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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.
Hi, thought about you and I think it would be fun for you to actually have a good experience with MLM. As I told you am I married to the co-founder of NU Skin Int. and know quite some good things with this business. Check it out. Feel free to call me at **. Obviously I wouldn't have to this if it wasn't for the enormous potential I see with this new devisioan of the company. I am a actor, MLM has so far supported my career and enabled me to produce films I am proud of and kids can see. Let's just talk and go from there. All the best either way, Regards, Part II The reason I got involved with MLM is once I realized that anything bought in a store is a lot more expencive than it cost to make it to begin with, specially in Europe where I am from), the concept of MLM made sense to me. Of course bying bread and flowers etc. is still much more fun at the shop but a lot of the stuff we need to live our modern waist full lives are bought easier and faster through MLM. Unfortunately most MLM products suck and or the attached compensation plan is a joke causing the MLM world to get a bad rep. For a god reason. Not every car shop is bad because one has a bad experience with the last oil change. I am glad to show you what I am doing and woiuld love to hear what you think is wrong with it. If you're right I would stop emediately with this deal and will go back to exchanging time for money and give up all the social projects I am supporting. It's very god possible that I have overlooked aspects of the industryand I love to hear from you what these are. All the best Part III I wasn't talking about Amway, one of the worst producers of cheap products in the world. Take for example NU Skin products. They are extremely high quality. In fact you couldn't even produce them and sell them in a store and make a profit because so much of the mark up has been put in to devoloping and making the product. I campared Nu Skin with Lancome and Estee Lauder and any other brand out there, non of which could even compare based on their ingredients. Nu Skin makes alot more products no one could make because it's too expencive to develop and produce without a large distubitor force already in place. No wonder the company has grown in only seventeen years from 0 to two billion in sales per year. Also has it created more millionairs than any other MLM company in the world. Think about that. Amway has far more distibutors but only a hand full of people who can claim to have made milions selling products. Most of them have made money with selling sales aids something Nu Skin sells to their distr. for cost as sales aids are not commissionable and not seposed to be. There is a lot I can tell you about that company that will change your ideas about MLM. If you feel like talking to me about it feel free to call me at ** Do not worry, I will not try to recruit you. My point is that it's impsible to make a cutting edge product and sell it through stores for a compatable price. MLM is that case the only way. Unfortunately only a couple of companys have understood not to screw with the MLM phenominon. All the best,
My wife is getting involved with Melaleuca, Inc., and I am very concerned that it sounds much like a MLM company. It claims that it is not, but I can't see the difference. I cannot as yet find anything negative about it on the internet, and would appreciate any information you might have regarding Melaleuca specifically. Thank you,
I have to be honest with you...this is really making me angry. I mean these men pose to be these loving christian family oriented men but it seems to me they are nothing but scam artists. I am talking to my upline emerald tonite. He said he is "worried" about me because I got off standing order and because my entire downline is getting off standing order. He also said "Your letting the world get to you, you need to focus on your dream". Thats a bunch of BS. My dream is to help people but the only thing i am doing is playing a part in one of the biggest scams in the world. What did you do when you found out about all this and what do you think i should do? I truly thank you for being so responsive and thorough, it is much appreciated. justin z P.S. My uncle is one of the biggest lawyers in the country and I talked to him about this whole thing. He is interested in looking more into it and possibily bringing these scum-bags down. Let me know what you think about that!
Hi I was interested in knowing if amway has the rights to X.com? or does quixtar? My dad is involved with Quixtar and says he is not involved with amway, but I believe they are the same. he also says he has a credit card and bank account account from this so-called www.x.com.... which i am wondering if this is a part of amway since he got it so fast from being on line. anyway let me know what you find out. thanks * Part II thanks for the fast reply. I know what you mean about the same dress and matching accessories... (lol) well I dont care for amway's wardrobe--they wear white shoes in winter....
I have some questions about
the Longaberger basket operations. I found about your site through
Scott Larsen and he did not have any information about Longaberger
and suggested I write you. I have a family member who is a Independent
Sales Consultant. She says it is not MLM since she books parties
and has a hostess to have potential buyers at hostess' home.
But I have heard her say she signs up (sponsors) people under
her. This sounds like MLM doesn't it? She says she is making
money but her husband is a CPA and says she is not after she
purchases the baskets for herself which I might add are very
expensive. What information can you give me about this business?
Respectfully,
Thank you very much for the help! I have elected to call the department which reimuburses former reps for their returned product and to remind them that they are udner fed court order to reimurse reps in full and to reimburse me or I will be forced to start writing letters. They have said mine will be sent March first. I'll wait a few days after Mar. 1 and then start writing letters as you instructed. I appreciate your help. Do you have any other hints or cautions? Thanks for having your webpage online, I would like to see the Billie G cult out of business and disgraced in the eyes of the American Public. Here's hopin!
