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October 16, 2004
Fair and Balanced
By QBlog in
I'm not picking on anyone but just pointing out something that I've found to be universally true, and demonstrated by many of the comments I've received from this blog. If I say something positive about Quixtar (great new Web site, spiffy customer service, tasty XS drinks, etc.) then many IBOs believe I'm being "fair and balanced" or "unbiased" or whatever. But when I criticize some aspect of Quixtar (bad diapers, crappy old Web site, the "Mysterious Meeting," etc.) many of those same IBOs believe I'm some horribly evil critic out to destroy their dreams.
Such perceptions are commonly observed in the political arena, especially when discussing media coverage of politics. News reports critical of one's favorite political party are often perceived as unfair and biased while congratulatory stories (that sort of rhymes) are perceived as "fair and balanced." That's just human nature, but we can do better... I think.
So, am I "fair and balanced?" I guess I am but I don't really try to be, not in the way some news outlets are by giving each side of an issue equal time. I just try to call a spade a spade, and express my perceptions as honestly and candidly as possible. If that upsets you, then maybe you need to ask yourself why you're so upset. Or I'll ask you, "why are you so upset?"
Comments
Qblog,
I know exactly what you're talking about. I've seen it on my blog as well, and I've only had it going for less than 2 months!
One guy will comment on how he appreciates a particular post because it's not negative, etc. Then that same person comes back with (insert whiny comment about unfairness here).
Eric,
The problem is not with your perceptions of Quixtar good or bad.
The problem is your perpetual love affair with Bo Short and Passport. Why have you not called the Gang of 4 out on their Passport joke? Where is your honest perceptions Eric Janssen? Why do you save your critical perceptions only for Quixtar and your joy overflowing for Bo Short. Did he give you a lifetime supply of non-slippery soap? Your biases ring load and clear on this site and you are making a mockery of the critics by allowing Bo Short a leadership role in the Quixtar critics when he is running another MLM. When will the real Quixtar critics stand up and stop this hypocrisy? The truth is getting out and more and more real Quixtar critics like me will not let Bo Short set the agenda for us. Quixtar sucks but at least they are not using the Quixtar critics for their own purposes. Eric if you are a real Quixtar critics then tell Bo Short to use his own sites not your's for his propaganda. Otherwise admit you are in bed with Passport.
O Tommy boy, or Qrush whatever, you don't follow this blog and forum frequently do you? If you do, you won't ask such a stupid question.
Web Lesson # 1: Read first, ask second.
I don't know but not many many ppl like to read. But they LOVE to write.
There's a line from Tommy that could be used in a Star Wars movie when the hero is coming face to face with his challenge, and doubting himself:
"Where is your honest perceptions Eric Janssen?"
Except even Yoda had a better grasp on English
Thanks for my laugh of the day QRush.
Hey Tommy Qrush,
Either go play in your sandbox by yourself on your stupid blog with comments disabled or, if you are going to continue to post here, enable comments on your blog and let Qblog give you some feedback. Until you do you are a pathetic hypocrite who doesn't deserve to represent Quixtar's interests.
I think Sharon should be awarded the Outstanding Comment of the Day!
Arggh. Tommy. You found me Out. I'm in bed with Bo Short but it's holy hell because he's so squirmy I can't get a decent night's sleep. That and he snores like a bear. That explains why I'm up all hours of the night. That and the fact THAT HE REFUSES TO SPOON WITH ME!!!
Consider it down David R. Now go watch Ole Miss lose to the Vols. ;o)
Yes David R.
As our dear friend Ozzy would say:
"Sharooooon!"
QBlog,
I'm glad you asked this question. I've been wondering this myself--why am I so upset?
So what?-- another anti-Quixtar website--nothing new about that. And I'm not even a pro-Quixtar person.
I've really been struggling with the answer--the same way that you struggled with why you didn't like Quixtar. And a quick answer probably won't suffice.
Here are the words that come to mind to describe what I think of this blog: hypocritical, disingenuous, injustice, unfairness.
I feel that you're spreading poor information and misinformation to people. And you're doing it under the guise of unbiased helpful information.
You started out this blog as all good seekers do, wondering about why YOU didn't like Quixtar. And then you started to generalize and take up a crusade to help others realize the pitfalls of MLM. And this is when this blog turned hypocritical--speaking with authority on MLMs with a negative tone and spreading that opinion around while still claiming to be neutral.
And whenever difficult or unwanted criticism comes your way, it's always diffused with sarcastic humor. So the difficult questions are never answered.
