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July 31, 2004
Buddies
By QBlog in
Ran into an old friend from High School at the "sneak preview" of M. Night Shyamalan's new movie, The Village. We chatted about "old times" and got caught up with the latest news about our classmates and then, the conversation drifted to Quixtar. Turns out, he had some very critical opinions of the business. In his mind, Quixtar is an "obvious scam" that anyone with a brain will discover as soon as they understand how the business functions.
What was interesting to me was that he formulated this opinion without ever visiting a single "negative" Web site or getting burned by some unscrupulous Amway leech. He arrived at his beliefs about Quixtar from observing one of our mutual friends who happens to be the son of an Amway (and presumably Quixtar) Emerald. I wonder how many people have avoided Amway (and Quixtar) after observing the behavior of friends and family who were involved with the business. Would be interesting to research.
By the way, The Village was a good movie and I kept seeing similarities to Quixtar throughout the film. It's not a movie for everyone and one problem is that it's really hard to give a proper review without revealing too much (kind of like Sixth Sense). You should check it out if you like M. Night Shyamalan.
= Top 100 political contributors
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
= Top 100 political contributors
Amway Corporation is...#82
July 30, 2004
Marks - Chapter 13
By QBlog in
Marks is a novel that tells the story of a young married couple, two college roommates and a successful businessman whose lives ultimately intertwine as the result of a business opportunity — and a dream. Quixtar BLOG is publishing Marks as a serial, making a new installment available every Friday. All previous chapters are archived here on the blog so if you missed any just search for "Marks" and you should be caught up in no time.
Disclaimer: This book has not been through a final edit. There may be some misspelled words and grammatical errors. Please understand that as you read through the novel.
» Chapter 13
Sheik Chic frowned on the use of alcohol in any form by its independent retailers. Teri liked the occasional drink after a hard day at work, but Tom had insisted. Who knew when the upline would drop in for a surprise visit? The Remlies wouldn’t look completely committed to the plan if they fudged on that aspect.
Now Teri was grateful that there weren’t any beers in the refrigerator. That was one less thing she didn’t have to explain her avoidance of to her husband. Sometimes she thought he must surely be suspicious when she refused cold cuts — because of listeria — or anything with fish — because it turned her stomach — but he never mentioned a thing.
Tom was getting frustrated that she wouldn’t even try Sheik Chic’s new energy drink, PowerUp. PowerUp was supposed to be the hottest new product of the year. Stocked with vitamins, minerals and a double dose of caffeine, they wouldn’t be able to keep the cans in stock. Or so Cory Jackson promised on this week’s CD.
“Get just ten people who love this stuff and convince them to start their very own business,” Cory’s friendly voice had instructed. “If each of them finds ten more people and everyone in your downline buys only two cases per month, you’ll go UltraMega in a year. It’s as easy as that.”
“It tastes delicious,” Tom told her. He was balancing their checkbook at the kitchen table. She sat across from him, trying to keep her mind on the workbook assignment from the weekly wives’ meeting. “Just have a sip of mine.”
The can was tall and narrow, with an extra wide mouth. When he pushed it toward her, Teri could see the thick liquid splashing against the sides. A strong smell of artificial fruit flavoring assaulted her nose and she had to turn away quickly before she became sick.
“No thanks. I’ve heard that stuff’s potent. This late in the day, I’ll never get to sleep.”
Tom scrunched his face.
“Just a sip, Teri. How are you going to push this stuff at work if you don’t even know what it tastes like?”
In a way, Teri would have loved to rip the can out of Tom’s hand and drink every ounce that was left in one large swallow. The odor was foul, but Teri was so exhausted that she would be tempted to drink gasoline if it offered half the energy that PowerUp promised.
Growing a baby was very tiring. That wasn’t something Teri had counted on. She woke up tired after long, restless nights filled with crazy dreams. Every minute at work, she seemed to be in a haze. Her output was down, her mistake rate was up and she expected to be called into the supervisor’s office any day for a consultation.
By the time the endless workday was finally over, Teri struggled to keep her eyes open while she drove home. A meeting with a potential in another town was a treat because she could fit in a little nap in the passenger’s seat.
Her feet constantly hurt, her back ached and she felt like she was spending more time in the restroom than anywhere else.
Think of your husband as a hero, the workbook instructed. A cowboy in a white hat, severing the rope that has you tied to your job.
July 28, 2004
Rule 6.5 Means YOU!
By QBlog in
In May, I posted about Quixtar's New Rule known as the Non-Competition and Anti-Raiding rule (or Rule 6.5). This rule, which has yet to make it onto the official Business Compendium (pdf), has been criticized by some current and former IBOs as draconian (paraphrasing). However, a common defense of this rule has claimed that it was only designed to target people like Bo Short and would never be enforced against ordinary IBOs.
I present to you, Exhibit A (published with permission):
To my knowledge, Jacqueline Curcio was not a high-level IBO. It is also my understanding that Curcio has no knowledge of who actually submitted the complaint to Quixtar.
Now, I'm not saying that Quixtar did anything wrong here. In fact, it seems that their response to such a complaint was appropriate and I commend them for taking action. Yet it does illustrate the naivete of believing that Quixtar will not enforce Rule 6.5 when it receives complaints.
Take this as a friendly warning, if you're a Quixtar IBO be mindful of Rule 6.5, even if it hasn't made it's way onto the Official Compendium just yet.
July 27, 2004
Wal-Mart Sucks
By QBlog in
Just so you know, Wal-Mart sucks. The more I learn about Wal-Mart the more I'm convinced that something has gone really, really wrong with what was once a wonderful business. I see them devastate small town grocers with their SuperCenters, leaving behind the decaying, unoccupied buildings of their old, non-grocery Wal-Marts (excessive comma usage alert). I see how they treat their employees and am disgusted. I see a company that once prided itself on its "Made In America" products now scrambling to find items on their shelves not made in China.
I now refuse to shop in a Wal-Mart unless that's my only option. You know what Wal-Mart really needs? A "Roger And Me" style documentary looking into how their corporate practices have negatively impacted small town U.S.A.
What does this have to do with Quixtar? Well, more than you might realize.
