PureTrim’s web site does have an “about” part, nevertheless no details about who owns or runs the corporate is disclosed.
As an alternative, except for mentioning a launch “simply over 3 years in the past”, PureTrim makes use of the web page to market itself.
PureTrim’s Insurance policies and Procedures doc states the corporate is “a division of Consciousness Corp.”
This lead me to PureTrim’s authentic firm title, AwarenessLife Worldwide. The name-change seems to have taken place on or round Might 2014.
Additional analysis reveals PureTrim and Consciousness Corp are owned by Mark Tahiliani (proper).
Tahiliani is CEO and President of PureTrim. Inside the firm (besides on PureTrim’s web site), Tahiliani goes by “Dr. Marc”.
Why Mark Tahiliani isn’t featured on PureTrim’s web site is unclear.
One chance (which ties into “Dr. Marc”) is Tahiliani ran BigSmart, a pyramid scheme sued by the FTC in 2001.
Slightly than defend himself, Tahiliani settled the FTC’s fraud allegations in March 2001.
Operators of an Web-based enterprise alternative that promised simple revenue for buyers in an Web shopping center community have agreed to settle Federal Commerce Fee fees that their scheme was an unlawful pyramid operation.
Below the phrases of the settlement, Bigsmart.Com L.L.C. and principals Mark and Harry Tahiliani will present as much as $5 million in client redress and publish a $500,000 efficiency bond earlier than partaking in any new multi-level advertising exercise.
The defendants are also prohibited from partaking in any unlawful pyramid schemes.
Whereas BigSmart was ecommerce themed, PureTrim operates within the nutrtional complement and weight reduction MLM niches.
Exterior of PureTrim, Tahiliani cites himself as a “pet pictures specialist”.
Tahiliani kinds his social media accounts with a profile photograph of Don Emeka, a Nigerian sufferer of gang violence in Italy who featured in a Vice documentary.
No concept what the story is there.
Regardless of the purpose Tahiliani retains himself off PureTrim’s web site, the end-result is a faceless company.
Not a superb search for an MLM firm.
Learn on for a full assessment of PureTrim’s MLM enterprise alternative.
PureTrim’s Merchandise
PureTrim markets a spread of dietary and weight reduction dietary supplements.
- PureTrim Mediterranean Wellness Shakes – “this distinctive, entire physique method to weight reduction is the answer for shedding kilos and for reaching total wellness”, retails at $39.99 for a field of ten single-serve packets
- Increase Tea – “will assist help your metabolism and scale back your urge for food and meals cravings”, retails at $39.99 for a 7.4 oz tub
- TrimBar – “a 100% natural meal alternative bar”, retails at $29.95 for a field of 5 bars
- Joint Tea – “enhance your flexibility & mobility with a scrumptious iced fruit tea”, retails at $39.99 for a 4.5 oz tub
- Joint Mist – a “100% plant-based joint & muscle spray is mixed with FOUR sorts of Plant Stem Cells to focus on joint and muscle discomfort”, retails at $39.99 for a 60 day provide
- Cardio 9 – “offers 23 natural greens, fruits & greens, particularly blended to assist enhance your Nitric Oxide ranges”, retails at $69.99 for a bath of 30 servings
- Every day Full – “enhance your power now with the 243 nutritional vitamins, minerals, and vitamins”, retails at $39.99 for a month-to-month provide
- Expertise – “if you happen to’re affected by bloating, fuel, heartburn and occasional constipation, chances are you’ll profit from Expertise”, retails at $39.99 for a bottle of 90 capsules
- LiverMaster – “a time-tested Mediterranean mix of 11 pure elements, designed to cleanse and help your liver, thyroid, and pancreas”, retails at $39.99 for a field of 30 capsules
- SynergyDefense – “a mix of 115,868 pure Non-GMO Excessive Stability Plant Enzymes, together with a particular energetic mix of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Antioxidants to assist with fuel, bloating and to help wholesome digestion”, retails at $39.99 for a field of 30 capsules
- PureGardens – “an natural approach to look 10 years youthful with out chemical compounds or components of any variety”, retails at $39.99 for a 2 oz tub
- Clear – “a pure mix of plant elements designed to assist help a wholesome immune response and supply respiratory help”, retails at $59.95 for a bottle of 90 capsules
- Feminine Steadiness – “an efficient and delicate Mediterranean natural recipe that helps stability the feminine physique to ease the distinctive, gentle signs of PMS and Menopause”, retails at $29.95 for a bottle of 60 capsules
PureTrim’s merchandise are additionally accessible in StarterPak bundles.
