Obviously you have more time on your hands than you have the sense to handle. Upon inspection of your "website" I've come to the conclusion that you must be simply a bitter, disgruntled, and apparently unsuccessful former IBO in the Quixtar Business.( the Amway business no longer exists in North America, but I'm sure you know this as you profess to be an expert in this area). I find it interesting, Scott, that you have no identifying references on your site that might allow people to know just whom they're dealing with. The fact that all the "information" presented is anonymously submitted only indicates the suspect intentions of the designer. The method with which you defame and attempt to slander certain businesses and their owners makes me wonder how much of your life we might find interesting or controversial if aired in print to the public. I wonder how much I could find out about Scott Larsen from public records and personal interviews. As for your assertions that the Quixtar business is less than represented, I can tell you that I've been involved in this marketing program for over 20 years and I can assert from personal experience that for everyone who's had the courage to pursue the plan with vigor and discipline the program has worked. For those who thought there was "easy money" or just wanted to "get rich quick" and were hoping to get "something for nothing", their failure was inevitable. Any business that has the potential to produce huge profits is always going to be suspect, but after thorough investigation by the Federal Trade Commission ( I'm assuming you've heard of this agency), the marketing plan you've so vigorously reproached was declared by the FTC to be the finest business opportunity of it's kind ever devised. Oh, but you make no reference to that report on your site. It's my opinion that you are nothing more than an angry failure looking to blame your inabilities on something or someone else so that you don't have to accept the responsibility for your own shortcomings. I suspect that your Quixtar (or perhaps it was Amway when you were involved) experience was only one of a succession of failures that curse your life and with the bitter attitude you possess as you've pursued your attack on this business model it's no wonder. If I were to give it, my advice to you would be to develop some gonads and stop looking for ways to excuse your lack of ambition by blaming anything or anyone other than yourself. Take responsibility for your own life's direction. Oh, and if you really want to know how to build a profitable business and develop consistent cashflow, take counsel from someone who has accomplished what you want to and is willing to share his methodology with you and then have the balls to follow directions until you succeed. Until then, stop your slanderous attempts at destroyng the dreams of real people who have the ambition and fortitude to pursue a better situation for themselves. (something apparently illusive to you)

Danny Fitzgerald

IBO #858225

My name is Carlos Eduardo Oliveira, congratulains for you home site there is lot of good information .

My Up-line Diamond here in Brasil is Dr. Sergio Vieira he is my sponsor , I am running to acheive Silver Producer this october or later this november .

Go Crown Ambassador
Carlos Eduardo Oliveira

Hey Scott -- What do you make out of these numbers. Example, in the second paragraph below, it says, "Quixtar earned its top ranking based on $1.035 billion in sales, including $683 million in Web orders." How does quixtar get only $683 million in Web orders but $1.035 Billion in sales? I thought that ALL of quixtar takes place from the web.
Ken

Want to send this story to another AOL member? Click on the heart at the top of this window.

Quixtar Tops Online Health & Beauty Category in Internet Retailer Ranking


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent Business Owners (IBOs) powered by Quixtar helped the company reach its ranking as the top online retailer in the Drug/Health & Beauty category and 12th overall based on sales in Internet Retailer's annual Top 300 Guide to the Web.

Internet Retailer's Top 300 guide, released June 7, ranks America's largest retail Web sites based on their 2003 sales. Quixtar earned its top ranking based on $1.035 billion in sales, including $683 million in Web orders. According to Internet Retailer, Quixtar sells more online than Avon, Barnes & Noble, Circuit City, Home Depot, Williams-Sonoma, Toys 'R' Us, Lands' End, Drugstore.com, and many more.

My wife an I are currently being recruited by a Quixtar rep. We were skeptical and did the research right after she left our home. We are not going to join up with Quixtar, but I would like to ask her some tough questions that will make even her think she made a terrible mistake. I'm not really sure what these questions are, is their something you can think of, some information you'd like, from a person in my position. Thank you for making a website that dispels the myths and answers questions.

Scott

Mr. Larsen,

I have been recently recruited *heavily* by a very close friend, my former college roommate, to join Quixtar Line of the Quixtar organization. (This is, my first experience with MLM schemes whatsoever) Anyway, I was very suspicious about the whole deal, and ran off to google for help after spending the better part of a weekend hearing about it. Of the information that I found, your site was the most useful, and VERY appreciated. Although I can't say that it saved me from their clutches, I hope that I can eventually save my friend (obviously a VERY delicate situation).

This maybe old news to you, but the recruiting approach used with me totally de-emphasized Quixtar, claiming that this LOS has no connection to it. In fact, it was claimed that this group would not be effected whatsoever if Quixtar ceased to exist, they would merely get another "partner". Even more ludicrous, there was a continual claim that this group had reverse engineered Amway and Quixtar in building a separate and much more effective business. (LOL, must be reverse engineered to no longer have any concern whatsoever for the retail sales rules, and for the illegal nature of the tape/literature business).

Are there statistics for Quixtar compared to the rest of Quixtar? The people that are recruiting me claim that Quixtar has virtually no turnover=everyone stays and gets rich. I know that Quixtar has pretty high, something like 50% turnover in IBOs per year, but what about this group? I assume that it is nearly as high. Any information about percentages of new IBO's that reach the various levels, average incomes, etc?

I'm a 2nd year law student at Michigan State University, so I have no disposable money to support your site with, and my French is quite rusty, but I would be more than willing to do legal research, etc, if you need it.

Thanks Again,

Bob

Harriet Lyons was rearrested on Monday for grand theft. Her bail is set at $2,000.000.00. I thought you might be interested.

Marty

John Terhune is now working for a MLM called Young Living Essential Oils.

www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/young.html

From a recent company announcement:
"John Terhune: John is a new addition to the Young Living family and one of the world's foremost authorities on building a home-based business. John, former Prosecuting Trial Lawyer, built a downline of tens of thousands and reached the level of Diamond in the largest Network Marketing company ever. He acts s a management consultant to Net work Marketing companies that range from publicly traded to start-ups.John will introduce Young Living's newest training program, the "Phoenix Life and Leadership Training."

Do you know anything more about Terhune? Was he involved in any of the lawsuits, etc?

