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March 8, 2005
A Dare for husbands
By Jennifer7Lee in March of Perceptions
"Quixtar products are not marketable. Too expensive. Only brainwashed, non-thinking IBO will pay for overpriced products," say the critics.
I got a dare for all you critics who are also husbands.
For your wife birthday, mother day, valentine, christmas, or just-because-you-love-her, give her a 6-months supply of Quixtar's skin care system. At the end of 6 months, try and take it away from her.
I dare you.
The "March of Perceptions" is a special Quixtar BLOG project featuring the perceptions of four guest bloggers during the month of March.
Comments
Hi Jennybot,
I always laughed when my upline Emerald said that Artistry had some of the "Cliniquiest" products in the makeup line... but I had to laugh.
My wife did use (almost) exclusively Artistry products for 5 years, did "beauty breaks", and otherwise did a fair wholesales/retail job of moving the Artistry products. Her family is in the Beauty Supply business with two professional supplies and a combination day spa/salon/supply. They could never understand why it couldn't be sold retail, until they saw the price list. The quality was just OK, sort of in the middle of the road. My wife, though, was loyal. I remember that she did like the eye serum - but she actually found a superior product on the open market after we left the business- for less money, even after our 18%.
Contact me via the attached email, I will supply you with a shipping address to send samples, and I will be happy to report on my wife's findings.
Jennifer,
I dare YOU to answer the question you still haven't answered.
So, is artistry still the "#1 seller in the world"?? Beating out Revlon, Maybelline, and Avon? Quixtar claims that when they themselves are only N.America? Muct be counting Amway sales as well. How come I've never met anyone who ISN'T an IBO using the stuff.... or better yet cause I'm sure there are all kind of comebacks to that one.... why is it all the former Amway/Quixtar women I know no longer use it?
Roger
I agree. I got in the buz when I was 20 - had never used skin care before, and was your average brainwashed ambot, saying "artistry is the best" for years.
Now that I've "come out" of the cult, I found other MUCH less expensive products (even comparing against distributor price ) and I don't feel forced to buy them when I don't need them just to "keep my personal volume up". Sorry Jen, you are so very very wrong. Artistry would be a fair product at a fair price IF Amquix didn't have to charge an exhorbitant amount for it to pay the kingpin's bonuses.
And while I did to many beauty breaks, and sell the product sometimes at them, I had almost NO reorders. People did me the favor the first time. After that, they didn't reorder because, honestly, the products just are "that" good to justify the high prices.
For those of you that know, how would you say Artistry stacks up against a premium brand like Origins?
Also Jennifer, how hard is it to escape the time for money trap when a "puny" six platinum diamondship just wont cut it?
I used Artistry for 4 years, and I mean every one of the seven steps in the skin care routine. Before Artistry, I'd never used one of the "high end" lines such as Clinique or Lancome - just soap, and Mary Kay for about 1 year.
When I quit Quixtar, I threw out my Artistry products. Now I'm using Oil of Olay cleanser and moisturizer. I love it!!! And it's cheap!!!!
I never sold Artistry at retail, not one single time. I always felt guilty for asking people to pay that much. People did buy products at wholesale, but like quixmire said, did not want to reorder, and probably only ordered out of love for me, not the product.
I'd like to see Jennifer put her money where her mouth is.
I just wanted to add my 2 cents regarding Artistry. I was “hardcore� into Artistry since the minute we got in the biz until we quit, late last year. I used the skin care and makeup religiously for 12 years! I had never had a skin care regimen before this, so I just thought it was the greatest thing in the world! Since I never used any negative products, I had no frame of reference to compare it with, either quality or cost. My initial impressions, now that I am “out� and using other products, is that Artistry is pretty good quality, but not worth the high prices. I switched to a “drug store� brand (gasp!) and I am very happy with it.
I tried to retail Artistry when we were in the biz, but like another poster said, could never get reorders. People were just doing me a favor the one time. I believed in and advocated the product line big time, but I just couldn’t retain customers because of the pricing. I hardly ever sold at retail, because I felt bad about charging them that much money.
However, I also relate to Jennifer. I like her. I totally understand where she is coming from, because I was a huge defender of this business, like her. Also, we are/were both in the WWDB LOS and I know what they teach and understand why she feels the way she does about the biz. WWDB is very good at making you feel like you are doing the best thing in the world with your life by “building the business�. Sometimes, I still miss having that clear direction for my life, a purpose (defined by someone else though). However, I like having enough money to pay the bills now that I don’t have to shell out $500-600 per quarter to go to the major functions. I also like having the freedom to go back to school and pursue something I’ve always wanted to do, but couldn’t justify to my upline while I was in the business.
TD
So Jen
Are you going to be a typical Ambot and not acknowledge these people's opinions, or are you going to put your money where your mouth is?
I don't know how many times I've offered to use your products, but you seem to back away every single time.
Are you going to bark all day, or is a bite coming in the near future?
Because I have seen NOTHING that has ever supported any of your claims.
