WAHM Forums

How many have received emails about this? I have received 3 so far...

I got 2!

I got 1!!


A lot of people are..


Kim

One girl was saying that she used all the Arbonne provided pages and she still got 2


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http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif









Edited by: NewMommy

This is the reason I discontinued my site last year. Arbonne wouldn't even let me use my own testimonial. smileys/smiley5.gif <!--
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Edited by: chrlstoncharmed

hm. i am not sure how i feel about this yet...

I had information about the benefits of anti-oxidants. It was from published articles, I am sad that I cannot write anything about anti-oxidants.

Hi all,


I was shocked to find that I am supposedly not in compliance because I am "making medical claims". There is nowhere on my site where I make any kind of medical claim whatsoever! All of the wording was cut and pasted from Arbonne's website.


I do have a page dedicated to my American Cancer Society Relay for Life team - I am using Arbonne as a fundraiser. I am a breast cancer survivor, but I do not mention this anywhere on my site.


Can someone take a look at my site and tell me if they can see something that may not be compliant?


I'm glad it's not just me!!


Here's the beginning of the longwinded e-mail received:
Dear Independent Consultant:
While conducting online research, we discovered that you are using wording on your MyArbonne.com site which may be construed as medical claims. In order to avoid any misunderstanding concerning Arbonne's Policies, please refer to the 2006 SuccessPlan and Policies &amp; Procedures Manual, and in particular to the Medical Claims and Product Testimonials Policy on page 19 section 3.3.9: blah,blah, blah......


Maureen

There is nothing wrong with your site!! I think they used words to scan. So, probably since the word "cancer" was used, your site was flagged.

Maureen~


Your site is fine! Maybe you should email or call and see what they say....

I emailed them
When or if I hear anything I will let you know!!Edited by: NewMommy

I got three. From the way it seems... I think just about everybody got something about their myarbonne website. They may just be wanting to get everyone on their toes. I agree- they must've used some kind of program using word recognition or something. I can't see compliance going through all consultants websites one by one.smileys/smiley5.gif

Hi again-


Ireplied to the e-mail asking for information on where Iwas "non-compliant". I also intend to call the "compliance specialist" first thing in the morning. I'll let you know what happens.....


Gotta go -Beauty and the Geek is on - I love that show!


Maureen

I don't know exactly how they are viewing the sites but I know that I am up to almost 70 hits today...I normally run about 30. I dunno if that means anything...


maybe i just got real popular over night! smileys/smiley36.gif

I also got one and I have NO medical claims whatsoever on my site. I also emailed requesting what exact words I used that went against compliance. I have had my wesite for almost a year and all of a sudden...smileys/smiley5.gif

I hope they are just as diligent about people who are still claiming Arbonne is going to be on Oprah in the Fall of 2005. I had some grumblings from a skeptic about how there are a bunch of liars in Arbonne because they all talked about this Oprah thing that never happened. Sure enough I googled Oprah and Arbonne and it was on tons of websites!


I don't have a site, but one of my BBs does and I got a note about her to tell her to change soemthing...


she used the words Business opportunity and they objected to that.

What if everyone puts a disclaimer like arbonne does stating that these are not medical facts, and profit is based on your own individual effort. Maybe putting that at the bottom of every page would be sufficient?????

I received two messages from Brenda in the compliance department today - one for income claims and one for medical claims. I also used only the wording that was suggested by Arbonne when I set up my site. I asked Brenda for specifics on what was non-compliant. The only income claim I can think of is the Phoebe James quote that is on the biz opportunity page. But again, that came directly from the suggested template. We'll see if Brenda returns my email. I have a feeling she's going to be very busy!


This is kind of off the topic, but I have been wondering... Why would anyone want to work for Arbonne at the headquarters (i.e. cust service, in the warehouse, etc) when they could start their own Arbonne biz and have the potential to earn more money?


Rhonda

I recieved none..does that mean my site is A-OK?

When I joined Arbonne I was surprised that they did not have a website already built for consultants that all you have to do is pay a yearly fee and they update the sites. All sites would be the same, but there would not be any of these issues.


This really has me wondering because when I joined Arbonne my NSD from MK told me that the head of the legal dept. informed her that MK Legal was getting a lot of complaints from consultants because Arbonne consultants were telling MK customers that MK products are dangerous to use because of mineral oil, claims of being all natural, using "bat poop" in the mascaras, making medical claims, that sort of thing, using the crackers with oil thing. The head of the legal dept. also said that other direct sales companies were receiving a lot of these complaints as well, so supposedly, Arbonne is being investigated by the DSA. This is what I was told by her.


I am just speculating about this, but it just seems funny that after I was told that, then now this with the website compliance?

