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October 20, 2003
Amway just won't die
By QBlog in
Quixtar IBOs are often quick to point out that their business, Quixtar, is NOT Amway. They say Amway is a separate company and that Amway has nothing to do with Quixtar. Fine, whatever. I always heard that if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, etc.
But this post isn't about that argument. It's about the fact that Amway lives on in the media while Quixtar is noticeably absent. I ran across this interesting article from DirectMarketing News about a new ad campaign starting up Monday. The article says "there are 15 million individuals nationwide involved in sales, according to infoUSA research. The figure includes direct sellers from companies like Avon and Amway all the way to salesmen of industrial equipment."
The article was published today. For an American audience. This isn't the first time I've seen this. Over and over again (check my archives) I find references to Amway in North America. But Amway doesn't exist in North America right? Oh, I get it, it's all the stupid reporters who don't check their facts. Right? That's the line I hear when I mention that everybody still calls Quixtar by the "other name."
Well, guess what. Reporters do make mistakes and they are often lazy but Alticor, Quixtar and Amway know this and yet are doing very little to use their mighty PR machine to get this detail corrected. Why? I have my suspicions but that's all they are. I can say this: Companies regularly monitor what's said about them in the press. When there is an error or misuse of the company name they have lawyers and PR goons quickly draft a letter intended to correct the mistake. I know, I've seen these letters.
A recent letter was about the word "Bubble Wrap." I wish I had a copy right here because it was really funny. Turns out "Bubble Wrap" is a Registered Trademark and can't be used in a generic sense by the press. A reporter can get in trouble for saying "the package was wrapped in bubble-wrap." They prefer that non-Bubble Wrap packaging be referred to as something like, "individually sealed plastic packaging containers." It was bizarre.
Anyway, I digress. The point is, the Quixtar folks don't seem to mind that 4 years after their company began (in 1999) the majority of America has never heard of the name and still thinks Amway operates in North America. Just weird.
Comments
I agree with Dwighty, it is best that nobody really knows about Quixtar. The fewer that know about this pyramid scheme, the less potential for honest people to be hurt by it.
As long as legend of Amway lives on, so too will the legends of the greasy diamonds and their lot.
Unless, of course, we coninue to become greesy diamonds, in which case your jobful utopia may be the crashing empire.
The two are similar?
What a crock. Why does everything in Quixtar have to be spun? Why can't you simply tell the truth? Amway North America became Quixtar. Same lines of sponsorship, same comensation plan, same products. New name.
I know Quixtar people love analogies so here is one for you:
I have a glass of water. My wife wants a drink so I pour my water into a new glass and give it to her.
Isn't she still drinking water? My wife can call it ice tea all she wants but the truth is....it's still water.
You do realize that you made an analogy in the wrong place, right? You realize this? Because I want to know you know this and that you're not just a, well, we'll leave it at that.
Quixtar is not Amway for a number of reasons. Namely, in Amway there is overhead. In Quixtar, there is none. In Amway there is no website where you can shop from, in Quixtar there is. Believe it or not, that's a HUGE difference. In Amway you don't have eight pages of names of partner corporations. In Quixtar you do.
I understand that you're entire being is just surging with vitriol, but that doesn't make your imbicilic claim any more valid than it already isn't. I'm sorry, but you're simply digging too deep to find trouble where there is none.
There really isn't any motivation for Alticor to change a company name for the sake of changing it. People like Amway and they like Quixtar just as people don't like Amway or Quixtar. Those numbers are pretty much the same if not smaller at this point. There was nothing to gain from what you're suggesting.
So two things are possible, here. Either you're right and life has just hit you upside the head because if it just went perfectly, you'd be a successful businessman with a multimillion dollar company because you're just that good.
Or you have absolutely no clue what you're talking about and you're simply responding to some emotional experience you had involving the business and now, rather than take responsibility for your own situation, you find it easier to blame something you have no power in changing.
I'm pretty much apathetic about that, at this point though.
Reasons to change name from Amway to Quixtar.
