Scott,

I am in sales, and ALL of my training and business expenses have been paid for by the company.

Yes, AmQuix is a self employment situation, but it sure isn't inexpensive, much less free.

Also, I have heard Bill Britt say in person, that, "We don't make any money off of The System. It is set up and designed to help you build your business. It is the glue, the backbone that holds this thing together." Then he went on to explain how in the early days there so much turnover in Amway, that "I tried to get 'em in faster than they got out". Therefore, that is why The System was developed, so people could get educated and we didn't have to go through the same thing.

Sounds good anyway. If you tell yourself a lie long enough, you'll soon believe it, as if the truth never existed.

Paul

I would like to thank you for the information on your web site. I am a new IBO and needed this perspective to aid me towards my success in business. What you might not know is how strong my team is. I recently went to a meeting hosted by Joe Markiewicz and my whole upline was there which is hard to say for so teams. Some points I would like to get across follow. first, I am not losing money in this business. The little money I do spend is an investment in my own business. Second I work my business in my free time when I want to. Finally, a quote from Joe Markiewicz, "It's not easy, it's simple." This business is not for everyone otherwise everyone would be doing it. Every business requires some sort of method of profit to become successful.

Nick

Hi there, my husband and I were distributors around 6 years ago and got out of the business for many of the reasons mentioned on your site. I was most shocked to find out, however, about the money made on the books, tapes, "tools" etc. by upline sponsors. I've been searching the net to find any information about the organization we were associated with which was known as "Diamond Quest". The diamonds were/are Bob and Bonnie Howard, Brad and Vera Doyle, and Tom and Lorrie Hansen. We have no contact with anyone from the group and I'm wondering if you've ever received any e-mails or have heard anything specifically about this branch of the organization. Earlier on in the 90's this group was part of the Michaels' group out of northern Ohio, but grew so large that they broke off and all functions were held in Michigan (except, of course, for the major ones which were always in the NC, or GA area) I should add that it was a part of the Yager downline and that many of the names on your website are familiar from functions and tapes.

thanks so much and continue your website.......I am certain that you are helping many people avoid what can be a disastrous situation.

Dear Scott:

Hello, my name's Brad (nickname Hank, long story) and I've been reviewing your analysis of the AmQuix opportunity. Since you have simply destroyed my dream, I have but two words:

Thank You.

As you probably guessing by now, I'm thanking you (and Jeff Probst too if I could email him) for opening my eyes to the real AmQuix, especially how Dexter Yager, Don & Nancy Wilson, Randy & Valorie Haugen, Bruce & Wendy Anderson, Allen & Joie James and my former Emerald directs, Mike & Lynne Dobson really made their money from The Business (namely the wallets & bank accounts of mine and probably thousands of other low-level IBOs). As you can probably deduce, that is (or rather was) my upline.

I feel compelled to write you to let you know you message is getting out and relate to you some of my experiences.

A little about myself now. Technically I'm still a AmQuix IBO since May 1997, but completely inactive nowadays and from the business fortune looks of things for AmQuix, I'm probably going to stay that way. Personally I don't see Amway/Quixtar/Alticor being able to survive as a viable business, at least in North America due to the non-competitiveness of their products (some are very good but not worth the price differential from Wal-Mart) and their MLM-based marketing plan.

During my tenure, I managed to show a grand total of two plans, only one in person with upline help, spent tightly budgeted dollars on Amway tools (I was one of the luckier ones, questioning $60/month expenditure on tapes that I couldn't keep up with listening ), and actually ended up changing sponsorship lines when my sponsor changed lines due to marriage to another IBO (of course I attended the beautiful beachside wedding). Oh and my sponsors (Craig & Rebekah Minty) are still good friends, Thank God.

What I'm going to do in this letter is relate to you some of my experiences in The Business and some of what I observed, both good & bad (yes, I did learn some good things during that time) in no particular order or in no story timeline. These will give you the gist of what I experience and my viewpoint on the whole Scamway/Quixsand/AppleCor Business.

