|
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. Re: Equinox hi. my name is julia wilson and im a 28 year old single mother. i got involved with equinox about 5 years ago and lost 10000 dollars at least plus i lost 1 of my best friends because i believed so strongly in what i was being told. i went to 3 conventions and after i had nothing left i finally just walked away. it was such a nightmare that i will never forget. i just received a notice in the mail about a law suit and i definately want to be involved.......i borrowed money from my girlfriends credit card and she is still paying on it. it would be a blessing to be able to pay her back. she believed so strongly in me and i would never have borrowed her money if i was in my right mind at the time but they said do whatever you have to do to get 5000 dollars...i feel like i was manipulated and i will forever be in debt to my friend. she didnt want the products that i tried to give to her in place of the money...i don't blame her. if you can help me in any way i would really appreciate it. thank you very much.
Quixtar is now #1021 on the webiste stat site. Sinking like the titanic!
Hi, I found your website through
Steve Hassen's. I am doing some research on the International
Church of Christ. I was curious about the Amway subject because
I have a sister and brother in law who have been involved for
nearly 25 years. I have no clue what their status is but they
don't appear to have become wealthy with it. My question is concerning
Melaleuca. I do not have an aversion to MLM's and yet I feel
somewhat chastised when I read articles about them such as yours.
I heard about Melaleuca through a friend who is single and trying
to raise 3 kids. If anyone needs to supplement their income it
is her. I hope and pray she is successful in it. I enrolled,
tried the products and found I really like them. I told a few
other people and they like them too. I know there are lots of
people who are working this as a business and are making money.
I also know others who are just using the products like I am
and are receiving a little check each month. My check last month
was $48.00 which covered half of my products. I love the products
so much (and believe in them) that I would be a customer even
if I received no check. Seeing that this works I now want to
"build this business" to help supplement our fixed
income. My husband recently retired and we are realizing we need
to do something. I guess what I am asking is this,. if you had
been involved in another MLM and it worked out for you and you
became successful doing it would you feel the same way about
MLM'S? If your venture in Amway would have given you the level
of success you sought would you be so down on it? Have you gotten
any feedback of people who have gotten hurt in Melaleuca? I would
like to hear your opinion about Mel. Your Amway experience reminds
me of a women I met at the Melaleuca Convention last summer.
She was looking for someone to room with to help keep the expenses
down. So my friend and I roomed with her. It was quite an experience.
She had been in Melaleuca for a couple of years and by her own
admission was not at the level of success she had hoped for.
She talked about other home businesses she had been in, that
she had been on 3 cruises etc. I got the feeling she was a junkie
for this sort of business. She was deeply in debt, a source of
contention between her and her husband who had recently retired
from teaching. My point is that people have to use common sense
in whatever venture they get involved in. I wish that not all
MLM's were linked together as it is not fair to the ones who
are trying to be honest. I have a problem seeing where it is
automatically labeled illegal to sell your products this way.
I was involved in direct sales with Pampered Chef for 5 years.
If Doris Christopher chose to set her company up as a MLM I would
be wealthy today. As it is I had 5 years of trying to make my
business successful and not getting anywhere. [Talk about a saturation
point.] I had a disappointing "breakaway" and it really
made me realize that I was getting nowhere and probably never
would. I do know a gal who was making a 6 figure income and of
course we all wanted to be like her but she started 8 years before
me when no one knew about it and everyone wanted to jump on the
bandwagon. Most of the gals I knew were doing the same thing
I was doing, putting everything we earned right back into it
again, in the form of purchasing new products which come out
twice a year, purchasing new paperwork which changes twice a
year, and going to banquets, regionals and convention. I never
made any money to speak of. I was becoming an expensive hobby.
Not exactly why I got involved, although I do love cooking and
have some great kitchen products in my kitchen which I appreciate.
My husband and I also tried a telecommunications business called
American Communication Network (ACN) and it also went nowhere,
when long distance service became so competitive. We had about
30 people who were willing to switch their phone service and
we received a small check each quarter. We were not successful
in getting anyone else interested and realized at that rate it
would be a long time until we recouped our initial investment.
With this past experience in home business I was very skeptical
(to say the least) when my friend introduced me to Melaleuca.
I liked what I saw and knew that if I liked the products I could
tell others. As I said I love the products and now am ready to
build this business. BUT every time I read an article like yours
I begin asking myself questions. I do not want to do anything
to hurt anyone else. If you have any information on Melaleuca
that you could pass my way, I would most appreciate it. Sorry
this got so long. Thanks in advance. My son is in Florida and ready to take out a $5,000 loan to invest in Equinox!!!! He sent us the tape and product book. I did Amway alot of years ago and it did not work in Vermont. At first, I thought maybe it could work in Florida where there are more people. But after reading the MLM Survivors Homepage stories I know that my first instinct of "cult" was right. He is so excited on the phone and of course I only want the best for him. I have tried to talk to him, but haven't succeed. His friend's E-mail address is **. His name is *. Could you please send him a note to please get OUT!! Can he get out now? He has only been there less than a week. I feel so helpless.... Thank you.
