Read Previous Posts Read Next Posts

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: Quixtar Is it just me, but it seems to me that there are more and more ambots sending e-mails to you or could it be that there is just more ambots who are now connected to the Internet?? Before the distributors were told not to use the Internet, now they need the ambots to connect so they can be sucked into the Quixtar scam. The tactics seems the same, I remember the 'meeting' I was invited to and was told that Amway was partners of Coca Cola, Nike and other big names and you would get 30% discount etc. Now it is Microsoft, IBM and Amazon who are used to suck in the same poor brainwashed ambots. The only hope is that anything build on a lie will surely crumple one day. It is sad but it could seems that are people actually becoming more naive and stupid and is it just greed that is blinding their senses?? Keep up the good work, the truth will always win.

---

Re: Experience with MLMs

I just found your website. My experience with an MLM dates back to 1989 with the infamous Bill Gould(d). What a learning experience! I was in college at San Jose State and one evening I get a call from an old girl friend who was living down in San Diego. Just out of the blue! She wanted to know how I was doing, whether I was working or still in school, what my goals were, yadda yadda yadda. The conversation ended at that. One week later I receive a call from a woman who said she was refered to me by my old girlfriend and that I would be perfect for a marketing position with her company and she was flying down from San Diego just to meet me! Well, that certainly went to my head. The company was Advanced Marketing and she wanted me to meet the president, Bill Gould (back then, he could only afford one 'g' in his name).

6 months, $3000 of sold stocks, tons of money (that I didn't have) spent on things to make me look rich, 2 maxed credit cards, negative 6+ friends and several disgruntled family members later, my girlfriend and I say screw it and, after going through a short bit of depression finally realize what a great idea it was to leave and felt like a tremendous weight was lifted off our shoulders.

I've since put all that behind me and am doing quiet well in 'normal' business. I only came upon your website today because I heard something on the news about Advanced Marketing and some other companies who's sole purpose was to relieve you of your money and something about the Attorney General going after these companies. I didn't even know that Bill Gould had changed the name of the company. I do believe the stuff about exchanging down line titles for sex. I've seen that.

Anyway, keep up the good work.

I am so relived tonight!!! I am just now waking up after a good 7 years with Equinox. I am happy to see Rob Styler used his experience in the company to help others as well as himself.

Have had similar experiences and am currently in the process of relieving a very painful drawn out experience as a leaseholder for a bay area office. Help would have been the one thing that could have bailed me out at the time. Help from these supposed top people. Then I started realizing that these top people were operating in survival/fear mode all along.

I would like to help others understand that the easiest way to deal with these companies is to diffuse it's influx of new blood. I am on a mission now. I believe I can help as well.

Do you have any suggestions? Are you aware of the newest shutdown at Equinox Headquarters? May I write a new article for your page?

Thanks for the info and the response

I have a good friend who has just been 'introduced' to Amway selling by a partner.

Its clearly a waste of a huge intellectual talent, but they seem to be hooked. Its very sinister.

Is there any advice out there as to good ways to disillusion them about the whole idea - a little like deprogramming from a cult?

All ideas gratefully received

To whom this may concern,

Thank you for placing this article on the internet. I had went to the first meeting today not knowing what the job was. After I left the meeting, I wondered "is this for real?" But I'm a skeptic, I don't believe there's an easy way to get rich. I just wanted a job. However to give them the benefit of the doubt I was going to go back tonight because frankly they leave you hanging.

But after reading this and other articles like this I won't.

Thank you,

a member of our private school is setting up a meeting with our families pushing this. he has been thru all of us with his amway spiell. he is telling the families that our school could make $60,000/yr if all our families buy their products thru this 'buyers club'. we are a small community of 78 families, how could we possibly make that much money so easily? we also are told the fee is 19.95. I have tried to set the alarm that this is amway but everyone is seeing $$$$. your thoughts and help would be appreciated...

