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December 15, 2004
WWG Modifies Tool Biz
By QBlog in
The World Wide Group (also known as World Wide DreamBuilders) is modifying its tool business. Apparently WWG, which is headed by Ron Puryear, is shifting a significant portion of the tool business online. The new program, called "Premier Membership," sounds similar to the changes Joe Land recently announced for his AllianceNet tool business. A site visitor sent me an FAQ page (pdf) that describes some of the program's details.
Premier Membership benefits for $37.95 per month are:
All BSMs will be discounted from suggested retail as follows: - Standing order tapes and CDs for $2.50 each, 64% savings - Additional tapes and CDs for $2.50 each, 64% savings - Videos and DVDs at $7.50 each, 58% savings - Profiles of Success for $7.50 each, 58% savings - Books—Average 30% discount off suggested retail - Literature—Average 20% discount off suggested retail - Free Basic Membership—Includes access to all features of wwdb.com - My.Biz—Personal website for only $2.95 per month, 80% savings
Ok. Did you get all that? Yeah, I don't really understand it either but it looks like WWG is working to reduce the cost of tools. More data would probably help but I just see savings, savings, savings. Everybody likes to save.
One little item in the Platinum portion of the FAQ piqued my interest:
11. Will the method of payment of BSM breaks change?
a. World Wide Group will pay the Platinum and above membership commissions via electronic funds transfer for each Premier Member month in their downline the first week of each month.
If I'm reading this right then Platinums and above receive a commission on each Premier Membership. Or maybe I'm not reading that right? But if I am reading it right, then the program sounds like it could be a good deal for Platinums and above.
By the way, there's an updated version of a non-Platinum FAQ (pdf) which states, among other things, that the new My.Biz portion of the program will not allow customization at launch. Bummer.
Comments
$2.5 / tape! much cheaper than BWW, all BWW folks should get their tapes from WWG. I mean it's a business, go for the most cost effective supplier.
So, these guys pay a monthly fee for a discout on "tools". How much of a save is it really?
Also, doesn't this sound a lot like the Costco business model? Except, Costco doesn't move over a 14% mark-up, but a $2.50 tape is still pretty profit-heavy.
Oh, and Costco doesn't make you join a cult. That's a big benefit ;)
df,
You must have personally been burned in a big way to have so much negativity.
As if you, the super mighty being needs to come in and help all of the innocent brainless lambs from joining this business. Too funny.
Why not give credit to people to make their own decisions?
Or are you one of those ultra-left-wing guys who thinks the gov't should have full control over peoples' decisions? df for president 2008.
THis program would have saved me about $17 per month before shipping charges.
Actually, this isn't a savings at all, if you're just buying SOT every month. Previously, it was $7 per tape, so doing SOT every month was costing 42.00 + tax and shipping. So, at $37.95 + SOT = 52.95 + tax and shipping. If you were buying more than just SOT every month, it might save you some money....
Ahh, Truthseeker, you move me....to speak, that is.
df is pretty much right on the mark. As a current IBO in the WWG LOS - what they call a Prosumer (only buy what I want, when and IF I want, and no longer participate in ANY form of TOOLS) - it is my personal experience and belief (based also on observation & training) that WWG is indeed a cult, and a very destructive one at that.
People who are involved are not 'brainless lambs' as you say, but folks who are truly in need of edification (ie - enlightenment about the real dangers of their involvement). INDIVIDUALS should have control over their OWN decisions and NOT leave their decisions to the noble and omnipotent powers of their upline leaders (that's not the government by the way). WWG teaches that the individual IBO (Independent????? Business Owner) is not CAPABLE of coming up with original ideas, and not CAPABLE of running their own business, and is not CAPABLE of comprehending any more information than they are willing to provide. And the information they do provide is often inaccurate, skewed, slanted, or an outright lie.
Do a little research on cultism. If you need help, let me know.
I think what df said made quite sense. It is pretty factual. If we truly seek the truth ;) There is no negativity dripping from that. It is what it is, calling spade a spade.
Disenchanted: "WWG teaches that the individual IBO (Independent????? Business Owner) is not CAPABLE of coming up with original ideas, and not CAPABLE of running their own business, and is not CAPABLE of comprehending any more information than they are willing to provide."
Care to back that up?
Jen - sure. Do you want it in my words, or shall I send you tapes? Or I can simply give you stock numbers of tapes...
How about a letter I wrote to my upline that received no response except to cut us off from any further communication? It also went to our Diamond AND Quixtar. No response. From any of them. It was not nasty, it was simply asking questions that no one wanted to answer.
