Pure Weight Loss News and Gossip.

Julie Jones in horsham, Pennsylvania said: Karen S, I'm guessing. I have two job offers. But you just wait. You think this corporation is immune to personal, class action and vendor lawsuits? It's not. You think VK is opening another business with you named as a corp officer. You think it's going to be smooth sailing. But we'll be looking and when VK does, we'll create suspicion right from the start with the media and www. Look out west! We'll be looking through the public records too to find his new name when he changes his name again. We'll be working with lawmakers to sponsor a bill that makes "pay up front" in a consumer environment unprotected by bankruptcy law.

The thing you need to know is that I have a mission. And it's to put unscrupulous businesses OUT OF BUSINESS. Call it anger if you want. I believe in consumer protection. I believe in high standards of ethical behavior. I BELIEVED in Pure/LA. But IT LIED TO ME. I will not be so naive ever again.

Consumers/Employees: WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMEN. Ask them to sponsor a bill that makes service fees paid up front unprotected by bankruptcy law. Ask them to hold the corporate officers personally liable. Ask them to make companies that request fees up front carry a hefty insurance policy to protect the consumers. More and more of these pay-up-front companies are popping up all over the U.S. and then going out of business. Not just in weight loss. The whole skin center (medspa) is pay up front too. Google how many shut down bilking people out of thousands. Then ask: Why does the largest, most successful GLOBAL weight loss company (WW) not ask for fees up front. (successful or not, the pure program was better)

no not Karen s. do you really think she would be on here? No, I was a Manager-a very happy one and love LA!

karen2112 in philadelphia, Pennsylvania said: no not Karen s. do you really think she would be on here? No, I was a Manager-a very happy one and love LA!

No one in this forum is saying the program stinks. We all agree, it's the best out there. We don't agree with the way the company went down. It was WRONG. Anyway you look at it. And just so you know, I knew all the people that made decisions at corporate. It WAS a challenge to get anything done. And getting it done right, was not a priority. VK's #1 was to improve the bottom line. I don't fault him there. That's the job of a CEO. But I fault him on his management team and management style. VK REFUSED to listen. He IS and WAS arrogant. His senior management never told him the real problems and they are passing the buck onto the center staff. They did then and they're doing it now. Sorry Charlie. You may have been a manager but I was in corporate and I KNOW what really went down. And you'd be surprised how many higher ups check in to these forums. Don't fool yourself. They KNOW what's being said.

Stuck in VA in Chesapeake, Virginia said: I am now past my limit! I am truly stranded here in VA. No response from corporate, except for idle promises. If you are in this forum, I am very serious about my last phone call to you. If I have no results by 1:00 today I will be going to the local media. What do I have to do to make you understand that I mean business?

Just go to the media.

You should goto the local media my sister-in law works in a location here in NYC and she told me that no one is emailing her back or returning her calls, she is alone, mobs of clients are coming in. They want bars, she has none to give.
This is a serious siuation here, pray that no one ends their life from this experience!
I am praying for the best for all.

Julie Jones in horsham, Pennsylvania said: Just go to the media.

Julie, do you think that we will be paid, and that the checks will clear? Help, I'm stressing!

I have a big question that not even my sister in law can answer and since she is not getting any calls back she is in limbo- clients are asking her "if your doors are closing on 1/8/07 then how come on the refund application it says it will take up to 8 weeks to process the refund?"
she says what she was told to say but it leaves her with such a bitter taste and guilty feeling....
what is the deal with that?

