Pure Weight Loss News and Gossip.

What do you think -- is this company going to survive and thrive? Are they looking to expand their staff, or do you think layoffs are inevitable?

How does Pure Weight Loss stack up against the competition?

Going under.

LA Weightloss became PURE Weightloss to escape the continued negative press it received about its shady consumer relations. The company, while having a basically sound and nutritional diet plan, forces their saies staff to brow-beat the consumers to buy their vitamins, food bars, shakes and other supplements. The program is costly and they want their money UP FRONT.

Counselors aren't supposed to let their sales leads escape without signing on the dotted line, and the push is big for people who want their money back.
People are leaving the company left and right because each day PURE is taking back more and more of their earnings while expecting staff - most who are new and inexperienced = to work long hours. Some stores only have one person working - and that person is relatively new to the job because the turnover has been so great. All the head honchos are still raking in the big bucks, but the people that do all the work, and all the conniving of clients, see very little for the hard sell they're expected to perform.

It's really terrible that they are allowed to get away with what they're doing.

I am an employee of Pure Weight Loss...who is leaving the company. If you ask any employee they will now tell you the truth about the company. All the negative blogs are all true!!! In the past few weeks all of the centers have gone down to only one person in them (if they have not already). They laid off tons of employees and brought the centers down to part time....why because they are closing!!! The owner is trying to start a new concept of business known as rain skin, and will eventually do away with Pure Weight Loss...or at least just make it an internet based company. The company discriminates tremendously and i am sure will be hit with a lot of law suits in time to come. If you are looking to work or join DON"T DO IT. you will waste your time and waste your money. The hours are long and the days are boring...the only thing you will get is a phone call every hour wondering why you have no money in. When you try to explain that you have only seen 3 clients they will not care but tell you that you need to change it.

I joined pure weight loss and hate it is there a way to cancel? I invested like 1500 through care credit and am paying it off monthly but its a horrible program.

I agree with Texas, it is not worth your time to work for this company. It is a sinking ship that is going down faster than the Titanic. They claim to care about the clients, but all they see are dollar signs and if you don't produce the revenue they want, you get questioned about why you were unable to sell to people who already have paid for the entire program. Its stupid and ridiculous.

I was promised that my center was not closing last week. I received a call on Friday Dec. 7, letting me know that my office was closing this up and coming week. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ALL Pure Weight Loss Centers were notified today that they will close by Jan 4th. The company is bankrupt. Clients will be lucky to get their refunds. It's sad because it's a good program, but the company ran into financial problems and just could not come up with a solution fast enough. The notice went out to all centers today, 12/12/07 and clients will receive a letter in the mail. Everyone is shocked.

I just read the comment about Pure filing bankruptcy.Is this insider info or does it come from a client? Is Pure making any promises about taking care of clients? I am wondering ,is Pure and LA
still connected? I am an employee and I was just told today my LA Weightloss center is closing and that all the clients will receive their product and refunds. Can anyone shed light here.I just don't know what went wrong. Thanks

I am a former employee of Pure Weight Loss and I am on the phone with the manager from the center I was in. It's true. The centers were told on a conference call today. All the corporate centers are closing. They will be open limited hours next week to tell clients. The person I spoke with said she did not know if there were going to be refunds or not. She is trying to give any product owed to people when she sees them but is afraid the inventory will run out.

Yes we are all very sad about our company closing we took alot of pay cuts over the past months and months. All I have to say I enjoyed my job and loved helping the clients lose their weight it was not only about the money from our clients we were helping people loss weight ok it was a business. The employees that stayed aboard were really into their jobs and had a passion and loved to see our clients be successful. It could not of been just about the $ b/c we stayed hoping it would get better b/c we loved to see our clients really and truly be happier, healthier, and live a longer life. THAT'S TRUE IT WAS THE BEST WEIGHT LOSS PLAN IN THE MARKET.

ramone said: I just read the comment about Pure filing bankruptcy.Is this insider info or does it come from a client? Is Pure making any promises about taking care of clients? I am wondering ,is Pure and LA
still connected? I am an employee and I was just told today my LA Weightloss center is closing and that all the clients will receive their product and refunds. Can anyone shed light here.I just don't know what went wrong. Thanks

All we were told is to give clients the no. to corporate and when the clients were there today I gave them all of there products.

mememe in North Wales, Pennsylvania said: Yes we are all very sad about our company closing we took alot of pay cuts over the past months and months. All I have to say I enjoyed my job and loved helping the clients lose their weight it was not only about the money from our clients we were helping people loss weight ok it was a business. The employees that stayed aboard were really into their jobs and had a passion and loved to see our clients be successful. It could not of been just about the $ b/c we stayed hoping it would get better b/c we loved to see our clients really and truly be happier, healthier, and live a longer life. THAT'S TRUE IT WAS THE BEST WEIGHT LOSS PLAN IN THE MARKET.

mememe,

It's true that the employees who were there loved helping clients. You had to love helping them to stay because God knows the pay was lousy and got even worse. When people made the comment that it was all about the money they were actually referring to the company.

