air-restore-usa-logoAir Restore USA launched in 2013 and are based out of Minnesota in the US.

The company operates in the air purification MLM niche and is headed up by CEO, Bill Converse.

As per Converse’s Air Restore USA corporate bio;

William Converse launched Alpine Industries in the 1980s, which grew to $187 million in 1987.

Converse became a pioneer for non-filter air cleaning technologies. The demand for his expertise grew quickly as Converse became a sought-after consultant in the air quality industry.

Converse retired in 2002 but he couldn’t turn off his drive to invent.

He returned to the air purification industry with his release of Air Naturalization Technology when he launched Air Restore USA Inc. in 2013.

In 1995 the FTC issued a cease and desist to Alpine Industries. The regulator claimed the company failed

to have “competent and reliable scientific evidence” to support hundreds of claims for their products.

Alpine was also found to make unsupported claims that its products control indoor ozone levels.

In 1999 the FTC won an injunction against Alpine Industries and Converse, after it convinced a judge they were still making unsubstantiated claims.

The injunction orders Alpine and Converse to notify their thousands of dealers that they cannot make any of these claims.

“What’s particularly unconscionable is that the company used unsupported health-benefit claims to tout an expensive product to consumers in clear violation of an FTC order,” said Jodie Bernstein, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

“This case violates the basic laws of advertising. If a business makes a claim about a product or service, it had better have evidence to support the claim.”

In April 2001 a Judge ruled against Alpine Industries, ordering them to pay a $1.4 million dollar fine.

bill-converse-ceo-founder-air-restore-usaThe judgement also saw Alpine Industries and Converse (right) prohibited from claiming

in any form or by any means, express or implied, that any Alpine product can eliminate, remove, clear or clean from indoor air any pollutant, contaminant, microorganism (including bacteria, viruses, molds and mildew), chemical or particulate, or any specific quantity or amount of any of the foregoing.

(Alpine Industries and Bill Converse) shall make no claims or representations in any form or by any means, expressly or impliedly, that Alpine’s products prevent or provide, or may prevent or provide, relief from any health or medical condition of any kind.

Sounds to me like Converse didn’t so much as retire in 2002… more like he was put out of business by the FTC.

After the FTC action against Alpine Industries was initiated, Converse sold the company to his former partner Michael Jackson (not that Jackson). Jackson eventually rebranded the entire company Ecoquest International.

After having experienced several years of explosive growth, Ecoquest fell on hard times and eventually had to file bankruptcy in 2009.

The company was sold to a large creditor, and its operations were subsequently moved to Bristol and merged into another company.

In 2004 Converse launched Alpine Technology, through which he worked with Chinese researchers to “make products here (in the US) to sell in China”.

One of those products was

a purifying system to clean swimming pools without chlorine.

The new product, called Natural Clear Saltwater Purifier, uses salt rather than chlorine to purify a swimming pool’s water.

Converse said the new product can do that job just as effectively as chlorine, but without any irritation to the eyes such as chlorine can cause.

Alpine Technologies appears to have eventually died out, with Converse again going into retirement.

In a 2014 interview with The Greenville Sun, Converse spoke about

what he has been doing for the last few years and about his plans to establish a new manufacturing operation in this community within the next several months.

Alpine Industries’ key product was air and water purifiers for residences, and Converse explained that he is continuing to focus his attention on consumer-level environmental products — in particular, air purifiers.

But he emphasized that in the last few years he has developed an entirely different, and much more effective, air purification product using “cutting-edge technology” and a concept that he said goes well beyond the approach he used some 30 years ago in establishing Alpine Industries.

The new company’s name is Air Restore USA. He is president and a co-owner, he said.

Read on for a full review of the Air Restore USA MLM business opportunity.

The Air Restore USA Product Line

air-restore-usa-purifier-productAir Restore USA market what they refer to as “air naturalizer systems”, of Bill Converse is credited as the “inventor” of.

Traditional air purifiers passively rely on the air passing through their filters, only reacting to the problems within it’s reach.

Organic Air Technology is a proactive process that produces energized elements to tackle odors, germs, bacteria, dander, viruses, dust and air pollutants throughout the room.

The entire process is natural and works without filters, chemicals or perfumes!

Air Restore USA claim their units

  • can remove “urine & other accidents” from fabrics
  • can provide healthy air for babies
  • are helpful for Senior Living
  • battle Asthma triggers
  • virtually eliminate allergens
  • clean air with humidifiers
  • provide “all-day odor control”
  • provide virus, flu, mold & mildew control

The following Air Restore USA units are provided on the Air Restore USA website:

Whole Home Systems

  • Traditional Pack – 2 corded units, 2 wall units
  • Convenience Pack – 1 corded unit, 3 wall units
  • Flexibility Pack – 3 corded units, 1 wall unit
  • Wall Pack – 4 wall units

Studio Systems

  • Traditional Pack – 1 corded unit and 1 wall unit
  • Wall Pack – 2 wall units
  • Corded Pack – 2 corded units

A car adaptor, vehicle mount and travel accessory kit are also listed.

