to be a bit pissed off at this arbonne rep?

[somedayma]

a good friend of mine (I'll call her Laura) who lives in a different country asked me to meet up with a friend of hers (who lives in the same city as me) as she had a 'business proposition'. I was a bit but thought 'ah sure why not'.

We met in a coffee shop last week and she showed me a presentation on her laptop about Arbonne skincare (they also do baby products, protein shakes etc). She (and Laura) are Arbonne reps and she was trying to get me to sign up as a rep too. Laura would get some sort of commission from this.

I have to admit the presentation was very good and she made it seem very attractive- "well you already spend money on shampoo/cleanser/eye cream, why not spend with Arbonne and make some of that money back?" etc. And you can 'earn' a mercedes if you make a certain amount of sales .

She cleverly gave me a skin care kit to take away and sample for 2 days (therefore ensuring I'd have to meet her again to return it) and yes, the products seem very nice but I spend a fiver on olay eye cream, I'm not in a position to spend 40 quid on it! But that's beside the point. Apart from having no time to spend on being a rep, I also don't really give enough of a shit

The business model (inverted commas) of direct marketing means no overheads for the parent company

Anyone remember Nutri-Metics, same kinda thing but from the 80's

Nothing but white Mercedes on the roads where I live! Not arbonne it's people working "hard" with arbonne...
Hate that angle that if your one of the 90 odd percent that it doesn't work out for, it's because you didn't work hard enough
I read somewhere while researching this that network marketing can be likened to the Gold Rush. So sure some lucky few will get amazingly wealthy, majority don't. To make money sell people the "spades" to obtain the gold. So you would set up online marketing site showing people how to generate leads / blog / SEO etc.
I can't be bothered to do that but thought selling spades idea interesting

My name is Lola
I work for Arbonne
White Mercedes in the air
Desperation up to there...

"right to insult and laugh about other people who are trying to make a living."

people who are trying to earn back their rather staggering-sounding up-front costs beforethey can make a living, you mean!

Come on, Lola, don't be disingenuous. No-one's mocking people at that stage. Mockery and anger is being directed at the sales patter, which doesn't acknowledge that "underwater" stage, doesn't acknowledge that the products are clearly expensive because the price includes commissions. Why should people spend loads of their own money,only to find they are committed to selling a product which is undercut in price by products of similar quality?

I know a woman who is an Arbonne rep. All of her friends are pulling away from her because it is all she talks about. She is constantly trying to get people to become a rep or buy from her. If someone puts a post on Facebook, she constantly comes back with "if you were an Arbonne rep, you wouldn't have childcare issues because you can work around your family" or "if you used this expensive Arbonne crap, you wouldn't have this zit on your big night out". I've hidden her on Facebook and so have many of our friends. Parents at the school gate now avoid her like the plague. It's such a shame because before someone sucked her into this pyramid scheme, she was a lovely, warm and fun lady.

Also, their advertising about being not tested on animals is a load of rubbish. Ok so their finished products are not tested on animals, however, the ingredients that go into the products have been tested on animals.

Arbonne, avon, ann summers its all the same really.

Legal Pyramid scheme

Oh dear, I am sorry for not writing to perfection. I was just trying to tell my story, didn't worry too much about the style.
I am district manager through sales, not through writing novels. I am educated and English is not my first language, no need to be so rude. I was just telling my story. I would like to see your written Spanish.
Why SNORT at me? I sell products and I get a commission. My customers like them and I get a tidy income at the end of the month. Would you snort at me if I worked at House of Fraser?
It's flexible in a way that I can take my small daughter to meetings if I want to, as all I am doing is meeting a friend in a coffee shop and having a chat. And children are also allowed at training sessions.
And yes, I know a few close friends who have the Mercedes, and I've been to the car presentations. And they are normal people, they just happen to sell Arbonne instead of Clarins and have chosen to work from home instead of a department store or an office.
Anyway, never mind. I just wanted to be helpful not to be laughed at. I don't know why people have the need to be so rude. I am not hurting anyone by doing my job...