I wrote you a letter earlier today thanking you for the article I had read. But I've read a lot more on it and it makes me angry that anyone can be so cold to do something such as what I've read. I only lost $8.00 for a bottle of shampoo. That's NOTHING compared to what others have lost. Is there any way you can stop them? I think about the people that were in that meeting that have already given up so much money and are just going to lose more. Its saddens me to think that people would go to these lengths to get ahead and bring others down in the process. Is there anyway I can, legally, do anything to help inform people of this company? I don't want on my conscience that something like this is going on and I might have been able to do something instead of sitting back and allow thing like this to happen. I would consider myself as bad as them if I didn't at least try to help others see them as they are.

Thank you, Sincerely,

Hi folks... I am a frequent visitor of the mlm survivors homepage, and am also an Equinox independent representative. I'm writing this article in defense of the system, but I'm not promoting it or arguing against anyone else's complaints. I try to keep an open mind on things and like to see an argument from both sides. I have found that the majority of the articles on your site regarding Equinox are quite negative, but i do not blame you. I must admit that my experience with Equinox international has been quite educational, fascinating, and frustrating as well. I have attended maybe two dozen "briefings" and two "basic building blocks" seminars since I joined the company nearly 4 months ago. I don't totally agree with a lot of the things that go on during these presentations, such as "recruit others to recruit others to recruit others..." or the ridiculously positive energy flowing through these offices. I must also admit that the structure of the organization is a pyramid, but no more than current "lawful" corporate franchising schemes. Sure, Equinox reps are (strongly) encouraged to go to seminars and buy $5000 in products and may end up not making it all back as soon as they hoped or may not end up making as much money as they hoped - but then again i've also known people that spent well over $200,000 on a college education and end up pursuing a career that didn't have anything to do with their field of study (or any high level education at all for that matter...) Briefings, seminars, and the $5000 investment are not at all mandatory - or at least nobody has ever told me I would be "fired" if i didnt do these things. Heck, I can't see how anyone can get "fired" from this. Anyhow, I tried out a few of the products and told some people I knew about what I was doing (recruiting!) nobody joined me, but I didn't mind - that would be like getting upset at someone because they didn't want to work for me. Being the person that I am (fairly reserved and anti-social) I decided the only way for me to make this work for me was to go out and sell some stuff. The products are real - air filters, water filters, liquid mineral, breath sprays... I can not attest to the effectiveness of the herbal and all-natural dietary supplements though, as they all have this little thing on the back that says "not approved by the FDA".. But then again one must understand that the great majority of similar products sold at a GNC or out of a muscle/health magazine have that exact same notice... Anyhow I bought only the products that I trusted and found to be the most effective and profitable - water filters. Within the past four months I've sold a relatively small amount of products and made a few hundred dollars from these sales. The kicker is that I've only made about five attempts to sell the stuff, as I am a full time student as well. I guess the reason people get upset at the company is that barely any "sales training" goes on in the briefings, and people are expecting to make money only by recruiting. The printed Equinox manual, however, dictates that all money and earnings are dependent on the sales of Equinox products. Go figure. I'm sure that sprint and mci and a bunch of other long distance telemarketing companies (i've worked for a one before) attract cheap labor (heck free labor - commission only sales with an opportunity for residual income by recruiting others to sell long distance and recruit others to do the same for them...) using such similar "unlawful, deceitful" techniques that Equinox uses. What does it all come down to? The product... There would be no company with no products... No money would be made with no products... I guess things can change for these industries if they concentrate on moving products to consumers as much as they do on recruiting. I for one still use my water filters, and would still recommend them to people I know. I could care less if Equinox was found to be an "illegal pyramid" - as long as the products are still made it's all that really matters.

I was just writing to point out that while your site attempts to warn people of the "evils" of MLM, this form of entrepreneur venture has moved into the mainstream. Being taught in college classrooms as a viable method of duplicating time (and there by increasing income) MLM has come of age. Even Donald Trump mentioned MLM in an interview with David Letterman! I realize that you probably have some personal vendetta against the Amway "empire", but before you go on your quest to "inform", perhaps you should get all the facts or at least run your editorials through a spell checker! I am sure that Proctor and Gamble appreciate your efforts, but I know they would also appreciate having thier name referenced with proper spelling! Everyone has their own dragons to slay, and I wish you luck on your journey, but I emplore you to not shoot others dreams down...and maybe find some of your own to go after! Go get em tiger!

