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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.

Why spend so much of your time bashing, bashing, bashing. So it didn't work out for you. You tried to the best of your ability and quit. Take what you've learned and apply it to something that's going to help you in life. My story is alot different as far as "buying" into what my upline is selling. The knowledge that comes from the system(tapes, booksl, function) is what makes this type of business grow. Yes we make money on this stuff. Why shouldn't we. Should we give it away? Yeah..that'll work. I pay $150 for a one day seminar about repairing automobiles, plus pay my travel expenses, hotel, sitter, food, ect. I'll bet the people giving those seminars do it without making a profit...yeah right!!!! It is, however, a tax deductable expense that will hopefully improve my knowledge about repairing automobiles and in turn increase my income, just like the system is to building a successful Quixtar business. Some people see the value, some others just want the money and aren't willing to do what it takes. I'm not saying that this is you, I've just been around it long enough to know that when one part of the system and pattern are left out, it just doesn't work. Personally...I hate the work involved with building this type of business and listening to those stupid tapes, reading boring books, 3 day major functions, driving all over to meet with small minded people who can't see past Thursday night bowling and watching Simpson reruns!!!!!! Hate!Hate!Hate it. But I have learned so much from dealing with people from both sides of success(have it or don't) that even if I didn't make any money, it has opened my eyes to the real world. Fact is....it's been around a long time, it will be around a long time(even with all the negative web pages) that you might as well be a part of it, put as many people in as you can, let the ones who can't do it quit, make money from the ones who don't, and maybe...just maybe...retire at an early age with alot of money to do the things you really want to do. And if it never happens, so what!!!!!! Beats watching tv!!!!!

Dear Ruth

Ruth you crack me up everytime I look at your sight. The statement's that you make are streaching soooooooo far like the cop who got in the accident. Let me guess you never speed and you have never had a ticket or a fender bender. I for one have done all that before I was a distributor imagine that boy does that make me a jerk. Also for the people that stole the money from the school they should be in jail and you know what they have never told us at a function to steel. My mother worked at a school where the tres stold money but guess what she wasn't in amway there's all kind's out there that's what make's the world go round. Ruth yiou still havn't made a response to the number's I sent you about the business still waiting for a respone, and I know you looked at it. So let not him haw around any more do you want to quistion my fact's or do you want to be called a lier.I never let people quistion my integrety without knowing the fact's and all the number's you spew out is not even relevant toward's any business but like most you probably have never owend a brick and mortar business. I sent a letter to one off the other guy's Dean something with all the fact's and figure's and guess what the dumb sh-- never came back with a response. I also quistioned him about what everybody call's a brick and mortar business to see just how much he knew. It's like I told my wifes's college proffesor how can you teach what you have never done. Its like the saying goes. He who can do doe's and he who can't teach.

I actually came across this site (members.tripod.com/`nomorescams/index.htm) while searching for something else but I found it interesting. I'm sure my message will not get published as I don't have a sob story about Quixtar or Amway but I still wanted to send "MY" story. No, it's not glamorous but it is still my story.

My good friend joined Quixtar shortly after they started on Sept 1. She called me in November and I thought I should try it since I had nothing to lose (it only costs $30.00 to sign up no matter what ANYONE tells you - see Quixsource.com). No, you aren't required to purchase a sample kit of products (that would take the $30.00 to $110.00) and no, you aren't required to buy a "starter" kit. My friend is only making about $450.00/month and I'm only making about $150.00 month but we are having a blast. I have heard about all of the "cult like" activities from the past and have actually learned a lot more about stuff like that under Quixsource.com.

Do I believe that most people make their money from Business Support Materials?? Absolutely. Do I care? Not really. I don't buy them. Not the tapes, not the books, I don't even promote the initial business support materials purchase. I just talk to people and go online with them!

I'm sure a lot of people have had bad experiences with over zealous uplines. As for mine??? I'm sure they are not thrilled that I'm not purchasing or promoting their stuff but they are still supporting me. Am I going to sit around and dream of owning my own jet some day? Not a chance. Can I make a few hundred or thousand dollars a month? maybe. If not, I'm only out $30. Actually, I like most of their products and don't really care that I'm paying a little more. We don't seem to mind spending 50-75 cents for a can of Coke ($12 - $18 case!) or paying someone 6 times what food is worth so that someone else can cook it in a restaurant.

