LifeVantage Review: By ExpertMLMReview
Founded in 2003, LifeVantage Corporation is a publicly traded (ticker LFVN) network marketing company specializing in scientific anti-aging products utilizing its clinically studied Protandim supplement.
LifeVantage has a very interesting history…
Their stock went through the roof back on 2005 after the release of clinical studies and TV specials by ABC, the Today Show and PBS regarding their Protandim product. This early publicity sent their stock up to over $20 per share but it could not stay there without sales to backup the publicity. At this point Protantim was only available through retail channels and it did not do well on the shelves of nutritional stores.
In May of 2009, after more than 6 months of planning and preparation they turned to network marketing for distribution. Not surprising to those who understand the power of MLM, LifeVantage sales have dramatically increased and in turn their stock price has more than tripled from its low of less than $0.10 in November of 2008. Still a bit too early to say, but it looks like MLM is proving to be a good fit.
As with every review, let’s start off with the easiest place to spot a scam… THE PRODUCT!
Protandim Review – I can’t speak for the product because I’ve not yet tried it. What I can say is I am more inclined to try it than any other nutritional product I’ve seen recently due to the extensive clinical research and peer reviewed studies that have gone into it. Over 20 universities have initiated various self funded medical studies on the product in relationship to its relation on anti-aging and disease. Several have been completed and are posted on www.pubmed.gov under Protandim to view.
Unlike most nutritional products, Protandim is not an antioxidant by way of supplementation but rather a product that stimulates the body’s production of its own natural enzymes which the body uses to destroy free radicals. Clinical studies appear to prove that it is many times more effective than ingesting external antioxidants for this purpose. The LifeVantage corporate website (http://www.lifevantage.com) gives access to all the studies, reports and news videos releases on their product that explains how it works and what it does.
What I like most about this product is the unique marketing angle it has…
Unlike most network marketing companies which must resort to the old “try it out (for 30, 60 or 90 days) and see how you feel” line, LifeVantage distributors are able to honestly say that Protandim is clinically proven to reduce oxidative stress by slowing down the rate of cell aging to the level of a 20 year old.
This alone is not enough to build a business on, but it’s a great ice breaker for distributors. Often the hardest part in building a nutritional MLM business is getting people to try the product and LifeVantage seems to have a bit of an advantage in this area.
As for the price of the product, I was also pleasantly surprised. In an industry where product auto ships are routinely over $100 per month, a one month autoship supply of Protandim for a retail “preferred customer” is only $39! This pricing is far less than the industry norm, thus making it possible to acquire true retail customers.
In addition to the core Protandim product, LifeVantage also has a skin care product called TrueScience which is a skin cream designed with the anti-aging properties of Protandim. What I like about the overall product line is its simplicity; just two core products, with one core selling point, and a price that is actually reasonable.
Ultimately it is going to take more than research and publicity for a product to make it. Protandim will have to make a noticeable impact on the wellbeing of people taking it, whether it be more energy, better sleep, not getting sick as often, etc. There are not too many people who will spend money on a product every month on studies alone. Only time will tell on this, if you are reading this and have tried the product, please feel free to give us your feedback below.
LifeVantage Compensation Plan
I’m not going to even touch the topic of how lucrative the compensation plan is. There is plenty of money available in every compensation plan as long as it’s legal. If you hear somebody going on about how their compensation plan pays the most money in the industry, good chance something is not right.
Technically speaking LifeVantage utilizes a unilevel comp plan paying down 9 dynamically compressed levels with the potential for a matching bonus on the first 4 levels and a coded bonus for Vantage pack qualifiers that allows for bonuses to be earned through unlimited depth. If none of this makes sense to you don’t worry about it.
The most important part about the compensation plan is legal, because it only pays commissions on product sales. LifeVantage has taken an additional step to promote the movement of product that I really like and which does a lot to ensure legality. As with every company, distributors must stay qualified to earn commissions, in LifeVantage this means 200 PV per month in personal volume. The nice part is that the volume generated from personal “preferred customers” reduces personal volume requirements for distributors. This means that as a distributor, if I have enough personal customers consuming product, I can reduce my monthly personal volume requirement down to the minimum of 30 PV.
