I have spent the last year trying to start a business using the internet. I decided the easiest way was to use one of these ready made business such as Amway, Enrich, Watkins, Lifestyles, or Usana. While trying to decide which business to join I cam across Quixtar, I quickly related this to Amway, a business I have had some exposure to. I was desperate and wanted an on-line business, and was willing to over look the fact that this was Amway. I have just wasted the last 3 hours trying to sign-up as an IBO. While surfing for an IBO to sponsor me I came across your site. Thank You! Re: Amway/Quixtar Tools
Thank you for getting back to me so fast. I will let you know what happens. Their whole argument was that the sayings on the cd's were obsolete. they said, "coming 9/1/99". i will forward the sentiment that it doesn't matter what the cd says. they are just shocked that they have to fork over money now, while they are paying for one of those conventions next weekend in Orlando, hundreds of dollars. Oh well.Re: Auto Pilot Marketing
I just wanted to see if you had ever heard Rex McMurry and his so called Auto Pilot Marketing approach to recruiting people to the tune of direct mail marketing and folow up for a mere $600.00 dollors to name. He is susposed to be connected to Human Growth Hormone now, but previosly with Dr. Eli Wallach and his multi-level company.
Thanks I would appreciate your comments,
Hi, thought I'd share my story. I should have known better when the ad I was calling about never said what they were about, I needed an appointment. When I walked in and saw their logo, I realized it was the first time I should have turned around and walked out. But I stayed to find out a little more. Call me a sucker for punishment! After their long picth and videos and the brief moment they took for the people to leave that were completely not interested(my second chance to leave, but I had questions to ask) we were told about the $300 seminar coming up in 3 days. "Education costs money" they said, but of course they tended to put college down that you couldn't get anywhere hardly with a college education.
When some people went to view a trainig video I stayed behind to talk to someone I knew and to ask some questions. When I was asked if I could attend the seminar I said I couldn't. They pressed me so hard to as why I couldn't go. I had told them I had prior engagements. Still they wanted to know of what was so important to me that I couldn't go, and could I change my plans to another time, and if they offered me 10 grand would I still go. No! Like thay would pay me 10 grand anyways. This was when I started getting a little bit more irritated. I was asked to watch the training video with 3 other people(a video on how important the training is!). When it was done we were asked again who would go. An older man in a suit said he would if he could find means for his children(he was divorced) He was asked if they offered him 25 grand would he go, and that a person should not let their children hold him back. Another nerve was struck in me. When we went to leave I was told to sit down, and he closed the door behind everyone. I was left in a room to be badgered and that what ever I did in life was not important compared to Equinox. When I referred to the people that left the first time he said "F*** them" I could go on and on, but I wasted 3 hours of my life there(it was supposed to be one) and don't want to waste anymore of yours. I now know about these people and will try to save anyone from going through what I did.
Thanks for listening,
Re: Amway
Mahalo ("Thank you" in Hawaiian)
I certainly will email you with new facts in the future because you have been so very considerate and helpful....and you may use something I find out to help others too.
My son is still in touch with me and knows I love him very much. He just can't understand why I don"t support him re Amway because I have always been supportive and told him that whatever he decided to do in life, I would support him. I had no idea quitting school and Amway was going to occur. He discusses "mind control" and other issues with me almost weekly...I think he does so to win me over and become a distributor. My wife buys a few products so we can stay in touch.
I am in for the long haul and will not give up...the problem is his girlfriend who is just mesmerized with becoming rich ....so much that when I present her "facts", she changes what her mentors said and finally walks away saying "that's okay, I'm going to be rich"!!
Believe it or not, I went to Anaheim last month convention to see the Diamonds perform and hear the 4 hour Sermon (Believe in Jesus and thenput that same faith in Amway is the subliminal message)...Besides many things said to the young crowd of couples included my son/girlfriend's Diamonds wife .She said in front of 8000 conventioneers...your relatives don't understand because "they are stupid"...."they 're stupid" in a loud, screaming voice. It was worth the trip to hear that cause now I know it is a WAR!!!. I mentioned this to my son...he said he didnt hear her say this and his girlfiend then said she didnt say this. Denial...denial!!
