consumer cellular is an american postpaid mobile virtual network operator founded by john marick and greg pryor in october 1995 .

based in tigard , oregon , near portland , the company pioneered the no contract plan model , with a key focus of their marketing being retirees .

in september 2008 , the company began working with aarp , helping to enlarge the consumer cellular 's subscriber base from around 30,000 customers in 2006 to more than two million in 2016 .

the company received the top customer satisfaction ranking from consumer reports magazine in 2010 , 2011 , 2012 , 2013 , 2014 and 2016 .

the company has also been named one of oregon 's fastest-growing companies , listed on the inc. 5000 growth list since 2009 , and ranked in the portland business journal 's top 100 oregon companies list every year since 2010 .

the company operates using network capacity from at&t and t-mobile , and also resells at&t wholesale wireless services to other virtual operators as well .

consumer cellular

find out how consumer reports rated consumer cellular based on its annual survey of subscribers .
who ' s consumer cellular ? consumer cellular is one of the most established operators of cellular phone service in the u . s . our . . .
consumer cellular and u . s . cellular sit atop the new consumer reports cell service provider ratings ; at & t ; remains at the bottom
consumer cellular received consumer reports’ highest rating for customer satisfaction for contract carriers in an article published in december .
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us mobile operator consumer cellular has selected squaretrade to provide its customers with mobile phone protection plans . squaretrade protection plans will allow consumer cellular customers to replace damaged or broken phones via a monthly plan . squaretrade plans are available for consumer cellular subscribers to protect their devices and can be added for any new phone that consumer cellular offers .
consumer cellular is getting a spring tryout – in the cactus league , no less .
“boomers aren’t that different from everybody else , ” said consumer cellular ceo john marick .
but that will be coming shortly ,
says consumer cellular ceo john marick .
35 thoughts on
consumer cellular ranked highest in j . d . power study
glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it ' s like to work at consumer cellular , including salaries , reviews , office photos , and more . this is the consumer cellular company profile . all content is posted anonymously by employees working at consumer cellular .
while consumer cellular operates a niche business , it’s a rapidly growing niche as baby boomers age and wireless technology becomes pervasive . consumer cellular’s revenues hit $ 355 million last year .
for more information about the samsung a177 and additional consumer cellular product offerings , visit urltoken .
consumer cellular offers discounts to aarp members , including 5 % on monthly service . learn more
u . s . cellular corporation | about us | company info | u . s . cellular
consumer cellular entered the home - phone market last year with the launch of a cellular base station that plugs into a home phone to carry incoming and outgoing calls over the mvno’s cellular network .
that’s on top of surpassing the 1 million subscriber point , which consumer cellular achieved last year .
consumer cellular has what many telecom companies want : a reseller contract with a national wireless carrier .
remember , with consumer cellular you may change your plan at any time , no strings attached .
consumer cellular , the mobile carrier with the highest overall customer satisfaction according to nielsen mobile insights , announces the addition of the huawei mediapad t1 - 10 to its product line - up . this is consumer cellular ' s first tablet offering and is available through the consumer cellular website and call centers .
consumer cellular is among oregon’s biggest technology businesses and fastest growing , though one of its least known .
for chronic users , consumer cellular ' s connect max plan offers 10 , 000 messages and 1 gigabyte of web data each month for $ 30 . that ' s not the typical consumer cellular user .
consumer cellular has been an aarp provider since 2008 . we offer aarp members special benefits , including :
consumer cellular is testing more advanced phones but doesn ' t have the iphone or other hot gadgets .
for a visual tour of consumer cellular ' s new headquarters , click through on the picture above .
consumer cellular is a national provider of cellular phones & services . our goal is to provide affordable , no contract cell phone plans & high - quality phones .
the oregonian quoted consumer cellular ceo john marick , but the company declined to offer details of the rollout .
consumer cellular ranks highest for the first time among wireless non - contract carriers , scoring 899 . consumer cellular performs particularly well across all six purchase experience factors , especially in offerings and promotions and cost of service .
us mobile operator consumer cellular has renewed its agreement with the us national parks conservation association ( npca ) .
us mobile operator consumer cellular has added the lg 930 and samsung galaxy exhilarate smartphones to its product portfolio .
aiming to broaden its market , consumer cellular is testing retail kiosks in sears stores around the portland area .
consumer cellular ranks highest among wireless non - contract carriers , scoring 871 . consumer cellular performs above the non - contract average in all four service channels and achieves an especially high score in the ars , then csr channel .
one factor that helped ease some angst was a growing relationship with aarp . around that time consumer cellular began advertising with the national group and exploring strategic partnerships . in 2008 consumer cellular became the association ' s preferred carrier .
a consumer cellular call center . the company , which long relied on phone sales for most of its business , now sells the greatest share of its phones through retail partnerships with sears and target . ( consumer cellular photo )
the portland business journal named consumer cellular one of the fastest - growing private 100 companies for the fifth year in a row . this month , the same publication named consumer cellular as one of oregon ' s most admired companies .
it’s an experiment to see if consumer cellular can gain the same kind of traction with target that it’s had with sears , which stocks consumer cellular’s phones across the country . the company expects a decision on a wider rollout by summer .
consumer cellular consumer cellular continues to show the value of good service at an affordable price backed by solid customer support . the company , known for its focus on retired / older customers , wins its third straight readers ' choice award .
the point isn’t lost on marick , who notes that consumer cellular has always been nimble in adapting to its consumers .
us mobile operator consumer cellular is set to introduce increased allowances for its voice and data plans starting on 1 august .
consumer cellular ceo john marick at the company ' s new headquarters in tigard . ( mike rogoway / the oregonian )
hi . any idea when the iphone consumer cellular app will be updated ? it stopped working 45 days ago . thanks
consumer cellular for the fourth year in a row , consumer cellular wins our readers ' choice award . the company offers an affordable , reliable service backed by top - notch customer support . unlike google ' s project fi , consumer cellular offers a wide variety of popular , modern smartphones including the iphone 7 and 7 plus and the samsung galaxy s7 .
still , the overall ratings offer unique insight , and it ' s probably no coincidence that consumer cellular received the highest consumer reports score in five of the last six years .
consumer cellular has long marketed its phones through aarp , which claims 40 million senior citizens as members . that drives tens of thousands of people to consumer cellular ' s website or phone sales centers , in tigard , redmond and in arizona .
the portland business journal honored consumer cellular in 2016 by placing the company on its annual list of oregon ' s 100 fastest - growing companies . this was the seventh consecutive year consumer cellular earned a spot among oregon ' s top performers .
consumer cellular sits at the top of a ranking based on a survey of nearly 90 , 000 consumer reports subscribers . not only did consumer cellular top the charts , all of the companies that scored the highest in overall consumer satisfaction were small carriers . and not one of the
big four
carriers received a high score , according to the ranking .
the moto g also comes with 16 gb memory . will consumer cellular be offering that option as well as the 8gb ?
us mobile operator consumer cellular has added a wireless home phone device to the company ' s product portfolio . the wireless home
what’s fueled the growth has been consumer cellular’s targeting of the niche senior market , an effort boosted by a partnership with aarp .
consumer cellular , which was at the top of the ratings overall , also got a top - notch rating for customer support .
us mobile operator consumer cellular has introduced lg escape smartphone . the lg escape supports the android 4 . 1 . 2 os and
* the totals shown here are costs for your monthly consumer cellular service only . they do not include any taxes and fees .
i applied online . the process took 3 weeks . i interviewed at consumer cellular ( portland , or ) in january 2014 .
maintaining consumer cellular ' s growth , however , may prove to be at least as challenging as building the company from scratch .
oregon business magazine selected consumer cellular as one of the 100 best companies to work for in oregon for the fourth consecutive year .
aarp closely monitors consumer cellular and its other retail partners , according to byck , checking to ensure that customer service meets aarp ' s specifications . he said his organization encouraged consumer cellular to add its new call center to ensure it could accommodate continued subscriber growth .
john marick , co - founder and ceo of consumer cellular , was selected as one of ernst & young ' s 2011 entrepreneur of the year finalists . john and his employees make consumer cellular different–by providing affordable cell phone plans with no contract and exceptional service .
about consumer cellular consumer cellular , the exclusive wireless provider for aarp® members , was founded in 1995 on the belief that everyone should have affordable access to the safety and convenience of cellular service . the company provides its customers with simple , affordable cell phones and calling plans , guaranteed satisfaction and top - ranked customer support staff all located within the united states . plus , consumer cellular customers never have to sign a long - term contract in order to start service .
even so , marick said consumer cellular ' s growth rate is cooling this year , dropping under 30 percent . slower growth is inevitable as companies grow , he said , but consumer cellular is also facing a saturated wireless market where cell phone ownership is almost universal .
consumer cellular thrived in the competitive wireless market by doing things differently . now , its rivals have learned many of the same tricks .
when consumer cellular moved into its new headquarters last spring , it brought 250 employees with them . the office has capacity for 650 .
consumer cellular had also tested standalone stores and mall kiosks , but the results were disappointing . so it is working with target , already a major retail partner , to deputize the retailer ' s employees to provide customer service for consumer cellular phones inside its own stores .
in 2012 , consumer cellular won inc . magazine ' s inaugural inc . hire power award for leading the way in creating american jobs . with more than 1 , 300 employees , consumer cellular is proud to be an entirely u . s . - based company .
