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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. It is amazing to me that you see yourself hosetly able to put own something that isn't even in existence yet--- are youGOd himself and we have missed it? i imagine youwilldo nothing with this as I disagree with you --- typical of those who are critical. You know - everything isn't for Everybody--why can't youaaccept that- just because it doesn't seem like it will work for you doesn't mean it is BAD - just not for you- Just like you caouldn't be happily and succesful married to every woman in the world. does that mean then that marriage is bad---get a real life and let others find theirs- your critical negative attitude is nauseating and pathetic--- your loss dude!

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Re: Amway/Quixtar

Well, we'll ALL see the truth on September 1, 1999 and the truth will set us free. It's like anything else in this world, there are reputable people and not so reputable people in anything out there, whether it be Amway, Quixtar, or a workplace. The only ones who will survive in this new business model will be those that do their very best to embrace honesty and integrity and I plan to be one of those. After all, Amway IBO's and those that will become involved in Quixtar are not bad guys for wanting to succeed in something in life, for wanting to believe in an American dream. I have to ask you, are you truly a "survivor" as you call yourself? To me and millions of others that hold fast this dream of getting ahead and becoming better citizens, we are the survivors. Why? Because we won't let circumstances and bad apples and negative web sites stop us from dreaming of something better for our families. Most of us have given up on the workplace to provide us with a future. In fact, many corporations and workplaces in America have suffered layoffs. In the area where I live, many have lost their jobs to downsizing. Many more are struggling with inferior paychecks and barely make enough to put food on the table. Maybe you are one of the lucky ones in life that have it all and I think that is wonderful if you are, but there are more of us out there. More of us that think that life is more than a struggle, more than just spending a little time with your family, more than working yourself to the bone for someone else and ending up in the bone yard at retirement. For us personally, we have dreams to serve in missions. For others, they just want some extra money, it doesn't have to make them rich, but just a little would relieve the pressure they face day in and out. And for others, they want friends and the fun of working with others and owning their own business. I remember well a distributor we sponsored in Amway several years ago. When we asked him what he wanted, he only wanted the money to buy a new wheel barrow. Okay, so that's not a biggie, but he knew he could make just enough money for that and he did.

I am glad that you are trying to do right in getting IBO's in line. That is good and I agree that just like in the old game of Gossip, many things get twisted and mixed up and purposefully reinvented by the time it gets out to the public, but that is not the intent for the majority of IBO's. We are about dreaming and becoming better citizens, and bettter parents and grandparents and we don't want the opportunity that we feel that is our vehicle getting messed up for us and our families.

On the other hand, I feel sorry for you that you think it necessary to try to destroy dreams for people, so please get all the facts, become a crusader, yes, but crusade for the truth and the truth will be revealed September 1 and beyond as we all learn together what will occur.

Just please, please, don't try to steal dreams from those who need them. We need more dreamers and less naysayers in this world and I plan on always for the rest of my life being a dreamer.

Thank you for reading this lengthy letter. I am not defending the wrongs by writing this, only the dream and the corporations of Amway and Quixtar and the integrity of the families of the Van Andels and Devoses. I can only quote a scripture from the Bible,"if anyone of you is without sin, let him cast the first stone."

It's time to quit casting stones and start stacking them to help rebuild the American dream.

Respectfully,

P.S. By the way, I guess we are in the 1 percent of people that qualified as Directs in Amway. I never realized how "special" we were, guess only 1 percent want their dreams bad enough. That is no reflection on the corporation. There are people that are happy being in the other 99 percent and there are people that quit because they failed the business, the business didn't fail them. They just quit too soon. You know, even the stock market has made some millionaires and has also driven some to the poor house. But I never hear of someone coming up with a web site to tell people how risky the stock market is and the number of "losers" in it. Let's not put the blame where it doesn't belong.

Re: Amway

Hello, I have been an Amway distributor for 22 years. I have retail customers, and I have made money.

My guess is that you have had a negative experience with a pushy distributor. The Amway business is open to anyone who would like to join it. Granted there are some people who do not handle themselves very well, but I know doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc., that do not handle themselves very well either. My business in not immune from those kind of people. I'm not one of those kind of people. I don't judge all doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc.; because of the actions of some of their members. Please don't judge all Amway distributors because of some pushy people.

Thanks for taking the time to let me vent. Sincerely,

Hi ~

I just found your site and it is quite interesting. I am an ex-Amway distributor and thought I was all alone in my disgust and self-doubt. Ha Ha.

I have an Amway Horror Stories OneList and I wonder if I can get sued for it. If so, I will cancel it. Do you think they will sue me for it? I appreciate your opinion. Thanks.