And the reason that I haven't given up is that I think you know better. Like IBOs that have "gone over the top" where they temporarily lose their moral footing, I think that there's a piece of you know that knows what you're doing is not all right. Maybe I'm wrong about this. I'm not preaching here like I know what's right and wrong. Those questions are up to you. But let me just ask you--when's the last time you checked your moral compass about this? (I'm sure you'll have a sarcastic response to this, but I'm leaving it anyway.)
If you feel good about this, then you and I just disagree. And I guess that shouldn't be a big surprise. After all, I wasn't able to change the minds of IBOs that were indoctrinated either. When it benefits them, people will see what they want to see.
Ambivalent
Ambivalent, u seem like a level headed critic of Quixtar critics, so let me ask YOU some questions, u may reply or not, or perhaps in the forum.
How easy and convenient it is for us to question QBlog motives? Comments enabled eh! One thing I totally disagrees with him is WHY HE BOTHER TO REPLY SAME QUSTIONS? He has replied many of them, many times. All one has to do is read. But unless some one like Chris who has an agenda to neutralize every entry with mundane old questions. But ppl still get answer don't they? For me QBlog, Bo etc. are quite accessible and easy to ask LONG and old questions.
What if I have a question for Billy Florence, Bill Britt, Ken McDonald, Kanti Gala, Qrush, Shiviram Kumar, Sugeet Ajmani etc.? Alticor contact us link was broken when I was trying to complain them. Rest: All of these dudes either don't read their email or filter some questions. All of them are not accessible to normal public. Now I'd be more than happy to get even a sarcastic reply from them without going to some. But can I? There are some blogs, with no content and comments disabled. Never saw you criticizing those.
Instead, how fun it is to criticize a person who bothers to reply? Oh well, it’s his problem, not mine. I just wanna type a long mundane post. Hey if you can do it, I can do it, tape talk of Raj Shah:D
Ambivalent, you forgot to add "evil, demonic, facist and liberal." Oh, and I drown sackfulls of puppies every Saturday. This week's breed was Yorkies. They're so fiesty.
Do I have a moral compass? Yeah. And my moral compass doesn't really feel the need to answer to you. Is that sarcastic? I don't know, you tell me. Sorry this blog pisses you off so much. I'm just doing my thing. Take it or leave it. It's all good.
When you think of a difficult question to ask, just holler.
Imran wrote: "But unless some one like Chris who has an agenda to neutralize every entry with mundane old questions."
Where did you come up with that conclusion? If you have read up on my comments on this blog, I have been fairly critical of Quixtar as well, but I am far more excited about the opportunity than I am dissapointed with it.
I hardly ask questions, but instead provide responses to posts and answer questions. When I do ask a question I am sorry that you find it old and mundane. Do you think that QBlog really expects his readers to read all his posts and comments before asking a question? Of course not.
One of the responsibilities of a good blogger is staying in touch with his community and Qblog definitely does a good job on that. I would say that QBlog is one of the great bloggers on the internet today in terms of skill and experience, but that doesn't make me agree with his views, it just let's me know this blog is worth commenting on.
Plus, I believe that you get a better dialogue in the comments if there is a debate of issues going on and not just everybody agreeing with everything. That makes this blog interesting for some to read.
I found that the statement you made about me in this post was incorrect. I do not ask many questions and when I do, I feel that they are relevant to the topic at hand and not old and mundane.
QBlog,
When you post positive articles, it makes the site more interesting because it has a feeling of being more neutral. This makes it more appealing to IBO's like me because if it was just all negative (or perceived that way), then the site just becomes a downer.
I appreciate the fact that you are willing to balance views by posting about pros and cons of the business how you see them. You can do whatever you want because it's your blog, but I like seeing this blog represent a neutral view of the business, even if that is not your goal with this blog.
QBlog wrote:
"Ambivalent, you forgot to add "evil, demonic, facist and liberal.""
No, you don't understand. If you felt that you were those things, that wouldn't bother me. It's the hypocrisy that bothers me.
If an IBO says that he's totally in it for the money and he doesn't care if he's stepping on other people's feeling or taking hordes of people's money to become rich, I wouldn't have a problem. Because at least he's being honest and then people can decide for themselves if they want to follow. But when things are done under the guise of friendship and caring, that's when I have a problem.
As to this blog, if you declared that you're anti-Quixtar and you have a grudge against it because of your poor experiences and that you generally read anti-Quixtar materials and don't read very many positive Quixtar materials, I'd at least say that the site was honest. Stating that you're Quixtar neutral, IMO, is dishonest and hypocritical.