in october , consumer cellular began selling its affordable , no - contract wireless phones and plans at more than 1 , 800 target stores nationwide . target , the country ' s second largest general merchandise retailer , represents consumer cellular ' s largest retail partnership to date .
consumer cellular specializes in basic phones like this $ 30 model from a swedish company called doro . it’s got big buttons for consumer cellular’s senior citizen demographic and is hearing aid compatible . the company sells the phone online and at its kiosks in portland - area sears stores .
in the newest satisfaction survey of consumer reports online subscribers , a provider called consumer cellular topped the ratings—and at & t found itself at the bottom of the ratings for the second year in a row .
it took no fewer than seven months of serious hunting in the tigard area before consumer cellular found the right fit for its new headquarters .
this year , consumer cellular had the iphone 6 and 6 plus within a week of the launch ( though supplies have been limited . )
if you ' re under 50 you may not know the name - but among seniors , consumer cellular is rapidly becoming a household brand .
as for consumer cellular ' s former tigard headquarters , marick said it ' s not been subleased yet , but they ' re trying .
consumer cellular ( urltoken ) , a national provider of wireless phones and services , announced the completion and official opening of its second u . s . - based customer support center in phoenix , ariz . consumer cellular also maintains a customer service facility at its headquarters in portland , ore .
consumer cellular emerged 15 years ago from mccaw communications , the redmond , wash . - based cell phone pioneer that became at & t wireless .
so the onus is on consumer cellular to keep its service plans appealing and its customer service responsive to keep customers for as long as possible .
consumer cellular expects to continue its steady growth . the company will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2015 and anticipates reaching two million customers in q4 .
always mindful of the consumer and our employees . consumer cellular was one of the first companies to offer affordable cellphone service to all , not just a privileged few . we stay ahead of their needs , and this mindset remains evident in how we invest in our employees , too . at consumer cellular , you can count on the reward of our success with :
even better in consumer reports ' survey is u . s . cellular , which rated highest for customer satisfaction . it is available in 26 states .
consumer cellular ' s wholesale clients resell its plans to their customers under their own brand name , or private label . for several telecom companies , obtaining a reseller contract with consumer was vital to their long - term livelihood .
does the moto g from consumer cellular have a sim chip ? i got the phone a few years ago but cannot remember if it does or not .
consumer cellular has grown its revenue from $ 17 million to $ 185 million in just six years by selling the newest technology to the oldest american consumers .
working at consumer cellular is both challenging and rewarding . we thrive from the excitement of creating innovative products and services that are truly valued by our customers .
on a web site that targets its wholesale customers , consumer says
the merger ultimately will give consumer cellular wholesale clients the ability to offer the most advanced services on the most extensive national network in the u . s .
obviously , price is a big factor when choosing a wireless carrier , and even though
value
is one consumer reports ' metrics , you should check price carefully before considering a switch to consumer cellular or another service provider .
in june of 2015 , consumer cellular was selected by careerbuilder as one of the “top companies to work for in arizona . ” careerbuilder , the largest online job site in north america , is a global leader in human capital solutions . this is the second time that consumer cellular has been featured on their list .
your phone should either be a consumer cellular phone , a phone previously used with at & t ; or t - mobile , or an unlocked gsm phone .
company milestones consumer cellular ' s rapid growth allowed the company to reach two major milestones this year , 1 , 000 employees and 1 . 5 million customers :
we’re pleased to announce that consumer cellular has partnered with best buy® to make the unique grandpad , powered by consumer cellular available at select stores . grandpad is our specially designed tablet that’s customized for the convenience of older users . it’s an excellent fit with best buy’s expanding line of senior care solutions , focusing on . . .
consumer cellular a top - rated cellphone carrier and the exclusive wireless provider for aarp members , is set to end 2014 with 30 percent company growth and nearly 1 . 7 million customers . throughout the year , consumer cellular saw significant retail expansion , celebrated several major company milestones , and received noteworthy business awards and industry recognition .
get help and support for your u . s . cellular device with interactive tutorials .
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more than 1 , 800 target stores across the country will begin stocking phones from consumer cellular this week , the tigard company ' s biggest retail partnership to date .
consumer cellular markets cell phones to seniors , offering no - contract plans for everything from basic cell phones to apple ' s two new models of the iphone 6 .
partnerships have been key to its growth , starting with the aarp and then expanding with a 2011 deal to put consumer cellular’s phones in hundreds of sears stores nationwide .
with a wider territory from which to tap , consumer cellular’s customer base grew to 700 , 000 this year and is projected to reach 900 , 000 this year .
as an aarp member , monthly service with consumer cellular starts at under $ 15 a month , and includes a 5 % discount on service and usage every month .
you can find information about specific phones on our videos & manuals pages or find out more about consumer cellular’s great plans and service on our support & faqs page .
to this point , consumer cellular has attracted most of its customers through ads , direct mail and online . the phone comes in the mail with quick setup instructions .
the latest gizmo may never be necessary in consumer cellular ' s niche , according to patrick hayes , vice president of csmg , a communications strategy firm in boston .
at 6 p . m . one friday night about a month ago , consumer cellular closed the doors on the tigard office it had called home for 14 years .
this year consumer cellular was ranked no . 1 in the mobile carrier category of pc magazine ' s readers ' choice awards survey , earning the highest marks for overall customer satisfaction . the survey findings also indicate that consumer cellular customers are more likely to recommend their carrier than customers of any other mobile carrier in the united states .
though target ' s brand is built on catering to young moms and families , marick said consumer cellular ' s approach isn ' t changing . it still targets older consumers , he said , and expects most of them will drop into a nearby target looking for a consumer cellular phone they saw advertised in a magazine or on tv .
from the day we started consumer cellular in 1995 , our focus has been on finding ways to make the best modern technology accessible , and affordable , to users over 50 . that’s why we’re so delighted to introduce grandpad , powered by consumer cellular to our product selection . grandpad is a tablet that’s customized for the convenience . . .
blyskal , of consumer reports , says consumer cellular customers are more satisfied with their service , for the price , than with other carriers like at & t ; , which finished last in the survey of the top wireless carriers the past three years .
consumer cellular offers more phones , including the iphone x and samsung’s galaxy s8 and note8 . it also pushes lesser - known models from alcatel , motorola , and zte .
patricia s . , 41 , of pennsylvania recently switched to consumer cellular , and she enjoys being able to connect to facebook on the run with her new motorola bravo .
consumer cellular on twitter :
share your family history , photos & more with your smartphone by using the ancestry app . learn how in our blog : urltoken urltoken
consumer cellular thinks it has the answer to that question . the company , which tried outsourcing some of its customer service , brought everything back in house to ensure quality .
that ' s more than enough to accommodate consumer cellular ' s current workforce here of about 225 . in fact , the new space should handle up to 500 people .
further demonstrating its commitment to customer satisfaction , consumer cellular has been accredited by the better business bureau since 1999 , continually earning a rating of a + or a - .
monthly plans start at $ 20 , half the cost of standard offerings from major wireless carriers , and basic phones are free . unlike mainstream cellular plans , consumer cellular customers don ' t sign a contract , though they do pay a $ 35 activation fee .
consumer cellular
definitely are in an enviable position - - their potential is unlimited ,
said john wonak , chief financial officer of chicago - based opex communications , which resells consumer ' s plans under the opex brand .
the carriers really don ' t make it easy for someone new to get into the business , and without a consumer cellular , someone like us couldn ' t do it any other way .
in june 2017 , a consumer survey conducted by the nationwide customer experience firm market force information named consumer cellular the favorite wireless cellphone carrier among non - contract providers for the second year in a row . carriers were ranked in multiple categories to determine customer satisfaction and loyalty . consumer cellular came out on top for best value , best coverage , fewest dropped calls , easiest to change plan , and best flexibility , among others .
consumer ' s marick cannot disclose the names of the national carriers consumer resells , but he said that his company has a
great relationship
with its carriers .
consumer cellular’s phoenix expansion comes six months after the company celebrated double - digit annual revenue growth from nearly $ 65 million in 2008 to more than $ 100 million in 2009 .
initially , marick said , that means steering new consumer cellular customers , most of whom sign up online or over the phone , to target to pick up their new phone .
consumer cellular has founded its growth rate , 35 to 40 percent , to be sustainable and manageable – and isn’t interested right now in taking risks that could jeopardize that success .
after starting out with a combination of private funds from marick and investors , as well as a small business administration loan , consumer cellular has operated debt - free for years .
still owned by the managers who founded the company , consumer cellular has resisted overtures from potential investors and possible acquirers . and that ' s not changing , according to marick .
even if consumer cellular reaches its million - customer growth target , hayes said , the company will still be much too small to attract targeted competition from the biggest wireless carriers .
consumer cellular was recognized as one of the inc . 5000 fastest - growing companies for the sixth consecutive year , thanks to revenue growth of 157 percent between 2010 and 2013 .
consumer reports subscribers have rated consumer cellular highest in the magazine ' s annual review of cellphone service providers for 6 of the last 7 years . the 2017 rankings were compiled from a survey of over 100 , 000 subscribers , who graded carriers in eight different categories including value , voice and text quality , and customer support . consumer cellular ' s 2016 and 2017 composite scores of 89 out of 100 outpolled even the “big 4” carriers !
