Quixtar

[Chairboy]

Originally posted by storch
apparently those were IBOs (independant business operators) straying outside of the legal bounds.  It happens, whether you work for corporate america or whether you work on your own.

refer to my previous posts.

With due respect, Storch, and while we've clashed in the past I DO believe you're a good guy with good intentions, I think this could be one of those 'cognitive dissonance' moments.

I had a couple of friends that did Amway over the past couple decades, and both times, it created real awkwardness and put a strain on our relationship.  Yet, Amway advocates starting with friends and family (because they're an easy audience as they already know you), a practice that, based on the 90%+ failure rate, is almost guarenteed to result in unhappiness.

I mention cognitive dissonance because there's so much evidence that Amway is a losing proposition for everyone except Amway.  Even if some people can break even or even prosper (like you), it's A: extremely rare, and B: a success built on exploiting the sense of obligation people have when dealing with friends/friendly people.

I could not, in good conscience, try to talk other people into joining the organization KNOWING how many end up losing $$$.  Even if three out of ten friends break even, I'd be responsible for the other seven failing because the odds are stacked so highly against success.  

If you like the products, cool, buy them.  One of my friends swore by them and said the Fruitios (can't remember the name of the Fruit Loop replacement) tasted great and cost less then 3/4 what the brand name cost and tasted just as good.  Of course, I didn't have the heart to tell him about the Fruit Loop knockoffs in the plastic bag at the store that cost half THAT, but...

[jEEZY]

Originally posted by storch
apparently those were IBOs (independant business operators) straying outside of the legal bounds.  It happens, whether you work for corporate america or whether you work on your own.

 

If you want more substantive FTC complaint files I will be happy to post links--this is but the tip of the iceberg as it were.  Note that the Amway litigation and investigation essentiallly shut them down once and they were re-born as a new entity.

[storch]

Thank you for your thoughtful post.  Perhaps that is why we have succeeded where others have failed.

I was instructed by my sponsor to make a list and provide him with it.  Subject list was to be at least 100 people large and include family and friends.  Enter storch's street upbringing and healthy skepticism.  I made a list  it included business contacts that were unimportant to me and neighbors that I despized.  (I wanted to save my family and friends from possible financial compromise, if this was good I would contact them later)

I kept my list to myself, I am first and foremost a salesman.  I know how to approach, how pitch, when to shut up, when to apply pressure and when to back down.  mostly I know how to close.  I weld because I enjoy it.  selling allows me to weld.

back to amway.

We sponsored nine front line distributors, three stayed.  of those three, the guy I despized the most, an eletronics engineer working for Motorola in Sunrise Fl. went big fast and made a ton of money.  because of how the business developes and because I had constructed my business thoughtfully I was able to capitalize on his success.  through the years the geometric progression works more and more in my favor.  for the experts out there I have three qualifying legs, hundreds deep and still do 7500pv on the side because my wife is a hugger and a seller.  if you stand still she'll hug and ask you how you feel.  If you don't respond she'll dust you off and sell you.  It's a great partnership.  I have the added benefit that inspite of my many character flaws and personality quirks, she likes me.  How can anyone beat that.

As I posted previously, you MUST SELL PRODUCT.  If you don't how will you earn money?  People are afraid of selling because they fear rejection.  I guess some guys never get laid.  If you want to get laid,  you spot a prospect, you make contact, you pitch your idea.  The prospect responds yes or no.  If it's no then you look for another prospect.  It worked for me when I was single, why wouldn't work with AMWAY????

When I thought I was successful enough I approached my family and friends,  they all rejected me because.......of course you can do it storch, you are a great bullshirter.  Me??? I could never do that.  Perhaps they were all correct.  In any event. " you wake up every mornin to the alarm clock's warnin to take the 8:15 into the city There's a whistle up above & people pushin people shovin & the girls all trying to look pretty and if your train's on time you can get to work by 9:00 to start your slavin job to get your pay. If you ever get annoyed look at me I'm self employed,  I like to work at nothin all day."  Each to his own.  given the choice I'll pipe my secretary a few times a week during working hours, my wife loves it when I do.  

[storch]

Originally posted by jEEZY
If you want more substantive FTC complaint files I will be happy to post links--this is but the tip of the iceberg as it were.  Note that the Amway litigation and investigation essentiallly shut them down once and they were re-born as a new entity.

Amway is a very above board company selling products through a non-traditional method.  The ethics and review board does a good job of clamping down on unethical distributors.  I believe that the distributor base is around one million strong, naturally questionable things occur.  Caveat Emptor is the rule of the day.  even though most of us want Uncle sugar to protect us from all things foul at the end of the day we are responsible for our decisions.  I personally have a no whimp rule in my business.

Plus I haven't been actively building it since the summer of 1995.

of course I could just be making all this up too.  I want to impress people on an obscure bulletin board.  Yes that's it my poor self image causes me to boast.