1. Run away from pyramid scheme reputation.
2. Run away from cult reputation.
3. Pass business onto next generation of DeVos-Van Andels without having to pay inheritence taxes.
4. Give diamonds something to talk about at next functions.
5. Give IBOs something to talk about during STP.
6. Make litigation more difficult.
7. So when my kids ask me about a "new and exiting opportunity that is Quixtar" It will be harder for me to recognize that it is good old Amway.
8. Amway was starting to sound lame, Quixtar is a more hip sounding pyramid scheme.
9. AMerican WAY just wasn't going to fly when the the old diamonds started signing up IBOs in India, CHina, Japan and Korea.
10. So guys like Dwighty could sound really smart when they STPed their Moms.
Hah, ok, man. You sit here and wallow in your bitterness. I'm going to go over there and build my business.
Dwighty,
Let's start here.
"Quixtar is not Amway for a number of reasons. Namely, in Amway there is overhead. In Quixtar, there is none."
Are you serious? I know people in Quixtar that spend $200-300 per month on books, tapes and functions. If not overhead, what do you call it?
"In Amway there is no website where you can shop from, in Quixtar there is. Believe it or not, that's a HUGE difference."
You're wrong. Do some research.
" In Amway you don't have eight pages of names of partner corporations. In Quixtar you do."
I will give you this. The partner stores add credibility to the Quixtar business. They don't add much profit, but they do add something to talk about in board plans when you are trying to hide the fact that you are selling Amway.
Good luck Dwighty, we miss you already.
I love analogies...so here is one.
Amway was the caterpillar, Quixtar is the butterfly. They would have you believe that this beautiful new creature could never have evolved from the caterpillar, but it did. Try joining Amway. All that is left is an empty shell when Quixtar emerged and took flight.
Are Quixtar and Amway one and the same? Is the butterfly the same creature as the caterpillar? Check the DNA.
Quixtar, Amway, wtf ever. It sucks. Nuff said
I am a finance guy and a good way to check information is in the financial dealings and legalities that go with that.
It is easy to see that Quixtar is different. Some marketers are soley in Quixtar and some lines are just Amway. Two, Quixtar had $1.5 Billion in sales this year 2004. Amway had $6.4 billion or so. I don't know the clear difference. If they bought from the parent then Quixtar should be generating more than 1.5billion a year.
Anyhow, the true method to greatness in networking is to put 7-10 hrs into it a week, 2-5 yr commitment. Plan on making little for at least 6 months(although some companies make it easier in the beginning), and treat it like a business. Don't lie to anyone, give the kit back to a new distributor if they do not want to work and if they have trouble with networking concept. No distributor should be in it if they don't understand or are unwilling. Be a consumer at wholesale then.
Learn to say "no " to those who might be zealous. But in no way put in more than 7-10 hrs a week in the beginning. Learn to give a presentation well.
Watch out for hype and the money talk. Understand that networking is hard work and takes years, not weeks and months.
Find someone who is doing it and work with them. Lead with the business first and then if not interested promote the products. But do not do this business long distance, Unless you have an incredible amount of people or clients, you cannot expect to make more than $1k/month maybe $2K.
You need a sponsor who will work with you and show you everything, and show you the truth, not be afraid of it, or gloss it over.
If you live in Orange County , Ca then I could work with you but if not, due diligence and find a company you can believe and and like the products. But if you want a business , do that and more.
Randy Gage has some great materials, www.randygage.com
networking link
Cheers,
GT
I honestly don't think it matters, and I think that Alticor would agree. Quixtar isn't Amway, though the two are sister corporations.
There are a few fundamental differences between the two. I think why some poeple are quick to dismiss the notion is that too many people are quick to relate the notion.
Would it make you happier if an IBO were to say "No, but I suppose the two are similar?" Again, I don't think it should really make a difference in the issue.
And, having talked and heard speakers talk on the subject of ellusiveness, it's more of a good thing that nobody really knows about Quixtar. Because Quixtar generated over a billion dollars last year solely on word-of-mouth advertisement. In my opinion, that's pretty good.
Posted by: Dwighty | October 20, 2003 8:09 AM