Don Lapre, The Greatest Vitamin In The World, RIPOFF BULL! presented the product over 400 people 2 sales and 64 visits! If I tie an order pad on the tail of a dog, it will get more orders! Where did my other sales go? Phoenix Arizona

Paul,

I did the Guranteed Traffic scam as well as the Greatest Vitamin. I sure didn't see any of the traffic taken from you. I never made one cent with this scam, only paid in a ton of money with no return.

If there is a class action I sure want to be part of it. I did file a report with the Arizona Attorney General's Office.

Thanks,

Renee

I have been scammed by GVW also, and want to get a refund. Wondering, if Paul from Garland, TX ever got his refund. Paul if you read this let me know, I also want to get all victims together so we can do something about these scambags. After reading all comments on this website, all the math etc. GVW starts looking to me more and more as a scam. Something needs to be done! to prevent others signing up for this bogus MLM!!!!!!

As nobody else has done so, could you please scan a copy of these checks you're saying you receive and post it here for us to see? Just blank out the back numbers and your name and addy from the check, then ask Ed about uploading it here.

We keep hearing rebuttles like this from many people, and we would like to see some sort of proof of these claims...

...Don Lapre isn't a scam artist. I've been doing his independent advertiser program for almost 2 months and have already brought in $5,380 in profit. They set me up with a high quality website (go to www.GreatVitaminsStore.com to see an example) and give you a lot of useful online advertising tools. I'm not internet savvy, but there software only require a few clicks to get set-up on all of the major search engines.
As far as people calling to upgrade your site for an additional fee; that is completely true. However, I hardly consider it criminal. Any online business that you sign up with is going to try to make a larger sell on the back-end. I have even purchased one of the upgrade programs (known as the Senior Independent Advertiser program) and made all of my money back in 3 weeks. I've seen Don Lapres name and / or business several times on this site; and I truly question the effort that was put into promoting their site and product. There is no get-rich-quick program out there. I personally treat my site as a second job and put in the hours accordingly.

Obviously I can't speak about those on the site who say they are having issues getting their money back. I have yet to have a reason to try and return anything, nor have I had an issue with getting a check. I request my check and receive it 3-5 days later. I truly feel bad about all on this site which claim they've been ripped-off by Don Lapre, but I personally couldn't be happier. I hope all of them are able to get their issues resolved to their liking and I wish them good luck in any future ventures.

Thank You,

In his latest infomercial, not only does Lapre not appear, but his name isn't even mentioned. It begins with an very attractive woman(She bears more than a passing resemblence to Julia Roberts.) against a background of some kind of warf or marina. She talks about an exciting part time job that pays you up to $12,000 per month. All you have to do is pick up the phone ad dial the toll free number at the bottom of the screen. Then comes testimonials from several people who have made a bundle with this program. The young woman comes back and tells you that this will not cost you a penny. Then more testimonials, she comes back. This pattern repeats for the entire thirty minutes.

I began to notice that this inoformercial appears all over television. Since I lost my business and just about everything else in Hurricane Katrina and am now pretty much stuck in a dead end job, I'm looking for more oppurtunies. I called the 800 number and was greeted by a recorded message telling me that there are two versions of the program, a free one and a deluxe version that costs $35. I decided to try the free version. I didn't know anything about Lapre's involvement until after I was set up. (Their words.)

Since I gave them no money, I don't consider myself a victim, but I've noticed that this infomercial is running very heavily in the New Orleans area. Katrina has left New Orleans very depressed and there are a lot of desperate people looking for a way out of this poverty that was thrust upon us by the storm. I think that anyone who tries to bilk hurrican victims is pretty low.

Thank you.

Barry

My suggestions for The Greatest Vitamin in the world is simple:

1. Sit down with someone you know,(cousins, really trusted neighbors, co-workers, etc...) like a family member with a different last name, in front of a computer.

2. Have them to go through the site and eventually to the order page.

3. GIVE them the neccessary amount of money to order the product. I believe that $81.60 (product and program combined) beats risking $500.00 or $1200 for the companies' advertising price.

