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.
[This was sent in response to Diana and Joe's Story]
Re: your web site
I just finished reading your experience with the Amway
program and am glad that you were able to get away from it.
We became distributors about 2 years ago and we became disenchanted rather quickly. We also tried to be good distributors, buying what we were told would help us to Direct.
We were great friends with out sponsors, in fact they still live on the same block as us. But we aren't as friendly as we used to be. We see them occasionally in passing and say hi (empty gestures).
We are still distributors but only purchase products that we decide we want to. We never sponsored anyone! We did go to 1 major function in Philly but never proceeded to do more.
I can see that people CAN make money with the business, as long as they are willing to sacrifice their lives, marriage's and sanity for it. I would rather slowly build my consulting and production business instead of getting rich quick.
It's good to see fellow NY'ers out there helping others before they also make serious financial mistakes.
Well I hope you two can get back what you have lost, and if you are looking to make 2 more friends, we can oblige.
Re: Diane and Joe's story
Well, I am sure sorry you did not have a good experience with
your Amway business. Just the opposite happened to my husband
and I, in about the same time frame too.
When I got in the business my husband and I were separated. I figured we would end up divorced and I had the two kids so I started the business on my own. The books, tapes, meetings and functions were such a positive uplifting influence on my life and my husband began to be interested in what was happening to me. He started to read the books and before too long we were back together. At that point I had already achieved 6000 pv in the business but together we Silver, then Gold and and Direct this past year. Our life, our family and our relationships have dramatically changed for the better.
I am sorry you did not have a good experience. Its true the Amway business is not for everyone, but it is really for us. I wish you the best in your future.
Re: AMWAY
My daughter and her husband were in Amway for a while. They were
soon disenchanted also for about the same reasons. They believed
in the power of network marketing, however and went through one
other opportunity before they found the right one. My daughter
is now enjoying great success in a great company with a great
future. I have joined her also.
As a side story that is kind of funny, my wife is from Japan and we were invited to a seminar/party for the top 2000 reps of a Japan based MLM. We had heard that she was involved a little but did not know any details other than one other sister said it involved wearing some kind of strange underwear and eating fortified bread to lose weight and improve health. We all got a good chuckle out of that. Well, the party that we were invited to turned out to be an all expense paid trip to Hawaii for the 2000 top reps. We were amazed when our sister in law was honored as the NO. 3 money maker in the company. She was treated like a movie star. She was asked to pose for photos with admirers and asked for her autograph. She makes $60,000 per month now and it keeps increasing. She has made herself into a millionaire in three years. The company is obviously more than underwear and bread. They have other products also that seem to work in maintaining good health, good looks, and weight control. All that her sister heard however before she closed her mind was strange underwear and fortified bread. We are waiting for that company to come to the US. In the mean time we are enjoying building a great and fun business with my daughter and some other family members. We learned to late about the power of network marketing and had to watch some unfortunate AMWAY stories before we got the right opportunity.
Just because you had a bad time at AMWAY, does not mean that your story can't have a great ending in a people oriented company.
Get Out!!!!
After finally getting out of "Internet Services Inc."
1996, which was introduced to us as a unique and special leg off
of "Dexter Yager" that had a "contract" with
Amway to do "His" business seperate from the rules and
regulations of the Amway manual, we have been happier and successful
with our dreams and goals. We only wish that we would have had
this amount of information, that has become available over the
internet, when "Amway" was deceptively presented to
us in 1994. That way we would never have gone through the enormus
emotional and financial stress that followed. Every sickining
story you read about of other Amway sufferers is a typical result
of the Amway distributor deception, cohersion, and miss-representation.
We fought diligenty and tried every avenue to settle our differences
with the upline through the Amway Corp. only to discover the true
non-support for their distributors who (we) had invested over
$20,000 under their cult and miss-guidance. We eventually were
refunded the thousands of dollars of gurage filled inventory and
learned that the Amway Corp.'s loss would be recouped by the with-holding
of upline Directs bonus checks. Our advice? If you follow the
Amway rules and are ready to work harder than you've ever imagined
to hopefully sometime recieve more income than expense but never
truly be retired as you will forever be building and re-building
your business, than good luck and best wishes to you. I hope you
do it. Otherwise, stick to your dreams and realisticly put forth
the energy and reachable goals for achivement... like we have
done. You will feel better, be happier and have a whole lot of
people you can truly call friends.