The Fundamental Flaw of MLM*
By QBlog in
When you strip away all the rhetoric, hyperbole, compensation plans, leadership strategies, etc. what you are left with is the fundamental reason that MLM* exists in our world today.
At the very core of MLM is one promise, one hope that ignores the history of abuses and problems while attracting people like moths to a flame. What is it?
What's truly amazing is that this flaw exists in spite of efforts to eliminate it from the business. Lowering income expectations and proclaiming that "this is hard work" is ultimately meaningless because of the Multiple Levels that define MLM. The mere existence of those levels result in a structure that embraces (whether stated or implied, intentional or not) "Easy Money."
The philosophy behind a "network producing residual income" (see Robert Kiyosaki's teachings) is the same philosophy that fueled the Gold Rush of 1849, the creation of the Diet Industry and the recent scramble for technology stocks around the turn of the century. It's the philosophy of shortcuts, the belief in Easy Money.
Like the tiger that cannot change its stripes, the MLM cannot change its nature.
The other aspect of this flaw is the low cost of entry (not merely monetary). While this seems well intentioned, it results in systemic problems that cannot be remedied in a free market.
- No education? No problem.
- No money? No problem.
- No credit? No problem.
- No mentors? No problem.
- No experience? No problem.
The MLM business takes care of all that. Again, we're left with the fundamental flaw of Easy Money. MLM appears to allow participants to circumvent the traditional (and difficult) steps to business success — things like school, saving, experience, establishing good credit and nurturing relationships with objective and impartial sages. However, appearances can be deceiving. The reality is that MLM is not exempt from the forces that rule the business world and to believe otherwise is folly.
Of course, you'll hear some objections to this fundamental flaw but the majority of those objections will come from those actually working IN an MLM and not those peering at it objectively from the outside.
*MLM here refers to male-dominated MLM businesses.
July 26, 2004
- Quixtar is...like Amway
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- Quixtar is...like Amway
"The original founder Bill Britt"
Why is Orrin Woodward Blogging?
By QBlog in TEAM
Why has Orrin Woodward, leader of the Quixtar group Team of Destiny, started a blog? This is the same man who struggled to limit access to formerly public articles. However, now he's publishing a blog, one of the most open and candid forms of communication on the Web today. Maybe it's just me but it seems odd that he limits access to his comments on his OrrinWoodward.com site but provides unfettered access to his blog comments. Wonder why that is?
I have a few more inquisitive observations:
1. Compliance
Is the Orrin Woodward Blog in compliance with Quixtar's legal bulletin #17 which states:
"The Corporation, with the support of the Independent Business Owners Association International (IBOIA), has implemented a Zero Tolerance Policy for unauthorized prospecting web sites. Under this policy, IBOs with unauthorized web sites will be immediately suspended for a period of 6-months from any sponsoring activities."If it is in compliance, then why doesn't it bear the "For North American use only - Content Reviewed Ref. No.(some number)" notice anywhere on the blog while such a notice appears on his OrrinWoodward.com site? Are the two sites really that different?
2. No Time To Blog
For almost two years I've asked Quixtar IBOs why I haven't been able to find any (with few exceptions) pro-Quixtar blogs on the Web and the reply is almost always, "The really successful IBOs don't have time to blog. They have more important things to do." I never believed that explanation but now that Orrin Woodward, Jody Victor, Fred Harteis, Billy Florence and other IBOs are blogging, what does that do to the whole "don't have time to blog" explanation?
3. July, Month of Blog
Before July of this year there were virtually no blogs published by Quixtar IBOs that dealt exclusively with some aspect of Quixtar (their business, relationships, etc.). However, I've spotted at least ten and possibly 15 or more IBO-authored blogs all launched this month. Additionally, almost all of those blogs are powered by BlogHarbor software (which appears to be owned by Rackshare and developed by Tucows) which is, in the world of blogs, a relatively obscure blogging tool (see previous post).
4. BlogHarbor?
Few of these "Quixtar IBO" BlogHarbor blogs (like Orrin Woodward's) allow for comments. While this isn't unusual, it's still a curious fact. Traditionally, blogs thrive on the comments of readers and it's the feedback and independent conversations that occur in those comments that make blogs such powerful communication tools. I'll say this, most bloggers who disable comments do so AFTER their comments have become too burdensome to manage. Another interesting thing about the comments is that BlogHarbor allows very robust comment management. While many blogs allow virtually anonymous commenting, BlogHarbor requires registration with a valid email address before commenting is possible. This provides MUCH more control over a blogger's comments. So, with so much control, why are the comments disabled? I have my theories.
UPDATE: Within an hour or so of this post going live, Orrin Woodward disabled the trackback feature on his blog. Dude is really monitoring his blog... or paying someone else to.
5. Blog Spamming?
In light of so many coincidences with these new IBO blogs (all started around July, most using the same software, many posts duplicates of posts on other blogs, similar linking strategies, etc.) one would possibly assume that Quixtar, or some Quixtar Line of Sponsorship, was orchestrating a concerted blog effort to maybe flood the Blogging Community with pro-Quixtar rhetoric. While I see nothing wrong with this on the surface, there is a definite sense that such a strategy may be a new form of Spamming or more accurately, Google Bombing. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.
In summary, I'm glad to see IBO blogs. I think blogging is good no matter what. I just fear that some of these new blogs may be nothing more than an effort to exploit the blogging community for commercial gains. If that's the case, then that's just bad blog karma. I hope that Orrin Woodward and his friends are better than that. Time will tell.
Monday Reader Mail: 5
By QBlog in Reader Mail
Today's Reader Mail is part of a deluge of messages I received immediately after the Dateline NBC story aired. I tried to respond to all of them but I'm only one man and so a few, like this one, went unanswered. So, I guess you could say this is my reply to Bonnie's message about Quixtar.
As always, my comments appear in bold.
name: bonnie k.Well, I'm still working on getting my Quixtar Information diploma. I think I still need 12 more credit hours. Wish me luck.
date: May 11, 2004message: To critique Quixtar without becoming informed of the totality of this business opportunity is akin to claiming that a blind man can see.
Huh? So at what point can a person become qualified to critique Quixtar or anything else for that matter?