Thanks for the information. I did some math too on the numbers based on sponsorship policies of Amway (and now the Quixtar hoax) and they pretty much agree with some of your projections. I've tried to show these to some of my friends who have been exposed to the "new" Quixtar distributors. I think Quixtar is even more menacing than the Amway MLM empire because it takes advantage of the speed and ubiquity of the Internet. I'm hoping to see this exposed soon since their launch date of 9-1-99 has already stole money from thousands (even before a legitimate website has been put into production). Amazing. Anyway, continued success in your articles and you have my support for your website. Good work!

hello, i am a web developer from protsmouth nh, i wanted to thank you for the insight as i as well have been looking into this "quixtar"

i know there are alot of people that get hurt/loseout on mlm's if you need any help let me know.

To whom it may concern

26-08-99

Hi I have been considering for quite some time to become one of Amway´s distributors in Sweden. However after reading several articles in the internet I feel confused and quite at lost. I have a friend who has been trying to involve me in this business and says that their is a huge potential.

As such I would be highly obliged if you would so kindly enlighten me with your opinion on this subject and perhaps would advice me whether or not to go into the distributorship.

Looking forward to hearing from you at your earliest

Thanking you in anticipation

Yours faithfully

Part II

Thank you truly for your reply. The part about rupturing relationships bothers me most. It was sheer luck that came across your website before signing up as a distributor. I think it has saved me from some despair. Best regards

Recently my friend asked me to come to this meeting for some great new internet bussiness, and I reluctantly went, taking my girlfreidn for support..the reason? Well see, My friend Josh and his friends who got him into this are all JEHOVAHS WITNESSES. You may not be familiar with this cult group, but beleive me, it is very similair to Amway. Amway has not been compared to a cult for nothing.

Basically, me and my girlfriend came to the conclusion that people in releigous groups like the JW's are very open to suggestion and are easily duped. The sales pitch of the saleman seemed to be geared to the internet ignorant, he wore ritzy clothes and drove a lexus. He had the nerve to say to me that Im wasting my time going to college and that the real money is in your own bussiness. One thing I've learned is that when something tries to make a huge impression that it is something, that means it isnt. An example is the old Sunny Delight commercials where they try to market themselves as a "cool" drink thats hip with all the teens. He said several times, "Without hyping, without exxagerating this website is the best site on the net, in the entire world" Wow, thats pretty cool considering it ISNT EVEN UP YET. He also had the nerve to suggest that if you dont want to succeed, or to make lots of money you wont invest in this. He basically said you are an idiot who dosent see where the US economy is heading. A common tactic of cults is using their own lingo. IBO is so cute, INDEPENDENT BUSSINESS OPERATOR..you are NOTHINg of the sort. Your are a QUIXTAR minion, they own YOU.

I see alot of this sort of thing ever since I left the JW when I was 18. I was scorned and called a child of Satan. And you will be suprised to know that the people who defend Amway and Quixtar in those emails use the exact same loopy logic that cult members do in defending their organization. They are being brainwashed, msubtly by all the "E-rallys" and meetings. The saleman was kissing up to people their complimenting them on everything, making them think hes a nice guy.

I emailed Microsoft asking them about their involvment, if any with QUIXTAR. No reply as of yet

Also, Josh He claims that Bill Gates bought out Amway, or Quixstar, and the reason that Amway is saying that Bill Gates isnt involved on their website is because they cannot say so until September 1st, to protect themselves or the investors or something. Is this a load of Bull or what?

Isn't rewaridng commision for recruiting a new IBO illegal in most states? Do you know how I can find out if this is illegal in the state of Maryland?

Thank you for a great website. Dont worry, there are far more people that agree with you and are saved from being fleeced than those Ambots who think you get your facts wrong.

Hi, I was an employee of Amway Corporation in the building at Ada, Michigan for 10 years. I thoroughly enjoyed my work at Amway as it is a very, very pleasant place to work. The people at Amway are super, wonderful people, including the DeVos and Van Andel families. I used to listen to Rich DeVos at our monthly employee meetings, in which he would speak to ALL the employees and update them on any of the current events of Amway. He is such a motivational speaker and such a nice man.

I believe in Amway Corporation. I know what Amway is about. I have used their many, many fine products, and I will continue to use their products when given the chance to order them on the Quixtar program.

I DO NOT believe in what many of the Amway distributors are doing, however. They DO NOT follow the Amway Plan. In fact, I dare say that many of them probably DO NOT even know what the Amway Plan is about or how it works. It is ONLY the Amway distributors - some not all - that have given Amway a bad name. Amway IS A GOOD COMPANY and I would stand behind it any day.

