There are 4 possible answers to this question:
1. USANA has superior products
2. Their direct selling form of marketing takes advantage of relationships founded on trust to convince customers to pay a higher price
3. Each sale results in several levels being paid, so the cost of selling is higher
4. Many people buy the products with the intention to join the business, and this adds value to the product
The only reason that says anything good about USANA is 1. 2 makes USANA an example of deceptive marketing. 3 is good for the distributors who have a big downline, but does nothing for consumers. And 4 makes USANA clear cut pyramid scheme, according to the FTC. Product sales become a de facto fee for joining the business. The "fee" earns the recruiter a commission just for recruiting. That is known as pyramiding.
So are USANA products really superior? How much are their products actually worth? If you search USANA on ebay, you can find products for a fraction of the price. (As mentioned in my Pyramid Scheme article) So you can certainly find USANA products for a cheaper price. It makes sense that people buy the products because they have to when they're in the business(also explained in the pyramid article), and those distributors try to make back at least some of the money spent by selling on ebay. This cannot be considered retail sales, because the price the distributor bought the products is higher than what they are selling them for. The large volume of people doing this has driven the price down to about 2/3 of what it had been. This would indicate reason #4.
So what are USANA's claims to superiority? Inclusion in the PDR doesn't hold water. The apple test doesn't tell us much about Usana's effect on the human body. Preservatives make food last longer, should we all be guzzling those? The claims on their labels have been described as pseudo-science. I even tried taking Usana products for a while and got symptoms of vitamin overdose and exploding head syndrome, something I had never experienced before. From personal experience, I can tell you that most of Usana's contents go straight through you. If you've ever taken them, you know what I'm talking about.
So are we paying extra for all that stuff that's left over? Doesn't seem like a good deal really. I'd rather buy a cheaper supplement that actually had the right amounts of stuff in it.
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7 comments:
I am looking for a good healthy science based vitamin product to take and I stumbled onto your BLOG in my research process. You seem to be a very upset and angry person in general. Full of cynicism and negative criticism. Have you ever visited the Corporate Offices of USANA in SLC, Utah? How do I know that I should trust what YOU say about this company or any company for that matter? What are YOUR Credentials? What is your vocation and educational background? In what field of study are you an expert? Are you a Scientist? Are you a Business Major? Did you Major in Marketing? What do you know about these subjects on a professional level and not a vindictive level. What you do have that you could share with me that can enlighten me and help me make a very good choice?
WOW!
It seems to me that you are so far off when judging USANA. From the research that I have done so far, I have learned that it is a company with the utmost integrity. I plan to visit the corporate offices to tour their facility in the near future. I suggest you to the same. Why not? What do you have to lose?
Thank you.
DFS
USANA's Essentials got a 5 star rating in the book "Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements" by Lyle McWilliam. They studied and
perform a test over 1500 multivitamins from US and Canada. USANA's Essentials got the 5 star rating together with 4 other brands. USANA products also became UTAH's Best dietary supplement for 6 years. It is also used by world top athletes and prescribed by doctors.
USANA also sponsored international major sports events and athletes.
Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
“It is absolutely imperative for our athletes to know precisely what they’re
putting into their bodies. And with USANA’s guaranteed assurance of the
quality of their products, our athletes can trust that they will be able to attain
optimal health and fitness without the fear of violating the strict WADA
(World Anti-Doping Agency) code they all adhere to.”
— Stacey Allaster, President, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
US SpeedSkating team
“US Speedskating thanks USANA for contributing to the sport of
speedskating by meeting the nutritional demands of our athletes
as we pursue greatness at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games
in 2010.”
— US Speedskating Team, 2008
USA Luge
“USANA provides USA Luge with tested and trusted nutritional supplements.
Their wide range of customizable products allows each member of our team to
create the supplement program that works best for them. With our intense travel
schedule, our athletes can’t always count on having all their nutritional needs met,
but USANA closes that gap. Each athlete is different, and it’s a pleasure to work
with USANA, a company that clearly understands this critical concept.”
— USA Luge, 2008
and a whole lot more!
THESE ARE THE FACTS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. Judging USANA with your personal experience doesn't mean that other people will also experience it. So make a better research in the company and their products, or better, sue the people behind USANA Health Sciences and the people who gives USANA such high adn LEGAL credentials.
What makes you think that I am angry? I just want to spread the information about this very bad opportunity. A more recent blog post shows that 3% of USANA distributors even receive a check monthly!
@DFS
I do not see any reason that I should go to the corporate headquarters. The problem with USANA is happening everywhere the distributors are, not just in Utah. USANA has formed pyramid schemes all over the place.
@Ojm
Those are reviews and editorials, not "facts." Do you know the difference? I have also heard that the "Comparative Guide" was heavily influenced by several USANA members.
Usana Report, those actually ARE facts.
What you "heard" about the Usana reps influencing Dr MacWilliam is NOT a fact.
he was sent out by the CANADIAN PARLIAMENT to do RESEARCH on the products... think he would screw his government because a few Usana reps bribed him?!?
Hello, I'd just like some information. I do agree that the products are quite expensive in comparison to other products, and the only question is whether the quality of these products are as good as they claim. For the moment, I will leave that section aside, as arguing about the validity of the information sources may lead nowhere. Here's my question:
From where did you get the information that the cost of production is 1/5 of the retail price?
High Cost of Products.... or good stuff Versus junk nutritionals from Store shelves!
See MLM IS GOOD on
HTTP://WWW.MLMWATCHDOG.COM
Hundreds of companies products busted for fraud. NONE MLM! ABC's 20/20 did a test of shelf shi"""" and 90% were junk.
The only good thing noted was that the shelf scum did not charge for the lead they included in their products!
Rod Cook\
MLM Watchdog
DFS Integrity! Are you joking? If Usana had any integrity they would not be using deceptive sales tactics such as stating that they are listed in the PDR and other books giving the impression that Usana products are superior or that this is a endorsement or recommendation when it is not.
Usana provided the information and paid the fee, then it gets published. It means nothing other than that Usana is deceitful and dishonest. A legitimate business would not do this.
Let's not forget the cancer story that is in the sales script. How one of the customers had un-treatable cancer, no hope, dead in 6 months. That is until they started taking Usana products and now they are cancer free. What a bunch of BS.
With these deceitful, deceptive and dishonest sales tactics Usana has no credibility, none, zero.
If Usana's products are so shit hot and Usana truly wants to get these products to the public why does Usana not sell in retail stores around the world? Could it be because Usana is a big fat MLM pyramid scam? Yup, could be.
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