Melaleuca

[becominkindacruncy]

Hello! My SIL is wanting us to use Melaleuca products. Any advice before we make the switch? Good or bad things? Your favorite and least favorite products? Anything will help! Thank you and sorry for all the questions!

[partymoo]

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[Satori]

I won't buy there stuff due to there animal testing policy's.

[tinuviel_k]

I personally would stay away! The products are overrated and expensive, and you are required to buy a set amount each month. It's not just a matter of buying a bottle of cleaning spray: you'll be pushed to buy dish soap, detergent, household cleaners, shampoos, personal products, toothpaste, vitamins... I think they have over 350 products. Which sounds good, but expect to be pushed to spend about $65 each and every month. If you sign up as a "preferred customer" that is exactly what you'll have to do, and if you don't make the minimum they deduct money from your account.
I maybe spend $25 a month on household products, including personal care items and cleaning supplies. Sometimes it is quite a bit lower than that. Being required to spend $65 would be ridiculous: I would be looking for ways to spend an extra $40+ each month. That is almost $500 a year I would not have ordinarily spent!

Melaleuca is basically a multi-level market scheme.
Your SIL is trying to add you to her list so she can make a commission. Unless she sells a certain amount of product she loses money. And a seller of pyramid-scheme products does not make money by selling products: they make money by creating more sellers under them. Pretty soon she will try to add you to her "team," talk you into becoming a distributer, so that you too can "make money while protecting the safety of your family." Then you will be required to try to unload all this stuff on your friends and family, too.
If that kind of business interests you then that is not necessarily a bad thing. But if you don't want to be pressured to open your own Melaleuca selling business then run for the hills!

There have also been complains that although the products are claimed to be "safe" the company refuses to disclose their ingredients on a lot of the cleaning products. I prefer to buy from companies that proudly show they have nothing to hide.
http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/ask/melaleuca

In my opinion it is just not worth it. I make a lot of my own cleaning products, and I know for a fact they are safe, natural, and effective. They also cost me about 50 cents. (There are some great books on the subject). What I don't make myself I can buy: safe, environmentally friendly products of my choice at my local health food store, and they aren't that expensive, either. There are many brands to choose from, and every single one that I buy discloses all of its ingredients, so I know they are not harmful to my family. I can't see the point of tying myself to a sales scheme like this when I have perfectly good natural options to choose from right in my own town.

[vegmom]

Originally Posted by Satori

I won't buy there stuff due to there animal testing policy's.

ITA. I stay away from companies that test on animals.

Also, there is no way that I spend so much money on buying products. We may go through about 20$/month not 50-65$

[tinuviel_k]

I recommend reading this article from Brain Child Magazine: http://www.brainchildmag.com/essays/...08_schultz.asp

[becominkindacruncy]

Thank you for your input everyone! I told SIL that we just can't afford the extra expense right now. Its true!