one of oregon ' s largest - but least - known - tech companies , consumer cellular sells wireless phones and phone plans for seniors . when the big carriers were trying to lock subscribers to multi - year deals , pitching the latest smartphones , consumer cellular won over more than 2 million customers by offering relatively simple phones with no up - front commitment .
the new space will much better accommodate consumer cellular’s existing workforce while also providing plenty of room for more . marick said the new office will comfortably fit up to 500 employees , a number that consumer will begin chipping away at with new hires in all areas soon .
best of all , as our customers know , you never have to sign a one or two - year contract to get a great phone for a great price from consumer cellular .
i currently have the moto g 16gb version that i am using with consumer cellular . can you tell me how i can get it to send pictures in my text messages . thanks
that ' s up 20 percent from 2015 , a healthy growth rate at many companies but a worrying sign at consumer cellular , which averaged 35 percent in the prior five years .
bring a phone or tablet you already own to u . s . cellular when you switch .
contact u . s . cellular® ' s business concierge or customer service for help and support .
consumer cellular which earns its fourth straight readers ' choice award , focuses on simplicity and value . if you ' re 50 or older , you get a discount on the service through aarp . consumer cellular offers over a dozen smartphones including both iphones and android and uses both at & t and t - mobile ' s networks . unlike project fi , however , consumer cellular gives you a sim for access to the network that they feel will work best for you . you only roam to the other network if the chosen network isn ' t available .
consumer cellular has tapped one of the wireless industry ' s last growth markets . its revenues surged by 57 percent last year , crossing the $ 100 million threshold for the first time .
in many ways , consumer cellular seems more a marketing organization than wireless company . marick credits its partnerships , particularly a deal with aarp inked two years ago , for fueling its growth .
i have been with consumer cellular for a few years and was ready to upgrade to a phone model you do not offer . read instructions re . unlocked phone and purchased it elsewhere . called you and i was immediately shipped the necessary sim card ( free ) . then called consumer cellular to activate and all went seamlessly ! thank you - very pleased with excellent service .
retail expansion consumer cellular saw a substantial extension of its retail availability in 2014 , with its presence increasing by nearly 2 , 000 locations across the country . notable expansions include the following :
consumer cellular is the exclusive wireless provider for aarp members and a top - rated carrier that provides no contract cellphones and service plans to boomers and seniors . founded in 1995 on the belief that everyone should have affordable access to the safety and convenience of cellular service , consumer cellular is privately held with more than 400 employees . the portland , ore . - based company utilizes the nation ' s largest voice and data network , covering more than 296 million people - or 97 percent of the u . s . population . consumer cellular’s cellphones and plans are sold nationwide at leading retailers such as sears and radioshack dealer franchise locations , as well as direct to consumers at
consumer reports has no commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor appearing on this web site .
with such a large customer base , the company has put an emphasis on consumer service .
at sears , those in - store pickups gradually grew into in - store sales as sears personnel grew more familiar with the product . consumer cellular is hoping the same pattern repeats at target .
the consumer cellular plan changes announced here will save my wife about $ 20 / year + tax . she won ' t be running over her normal plan ' s data allowance any more .
annual sales have climbed by at least 35 percent in each of the past several years , and consumer cellular expects that to continue this year – putting 2014 revenue just shy of $ 500 million .
had to dyor to make sense of this . turns out their data pricing is still uncompetitively higher than the current best rates . as a consumer , i find this cellular carrier to be lacking .
the feeling that we ' re hearing from everybody is that they ' re really liking it ,
said john marick , ceo of consumer cellular .
it ' s very comfortable .
based in lake oswego , consumer retains its standing as reseller by bringing national carriers incremental revenue that they otherwise wouldn ' t pursue or likely obtain . consumer cellular bills itself as a low - cost alternative for people who use cell phones infrequently , but want them for convenience and safety reasons .
employees at the new phoenix call center will provide sales and support for consumer cellular’s wireless customers from a 39 , 000 - square - foot building near the arizona state university campus . currently , 24 new employees are trained and on the job , and another 80 will be hired by this september . later this year , consumer cellular plans to provide bi - lingual customer support from its phoenix location .
consumer cellular has been ranked the nation ' s no . 1 wireless carrier in a consumer reports survey the past three years , but it couldn ' t have done it without at & t . ; consumer cellular is so small that it ' s actually a wireless carrier without its own wireless network . it lives like a snail on at & t ; ' s whale tail as a
mobile virtual network operator
that buys and resells space on at & t ; ' s network .
consumer cellular leases space on at & t ' s network , giving the small company a wireless footprint that covers most of the country . the privately held company is owned by marick and other managers .
already one of oregon ' s largest businesses , consumer cellular is crossing a half - billion dollars in sales this year and expects to sign up its 2 millionth customer by the end of the month .
rest assured , your information remains private and only you , or a qualified consumer cellular representative , may have access to it . to learn more about our security policy , go to privacy and security .
portland , ore . - - cellular mvno consumer cellular , which targets the 50 - plus age group with no - contract postpaid service , will substantially expand its brick - and - mortar presence this week when its products and services begin appearing in more than 1 , 800 target stores , the portland oregonian reported .
grew up in vancouver , bachelor ' s degree from university of portland followed by an mba from willamette university ' s george h . atkinson graduate school of management . worked at cellular one , where he met greg pryor . in 1995 , the friends co - founded consumer cellular ; pryor is chief operating officer .
consider a lower - priced carrier . when consumer reports compared 100 plans to similar alternatives in 21 matchups covering the full spectrum of plans , both prepaid and standard , consumer cellular came out on top . it had the best deal most often – in more than one out of three cases . savings usually ranged from $ 30 - 40 per month over pricier rivals such as verizon and at & t , though you might find a smaller selection of the hottest smart phones with smaller carriers such as consumer cellular .
half of consumer cellular ' s new customers are members of aarp , which serves people 50 and older . it just extended its initial two - year deal with the oregon company to run through fall 2011 .
in a 2012 survey sponsored by the oregonian , the largest news organization in the pacific northwest , consumer cellular was recognized as the # 1 mid - sized company to work for in the state of oregon .
without consumer , wonak added , opex would focus entirely on growing its voice over internet protocol service .
we really try and go after the group that they ' re kind of avoiding ,
said consumer cellular ceo john marick , 40 .
we can kind of fill a void in the marketplace .
consumer cellular now has 1 , 200 employees , divided among its three offices . to celebrate its anniversary , the company is paying employees a $ 20 bonus for each month they ' ve been with the company .
it ' s available in 606 target stores nationwide , an example of the kind of personalized experience consumer cellular hopes will set the company apart and help push its sales growth back up , north of 30 percent .
both google and consumer cellular try to keep pricing simple . project fi costs $ 20 per month for unlimited domestic and international voice plus $ 10 per gigabyte of data , and it refunds you for data not used . consumer cellular works best if you ' re not a heavy data or voice user ; for $ 40 per month , you can get 1 , 500 minutes of domestic talk and 1 . 5gb of data .
marick was working with kirkland , wash . - based mccaw cellular communications — once the nation’s largest cellular phone company — through its 1993 acquisition by at & t ; , which renamed the company at & t ; wireless .
refer a friend or family member to u . s . cellular and earn up to $ 550 per year .
find your closest u . s . cellular® store location to stop by or schedule an in - store appointment .
there ' s still room to grow at target , he said . the next step beyond that may be additional products marketed to existing customers . this year consumer cellular introduced a $ 150 cellular device seniors carry with them at all times , around their neck or on a belt , to call for help at virtually any moment .
project fi , a prepaid service launched by google last year , got high marks for value , availability , and its data service . but it didn’t do as well as consumer cellular when it came to voice quality .
but many people , seniors especially , want to see a device before they sign up for it . so consumer cellular has been working to place its phones in retail settings , including sears stores in the portland area .
smaller may be better smaller companies continue to be the customer - service stars in this industry . consumer cellular topped the ratings at 88 out of 100 points . it received high marks for service , value and customer support . u . s . cellular ( 75 ) and credo mobile ( 73 ) all scored higher than the majors .
power users should note that consumer cellular is a good candidate for a hand - me - down phone , too . so if you want to set up grandma or grandpa with inexpensive cell service , all it takes is a phone once used with at & t ; ' s service — that includes iphones — or an unlocked gsm phone . consumer cellular provides a free sim card , with no activation fee , that makes the phone operable .
the success of consumer cellular is attributed to its strategy of providing services for a niche market and the strength of the mvno’s customer service operations . consumer cellular targeted its services towards the niche market of consumers who are 50 years of age and higher . in order to gain a substantial portion of its target demographic , the mvno developed a marketing strategy that could reach a substantial number of its consumers and designed services that properly cater to its target consumers . in order to reach its target consumers , consumer cellular is working with the aarp to allow the mvno to advertise its services to the association’s members . this is a mutually beneficial relationship between the two entities , as consumer cellular shares with the aarp a portion of its revenue from the members of the non - profit organization . the company also made sure that its plans and some of its device offerings are simple enough for the elderly to use and understand . its customer service operation is also viewed by consumer cellular as one of its biggest strength , with the mvno ensuring that its customers feel that the company is devoted to resolving their issues with its services .
if you ' re looking for a cell - phone service with no contract , a small company called consumer cellular came out on top . people found it offers great value . but it has a limited choice of phones .