4. Once they're done, get all the details logged: Receipt #'s, dates, Transaction #'s, etc...

5. Check your back office for the hit (affiliate stats) and the order (affiliate orders).

6. Wait on the product

I see where most complaints where made concerning Distributors receiving credit for orders as compared to actually receiving the products. This simple solution should solve both...I would recommend even trying it several times before really blasting...Even testing orders from different states...Maybe one with auto-ship and another without it.

Good luck

He uses fake blogs, under many alias to tout his website, presenting it as a good vitamin and business opportunity. Here are just a few examples of his fake blogs (note that none of the links are working, except the page touting the greatest vitamin in the world...)

adriennebraswell.com/
3miles.com/lapre_sites/blog_1/construction.htm
3miles.com/lapre_sites/blog_2/construction.htm
3miles.com/lapre_sites/blog_3/construction.htm

Stay far far away!

I'd like to thank you. It is 5:30 am and I just finished watching Don Lapre's infomercial. I called the 800 number to ask the name of the company because they never ONCE mentioned it on the commercial.

They told me it was The Greatest Vitamin in the World. So I told them I would go research it before giving them my credit card number and I'd get back to them.

After reading all the posts here, I will NOT get back to them. Thank you all for saving me money. :):)

He does have a point, people!

Wow, a quick look on Ebay from the previous posters comment, and he is right. Take your pick from the hundreds of people wanting to sell you the same product for the same price.

I noticed that some people bid on the vitamins, even though they were 1 cent. I wonder how many of them didn't read that it was an advertisement to buy the product at the FULL PRICE from the website!

I take that back. One aspiring salesperson promised to gift-wrap it for you. Bonus!

$39.95 plus $6.50 could buy you a really nice bottle of liquor or red wine, which really... makes you live longer anyway. If you're going to go into this venture, buy a bottle of vitamins for yourself, because the stress you'll endure trying to find other people to buy them will wear your body down significantly.

The infomercial stated that you get "$200/mo for life for every 20 people you get to sign up." It doesn't say anything about "for as long as they are members."

DON'T SIGN UP FOR DON LAPRE'S VITAMIN PROGRAM - YOU WILL GET SCAMMED OUT OF YOUR MONEY. Let me reiterate info from my other post for why you shouldn't...

THE NUMBERS PRESENTED IN THE INFOMERCIAL DO NOT ADD UP...

The vitamin itself retails for $39.95 plus $8.65 for a 30-day supply. Twenty purchases would add up to about $900.

SO...

1.) Can Lapre afford to pay out $1,000 for the privilege of collecting $900 (much of which must cover his expenses)? Let alone pay out downline commissions?

2.) Is he banking on most people making fewer sales that would enable him to collect more money that he would pay in commissions?

3.) Is he planning not to pay?

4.) Does he expect to collect many other charges (for Web sites, servicing accounts, etc) as he has done with previous promotions?

5.) Is he counting on all of these factors?

6.) Is it realistic for distributors to expect to make many sales?

ADDITIONALLY...

An Internet search on "Greatest Vitamin in the World" yielded more than 22,000 "hits" that appear to reflect the efforts of hundreds if not thousands of independent advertisers. A search of eBay the same day found that none of the 20 bottles still offered for sale had received a single bid and that 30 "previously attempted" offerings had resulted in the sale of only three bottles at prices ranging from 1 to 55.

STIFF COMPETITION PLUS WEAK DEMAND IS A FORMULA FOR BUSINESS FAILURE!

THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT LAPRE'S VITAMIN PRODUCT - it can be purchased in any drug or health food store in America for a fraction of Lapre's $39.95 price.

Most of the allegations made by consumers against Lapre, and his many business ventures indicate that Lapre could very well be the very best con-man in history. It would appear that very few people-- if any-- who have ever purchased any of Lapre's products, services, or get rich quick schemes have made any money. Lapre is the only one who has lined his pockets with millions of dollars in other peoples money.

The infomercial stated that you get "$200/mo for life for every 20 people you get to sign up." It doesn't say anything about "for as long as they are members."

