i really appreciate your reply, but still you are confused about some things..i retail nothing..dont have too..i dont think you understand the model.the model clearly shows that you can make 2000$ a month without retailing..all we do is buy our own stuff that my family uses instead of buying it at walmart or anyplace else and show others how to do the same thing..and the word negative was just a nice way of saying you are misinformed and what you were saying isnt the truth..i hate to just call you a liar that is ugly..cause it sound like you really believe all the things you say and you think i need a dose of reality..show me another business where you can invest 3000 to 5000$ a year and turn it into a million dollar business in 5 years or less..i dont think you can..the illusion in most minds mind is that i can run a business with no cost..there are cost but they are nothing compared to the traditional business.. we do promote the tools cost in our plan and tell people about all the cost ..nothing hidden.. well there is a new compensation plan being designed just for quixtar..it will almost double the income plan that is out there now..the reason a new plan coming is inspite of dream stealers,uninformed people etc,quixtar an instant success..so hang around and see what happens..i am not in joe's group but i do know him and know him to be one the most honest and upright men i have ever met .i heard your sound bite and he said you can get started for about 200 dollars.thats true..95$ for your ibo # and 95 bucks for the pronet kit and maybe he included tickets to the next event..did you ask him what that 200$ included?he said to get started not to maintain that is not misleadind or half truths it means just what it says.my argument is this peolple because of your site will be robbed of the chance to make up thier own mind cause they wont go and hear the plan for themselves..people always want to believe the negative and one word of misinformed or misunderstood can destroy a lot of people. well again i am greatful for your reply..

Editors Note:

Dear Scott,

Your motivation is 100% correct. No one should enter such an organization without access to the facts and analysis you give. I am very surprised that Alticor is not at all interested in your suggestions for process improvement. You'd think companies would be chomping at the bit to be more competitive and to increase their organizational effectiveness

You gotta be dumb and greedy, I guess.

I've often found it weird that he is so successful at Amway, but he's been doing it since the 1970s. I think he always had the money to lose to the business in the first place, as a successful real estate broker, then mortgage loan officer.

He is an ethical man, a born-again Christian, with a large, and wonderful family. He presented the Amway plan to my wife and I when we definitely did not have the money to lose to the business, which now just seems odd. I could see him presenting it to us now, when we probably could underwrite a few years of losses, but then it would have just crushed us.

In a similar way, the Mormon church pulls in people with a Christian background. If you are capable of Believing Source A (The Bible), you might also accept Source A1(The Book of Mormon saga), a shameless derivative of A so completely absurd that no educated person should see it as factual. Yet even Brigham Young University presumably educates chemists and computer scientists whom you would presume to have good logical/analytical skills.

Thanks again.

Michael

You know, I think you have some connection with Wall Mart or you may own some stock,in that company. I'm very happy with the Quixtar business,and I have no complains, and my upline diamond never told me that I was going to become a millionare right away, it takes effort. But I rather do this excellent buisness, than to have to work for Wall-Mart. I really don't know where you got your information, probably from someone very ignorant, but if you want good information you really need to talk to Dexter Yager. You sound like a frustrated negative person. ARE YOU MARRY? MAYBE THATS what you need.

Any how, people that does research get into this business. Thanks for your web-site, what ever doubts I had, you just clarify it, is people like you, that people like me need to really make us grow in this excellent amway/quixtar business.GOD BLESS YOU! and I hope our lord gives you life for you to see the growth of this business. Thank you again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Scott,

I'm sorry I don't have time to accumulate those statistics. I just wanted to show that you could get more PV/BV than your statistics indicate. The Nutrilite & Artistry lines have excellent PV/BV to cost ratios.

On your web site someone criticized the Quixnet ISP as too expensive. Currently it is $15.95 with unlimited hours and a huge footprint. I think that beats AOL, but I don't like AOL and I got rid of it a long time ago.

You compared Quixtar to whole Life Insurance. I agree with you and that is why I have term insurance (until I reach Diamond). But not everyone wants to educate themselves on insurance or has the discipline to invest on their own. I'm sure there are many people that invested in Whole Life Insurance and then were able to send a child to school, etc. If it wasn't for the Whole Life Insurance they probably would not have saved the money. Do you have a anti-whole-life-insurance web site? (sorry, I couldn't resist that)