Thanks,

Eva

Hi. I found your website when I was attempting to find information on Winbo. Saturday evening my friend and I sat through a presentation about a great business opportunity a work friend of his and her friend wanted to share with us. I am generally leery of such thing but as she is a friend I agreed to listen to them. Of course everything 'G' (her friend and the person that got her started) said sounded pretty rehearsed; compliment the home, comment on woman's attire/hair etc and the entire spiel. Everything about owning our own business and getting other involved. When they realized we weren't going to make a decision right then of course they weren't too happy so when I asked the name of the company he just threw it out at me and even wrote down 'Alticore'. I looked this up on the internet after they left and found out that 'Alticor' is the parent company of Amway; which I realized is why everything including all the 'tools' (aka tapes) sounded familiar. I knew people that had been in Amway and heard the whole thing from them, just a new twist in that we didn't need to sell anything we just needed to buy.

So now you are asking why I am writing to you. When we told our friend that we had decided that this isn't something we are interested in at this time; we mention Amway. She said they aren't Amway and I said that yes they are, we had done some research on the internet and found that out. That was yesterday afternoon. This morning we received a very frosty voice mail stating that when she told this to 'G' the emphatic response was that they most certainly aren't Amway and that we are a couple of idiots. So I checked the back of the brochure they had left us and the email address was winibo@winibo.com. Thus my search has led me to you.

Now, to my question. Is Winibo simply one of the IBO's? Or is it one of the groups that make their money by selling 'tools'? Also, if it is Amway products these people are buy why don't they know it? Is it the names? I know the cosmetics and vitamins aren't labeled 'Amway' but what about the cleaning products? Of course I realize that you may not know the answers to these questions but it is worth a try. Also, you may not check this email very often but I would appreciate a response as soon as possible, even if you don't know for sure.

I think that this is simply another of the 'company's' ingenious tactics to rope people in. Anyway I do appreciate a response.

Thanks,

Therese

Someone told me that Mickey Hamlett's Bio no longer includes Dottie (Britt). He is Diamond or above.

Noticed your site on Amway marriages gone bad . . . thought you might like some more info.

I was involved with the Britt/Youngblood organization between 1992-1997. My sponsers were Cedric & JoAnn Humphrey of Hattiesburg, MS. They became PSDD's in '93/'94 timeframe. They are now divorced. Rumor has it that Cedric was cheating on her with downline ladies, but I do not know if this is true because they divorced after I left the organization.

I have forgotten exactly who Cedric & JoAnn's direct sponsors were, but they circumvented several "steps" on the upline ladder to become "plugged in" with Clyde & Maureen Daniels of Picayune, MS. Clyde was a former "heavy equipment operator" who had owned his own bulldozer service before getting out of it to build his Amway business. Every Friday night, we had "Product Pick-Up" at their house there. At the time, Clyde had just become a PSDD, but by '95 he and Maureen had made it to the Emerald level. As I understand it, he and Maureen have been divorced for about a year as of this writing.

I do not know why. My informant states that Clyde signed the business over to Maureen as part of their settlement and he is now working for someone who owns a large ranch or farm.

You already have some information on Clyde & Maureen's upline mentors, David & Debbie Frazier of Slidell, LA. I remember David as a very large, imposing man, heavy and strongly build, who could easily be intimidating when he wanted to be. He had the straight, slicked-back hair that I have always associated with televangelists. It was discovered that David had been cheating on Debbie with at least one downline lady, possibly more. David resigned from the business, signing it over to Debbie, with mutterings of repenting for his sins", "starting from scratch", and "regaining his manhood

" You may not be aware that David was an ordained Baptist Minister before joining the Amway business. Many was the time when he gave the "Sunday Morning Service" at one of the large weekend "functions." And many was the time when he admonished those who listened to be true to their spouses, and castigated those who did not.

FYI, David & Debbie were sponsored by Ray & Carol Youngblood of Slidell, LA. Ray was a little fella, always bright and upbeat. He was one of the older Amway guys, always wearing outlandish amounts and types of rings, bracelets, necklaces, and watches to show off how much Amway had benefited him. As far as I know, he is still bright and upbeat, and still wearing huge amounts of jewelry. If any of these marriage blow-ups have affected him or Carol, I have not heard.

You already have info on Paul & Debbie Miller, the one who were (at least when I was involved) anointed to take over from Bill & Peggy Britt when the "retired' one day. He was a major fixture at all major "Britt" functions.

You also have the latest info on Bill & Peggy. I remember sitting through Britt School" in 1992 in Mobile, AL. 3 days of nothing but Bill Britt. Telling us that our "Power" was to be found in God and in the Bible.

Telling us that the business wasn't about building wealth, it was about building people. THAT was why the books and tapes were "so important." And now, 12 years later, he and Peggy are fighting about, of all things, money?

I'm ashamed at myself not only for believing it, but for believing it for so long.

Thank you for the information on your website. My cousin approached my wife and I about this information. I asked him a couple of times if it was Amway or something like Amway and could never get a straight answer.

Andrew B

your webpage needs updated, Bill and Peggy Britt are not seperated, they are together and happy. keep your website accurate, dont loose your integrity, if you have any to begin with.

Ben Lawon

Hi Scott,

I have read through much of your web-site and have gained invaluable information regarding Quixtar. Much of my family is involved and I am the one black sheep that refused to get involved, your information helped to provide the justification I was needing as to why I did not want to be in the "group". I have a question I am hoping you can answer....My sister is actively recruiting my father to become a Quixtar IBO...they are playing on the fact that he is retiring and can use this as extra retirement income...the one thing I am unclear on is what advantage do the people up the line have in just recruiting new IBO's? No one in my family sells any Quixtar products of any kind, they simply try to recruit others to become new IBO's and encourage them to build their businesses and spend 100PV a month. What is the benefit to the person up the line to do this? Thanks for your time and information.

Mike K

Hi Scott,

Thanks again...They are not selling any Quixtar products, they are simply recruiting others and are encouraging everyone to just buy from themselves and to reach the 100pv. I cannot tell you how much I have learned about all of this from reading your web-site extensively. The more I read the more questions I seem to have and the more frustrated I get that they cannot see that this is not a viable business to be involving all of our family in. They are so entrenched with the system and how it works and as my brother told me today, "it seems so possible" (as far as being financially independent in a few years). I have an M.A. in counseling/psychotherapy and I don't even want to touch on the cultish flavor that is present within this group. If you have time; the only thing I am still struggling with is how they make money from their downline? I feel like I am on the verge of really getting this figured out;

* Can you explain how PV and BV are correlated ( I know that 1pv is = 2.25BV) Can you explain more indepthly what

BV is?