My best friend and I were mesmerized by Bill Gouldd and Equinox. I liked the products at first and then was caught up temp. by Bill's carisma. I soon found out though that I didn't like selling the products even though I did like some of them, and I lost enthuiasm pretty quickly. Every now and then my best friend could get me excited again, but not for long. I had been living with her while she was still determined to make it work for her, but moved away when I saw her maxing out her credit cards to support herself and me in our puny apt. And to go to Equinox seminars all over the country. I moved in Feb. and she's still at it. I'm worried about her. She has bought an office and she really only has one person helping her. She has no downline to speak of and I don't want to even think about how her credit continues to get worse and worse. How can I get through to her when she refuses to listen to anything neg. about Gouldd or the company? She sees the loses as being nec. for her ultimate goals or being rich enough to help the world in the ways she'd like. Her heart is too good to ever be able to make the type of money one can in Equinox if they don't care about people. Mine was too, and I "saw the light" but she's still blinded by it. Thanks for listening!

Part II

I asked her about it and Mr. Gouldd is telling them that this is just one more attempt of Rich's and Kale's to shut him down. He calls them the Trekies. Before I left Rich Von and Kale Flagg broke off from the group or where sent off??) And of-course Bill talks VERY negatively about them. She believes all he says. I really doubt she'd read the book, esp. if I suggested it. She doesn't know I have the reservations I am now having. All she knows is that I don't consider Equinox to be for me. Are you talking about the book that was mentioned on your homepage? I forgot the title already. She is under Laurie Rubidge, if you're familiar with that name. She realy likes Laurie, and I did too at first. Now I'm not so sure. I don't think she even realizes what she's doing to all the people she's coned. She SEEMS oblivious to the fact that Eqinox hurts people a LOT more than it helps them. For all I know Laurie knows well what she's doing to people like my friend?! There are lots of ways to get what you want. At first when Sherri Sharman and the others left Equinox I thought they were stupid to give up what they had, but all I know is what Bill told us. I don't know THEIR side of the story. Thanks for replying back so fast. C.T. I'd be interested in hearing their side of the story if you know any of them and could get them to write to me. Thanks!! If one of the ones we used to look up to told their side, then MAYBE she'd listen!?!?!?? It depends on how brainwashed she is. I know it's bad, but I think there's hope somehow for her still yet. I just have to be careful at how I approach her and come well endowed with facts. Once again thanks!

Regarding the Equinox scandal: as the French say, "Quelle surprise!"

I joined Equinox at the urging of a friend. I did some research, and was impressed with the "legitimacy" of the INC 500 rating the company had received. I also liked most of the people I met. My BS detector, which is quit reliable, never rang until I attended a "free" training in Long Beach. That's when I first set my eyes on Bill Gouldd. He was a con as sure as you-know-what stinks, and I said so to my friend and upline. And what a con! This man deserved the awe he inspired. My God, how he could hold people in his thrall. He played on every postmodern emotional note of the hundreds of people in attendance; Christianity, New Age, environmentalism, greed, race, celebrity, children and family, independence and liberty...

What surprised me while working with my upline and other distributors was that many of them weren't drawn into Gouldd's scams. Most would never pay for trainings, or if they did it was perhaps for just one time. Some paid for desks and phones, which was, in my impression, more out of safety in numbers--working close by other distributors in order to generate support and goodwill. The office where I worked was filled with bright and wonderful people, quite genuine and hardworking. Who needed training if you had a supportive upline and colleagues as I did? I noted many distributors exchanged information about trainings they attended, saving other people in their line the time and money. I was told to save my money and/or put it into product.

As for recruitment--yes, that was the one reality I was told to face. And I did, but refused to obfuscate. I told prospects what we were, and about the INC 500 rating, and the quality of the products. Some people joined, refreshed by the honesty, feeling that they were getting into something legitimate. But what bothered me the most was that selling products was made more difficult by Equinox' bizarre requirements. Among them: you couldn't advertise the products and you couldn't use the name Equinox. I thought the products were great but without normal means of marketing, it was hard to sell the stuff! But I liked the one-year rule which, if you wished to end your distributorship, allowed you to return the used portion of product and receive a refund less a certain percentage. I figured that rule alone made it a manageable risk. Just before one year was up, I returned most of the products except those I personally enjoyed, and was reimbursed the greater portion of my investment. So, I'm not bitter about my experience simply because I saw that Gouldd was a con artist and that training and other "enhancements" were useless and served no purpose in the long run. I wish I could have actually sold the products fairly and legitimately and made a reasonable profit, because that's all I wanted to do.

