is too expensive to retail for a profit and therefore recruiting new associates into the downline is the primary job function for a USANA distributor. In order to make $200 a week for your first month, you would need to recruit about 10 people each week for a total of 40 people. Each person would spend over 200 points to activate their position in USANA's pyramid scheme (business centers) which costs over $200. You are not being honest by telling people that it is simple to make $200 per week in your first month at USANA. Why not tell them that they need to recruit about 40 people? Do you think convincing these people to spend $1250 on a starter package makes things any better?

      So now those 40 people that are recruited want to do the same and each recruit their own 40 people. Now there are 1600 new associates who also want to make a simple $200 each week for the first month, so they recruit 40 each. Now we have 64,000 new associates who want to make that simple $200 you claimed and also recruit 40 people each. Wow, after 4 months of simply trying to make $200 each week for during the first month we have a total of 2,625,641 new associates... Not to mention that after the 4th month, about 97% or 2,560,000 of those new associates still don't have anyone in their downline yet and need to each find 40 people to make their simple $200 per week for their first month. Pyramid Scheme anyone?

      USANA Associate Claims OK now you have $800 in income and are saving $700-$800 a month for a net gain of $1,500-$1600 a month spending as we do, 3-5 hours a week.
      Now disclose to readers here the total expenses you reported to the IRS.

      Delete
  38. I love the product so I make purchases regularly (meaning every 112 days because the essentials pack lasts up to 112 days) but I don't like to be a member. Being a member would require me to purchase every month instead of every 3 1/2 months. -ai

    ReplyDelete
  39. My whole family is taking the supplements. It benefited us and also friends and customers who take them regularly have good testimonies of improved health.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Really Shaun? What have the benefits been?

      Delete
  40. To those who believe the required monthly purchase is a good thing because only those using the products will be able to sell the products:

    What you're basically saying is Usana distributors are too stupid to decide for themselves whether or not they should buy the products. Instead of treating distributors like adults or business owners, Usana is treating them like kids and requiring them to buy the products "for their own good" because the all mighty Usana knows what's best.

    Those of you supporting the requirement are basically saying that without it, distributors wouldn't do as well. The failure rate is already at 99%, I don't think an extra 1/2 percent will make much of a big difference. By removing the requirement, MOST Usana distributors will be able to make a profit.

    With so much to gain from the removal of the requirement and so much trouble caused by keeping it, why would anyone support keeping it? Let's think about this logically. Is it maybe because removing it will destroy your paychecks? Bingo!

    For once, I would like to see a Usana rep have the guts to state the truth:

    "Yes, the requirement is there in order for the company to make sure products are being sold because the products are overpriced relative to demand. Real companies don't do this because they are confident in their products and know people will buy them. I know removing the requirement would reveal that the demand for Usana products are extremely low and it will also dramatically decrease my paycheck. I support the requirement because it helps me make a more stable income."

    If you distributors would just state the truth, what can people like me possibly say to that? Nothing. We'd be in agreement so no debate would be possible.

    If people truly want the products, with or without the requirement, people will buy them anyway. It's because most people don't want them that a requirement exists.

    *Since this article is actually about the requirement, I think I'll stick to mostly commenting on this page. Getting tired of repeating the basic workings of Usana on a bunch of different posts on this site only to get the same regurgitated, nonsense responses over and over again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Getting tired of repeating the basic workings of Usana on a bunch of different posts on this site only to get the same regurgitated, nonsense responses over and over again.

      Seriously, I agree. If they really have faith to their products, then why do they need to get too defensive, uttering mostly nonsense? Mostly calling names, stating testaments, etc.

      Even if the FAQs and the Bogus Claims are already on the top of the page, they still post the same thing over and over and over again.

      It's tiring, seriously. I've found some decent USANA associates posting here but there are more of those nonsensical posts than those that have mere sense.

      -------------------------------

      Anyway, to the USANA folks:

      You do not need to tell us that the product is good, the product healed yourself, your mother, your father, your sister, your friend, the cousin of the wife of the friend of the husband of your neighbor(just saying), etc.