I am soo broken hearted, because I love my clients.

I know the pay was more and more lousy as the months progressed and we were all seeking other employement b/c of it. In todays job world there is alot of competion in the job market that is why we all have to look at our jobs as resume builders. Everything happens for a reason God knows what now. I truly believe in CARMA what goes around comes around and every dog gets its DAY!!! Stay positive and post your resume and there is nothing wrong with a little alcohol to calm ourselves and praying to God.

I loved the clients also and shed alot of tears over the past 24 hours but now we don't have a choice to go on unemployement or find another job LOL.

mememe in North Wales, Pennsylvania said: I loved the clients also and shed alot of tears over the past 24 hours but now we don't have a choice to go on unemployement or find another job LOL.

When did your center close?

mememe in North Wales, Pennsylvania said: I know the pay was more and more lousy as the months progressed and we were all seeking other employement b/c of it. In todays job world there is alot of competion in the job market that is why we all have to look at our jobs as resume builders. Everything happens for a reason God knows what now. I truly believe in CARMA what goes around comes around and every dog gets its DAY!!! Stay positive and post your resume and there is nothing wrong with a little alcohol to calm ourselves and praying to God.

You'r my type of gal!

my center was notified yesterday at about 10am of the 01/04 close and by 5 pm i was laid off SOL!!!

Yes, I worked a LAWL (now Pure) for 3 years. I got out in June. They are closing and my old manager was laid off yesterday also. Clients, get your product if you can, or you will not get ir or refund

I worked alone at LA for almost a year before all the centers were shut down in my area, the last one in November. We never had product leading up to the closing and I was informed to only call clients who had been in the center within the last four weeks. It was a good program and I too loved my clients heck I was the only one they ever saw but the good thing was they gave me their names and numbers to use as references while looking for another job. All I can say is working with the clients was wonderful but with the owners not so much.

Lucy Montesano in Dallas, Texas said: I am an employee of Pure Weight Loss...who is leaving the company. If you ask any employee they will now tell you the truth about the company. All the negative blogs are all true!!! In the past few weeks all of the centers have gone down to only one person in them (if they have not already). They laid off tons of employees and brought the centers down to part time....why because they are closing!!! The owner is trying to start a new concept of business known as rain skin, and will eventually do away with Pure Weight Loss...or at least just make it an internet based company. The company discriminates tremendously and i am sure will be hit with a lot of law suits in time to come. If you are looking to work or join DON"T DO IT. you will waste your time and waste your money. The hours are long and the days are boring...the only thing you will get is a phone call every hour wondering why you have no money in. When you try to explain that you have only seen 3 clients they will not care but tell you that you need to change it.

Amen sister, I know what your talking about I have never been on a job and been so bored for 10 hours five days a week in my life

I got a phone call today from the Pure Weightloss Center in Champaign IL and was told I needed to come in the Center is closing down January 4th. I said are you moving somewhere else? No, all the Centers are closing all over the US.
I have put over 1000 dollars so far into this and i am 15 pounds away from my goal with still more to learn and now this.
I am furious. I feel used. I put my trust in this company thinking they really were concerned with me and wanted to help me.
You are so right on the lawsuits. Don't know if I will be the one to start but there will be many people ready to put up their dukes and the owners of this company better be ready cause this news is going to the networks everyone is going to know. I will make sure of that.

The closing date of my center in CA was 12/8. I was promised my final paycheck would be delivered to my home on 12/10. I still have not gotten it! No one from Corporate will return my call.I left 5 messages. Not only are they ripping off the wonderful clients that we sold in good faith they are now ripping off the employees. They have been lying to us none stop since October. I too loved my clients and have shed many tears over the closing. Does anyone know for sure if they filed Bankruptcy? Current employees be careful you may not get paid if they have filed.

unemployedmgr in Apple Valley, California said: The closing date of my center in CA was 12/8. I was promised my final paycheck would be delivered to my home on 12/10. I still have not gotten it! No one from Corporate will return my call.I left 5 messages. Not only are they ripping off the wonderful clients that we sold in good faith they are now ripping off the employees. They have been lying to us none stop since October. I too loved my clients and have shed many tears over the closing. Does anyone know for sure if they filed Bankruptcy? Current employees be careful you may not get paid if they have filed.