I am looking forward to getting connected with the Quixtar program, but only if I do not have to be harrassed by Amway distributors that only want to sell me their "tools" which are of not much benefit in my eyes.

Good job Amway! Keep up the good programs and trust that some of us do believe in you and do the right things by you.

Part II

I was with Amway for 10 years. I left in 1989 as my husband and I moved to * for his health; otherwise, I would have stayed up to my retirement. I am 64 years old now and am still working - unfortunately, and that is why I have been watching the Quixtar program quite closely. I work at home as a medical transcriptionist; how long that will hold out I'm not sure.

I'm not sure why nothing has been done about some of these situations. I remember years back when I worked in their Word Processing Department, we had to type those tapes that our "undercover" people taped during the Yager meetings, etc., etc. Some of those tapes really made your hair rise! I remember at the time it appeared they had things in their grip, but I think it just all got too big. I just don't know. As employees, I am sure we didn't hear ALL the details.

I don't know how the Quixtar program is going to work yet, and I am waiting very patiently to find out. Not knowing how the Quixtar program is going to operate, I have to hold my comments. My daughter just signed up under a distributor pushing the regular Amway program - bombarding her with tapes, books, joining book clubs, etc., etc. She is already disillushioned. I tried to warn her, but one must learn by their own experience. She is holding out for the Quixtar program, as having a young family she is hoping that possibly that program will be a little easier to handle with the active schedule she has with the family.

I used the Amway products for 10 years and have to admit I did have a lot of favorites. I approached several distributors after leaving there to buy the products and was immediately bombarded with everything but the products. I finally gave up. When I heard about the Quixtar program, I thought maybe this was a way - finally - where I could purchase some of the Amway products without being harrassed by the distributors. I'm not sure that is going to be possible, but will soon find out when the program opens up.

In my travels and meeting some of the distributors around the country, I always have to wonder - DO THEY EVEN KNOW THAT AMWAY HAS A PRODUCT???!!!! I met a young distributor in Florida that didn't know who Rich and Jay were!!!!!!!!!! You have to wonder!

Thanks for writing back. I enjoyed my stay at Amway for 10 years. I have many fond memories and also made many lifelong friends while there. I am hoping this Quixtar program will be everything we hope it will be. I guess only time will tell.

Part III

I just found a site of the comparison of Amway versus Quixtar. I see where the all the meetings, promotional tools, etc., etc. are still going to be used. I see where there will be online applications. Now, if one were to get into the Quixtar program and just NOT go to the meetings, NOT sell the tapes and gobbly-goop, and strictly do everything on the internet - would that be possible? This is what we kind of thought we would do - just stick strictly to the internet business.

Grant you the prices are going to be higher than what some folks will have to pay. My daughter already found that out. For example, she went to Wal-Mart and got a baby car seat (she's expecting in four weeks) - paid $49.95. She got the Amway catalog Personal Shopper - same carseat - same brand - price $69.95. The distributor price was $60.95. When is Amway going to figure out that their prices are TOO HIGH - never could figure that one out.

I have an ex-son-in-law that has been in Amway for 8 years now. Did pretty good at the beginning, but now the bottom is starting to fall out. He refuses to go to any more of the meetings, etc. He is going on the internet 100% - he says if people have the money fine - if they don't then don't spend it. He's not dropping out, but he's not putting all the money in the others' pockets any more.

What are your thoughts on this? I have sent many of your articles to my daughter in Massachusetts. I live in Arkansas. She has been talking to everyone and anyone since this occurred. I think her significant other is sorry he took the tapes from this friend of his. :)

Anyway, we are very hesitant about the whole thing. Thanks for your thoughts - we are listening very closely.

Have you heard any good/bad comments about an MLM organization called Enviro-Tech? http://www.enviro-tech.com/home.html

hello my name is Constantine Kipnis and I am a "Director" with equinox international. In my 7 months with the company i have experienced many positive but also many negative things. The business is difficult but also has a definite financial potential. To be honest with you my enthusiasm has waned significantly and all the gripes that people have are more or less true. In a Directors and above only "training" Mr Gouldd did say "the products are here to make it legal" I am currently in serious reevaluation mode and in the past i have read the gripes people have had on the web and more or less dismissed them as failures. but my eyes are opening. I think a valuable addition to your web site may be some accounts of specific abuses done recently by equinox distributors as well as the current FTC action. if any reader or website webmaster would like more info or my story which is still in progress fell free to contact me.

since the quixtar business open in about a week, do you think people will continue to lose money as they have with amway? i have heard postive reports from forune 500 and usa today about quixtar. what do you see going for this company in the short term?

