herbalife

chilledbeast

it is a scam
it is not sustainable
educate yourself
eat real food

hj1119

It is not a "scam" - scam - skam/ nouninformal 1. a dishonest scheme; a fraud. it's just another business selling just another product. Would educating yourself and eating real food be better? Sure. But that doesn't make Herbalife as a company or a product a "scam". That term is thrown around here way too often without anyone actually understanding the difference between a scam and an inferior product. Just because you might think it's a crap a product doesn't make it a scam.

The shake powder and vitamins are a product, no different than the whey protein powder and vitamins you can pick up at GNC or Walmart. Their business model is set up based on "independent consultants" AKA SALES PEOPLE and they have an MLM earnings structure. Everyone has to work, everyone has to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. If some people choose to make their money by peddling vitamins, that's their decision. They're still people who deserve respect. I personally don't see it as any less respectable than people who sell make up, jewelry, customized tote bags or smell-good-wax-melters. And I don't see the difference in earning $5 dollars on every canister you sell vs the guy at the mattress store who gets paid $9 an hour to sell you that double box set.

I'm so sick of people whining and crying about the MLM earnings structure being a "scam." It's no different to your employers business model. EVERYONE who works full time is making someone else money. My boss is a shareholder, and is privvy to very generous bonuses that are directly affected by MY performance and results. How is that any better (or less of a "scam") than someone who makes a profit on someone who is "below them" in a pay structure pyramid?

Valrotha

It's not a scam. Typically, people use the term 'pyramid scheme' to refer to ANY multi-level marketing organization, but a true pyramid scheme is illegal because there is NO transfer of goods or services. The original pyramid schemes, back in the 1930s, are no longer around. The only legal pyramid schemes allowed anymore are government entitlements.

I started using Herbalife products with a friend who was trying to lose weight. I went in for 3 days in a row getting shakes with him. Didn't have anyone explain a single thing about the company or the products. After three days of shakes, I noticed I had more energy and was feeling better. So I stuck with it. That was 9 months ago. I've seen probably 20-30 people who have taken off weight and improved their health because of it. One client of mine has lost 30 lbs and has gotten his blood pressure back into a normal range. And let me be clear about this: I DO NOT attribute that specifically to Herbalife magic but rather to good nutrition. Which tells me Herbalife is a good product, not a magic product, and certainly not unique.

Can you get the same results from eating a well balanced diet? Sure! But as I said originally, for people like me who had no clue what good nutrition is or how to eat well without everything tasting like cardboard, Herbalife is great! "Educate yourself," you say? Well, I am. I started doing that a few months ago along with learning how to cook properly. Guess what, I'm still doing that. This has allowed me to focus on losing weight and becoming more healthy while I'm learning these things.

I have seen some people that Herbalife, for one reason or another, simply didn't agree with. And that's ok. If it doesn't work for you try something else-simple. But there's no reason to bad mouth a product that has proven results.

For me, it's not just about using Herbalife for reduced calorie intake, it's also about feeling better as a result of good nutrition. It's also about not being hungry all day and binging in the evening because I'm starving. It's also about having more energy than I otherwise would due to such a low calorie intake.

Herbalife is not perfect but it is a good company that produces a good product, that's it, not magic, not a cure all, not a gimick, not a scheme or scam.

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LucasEVille

^Re: The above two comments.

Yeah, it's a scam. That's why they were investigated.

MLM companies are NOT the same as other businesses. Hence their designation. They use regular people as their sales force because these products would not sell as well in stores. Legitimate businesses sell their goods in stores. MLM's don't and there's a reason for that.

Your "magic" shakes, which enhance weight loss/lower blood pressure/clear up skin/fight cancer are nothing special, and the claims made are nothing more than a sales pitch.

Using an MLM replacement shake teaches nothing about nutrition. Nothing about healthy eating in a sustainable way. You just want to make some money off people here. And I find it incredibly distasteful.

hj1119

^Re: The above two comments.

Yeah, it's a scam. That's why they were investigated.

You are ignorant to the actual meaning of the word scam, simple as that.

MLM companies are NOT the same as other businesses. Hence their designation. They use regular people as their sales force because these products would not sell as well in stores. Legitimate businesses sell their goods in stores. MLM's don't and there's a reason for that.

So by your definition - Amazon is not a legitimate business because I can't go to the Amazon store to buy something? And the massage parlor up the street is not legitimate because it doesn't sell "goods"? Pampered Chef consultants should consider themselves unemployed because they are regular people who peddle stuff that would not sell well at Walmart?