I have been in the business six years and this is the first year that we will be in the black. However, it's amazing to me how much I have learned in those six years in the area of relationships, business, faith, loyalty, honor, personal accountability, time management, raising kids (we have two, my daughter (16) wants to be the President of the US, my son (11) wants to be the richest man on earth), being a husband, attitude and many others, versus what I have learned before. In 39 years of my life I had read less than a dozen books, and in the last 6 years I have read over 100 books, thanks to the system. I understand that I'm usually paying more for a book when I order it through my support team, but there is the added value that someone in the system read that book and considered it worth reading and it's being warehoused & stocked. I've had people tell me that "they" are censoring what I can read. Well, my upline Diamond recently had a leadership meeting and had a list of about a dozen books and only about half were on the support team list. But more importantly, we are always "censoring" what comes into our heads. Why do some people decide to watch NBC and some ABC or not watch TV, or whatever. I made a decision that I will read every book on the book list and then I will seek advice from people I respect & trust (in the business and out) to get more advice on books I should read. Last Christmas I gave out "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" to all of my employees (about 20) at my job (Aoutoparts Industry, MIS), I bought those books at Barnes & Noble to save some money. When I bought my book and some that I lent to my group (some of whom I never saw again, they probably saw your site), I bought them from my support team. From the 20 people at my job only one came back and had comments on the book, he is in another MLM that doesn't have much of a system and is always asking and willing to pay for books or tapes that I would recommend and are not Amway specific. I doubt the other 19 read the book. By the way, at my job I reached a position where I report to the VP, and I believe it is directly related to the System.

The fact is that if I build a business where I register 9 people who register 4 each, who register 2 each all doing 100 PV (we do a 9-4-2 plan) I will get a check for over $3,000. I help all of those 9 accomplish 9-4-2 and have another 9-4-2 for myself and all doing 100 PV, I will make a minimum of $12,000 a month plus other bonuses.

This business is not for everyone and everyone should decide for themselves. If I had seen your site when I first saw the plan I would NOT have become an IBO. This would have been a tragic turn in my life. There have been people that I showed the plan to and they went to a negative site like yours and they made a decision not to get into the business. I feel sorry for them and what they missed. I know if I had not spent the $3 to $5,000 thousand per year on the system I would have bought a new car instead of a good used car, maybe a 7 day vacation instead of combining a vacation and a function for 7 days, or an entertainment system so I could watch a bigger TV screen. Imagine how much more information I would have if I watched TV for those 6 years instead of reading 100 books.

I would recommend that everyone you "save" from Quixtar, you have an alternative for them where they will read 15 minutes every day, listen to or watch a positive tape, video or TV program every day, and associate with positive people that have a genuine interest in their success.

Sincerely,

John

Scott,

I had your web site referred to me by a friend of mine that I was trying to sponsor. Although I believe some of the information that you have in this document is true, there are generalities that are mentioned that are simply untrue. I have been an IBO for less than three months and already have seen my line of sponsorship make themselves money back on their purchases and make me $135 back on my purchases. Lets look at the economics of that. $250 spent - $135 back is = $115 out of pocket for roughly $200 average cost as Walmart. I challenge you to understand the concept of Pro-suming. Pro-suming is the concept that says the cheapest buy is not necessarily the best, and that a person will never be rich by consumption. I don't know you from Jack, but the system is working for me, and is placing me in the position to achieve my dream of financial independence. Please print this on your web site to show that for some people, pro-sumption works.

Thanks,

Financially Fine Engineer

Thanks for your work with this web site. My Wife and I left the business in the mid-90s. I also felt the way to increase profits were to increase retail sales. We had other priorities we choose to use our time for.

Thanks for a great site. I knew I wouldn't ever want to be involved in AmQuix, but didn't really know why. Now I do.

Perhaps you would reconsider recommending the book, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad".

Please see this review. http://www.johntreed.com/Kiyosaki.html

I know you appreciate facts and accuracy.

Thanks, Dave

I have been a part of WWDB since 1995. I am not a Platinum yet and I am totally fine with that. I have been profitable since starting and have been on standing order and do attend all the functions (just as the system encourages). No I have not been CORE ever, for more than maybe two weeks at a time, once or twice a year.

I know that your heart is in the right place but, even you have to admit that, if built properly, you can have a pretty incredible lifestyle through this business.

Maybe I didn't look enough but, I didn't find much information like that on your info-site. People do go Diamond, make a shit-load of money and lives literally are transformed. I have seen marriages saved, moms come home from work, people realize potential in themselves they never knew they had and yes, even people get rich.

You do what you do, for a purpose important to you and that is appreciated. You have made the comment that people can make their own decision after looking at your info-site but, in my opinion it is disproportionately discouraging instead of neutral. I did not see in my search much, if any positive stories and yes, there are many to be told.

I do hope that you have taken the time to consider things like that, if not than please take some time to think about some of those thoughts. I know you don't mean to be a dream/hope stealer but, I think that more times than not, that is what your info-site is doing. Take care...

At Your Service,

Scott

My old platinum called me last night all hyped up after Greg Duncan's Famliy

Reunion and started spewing massive numbers at me. I could make little sense out of it. You probably knew this but (for your web site) apparently Amway is just called Amway for their offshore business. WWDB apparently calls Amway "Access Promotions" now and it's all under Alticor etc...blah blah blah. Maybe other groups do too. He says Quixtar is #1 in $ sales now and all these "dot bombs" are coming to Quixtar to ask them to sell their stuff. Ant truth to this?