Thanks for a positive response. I can not believe the craziness in this forum. Instead of bashing each other, try doing something productive. I have no choice than to go to someone who will "hear" my distress. I left my elderly parents (with whom I had been helping), my children and grandchildren. Why? So that maybe I could move further in the company and assist my family even more than I had. I believed in what I was doing was right and I believed that we were all hired for these positions for alot of reasons but the biggest...to help others! At least that was my job. I must say I was darn good at it also! Clients who followed me from center to center, top sales many, many times...why do I have to beg for what is owed to me? This money was pulled out of my pocket with a promise to reimburse. That's basically all that I need to bring closure to this insanity and move forward. Someone, please give me some kind of hope. A person can only take so much. Anyone else in my position? I know we are all in a horrible position but has anyone been transfered to another state, made a financial promise, within 2 weeks that promise was recinded, owed alot of expenses, locked into a lease with no job, no response from those who put me here! Where do I go? Julie, whoever you are, thank you for all of your information throughout this mess. SOMEONE DO THE RIGHT THING! This is definitely the 1st time in my life that I feel like a total fool for believing. By the way, the company does not make a "company" it those of us who have believed in what we were working for! A company name means NOTHING! GET REAL AND DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE WITH YOUR TIME!

geegee in San Bernardino, California said: Julie, do you think that we will be paid, and that the checks will clear? Help, I'm stressing!

Yes. I worried. But I received my last paycheck. I really don't think the company is going to stiff the employees.

Julie Jones in horsham, Pennsylvania said: Yes. I worried. But I received my last paycheck. I really don't think the company is going to stiff the employees.

Did it come FedEx or regular mail?

Stuck in VA in Chesapeake, Virginia said: Thanks for a positive response. I can not believe the craziness in this forum. Instead of bashing each other, try doing something productive. I have no choice than to go to someone who will "hear" my distress. I left my elderly parents (with whom I had been helping), my children and grandchildren. Why? So that maybe I could move further in the company and assist my family even more than I had. I believed in what I was doing was right and I believed that we were all hired for these positions for alot of reasons but the biggest...to help others! At least that was my job. I must say I was darn good at it also! !

Your situation is extreme. I don't even know how to respond. THAT is why I'm making it a mission to shut down unscrupulous companies. But YOU SHOULD go to the media. You must have some legal rights since you were relocated by the company and you were not let go for performance. If a company transfers an employee and pays the costs, the employee is generally required to work for them for a period of two years. If the employee quits, then the employee is responsible for a portion or all of the relocation fees. (depends on the company). THERE MUST BE some laws that protect employees in reverse situations. Call the media. Call an attorney. You need real help. I would think the company should buy out your least and pay your relocation back to your home state. Or pay you for a year. But I'm not a legal expert. Get the media involved now. It's Christmas and if there is an attorney out there who has a generous heart (is that even possible :o), they'll come out at Christmas.

geegee in San Bernardino, California said: Did it come FedEx or regular mail?

regular mail.

Lets all keep focused on the positive things here we all will land on our feet! We all will be ok! and we all are good people!! This is a fact and the truth will set us apart from all of the B>S up there in Corp......VK will get his one day but until then lets focus on ourselves and take charge or our lives. We are the best!! I know I am and will land a great career soon!

Lori A in Fort Worth, Texas said: Lets all keep focused on the positive things here we all will land on our feet! We all will be ok! and we all are good people!! This is a fact and the truth will set us apart from all of the B>S up there in Corp......VK will get his one day but until then lets focus on ourselves and take charge or our lives. We are the best!! I know I am and will land a great career soon!

Lori, Thank you, I really needed to hear that. Merry Christmas!

Life is about learning to stand tall in difficult times. I would say this is a very difficult time for all of us employee's and of course our clients who "trusted" us and the company to help them get through their weight loss goals. It is never easy to be around or work for someone who does not care about anyone, but life has many of those people and it is up to us to hold our heads up high say we did what was right and then take what we have and get a career that deserves us. VK will get what is due to him and the rest of his staff who treated others like crap l they might be rich on the outside but inside they are very poor and insecure people. I rest my case!

Keep your chin up geegee you will land on your feet!

I wish everybody a merry x-mas and know this WE ALL will have a better and more rewarding NEW YEAR!! I am looking forward to it!!!