Even my friends who have signed up aren't getting a line of "let's be a millionaire!" from me. People are going to buy online, people are going to make money from it so you might as well be hooked up with some with experience, distribution and CASH to run the business. IBM, Microsoft, Office Max and ToysRUs don't seem to think they are from the underworld. As far as the groups within that are making all of their money from BSM's? I don't think they will really last in Quixtar. Most of their stuff still says Amway and so is their thinking.

Good luck with your web site. Just remember, everyone has a bad experience in life. I could start a site for people who realize what a scam the government is, but then I would be a zealot, right?

oh my gosh i just read your e.mails i neaver have heard such weak minded people mind control i go ido what i want to i love my wife and kids i would neaver do somethin that woul hurt them . oh by the way all these tools they bought did theywrite them off the guy who got 68.00 bucks was cute . that one of things that really upset me oh i lost money well so what write it off ! the 1st year grad student using the worDpropaganda should really look up the meaning . any one opioion is prpoganda i mean lost my friends what jerk imnot goin to hang out w you because your in ammmway. how dumb for the most any who has ever been in biz 4 them selves ca really see the power of what a2k is doing amdroids is a joke living in trailerpark is not ! workdroids you no what there is nothing wrong with working u know food,clothing,shelter. but as my granddaddy used to say 2 incomes is better than 1oh as 4my wife not working i want to bring her home kinda thing is right i dont want some else raisng my kids who are going to be like .you want teach thememail me back @ tell if it took 1 income 30yrs ago to support afamily 2 incomes today in most cases. would it be safe to say in the future it mighttake2..3...4 sources of incomei doknow this that i am paying 2.09 agallon 10.00 for a movie and 20,000.00 per year 4my little girls education y u ask because comm college is druggies and drop outs in my opioin. all have to say in closing thank you rich and jay for your vision when Ucan get past the soap in your eyes all this is abiz not cult oooh or a brainwashing sales force it is biz plain and simple,treat it that way and you might have been who knows but you quit oh by the way u can the loss up to 7 yrs if your intent was to create a profit but if you where in to just hang out and play amway dont do it . any best of luck on your intent to create a profit on your book GOG BLESS AMERICA !

Great sight!!!!I love it!!! When you get a chance check out www.worldwidescam.com Keep up the good work.

When I read stories like yours it affirms my belief that people who have never been in their own business should not be allowed to participate in an MLM without years of apprenticeship. Even an electrician must serve as an apprentice before he or she can be left alone.

I wish people like you would find a life and stop masquerading around like you are doing some good for the world. If you want to go after the truth then you should start with U.S. drug companies or the medical profession.

By their own stats medicine is the number four killer in the U.S. behind Cancer and Heart related problems. They gave a statistic of over 100,000 people that have died due to the use of properly prescribed drugs. How many people have died because of Amway?

If you don't like the idea of people making money on tapes and books then you need to go after the music industry for not only selling music with lyrics that promote killing and hate but making money on it. Of course there are books also that instill hate and anger in people and make money doing it.

Let's move on to the many companies that advertise products on T.V. They employ high powered marketing agencies that do statistics to find out the best way to get you to believe that by buying brand X over brand Y you will have a better life. And guess what, they recoup all their money from the sale of their product. Do you really think it costs $5 to make a box of cereal?

Of course there is always the government. I bet you were one of those people that believes that it was ok for the president to have sex in the oval office and lie about because it was "his private business".

Now if you were really interested in helping people you would change this site to tell the truth about abortion. Imagine, you are all worked up because someone makes money on selling tapes yet million of babies are slaughtered each year because it is not convenient to birth them. But that is not as important to you as making $2 on a tape. No, selling the tape gets you sick and angry.

You are a mean spirited phony. It is very easy to see through your veil of lies and contempt for others. If you really cared about people you would take up real causes that are literally killing people and be honest with yourself about the anger you harbor because you failed at your own business.

Maybe you should go after franchises. Imagine selling you just the name of a company and charging you a hefty fee for its use. I had a friend who opened a gym that is a very well known franchise and he finally had to sell it because the franchise fee was so high that it almost put him out of business. And guess what, no one ever came down to help him.

You are truly the poster person of today's "It's not my fault" society. Pointing the finger and telling about how you were victimized by mean ole Amway. You failed because you did not have the ability to succeed.