My platinum (well, he was once 'gold direct' and he told me they reached platinum again this month) has got to be thicker than a brick. I feel so sorry for him. Seven years ago this guy was retired with a beautiful house, acerage and enough dollars to live "adequately", he said. I learn through a neighbor of his that 3 years ago he sold the land on the south side of his home. I can only speculate why. A year later he went back to work. Then a gal at my work tells me she and her husband bought the land on the north side of this platinum's home recently, so they could build their own place. Now he has sold his house. And the guy is as fired up as a pig in a puddle. He doesn't get it. I cringe, thinking of the Duncan's, Puryears and the Britts sitting in their mansions have made so much off of this guy's losses, and the losses of so many others.

What really upsets me is that some of these big pins (I'm talking WWBD here) do a super job of linking the Christian faith to the business (church meetings etc...). I think what happens is the business then slips, unnoticed, into those deepest places in their hearts where their faith in God resides. They start believing in the business like they do God. The business becomes "God's call to Christians" and "God's new way to reach the unsaved" and "Christ will return when Bill Britt has a hundred diamonds under him". Whoa! Back up the welcome wagon here partner! As if some Bible believing Christian, locked into this business, is going to quit on that: quitting the business becomes tantamount to quitting the faith. And so they keep on, just like my platinum, because of what essentially, is guilt. I know, it happened to me.

I take solace in the fact that when these big pins move on to the "great by and by" they'll have to answer for the times they rolled in the cash of all the misguided dreamers and the hyped up wanna-bes; those who would gladly hand over hundred dollar bills to these demigods so they could use them as bookmarks in their Bibles.

glenn

ps: the site looks awesome. Keep up the good work.

Scott,

I would like to thank you for making the web site for Quixtar. It helped me understand it all better. You mentioned another program called Quixt-Work. Was it just a joke or is it real. If it is real what is would you please send me the website for it. What type of internet business would you suggest a college student to go into? I have been doing studies on many different ones.

Thanks for your time,

Rusty

Good Morning! Scott

I've been in the business now since 1995 and have known about all of the information that you have shared on your site. But, I wonder how many of these individuals who have quit or complaining have consistently shared the plan 3 to 4 times a week. As well, as doing their 100PV.

Furthermore, how many have become financially secured since they left the business; and I am not talking about making a larger salary. But, how much of their income is passive. What are you doing now to make a difference in people, besides giving them reasons to quit on their dreams when they just need to change. I've seen emeralds quit and diamonds and I was not surprised. Some decided to fulfill other dreams and others just didn't have the right spirit. Anyhow, I will be praying for you that in the near future; you will decide to put down this site and let God do his job..

I tell you what Scott, 10 years from now I will touch base with you by flying to your location and compare how many people that you have helped through your site have a better quality of life in every sense and how many people that I have helped through this business live a better quality of life. It may be sooner, but I am very conservative. As God saids, Look at the fruit on the tree to see what you have sown. Let me know, If you are up to it. I am patient and very persistent......

Dear Scott

My name is Sonja from Germany,

Only accidentally I hit on your site yesterday and studied all of the information. Me and my husband Nicholas (he's British by the way) were in the business in Germany for seven years. Only hit 4000 once (and that was because we bought have of the products ourselves to qualify for a trip to England to meet our up-line diamond ( IBS organization UK )Scriven are downlines of the Harteis organization and Bill O Brian organization.

The German organization was still small when we got in 1994. So we personally grew to be one of the leaders in Germany. Unfortunately our bonus never grew but our expenses did. Over the seven years we invested well over 100 000 Dollars and never made a penny. We got told we were the pioneers but next year would be the year of growth. I think the only couple who ever made money were our up-line sapphires the leaders of the German organization. I know a lot of other couples who quit with us having put everything in they had. All those years of bloody hard work for nothing.

I am so pissed off after having read your page (you do not write anything I have not experienced myself) .It will take us a long time now to get out of dept. I will send your link to all of my crossline friends that I really grew close to but some of them are still in trying to make their investments pay off. Is there anything else I can do to protect people? If you find time to answer, please use my home mail address:

Love to you and your wife

Sonja

Hi Scott

Thanks for answering

You may also add to your side that the first few month after we quit we still tried to protect the business when people ask us if we were still doing Amway.

I suppose the brainwash and edification still worked on us. Only recently after nearly a year it started dawning on us that not everything we believed in was the right thing to do and we stopped feeling like failures. It took a long time to find new identity as they made us believe that Amway was the one and only way to live a happy fulfilling life.