Behavior rewarded will be duplicated so when you see a company reward the enrollment of true retail “preferred customers” (people buying the product, but not partaking in the business opportunity), you will likely have a high customer to distributor ratio. This ratio is one of the most important things the attorney general and FTC look at when determining if a company is a pyramid scheme or not.
LifeVantage – Company & Leadership
There are a few notable points of interest regarding the company beyond the brief history I’ve already mentioned. LifeVantage is a member of the Direct Selling
Association (http://www.dsa.org/forms/CompanyFormPublicMembers/view?id=44F6200000362) and the BBB (http://www.bbb.org/denver/business-reviews/health-and-diet-products-retail/lifevantage-corporation-in-littleton-co-90014185). They were involved in and settled a lawsuit with Zrii. In this lawsuit, they were alleged to have conspired with former Zrii management/distributors to break contracts and switch to companies. While the lawsuit sought damages of 250 million, it was settled for 400,000. This type of lawsuit is not uncommon in the network marketing industry and in my opinion nothing to be worried about.
As for the leadership behind the company, David Brown, formerly with Metabolife, is the CEO and Dr. Joe McCord, the driving force behind Protandim, is the Director of Science. It is noteworthy that Dr. McCord was the co-discoverer of antioxidant enzymes and their relationship to free radicals in 1968 at Duke University. I also like the fact that LifeVantage has experienced in-house legal counsel with Eric Marchant, who has counseled multi-national hundred million dollar MLMs in the past.
A look at the industry and competition…
It is common knowledge that nutrition is the backbone of network marketing industry and there is zero doubt that the health and wellness industry is growing and will continue to grow. On the other hand I think today you have an excess of companies entering into the industry and it is easy to get lost amid the confusion and clutter unless you have something unique… I think LifeVantage has just that. With a low product price point and the kind of research and publicity behind Protandim, I think they are suited to do very well in the network marketing industry.
The final word…
LifeVantage sells a legitimate product at a price point that real customers can afford and markets through a compensation plan that is in my opinion more legally sound than your average MLM. While there is a lot of research and publicity behind this company you still want to be sure your belief is 100% behind it before getting started. In network marketing, belief sells and no amount of research can replace that. Give it a year or don’t give it a month. Lifevantage will work if you work it.
Yours in Success,
Shawn Cornett
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Please explain, scammer…
8.11.2 – Product Claims
No claims, which include personal testimonials, as to therapeutic, curative or beneficial properties of any products offered by LifeVantage may be made except those contained in official LifeVantage materials. In particular, no Independent Distributor may make any claim that LifeVantage products are useful in the cure, treatment, diagnosis, mitigation or prevention of any diseases or signs or symptoms of disease. Not only are such claims violations of LifeVantage policies, but they potentially violate federal and state laws and regulations, including the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and Federal Trade Commission Act.
Cindy Sams (LiveVantage Distributor # 150434) – you are illegally promoting Protandim as a disease cure and thus not complying with company policy. You are also not complying with the U.S Code of Federal Regulations (Food & Drug Act) – noting that even using implied medical claims to market a product which isn’t FDA approved isn’t allowed. Furthermore, the testimonials you have posted do NOT adhere to the FTC Guidelines concerning what the “typical” result can be expected – noting that typical results have to be able to be substantiated and that disclaimers such as “results may vary” are NOT a safeguard for making atypical claims. Both you and the company are liable for the breaches of the law.
It angers me to no end to see frausters such as yourself promoting the product in the unlawful manner that you do.
And what the hell are your qualifications that enable you to advise on or promote any products for the treatment of elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, treatment for diabetes or any of the conditions you have listed (including cancer!) - a personal trainer??!! In other words, you aren’t qualified to pull a splinter from an arse. Pfft….what a joke!
Consider my complaints to the above mentioned authorities lodged.
Please explain, scammer – I refer you to LifeVantage Policies and Procedures which states
8.11.2 – Product Claims
No claims, which include personal testimonials, as to therapeutic, curative or beneficial properties of any products offered by LifeVantage may be made except those contained in official LifeVantage materials. In particular, no Independent Distributor may make any claim that LifeVantage products are useful in the cure, treatment, diagnosis, mitigation or prevention of any diseases or signs or symptoms of disease. Not only are such claims violations of LifeVantage policies, but they potentially violate federal and state laws and regulations, including the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and Federal Trade Commission Act.