PureTrim’s Compensation Plan
PureTrim’s compensation plan pays associates, who themselves are pressured to buy merchandise to qualify for commissions, to recruit associates who should additionally buy merchandise to qualify for commissions.
PureTrim Affiliate Ranks
There are seven affiliate ranks inside PureTrim’s compensation plan.
Together with their respective qualification standards, they’re as follows:
- Govt Promoter – join as a PureTrim affiliate
- Direct Promoter – buy $400 of PureTrim product in a single month
- 1-Star Promoter – recruit two Govt Promoters
- 2-Star Promoter – generate and preserve two 1-Star Promoters throughout the primary two ranges of any two unilevel crew legs (one in every leg)
- 3-Star Promoter – generate and preserve three 2-Star Promoters throughout the primary two ranges of any three unilevel crew legs (one in every leg)
- 4-Star Promoter – generate and preserve 4 3-Star Promoters throughout the primary two ranges of any 4 unilevel crew legs (one in every leg)
- 5-Star Promoter – generate and preserve 5 4-Star Promoters throughout the primary two ranges of any 5 unilevel crew legs (one in every leg)
- President’s Membership – generate and preserve 5 5-Star Promoters throughout the primary two ranges of any 5 unilevel crew legs (one in every leg)
To depend in direction of the above qualification standards, downline associates should be MLM fee certified (see under).
MLM Fee Qualification
To qualify for MLM commissions a PureTrim affiliate should both:
- preserve a month-to-month $199 autoship order and have three retail clients and/or recruited associates on month-to-month autoship;
- preserve a month-to-month $349 autoship order; or
- buy $399 value of PureTrim merchandise every month.
Retail Commissions
Retail commissions are paid on merchandise ordered by retail clients.
PureTrim pays a ten% retail fee to Govt Promoters. This will increase to 25% for Direct Promoters and 35% for Govt Promoters and above.
Residual Commissions
PureTrim pays residual commissions through a unilevel compensation construction.
A unilevel compensation construction locations an affiliate on the prime of a unilevel crew, with each personally recruited affiliate positioned instantly underneath them (stage 1):
If any stage 1 associates recruit new associates, they’re positioned on stage 2 of the unique affiliate’s unilevel crew.
If any stage 2 associates recruit new associates, they’re positioned on stage 3 and so forth and so forth down a theoretical infinite variety of ranges.
PureTrim caps payable unilevel crew ranges at six.
Residual commissions are paid as a share of the wholesale price of merchandise ordered throughout these six ranges as follows:
- 1-Star Promoters earn 5% on stage 1 (personally recruited associates)(
- 2-Star Promoters earn 5% on ranges 1 and a pair of
- 3-Star Promoters earn 5% on ranges 1 to three
- 4-Star Promoters earn 5% on ranges 1 to 4
- 5-Star Promoters earn 5% on ranges 1 to five
- President’s Membership ranked associates earn 5% on ranges 1 to six
Gold Bonus
Ranging from the 3-Star Promoter rank, the Gold Bonus extends payable unilevel crew ranges to 10.
To qualify for the Gold Bonus, a PureTrim affiliate should
- preserve a private $299 autoship order and
- preserve ten retail clients and/or recruited associates on $99 or extra month-to-month autoship orders.
As soon as certified, the Gold Bonus extends payable residual commissions as follows:
- 3-Star Promoters earn an additional 1% on stage 4
- 4-Star Promoters earn an additional 1% on ranges 5 and 6
- 5-Star Promoters earn an additional 2% on ranges 6 to eight
- President’s Membership ranked associates earn an additional 3% on ranges 7 to 10
All-Star Matching Bonus
The All-Star Matching Bonus rewards Govt Promoters for recruiting seven Direct Promoters inside their first thirty days.
If the above qualification standards is achieved, the All-Star Matching Bonus pays out $700.
Quick Begin Bonus
The Quick Begin Bonus pays $100 to Govt Promoters each time a personally recruited affiliate qualifies as a Direct Promoter.
Frontline Bonus
Govt Promoters and better obtain a ten% fee on personally recruited Direct Promoter product orders (non-autoship).