consumer cellular distinguishes itself not through the phones - - it carries a selection of utilitarian models from motorola , nokia and others - - but through straightforward service plans , with low upfront costs and no long - term commitment .
the new headquarters , near the junction of highway 217 and interstate 5 , spans two buildings and 82 , 140 square feet . that ' s nearly double consumer cellular ' s prior office , three miles to the south .
corporate friend of tourism award - u . s . cellular coliseum bloomington - normal area convention and visitor ' s bureau
consumer , which offers cellular phones and mobile services aimed largely at the senior market , announced yesterday that it will be moving into a new headquarters at 12123 and 12447 s . w . 69th ave . in tigard this summer .
i am really interested in signing up for consumer cellular but i want the motorola g ( 2014 ) . the only one offer on your site is the motorola g 1st generation . when will the ( 2014 ) be available ?
so consumer cellular has stepped up marketing , with local tv ads and more training for sears ' personnel . results have improved , according to marick , but it ' s too early to know how successful the partnership can be .
consumer cellular also is getting a crash course in new technologies as the next generation of senior citizen taps into social networks , mobile apps and other hot technologies . aarp sees increasing demand for gadgets among its members , byck noted .
in just 22 years , consumer cellular soared to success by keeping mobile communications simple , affordable and free of contracts . unlike typical nationwide providers of cellular phones and services , we’re family - owned and operated . despite dramatic growth , we’ve kept our small - business culture . it’s as true to our brand now as when we opened our doors in 1995 .
citing data from media measurement firm the nielsen co . , consumer cellular said smartphone ownership in the third quarter of 2011 grew 76 percent for consumers aged 55 to 64 , and 50 percent for the 64 - and - up set .
from there he co - founded consumer cellular as a re - seller of at & t ; products , with the idea of designing service plans aimed at consumers who wanted a phone for convenience and security rather than regular daily use .
uncertainty awaits , agrees john marick , consumer cellular ' s chief executive and co - founder . but , he said , the company has found success through simplicity , and it believes the principles that grew the business will sustain it .
in 2017 , consumer cellular was listed as one of america’s fastest growing private companies for the ninth year in a row . the honor was bestowed by inc . magazine , which has published its annual inc . 5000 rankings since 2007 .
can you guess which u . s . wireless provider makes its customers the happiest ? hint : it ' s not at & t , verizon wireless , sprint or t - mobile . it ' s a relatively small , independent company you may have never hear of , called consumer cellular , at least according to a recent consumer satisfaction survey .
unrivaled , award - winning customer service . consistently rated highly by consumer reports , pc magazine , j . d . power and nielsen , consumer cellular offers flexible plans that comfortably align with our customers’ needs and tastes . come join our team . feel proud knowing you’re part of a great company with high integrity . and , grow fast with us .
privately held consumer cellular markets cell phones to seniors – offering low - cost , no - contract plans for people who want a mobile phone but don’t use it heavily , and don’t want to pay the big cell phone companies’ monthly fees .
its customers are getting older , after all , and new generations of seniors are more tech savvy , with an appetite for smart phones and other sophisticated gadgets that don ' t fit consumer cellular ' s do - it - simple model .
marick , a former mccaw marketer , and two former colleagues started consumer cellular by piggybacking on their old company ' s network . he licenses cell phone minutes from at & t to provide his customers with coast - to - coast service .
“consumer cellular takes great pride in putting our customers first , and we’re continuously looking for ways to better serve our members . our phoenix expansion allows us to meet the demands of our expanding customer base by providing additional time zone coverage , increased data security , and emergency back - up customer support when needed , ” said john marick , ceo of consumer cellular . “we chose to locate the new call center in phoenix because of its excellent talent pool and business - friendly environment . ”
three of the country ' s biggest cellular companies received some of the lowest scores in consumer reports’ 2017 cell - phone service survey , which rates carriers both big and small on overall customer satisfaction and various aspects of service reliability and customer support .
consumer cellular hired its 1 , 000th full - time employee in may , reflecting steady growth in employment at all three of the company ' s locations – the portland headquarters and fulfillment center as well as call centers in phoenix , ariz . and redmond , ore . in september , consumer cellular relocated its phoenix customer support center to a new 85 , 000 - square - foot facility in tempe . the larger space will allow the company to hire an additional 300 employees by may 2015 .
consumer reports is the world’s largest and most trusted nonprofit , consumer organization working to improve the lives of consumers by driving marketplace change . founded in 1936 , consumer reports has achieved substantial gains for consumers on health reform , food and product safety , financial reform , and other issues . the organization has advanced important policies to cut hospital - acquired infections , prohibit predatory lending practices and combat dangerous toxins in food . consumer reports tests and rates thousands of products and services in its 50 - plus labs , state - of - the - art auto test center and consumer research center . consumers union , a division of consumer reports , works for pro - consumer laws and regulations in washington , d . c . , the states , and in the marketplace . with more than eight million subscribers to its flagship magazine , website and other publications , consumer reports accepts no advertising , payment or other support from the companies whose products it evaluates .
never heard of consumer cellular ? the tigard , ore . , company has only 1 million subscribers , including 15 , 488 in connecticut . at & t ; had 1 . 2 million new smartphone subscribers alone in the first three months of 2013 .
well , this time around , consumer cellular is at it again . as revealed by marick via the carrier’s official blog , the postpaid mvno is boosting both the number of text messages and the amount of data its customers can use every month on select
growing at an annual rate of roughly 35 percent in each of the past six years , consumer cellular is on pace to top $ 1 billion in annual revenue by 2018 - provided it can maintain that pace . provided it can maintain that pace .
in the much the same way that seniors move into smaller homes , sell their second cars or unload storage closets as they age , many also will want to scale back their phone plans . consumer cellular can capitalize by emphasizing flexible , affordable plans .
in may , consumer cellular began expanding its retail footprint in sears stores nationwide for the third time since the two companies ' partnership began in 2011 . the increased presence in more than 750 stores nationwide included new , larger displays and additional smartphone offerings .
this year’s scores are based on information provided by 119 , 772 consumer reports subscribers who use traditional or prepaid cellular services . ( we combined prepaid and traditional services into one set of ratings rather than breaking them out as we have in the past . )
an early and enduring partnership with aarp helped establish consumer cellular ' s brand . the target deal is the company ' s second major retail deal – it has a similar arrangement with sears - - and follows a successful tryout with target earlier this year .
consumer cellular also customized the interface of the motorola bravo so customers can access their account through a free mobile application . the all - new application allows customers , with a push of a button , to view their minute and data usage and manage their account .
so consumer cellular is refining its marketing approach and partnerships , seeking to revive its growth by connecting more closely with customers . with more than 100 million americans older than 50 , marick said , there ' s still plenty of opportunity for his company to expand .
“target could be the next one , ” said consumer cellular chief executive john marick . “they’ve got 1 , 800 stores across the country . you do the math – you don’t have to sell too many phones at each one for that to really add up . ”
so increasing the growth rate may be less important in the long run than holding on to existing customers . hayes said consumer cellular takes a big risk because its customers don ' t sign contracts and are free to drop service - - what the industry calls churn .
consumer cellular says it ' s outgrowing its headquarters and call center in tigard ( above ) , but hasn ' t settled on a next step . it just doubled the size of a call center in arizona . ( brent wojahn / oregonian file photo ( 2012 ) )
consumer cellular depends on customer service centers in tigard ( above ) , redmond and in arizona to connect with customers . it has a growing retail presence , though , selling its phone in sears stores - - and now in target . ( brent wojahn / the oregonian )
as consumer cellular builds scale , it ' s adding partnerships and marketing initiatives previously out of reach . in addition to target , the company has begun airing national television ads on
good morning america ,
the hallmark channel and other programs and networks with high senior viewership .
we ' re very grateful to them ,
wonak said .
it was a very important relationship to get into with them . there are a handful of companies that can do what consumer cellular can - - offer a wholesale private label with a national network .
the tigard company turns 20 on thursday , thriving in a niche of the fiercely competitive cell phone market . consumer cellular focuses exclusively on seniors , marketing its no - contract phones through a partnership with aarp and two of the nation ' s largest retailers , sears and target .
target wants to see immediate results , marick said , and will be making decisions about what it will stock this fall by early summer . so the key to making the new partnership work will be demonstrating that consumer cellular can drive shoppers to its stores , and doing it quickly .
founded in 1995 , consumer cellular is still owned by marick and the other executives who run it . they have fielded calls from potential investors over the years , and interest has increased along with the company’s scale . marick said the company isn’t talking with prospective investors or buyers now .
over the past four years , though , its retail partnerships with sears and target have provided nearly all of consumer cellular ' s growth . the company ' s phones have been in sears stores since 2011 , and a deal last year put them in 1 , 800 target stores .
anticipating rapid expansion again in 2010 , the privately held company is opening a new call center next month in phoenix , ariz . , and nurturing a fledgling relationship with sears . consumer cellular has a half - million customers now , a number it hopes to double within three years .
consumer cellular customers don’t sign long - term contracts . instead , the company offers monthly service plans that start as low as $ 10 per month , and text and web browsing options starting as low as $ 2 . 50 per month for 100 text messages and 4 megabytes of data .