      You do not need to tell us that we're going to rot away from diseases for not taking the Mega Antioxidants, Chelated Minerals, BiOmega, or even Sense. We know how to watch our health, even I am taking the Essentials for one.

      You do not need to tell us that we're failing financially. Don't you even understand that the fact that we can access the internet means that we can even feed ourselves 3x a day?

      You do not need to tell us that we're paid to attack USANA. Don't place us in the level that you are in, tricking other people, ripping other people's pockets off.

      We're not going to let ourselves known, nor do something legally. We're only not contented with what the FTC is doing right now; slacking themselves off while people are continuing to lose money because of those corrupt opportunists. We'd rather use the time to earn more money passively and actively, and inform the people on what we know. We'd rather live a peaceful life because there had been little to no successful suits where the complainant has won. The justice system had always favored large businesses and especially oligarchs. Even USANA hasn't sued the Watchdog ever since!

      You do not need to give us UNRELATED links to Forbes, SEC, Yahoo! News and even that Einstein Award to Dr. Wentz (heck, who are the other awardees of that Einstein Award; why does it seem that he's the only awardee of it?). Even rotten businesses like Monsanto are legitimate businesses, can't you see that?

      What we only need from you is to prove that there is REAL demand of the products. That the sales of the products come from retail or preferred customers, not from selling pro packs or from the autoships.

      Delete
  41. Have any of you head of Alliance in motion global? :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. Truestar mormon level marketing will never work, and no one except the owners of the company make any money at all! If these mormon level marketing companies are so good, why do these marketers always constantly switch companies? SUCKERS!

    ReplyDelete
  43. The sad thing is I am willing to bet that 95% of the people on this sad post who are saying unwarranted negative things about the #1 Company in the fastest growing industry will rot away the last days of their lives with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or other chronic diseases. Oh yeah and those same people will not ever ever ever retire. Too bad for the ignorant ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ex-silver director 2009

      wow you're a good example of Usana. We are only talking about how bad usana is and there you go wishing people will rot away. basically asking them to die. how immature and evil. I know how you been brainwashed because I myself been through it all. I was in Usana for 2 years. and btw I take GNC and I feel better than the the healhpak. I also took the healthpak for 2 years. the comparative guide has no credibility. I read it back and forth. The standard is based on the author's opinions. Isn't that how you usana people get people off from not believing the negativity on the internet.. You tell your downline its just an opinion. Well the negative things on here are facts. More importantly the comparative guide has facts but standards on how the % is rated is an OPINION.

      Delete
  44. Sure, and I bet you will be rich and live forever!!! Good for you...

    ReplyDelete
  45. I was just invited to talk to someone about working with Dr. Christine Northrup. After visiting her website and finding her USANA team, I'm pretty sure it's going to be about that. I'm so disappointed. I read her books in the 90's about women's health and was inspired. I don't believe in supplementation for most vitamins and hate packaged foods. Whole foods is the way to go for weight loss and health. There would be no way I could sell this stuff. Plus if you look at the margins they are horrible. You'd be better off making a deal to buy wholesale from a reputable company and starting your own business.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Logic, Moon and Watchdog...classic case of 3 broke, lazy friends wallowing in their own misery expecting government payouts and work systems to come their way that pay for no effort. Did it all go wrong boys?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Expecting government payouts, lazy, wallowing in our own misery... My, my. That's a pretty heavy statement that you gave there.

      However. I do not want to flaunt out what I have, but I am proud of the fact that I do not need to knock on other people's doors or even to fake myself to others just to passively AND actively earn money. You just need to realize that you can get rich even without ripping other people's pockets off by using your own ideas, and you can get healthy by eating right and doing proper exercise, supplements optional.

      Sorry if I have to say this, but... Try again if you can already rebut our statement with facts instead of calling us names, troll.