Luxurious Automotive Bonus
2-Star and better ranked PureTrim associates qualify for a month-to-month Automotive Bonus:
- 2-Star with $12,000 in wholesale gross sales quantity throughout two unilevel crew ranges = $150 a month Automotive Bonus
- 3-Star with $28,000 in wholesale gross sales quantity throughout three unilevel crew ranges = $300 a month Automotive Bonus
- 4-Star with $70,000 in wholesale gross sales quantity throughout 4 unilevel crew ranges = $400 a month Automotive Bonus
- 5-Star with $175,000 in wholesale gross sales quantity throughout 5 unilevel crew ranges = $750 a month in Automotive Bonus
- President’s Membership with $350,000 in wholesale gross sales quantity throughout six unilevel crew ranges = $1500 a month Automotive Bonus
Wholesale gross sales quantity is the wholesale worth of product purchases and gross sales throughout the unilevel crew.
Though not explicitly clarified in PureTrim’s compensation documentation, it’s assumed Wholesale gross sales quantity for the Luxurious Automotive Bonus is gathered quantity.
Becoming a member of PureTrim
PureTrim affiliate membership is $29 yearly.
To qualify to take part within the MLM enterprise alternative, a PureTrim affiliate should buy $400 value of merchandise in a single month.
To keep up MLM fee qualification, a PureTrim affiliate should proceed to spend $199 to $399 a month on merchandise.
Conclusion
I’m not aware about Bigsmart’s compensation plan. So right here’s how the FTC described the enterprise mannequin:
Though Bigsmart claimed that members would make substantial quantities of cash, the scheme was structured in such means that to comprehend continued monetary positive factors, would rely on “. . . the continued, successive recruitment of different members,” not on retail gross sales of services to the general public.
Minus the revenue representations, PureTrim is that with completely different merchandise.
Based on PureTrim’s personal compensation documentation, right here’s the corporate’s really helpful “30 day motion plan” for brand new associates:
1. Grow to be an Govt Promoter: Join simply $29, and start receiving a ten% Retail Product Rebate on all your product orders. Subsequent, change into a Direct Promoter by ordering a complete of $400 or extra of product in a single calendar month.
In your subsequent order, your Retail Product Rebate will increase to 25%.
If you be part of AutoShip, you change into an Govt Promoter, your Retail Product Rebate will increase to 35%, and also you obtain your free On-line Well being Retailer.
2. Grow to be a 1-Star Promoter: Get 2 or extra Govt Promoters personally sponsored underneath you, who’re energetic.
Proper off the bat, you’ll be able to see the emphasis on signing up for an autoship order. And never even a token order.
$400 or extra? Are you kidding me?
There’s no justifying that in opposition to stock loading underneath any circumstances.
Then all it’s a must to do is recruit others who additionally buy indefensible quantity of merchandise (to additionally qualify for commissions).
To keep up your fee qualification you’ve received then spend much more cash, between $199 to $399 a month.
Retail? Not required.
In an try and justify blatant pay to play autoship recruitment, PureTrim contains this disingenuous assertion of their Insurance policies and Procedures:
No product buy is required to change into a Promoter.
Technically they’re not mendacity. However if you wish to qualify for commissions, you’re pressured to buy PureTrim merchandise.
Shifting onto PureTrim’s merchandise.
The very first thing I observed was PureTrim makes numerous hullabaloo about its merchandise being “listed within the Physicians’ Desk Reference.
Physicians. Y’know, medical doctors. Thus implying that PureTrim’s merchandise have medical advantages. Even perhaps FDA permitted medical advantages? Extra on that later.
Having by no means heard of the publication, I appeared the Physicians’ Desk Reference up.
The Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR) is a commercially revealed compilation of producers’ prescribing data (package deal insert) on prescribed drugs, up to date yearly.
Whereas designed to supply physicians with the complete legally mandated data related to writing prescriptions (simply as its title suggests), it’s broadly accessible in libraries and bookstores, broadly utilized by different medical specialists, and typically useful to the layman.
The compilation is financially supported partially by pharmaceutical manufacturing firms which create medicine listed inside its pages.
2017 was the final 12 months Doctor’s Desk Reference was bodily revealed. At the moment it exists because the “Prescriber’s Digital Reference”; and is on the market on-line solely.
I ran a search on PureTrim merchandise and certain sufficient, a few of them got here up – confirming solely that PDR to record their merchandise.
PDR themselves don’t stand by any of the prescribing data they’re paid to publish:
PDR.web is for use solely as a reference help. It’s not supposed to be an alternative choice to the train {of professional} judgment.