DON'T SIGN UP FOR DON LAPRE'S VITAMIN PROGRAM - YOU WILL GET SCAMMED OUT OF YOUR MONEY. Let me reiterate info from my other post for why you shouldn't...

THE NUMBERS PRESENTED IN THE INFOMERCIAL DO NOT ADD UP...

The vitamin itself retails for $39.95 plus $8.65 for a 30-day supply. Twenty purchases would add up to about $900.

SO...

1.) Can Lapre afford to pay out $1,000 for the privilege of collecting $900 (much of which must cover his expenses)? Let alone pay out downline commissions?

2.) Is he banking on most people making fewer sales that would enable him to collect more money that he would pay in commissions?

3.) Is he planning not to pay?

4.) Does he expect to collect many other charges (for Web sites, servicing accounts, etc) as he has done with previous promotions?

5.) Is he counting on all of these factors?

6.) Is it realistic for distributors to expect to make many sales?

ADDITIONALLY...

An Internet search on "Greatest Vitamin in the World" yielded more than 22,000 "hits" that appear to reflect the efforts of hundreds if not thousands of independent advertisers. A search of eBay the same day found that none of the 20 bottles still offered for sale had received a single bid and that 30 "previously attempted" offerings had resulted in the sale of only three bottles at prices ranging from 1 to 55.

STIFF COMPETITION PLUS WEAK DEMAND IS A FORMULA FOR BUSINESS FAILURE!

THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT LAPRE'S VITAMIN PRODUCT - it can be purchased in any drug or health food store in America for a fraction of Lapre's $39.95 price.

Most of the allegations made by consumers against Lapre, and his many business ventures indicate that Lapre could very well be the very best con-man in history. It would appear that very few people-- if any-- who have ever purchased any of Lapre's products, services, or get rich quick schemes have made any money. Lapre is the only one who has lined his pockets with millions of dollars in other peoples money.

The infomercial stated that you get "$200/mo for life for every 20 people you get to sign up." It doesn't say anything about "for as long as they are members."

DON'T SIGN UP FOR DON LAPRE'S VITAMIN PROGRAM - YOU WILL GET SCAMMED OUT OF YOUR MONEY. Let me reiterate info from my other post for why you shouldn't...

THE NUMBERS PRESENTED IN THE INFOMERCIAL DO NOT ADD UP...

The vitamin itself retails for $39.95 plus $8.65 for a 30-day supply. Twenty purchases would add up to about $900.

SO...

1.) Can Lapre afford to pay out $1,000 for the privilege of collecting $900 (much of which must cover his expenses)? Let alone pay out downline commissions?

2.) Is he banking on most people making fewer sales that would enable him to collect more money that he would pay in commissions?

3.) Is he planning not to pay?

4.) Does he expect to collect many other charges (for Web sites, servicing accounts, etc) as he has done with previous promotions?

5.) Is he counting on all of these factors?

6.) Is it realistic for distributors to expect to make many sales?

ADDITIONALLY...

An Internet search on "Greatest Vitamin in the World" yielded more than 22,000 "hits" that appear to reflect the efforts of hundreds if not thousands of independent advertisers. A search of eBay the same day found that none of the 20 bottles still offered for sale had received a single bid and that 30 "previously attempted" offerings had resulted in the sale of only three bottles at prices ranging from 1 to 55.

STIFF COMPETITION PLUS WEAK DEMAND IS A FORMULA FOR BUSINESS FAILURE!

THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT LAPRE'S VITAMIN PRODUCT - it can be purchased in any drug or health food store in America for a fraction of Lapre's $39.95 price.

Most of the allegations made by consumers against Lapre, and his many business ventures indicate that Lapre could very well be the very best con-man in history. It would appear that very few people-- if any-- who have ever purchased any of Lapre's products, services, or get rich quick schemes have made any money. Lapre is the only one who has lined his pockets with millions of dollars in other peoples money.

#1 It's $1000 for every 20 you get to try the vitamin and If you choose the $200 residual income, It is only for as long as those consumers are repeat customers. That equals $10 per customer per order.