* Hypothetically, since I do not have a business...My elementary understanding is that the PV accumulated by those

underneath (or down the line) from me goes into my business somehow and helps me make money that is why I

want to recruit as many people as possible...can you expand on this for me? How am I compensated for their PV?

I appreciate you taking the time to answer these questions...I will try not to take anymore of your time...I just appreciate your straight forwardness and honesty...which I cannot find by asking those in the system. Thanks!!

Mike K.

Good Day Scott:

You may remember that I wrote you about my Amway/Quixtar experiences back about a year or so ago (which thankfully were not all that involved).

today I saw your articles about Bill Britt & Phyllis Frankel on your website and found them very interesting. Very interesting because when I first moved to Jacksonville, FL back in 1993, our real estate agent whom we (my then-wife and I ) was none other than Phyllis Frankel (then with REMAX if I remember correctly). So I thought I_d relate those experiences to you and the readers of your Amquix web site.

First I will say that Phyllis knew her business in showing us real estate properties. Very much a professional but did have some professional _sloppiness_ about her work. The day we eventually closed on our house in Feb 1994, she missed our closing. We had to rely on one of her fellow agents to fill in for her. And I do remember Phyllis encouraging us to buy into an expensive Jacksonville subdivision that in reality was out of our reach (barely out of reach but out of reach nonetheless) with her "you can afford it" cheering.

During our home showings, she took us around in, get this, a Rolls-Royce. (The only time I ever rode in a Rolls myself). However the inside of her Rolls was a mess, stuff thrown about and not picked up. Definitely a slob at least as far as her car interiors were concerned.

But while her car may have been slovenly, she herself was primped & neat. And as a guy I did tend to notice that her clothing tended to accentuate her 'endowments'. Not overly revealing or anything but dressed to catch a man_s eye, particularily older, very well-off men (I believe she was married).

I remember that for one whole week we couldn't get a hold of her because she was in South America (Brazil I believe) having liposuction & body sculpting done. Definitely preoccupied with her looks wouldn't you say.

She seems to have aged gracefully over the past 11 years (judging from her web site) so one can understand Bill Britt's attraction. Not that he has any business being with another woman, especially alone on several occasions. IMO Seems that Phyllis & Bill could be made for each other, (except that both are married to someone else). They're both preoccupied with wealth, trappings of wealth & their personal looks (noting Bill Britt's neat 'corporate' hair, seemingly held in place by epoxy cement).

And that was my experience with Ms. Phyllis Frankel. She's obviously out on her own now doing real estate business with rich clients (Ponte Vedra is very much the wealthy beachside community, just south of Jacksonville). I do wish her well in her endeavors, except of course for being the "other woman" for some rich phony baloney, epoxy-haired blowhard.

Sincerely

B. H J

I got your address from the NBC dateline article/info...do you need more information from Amway tapes? WE've got about 300 in our attic. Your name sounds familiar...were you in the business? We are no longer distributors, thank

goodness! We were "in" for 8 very long years...spent A LOT of money, etc....

Hi Scott:

My sister in law and her husband are on the quixtar bandwagon are preaching to the family about joining. I did my research and found your site and boy was I interested. I've writing her an email explaining all the pitfalls but I am wondering if you have a quick letter or fact sheets something that I could additionally show her and the family about all the crap that quixtar does. I have written my own points out but I dont think it was enough. It's almost like a cult following! All for money and greed!

Her point: it doesnt matter that the prices are inflated, once you get to 25% off you will make savings!

My point: Who is going to sell all this inflated junk per month to get the leg up to 25% off? Family and friends!

Please Help stop another mad man/woman!

Thanks,

S.

Crown Don Storms's house is for sale. Go to www.allentate.com and type in mls # 411331.

Hello Scott,

Thank you ever so much for listening. I'm a screenwriter, so hopefully I will give you a solid view of nearly twenty years of believing "the lie".

In 1981 I was in the Theatre Program at the University of Maryland. I was lured to the plan by an upper-classman whom I respected. A Diamond showed the plan and I quit school and got in (because Bob Monahan convinced me that I could make enough money to produce my own films). I thought, business people who loved the Lord. How great is that?

My sponsor's parents were not so thrilled with their daughter's choice of prospects. They didn't feel that a single African-American mom was sharp enough to build the Amway Business. I thought, I'll show you, but not in your group. So I quit so I could wait it out and get a better sponsor. During that time, I worked on my screenplay.

Praise God my six months were up. I got a new sponsor. Who turned out to be a want-a-be pervert. Doggone it. Six more months. Finally, I found the perfect sponsor. He was Black. Yippee!! He went bankrupt. Here we go again. Finally, my daughter is old enough now, and gets sponsored and sponsors me. Another one bites the dust. Six more months. I'm working in a restaurant training servers, when one of my trainees thinks I'm pretty sharp. Not the Britt Group this time. But what the heck. It's Amway. It's all good. Not. Kenny Stewart's group. Those people were like the upline from pure Hell. (that's a screenplay all on it's on) After all this I learned about transferring. So I do. I'm back in Britts line. Home where I belong. Not only am I in Britts's group, but St. Paul Miller is my upline Diamond. I am in Heaven. Until my upline got his downline pregnant (my crossline) and her other baby's daddy was looking for him to kill him. I NEVER ONCE THOUGHT IT COULD BE ABOUT AMWAY. I merely thought, I need to find the right sponsor.

And finally Glory to God I did. I was working as a waitress at the Waffle House and in walks MICKEY HAMLETT.

I am now sponsored by a Double Diamond. There is no way I am not going to make it. HA. Mr. Hamlett is a paranoid...man. (I have records to prove this)

Needless to say, Here we go again. But at least now I know the art of transferring. I am now the proud downline of Michael and Margaret Aycock. And suddenly... one morning a bright light shines upon me, and God says ENOUGH. And he snatches the scales off my eyes and boy is my life changed.

