Advocare = Pyramid Scheme?

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Saphron_Girl

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I had someone recommend Advocare's "Thermoplus" to me as an effective metabolism booster and fat-loss supplement. I'm the type of person that very rarely sees any results from such products, so I went home and tried to find some information (ingredients, etc.) about it on the net - but came up with surprisingly little.

Apparently Advocare is a company that tries to get its customers to start selling for them, offering a large (40%) discount on their products in return. This sounds like a pyramid scheme to me.
Though, it makes you wonder... are these people so desperate to get their hands on these products (so that they won't regain the weight?) that they'd be willing to turn into salesmen for it?
 
if its a US company i doubt it's a true pyramid scheme as those are illegal.

as long as the reseller can make money, its not a pyramid scheme, as a real 'scheme' only the upper tier actually makes a profit.

i doubt the product is any better than Xenadrine, Release, or any other common thermogenic.
 
Advocare is a company that hires "independant distributors" to sell their products.

Basically, you sign up, pay a yearly fee, and get ppl to buy Advocare products through you. In return, you are given "membership bonuses" like the 20% discount that is offered to every new member.

The way it works is that you are given a reference number when you join and you need to get other ppl to either join as well or simply buy Advocare products. There is a catch though...in order to make a purchase, you must know someones referral number, this way the company can keep track of the volume that YOU (as a member) personally bring to the company.

When you get other ppl to sign up, they give your referral number and now you get credit on the volume that they bring to the company. This is because without you, that additional volume wouldn't exist.

Now...depending on the volume that you (and those under you) brought to the company in any given month, Advocare (or any other similar company) would allow you a %'age share in the profits from that month.

Looking at it like this, yes i must admit, that IT IS a pyramid scheme. But honestly, WHAT ISN'T?! Take your own job for example; you work your ass off...your bos does very little. You get paid very little...your boss gets paid alot more. There are alot of workers at your level...but at your bosses level? just him/her.

But if you are going to look into doing something along the lines of "independant distribution" or "retail selling" or any other name (there are lots) I would look into a company called Quixtar. They are much better known, sell more "name brand" products, and have been around a hell of alot longer than anyone else.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.
 
...ok so its not technically a pyramid scheme in the true definition. but to everyday people and wjhat comes to mind when you say "pyramid scheme" it kinda is
 
It's Not a Pyramid Scheme..

It's not a pyramid scheme, but all those 'especially quixtar which is 'Amway Online' are nothing more than Multi-level marketting where the top dogs make money by getting you involved and selling their materials to you to teach you how to become rich. But, do some research on the number of people who actually DO make a good living in any multi-level marketting versus that that are con'd into getting involved.

And yes, IMO there is a big difference between regular business and multi-level marketting. Sure, your boss might not do as much in your eyes to meet his income, but alot of that labor is converted to responsibility, and one of those responsibilities is everyone below him... he can lose his job just because of your performance.. you don't get that in multi-level marketting, you only have to get more people under ya. Which, just makes a fragil system.

But, should you buy suppliments or whatever from someone in quixtar or another multi-level marketting? Well, be a good consumer, do research on the product to see if it meets your needs and then calculate up everything to make sure you are getting a good deal. Heck, if you think you can save money or make money by getting into it. I say, go for it if it's something that suits you. It just doesn't me.
 
Thanks for the info, guys.

I'm curious, does anyone have any first-hand experience with Advocare's products (particularly Thermoplus)? Are they any more effective than a supplement that doesn't involve this unusual selling scheme?

I'm trying to decide if it's worth it...
 
Saphron,

I'm willing to put money on their supplement being no better than anything else you can buy off the shelf without an expensive 'buy in' for membership.

FYI, their 'scheme' is no different from Avon or Mary Kay schemes as far as I can tell (or Pampered Chef)
 
That's what I'm thinking, Malkore... just not worth the trouble.

(BTW, I've purchased things from Avon/Mary Kay before and they don't require you to pay a registration fee just for the honor of purchasing items from them. This, however, is what Advocare does.)
 
I Take Thermo P

Hello, I saw this post and I felt compelled to make a comment. You are asking about a supplement called Thermo P? I take Thermo P! It works incredible, I also take some other products as well but Thermo P kicks but. I have lost 60lb in 7 months off AdvoCare so I really believe in their products. Second of all you don’t have to pay a membership fee to buy their products! Who told you that? You can buy a membership if you want 20% off all your purchases. Works just like a GNC Gold Card, but you don’t have too. AdvoCare products are the best products I have ever taken and I have tried a lot! So I say give it a shot worked for me! I can even give you a link to where you can buy it and you can get it from the same guy I buy mine from, but it sounds like you might already have a source.
 
josh PM'd me about this, so I felt compelled to look at ThermoP's ingredients, and claims, and then make a more educated post.