Whatever negative impressions one may have about MLM's in general are their opinion. I, myself, have never been a fan of multi level marketing. I never sold tupperware or Mary Kay or Pampered Chef or Avon or Fuller Brush...yet along comes a brilliant idea, in which, one gets rewarded for sharing information and referring their friends and acquaintances to an incredible website that pays you for shopping, and all of a sudden, this is deemed a scam. I think Costco is a scam and Wal Mart and Sears and K Mart and every other enterprise out there who takes our money for products overpriced products and we get no benefit at all. Only lies telling us how much money we saved by buying this product. Who saved money? We spent, they made, bottom line, consumers lose. Quixtar turns consumers into aware professional consumers and gives us an equity ownership in their website, with home based tax advantages, discount prices, and ability to sell (if we wish) products at retail.
Consumers lose by exchanging money for products or services? Whatever you say. Oh, wait. I get it. You're being ironic. Or are you?
Free enterprise. Entrpeneurial. The future. That is Quixtar. If you want to write any more about our business, get more informed, and then let me know what you think.
Team of Destiny Rip Off?
By QBlog in
Consumers comment about Team of Destiny on a site cleverly titled "Rip Off Report." Take a few moments to read the comments and then make your own decisions about Team of Destiny.
? An Imploding Relationship
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
? An Imploding Relationship
"Well I'm busy building my business"
Bring it on!
By QBlog in
You want a battle? I'm up for it. I only got one thing to say:
"Bring it ON!"
You know who you are.
+ My suppliers are Quixtar
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
+ My suppliers are Quixtar
"WWDB is a Christian based organization"
- Just be careful
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- Just be careful
"It all invariably screams 'SCAM!'"
July 25, 2004
The Three Sexes of MLM
By QBlog in
There are many different types of MLM businesses but as part of my desire to classify everything I've come up with what I call the "Three Sexes of MLM." It's really just an attempt to highlight some of the differences between various MLMs as well as some similarities. Is it perfect? No. But I think there's something important to learn from looking at MLM in terms of sex (male vs. female, not copulation). What that is exactly, I'm not sure. Maybe you can tell me?
Male
The Male MLMs are pretty easy to spot. They generally sell insurance, financial services, communications technology or something Internet related. Those participating in the Male MLMs are most often "true salesmen," meaning that they have some experience in sales or have "salesman-like" personalities.
Extremely competitive.
Examples: Primerica, PrePaid Legal, etc.
Female
The Female MLMs mainly sell health and beauty or home improvement products. They are characterized by MLM product parties (think Tupperware or Southern Living at Home). They're often marketed to housewives or working women as a "supplemental income" rather than a method to achieve financial independence. For whatever reason, the Female MLMs have avoided many of the problems and abuses that have plagued the other MLMs.
Moderately competitive
Examples: Avon, Tupperware, Southern Living at Home
Male-dominated Co-ed
The last type of MLM is also the most complex and the hardest to spot. On the surface it appears to be equal parts male and female. However, a closer look reveals that it's actually male-dominated and women are relegated to a secondary position, one of insignificance. This type MLM is primarily marketed to families seeking financial security with the potential for much, much more (money). Products in this type MLM are primarily health, beauty and home improvement (cleaning).
Historically, abuses proliferate in this type of MLM but not at the rate seen in the exclusively Male type MLM.
Very Competitive
Examples: Quixtar (Amway)
July 24, 2004
Marks - Chapter 12
By QBlog in
I've been out of town on a family vacation at a remote cabin without Internet access and so I was unable to publish Chapter 12 of Marks on Friday as planned. However, it's here now for your reading pleasure.
Marks is a novel that tells the story of a young married couple, two college roommates and a successful businessman whose lives ultimately intertwine as the result of a business opportunity — and a dream. Quixtar BLOG is publishing Marks as a serial, making a new installment available every Friday. All previous chapters are archived here on the blog so if you missed any just search for "Marks" and you should be caught up in no time.
Disclaimer: This book has not been through a final edit. There may be some misspelled words and grammatical errors. Please understand that as you read through the novel.
» Chapter 12
Richard Bean could picture Leona Smythe sitting behind her desk, fiddling with the gaudy knickknacks that covered ever square inch of the university-issued furniture and twirling her bright red curls around her larger fingers.
“Well, well, well. The long lost economist makes contact from the wild jungles.”
Richard imagined her leaning back and kicking her legs up on the windowsill as she spoke on the phone.
“Hey, Sweetheart,” he said in his playful voice. “Miss me?”
“Don’t go ‘sweethearting’ me, you fickle thing.”
“Fickle?” Richard protested. “Me? Never.”
“Liar. You’ve found a woman on the other side of the world. What else could possibly be keeping you in a tropical paradise instead of getting your rear end back to Kenton? Ohio during the rainy season – who in his right mind would miss that?”
Richard chuckled.
“No woman, unfortunately, and this is hardly a tropical paradise.”
“Damn it Bill, I’m an English professor not a geographer.”
“How are things on campus?”
“Same old same old,” Leona answered. “Tell me about Nigeria. Your postcards make it sound magical.”
“It is glorious,” Richard said with a sigh. “I can’t even put into words what life is like here. It’s more real, more substantive somehow.”
“I am jealous.”
“How did Dr. Remington take the news that I was a delayed?”
Richard had been uneasy since receiving a stilted, confusing letter from the head of the business department. He couldn’t tell if Walter Remington was trying to be funny or was truly mad.
“Oh, you know ‘Buster,’” Leona answered. “Anything that gives him the slightest bit more work is, by definition, evil.”
“What did he say exactly?” Richard was still curious.
“That you should ‘fish or cut bait,’ ‘crap or get off the pot,’ and a few other equally trite clichés.”
“What on earth does that mean?”
“I think he wants you to come back and teach your sections or resign so he can hire another professor.”
“Oh.” Richard wasn’t surprised at his boss’s pragmatic attitude, but Kenton was supposed to be a center for higher learning. The research he was doing in Nigeria, along with the publications that were certain to follow, could only benefit him and the business department. He had hoped for a bit more understanding and support.
“Don’t let him get you down. Buster might pick at you a while and threaten you occasionally, but he won’t fire you.”
“No, but he’s in charge of the teaching assignments. If he hates me, I’ll be teaching Econ 101 to freshman every semester until I retire.”