vemma ( / ˈviːmə / ) nutrition company is a privately held multi-level marketing company that sells energy drinks , nutritional beverages and weight management products .

the company , based in tempe , arizona , was founded in 2004 by benson k. , lauren , and karen boreyko .

in 2013 , the company reported us$ 221 million in revenue .

most distributors are in their twenties .

the company has frequently been accused of being a pyramid scheme by u.s. media , business analysts , and former distributors , and was fined by the italian government .

in august 2015 , the u.s. federal trade commission filed a lawsuit against vemma , accusing the company of operating an illegal pyramid scheme .

the company was placed under an injunction which restricts certain marketing activity and compensation methods , and a monitor was appointed by the court to assure compliance with these restrictions .

in december 2016 , vemma reached a $ 238 million settlement with the ftc , which also banned the company , its ceo , and top distributors from recruitment-focused business ventures , deceptive income claims , and unsubstantiated health claims .

vemma

( vemma ) affiliates do not primarily earn bonuses for actual sales of vemma products .
conversely , ( vemma ) provide no guidance on where to market or sell vemma products .
vemma and the ftc reached a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed vemma was a pyramid scheme .
vemma nutrition ' s product lineup included , from left , vemma , next verve and bod - e .
vemma preliminary injunction order . . . first take time for the industry and vemma to press the reset button
yeah , i think thompsons inclusion in the vemma team is to comfort the vemma affilates and keep them together .
meanwhile vultures are openly circling the official vemma fb fanclub page , pushing other mlm companies on shell shocked vemma reps .
instead , vemma rewards affiliates for personally purchasing vemma products to maintain bonus eligibility , and for recruiting others who likewise purchase vemma products to maintain bonus eligibility ( qualifying for commissions ) .
vemma’s compensation plan won’t change ; they will just describe it differently in updated terms to better explain how vemma does business .
( vemma’s ) sales and marketing activities and their compensation plan place little emphasis on sales to consumers outside of the vemma organization .
( vemma ) emphasize ( affiliate ) recruitment over product sales and stress the importance of recruiting new participants into the vemma program .
vemma ceo and founder , benson keith
bk
boreyko , made 7 , 500 times more than three - quarters of vemma affliates last year . ( photo courtesy of vemma ) read more .
alkazin presented himself and his family as an illustration of the lucrative income a vemma affiliate could supposedly earn from the vemma business opportunity .
in the warning pdf you reference i didn’t see vemma named specifically . was vemma mentioned in the email he sent out with the attachment ?
for example , beginning in january vemma will no longer call members a brand partner ; instead , vemma will use the term
affiliate
.
tempe ' s vemma settles with ftc ; fined $ 238 million , admits no wrongdoing vemma and the ftc reached a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed vemma was a pyramid scheme . check out this story on urltoken urltoken
the complaint names vemma nutrition company , vemma international holdings , benson k . boreyko ( b . k . boreyko ) and tom alkazin as defendants .
in contrast to ( vemma’s ) numerous claims regarding profitability and the unlimited income potential associated with vemma , the vast majority of affiliates make no money .
this is exactly what is taking place with vemma at the moment . contrary to the rumor mill , vemma has not been shut down by the ftc !
all you have to do is share our premium , innovative vemma products with affiliates and customers who purchase products and help others create their own vemma businesses .
he said the websites and videos referenced by the ftc actually show
the emphasis on product sales at vemma , and the efforts by vemma to create in the minds of affiliates realistic income goals from the sale of vemma products .
vemma’s success also has sharpened the focus of consumer groups on its practices . some , noting the heavy emphasis on recruitment , have called vemma a pyramid scheme .
for more information on tina . org’s special investigation of vemma , click here .
rusching told urltoken that affiliates of vemma are also distributing products without proper licenses .
problem viewing this email ? click here to view it on vemma . com .
i haven’t been up to date on vemma corporate for a number of years .
with thompson now representing vemma i doubt he’s going to spend time liveblogging it .
vemma ceo benson keith
bk
boreyko made roughly $ 12 million in 2013 — 7 , 500 times more than three - quarters of vemma affiliates and distributors .
this decision arrives after several months of close cooperation between vemma and the antitrust authority . during this time , vemma has openly disclosed documents and information regarding its business .
if you’d like more info on vemma , or training on how to build your vemma business , be sure and subscribe to my email list and connect with me .
in numerous instances … defendants have failed to disclose , or disclose adequately , that vemma’s structure ensures that most consumers who become vemma affiliates will not earn substantial income .
again vemma was classified as a pyramid scheme for teaching and encouraging its members to recruit others to the program instead of teaching them how to ethically promote vemma products .
vemma is a private mlm company that sells health products , energy drinks , weight management products etc . vemma was founded in 2004 by benson k . lauren , and karen boreyko . vemma’s headquarters is located in tempe , arizona of the united states .
about vemma founded in 2004 by bk boreyko and his two sisters , karen and lauren , vemma nutrition company enjoyed $ 100 + million growth last year as one of the premier industry leaders specializing in premium liquid nutrition . every month , thousands of new customers experience the positive difference of the clinically studied vemma formula . the vemma brands include the clinically studied verve ® healthy energy drink and vemma bod - e ® , a weight loss line . vemma is headquartered in tempe , arizona , and distributes its products through global affiliate marketing . for more information , please visit vemma . com .
but a us consumer group critical of vemma and the mlm industry isn’t buying it .
only 27 % of associates were eligible for bonuses by regularly ordering products from vemma .
for more information on the complaints received by the ftc regarding vemma , click here .
click here for more information on whether vemma should be calling its energy drink healthy .
to build a solid foundation for optimal health we developed the clinically studied vemma formula .
please click here for vemma ' s contact information by country for brand partner services .
vemma corporate headquarters , 8322 e . hartford dr . , scottsdale , az 85255 usa
vemma’s changes were cited by tina as being mere window dressing . the watchdog group quoted vemma ceo benson k boreyko as saying , “vemma’s compensation plan won’t change ; we’ll just describe it differently in updated terms to better explain how we do business . ”
on recruiting individuals to participate in vemma as affiliates and encouraging them to purchase vemma products in connection with such participation , rather than selling products to ultimate - user consumers .
since the ftc action against vemma was announced , i’ve been reading a lot of talk from the mlm world about how ridiculous it is to target vemma’s use of autoship .
m norway : “it’s a bump in the road” , according to some vemma supporters .
there is no motive for anyone to purchase vemma products except for the recruitment commissions .
… and the lawsuit does not mention how many millionaires vemma has created either . 🙂
included in bk boreyko ' s ( ceo vemma ) video blog see - below is the first mention of vemma 2 . 0 coming in january 2014 — an all - new way to describe and think about how vemma represents itself in the marketplace with increased transparency .
given defendant alkazin’s history of participating in vemma’s pyramid scheme and making deceptive income claims about vemma’s business opportunity , his involvement with a vemma - like marketing program poses potential economic harm to consumers and warrants the court’s placing him under an injunction to prevent future consumer harm .
another problem with vemma that i would like to bring to your attention is that vemma has had many complaints over the last few years and if you take a look at the screenshot from a trusted source urltoken you will realize that vemma is not a reliable company .
a plane flies over vemma headquaters in tempe , arizona . ( click to enlarge images )
vemma prohibited from resuming normal operations ; judge rules company will be supervised by federal monitor .
( in january , a key herbalife distributor , anthony powell left to join vemma . )
if you would like to submit a complaint to urltoken about vemma , use this form .
therefore , we have decided to transition our new vision business operations to vemma nutrition company .
alex morton , a former top earner in vemma , is not named in the lawsuit .
i believe with detailed communication between vemma legal and compliance teams , they should be able to present to the courts all the facts to show that vemma isn’t an illegal pyramid scheme .
oz : with thompson now representing vemma i doubt he’s going to spend time liveblogging it .
the main problem with vemma is that if you want to make any money with this program you need to pay for one of the packs vemma has to offer to its members .
i think instead of that vemma should teach their affiliates how to create quality content for their affiliate websites and by this they will be able to drive a good amount of people from search engines looking for vemma products . but it looks like it’s not in vemma’s focus .
vemma makes unrealistic claims and most of their members according to ftc don’t make any money .
these restrictions will follow boreyko around , regardless if he operates vemma or some other company .
vemma lawyers questioned bosley over her interpretation of the
ultimate user ,
suggesting that affiliates were buying the product just like other consumers . she admitted she did not interview vemma affiliates or review internal vemma financial documents before concluding the company operated as a pyramid scheme . bosley acknowledged she never requested financials from the ftc and based her conclusions on youtube videos of vemma
home events
sales meetings , internet presentations and materials obtained from vemma ' s website .
is thrilled to congratulate brian mcmullen for advancing to one of the highest ranks in vemma : pinnacle ! brian now joins vemma number - one income earners and star pinnacles , tom and bethany alkazin , as the only other person in vemma history to have hit this prestigious rank .
in response to recent criticisms about vemma , boreyko says the company simply needs to improve its messaging .
it honestly hurts because vemma’s like one of my kids ,
he says .
another consumer , lisa white , said her autistic son depends on vemma for nutrition . she said vemma has given her peace of mind and she wants the product back on the market .
