Is Plexus.... a cult or what?

CindyFooWho

I'm sure that if you're into it, my subject line alone horrified you. Because I've never seen a group of people be so insane over....not sure what it is... a bunch of vitamin drinks? I mean, I don't particularly care because I prefer to get my nutrition from food. Eating is just generally more fun for me. But I have a Facebook friend who sells it or is somehow involved with it, and is pushing it every stinkin day. And it's starting to smell like a heavy marketing, if not a pyramid, if not brainwashing, scheme. She's a sweet lady, but I have to get her out of my newsfeed before I say something I shouldn't. The daily story is that her life was crap before but now she is smarter, more alert, more able to eat right and able to go to the gym because of this magic elixir. It's sad. You can do all of that without chemicals in a glass.

Please do correct me if I'm wrong. I respect the opinions of many on here, so if there is legit data to support this craziness, I'd be interested to hear about it. I'm still not buying it, but since it's in my face every day, I'm curious what you all think.

MissusMoon

I just googled "Plexus Scam" and there are a number of links. I read a woman's review where she said chest pains were a side effect. There's a guy who took it apart in a video pretty well. If it's an MLM, I know it's a scam.

Some of these hopeful MLM people go to a lot of meetings, read lots of motivational materials, even listen to motivational recordings all the time. So a culty mentality isn't difficult to imagine. (My ex-husband joined Amway and it was difficult to deal with. He seemed totally brainwashed into their way of thinking and to this day he blames his failure on me not being supportive or part of the "business")

usmcmp

I see that with most people who buy into MLM type companies. They like the product and get duped into selling it because they'll get a discount, but they also get told they'll make lots of money. They become fanatics because it gets harder and harder to make money. I see this with the essential oil companies, scentsy, isagenix, beachbody, itworks, plexus, pruvit, and so on. Your friend has realized that she needs this product to sound like a miracle in order to make sales.

I don't trust the word of anyone who stands to make money from the thing they are promoting.

ninerbuff

usmcmp wrote: »

I see that with most people who buy into MLM type companies. They like the product and get duped into selling it because they'll get a discount, but they also get told they'll make lots of money. They become fanatics because it gets harder and harder to make money. I see this with the essential oil companies, scentsy, isagenix, beachbody, itworks, plexus, pruvit, and so on. Your friend has realized that she needs this product to sound like a miracle in order to make sales.

I don't trust the word of anyone who stands to make money from the thing they are promoting.

This. Companies that are good at sales will build a following that are totally committed to helping them sell their products. Problem is that most of these people end up being the "customers" for the company rather than the "coaches", "distributors", "ambassadors", etc.
Any program works if it's followed. It's sustaining it that's the issue for the masses and why weight regain happens to 90% of people who try it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ccrdragon

I think this link can explain anything that you would want to know about the product and the company (it's a little biased but she really pulls no punches):

http://www.plexuspoint.com/plexus-slim-reviews/

Jruzer

My wife's cousin sells ItWorks. I've had to unfollow her on FB because that's all she posts about. Pathetic.

fanceegirl75

itWorks should be called "it doesn't work"!

MrsPotStirerLoL

I too know someone who sells plexus and lot of her social media pushes the company/product. I typically would unfollow someone who uses their social media to promote something their selling. If you make a separate page or website for that then that's fine. But from what i read about plexus I figured it's the same as shakeology.

CindyFooWho

Thanks, this helps. You know, every day I'm silently shaking my head at her posts but then I thought, well maybe I'm wrong, I don't really know anything about it. (But I'd never ask her!)

zamphir66

Any position where part of your 'job' is selling to friends/family and spamming your social media feeds, is just a bad business model, IMO. Legitimate businesses don't have to do that.

Good2BMegs85

I started Plexxus to help with my migraines, and it has been helpful. My obgyn looked at some of my supplements, and she said they are a great source of folic acid and other nutrients. I can't say it has helped my weight loss, but it has helped with my energy levels and overall health.

minniemoo1972

Good2BMegs85 wrote: »

I started Plexxus to help with my migraines, and it has been helpful. My obgyn looked at some of my supplements, and she said they are a great source of folic acid and other nutrients. I can't say it has helped my weight loss, but it has helped with my energy levels and overall health.

Strong first post.....

