Some people from Usana Philippines recently talked about various Usana products, as well as the business opportunity and income potential of the network marketing or MLM aspect of Usana. Here are some questions and observations…
The independent Usana distributors showed a copy of Lyle MacWilliams’ Comparative Guide To Nutritional Supplements.
The various supplements and competitor vitamins listed there showed extremely low scores of 0 or 1. But the Essentials product of Usana had an Editor’s Choice rating of 5.
So, since the discrepancy was quite huge, I asked the Philippine-based Usana distributor about the background of Lyle MacWilliams, and if MacWilliams is connected with Usana.
He’s independent, answered the leader of the group.
So I checked the web and found Lyle MacWilliams’ Association With USANA Health Sciences, Inc.
Lyle shares his expertise as a consultant with a number of nutritional manufacturers and, for this reason, was asked to join USANA’s Medical Advisory Board after the release of the third edition of the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements in 2003. He served on the Medical Advisory Board until 2006. Lyle decided to leave the position, in part, because he felt that that it might have created an impression of bias for his work. Lyle is neither an employee of USANA Health Sciences nor an Independent USANA Associate.
Okay, I get it. The book is being used as a marketing tool. Perhaps the Filipino USANA distributor was simply not aware about this alleged relationship between Lyle MacWilliams and USANA.
They also highlighted the inclusion of USANA products in the PDR (Physician Desk Reference). They also mentioned that Manny Pacquiao took USANA products before the Hatton fight.
Someone posted, however, that the company that makes PDR doesn’t do any analysis whatsoever of the information included.
Okay, so what exactly is the value of the PDR?
Also, why haven’t we heard Pacquiao endorsing USANA? Okay… high cost of endorsement marketing.
With all the “riches” being earned by distributors, where are the pro-USANA bloggers and online supporters? They’re all busy making presentations to family and friends who might become potential USANA distributors or downlines?
So, why should we do the USANA network marketing business?
The distributor gave me examples of people who buy lots of cars, or who are earning $1,000 weekly, or how he (at 60 years of age) can still go out with young folks and stay up to 6:00 in the morning.
He also pointed to two of his companions (female call center agents) and said that one of them hasn’t slept in 41 hours.
I told her: “I don’t envy you.”
(Yes, I get that he was trying to show how the call center agent could last 41 hours without sleep because she was taking a USANA product. I asked if the product had uppers or caffeine, but he said No.)
I dunno… So far, the USANA distributor / team leader hasn’t shown me any solid endorsement regarding the efficacy of their products. Yes, one of the call center agents lost 10 pounds in 10 days (without exercise), but I would expect more substantive proof.
I mean, please… give me more than verbal “proof” of this or that person driving a new car every X number of weeks. And please spare me the wink-wink “Wouldn’t you like to” wink-wink “earn some of that?” wink-wink. 😉
Afterwards, they also said that one of the people associated with USANA won the prestigious Albert Einstein Award (whatever that is), which is not given annually but is given only when someone achieves some earth-shaking medical breakthrough.
Anyway, I’ll share with you how other people are making money with USANA, along with their key success factors and marketing tactics. Stay tuned for that! 🙂
