Pharmanex is a company that offers health products from vitamins, food supplements to lotions, body scrubs, etc. They are famously known with their NU Skin line (NuSkin). Basically, its a company that markets itself through networking either thru finding someone that will actively sell their products or just recruit and recruit people under them.
Personally, i have tried some of their products before and i think they’re pretty much okay except that the price is kinda high. As for the company itself, i could say they are just like all other networking companies where you will attend a seminar with a very impressive speaker and a believable presentation. And when you sign up, its either you will sell the product or you’ll recruit people under you to join.
So what makes Pharmanex/Nu Skin different? With all honesty, I am pretty much aware of such companies since i was in elementary if i remember it correctly. My father and my aunts/uncles have been involved in many different networking companies and as a kid tagging along, i’ve learned some lessons in this business and i became familiar with the process - from recruiting up to the seminars conducted. So to say, they’re all just the same. So what i notice that makes Pharmanex/NU skin is the way they recruit people which i now call “false marketing strategy”. At first, i thought it was just the person who first invited me to the seminar who had this fooling tactic. But i lately, i learned it has become the tactic of most members.
It all started early last year when i received a phone call from a girl who told me that i was referred by Berna (who happened to be someone i met at the office). She asked if i am interested in trying the job opportunity she’s offering. She said she’s from a company (i forgot the name) and told me they needed 2-3 people to fill in the slots. Then thinking it was something to try just for the sake of trying, i agreed and she told me to meet her at 26F Trafalgar Tower in Makati and bring my resume. I went and was shocked to find out i have been fooled. It was actually a seminar for Pharmanex/Nu Skin. I was really mad at her that time and i wanted to tell her how mad i am and i didn’t like it that she tricked me. But since i have tried the products already and i’m already there, i sat down and just listened. Besides, i have nothing to lose. But then i realized i am listening to the very same type of seminar my father and aunts/uncle went to before. The speaker sounds very promising and fun - well they’re all like that anyway. But in the end, they never convinced me. Besides, i’m not into selling especially those type of expensive products and i’m not into recruiting people either.
Anyway, i brought up this topic so that it can help anyone who might be searching about it too. I have been a victim of false marketing, recruitment strategy or misrepresentation of jobs. Yesterday, a close friend of mine was fooled into attending them. He invited me to come with him for business project a friend of his invited him to. But since i’m not available, i wasn’t able to come. Then early this day, i realized that the trafalgar tower sounds familiar to me. So i googled it and there i found out that its the office of Pharmanex/Nu Skin. And worse, i found out many has been victimized by false marketing strategies or misrepresentation in jobs. I realized it wasn’t just the tactic of the girl who first invited me but it seems to be a common tactic of the company members.
Honestly, i don’t have anything against the company and the products and i’m not saying they are a scam nor every member uses this strategy. My point here is that the strategy that some used is not good. I mean, i for myself don’t like to be fooled so why would i fool others? and i don’t think its good to start a business relationship with someone that started with a lie. That girl could have honestly told me about the company and the product so that if i attended, it would be of pure interest and not because i was expecting something else. They mislead people and fool/trick people just for the sake of having them attend their seminar. Yes they don’t oblige you to sign up but you were forced to attend the seminar indirectly. So for me, if ever i would sign up or join such businesses, i would prefer to register under someone who told me the truth and invited me rather that someone who told me a lie. So i hope the best for those “honest” members and i hope the worst for those “liars”. White lies or recruitment strategy, a lie is still a lie. And nothing good will happen especially in business if it starts with a lie.
A lot have been victimized already by their strategy. Don’t believe me? Well google it and see for yourself….othewise, check out this posts i’ve seen and read!
How to Detect Misrepresentation in JOBS
i almost fell for that one - NUskin
New Recruitment Strategies By Companies?
Recruitment Strategy? Beware and Be Aware!
The Networking Rant
15F Octagon Building
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my friend is a seller ng nu skin products and she invited me before sa seminar pero sinabi naman nya sa akin na sa nu skin yun. pero di ako interested kaya di ako pumunta. masasabi ko lang, sa mga experience nyo na ganyan, pangit nga yung ganun. lokohan yan para lang may mapaattend sila, kelangan pa nila magsinungaling.
Hay sa totoo lang I don’t know why naiisip nila manlinlang ng tao
Naloko na rin ako but I still need to double check pa rin… Long story and medyo nakakahiya rin ishare hihi
@lei naku so victim ka rin pala ng false recruitment of some members. ingat ingat nalang. pero if ever gusto mo pa rin magjoin sa kanila, dun ka nalang magunder sa honest members nila.
Hello there
maybe it was not the right time for you yet…you know why? what if Oprah Winfrey did call you the same way…what if Google called u the same way?
i was called the same way, but i have a different perspective.