“Yeah,” Leona agreed. “That sounds like Buster.”
“What should I do, Leona?”
“How should I know?”
“You’re the one who told me to come to Nigeria. I think you hold a little responsibility for the situation.” Richard kept his voice joking so she knew he wasn’t really mad.
There was a long pause.
- Voice of reason
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- Voice of reason
"And everybody likes making easy money"
R&R
By QBlog in
I'm back from vacation. I'll have the next chapter of Marks up later this evening. Good to be back and oh, the stories I could tell.
July 18, 2004
Oh yeah
By QBlog in
I'm going on a little vacation. I will be back in a week or so.
July 16, 2004
Marks - Chapter 11
By QBlog in
Marks is a novel that tells the story of a young married couple, two college roommates and a successful businessman whose lives ultimately intertwine as the result of a business opportunity — and a dream. Quixtar BLOG is publishing Marks as a serial, making a new installment available every Friday. All previous chapters are archived here on the blog so if you missed any just search for "Marks" and you should be caught up in no time.
Disclaimer: This book has not been through a final edit. There may be some misspelled words and grammatical errors. Please understand that as you read through the novel.
» Chapter 11
Mr. Remly;
You don’t know me but I would like to introduce myself. My name is Marco Brand and I am an American friend of Bala Reyima. Bala told me about your business opportunity. Because of complexities in the Nigerian legal code regarding international business venture, it would be much simpler if any official paperwork is drawn up in my name.
Since English is not Bala’s native language, he is afraid to communicate directly with you regarding the details of this venture, although he trusts you completely.
For these reasons, the easiest way to proceed is to deal directly with me. Bala will be sending you an email confirming his agreement to this arrangement.
I am very excited about this opportunity and eager to talk with you more and to get started.
Please let me know if I can provide you with any more information.
Sincerely,
Marco Brand
Marco read over the email carefully before clicking the send button. He had considered every single word and wove in as many phrases from his father’s memos and last semester’s business writing class as he could remember.
Still, it sounded phony to him. He hoped Mr. Remly didn’t see completely through the ruse. If he realized that Bala Reyima and Marco Brand were the same person – or worse, that Marco was a two-bit hustler not worthy of being trusted – the whole venture would be jeopardized.
Marco gritted his teeth and frowned while he logged out of the email account and into one that he had created for Bala. The guy who sold him the package swore that he once had seven scams running simultaneously and never got his facts confused or his stories crossed. Marco had trouble managing his one client. The imaginary barrister and banker each had to have an email address, writing style and background.
The instructions on his CD said the background material was crucial. Make up something personal but believable and confide in the mark, read the text file. If he thinks you trust him then he will trust you.
What the detailed but poorly written directions didn’t say was that this created a net of facts, lies and exaggerations that had to be checked, reviewed and cross-referenced with every piece of correspondence.
Of course, that all added up to a lot of work and time but as of yet no money.
Marco tapped on the laptop. Each finger fell with a loud click. He probably would have been better off if he had stuck with Dr. Bean, he admitted. At least then he would have something to show for the past few weeks. Some money toward returning home and a blip for his resume.
But he would not have met Tom Remly. Marco honestly thought that this business opportunity would hold the key to everything that was missing in his life.
For once, Marco believed he was facing life without any misconceptions. He knew that there would be plenty of hard work involved and not much profit in the beginning. That didn’t scare him. Marco was actually looking forward to building something for himself.
He finished the letter and leaned back in his chair.
This was the first time he could look at his future with something besides anxiety and dread. He wasn’t going along with his father’s wishes or his mother’s manipulations. He wasn’t bowing to history or the easy way. He wasn’t looking for something to shock his parents and mark him as a rebel. He felt as if he had spent every day before wandering through an enchanted forest, one with pots of gold and bushes of succulent fruit. A fairyland where he was physically comfortable but aching from the pain of being lost. Now he had found his path – one filled with obstacles and leading away from the life where everything was handed to him and each decision made for him.
It was his road.
Marco knew that every single aspect of the rest of his life could be determined by Tom Remly’s response. If Remly was not willing to trust Marco in the same way he did the fictitious Bala then Marco feared he would be condemned to never be anything more than an echo of his father. Like Jonathon Brand, he would graduate from Kenton, marry a suitable girl who was probably more attracted to his money that to him and run a business thanks to no other virtue than his name matching the one outside the corporate headquarters.
Marco wanted more. He wanted Tom Remly to accept him, to teach him how to succeed and to help him build a business that he could be proud of. He wanted to meet a girl who loved him even when the fledgling company was struggling. He wanted a marriage like Tom described. Teri Remly seemed like a business partner as much as a wife.
And it all depended on one email.
Marco suddenly felt overwhelmed with anticipation. His stomach fluttered and the boxy hotel room seemed closed in.
Remly wouldn’t get the email for hours, so there was no reason to wait around feeling trapped and anxious. Abuja had a surprisingly intense nightlife – one that made Cincinnati look like a one horse town. When the sun went down, the entire city seemed to spill out onto the parched streets and pulse to the throbbing dance music from the slick discos and makeshift clubs.
Marco tugged on his sandals and sprinted out the hotel to join the nightly party.
July 15, 2004
Revenge of the "Mysterious Meeting"
By QBlog in
Earlier this month I posted about the ineffectiveness of the "Mysterious Meeting." I pointed out comments from four different bloggers who all were essentially unimpressed with the now infamous "Mysterious Meeting" tactic used by many Quixtar IBOs.
Well, I just happened to be reading my copy of the Quixtar Compendium (pdf) and rule eight (page 70) just sort of jumped out and grabbed me (metaphorically of course). See how it grabs you, especially in relation to those "Mysterious Meetings" and specifically, rule 8.1.6. -
8. Presentation of the IBO PlanThe spirit of this rule appears to be trying to eliminate the "Mysterious Meeting." Have you ever heard IBOs say, "No, this isn't Quixtar. Quixtar is only who we partner with as a Web portal to get products. This business is XYZ Group." Well, apparently this is a violation of Quixtar rules (unless I'm reading this wrong).8.1. Must Not Give False Impression:
When inviting a prospect to hear a presentation of the IBO Plan, an IBO shall neither directly nor indirectly through another IBO:
- 8.1.1. give the impression that the IBO Plan relates to an employment opportunity,
- 8.1.2. imply that the invitation is a social event,
- 8.1.3. disguise the invitation as a "market survey,"
- 8.1.4. promote the event as a "tax seminar,"
- 8.1.5. misrepresent the relationship between the IBO/IB and the Corporation,
- 8.1.6. directly or indirectly indicate that such products are merely one line of products distributed through or as a part of a brokerage operated by a person, company, or organization other than the Corporation.