So you can see that there is an allowance for Lapre to pay his staff and make a profit. So
let's say you live 40 years , I believe that is $96,000.00 for you and 288,000.00 for Lapre to pay his staff and put a little in the bank. Also remember that there are many affiliates selling Lapres products and many of us making those 1000 dollar checks.

By the way ,If you bring in 39 new customers, that's 1 check for $1000 and 19 customers towards
your next 20 that equals another $1000. Even if it takes you another 6 months to get that 1.

Well, you don't have what it takes to make it in the business world. Why did you do visits? You were supposed to advertise. 400 presentations, 64 visits, why did you waste your time. The one thing that separates the good from the bad is the way that they approach the situation. A bad advertiser would go out and waste they're time presenting and visiting to dozens of people, which in this case is what you did. A good advertiser would have hired a staff to pass out numerous fliers and business cards with the website on them. That's just the simple way to make a few $1000 checks.

To ante up the profits, create ads on the radio, newspapers, at barbershops, convenience stores, and alot of other places. The internet especially, have traffic directed to your vitamin website, place ads all over the web and have the clicks directed to your website. There are a many web traffic programs out there, and there a alot of free ones too.

Another thing that you need to do is market/advertise to the right people. Don't just go to anyone, go to those that you know are interested in vitamins and supplements and enjoy staying healthy and taking care of there body. Go to the gyms and fitness places and pass out some fliers and business cards. If a business man doesn't market his product to the right people, he won't profit at all. But if he does, he prospers. Also, stay consisent with the business. I'm guessing that you probably quit after you didn't see success. That's a loser mentality.

Any "pro" business man would have continued. Do you honestly think that you were ripped off, you gotta be kiddin me. an investment of $35 isn't nothing. There are other marketing strategies out there that cost up to $1000s of dollars. $35 isn't nothing.

So far as not being able to get in contact with them, 'that' is bull. I sell with them and have made a few thousands, and I always call them and email them all the time with no problem. He's been marketing for over 15 years now, he made millions, he doesnt really money. If you think he ripped you off or ripped other people off, why is he still in business. Companies that rip-off are usually sued my friend and don't continue to market. Dwell on this please, maybe you'll learn something!

What most people don't realize, because they don't listen between the lines, is that Lapre has stacked the deck squarely in his favor. You get paid $1000 for each *20* new customers you bring in. If you bring in 19 customers, you get nothing. Even if they were playing honest with the numbers, chances are that you're not going to bring in exact multiples of 20 customers at a time so they're going to make additional money from you. If you bring in 39 new customers, that's $1560 for them, of which they only owe you $1000. The economics otherwise just don't add up.

Secondly, as someone else said, you get no residuals from multiple orders, only from brand new customers. If you bring in 500 people that keep re-ordering, that's all gravy for Lapre's people. Third, you operate as a MLM, bringing in more "independent advertisers", which means even more people trying to make money for Lapre's company.

However, the biggest problem is that you don't have a clue what's really going on. You have no way of tracking how many hits you get to your website, nor how many people are actually buying. You have to trust Lapre that he's actually telling you the truth. For all you know, your site is generating 500 new customers a month, but he's going to claim you only sold 18 this month, and therefore don't get anything.

The same goes for your MLM advertisers. You don't even know who they are, much less what they're doing. Nothing says that Lapre has to sign them up as "tagged" to you, nor pay you when they get 20 new buyers, nor do anything whatsoever. All he has to do is rake in the bucks at $40 a bottle for cheap vitamins that cost him a couple pennies to make, maybe throw you a bone now and then for amazingly making over 20 sales in a week, and encourage you to keep trying harder when you're "almost there".

Like most of the other things Lapre has done, it's the fine print and what they don't say that you have to pay attention to. They stress the magic number *20* new customers, hoping nobody is going to ask what happens with 19 or 39 or 59, or ask for Lapre's company to prove how many people actually buy off the site.

I have been earning a living on the internet for 3 years now and have seen and talked to just about every make money quick scheme there is. Here are a few tips to avoid being scammed.