I have a sit-down meeting with Paul Miller, Leslie, (I was so gullible, I never dreamed anything could have been going on there) and my sponsor. They try to convince me not to quit. BLAH BLAH BLAH.

I not only quit. I take to the streets with a picket sign bearing AMWAY THE CULT OF FREE ENTERPRISE.

Well that's it in a tiny little nutshell.

Thanks again Scott for being man enough to do what you do.

Jacqulin

I'm writing in hope to stop my son in law from destroying his life that is being consumed by Quixtar. I have found a lot of negative literature about the team but I need to know more in detail. My son in law has down right begged me to join and I keep putting him off, one reason I don't have money to just throw away and either does he or my daughter. He ties up all his time with this and my daughter is expecting their first child in a month. I have seen one rebate check for 4.00 and that's all. He tells me he will make 3000.00 by Sept. and my husband and me feel like this is a scam but are afraid of making hard feelings if we say something to him. If you have any feedback that may help me I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you Kellie

Scott,

I understand John Terhune and Marshall Douglas are no longer affiliated with TEAMINFOCUS and are now involved with Oasis.

Hello,

My name is Muhammad Imran Aziz, (and I go by Imran, NOT Muhammad) as my user name. Shouldn't use my real name? Oh well, it's Quixtar who is supposed to be hiding not me!! They got MY money, not other way around.

Did MS and MCSE from Pakistan, came to Canada in year 2000 with my family. My late mother, always being a high level officer was the primary applicant.

I got a decent job after 2 months. My father still works as a security guard. My mom was studying when she had accident which proved to be fatal. May her rest in peace.

My father did join Excel, spent 300, never got it back, and never made any money. I was shown plan of Quixtar once but hated it, my job was doing good.

I got laid off in 2002 because of IT collapse, then my mom was prospected by a very nice lady, they show us plan, i knew it gonna be Quixtar and it was. But my father had it in his mind long ago that by mlm one can make a lot of money. He was also prospected by many different IBOs in past 2 years, giving him books and tapes. I was reluctant, but my father gave my Mom 350 and we joined. As every thing else, I supported them fully in it, I became their first leg. I got excited as much as they were. Even more. My dreams were way bigger.

Did 300 PV first month, all personal, while I was jobless and my father was doing a minimum wage job, did 1000 PV 2nd month, 400 personal, went to FED in US.

We got profiled like prisoners every time we go to US, had to pay $75 + USD per person to get visa. Went US in 3 functions, costing us $800 each, including travel + ticket + stay etc. We were on standing order big time. We were on fast track, known as leadership tapes in our organization.

did no retailing, generated majority of PV by personal shopping, did some retailing only in last 2 months via SAM Machine.

Upline, sponsor of our sponsor, their nephew, had an attitude problem. They lived in NJ and love to insult ppl. Even insulted my mom. Why I haven't killed them, don't know. He even insulted my sponsor, his uncle many times in front of us. My mom has forgiven every one. Including the ppl who fraud her worth of 50k RS back home, but she never talked to him again.

My sponsor has us as their only leg, as we found later. We were told that they were the widest person. All the other ppl quit. Hardly saw their other downline.

My mom, being a diabetic person, pushed herself beyond the limits to build this business. We drove in snow storms; thunder storms, day and night, gave rides to prospects. Core, big time!

Show 30 plan or more per month, me and my mom both. My father has night duty.

I got another job, but accumulated debt forced us to sell that house and move to current house. In this house, my mom was dropping off my youngest brother when she was hit by a car on pedestrian crossing and she passed away after 20 days in comma. We had left Quixtar for 6 months then.

Our beliefs say that when some one has to die, nothing can save them. Otherwise I'll still be wondering, hadn't we got in Quixtar, we wouldn't move here and my mom could still be with us.

Highest pin level was 1500, when platinum lady came and did retailing via our downline worth of 800 PV. We didn't make any retail personally so we had to put 300 PV again from our pocket, like previous 9 months. Toronto was full of SARS then, Our upline sent his wife in the town of SARS to make PV!! and they call a person who let their wife work for other person looser? Many times, they came from NJ to Canada with Wife and his two little kids. An adult can drive 10 hours but kids?? His wife once got sick real bad after such visit and my father (Homeopathic doctor) gave her some medicines.

Hadn't we've been in Quixtar, at least my mom would've spent her last years with my father and my younger brothers and sister instead of building business driving in storms and snow, being out till 12 in opens and quests.

Sadness, anger, shame and guilt are my only companions now, and they refuse to go away.

Every fraud has been dealt with, why this one is still going on? Sadly, I know the answer, sweat ppl like my sponsor, my parents, and many other ppl. Ppl who think they are helping other ppl by this business. Or (as I wrote in Quixtar and Suicide, and reminded by Jim reed) the fact that people are tactfully lied to that they failed because they didn't put enough effort. Thus they keep silent and no voice is raised. No shout no problem. And it continues.

Mr. Larsen,

My downstairs neighbor recently tried to prospect me on Quixtar. Between being pamphlet-ed and having a conversation with him, I recognized the possibility of a Ponzi Scheme and did some research. I found your site and another. Are there any other additional, especially "official" web sites or resources that I can use to help him understand MLM. They have a young son, and I’d hate to see their family take a fall from this.

Greg O.

Jack Carduff -Scam money from upline and dowline in Kennmer,Dunn,Childers,Gooch,Yager Line Amway thru him out,He might got jail time but I don't know for sure. Last seen selling cellphones out of his trunk.

if i never make another dime from Quixtar i will die happy!

being on Quixtar system has done nothing but help my life its help me to realize the importance of religion
its given me patience
its helped me be a better father and boyfriend
its helped me not to juge but to love everyone
most importantly its helped me shrug off people like you not trying to say something to hurt your feelings but if you don't agree with Quixtar great!
your life is so perfect you have everything you've always wanted sweet were all happy for you but Quixtar has changed my life and i thank God for it.
when i started off i was the biggest skeptic and i know if would have seen your web page i would have never joined, and all the growing i have done in the past few months would have never happen.
you can't put a price on something that makes you a better person. is this really what u want to do with your life?
on your spare time do everything in your power(which isn't much) to shut down Quixtar. don't have family or any other loved ones you would much rather give your time to? i hope you because its sad if you don't and if you do have others just remember every second you waste trying to bring us down(which won't happen) is a second your taking away from them, are we that important that we deserve some of Scott Larsen's time!
please we know your good man who just wants to help but instead of wasting valuable time on Quixtar use your perishes time with your loved ones or help out the homeless do something constructive

God bless

jason

I am saddened by the fact that you have not taken your own life yet.