Wow, glad to seeI am not the only one. I got it for using medical claims. Which I did not make. I was a Cancer Oncology nurse for 13.5 years and changed my diet after working with Cancer patients. It made me so made. I responded to them by phone and email with no response. It made me so made I wanted to terminate the site. Besdies under products I used word for word from the catalog. Still fuming about it this morning. I'vehad many people including nurses and doctors read it. They didn't find any medical claims. They also said it would be a very far stretch to sound like a medical calim. Please lookat my site and see what you think. Also, my email said I can not use quots from Dr. John Lee. I don't have any quotes on there and I don't even know who he is.

I received two messages from Brenda in the compliance department today - one for income claims and one for medical claims. I also used only the wording that was suggested by Arbonne when I set up my site. I asked Brenda for specifics on what was non-compliant. The only income claim I can think of is the Phoebe James quote that is on the biz opportunity page. But again, that came directly from the suggested template. We'll see if Brenda returns my email. I have a feeling she's going to be very busy!


This is kind of off the topic, but I have been wondering... Why would anyone want to work for Arbonne at the headquarters (i.e. cust service, in the warehouse, etc) when they could start their own Arbonne biz and have the potential to earn more money?


Rhonda











Oh mine was from Brenda as well. Interesting. I have also left herm messages. Hmmmm.

When I joined Arbonne I was surprised that they did not have a website already built for consultants that all you have to do is pay a yearly fee and they update the sites. All sites would be the same, but there would not be any of these issues.


This really has me wondering because when I joined Arbonne my NSD from MK told me that the head of the legal dept. informed her that MK Legal was getting a lot of complaints from consultants because Arbonne consultants were telling MK customers that MK products are dangerous to use because of mineral oil, claims of being all natural, using "bat poop" in the mascaras, making medical claims, that sort of thing, using the crackers with oil thing. The head of the legal dept. also said that other direct sales companies were receiving a lot of these complaints as well, so supposedly, Arbonne is being investigated by the DSA. This is what I was told by her.


I am just speculating about this, but it just seems funny that after I was told that, then now this with the website compliance?








Yes, there are some IC's who say &amp; do things that they shouldn't. It happens in every company b/c you are dealing with individuals &amp; some will do whatever they think it takes to get the sale or whatever. I've heard numerous things said by other IC's in other companies as well. Your NSD was talking badly about Arbonne by telling you that, there is no difference. Kind of amusing,no?


This is exactly why home office has had to put so many resitrictions on how we do things. I am starting my 3rd year with the company &amp; this is nothing new so it's not a coincidence. They had to start cracking down more as we grew so they have been a lot more diligent, that I've noticed, in the last year.


I got 3 emails myself.. I am sure that the way they are doing it is by word search &amp; so it ended up pulling ina lot of websites that maybe aren't an issue.Email them back &amp; ask for them to specifically check your site. It's always been part of policy that when you have a site you are supposed to turn it in for approval anyway. I know I didn't do that &amp; if I had maybe I wouldn't have gotten an email.


The IC'swho bad mouth other companies &amp; make ridiculous statements like what you mentioned upset me &amp; hurt all of our businesses. The companycan't monitor people during one on ones or parties &amp; know what they are saying. They have put out multiple notices on what we can &amp; can't say &amp; people either listen or they ignore them. Really the only way for the company to try to put a stop to that &amp; control them is by monitoring everyone on the web.


It sucks for those of us who do follow the rules but I really don't know how they can get around it. You know how it goes, a few bad apples spoil it for the whole bunch. I would prefer they do it &amp; protect all of us than not.








Edited by: Soonergirl74

I think all of them were from Brenda. And I think they were all just a standard thing with examples of what they were considering as a medical claim, product claim or income claim, depending on which word flagged yours. The Dr. Lee thing was on there for those who do reference him.


Like I said, I got flagged for all 3. And some of the examples they were using seemed pretty innocent to me but I am sure they are going by whatever their legal told them to go by. I don't understand why someone can't say something like, "I feel like my skin was softer &amp; clearer after using Arbonne" but apparently legal feels otherwise. Can't argue with that b/c they know the laws that we have to go by better than I do. And actually, since I obviously don't know the laws I'm glad they are out there trying to protect me!


Edited by: Soonergirl74

Hi -
I am waiting for Arbonne offices to open this morning to make a call to Brenda.

I was just thinking... They push the MyArbonne.com Program so much, if it is a policy that web sites need to be approved, why don't they say that somewhere on the MyArbonne site after you sign up and create your pages? It could be part of the activation process.

Maureen

I got one as well. It was the medical claims one and talks about DR. Lee. My site is pulled completely from the Arbonne.Com site, and I don't have anything on there about the Proleif or Dr. Lee, so my thought is that this is a Form Email. Obviously the didn't read every word on every site. So may people got this that I have to beleive there are certain words they don't want used, or certain disclaimers they do want used. I emailed back for specifics before I make any changes at all.


I think more likely theres a mistake and emails got blasted to everyone, or something like that.


Of course I couldn't help thinking I wish they were as vigilent about nailing the people on EBAY! http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif


After all its all how you present things, and from what I've read hear and on the Arbonne Yahoo group, it sounds like a lot of people are offended!





