Nerium International Review – Scam Or Legit? [Pyramid Scheme?]

Are you looking for Nerium International Reviews? 

Yes?

Then the question arises - is there anything better than an independent unaffiliated review that aims to help you to make the best decision in regards to this business opportunity? 

Before I get started I congratulate you for being smart and savvy by seeking out independent reviews.

This is how you stay safe online and avoid "so-so" opportunities and find the best way of making money online. 

I am not here in this review to sell you on the opportunity - just to help you to make an informed decision, the very best one for you personally. If you decide to join - sure, I am happy for and hope that you succeed beyond your wildest dreams!. 

If you decide not to join - I'm happy for you to. You can feel free to search on my site any of a number of opportunities and become educated in regards to those also. 

Let's get on a discover what Nerium is all about!. 

Nerium International is a business and company that has products that all women go crazy for - skin care. Their particular focus is that of anti aging and helping users to look and feel younger. 

Founded in 2011 by Dennis Windsor & Jeff Olson. 

The Skin care sector of the health and beauty industry is one of the largest and is indeed growing and expected to continue to do so. Who doesn't wish to continue to look young and feel good about how they look?. 

And with a growing population...a possible growing business!

Accoding to Crunchbase - the Nerum international brand themselves generate $700M USD in revenue on a yearly basis. 

The business model used to generate that revenue is that of multi level network marketing.

For this business model to be successful for both the marketer and the business the products need to be of quality, able to sell well and in an affordable price range for their target market and with a focus on sales. 

Otherwise, the whole system will look like a Pyramid Scheme in disguise.

This is what happens when certain well thought out and well planned MLM's have difficult to sell products such as My Econ a series of high priced products to help people to improve their personal finances - problem was there target market financially distressed...their failure was predictable!

Originally speaking the company was built around a single product and grew from there. That product was their NeriumAD an apparent age defying cream to be applied at night. 

From the success of the product they expanded their product line to cover more diverse range of products including facial washes, serums, lotions and vitamins. 

The marketing behind their product claimed that they are highly advanced with anti-ageing capabilities and fully clinically tested to reduce wrinkles, fine lines and improve the overall appearance of your skin. 

Nerium International got its name from one of the main ingredients used in their products. 

The Plant Oleander - all of their products contain an extract of this plant which is botanically know as "Nerium Oleander" 

This is quite concerning as all parts of this plant is toxic to humans. Basically it is a poison!. Exactly why they would intentionally use a toxic substance, any known toxin in their product range is beyond belief. 

This does go a very long way to explaining why many users experience rashes and general irritation after using their products.

As it is with every multilevel marketing company you have 2 main ways of earning money with this company, namely the sale of products earning you retail commissions or, recruiting people into your team and building your downlines. 

To participate in their business opportunity you need to become a partner. To become a brand partner it is going to set you back a some money as follows: 

• The Basic Kit (Cost $49.95): This contains your basic starter kit for getting started holding Nerium Parties/presentations and your own website, self help audio files, order forms and training on how to promote your new business. 
• The Starter Pack (Cost $249.95): Contains all of the above + 3 bottles of their flagship product the NeriumAD night cream. 
• The Bronze Starter Pack (Cost $499.95): Contain the basic kit + 1 bottle of bonus day cream and + 4 bottles of their NeriumAD night cream. 
• The Silver Starter Pack (Cost $999.95): As above but with 14 bottles of their night cream and 2 of the day cream. 
• The Gold Starter Pack (cost $1,749.95): As above with with much more products some 30 bottles of their NeriumAD night cream and 4 of their day cream.

If you are reading that correctly the real starting cost is a minimum of $249.95 because the starter pack at $49.95 does not contain any of their products and you can't start a business with no products. 

Also, to be eligible for commissions you will have to agree to having their products on auto shipment. That means your first year in business will set you back around $3,000 USD. 

Rather expensive for any MLM opportunity. I see now how and why they can afford to give away ipads and luxury cars as bonuses!. 

 Making Money With Nerium

There is a massive emphasis on their site that you achieve certain bonuses such as Luxus car - pretty awesome!. While I don't actually mind the idea of "carrot dangling" to inspire sales staff. 

It has to be done right, in the right and ethical way that is beneficial for both the individual and the company and everyone involved. 

The huge problem here, and that I have is that the bonuses are not actually sales related and more focuses on recruitment and when this happens - Pyramid scheme. 

In essence to qualify you will need to recruit 3 people and help those 3 people to recruit 3 more. In this instance you qualify for an iPad as a bonus. 