Mickey
@Mickey well for me, it would have been a different scenario if it was Oprah or Google or anyone else. But this one is for business or work that is. I have been aware of the company, i even use some of their products before and i have friends who are members. My only point here, is the lies that those members do just to have someone attend their seminar. They don’t realize that they are stepping on the other members who are working hard and recruiting members honestly. They don’t realize that they giving others the wrong impression on their company. Honestly, if i wasn’t aware of the company and the product and i don’t have friends who are members there, first thing i would think of is that they are a scam. But then again, i know its a good company and i wish the best for the “honest” members and i hope the worst for those members who are big liars.
hi kuting. i like your perspective and you do sound fair in your judgment. it’s true that there are honest and lying ones. Sorry you had to experience the latter.
But to explain to you why some people do choose to “lie” or disclose information, it’s because MLM scams have been on the loose until now here in the Philippines so we are very careful in making our prospects have a negative prejudgment about us. I’m not justifying “lying” since I don’t lie myself, but I understand that some distributors are really having a hard time trying to let people be open-minded and not prejudge by associating us w/ scams.
But NuSkin is really a great opportunity to develop an asset that can last you a lifetime. It’s not really about the business but the quality of life you want to have in the future. People who really stuck it up w/ NuSkin are normal people who were in jobs, other business, but just decided to use the company as a tool to get the life that they want so they can enjoy the things they love doing. If you are that kind of person, i do suggest that you overlook that person who mislead you but think about the life that you want to have in the future. If you think it’s possible to achieve doing what you’re doing now, then you do not need a business such as NuSkin.
But for me, I really consider NuSkin as the greatest opportunity I’ve ever stumbled upon. I have firm, strong, and unshakable belief in it. But you will only completely understand me when you’re actually in it.
It’s hard to explain but I do wish you can share the joy I have now. It’s too good to be true yet it is true.
by the way, you seem like a very nice person and it’s rare that I meet a fellow cat lover. I used to have cats but my mom has asthma so we now, we just got a dog who doesn’t shed hair.
we can keep in touch. my personal page is http://eauj.multiply.com
I’m a choreographer by profession.
@sincereboi
well im glad it works for you and that you’re loving it. i’m glad you get my point and that you understand this post is not to be nega about the company but only to warn others of liars. i do understand why they lie as a strategy but still, we its not a good start especially for business partnership. plus, its okay not to state the point directly, a lot of terms can be used but i just hope its not totally deceiving like what i experienced. the group of my friend who’s an active member there does not also tell you directly its nuskin etc, they use other terms that are convincing and not really deceiving thats why they were able to recruit lots of good people and were able to build good partnerships.
anyway, i saw your page. will just add you, syempre my multiply rin me. hehe
huh? what’s your multiply site? did u add me yet?
I was invted by a girl (kla ko nga classmate ko!) she said she’s from a multinational compny. di nya mnention yung name ng company so I was thinking, “What’s this company??” And she said that they conducted a survey about potential entreps in our school And I was the one they chose! Galing noh?? And she also said that that i can earn 20-30K a month!
WOW!
so I got interested!
And I she said that I should attend their seminar so I can understand the business thoroughly so she dictated the address:
15th Floor Octagon Building,
San Miguel Avenue,
Pasig City!
and she also said that I should wear sport casual attire, don’t be late, and be professional that I should not back up in the last minute
So I came just to prove my one word that I will come. and she also said then that there is no commitmnet yet!
Because I’m really interested, I came at the exact time she said. It’s 6:30 PM. I met the girl who called me and I think, she’s quite pretty and has innocent face. She look young because she’s just 20 or something. she ask me what are my interest, hobbies, etc. but I noticed that those questions were just to cover up because she’s always asking if i’m willing to try a business at my age. i’m 19 and still studying so I said to her that if it will not interfere my studies, then I will give a shot.
then, the seminar starts. I was amazed by their funny but smart speakers which I really admired because they are graduates of dentristry, Business management, etc. from different schools like UP, Ateneo, La Salle, etc. they’re really convincing and they said that they’re products or company is the major sponsor of Olympic teams like US,China, Japan!
I was amazed! they also mentioned that they have a rating of 5A1 that is higher than the rating of HSBC which has only 5A2 rating in terms of stability.
that was big!
lalo na they are US based!
di Ba??
so the seminar ended and the girl who invited me came to me again and Said “san ka dun? SA A, B, or C?” A is for “i’m willing to join your company” B stands for “I’m willing but I have some questions” And C is for “I’m not interested”
SO I said “B I think” She ask what are my questions and I ask her ” WHAT is 12600?