- 8.1.7. directly or indirectly indicate that the Corporation's business, IBOs, or products and services merchandised through the Corporation are part of any business other than the Corporation, as defined by the Rules of Conduct.
So props to Quixtar for writing a rule that seems to eliminate the "Mysterious Meeting" but boos to Quixtar for not enforcing this rule more rigorously.
Just remember, next time you're asked to learn more about a "business opportunity" just print out Rule 8 and ask them if they're in compliance. It's easy and fun.
- I was realllly uncomfortable
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- I was realllly uncomfortable
"I don't need to sell anything"
= Quixtar and beyond
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
= Quixtar and beyond
"Life here in the cube farm at Quixtar"
July 14, 2004
"80% of them are divorced"
By QBlog in
A site visitor sent me the recording of an audio message from someone they identified as "Rick Riddle." The message was a preface to messages from Dick Davis and Ron Puryear sent out to the WWDB group prior to the airing of the Dateline show about Quixtar. I've edited the message for brevity and each edit is prefaced with a generic tone.
The message basically explains why he (Rick Riddle) is successful in the "business" and is encouraging listeners to be positive and not succumb to the "negativity" of the Dateline show. I tried to keep the general message intact but, as with all editing, some content was left out and this may cause some to question my motives while editing. I understand those concerns but unfortunately, I can't make everyone happy.
» Audio message from "Rick Riddle"
- Business of Beelzebub
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- Business of Beelzebub
"They lurk everywhere..."
July 13, 2004
- Taking the American Dream...
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- Taking the American Dream...
"sucked into a purposely-deceitful system"
Quixtar Chatter
By QBlog in
QuixtarBLOG is launching a new feature today called "Quixtar Chatter." The name is borrowed from the "chatter" phrase which was recently popularized by the U.S. Intelligence community to describe communications, usually among terrorists. Of course "Quixtar Chatter" has nothing to do with terrorism but the goal of this feature is to showcase the various Web discussions about Quixtar.
Since I began this blog nearly two years ago I've noticed a steady increase in casual conversations about Quixtar among bloggers and message boards. I've tried to catalog those Quixtar comments here but as the Web discussions increase I realized that devoting an entire post to each comment would change the nature of this blog.
And so, inspired by Jason Kottke's Remaindered Links, I created the "Quixtar Chatter" links. You'll notice them displayed only on the main blog page, down on the right-hand side, directly above the search box. These links will allow me to continue to catalog the variety of fresh Quixtar commentary without turning the entire blog into some kind of giant link dump.
Each "Quixtar Chatter" link will have prefix giving a general indication of the type of content one can expect to read. A (+) symbol would mean positive comments about Quixtar, a (-) would indicate negative, an (=) would indicate neutral (or both negative and positive) and a (?) means I have no freakin' idea how to classify the comment. Every link will also have a permalink (#), for those who would like to link directly to a particular "Chatter" entry for crediting purposes. The "Chatter" links are automatically cycled off the Quixtar Blog homepage into the "Chatter Archives" after a period of time to keep the links fresh and interesting.
I hope you enjoy the "Quixtar Chatter." I will continue to tweak it and expand it over the next few weeks. Thanks for stopping by the QuixtarBLOG.
+ Yes, I really work here!
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
+ Yes, I really work here!
"I'm part of Sales & Marketing"
- Amway = Evil
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- Amway = Evil
"run away from that company"
July 12, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 4
By QBlog in Reader Mail
Today's reader mail is a classic because it exhibits many of the classic arguments used to discredit people like me. We see the "only losers complain" logic followed with the direct insults and then suggestion of a threat. It really flows quite well and is so similar to many other emails I've received that I'm beginning to suspect that there's some sort of IBO response template that everyone is passing around and copying. You never know.
As always, my comments are in bold.
name: Angela P-K
date: February 18, 2004
message: I am so glad that you have stated that this information is "just one man's perceptions". Obviously, you weren't very successful at Quixtar or you wouldn't be complaining.That's interesting logic. Here are some other "complainers" that probably weren't successful: AARP. NRA. PETA. Rutherford Institute. Martin Luther King Jr. Ralph Nader. Gee, so much complaining.
I am also glad you aren't an attorney (thank God).
Yes, I do thank God every day that I'm not some blood-sucking, soulless lawyer.
You obviously need to take a few business law classes so you can get a better idea of the law of which you claim to know so little about.
Also, you claim that a "moron" tried to send you a donation. Honestly, you would have to be a "moron" to want to make one.
You must be referring to Gerald J. Reardon who, to my knowledge, did not try to send a donation of any kind but sent me his unsolicited credit card information without comment. Mr. Reardon is obviously a moron and has been reported to the proper authorities.
You are obviously the one who has some issues and too much free time and need to "consult a psychiatrist" yourself.
Perhaps if you spent as much effort doing something constructive, you wouldn't be in the self-proclaimed present financial condition.
As far as the law is concerned. I hope you are documenting the "donations" the morons are sending to you. I would hate for you to get audited.
Bring on the audits baby! And speaking of audits, I wonder how well the average IBO would fare if they were audited. Something to think about.
Of course, this is only the opinion of a current IBO and PhD student who is actually successful and can fully comprehend legalease and the finer points of what it means to live in as a Republican in a capitalistic society.
Maybe you should take a refresher course on spelling. It's "legalese" not "legalease."
July 11, 2004
Quixtar Average Income
By QBlog in
There's apparently some confusion about the Quixtar business opportunity and I'd like to make three points that will hopefully eliminate some of that confusion. Those promoting Quixtar claim that, when run properly, a Quixtar IBO can achieve "financial freedom" and do so in just a few years. Critics of Quixtar contend that such claims are bogus and that most IBOs end up losing money operating their Quixtar business. Who's right? Who's wrong? Does the truth reside somewhere in the middle? I'll list my points and let you decide.