I'm sorry to bother you. Thanks for the 800 Diamond facts. I will get back to you on other facts later.
Aloha again,
PS I dont want to use my real name because I am so embarrassed.
Re: Network Marketing
I can also not stand unscrupulous operators, but:
I am not involved in AMWAY in my country, however am involved in a Network Marketing Company that has changed a lot of peoples lives for the better. A highly ethical and legal company I might ad. I am however sure that you will always find unscrupulous people in any organization anywhere in the world. I could also understand that you would feel the way you do if you had a bad experience. My concern is, that in my perception at least, you are generalizing on the industry of Network Marketing making it off as some scam idea. You seem to be so consumed by an intense hate, that it actually blinds your logic and you are most probably disguising your inability to master this business behind your attacks. This business principle works, whether you like it or not. I see the visible evidence of highly successful people around me everyday, without scams or bad attitudes. If you want to launch attacks on unscrupulous individuals, by all means, but don't generalize on the industry. There are many successful people with high ethics that are successful in Network Marketing Companies, so, address individual cases, not generic opinions on some opinions. Could you provide a % statistic, comparing the ethical successful people in NWM with the amount of complaints(bad experiences or inabilities which they more often than not are) you got, substantiating that they are indeed valid complaints? The latest DSA stats show that at least a 100,000 USA Millionaires come out of NWM. Also, at least be fair and give the other side of the coin for people to compare for themselves. Some people are extremely successful in one company and others not, also in the same company, or haven't you figured out that life in general is like that. Don't you want to live because of some bad experiences in life? Is it life's fault? Let people judge individual cases for themselves.
If you discard e-mail opinions that don't conform with your ideas, I question your objectivity and your guts to face the other side of the coin. Is that why you wouldn't like to receive these?
I hope you become a fair commentator
Your an ass hole and by the way do you make any money that does not involve complaining about others. What I mean is do you do anything constructive with your time.
Re: Quixtar
Hi, I read your "My Story" and thought it very sad. It is terrible how people with hopes, dreams and expectations of a better life are duped into believing a lie.
The sad truth of this is that I happen to be a "born again" Christian and to see so many "so called" others who profess the same as I but perpetrate the lies, is horrendous and a disservice to Jesus Christ.
Okay, I did not send you this letter to preach to you but to let you know what I am interested in doing.
I am trying (as many have already have tried) to expose Quixtar for what it is. I have some email between me and a conning diamond but I was wondering if you have any documented evidence of lying by the upline. If I can document these lies from all over the Country I can generally prove that although independent distributors "act on their own", they are motivated to do so from the Corporation.
I have attached a copy of my proposed web site. If you can offer suggestions or ideas, feel free.
Re: Equinox
Thank You
For hosting such a courageous and needed site.
I am a casualty of Equinox, Intl. I went from $300 in debt to $30,000 in 6 months disassociated myself with the company three months later. I have spent the last 3 years in credit counseling and I will not be able to pay my entire debt of for another 4-6 years. I attending Advanced Marketing Seminars that promoted and idealized getting in debt - kind of an initiation to getting your dream. Int'l Marketing Directors boosted about having their cars repod, ignoring debtors, etc. The made suggestions about charging large items such as stereos, pawning them, buying product, selling product, and then returning the item, but since they keep you at their office 10 hours of the day trying to sign up people. There wasn't much time left for selling product.
I decided to leave the company when the founder made a conference call giving out his personal fax number and encouraging people to fax him with any disceptive practices going on in offices. I faxed him regarding the IMD that ran the office. She strongly encouraged people to go get a loan and under the employment section put her down as the supervisor and then when the bank called she would say they earned $2,000/ month. Equinox did an investigation and said they could not find any evidence to support these statements. I just wonder how far they looked?
I AM SO THRILLED TO HEAR NEWS OF THE COMPANY BEING SHUT DOWN! I would be interested to know what company all of the top money earners from EQX started?