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Why I quit Scamway: Nowadays, I'm totally inactive and convinced that Amway is not the way to go for me. And my reasons:

1. The truth on how the Emeralds & Diamonds really make their money..by picking the pockets of their downline (and here I thought they actually made their money by retailing Amway products). This is the mechanism by which one builds a AmQuix business and the requirement that you have to be sneaky and somewhat dishonest to do it.

2. I cannot make myself rich by deceiving people which looks like a requirement for success in this business.

3. Market saturation. Too many distributors per square mile to have a chance at profitability by marketing products. This market saturation ensures that only those who did get in during the earlier years of Amway would be successful with it. This by the way explodes Dexter Yager's statement (I think it was Dexter) that he'd rather be starting his business now with Quixtar than when he did in the 1960s.

4. A declining business. How does one get rich trying to build a franchise where the market is in decline. Amway is losng big-time to the Wal-Marts & other discount retailers. They only way they have survived the late 1990s and into the millenium is thru their overseas ventures. And you know who only has access to those markets (the Diamonds no doubt).

5. Price competitiveness: This was one of my biggest reasons why I didn't show any plans during my last two years as a distributor. How could I convince a nice couple to join a business, make & save money when Wal-Mart could beat Amway's prices, sometimes by a factor of 8-10? Example: Amway's anti-bacterial soap cost about $5 for a 8-ounce squirt bottle. Last week I bought a bottle of anti-bacterial soap from Wal-Mart for around $3...for a 64-ounce bottle. (Amway's cost for same quantity would run around $40, plus shipping).

Memories from my AmQuix Experience:

* One thing that struck me about this business is that somewhere it always seemed to COST MONEY. During the functions that I attended, the speakers all talked about their wonderful lives and about making money but everything around you (from the cost of tickets to the cost of the concessions they made available) seemed aimed at your wallet. During the 1997 Anderson/Cowart Family Reunion (held in Mobile, AL my first major Amway function), the concessions were just outside the meeting hall, and they were all stadium-priced. If anyone got rich, it was the food vendors. Nice little arrangement there. Then of course there were the tapes (which I was "encouraged" to buy, the books and of course tools, tools & more tools).

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* My first major function, the 1997 Anderson/Cowart Family Reunion. I actually found this trip very interesting & enjoyable. We travelled as a group of 6 in a car rental (good idea) to Mobile from Jacksonville, FL. It was here that I become somewhat of a "core Amway" got me going & shall we say, fired up. Of course most of the way there, we listened to tapes & all where I was introduced to the "Oh Harry"

story.

I DIGRESS: Of course I found my own Harry, a friend from my church , Frank (who helped big time during the divorce proceedings) but when Frank heard I had joined Amway, he threw a fit. His statement that stuck in my brain and that I'd use as my "Harry", "that Amway crap is like throwing open the doors of the church and inviting the moneychangers to come on in and set up shop" (how right we actually was, though I didn't see it at the time).

Now back to the trip:

Our group lucked out, the hotel we had reservations at accidentally gave away our rooms so they gave us a free upgrade...all the way up to the premier suites and on the same floor as the Diamonds who were putting this on (Bruce Anderson, Randy Haugen & Wade Cowart). I got my first look at how the Diamonds got treated (and imbibed in a lot of the free food ha ha ha..(yes FREE, for the home & visiting Diamonds) delivered to a special dining facility on their floor. And although nothing was said, they did seem to be a little annoyed (very well disguised) that ordinary folks like myself and my group actually got to stay on their floor. One big advantage to our hotel, we could walk to the function. This made it easy for me to "take a break" from this, especially the Saturday night we spent there. I said at one point the heck with it and went back to my room to catch up on my sleep. I later returned to the function for another 3 hours until that 2 AM finish. (Now I really sympathized with those folks who couldn't return to their hotel and were stuck there the whole day & night and nowadays really sympathize with "Ginny's Story" (from another web site) about being "stuck" at one of those idiot

functions.

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* A Heartbreaking Story of a Crossline Romance..sort

of:

Well being newly Single Again and fresh off a heartbreaking divorce I didn't want, it's fair to say that I was quite vulnerable some 6-8 months after the sad event. And lo & behold what happens, you meet someone interesting (in the business of course). I'll call her Cari. She was about 13 years my junior and fresh out of the military, complete with nice figure, blond hair, bluish eyes, that sexy blonde look...and of course a single mom with a little girl. That didn't matter at all when she started paying special attention to yours truly at the monthy Seminar & Rally. The only drawback, she lived in Ocala which was a good 2 hour drive from Jacksonville so regular dating would have been difficult. We first met at a Rally but really got going at the Anderson/Cowart Reunion.