Dear Penny and Author of 'My Story',

Read your testimony your about MLM experience and could personally identify closely with much of your hurt and distress.

We are Christians, but not of the variety promoted in "the business", thank God! Our observation of those calling themselves "Christians" in "the business" was that they took on a form of Christianity which was a counterfeit, not the genuine thing... It was used as a tool to gain their own ends.

We believe God gave us a dream about this organisation and an interpretation showing the falseness and deception.

God bless you.

I understand that your associates and yourself do not endorse any MLM or home business opportunities. I would like to know where you can investigate the businesses, and then decide whether or not to get involved. I am a single mother of two small children and can not afford to take the chance of being scammed. Is there a reference site to steer me in the right direction? Please respond, and thank you for your service. Sincerely,

I still don't know, I think the MLM structure may work if you limit the network size, and clamp down on how it's done, but I think it is still too unstable a way to run a business. A lot of expert analysis from various sites I've visited seems to confirm this. Yes, I am familiar with the Canadian fraud scandal--it does give you a different view of those overgrown "boy scouts", I think you'll agree. The whole thing just has a stench to it. I want nothing to do with Amway or ANY MLM.

Take care!

Those who marry into Amway families are also survivors. One of my husband's relatives is in Amway- all the way- home schools the kids, joined a fundamentalist church- does nothing but spout amway dogma 24/7- thank god he does not live close. I have been approached several times to join, but never by the distributor himself. For an educated man,and a man of science, he is totally brainwashed. It is scary that even his kids talk about "the business" and when he will be free-which of course is a joke-no one is less free than anyone involved in amway- no corporation would tell you to change your religion(or join one just to get cannon fodder). I think Amway loves the fundamentalist churches so much because they are an endless source of new disciples- uneducated, unsophisticated dupes who will not challenge authority and will believe unquestionably what they are told. Of course, if he ever approached me, I would ask him" if amway says that in 2-5 years, you will be free,you've been in almost 3 times that long- you must be a loser"!! Yes, he still works at a JOB. His mother of course, believes in him totally- amway must be ok because doctors and lawyers are in it- please, if my doctor needed amway to supplement his income, I would not want to be his patient. I find it humorous to read emails from amway distributors, they are the most ignorant, poorly written letters I've ever read. And they home school their kids- God help the next generation. I could go on and on . I flatly refuse to visit his house- the house amway built- I hear they take away your toiletries and substitute amway products. I think your site is great- knowledge will hopefully triumph over ignorance, once brainwashing is removed.

To whom it may concern: This recent story that came about in the law suit case has me and my co-workers sweating. I am one of the lucky ones. I only invested 2500 to get started as a manager and did not put money into a desk (which I was going to tell them to stick it where the sun doesn't shine). When Bill Goulldd did his conference call yesterday Tuesday Aug.10 and I was shoved into the "big room" (the place where we did overviews) away from the conference call (which I was supposed to be at), I became very angry. So, I snuck into the hallway to hear from the other side to hear what was being said. He was telling everyone that this was a stepping stone and that he had said before that people will get in your way of being financially successful and all the rest of his B.S. I laughed out loud, loud enough for everyone on the other side of the door to hear. At that point, he had confirmed my suspicions, It is a cult!! Invest all of your money and maybe make some. You know, I still don't know exactly what I did there, other than harass the friends and family I have, lying to them, trying to convince them that it was a legit business. I now have to bow my head and suck up my pride and tell my family and friends what a fool I was. I am also out of $2500 because all assets are frozen, and enough counter top water filters to last me for twenty years because nobody wants to buy the stuff. I truly feel bad for people like you who invested a lot more and lost so much. Good luck to you. I luckily, was only in it for a month and have a job lined up already, and fresh water for a while.