You may fool some people but people like you are truly the dregs of society. I certainly hope that you are not just a front for some major company that is trying to disseminate bad feelings.

I would wish you the best of luck but I don't believe in luck. I believe that we have a large part to play in our own destiny and I sincerely hope you re-think yours.

Are your stories based on facts, or just a need to blame something because the system did not work the way you had expected it, or you had a very bad team of leadership?

I have read exerts from a master's thesis discussing that much of the "negative amway" campaign comes from misinformed and/or poorly trained leaders. You cannot discredit an entire corporation because you had the misfortune of connecting with poor industry leaders.

If everyone posted a failure story, or a problem with the company they worked for or are working for; I guess none of us would work. You cannot show me a single company that runs perfectly without some line or crap associated with it. I could easily write you a story about my company. Overall they are a good group, however, we have some jerks here that make it a hard place to work.

I caution you on slamming an entire corporation based on emotions and not facts.

Regards,

I just got back from a meeting with "Trek Alliance," a company that looks and feels every inch like Equinox. Skip Meyer, who I have learned used to work for Equinox is one of the gurus there. If you have any info on him or Trek Alliance, I would really appreciate it. I have a friend who is involved and I want some more info to help her get out.

While searching for info. on Melalueca I came across this page. I am new to the net surfing business and am unsure as to how my questions will be answered, but I could us some help. As I was reading someone commented on the "circle stuff" I am believe the writer was involved with Amway. When I was approached with Melalueca their was a wheel affect and I was wondering if this is similar to the Amay circle. Any info. on Melalueca, positive or negetive, would be helpful. Thank you for your time.

Why no info on primerica?

I am curious. You make some good points but your veracity is challenged when you draw conclusions from the stats from a site (pcdataonline) that is using survey results from a reported "more than 100,000 participants". I cannot verify all of Quixtar's claims either, but I certainly don't expect to get reliable data from a site that is getting it's information from a biased non-scientific database. Actually, you may be right that there are some people getting rich from tapes and seminars. There are people getting rich from self-help books. Some people are making a decent living on the Amagift sales also. I know for a fact. I appreciate and I am sorry that you had a bad experience with this business. Many people have, and many others have had good and bad experiences with other businesses. I only ask that if you are going to quote "facts" that you use good data.

Have you more recent statistics around quixtar???? I recently went to a meeting, specifically about the site, and I think I can now see the lies, from the truth, but need some more stats , any luck???

Recently one of my friends became involved with what appears to me to be an MLM group called International Teamworks Incorporated or ITI. This group sells phone and internet service. I would like more information about this group if anyone has it so that I can pass it along to my friend and, hopefull, dissuade him from continuining with these folks.

Thanks.

hi, anything new on purchase plus buyers group, because it is growing like crazy around here-------------thanks