Point One: Average Income
According to Quixtar's own "disclosure document" (pdf) the average monthly gross income for an "active" IBO is $115 (or $1,380 annually). Just a reminder, gross income means before expenses such as travel, lodging, training, motivational materials, etc. Quixtar even admits that "there may be significant business expenses, mostly discretionary, that may be greater in relation to income in the first years of operation." How many years? Quixtar doesn't specify. Could be two or twenty for all we know.
"But wait," you say. "Averages can be easily skewed by extremely high or low numbers. Many IBOs sign up and then sit on their ass which inevitably brings down the average income."
Well, that's correct. Averages can be distorted by extremely high or low numbers but maybe that's why Quixtar only counted "ACTIVE" IBOs. In fact, Quixtar did not include one third of all its registered IBOs when determining average income. That statistic alone is incredible but let's put it in perspective. The Grand Rapids Press reports that there are 340,000 registered IBOs. According to Quixtar, approximately 113,000 of them are not "active" and weren't included in the income average calculation. Would you like to reconsider that "distorted average" theory?
Point Two: Financial Freedom
Quixtar claims on its quixtarfacts.com site that it has paid out $1 billion in bonuses since its launch in September, 1999. That's roughly $200 million per year (dividing $1 billion by 5 years) and is a very impressive figure. However, let's take a closer look at this figure.
According to the U.S. Census, the average annual household income in the U.S. is $47,101. That's not a lot of money but a significant number of Americans are able to live comfortably on that amount. Now let's just say that the goal of a Quixtar IBO is to match the U.S. average of $47,101. How many IBOs will be able to earn that much from Quixtar before the $200 million is gone? Well, my math (and check it yourself) reveals that only 4,255 IBOs (in this hypothetical example) earned the U.S. average income. That number is smaller than the number of people at the motivational rally I went to in Forth Worth.
Now, increase that total to $75,000 per year and you're left with only 2,667 IBOs with "financial freedom." Or maybe I don't understand what it means to be "financially free?" All I know is that when I start really looking at Quixtar's own numbers, I'm left with more questions than answers.
Point Three: Comparing Averages
I'm not a big fan of averages. They're too easily manipulated. I'd prefer if Quixtar had given the median income for "active" IBOs but I play with the hand I'm dealt and so I'll compare some averages. Below you'll find a listing of average annual incomes for various professions and levels of education. Keep in mind that the figures below also include those who may be lazy or unenthusiastic.
- Engineer (data from 1999) = $84,314
- Farmer (data from 2002) = $1,700 (pdf)
- Small Business (data from 2000) = $1.9 million
- Physicians (data from 1998) = $200,000
- College Graduates (data from 1999) = $45,400
- Quixtar IBO (data from 2001) = $1,380 (pdf)
Conclusion
I've listed the facts as I found them, now it's up to you to decide the value of Quixtar's business opportunity. I hope you take what I've posted and do your own research. Show me where I'm wrong. Show me what I've missed. I'm not afraid to admit to my mistakes. All I know is that the more I look into the Quixtar, the less appealing it seems... to me. But maybe that's just me. What do you think?
July 10, 2004
A Logical Loop
By QBlog in
My dream is to steal your dreams. So if you tell me to stop stealing your dreams, then aren't you stealing mine?
Chew on that.
;o)
Marks - Chapter 10
By QBlog in
Due to the outpouring of positive feedback for this novel, I've decided to publish Chapter 10 today instead of waiting for Friday. Consider this a bonus chapter. Be sure to tune in next Friday to read Chapter 11.
What is this novel I'm talking about? Well, it's called Marks and it tells the story of a young married couple, two college roommates and a successful businessman whose lives ultimately intertwine as the result of a business opportunity — and a dream. Quixtar BLOG is publishing Marks as a serial, making a new installment available every Friday. All previous chapters are archived here on the blog so if you missed any just search for "Marks" and you should be caught up in no time.
Disclaimer: This book has not been through a final edit. There may be some misspelled words and grammatical errors. Please understand that as you read through the novel.
» Chapter 10
Teri took her break early in hopes of avoiding the hallway full of giggling gaggles of women. She didn’t care whether the room was empty or full when she was keying in numbers. Either way, she was alone.
She tucked her handbag under her arm and slipped into the lavatory. The room was dimly lit with cold, painted cinderblock walls, but no one would bother her. Teri entered the last stall and carefully locked the door.
Teri pulled a slim, brown parcel out of her handbag and inspected it. The return address was her parents’ and although there were no stamps proclaiming the contents personal or private, Teri didn’t want to rip open the packing tape right there in front of everyone. There was some significance in the fact that her parents hadn’t posted the package to her home address. Teri knew she would find something more important than a friendly card of packet of family photographs.
She traced her mother’s familiar handwriting. Regan Carlisle had exquisite, elegant penmanship. Sometimes Teri saw traces of it in her own writing — in the slope of a particular word or the curve of a single letter. But her efforts always fell short of her mother’s precise, curls and loops. They were like the immature fumblings of a young girl trying to mimic her mother’s face with a thick layer of makeup.
Teri checked her watch. She only had a few minutes before she was due back at her desk.
With trembling fingers, she tore at the package and removed a note card and small booklet.
Teri studied the booklet first — a catalog for the small private college near her parents’ home.
Hesitantly, she opened the card and read line after line of her mom’s perfect script describing the courses she could take over the internet. Teri had mentioned nursing before, the calligraphic cursive recalled. She could take most of the classes at home whenever she could fit the work in. Then she could come home, back to her parents’ home, and complete her laboratories and clinicals. She could study at the same desk she had sat at as a teenager and look across the same window at the same view of rolling hills and fluffy clouds. The words were so descriptive and the plan so well thought out that Teri could nearly feel the plush green carpet of her old room under her feet. The cool breeze, jumping off the river and bellowing her sheer curtains before sweeping across her body seemed very near.
They would bring her snacks during study breaks, the lines promised, and give her plenty of space.
Teri read each word carefully. Through the designs and pledges, there was no mention of Tom.
Teri dropped down to the cold tile floor. Her brain raced to work out the implications of the omission.
