Quixtar/Amway/cult businesses

[kddani]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

Amway is a great business that does a lot of good for a lot of people. There's a reason for their success - businesses that are scams don't last that long.

What about all of the people that it has hurt? People that it has ruined financially? People who were brainwashed and driven away from their families because it has just taken over their lives? I've seen it first hand.

Originally Posted by epchick

You might be their salesperson, but you do get a percentage of what people buy from your "business." My uncle does the whole Quixtar thing, and he makes a good amount of money from it.

Salespeople get a percentage of what people buy from their "business". It's called commission. Just like a car salesman, etc.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by kddani

What about all of the people that it has hurt? People that it has ruined financially? People who were brainwashed and driven away from their families because it has just taken over their lives? I've seen it first hand.

Wow that sucks! I'm sorry that happened to whoever you know. But at the same time, did they rely on it as their sole source of income? I see it as comparable to any type of small business, there is always a chance of failure.

I have tried Quixtar and I know that I am not the type of person who could do it as my only source of income.

Originally Posted by kddani

Salespeople get a percentage of what people buy from their "business". It's called commission. Just like a car salesman, etc.

Well then, I wish I could make the ~$25-50,000 my uncle makes in "commission."

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by kddani

What about all of the people that it has hurt? People that it has ruined financially? People who were brainwashed and driven away from their families because it has just taken over their lives? I've seen it first hand.

In Quixtar? I doubt it. As I said...you do not put any money down. Where are you losing?

[33girl]

Can I use this space to vent once more about the people who only sign up for GLO private sides/yahoogroups/facebook to plug their MLM business?

One of my sisters is a district director w/ Mary Kay but she is very respectful about not pushing it and she always contributes to the discussion of the subject at hand. The people who never say anything except telling you where their next sale is are the ones that irk me.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

In Quixtar? I doubt it. As I said...you do not put any money down. Where are you losing?

So your time has absolutely no value?

You're unwilling to receive full dispensation for sweat equity, while the people above you take a cut for literally no reason?

MLM scams usually require little to no start-up . . . it's the lost opportunity and the crappy pay that makes them suck.

[RU OX Alum]

what is prepaid legal? How could you possibly pay in advance for a lawyer? Or probably not a lawyer.

[summer_gphib]

We were members of PPL for a while, and it actually did come in handy. We signed up for help in starting our own business (they reviewed our documents etc.)

But it did come in real handy when we had trouble with Wells Fargo. We had paid off our car, and it cleared our account, but they refused to credit it to our account. We got ahold of the fraud department of our bank, and they proved that Wells Fargo had actually cashed the check, but Wells Fargo refused to make any changes to the account. We got ahold of PPL, and within a few weeks we had credit, and a letter of apology. ETA--It was about $2k in question.

We no longer have PPL, but it did work for us. We didn't sell it though. I have been through Monavie and Primerica, and I even sold Mary Kay for a while. I'd never do another MLM.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by summer_gphib

We were members of PPL for a while, and it actually did come in handy. We signed up for help in starting our own business (they reviewed our documents etc.)

But it did come in real handy when we had trouble with Wells Fargo. We had paid off our car, and it cleared our account, but they refused to credit it to our account. We got ahold of the fraud department of our bank, and they proved that Wells Fargo had actually cashed the check, but Wells Fargo refused to make any changes to the account. We got ahold of PPL, and within a few weeks we had credit, and a letter of apology. ETA--It was about $2k in question.

We no longer have PPL, but it did work for us. We didn't sell it though. I have been through Monavie and Primerica, and I even sold Mary Kay for a while. I'd never do another MLM.

glad it worked out for you, then

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

glad it worked out for you, then

Generally speaking, the people whom it worked for are people who didn't need PPL anyway. PPL may've been a viable alternative but not their only option.

In many areas, PPL tends to target lower income and down-and-out sellers and customers. These are individuals who are desperate for SOMETHING. These are also individuals who tend to waste a lot of time and money, unless they put 100% in it because they have no other alternatives.

[SWTXBelle]

I am a member of PPL, and know someone - college-educated, r94j34ntop salesman for a Fortune 500 company - who is doing it in his retirement. I have been VERY happy with it - in fact, it turns out a friend who is a lawyer is on their "team" and has nothing but praise for the company. The identify theft division has turned about to be very effective for a friend who had her identity stolen (unlike Lifelock, which IS a scam). Summer's experience is similiar to many I know who have PPL -

What part of it do you consider a "scam"?

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I say that it's mostly a scam. I have warned people against it for years. A lot of people don't listen to me until they've already invested time and money. Then they say "I should've listened to you."

http://www.prepaidlegal.com/

Thanks for the link. Yikes. Who would get a lawyer for a speeding ticket anyway?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

Who would get a lawyer for a speeding ticket anyway?

Plenty of people. Depending on the extent of the speeding, the cost of hiring a lawyer to plea bargain and get a pjc (prayer for judgment continued) is worth it to avoid the cost of increased insurance premiums that would result from a conviction for speeding.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Plenty of people. Depending on the extent of the speeding, the cost of hiring a lawyer to plea bargain and get a pjc (prayer for judgment continued) is worth it to avoid the cost of increased insurance premiums that would result from a conviction for speeding.

... plus the Almighty Driver's License Points. Or losing a CDL/permit/certification. And, as the coup d'grace, if you're after the Holy Grail (charitable contribution in lieu of ticket/fine), you're best off with someone who is intimately familiar with the Court.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

So your time has absolutely no value?

You're unwilling to receive full dispensation for sweat equity, while the people above you take a cut for literally no reason?

MLM scams usually require little to no start-up . . . it's the lost opportunity and the crappy pay that makes them suck.

Your time has value, but how can it ruin you financially? Maybe people you all know have gone to really crappy business meetings that make it seem 100% foolproof. But the good business meetings will let you know that it isn't. They'll give you some statistics about how 'successful' you'll be (like that out of every 10 people you introduce to Quixtar only 1 will actually use it).

Again I compare it to small business. Not all small businesses succeed--not all Quixtar endeavors succeed. To me it's common sense to continue to have a stable job while you pursue Quixtar. If your friends didn't have that type of common sense, well i'm sorry. But it isn't Quixtar's fault. They don't decide how successful you'll be, you do.


ETA: and by 'you' it's a general you, it's not directed towards you KSig

[cheerfulgreek]

It's all network marketing bull designed to make people poor and the person/people who started it richer. They make it SO obvious too when they approach people trying to suck them in.