And by the way, I don't need the money and I am not desperate. I don't give a sh*t about the Mercedes to be honest as my current car is better than that. I do it because I like the products and I like the social side of it (just waiting for someone to criticize me about that too).
And I have recovered my original investment, which wasn't £1500, but I fraction of that.
Never mind, each to their own!

You sound a bit like a company promotional brochure tbh.
Wonder why.

And you can use shit without bleeping it out.

How odd that all the people raving about this company are commenting on this thread this year and have made their profiles private.
Wonder if it's the same person?
Wonder if they're from the company?

There seem to be an awful lot of rapidly-promoted 'district managers' and 'area managers' out there, all scarily bullish and evangelical. Can't be a particularly meaningful position if there are millions of them and it's handed to you after a couple of weeks.

Not hurting anyone by doing my job..... Well, directly no. However, for every one who (let's say it's true) is successful like you, nine or ten have to make bugger all. Hardly a particularly ethical way of doing business.

Oh come on, let's get on. I really am not trying to do a sales pitch, I am, again, trying to defend myself! It hurts to read comments treating me as a gullible stupid person who has been sunk into a pyramid scheme. I don't consider myself that.
I went to Uni, worked for international companies, traveled the world and then decided to stay at home with my children like so many other women. In the meantime I've set up two successful online companies (and when I say successful I mean they make some money, but I am not by any means a millionaire). Arbonne is my third venture. I thought I would give it a go. I invested a bit of money, and I got it back now. I could give up but I won't, what do I have to loose anyway?
I was given an opportunity to make some extra cash and I took it. I am not hurting anyone. I am not pestering anyone. I only talk to people who have a genuine interest.
I have just realised that I could do so much with that extra cash, I have started organising events for my local community using my Arbonne products (at my own expense) and donating all proceeds to a local charity. I am not here to take advantage of anyone.
If you think of big multinationals who get children in India or China to work 18 hours a day for hardly any money, or you don't have to go outside the UK to find companies who exploit their employees, now that's taking advantage...
Arbonne tells you from day 1 that this is effort based, not a get rich quick scheme. They are not allowed by Law to make any false claims. They have to disclose the average consultant's earnings. There is a whole folder of Terms and Conditions which explains everything very clearly when you join. There is no obligation to buy anything or to stay in the company, you can quit when you want. There is a cooling off period of 7 days after you sign up when you are not allowed to make big purchases, in case you change your mind. And if you do, they give you 60 days to return your products. If after all that, you still go ahead and sign up, then you can't really say you are being taken advantage of...
If I was to call Starbucks tomorrow and say "I want to set up a franchise, what do I need to do?" Will they advise me on what to buy, what to invest, etc? Would you think they are taking advantage of me? I would open the business at my own risk. If it didn't work, would I blame them about it?
Arbonne is a franchise in a box. They offer you the tools and you buy them at your own risk. You are an independent consultant, it's your own business.
Please don't think I am totally brainwashed about it. I would like to think I am not. I sat down for hours before signing up reading every article I could find on the Internet. I found good ones and bad ones. I gave myself a few months to try out and allowed myself to quit if I wanted to. I am happy right now, I haven't seen anything estrange or unfair around me. I haven't seen anyone being bullied or upset by their policies. But of course, like in any company, there will be unhappy people.
Don't hate me for liking a brand or a company. I bet most people you know shop at Tesco, knowing how unfair they are to local businesses, or buy clothes at Primark, knowing how they exploit children in third world countries... Do you slag your friends off about that? I know I don't...
As I said earlier, each to their own...
Hopefully I will get a bit more credit and respect, but if I don't, well, sorry for upsetting you...

I would like to see your written Spanish

No-one on here is trying to communicate on a Spanish language website.

And, last time I looked, the Spanish used paragraphs properly.

You revived a zombie thread for some purposes.
There would have been absolutely no need to defend yourself if you hadn't started with the bloody nonsense anyway.

I bet most people you know shop at Tesco, knowing how unfair they are to local businesses, or buy clothes at Primark, knowing how they exploit children in third world countries...

Where did that bollocks come from?

Honestly, Arbonne, must try harder.