Work a bit harder and help 3 people to achieve the bonus of an iPad each and your reward for doing so is a one year lease of a Lexus car. 

Keep recruiting and help 12 people to achieve the bonus of a years lease of a Lexus car and for your efforts $50,000 bonus.

Are you catching all of this?....

There is no actual bonuses with sales targets attached to them, just recruitment bonuses and helping your recruits to recruit. It very much smells like a Pyramid scheme to me. 

When this happens, you end up with a dog chasing its own tail with everyone wanting to get the Lexus and the $50,000 bonus..but nobody actually making any sales. 

Apart from the carrot or (Car-rot!) dangling as their recruitment incentive the company does pay for sales made as follows: 

• Retail Sales: Your retail sales commission depends on your overall sales volume and rank. Varies from 10% to 26%

• Team Commissions: Basically the commissions that get passed up to from your downline. 

There are other bonuses such as pack bonus, coaching commissions and customer acquisition.

Worthy of mentioning the downlines and compensation plan uses the unilevel structure where you, other than your sponsor, you are placed at the top and can go infinitely wide and deep. 

For a better understanding of the compensation plan watch the video below 

No, Nerium international is not accredited by the BBB. The company has NR status, Not Rated, with the Better Business Bureau

Investigating Nerium International and complaints made about the company, their products and the business opportunity was very eye opening to say the least!.

The company is a magnet for complaints and disproportionately so in comparison to many of the other businesses and opportunities I have reviewed and investigated.

For example the FTC alone has 100+ complaints. 

Most of the complaints I found were related to the product being an irritant and causing rashes.

Also a lot of "pump and dump" going on as far as getting people into the business. Join and then be dumped and left on their own by their sponsors with very little help being given. 

Some people has difficulties in cancelling their auto-shipment!. 

Very shocking!.

The Pros

What I liked about Nerium International:

• Nothing.

Out of all the companies and businesses I have checked out very few, only about 3 out of 600 I can say have nothing good about them. Nothing!. Even if there is some kind of refund or guarantee or a reasonably good product I can mention that as a plus point. 

The Cons

 What I did not like about Nerium International

• Their product is based around a known toxin!.
• Very recruitment focused business. 
• Expensive startup costs. 
• The actual market sector has a lot of competitors.
• Lot a complaints, far too many not to be concerned!. 

There might be a lot of razzmatazz and hype about this business opportunity and the cars, iPad and so on that you can get. 

But,  

I really don't think you can make money with this business opportunity. Their products are expensive and due to containing an irritant, you will have difficulties in recurring custom.

Maybe even a lot of refunds and thus lost sales!.

It is not something that I like to say but I really do think that you will have difficulties in this business. 

Thankfully, there are far better opportunities out there for you. 

This is where I need to be careful with my words and side step a class action lawsuit myself for defamation. When you step up and call something a Pyramid scheme or a scam you really need to be careful. 

Otherwise, they can lawyer up and with their rather expensive lawyer's drain you of your resources. Thus I will be careful and say that a lot of people have been calling Nerium a Pyramid scheme due to its focus on recruitment rather than selling of products. 

In my opinion, they certainly act like a pyramid scheme. But it is difficult so say for sure because they do have products attached to their business opportunity. 

I do know that the authorities are taking a close look at their organisation and examining the situation. 

The video below will help you to determine pyramid schemes if you have difficulties in identifying one. 

Still, such a polemic company and products that contain a documented toxin why would you want to be involved in such an opportunity?. 

In a technical and a legal sense I wouldn't say their business opportunity is a scam. Simply you invest in the company buying your kit and it is up to you to generate sales for your new business and of course to get recruits. 

Legal or illegal scam or legit it not something that you should get involved in. 

Personally I think that the beauty industry is a brilliant one to be involved in as it can be fun and quite enjoyable - but not with Nerium. 

Or in the skin care sector, or to be quite frank - anything health related. 

Nerium, no matter how fab their products are or even if there were not using a MLM business model would still be a difficult product to sell. This is simply due to an algorithm update by google that affects all health sites run by non health professionals (including Dr Axe, not a real Doctor!). 

It is known as the Google Medic update. 

My own view is that social media will soon follow, if they are not already, and cut the reach on social media of non health professionals posting about health related topics. 

I am afraid, this opportunity is one that you best miss out on. 

Fashion & beauty, now these are two industries that might interest you. Why not have a thought, a good thought about starting an affiliate marketing business in this area and become a successful beauty blogger or fashion blogger?. 

This is exactly how I earn a living - as an affiliate marketer. Details are below and how you can learn from the very best place - from the guys that taught me!.