Just because you think a product is inferior, doesn't mean it is. That is subjective. Walmart sells scented candle wax, and I prefer the quality of Scentsy. I don't buy my make up from Avon - I pick it up at the local CVS. If you think Wet 'n Wild lipstick is better than Mary Kay, that's your opinion. You might think that Walmart's candle wax is better than Scentsy since it's "sold in a real store" *trying not to roll my eyes at this* but I disagree, and it's my right to do so. The best peaches I ever bought were from a dusty table on the side of the road, not my local Food Lion...

The actual business model of an MLM company is used by many corporations, whether you personally consider them "legitimate" or not. I'd be interested to know what you do for a living that's so much more "tasteful" than anyone putting their time and efforts into say, running an Herbalife nutrition club. I guarantee that at the end of the day you are being paid less than what you make for someone else. That massage parlor up the street? The person giving the massage is paying the wages of themselves, their manager, and the business owner. How evil!! ALL TEH MASSAGES MUST BE SKAMS! :sad:

Your "magic" shakes, which enhance weight loss/lower blood pressure/clear up skin/fight cancer are nothing special, and the claims made are nothing more than a sales pitch.

I absolutely agree.

Using an MLM replacement shake teaches nothing about nutrition. Nothing about healthy eating in a sustainable way.

Using any meal replacement shake/bar/etc or following any "fad diet" will leave someone ignorant about nutrition, whether it's a product sold by an Herbalife rep or at GNC or counting points. It's up to the individual to educate themselves about their body.

You just want to make some money off people here. And I find it incredibly distasteful.

I am going to assume this part of your comment is meant for the other poster and my post was just grouped in out of laziness.

Hornsby

Your "magic" shakes, which enhance weight loss/lower blood pressure/clear up skin/fight cancer are nothing special, and the claims made are nothing more than a sales pitch.

I absolutely agree.

So how exactly do you think that selling a product based on false pretenses and lies doesn't equal "scam"?

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gothchiq

It's a multilevel marketing product. SCAM-O!!! U can get herbal appetite suppressants in a legit way; like a drugstore, vitamin/supplement shop, Amazon, etc without shelling out all that money and getting pressured to become a rep. I highly discourage the use of MLM products.

Laurenloveswaffles

I have seen some people that Herbalife, for one reason or another, simply didn't agree with. And that's ok. If it doesn't work for you try something else-simple. But there's no reason to bad mouth a product that has proven results.

For me, it's not just about using Herbalife for reduced calorie intake, it's also about feeling better as a result of good nutrition. It's also about not being hungry all day and binging in the evening because I'm starving. It's also about having more energy than I otherwise would due to such a low calorie intake.

The reason people "bad mouth" it is because it creates a calorie deficit that any human can achieve with real, chewable, tummy-filling food. There is nothing nutrient worthy about Herbalife. It's not even a great source of protein. Take a multivitamin, eat at a calorie deficit, and you will get the same results but without having to drink 2 shakes a day that taste like pure garbage in powder form.

_HeartsOnFire_

^I'm not going to quote you, because most of that rambling diatribe was just that, rambling.

Selling a product through vendors at an increased price to make up for a near-illegal buisness model...scam. When Congress starts investigating you there's probably a good reason why. When the founder of your company didn't even make it to high school and drinks himself to death.... scam.

Amazon doesn't try to use a personal relationship with me to guilt me into buying products. They offer goods for sale. While they may not have brick and mortar stores their business model resembles that of a typical store much more closesly than it does an MLM. Did you know that? I'm guessing you had to. Which makes me wonder why you'd choose such a poor example.

A product being inferior is not subjective. Brake pads that fail early and kill people are not a matter of "well some people like them, some don't." An inferior product is exactly that. And when a product makes health claims that are patently false it is inferior. There are better shakes out there, and they don't have pushy salespeople attached to them.

Now before we go on, which MLM are you a part of? In the interest of full disclosure. Because the only people I have ever seen defend MLMs, are involved with MLMs.

wizzybeth

I have tried and i lost 30 poinds and - 24 cm in 6 weeks! Here is a result in 4 weeks.



Cheers

Yeah but you look really mad in your after pic. LOL

Muddy_Yogi

The founder of Herbalife, who had a 9th grade level education, was sued by the FDA over false health claims and the schemes used to sell them. A problem he dealt with by going on a 4 day drinking binge, causing the greatest of all medical issues, death.

So, totally legit.

Damn ... Brett beat me to it!

Can I add...anything that is done in pyrimid scheme format usually is preaching a ton of false claims.

smantha32

I eat 5 times a day, and it is not only shakes. My food includes, meat, vegetables, fruit, kernels, milk products etc. I removed the junk food and soda, white sugar, white salt and products made with white flour. I have a lots of energy and better dreams with this type of food.