From: "John-Michael Padilla" johnm.padilla@comcast.net

Just curious how much money you spend keeping your site up? Im glad your site is around and keep up the good work. You've saved people from spending millions of dollars on the Quixscam.

Survivors here - out about 4 years now, and it's the best decision we've made. Can't believe I was like the people in the bizz. I come to your site every few months to see what is new. Britt getting divorced is interesting and I was at the FED in Portland when Dean Kosege (spelling?) went Diamond - quite an interesting past eh? Anyway - sure you get lots of emails asking about people, if you find the time, have you heard naything about Brad and Julie Duncan? And Brad and Leslie Wolgamott? Both big time diamonds in WWDB - as you know

Also can you find any info - maybe a link - about Michael Lake - emerald or Platinum - I think his wife's name was Katherine - in Wolgamott's downline. They guy was a complete ass - stole a prospect from me - pretty blatantly - who cares now - the prospect did not get in and he is blessed because of it. But I would still love to see that pompous ass come crashing down into the ocean of reality.

I'm sure a lot of your site visitors would love to meet some of the unethical asses years later after they get out of the bizz just to confront them on all the B.S. they spewed out and give it back to them a bit - maybe that would be a good section on your web site - a payback page - devoted to all the amway people back in jobs, or chance meetings site visitors had with their former "dreamers" where they can get a certain amount of satiisfaction from their pain. You have the divorce page - not that i get satisfaction from seeing marriages break apart - but deep down in parts I don't talk about - seeing Britt burn is kinda fun. But you focus on the bigwigs in the bizz - but a payback section devoted to the smaller people written in by site visitors would be fun. Anyway just a thought that came to me while I was typing - I won't be too hurt if you decide against it.

Keep up the good work I will keep on checking in every so often.

rob

Hello. My brother has bought into the whole "Quixtar" thing, lock, stock, and barrel. He is convinced that he is going to make a 6 figure income from the 'business', and not only that, with all the books and tapes that are available, he will be a better person because he belongs to the company. He now feels that all of us in the world 'need' this business, not necessarily to make money, but because it is such a good business and it will make us all better people. He feels that the'rat race' is just not for him anymore, throwing away a degree that he has earned for a job that he at one time was going to love, and that he doesn't want to be a 'slave' to a job that dictates 'what time he gets up, how long he works, when he goes on vacation, and how much he makes'. How did this happen? I never would have imagined that he was this naive!! A 6 figure income? Is that possible?

Hi, I am writing to you after having spent about an hour perusing your site. My husband and I are in WWDB, we are founders Emeralds and have been solely living on our Quixtar earnings for 10 years now. I read with interest your comments on how the business works. You seem to have a pretty good grasp on the concept... Regarding prices, I have not found the household products costing more. I'm surprised you have not taken into account the cost per use and concentration...Our vitamins are more than the average but they are superior and made from real food too. You must compare apples to apples...You would not compare our premium vitamin to a drug store variety. Just as ARTISTRY products are not made to compete with Max Factor or Revlon. The Gift & Incentive catalogs practically sell themselves! Even a novice at sales can experience success with those!

My husband and I had owned a retail music business, plus I worked for AT&T when we started our Quixtar business. I was desperately looking for something to help me exit my dead-end job. The people we have worked with in the Quixtar business, (Terry Felber) and (Greg Gilmour), have been honest and full of integrity...I am so surprised that people are so "hung up" on the tool profits...It is quite amazing to me that anyone thinks that people could stay focused without seminars and tapes...the profits are what we use to help our downline at a distance... the tool money helps defray some of the travel costs but it certainly does not totally cover all the costs of building these distance businesses. My husband is available to "consult" with downline 8 hours per day by telephone and he does not charge for his time. We also absorb some of the UPS charges for some downline that do not have big enough profits yet to cover these costs for people that they have sponsored at a distance. (We are on Standard Fulfillment and still ship to our distance businesses if they are more that 25 miles away). When someone asked you what you would suggest as an alternative...you mention educating yourself in accounting and marketing so that you can save and invest? There would be costs involved for this sort of education also. Investing can be risky...so I guess I feel that perhaps the business was not for you...but it has worked for many that have treated their people well and showed the plan enough to be successful. You mentioned that it is "hard work". I grew up on a farm....and that is "hard work". I can tell you that if you do not go out and "plow & plant the field, water, tend and weed the field; it will not "work" either. God can provide you with the land but He will not plant it for you. So the lesson to be learned is that anything worth doing takes effort...but in a Quixtar business in the WWDB LOS you will get help. If you run across anyone that wants to build it we are looking for a few good people to work with on our quest to Diamond... We have helped 13 people build the business to the Platinum level so far, in four legs. We are planning to help at least three more legs attain the Platinum level this year.

Best of luck to you and I hope that I have shed just a little light on how a qualified Emerald in WWDB views the whole subject. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Regards, Deanna Gilmour

Mr. Larsen,

I am a recovering Am/Quix distributor, I have moved on and am not bitter about my own choices. I do however, love the stuff on your site. I once attended a WWDB function in which Ron Puryear gave a username and password that any Joe in WWDB could use to surf the site, do you know what it is? I do not ask to paste it all over the net, I simply like to keep tabs on the people whom I very much despise now.

The Dean Kosege stuff is classic. He had a direct leg in Phoenix, (which is where I was as a distributor) and would come down once a month an hold meetings that we would (crossline) attended. I always thought he was a dirt bag, but the facts back it up. I still believe he has little man syndrome (think Lord Farquaw from Shrek). The info on your site was the confirmation I was looking for.

Also, to add insult to injury, I was introduced to AL Lacson through my upline, and in my first meeting with him was pitched on the Zneitx scam as well. Turns out everything he was doing was not so hot.... Ouch! 35K mistake on my part for believing in him. I wonder how many new suits Al bought with my family's money? Well, I accept my mistakes, but my experiences don't speak well for the people involved.

