Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by mtran2000 on May 6, 2017 at 7:05am

Give out free samples so people can see if product works.

Permalink Reply by Amy loves Lulu on May 6, 2017 at 11:21am

I'll send you some samples- but it will take longer than one or two washes for hair to grow back. This isn't a cure for alopecia.

Permalink Reply by Pamela on May 6, 2017 at 2:16pm

What is the cost????? For full size product.

Permalink Reply by Amy loves Lulu on May 6, 2017 at 3:13pm

Hey Pamela- prices vary. The system I started with is $100 retail. But it lasts a couple of months. The company is MLM so you can buy retail or sign up as a VIP which is a one time fee of $20 plus the cost of your first order. Free shipping with that. I am happy to tell you more if you want all the details!

Permalink Reply by Stacie on May 7, 2017 at 2:03pm

Prices are listed on the Monat website: https://corp.mymonat.com/join/vip.html.  

Monat encourages customers to become "VIPs," but the VIP program requires that you sign for "autoship" or "flex ship" -- which is like a gym membership, it automatically charges you every month.  The VIP program gives you discounts if you convince other people to sign up for it.  Sort of like if you get cable and then you convince your aunt and BFF and neighbor to sign up for the same package, your cable company gives you a discount on your cable bill for a few months. 

When you try to check out on the Monat website with just a one-time purchase, this prompt pops up: https://corp.mymonat.com/products/index.html?view=Step1

Back to the Monat website: Even if you hit "No Thanks" to flexship, it looks like you have to sign up for an account with Monat in order to complete check out.  This means that Monat will send you promotional materials and continue to try to get you to sign up for the VIP program.

Further, in order to check out, you are required to give "Your Sponsor's ID" which means that you have to deal with a Monat rep in order to buy the product from the Monat website.

If you don't want to do the VIP program or deal with Monat reps, you can also buy Monat on Amazon and Ebay  The prices are similar and occasionally cheaper.  Just go on to Amazon or Ebay and search for "Monat."

This is not the first time that someone who is a Monat rep or who is acting on behalf of a Monat rep has come onto these boards to sell the Monat product.  The corporation that manufactures Monat has a marketing strategy that specifically targets web-based customers and they encourage their reps to target folks over the internet.  There are several threads in which Monat has been discussed here.  The claims and pictures used by the Monat folks are all very similar -- which, in all likelihood, means that Monat gives the reps sample statements and tells them to re-work them a little, and that Monat helps the reps with how to take pictures and format them for maximum effect.  They even help reps build websites for sales: https://corp.mymonat.com/join/index.html

More about Monat's "social marketing" strategy can be found here: http://monatglobal.com/why-social-marketing/

Also, here is the Compensation Plan for Monat reps: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b2izzfrousjehx7/Compensation%20Plan_US_V2...

Of note, there is no independent scientific proof of Monat's efficacy for treating any type of alopecia.  All of the scientific studies regarding Monat have been funded by Monat.  There are potentially problematic aspects to these studies with regard to size and protocols, etc.  The studies are available online here: http://haircanada.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Clinical-Trials-si...

However, haircanada.net is run by Monat sales partner Denise Chapman.  So, take that for what you will.

Also, here is Monat's "Scientific Board," none of whom are well known at all in the alopecia community: http://monatglobal.com/scientific-board/

Right now there is no way to determine whether the hair growth shown in various Monat "before and after" pictures is a result of Monat or just the cyclical nature of alopecia areata.  I

The Monat sales pitch is always very friendly and warm.  There's almost always an emphasis on how Monat is "organic" or "all-natural" (what those terms mean is up for debate, but you can look at the ingredients list and decide for yourself).  There are always personal anecdotes about how Monat has worked miracles for the rep or the rep's close family and friends.  It's a very good sales technique.  That said, it's a sales technique, so buyer beware.  There's nothing wrong with trying out a new product (I haven't found anything to suggest that Monat does any harm), but go in with your eyes open.

Permalink Reply by Amy loves Lulu on May 10, 2017 at 1:22pm

Wow Stacie! I guess I did ask if anyone has heard of Monat. But, I'm a little offended because you are basically calling me a troll...like I'm targeting people to make money. I am not a robot and I am not a scammer. I'm just a person with AA who wants to share these products with others like me- in hopes that if someone wants to try something not over the top expensive and not laden with chemicals that might help with hair growth- here's an opportunity.