She said “It is explained lately right? ”
I said to my self “the speaker just said twelve-six” iniisip ko na hindi niya ipinaliwanag yun kung pera ba or code kasi walang nakalagay na Peso sign sa powerpoint presentation nila at hindi rin pinaliwanag ng speaker dahil sandali lang nya to binanggit!
So I became hesitant!
sinabi ko sa knaya na wala akong ganung pera!
She said “Sa parents mo sabihin mo”
sabi ko ” i’ll try”
and she ask me kung paano ko sasabihin at i-act ko daw sa harap niya na kunwari sya ung father ko!
But after that, she advised me instead na sabihin ko na sa parents ko ung totoo, dapat daw sabihin ko na may business venture ako with my friends and I need 12600 pesos. Ayun daw ung sinabi nya nung she was in my position before. That’s lying!
SO I became more suspicious. why should I fool my parents for this company?
and then after that, I just said, ” OK, I’ll do it”
after she led me seeing they’re products, she gave me an envelope with documents or I Should say articles about how to successful and not about they’re company profile!
tsaka I also noticed n kaya nya ibinigay yun is to make me come back again kasi kailangan ko ibalik sa kanya yun at kasama narin pati ung 12600. URGENT DI BA?? EXCITED SIYA? i’m still a student. wala ko mapagkukunan nun!
So right now, we supposed to meet again but I never came after conducting research about they’re company and I found out na hindi ako nag-iisa! Marame pala nagdududa sa kanila! at marame na complain against them.
MArame pala tayo!
I also found out na They are Using MLM systems (Multi Level MArketing) that has so many disadvantages at ang kawawa, those are in the bottom of recruitment!
Meaning, pag wala kang recruit, di ka kikita kasi dun lang sila talga most na kumikita, sa recruitment. so If you’re a member already, you are obliged to recruit and do same things as your recruiter para kumita ka!
so its a continuous recruiting para kumita kaya most of the companies adopting this MLM gone to shut down!
kawawa ung mga Huli!
Diba?
So I hope na nakatulong ako sa mga nakababasa nito and I also hope na You should think twice pag may offer na ganyan na talagang nakakamangha!
REMEMBER: THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH!!!
you should work hard to earn more!
Don’t be a victim!
mahirap ang buhay ngayoN!
always search for infos!
SA google ok na DIBA??
I ? GOOGLE! U SAVED ME!
BE WISE!
Wag Paloko!
Isumbong nyo kay BONGGANG BONGGANG BONGBONG!
Take Care sa lAhAT!
Hi Yoks. i’m from the company that you went to. The reason why you don’t tell ur parents details is because they won’t understand since you know better now. the P12,600 is the amount of products you get that makes you eligible to become partnered w/ the company. that’s a big deal because everything else i provided for.
Anyway, maybe it’s not a good time for you yet or you’re not really willing to do it. But again, it is not only legal but a stable, billion dollar company. you should research much credible sources like NYSE.com or Dun & bradstreet. you may not know what you’re really missing.
MLM in general is not illegal nor bad. it is a way of marketing products by person to person. there are wrong MLMs though w/c most people are more familiar w/.
Sincerely.
to sincereboi:
I didn’t say that MLM is illegal!!
I just want to say that they should be honest from the very start!
Gusto ng mga tao ngayon is direct to the point!
Don’t lie because business involves trust and loyalty!
alam ko na ang pharmanex and nu skin is a very huge company.
no doubt about that.
pero their strategy here in the philippines is very tricky and suspicious. sana disclose nila ung mga relevant infos about the company itself di ba? If they really want to help people, then be honest sa una pa lng kung paano gawin ung business, ung cash flows at siyempre it should be clear para walang duda. mahirap maglabas basta basta pera ngayon. If they want to recruit members dapat ung mga young professionals ung kunin nila and not the students kasi they are still dependent. for sure may makukuha sila. I’m not against the company but i’m against the people who uses the company and strategy to take advantage from the others. that’s unfair! Maganda ang products nyo so you should be confident na ipakilala to sa public at sabihin nyo agad ung real intention nyo sa mga irerecruit nyo! tnx sa pag-intindi! yun lng po!
from: http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/ht/ht008058.htm
Nu Scam: And speaking of scams, Congress and the Department of Trade and Industry should put a stop to multi-level marketing and pyramiding scams.
One ploy involves teenage students, a number of them from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.
Unless you want your kids to have “skin product sales agent” in their resumé, better warn them about how Nu Skin Enterprises has found a nifty way to sell its products and even recruit sales agents in this country. There must be a child labor law somewhere that’s being broken, and if there isn’t, there ought to be one.
One UP student got a call from a guy named Celso Cambri, who seemed to know a lot about her personal background and academic achievements. That alone should have raised alarm bells, but instead the girl was impressed. Sad to say, my alma mater teaches academic excellence but not street smarts.