      Delete
  47. The autoship is very important because it makes the company earn more :). That is why the company is stable to give commissions because of the autoships :) if there is no autoships, the company will not last for 21 years :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hence that is why Usana is a pyramid scheme.

      You don't care about Usana's products deep down do you? :)

      Delete
  48. If usana isn't that great. I wonder why is there a person blabbering so much that the business isn't great? I mean... Why waste time? Why waste effort? Why evet create a dummy account like UsanaWatchDog? Talking about confidence, why do you even need to use that username? Lets just say if the monthly autoship will be taken out, the company will fall, what is it for you? Why don't you just let it fall instead of you debating with all the rep out here? Just saying.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Usana and its reps propagate a lot of lies, and a lot of people have lost money as a result.

      And it's not just the money associates lose, it's also the relationships they damage as a result of being influenced to sell and recruit,

      I've looked at other MLMs and Usana is the most unethical in my opinion. The reasons are that Usana uses health as a selling point when their products are just supplements that aren't extraordinary, Secondly, their compensation plan is geared the most heavily towards recruiting to make commission payments compared to other MLM such as Amway.

      This blog serves to reveal the truth behind their MLM business model which is designed to fail 99% of distributors.

      People really need to do the math so as to not get brainwashed/influence/pressured into becoming a Usana distributor.

      Delete
  49. The thing is, if I have tried it and loved it, would I stick to buy at retail price or at distributor's price if I have the opportunity to do so? I think those who take it regularly that don't apply to be a distributor is not thinking how they can save money. I think USANA can help in sales by removing the commission and spend it to advertising companies and famous persons. Is this what you want USANA WatchDog?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. USANA Preferred Customers pay the same price for the product as the distributors do.

      USANA can help by removing the distributor's required product purchases in order to receive a commission check. If I was a distributor and I had 100 preferred customers signed up, which should I be required to personally purchase over $110 worth of product myself every 4 weeks? THAT very reason is why USANA is a pyramid scheme. The majority of product USANA sells is to distributors who are forced to purchase the product if they want to maintain the Volume Points and be commission qualified.

      Fact is, if USANA removed that requirement they would go out of business because there would be no reason for the distributors to purchase the product unless they actually wanted it.

      Fact is, those distributors who are Gold Directors and up (Full Time according to USANA), which there are only about 2800 distributors world wide that have reached this level, have gotten there because they recruit large downlines as opposed to retailing product. These people make their profit by recruiting more distributors, not by selling product.

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    2. So, do you mean to say that the distributor did his job as an advertiser? If the distributor's 2 hours presentation/advertisement (that is one on one at the convenience of prospect's location in a remote area) convinced the prospect because of the health benefit, then he will try the product. If the GREED is with him he will join the business. He will recruit if he doesn't want to sell, but profit in selling is more than commission. Commission is based on group sales volume, meaning, your team's work or effort in selling. Isn't it just fair not to include the distributor in commission if he has not done his job in selling? Now do the economics when the distributor has GREED, if he will buy the product he will get tenfold of its price as commission or he doesn't buy the product and get nothing. If he will only get 10% of the price of the product (minimum points) will he buy it? If he doesn't buy it, will you be penalized or forced? The one that is forcing him is his GREED. He may not do anything but get nothing. He must do minimum selling for his team to get something. The fact is, just like other business, you have capital that is the worth of expensive product that the distributor has sold or consumed already. With that initial move, he has the franchise to sell but there is no contract like it will expire in 2 years and the franchisee has to pay again.

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  50. Way too many MLM/Ponzi scheme type business that promises get rich solution.

    Anther famous one in asia called BOSSVENTURE (though not as slick as Usana) which has been listed on Malaysia Reserve Banks watch list. Fee structure on these 2 companies is very similar.

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  51. This discussion started June 2012.... guys its April 2014! Where is Usana? Still here and it keeps on growing and helping more people! Let not waste time, people who have health problems, or know any one, friends, relatives who have health issues, heres the challenge, have an executive check up, undergo lab testshold on to your lab results, just try the products and wait for a month, then go for another labtests, then compare your lab results, end of discussion. Stay healthy everyone!

