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January 31, 2003
Tools, tools, tools
By QBlog in A/QMOs
I'm becoming more and more convinced that something fishy is going on with the tools part of the business and InterNET Services Corporation in particular. I don't have time to crunch the numbers right now (but I will soon) but let's just say that it seems that the tools have become the sticking point for a lot of people. I'm one of them. There is a lot of money to be made in the tools. Often people say that Tony Robbins makes money selling tools but you know what? He doesn't keep them buying over and over and over again...not on the scale of ISC. They have guaranteed repeat customers shelling out a lot of money each month for something that really only has value to people in the business. And I have no idea what the ISC stance on reselling your tools (don't worry, I'll ask) or making copies of tapes but I doubt it's really encouraged.
Ok, take this as a promise, I will investigate further and get to the bottom of the Tools Mystery.
January 28, 2003
Thank you Tim
By QBlog in A/QMOs
Tim has provided me with a link to the very first decent looking Web site related to Quixtar. There are SO many bad, no, make that awful looking Web sites related to Quixtar. Ok, granted the design isn't stunning, it looks like it maybe came from some sort of Template driven software but it is a HUGE improvement over the other crappy designs out there.
The site is IBO Facts and it's got some really good info on Quixtar and IBOs. I've only briefly looked at it but will investigate further as time permits.
Thanks again Tim.
An article from WIRED about Quixtar (it's old but isn't all information about Quixtar old?)
By QBlog in Quixtar
WIRED did an article about Quixtar and being decent and respected journalists they remain unbiased. The article presents the facts as they are and honestly makes Quixtar look pretty good, even back in April of 2000. I desperately want to find more articles of this nature, even recent ones. I did make a copy of the New York Times article about Quixtar several months ago but that was mainly just a press release styled article and had little besides stating corporate earnings and market status. Good stuff but not Wall Street Journal worthy at all (yes, I'm showing my WSJ bias here. My dream job is to write for WSJ).
Anyway, the WIRED article isn't all that spectacular either but it's a good, solid piece. One bit that caught my interest was this:
Of the $250 million that Quixtar.com has brought in thus far, 32 percent, or $80 million, has gone back to the IBOs. That amounts to about $200 per IBO. And much of Quixtar's revenue comes from the IBOs themselves, who are required to buy $70 in Quixtar products when they join."About 95 percent of IBOs just end up buying products for themselves and that's about it," wrote one IBO in an email. "The other 5 percent become successful."
Quixtar would not release details about the earnings of its IBOs.
Ok, this is dated 2000 and I know Quixtar has pulled in far more sales but it's this kind of secrecy from Quixtar that breeds mistrust. When the PRIMARY method of recruiting new IBOs is to wave the huge earnings and riches in front of their faces then I expect a little more candor with regards to those actual numbers. If my main hook to get you into a business is to say that you'll get rich like me and then you ask me how rich I am and I say none of your business then that just seems plain silly. And it seems like I may be hiding something.
Have you ever waited tables? I have. Here's a fact of waiting tables. NOBODY makes as much as they say they make. Every waiter lies. If you ask a waiter how much money he regularly pulls in each night he'll think of his very best night and add $100 to that amount. Never figured out why cause they also underreport tips each night to avoid higher taxes. Anyway, it's a fact. Now, the Quixtar IBOs remind me of waiters a lot of times. They say they make huge sums but either can't or won't ever prove it. If you can't or won't back it up then shut the hell up.
Seriously, SHUT UP. Don't show me a freaking book with a bunch of diamonds making millions. I'm a journalist and I know how easy it is to lie in those books. Not saying they are lying but who's checking? Really. Who is checking this out. I know how much Bill Gates is worth because his income is from a public company. But guess what, I don't care. You know why? Bill Gates doesn't use his income to persuade people to buy Windows. Dexter Yager and Co. do.
Big difference. My apologies to Cuba Gooding Jr. but "SHOW ME THE MONEY!"
January 27, 2003
Just thinking (gasp)
By QBlog in Quixtar
Just thinking more about Quixtar and my earlier post and realized that Quixtar almost has to be about emotions because its business is selling and buying people...so to speak. What I mean is the way you make money isn't selling products (though it can be done that way it rarely is) it's by recruiting new downlines. Because of this human equation emotions and personalities are a natural result of doing business in Quixtar.