How about some CommuniKates? Have a few of those left too, that totally DISCOURAGE thinking for yourself. I'd be happy to send them along.
Tsssss! That was hot!
The funny thing for me about tools is that there is a cost for them at all. I'm pretty familiar with business training and most companies provide this to their teams at no charge. I elaborate more on this here:
http://sinkinginquixand.blogspot.com
Disenchanted IBO-
Your last post sounds familiar. :) We asked, nicely, to get off SOT recently. What did our Upline do? No reply at all, he cut us off of his Kate distribution list. We had been in this biz for 11 years!
Disenchanted IBO,
Funny hearing your comments, because I personally agree that this business is a big waste of time.
df is actually very right. It just kills me that he is so angry. Anger Management classes may be in order for someone who hates the mighty Q so much. Seems like he falls into the stereotypical critic Qblog was talking about. And hey, if the super-cape fits put it on and fight the noble fight.....he he he. It's great to be in a room with the two of you. really inspires me to go out and make something of my life......
df,
Go to Jason's site (as mentioned in his post). Her says the same thing you are trying to convey...but with so much more class.
You're a winner, bud! I believe in ya!
I'd love to see the information on this "MLM=cultism" concept. I'm a brainless addict of the WWG tools and I actually enjoy and use what they teach us. Isn't that an oxymoron for a cult to be teaching free enterprise? I think if it were up to me, I'd have the tools business get put on mp3's and only charge reps $1 to download each one. They would also have to own an Ipod to play them on. Oh yeah- I still think we need a P0RN mlm. Now there's a tools biz we can be proud of! LOL
Mike said> Isn't that an oxymoron for a cult to be teaching free enterprise?
MO> Thank you Mike! I agree with you 100%
Sure Disenchanted, pass them all on.
Hey thanks for all the support and comments. Unfortunately, I don't have interest in running from pres. in 08.
Truthy, you couldn't be farther from the truth! I am not angry nor am I negative. And I have never been burned by the Q system.
I have seen business units within my place of employment get bogged down by the cultish groupthink and lost productivity caused by the AmQuixbots.
So I guess I am upset with the fact that the overall performance of the firm is lesser because of AmQuix.
Upset? Yes! Angry? No! If I can suade others from getting involved and bogging their companies down, then I am glad to do so. And when I get in a position to move these people out of my firm, you better believe the axe is gonna fall!
Just another, quick random thought....
What is funny about the AmQuix setup --these people despise working their J.O.B.S, yet they continually depend of said employment in order to sustain themselves...
...and to overpay for substandard motivational merchandise!
Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!
Ungrateful bastards!
Hey,
df,
Well put! I hear you now.
Even if all the tools and the system was free you still couldn't make any money!
Well, The only comments I have are to backup what Df said. I have learned that quite often people in Quixtar are persuaded to think that their JOB is bad, when it is the one thing that supports them, however, I think that this is an individual choice, not a mandatory practice.
When I was in Quixtar (Amway), I looked at my job as an opportunity to show everyone around me what I was capable of as a leader and thus, they might want to join me. Becoming a slacker at work or choosing not to perform above the standard (it is a choice) was not an option for me............ and I always encouraged everyone in my group to be the best they could be at work. I must say though, the teaching I received as a result of my involvement with WWG gave me the tools I needed to own and operate a successful business. I hope your emlpoyees read this and decide to give their heads a shake!
DM
People often misunderstand what the Quixtar business is all about. They get the impression that they sign up and next month the money will start to flow in. Often the people that fail at this business often respond that they didn't put that much effort into, they expected it to sell itself. Which is obviously wrong, their is a reason you are being paid to do the work. After all if it sold itself, why would they need you? So oftne in the first 90 days, the failures quit and call it a hoax. But yet there are people that do succeed in it. I have had success in it, but I have put effort into it. As long as the effort in is equal to the reward, I am satisfied. I have made EVERY penny in bonuses and retail profit exactly as they had described in the PLAN. Yes I have had some challenges along the way, that is the reality of life. I am a part owner of another business, no relation to Quixtar and the commercial industry and I know that there are a lot of things that you must sacrifice in order to gain the success. Profit doesn't come at NO cost, wether that be in blood sweat and tears or some financial support.
As far as Quixtar requiring you to order their tapes or attend their functions, that is completely false. In fact when you register, if you read the legal stuff on the form it states that you are not required to purchase any of the business support materials that are available. This is especially important in the early stages of your business, for you don't want any extra costs, however when you build the business and you are on the verge of achieving the next promotion level how could you not justify a little expense in order to reach your goals? Once again as long as the ends equal the means right? If a requirement to go Platinum ($60,000 annual salary) you can't justify the charde for your business materials? I can spend more than that on office supplies in one month for my other company, cost of doing business.