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  52. USANA Watch Dog, now who's the liar. You said "USANA requires their associates to purchase a MINIMUM of 100 points worth of product every 4 weeks". No they don't. They only have to do this in order to earn a commission. And, those products don't need to be used by the Associate. They can be sold to someone else. A lie of omission is still a lie. You bash MLM regularly for much less egregious omissions.

    There is nothing whatsoever wrong with this policy. If an Associate has any intelligence at all they wouldn't buy this much product unless they had enough preferred customers or a downline that enabled them to recoup that cost or better. In any business the key rule is "preservation of capitol", MLM is no different.

    Personally I think you are doing a service to the industry by pointing out all the negative aspects of MLM. It's people like you that forces these companies to up their game and focus on weeding out bad Associates. However, trying to build up negative perceptions by disseminating deliberate lies or lies of omission shows you to have a moral standard that rivals the worst of the MLM Associates or companies out there. In other words, what you are speaks so loudly I can't hear what you're saying.

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    1. Oompa,

      USANA requires their associates to purchase a minimum of 100 PSV worth of products which costs over $120 + $11 shipping. If the associate fails to make this personal purchase, he or she will lose any GSV points they may have accumulated from their preferred customers or downline associates, no longer be considered "Active", no longer be able to get the free cycles of USANA's Income Maximizer that is part of the enrollment packs and starter kit, and no longer be eligible for commission checks. I have not made any lies. It mentioned this information (the income maximizer is mentioned in another posting). I also explain that USANA tells the associate they can retail the product they purchase, and then I show how ridiculous that is since preferred customers also get the product at the same price the associates do, so no retailing goes on. You call me a liar yet seem unwilling to actually read what I have written.

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    2. Watch Dog. You are correct. I only read the first part of your post and so I owe you an apology for saying you were lying.

      That being said, I still don't see the problem with USANA asking for the personal purchases in order to earn commission rights. $120.00 worth of product is easily consumed in a household and the Associate is under no obligation to maintain that level in order to remain "active", contrary to what you say. If an Associate maintains a $20.00 autoship they are still active. They just can't earn commissions.

      As I pointed out in my previous post, why would an Associate spend the $120.00 on autoship if their product sales weren't sufficient to make a cheque. The intelligent thing to do would be to spend a lesser amount and focus on getting more preferred customers and Associates until their downline reached the point where the $120.00 expenditure made sense because the income exceeded that.

      I also have to take some exception with your math. In your write-up, you claim that Preferred Customers spend an average of $70.00 every rolling cycle (13 x per year). This is based on 67,000 customers spending $15.4 million per year. The actual amount per preferred customer is about $17.00/cycle, not $70.00. The average amount spent by each of the 219,000 active Associates is about $49.00/cycle, not $120.00. I agree that these numbers indicate that Associate purchases outstrip the Preferred Customer purchases. However do you know how many of these "active Associates" are working the business rather than just buying the product for themselves and not participating in building a business? I don't think you do, however I think the number is fairly high. All this really means is that your argument has no real grounding in reality. I won't say in this post that you lied about the numbers. Let's just chalk it up to poor math skills, ok?

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    3. Oompa,

      I'll make this response focused around your following statement "I won't say in this post that you lied about the numbers. Let's just chalk it up to poor math skills, ok?"

      The figures I use were from USANA's SEC filings during that time. It represents 3 months worth of data. USANA's preferred customers account for about 10% of the net sales. So preferred customers purchased $15.4 million worth of product for the 3 months. Multiply $15.4 times 4 quarters and divide by 13 cycles and then divide again by the number of preferred customers for that quarter which is 67,000 and low and behold you get $70.72... Therefore, preferred customers spent about $70 on average every 4 weeks.