More thinking, are there other businesses that are as big and profitable and entrenched as Quixtar that generate anything remotely close to the amount of negative emotions in people? Just wondering. I'm trying to think and am having a hard time. Wal-Mart makes small, historic communities angry I guess.
Quixtar and emotions
By QBlog in Quixtar
I have a personal problem with Quixtar and emotions. I feel that Quixtar leverages emotions in a business which, by its very nature, should be emotion neutral. There are people who love Quixtar and feel very emotional about the business and people who hate Quixtar and also feel very emotional about the business. Let me explain.
When I am in business with someone, either working for them or with them, I try to maintain a neutral opinion of that business relationship. I get very emotional about the work I do, the effort I put into my endeavors and the finished product or service. However, the actual entity that I'm associated with while doing business is just that, an entity, and I feel no emotions about that entity.
Example: I used to work for a large bank. That bank began mistreating its employees and basically doing the traditional corporate thing of screwing everyone for profits. I didn't like this but the job was serving a purpose and I continued working till I found another job and was ready to sever my ties with the corporation. Today, I continue to bank with my former employer and I don't really feel bitter or joyful about the way they treated people. I probably won't ever work for them again but I don't go around bad-mouthing them either. I feel relatively neutral about the business. Some people I like, others I don't. But the actual bank is neither good nor bad, it's just a business.
Example 2: I love Amazon.com. Why do I love this company? Because I trust them. They have always provided excellent customer service, decent prices, great tools for recommending products and a great inventory. You could argue that THIS (my "love" for Amazon.com) is feeling emotional about a business but I reject that notion. Why? Well, if someone says they hate Amazon.com I won't care. I may ask them why but it doesn't matter to me if they hate Amazon or not. More importantly, if I have a couple of bad experiences with Amazon.com I won't hesitate to find another retailer to fill my needs. My love for Amazon extends only as far as I'm satisfied and as soon as I'm no longer satisfied I move on to other stores. Upon closer examination it would appear that I don't really "love" Amazon but am really just a satisfied customer. I don't have any particular loyalty to Amazon itself.
Example 3: In Quixtar there is a symbiotic relationship with the business, people, products and tools. This creates an atmosphere ripe for extreme emotional reactions. A personal example is that I run a Web development business. I'm extremely proud of my work and am equally passionate about what I produce. Obviously I love what I do and I love the products and services that result from my business. However, if someone is also in the Web business and decides to get out and says it's too hard, not for them or just a waste of time I don't call them losers and quitters. Instead I just continue working. If someone begins to say negative things about my business I listen and determine if there is any validity to what they are saying. If there is then I change. If not then I ignore them. What I don't do is paint them as a loser and quitter and dismiss them immediately as an unthinking drone who has nothing but negativity to spout. Granted, they may be unthinking drones but I give them the opportunity to prove that before I move on.
Point: My point is that too often when Quixtar is questioned or taken to task for certain practices the IBOs get really pissy and sarcastic and generally treat you like a trouble-maker. NOT EVERYONE DOES THIS. I've met (online and off) a few people who are genuinely open-minded and able to discuss Quixtar without the emotional baggage but these individuals are few and far between.
This is, I think, partly why Quixtar is often called a cult (which it's not). People not in the business, or fresh out, feel so incredibly strongly about Quixtar that they discard rational thought and blindly defend or attack the business. This turns me off. Maybe for Quixtar's sake some training could be incorporated in the business model on how to deal with objective questioning of the business. I'm not talking about personal experiences discussed on tapes, I mean something in the actual plan itself, the mission statement or whatever, that directs people to be objective and use their minds instead of their emotions. I doubt that will happen though. Oh well, I try.
January 25, 2003
Wife out Quixtar tripping
By QBlog in A/QMOs
UPDATE: I did take a nap and I'm not so grumpy.
My wife is in Tampa this weekend for a Quixtar conference thing.
Number of business related conferences I've attended in the three plus years I've been doing Web development = Zero. Total cost = Zero. Am I jealous = Yes.
Is this partly why I'm so pissed confused about my wife's involvement in Quixtar? Yes.
Is this really the place to be publishing my feelings on this issue? Probably not.
Do I care? No.
I'm going to take a nap.
January 21, 2003
Who are you?