Well the phone calls started (or course), we made sure to meet at the functions and from my point of view, things were looking up romantically. At each Rally, she always sought me out and greeted me with a nice hug (you bet I loved that) and we talked about our prior military service, what we wanted..the usual romance gobbledegook.

Over the phone, Cari made it obvious that she wanted us to spend some time together (alone) at the upcoming Free Enterprise function in Charlotte, NC (home of guess who, Dexter Yager). We made our arrangements to meet. At the function, sure enough, we met, I got the big hug again, talked and arranaged to see each other after she had a lunch with her upline....

That was the last time we talked. The rest of the function, she blew me off.

Needless to say, I was quite depressed the rest of the function. She never sought me out, avoided me like the plague and such. That pretty much ended it and what a place to get your heart broke. Turns out of course, she was considered "crossline" despite having the same upline Emerald and in all probability, her upline got wind of what was happening and quickly doused it.

Oh but remember, we all love each other eh??

Postscript: Cari ended up dating a friend of mine from the business for awhile, Jerry but it broke off when one day he arrived at her family's house (they all still lived together with mom & dad) and found the whole family's bags packed and they were moving to Michigan. No notice, no nothing.

================================================================

* Would you believe that my upline Emeralds (Mike & Lynn Dobson, Tim & Julie Socks) lived in the same apartment complex that I did. One would figure that this would make things easy and that those Emeralds ("who are so lining up to help you") would be at my door inviting me over and teaching me how to build a downline. After all I was in their downline and wouldn't they have a financial interest in my success??

Guess not.

Oh I was over their house a couple times but never to do business-related work. I did counsel with them if I met them at the pool but despite dropping numerous "hints", giving them my phone # and apartment #, they NEVER called or showed up, despite invites & requests for business assistance. Not only that but their upline Emerald also lived in the same complex (Allen & Joie James) and even closer. Yet everytime I talked to Allen James, I was completely "blown off' and mostly ignored. Guess it was beneath him as a Emerald in Diamond qualification (he never made it as far as I know) to converse with a "newbie".

People helping People business huh!!

(A rather sad postscript here. I checked back last September (2001) and found that the Dobson/Socks organization had pretty much broken up. Seems the (rather handsome ) Mike Dobson got caught in the sack with a rather hot-looking direct in his downline (named, believe it or not, Cindi Crawford, no relation to the supermodel but very good looking). That pretty much spelled the end of his Jacksonville organization and it dissolved).

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* Thru the whole thing, I could never get a good answer (despite numerous queries) on how to retail product and get the business going, just platitudes and of course keep buying tapes, tools,books, etc. Never any good ideas on how to build a customer base. I bounced some creative ideas off of my upline Emerald (who lived so close) for marketing product and start to build a customer base. Their response (you guessed it), stick to the "system". But of course, despite having "plugged into the system" drilled into you, I never could get a straight answer on what exactly was required to "plug in".

Sound familiar??

Along those lines, my biggest gripe was the "lack of product competitiveness. I was asking my upline how am I supposed to sell product (even home delivered) when the prices were as much as 8 times what you'd pay at Wal-Mart for comparable brands?

Example: Anti-bacterial shower soap. I started using Amway's anti-bacterial hand soap in my regular shower because of course it was anti-bacterial and it did compare (price-wise) with the "Body Shop" mall stores. Price, around $5 for a 8-ounce bottle (and don't forget the shipping)

But then I go to Wal-Mart and check out their brand. For around the same price, I got a 64-ounce bottle of nice-smelling anti-bacterial soap (a 8x savings). And in delicious irony, I nowadays still use the original Amway squirt bottle to dispense my Wal-Mart brand soap (the big bottle is a nice refill size). Figured I might as well get my $5 worth out of the Amway bottle.