Dear Ruth Wait till you see what happens this year! Just got off the phone with my mother in law. I can't tell you what but when it happens you will be the first to know. Just think Ruth I made over $4800.00 on one stock this morning. Boy I hope you don't consider that gambling. Here's a hint WAVE. I hope you can make some money on that tip. Oh but I forgot people with job mentality won't stick there neck out that far there affraid to get there head cut off at the neck. Also when you turn 65 and can retire let me know and maybe my wife and I will take you out to dinner. P.S. What you said about you would let me know how much you make off your book if my Diamond told me how much they made off tools well I'm looking at this year's return for my inlaws business and boy there tool income is not half there income mell I'll be so how much do you make off your book or are you a lier like I think you are? Part II Dear Ruth, Still waiting for a responce to my email I sent you yesterday. Ruth you must be very busy working becouse you alway's return your email late at night. If you were at home all day you could send responses faster. It's great getting up at 7:00am and getting the kid's off to school and then try to fill my day with thing's to do. But boy is it fun trying!!!! You should try it some day maybe when you hit 65.
I came across your website about Quixtar and was actually quite stunned about its contents. You are slamming a company that you have never been involved with. I happen to be involved in Quixtar and enjoy my experience. Don't forget that everything we do in life is a choice. Perhaps the organization that you were involved with in Amway was no straight forward with you but some are. Amway has been around for over 35 yrs so they must be doing something right. There is always bumps along a road when dealing with any business espcially mlm. As far as all the hype around Quixtar, I can not name one business that does not do that for advertising purposes. Its called fluff and you take it for face value. But the products are great and it is possible to make money at it but it won't happen over night and it takes finding the right people as its not for everyone. Just so you are aware I currently make a nice second income from Quixtar which allows me to work pt which was my goal. Good Luck in spreading all of your false negative!!! :-) How do you have the time to do this?
Your site re: Amway was quite revealing and helped us understand few things. Here is our problem - our close relative is one of those, whom you wrote about, sucked in (and out?) by Amway, withdrawn, rejecting any arguments. are you aware of any medicine, which could help? We really don't want him to spend six years to learn, like so many others have done.
Dear sirs, My father who resides in Louisiana has just recieved a notice in the mail regarding his involvement in Equinox. Could you please inform me of a Class Action Lawsuit other than the Washington and the six state suits talked about on simular sites . Any more recent Class action that you've heard of ?
Hi: My name is *. My wife and I are in the process of splitting-up after nearly fifteen years of marriage. In 1996, she began to work for a mlm company, (partylite gifts), and I honesty believe this is the reason she has decided to end the marriage. This mlm firm has showered her with praise and recognition and I feel I have lost her to "them". I would enjoy reading your comments on the above and would certainly appreciate any info you can email me on this topic of mlm and it's affects on marriages. Regards, Hi! I am very interested in working with you on any One project vis-a-vis MLM as basically a Pyramid Game NOT a Real Business kind of a topic for Canada where I reside. Do you have any interest in a Canadian related topic or subject for mutual study? Regarding my past work experience in the Network Marketing Industry I had a position as The Canadian Director for the International Network Marketing Directory published by Marketing Solutions of the State of MINN., USA. Also, I spent 4 years as a Shaklee Canada Independent Distributor. Please advise. Thanks.
I've just been introduced to ACN and wanted to know if it to is a big scam? I don't want to get involved if it is like all the rest. Any info would be much appreciated. Sincerely,
my girlfriend and i are currently being steered to the E-COMMERCE, TEAM BUILDERS team (for lack of better words) supposed to meet tomorrow night with answer, we are wondering what information you may have heard about this business.some of the the presentation videos are "LENNON AND SUZANNE LEDBETTER PROFILE OF SUCCESS" and "THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS.COM" an example of a book is "HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE" does this sound familuar? HELP! Part II THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP, IT IS REALLY APPRECIATED. Hi Ruth, I read http://www.mlmsurvivor.com/melaleuca.htm and found the information there quite interesting. I once was involved with Melaleuca. It also was when I lived in Harris County Texas. However, I found your comments about the Judges actions interesting. She was wrong and should be removed as Judge if she did the things reported. I do not believe though that her attitude was caused by tort reform. It seems like a leap to try and make that connection. If you have information about this Judge I would at least like to write her a letter and let her know contemptible she is in my opinion. I would also send a copy to the Texas Bar Association. I feel strongly that Judges like her should be removed from their position. Thanks again, ex-MLMer
I have been approached by a Primerica representative to come on board with their team. They said they would provide free training and subsidize licensing fees. Is Primerica on your hit list as a scam?
