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thank you for the information. I think I have read through every bit of information on the net, including the site you sent me.
When I read this site, it was the first time I read anything contradictory to what Hill teaches in his book "Think and Grow Rich." I read the book exactly as you are supposed to, three times consecutively, and acting on all the suggestions. I thought the speaking mantras were "cooky," but so is Amway. So why not give it a shot?
Reading through your friend's website has given me some good information to think about, and I realized, anytime we pray to anyone besides our personal God, anytime we pray for humans in spirit, we are essentially doing the opposite of what the Bible asks us to do. I feel much better about this subject now.
However, the mastermind classes is nothing more than a class for leaders. You are supposed to qualify for it by fulfilling so many different parts of the business. It costs $165 to enter, which is supposed to cover room costs and some of the payouts. But the #'s don't add up. There were over 150 people in the class who qualified (qualification is quite easy. . .3 personal sponsors, core, 100 PV on HSD) for eight weeks of teaching from higher pins. There are also certain qualifications per week, you must show 4 plans, you must listen to 10 tapes a week, you must read 50 pages a week, and if you don't you are out of the class.
I did receive a PV/BV check from November, however, only for my personal PV. I told my upline of my decision in December, which makes me wonder. This is what I would like to learn more about. . .is there any information I can look at from former Directs, Emeralds, or above? I have found some stuff, one piece from a Direct out west, his problem was with the right wing Christianity that is pushed, but he didn't mention the names of the Diamonds he worked with. I get the feeling the Diamond he wanted to switch to is Lennon Ledbetter, considering he just went Double Diamond this past year. I've also heard that Lennon has been trying to be a little of the next Yager, his speeches run awfully long. I also saw a comment written to you from an Emerald who said he lost his business. Sounds much like my friend ** from New Jersey.
thank you again for the information, anytime you can point to new or interesting information, please let me know. I am very interested in learning what I can so I can put togther a site as well, but I haven't thought about it too seriously. Your site and comments are some of the best I have seen. Very well thought out.
Happy Holidays,
the mastermind classes could have helped me, but I the information one receives just doesn't cut it. Maybe I was missing something, but everything I heard I had heard before. Did I need to be reminded? Yes, some of the tapes say the same thing. The class is really meant to push you to success, holding you to some basic steps that lead to success. However, the numbers should be much higher. There is such a poor image of Amway I can't tell the number of names I went through. Much more than they say. My problem was just getting the people to sit down and talk, and I spoke with several hundreds of people. I called just about everybody on my list and downline's list. I wouldn't say I wasted my time, because I learned many things, but the business just didn't seem worth the hassle.
Even then, from what I have learned recently, I couldn't in good consciousness continue the business. I had bad feelings when I was there and now they are just confirmed.
A little story to tell. . .my sister wants Artistry makeup for Christmas, so I ordered it from our upline, HSD. I've done it before and had no problems. I made the order, my Direct's wife called back to say she needed my credit card number, and I gave it to her. That was Dec. 10. On Dec. 15, that Monday, I called to ask when I could expect the shipment because it was her Christmas gift, and I never heard back. I left a message with my Direct, her husband, and he told me he didn't think she ever got the order! You know, this is just another in a long string of events. When you are not core, you are not a priority. In business terms, you don't make them money. And that I can't deal with anymore.
Also, I don't know how to create a website, but I have some experience in writing (English major), and I love to write, also, I enjoy working with people. But the REASON I would like to start something is perhaps like yourself, just to offer people another perspective, some of the facts so they can make an informed decision. I would probably sit down and write out the different angles and viewpoints I would take with a web page. How much time does it really take?
So, what has happened since Amway contacted you? You tried to reply and you couldn't get through?
Thanks for all your help,
Hey you guys: 12/21/97
First thing I want to say is thank you for waking me up. I called my Emerald sponsor tonight ready to do it again. My wife's law practice is at a "it's that time of the year" stand still. This left me seeking alternitives. I can relate to you about the books and tapes, I am constantly told that a distributor is'nt *((*^#$^%&^&^%#@ without them. I was in the "Britt" organization, but I am sure it is the same old song and dance throughout.