RE: AMWAY
I was surfing and came across your underground (sort of) and forum
and was surprised. Hope that you are not disillusioned with MLM.
It is powerful! You just need the right company at the right time.
I understand that there are more Amway millionaires around than
any other business, even Microsoft. [This is one of those 'statistics'
that get tossed around the Amway business on a regular basis.
It's too bad there's no evidence to back it up. The vast majority
of millionaires in the US, according to The
Millionaire Next Door : The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy
by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, are self-employed in
boring businesses like pest control.] Now is just the wrong
time. Find something in formulation or early momentum.
Re: Diana and Joe's Story
hi--the reason that I even saw your web site is because i was
on the mlm chat line with someone who used to be in Amway and
he gave me the site. i was curious that's all. I realize that
for every positive business experience a person has had ther are
probably an equal number of negative ones. It all is perspective.
As far as I am concerned the Amway business is one of the most
positive things that has ever happened to me.
I am glad Joe and Diane made the decision to put it behind them. Dwelling on negativity does not help you grow or change.
Good luck to you.
I am a successful Amway distributor, been in 6 years, and am more excited about it now than ever. My wife and I have been through a lot concerning this business. It has made us grow up and accept responsibility. After looking at your site, I had to send you an e-mail. I know there are tons of people out there that feel the way you do, and if I had been in your situation, I would probably feel the same way. But that has not been our experience. Yeah, I know there are some idiots out there building this business unethically. They'll either learn or get burned. I personally have never witnessed or heard of any unethical practices within our organization, the Bill Britt line of sponsorship. [Unfortunately, about half the e-mail I get from people who were victimized by an AMO were involved in a Britt organization.] As I'm sure you're aware of, it is a leg of Dexter's that is pretty much separate from any affiliation with the Yeager's. [But Britt worked closely with Yager long enough to learn how to run his tools business to earn the real money!] I just wanted to say that there are more good distributors out there than bad ones, and yeah, not everyone succeeds to the level that they would like to, but that's life. We're all human, and human's make mistakes, but it takes an intelligent and humble person to admit it. Some of the big Diamonds in other organizations just may not be to that level yet. Maybe Amway needs to come in, investigate, and "clean house", so we all can move on and forget the past. Anyway, I respect your opinions and wish you the best in whatever you do. If you have read this far without deleting this, thanks for listening.
I am a direct distributor in the Amway business. My husband and I are building it together although I built it alone to 6000 points. This business has been a wonderful, inspiring, moivating experience for both of us. In fact, we were headed for divorce court and the association with such a positive, upbeat group was instrumental in the restoration of our marriage.
There are "threads" of truth in some of the stuff I read, but for the most part it is only partly true. If you build the business to the direct level you have changed, grown, and probably don't even think the way you used to.
The tools are an essential part of the business because most people need so much work in their business sense, attitude, and people skills that the average person will not succeed in Amway or any other business. I am a working woman, mother and wife. I did not finish college. Less than one half of 1% of working women make over $50,000 per year. If I knew that in 1979 when I got my first job in commercial property management and that my chances of success were little if any, what would I have done. I made $50,000 for the first time in 1987, made over 100,000 for the first time in 1993, and made $150,000 in 1996 and 1997. WHY? Was I special? No. I did the work, learned the business and had a great work ethic and attitude. Amway is no different. I am only direct, but I will be diamond. When? I don't know. I don't care. I will be diamond because I will do the work. Period.
I really enjoyed your web site, but I hope your analysis is incorrect. We use Amway as one of the companies in our investment club. We don't use any tapes or books, don't go to functions, or anything like that. We don't need them because another company in our club is The People's Network, which gives us access to training, motivation and communications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on television
About 80-90% of the product we order goes to non-Amway people because most of it is donated to food banks, homeless shelters, etc. Amway comes toward the end of the cycle because it is a $200/month committment. Some of the other ones are much lower and one of them is not spending money out of the budget because we can shop at our MLM grocery store and buy the same products for the same prices as other grocery stores.
All the best in what you are doing!
Thank you indeed!