To whom it may concern: Thank
you for your site, it has been valuable in my research efforts
regarding the Quixtar business. I would like to comment on something
that seems to be common in all of your stories. Let me tell you
My Story. I have been a Realtor since 1988. When I looked at
going into real estate I looked at some very successful Realtors
and thought it would be a good choice of careers. They seemed
to be very successful. Now after 12 years I do very well in the
real estate business. It has been a long struggle with many long
hours, heartbreaking events and frustrating years. I pay in monthly
fees over $145.00 dollars per month, over $300 per month in advertising,
I'm constantly paying for continuing education classes (like
they think I got up one day and forgot how to do my job... government
scam for more money), I consistantly attend motivational/training
meetings at my own cost (usually $700 plus hotel, food and child
care if needed... I have two wonderful children) and I attend
all weekly meetings (Tuesdays) for additional training. I purchase
and stay up with the latest technology including videos @ $23.50
each and tapes @ $89.00 for 8 tapes and the Big One.. a laptop
with internet access $15.95 per month (laptop $2100.00). And
don't forget Realtor Dues (National, State, Local) @ $400 per
year, not including misc. fees such as lockbox updates, forms,sign
riders and software. All in all I spend around $7,650 per year
not including my laptop... For what...? The chance to work 6-7
days a week in the most dangerous "profession" in America
(more Realtors are raped, mugged, and murdered each year than
in any other "profession") and the second highest sued
"profession" (just behind doctors). Sound great? Commission
only... market determined... interest rate determined... cut
throat... competitve. You guessed it, you are right... you wouldn't
have made it in real estate either. Now that I have seen the
real story... I can weigh it against what I know about my buiness.
I do have a question. . . . Your job with that Diamond...? How
much money was he making per year? Millions ? Really. . . . Please
let me know. First of all, let me clarify some misconstrued points: #1. Amway Corporation, and Quixtar.com are TWO completely SEPARATE companies, owned by the DeVos and Van Andel Families. They also own other companies and resorts like: the 'Better Life Institute' the NBA Team 'Orlando Magic' 'Hatteras Yachts' the Minor League Hockey Team the 'Griffins' the 'Van Andel Medical Institute' 'Nutralite Vitamin Company' 'Peter Island' and a fleet of 737s In addition, the DeVos and Van Andel families are, Cash-wise (Money they can spend at any time, not just on paper, but real wealth) the 4 & 5 Wealthiest Families in the U.S. To further this point, there are many companies with sister companies: 'Toyota' - 'Lexus' 'Spiegel's' - 'Eddie Bauer' 'GM' - 'Saturn' All of the Examples Given Share the same Resources, yet are still separate entities. Those who are associated with Amway are free to expand their business into more than 80 countries, while those affiliated with Quixtar.com are currently limited to North America. #2. With regards to the Quixtar.com website, it is NOT a PUBLIC E-Commerce site, and will not take orders without an IBO or MEMBER Identification #, they have no intention of cutting out affiliated Business Owners. It does not need to explain what it is, and quite frankly I appreciate the fact that it is not advertising what it is. It is up to the Independent Business Owner to show his/her clients/members/new IBOs how to use the site, this new business is effective because it is high-touch, not just high-tech. It isn't just another place to shop. It is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to start their own business, without a lot of money. #3. 'the System' is not AMWAY or QUIXTAR, it was started by Dexter Yager, whom started his own Business, affiliated with Amway, approximately 5 years after A. Corp. started... in the Past 35 years the Yager System has proven to be the most effective method of training IBOs. DIAMONDS, AND OTHER IBOs ARE NOT PAID BY AMWAY OR QUIXTAR TO SPEAK ON TAPES, AT FUNCTIONS, TO COUNCIL THEIR DOWNLINE, OR TO SHOW THE PLAN. They do so, spending THEIR OWN MONEY and Time, to help IBOs, and yes, if the IBO is in their downline, and this helps the IBO grow a larger/more profitable Business, then the one Investing their Time/Money into another IBO will benefit from Increased volume, and may even qualify for a LEADERSHIP BONUS. This is the only way DIAMONDS make money from 'the SYSTEM'. Amway does not give cars away for bringing people in, in-fact IBOs do not make any money off of sponsoring, there is no referral bonus as