I am 37 slaveing my way through college, but now that I do not have "The Bussiness" to tell me that education is a waist, My dream as an English Professor will come true. They steal your dreams, to insert their's
Also, while I am standing on your soap box, I lost a very dear friend over Amway to an argument. He was in Phoenix, and I moved back to Pensacola. He was not able to service my line, so I went and re-sponserd with a distributor here. It may have been the wrong thing for me to do, but it is not worth killing a life long friend ship over.
Notice, In my observations, most if not all of the upper leavel pins are wealthy to start with. Their 5000 sq ft home were not purchased from the sweat of their down line, but from money they made from LIFE. IM FREE, IM FREE, IM FREE, Truely.
Enjoy your rebirth into normality Your simpethiser
Hi Just to let anyone else know thats still a distributor I have several tapes and the first Diamond Book I'll sell cheap . I've read several stories here of people who fell for the amway scam and I also got in debt very quickly. I fell hook line and sinker. I am easy what can I say. Hungry for a good opportunity to make extra money after retirement. I dug my hole by ordering threw the computer. It's so eeeeeaaasy. My husband was the only one with the right mind. We went to all functions for 2 years. To pay off our debt we refinanced our home. Loosing half our equity. That hurts. We are now ready to retire and in the hole. I am glad to find these pages on Amway. I just wish they were easier to find so others would see them before they got thereselves in the same trouble. Thanks .
Subject: Scams!
Hello:
I too was scamed by Amway for ten years! I will not go into the details due to the fact that they have all been said by others with similiar experiences. MY POINT... MLM is not all bad. there are wave 3 companies that you can build without AMO type pressures. Companies that you can do at home I mean no meetings, No tapes to buy etc... Yes the industry is rife with abusive pay plans and Motivational(?) organizations. Yes there needs to be a lot of clean up. However there are several glimmers of positive out there. There are some companies that have seen the same problems that you and myself have and have taken steps to go another way with this thing called MLM. Just as if you go to a restaurant and have a bad meal and yet do not "swear off of going to restaurants" the same can be applied to our industry. There are those of us who are starting to develop standards of practice that would REALLY seek to raise the level of the industry. Amway is by far the largest and most well known of the MLMs. They are frequently the bad example. I hope that people like yourself and the others that feel compelled to use this wonderfull medium will not condem the entire concept based on experience. There are people out there that are making a lot of sense, pointing out the same abuses that you do. They are supporting companies that believe likewise. Watch carefully for some major changes these next few years. Feel free to write anytime if you desire further clarification. Thanks for all your effort and careing!
Subject: Cut Your Losses
My wife & I Lost over $40,000 in Amway. Mostly due to the purchase of Tapes, Books & Functions. We personally sponsored 17 wide & had a downline of 82 distributorships & only hit 4000 PV. over a 3 1/2 period. Our upline ex- directs who are now getting divorced & our Emerald uplines (who are not true emeralds-2 wide) kept on telling us " You need better people", of course most of our group spent most of their money filling the pockets of our already well to do Ex Physician Diamonds so unfortunately they never could afford more than the $8-$10k yearly overhead of the system.(Which of coure no one dares to tell a prospect in advance about) I also entered into an outside business with my upline emerald & I lost about $40-50K in lost wages.(Left my previous job for new venture we trusted upline advisor-what a joke!) I then discovered how I was to invest all my time & $$$ in this venture alone.
All I can say is I was Stupid, got duped, lost a fortune (almost went bankrupt) Its a shame how AMWAY can allow this to go on. Im not going to seek revenge, My wife & I will leave that to the Lord. We're starting over in a new business(conventional) & we are amazed how a simple soap business in 4 years almost wiped us out. The sad part is our so called beloved upline shares no guilt or concern. (Good Friends huh?) Especially when "their counciling almost destroyed this family of five. "To anyone reading this: Learn from our mistakes & remember God will provide. Thanks
This page was last updated on Sep-16-98