Hello, me again... I greatly appreciate your time,

I took it upon myself to send a link to your web page to my friend in North Idaho, trying to save his financial life. He didn't even read it.

He told me.. and I quote! "That page was probably only made because whoever it is is scared of Quixtar. They are scared that Quixtar is going to put Amazon.com out of business." can you belive this???

I have one question... and you can tell this to anyone you want... If you walk into a K-Mart in your area (whoever or wherever you may be)... do you have to pay $20 just so you can buy the items on the shelf? NO?!? Then why should you pay between $100 and $200 just to buy from this online mall?

I mean... GET REAL PEOPLE!!!

Thank you for your time again,

No one calls a doctor "negative" when he opposes a virus or a tumor. Likewise, we are not being negative for opposing the MLM virus. While my own experiences were with Amway, I don't see how any MLM can be anything but a pyramid-scheme cult, in which only the loudest, most fiendishly exploitive people have even a tiny chance at making money.

We, the anti-MLM people, are not out to steal anyone's dream or oppose anyone from making honest money. We are opposed only to the deception and misuse of people that is inherent in the Amway system, and all its distributor organizations. We are the positive people.

If people want to make money in their own business, then they should set up their own business. In Amway, you do not own your own business, because you can not sell it. If you can't sell it, you don't own it. You are not in your own business with Amway, because you cannot choose who you are going to buy from If you can't choose which of the many diamonds you are going to buy from, then you are strictly an employee/slave of your upline. You are not independently in business. You are just an unpaid employee. Regards

Hi, I wrote to you a couple weeks ago and was very frustrated as a New "IBO" in Amway and the vagueness of the info everyone knew was the worst. The next thing I went to was a Rally 4hours away from my home. At that rally I started to confront some of my upline with facts from your site and also told them I was in no way interested in buying tapes or spending what little hard earned cash I had on maintaining the upline lifestyles. They became semi- hostile and accused me of scaring the hell out of my direct upline.WHATEVER! I told them I would be focusing on the retail sales and that was that.

This is where you are dead on. I was not told about the next "open" meeting nor encouraged to go nor offered a ride to get there as I was before. When I pointed this out after the fact the response was OH I thought you knew. Which even if I did this person knows I have no way to get there as my wife works at nights til 9:00pm. This is all after I pointed my upline to your site and he went and of course defends the honor of the cause. Whatever the cause is--- OH YEAH, to pad the pockets of the diamonds.

I even point blank asked "our" Diamond Direct what he makes more money from tools or products. He refused to answer so I told him I knew for a fact it was from tools bonus checks. He called me a liar and said Your website was full of shit. Which I responded with "Maybe your too close to the woods to see the trees" hahaha. Well anyway I mouthed off and said I was going to advertise the Quixtar opportunity however I could to make it work. And in turn I was sent a load of rules and B.S. that basically says you can own your own business but are not allowed to advertise in the most basic ways to further your business client base. They just want to keep people small so the top stays fat, by buying all they're products from they're own stores.

Here's the KICKER--Another couple and myself tried to leave early from this rally and were held up in the parking lot by this babbling idiot who is our uplines sponsor. He just wouldn't let us go after repeated tries to say goodnight. He just kept babbling, and the more he babbled the more my new found info bubbled until I started to fire quoted facts at this brainwashed asswipe--I had to he pissed me off--he should have let us leave. And now the stakes were upped because I was saying this in front of the other new "IBO's". Watching this idiot scramble to defend the cause was a hoot and worth the 4 hour drive. You see, I have a photographic memory and test at genius level but my whole life have come off as sort of flaky and BLONDE if you will all in order to make others around me comfortable--if that makes sense. Sort of an anti-intimidation reflex. At this point this guy knows I'm riding home with this other couple and not him and my sponsors and starts in on me about crosslining. This guy is terrified I'm gonna turn this nice couple against the cause. Anyhow he says that we can't discuss any aspect of the business with each other or would be in jeopardy of some form of punishment. Here's the best part :) SURPRISE! and this will be word for word what I said to this BUM--- Me and **** have been friends for a long time and he and my brother have been best friends for years, we will talk to each other about whatever we want including this "business opportunity" and no one is gonna tell me who I can be friends with and what we may talk to each other about-----Who the f* are you anyway Adolf Hitler, Jim Jones, Rev. Moon. Amway uses the same form of mind control as these other a******* and you just proved it. He starts to try and say thats not what he meant and I interupted him and said f* you thats exactly what you meant---you saw me as a threat to my friends here and wanted to eliminate that threat but you see I am their real friend and will tell them whatever I know bad about Amway so they can make an informed decision based on both sides on the coin---and there is nothing you or anybody else can do about it.