Being a young father and supporter of my family I almost got into
MLM selling insurance. I just came back from a session where they
wanted to recruit me in. Without Internet and your site among
others I would have probably joined them as there is not much
information about what MLM actually is over here in Croatia.
Thanks again,
Best regards,
Part II
MLM schemes in Croatia started several years ago under the name Financial Engineering and deceived people they could get them better interest than banks. They of course collapsed and now call themselves simply MLM, they sell Almway and other similar stuff, and in particular they started to sell life insurance. In the former system the whole economy was stately run and there was not a need to get a life insurance, since everyone had a right for free medical care and reasonable pension, and therefore no one knows much about it. Various MLM companies preach that in every civilised country one gets insured in this way, etc etc. For me the most disgusting method which MLM followers use is recruiting from people in need for some extra cash (like me) knowing in advance that all the story is not that easy and beautiful as they described. I see that you saved me lots of time and money.
Thanks again,
Well,
My husband didn't agree with my reasoning for why we should stop working for Freelife, but he did realize that I'm immovable at this point, and so in the interest of marital harmony he said that he will stop trying to build Freelife, NuSkin, or any other MLM as a business.
While I still think I have valid reasons for quitting, I'll take what I can get. He still wants to keep ordering the vitamin products anyway. I took the labels from some bottles of vitamins and went to our local health food store. The lady there helped me compare labels and I found comparable products there for about $13.00 less per bottle. WOW! I shared that info with my husband, but I can tell it will take some convincing before he sees the need to quit ordering those expensive items and buy local ones if he really wants them.
Unfortunately, Freelife puts you on this plan where they automatically send you $65.00 worth of products each month (part of being a "business builder") whether you order them or not, and you have to cancel your standing order in writing. You have to be on standing order to get a commission check....which this month, incidentally, was 74 cents. I asked if we could cancel the standing order but was told that he still wants to use the products himself. So, for the time being, I think I'm stuck with still ordering these things. I stopped taking them myself, and feel just fine.
SO, that's where we stand. We got one e-mail from his upline saying that our direct sponsor has also quit (I feel sorry for him...they have 5 kids, and he even bought the expensive $600 worth of business building materials, which I told my husband he could not buy until his commission check could pay for it - - boy am I glad I stuck to my guns on THAT one!) and I was happy to see that because I hope that helped my husband see that he isn't alone, that others also lose big dollars, and that it is smart to get out while we are still solvent.
If you have any other advice, info on Freelife, or any help at all I would appreciate getting it. When you write, please be really really nice and gentle because often he is the one who checks e-mail, and he might not take too kindly to anti-freelife news!
Thanks for being there. What's your story? Were you also duped by an MLM nightmare? Just curious! Well, I'd better get on with my day. Two kids to get up, etc. God bless!
A close friend of mine has recently joined Amway under his Uncle someone he can "trust" of course) and I am already seeing this "change" in him ("worship" of Amway and its idols). Of course, it profits his Uncle to get him underneath. Anyway, the two traveled from Cleveland, OH, to meet with me and others in SW Virginia to go over this shit, isn't that crazy!!!
I entered this site to learn more of this Dexter guy...I don't know him ad I already dislike him. The quotes on "the rest of the world" being idiots, immature, etc. makes me want to shave the skin off his body and pour lemon juice all over him (amongst other things). Sure, we must be "idiots" if we choose not to add to his bank account. It appears to me that the true "idiots" who follow him. His time will come.
Scamway suggests its a "people helping people" business. NOT. It is "people helping Dexter", I cannot wait until the courts make MLM illegal and execute Dexter for immoral practices, especially suggesting the scam is a Christian-based business -- yet it contradicts the Bible left and right. Scamway (Satan) be gone!!! There needs to be more media coverage educating our public(s) about this bullshit.
I just had an Amway rep come over to my house with a good friend. They aid it's changed and is now using the Internet to sell its goods, not one-on-one marketing. Any truth?
[Actually, no. It is a violation of Amway's rules to do business on the internet. Distributor web sites have to follow strict guidelines, and may not link to any page except Amway's official web site. Nor are they allowed to post an e-mail address or have a "mailto" link. Soliciting sales or sponsorship through the internet in any fashion is strictly forbidden by Amway.]