Nothing at all.
Funny this thread comes up this week. Just last weekend I did some "Spring cleaning" and ended up throwing out the Artistry crap my wife brought from a friend. It was a total pity buy and while my wife tried the products, after a couple of days, the products sat in the back of our bathroom cabinet for about three years before I finally just tossed them!
Wow, the Jennybot "fanclub" is growing.
Looks like her claim went over like a fart in a spacesuit!
Jennybot, here's my story. My best friend's wife came from and old school Amway family. Her dad was an Emerald and never fufilled the dream of taking the kids to Disney and/or buying them all a car when they turned 16.
But, my buddy's wife had bad skin. She was RAISED on Artistry but that cr*p couldn't get the job done (surprise, surprise). She didn't know what else to buy because she was brainwashed to keep using the stuff.
You're doing the same thing--getting people hooked on a product, like crack. Basically Jennybot, you are a crackdealer.
Hope you're happy!
P.S. We got our friend's wife off Artistry and onto some Origins stuff. Origins really does work! I have no idea how it compares in price to Jennybots cache of drugs.
Thats why I brought up Origins. Its really pricey, but its probably some of the best stuff you can get. I have no doubt in my mind that from a value perspective Origins will destoy Artistry, even though Origins is pretty damn expensive, especially their product "A Perfect World". That stuff is made from tea leaves or some crap, everyone I've bought it for absolutely loves it. I would love to see a proffesional head to head with Origins and Artistry. Actually I get excited for any comparision of an AmQuix product even though the outcome is predictable before the comparison even begins.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Also Jennifer, how hard is it to escape the time for money trap when a "puny" six platinum diamondship just wont cut it?
Are your hands too busy pulling your foot out of your mouth to type a reply to this question?
I wouldn't be expecting an answer anytime soon.
Jennybot is likely trying to figure out a way to demonstrate how it's all our fault because we're negative.
Dudette, you have NEVER put up when challenged.
Why should this be any different. If you quit this easy on a bunch of losers, how will you ever get to diamond?
I don't know who write this dare, but it's lame. Lame lame lame.
Look, there are 1000 products out there. Any sales person would love to have the best products with best value. Do they get that? No. Sales rule # 1: There is always a better and / or cheaper product out there. That doesn't mean ur product has no market. It just means there is competition. Find ur market and retail it. Don't religiously believe in ur product, know it better. If artistry was # 1 indeed, other products like AVON etc. would be out.
Best case scenario would be to offer customer some service which they won't get from other places. E.g. getting a product without going to a market, getting suggestions from some expert user of artistry etc. given if you know it.
I have seen a lady getting reaction of some sort in a beauty break from artistry product. I lost minor acne using Artistry Acne control. My cousin runs a beauty salon. She sold artistry for some time, then switched back to some other brand. She has real customers, and she knows what works. She likes to offer best value for her customer to compete with other salons.
I would like some dermatologist to comment on artistry. More precisely, is it the best?
Hey all of you who are slamming Jennifer7Lee, how about backing them horses up a bit.
Basically you seemed to zero in on Jennifer7Lee like she had a bull's-eye target painted on her forehead.
Maybe you have a good reason to do so, but then again maybe you don't.
I will say this: She didn't dare you to sample the products from 'her' for free. My eyes/brain didn't register that when I read her post.
I believe if you actually read her post you will see that it stated that:
"For your wife birthday, mother day, valentine, christmas, or just-because-you-love-her, give her a 6-months supply of Quixtar's skin care system. At the end of 6 months, try and take it away from her.
I dare you."
I think she meant [rough paraphrase] for you 'the husband(s)' to pony up the funds for a six month supply for your wife and then try to take it from her (your wife).'
I just think that sort of response was about as bad as the normal Am/Quixbot's response. Kind of like a bunch or group of pirhana that have found new prey.
This is not - in my opinion - the best way to prove points of view nor is it best, for that matter, in assisting to convince others that AmQuix is a bad thing.
I am not trying to slam you all, nor defect to the Pro-AmQuix side. I just think that a more reasonable approach to responding would help in the long run.
Clifford :-)
Maybe it's a bit of a slam fest. But let's look at the facts here.
She's saying we may be wrong not believing in her product.
I think the products are too expensive and provide little value.
If she wants to disprove me, great. I hope she fills her boots.
I would love to see how great her products are, but I'm not about to drop enough $$$ for a six month supply. That's why sample sizes are made.
At the end of the day, she's the one trying to move product, not me. If the product is that great, it will be worth a small loss in order to have long term customers, thus producing great gains in the future.
If the product is as great for my wife as Jen says it is, I have already stated, that if my wife is that thrilled with it, I'd be happy to fork over the extra $$ + shipping costs for the product.
Is there a reason that this would not be the case? I think that is what Jen is striving for.
But there is the small matter of her product living up to the hype that she is projecting.
It is a handicap, me not being on tapes though, granted.
Cliff,
A six month supply?