About this time we see people leaving the building and realize that the rally is over and we had been in the parking lot for over an hour!

Well to close this I have just received a bunch of rules on the Quixtar thing telling what is not permissible and what is--which not much is. If your interested I will scan them and e-mail them to you as long as you keep our little relationship a secret as I am still an "IBO" :) I always did love James Bond movies,how about you?

Yours truly,

Interesting anti-Amway site you have developed. Simply, I just want to comment on some of the comments you have posted.

There are several teams involved in the Amway business, as will be in Quixtar. There are many different people in this world. Unfortunately, there is a small number which have difficulty in presenting an upfront business proposal.

There are many questions about Quixtar. Quite frankly, if you haven't educated yourself on who Quixtar is, please do. But simply posting comments on web pages with no follow up names, email addresses, etc., is unprofessional. Why is it that alot of these people remain anonymous?

Not accusing you of fraud, please understand. I run a Quixtar business of which I am proud, upfront with information and never mislead others. So if you run across anyone who would like to develop an honest web based business, email me!

thanks for the invitation to tell of my Amway experiences.

I am ashamed to say that it took several situations of moral & psychological horror before I had the courage to quit. Here's just one.

I'd just moved into a house as a tenant owned by two very professional, sophisticated single women about my age. My brother had sponsored me, and I liked one of the motivational tapes by the Yagers. So, my brother said he'd drive us to * to hear Dex and Birdie speak. This was to be special, because the Yagers had long before moved from New York to North Carolina. I invited my landladies to come along, and to my amazement, one of them was eager to accompany us.

Dex started his speech by repeating "education aint nothin, education aint nothin" while doing kind of an obscene strutting-waddle around the stage. "Why Birdie just got her doctorate, but education aint nothin much, so we just said to mail the diploma, 'cause we had an important meetin' to go to." He went on like that, repeating how worthless education is, never hinting as to what Birdie got her doctorate in, or why.

When it was Birdie's turn to take the lectern and talk, she was speechless for about a whole minute. Then she started to cry, saying something like, "Well, I guess I don't know what to talk about today, what shall I talk about?" It was obvious to me she had planned to talk about how she achieved her dream of getting a doctorate, but Dex had just shot that down totally. Of course, people in the audience said "tell us about your kids," even though her children at that point were all grown and out of the house. So, she spoke pretty lamely about how wonderful Amway had been for her family.

The horror to me now was in several things: Dex's ravings against education. His cutting down of his own wife. The fact that no one noticed or cared. The fact that I didn't have the courage to say "Tell us about how and why you got your doctorate degree," when Birdie asked us what she should talk about. I was embarrassed to have my landlady hear this awful nonsense and see how cruelly disrespectful Dex was being towards Birdie. He all but said no decent woman would ever get an education--just change diapers, worship her husband, and do Amway, Amway, Amway.

Until that day, evil mass movements like Nazism and Communism were just things I'd read about, but could hardly believe. Here it was real, participated in by my own brother and sister-in-law.

You new distributors who have bought the sky and have dreams. Do not think your upline is any different, and that I am stealing your dream. You will not achieve your dream in Amway without selling your mind and your soul along with the soap. You will become an evil manipulator.

The truth is that if anyone takes a part-time job (yes, j.o.b.) and puts the money from that job in a bank, he or she will have a fortune for sure, for spending on their dreams. But staying in Amway will only bring you grief, wasted time, and ruined relationships.

By the way, I have asked many people what Birdie got her doctorate in. Now, almost twenty years later, I still don't know. Does anyone? [I was told it was in Nutrition.]

Regards,

Part II

I can tell you why I quit twice, but I am ashamed of my Amway Involvement. I got in in '77 or '78, when my brother & wife would come down from * to *, and then to *, when I moved there. It was nice to finally share something with my brother, for the first time in our lives.

Yes, they were with Renards only briefly, and then appended to Don & Hannah King's as 'orphans' or whatever, when the Renards moved south. Meetings were first in * then *. Seminars & Rallies were in * at the * Hall.

Don King boasted of conning employers by taking jobs for which he had no training, such as Drafting Foreman, but I revered Hannah, then. Now I don't. From Don's interactions with distributors and upline, he seemed to particularly revel in the "dominance-submission" college-frat aspect of the cult. In his seminar tapes, he boasted of taking many jobs for which he had absolutely no qualification whatsoever, to illustrate the point that "Facts Don't Count," which was the mantra of the whole Yager organization.