Thanks again,
Part II
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I was affiliated with Equinox in TX, which eventhough they are not joining the FTC. I have learned that they filed a lawsuit against EXQ or it's rep.s I did want to forget about it for a long time but since I have realized that the establishment wont let me I've decided to try and fight back. I also felt a little intimidated but now woth the FTC, etc getting involved I feel stronger. The local EQX office here is still running ads (blind of course). Do you have any suggestions about how to stop that? I mean if the co. has been ordered to halt operations what can these people be doing? They shouldn't be able to sign people up, do orders etc.
Thank you,
not all distributors are in quixtar they have a choice right? not all distributors have a computer right? i just want to know if IBM is a great super respected company of sound business backgroun then why are they partners with amway . do you guys possibly know more than they do businesswise? please help me out i want out but there just isn't enough positive reasons to quit on your web sight.
there are more partner stores now
Part III
how can you loose money?
Re: Gold Club
Hi, my name's * and I'd like to know if you have any information or advice on an internet MLM site called "GOLDCLUB". Any feedback would be much appreciated.
Thanx,
Re: Amway vs. Watkins
Hi; I am writing in regards to your views on MLM. Your focus seems to be on Amway.
I, too, have been approached by Amway distributors. I simply ask them to move on, especially the ones who are too ashamed to mention up-front that they are Amway distributors (ie, I have my own company, Smith Enterprises, etc.)
I have been a Watkins Independent Representative since April of 1997, and am at their double-diamond level. I make, each month, profit-wise, after expenses, from $100.00 to $300.00 per month. I have six Watkins reps. below me, who also do quite well. My lowest groups sales for a one-month period this year have been just over $1,000.00, while my highest group sales this year have been just over $2,300.00. I do home shows, catalogue sales, and have a good, established customer base. I have no intention to be rich, but to just make a living.
The pressure that you speak of in the Amway business is the same in several other MLM businesses. I'm sure it's the same with Watkins as well. As for the Watkins upline I'm in, there has never been any pressure, and they have always been there for me when I have a question.
I have never gone out and pressured people into the Watkins business. The people I have are either the result of having a homeshow, or people who would like to do what I'm doing, and have approached me about joining the Watkins business. That's how I became a Watkins Independent Representative. I wanted to do what my upline was doing. I wanted to be "The Watkins Man". I was told, when I became a Watkins Rep, that I was NOT to inventory any product, nor force people to become Watkins Reps. I echoed this same message to the people I signed up, and they have done the same to their downline.
There is a group of people in the city where I live, who promote home-based businesses. These include myself, Tupperware, PartyLite Candles, Totally Tropical Interiors, Pampered Chef, etc. While we rent a hall every three months, and have an open-house, we have yet to be approached by any Amway or Meleluca people. BTW, I was approached by a Meleluca person in the past, who was very high-pressure. They became very angry at me when I said "No, I'm not going to get everyone in my Watkins downline to convert to Meleluca". I was not impressed.
One thing our home-based business group has found of late is that people do not want to start their own home-based business because our businesses "sound too much like Amway." Amway distributors have given a bad name to home-based businesses, and it's something I'm not too sure can be corrected that easily.
The only person that I know of who is making a living from their home-based business is my Watkins Upline, who have been in the Watkins business for over five years, and have $500,000 a year in group sales. That translates into about $54,000.00 profit, before taxes. The Tupperware lady from our group has been in the Tupperware business for over 30 years, and makes most of her living from Tupperware, along with her husbands part-time income.
Both these people have average homes, no better than mine, and have no desire to be rich, but to just make a living.
While the Watkins line that I am in sounds pretty good, there may be other Watkins lines which are similar to Amway groups. The only Watkins meeting that I ever go to is in July, when the VP of Watkins goes touring Canada and the U.S. to promote our Holiday gift line. The meeting this year was held in Chatham, and was open to all Watkins Reps. in Southwestern Ontario, not just specific downlines, unlike other MLM groups, which only have meetings for THEIR downline ONLY.