By QBlog in Blog News
Hey, I know you're visiting Quixtar Blog. Most of you get here by searching for "Quixtar". Many get here by searching for "anti-Quixtar" or "Quixtar bad" or "Quixtar good." If you don't mind, send me a message or leave a comment on this page. You can make up a name if you want to remain anonymous. I don't care. I'm just wanting to know how you like the site. If you love it then tell me. If you hate it then tell me that too. Just looking for ways to improve this site and your input is welcomed. Thanks to those who have sent me messages and comments. It only takes a second to do and your response will help make this a top-notch Web site.
Prove it buddy
By QBlog in Quixtar
Quixtar can attract the most bizarre individuals. I got an email last week from a guy named "Howie." He claims to be a Quixtar defector and that his wife is still extremely active. His story is that he was in Quixtar, doing really well and then " As of recent, however, I have compiled a small mountain of research pertaining to Amway/Quixtar. Quite frankly, I am very turned off by the whole thing."
Then he goes on to ask me advice about how he should "deal" with his wife who is still extremely excited about Quixtar. I don't really give advice and especially marital advice so I just related my personal experiences and left it at that. I also asked him to send me the information that he's compiled. I mean, who wouldn't want to see some "proof?"
Anyway, it's been a few days and still no word. I've yet to find any proof that Quixtar was up to no good. A lot of accusations and second-hand stories but nothing printable on this site anyway. If anyone has any proof I'd be glad to take a look at it. If anyone has anything like a verified number of people who quit Quixtar in the first 3-6 months and how much they spend in that time I'd like to see that too. Not a Quixtar report. Something peer-reviewed.
But basically if you don't have proof my feeling is shut the heck up. I have no time for false accusations. Am I in love with Quixtar? No. But I don't go manufacturing rumors and lies about the business to satisfy some hidden agenda. On this site I stick to my personal opinions, experiences, thoughts, perceptions and feelings. I make no accusations. I just say what's on my mind. Anyway, if you have proof that Quixtar is up to no good, let me see it. If not then shut up.
January 20, 2003
The weekend is over
By QBlog in A/QMOs
Well our uplines have returned home. What an interesting weekend. As you know Quixtar just isn't my cup of tea but every time I see someone show the plan there is one thought that keeps bubbling up to the top of my mind -- I could do this so much better! I've not seen anyone show the plan in a manner that I would be excited about. I've seen the plan shown by 5 different people (including my wife). After I'd been around this a while I keep thinking that these people are awful. Not only are they awful but they are following the "outlined" method as far as I can tell. Nope, there is no "one way" to show the plan but there are some tips and guidelines you are supposed to follow. Anyway, here's my criticisms of the plan but keep in mind I'm no expert and I know that the plan I'm being critical of works, I just can't figure out why or at least I think it could work even better:
1. It's too long. Shorten that plan up. 30 minutes is almost too long but should be the absolute maximum time. Not 1.5 - 2 hours.
2. Be honest and candid. When someone asks a question be ready with an answer that at least seems like you aren't trying to hide anything.
3. Don't ridicule 401ks or the stock market. You'll end up looking like a fool one day. You couldn't be so critical of those things 3 years ago and you won't be able to again one day. Why? Well, it's what everyone is striving for in Quixtar anyway. To be an investor.
4. Quit asking people if they've ever heard of Wal-Mart when you do the Wal-Mart part of the plan. Yes, everyone has heard of Wal-Mart. Everyone shops at Wal-Mart. Why not ask them if they've heard of food or air? Whatever.
5. Don't tell me how much a Diamond or silver or whatever earns if, when I ask you how much you earn, you dodge the question. Be candid. If you're going to volunteer how much others in the business earn then tell everyone how much you earn. Because, ya know, you're standing right there and those diamonds aren't.
That's all I got now. Do this and you'll have a better plan...Or not.
January 18, 2003
A brief note...
By QBlog in Miscellaneous
Went to a Quixtar house meeting last night where a silver showed the plan to about 15 people. Briefly I just want to mention one thought I had during the plan. There was a graphic he drew on the WhiteBoard showing a house and a job. He drew lines showing the trip from home to work and from work to home. Each line for each day of the work week ended up looking like a circle. The "cycle of the J-O-B." I couldn't help thinking, "Well, let's replace the work with someone else's home, or a Quixtar conference or my home or hotel banquet room, etc." The cycle remains. What changes is where you are going and what you do when you get there. If you like doing the meetings and events then Quixtar is FOR YOU. I happen to like my job to some extent. Yes, I hate this particular cycle but swapping it out with a Quixtar cycle doesn't really appeal to me either.
January 14, 2003
Your comments are welcome!
