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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. The letter from the woman who was sexually abused by an upline predator was the most disgusting story I have ever heard. I know, through a third hand account, of a situation involving **, a Crown Ambassador, his ex-wife, **, and her ex-husband, **. It seems that old **decided to have an affair with **, one of his downline directs. *, of course was unaware until they were caught. * promptly divorced ** and she married **. Seems that didn't work out to swiftly either as the ole rogue, **, decided to get a new thing. ** then divorced him, and then went on "sabbatical". There's more to the story, but you get the point. Promise keepers indeed. Scumbags if you ask me. |
Recently my sister (who has been unemployed for quite some time) called me and asked if I would go with her to a meeting about a "business opportunity" and give her my opinion. She said she wasn't sure what it was all about. I went, with and it turned out to be a meeting for new Equinox International 'recruits'. I am a big skeptic and have had previous experiences with religious cult "recruiting". I could see right away it was at least a financial scam, but my sister was nodding and I could see her falling for all of it.
Equinox is an MLM (much like Amway) which claims to make its money by distribuiting wholesale environmentally concious products like water filters and cosmetics and cleaning supplies and diet aids. They start by asking you to pay $50 dollars for the manual. Then they ask you to get 5 other people to come to a recruit meeting. Then hopefully those five people get 5 people, etc. And you profit off the sales of everyone you recruited, whose under you. It's a Pyramid scam, and their products are the "cover".
Our speaker was an upbeat and comic young white man who demonstrated the $200 "value" of the Equinox air filter. He put some drops of liquid into a glass a of tap water and then a glass of water which had been through the Equinox filter. Of course the "unprotected" and unfiltered water turned piss yellow. Eneryone squirmed and oohed and ahhed. We were asked which water we would like to shower in. This was when it became apparent to me that there were Equinox distributors "planted" throughout the audience, reacting to everything in the speaker said as if it was the gospel truth and was the first time they were hearing it all. We were being "prompted" to go along with them, well hey these people agree, maybe he's right. This is a classic ploy in cult group recruitment. Pur speaker then suggested that we hear the testimonies of other recently recruited distributors, in case we couln't "relate" to him ( meaning him as a white man I suppose, because we were a pretty mixed group). We heard from a diverse group of new people claiming profits of as much as $9,000 after only one month's work.
Then we were encouraged to attend "Basic Building Blocks training session" in Arizona for the upcoming weekend that costs "only" 300 dollars (not including tranportation, hotel and meal costs). We were promised a refund at the end of the weekend if we weren't "convinced." And even after reaching the upper management levels, distributors are pushed to repeat the same seminars they've already attended! Training sessions cost as much as $2500 dollars, and again, you are encouraged to repeat these sessions for sales method "reinforcement" and support.
During the break I was approached by my sister and a woman who already works for Equinox. The woman was extremely friendly and enthusiastic, all glitter and smiles. She identified herself as my sister's "sponsor". She did all the talking ( or "selling"), and seemed to have known my sister for longer than the 45 minutes we'd been there. I soon realized that my sister not only knew this woman but she had already been to a meeting the night before, and had now invited me, hoping that I would become part of her pyramid network. So really she had conned me into coming, making me think she knew nothing about it. This sent up a red flag immediately.
We were introduced to Bill Gouldd, the company President, on a large screen TV. He was very serious and whined for a while about the plight of the homeless and other unfortunate souls and why couldn't there be a company out there successful enough to pick up the slack of the goverment's poorly organized relief programs. And he went on to declare how Equinox would do just that. He's a great actor, really. Everyone in the room was mesmerized and seemed genuinely moved. It was a beautiful speech; too bad it was coming from the mouth of Satan's disciple. (Just a religious analogy, I'm no fanatic of any following -except maybe free thinking).
After the meeting was over (which was all bullshit and promises of success within a matter of months) we bolted out of there. I told my sister I wasn't interested, although I could see she was. She said the only thing stopping her was she didn't have the money for the manual, and suggested we buy one together to split the cost. I was firm in my decline, and I said I hope she finds success, but at that time I had no idea how serious it all was. I am afraid she is going to get sucked into this. She has already lost money (about $ 700) previously ditributing for Amway. She is also seriously in debt and recently had her car repossesed.
