Hackker
05-13-2003, 08:06 AM
One of my co-workers got into Reliv (http://reliv.com) and everytime I see him he tries to either sell me the crap or get me into the "business". He did it again a few days ago in a e-mail and I politely told him that the business wasn't something I was interested in, either the products or the company. Then he gets all testy and defensive on how maybe I'm not cut out for the company so I figured, no more being nice and shot him back a nice e-mail (at the end). Anyone have any experience with this place? Basically it seems like a MLM company that uses the facade of selling vitams to appear legit....
Trust me, a single red flag doesn't scare me. Multiple red flags from all over does make me wonder about a product/company though. Just some other things I ran across that would make anyone think twice about reliv (more so the company than the products)....
1 - Supplements at retail stores are cheaper.
2 - With proper diet & exercise, supplements really aren't even needed.
3 - I really couldn't find any scientic proof WHY reliv products would be better than others. Just saying its a powder doesn't cut it, they need to show concrete proof that one, the product does work. And two, its better than something I can buy off the shelf.
4 - Smells like a pyramid network, even their own website seems to point that. http://www.reliv.com/images/comp5.gif
5 - To make more money, you have to basically enlist other people in the network. There is the whole "sponsoring" keyword that smells of a pyramid network where you have to keep enlisting more people. http://www.reliv.com/images/comp3.gif
6 - The company seems to target people whould be be easy to take advantage of. http://www.relivonline.com/vanessagladney
7 - They actively encourage you to sell to your friends, neighbors, relatives. This would probably cause people to buy supplements who really don't need them at all. http://www.reliv.com/images/comp2.gif
8 - From their own SEC filings, it seems that a large source of the company's income is from MLM type fees such as seminars, training, and conferences.
9 - Also from the SEC filings, there was NO money expensed for R&D. I honestly find it really strange that a nutritional company wouldn't have even a small budget for R&D!
10 - Their ReversAge product seems to make the unrealistic promise that people will look/act/feel 10-20 years younger.
11 - The company has been investigated (and probably still is) in several states. Not a good sign. Found this tidbit on a website...
"The Reliv company is currently under investigation for their MLM scheme, and it is against the laws of the United States to make claims that supplements can cure anything, either direct or implied."
Trust me, a single red flag doesn't scare me. Multiple red flags from all over does make me wonder about a product/company though. Just some other things I ran across that would make anyone think twice about reliv (more so the company than the products)....
1 - Supplements at retail stores are cheaper.
2 - With proper diet & exercise, supplements really aren't even needed.
3 - I really couldn't find any scientic proof WHY reliv products would be better than others. Just saying its a powder doesn't cut it, they need to show concrete proof that one, the product does work. And two, its better than something I can buy off the shelf.
4 - Smells like a pyramid network, even their own website seems to point that. http://www.reliv.com/images/comp5.gif
5 - To make more money, you have to basically enlist other people in the network. There is the whole "sponsoring" keyword that smells of a pyramid network where you have to keep enlisting more people. http://www.reliv.com/images/comp3.gif
6 - The company seems to target people whould be be easy to take advantage of. http://www.relivonline.com/vanessagladney
7 - They actively encourage you to sell to your friends, neighbors, relatives. This would probably cause people to buy supplements who really don't need them at all. http://www.reliv.com/images/comp2.gif
8 - From their own SEC filings, it seems that a large source of the company's income is from MLM type fees such as seminars, training, and conferences.
9 - Also from the SEC filings, there was NO money expensed for R&D. I honestly find it really strange that a nutritional company wouldn't have even a small budget for R&D!
10 - Their ReversAge product seems to make the unrealistic promise that people will look/act/feel 10-20 years younger.
11 - The company has been investigated (and probably still is) in several states. Not a good sign. Found this tidbit on a website...
"The Reliv company is currently under investigation for their MLM scheme, and it is against the laws of the United States to make claims that supplements can cure anything, either direct or implied."