Cindy Sams (LiveVantage Distributor # 150434) – you are illegally promoting Protandim as a disease cure and thus not complying with company policy. You are also not complying with the U.S Code of Federal Regulations (Food & Drug Act) – noting that even using implied medical claims to market a product which isn’t FDA approved isn’t allowed. Furthermore, the testimonials you have posted do NOT adhere to the FTC Guidelines concerning what the “typical” result can be expected – noting that typical results have to be able to be substantiated and that disclaimers such as “results may vary” are NOT a safeguard for making atypical claims. Both you and the company are liable for the breaches of the law.
It angers me to no end to see frausters such as yourself promoting the product in the unlawful manner that you do. And what the hell are your qualifications that enable you to advise on or promote any products for the treatment of elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, treatment for diabetes or any of the conditions you have listed (including cancer!) - a personal trainer??!!
In other words, you aren’t qualified to pull a splinter from an arse. Pfft….what a joke!
Consider my complaints to the above mentioned authorities lodged.
Wow. This is a sales force who are clearly out of control.
Is the oxidative stress impairing your thought processes so great that they don’t enable you to wonder as to why a product was unable to be successfully marketed to the largest market of all – the retail market, and instead requires reverting to the MLM marketing model where first and foremost the distributors are the primary consumers/customers and where illegal and fraudulent health claims are made by distributors in promotion of the products?
Why was no-one was interested in Protandim as it sat on the shelves next to all the other products and supplements – because consumers were aware that the product was nothing spectacular (it is after all no more than a herbal concoction), there wasn’t an opportunity tied to the product and hence, they didn’t have a greedy MLM’er misrepresenting the product’s curative abilities!
This amazing cure-all wasn’t even developed by a scientist or anyone with the relevant qualifications - its inventor is Paul Myhill, who is nothing more than a businessman.
If your scam radar hasn’t gone off by now, you’re in all sorts of trouble and vulnerable to being scammed!!!
What about MAX International?
The peer review is NOT independent and certainly cannot be considered objective. Mccord has lead all studies to date and is a major shareholder. Protanidm is a typical MLM product and really no different than Mona Vie. Sorry no miracle cure!
I have been a hardcore athlete on road and mountain bikes for over 20 years. I am now 38 and starting to feel my body slow down. I have tried acia drinks and such and did feel more energy but lacked increased recovery etc. I am a skeptical person when it comes to some of this type of hype, but I have noticed after taking it for 6 weeks I sleep better, sustained energy and I recover much quicker.
My boss at work is a distributer and he had me try it. I have to say I feel I am headed in the right direction. We will see after 3 months. Bottom line, I feel much better than I did before taking it. If this stuff really does work, I am going to tap the masters cycling market in the SF bay area for sure!!
Very good and interesting article on Lifevantage,,,,
http://www..lifevantage.com/davemixon
Wow, your ignorance is amazing you should really do your research before you comment on things you know absolutely nothing about…. really. Have you ever searched pubmed.com go check it out and see what it says oxidated stress and protandim educate yourself.
Hi Shawn,
I think you are spot on with your review of Lifevantage. I have been introduced to many MLM’s and I truly believe this is one of the best that I have ever seen. And it starts with the foundation…..the product! I honestly think Protandim and TrueScience will be in almost everyones home! It is the ultimate anti-aging product, in which the oxidative stress is reduced by 40% to 70%! A true MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH product! This is truly a LIFECHANGER for anyone wishing for wellness and the opportunity for wealth!
Thanks for keeping positive information out about our company and this amazing product.
Http://www.studynrf2.com
Osadog’s comment is partly insightful and partly not. The first two peer-reviewed studies appear to be company-funded and thus not independent. They were still peer reviewed and published as valid science. The remaining six studies appear to be both peer-reviewed, independent and published.
Pretty good for a nutritional supplement, wouldn’t you say? I’ve seen a couple other supplements with one or two published studies and others with some ingredient-specific science. On balance, Protandim seems head and shoulders above the crowd.