Thanks for having the savvy to print the facts about many of the "insider" secrets of the business. Like many others I started this business with the blind determination to do "whatever it takes" to succeed. As I continued on I found that the pressure being applied to me through subtle and non-subtle forms of mind control (called "counselling", "accountability sessions" etc) increased continuously. I won't get into the details as many of them are well documented in these articles. Unlike many other of my crossline friends - I have extensive experience in counselling and psychologically and started to take exception to the many things I was taught to "promote" to others. Initially I was elated thinking I could use my psychology skills to help myself and others suceed. This was not what was required of me - I was required to regurgitate only waht I was told to say. I couldn't honestly continue to tell others that if they applied themselves 100% for the next 90 - 120 days their future would be assuredly brighter ("richer","on the way to being set for life"). As I continued to ask simple rational questions to my upline I was told helping others is also a matter of careful "disclosure" ie; "you only tell them what they need to know at that time" That was later revised to being told to "tell them whatever it takes to get them to the next function" etc. Unfortunately this meant telling them only exactly what I was told! Eventually I realized I could no longer in good conscience tell potential recruits everything I was told to tell them. I wouldn't tell them that spending their food money on F.E.D tickets would be the best thing for them.I realized that the "team meetings","phone teams", "functions", endurance feats r/t sleep deprivation etc were all designed as smoke and mirrors to keep the flow of tapes,books,fuction revenue and product flow going. I didn't need the criticism I received for copying a rare old (extinct) tape from a 30 year old meeting that I thought would help somebody I knew. My God, what if everybody starting sharing knowledge freely - it could ruin the business! I grew exhausted that the simplest intelligent question would be harshly criticized as "negative" ie; asking why a simple non-edited tape would cost $8.00 (in many cases the quality was so poor -portions were almost indistinguishable. I felt betrayed when my sponsoring license was revoked for 6 months beacuse I mentioned that Quixtar and Amway were affiliated (all in the same breath, or worse yet -on a computer!)- I put this on my non-Amway business site to share information about the coming of the great online opportunity. It didn't matter that every speaker at the opportunity meeting had been saying the exact same thing for months. I couldn't stomach telling my wife that if she asked any questions - she was ruining the accountability alignment of our marriage ( "women are in Amway to complete the husband"). In many cases it was the female who entirely built the business - only to turn over all the praise and podium lectures to the husband at whatever level it was deemed that the woman should be "put into proper alignment". The powers that be believed we couldn't tell the difference! I can only express my own disappointment leading to my decision to get out of the "core"/"team player" loop and it's relentless demands. I could no longer mentally or physically continue dropping my wife (and myself off) at work monday morning after only 3 or 4 hours sleep in 3-4 days. I couldn't laugh at my upline emerald talking about falling asleep at the wheel after an endurance run of showing the plan - and driving through a major intersetion asleep. By the way he was being congratulated by his downline as he described this near tragedy. It reminded me of 25 years ago when it used to be cool to brag about how many drinks you could have and still drive home from the bar. I won't go to phone team with pneumonia again just because my upline emerald told me it was the right thing to do. I finally used one of the much touted phrases given to me to motivate me. I was told to "give this business 100% for one year and then decide if you want to continue - if not- flush it and get out" I gave it 100 % for 3 years non-stop and "flushed it". If this is freedom -I'll take the slavery of a job. Or better yet , I'll work in a business where work output and initiative creates success or failure based on what I do. I'll believe my own positive self-talk rather than my upline who I was told always knew what was best for me! After one year I am still angry that the MLM industry is ruining thousands of lives and marriages by telling they are failures if they don't achieve the diamond lifestyle. If the entire MLM industry fails it will be because of the greed of a few people who saw fit to exploit thousands of others - not "the few diamonds who sacrificed everything to help the new distributors" as we are so often told after we were standing 3 hours in the freezing cold to get a seat in a stadium 1000 miles away from home.) I got tired of hearing the same podium lectures from the same few diamonds who repetedly apologized for not having the time to think of what they should talk about that night. I stopped cheering when they "spoke from the heart" til 2 a.m. stating the same thing over and over. I didn't applaud that they were "so kind to come today" knowing that they were resting in their 1/2 million dollar R.V. until an hour before their talk. I knew There are a lot of hard-working decent people in these MLM's - unfortunately we had to ex-communicate ourselves from them to reassemble our lives - and to "keep their dreams from being "stolen " by me. It's good to vent a little anger constructively once in awhile!

Hi Ruth, I think I have gathered enough courage to finally tell you and others a bit about myself and "my story" with Equinox International. To be honest I'm not quite sure of what I was so afraid of....probably the brutal truth of it all and how devistating it really was for me and my family. I have heard "the truth hurts" and I think to bring it all out into the open really solidifies it and makes it a "truth" of my life. A painful truth.

I was introduced to Equinox International in August of 94 by an old college roommate. We had met at a wedding and her and her husband "seemed" so incredibly happy and as if they had it all together!! I was especially interested to find out that they had both quit there jobs to work with this "new environmental company" full time. They were boasting of opening a beautiful, very successful office in the Des Moines area. When they found out I was living in Cedar Rapids they jumped on the chance to tell me that the company was expanding in my area. My husband and I were very skeptical because we had been shown Amway before and definately didn't want to get involved in any "pyramid scam". My friends assured me they were not Amway and then subtly mentioned.....we dont' know how we did it but we made $15,000.00 our third month working in the company. I couldn't believe it!! I KNEW it wasn't Amway simply because everyone I had met in Amway had been doing it for gobs of years and hadn't made a dime!!