Thank you so very much for your eloquent discussion of MLMs. I nearly cried as I read it because it confirms my own understanding of the crisis that has een wreaking havoc on my marriage for the past few months (Amway).
I am too emotionally exhausted to go into it here. Just know that your directness and professional discourse was well appreciated.
Part II
Wow! Thank you for responding to my note. I didn't expect any response, let alone one as genuine as yours.
Yes, the "10 Big Lies" was great. I also loved, "Cultism in Amway" and "The Tools Scam." [These are located on other sites.] I can't say exactly which I got the most from, but they really shed light on the subject for me.
It's my husband who is involved in Amway. I have always shunned MLMs, simply because I have no interest in sales or intensely people-dependent ventures (downlines, attrition, persuasion, etc.). He recently found out that I still think he's "brainwashed" and that I believe Amway is a cult as much as he has tried to convince me otherwise. e was very saddened to know that . He said he was "having the time of [his] life" until he saw some of my writings and that seeing them created a very "demotivating" day.
This is so hard. The reason I'm writing you back is because I feel so lost nd alone. All along it's been a struggle because whenever I have let him know that I'm not a true "believer" in Amway, he's offended. He really believes in it and wanted my support. Now, after months of arguments (especially about finances), he's decided not to talk to me about it anymore. It's so hard to love someone, really be concerned that they're being taken advantage of and pursuing a painful, destructive path, and, therefore, not be able to fully and enthusiastically support them and share in their perceived joy. It's painful to love a man, know he wants your support, and not be able to give it to him.
I don't want to "demotivate" him or make him feel that if he ultimately makes it work that he was forced to go it alone. But I am a very educated, intelligent woman. And though I won't try to stop him from doing what he feels called to do, I just can't get excited about it. I believe it's a scam. And although sometimes scams can work, watching him incur mountains of debt to finance such a slim possibility prohibits me from conjuring up any real faith to support my feigned encouragement.
My intent is not to burden you with my sob story. I just wondered if you might have any suggestions or words of encouragement as I begin my life as an Amway-widow.
Thanks, at least, for your listening eyes,
I don't find anything threatening in the amway response. Why did he open dialogue with Amway? I,ve contacted the E-Mail address they provided. It works. It sounds to me like Mr Schwartz didn't have the courage of his convictions to carry on an open dialogue over the internet for all to hear. I'm more inclined to believe that he is an agent of P&G.
It sounds to me like he's trying to play on the fears of those who believe all large corporations are evil and that success only comes on the backs of the poor. Hog wash!!
[This is a follow-up e-mail from somebody who had first written several weeks ago.]
Hi,
All is well with us. Everything is going so much better since we are not doing the Amway business. We have gotten so much further by concentrating on paying off our debt through hard work and perseverance. I think by the end of this year, I may be able to think about leaving my job and staying home with my youngest. I never believed the Amway business could give me that. We have been pretty much ignored by our upline. But that is something we fully expected.
I just got off the phone, after talking with Jim at Amway. He has no knowledge of problems with up-line, does not understand anything about the 20% tools rule, has no empathy or understanding of the fact that some distributors cannot afford to attend functions at any cost, even to the jeopardy of the health of the distributor.
His answer to me was "you didn't even renew". What did he expect? He told me if I would send back the first page of the blue book that my kit money would be refunded. What about all of the other products I bought, trying to make 100 p.v. each month? What about all the other money I spent registering for different promotions. What about the up front money to reserve places at big functions, which subsequently we were unable to attend because of my husband's illness?
You know, the Amway officials have no understanding of, nor do they understand, nor do they want to understand the day to day stress and strain of being an Amway distributor. They do not alienate their friends and family by talking about a business that everyone but us knows is a scam. They do not do without food to buy tapes because up-line have convinced us that we can only build the business if we invest in tools. After all business requires an investment. They do not lose their homes because we are holding tight to the possibility that we might be able realize the dream--of a better life.
You know, I think how terrible it is that this has happened to seniors with a very limited income--but what an introduction to life for young couples who are just starting out--to build home and family.
And--above all I wonder what Rich and Jay are thinking as they sit in their beautiful homes, with every luxury life has to offer. I wonder what they think as their children also have these beautiful lives. I often wonder, when we went to functions, why did Rich and Jay, and now their children, have to have body guards? Were they afraid of us, the people who were supporting them and making possible for them their elegant life style?