Plus I suppose it makes you feel ashamed that you were stupid enough to hold on for such a long time even though we lost a lot of money along the way. One of our sons was only one year old when we got in and he was seven when we got out. In those years he never saw his father because he was working his job and the business day in day out. This is time we will never get back, when we were doing things we got hammered in by the tapes and seminars. I think one reason why we didn't quit when it was time to quit was your whole life, social contacts etc. will be gone if you quit because if you are actively building the business there is no time for social life. One of our prospects once said:

Amway is not a business; it is a way of life. Luckily he did not get in, but unfortunately we were too brainwashed to realize. We even sold some of my jewelry and a stereo to pay for a seminar ticket because that is what the Diamonds had to do to go Diamond and we were so desperate to be successful. If we had taken advantage of a lot of realistic career opportunities that went passed along the way I wonder where we would be financially now?

Just a few comments on crossline:

We have one crossline couple and they have become loved friends of ours. They only recently quit because they could not afford it any longer and the organization had been bringing new tools out again that apparently would finally make the German organization take off (we've been told that story for years but nothing happened) Do you know what the lady said to me?

One thing she was really sad about was that the dream of going on the holidays together will never come true, and I replied: If we had not spend all that money on tools, gas and phone-bill we could have gone to the Bahamas three times.

Do you know what she answered? Oh, I never thought of that. Well, while we were in we never did either because the tapes say you only have the privilege to spend time with your teammates when you hit a certain level.

Who says? Isn't that sad? We do meet these friends without the business now and we do have a lot of fun and we do not have to work to spend time with people we love. We just meet them, and we talk to them about anything we like. So there is a life outside of the impossible dream. You may publish my name and E-mail address if people want to find out about our experience. NickLee@t-online.de

But I would ask you to leave out the line about our up-line sapphire, as I am not 100% sure whether they are aware of everything. After all they have been in for 10 years and I think the organization is shrinking so I would not want to do them wrong they may be in the same boat.

Love to hear from you again

If you are ever in our area you are welcome to come in for a coffee

Sonja

Hey Scott ~

Great parody of Ken McDonalds article. BTW...I recently received a check from my upline (about $9 - it was a bonus check for hitting 100 pv). Don't get the wrong idea...I haven't gone back to the "Dark side", rather I need to purchase a couple of water filters. I time it in order to qualify for a bonus check just to put the screws to my upline. Anyway to make a long story short, they included a cassette tape from a recent MMP (Jody Victor's org.) function. Brad DeHaven (Diamond) taped at (I believe) a February Business Building Seminar (formerly known as Dream Weekend). I had to give it a listen...lots of the same old rhetoric, but some stuff you may find useful since it's a current tape. If you give me a mailing adress I'd be happy to send it to you.

All the best.

Well, I briefly visited your page and all I have to say is...you just don't get it, do you? Quixtar or even the old Amway is not just about making money, figuring out how many "dollars you earn per hour" by the time you're done with a week's worth of effort. (That is the job-slavery mentality.)

It is about changing and making yourself into a better person, helping other people achieve what they can't do for themselves at a "job." It is about having time, not to throw up web pages judging and criticizing other people for what they're doing, but to have actual time with your husband and children. This business creates better people, brings families together and parents home to be with their kids, and as an after-effect creates large incomes.

You also have to understand this; those people who truly do not give this business the effort it deserves will not achieve a large income in this business. Those who work at this with heart and true dedication will make it work, you can't question it.

This is the best and only business that my husband and I will ever be in, we will never give this up. You may think that your facts are well-laid out, but you just don't get it. My husband and I are going to have our first baby early next year. We're working this business together so that not only I myself can stay home with our child, but that my husband can too be there as we raise our child. That means more to us than anything.

Sincerely,

Heather

I have been signed up as a distributer for a few months now, after dropping out 6 years ago. I know the risks involved, and I try to share these things with my "prospects" Focusing on the EFFORT involved in growing a business. I understand that only 1% of active distributers become Diamonds or above... The chance of me getting to that level or someone in my downline reaching that level with a 50% dropout rate will be slim... But I do have a chance... Can I play the Lottery for the same chance.. Probably... But I have more fun in the Amway/Quixtar/Alticor business. I have actually (much to the dissapointment of my upline) told a prospect, that if he and his wife wanted in...He would be spending anywhere from $500-$1000 a month to stay "active", and working 35-70 hours a week, for a 1% chance of becoming a Diamond... He got in anyway, and is now my only "leg" who is "active"... If I can find more people like this...

I love your site, and I will promote it...

I have been to other sites that seem to "trash" Amway... Unfortunantly, most of what is said is true, but, it is said in such a biased and negative way. Your site gives the facts in black and white, and doesn't seem too biased.

I am proud of being a distributor and I hope to be responsible enough to give accurate information to my downline...Maybe I can change the 50%drop-out rate...at least in my distributorship.... So what if it takes me Twenty years, and I can only sign up one person a year, If my downline duplicates this perfectly...I will be an emerald....

I'll write back if I drop-out, or give you updates every year of my progress...