First, when you see the words "turnkey" or "package" associated with a business venture Avoid it like the plague. The reason they are selling it to you is because they cannot make money doing it themselves or the profit margins are not high enough after advertising expense to make money. They are essentialy passing the ad expense to you in hopes you are satisfied with small profits. You will never make any substancial amount of money with these programs.

Next, If you want to buy search traffic buy it from the source. Google, Yahoo(formerly overture), miva(find what), and others can get you quality traffic at a resonable price. Avoid anyone who tells you that they specialize in your industry as they are just lying to get your money. Also anyone that calls you from a company you cannot find online and tells you they can get you x amount of trafic for x dollars is trying to sell you bad trafic. If it was so good why don't they do it themselves. Enhance and kanoodle do this. Avoid them like the plague. I lost over 2k with them. Also avoid anyone that sells hits or visitors as it may be from spyware or popups. Ask yourself, when is the last time you purchased something from a site that randomly popped up on your computer?

Never expect more than a 1% conversion rate. If your site is professional looking you will probobly get more but 1% is a good starting point. Figure your average sale amount and what you make off of it, then subtract your cost for 100 visitors from the average sale profit amount. If you have a positive # then you will probobly make a good amount of money and it is worth persuing. If not find something else. There are plenty good affiliate programs and other oportunities out there that can make you money. You just have to look.

Next, START SMALL . This is probobly the best advice. $50 deposited into miva will give you a good estimate as to what will happen when you put 10x that anount in. If sales reps tell you to start with $1000 tell them you are testing them and if you get sales from the $50 you'll definately be back.

If you follow this advice, you will be on your way to becoming an un-scammable online merchant.

As alway, it's the customer's fault... if something doesn't work, it's always the customers fault...What a silly defense.

So let's do a little math... Let's see if Don is counting on you to succeed in your business.

Don offers you a choice between making $1,000 or $200 per month for life everytime you get 20 people to TRY his vitamin.

Let's say all 20 buy a bottle and absolutely none of them ask for their money back... (which isn't likely).... Don makes about $800 approximately, right?

Perhaps a few of those customers will buy additional bottles, but we all know this would be a small percentage....but let's be positive and assume Don get's an additional $800 out of the same 20 customers...ALL of them buying more vitamins...yeah right..

Heck, let's get really crazy and say all 20 customers buy a 3rd bottle and gross Don an additional $800.... This grosses good old Donald about $2400 if every one of those customers defies logic and keeps buying over and over...

Let's say Donald has no product cost, no staff to pay, no rent to pay, no tax, no licensing expenses, no expenses at all and gets to keep all $2400.... gag.....
Can Don really pay you $200 per month for life from these proceeds? These impossible proceeds?

If I live 40 years (480 months) X $200 = he pays me $96,000.00... At least that's what his commercial leads people to believe...

Why would any businessman agree to pay $96,000.00 in order to make $2400.... keeping in mind we went to extraordinary means to get Donald his $2400 to begin with....

Do you really think he want you to succeed?

Or does he just want your money?

Do the math.... this is a blatant scam...

The idiot on here blaming customers for lacking sales skills is corrupt like the rest of this pack of dogs is...

Numbers don't lie...scammers like this do...

The assertion that my last comment was a paid response is rediculous. The reason for my response is simple. The search engine placement of the RipOff Report knocks me out of the top ten in google. If I don't put a response in, then Paul's comments that the Greatest Vitamin Program is a scamm (mispelled on purpose so it won't be picked up by the search engine).

Paul's post does thwart people away from earning $1,000 or maybe more, within the next year, on a $35 investment.

So what steps do you follow to earn the first $1,000?

1. Go to the net and in your favorite search engine, type Trainer or Training, wealth, and the name of the program. (This is for anything on the net)

2. If you want Lapre's program, join a Top Trainer and ONLY pay the $35 for the kit. DON'T BUY ANYTHING ELSE! Only spend the $35! If someone calls you and wants to sell you a bumch of marketing tools, politely say, "No Thank you!"

3. Buy a domain name, it should have a part of the name in it. Example: Is-Lapre-a-vitamin-scamm.com or vitamins-by-lapre.com these are examples, not real domains. You can purchase domain names for $6.95 - $9.95 almost anywhere on the net.