Russell

I was solicited by some friends last night to become a member of Quixtar and just by what I have read on your web site so far I have mostly decided against it but I was wondering if you could provide any other information. I have a feeling that these friends of mine have not been fully informed either and I would like to maybe delicately inform them of what they are into before they get in too deep. Your thoughts and assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Greg

Hi Scott,

After reading your recent info on the Kosage's rather ugly divorce, I did a little search on Google and found a website for Kosgae Motivation Inc. There is a section the public can access under "articles" which lists various articles, all of which reference Dean Kosage and his involvement in the entertainment industry. Yes, apparently he produces beauty pagaents (that must be a special part of being 'core' when you go Diamond!), as well as movies and music, according to these articles.

I found the article which profiles the 17 year old Miss Washington to be most interesting, especially when it mentions how Dean was her mentor and after she won, he invited her back to his mansion for a "private event."

Anyway, I thought you might find it interesting. The url is

http;//www.team-kmi.com.

My wife and I have recently quit the Quixtar business and were in Jerry Boggus's group (under Tom Milo a new platinum - he's been in for over 20 years, as have most everyone else who have still not "made it"). I have not found much on your website about the Boggus group. Do you have any information on them? We decided to quit the business shortly after we set up an XS booth at a large event (from which we got 0 sales from over 1000 samples) and earned/spent our way to leadership meeting. After spending the day with Jerry Boggus and his main men, we were standing a long a dock and Jerry started talking to one of main leaders about a surgery the other guy had. Jerry asked how long ago it was and he said it was over three months ago. My eyes opened BIG TIME because we were hanging onto this business because of the alleged strong relationships that are talked about so much. We were told repeatedly (for over three years (5 if you count the 2 years I was in the same group right out of high school)) that if we reach a certain level in the business, then we'll be able to build a relationship with the Milos and the Boggusses. Jerry Boggus claims that God is going to help him fill the Georgia Dome in 2007 with 100 new diamonds. Has anyone else made this claim? We went to a Ron and Toby Hale seminar that Tom and Lori Milo were the guest speakers at and I heard Ron and Toby mention a similar prophesy. Do you know anything about this? What can I do to help other friends that are in Q* or may get sucked in down the road? Thank you for your service and God Bless You!

Hi, I'm writing to ask you if you have heard of BWW? I believe that this is part of the Quixtar system, but I'm curious. I was told by a friend I met while biking of his "mentor" and of the internship he was doing with him. He asked if he could give his "mentor" my number. Well, little did he know that I'm quite the suspicious person, and I had a pretty good idea what this was about, but the curious side said yes. (I can't help it. I have a habit of wanting to learn about the evil side of business I guess...) Anyway, the "mentor" came over and gave me the typical speech. Now, I must come across as a moron, because I couldn't believe how naive this man thought I was. Anyway, I'm apparently invited to a meeting at a hotel where I will be able to learn more about "e-commerce" and such. Now don't hear me wrong, I am not about to join these people, but I would like to learn more about their program. I actually think I would make a good story. Anyway, thanks for any info you could give me, and also for the great website. It makes me sad to think of so many people manipulated by money, but I find light in the fact that there are people and places such as this website that exist to counteract the greed.

Thanks,

Peter

Hi, my name is Michael and I had been recruited to attend a meeting for Quixtar. As with all job interviews and business opportunities I decided to utilize the Internet, in this great age of unlimited information at your fingertips, to gather information so i could ask questions and make an informed decision. After looking at a few sites about Quixtar I came across your site and I would just like to say thank you very much, you helped me avoid making a big mistake with the information I found on your website. I would just like to convey my gratitude and say keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Michael

Hi Scott!

Very nice pictures of Bill Britt. Thanks for sharing them with us. Looks like he's gained about 30 pounds over the past 35 years. You should e-mail them to Amway. I think it would be a terrific addition for next month's Amagram!

Scott,

I think it is a real shame that you have dedicated yourself to creating this website. You are in effect ruining so many people's chances of success by highlighting all the negative points of this business. You can always draw negatives from any organisation so large. The fact is that this business WORKS for people who are serious about building something for their futures.

Of course there are high dropout rates, but it's the same for any large organisation. Imagine if everybody who achieved below-average grades at university compiled a website advertising the negatives of going to university and none of the positives: it would ruin so many people's chances of going themselves. Chances are, people who fail at university, like people who fail in this business, know exactly where they went wrong, but that feeling of bitterness causes them to think of all the negatives and voice them.

I just want everyone to know that Network Marketing, as explained by many authors and financial gurus, is one of the fastest growing industries, and the advice on this website should be taken alongside all of the advice given by these sources. It is of course up to the individual, but I just hope that the individual doesn't come across this site.

Tom Holliday

Wow...great Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Kosage addition. You hit the nail on the head with your research. John Hook (one of my best friends who took the Amway/Kosage plunge with me for 5 years) and I find ourselves discussing Dean at least once a week (for the past 4 years)...he's so easy to make fun of...it's amazing how John and I have discussed over the past 4 years what a freak show Dean was and how everyone thinks he's a "God"...your article is great, we (John and I) have got more stories than you can shake a stick at. Dean used to tell me (before I was married) that I had to make sure that my girlfriend at the time were on the same level of thinking and that she knew "her place"...doing laundry, taking care of the house etc...as long as she knew she wasn't the "head" of the household, but the "neck" that turns the head (or in otherwords, his love slave...according to the court documents! Dean would mimic this Bible passage from Brad Duncan and Brad Wolgamott all the time. In fact, Dean was constantly regurgitating anything and everything from Brad, Brad and Greg Ducncan (90% of the time not knowing what it truly meant), because he never had an original thought of his own!...perfect duplication, I guess.

I can only imagine the info the Simmons can give you...they had a rough time with Dean and all his shit. I do believe Matt and Dean go back to the days of waiting tables at the Red Robin...one of the first people he sponsored. Dean always told me that Matt couldn't handle the way was motivating and teaching and that Matt was paranoid that he (Dean) was trying to take over his business. Dean is such an egomaniac...he would take credit for so much stuff that wasn't true or that he didn't do...just like telling Teagan that he built the house they were renting! That's the Dean Kosage I eventually got to know...I'm a very good judge of character and when you spend enough time with someone, you start to see in-congruencies in thought processes and actions.