in many 'MLM scams'. All money is legitimately earned on SALES VOLUME, subsequently all the money paid to IBOs by Amway or Quixtar.com is based solely on VOLUME. Of all the MLMs large enough to be Federally Investigated at the time (I believe it was in the late 60's), only THREE were found to be LEGAL: Avon, Mary Kaye, and Amway, which was not only declared legal, but "A Model for Future Business of it's Type." InterNET Services Corporation, founded by CROWN AMBASSADOR with OVER 50 FAA LEG-CREDITS DEXTER YAGER, Provides the Business Support Materials/Tools at a VERY REASONABLE price. The information on any one tape, could be sold on an Infomercial for well over $60, that's 10x the price a Business Owner pays ($6 New, $5 used), As well an IBO can purchase books such as: 'the 7 Habbits of Highly Successful People' -Stephan R. Covey, Franklin Covey 'the Magic of Thinking Big' -David J. Schwartz, Ph.D. 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' -Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter C.P.A. 'the Cashflow Quadrant' -(Rich Dad, Poor Dad II: Rich Dad's Guide to Financial Freedom) Same Authors 'Life is Tremendous' -Charlie Jones 'the Power of Passion' -Alan Hobson and Jamie Clarke (What they learned from climbing Mt. Everest) 'Unlimited Wealth' -Paul Zane Pilzer, Zane Publishing Well below cover price. The functions are paid for by Ticket Sales, this includes hiring the Entertainment, and the sound crews, as well as renting out the Hotel, and the Saturday Evening Dinner. Also, IBOs get a SUBSTANTIAL DISCOUNT on Hotel Rooms. For example, in Feb. '99 I attended the "Rupe-Hopper Dream Weekend '99", held at Shangri-La (Monkey Island, Grand Lake of the Cherokee, Near Tulsa, Oklahoma). I picked up a Shangri-La Resort Brochure from the Help Desk: the Regular Room Rate for Shangri-La, OFF-SEASON (winter) is $279 per night, we paid only $60 per night as IBOs (and split that 4 ways!). #4. And, I do apologize if this sounds rude, but as I do not know anything about you, aside from what YOU'VE posted (hey for all you know, I could be SUPERMAN), and thusly I will take Major Corporations as having more Credibility. Companies such as: 1928 4x4 A1 ACORN adidas Advil AH&L aiwa ALPEN AMES Amvox AMWAY Amway Auto Network Anacin Arizona Iced Teas Armitron ARROW ASICS AT&T Audiologic AUDIOVOX Austin Automobile AVIA AVIS BALL ball park Bass Bass Pro BAZAAR BELL Phones BELLSOUTH BESTFORM Betty Crocker Bic Billy Bob Teeth Bissell Bluebird bolle BOSE BOSTONIAN BRAETAN brAun Bridgford brother Broyhill Brunswick Billiards BUGLE BOY BUGLE BOY Bumble Bee BUNN Bush Furniture BUSHNELL BUXTON CALICO Soft Fit Calvin Klein Jeans Campbell's Canon Capezio Car and Driver Carbite Golf CARx CASIO Castex Catnapper Celestial Seasonings Century Champion CHAPS Chinet Choice Hotels Christina CITIZEN Clarke Coca-Cola Coffee mate Coleman Colombia Records Columbia Sportswear Company CONAIR CONVERSE COUNTERPARTS COVERCRAFT Critic's Choice Culligan Danskin DAYS INN Deer Stags Deli Express Dexter Shoes Dimetapp Dish Networks Disney's Dockers Shoes Don Miguel Dristan Duck Head Duracell E.D. MICHAELS EAGLE EAGLE CLAW Easy Spirit EKCO Electronic Gaming Monthly Endex Checks Entertainment W. ESPRIT Esquire Etienne Aigner Etonic EUREKA Farley's Faultless Fieldcrest FiESTA Gas Grills FILA Firestone First Bank System FISHER Fitness FLORSHEIM FOREMOST FormuCare FORTUNE FosterGrant Franco-American Franklin Covey Frito Lay Fry Multimedia FUJIFILM GANT Gardetto's Gateway Gatorade GE General Mills Genie GEOFFREY BEENE GetAways gojo GoldStar GOLF Magazine GOOD YEAR Goodwrench Gourmet GRUEN Guess HAGGAR Hamilton Beach Hansen's HARLEY-DAVIDSON harve benard Hedstrom Hershey's Hi-C HITACHI Hobie Hoover Hot Pockets Howard Johnson HUFFY Hunter Hush Puppies HYATT IBM Insights intelectrol IPANEMA ISH ISLANDS IZOD J.G. Hook JanSport Jantzen jennifer reed Jensen Jessica Howard Jiffy Lube Jimmy Dean Jockey Johnson & Johnson Johnston & Murphy Jones New York Jordache JVC KAYO Keebler Kellogg's KENWOOD Kinko's KitchenAid Kleenex KLUGE Kodak Kool-Aid KRAFT KRUPS K-SWISS LA Gear Land O Lakes Lane LEE Leggs Lens Express LEVOLOR LIFE Magazine Lifestyles... Lily of France Lipton Liquid Paper lloyd Flanders London Fog Lovepats M&M / MARS Macworld MAILBOXESETC MALiBU Manhattan marie claire MARTEX MasterCard Matel maxell MCI Worldcom meineke MEMBERS ONLY MEMOREX Men's Health Mentos Microsoft Midland MINOLTA Miracle-Grow MISTY HARBOR Monet MONEY MOONBEAMS MootsiesTootsies MOTOROLA MOTT'S MR.COFFEE Murray muskin Nabisco NASCAR Necco Nestea Nestle new balance Newsweek Magazine NewWoman NFL NICOLE Nikon NordicTrack NORELCO NORWEGIAN Cruise... NOVUS (Discover) Nutralite NutraSweet/EQUAL OCEAN ESSENTIALS Ocean Spray Office Max Oleg