As far as Quixtar being a cult? Just because a large group of people share the same belief? Would that be the equivelant of saying everyone else is a Wal-Mart Cult? Just because mainstream media guides us that life should be this way, and because the TV drives our beliefs and what life should be. Just because a group of people share a dream this is wrong? This makes them a cult? You make it sound like we are going door-to-door seeking salvation, wrong. Opportunities arise EVERY day? When is the last time you saw someone that is not being drained (physically emotionall) by their job? People are willing to give their BOSS 40 hours a week, but will not give their Families 5 hours a week. I spend 5 hours per week running this business and it is growing. Does that mean that I am Diamond yet? No but you start somewhere, BTW I was very skeptical when I first got into this business, I broke everythin down and nitpicked it, but in the end I truly believe in it and that translates throughout my business. I am not trying to pull out the patriotic statement, but isn't that what this country was built on? A group with a dream? That didn't agree with the mainstream? This business may not be for you, so don't get involved in it, that is your choice.
But what gives you the right to sling mud? What have you done in your life to make your words worthy? Are you a professional critique? Are you financially free and on the verge of retirement? Do you have a "better" plan for everyone? One that is fool proof? One that will work for everyone, REGARDLESS OF DESIRE AND MOTIVATION? You can look on the internet at just about any business and find some dirt on them, y? Because their is not an Internet Patrol out there to ensure that all information is correct. It is the nature of the beast. All you need is one negative person that is satisfied with their life where it is that doesn't believe there is any alternative to the corporate world. Isn't it enough that our Gov't is so married to the Corporations, does the American public have to be as well? Yes I may fail, but what business never has the chance to fail. I am sure we all thought several years back that Enron wouldn't fail, did we not? ANY business can fail, but rather than think negative I like to think ANY business can succeed, IF you WANT it to.
I don't usually respond to these ATTACKS, for I think that dealking with people that ONLY look at the negatives, only drags me down. Take my words for what they are. Every opinion in the world is slight/slanted/etc. It is a challenge to make a decision, especially when you have a lot of biased opinions out there. Any advice for any person interested out there is that if your TRULY believe the system works TRY it Whole Heartedly, you really don't have that much to lose. It is not as if you are required to put a lot of money up front to start your business ($50-$150 registration fee includes a start up pack) Have you ever tried to start up a business in the real world? My other business was started in the mid 80's and it took a startup loan of $50K to get it started, today that would be in the area of what $100K-$150K? Everything you do in life has a risk to it, whether the rewards come is determined by ONLY you and the determination you have. The only challenge to this business is knowing enough people or being able totalk to strangers, if you can't get over that fear, this business will not be very successful for you. BUT with that being said, If you try you can get over the fear of approaching strangers, it is possible.
This response is not to ATTACK anyone, for I don't believe in fighting fire with fire. Just as an information source, take it for what it is, not for what it isn't.
BTW, I have never been taught by any of the people that I have worked with in Quixtar to "Hate my job". I have just gained a dream to do it myself, this doesn't mean you should neglect your daily work in anyway shape or form, because until you build the business large enough, you do have RESPONSIBLITY to your job. I have that ethic and so do the people that I have worked with in Quixtar. Not once have I had a conflict of interest. If the people in your organization have a conflict, then they need to learn some time management skills. Often, I think people just complain, they feel they only need to do the minimum, this is why they slack at your organization. A person with a TRUE dream will put effort in, without whining or complaining or showing any effects. Once again it depends on the strength of your dream, mine is my daughter. To the point of due to my other business (mainly I have not had a day off in about 1 month (7 days per week) due to high business volumes, Things will slow down soon, but this is a spurt and I have the motivation to do it, using my work ethic. Nobody has heard on gripe or complaint, because the fact that I can ensure that my wife can stay at home with our daugher and home school her is the ONLY motivationa father should need.
When I talk to new people I am very clear with them that the time you put in is directly relevant to the rewardss you get out. If you put NO time in, no reward. Therefore you can put a little bit of time and make this business "supplemental" or you can put in a lot of time and "replace" your job. Whether you like/dislike your job is your choice. I don't not influence anyone to quit/dislike/etc. their existing jobs.
Damn,
There goes the Ebay resell prices!
Posted by: Dave_S | December 15, 2004 8:11 AM