Recently, I've been hearing about a new "wellness" company out there called AMI-Wellness. What I was seeing seemed both interesting and a little sketchy. So after doing a bit of research, I thought I would share with you an AMI-Wellness review.
What is AMI-Wellness?
Rather than branding itself as healthcare, AMI-Wellness seems to consider itself a wellness brand. From their website:
Ami products are formulated with botanicals and herbs that work with your body to manage physical, mental, emotional and environmental stress, ultimately restoring your balance. Wellness is this center point—it’s where your body thrives, not merely survives. And it’s positively transformative.
What does that mean? Your guess is as good as mine.
What does AMI-Wellness Sell?
AMI-Wellness products seem to be tinctures that you add to a beverage, face and body oils, and herbal rollers.
Many AMI-Wellness products contain Activated Hemp Cannabidoil. Never heard of it? I hadn't either, until I realized that cannabidoil is CBD, which I have heard of. CBD comes from the hemp plant, and while it's one component of marijuana, it's not the part that gets you high (that's THC). And it seems right now that CBD being considered a cure-all, used for all sorts of problems. While there have been studies showing that CBD does have therapeutic value, more research is needed.
Most importantly, CBD is being marketed in all sorts of products as a supplement, and these are unregulated by the FDA. So if you're purchasing any supplement with CBD, it's definitely a "buyer beware" situation. It may not contain the amount of CBD it claims to (or no CBD at all), and depending on their processes, there's also a chance there may be THC that has snuck in during the production. While that shouldn't be the case from a hemp cannabidoil, without regulation, it's all unclear.
Some AMI-Wellness products are hemp-free herbal blends. The effectiveness of the herbs to do what they claim are definitely in question, and AMI-Wellness doesn't specify the amount of each herb in the product - so even if there is a therapeutic benefit, it's unclear if there is enough of the herb in the product to have an effect.
Is AMI-Wellness an MLM?
Ahh, here is my favorite part of this AMI-Wellness review: Is it an MLM. You know how much I hate MLMs, especially those that prey on people with fake health and wellness claims. In a number of places, I saw AMI-Wellness referred to as a "Social Sharing Company," which is certainly a new way to brand an MLM or Direct-Sales company.
AMI-Wellness sells through both their website and through an affiliate program. Their affiliates earn 25%-38% on sales. Alarm bells should be ringing for you right now. This is a huge indication that the company is an MLM. On their website, they indicate that their staff has over 70 years of experience in Direct Sales & Marketing. More alarm bells.
There are some other big MLM keywords on the site - they talk about the community that will be built, the work-life balance, and claim that it's easy to sell to your friends or your network.
The New Affiliate Welcome kit costs only $29 - plus a whopping $10 shipping. They encourage you to buy an enrollment kit though, which run from $287.30 to $444.40. And of course, the more expensive kits are a "better" deal. After that, you're encouraged to sign up for an auto-ship as well.
And while the levels aren't available on the website, a quick perusal of Instagram turns up a bunch of people talking about reaching new levels in AMI-Wellness and and building their team. That's the key example of an MLM.
Recap this AMI-Wellness Review - Is it a Scam?
Let's recap:
- AMI-Wellness sells products that make claims they can't back up.
- AMI-Wellness sells products that may contain CBD, but the amounts are unclear
- AMI-Wellness encourages affiliates to sign up and build a team beneath them.
AMI-Wellness is definitely a scam. Even if the products have some benefits, they have no way to prove it's anything beyond placebo effect, and more importantly, they are an MLM, and MLM products are always overpriced. Save your money and don't buy from AMI-Wellness.