By the way... I resigned in May of 2000, I am at the 400 pv level, today I recieved a check for $6.73 (net after bonuses paid) I do 100pv every month, spend $13.08 for two tapes a week, i do not subscribe to the book of the month, or any magizenes. I have a high school ed. and I am now a Computer Technician... My wife and I's Income as reported last year to the IRS was appro. $24K.
If you would like any other info...(for your research or for this web-site) I would gladly do what I can to supply it... I get all kinds of "free" promotional material... (my upline is desperate) I guess it helps...

I spend half my income on Amway... I am broke... And I LOVE IT!

1% or bust...literally

I Will Talk with you soon,

Keep up the good work.

Douglas

Scott, great site. One question, do you have any details of the $1000/month business model? I'd like to see more detail around what it would actually take, according to your analysis, to build a truly successful IBO. I was an Amway distributor years ago and was intrigued when I read the Amway.com article in the summer 2001 issue of Forbes.com.

Scott Larsen (whoever you are):

I found your site (www.awod.com /etc./etc.) interesting. I am an active Platinum IBO in the Greg Duncan line of sponsorship inside of WorldWide Dreambuilders. (By the way, if you have met Greg and the leaders of WorldWide, you should have been impressed by the quality of people they are.) I am making a "way above average" income in the Quixtar/Amway business. I still maintain a job outside of my business. I agree that many people exaggerate the the lack of work schedule and the increased income levels that people achieve. But I must admit, as a former CPA, people also underplay the efforts needed to become a "financially successful" CPA. I was never told about the 80+ hours of work I would be saddled with when I became a CPA. Also, as a former "traditional business" owner, I was not specifically told about the hours it would entail or having to collect from clients who did not want to pay among other things. But I don't blame anyone.

There seems to be a double standard applied to many companies that operate outside the traditional business realm. The standard applied to traditional business is one that is SIGNIFICANTLY lower than the standard applied to "MLM's" or "Network Marketers" or "Private Franchisers". It is perfectly acceptable to operate a business or treat employees in a manner that most "MLM" organizations would get crucified for. I am 100% in favor of ALL "MLM" companies, whatever they choose to call themselves, because they DO offer a way to operate a business, take advantage of the tax laws (as arbitrary as they are) AND create an income based on the effort of the person in question.

I personally have made it a mission in my business not to diminish the fact that ANY business takes work, ANY business takes some overhead, but the fact still remains for the person willing to work, a business such as Quixtar will work for them. It is funny to me that this business is a very EMOTIONAL business, rather than one that people examine as they would examine opening an espresso stand. The espresso stand is examined in terms of potential, time comittment, overhead, licensing requirements, and margins among other things, whereas the MLM business is examined in terms of ??????.

The best statement of your website comes from someone who said in your quotes:

"You saved me a lot of work that I sheepishly admit I would not have done on my own."

That person should "sheepishly" have done some of their own research, along with your input. Unfortunately, most people are typically lazy when it comes to investigation. They would have learned a whole lot more on their own than relying TOTALLY on your research. The term "due diligence" is lost not only on people investigating the Quixtar business and others like it, but also on those investing in the Stock Market on a daily basis. If people who actually investigate the business obtained faulty information from a potential sponsor, I am truly sorry because they reflect on all of us. The unscrupulous stock broker reflects on all stockbrokers too, but for some reason, there aren't many websites dedicated to the unscrupulous stock broker, as far as I can tell. Most "prospects" don't ask many questions and expect us to read their minds. All they have to do is ask. If their presenter can't answer their questions, somewhere, someone CAN answer their questions. LOGICALLY, NOT EMOTIONALLY.

Lastly, your statement "Avoiding people not suited for the business can save you time, improve your renewal rates, maximize your productivity, and give the business a better reputation" is a great statement. I spend less and less time talking to people who are not suited to my business. My desire is for our industry to have better productivity and a better reputation.

Thanks for the information that I sifted through and found my business to be a GOOD business.

I spent over 4 years in this business...the first 1.5 years I was so appreciative to be "in business" with such professional, caring people, I didn't even question their business ethics. But business is supposed to be just that...business, and hopefully, profitable. The next 2.5 years I kept second-guessing and doubting my instincts that were telling me something was off; turns out, WAY off. The most valuable thing gained from my involvement with Amway/Quixtar/WWDB was a terrific book list; but I think 4 years and several thousand dollars of business expenses was too high a price to pay. --Former IBO

Thanks for providing the answers I could not get from the "Prospect Meetings" . I've been asking the questions that no one could or would answer. I still believe that if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. We all want to believe that with hard work, we can make our dream (for financial independence) come true. Not so. Do your homework, ask lots of questions. I'm so thankful for your web-site! I won't waste my time on these meetings any longer. Instead I'll find a better way to make money.