I have printed out a number of articles and testimonies by scam victims of this company, and I am going to give them to her to read before she goes to anymore meetings. She has agreed to read them, and this is the most I will do. She thinks she can do this part time while she has a real job, but I have come to the understanding that this company's premise is that you devote all of your time to Equinox. There wasn't one speaker at that meeting (and there were several, including a mother and daughter) who hadn't quit their job to work full time as an Equinox distributor.
My fear is that as soon as she gets the money she will start pouring it into Equinox. My sister is younger than me but we are both adults and I have long since stopped looking after her, and I have never taken responsibility for any of her debts. But after attending that meeting myself I am sure Equinox is much more than a MLM scam, but a cult. The people running that meeting were preying on our weaknesses and dreams as normal, everyday people just hoping to be comfortable and free of money problems in life. The way people were behaving was so fake, it just wasn't normal. And there were so many ploys to get you to believe, I found myself falling for it sometimes. Afterall, Equinox is featured in Inc. magazine and Hoovers, and gets plenty of good press. But I'm glad I decided to get the other side of the story from the internet. Because Bill Gouldd AND Equinox have been under investigation, and there are law suits filed against the company. Please be warned, no matter how legit they look, there's no WAY they aren't stealing money. The products are a sham! Don't be fooled like my sister, and don't give any Equinox distributor the satisfaction of even knowing you lost gas money to get to one of their meetings. Ask them who pays for the office. They are one big JOKE and SCAM rolled into one, worse than Amway in my opinion. Ask them who pays for their desks and business cards. (They rent it all from Bill!) And check out the phony advertisements in the employment Classifieds for headers in the Sales section like - PROMOTIONS, SPORTSMINDED, BE YOUR OWN BOSS, NO JOKE, etc. Lines like "I'm looking for 5 motivated individuals", claims of self-made wealth, and keywords like "environment" and "nutrition". These are almost always guaranteed to be ads for Equinox or a similar MLMs. Even the Equinox office where the meeting was has a Help Wanted sign in the window!
On a final note on Bizopps and cults in general: I have seen some of my most hard-headed, logical thinking and rational friends get sucked into money making schemes and religious cults, myself excluded, thank goodness so far. I consider myself to be very a skeptical person but I don't even trust myself around groups like these. They are professionals! Not in sales but in MANIPULATION. They will have an answer to everything, every question or negative piece of evidence you throw at them. Don't be naive enough to think it wont happen to you or someone you care about. Inform yourself of the CONS, look closely at their religious philosophy and/or products, beware of all the sugarcoated dreams of wealth and success they throw at you, and do some serious background research on any business opportunity before giving them a cent! MLMs and cults ruin people's lives!
Facts?, maybe about the idiots you were in business with, but not me. I really feel sorry for you and the situation you were in, and if I were you and had your experiences, I may feel likewise. I checked out the Britt line more extensively recently, and found nothing but good results. We don't make tons of money off of tools, just enough to fund our businesses. I couldn't believe the prices that other organizations were charging for tapes, videos, etc. It's rediculous, about 3 times what we pay, so there's not much profit through Britt. [Actually, this is total baloney. I was in a Yager group. Tapes were $6 (plus tax and handling, of course). I checked yesterday with a Britt group member. Tapes are $6 plust tax and handling. Yager S&R: $12 per person in advance, Britt S&R, $6 per person per session (two sessions, one in the afternoon, one in the evening equals $12 per person). Yager open meetings, $4-6 per person. Britt open meetings, $3-6 per person. Do you see any difference here? Hardly do other organizations charge three times more than Britt!!] I'm not talking about INA, Worldwide, or anyone else. The FACTS are, the Britt system is the most honest out of the whole bunch, [is this like calling somebody "the most thoughtful and considerate rapist of the whole bunch"???] maybe that's why we don't associate with Dexter or his organization at all. Try doing something positive , didn't you learn to build up rather than tear down? And no, you're not doing people a service by trying to give them negative info. What ever happened to ...do unto others...? Amway is NOT the culprit, people are the ones who have made the mistakes, and you ARE right, they should be held accountable! Good try, but you can't turn me negative, I make too much money at Ruby, and Emerald is a done deal. GO DIAMOND!!!!