But to Dex, even Don the Con represented the "hoidy-toidy elite," and so Dex found a way to rub Don & Hannah's faces in manure to bring them down a notch. By imperial order, he commanded the Kings to take Tony and Sue Teffel as house guests for a week or two, to better get their point of view. (I'm not sure of the spelling now, nor even if Teffel's wife was named Sue). Tony was a firebreathing radical who wanted censorship, and a church takeover of the government. He hated education worse than Dex did. So, at the open meeting following this exercise in cult brainwashing, Tony and Sue Teffel expressed their deep gratitude to Don and Hanna for being house guests by mocking them for two hours straight, and telling things about the King's private lives that ought not to have been told in public.

I knew then, that when Don King said the reason he wanted to get into Amway was because of the humiliation he suffered at Brooklyn College, he was lying. He could never, ever have been subject to that sort of humiliation at Brooklyn College. If he was humiliated at Brooklyn College, it was probably for taking jobs for which he wasn't qualified, as he boasted about on his tapes.

I sort of 'got in' again in 1991 after moving to *, when a friend wanted to buy a lot of Amway products for her large house in the country. I only went to a couple of meetings, and that was only for "old times," to see if Amway was still such a cult.. . .

I read your article on 'QUIXTAR.COM' with great interest!

Your negative comments about this new internet venture painted a very dismal portrait of YOURSELF!

Individuals in MLM's are TRUE ENTREPRENEURS who in general are excited about the POSSIBILITY of financial independence. The process itself is what makes the journey so exciting for these individuals--NOT whether they will succeed or not(in fact, others they may introduce into the business my succeed instead!). Remember, life offers no guarantees for success for anyone...BUT one must still give it a go at it...if only to make life more exciting!

I suggest you get off your 'high horse' and take a close look at yourself in the mirror. I believe what you'll see is a very sad and unhappy individual without any clear and worthwhile goals in life...

JOIN QUIXTAR(or any MLM for that matter) and GET EXCITED ABOUT LIFE! It will make you and ALL THOSE AROUND YOU much happier individuals!

Part II

I did not intend to offend you in any way! My OBJECTIVE assessment of your NEGATIVISM is that it will take a SERIOUS TOLL on your emotional and physical health! I HIGHLY recommend you read(seriously!): 'The Power of Positive Thinking' by Norman Vincent Peale.

I am a Clinician in private practive for over 15 years....

Again, it was not my intention to offend you in any way...and I sincerely apologize if I have

Hi I just joined quixtar to stay home with my child. Yes there is a lot of work involved in starting up a business, No one is going to make me do things I don't feel are necessary. I am a college graduate with 10 years experience in public relations. Ruth please send me something that is going to keep my feet on the ground about this "Boggus" business. My goal is to work 20 hrs. a week and earn 2,000 a month. Do you feel this is possible in Quixtar. Please write back,

hello again no- the claims are in the FUTURE tense and is no different than any other advertisement done by anybody---

it is rather futile to argue and that wasn't my point- also sorry for the brashness i communicated--- as I surf the net the # of MLM company's that are out there is phenominal yet- these two seem to be the one (s) targeted by so many... and just fyi I was burned badly by amway distributors once- but that wasn't the way of all amway distributors--- there are some pretty bad ones out there--and there are some pretty awesome ones too--- making blanket statements about something is pretty unfair (and yes I have done it too). I happen to know some great people who HAVE been successful with Amway (no I am not in it) and have both stopped their teaching jobs before they were 50. they live a comfortable life and travel and see their kids often--- and are very happy- and run an honest and open business... try to not be so bitter you turn away lots of good people from something good because of past bad expereinces--- it isn't that way for everyone either fantastic OR awful. Just as Life itself isn't great for some nor awful for everyone.

Don't know how much $ you are making by this web site-- hope you rethink your approach-- If life is bad for someone and they choose to end it then should everyone join them?? David Jones" approach--- just find what works for you and be happy --don't tear down for others what does work for them or cheat someone of trying and maybe succeeding or failing- that is their life and they need to try--- sincerely,

Over the years, I have been sucked into and victimized by many mlm companies. The first one i got involved in was called Derma shield. they sold hand creams and i was supposed to be excited.The security guard in my office invited me to a meeting at a hotel and i signed up. after this did not work, i joined up with excel tellecommunications, . i also did tupperware, equinox, am presently involved in pre-paid legal, and someone i met at the bank is trying to get me involved with quixtar, the mln on line shopping service.