I am supposed to get paid today as well!

I just picked up my last paycheck p.i.f. good luck!!! There will be another job out there 4 us we just have to find it. Keep praying!!!

i worked @ LA 4 2 yrs, and all i can say is that I saw it coming. That was the worst company I have ever worked for. I was glad to have watched it (from afar) crumble to the ground. Anyone ever hear of KHARMA?????

geegee in San Bernardino, California said: I am supposed to get paid today as well!

My center closed in November and I still have not received my last check. I was left alone to pack up the center and deal with angry clients so I locked up and left but I did work the 3 days prior to that. I am not sure if I should pursue the company for those three days and oh yeah I forgot to mention that they shut the water off so I had to go to the company next door to use the restroom for two days. Any thoughts or suggestions on my course of action or should I leave it alone.

All I have to say is that I am sorely disappointed. This was the best weight loss plan, ever. I successfully lost 66 lbs and completed stabilization and maintenance. I just feel sick about how they are treating the clients and employees. Because of my success I referred several people who are now SOL due to this situation. I'm so EMBARASSED!

Any thoughts on retail equivalents to LA Lites?

WorkedAlone in Boca Raton, Florida said: My center closed in November and I still have not received my last check. I was left alone to pack up the center and deal with angry clients so I locked up and left but I did work the 3 days prior to that. I am not sure if I should pursue the company for those three days and oh yeah I forgot to mention that they shut the water off so I had to go to the company next door to use the restroom for two days. Any thoughts or suggestions on my course of action or should I leave it alone.

I finally got my check today. It is not correct. What really bothers me is NO ONE from corporate will return calls. I have been calling on it all week. Left msgs for the Payroll person, Payroll manager and HR manager. No courtesy of a returned call.

mememe in North Wales, Pennsylvania said: I just picked up my last paycheck p.i.f. good luck!!! There will be another job out there 4 us we just have to find it. Keep praying!!!

Finally got my check today. Yes we have to put this behind us... sigh...

I have worked at LA/Pure Weightloss for years, and all the negative things said about this company are cruel and only half truths! Yes the company is closing and my heart is breaking for all the wonderful people I worked with who will no longer have jobs. I have a close bond with all of these people, including the owner, who is a brilliant, kind and generous man WHO I WOULD TAKE A BULLET FOR. We are calling the clients and giving them their product and most of them are truly sad because this is the only program that worked for them.....that right there is the most tragic thing in this company closing. That is the effect it has on the clients.
Most of you who post your comments here are self-centered , weak kneed cry babies. You are doomed to go from job to job carping about what could have been done better, instead of considering what more you could have done. Good luck at your next 26 jobs and your inevitable journey through the job market as just another mediocre employee.
.... So please continue to focus on yourselves because I am certain NOBODY CARES!!!

loyal employee in Massachusetts said: I have worked at LA/Pure Weightloss for years, and all the negative things said about this company are cruel and only half truths! Yes the company is closing and my heart is breaking for all the wonderful people I worked with who will no longer have jobs. I have a close bond with all of these people, including the owner, who is a brilliant, kind and generous man WHO I WOULD TAKE A BULLET FOR. We are calling the clients and giving them their product and most of them are truly sad because this is the only program that worked for them.....that right there is the most tragic thing in this company closing. That is the effect it has on the clients.
Most of you who post your comments here are self-centered , weak kneed cry babies. You are doomed to go from job to job carping about what could have been done better, instead of considering what more you could have done. Good luck at your next 26 jobs and your inevitable journey through the job market as just another mediocre employee.
.... So please continue to focus on yourselves because I am certain NOBODY CARES!!!

Oh my goodness. You really feel we are cry babies because we lost our job before Christmas? So many of my dear friends are single Mom's. One has a seriously disabled child and another a disabled husband. All of us in need of our jobs and believed in the company to stick it out even when it didnt look good. How dare you say we are mediocre without knowing our numbers. If the owner is so kind why did he lie about the closing of our centers? Why didnt he make a blanket statement to his employees apologizing for the closing. Many of us questioned what was happening right up to the end and were told"don't worry everything will be fine in January" hummm that is not a half truth my friend! Why did no one in corporate return my phone calls regarding a check that was promised to me on Monday??? Well Happy Holidays to you anyway.....