Note that the Air Restore USA website contains no retail pricing for any of their products.

The Air Restore USA compensation plan however reveals that the standard retail cost for one corded unit is $370.

The Air Restore USA Compensation Plan

The Air Restore USA compensation plan pays affiliates to sell Air Restore USA products to retail customers. They are also paid to recruit new Air Restore affiliates.

Residual commissions are paid out via a unilevel compensation structure, although commission percentages are not calculated via a traditional method.

MLM Commission Qualification

In order to qualify for MLM commissions, Air Restore USA advise

at all levels of the compensation plan, the only requirement to receive a bonus check is maintaining the Autoship status of one Family Pack per month.

There’s no mention of “Family Packs” on the Air Restore USA website or in their compensation plan documentation.

I did find one Air Restore USA presentation that refers to an “AR-4 Whole Home Family Pack” for $370 retail. I’m assuming this what “Family Pack” above is refers to.

A Dealer of any rank who discontinues their Autoship will be placed on RESERVE STATUS until such time as they go back on Autoship.

Note that Reserve Status Air Restore USA affiliates do not earn MLM commissions.

Air Restore USA Affiliate Ranks

There are five ranks in the Air Restore USA compensation plan.

Along with their respective qualification criteria, they are as follows:

  • Dealer – purchase an enrollment pack and have a downline generating at least 140 GV a month
  • Senior Dealer – have a downline generating at least 560 GV a month
  • Master Dealer – have a downline generating at least 1120 GV a month
  • Distributor – have a downline generate at least 2380 GV for two consecutive months, achieve R3 Status for at least one of those months and have at least ten recruited affiliates in your downline
  • Sales Manager – have a downline generate at least 10,000 GV for two out of three consecutive months (no more than 5000 GV from any one unilevel leg), achieve R3 Status for at least one of the three months, have at least 40 recruited affiliates in your downline (no more than 20 from any one unilevel leg) and complete “2 Sales Manager training sessions after the end of the last month of qualification”

Alternatively, a prospective Air Restore USA affiliate can also purchase Senior Dealer or higher ranks:

  • Senior Dealer – purchase a Senior Dealer Kit ($565-$1110)
  • Master Dealer – purchase a Master Dealer Kit ($2020)
  • Distributor – purchase a Fast Start Kit ($7990) and within 30 days build a downline of at least ten affiliates, achieve R3 status and generate 4760 GV
  • Sales Manager – purchase a Fast Start Kit ($7990) and within 30 days complete two Sales Manager training sessions, build a downline of at least forty affiliate, achieve R3 Status and generate 20,000 GV

GV stands for “Group Volume” and is sales volume generated by an affiliate’s downline (recruited affiliates).

R3 Status qualification requires an Air Restore USA affiliate to recruit 3 new affiliates in a month, each of whom purchase an enrollment kit.

When an Air Restore affiliate qualifies for R3 Status, for the month they’ve qualified in they receive 1 silver and 1 gold point.

Silver points can be used towards affiliate rank promotion up to Sales Manager. Gold points can be put towards any rank.

The corresponding GV values and the points they equate are as follows:

  • 140 GV (Dealer) = 1 point
  • 560 GV (Senior Dealer = 4 points
  • 1120 GV (Master Dealer) = 8 points
  • 2380 GV (Distributor) = 17 points (2 months required, so 34 points in total)
  • 10,000 GV (Sales Manager) = 72 points (2 months required, so 144 points in total)

Retail Commissions

When Air Restore USA affiliates sell Air Restore USA products to retail customers, a variable retail commission is paid out.

How much of a retail commission percentage is paid out is determined by an Air Restore USA affiliate’s rank:

  • Dealer – $130
  • Senior Dealer – $138.50
  • Master Dealer – $147
  • Distributor – $160.50
  • Sales Manager – $188.50

Recruitment Commissions

When an Air Restore USA affiliate recruits a new affiliate, they are paid a $130 commission.

Residual Commissions

Residual commissions in Air Restore are paid out via a unilevel compensation structure.

A unilevel compensation structure places an affiliate at the top of a unilevel team, with every personally recruited affiliate placed directly under them (level 1):

unilevel-commission-structure

If any level 1 affiliates go on to recruit new affiliates of their own, they are placed on level 2 of the original affiliate’s unilevel team.

If any level 2 affiliates recruit new affiliates, they are placed on level 3 and so on and so forth down a theoretical infinite number of levels.

Commissions are paid out as a percentage of sales volume generated in the unilevel team, with affiliate ranks determining how much of a percentage is paid out:

  • Dealer – no MLM commissions
  • Senior Dealer – earns 6% on each unilevel leg
  • Master Dealer – earns 12% on Dealer unilevel legs and 6% on Senior Dealer legs
  • Distributor – earns 22% on Dealer unilevel legs, 16% on Senior Dealer legs and 10% on Master Dealer legs
  • Sales Manager – earns 42% on Dealer unilevel legs, 36% on Senior Dealer legs, and 20% on Distributor legs

Note that a Dealer unilevel leg occurs when an affiliate recruits a new affiliate at the Dealer rank. All affiliates under the Dealer affiliate in that unilevel leg constitute a “Dealer unilevel leg”.