Cassini OLYMPUS Omega ORECK Oscar de la Renta Oster OutdoorLife PACE Panasonic Parents PC Magazine PCComputing PENTAX Pepperidge Farm PERSONNA Phillips Magnavox pierre cardin Planters Playskool Pontiac Popular Mechanics Popular Science PositiveAttitude PRO SHOP Proctor Silex PULSAR PUMA Purell Q Lube Quaker QUANTUM Quasar QUIXTAR.COM RAMADA RAYAVAC Ray-Ban RCA Reader's Digest Recoton REDBOOK Reebok REGINA Renaissance Hotels Riddell Robotussin Rockport RollerDerby ROLYKIT Roundup ROYAL VELVET Rubbermaid Runner's SALOMON SAMSUNG SANYO Scotchgard Scotts SEIKO seventeen SHARP Singer SKETCHERS Skittles SMITH CORONA Snapple SONY Southwestern Bell SPA Speedo Speedy SPIN SPORTO Sports Illustrated Stanley Bostitch STAR WARS (Lucas) Starburst State Fair Summit Auto Club Sunbeam Suncast SUN-MAID Sunshine Sweet'n Low SWISS ARMY Talon Taylor Made tdah! TDK TEEN TeVa Texsport T-FAL Resistal the BIG RED BOAT Tiki Timberland TIME Magazine TIMEX Toastmaster Tony's Tootsie Roll Tops TORO TOSHIBA totes Town & Country TOWNE Travel Lodge TRIFARI Trolli TURNTEC Twizzlers U.S. ATHLETICS Uncle Ben's uniden Universal Insurance Van Heusen Vanity Fair Vans Vasque VIBE VISA Vivitar VOICE-TEL WAGAN WAHL Walking WARNER'S Weed Eater Weight Watchers WENZEL Whink Whirlpool Whistler Wilson WINDSOR DESIGNS WINGATE INN Wonderbra Woolrich Wrangler Yachting Yahoo! Internet Life YAMAHA YM yoo-hoo YvesSaintLaurent ZAG Zane Publishing ZEBCO Zenith I'm sure that I've forgotten a few... but this should get the point across. ...Companies who have a lot more to loose for spreading disinformation, than you or I ever would. You are known by the company you keep, if Amway was the scam you claim, then none of these FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES would deal with them. Also, Amway would not have lasted OVER 40 YEARS, and Grossed 7.2 BILLION DOLLARS in 1997 (I do not have a more recent figure). Nor would it have made tens of thousands of IBOs Free of their J.O.B. (a euphemism for Legal SLAVERY), their time being their own, to spend as they please. It is a business where THE ONLY WAY TO SUCCEED IS BY HELPING OTHERS TO SUCCEED. You can't build a business for selfish or immoral reasons and expect it to last... #5. The Report you refer to on rating the Quixtar site, Reflects ONLY UNIQUE VISITORS, it does not include the Number of Hits, Number of Page-Views, or the Time Spent on the Site. That information, is only available from the registered user report (you remember, the $9500 one...). So you and I can neither prove, nor disprove Ken McDonnell's claims, with that report. Secondly: Why is your MLM site devoted solely to Amway and Quixtar? Certainly if people are to take your information as credible and reliable, then it must be impartial... yet you do not mention any of the REAL SCAMS companies like NIKKON MAGNETICS, which violated a number of Patents regarding the MAGNA BLOC (tm), and for which NIKKON MAGNETICS IS BEING SUED BY AMWAY CORPORATION AND THE INVENTORS OF MAGNA BLOC. COMPANIES that use the OBVIOUS SCAM LINE : "WE'RE JUST LIKE AMWAY, ONLY BETTER..." . Amway has had it's name drug through the dirt by a number of scam artists, but they still have a GOLDEN REPUTATION AMONG FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES. Funny thing about NIKKON MAGNETICS, back when MLMs where investigated they either: 1. WEREN'T LARGE ENOUGH TO INVESTIGATE, 2. WEREN'T EVEN AROUND, OR 3. WERE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL... yet they Claim to be BIGGER than AMWAY... oh, does NIKKON MAGNETICS Have over 1 million IBOs in NORTH AMERICA, and OVER 3 Million WORLDWIDE, in OVER 80 COUNTRIES? Did they Make 7.2 Billion Dollars in 1997? Can they even SURVIVE DAY TO DAY WITHOUT INFRINGING ON PATENTED PRODUCTS? Yet you make no mention of them, or any REAL SCAM... ONLY YOUR BITTERNESS WITH A COMPANY YOU KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT. IF IT WAS THE SCAM YOU CLAIMED, WHY DIDN'T YOU REPORT IT TO THE FBI? OR SUE, SURELY THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LAWYERS WHO WOULD LOVE TO GET INTO THE DeVos and Van Andel FAMILIES' POCKETS... AND WHY DO YOU STILL NOT MENTION WHAT ORGANIZATION YOU WERE IN? WHO WAS YOUR UPLINE DIAMOND? YOUR UPLINE DIRECT? WHAT PLAN WERE YOU SHOWN? WHO DID YOU SHOW IT TO? HOW MANY PEOPLE? WERE THEY AMBITIOUS OR LAZY? HOW BIG WAS YOUR NAMES LIST? DID YOU WORK THE DEPTH, HELP YOUR PEOPLE FIND PEOPLE? HOW COMMITTED WERE YOU IF YOU WEREN'T WILLING TO CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE? DID YOU COMMIT YOUR TIME TO HELPING YOUR PEOPLE, OR DID YOU JUST FORGET ABOUT THEM? I have been around the business long enough to see the people WHO WERE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, AND