I SO NEED TO TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE ONE IGNORANT PERSON. IT WOULD BE BECAUSE OF EMPLOYEES LIKE YOURSELF THAT THIS CO. HAS FAILED. HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE PEOPLE OF BEING SELF CENTERED FOR WONDERING ABOUT THEIR PAYCHECKS THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO.
AND OH...TAKE A BULLET FOR THE OWNER..WHAT DOES HE DO FOR YOU OR SHOULD I SAY YOU FOR HIM...THAT YOU DONT NEED YOUR PAYCHECK??
THERE HAVE BEEN NO THANKYOU TO ANY OF THE EMPLOYEES OR GOOD LUCK OR MAYBE SO SORRY...SO YOU GO TAKE THAT BULLET, MISS SHALLOW.

EMPLOYEE in Cheshire, Connecticut said: I SO NEED TO TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE ONE IGNORANT PERSON. IT WOULD BE BECAUSE OF EMPLOYEES LIKE YOURSELF THAT THIS CO. HAS FAILED. HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE PEOPLE OF BEING SELF CENTERED FOR WONDERING ABOUT THEIR PAYCHECKS THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO.
AND OH...TAKE A BULLET FOR THE OWNER..WHAT DOES HE DO FOR YOU OR SHOULD I SAY YOU FOR HIM...THAT YOU DONT NEED YOUR PAYCHECK??
THERE HAVE BEEN NO THANKYOU TO ANY OF THE EMPLOYEES OR GOOD LUCK OR MAYBE SO SORRY...SO YOU GO TAKE THAT BULLET, MISS SHALLOW.

Way to go Cheshire!

unemployedmgr in Apple Valley, California said: Way to go Cheshire!

THANK YOU APPLE VALLEY!!!
GOOD LUCK TO YOU

EMPLOYEE in Cheshire, Connecticut said: THANK YOU APPLE VALLEY!!!
GOOD LUCK TO YOU

You too!

Tiki R in Cincinnati, Ohio said: All I have to say is that I am sorely disappointed. This was the best weight loss plan, ever. I successfully lost 66 lbs and completed stabilization and maintenance. I just feel sick about how they are treating the clients and employees. Because of my success I referred several people who are now SOL due to this situation. I'm so EMBARASSED!

First you accomplished a great thing! Be proud of yourself! Those of us who worked for the company feel betrayed because we sold those programs in good faith to wonderful people like yourself. Now we feel like we helped the company take away there heart earned money. I hope everyone like yourself does not give up on their weight loss. Keep working on it even without this company.

unemployedmgr in Apple Valley, California said: I finally got my check today. It is not correct. What really bothers me is NO ONE from corporate will return calls. I have been calling on it all week. Left msgs for the Payroll person, Payroll manager and HR manager. No courtesy of a returned call.

I just picked up my last check today. I have was not paid what I was promised either. I am glad the company is closed because while it is a good program, all they do is rip off the clients and not pay the employees what they are promised.

unemployedmgr in Apple Valley, California said: Way to go Cheshire!

still whinning I see, I got my paycheck just as promised along with my entire staff so I dont know what or where yours might be. I lost my job right before christmans and I have a famliy and I still love Pureweightloss. FYI you can get unemployment
so please give me a break!Instead going on line to complain get your resume together ,get over yourself and get a job!

JK in Exton, Pennsylvania said: Any thoughts on retail equivalents to LA Lites?

There is nothing as good as the lites of course I will miss they were one of the best parts of the program. Bring the box of lites to the store and compare the calories, fat, carbs, protein to get the closest things to the lites. However I guarantee they will not taste as good.

TO EMLOYEES AND CLIENTS BOTH...

I am a long time employee of Pure/LAWL. I love my company and I stand behind our program! Where the problem started, I believe, was with lawsuits, etc. It all makes perfect sense now. Vaughn and crew were attempting to take drastic actions to MAKE the revenue happen... as it used to!!! I have watched my center go from a thriving $25000.00 a week center to forcing ourselves to bring in $5000.00 a week. It has to be because of bad publicity.

The company only continued to improve our program, supplements.. etc. I have felt the crunch on revenue. I have had to cut my staff down to almost nothing.. leaving myself (the salaried employee) to work long hours. Bottom line.. I am sure that Vaughn would have much rather kept his companies open.. Rain or no rain!

I am now in the process of going down with the ship in my center. I am informing clients, crying.. informing clients and crying some more!!!

Also, before I end this.. One more thing, the principals, program and ideas behind this company are the best. The problem, I believe, did lie within the training and certain levels of management. I don't feel that some of these employees were meant to be in this business and then, to top it off, a bit undertrained!! This is where you find some of these extrememly dissatisfied clients who THINK they were "taken" for their money. Tell me this.. If you pay me $3000.00 and two years later you have lost 150 lbs... are you looking for your money????