The idea was a fantasy. Teri didn’t have the time or the energy to take a college class and she knew that living with her parents would be a mistake.
As nice as it might be to enjoy some pampering from her mother in the quiet, uncrowded house that held so many nice memories, Teri was an adult. She could step back into childhood for the occasional weekend, but Regan Carlisle was offering a sort of Neverland where Teri would only have to worry about assignments, exams and who would ask her to the homecoming dance.
Teri pulled herself up and raced out of the stall. She paused at the bathroom door to stuff the torn remnants of brown wrapping, the college catalog and the card into the mouth of the tall metal trashcan positioned expectantly in the corner.
She looked guiltily at the wall clock as she swung back into the chair.
Her allegiance was to her husband, Teri decided. She would have to find a way to make that obvious to her parents without being rude.
July 9, 2004
Marks - Chapter 9
By QBlog in
I want to thank all those who've taken the time to let me know how much they are enjoying this novel. It's really exciting to know that people love reading this serialized book. All of your comments will be passed along to the author. I wish I could open up the blog comments for each post but due to the length of the chapters on the blog, open commenting would probably result in an unnecessary and avoidable server strain.
What is this novel I'm talking about? Well, it's called Marks and it tells the story of a young married couple, two college roommates and a successful businessman whose lives ultimately intertwine as the result of a business opportunity — and a dream. Quixtar BLOG is publishing Marks as a serial, making a new installment available every Friday. All previous chapters are archived here on the blog so if you missed any just search for "Marks" and you should be caught up in no time.
And for all the fans of the first eight chapters of Marks, I'll be publishing Chapter 10 tomorrow as a special bonus!
Disclaimer: This book has not been through a final edit. There may be some misspelled words and grammatical errors. Please understand that as you read through the novel.
» Chapter 9
Work had become hell. Teri spent eight hours pecking numbers through her brain and head, interrupted only by breaks spent surrounded by people who eyed her suspiciously and whispered behind their hands.
Going home was a relief.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” Tom warned when she stepped out of out of the chilly rain and into the townhouse. “You have a wives’ meeting in an hour.”
Teri tried not to grimace. The wives’ meetings were a combination of pep talks, Bible study and psychology lecture. More experienced Sheik Chic retailers taught how to help the business succeed – by being understanding, obedient and always smiling. A large part of the two hours was devoted to methods of stroking men’s egos.
Teri found it humiliating. Still, she went every week and wore her idiotic, supportive grin the entire time. Tom had requested that she commit to six months of meetings. That wasn’t too much to ask, Teri reasoned. She might not be completely convinced that his methods were the best, but she knew Tom only had her interests in mind. He just wanted to build a better life for them. Tom told her that at Uncle Robert’s funeral and Teri cherished the knowledge.
She silently repeated the words he said that night whenever she wanted to skip a meeting or pick an argument over something petty.
Like the carpet.
Belinda Jackson’s latest tape preached the importance of a pristine home.
A sparkling personal appearance went a long way, Belinda trilled, but a disordered house was worse than a lipstick-free face. Even the mailman was a potential. Who wants him to see a messy home, with newspapers piled high and shoes thrown around the living room? What kind of message did that send? A home is a testament to the lifestyle Sheik Chic provides. Your house should demonstrate that you have ample time to take care of the details. Make those beds! Don’t let a dirty dish stay in the sink! Dust and vacuum daily. Every single speck of dirt is a blight on your dreams. The Sheik Chic home furnishing line will keep your décor fresh and modern. Update seasonally to have a house you are proud to keep up.
July 8, 2004
Fantasy to Reality?
By QBlog in
Look folks. My dreams seem to be coming true... well... sort of. A couple of months ago I mused about an "anti-quixtarBLOG blog" created by some "Web-savvy IBO" and look what I just stumbled across. It's titled "The REAL Quixtar Blog" and the first post is signed by "Kia" (the car company?).
The REAL Quixtar Blog is coming soon!So, cool. I'm not entirely sure it qualifies as an "anti-quixtarBLOG blog" but I take what I can get ;o)
Stay tuned for an insider's views about what's happening at one of the coolest companies around, the one helping people across the U.S. and Canada get into business for themselves.
Welcome to blogging Kia! Let's just hope we see more than this one post. So many IBO blogs seem to quickly fizzle out. Too busy making that Quixtar Qash I suppose.
The "Insider"
By QBlog in
Are the "insiders" beginning to speak out? Well, first we saw "Views from a Quixtar Insider" and now I've discovered the "Insider" blog. The "Insider" seems to be run by a guy (or gal) in Network 21 (a Quixtar group) and tackles some of the big issues in the Quixtar business. The blog has a total of only four posts but so far the Insider has tackled such issues as:
The perspective on the blog seems to be pretty straightforward and somewhat balanced. You should check it out.
July 5, 2004
Technical Difficulties
By QBlog in
I'm experiencing some technical difficulties and so this site may not be updated as frequently as intended for a while. Features like Monday Reader Mail and the Marks serial may not be published as planned. Things should be worked out soon but you know how technology can be sometimes, doesn't behave the way you hope.
Thanks for understanding.
Oh, and can anyone guess the historical significance of this day in music history?
UPDATE: Technical Difficulties are over... for now. Here's what happened. Friday night my beloved PowerBook died. It just quit working. Wouldn't power up. Wouldn't do anything.
I took it to the local Apple Store and said, "Fix it." I have AppleCare so it was just a matter of getting it done but because of the holiday, they couldn't say it would be ready before Friday (and even that was sketchy).
Turns out, it was a bad Logic Board and they repaired it today and now I'm back on the PowerBook. I have other computers but I hadn't backed up my copies of Marks (and other stuff) so I thought I wouldn't be able to post it this Friday. Now, it looks like I'm back in business.
Thanks for your patience.
July 3, 2004
The Harteis Blog
By QBlog in
Well, well, well. What do we have here? Looks like Fred Harteis (or at least his company, Harteis International) has a blog. Welcome to blogging Amwa... er... Quixtar. Glad you're joining the ever-growing blogranks. Just remember, I was here first ;o)
It looks like the blog is powered by a BlogWare reseller called BlogHarbor. It's the real deal, with permalinks, "favorite blogs," comments (with user restrictions), RSS syndication and all the fun stuff we come to expect from a good blog.
