Melaleuca Expert Review by Brian Garvin and Jeff West

The sign up fee is $29 – you do not pay extra to be a ‘Director’ (not a partner). 35 points may seem alot to you, but people that buy wellness products to seriously change their lifestyle – not as a fad – will easily use the points monthly as they will be buying all their cleaning products, personal care items, vitamins and snacks. Price wise products are about the same or slightly more than the supermarket.

Also using up your monthly points allowance means you are eligable for any incentives they have. EG at the moment you get $24 to spend on a selection on items. These kind of incentives bring the price per product down meaning you don’t spend more that you would at Wal Mart.

I am not a Director I am just a customer but I would happily take the step to Director when I have the time to commit.

Correction to the article above. The ONE-TIME membership fee is $29, which gets you 30-40% off the regular price of the products, in addition to discounts/rebates at many online stores, as well as other benefits like discounts on health care, prescriptions, cell phone and long distance, internet, etc.

Melaleuca is a discount shopping club, much like Costco or Sam’s, except at Melaleuca the joining fee is one-time and you shop online or by phone from the product catalog. At Costco and Sam’s you pay an ANNUAL fee to have the opportunity to walk into their warehouse and buy products in bulk to get a discount. Rather than buy in bulk, Melaleuca asks that you switch stores and buy the things you would be getting monthly from the grocery or drug store at Melaleuca, with a commitment to buying 35 product points per month, which ends up equalling about 5-7 actual products a month, ranging anywhere from $50-70 total monthly. The products are the typical household consumables, everything people use on a daily basis from soap, lotion, dish detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, laundry detergent, etc., things people actually use every day and replace every few months. The company has been around since 1985 and has spent money all those 24 years on scientific research and development and creating new products every year, rather than on advertising (since it is a referral company), so they have high quality products.

The also have 24 years of truly being GREEN (didn’t just slap a green label on their product last year to jump on the bandwagon). All of the products, including personal care products, are all-natural containing no formaldehyde, no peroxide, no ammonia, no phosphates, etc. The products are really high quality, including top of the line vitamin/mineral, supplements, eco-friendly non-toxic super-concentrated cleaning products (those REALLY do save money compared to the grocery store brands and cut down on plastic waste), organic whole grain snack foods, gum, tea, chocolate, soy candles, fitness and weight loss foods, high quality skincare and makeup, dental care, over the counter medications, etc…they have over 400 products. No one is forced to buy anything they don’t want. The beauty of the 5-7 products is that you get exactly what you need or are running out of and would have gotten at the store anyway. Last month my 35 product point order included shampoo, conditioner, fabric softener, mascara, skin lotion, cereal, and a pack of suglarless gum. 7 products, 35 product points equalled $54.24 before tax and shipping. Next month I know I need toothpaste, mouthwash, laundry detergent, spf spray, after sun gel, kitchen-cleaning wipes, organic cookies, and some more gum…another 35 points, this time 8 products, equals $55.52 before tax and shipping.

If you don’t want to make the 35 product point commitment but you still want to shop at Melaleuca for the great products, then you just pay the regular price rather than the reduced price and get what you want once in a while. You’re still getting equal or higher quality than the same products you would be buying at the drugstore, grocery store, or make-up counter department store. The regular price of the products is comparable to grocery store prices. The discounted price (which you get with the 35 product point commitment) is generally a great savings compared to the grocery store prices.

I personally have referred 15 of my friends and family to shop with Melaleuca, and some of them have also referred people so I have 35 in my organization who are currently shopping monthly. If I stopped referring now, and everyone in my organization stopped referring (which is unlikely), then I would earn approx $200 a month as long as everyone keeps shopping. That more than pays for my products, obviously, and helps me pay some other bills. That residual income is willable.

No one is required to refer the company to anyone else…people can just choose to be customers if they want. If someone wants to refer customers and earn a residual income as extra money for their household, they can do that, either part-time or full-time. No one says it is a get-rich quick scheme. Everyone who has a great referral business who is making a lot of money has been referring customers to Melaleuca consistently and honestly for years, and helping other people do that as well by showing them how to refer, developing a customer base of people who truly love the products and are brand loyal, people who order month after month.

The products HAVE helped people with their health. The body lotion with tea tree oil is super-healing and helps people with exzema. The heart supplements help lower cholesterol and blood pressure naturally with omega-3′s and other anti-oxidents. Compared to GNC, Vitamin-Shoppe, Herbalife, Shaklee’s, etc, the Melaleuca vitamins and supplements are ALWAYS less expensive. They are much better quality than the drugstore/namebrand vitamins because they are much more absorpable by the body.