QBlog wrote:
"Oh, and I drown sackfulls of puppies every Saturday. This week's breed was Yorkies. They're so fiesty."
Well, I hope that someone reports you to the SPCA. That's a very serious offense.
Oh. . . was that sarcastic "humor"?. . . big surprise. :->
QBlog wrote:
"Do I have a moral compass? Yeah. And my moral compass doesn't really feel the need to answer to you. Is that sarcastic? I don't know, you tell me."
Maybe not sarcastic, but definitely a non-answer.
I'm not sure why you feel that Quixtar should put up a website and engage in dialogue. If this is the kind of dialogue you were expecting, filled with non-answers, I don't see what would be accomplished.
QBlog wrote:
"Sorry this blog pisses you off so much."
Thanks. And I mean that. Voluntarily going to a website that upsets me -- how crazy is that?! Well, maybe not that much more crazy than traveling to a useless Quixtar seminar and spending money to get back nothing.
QBlog wrote:
"I'm just doing my thing. Take it or leave it. It's all good."
And how does that infamous IBO saying go? "Some will, some won't, so what?! NEXT!!!"
I think you forgot the NEXT!! part. Or was that what you meant by "It's all good."
In case you weren't part of this, this saying is chanted in many of the meetings by many of the big pins.
QBlog wrote:
"When you think of a difficult question to ask, just holler."
What would be the purpose? Just like asking my upline a difficult question, I'd either get sarcastic "humor' or a non-answer--as evidenced by this last response of yours. Oh yes, or when the heat got too much and the questions hit too close to home, then the long and deafening silence.
I wonder how many of us are less mad about the money that we lost in the Quixtar BSM system than we are about the fact that our BS-meter was blaring and we were too intimidated or manipulated to keep asking the tough questions, only to see more of our money draining away. But more importantly, we began to doubt ourselves as well.
Well, this time, my BS-meter is blaring loudly about this site and I'm not going to keep quiet.
Ambivalent
Consider it down David R. Now go watch Ole Miss lose to the Vols. ;o)
Posted by: QBlog at October 16, 2004 08:44 PM
Ok so they lost. So What? Big Deal! Who Cares?
This season, I'm just glad that each loss is not a "trouncing". At least is was a respectable loss.
Am I rationalizing? Hell yeah!
Doesn't look like even a Motor City Bowl is possible this year. Maybe we'll still get to play in the Egg Bowl ;)
Ambivalent,
Good for you. I'd hate to see you keep quiet. Keep on making noise. While I obviously disagree with you on your points, I'm sure you have quite a few friends who wholeheartedly agree. And that's what I love more than anything, people saying what's on their mind. Thanks for not holding back and telling it like you see it.
David, it was a mighty fine game and I found myself pulling for Ole Miss towards the end. They got a couple of bad breaks and that's about it. They really impressed me after rebounding from the early 14-0 deficit.
And they will STOMP the Bulldogs on Thanksgiving. State is the worst I've seen in years. Ole Miss can compete with virtually any team in the SEC, State cannot.
What I'm really impressed with is David Cutcliffe. That guy is one hell of a coach. So Spurlock wasn't Eli's replacement, but Cutcliffe reinvented that offense to make them not only respectable but competitive. That's just good coaching. Ole Miss will not have to worry with Cutcliffe at the helm.
QBlog wrote:
"Ambivalent,
Good for you."
Awww, QBlog, you take all the fun out of sending spiteful replies to you when you're being reasonable. ;)
Thank you for the reply. :)
Ambivalent
You guys, are you guys aware that this site is "Just One Man's Perception"?
In other words it's his OPINIONS on the business. Most of them just happen to be negative. Which by total coincidence I'm sure, happens to be coherent with many other's perceptions of the biz.
Please explain how you would make this site more "balanced". Should we make sure that there are exactly 50 percent postive posts and 50 percent negative?!
That would be rediculous. That would make this more of a statistical site than one with actual emotions from people who were or are in the business.
No Diamond wrote: "Should we make sure that there are exactly 50 percent postive posts and 50 percent negative?!"
Just out of curiosity, are you involved with the site development? You said "we" but maybe you meant "he".
Quixtar Company is the biggest offenders of their own rules. I have made many, many attempts to contact their Rules and the iboai.com board and others since launching the new Quixtar.com site they have plainly taken Amway products directly to solicit the online community unbarred.
That was the whole reason for dumping that awesome website previously working. This new site is built to stick it to the new IBO.