this is considered an assault on the mlm industry as if vemma is taken out – other companies might do so as well . this is because many other businesses operate on vemma’s model as well . if vemma is removed it’ll set precedent to take out the other businesses as well .
no non - authorized health claims were reported on vemma’s products , packaging or website ( cfr .
but keep warns that vemma’s marketing structure sends the wrong message to young adults . he said :
vemma offers no meaningful discounts or incentives to encourage retail sales ,
the ftc said .
signs promoting vemma hand outside the us airways center in phoenix . ( click to enlarge images )
vemma founder and ceo benson k . boreyko in federal court in 2014 criticized the ftc investigation .
the ftc described the settlement as “dismantling the alleged pyramid at the center of vemma’s operation . ”
most vemma products contain the vemma formula , a blend of 12 essential vitamins , plant - sourced minerals , mangosteen superfruit , organic glyconutrient - rich aloe vera and green tea in every serving .
the ftc complaint against vemma was filed on the 17th of august in an arizona district court .
in truth and fact … consumers who become vemma affiliates are not likely to earn substantial income .
this additional information would be material to consumers in deciding whether to participate in the vemma program .
relief defendant bethany alkazin , has received … funds or other assets from ( vemma ) that are traceable to funds obtained from ( vemma’s ) customers through the deceptive acts or practices described herein .
to date i have not seen a response from b . k . boreyko or vemma corporate .
unfortunately dooly has not explained why he thinks vemma is not a product based recruiting pyramid scheme .
the legal team will have to show that the majority of vemma affiliates were not on autoship .
in 2013 vemma has started positioning itself as an affiliate marketing company . and like any other mlm program , vemma is mainly focused on recruiting young people as distributors through a high compensation plan .
at a minimum , vemma should press the reset button on its relationship with customers and distributors .
3 . [ vemma encourages ] individual [ s ] [ to ] become an affiliate by purchasing an
affiliate pack ,
which costs approximately $ 500 or $ 600 and which contains a mixture of various vemma products , audio and video recordings , print materials , and vemma branded items .
one of the cornerstones of alkazin’s response is his lack of control over vemma . this , alakzin claims , means he should not be held as responsible as those who actually had control of vemma .
and if vemma goes down , expect a lot of collateral damage . bob proctor , pretty darn famous self - help speaker , has wife and daughter in vemma , pretty darn high level too , raking in at least 15k a month in commissions each . bob himself appeared at many vemma events .
vemma has agreed to eliminate several bonuses that required buying huge amounts of product and recruiting additional people .
ending the requirement that associates must enroll two associates into vemma to qualify for a “cycle bonus . ”
vemma , the high - flying company behind verve energy drinks , wants to stay off regulators’ radar .
feel the power of protein and kick start your day properly with the one and only vemma shake .
our # 2018 family portrait . what is your favorite # vemma product from the current lineup ? urltoken
the science behind all vemma products is our highest priority . to ensure the best quality , we :
( vemma ) opportunity events are meetings designed to motivate and train affiliates and to recruit new affiliates .
this one is all about retail folks , specifically the lack of it going on inside of vemma .
in numerous instances … defendants have represented … that individuals have earned substantial income from participation in the vemma program , and that any consumer who becomes a vemma affiliate has the ability to earn substantial income .
he says the ftc lawsuit does not mention the price , efficacy or science of vemma products which are excellent . further the lawsuit does not mention the consumer protection offered by the vemma buy back policy .
in his june 9th deposition with the ftc , alkazin claims to still hold his vemma affiliate position .
as you can see , jessica rich from ftc organization says that vemma is an illegal pyramid scheme .
testimony on tuesday revealed vemma has about 100 employees and up to 400 , 000 active affiliates worldwide .
the ftc shut down vemma for being a pyramid scheme - - could herbalife ltd . be next ?
2 . defendants repeatedly tout that vemma can provide anyone an easy path to financial freedom and independence .
to read the complaint and stipulated final order in ftc v . vemma nutrition company , click here .
ore than two months after news broke of a potential settlement , friday marked the release of the ftc’s final order against vemma and founder bk boreyko . despite some exacting standards , vemma’s ability to conduct business remains intact . what the settlement means for vemma’s long - term viability remains a mystery , but the ftc’s actions against herbalife and vemma indicate a shift to a new regulatory attitude : majority retail or death !
whether you’re just wanting to learn more about the vemma business opportunity , the vemma products , or you’re already a vemma brand partner and you’d like to know how to build your income bigger , better , and faster , you’re in the right place . i appreciate you stopping by and i’m happy to help .
judge forbids vemma to resume normal operations ; company to be supervised by federal monitor vemma prohibited from resuming normal operations ; judge rules company will be supervised by federal monitor . check out this story on urltoken urltoken
by furnishing vemma affiliates with promotional materials to be used in recruiting new participants that contain false and misleading representations , ( vemma ) have provided the means and instrumentalities for the commission of deceptive acts and practices .
the rest are mlm high flyers who is worried about the entire industry without understanding the implications , on how badly vemma reflects on the entire mlm industry , esp . because vemma is a part of dsa .
alkazin is is believed to have signed up as a xango affiliate after the ftc shut down vemma . our 2013 behindmlm review of xango identified concerns about a focus on affiliate autoship recruitment , not unlike vemma .
the ftc said vemma ' s unlawful business practices affected consumers throughout the united states and 50 other countries .
the settlement in the vemma case is not a surprise . shortly after the ftc filed its case , the federal judge overseeing it held that the ftc would likely succeed in demonstrating that vemma operated a pyramid scheme .
real people . real results . brand partners share their inspiring stories of vemma bod•ē success ! watch video .
if you join vemma , you will be exposed to a variety of ways to earn extra cash . urltoken
at the heart of the ftc complaint is the allegation that vemma has engaged in “deceptive and unlawful acts” .
oz : majority of revenue in vemma is / was sourced from monthly affiliate orders instead of retail sales .
on the 24th august 2015 , the ftc shut down vemma under the tro , and seized all assets .
vemma : vemma didn’t have any distinction between sales leaders and non sales leaders . all distributors had the right to receive recruitment based rewards . they only had to pay for $ 150 worth of products each month .
anyone who thinks the ftc haven’t meticulously collected evidence ( including data from vemma themselves ) is kidding themselves .
we will attend the vemma – ftc hearing in phoenix on september 3 . maybe periscope the whole case .
the vemma case doesn’t have similar elements ( e . g . multiple agencies against multiple reorganizing experts ) .
also , there is no any evidence that vemma’s products are super products and can actually improve your health .
vemma ceo and founder benson boreyko sat alongside more than a half - dozen lawyers representing various company officials .
the database also includes four other videos of the ceo : in one he states that vemma pm helps relieve pain ( before saying he can’t say that ) ; in two others ( 1 , 2 ) boreyko says that some vemma products can help slow down the aging process ; and in the fourth video he is pictured on stage at a large vemma event reading the testimonial of a man who claims vemma helped treat his lupus .
the ftc’s settlement with vemma marks the 26th pyramid scheme case filed by the agency in the last 40 years .
under the ftc agreement , vemma companies and ceo benson k . boreyko are banned from operating any business that :
when zac fischl talks about the controversial sales company vemma , he speaks with the fervor of a true believer .
product excellence , from concept to consumption , is what makes vemma ® an industry leader specializing in premium nutrition .
i sure hope the ftc drop the case or vemma find more evidence that they are compliant . thanks for sharing
people are saying that darik alexander , another vemma high level , joined morton over at jeunesse a while back .
my cell phone is blowing up with the news of vemma shutting down . first , take a deep breath .
on august 21 , 2015 , a court froze the assets of vemma and appointed a temporary receiver over the business pending a trial . as of 2014 , vemma earned over $ 200 million in global sales , the ftc said .
boreyko said norway and italy were
a little bit difficult
when it came to approving vemma’s products for consumption or the company’s compensation plan for its affiliates . colombia , the newest market , had required changes on vemma’s labels .
vemma founder and ceo bk boreyko shared at 2013 “all in” convention that brian started out as a customer and just enjoyed the products for five years . then , something changed and he caught the vision of the vemma business opportunity .
vemma executives fight ftc to reopen their tempe energy - drink company vemma officials were in federal court tuesday to end a government takeover of the company on allegations they are running a pyramid scheme . check out this story on urltoken urltoken
italy’s competition and markets authority fined vemma about $ 140 , 000 as part of the ruling in march , which the company is appealing . vemma’s founder , bk boreyko , said the arizona - based company is still operating in italy .
the ftc won ' t say if it is launching a formal investigation into vemma , but told nbc news it takes every complaint seriously . meanwhile , vemma continues to grow , bringing in $ 221 million in revenue last year alone .
vemma’s compensation plan won’t change ; we’ll just describe it differently in updated terms to better explain how we do business .
practice , vemma ' s commercial practice does not constitute any violation . » ( cfr . par . 67 of the
more than 97 percent of vemma’s affiliates earned $ 12 , 000 a year or less , according to the ftc .
vemma launched in 2004 but struggled for years before becoming a social - media sensation . in 2008 , vemma partnered with the phoenix suns to sponsor a lounge at the us airways center . in 2011 and 2012 , vemma , started zeroing in on millennials with its so - called young people’s revolution , a recruiting effort known in twitterspeak as # ypr .
a truck , left , outside vemma headquarters , right , in tempe , arizona . ( click to enlarge images )
“vemma wants to focus on rebuilding its business , ” the statement read , “not proving the ftc is wrong . ”
thought we’d have to wait for friday for this , but the ftc complaint against vemma has now been made public .
vemma’s compensation plan and its corresponding marketing activities dictate that at any particular time , the majority of affiliates lose money .