Considering asborption rate of vitamins/minerals, one would have to take 33 Centrum or 15 One-a-Day to equal a daily dose of the Melaleuca vitamins. A month’s supply of the vitamin and calcium supplement is $19.99.

I think it’s a great company and I like the products. I was pretty skeptical when my friend first showed it to me, thinking it was a scam, but I was proven wrong and I’m glad I was. I’m really happy that I became a customer, and I’m *really* happy to have that extra income every month.

Forgot to mention that you can return a product for a full refund within 60 days of purchase, even if the bottle is empty, so if you get something that you didn’t really like, you’re not out the money. How many times have you returned a shampoo or bar of soap to your local drugstore if you didn’t buy it? Probably not often, if ever.

The $29 one-time fee is refundable for the first 120 days of your membership, so if you decide in those first four months that you don’t like the membership or the online shopping experience, etc, you cancel your membership, get a refund on the $29, send in any products you bought in the last 60 days to get a refund on those, and you’re done.

There is no time commitment, this is not a gym membership or cell phone contract…you either keep buying every month, or if you forget to buy they will send you a 35 product point order of your own choosing that they have on file for you, until you cancel. You cancel by letter by the 25th day of the month, any month you want to cancel.

I have a friend who is switching to Shaklee from Melaleuca due to having to purchase a certain amount each month. Membership is $19.99 and no monthly minimums. All products are proven natural/pharmecutical grade. As a director, the income opportunities are better as well.

Wow! Sounds like Lisa is “living the dream”! I’ll bet she’s a lot of fun at a dinner party.

I work a normal Network MArketing Business with Zrii, now the mindset of human being is comodity and ease more than complexity, think on this if you can drive to walmart and find a similar product at a lower price, and you can buy it right a way would you sit on your home and wait for a expensier produt to arrive, if you are a normal human the answer is no.
See the key of success in network marketing is original product, great compensation plan and solid duplicable system. now the so called buyers club luke malalueca and other type of “mlm” like this are in the middle of the legal and ilegal parameters so you have to be careful. I have been around the block quite a long time on this, i developed a huge organization in a company like malalueca a closed buyers club and suddenly my income whet to the toilde because the FTC closed down the company. So for success look for a unique product that requires the conversational/ educational promotion that only network marketing offers to move it, also ahould be something that you can buy at walmart then attach a compensation plan that rewards you for product movement and not for headhunting, and the sonsorship system that is esay to follow like Randy Gage states in his book “multi level money machine” your need a large group of people following an easy set of steps during a long period of time. If you whant more info on Zrii just check my site but join a company that you will have no issue buying the product in a monthly basis.

I closed my account with this company in October/2007 after returning closed boxes of UNWANTED and UNREQUESTED merchandise. Up to this day I have not been refunded for the moneys I paid. They keep sending me letters stating that I have a “credit” with them, but no money is sent to me.

When I called again today, the lady told me that I have a 94.00 credit, which is way below what these thieves took from my credit card and, said she, that every time they send me a “reminder’s letter” it costs ME 10.00! This is ridiculous! This company should be investigated because they are just taking money from people. I live in a free country where I can still buy what I need/want, where/when I want/need!

If we don’t order, they send us merchandise anyway and they are in advantage because when we receive those UNWANTED PRODUCTS they have already been already paid for anyway! I was stupid not to ask my bank right away not to honor any transaction with that company.

Now, two years later I am still fighting to get my money back and what I hear is that my “credit” went lower because they have to send me letters that cost 10.00 each and that os taken from MY CREDIT! THIEVES!!!!!!!!!!!! That is what Melaleuca is! Nothing but a bunch of liars and THIEVES!!!!!!!!!

I will be happy to see them exposed on 20/20, 60 Minutes, Dateline and ALL OVER THE MEDIA!!! I will be happy to see them CLOSED forever! I hope the Better Business Bureau will honor themselves in taking action against this DISHONEST COMPANY: MELALEUCA!!

This comment is directed toward “Misled Customer”. Your claims against Melaleuca seem a bit strong under the circumstances. I know they have been in business for a very long time. I was even a rep in the company for a few months. I quit because I went to do other things.

My recollection was pretty friendly customer support. I sent in my letter and got one final monthly debit and that was it. The question is did you send in the cancellation letter?

And did you realize when you signed up for Melaleuca that you would be on a recurring payment plan? That’s usually understood with any type of product you purchase with a Network Marketing System attached to it. And did you investigate the proper method for canceling so the company wouldn’t keep billing you?