You need to affirm the knowledge on the PDR.web web site by impartial sources and search different skilled steerage in all therapy and analysis choices.
For sure I’d be stunned if any physician value their salt truly “prescribed” PureTrim merchandise to deal with or handle an precise illness or sickness.
Which brings us to the “medical research” PureTrim offers on their web site.
Usually we see examples of associates/distributors making unsubstantiated medical claims relating to an MLM firm’s merchandise.
Right here we have now PureTrim providing commissioned research particularly pertaining to their merchandise, from a lot of corporations.
Usually I’d champion this however on this occasion I’m not so certain.
The research that caught my eye was for Pure Gardens Pores and skin Serum, supposedly observing the “efects of Pure Gardens Serum in eczema & psoriasis”.
Eczema and psoriasis are two very actual and really particular illnesses. So a research analyzing a PureTrim product as a doable therapy piqued my curiosity.
The one-page, three-paragraph research paper was authored by Worldwide Medical Analysis Heart, INC., who’re based mostly out of Arizona.
Working a search on “Worldwide Analysis Heart” provides you with all method of related title sounding outcomes. However no actual hit.
The corporate PureTrim used nevertheless in Arizona, for which there aren’t any hits.
Peter M. Burkholder is the cited President and Medical Director for Worldwide Medical Analysis Heart.
Couldn’t discover something on him both, aside from a number of books revealed within the early 2000s.
The tackle on the backside of PureTrim’s undated research paper is “c/o 2140 EAST BROADWAY ROAD, TEMPE, ARIZONA 85282”.
Punching that into Google reveals the Southwest School of Naturopathic Drugs.
That appears to be an actual enterprise, however what of Worldwide Medical Analysis Heart, INC.?
No concept. There’s actually zero data on the market.
The research itself examined an undisclosed variety of “chosen sufferers” over a four-week interval.
Therapy with the Pure Gardens Pores and skin Serum seems to have effected the signs related to eczema (erythema, pruritus, dryness, vesicles, lichenification and scaling) and psoriasis (erythema, silvery and hyperkeratotic scaling.)
Based mostly on statement and affected person reported paperwork of the 4 week trial, the Pure Gardens Pores and skin Serum decreased these signs.
Medical statement and self-reported documentation each help that psoriatic lesions of the scalp responded considerably to the natural cream.
Sounds promising however… there’s nothing to recommend this research was submitted for peer-review. If it’s legit, why hasn’t PureTrim sought FDA approval for Pure Gardens as a topical therapy for eczema and psoriasis?
Response of sufferers with eczema diversified relying on sufferers’ historical past with topical steroid use.
The eczema lesions improved by 78% in sufferers with out current use of steroid lotions; the lesions cleared by greater than 90% in 33% of the sufferers, and improved by 50% within the remaining 67% of the sufferers.
I imply dayuuum, these are some fairly spectacular numbers no?
Different research pertained to testing for the presence of sure elements, constipation and “the efficacy & security of every day full for power & total well-being”.
Undermining all of those research is the FDA disclaimer included within the footer of PureTrim’s web site:
These statements haven’t been evaluated by the Meals and Drug Administration.
This product shouldn’t be supposed to diagnose, deal with, treatment, or stop any illness.
Sure, that’s on the identical web page PureTrim presents its medical research claiming one in all its merchandise delivers a 78% enchancment in eczema lesions.
And in mild of that offered FDA disclaimer, how on Earth to PureTrim justify providing a “free well being take a look at” on their web site?!
In actuality PureTrim’s “well being take a look at” is an e-mail harvester and product advertising too, however that’s not the way it’s introduced.
You’re going to inform me somebody taking a well being take a look at that asks for “signs” isn’t searching for therapy of particular medical situations?
FDA the place you at?
All in all you’re fairly costly meal alternative shakes (~$120 a month) and dietary supplements backed by questionable “medical research”.
Throw within the virtually assured chance that on the MLM aspect of issues PureTrim is working as a pyramid scheme, and it begs the query why the FTC haven’t adopted up on Mark Tahiliani since 2001.
Tahiliani’s 2001 FTC settlement explicitly prohibits him from “partaking in any unlawful pyramid schemes”.
Consciousness Corp has been round since at the least 2000!
Except you want being pressured to spend a whole bunch a month to earn commissions on victims you’ve recruited who should additionally spend the identical, method PureTrim with excessive warning.
I’m genuinely floored as to why the FTC hasn’t picked up on “Dr. Marc” and his pyramid scheme but.