In my opinion, a MLM business is a job. Like many jobs, there are good ones, and bad ones. Take for example, an incident which occured to a person I know. He applied for a gas bar attendent job, and was told that in order to get the job, he had to do the training on his own time, and alot of other things against the labour code. He didn't take the job, but the employer did hire someone deparate enough to be used by this employer. Guess that's why the gas station goes through so many employees. I did note that the gas station is now advertising in the newspaper, as people have stopped applying at the gas station. Seems the gas station can't get anybody to work for them anymore. While the gas station business will go on, the owner will have to change their ways, or do more of the work themself. It's quite obvious that the word has gotten around about this employer. What can a person do about an employer like this? Go to the labour board and lay a complaint? Good luck on getting anywhere with the labour board!
How many people, who have not been happy with Amway, have contacted the Direct Sellers Association, and complained about Amway? Would this help Amway change their methods?
Probably not. Like the gas station, business will go on as usual, just with different people. Do all gas stations treat their employees like this? No, but because of this one incident, other gas stations may have a hard time getting new employees.
The same holds true for home-based businesses, or MLMs. As a result of very bad publicity about one company, the other companies, which are not related to the company, are suffering. One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch. The only thing a person can do is move on, and learn from the mistakes they've made.
Thankyou for your time, and good luck on your future endevours.
Re: Sidney's Countersuit
Go Sidney!! I am thrilled that you are still in the picture and support your efforts in countering Amway's charges. Eventually I hope your entertaining and informative web site will be restored.
Re: Pinnacle
Greetings again!
Love the site, keep up the great work.
Have you heard, or are familiar with a crew out of Florida running a company called Pinnacle. I don't know if it is connected to pinnaclemall.com or not, that appears to be longer established and hq'd in WV.
A friend that visited family down in the Tampa area got the high pressure sales job on this, apparently it is MLM. A small upstart it appears. They wanted $500 for the "package" and to be a rep to sign up others etc. Supposedly internet based. . . .
I'll try to get more info. .
Dear Ruth.
Your probably wondering how I know your name. Like most other people that don't becouse you don't put it on your sight. You returned an email I sent you. Just wonder how much you make off of your book per copy you don't have to respond to that! You should disclose your name on the web sight so people truely understand why you have it in the first place! TO SELL BOOK'S. Also how much do you get from Tripod for advertising. If you ever want to argue business or number's let me know I love to crunch number's it's a hobby for me. Just think someone without a college degree can add shewwww! If like most of you and your friend's on the other sight's must not calculate the same The one guy said for 2 million distributor's there's only 900 diamond's and if you take calculation from that every Diamond would have an average of about 2,222 distributor's in there group. If every one of those people bought a book a month and 8 tapes and 2 seminar ticket's and they maid every penny off of the tool's that would be $186,648 per month right? We are not stupid they don't make 100% of retail from those product's. Plus if they divide the money between the direct's sapphiere's emerald's and diamond's. It just don't add up. Plus I work in retail so I do know markup also married to an accountant. The product's are off good value to. I couldn't do the whole product by product on this email but yes I have researched price's not 1 or 2 product's either hundred's if you must know I will post them if you would like? My upline has never lied to me about the money made on tool's or anything else I have asked about and yes I have been in over 5 year's. Some off my close friend's own franchise's and you should here them talk nabout hidden cost's. My father also owned his own business and is retiered now so yes I do know what it takes to run a business. If you reach 2500 pts in Amway and are not proffitable after that you really screwed up. I hope you the best off lck in the future. Ruth please put your name on your web sight so people can get the trueth about why you are on the web.
I sent you an email asking you some thing's the other day and you didn't go in to detail about what I asked you? Yes what you said about Dex is true the person with experiance is never at the mercy off those without. Remember what I said my wife was she is an accountant! Her parent's are also Diamond's in the business so yes it's true people with experiance are never at the mercy off those who don't even if there oppinion's are different! You sound like a politician becouse you side stepped every quistion I asked you about!!!!!!!!Re: Mary Kay
Hi ,
I have been trying to 'do' a little MLM. A friend however informed me that one of Mary Kay's vitamin products had a lawsuit filed because of some reason or other, she couldn't remember why. I am interested in finding this site and will be happy if you can provide me with the URL? I do not want to touch anything that is fake.