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* And at all the major functions I attended, I still remember being subjected to watching the Haugen's Story on Video (twice). Seeing them and their family doing all this stuff, flying around in jet airplanes and the kids being privately taught. How nice and inspiring I thought back then (though I still felt a undercurrent that something was really wrong here). And now being mad as heck that my hard-earned $$ were going to support the Haugen's lifestyle. I don't mind at all someone making money off me if I'm making good $$ too but of course all I was doing was spending on tools. Which of course benefits..guess who.?

Oh but there are lining up to help you build your business.

* One little incident here. During a visit by EDC's Don & Nancy Wilson to one of our Jacksonville rallies, I, taking pictures for memory sake, got up right before Don's speech, went down and snapped his picture of him on stage. Nice shot. Don then quipped (jokingly I thought), "I'll collect the modeling fee later". Nothing ever came of it but I wonder if he really was joking. I did later get a posed pic with me and my sponsors posing with Don & Nancy.

* During my only Free Enterprise function, try as I might, I just couldn't shake the feeling of jealousy and anger watching those Diamonds parade across the stage at Charlotte Coliseum. Oh I tried to "be happy for them and learn from them" but now I know all Ireally learned is how to rip people off and how much those Diamonds (Haugen's, Anderson's etc) enjoyedshowing off their lifestyles. (Kinda like ol Leroy Brown wearing his diamond ring in front of everybody's nose). Nowadays it makes me sick to think about it and how these ridiculous spectacles were paid for. Ever notice too how these big functions were mostly held in locales where you could not easily go get something inexpensive to eat and ended up spending big $$ on the local vendor's food.

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* And what about my sponsors, Craig & Rebekah. Oh they're still in but I've seen hints that they too aredown on this whole business. Rebekah in fact is pursuing other businesses and when I helped them move to a new condo, I couldn't resist seeing what "products" they were now using.

Take a guess, hint you can buy them all at Wal-Mart.

Tells you something huh?

==================================================================

*OK, how about the good?? Well some of what I learned does make sense and has inspired me to seek building my own little business (while still workingmy Database Systems Analyst job) and many of their sayings does resonate a positive note. It is a wonderful thing to pursue your dreams. Even if you eventually fail, at least you gave it a shot. Thru the AmQuix people, I learned about Robert Kiyosaki andnow learning some really good ideas on how to build mypersonal wealth (from almost nothing). I'm still great friends with Rebekah & Craig though I don't talk about "the business" anymore (they never let me know how they're doing, though being sponsored by a Diamond (John & Dana Mitts I believe). Craig in fact will be a groomsman in my coming wedding and their daughter Jessica is one of the junior bridesmaids.

Well that about sums up my experiences and to think that I continued to buy into "The Lie" that this business would someday make me rich until Summer 2001 when I came across your web site and the others which expose the whole fraud.

Healh & Wealth to U sir:

Again Thank You Scott & God Bless You

BG(Hank)

The Rock Ape of the Cape

Scott,

Thanks for your website now I know what Quixtar is really about. I was invited by a close friend of mine 2 nights ago to a meeting at Fairfax, VA. The meeting was in a mansion own by a multi-millionaire. I must say others and I were very impressed by the house. Or is it how they will like to present "you can be as rich as me"? What a setup!

They showed first videotape of "The next trillion". It is about how Internet marketing going to be the next biggest thing in the world. And how easy to get rich if you plug into the network. It reminded me of pyramid scheme videotape I saw many years ago (I didn't fall for that neither).

Then the guy who did the presentation said he used to be a elementary teacher and in debt. Now because of the business he is debt free and making over $200,000/year. He said he is ready to retire in couple months.

Anyway, the whole presentation didn't mention a single word about Amway at all (Now I know why). They start out with being a client, how to spend $200/month and get $7.50 back. From that point on, you become a member, IBO...etc. They were talking about making "residual" income of several thousands at the first year and then ten of thousands...etc. While the overhead is only $20 dollars at the beginning and no more than $100 later. Never in the presentation did he mention anything about the detail and any realistic data. They always talk about getting more people sign up and start your "business". He put out lots of leading question about how you would like to enjoy a life in luxury, retire in 25 and able to take care of your family...etc.

