rob Reply:
May 20th, 2010 at 6:30 pm

Hi Gabe:

Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate the positive feedback. I put a lot of work into researching and writing, and the feedback energizes me. When people comment, it gives me hope that somebody is actually reading this stuff.

Your passion for the water shines through. It is people like you who take the time and effort to educate others on a one-on-one basis that make it inevitable that the awareness for the water will continue to grow. Kudos to you and the small army of people like you who share their time and effort.

You are absolutely correct when you give credit to the distributors, whether they be from Enagic or Ionways (the network marketers) or from other brands that market in the more traditionals sense. I hope to be able to do my part with this blog. We simply can’t leave the responsibility for the growth of the industry in the hands of the people that are currently dominating the industry in the States. They have long forgotten the altruistic goal of helping others as the millions of dollars pile up in their bank accounts.

I think many people would be interested in your statement about Enagic and May 26th. Please expand upon your comments if you are in a position to do so.

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rob Reply:
May 24th, 2010 at 10:28 pm

Hi Gabe:

I was hoping you would write back.

There is research being done on machines that are not based upon electrolysis. I don’t know when they will be available, or how effective they will be, or what they will cost.

The plates are the most expensive part of a water ionizer if the the machine uses 5 plates or more. However, the plates are not nearly as expensive as people think, and they are a fraction of what Enagic reps tell their potential clients. There are a number of great machines on the market now that cost less than half of the price of an Enagic SD501 that you were referring to. It gets better, as the cost of machines are starting to come down and prices will drop even further as competition increases.

Rob

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rob Reply:
May 27th, 2010 at 5:58 pm

Hi Gabe:

You are correct in the fact that I have no idea what it costs the company to produce the “new” part.

I didn’t insinuate that the new technology may not work as I have no clue if the unit will work or not. I would need to test a unit and see how it performs over a period of a few years in order to be able to accurately judge its performance.

I used to purchase large quantities of water ioinzers when I was in the business. I have also visited water ionizer factories in Asia that manufacture units for various different companies. As a result, I have a fairly good idea of the costs of the actual units and the component parts. I don’t just make this stuff up!

I’m not trying to pick a fight with you. I just happen to know what things cost. The price of water ionizers can drop significantly while still allowing for good profit margins. I also know that the features that you mentioned are covered by many of the modern water ionizers available on the market.

If the unit that you are researching is an MLM product, my guess is that the price will be significantly higher than it needs to but it all depends upon the structure of the MLM system. For example, I feel the prices of the Enagic machines are outrageous. The high prices are a result of the fact that the units are offered to the sales team at very inflated prices AND the sales payout structure is simply too generous. The Ionways MLM structure offers units to its MLM system at lower prices and the payout to the sales team is lower than the Enagic system. As a result, the prices of the Ionways products are still too high in my opinion, but at least their products are priced closer to the products offered by the mainstream marketing methods. One of the companies in the States that offers water ionizers via mainstream marketing methods has introduced a three tier payment system which is essentially a mini MLM system. While they are attempting to build a quasi- MLM system for their retail referral network, they continue to offer excellent prices, by offering discounts rather than bumping prices. It is too early to tell if they will succeed, but I have to give them points for trying.

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rob Reply:
June 7th, 2010 at 6:28 am

Hi Sandra:

Thanks for the nice comments.

The internet has allowed people all over the world to be neighbours. People from 75 different countries are now reading my blog, including Belgium, which is your homeland.

As we discussed, there is limited availability for products in Europe at the moment. However, that will be changing soon. At your request, I contacted a number of manufacturers and they will be opening up dealerships this summer or later this year in Europe. That is good news for Europe because it means greater selection and stronger competition. It also means that customers will be able to have their products serviced in a local market, which is very important.

Good luck with your new water machine.

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rob Reply:
June 8th, 2010 at 9:10 pm

Hi Anonymous:

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and sending me your well thought out message.

I have been receiving messages similar to yours from 6A’s and other top ranking Enagic representatives that are dealing with the similar issues. While everyone on the internet criticises Enagic and their representatives, they fail to understand that the representatives honestly want to help others. When Enagic representative eventually learn the truth about pricing and how effective other machine are, they get disheartened. It is important that you and others like you continue to try to help others by sharing your knowledge.

You have asked several questions, so I will repeat your questions and respond after each question as it is easier to follow.

>> 1. People keep saying that US$4000 is overpriced. Is there really comparable products but charged half price? Our education told us that
our plates and technology are different and better to justify our price.

There are better products for less than half the money. Enagic, through its MLM system has created a “belief” amongst their representatives that the SD501 is superior. I have 11 different kinds of water ionizers in my lab including the SD501. I have tested all the machines many times under different conditions and I can tell you without bias and with 100% honesty that the SD501 is a good machine, but others that cost half the money or less perform as well or better. The other machines also are easier to use and maintain, and have much better features. The SD501 is a 14 year old machine that was originally called the Pure Port II sold by Toyo. Mr. Ochiro purchased the rights to the Pure Port 11 in 2001 and began marketing the product in 2004. I have to check back on the dates as I don’t remember exactly, but the dates are close enough. To put the SD501 in perspective, think of it this way….a 2010 Hyundai Accent sells for $9,995 in Canada, which makes it the cheapest new car in our country. The Accent is technically far superior to a 1995 Mercedes Benz which was recognized as one of the best cars in the world in its day. Technology improves over time….the SD501 has not!

My research indicates that the SD501 costs less to build than most of the leading machine that are currently available on the market. You can sometimes see them for sale on professional distribution websites from Asia. The the low prices would astound anyone that has been to an Enagic presentation.