a hearing on the permanent injunction is scheduled for september 3rd , 2015 , and vemma will state its case then .
it is possible that the hearing scheduled for september 3rd be postponed , if vemma asks for more time to prepare .
obviously , vemma and herbalife are different companies , but the similarities between the two should at least be enough to give investors pause . those interested in herbalife should keep a close eye on vemma as its case with the ftc develops .
in determining that vemma is a pyramid scheme , the agcm analyzed data from vemma’s italian operations for the period september 2012 to june 2013 . while the agcm didn’t divulge all the data because of confidentiality considerations , it revealed that it found :
carlucci said after leaving the company , he was insulted on facebook and in texts by vemma affiliates who called him a failure . what he didn’t know is that a very small percentage of vemma affiliates actually make any money . he said ,
vemma fans have been quick to dismiss the ftc’s concerns online , with one salesman posting a video on twitter denouncing the agency as “so dumb” and “slow - moving” as he drank a bod - e burn , one of vemma’s energy drinks .
in summary , while defendant alkazin may not have had final control over vemma’s compensation or marketing operations , he participated significantly by leveraging his success and credibility as vemma’s top earner to promote the pyramid scheme and train others to do the same .
also , another problem with vemma company and their entire approach to business is that vemma does promise high payouts to its affiliates but can’t deliver on the promises . they show luxury cars bought by some of their affiliates like on this image .
the ceo of vemma is benson k . boreyko better known as bk . the company was found back in 2004 . vemma has grossed over $ 221 million in revenue since 2013 . the company has been under investigation and shut down a few times due to the company operating under an injunction which restricts certain marketing activity and compensation methods . vemma primarily focuses on recruiting college aged people as distributors which the federal trade commission has received dozens of complaints about vemma from parents and college organizations .
vemma nutrition company is a privately held multi - level marketing company that sells energy drinks , nutritional beverages and weight management products . vemma , which calls itself an affiliate marketing company , is based in tempe , arizona . it was founded in 2004 by benson k . boreyko and his sisters . vemma is an acronym for vitamins , essential minerals , mangosteen and aloe .
several vemma supporters said this week that they should be able to get the product regardless of the outcome of the case .
it is people thinking that can get rich tomorrow with no work and no effort that quit and call vemma a scam .
all i hear ( from vemma ) are success stories but i haven’t seen it with my own two eyes .
even colleges — once vemma’s turf — are fighting back : last summer , dean william keep at the college of new jersey was notified of vemma recruiters on campus from a student who had discovered stockpiles of energy drinks in his friend’s dorm room .
boreyko acknowledges that the changes at vemma , with revenues last year of about $ 200 million , could hurt sales initially .
then in late 2004 , vemma was born . a streamlined single product focus , with a simple 2 line pay plan .
my sisters and i founded vemma in 2004 , and it is rapidly growing as one of the premier industry leaders specializing in premium liquid nutrition . operating in over 50 countries , vemma is positioned for abundant growth with a strong product line and an unparalleled business opportunity . we know our parents would be proud to combine the new vision legacy with vemma’s progressive approach . and , like new vision , vemma is focused on helping people live a better quality of life , both physically and financially .
in numerous instances in connection with the advertising , marketing , promotion , offering for sale , or sale of the right to participate in the vemma program , defendants have represented … that consumers who become vemma affiliates are likely to earn substantial income .
consumer have suffered and will continue to suffer substantial injury as a result of ( vemma’s ) violations of the ftc act .
well , neither did vemma at the time this complaint went down . infact the ftc complaint doesn’t even mention mandatory autoship .
there is no real demand for the vemma product either inside or outside the compensation plan with no genuine ultimate - users .
hi all . hope everyone is well . hate to burst vemma’s bubble , but they can’t live - broadcast the hearing .
marketing materials touting defendant alkazin’s income and his status as top earner for the company were integral to vemma’s pitch to consumers .
more generally , defendant alkazin was well familiar with vemma’s compensation plan . he taught it to other affiliates on many occasions .
many people spend close to $ 1000 or even more with vemma while they can’t make any money and feel completely frustrated .
update 7 / 21 / 15 : vemma notified urltoken that it had terminated dr . john edward’s distributorship on july 15 .
tom alkazin , the architect of the “roadmap to success” training booklet for vemma distributors and frequent speaker at vemma events , has been promoting xango , a utah - based mlm ( for which brad is a distributor ) . according to the ftc , which is seeking an injunction precluding alkazin from engaging in illegal activity , xango’s business model “shares certain similarities” with vemma’s past model .
a consumer group , truthinadvertising . org , criticized vemma’s promotion of its affiliation with the nba’s phoenix suns and tv health expert dr . mehmet oz . some young salesmen told the post those two affiliations proves vemma is on the up - and - up . but neither the team nor oz endorse the company . vemma donated money to an oz charity , according to truthinadvertising . org , which said many consumers have complained to the ftc that vemma is a pyramid scheme targeting high school and college students .
the ftc called the structure “a classic pyramid scheme that compensated participants mainly for enrolling others in the network , rather than for retail sales based on legitimate consumer demand for vemma’s beverages ,
and received an injunction to shut down vemma ' s operations .
more than a year later , the two sides reached an agreement . vemma said in a statement said the settlement contained no admission of fault or proof of a pyramid scheme . vemma settled , it said , because fighting the complaint was too distracting .
we , as an industry , don’t yet know the repercussions of ftc v . vemma . we can’t know which , if any , of the new restrictions placed on vemma will become industry standards , nor whether this case is even about industry standards .
1 . [ vemma ] targets young adults , including college students . . . vemma ' s . . . marketing materials prominently feature young , seemingly affluent individuals surrounded by conspicuous displays of wealth , such as luxury vehicles , jets , and yachts .
unilateral measures were implemented to take into account the authority ' s specific concerns , including changes and simplification of vemma’s compensation plan .
“i believe vemma’s going to come out of this , and vemma’s going to be fine as a company , ” said salesman brad sarver in his video . “the federal government does not like free enterprise . they do not like health and wellness companies . ”
for high school sophomore and vemma brand partner ben arend , vemma came along at just the right time . “my parents had been telling me i had to get a job . vemma’s a great opportunity for young people . they agreed to support me with vemma , and i appreciate the flexibility of running my own business . sure , it’s hard sometimes when your friends want to hang out on a friday night , but it’s worth it . stick to your priorities . hard work pays off . ” ben has progressed rapidly with vemma , becoming the youngest diamond in the history of the company . he’s on track to hitting platinum this month !
learn how you can make an extra $ 500 a month or more with the vemma opportunity . best network marketing company today .
vemma products are independently tested by third - party laboratories for label claim verification , nsf / banned substances , purity and potency .
on the other hand , mlm companies like vemma , encourage all affiliates to go on autoship , making them a product based recruitment scheme . you will most probably find that over 90 % of vemma affiliates will be on autoship in order to earn commissions .
it would have been rather meaningles to describe it as “vemma shutdown , a $ 200 million lack of retail sale scheme” . 🙂
the regulator maintains that alkazin’s role in vemma ‘ meets the legal threshold of participation under section 5 of the ftc act ‘ .
he was also aware of numerous news articles and publications that accused vemma of being a pyramid scheme well before the ftc’s action .
as you can see , vemma’s products are not cheap and there is no guarantee that you will be able to sell them .
vemma officials were in federal court tuesday to end a government takeover of the company on allegations they are running a pyramid scheme .
the ftc shut down vemma for being a pyramid scheme - - could herbalife ltd . be next ? - - the motley fool
the ftc is accusing vemma of tricking young people into thinking they can make an income with vemma . the reasoning behind it is that the ftc accuses vemma of focusing only on recruiters and not selling products . the “usual” model is to hire recruits to sell your company’s products . then , these recruits sell the company’s products and they hire their own recruits to sell products for them .
in a different , but parallel fashion , the courts concluded in both burnlounge and vemma that purchases were incidental to the opportunity .
when we shared park ' s sales pitch with vemma corporate , the company suspended him , telling nbc news that his statements were
inaccurate and not representative of the company .
vemma says it recently started to
overhaul and improve
its compliance program .
what he has forgotten to mention in his article is that linville’s vemma declaration , in support of the tro , clearly points out that italy found vemma sales to be tied to joining packages and autoship sales , with no emphasis on sale of products to consumers .
as i said above , very few people experience success with programs like vemma and it very well applies to most mlm programs that i’ve come across so far . according to vemma’s official report , close to 80 % of their members never make any real money .
a few bucks at best . they can’t even return their initial investment . and approx . 1 % of their members do alright with vemma program . all this means that vemma is by far not the best or even recommended program for earning an income online .
vemma nutrition company ceo benson k . boreyko said the company is appealing the italian decision . in an email to urltoken boreyko said :
vemma officials were in federal court on tuesday to end a government takeover of the company on allegations they are running a pyramid scheme .
during its campaign against herbalife pershing square released a study of anthony powell , a top distributor , who has since defected to vemma .
vemma urges consumers to make an initial investment of at least $ 500 for an
affiliate pack