Brian Garvin

Hey, one of my close friends sells Melaleuca products and does very well for herself. Shes been doing ti for about a year now and her business has really grown. I dont know a lot about it but I did go to a seminar and must say I was very impressed. Thanks for the info – I just wanted to mention to your readers that Melaleuca has a great business system that worked well for one of my closest friends.
.-= Anna @ Best Mineral Makeup´s last blog ..Where Can I Buy Raw Mineral Makeup? =-.

Hello everyone. I would like to sincerely say “thank you” to you all for your comments regardless of whether they were positive or negative. First of all, there is no PREFECT company in the world. Melaleuca has a 95% re order rate and has maintianed that for years now. What this means is that individuals who were unhappy with their membership, simply fell into the 5% that melaleuca loses as customers. To the person named “Misled customer” on the behalf of Melaleuca, let me apologize for your experience with this awesome company. Unlike you, I am a very very happy loyal customer of Melaleuca and have been for exactly 2 years now. On top of that, I will always remain a customer no matter what anyone says simply because it makes absolute sense. At the end of the day, everyone in america who cares about their health and wellness will shop every month. One thing you must remember is that with Melaleuca all you are doing is taking the same money you spend each and every month in the grocery store, and spend some of it with Melaleuca. You purchase only the products that you use in you home and they are a better value then anything in the store. I have to tell you that before I was a customer of Melaleuca, I use to use to very toxic household cleaners in my house to clean with and almost killed myself inhaling those fumes while trying to simply clean my bathroom. Now I do not have that problem anymore because of Melaleuca safer for your home Ecosense products.

Whatever your feelings are that is fine. Just know that you will always be a customer of someone and that you can not change unless you plan to stop brushing your teeth, taking a bath, cleaning your home, and washing your clothes. Or may be you would rather let the free radical cells destroy your immune system and other cells and organs in your body, instead of taking some natural dietary supplements to protect you against that kind of damage. it’s your choice, just make an educated one. Everything isn’t for everyone and if Melaleuca isn’t for you that’s okay, just don’t bash them for your lack of knowledge about the companies polices and procedures. All roads lead to Melaleuca!!!

Solomon – Please share some information regarding the ingredients of Melaleuca products vs leading brands. Also, does Melaleuca test its products on animals?

I’m curious if you’ve even tried the products. My wife used to buy the “Publix Brand” of Laundry Detergent for around $7.00 that did about 32 loads of Laundry, Melaleuca’s detergent is around $13.00 with the discount, but did 64 loads of laundry, but even better is that it worked better AND is better for the environment. The value is even greater when you buy Laundry Packs or the Larger containers.
Ditto for the Spot remover, floor cleaner, glass cleaner, and a myriad of other cleaners they have that are FANTASTIC for the environment while saving you a few bucks.
Additionally, the Vitamins are the best anywhere, Period. I switched from the “Cookie Diet” to using their Attain bars, with double the protein and fiber, more filling and better taste. (I lost 25LBS!!!)
I could write entire articles on how good the personal care products are, like the toothpaste, shaving creme, shampoos and my son’s favorite, the Acne care products and their Gatorade Replacement “Sustain”.
Truth is, Members on average order about 10 points higher than the 35 points their “supposed” to buy, and someone like me with a large family, will usually order well over 100 points a month, which is around $150.00.

Think about it, how much does a family of 4 usually spend at the Grocery store every WEEK. For most families, it’s well over $100.00, and a LOT of those products are things that the company can replace with better, healthier, less expensive products that are also better for the environment.

Melaleuca products are awesome! I cancelled my membership some months ago, and have been sorry ever since. I’m hoping that they are having one of those specials where the membership is reduced, because I want to re-enroll. I miss the quality and effectiveness of the vitamins, the detergent, the renew lotion, the gold bars, the all purpose cleaner, and the fact that they have an alternative to bleach that has been approved by some State agencies that approve these things for daycare facilities. I love Melaleuca products! And the customer service was absolutely great. I highly recommend them to anyone serious about their health, and the healthy of their environment.

There is a special for joining up at $1.00, if you are interested let me know

A couple of corrections. The membership kit is $29 not $90. Occasionally they have a special $1 sign up. You join like joining Costco or BJ’s. You agree to purchase 35 points per month ( comes to about $45-55.) The things you buy replace the stuff you buy in the supermarket, you are not buying useless items. The products are bio degradable, eco friendly and super concentrated, so as an example 1 large bottle of laundry detergent is $30 from Melaleuca and and equivalent amount of Tide 2x Ultra would cost $65 – 6 bottles of 32 load liquid
( at my local stores) It is almost a no brainer, eco friendly products, good value, delivered to your door and if you want you can pursue it to earn extra cash by referring people. It is not a typical MLM as the compensation plan is very fair and generous. The products are great ( at least the ones I have used) as proof over 60% of customers are just that customers, consumers and are not in it to make a buck. Good products good for the planet, and good for your pocket book.