What gets lot of people around me was that this rich guy (who hosted the meeting) is supporting the meeting and lent lot of credibility. One lady told me later something of "if the rich guy is behind it then it must be real". Well, then I thought: "Isn't that the same way how con artist cons people?". If the IBO's really make 3-4% per sale then I wonder how much this rich guy is going to make, certainly not 3-4%.

There is lots of very nice people (I must say): wife of a pilot, real business owner, common folks and even Miss America. ( I can't tell you which year but very recent one.) That in itself is a very clever way of promoting the whole thing. It become self prepetual, everyone cheers for everyone else to be in the network. The meeting of so many nice people can be a great promotional point.

To cut it short, I was skeptical at the beginning and I am still skeptical at the end. After seeing your website I am relieved to know my gut feeling is right. Now I just need to convince other people before it is too late for them.

Calvin

Dear Mr. Larsen,

My english is not so good. I hope so that you understand this e-mail.

Your are make a great site. I had a small problem to understand all facts, but in global I understand how that system is worked. I am from Croatia and if you translated this summary pleas send me. One IBO will visited me tomotow and if you can, pleas send me a few important questions that I ask him. I decided to not accepted his offer, but he insist to visit me just once (he try to change my dicision).

Scott...

BTW, I love reading your Letters section and your responses to the Ambots who can't get over their brainwashing. Back when I was in I wrote a letter to Sidney Schwartz, boy am I embarrassed about it now...

Cheers..

Nevin

I am interested in the Quixtar program. I received the presentation, which did not convince me at all. I am only interested in the bottom line: paying for an IBO number and shopping for myself, the products I normally buy, at a discount. I saw the catalog and stated I wanted to see the IBO price.

This is what will convince me. As a consumer, if I can receive the items I buy at a lower price and have it delivered I am all for it. They also mentioned that purchased of $50 or more have free delivery (just like Staples.com) which is what I usually spend at the store. I have no desire or am willing to purchase motivational tapes, etc.. Do you have any comments to this.

Sorry, but some of the things you mentioned about Quixtar, are true to the

fact, that yeah, this isnt the traditional way of doing things and its not suppossed to be . we are Ibo's and we are doing just fine. this buisness isnt a way to (get rich fast) , it does take time to do, but so do most businesses. we just did our tax return, and if it wasnt for this buisness we wouldnt of got to keep any money and we would have owed, so alot of these people that are saying this crap are all full of it or they didnt do a damn thing with their buisness. I dont know if youve read any types of books or how old you are, but if you know anything about buisness, you will find that most people are broke when they first start a small buisness and are in debt. it takes thousands or hundreds usually to start a buisness RIGHT? this is only 47.00 a year. who cant afford that! it makes it easy for people to start something, and yes just like with any buisness you own, you either work it (your self )so you dont have to pay anyone, or you pay someone and lose more money. Our Tax lady told us that she wanted to know what business we were in, cause shes never seen anyone make money (which we did) in their 1st year starting their own ( regular) buisness. So what are you trying to do? Get people into your own type of group just because you didnt want to do this buisness or you dont really understand this buisness, Dont try to discourage others, based on what you think, because it is working for us, and people we talk to see the opportunity that - if they do the work also they can reep the rewards just like with any work that you can make money, except THIS IS RESIDUAL MONEY AND IT MAKES SENCE and for the tapes and siminars? If you had to go to college to learn business skills to own and operate your business, how much money would you spend on college? what they offer is a built in educational system to teach and motivate because so maney people are so negitive out there that they need this to keep focused just like with weight loss or any program that takes determination! I think you need to look at things alittle diferently and see if from a different perspective, its not all about making money! it teaches you how to be a better person aswell. Lots of significant people are in this business and they wouldnt be if it were no good. and Im talkin people that were already making 100.000 or more ayear! Doctor, teachers, layers, real estate agents, Ect... so maybe its not for you, but dont put it down, the only way to be succsessful and have what the wealthy have is to follow in their footsteps, no matter how difficult it might be, thats why not everyone is RICH cause nobody wants to do what it takes!! Right?