Hi, I am still at this time reading at your website. What I need to know is that I am real close to joining Quixtar, What is the story. Yes, or No. Scam or not.

I just got in on the Quixtar hype about a week and a half ago and It is 5:00am and I've been here at your site since about 1:00am. My cousin tried for almost 8 years to "get me in" and I was able to resist, but when he came in with this NEW Quixtar internet the future of business millenium madness, I saw the potential from the yet untamed internet and was "in" that day. He told me that it was NOT MLM---basically all the misinformation I've read about here tonight. I'm a 31 year old man who is home with a disabled son and my fiance' works a job for 15000 a year plus his disability=21000/year. So we are by no means comfortable in our situation, which is why when presented with the hype to own my own business on the internet and be a part of "history in the making" I really wanted to make this work. Right off the bat I'm going to open meetings---then IBO training meetings---now a weekend seminar 4 1/2 hours away on my fiance's only day off--without her. I told my cousin I'm not interested in buying a load of tapes and books every week and frankly can't afford it. I'm really not interested in being an Amway products junkie either---but as I've learned lately no pv no bonus. Also was informed that I couldn't advertise my business in any other way than a personal contact.--no ads or radio commercials no chat room contacts no nothing. Then to top it all off we are not to send our prospects to Quixtar.com--oh no--first we are to send them to Dexter Yagers website where they can link to Quixtar. I didn't join Yager.com, I bought a distributorship in Amway that will become Quixtar 9/1/99. I'm pissed--because I am the master of my own destiny, within Gods will that is and this feels like communism. Sell me a distributorship disguised as "my own business on the internet" pump me up until I sign the paperwork and before the ink is dry start telling me what I can't do to make my business successful---including some of the most basic advertising methods known---but of course "we're a HIGH TOUCH company".Bullshit. The only people that will profit after 9/1/99 is the uppercrust--1. because when the website opens people (IBO-distributors) will buy stuff because they are a part of this great new thing and the volume generated from the newness of the site and the fascination with online buying,which is an addictive process--and I would know because I do alot of it trying to save money,will make the uplines filthy rich. Also my upline Emerald challenged all downlines to 300pv per month--whatever--who can afford this ? I feel like such an ass cause I got suckered and spent a hundred dollars that we really didn't have. Thanks for the release.

I am horrified by the stories I have read on the internet about Equinox - to think I almost joined the team. I answered an ad in the NY Times for a trainer. After having taught computers in a Catholic grammar school for 10 years I wanted a change. I truly enjoyed teaching. I called and a Kevin Murray returned my call, inviting me into sit through a company overview. Red flags started going up. I felt like I constantly had someone from the company next to me, telling me how great Kevin was - great leadership - very talented, etc. Real hard sell. They wanted me to purchase good right then and there, put it on your charge card. They invited me back the next day to sit in on a training session. When I got home that night, I checked the internet for info on Equinox and was absolutely shocked. I called Kevin the next day, left amessage on his voice mail and told him I was disturbed by what I had read, that I had morals, values and a work ethic and couldn't work for Equinox. They have attempted to contact me, but as I have caller ID, I don't answer their calls. THANK GOD for websites such as yours, that alert people to such companies.

Recently, i joined the Amway/Quixtar investment opportunity. Let me also remind you that i am only 15 days away from the opening of Quixtar. First of all, NO, I am not i mere enthusiast for Quixtar, i'm not gonna keep writing you stupid e-mails trying to force you to understand. So here are some answers to your questions...

NO, there is NO extra fee for transfering to Quixtar. The reason that people can not sign up for quixtar until 9-1-99, is becuase of legal crap like you explained. And yes, this is a good opportunity, you see, its NOT THE MONEY. I don't know how greedy you are, but there is no shortcut in life. It is the EXPERIENCE. Through any kind of business interaction you learn. IF you work hard at ANYTHING, it will happen. So i intend to make clients using my Quixtar based web business, selling products easily to college students that live in secluded towns.