Well let start of by saying that I’m new to all this Networking Type of business but I did decide to join Melaleuca because for me and my family it just made sense. And to the Misleading Customer I’m sorry about you experience with the company but it was the Independent Representative that should have told you about the product point requirements in order to maintain your 30-40% discount. And just like if you were to have a AAA membership or a Costco membership where you use they’re services or products you still have to pay its part of being a member.
As for the other reader I am always willing to assist you with the membership with my personal money to help get into the company because after all I and you benefit from you becoming a life time member and the $29 enrollment fee is really nothing compare to your Wellness and health. And that goes for anyone else that’s interested

I don’t see where anyone is putting that ONCE YOU BECOME A DIRECTOR YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE 75 POINTS A MONTH. They forget to tell you that insy winsy little detail that ends up costing you about $200 per month. And yes, you do purchase 35pts otherwise and they may be $50 add tax and shipping and it’s at least $75
I stopped selling since the woman that signed me up “forgot” to tell me about the 75 points once you become a director and other inconsistencies about bonuses.
Just thought people needed to know!
Stacey

I have been a customer since 2005 and love the products. I also have retained enough customers and have been a director since the first couple months of signing up ( 8 customers is all you need). I receive a check for $120.00 a month in residual income which pretty much covers the 75 pts on my purchases each month… Not to mention the products points I earn each month to get FREE products. I have NEVER had a problem coming up with the points since there are so many great products that I actually NEED and Use on a daily basis. Now that prevetative health care is essential in this country and our need to be as “Green” as possible, I can’t think of a better way to stay healthy and do my part to conserve and recycle.

I was a Melaleuca member for a year or so but had trouble meeting the monthly requirements. That being said, I did LOVE the things that we used and I miss them terribly!! If there is a $1 joining fee right now, I’d love to join back up for a few months to stock pile the things we miss and loved.

Julia: Melaleuca is currently offering a $1.00 membership fee until April 15th. I’d be happy to get you re-enrolled.

Hi Julia,

You just missed the $1.00 membership fee. It ended yesterday, but hopefully they will have another one soon.

Theresa- If there is still the $1 membership promotion I am definitely interested. Will the fee increase after the first month? Any hidden stuff to worry about? Thanks!

That’s about the most inaccurate ‘review’ of Melaleuca I have ever read. How can you ‘review’ something you have not even experienced? And clearly your inaccuracies reflect your inexperience with the company.

The $1 promotion has been extended but it ends today. Pls contact me if interested.

I love melaleuca and joined 6 months ago to get their products for my family. Since then I’ve seen amazing amounts of energy for myself and benefits for my family and friends. Really love their stuff and am so glad to be a preferred customer. They have the $1 memberships now til June 15th so if anyone is interested let me know! I’d be happy to help out!

After reading Lisa’s post I’m disappointed. She makes $200 a month on her family and friends. So that means her friends and family pay a higher price for their purchases and she takes that money. I think that’s pathetic, I’m glad she’s not my friend or relative.

Do you really think that people don’t approach their friends and family, ever? The products are not overpriced, nor are they things that go beyond what people use everyday, (I’m thinking some of the miracle juices, overpriced toys, pricey vacuums, legal advice…etc). I started as a customer to SAVE money on green products and quickly decided, after trying the products, to partner up with Melaleuca. Everyone I personally work with is in it to help other people, which makes approaching our friends and family a logical thing. The money is good, the products are fantastic and I never feel a bit uncomfortable introducing the company to anyone, including the ones closest to me. (And I have been involved with MLMs and other sales and have felt uncomfortable at times.) What Byran sees as pathetic I see as a genuine win/win situation for all. Better health, saving money, making money.

Forgot to mention that $1 enrollments are available until June 30, 2010!