WERE WILLING TO CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE AND HABBITS succeed, RETIRE from the RAT-RACE. I know the SYSTEM works, and I have seen NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIMS. I ONLY SEE SOMEONE WHO TRIED, FAILED, AND QUIT. SUCCESS IS FAILURE BUILT ON TOP OF FAILURE... IF YOU DON'T GET BACK ON< YOU'LL NEVER LEARN TO RIDE A BIKE, OR A HORSE, OR LEARN HOW TO SWIM... I won't be surprised when you don't post this entire message, intact (All 5+ Pages of it), and unaltered... but understand this, you can run from the truth until it wears you out, but you'll never be able to hide from it... Think what you will, but your efforts & energies should be focused on your family, raising your children with proper morals. You should not remain negative about something in your past, it is not worth your life, or the lives of those you love... Live long and be happy. Sincerely, P.S. If you wish to maintain a MLM Scams site, make sure you have your facts straight, and you site is kept truthful and impartial... it is not fair to those who are genuinely trying to help people, to lump them into a category which they have nothing to do with... and if your former Diamond was running the scam you claim, it should be reported (to AMWAY, the FBI, and a good ATTORNEY), Amway has been known for the past 40 years for it's integrity, and will investigate & deal with any activity of this nature as it is brought to their attention.
I am an 18-year-old from Australia who has been an Amway distributor for 7 weeks having expected to switch to A2K (Australia's version of Quixtar) on the 3rd of April when it is launched. One of the key points which makes (or made) me believe A2K would be successful was the plethora of name-brand partner stores whose goods and services would be available via A2K. However your website has opened me to the possibility the promises of the various companies mentioned by my uplines (such as Sanyo, Seiko, and Microsoft) being on-board would not be honoured. It immediately occurred to me that the reason I had not considered this scenario was that it seemed to make little sense for them to lie to me about this. Surely the fact that IBOs would realise they'd been misled once the site is launched would lead to widespread dissatisfaction amongst distributers? What has the backlash been like in the US? Has the discretion been acknowledged at all? What are they being told by their uplines? I can't see how "uplines" would not be held accountable by those they advise for such claims about the site.
>From the outside looking in, it appears that this whole thing could have been made up just to have people buy your book. As I consider starting a networking business I can't help but analyze my own career in real estate. I see people like Tom Hopkins and Zig Ziggler who have made millions through motivational tapes, seminars and books. They have touched many peoples lives (including mine) and made us better sales people which in turn has bettered our lives and the lives of our families. They make no bones about their success in the field of motivation. People pay big money to "sharpen" their sales skills... no mention in your site about that. Yet look at an author like Steven King. He adds no value to society, writes absolutely wild stories that do nothing but create fear... he too makes millions. Who has a web site trashing what he does? I'll bet no body has one. Why? Because they have nothing to gain by doing so unless someone wrote a book about how a Steven King book ruined their lives... It is about money... right? You have given me a very interesting look at your perspective. I will not be buying your book... but I may consider writing my own... Survivor of the MLM Surviors Web Site, a real look at how to promote your own book. I am so glad I wrote to you regarding my investigation of the Quixtar business.
I am a lawyer from New York with a background in business and economics. I happened upon your site from some research I am doing for an article. The questions I had asked were not so general as one's knowledge and understanding of business, but were specific to the skills you learned either during or since your venture with the corporations with which you were affiliated. What self-employed occupation do you hold? You mentioned you've been successful. Please do not be offended by my next question. As an economist, I must first define my variables before I evaluate them. What do you use to guage your success? I look forward to hearing from you. Truly,
Is it possible to make a contribution (albeit small) to Sidney's legal fees. I am truly sickened by these attacks on free speech. Would you consider placing this info on your page? Thanks!