Lori A in Fort Worth, Texas said: Keep your chin up geegee you will land on your feet!

If we can live through this Enronesque situation, we are far tougher than we thought!

this karen real sounds like a class act. She was obviously a mistake period.

There is an article page one in the business section of the inquirer.

I heard that there were NEVER NEVER any ANY Department meetings EVER EVER!!! How can a company communicate when the departments werent. THAT WAS A HUGE MISTAKE!!

karma in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania said: this karen real sounds like a class act. She was obviously a mistake period.

Karma, don't waste your energy on the likes of people like this. I think I'll go dust my livingroom for the 1000 time.

Keeping the losses only to waistlines
Pure Weight Loss customers should call A.G. if firm owes them.
By Stacey Burling

Inquirer Staff Writer

The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office is urging customers of Pure Weight Loss Inc., a Horsham-based diet company, to file complaints quickly with the state if the company owes them money or products.
"If you paid for a product or service and you do not have it in your hand, I'd file a complaint right now," Nils Frederiksen, deputy press secretary for the attorney general, said yesterday.

Pure Weight Loss, which was spun off from LA Weight Loss Centers Inc., sells diet counseling and special food in centers nationwide. Pure Weight Loss abruptly announced that it would close Jan. 4, but it has provided little information about what comes next.

A toll-free customer-service number was answered yesterday by an automated line. It gave an e-mail address, then disconnected. The automated directory at the company's headquarters failed to find chairman and chief executive officer Vahan Karian. The company's attorney and human resources director did not return calls.

An outside spokeswoman reached yesterday said she had no new information, including how many employees the company had. An earlier statement from the company listed the customer-service number - 1-877-524-3571 - and told customers to come to their centers by Jan. 4 to pick up products they had bought.

Centers are operating on greatly reduced schedules.

One woman said she waited with a dozen others outside an Exton center for an hour when the center was supposed to be open. No employee came. She said she paid Pure about $1,200 six months ago for a year's worth of food and counseling.

Customers typically pay up front for a year or more of services, based on how much weight they want to lose. That, plus protein bars, can add up.

Ruth Moton, a former regional manager for the company who said she was told earlier this month that her job was bein

cut, said most customers paid $800 to $1,500 up front.

Moton said she was transferred to Chicago for the company recently, then told to come back.

Frederiksen said his office had received only a handful of complaints from Pure customers. He said customers should be "proactive" and contact his office quickly. "Personally, if it were me at this point," he said, "I wouldn't take anybody's word for anything."

Customers who have automatic payment plans should contact their bank or credit card company to have them stopped, he said.

Pennsylvania residents can file a complaint by calling 1-877-888-4877 or going to "health care complaints" at www.attorneygeneral.gov. Customers from other states can call 1-717-705-6938 and should also call the Attorney General's Office in their home state, Frederiksen said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact staff writer Stacey Burling at 215-854-4944 or sburling@phillynews.com.

What do you have to say to that KAREN2112??? Let me guess the inquirer is lying....???

My mail just came and guess what, NO CHECK. I AM FURIOUS!

teamweightloss.net I am confident in my ability to help server others who truley need an honest support system! Do not give up hope guys and gals we are great people!! I know that everything will all wotk itself out for all of us! if we get enough people contacting 20/20 we can bring this man to his knees! Are ya in?

FORMER/EXISTING (LESS THAN LOYAL) EMPLOYEES: If you've got access to email addresses, phone numbers, etc of your clients, please contact them and ask them to contact the Attorney General in their state. BEFORE JANUARY 4. They can only protect the consumer if enough of them get in there before they file bankruptcy. Looks like the Rain customers are out money too. See the first link.