If that affiliate was promoted to a Senior Dealer, the unilevel leg would become a “Senior Dealer unilevel leg”.

The mechanics of the percentage payouts are a bit fuzzy (no explanation is provided by Air Restore USA), however it appears to be a flat percentage paid out down the length of each leg.

If the affiliate at the top of the leg reaches the rank of the affiliate at the top of the unilevel team a 14% override is paid out. The immediate upline earns a 6% override.

Senior Manager Overrides

At the Senior Manager rank, a percentage override is paid out on sales volume generated by personally recruited affiliates also at the Senior Manager rank.

  • 1st Senior Manager in a unilevel leg = 8% override
  • 2nd Senior Manager = 4% override
  • 3rd Senior Manager = 2%
  • 4th Senior Manager = 1%
  • 5th Senior Manager = 0.5%
  • 6th and 7th Senior Managers = 0.25%

Joining Air Restore USA

Basic affiliate membership with Air Restore USA is $399.

Alternatively, Air Restore USA affiliates can sign up by purchasing one of the following enrollment kits:

  • 2-Pay Senior Dealer Enrollment Kit – $565
  • Senior Dealer Enrollment Kit – $1110
  • Master Dealer Enrollment Kit -$2020
  • Fast Start Enrollment Kit – $7990

The primary difference between the above kits is the purchase of affiliate rank, which in turn impacts income potential through the Air Restore USA compensation plan.

Conclusion

Air Naturalizers and Organic Air Technology isn’t just about cleaning the air.

It’s about the effects we experience by breathing fresh, organic air. It is about the long term benefits everyone can experience by breathing organically.

As per the FTC injunction granted against him,

The jury returned a verdict after a 13-day trial and six days of deliberations. It determined that Alpine and Converse claimed that Alpine products would prevent or provide relief from various health or medical conditions, including allergies, asthma, sinus and breathing problems, emphysema, lupus, migraine headaches and an unspecified incurable eye disease.

The jury determined that these claims lacked competent and reliable scientific support.

The 2001 order further stipulated that should Converse

assert that they have newly-acquired scientific evidence and that the injunction should be modified or lifted, (Converse) shall first present such scientific evidence to the Federal Trade Commission.

So, with Converse claiming he’s come up with some new “cutting-edge technology”, one wonders whether or not he approached the FTC about modification to the injunction.

Call me cynical, but most of the claims about Air Restore USA’s products are pretty much the same as those made about Alpine Industries’.

How different Air Restore USA’s purifiers are to Alpine Industries’ I can’t say, but surely a new coat of paint doesn’t negate an FTC injunction?

Unless I’m missing something, I also observed that there’s no “scientific evidence” provided on the Air Restore USA backing up any of the presented claims.

On the surface it would appear Air Restore USA is an FTC lawsuit waiting to happen…

Compensation plan wise red flags immediately go up with commissions paid out on affiliate recruitment.

There’s no retail required in Air Restore USA, with affiliates earning $130 per affiliate recruited and able to earn on their monthly autoship volume.

Speaking of which, the requirement that Air Restore USA affiliates be on autoship to earn MLM commissions, is clearly pay to play.

And $7990 for 35 air filter units? There’s no way known an affiliate would need that much product, with the Fast Start Enrollment Kit openly lending itself to inventory loading.

Pay to play also rears its head with the purchase of affiliate ranks. Spending more on a kit buys you a higher rank, which in turn pays you higher commission percentages.

In MLM commission rates and qualification should always be determined by an affiliate’s sales performance, not how much they spent to join the company.

The lack of retail pricing on the Air Restore USA website is also a problem.

Putting all of this together, you have a questionable product with an even more questionable compensation plan.

Still if you’re willing to take a chance and ignore the inherent red flags with Air Restore USA, might I suggest you at least ask your potential upline for proof of retail sales.

As per the Air Restore USA affiliate policies and procedures;

All Dealers must provide their retail Customers with the appropriate receipt documentation in accordance with their local laws.

Dealers must maintain all retail sales receipts for a period of two years and furnish them to the Company at the Company’s request.

Records documenting the direct purchases from the company by Dealer’s Customers will be maintained by the Company.

Air Restore USA affiliates are required to purchase at least one purifier unit per month to qualify for commissions.

The idea appears to be that they’ll then sell the unit to a retail customer. Leave alone the fact that this is not a retail sales within the context of MLM, a retail receipt for each and every unit sold should be on hand.

Ask to see it, with any excuses or outright failure to produce the receipts a sign that retail sales in Air Restore USA are probably not happening.

What you’re left with is chain-recruitment, which is something you want to be approaching with extreme caution.