By QBlog in Blog News
One recent email I received from "Tim" inspired some thoughts about my life with Quixtar and here are some excerpts from his email and my response:
TIM: Content wise you remind me of Les Nesman from WKRP, (OK so that shows my age but that's ok) he seemed to be confused a lot.
Quixtar Blog: I'm glad that you seem to "get" what Quixtar Blog is all about. You're right, I am confused a lot. Quixtar is a very confusing business to me and part of the problem is no one in the business seems to be overly willing to help me eliminate that confusion.
Quixtar is (maybe unlike some businesses) an extremely emotional business. I've heard so many people describe how it helped them with family relationships, friendships and self-esteem. While this is not the primary goal it is a frequent side-effect. With something so "life-changing" there are bound to be a great deal of emotions involved and with emotions often comes confusion. The attitude that I've come across more often than not is one of reserved helpfulness. People seem glad to answer questions, as long as I shut up once they give me the company line or some tape-coached answer. I've not had one person seem willing to answer my questions to my satisfaction and I've not had one question answered to my satisfaction. Maybe that is impossible for I'm a very tough skeptic but this business has to have individuals who have felt similar frustrations and you would think would be willing to sit down and just go through my concerns.
TIM: Did you know that the Q products have a 100% buy back policy. So bags with hole should be replaced. I once bought a CD holder, burnt the box in my wood stove then noticed it was chipped. They sent me a new one and I sent the old one back in the new box.
Quixtar Blog: On the products, I know that the Quixtar products have a great return policy but frankly I'm just one of those people who is just not going to bother returning a $10 box of potato chips. Maybe I'm lazy or just have better things to do but if I get a box of stale chips I'm just going to write it off as a loss (figuratively speaking).
TIM: I encourage you to support your wife even if you don't totaly agree right now. We live in Canada and don't have the opportunity in numbers that are available to Americans but it is being done here.
Quixtar Blog: I do try to support my wife as much as possible. I've been with her a few times to show the plan, gone to conferences with her, hosted meetings and plans and given her encouragement to continue when she wanted to just give up. I think Quixtar Blog is a cathartic process for me in which I'm able to purge some of the emotions and thoughts that build up inside and in turn am able to be as supportive as possible to my wife.
As I try to make clear, I don't have hate Quixtar and know that it does provide a legitimate income for many, many people. Hopefully my wife will succeed and make lots of money soon. Thanks for your comments.
January 13, 2003
Contrary opinions
By QBlog in Miscellaneous
One of the primary things you'll hear in Quixtar is that you should look to the winners. If you have questions about the business or how to succeed then simply look at those who are successful and learn from their triumphs and mistakes. At the same time they mention that examining the "losers" is a bad idea because they don't teach you anything except how to lose. By losers, they generally (but not always) mean those who have something negative to say about Quixtar. People who have "failed" at the business are not deserving of your time or ears.
This actually makes sense and I don't have much problem with the logic behind it except for one point ... it discounts ALL contrary voices as those of losers and unworthy of your time. Anyone who says that you should never listen to other opinions seems to have something to hide. Enron would love for you to never listen to those who have something negative to say about their business practices. Does that mean that the naysayers are losers without the ability to see or speak the truth? We could also list WorldCom (a business affiliate of Quixtar), Martha Stewart or any number of "Pyramid Schemes" (Quixtar is not a pyramid, just using examples here folks) would love to have you never listen to contrary opinions.
My point is that voices of opposition can often be extremely valuable. Don't shrug them off or dismiss them as losers but instead try to discern which voices (pro or con) are actually telling the truth. People lie. People in Quixtar lie. People out of Quixtar lie. Don't trust anyone. Depend upon yourself to find the truth and learn to filter out the crap from the good stuff.
January 10, 2003
Challenge
By QBlog in Miscellaneous
Just looking around at all the Quixtar-related sites out there and good-gracious. They all look like crap. Every single site related to Quixtar looks like it was designed by some high-school kid with FrontPage in 1997. You people are making millions in an INTERNET business, buy a freaking clue and hire a cheap Web designer and get some help. I'm serious. What is it about Quixtar? People who are against Quixtar are just as guilty. All the anti-Quixtar sites out there just plain suck. But at least they have an excuse because they aren't multi-millionaire double diamonds. Anyway, my Challenge is if ANYONE can find at least ONE decent looking Web site somehow primarily related to Quixtar I will send you an hours worth of good wishes. Doesn't matter what the slant of the site is, just needs to be primarily about Quixtar. Thanks. Prove me wrong kids.