Meg

Jennifer, I agree that there are consultants in every company that do not do things right. We had the same problem in MK. I think my NSD was trying to scare me into not joining Arbonne, but instead, by her cutting down Arbonne and saying some of the things she said, that made me even more sure about the choice that I had made. So much in fact, that I am getting ready to pack up every single MK item I have left and send it back.


As Arbonne continues to grow, I feel that eventually they will have to put a standard website into place that all consultants must use. It would be easiest all around.

Maybe it was a scam?? Has anyone been able to talk to Arbonne directly on this?

I agree with you Meg. It is all in presentation. I hate that so many people were offended b/c I am sure that was not intended. And it would be lovely if they could crack down on nailing the ebay people!


Maureen, that's a good idea about it being a part of the activation process. I think they have something directing people to the policy &amp; procedures on the myarbonne.com site but so many people may not have time to read it right then &amp; then it slips their mind. People just don't realize it's supposed to be approved.


Sandy, it's too bad that she felt like she had to resort to that. Her loss is our gain though! smileys/smiley2.gifAnd I agree with you about the standard website. Though I am sure there would be a lot of people who would have a problem with that as well. I don't think there will ever be a solution that is going to make everyone happy.

Brenda, just left me a voice mail. It is not a scam. Unfortunately I couldn't talk with her the baby was having a melt down. It sounds like certain words triggered the response from compliance. I guess since I say Cancer it would trigger it. But, if you read the whole site I am not maing a medical claim. Again, I still do not know who Dr. John Lee is. Weird. I am going to email her now. For more details. She did say on my voice mail "I have a high volume of calls" which makes me laughsmileys/smiley36.gif

I have to say, I would hate to be her today or the next week for that matter. Can you imagine going in on a Friday to face that? yikes! I just hope people aren't taking it out on her. Shouldn't shoot the messenger so to speak.


Dr. John Lee is an expert in progesterone cream. A lot of consultants have read his books to understand why or how balancing creams work &amp; should be used.

Yikes is right. The poor woman will be pulling her hair out with the volume of emails and phone calls she's probably getting! :)

Oh thanks. I was wondering who Dr.John Lee is. I don't think I have anything on my ebsite from him.


I did just send her an email. Made it as nice as possible. because I agree I'm sure even though I was fuming. I don't need to ruin her day. Others may not be pleasant to her.


Well we'll see what happens. I'll keep you all posted.

Hi


Guess who I just talked to???? Yup, good old Brenda.


She seemed a little bit flustered. I told her that I had received a disturbing e-mail from her last night saying I was making medical claims on my website. She said they did a word search on 10,000+ sites for terminology that could be in conflict with Arbonn'es policies. I told her that there wasn't one page on my site that made a medical claim. I asked her to look at my site and I called her attention to my American Cancer Society Relay for Life page and asked her if the word "cancer" may have triggered the e-mail. She said yes and I asked her if fundraising was against Arbonne's policies. She told me I wasn't supposed to fundraise with Arbonne! That's why I got the site in the first place - on the recommendation of the ERVP who signed me up!


I swear Isomewhere on the Arbonne website there was a mention of fundraising. I asked Brenda how I was supposed to fundraise without making any mention of what I was fundraising for. She said" Whay you do on your own time is your business, we don't endorse any groups" WHAT????


Can somebody point me to anything mentioning fundraising on the Arbonne site? I just paud $120 and I'm sure if they pulled my site I wouldn't get a refund! Brenda was not much help in telling me if I was compliant with Arbonne policy or how I could fix it if I was not.


Help!


Maureen

Maureen , I would bring it to your upline. See if she can find out.

Maureen,


I've never seen anything in the policy book saying we cannot do fundraisers. We can sell to anybody and if we decide to donate our commission for a specific purpose, that is our choice. On your website I would state at the bottom that Arbonne does not sponsor the American Cancer Society and that you as an Independent Consultant are donating your commission for this cause. I don't think Brenda handled it well with you, but I also would not want to be Brenda right now receiving all these calls. smileys/smiley5.gifMaybe submit it to the policy compliance dept. via email and put the disclaimer at the bottom???

We've all had issues with this mess -- and its all over the rbonn board too. I haven't not heard back from Brenda yet, by phone or email but as you've all stated -- who would want to be her today (or next week for that matter). One of my team members did receive an email response from Brenda that stated Arbonne did do a random word search and the word that triggered her non-compliance was "wealth" It states in Brenda's response that "If you are not making any income representations on your site, but are using the word "wealth" you may disreagrd the previous email we sent you." Apparently Arbonne is also in the process of updating all their myarbonne.com templates also so that the problem will be avoided in the future. It is kind disheartening to use company provided templates and then be told you ar ein non-compliance though. Let's pray it all gets worked out before they start pulling any websites -- cuz after the money that it costs to do my webpage....I'm not going to be real happy if they pull it for using their templates.

They do not endorse? They had a fundraiser for the American Red Cross!