Lastly, as much as you want to refute it, the internet is the big booom of the millenium. And yes everyone is starting to shop online, and yes it will become easier and easier, and people will make more profit by using it to their advantage. so is 99 dollars much to lose, or do you care too much about losing it. I'm not complaining. You would be just plain retarded if you did not notice what was going on.

I don't see the Van Andel's complaining about their money now do i?

I am very sorry that you feel the way you do. Unfortunately, there are persons involved with the MLMs you talk about that are less than honest, but the unfortunate part is that there a lot of good people involved, also. Your website is one-sided, and I know you have your rights, but it is sad that people will form a decision based upon your one-sided view. There are a lot of good things being accomplished through MLMs, and like anything else in life, they have their bad points, but they also have their good points. It is like any other thing in life....You get out of it what you put into it. If you are thinking that I am a newbie at MLMs, you are wrong. I have not made a great deal of money, but I have found some of my greatest friendships, and truly enjoy the training involved, and that is worth the cost of membership. Signed, ** Committed for the rest of my life

Just this past week - Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1999. I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am for people such as yourself who posted their stories.

Hello, I've read most of your website (unfortunately I cannot read more, because I'm not at home with my own computer) however, I was so MAD about what I read, that I just had to write. I agree 100% with Penny....poor girl. I'm glad that she's happy and healthy and she is doing well without Amway. My fiancee's cousin showed us 'the plan' at a time in our lives where we were easily sucked into this garbage. Penny was absolutely right when she said that her upline was concerned about her and her family when it came to Amway and making money for the business, and then 'ignored' her and her family when they were no longer involved with Amway. I couldn't believe that my fiancee's cousin is giving him the cold shoulder now because we don't have the time, energy, or money to invest in this crock of s**t MLM scheme. He (my fiancee's cousin) is very successful now and lives in a beautiful home and drives beautiful cars and has ROLLS AND ROLLS of money in his pocket all the time, but it just sickens me to no end when his wife has to ask permission to do anything...or when we need help and he's not 'available', because we've decided not to be distributors. And this is family!!! I'm sure that this is a great money-maker--after all, look at all the fruit cakes that have bought into it and now live totally different lives than everyone else. However, I like who I am. I love my fiancee. I may not like my job, or my salary....he may not like his. But let me tell Amway and all the other scheming MLM's out there---I would rather live my life getting a shut-off notice for my electric every now and then, and having to borrow money from my mother to pay it, than alienate my friends, family and co-workers trying to sell them into a MLM. I like WHO and WHAT I am right now. Rich or poor, driving a porche or a pinto, I know that I will be happy becasue I've made my money with my own blood, sweat and tears....not the heartache that I would surely pass on to my downline. I wish everyone well, and hope that you all have receovered and are happy with your choices.

I was wondering if you think that Excel Communications is a MLM company? I have a friend that has big dreams because she is involved in this scheme. I told her it sounds like a pyramid type scheme. Can you give me any information on Excel. Thank you

I guess if they have planted an idea of all this wealth and money and lifestyle into your head, then you fail to achieve it, why blame yourself, blame the failing MLM system.

If this bothers you so much, don't be a part in it. Obviously you have not succeeded in this, so why let other people.

Best of luck in your plan to stop everyone else. Since 1/99 over 300,000 people have joined. Maybe they are all just fools.

Amway produced more millionaires before Microsoft came along, who knows where this can take them.

I encourage you to try and make it look like it is the worst oppertunity in the world today.

Who would have ever thought that if you paint a face on a rock and call it a pet rock that someone would buy it.

Why don't you update your site and its ranting about Quixtar? Your correspondent "Larry" told it exactly right, but you kept spewing stuff from March 1998 in response. It looks as if "Larry" was speaking in August and your were retaliating with name-calling in March.