J* called me that week and set up a time for me to meet with one of the "top producers" of the company. Owen Gibson was his name and he and his wife were making a strong six figure income with the company. Well that night I went to the meeting and the room was packed. A tall gentleman who had been "suicidal and broke" just weeks before actually was giving the "briefing" and explaining how this company was making a difference in the environment. I was very excited about the products right away but a bit confused about the "marketing plan". Then "Owen Gibson" spoke. People were clapping and cheering for him and I just couldn't figure out why because frankly I was quite offended by him!! He went on and on until late into the evening. I was tired and confused yet intrigued by it all. By the end of the meeting I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I signed the application, reluctantly paid a $25.00 "application fee" and bought a few hundred bucks worth of products. J* and Owen were really happy about that and of course Owen had to pump my ego a bit and tell me how much potential I had and how he could actually see me at the top of the company and becoming one of his top producers.

I started my journey with Equinox. That week I tried the products and actually my family and I loved them. My father and I had unbelieveable results and actually later we both became semi successful with our "product stories". The products sold me and I decided to take the "fast start" option. My husband and I cashed in some of his investments and got started with a $5,000.00 order, we paid for me to fly to Las Vegas for an INCREDIBLE training with the founder of the company BILL GOULDD.....the training also cost around $800.00 (most trainings were only $300.00 but this was special because Mr. Gouldd himself was giving the training and what we would learn would be "life altering). The training was definately life altering for myself. Basically Mr. Gouldd dressed as different characters to explain the "business and life"....with the philosophy that we will learn more with pictures. This training was very very dramatic and I do have to say I was hooked. I was completely confused and in a daze of course because each evening we would be there with Mr. Gouldd going on and on and on about "important" things....he continued until 4 or so in the morning. I had very little sleep the entire week-end and very little to eat. My "sponsors" B* and J* kept me nourished with minerals and vitamins and a heck of a lot of energy and "positive thinking". Whenever I would question Mr. Gouldd or Owen Gibson B* or J* would respond with something to the extent that my own thoughts had gotten me where I was (broke, fat and unhappy)....so maybe it was time to listen to someone else in order to make positive changes in my life and in the lives of others.

That week-end certainly changed my life. On Sunday evening we were up until 4 in the morning and our flight left at 7, I had no sleep but I was excited and ready to go. We flew back to Cedar Rapids and I went strait to the office and "got on a desk"....gave the "lease holder" $500.00 for my desk and set up 2 phone lines (one for me and one for my future sales force)....I placed ads in the paper and my husband and I began dragging our friends and family in as much as we could. Of course most of our family and friends thought we were crazy and refused to come in. We were actually very fortunate and had success within our first few months. My sister started right away and some of my husbands co workers got involved, plus I was losing weight like you can't even believe. My story was going crazy through out the midwest....I lost a lot of weight and made $5,000.00 within my first few months. Things were going GREAT!! Now....what folks didn't know was that my "outcome" was about double my "income". I was going to every single training there was with Mr. Gouldd and going to a "Basic Building Blocks" just about every other week-end. The money was going quick. I just loved how I felt though. It felt so incredible to be in the office and to feel like I was doing something well. Now....I never had the assistance ofB*, J* or Owen Gibson. They were all off opening other offices.....but I was instructed that whenever I was asked HOW I made that kind of money I was to respond with "I couldn't have done it without the "system" and all the help ofB* and J* and Owen and Peggy Gibson". Eventually I truly beleived that my little successes were because ofB* & J* or Owen and Peggy. Yet when I went to them with struggles or problems, then it was "MY" incompetence...."I" wasn't following the system.

After I had become a "success story" in Iowa Owen said he was going to introduce me and another gentleman to "Sheri Sharman"....the top money earner in the company and Mr. Gouldd's life long friend and business partner. I ADORED Sheri and meeting her was magical!!! Oh gosh how I wanted to be the kind of woman she was. When we met with Sheri I was soooooooo surprised to find a very strict business woman....nothing like the soft, loving, kind nurturing woman at training and on the videos. Sheri instructed the other gentleman and myself that we were to go to Chicago and "open our own office". It was time to "leave the nest" and to become the "Bill and Sheri" of Chicago. I saw her vision and I was ready to conquer the midwest!!! By now I had a sales team of around 50 people and had 2 strong "directors" in my group. I was soooooo close to "going Exec".