I called him and the previous person i am presently involved with pre paid legal. i joined pre paid legal after meeting with this guy. Some of what i have experienced has been a bit encouraging, but alot of it has not been pleasant. I have spent alot of money on business cards, marketing materials, cellular telephone calls etc. so far i have not made any money. I have asked my upline to call the people i have met and spoke with about the services that are available. No one ever returns your calls, either the prospects or the associates return my call. but generally they are only responsive when i stop calling them, stop attending meetings , or they need something. it seems that the only time they follow up with you is to get you to pay your fee and join as a marketing associate. then you are on your own and musr purchase materiasls. you call people. or speak to them in person to get them to join the arena. somne of them give you there # and you call, but it is difficult to get them to a meeting, or otherwise interested enough to meet with you . i usually tell them it will take about 15 minutes of there time, etc, the typical mlm come on. i know that you are not pro mlm, but should i continue to attend these meetings, should i consider spending more money to get involved with yet another mlm business because i am told that this is the one that will work. the latest mlm suitor with quixtar wants me to come to a meeting. i approached him about pre paid legal and he told me about quixtar. some of these companies appear to be successful. i wonder sometimes, why would people who are successful in this business have to set up special meetings and super saturdays to bring people into the company. where do you draw the line. i cancelled my membership in pre paid legal as a customer, , which i am sure will piss off my upline because this will cancal his commissio. me e mail is **, my name is ***, please write me and let me know if i am doing the right thing, or shoulkd i continue to spend my time, and energy, andh build false hope .

Thanks for the informative site. I enjoyed reading your level-headded view of MLM's.

As long as there is the illusion of "easy money" to be made, there will continue to be MLM's. Anyone ever notice that for the last 20 years the only 2 people to consistently remain on America's 10 richest people list are the founders of Amway, NOT their distributors?

Thanks again,

I would like to give you all my sympathy. I am sorry you could not make one of the many successful business opportunities out there work for you. It is unfortunate that you feel the need to try and discourage(definitely not educate) any person that may take advantage of great opportunities. I was just wondering how these "schemes" have created so many millionaires. Several that I know. I have seen the success of Amway distributors first hand and I have also seen people that give up and quit. This has nothing to do with the potential of Amway it is solely up to the individual. If someone goes to college and does not graduate is it the fault of the college or the individual?

I definitely understand your concern over others opinions. Thanks for at least posting your address to allow me to respond.

I am sure you do, what you feel, is your calling in life, as do I.

May God bless you.

I think Free Enterprise is alive and well with opportunities like Quixtar and Amway. Instead of being so negative towards COMPANIES you obviously know so little about, show us something better. If you know of another vehicle so we may achieve are goals and dreams, let's hear it!

you are an idiot. Get a life

Thank you so much for your site!

It seems that you may have been burned by some unethical people in the MLM business and that is a real bummer. However for someone to judge a manufacture of a product by what one of the IBO's/Stores does is also a bummer. For many years I have used cleaning products by a company that goes by the name of Proctor and Gamble and I have purchased these products from Independent Business Owners such as 7/11, K-mart, Wal-Mart and numerous mom and pop stores. When I was treated unfairly by one of these Independent Business Owners I did not blame the manufacture of the product for what one of the Distributors that they have chosen to distribute there product did to me. If you had a bad experience with a certain support group why have you not taken your scope and aimed it at that group or person as I have done. When somebody treats me in a way that I feel is unjust I do not give them my business anymore. I do not take aim at the manufacture unless that Manufacture has been negligent in there manufacturing practices. If you do not now Amway as it has been known for 40 years is a Manufacture of cleaning products, the also own the Nutrilite Company which is a Manufacture of Vitamins and other supplement. The marketing plan which you seem to want to discredit is really not the brain child of Rich DeVos and Jay VanAndel but the Idea of the founder of Nurtilite some 50 years ago. I would also like to inform you that Quixtar (sm) is a service mark and there for they do not even make anything all they do is provide a service. Your attitude kind of reminds me of my days in the Air Force, I say this because it seems that your sponsor lied to you and know you want to blame the people with the deep pockets. Well my recruiter lied to me and I wanted to blame the Air Force (pretty childish is it not?) I would challenge you to take aim at the person who lied to you rather than the Manufacture of the product you purchased to clean you house, cloths, self and car.

Have A wonderful Day

Re: Amway/Quixtar

I was surfing the Internet looking for information regarding Quixtar. That is when I came across your site. I read several of your comments and responses from both non-Amway members and former members. The common theme amongst all comments is the dislike of the Amway Corporation. The one thing I did not find was supporting evidence to back up the comments made.