Hello, Are you trying to market another multi-level yourself? I don't understand the internet bashing that you are doing about Quixstar. No I am not building the Quixstar business myself. In fact I don't even use Amway/Quixstar products. However, I do have friends 1,200 miles away that do believe in Quixstar. Would you like them to look at what you do for a living in your current job, and broadcast it on the internet, showing what a failure you are? Grow up! Just remember what goes around, comes around. Someday the joke will be on you.

shame you are not in my group! nobody erects statues to critics...its a lot easier to blow something up than to build it-or people up. Thanks for the figure of 28% of sales paid to IBO.s last year, thats a lot higher than I thought. All the "tools" I have bought were cheaper than shop prices and seminar costs about a tenth of my Professional ones and more value too. Goodbye.

You have help a lot, most Distributors will not tell you it is Amway with the Quixtar name

Thanks Scott

Scott,

If Quixtar is such a bad idea, why are Microsoft, IBM, KBKids, Bass Pro Shops, Orvis, OfficeMax, MCI, and so many other businesses tied into the concept?

And, why is it one of the top ten shopping portals on the net?

And, why did it do $514 million in sales in its first fiscal year paying back over $143 million to IBOs?

And, don't you think that with all your clips and audio you should include the success articles as well?

And, don't you think that this is like any other independent business-some will succeed and some won't?

I see business owners that don't succeed in business everyday. I work in merchant banking and it is unbelievable. I don't think it is the model, I believe that it is the individual. You know the old 20/80 rule. That applies in every business. Why should this one be any different?

That just makes sense to me as a business owner.

Do you offer a better business model than Quixtar? If you do, I would be very interested in seeing it.

Thanks for your reply,

Scott,

Thanks for writing back. You're right, the training of my thoughts has been successful. I choose not to focus on the negativity that causes people to fail, as you have failed. Hence the reason I "dodge" the issues presented on your site. I focus my energy on succeeding. It is more fruitfull.I, and everyone in my business averages about 5% retail, through requests.

Adam.

Scott...

I emailed you before about errors you have on your site... and you wrote me back a nice email... so.. why dont you ut the other side on your site... such as this...there are differences with lines of sponserships... and I have been in both... yes .. I am a retred distributor... (my second time around) my second time around is nothing like my old one... and nothing like what your site states...I have found most lines of sponsorship are very similar to the one I am in now....

my upline double diamonds has always told me.... "if it costs the same or less in quixtar... get it from your own business..." meaning...you can go to a place where it is cheaper.. that is a good business plan... my wife and I have always had 100 pv or more each month. I have a strong business background and I am not a "amway/quixtar" fanatic... but there are lines of sponsorship that do promote a strong business plan... even to your standards...why don't you tell your visitors this? be a little more balanced and I think you will win the respect of many more people..

I agree that many distributors use alot of "hype"....but many more give the facts...if you have any questions for me ... just email me or call me at my office.

I would be happy to explain how we do our business...

thank you...

steve

I was also approached by a friend recently and at first looks at the Quixtar.com web page it sounded pretty good. I thought that I could make a modest side income. I was not looking for the pipe dream.

When it was apparent that she did not understand how the system worked. She took me to one of those open meetings. Almost immediately after the presentation began I understood all too well. I didn't understand all the inner workings of the program. But by their very own diagrams the pyramid shaped up quit nicely.

It seems even a quick look at a pyramid tells you that the bottom supports the top. But I was not able to articulate those things to my friend. Now I can and if she is willing hopefully she will get out of this before she loses much more money.

By the way, the biggest question that was unanswerable for me was (knowing that retail sales is where the profit really is);

Why would you want your customers to become members and give up your right to the immediate income from their purchases? I could not see any benefit.

Thanks for the site and keep it up, you are definitely helping many from making a big mistake.

Bonnie

PS. In your business plan I would eliminate the member level altogether. It's not profitable.

Scott,

Great Job! Your site says it all. I was a former Direct and now building a different networking business that works and is making me and others real money for the time and effort. I always found it fascinating that people from Amway always say - I would have made it, if I had done the work. But the other part of that sentence to finish the statement is - but there was SO much work to do. Thanks for the site I needed to help others decide which way to go when they are approached with that business.
LeRoy

Great info! Thanks for taking the time and effort to make the truth available to the rest of the public. The Quixtar opportunity does not sound so good after all!

Dear Scott,

I am a recent high school graduate who was approached with the Amway/Quixtar opportunity. Against the suggestions of all other IBO's I wanted to research the subject about which I had so many doubts. You have done me a great service by expressing your unbiased opinion and have helped me realize that this lifestyle is not for me. I thank you for your efforts and appreciate the time you have given to help people who want to know the truth.

Appreciatively,

If you don't like Quixtar, what should a person do to achieve the money to fulfil their dreams.

I have already seen the plan, so I just can't do nothing. I need to make big money. Any Ideas?

thank you , Dennis

Hi Scott,

I am an ex-distributor from 1997-1998 in the Indian group under Manipal Reddy/ Kanti Gala (Thank god I was there for less than a year !!).