of products and business tools , according to the ftc complaint . affiliates also are pushed to buy $ 150 in vemma products each month to remain eligible for bonuses .
vemma , which sells energy drinks such as verve and bod - e burn , was the focus of an enquirer investigation last year .
although new vision will cease its operations , the same great pricing will be available on the most popular new vision products through vemma .
this is the chief grouse of the us ftc too , and makes the mention of the vemma , italian court finding completely relevant .
6 . during company events and conventions , vemma presents the select few top earners with large checks representing their yearly or lifetime earnings .
the net result , opined the court , was that vemma forfeited its right to rely on personal use for qualification and commission purposes .
“i had bariatric surgery several years ago , ” vemma consumer rachel ulibarri said in an e - mail . “vemma liquid multivitamin has made all the difference in the world to me . my body absorbs the vitamin right away and i have been healthy as a result . ”
vemma’s ceo and founder , benson keith
bk
boreyko , insists that vemma is not a pyramid scheme and that the same charge could be leveled at
any corporation in america… [ which are all ] shaped like a pyramid . it doesn’t mean its illegal .
he is pretty sure that vemma can get the tro reversed , and be allowed by the court to continue it’s business while the lawsuit gets sorted out . he believes if the tro is reversed it will give vemma a strong footing to negotiate a settlement with the ftc .
just last week , vemma was the number 1 trending story on facebook . not quite the way i thought we’d get there , but an epic stage has been set for us to defend vemma , this amazing industry and the millions that count on it along with myself .
clearly sensing that its business structure could be determined fundamentally flawed , vemma proposed on july 29 , november 26 and december 23 , 2013 radical changes in italy to its compensation plan . specifically , vemma proposed 10 changes to appease the agcm . most notably , the company proposed :
this is a dynamic partnership that really blazes a new trail of strategic marketing for both organizations ,
said vemma ceo bk boreyko .
but what often resulted was affiliates with refrigerators and dorm rooms full of vemma products , and few options left to expand their recruitment chain .
vemma appealed , and a ruling from u . s . district judge john tuchi forced vemma to stop its multilevel marketing operations in september 2015 . the company was prohibited from paying commissions , recruiting new members and offering rewards from purchases , but could continue other parts of business .
michelle barnes , vemma’s “lady boss” and top earner , is now at modere , a utah - based personal care and household products mlm .
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our european customers can once again enjoy delicious and nutritious supplementation courtesy of the original vemma , verve , and the one and only burn .
thank you for your understanding and continued business . we’re excited about the future and we’re confident that you will love the transition to vemma !
in addition , during company events and conventions , vemma presents the select few top earners with large checks representing their yearly or lifetime earnings .
while the figures contained in ( vemma’s ) disclosure statements are somewhat revealing , they nonetheless do not show the whole picture and are misleading .
a permanent injunction against vemma , b . k . boreyko and tom alkazin , which will prohibit them committing future violations of the ftc act
unless there is some critical flaw in the ftc’s complaint or their understanding of facts supporting it i would expect other company owners to help vemma fund a “dream team” style defense . if vemma goes down on these charges ~ almost ~ none of the other companies will be safe .
but the problem is also that the ftc is refusing to regard the self consumption of vemma affiliates as bonafide sales to ultimate user consumers .
this could be jeunesse . they operate very similar . strange that they would go after vemma and not jeunesse . who will be next ?
tina [ truth in advertising ] has a article out explaining the long and short of the ftc case against vemma and the characters involved .
after the 2 & go plan was finalized , he promoted it at vemma’s june 2015 convention that was videotaped and disseminated to its affiliates .
the direct selling industry is pondering the impact of the september 18 , 2015 preliminary injunction order in ftc v . vemma [ pdf ] .
last month , the federal trade commission shut down vemma , seizing its assets and stopping its operations . vemma ' s owners insist that the company is a legitimate multi - level marketing firm , but ftc regulators allege that it ' s an illegal pyramid scheme . vemma ' s fate will depend on the outcome of a trial , but if it were a publicly traded company , its shares probably would ' ve plummeted .
last april , an italian watchdog agency ruled that vemma , an mlm which bills itself as an affiliate marketing company , was operating a pyramid scheme and prohibited the supplement company from spreading or continuing its unfair business practices in the country . vemma’s appeal of that ruling is still pending .
vemma ceo benson k . boreyko said the company is not “aware of any judicial proceedings facing vemma in austria or switzerland” nor has it “received any communication from switzerland’s state secretariat for economic affairs regarding any legal matter nor austria’s voralberg chamber of labor consumer protection division regarding the same . ”
in another report about vemma aired on april 21 by report muenchen on germany’s ard , daniela krehl , nutrition expert at the consumer advice center in bavaria , said the amount of vitamins in the vemma products are “dangerous” and that the products should not be allowed on the german market .
anthony powell , whose move from herbalife to vemma with his team was heralded with much fanfare , has also left vemma and started his own mlm . his linkedin page states he is an “affiliate marketing legend” for zyndio , an arizona - based mlm , which also promises luxury lifestyles .
vemma’s main product is a beverage called verve , which is a blend of vitamins , minerals , mangosteen juice and aloe juice . the product has received a positive review on the dr oz show , though vemma marketing materials strongly warn affiliates from claiming that oz has endorsed the product .
“rather than focusing on selling products , vemma uses false promises of high income potential to convince consumers to pay money to join their organization , ” said jessica rich , director of the ftc’s bureau of consumer protection . “we are also alleging that vemma is an illegal pyramid scheme . ”
the defendants are vemma nutrition company , vemma international holdings inc . , tom alkazin , and benson k . boreyko , who is under a 1999 court order after settling with the ftc for his involvement with new vision international inc . , a multilevel marketing company that sold nutritional supplements .
vemma is the maker of the popular energy drink verve , which it markets primarily through affiliates . the company also sells nutritional supplements and vitamin drinks under the vemma name , meal replacement shakes and weight - loss products called bod - e and a nutrient blend for children called next .
the ftc determined that vemma is a scam according to their own metrics because of what they see as misleading marketing to young individuals . many claims were made about how much money can be made if you worked with vemma . according to the agency , “most participants lost money . ”
but , because vemma was selling consumer products and not sales tools , some redemption was possible , albeit requiring vemma to market in a fashion that is not competitive with the rest of the industry and in a restricted approach not consistent with the state of the law on personal use .
the evidence before the court leaves little doubt that the ftc will ultimately succeed on the merits in demonstrating that vemma is operating a pyramid scheme .
vemma is going to begin branding its compensation program with more affiliate marketing terms than network marketing terms , to better describe our advanced business model .
boreyko said he is
not aware of all the details
but that he
wouldn’t say vemma had nothing to do with it .
while boreyko churns up customers for vemma’s “comeback trail , ” top distributors , including alkazin , his wife bethany ( who was also named in the ftc complaint as a relief defendant ) and their son brad — a leader in the vemma ypr movement — have moved on to other ventures .
in august 2015 , the ftc brought a federal court action against vemma nutrition company , vemma international holdings , inc . , ceo benson k . boreyko and top affiliate tom alkazin . the companies’ “young people revolution” campaign targeted college students and other young adults with materials that presented vemma as a profitable alternative to traditional employment and depicted young affiliates surrounded by conspicuous displays of wealth , such as luxury automobiles and yachts . vemma allegedly failed to disclose that the program’s structure ensured that most participants would not earn substantial income , and provided affiliates with false and misleading materials for recruiting others .
see how marla brady’s life has been transformed by vemma bod•ē — her confidence , enthusiasm , and sincerity all come shining through . watch video .
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how much of each mineral is in the vemma ionic ? the individual minerals found in the vemma mineral blend are in trace and ultra - trace amounts . the levels are similar to what one would find in unprocessed plant based foods grown in mineral rich soil . these levels vary from batch to batch ; therefore we do not quantify exact amounts . each 1 oz serving of vemma ionic contains 956 mg of the total mineral blend .
instead , ( vemma ) teach affiliates to give away the products as samples and to concentrate their efforts on recruiting new participants ( affiliates ) .
consumer losses are inevitable because vemma is an illegal pyramid scheme that rewards affiliates for recruiting participants rather than for selling products , the ftc alleges .
vemma’s headquarters is open , customer service reps are taking phone calls , websites are operational , orders are taking place and being processed , etc .
if you don’t have any experience in mlm business , most likely you won’t be successful with it although some people are making money with vemma .
i created vemma as a way of keeping families healthy through clinically tested , doctor - formulated wellness products ,
he wrote in the declaration .
vemma has focused its products and business plan on the three megatrends in the world today : wellness , energy and weight management .
like vemma , herbalife sells prospective distributors start - up packs . to herbalife ' s credit , its member packs are considerably cheaper than vemma ' s ( just $ 60 . 70 or $ 94 . 10 ) but largely serve the same purpose and contain the same sort of materials .
8 . vemma ' s compensation plan includes many confusing and convoluted rules and requirements , and some bonuses or rewards impose additional restrictions or limitations .
the ftc on wednesday announced its efforts to stop the operation called vemma , which earned more than $ 200 million annually in 2013 and 2014 . the agency said that vemma is an illegal pyramid scheme that has affected consumers throughout the u . s . and in more than 50 other countries .