Hi again, Thanks for the reply.
I plan on putting up about ten sites and keep submitting to the websites. I'm in SC The reason for focusing on Quixtar are - 1- I hate being lied to, conned or taken advantage of 2- I'm a leftover from the sixties and although I am not opposed to big business, I do believe if your advertising to share the wealth you need to do that. There just are too many poor people out there shelling out their last shekels to finance a dream that will soon become a nightmare. I joined Quixtar so it is my personal gripe.
I have sent them an ultimatum on a settlement (not that I believe they will settle but we have been having a dialogue) so their deadline is tomorrow.
Hi I am very interested in knowing all there is to know about equinox that is what people don't know? My Ex husband is involved in equinox and owes me 60k in back child support. I never know anything about where he is or what he does it seems like he has been hiding everything about equinox why? He recently got out of jail for embezzlement fraud and such,seems alittle ironic don't you think. Do you know anything about give and trade? My son which his Dad hasn't seen in three years told me his Dad does this for his job and is self employeed. Do you think this is apart of equinox? After reading your letter I couldn't believe what I was hearing the part about the exspensive car he drove up in a caddilac sts gee my guess is he doesn't even own it. If you have any insight could you please let me know.
Thanks
Thank you for posting your info at a web site, I am sure will no doubt succeed at being one of the biggest cry babies I have ever seen on the web! I found your whining and other blabber at the site too funny!!! Get over it!
Hi:
I'm sorry but I totally disagree with you.I feel badly for your experience but you cannot blame it on the company. Independent business owners often misrepresent the company and you obviously met and were sponsored by some of those people with lack of integrity.That's why quixtar is getting tougher on IBO-s to punish those who don't respect the regulations.I personally report IBO-s like that to the company when I see one. They should have done that a long time ago with the Amway business. Anybody can just sign up and the next day show the plan.Unfortunately people will judge the company based on that person or group of distributors.I happen to be part of a group of integrity, high moral and the best training available.Not that you care but just to show you that my experience is the opposite.
Think about it,if quixtar interviewed people before sign up to qualify them you would not have this problem.You said that people talked about companies joining at presentations that did not join. What does that have to do with the Quixtar ? That was a distributor with lack of integrity lying to impress people. I can assure you quixtar did not publish that.
Quixtar will work just like Amway did in any new market.People get fired up,they join,they find out it takes work,many will quit and blame the company but the ones that stay will build million dollar businesses.Just like everything else in life. That is why first you have to build a winner mentality and then you can be successful.We all bring a lot of emotional baggages with us that will hold us back from succeeding in this or anything else.
You made a few points about the web site, well, I don't think you understand business and what it takes to build a successful web site.
I am not trying to be hard on you but I think you're spending way too much time trying to "save" people from this business.Some will not join the business because of your message.Think about it, if you're wrong how many people will not achieve their dreams because of your opinion. Quixtar spent 200 million dollars on this site and the only way they can make money is by IBO-s'success.Who would loose more money,you or the company if it did not work ? How about the partner stores ? Would they risk their reputation on a scam ? Would a scam be legal ?
You're angry and you're not thinking logically. Though I think it's wrong to have your message on,the right people won't base their opinion on it. They will do a real research.
I mean, if you need a doctor's opinion, who would you see ? A medical student who never graduated or a very successful doctor? My friend,you never learned the business and you still don't understand it.
You must have had a very bad line of sponsorship.
I am sorry for my honesty but maybe you should do a little research on your line of sponsorship rather than blaming Quixtar.Your Diamond was obviously not a decent character and your whole image of the business developed from that.It's like I get divorced and then leave a message on the internet that all women are bad and nobody should even talk to them.They're a scam, promises nothing is real.
I'm just trying to wake you up from this mentality.You might be angry at me too though that's not my intention.
I believe everybody is a winner in life and so are you. You just have to find something where you can use your full potential.It might not be Quixtar for you, but it is for me and millions of others.
Take care: