All Quiet on the Amway Front

Alticor, what’s it going to be?  Quixtar, what’s it going to be?   Spin and silence, or truth and transparency? 

Over the past almost nine months, as various issues and lawsuits have been exposed and discussed in the media and even on company sponsored blogs, a pattern has begun to emerge.  When the results of some legal action enhance the reputation of or serve the interests of Alticor/Quixtar/Amway, corporate communications has something substantial to say within hours — and it is usually posted quickly online and elsewhere.  However, when those results don’t serve the business interests of A/Q/A there is either silence, or spin and pathetic personal attacks.  Why?

One of Quixtar’s promises to its IBOs this past year was transparency, full disclosure, entering the dialogue about itself fully and transparency, instead of leaving that conversation up to its critics.  But transparency isn’t transparency if we are only willing to be transparent when it suits us or if the issue at hand is rather benign.  Transparency only develops trust when it is the all-encompassing atmosphere of every aspect of the business — when transparency is the air we breathe. If I can trust A/Q/A to tell the truth and not spin an issue whether or not the issue enhances or detracts from the reputation of the business, I soon begin to trust what the company has to say across the board.  But if it appears I only hear about an issue when it enhances the company’s reputation and not when I know there has been a negative issue raised, I soon begin to wonder if I can trust the company’s take on things, because we all know there are difficult ongoing issues in the business.  That’s just business. 

When the Nitro case was dismissed the Alticor Media Blog celebrated the decision and posted the result almost immediately, February 8th.  The same was true in the California Woodward case.  But when Orrin Woodward was released from arbitration and thus freed to pursue new business interests, what do we hear?  Nothing, not even an acknowledgement of that fact, after months of personal attacks on Woodward including the “Mis-leader” post on March 10th on the Alticor Media blog.  Why?

And this past Monday, March 31st, when U.S. District Court Judge Samuel Conti of the Northern District of California issued a final ruling denying Quixtar, Puryear, and Britt’s attempt to force the plaintiffs Pokorny and Blenn into arbitration, what do we get from Alticor and Quixtar?  Silence.  Complete silence.   Not transparency.  Not conversation.  Nothing.  Just silence. 

The judge calls Quixtar’s arbitration clause in the IBO contract ”unconscionable and unenforceable” and also throws out the BSM arbitration agreement and all we can get from A/Q is silence?  Amazing.  The judge also said he personally would hear the class action lawsuit the plaintiffs had brought under the RICO (racketerring) statutes against Quixtar, Puryear et al, and Britt et al.  And that isn’t news?!  Do you not think that IBOs would be interested in hearing how the company views the ruling and what it’s next course of action is going to be?   How this decision might impact or not impact the ongoing transformation and current stipulations in the IBO contract?

Heavens, the IBOAI board has been meeting for this entire week.  Could they not have posted even a simple acknowledgement on their website?   They can respond in one day to MonaVie’s ridiculous global initiative, or equally quickly on the Jim Dornan April Fool’s Day hoax.  But on the far more weighty matter in California, they too have nothing to say?   Like I said, amazing.  In fact, almost sad.

What is going to be Alticor?  What’s it going to be Quixtar?  Spin and silence, or truth and transparency?  Thus far I find your approach to be rather misguided and I believe all IBOs deserve better from you and the IBOAI board.  I could be wrong.  I could be ill-informed and missing a huge piece of the puzzle.  But if I am, why not explain why I am wrong and ill-informed and what the critical issue is that I am not aware of.  I can handle being corrected and would benefit from the process.

So, Alticor and Quixtar, what is it going to be?  Spin and silence, or truth and transparency?