To Whom ever is out there wanting to bash Amway and Quixtar, I feel sorry for the people who cannot accept that the traditional brainwashing of "go to school and get good grades" is no longer a valid option for personal growth and development. Today's society has it so that in order to have the type of lifestyle our parents did, both of the spouses must work. Well who is raising/ watching the kids? Someone else. This is part of the problem we have today with our young. So bring mom home to work. Why not. Amway provides this option for those needing it. Are you or your false statements doing any good for the American family? Where else can one find such an option that they can work in their own time. there were never any promises of get rich quick or billionarres on the net when I looked at this option. We are the values of todays society? We accept homosexuality and abortion as viable options and teach tolerance to our children. I SAY NO!. Why not expose them to a safe and morally sound system that teaches them what society and schools won't. Where are our Christian roots being exemplified outside of the church? Why not be involved with a business that teaches GOD, Family, Job and then business? In that order. What are you teaching? Hate thy neighbor and ridicule his efforts. You should be ashamed of the damage you create to the individual person who is looking for a way outside of the norm and has the guts to give it a try and become a better person. What have you done for the betterment of society.? I agree there are some bad apples out there and every business has em. That's too bad and creates a negative image of the whole on the viewer, but that is not the norm. I have met many more good people in this business than anywhere else. People who have prayed for me and my family, spent their time and money helping me to free my self from a job, and never asked for a payment. Isnt' that what life is supposed to be all about? This is a fair business and those who do the work get the rewards. What a lesson. Maybe those of you reading and writing this site need a kindergarten lesson on life. There are some good books I'd recommend on this but you would not like where I'd get them from. The Bible and the "System"

Here are two e-mails (first e-mail is at bottom) I received from a friend who has already signed up (her boyfriend for approx. $285 and herself as an associate? for approx. $160). I was thinking of going to the meeting with her as she seems very enthused about it and she is not a sales type personality. But having visited your site, I can see it is same old sales spiel. Anyway, I thought you would find this interesting.

It is so true that the internet is a place for people to put information that they do not have to be accountable for. The truth of the matter is , that you can find negative info on any company or person in the world . It is just a sad fact that so called truth-seekers do not conduct research in a manner that would result in all facts laid on the table .Have you ever tried turning off your tv and not picking up a newspaper for a week ? It will asstound you at how your attitude will go from bad to good by not being influenced by garbage day in and day out . I hope you are satisfied with your cause of trying to shutdown legitamate MLM's . How about tackeling a real pyramid like the US GOVT.???? I am impressed by your printing of the true pyramids like Equinox . I guess it is a way to keep a clear conscience .

Thank you for your very interesting website.

I found it while doing a little web snooping at the prompting of my mother who was all freaked out that my niece was getting involved with this Equinox group. Thanks to your website I don't think we will have any trouble steering my niece away from Equinox.

It seems that this pyramid thing "pops" up every 5 or 10 years, just out of the range of most peoples attention spans. Unfortunately the laws of this country are designed to protect the innocent, not the stupid. Why is it that people are willing to work so hard at not working hard? I mean seriously, the time and energy that is expended on these "easy" solutions would get them so far at a regular job or even better their own legitimate business.

Thanks again and I wish you much sucess at whatever you do.

Thank you very much for your information. You have saved my wife from this AM nightmare. And lot of money.

Recently a work associate told me of a new internet shopping business that would be starting 9-1-99 and asked if I wanted to "get in" at the ground floor. I went to the meeting and some guy went on with a decent presentation about how his partners owned Hawthorne Jets and lived in 2 million dollar houses that were paid for and that if I were to get in then this time next year I could easily make my first million. What it came down to was they wanted me to buy some "starter kit" for 106.00 and I would become an IBO of Amway. When I said I had no interest of becoming an Amway associate or anything to do with Amway they said that this new company "Quixtar" was founded by the sons of the Amway corp. and that Microsoft and IBM had personally invested $250 Million of their dollars into this new corportation. They said to get into it now then I would have to sign up as an Amway distributor now and then at 9-1-99 I could convert over to be a Quixtar IBO at no cost. I really want nothing to do with this because I looked at their catalog and do not really see anything great about it, and I don't feel like hassling all of my friends about spending their money on these products so I can make a couple of dollars. They keep telling me that this Internet Shopping Mall will be the biggest thing to ever hit the internet and that if I don't get in now then I will miss out on a huge moneymaking opportunity. They stress that the prices will be the lowest available and that all of these companies are offering their products at the lowest available prices. Do you have any information about Quixtar?? All of your information was geared mainly about Amway - is Quixtar going to be the same scam?? If I didn't work with these guys then I wouldn't care but since we work in a company where we make very good incomes I wonder how these guys can keep saying they won't be working next year due to Quixtar. Is this the same sales technique that Amway employs?? ex - my upline has a Hawthorne Jet, we're all going to Hawaii for a conference next month (paid for), etc.... Your page has given me some very good information and I appreciate it - Now I hope you can give me some solid information about Quixtar so I can get these guys off of my back. Thank You!!!