This last response was sent after I suggested the writer visit the web site of Jeff and Joni Probandt, Emeralds in the Amway business who have posted the truth about the tools business. When I tried to respond, this wonderful, truthful, honest Britt Amway distributor had changed his e-mail address!
WOW, YOU'RE A BIGGER LOSER THAN I THOUGHT!!!!!!!
And I didn't realize til looking back on it how good they are. It's like when you're in there, you basically throw your family, friends, all of that out the door. If there's anything I would tell someone thinking about it is that Amway will promise you the world. But hell, I can get that kind of money robbing a bank if I wanted to.
Come to think of it, I would never had thought of Amway being a cult, but looking back on it, they sure classify as one. I mean, 1) I'm a computer programmer, and I had upline trying to get me to sell $4,000 system s in the personal shopper's catalog to people where I knew good and well they could get systems for under $1,000. That's CRAZY!!!! I've heard Amway mentioned as an AMO. Motivate you to what, desert your family and friends for the almighty dollar. It's not worth it.
I went through your web-page. Found out you are same as all the rest who did not have the guts to make it. [Really? And did you interview all of us losers personally in order to make this brilliant determination?] The drop-outs, derilicts etc always have someone to blame for their inadequecies. Let me guess, youare broke, aren't you? [Nope] Did it get any better after you left Amway? [Definitely.] I think not. If you spent the same time learning and putting in some action in your Amway business as much as you spent in creating this unscrupulous web-page, you would have made some money. [Apparently this person can't read either. My decision not to renew as an Amay distributor was based on the information I learned about the motivational organizations. No amount of money would induce me to become an Amway distributor again.]
Losers always wine and whimp out. Now all you do is 'wine' on the internet. Are you jelous that many of us are making it? So you want to drag as many as you can in your ditch. You know what, this business will haunt you for the rest of your life, since every time you think about it or hear some friend etc. who made it as a successful amway distributor, you will realize you too could have made it if you stuck with it. [The only 'haunting' is when I get nauseous hearing one of the Ambot catch-phrases.]
All your negative, unsubtanciated [I see. And how's your documentation coming for your claims?] and stupid e-mail chain letters will never even come close to scratching the mighty ship called Amway (which you called the Titanic). I am only worried about the next guy who may fall prey for your sick techniques in stealing his/her dream. [How about the sick techniques of the AMOs when they are recruiting? How about all the sick mind-control that's inflicted on distributors? Nobody finds this site unless they go looking for it. It doesn't hang out at the mall waiting to jump out from behind the potted palms and grab them.]
God bless you even as you rot in your cesspool of mediocority.
Thanks for any information that you have.
Thank you.
Part II
Thank you for taking the time to write back to me. I feel as if I just dodged a bullet, an expensive one at that!. I had misgivings nagging me from the start, and lucky me, I investigated the company on the net. I found that there is a law suit against Bill Gouldd and Equinox International. You are right, I had the definate cult feeling when I was at the meetings. It only took me 3 days to decide it was a scam.
Thanks for your suggested readings, I will pick up those books. I would truly love to begin my own business; in fact I have already created a web site to get myself going in the direction I want to go.
Lastly, I was to thank you for having your website out there for everyone. Although I am certain you take allot of abuse from "cult" members, folks like me are greatful that you are there. If I can ever be of help, please let me know.
Sincerely,
(almost a fool but was saved!)
Again thank you for posting this and hope I can convince my son before he gets buried.