      Now we already know that an associate is required to purchase at a minimum 100 PSV in order to remain "active" (not $20 like you claim), be commission eligible, and maintain any GSV you have accumulated. This cost comes to about $120 plus shipping. So right off that bat USANA requires the associate to personally purchase more than the average preferred customer purchases. Therefore, those associates who meet the 100 PSV requirement are in it for the business opportunity and not because they actually want $120 worth of product...

      So since you also botched the average amount purchased per associate, I will break that down for you as well as derived from the SEC filings.
      At the time there was 219,000 reported associates who purchased $138.6 million worth of product (Yes, associates' own personal purchases account for 90% of USANA's total product sales). Since this represents a 3 month period, you must multiply the $138.6 million times 4 quarters and divide by 13 cycles and then divide again by the 219,000 associates. This comes out to $194.73 on average. Therefore, USANA associates spent about $194.73 on average every 4 weeks.

      You might notice that $194 is much more than $120 that I point out that USANA requires as a minimum. But remember, USANA has a very high dropout rate for their associates (I calculate about 80%-90%) so they have to recruit new associates to fill in those that exit. And because we have a whole slew of new associates, we all know that in order to activate a single business center you must personally purchase 200 points worth of product ($240). Not only that, but I'm sure you are know very well that a very high percentage of new associates end up purchasing the over priced Professional Enrollment Pack for $1250... That is why the average for associates is almost at $200...

      So let me re-highlight something you stated at the end of your comment: You wrote "I won't say in this post that you lied about the numbers. Let's just chalk it up to poor math skills, ok?"

      Seriously? You act as if you are high up in the leadership ranking (Gold Director or higher) yet you did not actually read what I wrote the first time and then completely botch the math on your end yet had the audacity to tell me I'm the one with poor math skills? I think you should stop feeding your downline and new prospects whatever kool-aid you are taking.

      I welcome any USANA document that states an associate can spend $20 on their autoship to remain "active" status. Every document I have read states they lose their active status if they drop below the 100 PSV requirement. The only $20 mention is a yearly renewal fee and an old preferred customer requirement that they stopped doing in 1997...

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  53. Don't get your knickers in a knot there Watchdog. I'd hate to see you pop a vein or something. You didn't mention in your initial writeup that you were basing your figures on a 3 month duration. I assumed it was a year. I stand corrected.

    Regardless, your math is still flawed because you make the ridiculous assumption that all the product bought by Associates is for the purpose of maintaining their commission status. The fact is that many Associates buy product without participating in the business. USANA doesn't publish these numbers because there is no way to be accurate about it but I can't imagine that any reasonable person would think that every Distributor buys for the purpose of maintaining commissions.

    Also, just for your further education, the SEC statement that you are so fond of quoting has the following statement:

    >>For purposes of this report, we only count as active customers those Associates and Preferred Customers who have purchased product from USANA at any time during the most recent three-month period, either for personal use or for resale.<<

    As you can see, an "active" Associate is one who has purchased product within the last 3 months..ANY amount of product.

    Face it, you are making a massive leap in logic that doesn't hold water. And, by the way, the fact remains that even if an Associate spends the $120.00 to maintain commissions it is an easy amount to consume and well worth the cost to participate if the commission equals even half the cost.

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    Replies
    1. Oompa,

      I didn't use one year because USANA only reports associate numbers for the last 3 months prior to the SEC filing, so basing an entire years sales on a 3 month number in flawed. besides, you based the calculations on a year and someone as plugged into USANA as you should have noticed how low your calculations were coming out. Funny you still call my math flawed. I believe you mean to tell me my "logic" is flawed by assuming all the product is bought by associates maintaining commission status.