Besides all that, the products are not all that great. We bought several of the food products, and even to us, who are very simple eaters, they tasted terrible. The bottles of lotion that require squeezing--I cannot squeeze them. My hands are not strong enough.
I hope that some day there is a lawsuit in which the average distributor can join to try to have this company dismantled, before they hurt untold thousands of young people just coming up.
I wrote you before about all of this, but that was before I called to see what kind of response I would get from Amway corporation. They are cold, unfeeling, uncaring and the epitome of "We are in power so we are right." So what else is new?
[This was in response to "One Man's Equinox Story" on my site.]
Hello,
I was recently approached by a friend of mine to come to an "Orientation" by the Equinox International Company in Bellevue Washington. After three hours and two speakers, I told my friend that this is very similar to Amway or any generic Pyramic plan. She agreed but also added that there are differences which she did not tell me. Since you have first hand experience with Equinox for a few years, can you tell me if her claim of Equinox being different is true. Is Equinox just another Amway clone or does it really truly have some positive redeeming quality? Thank you for your time.
I was on your web site - 10 big lies that mlm;s tell and i was wondering if you could provide sources for your statistics. I am not involved in any mlm but i have asked the same of the companies that have approached me.
thank you for your response
Thank you for writing that "blow the lid off" style article about MLM's on your homepage. [The writer is referring to Robert Fitzpatrick's "The Ten Big Lies of Multi-Level Marketing".] I was almost conned into a new style of MLM by a company called ENRICH international. They use YOU to build webpages to sell their products. Its like Amway on the web! Well anyway, I think hearing the facts is always the best way to tell whos lying (depends on whos giving the facts). So thanks again! By the way not to be picky but you repeated a line in the 2nd paragraph of the article :)"more than six years of research and writing about the MLM model"
HI,
I find your site both a breath of fresh air and a little disturbing. The mlm or Network Marketing industry is a real business. I will be the first to admit that there are companies that are scams as in any industry.I have got my share of scars in this industry but,I also consider the experiences an education. After years in the indusrty I have worked different programs ans learned what to avoid. In July of last year I was introduced to a man who was starting his own company and began to work with him. He has been very successful in other business ventures and also has been just as successful in the network marketing industry.
The first thing he did was make sure everything about the company complied with the laws by hiring a top legal council. He then with the help of myself and others in the industry designed what I consider the best network marketing company on the planet. It was put together with the distibutor's in mind. The cost to join our company is -0-. That is correct NO SIGN UP FEE! We don't front load products,don't require reps to sell a certain volume or purchase to earn from our uni-level marketing plan. I would like you to look at what we have and tell me your opinion. Even though you have got burned in this industry,I have faith that there is hope for those who would like a legit home based business. Please don't just report on the bad but,also the good in the industry.
Thank you,
Amway is not inherently evil in itself, as any intelligent person knows. However, Amway uses the same tactics that a cult uses to get loyalty and have it's members "brainwashed," and that is guilt. If you don't "show the plan" then you must not love your family or yourself. This is a blatant attack to create guilt and doubt within one's self. I'll admit that Amway will work for some people, but the from my own personal experience, it only works for about 5% of the members. That's not a consistent business at all. McDonalds or Wal-Mart are consistent businesses. What I mean by that is simply this, if you build a Wal-Mart or a McDonalds, you'll probably succeed without any problem as long as you follow their plan. Amway incorporates the McDonald's story into "their plan," which is really not at all a good comparison. I've been to the functions, bought the tapes, and listened to the plan over and over again. My belief about the Amway business is that it is not all that some claim it to be. My advice to newbies is to watch before you act, and listen close to the plan before anymore money comes out of your pocket for a tape or a book. Not to say the books are'nt useful, but they're not critical to your success. Only God can make you successful, and that is Truth.
A dear family member is becoming heavily involved in Amway. He is a deeply religious man, but this is taking him away from his family, his church and his God. Because of my concern about its cult-like mind control, his upline tells him I should not be so concerned, after all, Billy Graham, someone I respect and admire supports Amway. Is there any way you can help me either verify or reveal this statement for another one of their scams? I would be deeply appreciative of any help you can give me. You are doing a great job. Thank You!
What have you got on Mannatech products?