As far as having a "potty mouth"...I saw Dean lose it a few times!

Back in 99 I was working to qualify as a "Double Eagle", as there was a contest to travel to Brad Duncan's home in White Fish, MT...well, Dean idolized Brad Duncan and had given him (Brad) some figures (over inflated...like most figures in Amway) about how many double eagles downline he would have qualifying for the trip to Brad's home. The contest deadline was coming up and there was no way I was going to make my numbers, so I left Dean an "amvox" to let him know. I got an call back an hour later and Dean was breathing fire! I wish I had it taped for ya, but he went nuts like I had never seen...he was swearing left and right and giving me the 3rd degree...it was that conversation that really started clearing the fog for me. He was so pissed that he might look bad in front of Brad Duncan...it was then I realized he was more interested in how he looked, rather than having the best interest of his team in mind. Who knows, maybe he called me a few minutes after he kicked the shit out of his mother in law...that may explain why he was sooo angry?!

There was another time (99)...just a month later when we (John and I) were traveling up to the Duncan Family Reunion in Portland, OR. John and I were traveling from Phoenix and the rest of my group was coming

in from Iowa/Phoenix. John couldn't afford to fly (that's what the business had done to his finances), so he was going to make the 12 drive. The function started on Friday night at 7pm....I got bumped off my flight and took a voucher so I could afford to fly to the next function, but would get into Portland until 9pm. John and I were both late (John took a wrong turn in the deserts of Nevada) and missed Brad Wolgamott's speach...Dean was pissed that we missed his speech and that I wasn't there at 7pm "for my group". He had John and I come up to his room and he let us have it..."you can't be fucking late for these functions when your group is here"...etc etc. In hindsight, this experience helped clear more fog. Yeah he was/is an short man with some major control and anger issues.

I remember dreading him coming to town because he was a control freak...it was nerve racking...if you didn't the right amount and of people at his plan...or if you didn't have the "right" (professional/good looking) people, or if the speaking room wasn't to his liking, or if there was any outside noise or if you didn't have video games and the right food for after the meeting or if you didn't meet him at the terminal gate or if you didn't pick him up in a nice enough car etc etc...these were just a few reasons to dread his arrival...it was nerve racking trying to host him.

Like I said, I'm not out for revenge...I am interested in letting people know the truth about the system and Dean Kosage. I still have a couple of personally sponsored downline in Dean's business that are now directs...they are still disciples of his...I never had the heart to let them in on the truth...they, like most, wouldn't believe it anyway!

Anyhow, I've got to go...I could really help you load more arrows into your quiver for the "Dean Kosage showdown" he's offered to you. That verbage he used is SOOO typical Dean Kosage...makes me want to puke!

"Investigate or meet my team"...good Lord...I realized after 5 years that he's nothing without Amway and all his followers...pretty sad.

Hello Scott

I am a Quixtar prospect and they are pushing real hard. I have been researching this group since I was contacted 3 weeks ago and invited to an open meeting.

I have found much information but nothing that is as complete and makes as much sense as the info on your amquiz.info site.

Everytime I mention facts and lawsuits, the BSM scheme, the actually income I have found, my potential sponsor keeps telling me Quixtar is completely different from amway.

Now if I choose to try to make money off the backs of other people and lose all my friends, I'll only have myself to blame. Chris

Scott,

Great website!

I had the (un)fortunate experience of being a direct leg of, now Diamond, Dean Kosage for 5 years (95-2000). Being the "leader" of a growing 2500 pin and his expected/glorious 6th direct leg, I got a lot of "time" with Dean...fortunately it helped my business grow and unfortunately I had to spend so much time with an incredibly arrogant, lying, control freak! During that 5 years, I spotted many "chinches in his armor". Everything from the lies Dean told to upline and Amway Corp to justify my transferring to his group from another WWDB ruby business...to Dean (as an Emerald in 97) being in Iowa City, Iowa showing a plan for me when his daughter was born (whoops, did I say that in my outside voice?...as I was instructed not to breath a word to anyone, as it might give the wrong impression that he wasn't a family man and/or the question of his "control of time"), to his messy divorce when Dean was instructed by the courts that his assets were frozen and not to contact his wife, as there were reports of abuse (I was standing next him when his lawyer called his cell phone to give him the news)...to all the lies he told during stage presentations about his lifestyle and knowledge of business/internet trends...to the time I accidentally got his tool purchase report in my tool order (I realized he was paying $1 or so less than I was for every tape running through his business...I asked him about it and he straight faced told me that that extra money was for tapes that were damaged and for the service of "warehousing" them.

Side note:

Dean Kosages' 6th, 7th and 8th legs were all preexisting businesses that he somehow transferred (putting it nicely) in from other cross-line businesses.

Anyhow, some more info on one of the couples on your "divorced list":

Matt and Carrie Simmons

They were at one time (95) Dean's largest leg (ruby)...until they got sick of his shit...Dean started to "campaign" against Matt and Carrie's loyalty to all his "leaders". The "leaders" started to alienate them as traitors to the team...excepting Dean's word as gospel. When Dean and Rebecca were going through their divorce, Rebecca decided she wanted part of the business and all the personally sponsored legs had to "choose" who they wanted to remain with. Matt and Carrie were the only big pins to side with Rebecca...needless to say Rebecca quit after a few months which forced Matt and Carrie back to Dean's business. Dean and his crew made business life a silent hell for Matt and Carrie. It doesn't surprise me a bit that they quit and/or got divorced.

Anyhow...I could tell story after story about Dean and many other large pins...

I remember when I was caught in the WWDB fog and I would read someone's statements about Amway/WWDB...I would get so mad, but after working in that organization for 5 years, the fog started to clear and I realized the truth about their motives and agendas. I wasn't huge, but I was a growing 2500 pin that left the business, not out of frustration, but because I caught a glimpse of the truth through the fog...and acted!