BS* and I went to Chicago with our cars packed and no idea where we were going to open an office. Owen and Sheri promised They would be there right beside us helping us out. BS* had a gentleman in his sales team with a father who agreed to help us "finance" the office. He would become the "lease holder" and BS* and I would fill the office with representatives....all buying a $500.00 desk. When we started to open the office Owen refused to let any other sales force work in our office.....even though we had been told time and time again that we were all supposed to cooperate with each other and work as an "Equinox" team. This wasn't the case. Basically we were told that anyone in our sales force could get a free or discounted desk but any other sales force had to pay $500.00 deposit and another $500.00 in desk rent each month. That $1,000.00 first month would almost assure that no one could afford it and we could have the whole office to ourselves. The downside was that in the Chicago area....I began to have a reputation of not being a "team player". So the "politics" began. And it was up to me to fill this office!!!

Chicago just exploded for myself. Still no Owen orB* & J* to help us. Of course Owen would instruct us to "fill the office" and he would come and do an evening or week-end training. He would show up late, our people would be tired and frustrated and then he would insult most of them. I was lucky to have found some incredible people in Chicago!!! Gosh I still hurt because of all the pain felt by so many people in my and other's sales teams. My sales team was incredible and the people were amazing. We all worked sooooooo hard, invested soooooo much money and believed in Owen Gibson, Equinox and Mr. Gouldd with blind faith. We did whatever we were asked to do and more. I was making incredible money but still my expenses were exceeding my income, even more so because I had an image to uphold. By now Owen,B* & J* were also making incredible checks. I knew they were all still struggling financially as well but I never mentioned it. Peggy once was crying to one of my sales team telling them she was afraid they weren't going to be able to pay their new mortgage payment (they had just purchased a huge home in Kansas City and a new BMW)....this was after them making a $35,000.00 check!!! Where did that money go?? The person in my sales team that she was crying to actually quit a few months later.

Owen instructed me to leave Chicago. There were 5 offices in the area and all of them had several people from my sales force in them. My sponsors had "gone exec" primarily because of the work of my sales team and one other "leg" they had. On the conference call congratulating them of courseB* and J* exclaimed it was because of "Owen Gibson and the system of Mr. Gouldd and Sheri Sharman". I never knew exactly how they did it because they didnt' seem to have all the directors they needed....I found out later that Owen had the ability to designate any position to anyone....this was common practice I guess. I'm not sure if he "gave" the position toB* and J* but I have suspected that for a long time.....the calculations just didnt' add up.

When I left ChicagoB* and J* moved there to "help my sales force". What I found out later was that basically Owen,B* and J* were ready to have me "out of the way" so to speak. If I were to quit the business then my entire sales team of about 2000 people would "roll up" one step closer to them. I just found out recently that this organized plan started to get me to quit the business. Basically other folks in Owens organization were encouraged to steal from me, lie to me, destroy my character, whatever it took to make my life miserable. And if they didn't do it......then he would include them in the reputation massacre. Now I have only heard this from a few other folks in Owen's sales force....not from Owen,B* or J*. I'm sure they would never admit to this. Basically Owen began to "de-edify" me as much as he could. He actually removed dollar volume from my sales in order for me to not qualify for my checks. As an "IMD" he basically could do whatever he wanted in his sales force.....including "steal" volume....which he began to do regularly. NowB*, J* and Owen would clame that my "lack of production" is the reason for my "not making checks"....and for some goofy reason I beleived that for the longest time.