Here are some real harsh truths about a Direct/Platinum, as I had always suspected when I was in Amway !!

http://www.mlmsurvivor.com/ddplatinum.htm

Karthik

SCOTT.

THANKS FOR THE INSIGHTS TO THE QUIXTAR AMWAY BEFORE I INVESTED TIME AND MONEY INTO THIS. I WENT TO ONE OF THERE MEETINGS AND THEY WERE TOO NICE AND CHEERFUL AND NEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. ALL BRAIN WASHED AND LIKE A BUNCH OF SHEEP GOING TO SLAUGHTER.

THANKS JIM

I GOT SMOOZED INTO THIS BUSINESS WITHOUT DOING PROPER RESEARCH. THANK GOD THAT WAS ONLY A WEEK AGO. AFTER READING THIS AND OTHER ARTICLES I AM PERSONALLY OUTRAGED AND FEEL I HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR A FOOL. I AM DEMANDING A FULL REFUND AND I AM GOING TO SHOW MY UPLINE A PRINTOUT OF AMWAYS OWN RULES AND REGULATIONS AND HOW HE HAS BROKEN OR COMPROMISED AT LEAST. THANKYOU AND OTHERS LIKE YOU FOR EXPOSING THE TRUTH.

Thanks Scott!

We were approached by a couple from church...it scares me how they are so into after only a few months. They had the P&G horror story and a few other conspiracy stories for us that I knew were not true. Money makes people believe strange things!

Harold

Hi Scott, I am grateful to you for the information you provided on your website. I was wondering if you have anything specific on the entity BizNet-Productions, which is some middleman between Quixtar and the IBOs.

Thanks, Larry

Scott,

I think you have a great and very informative website. I signed on as an IBO in 1997 and have done nothing with it because I do not have the facts and confidence to sell this business. . As an Accountant, I can crunch numbers, but with no concrete facts, the numbers will not be correct. I truly believe that you are on the right track. I also am under the impression that you offer constructive feedback to fix this flawed system. Most people want two things so far from my showing the plan, show me the website (products), and show me the money. I could go on, but I would just repeat you because I agree with you on a lot of the issues. My immediate sponsor was Gun-Ho in 1997 and 1998 but are now basically inactive and will probably quit.

The question now is, how do we convince those in power to fix it?

Anyway, I just wanted to drop you a line and say thank you for the time and effort you put in performing the research and implementing the website. I will write again once I fully grasp the information in your website. As I am doing an evaluation of Quixtar and my upline, this information will determine whether I will stay in the business because I believe I am finding truth rather than a sales pitch.

Once again Thank you for your time and effort to pull all of this together.

Steven

Hello Scott,

I was invited to my first meeting just a couple of days ago by someone from school. There was a lot of personal tales of success and so on, needless to say I left feeling good. How could all these people be fooled? So here I am and it is almost midnight trying to find some unbiased data. To get to my point....I just wanted to say thanks for your site, especially for people like me that are easily motivated. I haven't really made up my mind, but I have only scanned your website (I sat and listened to peoples stories for 3.5 hours). I will continue to search and seek the truth!

Thanks for enlightening me!! <all that for that>

Raquel :)

DEAR SCOTT

THANK YOU FOR THE REVELATIONDS IN YOUR WEBSITE. I AM A SOUTH AFRICAN AND WAS CAUGHT UP IN THE AMWAY HYPE LIKE MANY OTHER WANNABE MILLIONAIRS ABOU 1997. JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID WAS NIGGLING IN THE BACK OF MY MIND FROM DAY ONE BUT ONCE THE AMWAY BLINKERS WERE FITTED I WOULD NOT LOOK AT "NEGATIVES" ( AMAZING, I AM A BUSINESSMAN AND I ALWAYS VERY CAREFULLY CHECK OUT THE NEGATIVES TO ENSURE THAT NO MONSTERS POP OUT UNEXPECTEDLY, YET WITH THIS THING YOU ARE DRILLED TO OBEY - NEVER QUESTION )

NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING FROM YOU BUT REALLY - IT IS ACTUALLY ALL COMMON SENSE ANYWAY. YES THE REAL SUCCESSFULL PEOPLE ARE THE TRUE BLUE SMOOTH TALKERS WHO SELL THIS PUP USING MIND CONTROL TECHNIQUES THAT KEEP THE LOOSERS LOCKED IN AND LOSING FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE OR AT LEAST UNTIL NEW LOSERS REPLACE THEM.

UNFORTUNAYELY THIS DOG IS HAUNTING SOUTH AFRICA AND IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT IT WAS EXPOSED FOR WHAT IT IS - A BLOODY SCAM - AND A SHAMEFULL ONE AT THAT.

THE MODEL PRACTICED IN S.A DEFINITELY VIOLATES YOUR FTC RULES ON PYRAMIDING , GIVEN THE INCREDIBLY LOW NUMBERS OF "WINNERS" IN THE BUSINESS HERE SHUTTING IT DOWN WOULD HARM VERY VERY FEW BUT WOULD SAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OF HEARTACHE. CAN YOU HELP ME START SOMETHIN HERE ?