I have friends involved with this, and although they ran like the wind from Amway (saying it operated like a cult), they are involved up to their necks in Mannatech. Would like to get a professional opinion.
I was introduced into Amway back in summer of 1992 by a gentleman that I had been dating at the time. His brother & sister-in-law were his "uplines". This man that had introduced me into Amway wanted so much to be like his "big" brother that he would do anything. At the time I was introduced into Amway, I was very attracted to this man that I was willing to give Amway a shot. I had no idea what I was in for. At the time of being shown "the kit" I was so taken back by my friend's "direct" (upline) that I felt bad for my friend and signed up. His "direct" was one of the many very forceful people that Iwoud meet in the Amway line, much to be desired, should I say. Later that day my friend had invited his brother and sister-in-law over for dinner and we had discussed how wonderful Amway was and how much money we ALL were going to make.
I had attended my first seminar and I kept thinking to myself "this is so boring, how much are these people paid to say this "crap" and when will this bs end". A few hours later I had to back for the evening seesion of the seminar and was amazed at how much those people had been brainwashed. First you stand up and pledge alliance (which I thought that was nice) but then in the end before you leave you all stand up, hold hands and sing a song. PLEASE! Needless to say that summer I was being taught to say this, say that, was asked countless times "Did you show the kit?" or was told I had to show the kit!. My friendship with my gentleman friend was beginning to frizzle because I just was not into this Amway thing.
Months went by, so did those boring seminars, kit showings, fights with my uplines, ladies seminars, makeover parties, open houses and last but not least endless hours of phone conversations & naggings with the uplines.
I had attented my first big rally that following year in Atlanta, GA and to this day say that I was impressed. Former president George Bush was there to speak, Crystal Gale sang, Les Brown was the motivational speaker among many other major stars.
I had stayed in Amway maybe for another couple of months but then soon left because I could no longer "afford" the tickets to the seminars, purchasing of products which I thought were less than diserable and tools for my so-called own business.
It amazes me though how many naive people there are in this world today who follows this MLM/cult. Oh by the way, last I heard about my friends brother & wife, they lost their home to foreclosure. Need I say anything more.
Part II
I was involved in Amway I ould have to say about 18 months. Thanks for letting me share my story with someone else who was a former distributor.
If you don't mind me asking, are you putting together a site on the web, an article or a book?
I also read earlier tonight on the web that several of the Emeralds & Diamonds are actually suing Amway for $200 million. Hope the "levels" win & not Yager.
Take care,
My husband and I just recently signed up and I actually signed up someone else (who by the way is in extreme financial circumstances) and I wish to get myself and her out. In her case, she only bought a business portion of the kit, I still have the product portion. I still have her money sitting in my account. I have yet to pay my upline for her kit. He has put forward the funds.
In my case, I will swallow my price of the kit (I can afford to do that). In her case, I would like to pay her back for the business portion. Now can the kit be sent back to Amway and they reimburse my upline or I pay my upline and then I send back the kit and get reimbursed or do I need to pay my upline and take a loss and be stuck with the kit? Financially, I'm lucky. I can afford to do so. I wish to help my friend that I enrolled.
Thank God for this site because it just saved me from making what could possibly have been the biggest mistake of my life. If you could help me sort this out, it would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Thank you for the time and effort that you have taken to research and prepare your response.
You may wish to visit my anti-Amway web page at the following
url:
http://homepage.usr.com/k/kersirb/132655.shtml
Please feel free to advise and invite anyone of this site. I will post to my page whatever the eventual outcome to this complaint.
Once again, thank you.
Thank you.
I was looking for another opinion after going to a "briefing" today. Being familiar with Amway, I was cautious when I walked into the briefing and saw the product display. I was really cautious when the first speaker did the demonstration with the live wire in the glass of water (puts a few drops of some Equinox potion in the water and the bulb lights up) and he said he doesn't know what's in the formula, but he takes it every day!
I cannot find anywhere on their website or in their catalog where they actually list what is in their nutritional products/vitamins, etc. How can I help my best friend (recently unemployed single mom) to see through this and make an informed decision? Any insights you have will be most appreciated!
Part II
Last night I called my friend and told her to "run like hell from these people and don't look back." I went on to tell her all I read on the websites, and she is definitely not getting involved.