Have a look at this and let's laugh about it. At the end of the day, there are unfair companies and resentful employees everywhere we go :-)

teespring.com/pyramid-corporate

I revived it because I came across it and felt reflected on it, that's all. I wanted to show the "fair" side of it, but I can see there is no use...
And again, I apologise for not having perfect English! I try my best, but there you go...
I swear to god I am not related to Arbonne in any way apart from being a consultant.
What would I gain by convincing you? I am not going to be any better or worse off, just wanted to express my opinion... Freedom of speech and all that... This is all my personal thoughts and nothing to do with the company.

And by the way, I wasn't talking bollocks
metro.co.uk/2013/04/27/bangladesh-factory-protesters-surround-primark-store-on-oxford-street-3669147/

www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-1509764/Tesco-branded-unfair-and-unethical.html

I wouldn't argue that the likes of Tesco and Primark are harsh with their suppliers, nor that they have a negative effect on local businesses (a high street near me has been devastated by the Tesco, and all the more general post-2008 retail problems).

However, it's disingenuous to compare buying into a franchise to working for someone else. Buying into a franchise simply does not suit everyone (especially those who don't have the capital to get started). Moreover, some people are simply uncomfortable with network marketing - witness all the complaints on this thread, from people who feel their friendships have been turned into channels! That's not very ethical, either...

I'm a direct seller. I sell Neal's Yard Remedies. I wouldn't touch Arbonne with a bargepole, mainly because I want to keep my friends and not have people around me think I've joined a cult.
I don't want a white Mercedes anyway...

I went to an Arbonne party at a friend's house. Yes the products were nice, but very expensive. A £36 item in the catalogue, cost me £55 with the delivery charge and extra cost because I'm not a 'special' customer or whatever they call it. I felt ripped off, but if the item had been £55 in the book I probably would have ordered it and felt OK. Oh and the rep was misleading about the delivery charge.
I don't think Arbonne can be compared with Avon who sell good products for reasonable prices, plus frequent offers etc. I really like Avon.
I won't be buying from Arbonne ever again.

I found this thread as I googled Arbonne Reviews (to get product review info). A friend of ours (a rep in Australia) had given me some samples from which I had ordered a couple of products, which I have been happy with. Wanted to just do a little extra background work before deciding whether to replace a couple of bits with Arbonne/ Dermalogica or a cheaper brand. I really just want some skin products that genuinely make a difference or I may as well go cheap and cheerful.
Anyway, must admit I am pretty shocked by some of the comments. If I am honest, the Arbonne business model (like all network marketing) makes me personally uncomfortable - I don't like the hardsell, and in particular, I don't like to push my products on friends (I run my own business and although sometimes I really think friends and friends of friends would like what I sell, it's just not me to push it). That all said, in terms of Arbonne's legitimacy, I cannot see the problem. Everyone in business needs to make a buck. There has got to be a margin it in for everyone or its a pointless exercise. As a small business owner, my main issue is cashflow and minimums - it's bloody hard to compete with established businesses!! So, I can see how the Arbonne type of business model (with very very low set up costs, and virtually no infrastructure costs) is a savvy choice for people who can get their heads around having to sell to friends/ contacts and who don't cringe in response to the Arbonne rah-rah brand values (the whole white mercedes thing is a big turn off for me).
However, I totally support Lola's choice to sell Arbonne to make a living. Why the hell not? It's legal, many people like the products, it's probably just as good (if not better?) value for money as the established 'normal' premium brands (which have lots of people involved in the supply chain all taking a cut). I doubt very much it's any less 'ethical' than most of the products we all chuck in our trollies (virtual and physical) without a second thought!
I still want to know what the best product is (are) to make my skin look fabulous... back to google I go....

A uni friend who I haven't see for years posted pics of her Arbonne cosmetics on Facebook and I liked a couple of her pics so she tagged me saying how much I would love them then tagged her best friend saying she's a rep and I should get in touch. Then keeping in mind she has hardly spoke to me since uni texted me telling me about the products. Then sent me a link to
Their scheme. It annoyed me so much because it's clearly a form
Of pyramid selling. I wanted to know about the brand to see if it was any good not to see how to make money. I thought she was an intelligent girl but has obviously got sucked in!