What most of us are saying, is that we know people who only used the stuff cause they were in, or bought only as a "favor" to the seller.
What would realistically happen with anyone buying her challenge is that in less than 6 months the supply is given up, no longer being used. Unless they are using it just cause they have it and then decide not to reorder. How nuch of that could be returned? Or would Jen refund the whole price for purchase because we could "take it away from her"? Heck she might even give it back to us is what I'm saying.
Why not a one month supply? why not a sample for a direct comparison against what the other is already using?
No paraphrasing required.... jen's claim was clear... but here's my take of what she said:
if WE buy it, they'll use it and love it so much we can't take it away and they'll keep using it.
I say "nope". Only if the secret ingredient is crack.
Other people have chimed in with the same basic sentiments that I stated from their experiences.
Roger
Quixtar products are fine quality. If you do not want them, do not buy them.
I will not argue on who is #1 etc... but I do know that Q.com will guarantee any exclusive products for 120 days, 100% money back. So try the artistry (nutrilite, XS, SA8), even if you use it they will return your money if the container is returned in original packaging. Every product is delivered with a return slip, they will even pay for return shipping.
I do not belive you will get the same offer from another quality competitor, ie Origins, Lancome, and Clinique.
Well said Q12!
Roger
Q12 said:
"Quixtar products are fine quality. If you do not want them, do not buy them."
we didn't say there was a problem with the quality, just that the quality doesn't justify the price. and we're NOT buying them. The question is, outside of the sales force, WHO IS?
If these products were so great, AMQUIX people on the "system" wouldn't be losing money because they would be making enough profit from all their retail sales to cover their system costs.
But they're not. "These products sell themselves!" NOT
So quixtar has some great products. But even great products can be overpriced and over rated! Lets talk about quixtar vitamin business. Some of the product line could be easily combined and save the consumer money but it is much more profitable for the company not to do so! For example, the new trend is to combine multi-vitamins with probiotics to provide a whole nutrition pack as is done at http://www.thegreatestvitaminintheworld.com/index.php?afid=matthew23466
Greatest shows great respect by spamming the comments with an ad for his/her brand of vitamins.
Gotta love free enterprise.
Dave
I agree Dave. I hate those ppl who try to capitilize on the 'negativity' of Quixtar. Quixtar based their business on the 'negativity' about jobs etc. How is one better than the other!
And I'm also sure with some research and consulting few dietitions, his brand would be much more worse than nutrilite!
I dare Jennybot to take 6 months off from the cult & get a real life.
Let's see if she goes back to the robot factory after 6 months of sunshine, fresh air...and some newfound dignity!
Lancome and Clinique do not sell directly but through retailers such as Filene's, JC Penney, etc., and my wife has never had a problem returning cosmetics to any one of those stores.
I don't know of any reputable retailer that doesn't offer a 100% money-back guarantee. If Quixtar wants to ratchet up to a level of L.L. Bean, then you might have something there.
Nice try at psychology selling, Jen. Banking on since Hubby spent all that $$ for his wife's skin care, she would never return it less hurt his feelings, even if it is crap. Jen, can you hear me back there in the 1950's???
Maybe a 30 day supply challenge would work, but 6 months? Do you believe so little in your product? My wife will attest it takes 7-14 days tops to see if the skin care products claims are met.
What's the next dare? Buy a six month supply of Trim-Advantage for our wives?
That'll go over big (no pun intended).
All of you are quitters, right?
That makes the slams to Jen more understandable. It's hard to admit that you failed at the opportunity.
Funny people don't have a problem purchasing MAC, Prescriptives, Bourghese, or Clinique. They're just as expensive if not more expensive than Artistry and they are all good products. One thing I have learned reading this blog is that most people will always be poor because they don't want to do the work to get where they want to go. It is easy to blame others for not succeeding. I am a IBO, but I also take responsibility for my finances and action. I learn the rules and regulations of this business, just like I do on my job. Funny thing is that my job can let me go in a heart beat after years of service. How come I don't hear anyone talking about that. By the way if you purchase a product/s through Quixtar/Amway, because your upline makes you feel bad, then you are not mature enough to be in any business.
OK Jennifer7Lee (If that is in fact your name)
I'll give you my mailing address through QBlog, let's see some free samples. My wife will give it a go.
She's always telling me to stop bothering you Ambots, here's her chance to contribute.
If your product is such a phenomenal value, let's see you put YOUR money where your mouth is.
Or do you not have that much faith in your product?
If my wife can't part with it once the samples are done, I will pay you retail cost for it, for as long as my wife wants it, AND I will pay shipping.
I don't see this happening. I'm QUITE certain I have more disbelief in your product than you have belief.
But I'm not the one peddling this stuff, so here you go. I WILL accept samples from you, to be purchased after if my wife just can't go back to her regular stuff.
There's your counter proposal. DO YOU BELIEVE?
Then let's see it.
Posted by: rocket | March 8, 2005 5:20 AM