Arbonne International
Reviews and Complaints

Information about me:

25, unemployed (other than my "Consultant" status), unlimited free-time to devote to "my" business, previously employed in a million dollar a year business in an executive title but got tired of the hum-drum 9-5, on-call stuff.

I was immediately drawn to Arbonne because of the influencers on Instagram that speak so highly of it. The Mercedes, the ability to have flexibility and work/life balance, the free trips, the new friends you'll make... the list goes on and on.

I signed up for Arbonne because I was unemployed and I thought it would be a nice way to make some extra income, although my significant other supports our family quite easily without my help and I don't need to work. I thought it would be a fun way to meet some women in my area doing the same thing I am and "really link arms and go to the top" as these IG models/#bonbabes say.

BOY, was I in for a rude awakening. Here are some nightmares from my experience...

- I joined and the fee to join was something like $79.00. When I finally did my consultant transaction (without buying product or what they call QV) I spent over $100.00 just on shipping + some starter kit I didn't even know what contained.

- I joined at the beginning of the month - they extended a promotion from August into September that the fee would only be $49.00. Not sure why I had to pay the full amount when they extended the promotion.

- My upline insisted on a FaceTime call to welcome me to the business. She lives out of my state so that was the only way. It was 30 minutes long of her telling me so much information I couldn't think straight. She then proceeded to tag me in 10 videos on Facebook that she expected me to watch about having passion for "my" business, how to recruit, how to start up, other success stories from other consultants/RVP/area managers, and many other. I also was sent to sites, invited to Facebook groups, and included in group chats, download a video chat software for our weekly calls... again... the list doesn't end. This is SOOO overwhelming for a new consultant.

- I am such a self starter... Every idea I sent to her within the first few days of "my" business, she praised highly. She called me all kinds of pet names and kept telling me how amazing I was. I guess this is how they lure you in to thinking they care.

- She included me into an Arbonne Graphics group in which consultants all over the world post these terrible looking flier that they make. I make fliers myself in Photoshop so I was appalled that they were sharing and applauding all these flier with GRAMMATICAL errors and that literally looked so clunky. A 5th grader could have done better on these. I never really used anything other than Arbonne provided graphics there.

- In the Arbonne Graphics group, there were so many consultants asking questions, requests for fliers, etc... It truly felt like a team environment and I LOVED IT! Until I was scolded for inviting other consultants to my first Facebook Launch. Someone had posted that they wanted to see how a launch went. Me, thinking that we were supposed to "LINK ARMS" posted that they were welcome to mine. My upline didn't like this. She claimed that we should be inviting consultants to the party and that she didn't want the tips and information we shared within our team (which had several top earners in it) to be shared with anyone else. What happened to "linking arms?"

- I was encouraged to attend a conference in my area. It's 35 bucks to sign up... I'm forced to sit with my team only. Why can't I socialize?

- When you start, you're expected to send 30 messages out to people basically begging them to let you call them and talk their ear off about the products and the opportunity. Then you're supposed to have a "dream team" call with a few people who you want to work for you... Most of the people read my message and didn't respond. They also want you to have coffee dates. They don't advertise it saying to meet up and go to lunch or have a fun girls day, they literally call all the interactions "coffee dates" but you're not supposed to have coffee on the 30 Days to Healthy Living program? Uh, okay...

- My upline hosted my first Facebook Live launch party. I invited like 80 people and 5 people tuned in. My grandma, mom, boyfriend and my boyfriend's cousin... I was told I was welcome to join... but I didn't have to. Okay... My upline talked for 45 minutes. I was bored and it's "my" business.

- I was told at the beginning that all product I ordered would come in at a 35% profit back to me. I ordered 300 dollars worth of product and confirmed this after ordering - I was told that it doesn't count for my own sales... Cool.

- Another FaceTime call with my upline, she wanted to talk about me having a LIVE launch party and inviting people. She wanted me to link her in through FaceTime so she could explain the product and opportunity. Do you see why I'm using quotes for "my" business?

- Tagged in another video about "how to go district."