GREG DUNCAN a IBO Board Member who you pay dues every year to protect your behind side has never responded to my email either. Why should he Greg Duncan and Scott Coons partners in XS Energy doing anything to correct the they stand to make millions more in sales to Quixtar.com.
Quixtar had the chance to buy XS ENERGY DRINK. Quixtar cannot stand the fact they don't own it lock stock and barrel. Now that it the largest item in sales volume they want to cut the IBO out as much as possible.
With the from zero internet presence to the page after page now index in search engines and the press releases they send to every media group that post it on their site adding more links to Quixtar.com. Not to mention all the fake Blogging made to look like a real outsider is involved. Why don't they setup quixtar.com or forward everything to
www.shopquixtar.com where you have to have a IBO# and Key to register.
BECAUSE THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PRODUCT THAT IS GETTING THE ATTENTION!
REGISTERING THOUSANDS OF NEW CLENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE SO GREEDY QUIXTAR CAN'T WAIT FOR THE IBO'S!
Alticor is clearly attacking the IBO's who have built you who you are today.
I have spoken on the phone and heard your worthless insolent talk directly.
They actually laughed when I told the person I was speaking AT QUIXTAR.
That a new client I had been working on went and signed up directly online.
Take for instance the post in this thread:
I ordered my XS Cherry Blast straight from the Quixtar Website using no IBO at all.
My XS arrived in 4 Days. The flavor is OK, but it's not my primary refreshment after a long run.
Brad
Posted by: Brad Williams at October 18, 2004 02:36 PM (right here read it for yourself)
Access / Alticor / Quixtar /Amway are stealing the market share from us, correction now your IBO's everyday.
as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4.
quixtar.site
any product tab
add to cart (then pops up)
registration page with NO IBO Referral and Key needed as required fields.
When they uncheck the box need servicing IBO...Even better for them!
Eventually the WEB surfer ends on the register page and the site is allowing anyone
arriving the opportunity to sign up un-sponsored.
Shame on Quixtar!
QUIXTAR Employees have been brainwashed on this new angle on this new Quixtar.com web site to their advantage.
Wake up IBO's you are promoting their products at your expense.
Saving them MILLIONS of advertising dollars.
QUIXTAR is taking advantage of your need for an income.
The opportunity is GONE! They are corporate rapist.
BadBoy,
We have already discussed this topic in detail on this blog at this post: http://tinyurl.com/3jb45. If you would like to continue to discuss this then I would suggest posting your comments there. Right now you are copying and pasting your comments into multiple posts on this blog.
This is like spamming, and it is great that you have an opinion of the new Quixtar site changes, so let's discuss it here if you want.
What information do you have that Quixtar wants to go around IBO's? What makes you think they are cutting out the middle man? If you had someone register as a client that you referred to the site, and they didn't enter your IBO#, then Quixtar will work with you to fix that issue. They are very willing to work with IBO's and they have no intention of going around them. I am sorry if you had a bad phone call, but I would just suggest calling back because they will be very helpful to you if you explain the situation in a decent manner.
When these people register as clients without a referring IBO#, they are automatically assigned to a Platinum IBO based on zip code. Every sales transaction from Quixtar is attached to an IBO in some form or another. No IBO's have lost business because of this, and there is another side of this debate where we actually stand to gain from these changes.
As far as press releases, I see nothing wrong with that. This is normal for retailers. As far as having their product pages listed in search engines, most people feel that it is about time. I personally would rather them not do any of this, but it doesn't really matter to me one way or another.
I am sure there was major discussion about this before launching it as a new feature, and the same goes for the Quixtar Web Initiative that QBlog has a post about.
I am sure that they outlined the pros and cons and had successful business leaders add input before decisions were made. I trust them in their decisions and this may well have been one of the smartest moves they have made as an ecommerce company lately.
Your accusations of Quixtar are plainly false here and there is plenty of evidence to back my views up. Simply call Quixtar yourself if you want to learn the truth about their recent changes.
We should all just try to get along? How is the weather in your area?!?!
Q,
I think you have formed an opinion about the validity of Quixtar as a business model that is overall a negative one. The fact you find things in the business to compliment, doesn't take away from your basic position; however, I believe your compliments are sincere expressions. What makes you stand head and shoulder above most people is that you appear to have an open mind. You don't seem to suffer from the "knee jerk" reaction that both sides of this debate frequently exhibit.
Sharon
Posted by: Sharon | October 16, 2004 9:08 AM