Stay away from the Quixtar “opportunity” unless you like pep rallies and losing money.
Maybe it’s the phase of the moon, but I feel ready to pick a fight today. In a Clint Eastwood, Go-Ahead-Make-My-Day kind of way.
We get bizarre e-mail messages sometimes, calling us to task for being shameless scammers, or from a victim of negative option marketing demanding their money back. Today’s “Huh?” moment came in the form of a comment on the Jordangetsgreen post. Kim writes:
Jordan,
I live here in Bentonville and I want to know if you are a real person and if this really works. I can meet you in person and talk about it.
Thank you,
Kim [last name removed]
Ummm….Kim? You do realize I’m not Jordan, right? And that the Jordan you see isn’t a real person? And that this non-real person doesn’t really live in Bentonville, just where you happen to live? (His page uses a script that detects where your computer is coming from and then reprograms the page accordingly.)
Of course you do. You were just giving a suggestion for a snarky reply to his cheesy Web site. I get it…that’s funny!
Anyway, because those messages are sometimes amusing, I figured I would toss this out and see if I can get some of the capitalist, Ayn Randian Kool-Aid drinkers to reply.
Stay Away from the Quixtar “Opportunity”
Quixtar is Amway’s reinvention of itself, which was necessary after the original name became more toxic in the 80s and 90s than collateralized debt obligations are today.
Why so toxic? Because disreputable and unethical Amway distributors have for decades made unrealistic claims about income potential and money-saving potential of buying Amway products. In short, they lied through their coffee-stained teeth.
I should know. I was one of the smiling zombies for about 4 years in the early 90s. I was trained to lie. (I just didn’t know I was doing it.)
But don’t take my word for it. Take the word of a high-ranking (Emerald) former distributor, who is now telling the truth about Amway/Quixtar. You can even download a free ebook about his experiences, called Merchants of Deception.
If you join the cult “opportunity,” you’ll be joining a business that boasts:
- A 99% failure rate (99% of the distributorships lose money)
- A 97% attrition rate (97% of distributors quit by year 5. There goes your downline!)
- Unabashedly higher prices than for comparable products at retail outlets
- Unrestricted opportunity to buy “training” tools and “motivational” tools to help you “build your business”
I could go on, but you should really go read the whole story for yourself, especially if you’re considering getting involved with a business whose legal status is constantly being challenged with litigation charging deceptive practices.
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7 Responses
I think you do a fabulous job and consider myself fortunate thaqt I stumbled upon your website. I even have you in my RSS feeder. I have learned a great deal and you have saved me a lot of money, Never considered Amway but always assumed that people made money–thanks again for all of your infornation that you freely share.
great stuff!!
I was also part of the 90’s craze for MLM’s… whatever the name of the company… I was “successful” money wise; at least broke even & covered my costs but what opened my eyes was what my wife told me at one point: “They are using you”…
I’m a natural when it comes to speaking in front of peoples; what my wife made me realize is that I was making money but only because the “gurus” were placing me in front of peoples who needed to hear the great words “you can be financially independant” and boy did I know how to sell it…
The last time I was brought in front of a crowd, I think pretty much everyone had their jaws wide open; I told them the truth – even statistics like you mention for Amway… good thing I had my coat in my arms, they got me out of there so quickly, I think it would still be on the chair I was sitting in…
I joined Quixtar in 2006, but I am not with them anymore. That kind of business wasn’t for me because I felt like I had to get too many people to help me make income. Then, I had to make sure they spent enough points for the month and other things. All that wasn’t worth it to me. However, that experience has changed my life so much and I don’t regret joining them either. Before I knew Quixtar, I didn’t know I could own my own buisness and it helped me to create my own business ideas! This was important to me because it made me realize that someday I can be my own boss with my own buisness. Then, Quixtar has the conference thing, and on the 3rd day, they do a church service kind of a thing that was optional. I attended it, and I confessed that God is my savior! I have never done anything like that before! Now I have a relationship with God and I’m saved. I am a lot more peaceful now and understanding. So yea, Quixtar helped me see the full potiental that I have with in myself. However, I will not used Quixtar as a source of income. Their methods are unrealistic to me and sometimes they acted a little fony. I am just glad I got something good out of it.
I was shown the Amway plan by a guy who said he was from Network 21. Network 21 is not Amway but he said Amway supplies them with products. So he said I would have to join both Network 21 and Amway and that Network 21 would train me to sell Amway products. He kept telling me that I needed to attend some upcoming convention of sorts and it was at my own cost. It sounded fishy so I politely said no, but the guys persisted and kept calling me and telling me I would regret my decision and would end up broke. That’s when I told him I was not interested in his scam. Anyone else run into one of these Amway or Network 21 salesmen?
Amway Global – as many as have tried and failed, there has been an equal number who have been successful. Amway Global (formerly Quixtar) is a legitimate business opportunity that if you allow yourself to be coached and are willing to learn will potentially allow for a decent income stream. What Amway Global is not is a get rich quick scheme nor was it ever intended to be. If one does nothing, one can expect to recieve nothing.
Tom, “an equal number who have been successful?” If that were true, the attrition rate (the percentage of those who drop out) would be closer to 50%, not more than 90%, which is the true attrition rate.
“Amway Global – as many as have tried and failed, there has been an equal number who have been successful.”
Totally not true. Only a very small percentage of people actually succeed. It is why there are so many horrow stories about Amway. Just look at the Amway plan, there are many layers of unsuccessful IBO’s propping up the higher level IBO’s. That’s who it’s been for years and years and it’s why Amway has a bad reputation.