Check out these stories:
www.hoinews.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=77651
www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=54a73796-0385-4f98-8781-1477f0298edd
www.13wham.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=aaa88fe5-60ba-48ad-ab57-a71fbf39b93e
www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=7524867

i have been reading everything on this post for the past few days, tryin to figure out which is true and which is just "angry employees" lashing out. one thing for sure is that everyone is being screwed!! clients can't get any products in my center, and i'm left now workin alone with no help. its not fair to be to worry if i will ever receive a paycheck, an why is it that i have to work alone, with no help from anyone, til the day we close

concerned in masssachusetts in Massachusetts said: i have been reading everything on this post for the past few days, tryin to figure out which is true and which is just "angry employees" lashing out. one thing for sure is that everyone is being screwed!! clients can't get any products in my center, and i'm left now workin alone with no help. its not fair to be to worry if i will ever receive a paycheck, an why is it that i have to work alone, with no help from anyone, til the day we close

I too closed my center down alone last week, along w/ many other center mgrs. in the area.

I worked for LA corporate years ago. Hated it then. You guys need to look at this link.

hotjobs.yahoo.com/careers-588577-Family_Weight_Loss_Centers

I just got my "shippment" today and it will only fill the orders for about 8 people. I have dozens on the list trying to get their product. I think thw short notice was so that a lot of people wouldn't find out until after the doors are locked for good. It is so sad to have to keep telling people that we don't have the products for them.
I am also alone in my center until it closes. Is anyone who is a center manager actually doing the OZ's? I just don't have time and don't understand why I should bother. Give me some advise if you can.

lucyusn said: I just got my "shippment" today and it will only fill the orders for about 8 people. I have dozens on the list trying to get their product. I think thw short notice was so that a lot of people wouldn't find out until after the doors are locked for good. It is so sad to have to keep telling people that we don't have the products for them.
I am also alone in my center until it closes. Is anyone who is a center manager actually doing the OZ's? I just don't have time and don't understand why I should bother. Give me some advise if you can.

What is your active count?

lucyusn said: I just got my "shippment" today and it will only fill the orders for about 8 people. I have dozens on the list trying to get their product. I think thw short notice was so that a lot of people wouldn't find out until after the doors are locked for good. It is so sad to have to keep telling people that we don't have the products for them.
I am also alone in my center until it closes. Is anyone who is a center manager actually doing the OZ's? I just don't have time and don't understand why I should bother. Give me some advise if you can.

Yes, i am doing the oz's. i was told on wednesday that they need to be done for the clients to get the correct refund. i've started them, and i'm sure its going to take me a while to get thru them all, but if its going to make things right for the clients then i'll do it

geegee in San Bernardino, California said: What is your active count?

AROUND 97

geegee in San Bernardino, California said: What is your active count?

i've got an active count just under 100. and i'm sure we wont recieve enough to fulfill all the orders

lucyusn said: AROUND 97

My suggestion is to just bust a move on Monday, because you know that it is going to be dead because it is Christmas EVE. When is your center schedulded to close?

let your clients know about the attorney general. That is the most important. What does loyal and Karen2112 have to say now??

Ladies, chat with you later. I get to take my mom Christmas Shopping.

geegee in San Bernardino, California said: My suggestion is to just bust a move on Monday, because you know that it is going to be dead because it is Christmas EVE. When is your center schedulded to close?

we were told today that the centers were going to be closed on christmas eve..... this little "twit" who does everything her supervisor tells her to do, called my center to tell me we would be closed on xmas eve

geegee in San Bernardino, California said: My suggestion is to just bust a move on Monday, because you know that it is going to be dead because it is Christmas EVE. When is your center schedulded to close?

i'M SUPPOSED TO BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, i WAS TOLD NOT TO GO IN ANY EXTRA HOURS.

