It’s been a year and a half since I canceled our membership in Melaleuca. We were not in it to make sales or have a downline. We were attracted to their environmentally friendly face, their use of concentrates that reduced plastic containers, and discounts for “members.” The products themselves were quite adequate.
It was annoying that we were required to purchase a certain amount of produce each month using a point system. The point value of items could change month to month. These required purchases left us with more products than we could use in a month. In fact, we still have a store of various products and won’t run out any time soon.
Then, their ecological packaging fell behind competitors who offered laundry strips and biodegradable packaging. This was not a deal breaker, but it meant we needed less of their plastic packaged products.
I tried their touted supplements that made no difference in my health.
Things took a dark turn for me when I discovered that Frank VanderSloot’s family (the founder and then CEO of Melaleuca) lobbied against marriage equality in California although he lived in Idaho. (I understand that he has had a nuanced change of heart by now and asserts that all should have the same rights. But then to dismiss the dignity of a tenth of the population might not be good for business. I cannot say what’s in his heart.)
With a little research I found the opensecrets.org website. The VanderSloot family has given millions of dollars to organizations and the political party that ever seeks to reduce the government’s ability to regulate businesses that would pump toxins into our environment. The same party wanting to take away women’s rights (already partially successful), to cut taxes for those who need it least, as well as degrading our social safety nets. This is not my idea of wellness since I see personal, environmental, and social wellness to be intertwined. Now, I’m not saying that the VanderSloots’ personal values align with what we see in today’s Republican Party, but they nevertheless enable those who do.
I twice wrote via U.S. Mail to Mr. VanderSloot about my concerns, hoping to hear some justification and to resolve my dissonance, but I received no reply either time.
It seemed that Melaleuca’s version of wellness applied only to the alleged purity of their products while the world in which we live, and our children will inherit, can be poisoned. I began to see the cynical business model built on a façade of promoting wellness but whose profits are used to support the poisoning of our land, waters, air, and body politic. After all, the more toxic the environment becomes, the more valuable becomes organic and non-toxic products.
This was a dealbreaker for me. I want the land, the water, and the air to be clean, our legislators to represent ordinary people, and all people of this world to be respected and valued.
Environmentally safe products are more important than ever and I hope that one day any company that cares about our wellness will recognize the importance of keeping toxins out of the things we eat, use, breathe, drink, and wear.
You seem like you want your cake and to eat it to. Growup a little ,it is a Wellness store not a political endeavor
I gathered my data, and made judgments based on my values, with an expectation of integrity. I suggest you read the essay once more. You don’t seem to understand the nature of my reasoning and have presented no contradictory data. To say it is a wellness store and not a political endeavor seems shallow reasoning to me – because of the reasoning I presented. This is my personal choice. You and everyone else (including the owners of Melaleuca) are free to make their choices. To be repetitive, to be the founder of a company claiming to be a wellness store is well and good. However, to also promote policies allowing toxins in the environment runs contrary to the values inherent in a wellness cause. Is that any clearer? How is that wanting one’s cake and eating it, too?
@ daveedwards That would be like the NRA saying selling guns is fine… everything is fine…. No serial killers/crazy people/active shooters/Sandy Hook/Columbine/Mandalay Bay hotel/guns don’t kill people/people do
Right. NRA has zero political influence
I tried melaleuca when I was a poor college student, they have super slick salespeople…..
MLM are only there for the top tier to make $ and push their agenda . Thanks for the logical thoughts on this, K.S.
Some people make a go of it, but I’d like to see the statistics on the percentage of starters who actually make it to that top tier – and what it took to get there.
It’s alluring to think one might profit by others’ efforts (to which you may have contributed, of course).
Thank you! This is exactly what I was concerned about. As they point out, companies use our dollars however they want, and that is important to me too.
You are a “writer”. Want to write an “auto” but I think my brain would go before I finished. Once me still me!
🤠🙏
Have been in Melaleuca over 35 yrs. Never heard such childish malarkey as from above. Obviously “2” isn’t a dealbreaker!
I certainly don’t expect everyone to agree with me but could you elucidate exactly what is “childish malarkey?” I’ve been surprised that an expectation that people take responsibility for the consequences of thier actions is childish.
If Melaleuca is working for you and you approve of its operations, by all means continue, but vague attacks detract from your position.
Perhaps it’s because you haven’t removed your blinders off yet?
I’ve been/was a client & a distributor for about the same number of years as well, I wrote them about maltodextrin & other fillers in their supplements & vitamins. They called me, I re-explained and the woman said they’d look into it.
A few years later now and their ingredients have never changed or been replaced with anything better.
I am Canadian, that monthly amount to buy also became way too expensive. We were buying items just to fill that montly amount, too much money! So, I quit altogether!
I’m with you, Sheryl. Have been with Melaleuca over 20 years. They are a solid Company with safer products and a desire to help people who want help. Pretty simple and refreshingly honest, with some awesome products I would never be without
Thank you Karl!
It’s disappointing that Melaleuca’s political actions contradict their mission of helping people. In 2024, they contributed $5.5 million to support Project 2025—a move I cannot stand behind. After 12 years as a loyal customer, I’ve chosen to resign. I refuse to be part of this troubling narrative. I drank the Kool-Aid and was gobsmacked to learn the truth. I have vowed to help other learn the truth as well. How can we get the word out?
We do the best we can. Social media seems to be the modern means of communication but that has its own issues.
Tengo 3 meses dejando saber que no me interesa la membresia y me mandan a unos e-mail donde se pierde mi notificación de que no quiero mas la membresia y llamo y me mandan otra opción pero no logro mandar mi notificación de qué no deseo mas la membresia y todavía tienen el descargo de llamarme que todavía me van a cobrar la membresia cuando yo les he pedido que la cancelen y me dejan en paz yo repruebo todas esos protocolos que ellos tienen
Yes, they are persistent.
Whoa this is really tripping information its flabbergasting and disheartening.
I’m just a little confused-did you work for Melaluca? Or just purchase from them? I’m only asking because I have an opportunity to work for them in marketing and I’m trying to gather all the information I can to make the right decision. It sounds like a good opportunity to work from home, which is something I really need at the moment and am having a hard time finding. So I was just wondering. Thank you!
I was a member/distributor, happy with their products, but disenchanted with the founder.
It isn’t a good opportunity, unless you want to work yourself crazy building a downline. However they call it, it is multi level marketing! And one has to constantly try and try to convince others to buy, buy and buy more! It almost broke me or sent me to a looney institution!
Too many promises, too little results.
I respect your thoughts and agree. Most people don’t care about their skeletons. They go on with life taking no responsibility or accountability for their actions. They preach one thing but do another. It’s all an illusion to keep up appearances.
Indeed. We need genuine responsibility, transparency, and integrity.