Scott,

I have a quick question for you. Went to my first Quixtar meeting last night and wasn't particularly motivated at the thought of being a salesman. After doing some searches on the internet for more information, the meeting sure didn't provide much in the way of facts, I stumbled onto your site and became less motivated. However, I do live in a small beach community, about 20 miles from the nearest sizeable town. What is your thought on joining Quixtar simply for the benefit of using it to have household goods delivered to your home versus driving 40-50 miles round trip to get access lower cost stores.

Thanks for your time,

Chaney

Hi Chaney,

I was curious what you decided with Quixtar? Did you see a benefit to the shopping due to your distance from other stores?

Scott

Scott,

I've only ordered once from it and did like the fact that it was delivered 3 days later. I don't like having to buy some essentials in bulk though. I don't really have much room to store 50 rolls of toilet paper and 20 rolls of paper towels. So I'll continue to check it out, if I decide that I have benefited from the use of Quixtar I will consider inviting others that are in a similar situation and starting an IBO.

Chaney

Dear Scott,

I first found your site on "awod" Feb 2001 and worked myself out of Amway over the following 6 months. I was sad to see you leave (or be forced to) the net and I kept trying to find you to thank you. I don't know how long you have been "back" on the web under a new address but I want to thank you for your transparent analyses. When I decide to, I will share my story but in short, my husband and I lost about $10,000 and currently are been harassed by our "upline" for leaving and taking some downline with us.

Sincerely,

Scott,

Yeah I saw Foley getting named in that suit. Since I was in Carrillo's group I was also in Foley's. I've been on Foley's yacht the "Global Amigos" and have been on his bus. He's a wolf in sheeps clothing. He lives in Tavares florida which a little above Orlando. Carrillo lives in Umatilla which is the next town north. Pedro and Patsy Lizardi live on Foley's street. You can look up what they bought their house for at this web address:http://www.lcpafl.org/ click on the property appraiser link and follow the instructions. I tried finding Foley but he must have the house in a corporate name.

Joe

Just joined as IBO after 2 YEARS of looking and listening.. I'll letcha know.. I have a different gameplan - and we will see if "they" have REALLY got room for those thinking outside the box ( including theirs).. can they "fire me " for this... ahhhhh.. not according to my attorney - they flat HARP on the "I" in IBO... so? YES -- I have a different idea - direction - approach - age group - etal.. in mind to make QUIXTAR make ME rich.. but.. that is the property of MY IBO :=))

We will see if my "alternate" approach works first... and then... if as successful as I think .. see if honesty prevails over greed .. :=)))))))))

To whom it may concern:

I have recently come into some information, which may prove, interesting and even beneficial to you concerning Joe & Lynn Land. As you are well aware, Joe & Lynn are Diamonds in the Quixtar business an Internet affiliate marketing program. Recently, they broke away from their upline as well as the Pronet Global Business Support System in a manner which is hardly befitting the "good Christian" image that Joe enjoys portraying.

Here are some interesting tidbits concerning the new group Joe is heading up as well as the individuals involved in it.

The new Business Support Materials (BSM) group headed by Joe & Lynn Land as well as Joe & Dawn Pici and Tom and Patty Armour is called Alliancenetsolutions and already has an active website at Alliancenetsolutions.com. Of particular interest is the fact that none of the BSM's being prepared or used by this new group, including the Show

the Plan (STP) brochure have been approved by the Quixtar Corporation.

This is illegal under the company bylaws and could theoretically be dangerous and damaging towards the Corporation.

Also, here are some interesting facts about the three leaders in this new "team" Joe & Lynn Land: Although holding the title of "Diamonds" in the business, they actually have achieved this distinction only once. They currently are qualifying at the Sapphire level, which is roughly a 1/3 of the business volume a true Diamond would create. Joe, a self-styled

"devout Christian" has shown remarkably little of the values he is fond of announcing and pretending to foster in public. Examples of this are:

In 2001, the Quixtar Corporation censured Joe and forced him to make changes to his Business presentation due to unsubstantiated claims and other information that was neither approved nor backed by the Corporation.

Last year a tape of Joe Land speaking was offered through the Pronet Global Support team as a Tape of the Week. This recording featured Joe making such comments as "Jesus put this business in my life" and "You have a covenant of trust with your upline in this business". Obviously Joe and his impeccable integrity have had a revelation. I mean a man with

the supposed integrity of Joe would never break the covenant with his upline or throw the man "Jesus had brought into his life" out like the trash would he?