Hi I use to work in the real estate dept. I really have nothing to add but this bitc*** fest is awesome. Sorry for those of you who lost your jobs before the holidays or anytime for that matter. But everything happens for a reason. Good luck to all, LOL love reading this stuff LOL. I enjoyed my time there and business is business. Good Luck and Happy Holidays to all. :)

i know many people who worked in corporate. Most Good. Except te upper management, NF-KS-VK-EB.

has anyone given any REAL thought to that statement released by corp.....
"For the clients who have recently enrolled within the past 16 weeks, we want to inform you that we will be closing our stores on January 4, 2008. Therefore, we request that you come to the store no later than January 4, 2008 to pick up the products you have purchased."............ hmmmm lets ask ourselves why they focus on ONLY clients in the PAST 16 WEEKS..... i've thought long and hard on why they stated it that way, it because 16 weeks ago is when we changed our name to PURE. which means ONLY PURE CLIENTS will recieve a refund. LA is a defferent company. LOYAL was right.... Vahan is Brilliant, he screwed everyone but himself

Vahan is an idiot and had stupid management which was why he went bankrupt. Every marketing idea FLOPPED. Whoppi, Steve Harvey, The Eagles..... any more??

The department heads NEVER discussed anything. He only liked marketing since they were the ones "tricking" clients into joining and giving them their money upfront.

Where is Loyal and Karen2112 now? Did the police arrest them and they cant post?

Can'tbelieveit! in Dallas, Pennsylvania said: I worked for LA corporate years ago. Hated it then. You guys need to look at this link.

hotjobs.yahoo.com/careers-588577-Family_Weight_Loss_Centers

DON'T QUOTE ME ON THIS, but if I recall correctly, Weight Loss Plus is owned by Vahan's father or uncle. We had the conversation in passing so I don't remember. BUT, I KNOW FOR FACT, Family Weight Loss is Vahan's business. It was being run up in Washington. There was also Xcel Weight Loss too. Whoever saw that, send that to the PA attorney general.

Lori A in Fort Worth, Texas said: is Joni Fabi still working for corp?

Yes. She's there until the end.

If you want your opinion shared with the media, post it at franchisepick.com. The WSJ, Businessweek, CNBC and many metro paper s subscribe to our post and comment feeds to get the inside scoop on stories involving franchised companies:

<a href="www.franchisepick.com/pure-weight-loss-customers-share-news-opinions-here/">PURE WEIGHT LOSS CUSTOMERS: SHARE NEWS &amp; OPINIONS HERE</a>

<a href="www.franchisepick.com/pure-weight-loss-la-weight-loss-to-close-all-400-locations/">Pure Weight Loss (L.A. Weight Loss) to Close All 400 Locations</a>

www.franchisepick.com/pure-weight-loss-employees-get-pink-slips-for-the-holidays/

Rob Real Estate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania said: Hi I use to work in the real estate dept. I really have nothing to add but this bitc*** fest is awesome. Sorry for those of you who lost your jobs before the holidays or anytime for that matter. But everything happens for a reason. Good luck to all, LOL love reading this stuff LOL. I enjoyed my time there and business is business. Good Luck and Happy Holidays to all. :)

There were things I liked and things I hated. So Rob, what's VK going to do with all those multi-year leases you guys negotiated. I hear he's planning to open another business in them.

Sorry. I guess this board can't take html code.

Here are the links:

PURE WEIGHT LOSS CUSTOMERS: SHARE NEWS & OPINIONS HERE:
www.franchisepick.com/pure-weight-loss-customers-share-news-opinions-here/

Pure Weight Loss (L.A. Weight Loss) to Close All 400 Locations
www.franchisepick.com/pure-weight-loss-la-weight-loss-to-close-all-400-locations/

Pure Weight Loss Employees Get Pink Slips for the Holidays
www.franchisepick.com/pure-weight-loss-employees-get-pink-slips-for-the-holidays/

FranchisePickdotcom in Leola, Pennsylvania said: Sorry. I guess this board can't take html code.

I think there are a lot of us that would love to share our thoughts. But as you can see, most of us are operating under aliases. There's a fear that our information will get posted online and we'll have no protection. Can you enlighten as to this concern.