BethanyFrench

I take plexus products, and honestly it really has improved my health. It is not miraculous, of course, but the products are high quality and work. She may have been impacted a lot. People who start taking supplements who never have taken any before DO feel drastically better. A good probiotic, magnesium, and chromium based supplement are hardly scams, you can research them yourself. And It's not a meal replacement, like shakeology. Don't freak out at her for sharing! Lol! It doesn't work for everyone, I'm sure... But it does really work for some. I love to gush about the trim healthy mama way of eating (and don't get paid) because it's been life changing. I love to gush about classical conversations homeschooling... And don't get paid. Plexus changed my health around without my changing any part of my diet... and I would gush about it (and I CAN get paid, so why not ..). She really might actually be feeling as good as she says she does, I was a skeptic. So honestly I would just ignore it and move on, if you don't like it... I did with my friends for a long time. but she might not be kidding about how she feels! just saying!

mommarnurse

BethanyFrench wrote: »

I take plexus products, and honestly it really has improved my health. It is not miraculous, of course, but the products are high quality and work. She may have been impacted a lot. People who start taking supplements who never have taken any before DO feel drastically better. A good probiotic, magnesium, and chromium based supplement are hardly scams, you can research them yourself. And It's not a meal replacement, like shakeology. Don't freak out at her for sharing! Lol! It doesn't work for everyone, I'm sure... But it does really work for some. I love to gush about the trim healthy mama way of eating (and don't get paid) because it's been life changing. I love to gush about classical conversations homeschooling... And don't get paid. Plexus changed my health around without my changing any part of my diet... and I would gush about it (and I CAN get paid, so why not ..). She really might actually be feeling as good as she says she does, I was a skeptic. So honestly I would just ignore it and move on, if you don't like it... I did with my friends for a long time. but she might not be kidding about how she feels! just saying!

D+

Hiro_Protagonist

It's a cult. /thread

milkmaid1980

For what it's worth, Plexus products have been life changing for my family. My husband suffered from chronic neck pain for 20 years and he is now almost pain free. That is the only change he made. He doesn't need to lose weight and doesn't take it for weight loss. My daughter couldn't tolerate gluten or dairy but after being on the probiotic for several months she can now eat anything the other kids can, and doesn't have daily stomach aches or headaches. I had tried lots of supplements and other brands of probiotics with no results. It's not a miracle cure but they are simply high quality supplements that really do help some people with chronic health issues. I think some people go overboard with promoting it. It's not a pyramid scheme, though. That is illegal.

zamphir66

The Plexus Compensation Scheme is the absolute definition of a pyramid scheme. Read it yourself:

http://www.plexusworldwide.com/img/Comp Plan Overview.pdf

minniemoo1972

Have you noticed the pro brigade have very few posts.......

zamphir66

DeficitDuchess

minniemoo1972 wrote: »

Have you noticed the pro brigade have very few posts.......

I've noticed this with Weight Watchers as well, even though WW isn't an MLM. Some people I also noticed only posted in WW threads & defended complaints against it, as if you insulted their child; it'd be that intense of a defense. Which leads me to believe that some of them are WW employees, own their stock and/or both.

grannynot

zamphir66 wrote: »

The Plexus Compensation Scheme is the absolute definition of a pyramid scheme. Read it yourself:

http://www.plexusworldwide.com/img/Comp Plan Overview.pdf

A true "pyramid scheme" is illegal, because money is earned simply for signing people up. Plexxus appears to be just your run-of-the-mill MLM, where bonuses are paid on sales volume; but the volume is stacked pyramidally. Interestingly enough - these plans work the BEST, when you don't succeed. In other words, you bust your butt to sign people up and encourage them to buy product. Eventually, you realize that you are still spending more on product and "functions" than you are earning, so you quit. Your downline then becomes the property of the person above you - and they didn't have to do anything other than pump you up.

Ironically, *some* MLMs (especially the health-leaning ones because they are impossible to accurately compare results) were formed by former Amway Distributors who got kicked out of Amway for abusing the rules....LOL!! When their current MLM fails - they'll just start a new one. The blueprint is already there - all they need is a new "hip" name, a product, and a few people to drink the purple Koolade.

The other problem with MLMs is that their product information is given orally, through presentations at functions, etc. That's when insane claims of "cancer prevention/cures", MS cures", etc etc etc are often *heard* - but the company is smart enough to never write that kind of stuff down because they'd be shut down by the Feds in a heartbeat. The "cure for ________ (fill in any troublesome disease)" will probably NOT be discovered by some obscure "Dr" who refuses to share it through the normal supply chain nor publish their findings in a peer-reviewed Journal.