      And to that point, I'm well aware that associates might only purchase one tube of toothpaste and still be counted in USANA's SEC filings as an active associate. However, that was not the point of my posting. The point was that USANA "requires" their associates to PERSONALLY purchase an unjustified amount of product. $120 worth for single business centers, and $240 for multiple business centers. This is the heart of the whole pyramid scheme by USANA and every other MLM company out there. This required purchase by the associates is the primary source for the funds used to pay out commissions which only the top 1% of distributors ever receive enough to make a "profit". These select few make millions while 99% of the distributors never make enough to break even. Yet, the ONLY reason the top 1% makes as much as they do is from the required purchases made by these 99% distributors who lose. Remember, only 10% of the total sales from USANA go to preferred customers. Because preferred customers get the product at the same Autoship/Auto-order price as the distributors do, that means there is ZERO profit margin for associates to retail to the general public. As a result, virtually no retailing of product takes place. The associates end up being the final customer of the product.



      Also, I am well aware of how USANA defines an active associate for the purpose of the SEC filings, which is vastly different than how USANA defines an active associate in every other context. I mention this in previous postings. Example...

      An active associate as defined by USANA in their compensation plan is one who maintains a minimum of 100 PSV worth of points, which are only achieved from the associate's personal product purchases. If USANA did not require this $120 personal purchase every 4 weeks (13 times a year), then USANA would not be a pyramid scheme. But as a consequence, USANA would go bankrupt and all the distributors would drop out because there would be no mechanism to fund the pyramid scheme. Without the forced product purchases there would be reason for associates to purchase the product and no money to fund commissions.

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  54. Guys- calcium and fish oil help with anxiety also shakes from usana are good for it :)

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  55. Wow, it's 2015 and Usana is still standing strong. I wonder how much time and effort did this dog waste trying to bark it down? Get a life, and yes, some Usana supplements. Boy, with all that anger, you're gonna need much of them. And oh, since you will obviously be consuming a lot, why not sign up as an associate and tell your friends about it so you can make money on the side? Tips: Don't purchase the $120.00 requirement unless you are quite certain that your earnings already exceed your "overhead expense". Traditional businessmen don't get that privilege. Cheers!

    Jean

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  56. Wow...

    It's 2015 and Usana is still standing. However, its distributors are not still standing. Over 80% of the distributors drop out each year. If Usana disclosed the drop out rate (which they won't) then no one would join. Usana succeeds because its marketing a business opportunity, a sham , using a pyramid scheme. As soon as people find out the truth they quit. Usana has misled and cheated a lot of people over the years and the drop out rate proves it. Wow! Wow! And Wow!

    Do you know who was put in your up-line today?

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  57. Have you wondered how come all those in Usana tell you how good they earn? So, you will join, of course! And that is if money is your reason for joining. Have you ever wondered how come all the other successful people outside Usana don't tell you that much of what they earn? Because they don't have to as you might not be from the same profession who should be earning it. In Usana, you don't need some profession, you just have to have the money to enroll yourself to the business. That's it or chances are you are encouraged to loan money to get started by people who have not even had a college degree. See for yourself that when you join, it is not the darn truth because you are already farthest down the hierarchy. You are just really sold a potential. Discover how much of a losing end it is going to be for you if you don't beat up yourself with hard work. Brace yourself and find out how of a waste of money it will turn out to be. And do not blame the Watch Dog. They told me they have read so many good things about Usana that's why they joined. Well, unluckily for me, I failed to investigate from here. I read only the positives. I should have read this blog before joining. I would've been better guided if only I examined both sides of the coin. For joining, I spent $5,000+. To maintain an active status, I spent $3,000+ on products alone for one year for my monthly auto orders. That is excluding the expenses on meetings and conferences. What is that? Isn't that overhead? And, watch out they tell there is no overhead cost to compare to a traditional business. How much did I earn? Well, for the first year less than $1k and for the second year, $100. Such a gainful income, isn't that. And as for the first one who commented ahead of me. I am one of those quitters because it's a losing business. The products are so overpriced just so it can pay the networkers in the higher up.

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  58. This guy says it all.

    Basically the reason why I stopped being a usana associate.

    Don't get me wrong though. I still use the products bcoz its good. It's how things are run that makes me cringe.

    http://www.finance-guy.net/streetonomic/usana-compensation-plan

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