Do you have any negative info on Excel communications? Thanks
Hello, I just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed your story and agree with your comments in general. I still distribute Equinox water purifiers only, but only do it via the internet. I attended several Equinox meetings and thought that the experience was a little like brainwashing. One of the things that really bothered me about Mr. Goulld is that he seems to be anti-education. He seems to present a kind of conspiracy theory for the teachers of this country as if they want everyone to not be entrepreneurial. Rather, entrepreneurship is a trait that is tied to other personality characteristics such as one's willingness to take risks or leadership ability. Also, mentors are extremely important to one becoming an entrepreneur. Teachers are NOT part of the problem, as Mr Gouldd would have the world believe. I choose to distribute only a select line of the Equinox family of products because I know they work because I used to work in the field of water purification. I cannot speak for the rest of his products however, and I must say that my upline has not helped me at all except try to get me to spend money. If the uplines were truly trying to promote members, why would they charge for the seminars? That part of the Equinox business seems to be a scam for sure, even if there are sound business topics addressed. I challenge Mr Gouldd to open up his large pocketbooks and offer seminars to his "followers" for either free or at reduced prices from what they cost now. Regards, An anonymous member
I am thinking of selling Primerica financial services. Can you let me know what info you have about them. Any bad reports I should know about before signing on the dotted line?
Hello Ruth! I sent this to myself and home and am forwarding on to you. I was doing this during my break at my JOB. I thought you might find this of interest. I just received the February, 2000 issue of Consumer Reports and they are doing a comparison of laundry detergents. It is on Pages 35 - 37. On Pages 36 & 37, they list MANY brands of laundry detergents in both powder and liquid forms. Of course, what caught my eye was that SA-8 was one of the detergents listed. It was listed as "very good" @ 37 cents per load (which was the highest price of them all) as far as cleaning it was very good, brightening was excellent, under comments, "highly effective on grape, juice, spagetti sauce and chocolate." Listed right above it was the CR Best Buy - which was Arm & Hammer Heavy-Duty with color safe bleach @ 13 per load, as far as cleaning it was EXCELLENT and brightening was EXCELLENT, under comments, "highly effective on grape juice, spagetti sauce and chocolate." I don't know how Amway can say that they are "the best" when Consumer Reports had other detergents listed that were equal or better to SA-8 at lower costs. Tide - to which the comparisons are always made were at 26 cents at the highest - that's still less per load than SA-8!!! Oh well, the un-informed are the mis-informed and HOW many times did I take information for granted instead of checking it out for myself????? Have a great day! Part II Hello Again. Just an addendum to this e-mail. On Saturday, I purchased the Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent on sale for $3.99 plus 4.5% sales tax ($4.17). The box will do 33 loads = .13 per load! I didn't even use a coupon (taboo in Amway-land) and even at the regular price of $5.49 ($5.74 w/tax) that still = .17 per load. I purchased the detergent at Ukrops - which is a local chain in our area - they are a more "up-scale" type of grocery store, so Wal-Mart, Target and others would probably have it less expensive than that, BUT that is where I do my weekly grocery shopping. "No running all over town to get the best deal", but I still got a better deal!! Keep up the good work - and have an awesome day
I went to a meeting of the Renaissance tax people and wanted to know more about this organization. I am going through the internet to see if I can dig up any negatives on this company. There is one question that I have of your write up. What is the CPA's name that is recommending staying away from this company. As you are aware, being burned by MLM's many times I am very cautious about recommendations - GOOD or BAD.Especially those who will not put a name to their recommendations.
After I happened upon your site and I read your story It appears that you genuinely believe what you write and you are a kind hearted Individual trying to protect others. I can truly appreciate this. I have been an IBO or Distributor for a number of years now. I enjoy a nice income from my Amway and Quixtar businesses. While I by no means am an expert on Amway corporate I can share with you as an owner of my own business powered by quixtar from a field point of view. I have one of the major leadership pins and work closely with an Executive Diamond. While I am very sorry to see you had a bad experience I can only relate to you our success and the success of so many of the people in our organization. A business of this sort can only be built successfully if you operate with integrity and Honesty due to the fact you are only rewarded if you help other people become successful. Due to the fact that there are literally thousand of lines of sponsorships and thousands of different leaders, personalities and Philosophies. Each group has their own pattern. Each individual owns their own business and each individual is ultimately responsible for the success or failure of their own business. The conventional brick and mortar businesses have a very scary failure rate. I read somewhere 45% of all new businesses fail the first year. Yes I have had people join my organization and quit. People quit allot of things in life. For example, a small portion of the people that start Medical school become Doctors. I no of no one that has come into our business and quit that has lost anything to remotely compare to the expense of starting their own conventional business and failing. I thank God every day for free enterprise and the Professional development educational system we use combined with the integrity of our line of sponsorship. The most rewarding thing in my life is to sit down with a young ambitious couple and introduce them to their own business and watch them grow in their relationships, Financial literacy and most every other area in their lives. I do not know anyone that has followed our pattern consistently that even if they quit have left with more than they came with. Part II Ruth Thanks for the response, I choose to remain anonymous due to the fact we do not know each