The student was told that she was one of a lucky few who had been selected for a leadership training program complete with a stipend sponsored by “NSE Inc.”
Other UP students had also shown interest. The girl ended up listening for hours about what increasingly sounded to her like a seminar on buy-and-sell (she wasn’t a complete naïf), but the “NSE Inc.” folks kept insisting it was a purely academic program.
The leadership program required a reservation fee of P12,600. The girl paid up and was made to sign a contract. When she asked for more time to read the fine print, she was told to skip several parts that did not concern her and to sign ASAP.
She was told that in addition to the P12,600, and before she could qualify for a stipend, she had to submit 300 names to NSE, which was probably how they latched on to her in the first place. Her high school yearbook bore even her contact numbers.
Cambri’s boss Ariel Luther Presbitero gave the student a pack containing brochures as well as Nu Skin products, which he reportedly started opening ostensibly so she could smell the stuff that she had never heard of and never dreamed of buying.
That’s when it dawned on the student that she had been lured into a marketing scheme for Nu Skin Enterprises – NSE. Later, when she tried getting a refund and returning the products, she was told that since the stuff had already been opened, the policy was no return, no exchange.
I guess there’s one born every minute, and the easiest to con are impressionable teenagers. And I guess there are students who would work their butts off even in the middle of exam season to come up with 300 names for NSE to contact and dump its products.
But the kids should at least be told exactly what they’re getting themselves into. The questions should be simple and straightforward: Do you want to be a sales agent for Nu Skin? Do you want to buy Nu Skin products?
I don’t know where deception fits into a leadership program, but then this is the Philippines.
At least you’ve been warned: any company that has to employ deception to get people to buy – and sell – its products has to be a lemon. How can you trust its skin products? You’ll just end up with cooties.
__________________
misrepresentation…
upfront deception and lies…
feel good “seminars”…
no matter how legit the products are, by these “business” practices, i’d rather go with slow and sure income instead of “high income potential” that uses deception and unethical practices… (well for the top 2%, 98% of members have average incomes of less than $38, this is in the US) [ http://www.ncahf.org/articles/j-n/mlm.html ]
besides, why associate myself with a company already “branded” by people as scam and deceptive?
and don’t be proud of the company being in the NYSE and audited by a prestigious accounting firm… ever heard of Enron?
and don’t be proud of it sponsoring the olympics, harvard, discovery, with research and stuff… heck with billions of dollars, a company can do so much, even paying people to have a (biased) “research” of their products…
and by the way, antioxidants have not yet been “proven” to really have significant effects in the body… if they have, the multi-billion dollar pharma companies (phyzer, etc.) will also manufacture them and profit from them…
and why are the products not present in the most credible medical journals of the world?
the list goes on…
to YOKZ:
I understand. But it really is hard to explain things over the phone. The reason why you come over is to see the details first hand, and you have to be w/ an open mind.
by the way, just to correct you, it is not true that “kawawa ang nasa baba”. Nu Skin is a virtual franchising business. That means, whoever is the most hardworking is the most productive. I have business partners who earn more than their mentor simply because they are more hardworking. And in Nu Skin, you don’t need to recruit just to earn money. The profit comes from product movement. I have a partner who hardly recruits but moves product by the volumes. Business is about moving products. The reason why you recruit is for leverage. It’s hard to move millions of dollars worth of products by yourself so you get partners to move it w/ you, and in turn, the company pays you commission from its pocket, not from your partner’s.
it’s pretty much like franchising except that you don’t pay a big amount of capital, neither rent, nor overhead, etc.
Like what Roberk Kiyosaki says, Network Marketing is the greatest opportunity for a layman to become wealthy.
By the way, network marketing is being practiced by proctor and gamble, coca cola palmolive, at&t, citibank, etc. It’s just that the common person doesn’t understand the power of it yet.. hopefully not for long.
Be in business if you want to become successful. But if you don’t want to be succesfful, it’s ok.
to anonymous:
Hi, I am from pharmanex. i do agree w/ the business practices, although it’s not like that w/ everyone. just like everywhere. there are good and bad people. you just have to be wise to decide for yourself to discern and choose.
By the way, you can’t discredit the company’s prestige, including it’s accomplishments and products. It is included in the highest of Medical Journals which is the Physician’s Desk Reference. send me your email and I can send you a copy of it.
The company is rock solid. Enron inevitably had to fall-down due to its corrupt leaders and their greed. The owners of NSE are not distributors. so if there’s anyone to blame, it shouldn’t be the company but “some” of the distributors who do questionable business practices.
With anything, it’s always the people who are responsible.
I hope you understand that.
I just got a call from a woman about this Pharmanex. I guess out of curiosity, I started to check its credibility. I am glad I found this entry, and it enlightened me.