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April 14, 2004
From The Cavalier Daily
By QBlog in
I spotted a Quixtar-related story from The Cavalier Daily last night just before I was about to shut down the computer and climb into bed. There were several things in the article that really piqued my interest and so I decided to post the story link and a few quotes with the promise of "more commentary tomorrow." Well, it's "tomorrow" so now for my comments (see how this works).
First off, The Cavalier Daily is an independent college newspaper (guess how often it publishes) at the University of Virginia. It has quite a history and an impressive list of journalism professionals who got their start at The CD (more info). The article titled Climbing to the top: Multi-level marketing provides profit opportunities, at a cost was written by Corinne Shamy, Associate Editor at The CD.
Interesting Point I
Before I finished reading the third paragraph I noticed a image attached to the article. It was the copy of an "email" with the word "Quixtar" as the subject. The message began...
How would you like to make a residual income of at least 2,700 dollars a month only working on a part time basis? How would like to own a internet base business for only 45 dollars? Well, if you said yes to these questions then Quixtar is the business for you...I'm not an authority on Quixtar rules but it seems like such an "email" could be in violation of something, especially if it was sent unsolicited. Interesting.
Interesting Point II
Back in the third paragraph I found this curious sentence "...according to a Quixtar spokesperson who cited company policy in requesting to remain anonymous." Again, I defer to my Quixtar friends on the authenticity of this policy but I've never heard of a company spokesman being required to remain anonymous at any business. If the policy is real, then it seems a little goofy to me.
Interesting Point III
The article interviewed first-year college student Joshua Stevens (I assume he attends the U of V). Stevens is quoted as saying that he's made $3,000 as a Quixtar IBO after working the business a total of 54 days. Say WHAT?!? You heard right. If that's true, then that's simply amazing. At that pace, Stevens will be a Triple Founders Ambassador Diamond Commander in six months (give or take a few months)! Apparently Quixtar does work for Mr. Stevens and works very well.
Interesting Point IV
Under the heading "Vocal Opposition" Shamey provides a few quotes from renowned Amway/Quixtar critic Dave Touretzky. There's even a mention of The Blakey Report.
Despite the opportunities provided by multi-level marketing, there are many vocal opponents to such business models. One prominent detractor is Carnegie-Melon Professor Dave Touretzy, who runs a Web site titled "Amway/Alticor/Quixtar Sucks!"Interesting Point VAlticor, founded in 1959, is the parent company of Quixtar, begun in 1999, and Amway, which now operates exclusively overseas.
"They're a scam, and Quixtar is an Internet version of the scam," Touretzy said.
The Web site, which is hosted on the Carnegie-Melon's server, contains a controversial report which compares the practices of Amway/Quixtar to those of the mafia.
Amway has threatened the professor and the university with legal action for posting the report on his Web site, though no official charges have been filed, Touretzy said.
"I disagree with the fact that Amway is trying to silence critical speech," he said.
The author of the report, Notre Dame Law Professor G. Robert Blakey, declined to comment, citing a court gag order.
I've read a bit of discussion on various MLM message boards complaining that the price of Quixtar products isn't competitive. I personally don't care about price and have little interest in such complaints but the article quotes Stevens as saying that Quixtar prices are "wholesale."
Stevens explained that Quixtar sells products at wholesale prices, which are made possible by the increased efficiency that comes from eliminating traditional middle-men, such as retail outlets. He added that Quixtar does not spend any money on advertising or marketing, which helps to keep prices down.Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. I just thought that it was interesting that Stevens believes the Quixtar products to be well-priced and since he's already making $3,000 I guess he would know.
Comments
Aren't there also professors that argue the Iraqi war was over oil?
The article interviewed first-year college student Joshua Stevens (I assume he attends the U of V). Stevens is quoted as saying that he's made $3,000 as a Quixtar IBO after working the business a total of 54 days... If that's true, then that's simply amazing.
I echo Rocket's sentiment on this one: A while ago Missouri (where I live) opened up a casino near where I worked. A co-worker mentioned that his wife had bragged that she'd "won" fifty dollars. Of course, it turned out to be a net loss, but she was impressed that she'd had one big return.
So, likewise, I wonder if this true (not that it's impossible -- it merely seems unlikely) or if the guy is doing the common thing of reporting the check size without deducting expenses and then dividing the result over the number of hours invested.
Even at face value, $3000 over 54 days is only $55 a day. Don't know how much time he put in, but you can do the same by working just a little above minimum wage.
Dwigthty: By definition, everything which transpires in Iraq happens "over" oil.
Haha. Sorry. :-)
Did that Stevens guy send you an unsolicited email regarding the Quixtar business opportunity?
Tone,
Did he contact me? No he did not. At least, not to my knowledge.
Huh!!! Not even a mention of the importance of motivation in order to get to the next important level?
You'd think that if it is so controversial, it would have been worthy of a mention from the fellow who has so far "earned $3000.00"
Funny that guy didn't mention how much of that $3000.00 he has paid out in PV cheques or the all important tools.
I guess it IS a profitable opportunity. Have a FANTASTIC DAY EVERYBODY!!!!
Posted by: Rocket | April 14, 2004 1:10 AM