If you’re the Kings -then maybe you should get the facts straight. Where does the $90 come in? 35pp order depending on what you order could cost $50.
Again, products we are already purchasing elsewhere. My customers do not help me reach this order commitment- at any time. I’ve been with Melaleuca for 18 mos now and earn a great income from the comfort of my home. I love my customers. I am compensated on customers as well as people who choose to build a business. We are not a “recruit only” company. 89% of customers are just customers. 11% choose to build a business. So, I receive an income (residual) on customers and business partners too. I am capable of earning the same income as someone who’s been with Melaleuca for 8 yrs
the compensation is the same. I can even earn more than the person who introduced me to Melaleuca. There are no “break aways” or “quotas”. I can earn as much or as little as I want by working my business.

what a shame that you are able to write false information and mislead people………

I am having trouble getting people to sign on what is the secret. I got my products in and i love them but i guess living in a “small town” people around here are skeptical. Any ideas or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

Does anyone who sells Melaeuca have a suggestion for satsfying the 35 point requirement and keeping the price around 50 bucks? Any thoughts- I would like to be able to help my customers place an order and give some guidance.

I am another person recommending to avoid this company. I enrolled on advice of friend, found products not nearly as beneficial as advertised nor do I use enough to keep paying minimum order fee. After a few months I tried to un-enroll, what a disaster. Three months later and they’re still billing me. They create an unending system of “go to this website and find the exact page and fill out that form and fax to this number and wait for processing and oh, a line wasn’t filled out right”….complete scam. Funny, it sure was simple to enroll! The more I look to complain the more I find hundreds of people on the web with same complaint, so there’s clearly merit in the complaint. I wish I never heard of them.

I am also a Melaleuca customer and business partner. When I placed my first 35pts order it came to 46.00 with tax and shipping it came to about 57.00. I think I did pretty good with my first order! I love the products and how effective they are! Especially the Rx products! I can’t wait to place my next order and get some of the other products! After researching the large amounts of toxins there are in common household cleaners and other products, have made it a goal to “switch stores”!

It’s amazing how many people claim they “were not told” something and then blame Melaleuca for it.

When YOU signed up YOU completed a form with the details. YOU then received a kit along with your first order of products that gives even MORE detail on the entire company and ALL of it’s policies regarding ordering and shipping.

@Stacey- Your complaints about the 75 point director requirement are completely wrong. You evidently did not read any of the information that you were provided from the company. The compensation plan and requirements are in the information you recieve with your FIRST order.

People. PLEASE read the information that you are provided and stop blaming the company or someone else because YOU did not take the time to do the research or call the company with your question.

http://www.Melaleuca.info

well worth the time to learn…it’s a wonderful company, with amazing products that do not require safety caps… that speaks volumes! and vitality vitamins have helped my chronic fatigue enormously. recommend you try and see for yourself.. .everything is guaranteed anyway, so there’s no risk…
602-345-0577

This is not a bad company nor a good company for the consumer. It falls somewhere in the middle. Bottom line is, if you think Melaleuca is “green” you are buying hype without doing the research. Sure, there are likely better than most, but there are equal, if not better, and less expensive, products out there. Remember, those who signed you up make money off of your purchases. Therefore the price you pay is going to be inflated to keep those payouts going. It’s the only way the company will stay profitable. I don’t think this is bad thing necessarily, but it’s an obvious issue that many choose to ignore. Most of Melaleuca’s beauty products (including Renew) contain petroleum bases. Please note that ingredients are not listed directly on the product, you will have to request the info. The problem is, petroleum is not an ingredient you want to be using if you are “going green” for health reasons. Those with allergies, autoimmune diseases, and those seeking healthier care products would not want pertrol products on their shelves. Their makeup and haircare is NO better than most else you’d find in the drugstore, in terms of chemicals and toxicity. The cleaning products are fine, but why not use vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, pure melaleuca or essential oil from the health food store, etc for similar results, healthier ingredients for certain, and less cost and commitment? Instead of using acetominophen, aspirin, heartburn remedies, etc. why not learn to reduce or cope with minor pain and headaches without drugs that may be toxic to your liver or kidneys? When I have muscle pain after a workout, I head to the tub with some mineral salts. I don’t use processed foods, so the boxed “diet” foods and shakes are out with me. Nobody needs to eat snacks like that for health. A better choice is a fresh salad and some fruit. All of this basically means that if you are not overally dedicated to the products (and perhaps the novelty of these well marketed products delivered to their door), the monthly cost and commitment of ordering all of these items may not be worth it for you. However, if you like the products, the delivery, and have no issues spending the required cost (and you can actually use that amount of product per month), then Meleleuca is a pretty decent deal. I suppose some people can make some money at it as well, but unless you’re actually signing up people beyond friends and family, you probably won’t make much. It is what it is.

There are a lot of differing comments about Melaleuca here. Personally, I have had a good experience with Melaleuca but when you’re that big of a company you are bound to have a bad experience or two somewhere. I like their products a lot.

49 going on 50 so tired are my vitamins not working?