- I have concerns that I express when she wants me to push certain products. I haven't tried many. I explained to her I wanted to try them myself first to put some girth behind my claims of their stellar potential. I am told that I don't need to personally try them to recommend them. Why? That doesn't make sense. I wouldn't recommend a restaurant I haven't tried.

- Another run-in with the Facebook Graphics group. A woman posts there about verbiage when talking to new clients. I simply post something to get the post notifications when people comment. I am told by my upline that we have such a successful team and I should not be taking advice from anyone else. Micromanager at it's finest.

- Everyone copies and pastes everything. They alter and tweak it to look original. All copies of paycheck stubs or the texts from Arbonne Pure Pay where it says "$ was loaded to your card." are copied and pasted through the whole company. You think "wow... my friend just started working this business and she's already making this much?" To find out it was reposted from someone who's actually been sludging through this company for 10 years.

- It's not a "FREE WHITE MERCEDES," it's a monthly stipend for one. They don't just give you a car. You have to still lease the vehicle through a dealership in your name + pay the payment monthly. What happens once you stop working with Arbonne?

- Finally, it's not about the wonderful products. It's about recruitment. It is a pyramid scheme. My upline harasses me daily to make calls and recruit people, not to sell product.

They make you feel like this is your business. It's not yours. Unless you allow it to be. Your upline is a pain in the *** and make your business a constant 24/7 demanding "opportunity." I am still with Arbonne. I plan to disconnect myself from my upline and continue to sell product to anyone who wants it. Not bombard people, but simply make conversation about what this product is. I will not sell the opportunity. I do enjoy the products honestly so I will just purchase from myself at my wonderful 35% off discount.

Peace be with you (and if you are trying to decide if you want to be a consultant, spend your money on something more worthwhile... like a value pack of ice cream sandwiches.)

You don’t realise until you finally get out, just how brainwashed you were. Yes, you, a fairly intelligent well educated person who would never be hoodwinked.

I’m so ashamed of the time I spent (quite successfully) recruiting people to my team. People I cared about and who all lost a lot if money. Nobody makes any real money until VP level. It is an entirely “fake it until you make it culture” You are highly encouraged to do so.

It is lining the pockets of a few people who continue to get richer by the people below them preying on their vulnerable friends and family. No matter which way you dress it up, it is a pyramid scheme. I spent my whole time walking the walk, talking the talk and denying that myself. I had every argument learned by heart to rhyme off as to why it wasn’t a (certain Egyptian shape) and it was the most equal system ever etc etc.

I truly wanted to believe it and got carried away by all the positivity and fun and uplifting training sessions. Great fun, but you and those you care about are paying the price. Paying for the VP white mercs and their second homes .(mansions) in the sun. Whilst consultants are encouraged to recruit people and have them place ridiculous starter orders.

In my day the suggested starter order was £1600 and we were pushed heavily to get that full business order in. The « upline » were very disappointed in you if you didn’t. You were encouraged to say it was essential to get on the ladder and get half way to District and to find a way, borrow/ get a credit card, « if you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way » Very few make that money back. The vast majority are left with huge credit card bills and a cupboard full of products they can’t shift.

I’m racked with guilt over the people in my team who did this. I truly believed in it at the time. Thank God I woke up. I’m so sorry to everyone I asked to catch up for coffee and hit them with a full on powerpoint business presentation.

We were told we had to do this at least twice a week but ideally as much as possible. Poor friends who honestly thought you wanted to see them for coffee. I cringe just thinking about it. The thing is the people in Arbonne are nice, or at least seem that way in the most part, they are not bad people and they believe in it with their whole heart.

The products are ok but not as amazing as they are made out to be and so many people have reactions to the flagship line.. there is a whole spiel about it purging the skin blah de blah. The products are way over priced but they have to be so that every person above you on that Egyptian shape gets their cut of what you sell. It’s making a few people very rich and selling false dreams and getting the majority into debt.

Please don’t make the same mistake I did. I’m not a bitter or disgruntled ex consultant, I actually did ok out of it but the people I cared about did not. I just woke up and saw the lightbone day, out of the 30 or so people in my original extended team I think maybe one or two are still hanging on in there. None have made it past the 2nd level of Area L.