THIS WAS THE BEST DIET PROGRAM ON THE MARKET. Those of you on it, need to stay on it and complete it!!!

Thanks for listening.. ya'll take care.. and life will go on!

Check out the Balance Bar (the original), the nutritional info. is about an exact copy of the lites.

my reply is to all of the blind people who continue to stick up for this horrible company. i am sure vaughan knew EXACTLY how his employees and clients were being treated. WHY DID IT TAKE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LONG FOR REFUNDS TO BE PREOCESSED? WHY DID MANAGERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH 100 STEPS TO GET A REFUND PROCESSED? WHY DID MANGERS WORK 55 PLUS HOURS AND NOT GET COMPENSATED FOR IT? WHY WERE SALES NEVER GOOD ENOUGH? I could probably write a book on how horrible the company is, but I HAVE moved on. I have a great job, making way more money that I did at LA. Plus, I work 40 hours, get to take lunch breaks, and am not left alone to fend for myself. Once again, KHARMA has won a place in PURE WEIGHT LOSS' heart, and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving company!!!

haP2Bgone in youngstown, Ohio said: my reply is to all of the blind people who continue to stick up for this horrible company. i am sure vaughan knew EXACTLY how his employees and clients were being treated. WHY DID IT TAKE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LONG FOR REFUNDS TO BE PREOCESSED? WHY DID MANAGERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH 100 STEPS TO GET A REFUND PROCESSED? WHY DID MANGERS WORK 55 PLUS HOURS AND NOT GET COMPENSATED FOR IT? WHY WERE SALES NEVER GOOD ENOUGH? I could probably write a book on how horrible the company is, but I HAVE moved on. I have a great job, making way more money that I did at LA. Plus, I work 40 hours, get to take lunch breaks, and am not left alone to fend for myself. Once again, KHARMA has won a place in PURE WEIGHT LOSS' heart, and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving company!!!

It did not take 100 steps to process a refund. All you had to do was call c/s and they would take care of it. Good for you for getting another job, But as for moving on I dont think so. Question why are you on this site? Bitter table of one?

mememe in North Wales, Pennsylvania said: Amen to that I picked up my check and is it hard to leave a job you love but now it is time to move and put la/pure weight loss on your resume and post it to careerbuilder.com I am sure no one is more hurt than Vahan about his centers closing n no RAIN SKIN. We can all get unempolyement or apply for other jobs. Vahan's heartache and stress from his centers closing is just beginning and this will take years I am sure to recover. God bless everyone and things happen for a reason!!!

you are so right!!

Julie Jones in horsham, Pennsylvania said: PROOF POSITIVE that the mgmt at Pure didn’t care about it's hard-working staff. As a high-ranking staff member, I know this was written by a C-Level manager. I heard these things said. Elaine, Chris - just give it a rest. Take a bullet for Vahan? You're a fool. HE'D NEVER TAKE ONE FOR YOU. Miss Mktg Asst NRK, he won't take 1 for you either. I don't hate Vahan Karian. His company was in trouble. He tried to make it work. But he couldn't separate it from a history of high pressure sales tactics. Apart from the best weight loss program, Vahan made major mistakes. Arrogance, an overbearing micro-management style, a bad temper, a cutthroat C-Level staff managing with an iron fist to name a few. I'm sad. The BEST weight loss program is history. I'm more upset that 100s of employees were let go right b4 Xmas, a string of vendors are out 100s of 1000s, and clients are without hope. So, you who will take a bullet for Vahan, show a little respect. You've got yr d
+
Vk is a good man, Pureweightloss was a good company, I don’t regret working there for one second. I do feel for the clients who loved the program....
As for selling diamonds OH Please! stop feeling sorry for yourself and envious of others, I am going to use the skills and experience gained from Pureweightloss and get another job. Why don’t You all do the same.

Heartbroken in Near Chicago, Illinois said: TO EMLOYEES AND CLIENTS BOTH...
THIS WAS THE BEST DIET PROGRAM ON THE MARKET. Those of you on it, need to stay on it and complete it!!!

Near Chicago: Rain is out of business, too.

Tell the clients out there how to do the program without the bars. Pure had a plan that didn't incorporate bars for those that were allergic to soy protein. What can (and should) people substitute for the bars (1 protien and 1 starch or ???).

Also, can you post online:
(1) the different plans (plan color and associated # of starches/proteins/etc.)
(2) when people should shift to a different plan; and
(3) the order they should do the plans in (blue to purple to yellow)

That's the kind of stuff that will help people who are wanting to be successful.

didn't know we whero going to close this week, wednesday pm they informed we will be close jan the 04