And- I'm a real person who lives in Austin, TX. I have a real story. I never said Monat cures AA. No one from the Monat head quarters has ever contacted me about anything. I bought my products through a friend of a friend- who lives in Dallas, TX. She drove down to my house when I had a party to tell all my friends about Monat.

I do want to sell the products. I do want to make some money. But I don't want to scam anyone. Monat does not automatically charge you like a gym membership. If you sign up as a VIP you get this: free shipping and a bonus product not available for purchase with each auto ship. You pay $20 to be a VIP and you buy one system or $84 worth of products at the time you sign up. You sign up for autoship for a one time purchase. Monat will send you an email before they charge you and let you know what you signed up for. If you don't want it- you can push out the autoship date by at least 2 months. You can keep pushing out the dates as long as you don't want to buy anything else. You only have to manage the autoship when you get the emails- if you do nothing when they send the email- you will get charged and you will get products sent to your house.

That is the business model. I like it because it's very family oriented in my opinion. I'm part of a team of people who love the products and who care about people. It's like Amway or Tupperware...or Avon or Mary Kay. I am just trying to share what I love and I'm hoping to make a little money on the side. I am friendly and warm. I'm not gonna apologize for that.

If  you want to call sharing my story a "sales technique" go ahead. But that makes me sad- I wonder what would happen if you weren't so skeptical? Monat never claimed to be organic. They do say they are "all natural". Personally, I don't care about the science behind the products. I just care about the results. And, the 30 day money back guarantee says a lot to me too. My personal experience is that I have tried all the chemicals out there. I've spent THOUSANDS of dollars on products, wigs, medications, and treatments. NOTHING made my hair grow back with no side effects until Monat. And nothing ever smelled so good!

I do agree with you that it's hard to tell if the hair re-growth is just part of my natural AA cycle. But like I mentioned in my original post- I have not had this much hair since I was in college- almost 30 years ago. I do have new bald spots since starting with Monat- but I also have a ton of thick, healthy hair around the spots....and my hair is not falling out as fast as it used to- and lots of old spots are covered with new hair.

I see that you are also attempting to care for others by sending out this "warning". I don't want my friends to get scammed either. But, I want to make sure you know that you are wrong about me and about Monat...on many levels.

Permalink Reply by Stacie on May 10, 2017 at 2:56pm

Read my post, Amy.  I said nothing about you personally, and certainly didn't question that you are a real human being.  Of course you are.  I said that other people have been on these boards who have tried selling Monat.  I said that there's no unbiased scientific evidence that Monat is effective.  I said that Monat encourages and apparently trains its reps to use particular sales techniques.  And I showed the sales strategy and compensation plans for Monat.  

The truth is you're upset because people now know that you have a monetary interest in getting them to buy Monat.  That was a fact that you did not include in your original post.  It appears that you don't like that it was revealed.

You ARE targeting people for sales.  You're targeting other alopecians like yourself.  That's how sales work.  Feel free to sell your product and to recommend whatever works for you.  But you shouldn't hide what you are doing.  And what you're doing is selling a product.

And when you sell a product, you need to be prepared for other people to ask you questions, to comment on the validity and efficacy of the product you are selling, the sales technique being used, and so on.  If you're selling a worthy product, then the product -- and the salesperson -- should be able to withstand some questions and, in this case, an airing of the sales model used by Monat.  

You claim that you are upset about my skepticism.  There's nothing wrong with being skeptical, Amy.  Skepticism causes people to ask questions and to seek answers.  What you're actually upset about is that my skepticism caused me to take a closer look at Monat and then post in-depth information that takes a little bit of the shine off the product.

You don't actually mean it when you say that  "don't care" about science.  If you really didn't care about science, then you also wouldn't care about having safe drinking water or safe food. Science helps you with those things and I would bet that you care about science keeping you safe from lead poisoning and mad cow disease.  But you're so invested in your hair that you "don't care" about the science behind the product you're selling?  Really? That doesn't make much sense.  What's worse is that you want other folks on these boards -- other alopecians -- to base their buying decisions on the same absence of care and thought.  You want them to "not care" about the science, or the sales technique, or to look behind the curtain.  You just want them buy that product (from you).  That's the type of thing that can make people...skeptical. ;) 

Permalink Reply by Amy loves Lulu on May 10, 2017 at 3:34pm

wow. you are something else, Stacie. I'm glad you know me so well. Why are you being so mean? I would be happy to answer questions- but you weren't asking any questions. you were attacking me and the company and telling LIES.