Her concern now is what to tell them. They have a copy of her list of friends she was going to call to get them involved. She has sent a letter to each of the friends telling them not to get involved if they are approached. She plans to string along her Eq. person until she is sure the letters have been received.
I think what she should do is tell them that she did an extensive investigation of Eq. and has decided it is not for her.
I tried to explain to her why I am happy sticking with my Creative Memories photo album business and why I think even if I don't get rich in it (like my upline has), I'll still stick with it. I know that the photo albums are helping families. I have guarantees that the products are safe for photographs, and I have heard countless stories from my students on how much their families are enjoying the albums. I see how you don't get rich with MLM unless you have the ability to recruit others, something I'm slow at. But, at least this one is so much fun and so rewarding for both me and my students, that I'll keep teaching my photo album classes regardless of the money!
I read Paul and Sarah's column in Home Office Computing, so I'll probably pick up their book and share it with my friend. [I had recommended that the friend read Paul and Sarah Edwards' book "Home Businesses You Can Buy".] She is discouraged by having to do temp work and secretarial work and never being able to lift herself up high enough to be able to move from her parents' home. Being the single mom of a 12-year old has to be tough. But, I'm hoping she'll find the right opportunity that started part-time can be built to something that gets her out of the temp work.
She's running from Equinox - I'm praying she finds something that fits her personality and helps her to make enough money to get her own place.
Thanks for the info. I'm sure we've made the right decision in getting away from Eq. In fact, because Maryland was not among the states with a ssettlement against them, I emailed my attorney general's office to have Eq. and the company they operate under here investigated. They have plans to open an office in my county; I hope the attorney general can make that harder for them to do.
[This is a very disturbing story. I am printing it just as I received it, except that I have removed the victim's e-mail address.]
I was an Amway distributor for about 5 years. I ate the books and tapes, I went to EVERY meeting regardless of where it was (I don't want to admit the THOUSANDS of dollars I spent on that alone!) I showed the plan almost daily...did beauty breaks...sold products...recruited others (I am SO SORRY!) ...I left my parents, brothers & sisters, aunts and uncles and friends behind because they didnt support us....I DID EVERYTHING THEY TOLD ME TO!
My husband and I believed every bit of it. We edified our upline to the point that they could have walked on water.
The last 2 years in Amway I worked for my upline Emerald couple. I did the housekeeping, yard work, maintenance, laundry, babysitting, product and tool orders and pickups, if they needed it done I did it! I worked 40 - 80 hours a week for them. I worked my butt off for them. She is a pediatrician and he only does Amway. She was hardly ever there. I could probably count the number of times I seen her during the 2 years I worked there under 25 times. So it was him, me and their kids. Within 6 months of my starting to work for them he started being around me more when I was working there. (to make a very long story short) The next thing I know he's slammed me down face first on a countertop, crushing something in one of my shoulders (it still hurts almost 3 years later)and raped me. I can't explain why I didnt go to the police. I can't believe I didn't. The biggest rule in their house was nothing was ever seen or heard therefore it WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT TO BE REPEATED EVER! He threatened to tell my husband about it but in 'his version' of the story. I knew that at THAT time my husband would probably leave me. Afterall if you can't control your wife you are supposed to get a new one. Just like if your family doesn't support you leave them. (We did do that so I didn't doubt he would leave me) I was terrified of this man so I kept working for him. My mind was totally WARPED!
Shortly there after, after having dealt with his actions far too long already I told him that I couldnt work for him anymore...I couldn't handle it..I would get a regular job. He basically 'warned' me that he would tell my husband, family, our group (my ONLY friends) and anyone else he could...but if I would stay I would receive a very nice raise. Gee..ponder this lose all my friends, family, husband my whole life and any chance in Amway or just take the money and be quiet until I could figure another way out (still wasn't thinking police..rape!)
So I died inside a little more. 1 1/2 years from the start of his 'escapades' I walked away. I left Amway, and didn't tell anyone. Wasn't planning on ever telling anyone that I was so BRAINWASHED THAT I COULDNT SEE WHAT HE WAS DOING WAS RAPE! PROSTITUTION!