You can lose weight eating this way without the Herbalife.


edited because quote malfunction.

Muddy_Yogi

Scam Synonyms
bunco (or bunko), con, fiddle [chiefly British], flimflam, gyp, hustle, fraud, shell game, sting, swindle

Herbalife was sued for making false medical claims. Millions of distributors were walking around telling people that Herbalife shakes would lower blood pressure, cure diabetes, and get people off their medications. If this isn't FRAUD or a scam I don't know what is!

brower47

It is not a "scam" - scam - skam/ nouninformal
Blah, blah, blah

How is that any better (or less of a "scam") than someone who makes a profit on someone who is "below them" in a pay structure pyramid?

It's a scam.

brower47

It's not a scam. Ty

blah, blah, blah

Herbalife is not perfect but it is a good company that produces a good product, that's it, not magic, not a cure all, not a gimick, not a scheme or scam.

Yeah, it's a scam.

brower47

The founder of Herbalife, who had a 9th grade level education, was sued by the FDA over false health claims and the schemes used to sell them. A problem he dealt with by going on a 4 day drinking binge, causing the greatest of all medical issues, death.

So, totally legit.

I appreciate the info but what is the need of pointing out the 9th grade education level?

_HeartsOnFire_

Just a few points about herbalife...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brent-a-wilkes/herbalife-a-pyramid-scheme_b_4220426.html

Herbalife's business model is far different than every other legitimate business in America because at Herbalife, a distributor's compensation is driven not by how much product they sell to retail consumers, but on how successful they are in recruiting other distributors into the "business opportunity". The vast majority of income generated by the company is from the products purchased by new distributors duped into buy their way into the business.

In other words...they make money by making salespeople.

Salespeople are taught, "The distributors are trained about how to tell a-rags-to-riches story such as "I used to wash dishes for minimum wage and now I sell Herbalife and make $150,000 per year, drive a luxury car, and live in a fabulous mansion." If a distributor is not yet a success they are told that they need to "fake it, until you make it" -- a favorite saying of Herbalife's founder Mark Hughes."

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Muddy_Yogi

double post. Here's a flower :flowerforyou:

It's so pretty!

brower47

The founder of Herbalife, who had a 9th grade level education, was sued by the FDA over false health claims and the schemes used to sell them. A problem he dealt with by going on a 4 day drinking binge, causing the greatest of all medical issues, death.

So, totally legit.

I appreciate the info but what is the need of pointing out the 9th grade education level?

I tend to doubt the intelligence level of people who drop out of high school. If that makes me judgmental, so be it. Guess you can lump me in with most every employer, ever.

And yet he was smart enough to found a multi million dollar business (as sketchy/illegal as that business is). It just seems like unnecessary information.

Birder155

I tend to doubt the intelligence level of people who drop out of high school. If that makes me judgmental, so be it. Guess you can lump me in with most every employer, ever.

My employer wasn't judgemental, thankfully.
Now, thirty years down the road, I'm collecting a nice, fat pension.

Here's a flower for you. :flowerforyou:

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hj1119

A product being inferior is not subjective.

Yes, it is. You might like prefer Jiffy, I might like Peter Pan and we can argue all day long about which one is the better peanut butter and at the end of the day it's subjective.

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Candi_land

I tried it sometime back in 2012 before I started on here and lost 40lbs. I was hangry, broke from buying the products, and ready to throat punch babies for a chicken wing.

Oh and I gained all the weight back plus an extra 10 once I got tired of drinking my food.

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brower47

The founder of Herbalife, who had a 9th grade level education, was sued by the FDA over false health claims and the schemes used to sell them. A problem he dealt with by going on a 4 day drinking binge, causing the greatest of all medical issues, death.

So, totally legit.

I appreciate the info but what is the need of pointing out the 9th grade education level?

I tend to doubt the intelligence level of people who drop out of high school. If that makes me judgmental, so be it. Guess you can lump me in with most every employer, ever.

And yet he was smart enough to found a multi million dollar business (as sketchy/illegal as that business is). It just seems like unnecessary information.

I don't think people who start fraudulent businesses are all that smart. I think people who drink themselves to death are even less intelligent.

Being aggressive/cut throat/unscrupulous doesn't make you smart.

If you judge intelligence purely on ethics, then we don't have much to discuss. Plenty of incredibly smart people have done terrible things and plenty more have gotten themselves killed through drug use.

Being passive/gentle/scrupulous doesn't make you smart either.