BEST REGARDS

Dear Scott,

Thanks for the reply and I'm pleased to see your perspective changing. You are certainly right, retail sales can be a great way to increase initial cash-flow. In my opinion, and of course A-Corp's as well, that retail sales are vital to a Beginners business. It gives them great knowledge of the product and increases belief in the product for their own use. But the plan really revolves around 100 PV, so technically you can sell or use it yourself--distributors usually push the latter for obvious reasons.

Oh, on the tax return swap.....I don't see it as much of a trade, since I have no need to see yours. I am sure people have showed you enough to feed your fire. Have you ever had a Direct show you a return? That would be interesting to know. And on the turnover rate: I have a good friend in the business that owns 3 McDonald's franchise. I am sure even you will agree that McDonald's knows how to create wealthy owners, yet his turnover is sometimes as high as 300%. I know what your thinking, maybe he is a terrible boss---but as it turns out, that is the #8 store in the US for net profit.

If you wanted a good stat for your site.....IBM once posted a statistic to average how many people resigned or quit a position with the company. Want to take a guess? :-) I am sure you understand, it doesn't mean IBM is not a good job or that IBM cannot make a person some money. You can just hear the naysayers though, "Don't go work for IBM, the turnover rate is horrible. They will rob you blind!! Even worse, they will rob you of your time. You have to work on the weekend, blah, blah, blah. (or better yet) You can't make money at IBM, if you could--why would so many people quit." The stat, by the way = 28%

People just seem to take a particular interest in bashing Amway. Really I think it's cute. But as they say (and I'm sure you will love this one) "If your head is going to be above the crowd, you have to be willing to take some tomatoes."
I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks again for the site. I am sure I told you, but I use it frequently for prospecting. Take care.

Sean

Been a while, just thought I would say hi; your site looks (and is) wonderful. Obviously, the walking wounded keep coming forward, in no small part thanks to you. I have plenty I could tell you but not much time to do it in. Suffice to say we are still profitable former Founders PSDD's; the downline PSDD/Silver couple from us still have a dream, and we are anywhere from 2500-4500 PV per month which means we net $250-600 per month! Fired up - because we don't have to pay system $ to the upline dirtbags.

I will be in touch with you later in the year. I have a very dear friend (former emerald) who is suing Amway and our upline Double Diamond and it is very, very hot. Hopefully he will prevail - it is incredible the amount of damage that has been done to them and others. He just told me today of a former Pearl couple who built scAmway big here and in So America, who went bankrupt and are now getting divorced.

Anyway, keep up the good work - it is obvious you put much effort into it, and it is the only current website out there - too bad the others are shut down and old.

Bye -

No response required. I am a skeptic and needed more information. The time spent in your site confirmed my suspicions. Thank you for your time and efforts on behalf of the public and myself. Bonnie

Hi Scott,

I LOVE YOUR SITE. I just got thru reading your exchange with the person who would only answer questions with more questions meant to misdirect you from your original line of questioning. Typical of Amway distributors.

Keep up the good work, your site is so great and so true.

BTW, I've never been involved w/ Amway, but I am completely ANTI-MLM. I've been prospected by enough Multi-level bottom-feeders to become annoyed with them.

"Ebbz"

Dear Scott Larsen,

I would love to know the name of the 'former' Diamond Distributor who claims he found out the hard way.

I will give you credit for an informative site (the bits that I read). You do fail to mention the 4% and 1% residual overrides available through the compensation plan though which strikes me as strange considering how well informed you are about this opportunity.

(The site visitor missed this page amway_compensation.html)

Myself and my wife have been involved with this business for 4 years and everything we were told has been quite legitimate. We were not told of any free ride or get rich quick etc. We are both young fulltime parents. We have both able to leave our jobs/businesses due to ours and our teams success You fail to mention if you help someone earn $3000 a month the sponsor then makes from that volume a percentage override. We have helped quite a few earn fairly decent incomes and Quixtar compensates us for this from company profits.

Anyway, I wish you all the success in whatever you do and Quixtar will continue to be one of the very best business opportunities out there.

Sam

Scott,

First, thank you for the tremendous time, effort and zeal you have placed into your website. You have amassed a vast amount of information, but more impressive is your talent in organizing it in such an effective manner. I was able to easily navigate your site and find information readily available on all the topics presented.

Finally to the matter, I believe you, as well as others, have lost your sense of business reality. If the statement 9 out of 10 businesses fail in their first year is correct, what makes Amway/Quixtar or any other MLM any different? Are IBOs exempt from failure or stupid mistakes? Do the proffers of hope error for encouraging ones' belief in his/herself? Should I sue my doctor for telling me I would be six-foot, because I'm only 5'9" (he was supposed to be an expert)?

Best Regards,

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