Still, the reason to affiliate with Lifevantage is, as Shawn correctly points out, a solid belief in both the product and the opportunity. Don’t have that? Don’t join. I’m a recovering CPA and soon-to-be recovering attorney with almost 30 years of professional experience in business evaluation. I think this deal holds up. If Lifevantage isn’t the best NM opportunity out there, I’d like to see the one that is.
I have tried the product. Infact still taking it. It is a wonderful supplement that does what no other drug or supplement can.
I have tried it for about two weeks and have had wonderful results so far. My blood sugar has been almost always in the normal range. It does not have the spikes as it always had before. I also have more energy and sleep much better.I am convinced that it works for me.
O
Received this from a friend who is currently doing their due diligence on LifeVantage. Just had to share this piece:)
Because Dr. McCord is on the orignal two studies all other studies that are peer reviewed collaborate with the inventor and thereofre the inventor is names in each and every study. You will find this to be true on every “peer-reviewed” study.
What about Max? Are they still in business? They say they upregulate Glutathione. I believe the original inventor died about a year ago.
Lynn, it’s all about “full disclosure”. Evidentl the person you were dealing with did not fully disclose the auto ship to you. Don’t condemn the company for the short comings of an Independent Distributor!
Great job! Just a few observations:
1. The matching bonus is paid 5 levels deep – not 4 levels.
2. The product sells wholesale for $40 not $39, plus tax and shipping where applicable.
Very well done!
Lynn-
How unfortunate you had a bad experience with this company. No matter what company you deal with though, there will always be someone who is just learning or is not well informed. Please don’t judge the company for this as my experience has always been good. The great thing about the autoship is that you can cancel at any time, no questions asked, and there aren’t any sign up fees or extra costs to get the product. I suppose whoever sold it to you figured you didn’t want to pay more for retail when, without risk, you could get it wholesale. Also, you probably don’t want to just ‘try’ it for a month, as this is a product that needs time for your own body to produce the enzymes that Protandim causes your body to make. My husband is a Chiropractic physician and he tells his patients he won’t put them on this unless they will give it at least 6 months. Protandim is very affordable and we’ve seen such great results. Hopefully, you’ll give it another try.
Good luck!
This “review” sounds to me like it was very well written by a person with vested interest in lifevantage. I saw a friend who has been using this miracle cream for a year. She looks absolutely no different to me. I know most of you are “drinking the koolaid” and you’re not going to like this comment but that’s my view!
I totally agree with you. They’re putting down the people that are smart enough to realize this is a total pyramid scheme. I come from a family that’s done fairly well financially through more than one business venture and each one of my uncles told me this was a load of crap. and when one of their brilliant marketing geniuses tried to call my uncle a liar and disprove him, my uncle completely humiliated him in front of people. Lucky for that guy there wasn’t a lot of people present, and the ones that were seemed like they really needed the money.
They are drinking the kool aid for sure! and it’s real expensive to I bet. Put it this way, if they can FDA approve pills to give you a hard on, why wouldn’t they have FDA approved something that is more beneficial to you, say reversing cell aging to make you feel younger? and how is it that some of the best doctors I know have never heard of it. with the amount of medicines and remedies that are available to the public, I find it really hard to believe that this stuff is just sitting around unnoticed boasting a potentially groundbreaking effect. it would’ve been everywhere by now. you don’t just create the cure for cancer and chill with it for a few years.
Also, the stress level of a 20 year old? I’m 23 and I’m stressed out like a mofo. I’d much rather be 80 years old where I can be retired and sit around watching Matlock for 8 hours a day. That would be ideal. This last comment is meant to be a little comical, but it does hold some truths. Whos to say a 20 year old isn’t more stressed out than a 80 year old?
And for anyone that wants to criticize me saying I’m uneducated, you’re stupid. I am educated and smart enough to spot a scam when I see one. I checked all the facts surrounding it, and yeah it might make some people money, but those people are the fat cats holding bags with dollar signs on them. You can call it hating, i call it being real.
I have been using the product about 3 months and have seen a noticable amount of stress leave my face. I have
reccomended some of my close associates to consider using the product. I am 74 years old and have been exploring anti-aging products since 1975. Protandim appears to be a major step in helping me reach 125 years
and beyond.