Thank you for reply, if you really like to find out more about Skybiz 200 please go to my web site at * check it out. Please do let me know what you think about it. Also if you needed me to send me to send you more detailed article about their business plan and concept just let me know. This business had been in Malaysia for about 6 months and some people are making as much a ten thousand US dollar a week. Anyway if you think this business is legal and not another scam like Amway which actually lured the prospector into spend more money in attending their seminar than actually selling their product, like the both of us got caught before,and if you interested in the Skybiz business follow the procedure and sign up at my right leg. Hope to hear from you soon. Regards,
I recently was aproached by
a Quixtar IBO in Philadelphia Pa. and at first I was excited.
I am married with three kids and always looking to supplement
my income. It will be at least two and a half years before we
can BOTH afford to work, because the two oldest will be in school.
I am 23 yrs old and rather new to these scams, but, an older
friend told me one thing before I went to the seminar "BEWARE
OF AMWAY". I took the advice and was well on my way. It
took me two hours to get there. After the seminar was over and
Amway was never mentioned, I was very excited. I immediately
took the materials and went home. I looked over the materials
and then started to do some research on the internet (that was
lastnight). I'm sure you're very well aware of what I saw during
my search.....Quixtar this .....and Quixtar that..... make great
money......Opportunity of a life time.......but then I found
your page. Needless to say I am cancelling my 8:00pm appointment
with my Quixtar representative tomorrow, and continuing my search
to improve my income offcourse. Which brings me to my question.
I know that its not your policy to recommend these work at home
scemes, but, can you at least give me a few tips on avoiding
the "Amways" so I can give the real deal (if there's
such a thing) a chance.? Thank you once again! I am researching information on a specific MLM for a possible article in a financial services newsletter. If you have any information on "Big Planet" it would be appreciated. Thank you so much for your reply. I will pass your site on to all in my address book hoping that it can help others the way it has helped me. Keep up the good work!!!
My experience with Quixtar was short and sweet. I signed up and found this site a week later. I couldn't even think about going to another meeting anymore. It seemed like it didn't matter that we had other obligations just as long as we went to meetings and handed out tapes. Our sponsors were total Ambots. They showed the plan a few times a week and even drove 12 hours to show it on weekends. Of course that didn't happen when there was some day long rally in a hotel going on in the area. We asked what their sons thought of them being away from home so much and the response was...."In a year when we are making big $$$ we will have plenty of time to spend together and take lots of vacations." They were so proud of this statement and the fact that they had a good babysitter. The babysitter will probably make more money from watching their children than the Ambots will make in Quixtar/Amway. Don't get me wrong, they are really nice people. I couldn't help but feel like they were being fooled into the whole 'millionaire' thing. I found the whole experience scary. ps - I never understood why the meetings took place at 8:00 at night. Is there a reason? Dear Ruth, Thank you so much for responding to our plea for help. Your summary (not-much-you-can-do) is what we were worried about, so, in a way, you helped us as well. We will pursue your suggested readings, and then.... be on a stand-by..... holding life net..... huh? Thanks again, Hello, It is really unfortunate that you are that bitter over a business venture. I would just like to clarify a few things on my behalf. First of all I am a Quixtar IBO but I have been involved with Amway for about 6 yrs so I am hardly new at this either. You do have the right to critisize anything you like but constructive critisism is good not slamming. The reason I say that is we are also self employed with a conventional business and I sure would not appreciate people slamming my business. Perhaps you could take it to the source itself Amway as there are many people in this business who are proud to be in it. If there is a problem with Amway then talk to someone there and by all means tell all your friends if you need to but not all of us have had a bad experience and we have met some wonderful people. As far as the advertising of hits ect. Do you really think that amazon.com gets as many hits a day as it claims? We it doesn't, as I know someone who works with them. It is called stats and you can manipulate them pretty much how you want. It might not be the best marketing but that is reality. I owned a web site and got a hit counter and started in at 10,000 and could have went on the page and hit on it as many times as I wanted to get the stats that would look good. I sure there were deceptions with some of the people in Amway. But that is those diamonds problems not Amway. Amway does force you to be deceptive or push books and tapes they supply a product to the consumer and thought up a way for the consumer to have the opportunity to make money as well. Not a full proof plan but nothing ever is. If anything perhaps you should critisize the diamond you worked for as they were the one you felt were being deceptive. All mlm companies are going to have issues like that as there is millions of people involved. Chalk it up to a bad experience. Best of luck
I was just wondering if you have any info in "American Longevity" a company started by Dr. Wallach. If not thankyou anyway.
just curious, have you ever been exposed to any reality based,honest MLM's?