4. Most trainers have free web space to get you started or you can "point the domain" to the product site.

5. Getting on the search engines, Aiisi.com is a good "free" listing site that the search engines spider everyday.

6. Then get a IRS 1099 form from the company, fill it out and send it in. This stops delays in getting your first check.

7. Join other affiliate programs.

8. Using the above formula, will get traffic to your Business. It gets people that want to buy the product, no Actice Selling involved. You use Lapre's marketing efforts to make yourself money.

9. This can be done with any affiliate program. Your plan is to earn at least $1,000 per year per affiliate plan. If RipOffRevenge.com offers an affilate program, join it. Tax season is coming up, find an affilate plan on "reducing taxes".

In closing, maybe sales ability and marketing ability are seperate talents. Most Income Plans work when you have a plan or someone to train you.....training isn't having the trainee buy a bunch of marketing materials. It's developing a plan, that is easy to do.

So be smart, work hard and don't think it's a rip-off when it doesn't work for you......just ask for your money back. And don't buy the extras!!!

Best regards,

Your rebuttal is well taken. Just for your information, my career in sales with a Fortune 1000 company was a very successful one involving sales, sales management and training from which I retired recently. I won local, regional and national award in sales achievements, and therefore your comments regarding laziness on my part or get rich quick without doing anything would hold as much water as a colander.

I asked myself, why would this guy from Melbourn, Florida go to such extent to show that I was accusing Don Lapre wrongly? The obvious answer is that he is paid by Lapre do such a report! Obviously he chose to ignore the five (5) points I cited as proof (I have evidence that any jury would accept) of LaPre's dishonesty and scam.

Also to refute his claim that I can't sell, it is not that I can't sell. My proof showed that no matter how many I actually sold (which I was prevented from tracking), they were taken from me and given to those who paid him extra for his "guaranteed traffic" scheme, which, in itself is another scam. Just read the other complaints against LaPre. They werent getting their "guaranteed traffic" even after they paid dearly for.

I promised to let you all know if I got my refund. I did finally, but only after I filed a claim against LaPre with my local Better Business Bureau which in turn forwarded to the BBB where LaPre's business is. If you want your money back, approaching LaPre as an individual would most likely get you nowhere. Do what I did. Going through BBB does not guarantee that you'll get your money back, but it could improve your chances. Even though I got my money back, I still question LaPre's honesty and integrity as a businessman. I finished taking the bottle of vitamins, but I would not buy it again simply because it did not have the beneficial effect...just a little, not enough...on me that LaPre claimed it would.

Consider the warning heard often: "If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is" or "If it slithers like a snake and hisses like a snake, don't expect it to quack or wadle like a duck!" Even at my age, I still had some trust in the good of man. But as they say, once burned,
well, you know the rest, don't you? Live and learn, hopefully not at your expense.

I get so tired of reading the "I've been ripped off" by Don Lapre.

Last year, in December of 2003, I saw Don Lapre's infomercial for the greatest vitamin in the world. I paid my $35 and joined. I then went out and bought a couple of Domain Names from ((REDACTED)) and pointed them to my Lapre Marketing site. I then went to some of the marketing bulletin boards and posted comments along with my Domain Names....a few months latter my Domains were spidered by the search engines and people began to find me and buy the vitamins. I average $400 A MONTH from my Lapre sites. I have never tried to sell the product or his marketing plan.

As for losing money with Lapre, I always contact the purchaser and advise them of the 30 day unconditional money back guaranty on his products and his businesses. So my question is "How has he been unfair and ripped anyone off?"

Most people have a hard time admitting their failure or procrastination....and end up losing money. These are the same people that are looking for the easy buck or the easy answer and they are unwilling to research and add effort.

My challenge to the person who claims he/she showed the product to 400 people and had 2 sales...isn't a good sales person. A simple statement of " Try it for 20 days, if you don't feel better and have more energy, you get 100% of your money back!!" would have sold 40 out of 400...... I'm so tired of people Blaming Others when a Business Fails.

I hope badbusinessbureau.com has the guts to be fair and publish this.

Thank you,