In Oct. of 2000, I told Dean I was done and got my life back! Since the weight was lifted, I was able to kicked back relax and have a beer for the first time in 5 years (not allowed while in Amway), was able to go into public with jeans and t-shirt (as I wasn't afraid of my appearance if I met the "perfect" prospect), vacationed, started a very profitable business (making over 6 figures), bought a car with out having to "check up-line", bought a condo (not having to worry if I had enough room to store tapes) and met my wife! None of this would have happened if I was still in the biz. I really feel bad for many of the downline/crossline "friends" I developed...as 99% of them haven't hardly moved on in the past 4 years. Still in the business 24/7...spending money they don't have.

Anyhow...that's some of my story. I'm sure Dean's explanation to the rest of his business on why I was no longer around goes something like: "he didn't have a big enough dream or he couldn't handle the way I teach/motivate."

Let me know if you're interested in any more "truths"....

Sorry about any possible errors...wrote it pretty fast.

Have a good day,

TH

Hi Scott.

I suppose the evidence is simply mounting to say the least. It did not help that Bill Britt's "retirement" was not announced by Britt himself but by Ron Puryear amongst all the other Diamonds over a voice mail message! Ron Puryear could not hide his nervousness in the message. After all, he was concealing something from the masses in the downlines.

Living in Metro Washington DC and living and hearing some shocking things others just do not know about the true nature of government, this news is not the most shocking I have heard in my life yet comes awful close. I have heard Bill Britt speak on many an occassion in person and on tape and looked up to him more and more though I may not have agreed with all his fundamentalist Christian views. To this day I have all the tapes from him after discarding several others.

The phrase "is nothing sacred anymore?" comes to mind. Well perhaps nothing is so long as it involves people. :-(

I guess the same justification used by Clinton was probably used by Britt, the biggest critic of Clinton the world has ever seen as far as I know.

Britt committed adultery because he simply could.

Most current IBOs who have a real brain will hopefully catch on and see through the BS of the "System" as I did about 5 years ago when I just wasn't making money.

Those who don't see through it by now would be lambs to the slaughter of just about any mass propoganda anyway. Perhaps that degree of mind control is even more startling. It makes one wonder how realistic a movie like The Matrix can be!

Human nature just has not changed through time and this episode is just another ugly chapter that will be forgotten in perhaps two decades, but onward march some of us who are not perfect by any means but at least stand for something higher than living fundamentally according to basic carnal human nature.

No use in letting this news get one down if one was not wrapped up in the Britt System anymore or at all anyway.

Best Regards,

Paul

Hello- I went to a Quixtar meeting because one of my good friends asked me to go. I searched online and found yoru site, I never had any intentions of joining Quixtar, but my friend was dead set on it, I showed him your site and I think he had already joined, but then he just forgot about it, so you saved him some $$$ down the line.

 Hi Scott, along with other IBOs, current and former, we enjoy the work you do in the interest of the pursuit of the truth about not only Quixtar but also any MLM business I have ever come across. Quixtar does stand above many MLM businesses in most of its practices and in the quality of its products, but nevertheless they all share at least one huge flaw.

Most of my quarrel with these businesses would vanish if it were only disclosed clearly and openly upfront to each of the new IBOs/distributors that the majority of profits are in the sales of books, tapes, event tickets and training aids as opposed to from the sales volume of actual consumer products. I was initially under the naive impression as an IBO that such sales were simply to cover the costs, and later it was disclosed after some talk of internal audit that speaking fees were paid at events. IBOs had little quarrel with speakers getting fees and paid travel. Of course it was not until I came across your site and the information from Bo Short that I realised that the "tool" business was the lead business, not Quixtar products!

I found the following article only in hard copy in the Los Angeles Business Journal, a misnomer because it is a weekly publication, dated 21 June 2004.

"Herbalife Reaches Settlement in Suit by Distributors" (filed 21 May 2004 in US District Court in Los Angeles)

The reason I am sending this excerpt to you are because of the similar nature of the business practices of Herbalife that are cited in the article as the basis for the lawsuit in US District Court in Los Angeles filed 19 Feb. 2002. As of 2002, Herbalife International Inc. is PRIVATELY held like Alticor, Inc., parent company of Quixtar.

"It [the lawsuit] specifically targeted a period during the 1990s when Herbalife's domestic sales accelerated after having been stalled for years.

The lawsuit alleged the growth came as a result of a marketing scheme encouraged by the company and employed by the distributors called 'The Newest Way to Wealth', which used the Internet, automated calling and other tools to attract distributors. Ultimately, they alleged, it operated as a pyramid scheme because it failed to result in enough retail sales.

The suit also alleged tha top-level distributors made more money selling independent promotional materials, which were supposed to help the lower-level distributors drive sales, than on actual sales of Herbalife products."

--Los Angeles Business Journal, Laurence Darmiento, Staff Reporter, 21 Jun 2004, p.9

I think Amway, Inc. attempted the same sort of sales growth in migrating its North American business to Quixtar as of fiscal 2000, but fell short on the product side despite the eventual increased productivity in the end. Meanwhile, distributor organisations profited immensely on the "independent promotional materials" as new people flocked to become IBOs in anticipation of "9/1/99" for the launch of Quixtar.

The conversion to Quixtar in 1999, announced in December 1998, was the only reason I stuck with the program after two years at it. I went largely inactive with the "System" in September 1999 when the site would not work worth a damn for at least three weeks.

I don't think they got things quite right with Quixtar until Spring 2002, and now I run a profitable business after a lot of hassle, some of which was inexcusable and defied high expectations all along.

Scott, I hope this information will help in the great case you are building.

Best Regards,

Paul

 Scott,

This highly touted product from Quixtar has been around four years and was originally sold at Costco and other convenience stores until 2002. The flavors are the same and they have added Lemonade Blast. This information came from the Sheryl Solberg sjsolberg@wwdb.org

a WWDB Distributor. So why do many distributors claim this product was created just for Quixtar and that it is totally new.

Brad

Scott,

To the best of my knowledge it was called XS back then too. Most posts on Quixtar Blogs seem to back that up. Also they tout this stuff as being the ideal drink for diabetics.

Well, speaking from experience, my brother who is an insulin diabetic, has been advised NOT to drink or eat anything with ACE-K (the seemingly harmless sweetener that XS uses) in it because it can fluctuate blood sugar and potassium levels and could cause diabetic shock.

Truth not hype.

Bradley