First off, thanks for providing an alternative viewpoint to some of the hype out there about this whole silly Quixtar thing. I was very happy to find your website, and here's why. My boyfriend is in dire financial straits and seems to see Quixtar as an easy way to make money, despite the initial investment of $100 (money he does NOT have to spare). I have directed him to your site and hope he will take it seriously. I'd also appreciate hearing from you a little about your research strategy in looking for your "anti-Quixtar" info. I've done a few searches on the Internet but haven't come up with a whole lot. One more thing, do you have any thoughts on the similarities and differences between something like Quixtar and a pyramid scheme? Thanks so much,
My son, *, is being enticed by a "friend" to join quixtar. I have tried to get him to read this and other sites. * is 18, in college in Atlanta and is almost convinced that quixtar is the way to become independent and not be a "burden" to mom and dad in the fastest way. Please email him with information if you can. His email is **. Thanks and bless you for telling the truth!
This was in a March edition of LOOP, which used to be sent to silvers and above but is now sent to all IBOs. The regular magazine "amagram=achieve" was suspended for a month. Just thought that this appeared to be a comment that there is trouble in ambot land. So far I have received 2 "stop notices" for auctions i have had on eBay, but I sent an email to them stating that they are using trademark dilution rules in contravention to trademark law. They have ceased sending me any email. I want to convert my mirror of AUS site to a hotlist of products that are amway associated or sold in the catalogues. My mission continues, I have converted about 20 distributors to ex ambots. Your book has gone a long way to add cred to my conviction. Cheers.
Thanks so much for your website. I have long been critical of Amway and other such schemes. Now, unfortunately, my wife has been hooked into the Nutrition for Life "business" and I need some solid information about it so that I can at least, carefully and gently, talk to her about it. Do you know where I can get such information? Thanks.
Thank you for posting this. I am very saddened to hear this as I have enjoyed Melaleuca products for many years - I am brand loyal and won't change because I love the products. But I now know I can not actively promote this company until they repent and rectify the situation and make amends. God Bless, Everybody who wrote their stories to this page sound like a bunch of babies. Don't blame the system for your failures blame yourself. If there are people making money in the company, IT WORKS! The most important product in the industry is you. People forget that in order for people to follow you must possess leadership qualities. Most people think that it is a get rich quick scheme when it is exactly the opposite. It is by far the hardest thing you will ever do, but there is nothing else that can bring you what this industry can. MLM has changed our lives and has given us a vehicle to achieve our dreams. It always seems to be the company's fault or somebody else's fault when things don't go the way they should. Most people quit before they even learn that there is a skill to the business and it is not called luck. Grow up and look in the mirror and you will realize why your business did not work. This business is not for everyone because most of the population does not possess the intestinal fortitude to climb over the obstacles that come along during the first year of the business. To rap up, if you try to play a piano and you sound like SHIT, it is not the piono's fault....IT'S YOURS!! There are people out there that can play the piano, SO STOP CRYING LIKE BABIES!! Hello, I am a college student
in the island of Hawaii. I have been involved with 3 companys,
Amway, herbalife, and Equinox. I have a few stories (all bad)
that I would like to write, but I don't have time. If you are
still doing new emails I would be more then happy to take time
off to tell you my stories. Hi, I was wondering when this suit was filed. I read the entire document and saw no date. Can you advise me of this. Thank you.
Hi i was in amway for 2 years...boy did we get sucked in....we bought into the products..system...and so fourth several thousands of dollars later nothing to show for all the time and money invested into the business....our functions were 6 to 13 hour drives....everyone we sponsored quit....and everybody we new laughed at us...what a waste of two years......i worked on it 30 tp 50 hours a week showed over 300 plans and have boxes of tapes and books collecting dust....just befors x-mas we where so broke we got of the system so we could afford a nice x-mas..we have three kids... the moment we got off the system our upline didn't want to waste any time coming to montreal(their from toronto) so we did the smartest thing we ever did in the business....we didn't renew.... i wish the media would take a recent neutral look at amway and tell everyone the truth......ENOUGH OF THE LIES...... to many people have been draged in the mud finacially and hurt emotionally by building up your dreams while feeding you lies.....NEVER AGAIN............. |
|
||
|
Home
Send E-Mail Read
E-Mail Links Read
Articles Visit
Book Corner
|
You are Survivor #
This page updated Sep-15-00 |