I just love this product. I just started using it 2 days ago and already I look and feel 20 years younger. It cured every ailment I had. So sorry for any inconveience someone might have experienced with a lying independent distributor. I have only meet the most loving, careing and wonderful people from the company. All the studies are absolutely independent and scientific and prove this is truly the most remarkable breakthrough in medical history.
Oh, and by the way. If you want to experience all the joy and health I have (for the past 2 days) please visit my website and buy from me and be in my pyrimid! http://www.cluelesskoolaiddrinker.net
McCord has been involved in ALL the studies and of course is a major shareholder who stands to earn millions with a doubling of the share price. The journals the studies have been published in are very low level journals. In fact Plos One published a bulk of the studies and they have a very poor reputation. The only other journal to publish one of the studies lists McCord as one of the editors. Think he may have had any influence on getting the paper published? Here is a reason not to invest too much time in Lifevantage and its magic products. Latest year end financials announced $50M in losses. Be careful and check the insider trading to see when McCord starts selling!
Sorry big dog but your wrong. Paul Myhill invented Protandim and is the only name on the patent. McCord was brought in after the fact to add credibility to a product invented by a guy with zero medical or scientific background. You are good though at regurgitating what Lilfeveantage has taught you! You probably think the Navy Seals are testing Protandim right? If you do ask yourself where you heard that rumor.
I’m ignorant? Your the one that has drunk the cool aid. Why no studies in the New England Journal of Medicine? An amazing medical breakthrough like this should attract some real independent research right? The whole “pubmed” thing is Lifevantage marketing. McCord pumpled out some crap research published in low level journals. You can find that nonsense in Pubmed. It is brilliant marketing I have to admit/
Distributors are now spreading a rumor that the Navy Seals are testing protandim. Please dont buy this B.S.
Funny how the language of this article exactly mirrors (and innplaces word for word) the article posted here: http://loumertz.com/protandim-scam-reviews-truth-hype-2/
Osadog. I am not involved with this company, just looking into it. I am curious why you spend so much time tearing down a company and arguing your points when there is plenty of other things to do in this world. Let the others sink their money if they want to. Go be productive.
I am pretty Productive TL. I like to provide information that is NOT being shared by the distributors. I think its important people understand the connection between the research and Lifevantage.
I was a distributor in the company, but I left, for the reason of my upline, Amy Wu, a Chinese group leader, it was very qrong how she recruited and commited, it was a total disappointment.
My parents just got sucked into this and I knew I should have stopped them, I should have, but I didn’t because I had thought that maybe, they only wanted one bottle to try, but instead they both the entire membership mumbo jumbo for 700$ . . . . . I should have stopped them, now I live with the regret.
Not only is LifeVantage a true, authentic product, it has saved my mom’s life! naysayers, beware, people all over the world are changing their own health and well-being with Protandim!!
Life Vantage is Real. I am willing to say that in 10 years it will be a household name in the United States and maybe several other countries as well.
I LOVE this product!!!!! Lets put it this way, it is a gift from GOD!!! My depression is waaaay gone, I took antidepressants for 3 and a half years and had osteoarthritis as well, both are totally gone after a week of using it!!! I love it!!!!
I ordered a bottle of Protandim on December 3rd 2011 and received it 6 days later here in England
In just over 3 weeks I have noticed a Big difference in my energy levels.
Now I will be promoting Protandim as a distributer knowing that as it works for me at 80 years of age, it should work for anyone.
I have just completed an application form to run in a 10km race in London july 2012 for my local charity
Based upon the overuse of exclamation points and capitalization I’d say Protandim has made you manic.
wow Sandusky likes Protandim!
based upon the recent insider selling and the dropping of the share price it may not even be around next year.
What should we do with all our Mona Vie?
Protandim is really quite amazing. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, are distributors and customers who really have seen amazing results, yet, FDA guildlines prohibit us from making claims, so we wait for more studies to come out (and there are many coming out), that validate the story of Protandim, and its effectivenes by reducing oxidative stress in a way nothing else can touch.
http://www.studynrf2.com/
See the website above for more information about Protandim.
Distributors are apparently not stuck. They are making wild claims from curing sexual dsyfunction to cancer cure.
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