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The following posts have been reprinted in their entirety from posts e-mailed by readers of this website, except that headers, names and locations have been removed. These posts express the opinions and experiences of their authors, and this site publisher makes no representations about them in any way whatsoever. Re: Hi there! Love your site - how about an update? Re: They Said Amway Was Jesus! I am studying Amway and investigating it as a cult. I was
involved almost 2 years and became engaged to the sister of a
guy who was going Diamond. We got into a high level meeting where
we were told that Amway was Jesus Christ. I also saw lots of
brainwashing techniques, and was freinds with 5 Amway hopefuls
who shared a two room apartment and product as furniture. These
guys were dirt poor - they had to wash dishes so the other could
eat! Anyway I wouldlike tohear any comments or response you have
to what I have said. |
Keep it up...my wife and I tried for three years to make Amway work. It nearly destroyed our marriage, and DID ruin our credit rating and our savings account. I won't bore you with details, but believe me, our story is not unique, and should be told.
I noticed looking at the e-mails you received that many people seem to think that Amway is OK and that it is only the AMO's that brainwash and rip off people. Could it be a ploy for when the Government finally stops them, they will blame all the deceit on the AMO's and pretend to be the 'nice folks' who knew nothing about the scam? Do people really think seriously that Amway is not aware of the deceit and the scam there is taking place every day??
To Whom it May Concern, Just wanted to let you know that I read the article about Equinox and the failure you incured. The two men you referred to: Rich Von and Kale Flagg, have teamed up with their wives and formed Trek Alliance. They are promoting it as this "new" kind of MLM which is full of opportunity because anyone can succeed. Only $2,000.00 to reach the level of Field Rep (Second Level) in the company. Their main "novel" ingredient in the vitamin products is called "fulvic acid". There is only one problem... there is not one piece of scientific evidence that supports their claims of its benefits to the human body. The woman they are promoting as the champion of this new breakthrough goes by the name of "Dr. Heather Murphy". Here's another catch: No one in the world of Natural Medicine and Vitamin Supplements has ever heard of Fulvic Acid, let alone "Dr. Heather Murphy". My advice to everyone is watch out for this company... it seems too good to be true.
I read "Penny's Story" on the internet about Amway. It is nice to see someone come out with the real truth about Amway. I have never been in Amway but have been prospected several times and have known several people that are. Your story decribes them to a "T". I know that networking can be effective, but many companies are destroying people's outlook on it. That is sad. I know a guy who is a member of the Direct Selling Association and have heard that by 2002 all networking companies must have at least 25% sales outside of the distributor channel (retail sales) to be "legal". If this ruling is true, then companies like Amway could be in trouble. Once again, I enjoyed your story.
Penny, my wife & I also were in Scamway for4 years & achieved 4000 pv level 1 time. we are, like you so relieved to be free from "Yagers Evil Empire". We figured out with the help of the IRS that we lost over $30,000. Plus we even started a business with our "wise upline emerald" (outside venture) & almost cost us our house. Considering I did all the work & investment.(Great upline work ethic huh!) Im happy to say that when we entered Amway we were earning a six-figure income & due to our association with these caring people(sic) we almost filed bankruptcy. However the Good Lord has given us a new start & we are almost back to our old income again.(minus $100,000). & I never believed you could be brainwashed. Amway is a major SCAM!!! & we ate it, lived it & thank God survived.
Girlfriend, I just read your story (via the MLM survivors site), and all I can say is "whew". What a nightmare. When I was a child, my mom tried Amway, and I remember her being disgusted with the whole thing. Funny thing is, I'm a Melalueca customer. (and only a customer. I refuse to telemarket, and Mel doesn't approve of any advertising.) Fortunately, I work for a marketing firm, so I know a bad sales pitch when I hear it. Glad to hear you've gotten your life back.
diana and joe I sorry for your experiance but I was told not to spend more than i could afford and don't buy tools unless you were doing to use them. I find it hard to believe your upline did not discourage you from supporting your business with credit cards. I being incouraged to get out of debt only use debit cards and cash. What I really want to know is did you show the plan consistantly 15 or more times a month if so for how many months? Did you follow the eight steps daily? Did you really do what it takes to build the busines all of it or just some. I sorry those poeple abandond you I tooka year a way from the business to focus on school. Any my friends kept intouch not as much but at least once a month.
Maybe Amway was not for you but I hope you still have dreams.
Your article is great. Amway practically trashed my family. I don't know if I will ever have my own daughter back but I still pray they will find their way out. Keep the good stuff on the net, this is the most powerful tool to fight the cult. Great words of wisdom
on your "Titanic" webpage, you state:
However, in 1998, the picture is very different. Estimates show that only 14-20% of all Amway products in North America are sold at retail to end consumers; the Ten Customer Rule is a joke, even though it has been changed to the "50 PV Rule"; and the corporation has been sued on several occasions for not honoring its buy-back rule.
What's the source of the estimates of 14-20% to retail customers? and what is the 50PV Rule?
[There are various sources for the percentage of sales to retail customers: that's why we use a scale of 14-20%. However, in the RIAA v. Amway lawsuit, testimony was given that Amway sells only 18% of its product at retail. This testimony was not contested or refuted by Amway, so can be deemed to be reliable.
The 50PV rule says that a distributor must sell at least 50PV in products to retail customers (in other words, not to downline distributors!) each month in order to qualify for the performance bonus. This rule, like the others, is never enforced and most distributors don't even know it exists.]
I was scooting around yahoo and somehow worked my way into the anti-mlm area.
I think a good MLM experience is a good thing and a bad MLM experience is a bad thing. Always open minded I decided that I should read your story to see what the problems were.
I am glad I did. It has shown me that my affiliation with Nikken is nothing like Amway. That the the differences between the two are like night and day.
Thanks for the picture of a bad MLM experience. I will be watching out that I don't treat my downline like your sponsor treated you.
WARN EVERYONE!!!!
Alpine Industries..."Air Purifiers"...company is under suit by Federal Trade Commission for violating 1995 order to "cease and desist" from making "unproven claims" on the effectiveness of Alpine products.
BIG MONEY at first....but, is it worth your INTEGRITY???
FTC Docket # C-3614
Civil Action No. 2:97-CV-509
FORMER ALPINE DISTRIBUTOR
Does this fit the profile?--magnets for pain relief; distributorships. Do you have information on this company?
Hello again. I just wanted to send a quick note reccommending "False Profits". If I had read this before joining Melaleuca, it would have saved me some time. The descriptions of recruitment, and commission structures were right on the money. I even went back to the June '98 Mel magazine to compare. Sure enough, the message from the president said, "We don't need to rush,...But we cannot let a week go by without enrolling at least one customer." And pray tell what will happen if we don't? What happens if people say no? Then another warning bell: "If you put your Melaleuca business on the back burner, you will never reach your goals." But this is supposed to be a supplement to one's current income. Now I'm finding personal health products in the store that are not so different from Mel's, and basically cost less. The only products keeping me are the household cleaners. As soon as I find some that I can use comfortably, I'm out. Don't know what I'm going to tell my enroller. She's still struggling with "the business."
This page updated Sep-16-98