I think only two ever made it that far. You can’t make any more than a couple of hundred pounds as a District or you would have promoted to Area. It goes by sales volume, you hit a level of sales then promote automatucally. So those people pretending it is paying for fabulous lifestyles, houses, family trips to Disney are out and out lying.

Those who made Area in our team told me their biggest ever pay cheque was £500. That’s a *** of a lot of hard work to get that. Don’t even start me on the whole Vegas thing. You apparently don’t take your business seriously unless you go to the AGM at Vegas every year.

All these mothers leaving their kids on their school Easter holidays every year when it is a company that is meant to allow you to spend more time with your family. Promotes family values but you dump your kids on their school holidays and spend thousands on yourself to go for a few days of emotional brain washing where every person on that stage has some rags to riches tear jerking story and gets the whole arena in tears. All to get that fire in your belly and declare yourself an « Arbonne Lifer” They encourage all condultants to post all these glamorous videos and photos and flood social media. Thanking Arbonne for blessing them to be there.

Arbonne have made a fortune out of them being there. The consultants have paid every penny of their trip themselves, air fare, hotel and a few hundred pounds for the conference ticket. Not Arbonne! They are also encouraged to spend a fortune ordering the IWIA (I want it all ) sets of new products launced.

Usually a good £400 upwards! The NVP millionaires get the trip paid for them and are rewarded with the most vulgar expensive jewellery while there.,So if you take a District who can’t possibly be making more than a couple of hundred a month at most (many making a loss or getting pay checks of £7) and then subtract the costs of getting to Vegas and all the other trainings and the £150 maintenance you must put on each month ... these people are not making any money. It’s sad but true.

All you are doing is allowing those super rich at the top to keep theor extravagant lifestyles. Took me way too long to wake up and smell the coffee.

Please please do not get sucked in. If it sounds too good to be true, it is!!!!

I have been trying to return these products since last month. I cant get the return document to print.

I was told I can’t send it back with out it. I’ve been trying to contact this company for about a week or more no one is reply to my emails. I get the conformation email that says someone will get back to me in 24 - 48 hrs and no one does.

I do not have the money for these products and need to send them back. I’m very upset and want to talk to someone in charge!!!

Arbonne and its predatory attempt at being inspirational to attract more women to its operation makes me want to vomit. Anyone who works for Arbonne longterm is either a predatory con artist or simply dumb AF for not realizing what they're doing.

The products aren't even good (and certainly not pure...many aren't GMO-free) and are only tested in their own research lab, which is like letting a kid grade his own paper. Meanwhile ANYONE can sell the products and they are not educated the way sellers for real beauty brands (like in department stores) are. They are just telling you whatever they've been told. As for the health lines and the Arbonne 30-Day Detox, these people are not wellness experts any more than the next person.

Arbonne consultants are scam artists.

They use inspirational, highly motivating and persuasive messages about your life, time, money and goals as wrapping paper for a package that's actually a pyramid scheme selling *** products.

Arbonne consultants are unethical, immoral people who prey on anyone they know so that they can make money. They tell themselves they are wellness coaches, but people will tell themselves anything to make their actions okay. The ones at the very top, the Arbonne National Vice Presidents, are by far the worst. If you know one, you will probably see the flicker of dollar signs in their pupils when you look at them.

They will try to distract you with hashtags and messages about how much they love their "job" and their "tribe" but they are just the modern-day junkyard cars salesmen. Don't be blinded by the lengthy talk of time freedom, financial freedom, wanting more from life and so on.

This is what scam artists do. Don't be a sucker.

Placed order and paid for order July 15, 2018. Waited and waited, received part of my order and was told other was on back order til Sept 1st well it is Sept 21st once again told on back order till Nov. and now they want to give me along with what im waiting on a free product for my troubles, well the free product is not even for my skin type. I really use to like Arbonne but now am losing all faith in this company. It should not take 5 months to get product. And now to top it off to write this review it has to be 100 words minimum before it will let you submit. blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

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That looks like 100