I have seen many claims that COCA COLA and COLGATE-PALMOLIVE corporations are involved with MULTI LEVEL MARKETING. I have done hours of research and cant find out how they are involved with Network Marketing. Are they perhaps associated with AMWAY?? If so, what year did this association take place? Any information you can e-mail me would be most appreciated. If you don't know the answer, do you have any idea where I can find out this information?
Thanks for your help,
We are Roman Catholic and we began Lent by being invited to a home belonging to friends from church. The man of the house told me he had something to share with us. Being deprogrammed for two-years now I was naive to this old bait and switch tactic. We thought we were going to praise God and pray as we usually do amongst are church community "NOT". There was a Diamond "cubic zirconia" waiting to interview us and find our dreams such as I had done many times in the past before a home meeting.
Our revived faith in Jesus Christ was tested that night like gold is by fire. My wife and I to the amazement of the household went to toe-to-toe using his own language to deface him and prevent him from confusing the group. I lost my piece for a while but then was overtaken by the Holy Spirit and prayed. This man " a professional b.s. artist of course danced around all the facts I threw at him and used Jesus as the reason for the doing the business. Blasphemy! He used Jesus because that was our "hot button" old Amway term.
He eventually left after trying to salvage his leg. Either he left or we left. We ended up staying to evangelize and try to shed some truth on these two families that had invited us. As you can imagine they are brain washed (as I once was). We did our best and continue to pray for them. Of course they cannot afford to be around negative people so they have now stopped attending Church functions and have chosen another mass. Our upline is part of our family (cousins) they are emeralds. We have seen behind the scenes at first I closed my eyes to it, but I wasn't a doctor like they were and could not maintain my p.v.'s when my downline didn't.
I commend you on your investment toward your web site. We pray that it may enlighten others before it is too late. Alleluia there is life after Amway.
Ex-brainwashed directs, cult members and overjoyed. Thank God!!!!!
By the way, my deprogrammer was The Holy Spirit and God's Mercy. If you ever come across anyone who needs help in "deprogramming" and/or rebuilding self esteem send him our way conventionally or religiously, (Catholic or not) does not matter. What is your MLM testimony if any?
My Friend also left when I did and he went on to the Telephone long distance scam. Does Excell telecomunications ring a bell. Well that's my story, and by the way if you ever need 6 counter unit water filters, 2 Shower units, 2 undercounter units, or 2 small air filters let me know. I must admit I still use one of my counter units even though it is 8 years old it still gives me bottled water at 3 cens a gallon.My dog doesn;t seem to be able to tell the difference!( This was my up-lines strong selling point.)
Thanks for making me feel better, I knew I couldn't have been the only sucker in America!
p.s. If this helps somebody from being suckered into the nsa scam please use it as you may!!!!
I just read your web page and I'm surprise after all the knowledge you received you act like that.You juge the people but don't forget about the company vision.You see I'm equinox distributor and when I sale an environmental product I know that I 'm doind something good for the environment and the people.I know people you have their life saved because of the equinox product.So if you keep been negative because it didn't work for you then go ahead if it make you happy.
I am not really supprised to see resentment in this business, or any other business. When you get two or more people involved there is a chance for friction. It has been my observation that usually the ones that don't succeed are the ones that blame others rather than looking at themselves first. [And I've observed that when the same misinformation is repeated enough times, it becomes accepted as truth.] This is especially true when repeated negative emotions have been promoted by past experiences, after life itself is a form of brain washing. I am still baffeled by the social engineers that promote things that are morally wrong as being ok as they new more than GOD. Deception comes in many forms but, a definitive moral code will always find it out. Its no wonder those that screem freedom of speech are often times the same ones that say we better not display the ten commandments in our schools because someone might read them. It seems pretty clear that since 1962 when prayer was removed from school we have seen a steady decline in education. It is also puzzeling to me how its easer for some to believe that we came from apes instead of a Devine Creator. The odds of evolution are astronomical and it is an unproven theory yet it is taught as fact. What does this have to do with Amway? If the choice were mine (and it is) I would choose the side that agrees with a biblical standard and forget the rest, if Amway does Good, if not toss it.
This page updated Sep-16-98