I have been an Amway distributor since 1993 (although I have been inactive for the past year). Yes, I subscribed to the motivational tools and attend the functions. I have yet, in the last 6 years, lost money that would equate to the amounts indicate in the emails sent to you. I estimate that I spend approximately $1,500 per year on these items. However, if you are serious about building an Amway business - and put forth the effort - those costs are tax deductible. However, if you do not treat your distributorship as a business then those costs cannot be recouped. Compare this cost with starting up a traditional business. And you do not have any more of a guarantee in a traditional business that it will be a success. That's because the results are closely related to the activities that we put forth and the tools we have available to make the business a success. So, when I hear people whine and moan about the thousands of dollars they have lost, I can only have believe that they fool themselves into thinking that would make millions without putting forth any effort.

The general theme I get from the emails is that nobody wants to accept responsibility for their actions. Yes, it's always easier to pass the blame to someone else. However, in this case, we are personally responsible for our making money or not making money. I have never had anyone MAKE me purchase the tools or attend a function. I chose to do these under my own free will --- just as the authors of the emails did.

I agree with some of yours and other comments that some unscrupulous activities may have occurred. But I question whether that is the company or an individual. Just like in any business, you have individuals that believe in the companies vision but you also have other individuals who are only there for the fast buck. And with 2 million + members, you will find it in the Amway business also.

I mentioned earlier that I have been inactive. This is an item that I spoke with my Diamond about before making that step. After explaining my situation, my Diamond informed me that he would rather have me quit than get frustrated with the business. My wife had made a comment about wanting to continue with the Amway business and his response was that she should also quit if that was my desire. Maybe me Diamond is special, but all the advice received from him has been with me in mind and not his "tools income." He has helped us become debt free so that my wife could discontinue working - not because of a sexist belief, but because she did not want to work. But with the debt, we had no choice. Are we making millions in the Amway business - no. However, having a mentor to show us how to alleviate the debt has put us in the position that we were able to bring my wife home.

Am I offended by your site - no. I think that before anybody makes an informed decision, he or she needs to find out all the facts. Some of those facts can be obtained from former distributors (whether disgruntled or content). However, the validity of the contents also needs to be weighed - just like when viewing material provided by the Amway corporation or an AMO. It is only then that someone can make an informed decision. But the bottom line is still the same - we need to be responsible for our own actions. If someone decides to get involved with Amway or Quixtar, or any other business for that matter, they need to find out what it will take to make that business a success. If you open up a pizza delivery place and do not purchase any stoves do you think you would be a success? If you purchased all the tools you needed to make the pizza delivery a success but never showed up to work, would it be a success? The answer would be no. The same applies to the Amway business. If you are serious about building an Amway business or a pizza delivery business, you will put forth the effort to make it a success. If you are not serious then you will probably end up losing money. This is a fact of life. So when people tell me that Amway cost them tons of money or their marriage, all I can think is that there is a person who is unwilling to accept responsibility.

I don't know if you will publish this on your website as it is the opposite of most of its content. However, it goes back to people making a well informed decision. If you site is truly to inform people - and not just strictly bash the Amway business - you would welcome opinions from both sides of the fence.

Thanks for your time and keep up the work of keeping people informed on both sides of the issue.

I am an Amway distributor with a 30+ year family history as distributors. My mother was a distributor when I was a child and i sold the products (I even earned a 1500 Pin). I first became a distributor in 1990 and, due to a family crisis, had to discontinue in 1994. I am very excited about the quixtar opportunity and the continuing education system.

I find it hard to tell what your personal standpoint is from your site. If you are negative about Amway/Quixtar, I must give you credit for being generally unbiased according to what I read. It seems that you have had several negative situations in dealing with certain distributorships, and I hope that you will portay to your guests that distributors are not anything more than personal business owners that have a distribution contract with Amway/Quixtar... this does not make them "representatives" nor does it mean that any two are alike.

I am very careful to disclose all information that could be important in a persons decision to join or not, including any knowledge I have of legal issues. I am personally sponsored by a diamond now and I intend to help my personals to build honest, profitable businesses.

A quick note to your guests who feel "pressured" to go to the meetings... the motivational meetings are designed to build associations with people who have similar goals... kind of like the AA for negativity. It is a support system and an education system. Even if a person is not going to build a diamondship, the education in marketing and the people skills learned, are extreemely valuable to anyone who wants to do more with there life.

Some people question the motives of the diamonds do to the fact that there may be a profit involved in the training system... my opinion is that I hope that they (the diamonds) make a profit from training me because it will motivate them to do it better. Who wants to be a "slave" to a downline organization of distributors? Not me. I believe that people should receive compensation for their time when they are good at what they do. I charge a minimum of $25.00 for an hour to help someone work on their computer... if they pay me more... I get more excited and tend to do a better job. Thats business.

Thank you for your time.

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This page updated Sep-13-99