I just recently had some long time friends over for dinner and they began talking about a new ecommerce business they were starting and how my wife and I should get on board. They talked about a virtual mall and business partners like microsoft and IBM. They then invited us to a meeting in Raleigh,N.C. to get more info. and to join if we wanted to. Almost immediatly amway flashed inside my head. I have heard this spill before and am weary of it. Thanks to your web site I found out that my gut instincts were right. I will not be going to that meeting and will show everybody that I know that is thinking of getting involved in this scam your web site. Thank you again.

Well I have to say Larry is right.

There are crooks in every business, but I don't have to be one and I can choose to run my business as I please. No Amway doesn't give interviews, if they did a lot of people wouldn't get in. I was told everything up front about getting in Amway and Quixtar. I was at a major function an a rep from Amway was there and said basically everything Larry told you. I know some people have a bad taste in their mouth about Amway, but what business hasn't ticked us off at one time or another. By the way who do you work for? Is everyone in the company honest, moral, and straight as an arrow? I doubt it. Instead of complaining about anything and everything you should put all that energy into something positive, you might be surprised what happens. Good luck in your ventures, I won't be writing back, I have a business to build.

Forgive me if my prose is rather sophomoric or unclear. When I say "system" I mean MLM in general. Seeing this from a broader perspective I think joining an MLM gives a person the same statistical chance of becoming wealthy as say, stock trading. For this reason I don't slander stock traders or the stock system, nor do I treat MLM and such any worse. From what I understand so far Equinox has not been shut down by the FTC. According to the downloadable articles in the FTC website, they appointed a receiver which would handle all incoming materials in a manner consistent with the documented rules of the company - of which the company allegedly has not been following, which is a critical error on the part of Equinox if guilty.

The briefings are free, and the basic building blocks were $300 each. I only attended those which were close to home. It may sound like a waste of money, but then again I recall having spent over a thousand dollars on SAT training and ended up achieving that same scores as previous attempts. Does the world see that as a complete failure?

"I could care less" if Microsoft was found guilty of being an illegal monopolizing operation... "I could care less" if American car manufacturers were found guilty of hiring underpaid labor from foreign countries... "I could care less" if national shoe and clothing companies were found guilty of hiring underpaid immigrants and children in sweatshops... As long as the same quality products are still made it's all that really matters. The phrase "I could care less..." is directly pertaining to the company itself. Don't get me wrong; I care about people - I'm a good person, really (I think.) Therefore let me rephrase my statement: I could care less if Equinox were forced to change its procedures to be something more socially acceptable - as long as the products are still available to those who need them. ...and if they are not forced into certain action, then maybe they were not guilty to begin with. If they are in fact guilty and yet are not forced into certain action, then maybe we have bigger things to worry about in this world than Equinox.

toyota,lexus - ...speigel, eddie bauer.... - amway, quixtar........ the good thing about that business is any one can get in; the bad thing about that business is anyone can get in.....

What is your occupation and education level?

If you're going to print information such as what you have included in your "Amway Reinvents Itself..." page, it would be a good idea to update your information.

All of the statements you have made answering "nobody knows" are and have been published in print and on Amway ABN and otherwise communicated to any and all persons interested in finding out the answers now for several months.

Your information is highly outdated.

You have the right to post your opinion. You don't have the right to post untrue information. Your web address including "quixtar" in the URL is also in violation of Quixtar trademark. You may want to investigate that further, also.

Just FYI...

[All pages on the MLM Survivors Homepage are clearly labeled with the latest date updated. Just as your daily newspaper doesn't rewrite every story, but simply adds to the information as the story unfolds, so do I. That's why the pages are dated.]

---

Read Previous E-Mail Comments

Read Next E-Mail Comments

s

This page updated Aug-20-99