other and I hope I can trust you not to misconstrue what I say here. My pin is Higher than a platinum and less than an Executive Diamond. What I do seems to be linked to a stereotype and I feel it is a little unfair to categorize what I do in general terms. This to me is like prejudice of a race of people like the Blacks or Hispanics. We work hard to tear down the walls, One of my legs has an Emerald who is Hispanic and has helped his people that come from a society of If you don't work you don't eat. (Mexico) and they come into a society of If you don't work you get food stamps and welfare until you start making money then we cut you off from the free ride. (USA)They see this for what it is and that is free enterprise. He with the help of the system has liberated a great many of his people. Another organization is a very Large Black Church organization. We utilize the Yager professional development system. While our original line of sponsorship is not Yager. We are independent business men and women that use the Yager Educational and support system for training and we use the Amway and Quixtar Compensation plan and product distribution channels as an income vehicle. As far as money made on tools. I am sure Barnes and Nobles makes a profit on Books. Anything non profit will be Non.Anyone that can generate the volume of tools to purchase wholesale Business support materials should do so in my opinion. This is standard business practice. As far as how much I make from the business, May I ask you what your income is. Your comment about once people quit we never call them again. Well I don't know what other people do. but it is like my uncle that we were very close to moved several years ago. We don't talk near as much anymore but I have not gone anywhere, I am still in the same spot. We still talk but he has his life and I have mine. Much like people in the business what I have found is that if there was a true relationship you would stay in touch. I have never let this business get between me and a friendship. Whether they build or not will not affect our friendship in a negative. I have found that for the most part when there are people that are hurt. Most of the time it is not the business that hurt them it is people that hurt people. I will not control what anyone in my organization does or doesn't do. ( what you control you eventually Lose)We provide suggestions to use a proven business system to individual business owners that have for the majority have never owned a business before. We offer them a way to learn and grow in people skills and business skills as well as Financial literacy and use this income vehicle. It does give anyone the opportunity to start there own business with minimal investment. What they do with it is totally up to them. Many people in life have a low self esteem and to be successful in anything it takes change and growth. Yes there are many people building and only a small percent become Diamond or above. May I ask you a Question. You pick a business or a sport. Weight Lifting, Football, Business, Whatever. There is a small percent that become the best. I could be built like Arnold Swartsenegger but there is a price to pay that I am not willing to pay but he did. Bill Gates: Yep, there is only one Bill the richest man on the planet. You know because of bill he has created over 3400 Millionaires and jobs for several thousand people. Do I agree with or even Like everything about him, Of course not,but because he achieved greatness allot of people have benefited from his success. I don't like it when people get hurt, It hurts me to see people in pain, A spiritual leader I know an respect said, each one of us is responsible for our own actions and reactions. These actions and reactions come from our perspectives about life that have been formed by events in the past. Our perspectives got us where we are. To move ahead we need to change our perspectives. Einstein said( you cannot solve any problem in life with the same thinking you had when you created the problem)In other words Ruth if you were to spit on me you don't make mad you make me wet! I choose whether to react or get mad or hurt. I love people and will continue to help people that are frustrated inside because they know they are capable of more than they have now and they choose to pursue greatness an opportunity to grow and change for their God,Family and Country. I love this country because you have the right to express what you believe and I respect that. It allows anyone the right to their own opinion. All this to say I was of the opinion you were until I said to myself, doing what I am doing has gotten me where I am now.( I was a Cowboy that Drank allot to hide hurts,insecurities,failure and a low self esteem) To change my circumstances I had to change me. I became hungry for knowledge and experience and started pursuing excellence instead of average. I started having hope and pursuing my dreams. Through Books tapes Seminars and association with the top 0.0117% I started to have what they had. I wish you well and May God bless you in your pursuit to help others as well.
O yes, I too was suckered into the great "Scamway" bussiness. I went into it with the idea of being able to quit my current job and live the great American Scamway Dream. I wasooed into buying a kit, getting the tape of the week and all of that shi**. I only got 1 person to join and he never did do anything. The tapes kept comming in and I kept going to the weekly open meetings. The people that came to these meetings and got "fired up" were true GEEKS and NURDS. These pencil pushing little twits would jump up and down, slober and have drewl running down their chins when the "Head Guru " would get up and give his big speech. After about 8 months of this sh** I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I canceled the Amvox (of course it was a long distance call to listen to nothing but a bunch of horse sh** about how many people were getting in the business which was all a bunch of lies) and then the other Amies would stay away from me. Oh my oh my how friends will distance themselves from you when you when you start to see the light. I gathered all of the tapes that I could find that were not opened (I had about 2 bags full) and told my up line that I wanted my money back. He did not want to give me back my money but after a little "friendly heart to heart " talk he decided differently. I would not have any thing to do with this sh** again if I new what I know now. The other day I ran across about 15 unopend tapes, I looked at them and said a few words of the unfriendly kind and tossed them in the trash were they belong.