How long till we see a Bill Britt blog? Or Dexter Yager? Or the Ken McDonald blog? Blog on!
July 2, 2004
Marks - Chapter 8
By QBlog in
Marks is a novel that tells the story of a young married couple, two college roommates and a successful businessman whose lives ultimately intertwine as the result of a business opportunity — and a dream. Quixtar BLOG is publishing Marks as a serial, making a new installment available every Friday.
If you missed chapter seven, never fear, it's still here for your reading pleasure.
Disclaimer: This book has not been through a final edit. There may be some misspelled words and grammatical errors. Please understand that as you read through the novel.
» Chapter 8
Mr. Reyima;
I am very interested and intrigued by the proposal set forth in your letter. As the owner of an international business, I am well aware of the frustrations that can arise and the occasional need to find associates outside of your home country.
In your email you expressed concern about my honesty. I can assure you that if we do proceed, I can be trusted to take only my agreed-upon share of the money and promptly forward the balance to you. My wife and I are successful entrepreneurs and our extensive holdings both keep us busy and allow us to live our dreams. Rest assured that we will not be tempted to take your money.
Lately, I have toyed with the idea of expanding my business into Africa. If you are interested in exploring a partnership in my retail and marketing firm, please let me know. I am always eager to find energetic associates who want to work for themselves and realize a lucrative return on an incredibly small investment.
Sincerely,
Tom Remly
President, Remly International
“How about that?”
Marco sat back proudly while Jacob read over his shoulder.
“I don’t get it. Are they sending us money or offering us a job?” Jacob asked.
Marco turned his attention back to the notebook computer. He scrolled through a selection of files and opened a document.
“This has got to make you feel better about the whole proposition,” he said without looking up from the screen. “After all, Jakey, this guy is loaded. He’s not going to miss a few thousand dollars.”
July 1, 2004
Doris Shaw Arrested
By QBlog in
Looks like Doris Shaw is one step closer to the pokey. According to MLive.com she is facing fraud charges. The report says that she "allegedly convinced at least 100 people to invest money with her, but she is accused of using the money to increase her Amway business."
So, who is Doris Shaw? Well I'm glad you asked. I posted about her back in September, 2003 and then again in October of that year. She's basically a lady who has quite a list of enemies in Edmore, MI.
Just wondering out loud here, but what action did Amway and/or Quixtar take against Doris Shaw to enforce their retail sales rules? I'm sure they did something. I bet they're suing her to get back those bonus checks she allegedly "earned" by stockpiling her basement with products.
The "Mysterious Meeting"
By QBlog in
If you know anything about Quixtar then you probably know about the "Mysterious Meeting." It's a get-together where an IBO (or Internet Entrepreneur or whatever they call it) sits you and some friends down in a living room to "show you the plan." It's sort of myterious because quite often, those in attendance (the non-IBOs) don't have a clear idea of exactly what "the plan" is all about.
Many find themselves in the "Mysterious Meetings" after a friend, relative or acquaintance told them about some Web type E-Commerce business that you can own and work in your spare time from home. It can be quite difficult to get many details about the meeting but the idea of cashing in on this "Internet E-commerce thing" is appealing enough to get your butt on a sofa for a couple of hours. Essentially, you're curiosity is piqued and what have you got to lose?
The reason I mention the "Mysterious Meeting" is because I found at least four blogs (well two LiveJournals and two blogs) within the past 10 days that give different but eerily similar accounts of the infamous "Mysterious Meeting."
Blog 1
June 30, 2004 - "So she continues to chat about elementary business terms - like 'S-Curves' and 'operating in red & black areas.' She was also quite quick with working numbers and calculating simple percentages. This charade continued, but I was like 'what is this, what's the point of this, what is this alleged "position" that you may or may not have for me?' Well that's exactly the catch - Quixtar is the name."
Blog 2
June 29, 2004 - "Today I was confronted by an older gentleman at the library. I was walking around, picking up periodicals to check the front covers for tantalizing topics to read. He noticed that I picked up a Smart Money. He tried to small-talk on how investing and saving money is a good thing. I tried to be nice and responded. He said he is a CPA, a CEO of his own company, Indian, looking to grow his investment. Then he made his pitch, 'How do you like to make extra money??'"
Blog 3
June 24, 2004 - "This guy I knew from my SI days has been writing to me and talking to me about a business opportunity involving a company called Quixtar. It seems kind of like a (crappy) business opportunity because he won't tell me very much about it except to say that I had gotten the wrong impression of it from the Quixtar website and that 'The main key in this business is adhering to the very morals and ethics that all of us have learnt in our childhood days but have forgotten to enact in our practical lives.' However, because I have trouble saying no and don't have much else to do I'm going to talk to him and his friend Jan about it on wednesday... ...Anybody ever heard of Quixtar? Should I cancel this meeting?"
Blog 4
June 20, 2004 - "The meeting at Sam's house was not at all like I expected it to be. There was only me, Sam, Sammie (Sam's friend), Sammie's boyfriend, Sam's mom, and the guy who's name I've forgotten who was presenting the 'plan.' The presentation was a full hour long propaganda speech which appealed to my supposed desire to get a lot of extra money every month and only work five to fifteen hours a week. Apparently, by joining the Quixstar company, I would be opening up my own online store that is part of a franchise of Quixstar selling their products. The only way for you to make money is to tell people to buy Quixstar's superior products from my website so that I recieve a percentage of the sales. At the end of the month, Quixstar will send me a paycheck. However, the fastest way to make money is recruit people to join the Quixstar franchise."
Just a little word of advice to all you active Quixtar IBOs out there, DITCH THE MYSTERIOUS MEETING! If you can't explain your business over a cup of coffee at a Starbucks without drawing circles on a napkin then you need to find a new way to recruit your downline. The old way sucks. This isn't my opinion, it's THEIR OPINION! The masses are speaking and they are saying this, "The Mysterious Meeting is STUPID." Got it? Good!
Finally, know this and learn to live by its truth. In the Internet Age, Information Wants to be Shared. That's its nature. You cannot go against nature. (Apologies to Love & Rockets)
UPDATED - New blog added!