6 weeks later I was arrested for fraud and forgery. His wife noticed money 'missing' from one of her savings accounts. She went to the police and reported it. He didn't sign the papers at the station for over a month! (My lawyer figures he was probably trying to control his wife, figure a way out of it or something like it) It seems that the 'bonus' raise I got for keeping my mouth shut and being his SLUT was actually her money from beinga pediatrician...she was stashing it all away. Because I wrote payroll for myself and other employees, paid bills and bought things for their home (even though they HAD receipts for every check I wrote!) she, he or they decided since he couldnt explain why somewhere between $20 - $40,000 went (they are so RICH THAT THEY DIDNT NOTICE THIS MONEY DISAPEARING FOR TWO YEARS..even though HE did the bookeeping!) So he couldnt explain where it went and either wouldnt or couldnt tell her he spent it...so they press charges against me!
The one who literally gave everything I had to them, MIND-BODY-SOUL! I am facing serious charges and my first (of 3 counties) trial is in less than 2 weeks!
PLEASE IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME!!!!! I DIDN'T STEAL THEIR MONEY...I DIDNT WANT ANYTHING FROM HIM BUT IRONICALLY THE ONE THING THAT AMWAY PROMISED - FREEDOM!
NOW I MAY LOSE MY PERSONAL FREEDOM! I COULD GO TO PRISON BECAUSE OF THIS AMWAY EMERALD! EMAIL ME
[Since my policy is not to publish e-mail or other contact information, if you have information you would like to share with this woman, please e-mail it to "Victim" at nomore.scamz@juno.com and I will send it along to her.]
Part II
I don't know when I will have time to write a more thorough explanation...I really want to. Read over the one I sent you. I dont remember what I wrote ..it was pretty late at that point. As long as it makes sense, doesn't give outo any names, or point fingers at anyone in particular (so I don't get more suits against me) please do put it on...and include my email address I need people to feel free to contact me...I am deparately seeking others with similar experiences. I did see one note by a woman who worked for her upline Diamond. She said she was scared when she left...(I was too when I left my Emerald) I have to wonder why she was afraid. Most people aren't afraid a Amway when they leave just confused, angry, upset, very much in debt but not afraid.
I'll probably get a lot of crap from Amway distributors, but compared to what I've already had to deal with they cant hurt my feelings.
I am writing in response to your story. My fiance and I chose to become Amway distributors about two weeks before we read this story. It has caused us to have a lot of doubts about our choice. We have shown a copy of this web page to our up-line and we seem to be getting the same response: Why would we believe a stranger? I guess I am writing you to ask you if you could give us a little more information or advice. I'm wondering why you didn't succeed if you believed in "the dream?" Also we would like to know what you found out specifically as an employee of the Amway corporation. We are confused, the dreams entice us, but we have very little extra money to spend on our "business." Please respond. Thank you
I was a young college student looking for a quick, easy way to pay for my college education and not have to struggle while doing so. I let a former employer whom I greatly admired, talk me into "the business". I went to all of the meetings and saw the circles for about 8 to 12 months. I finally went to a friend and tried to sell him some of the crap Amway sells. I was humilited to no end on my first attempt and never tried again. I was fortunate that it cost me very little to get exposed to the scam. At the time though, it was a great deal of money to me.
I have been approached on several occasions since that time and have found that the only way to get rid of an Amway salesman is to be down right rude. You know, I don't have a problem with that now. It used to bother me to tell someone they were stupid for falling for that, not any more. A few weeks ago, a high school friend called me to tell me that Larry and Rudy Gatlin (The Gatlin Brothers if you don't know who they are. They were famous in the country music business several years ago. I went to school with Rudy.)had a business opportunity and wanted to show it to me. They were downline of the Miami Dolphin defensive back. I can't even remember his name, but that is what really makes me angry. These people will get a lot of people to join simply because they were famous at one time and now they have started "selling soap". "If they can do it and not be embarrassed, why can't I? I was pretty rude to the friend who called me. After all, I have not heard from this friend in 25 years, except at the class reunions. I only wish I could show him this web site. There is so much good information on the REAL story. I don't know what you are wanting out of this, but I could not resist telling how I feel.
I just remembered the guy's name. It is Tim Foley of "The World Champion Miami Dolphins". Are you impressed? I'm not.
Thanks
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Book CornerThis page was last updated on Sep-16-98