By this time I was in a catch 22.....I didn't trust my upline, I was making money but spending so much trying to keep my business running. I felt as if I were living a lie!!! My marriage was deteriorating completely, my family had all but disowned me and NOW the family that I had believed in and put my blind faith in was turning it's back on me. It was devistating to put so much trust in Peggy, Owen,B* and J* and to have them completely disregard it all. Their bottom line was $$$$ and that was it. By this time a lot of the "leadership" of the company was quitting, leaving, being kicked out, etc....Owen,B* and J* included. Again Owen,B* and J* tried to deceive me....they tried to recruit my strongest "director" (as well as several others of my sales team) into another MLM company they were signing up with. They of course lied to them and tried to deceive them about me an my intentions so they didnt' trust me as well. I was sooooooo hurt and confused I decided to write a letter to Mr. Gouldd himself. Basically I asked him what I needed to do?? I told him at how I had been cheated and lied to in his company, I didn't trust Peggy Gibson (Didasa), I just wanted to do what was best for my sales force....I had brought all of these people to the company asked them to work hard and to follow Mr. Gouldd's dream and now it was all crumbling. What should I do?? Well the response that I received from "Equinox International" said it all. Basically I was first told that someone of my level would never have the opportunity to correspond directly with Mr. Gouldd. If I had questions and concerns to discuss with Mr. Gouldd I would have to get off my butt and produce. Thank you for my time and "see you at the top". Well I was numb for a few days after receiving this letter that didn't even come from Mr. Gouldd himself. After spending my life devoted to his dream for 4 years, spending close to $75,000.00 on trainings and offices to promote his program, divorcing my husband, declaring bankruptcy, losing several friends.......this is what he thinks of me. I trusted him and his dream, I trusted the people that he promoted as his "leadership".....I gave that to them blindly and with faith and he abused that. The "bottom line" is that Equinox International is a living breathing, money making machine for Bill Gouldd and a very few of his followers. Unfortunately there are thousands of more who are a lot like me....who believed and truly wanted to make a difference in the environment and people's lives.

I thank you Ruth for this web site and the information you have given to me. I hope my story can help people to make rational decisions for their future!!! If someone is in Equinox right now and is beginning to question the "system" then DO IT!!! Look deeper...because I didn't until many lives had been hurt because of it. Don't hesitate....look deeper....question everyone and every thing. I have of course taken the last two years to "heal" and look deep within myself to discover the true person I am. I have had some very strong positive things come from my experience with Equinox and for those I am greatful. I am happy to say that now I have "bounced back"....yes I have a J.O.B....but I am making a heck of a lot more than when I was in Equinox....and it is nice to have some of that money "stick" in my bank account rather than go back into Mr. Gouldd's. Things are good and I am glad I had the opportunity to share my experience.

Hi,

I am searching for any information on Melaleuca. I am considering signing up with this company. Please send me any information on this company.

Thank you.

There's so little on this site on Mannatech and believe me it is just as much of a cult as anything out there. I have a family member who has been doing this for 3 years. He is in the same boat as many others, brainwashed to the hilt, trying to live the good life while borrowing from family members to live. He continues to claim he will be a millonaire soon (although that was suppossed to happen 2 1/2 years ago!) There is no arguing with him as he has an answer for everything - company propaganda as far as I'm concerned. I could go on and on as to what is has done to his and spouses social life, financial life, etc. But the thing that annoys me the MOST about Mannatech is the fact that make claims that they have no business making, such as it will cure eveything that ails you. The fact that they claim the product will cure cancer amazes me! When I asked him how that can be possible, if there is a legit product that can cure cancer don't you think that this would be a global issue? Of course his answer is that it's so new the doctors don't know about it yet!!!! He really believes this! I'd love to find more sites slamming Mannatech so I could pass this info on to family member and his spouse. Although I doubt anything negative would sink in as he is SO brainwashed!!

Sir...I am a student in my last year at Wharton School of Business. I have researched the opportunities that you critique and though you have some points that are indeed valid, the basic opportunity remains a fine one for the capabilities of the average person.Therefore it is my opinion that you have helped people actually get in to this business because of the prevailing leaning of Americans toward an oppositional tack in logic...yours included.

If you want to protect others you must present the good and the bad equally of each opportunity or face the distinction of being just another crank.

I applaud your altruistic pursuit however the logic though opaque, is fundamentally without significant merit. I think that when I am finished with my studies I will indeed get into the Quixtar business for myself...as most people who fail fall into two categories; the weak, and the infirm. I am neither. I think many who read this will wonder about you in regard to that perception which is widely held as a truth.

I wish you well in whatever makes your world tick for you.

Hi,

I am researching this interesting MLM biz and found your informative site. However, there is a hyperlink missing to the ZD Net site. You mentioned the "10 worst E-comm. sites rating", but your link goes nowhere and an intensive search via the ZD net's search engine pulled up nothing, Can you send me the correct link? There was no "10 worst" rating of anything at ZD Net. Thanks. Below is a copy/paste of your mention with the link:

Sincerely,

Why am I not suprised!

I am an ex Amway dist. I have just been recruited by a Primerica Financial Analyst. Do you have any info on this MLM. I've already been sold and tonight I have changed my mind. I plan to tell the guy first thing in the morning. I feel better already!!!

Thanks

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