Well, I do need to retract my statement. ThermoP looks a lot less effective than other thermogenics out there.
Key ingredients: sage extract, oolong tea extract, guarana extract, thiamine, niacin.

sage extract isn't a thermogenic that I've ever seen research on. tea extract, sure that works a little bit. guarana extract is your caffine. and then two B-vitamins.

I take Thermocin, because it has all that, plus white willow bark extract, and synephrine. that essetially is an ECA stack, with synephrine taking the place of ephedra/ephedrine/ma huang. and ECA stack was PROVEN to work.
 
Thermo P

The reason you haven't seen the Sage Extract Olong tea combo is because AdvoCare has a patent pending on that. It is a powerfull ingredient formulation. Also you can only get that Sage Extract one place in the world and it comes from france, and AdvoCare buy everything they make! I always go back to what I say the proof is in the pudding. My wife went from a 10-4 when she added this to her diet.
 
Also Malkore I do appreciate you taking a better look at the products! It shows that you are willing to do some research rather then just saying what comes to mind. It also adds more credibility to what you say. I do however want to tell you that I didn't understand the whole sage extract either but when I added this to my diet fat was melting off.
 
Have to give my 2 cents worth

I had to write in on this topic because the supplement industry is flooded with mis-information, gimmicks and companies that may offer one good product while offering others with little or no research what so ever. I never carried supplements in my Private Personal Training facility because of these reasons even though every one and their brother tried to convince me that their products were the BEST and that I could add "value" to my business.

I tend to go on a tagent so if your willing to keep up, buckle up and read on...

I have been in the fitness industry for well over 15 years and have worked as a certified trainer for over ten years now and have been in business for myself for 5 of those years. I have recently added AdvoCare products to my business model and the reason for it is simple... The Products are SAFE, they WORK, and they are backed up by THE BEST SCIENCE ON THE PLANET... PERIOD!

I was the BIGGEST skeptic of this supplement company and had to do my own research before adding them to my business. I got hit by all the direct sales companies and I did my research on them as well, some offering some good value (but never truly convinced me) while others out there are absolute JUNK! Just to name a few, Shackley (good but I was using better from Vitamin Shoppe), Agel (WTF), Usanna (RUN AWAY!), Xcelerate (Good, nothing negative to say but still wasnt sold), Nikkon (huh?) and the list goes on and on and on. So when an AdvoCare distributor cold called my facility it took every bit of her energy for me to even allow her to come into my door. I still had a bitter taste in my mouth from some of these other companies.

To make a valid point very clear here guys, I offer the BEST in personal training, the BEST in personal service, the BEST in nutritional counseling and now the BEST in the supplement industry. I encourage you to do your OWN research. Find out like I had to WHY this company stands alone in the market of so many companies out there and why my clients, friends and family are so happy and energetic, looking and feeling better than they have in years.

I am so proud to carry these products and as far as the business opportunity, anyone can do this. Some of my clients are now in the business model by choice, not by me ever pressuring them. They are just sharing the products with their sphere of influence after those people came to them asking "What are you doing, you are looking GREAT!"

And in these economic struggles and times, the health and fitness industry is still breaking new ground and is on an economic UPRISE! Take some serious thought the next time you come across an AdvoCare distributor. It may not be for you but dont you owe it to yourself and your health to consider what could possibly change your life forever?

Whatever is working for you, stick to your exercise and nutritional program and never quit. Good luck to each of you.
 
Just HAD to come join the forum and dredge up a post from 2 years ago to swear the company isn't a scam...

But "I'm not a spammer"...

Riiiight......
 
Digging up 3 year old posts to say "no no, its really that good" means we instantly label you as a spammer.

Thanks for playing!
 
Murphy76 said:
I have recently added AdvoCare products to my business model and the reason for it is simple... The Products are SAFE, they WORK, and they are backed up by THE BEST SCIENCE ON THE PLANET... PERIOD!
Click to expand...

PROVE IT! Reference those studies.

I review supplements, I have companies sending s**t to my door that is so useless, half the time I don't know what to do with it. Other times I have companies that send me stuff on request, then cry like little babies when I rip their products a new one.

In general, I've found that companies that are generally "happy" about sending their products for review have stuff that's... on the minimum... some what worth while. Speaking generally here, of course.

Let's see what AdvoCare has to say when I give them a ring.

[To Be Continued...]
 
Found an article about niacine flush

Check out this article. It seems to say the flush is healthy. But I really don't know anything about it. So I make no claims, but it does seem to come from a reputable website:

Also, I have used thermoplus and have no problem with it. My wife used it and lost 14 pounds in 19 days. I think that's pretty awesome. I've lost 11 pounds in 19 days, and I weighed 178 when I began.

I have before and after pictures as well from using the AdvoCare products. I'm a martial artist and have found the products to be the best I've used so far. I decided to become a distributor and get the %20 discount, and it has been turning out that I've been able to make extra money on the side. For me, it's working out great. And I feel great, too.
 
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