As of this week, Joe Land turned on the man who helped him recover his life and his family. Something that is alluded to in many of Joe's tapes. Joe Land broke away from the system of support that helped him achieve the success in Quixtar that he has enjoyed. The best part of this? He wasn't man enough to do it face to face with or at least with a phone call. He did it with a legal notice. Wonderful integrity and what a great man of God you are Joe. Good thing Jesus loves us all?

With all of the stress Joe's conscious must be undergoing in turning his back on both his upline and the support system that helped him make it this far. It would be a terrible shame if he reverted to his past as an alcoholic in order to "handle" the strain.

Tom & Patty Armour: Tom & Patty Armour are holding the title on "Emeralds" in the Quixtar business but like the Lands are not quite what they seem. The Armours actually only have Sapphire volume. Tom Armour is an individual who has been regarded with a great deal of mistrust by most of his peers in this business. An example of the type of person a great

Christian like Joe Land is now associating himself with follows:

Tom Armour attempted to "buy and manipulate" his way into an Emeraldship instead of working for it honestly. He was caught by the Corporation and punished. Although his title was allowed to remain Emerald, he was forced to only receive bonuses and breaks as a Sapphire as that is all that he had actually earned. The word deceitful comes to mind to describe Tom Armour a less kind description but perhaps more apt would be snake. The third couple in this drama is Joe & Dawn Pici who are Emeralds in the business.

In summary, this information only asks one question. In a business that is based on building and maintaining relationships and friendships with others. Joe Land and his team seem to be smashing that attitude in the quest for more power, wealth, and control. Would you want to create a business with individuals or a group who have a history of backstopping,

violating Corporation guidelines, and of being hypocrites?

PS: The Legal documents involved in this matter were sent from the offices of Mel Pearlman, PA in Celebration, FL. I am not sure if this is public record or not if you want to try and find it. I will not send from this email address again. If there is more info I will send it in the future.

Making any money with this website? Just curious. It's probably your first goal. But we're glad it's up! We call you the "tree trimmer."

Although your site is negative and discouraging, our group views it as an opportunity, one that helps us ensure integrity and trust, guard against greed, instill character, and watch for simple business errors that would otherwise be interpreted by you as an attempt to scam people.

In all, 99.9% of the IBO's we work with in Amway/Quixtar pursue their business with the intent of building ethical businesses that serve others and help their families. You are helping us stay on course.

Thanks for providing such a wonderful service, not just for those who are paying you to keep your site up, but for the rest of us who can learn from others.

Well done! Keep leaning forward!

Joe

Hi Scott --

I don't have any good Amway tales of woe to share with you; instead, I just feel like I owe you a fan letter after enjoying your website so much for the past couple of years. I discovered your page in 1999, and I blame you for the dip that my grades took during my third year of law school, because more than once I stayed up practically all night reading everything on your site and everything on the sites that you link to. My personal exposure to Awmay/Quixtar/et al is extremely limited, but for reasons of which I'm not entirely sure (but I imagine you've given some thought to) I am incredibly

fascinated by the entire Amway subculture. Thanks for stoking and feeding this fascination, and for doing so for free!

Hi, Scott - I am an ex-IBO who is preparing to get back in.

I see that Sheriff and newbie over at "Quixtar Now" seem to be having success building profitable sales-oriented businesses, and I intend to do the same - although not necessarily in their groups.

Do you know of any LOS that teaches building the business this way, from the TOP?

(I would prefer not to fight with my new upline, and it would be WONDERFUL not to have to build my own "system" of retail-related tapes and functions - but I WILL, if I must.)