Secrecy and Quixtar
By QBlog in Quixtar
One of the things that turns me off about Quixtar is the "secrecy" that seems to be part of the Quixtar culture. I put secrecy in quotes because it's not dishonesty but more like spin. What I mean is I've listened to several tapes where they tell you not to give out too much information. They encourage you to say certain words and to practice your "sales pitch" while never actually being untrughful. This is not unethical but it reminds me of those high-pressure salesmen who try to convince you that you want something that you really don't want. It's not that but it reminds me of that.
My nature is to ask a lot of questions. My nature is also to expect answers. My nature is also to provide information and answer questions. Quixtar seems to have this culture of discouraging questions. I get this feeling that they aren't proud of the business. It seems like they often qualify different aspects of the business. They often encouraged not to mention Amway and when questions do come up about Amway they are usually deflected to at least minimize any appearance of being connected with Amway. They are not the same company but they share the same people, business methods, culture and products. The one liability that Quixtar doesn't have that Amway has/had is a fractured reputation.
Reputation is exactly why I think people in Quixtar should be more open and willing to answer questions. Full disclosure. When I ask a question be glad to answer. Don't be ashamed. Be happy that I want to know and happy that you are able to educate me. My question right now is how many people drop out of Quixtar each month? I mean a solid verifiable number. Not some estimate. They have records. They know who is active or not. I want a solid number. They quickly tell you how many have made a million each month. Tell me who didn't. Thanks.
January 8, 2003
Quixtar and Politics
By QBlog in Quixtar
A few months ago I went to a Quixtar convention/meeting with my wife in Ft. Worth. It was interesting and I learned much from that experience but there was one particular exchange that stuck in my mind and continues to bounce around.
I was discussing politics with our upline and he mentioned that Quixtar (especially Dexter Yager) is staunchly Republican. He went on to describe how each election the Republican candidate is usually supported both in verbal endorsements and in financial gifts. Whether this is true or not I have no way of knowing. I just know that he mentioned this and I sort of shrugged and figured that every business gets to endorse whatever party it desires. I have no problem with that. As long as it's legal then support whomever you want.
Then he told me that often, during election years, when Dexter appeared at a big Quixtar function, he'd ask everyone to put however much they wanted into an envelope to support the Republican candidate. So, if you wanted to support whatever presidential Republican you'd put some cash in an envelope. Then, he told me that after all the envelopes were collected Dexter would personally ensure that each envelope contained $1,000. Obviously most envelopes wouldn't contain nearly the $1,000 personal contribution limit so the added funds from Dexter would bring that total up to the legal limit.
In a crowd of 3-4,000 this adds up to...well, you do the math. Anyway, this was an anectdote related to me with no evidence or any way to confirm the truth of the story. Personally I doubt it's true because it sounds more like a "Quixtar legend" (which there are many) than an actual truth. But who knows. I just know what I was told. I also don't know if this practice is common throughout the world of politics and even if it's legal. Doesn't seem like it would be legal but it's probably one of those loopholes or something.
My point in relating this is to demonstrate the ethical divide between myself and my upline. While my upline is not representative of everyone in the business he has adopted many of the attitudes of the individuals that are Quixtar. I see this practice as unethical and whether it's Quixtar, Coca-Cola, my church or employer I would frown on this sort of activity with impunity. He thought it was clever and I guess it is but I also think it's wrong. While dishonesty and politics go hand in hand I am not all that thrilled about the idea that something like this may go on or if it did that some in the business would think it a wonderful idea.
Hope you like the new design.
January 7, 2003
...And still working...BUT...looky, looky
By QBlog in Blog News
We now have an XML feed. See the little orange icon in the lower left of the screen? NO? Well scroll down a bit...now see it? Good. That's your RSS in XML so add it to your favorite News Reader and get cranking.
Still working on it...
By QBlog in Blog News
Some of the links don't work but they will very soon. Please be patient. Thanks.
Welcome to the New and Improved Quixtar Blog
By QBlog in Blog News
Hi. Site has been redesigned...finally. Hope this works. New people will wonder what the heck these last two posts are all about. Anyway, more Quixtar perceptions coming soon.
January 2, 2003
Redesign is coming...
By QBlog in Blog News
I will soon have some more time to devote to personal projects...such as this blog. A redesign is coming soon. The current design was just thrown up to get some content online.