>> 2. What is really happening in US Enagic, I heard that some distributors have left but I still keep receiving meetings schedule and Enagic has just opened its office in Australia and Italy and the Philippines. It seems to me that it is booming.

I can’t see how Enagic can survive. Other products are superior and cost much less. The internet means that information spreads very fast today. It is just a matter of time until everyone knows the truth. That is why Enagic is moving quickly to other countries. The same thing happened with cigarettes. When the news about the problems with health became public in the USA and many people stopped smoking, the tobacco companies started focusing on foreign markets. McDonalds restaurants are another example. While kids still want to eat at McDonalds, many adults in North America don’t want to eat there anymore. So, McDonalds expanded to foreign countries.

>> 3. If you were to buy an ionizer, which will you choose ?

There are many good ones. My wife and I visted Korea in April to tour factories to look at their products and speak to the engineers and business owners. I was very impressed with a couple of companies, but this forum is not about supporting brands or companies. I gave you the specific information in the private email that you sent to me. Suffice it to say that there are more and more outstanding products available on the market. The prices in North America are far too high, but that will change as the industry here matures.

4. Do you think Enagic will change its bonus plan so as to lower down the price. Are those $2000 machines can perform the same function as SD501?

I don’t have any idea about Enagic’s plans. All I know is that if they don’t bring the price of the SD501 down to $2,000 in a hurry, Enagic will be finished in America in the near future. If Enagic collapses, they won’t be able to expand in other countries as the negative information will spread quickly.

I have already answered the question about the performance of the $2000 machines.

5. My father-in-law is a diabetic patient. His kidneys do not function well. After taking Kangen water, his constipation seems improved but recently he was asked to undergo “blood washing” and very soon he has to wash the kidney 3 times a day. I don’t know whether the water made him worse or not because the doctor said his posstasium is too high and kangen water carries high minerals. Is it true that people with kidney problems should not drink kangen water?

There are two schools of thought about ionized water and kidney patients. The kidneys act as a clearing centre for the body as they get rid of toxins. Water ionizers make the kidneys work harder as the water creates the release of toxins. Therefore, one school says that kidney patients should not use ionized water as it can overwork the kidneys. The other school says that the water will eventually help eliminate the toxins and allow the kidneys to repair when the environment of the body becomes more healthy.

My research tells me that every case of kidney disease is different. I think it is very important for a kidney patient to speak with their physician before purchasing a water ionizer or drinking ionized water. The reason for this is based upon the fact that the physician would likely be aware of the severity of the kidney problem.

I’m not a doctor, but my gut instinct tells me that kidney patients would benefit from ionized water. However, it is very important to learn the status of the kidney malfunction first, and proceed very slowly with the knowledge and approval of a physician. Kidneys play a critical role in human survival and it is imperative to put safety first.

I have witnessed and spoken to so many people that have benefitted from the water. It almost seems like it is “miracle” water, but the obvious answer is that the human body is the miracle. The water just allows the body to heal itself. It only makes sense that the water could help with kidney function.

Rob

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rob Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 4:57 pm

Hi Gaetan:

Thanks for the comments. I made a couple of small adjustments to your post such as removing your telephone number to prevent people from contacting you in an attempt to recruit you. I will call you privately to answers your questions to the best of my ability.

It is great to hear that you are commited to helping others by selling the machines. As you have found out, the machines are difficult to sell. Those of us that have experienced the benefits of the water believe that everyone would want to start drinking the water as soon as they hear about it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way because of the high cost of the machines, and most people think water is water so why would they spend thousands of dollars on a machine that still produces water. I’m always amazed when Enagic dealers are successful, as they have the added burden of selling similar machines that cost twice as much as other machine.

I’m sure you can work something out with the lady you were speaking to, and if not with her, then with another company. I would be happy to do what I can to help. I’m sure that you can find someone to work with, as peoplel like yourself are hard to come by.

I visited the factory in Korea that makes the EOS machines when my wife and I went on our fact finding mission. I didn’t know much about the company before my visit so I was naturally skeptical, but I was blown away by the technology and the commitment by owner of the company. The machines are equal to or in many cases better than anything I have ever tested in terms of performance, and they are definitely superior to all other machines from a technology standpoint. Coupled with the fact that they sell for nearly $1,000 less that the other leading machines on the market and $2,300 less than Enagic, I have to admit I’m a big fan. The best news of all is that we can be sure that the competitors will step up to the plate with similar products in the coming months like they always do. Since the machines literally can’t get any better (I don’t consider bells and whistles and other marketing hype as improvements), I expect prices will start dropping, which is great news for everyone.

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rob Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 9:05 pm

Hi Michelle:

Thanks for the kind words.

I don’t make recommendations on line because it can turn into a promotional thing by people who sell the machines. If you contact me at my personal email, I would be happy to help you. I don’t make recommendations on the blog as I don’t want a salesperson to use the recommendation as an endorsement. I will ask you a few questions about your needs and water, and then tell you what I think would best suit your needs. You can then go online and shop for the best deal.

I checked out the website that you provided. It looks to me like the product it is a very expensive remineralization filter. The site doesn’t offer any details on the product, so it is impossible to tell what is in the filter. I suppose you could call the company, but I have tried that before with different products and the response is always the same “oh, we can’t tell you that as our formula is proprietary”. That resonse always gets the same response from me…”goodbye”.

There are many products on the market that add minerals to the water (remineralization), which in turn raises the pH of the water. However, these products are not anything like a water ionizer based upon electrolysis.

There are a number of water ionzers available that are priced under $1,000. They all work in good source water conditions, but they are typically underpowered and only have one to three plates. Eventually, I hope we will see the best machines priced under $1,000 as competition and awareness increase.

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