Ron

Just to give you another view from a reader of your webpage, I personally am an IBO of Quixtar. I have not been forced to purchase ANY types of materials or anything else to "boost" my business. Quixtar is based on a system and with that system, different organizations have their different ideas. So with placing that stereotype on the WHOLE business would be like myself putting a stereotype on your "home page". It is an information page, backed by whom? I and others in my organization only purchase online what we would at Wal-Mart or any other store you can walk into. I am not spending more money online than I would at a local store, and I am receiving equal to more product volume than I would at a local store. Quite a few people in this country, and others have HUGE dreams that they have grown up with and honestly in today's society- you can NOT fufill your dreams. Your dreams shrink to fit your income. So the question I ask to you is: With my dreams and goals, I have chosen to do this business with the hope that I might be able to fufill those dreams and goals....I have not spent extra money on ANYTHING in this business and I have learned skills for life and also business-so what do I have to lose? I am sorry that you must see this much negativity in life and you have HAD to shrink your dreams. In every business and thing on this earth, there are wrongs-who wants to spend their EXTRA time writing webpages about them? Do something positive with your time, no matter what it is. You only live once. Thanks.

My wife an I bought into the WWDB system several years back and pumped it with great zeal for close to three years. With great happiness and belief in a profitable future we spent money that probably should have been spent feeding our children, paying down our mortgage, and paying bills....instead of buying more PV, more "tools" (that for some reason seem to become rather dated with each new change in the company name) and tickets to conferences.

We know this now, but back then we believed, and when you honestly believe, then nothing can sway you.

It was somewhat sudden that I began to get honest with myself and what was happening with our finances. Something clicked one day when I was "pumping myself up" by watching several of the "dream videos" (Brad Duncan's in particular). I looked around at my small home and the fact that our latest rush to the next PV bracket had maxed out our Credit Line and had put us in a situation where we had no-where to go to pay several bills. I looked at my kids: many of their clothes from Value Village, holes in their sneakers and sleeping on a mattresses that was shaped like a hammock. It hit me hard that I was paying for Duncan's videotaped lifestyle. That's the way the system works. I looked at his chubby, smiling, rosy-cheeked face, and his plastic wife, on the video and suddenly felt used. Our upline Emerald was really upset when we couldn't afford Family Reunion. He said we "couldn't afford not to go" but he also didn't offer to pay our way either. He said we weren't serious enough about the business.

So it ended. My focus changed. Bottom line, the business is about getting rich and it holds "time and money" out there as a carrot to the pinions who perhaps have nothing more than a "dream". And likely that's all most will ever have and they, like us, will spend their wages on a program that will take and take and take and continue to take until the dreamer wakes up. Well, guess what. We stopped paying for the lifestyle of the rich, we stopped our silly focus on the greener grass across the fence and we stopped listening to people that could only offer wind. Instead, we started to go with God's economy: we gave 10% and more, to His work. We began to spend time with our children, the ones He gave us. I began to enjoy the job He gave me. And we began to pray for His blessing.

Now here we are: two years later - we just moved from our little yardless townhouse where our four kids had to share a bed, to a 3200 square foot home with a yard and a garage and a basement, in a nice neighborhood. We have food in the fridge and I love spending time with my kids, now, today.

If you are in WWDB and feel guilty about quitting because "It's Christian after all", don't feel bad. I am beginning to think they actually hold the "Christianity" thing over our heads so we will continue to believe and therefore....buy. It's time to move on.

Dear Mr. Larsen

A few months ago, I did some service work for a very nice man. He was impressed by my hard work and my attitude, and handed me his card at the end, said he was looking for people with high moral standards to join his organization, ProNet Global, that they had held their own pretty well when the do- coms crashed, and in volume were number five on the web. A month ago I lost my job. About a week and a half ago I called him up, and we met, along with his mentor, for lunch last Monday.

When I handed over my resume they were impressed. They let me do most of the talking. Only toward the end of the two hours, when they were going through the org. chart did they let a term slip, "no, ignore that side of the chart, those are 'diamonds'". That's when I asked if it was Amway. Slick; promising. My friend left me with a book and a packet that included a video tape and a couple of audiotapes.

I picked my kid up from school, went home, and started searching the web for answers. What I found was horrendous. I was websurfing in panic mode. Because I have only one phone line and am in the middle of a job search, I cannot spend long periods on line, so I save large quantities of text and html files to study later. After a bit of this, however, I started formatting these into a presentable form, to turn over on a 3 1/2 " floppy. I knew he would want his material back soon, so I felt that I didn't have much time.

I am sending the materials I gave him yesterday when I returned his literature as an attachment to this e-mail

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