A site visitor had recently written me if I had received much mail from
children of die hard Amway/Quixtar distributors. I had not recalled receiving
any until this letter recently was sent to me. If you are an "ama-kid"
please write and share your story. scott.larsen@juno.com
Hey Scott,
Great site. I just stumbled by it during a boring day at my J.O.B. I just felt the need
to share my story with everyone.
While I've never been directly involved in Amway or Quixtar, my parents were back in the
70's and 80's.
I'm 30 years old and Amway was a way of life for me as far as I can remember. I don't
remember any mansions,
pools, or exotic vacations. I do remember living in the same small house until I went to
college, hardly ever taking a vacation unless it was to a weekend business retreat or
seminar, and many, many promises unfulfilled. As a child and teenager, I met Bill Britt,
Dexter Yager, Paul Miller, John Crowe, Rex Renfro and other "high rollers" and I
played with their children.
Only as I became and adult, got married and had children of my own, have I really become
aware, or made aware of the scam that Amway is.
I remember products being delivered on Wednesdays, with all of our downlines coming over
on Thursday nights for pick up while my sister and I had to stay upstairs and out of
the way (although the people were friendly). I remember promises of a huge house, a pool,
video arcade games (it was the mid 80's, afterall) none of which I ever got. I
remember having a babysitter 2 or 3 times a week while my parents did the plan, went to
seminars. Once a month or so they'd go away for the whole weekend. I remember being
embarrassed when my dad would pick me up at friends' houses and talk to their parents
about the plan.
I remember my dad quitting his J.O.B. to work the biz. I also remembering him having to
find a crappy job that he hated a few years later because we had no money. I remember my
parents fighting about money all the time and my dad saying that she wasn't being a good
wife (I've come to find out that she was never that into it, but didn't want to be the
weak link in this glorious opportunity for my dad). I remember my mom telling me that my
dad sold a bunch of my old coins that were given to me by my grandfather to buy the
'tools'. I remember my mom being physically ill at tax time because we always owed more
money than we
could afford. I finally remember my parents bitterly divorcing when I was 19. To this day
they still won't talk to each other and it was like pulling teeth to get them in the same
picture at my wedding. Also, right after the divorce my dad had a serious girlfriend, an
upline's wife, who had conveniently just split from her husband. Now that I think back,
there were a lot of divorces/separations, with various parties becoming attached almost
like wifeswapping.
I've since come to find out that my dad, in his quest for the financial security that
Amway promised had two
mortgages on our house, racked up huge debts many credit cards, borrowed money from my
mom's family and
pored it all back into that money pit known as Amway.
My mother showed me all of these financial papers as a lesson in managing money when I got
out of college.
That is the best lesson that can be provided to somebody going out onto his own just like
that scared straight program. Amway alienated all of their old friends over the course of
their involvement and when they divorced, most of the "friends" that they had
made in the business treated my mom like a pariah because she "abandoned" my dad
(who, by the way, initiated the divorce proceedings).
Both of my parents are now happily remarried and my father still is involved in Quixtar
(and finally stopped asking me to join, only when I told him to cram it!!! he wasn't
taking my polite hints). However, he gets his money from his own contracting
business not Quixtar/Amway. After being in the 'biz' for almost 25 years, he's never
gotten above Emerald. Come to think of it, I don't see any of those people from the
old days in Forbes.
I just laugh when I'm approached at the mall or wherever by somebody needing go getters
for his expanding business. My wife was approached all the time at her previous job at a
child care facility. My/our answer is always Is this Quixtar or Amway? Because
if it is no thanks. It nearly bankrupted my/my husband's family when I/he was little and
broke up my/his parents' marriage. We don't want to get involved in that. 9 out of 10
times the look at that person's face is priceless, it's like they're watching a horrific
accident unfold in front of them. Should that person be stupid/callous enough to
press on, I tell them: Are you deaf and dumb? Did you not hear what I told you? That shit
doesn't work, so go throw your life away, but count me out. That always gets them. Then I
smile to myself, probably because I feel vindicated for my childhood in some small way.
Maybe it will wake some of them up.
I'm sorry this was so long, but very therapeutic. Thanks and keep up the great work.
Jay |
Hey Scott,
I just noticed that you had
started a page on "Ama-kids" and I thought I would add to your page.
My parents got involved with
Amway in 1977 and stayed through 1981, when they filed for bankruptcy. I remember as
a kid sitting through plans (that would never be allowed today) and watching my dad
"draw the circles". At that time, here in Spokane, Washington, Ron Puryear
was either an Emerald or a new Diamond. Dave Severn and Jack Daughery (now the
leader of ILD) were Rubies, and the west coast was exploding with activity. I
remember driving by the Puryear's home in the Spokane Valley and Daughery's home in the
Brentwood area near Mead and being awed by their motor homes and the 30 foot flag pole at
Jack's house. If anything, I did learn patriotism!
Although "core" didn't
exist then as it does now, my parents were "core". They went to every
function, traveled to Seattle and Portland for Family Reunions and other major functions,
and spent money they didn't have, chasing the dream. As a kid we NEVER took family
vacations, but they always came up with the money to travel to a function or to buy Info
Packs and tapes. My dad meant well and his heart was in the right place, but he was
just in the wrong vehicle.
As a kid, I was enthralled by the
business. I read every Amagram cover to cover, and I could explain the compensation
plan better than most adult distributors. To this day I still remember my dad saying
he was going to buy a Lincoln Continental. Lincoln's were popular then because
"Lincoln freed the slaves." Funny, huh?
Anyway, it was an interesting
experience. I was taught to have the greatest respect for the Diamonds, and in those
days, before the massive profits of the tools business, it was easier to do. (My
opinion only......) I joined Amway in 1990 when approached by a guy I knew in high
school who was a brand new Gold direct. Today, 15 years later, he is a Ruby (a very
profitable one, I will admit) and is still working the business hard. I got out of
the business in 1998 and concentrated on my real estate business. I started to learn
too much of the "inside scoop" about some of the leaders in the business and
just couldn't edify them. Plus, the old "curiosity approach" just felt
wrong to me. If we had such a great business, why couldn't we just lift our heads up
high and say "join me in this great Amway/Quixtar business!" We all know
why now. I just couldn't do it anymore.
Today, there are still a few
leaders I have respect for in my old line of sponsorship (WWDB/Duncan's). I have met
many of them and spent some time with a few. My friend and old sponsor and his wife
are absolutely wonderful people and I hope he makes it to Diamond some day. He
has earned it. He has never blown any smoke up my skirt, so to speak, and was always
supportive of whatever I was doing. As for me, I make more money in my J.O.B. than
most Emeralds make. I drive nice cars (Lincolns........ that always stuck with me!),
have a nice home filled with beautiful furnishings, take great vacations (and I don't
spend them in a suit and tie being told I am less than a man if I don't go diamond!), and,
by golly, Tide seems to work just as well as SA8 at half the cost!
The reality is, there are lots of
ways to make a nice living. There are lots of great businesses to get involved with
without sacrificing your personal morals, including some Network Marketing
companies. I still believe that if you get out of a business - any business - what
you want to, then you have succeeded. Whether it is to "go diamond", make
an extra $50 a month, or just for the social interaction, if you achieve your goal, then
you are a winner! Your definition of "success" doesn't have to be what
your UPLINE'S definition of success is. So, whatever you do, be proud, follow your
heart, and go for it! |
