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Is your MLM a fraud?
I was recently approached by a networker that swiped my email address from my product site (the nerve!) She was inviting me to explore Eefuel, a fuel additive that promises better milage and smoother engine performance. Okay, it sounded promising, I'll admit it.
After exploring the site I was initially impressed and frankly tempted to join as my opportunity does not prohibit distributors from joining additional opportunities (a non-compete clause).
But my radar kept going off regarding their statements on EPA testing. They had a letter posted on the site stating the EPA had registered their product. So I went to the source and asked the EPA to verify their standing. Here is what the EPA's public relations official Mr. Solar wrote me:
"Dear Mr. Staal,
The EPA has not tested the additive.
Registration involves providing a chemical description of the additive.
In certain cases health-effects testing is required. There are over 5,600 registered additives. Registration does not involve verification of performance claims made for an additive. You should ask the manufacturer for the data that support any claims of improved fuel economy, etc.
Registration is by product name and name of the manufacturer. The numbers are for internal use."
There you have it. No testing was done and the registration means totally zip. A second email from the EPA noted their logo was used by Eefuel without consent.
Uh oh, looks like I started a little brush fire. :) This could be fuel additive MLM nr 7 to be taken down by the government. In short, do your research! I can't stress this enough!
scientia est opulentia - knowledge is wealth
Have a great day!
-Tiemen Staal
Member Since: 12/31/1969
Industry: No Industry Selected
Primary Web Site: No Website Entered
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Potentially good info, but
Potentially good info, but I'm ROFL about the EPA guy's name: Mr. Solar ??????? at the EPA?????
(does a Mr. Drug work at the FDA?, or a Mr. Cow at the USDA?) lol! in fun!
A few alarm bells are ringing in my head about your research. You didn't give Mr. Solar's entire name or title, (just "EPA's public relations official") or the date when the corespondence took place. With a simple "there you have it", we're supposed to believe your "quoted" letter.
On the other hand, the statement you quoted sounded government-ese enough to be legit. If you still have the original email response with whatever "official" identifiers there are still in place, you might want to re-post that portion to better make your case. At various times on some hobby forums to which I belong, someone wll inquire of a vendor (or govt agency) whether or not a certain product is valid. Often the poster will reprint the whole correspondence sequence (TOO much!) or at least the relevant email reply, esp. including the "official" signature lines, so that we "viewers" can know the poster made a diligent effort in his/her research.
I don't mean to be mean, malicious, or maligning to you; your post just struck a funny bone, and then some instant worry occurred. I don't know you or the product you warned us about, or any of its competitors, and I certainly don't have the time to check out your facts. I applaud you (truly!) for making the effort to contact the EPA and letting us know your findings. That's a LOT more than many of us would do! I'm just urging you to be more careful in the future when you report your findings.
Susi.
Noted, but you're missing the point.
I'm not here to warn you about Eefuel, that was not my intention and there are sites like MLMwatchdog.com that do a great job at this already. My point is that you do your research about any opportunity that might seem enticing at first glance.
Anyway, I didn't think Mr. Solar's (whose first name is Jose) first name was relevant but if you would like to verify the information he provided feel free to email him at Solar.Jose@epamail.epa.gov. My correspondence took place 8/27/2008.
I trust this will satisfy your inquiry.