MY WIFE AND GOT INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS IN 1995. WE THOUGHT IT TOO MUCH WITH ALL THE POSITIVE TALK . WE FOUND OURSELVES BUYING INTO THE SYSTEM THOUGH. WE HAD OUR CONCERNS WHEN I SPENT A LOT OF TIME PROSPECTING PEOPLE AND FOUND A VERY NEGATIVE CROWD. MY UPLINE KEPT TELLING ME I WAS JUST TALKING TO THE WRONG PEOPLE, THOSE WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I KNEW. I ALWAYS HAD MY DOUBTS ABOUT BUILDING THE BUSINESS . I FELT IT WAS STRANGE TO APPROACH SOMEONE , TELL THEM THEY LOOKED FAMILIAR, OR THAT THEY SEEMED TO BE AMBITIOUS, OFFER THEM A WAY OUT OF THEIR PRESENT LIFE STYLE . THE REAL STRANGE PART TO THIS PROCESS WAS THAT I WAS WARNED NOT TO MENTION THE WORD AMWAY. IF I WAS SELLING COMPUTERS AND I KNEW MY PROSPECT NEEDED ONE DON'T YOU THINK I WOULD MENTION THE BRAND NAME. I WOULD OFTEN OFFER THIS QUESTION TO MY UPLINE . THEY NEVER ANSWERED THIS WITH ANY SORT OF INTELLIGENCE. MY WIFE AND I WENT TO EVERY FUNCTION. ALL I SAW WAS A FEW PEOPLE ON STAGE BEING SUPPORTED BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE. I WAS OFTEN TOLD THAT THIS BUSINESS WAS MOVING ON. I NOTICED THAT EACH YEAR THE ATTENDANCE WAS LESS THAN THE LAST TIME AND I NOTICED THAT TWO DIAMOND BUSINESSES HAD JOINED TOGETHER TO FILL THE STADIUM. THE STORY I GOT FROM MY UPLINE WAS THAT THE BUSINESS WAS GROWING. I AGAIN ASKED WHY THERE WAS LESS PEOPLE THIS YEAR THAN LAST. AGAIN NO ANSWER. I WAS VERY SKEPICAL FROM DAY ONE ABOUT ALL THE TALK IN THE BUSINESS. MANY TIMES I HEARD NOT TO TALK TO NEGATIVE PEOPLE ABOUT THE BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY JUST DIDN'T KNOW. MY MIND BECAME MORE CONFUSED WITH COMMENTS LIKE THESE. JUST BECAUSE SOME ONE IS NEGATIVE DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY ARE STUPID OR HAVE NO INSIGHT INTO A PARTICULAR TOPIC. I AM GLAD I HAD NEGATIVE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE IN MY YOUNGER YEARS. THEIR NEGATIVE ATTITUDE ABOUT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL KEPT ME FROM BEING INVOLVED IN THESE ACTIVITIES. I REALLY ENJOY YOUR INFO ON THE BUSINESS AS WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH MANY OF THE EXPERINCES THAT ARE SHARED ON YOUR SIGHT.. CAN YOU SHARE WITH ME ANY INFORMATION ON THE MELALUCA BUSINESS. MY AMWAY UPLINE DIRECT IS OUT OF AMWAY AND INVOLVED IN THIS BUSINESS. HE IS SIGNING UP MANY OF HIS FORMER DOWNLINE IN THE MELALUCA BUSINESS.( I LIKE THE APPROACH THE MELALUCA BUSINESS USES " IF I COULD SHOW YOU A WAY OF MAKING MONEY AND IT DIDN'T INVOLVE AMWAY , WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED." ) I DON'T KNOW IF I AM READY TO START ANOTHER BUSINESS THAT HE SAYS IS BETTER THAN AMWAY. HE SAYS HE IS DOING WELL AFTER JUST TWO MONTHS. I KNOW A FELLOW AT WORK WHO STARTED IN THE MELALUCA BUSINESS A YEAR BEFORE I STARTED IN THE AMWAY BUSINESS. HE IS STILL AT WORK , NOT RETIRED YET. HE SAYS HIS BUSINESS IS DOING GREAT AND IS GROWING. I HAVE HEARD ALL THERE LINES IN THE AMWAY BUSINESS AND I AM VERY WEARY OF THE SUCCESS. I DON'T MIND GOING TO TALK TO PEOPLE BUT I SPENT 5 YEARS SPINNING MY WHEELS IN AMWAY AND I AM NOT INTERESTED IN DOING THE SAME WITH ANY THING ELSE. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WHO DELIVERS FOR A COURIER COMPANY. HE HAS TOLD ME THAT WHEN HE DELIVERS MELALUCA PRODUCTS TO PEOPLE ON HIS ROUTE HE IS OFTEN MET WITH A VERY NEGATIVE RESPONSE.THEY ARE TIRED OF HAVING TO RECEIVE THEIR MONTHLY ORDER THAT THEY HAVE TO ORDER TO STAY IN THE BUSINESS.
I have some friends who are getting deeply involved. Any info you could give me about acn would be appreciated. |
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