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July 8, 2005
Revenge of the QBlog Curse
By QBlog in Miscellaneous
I'm beginning to believe that the QBlog Curse is real. I'll explain.
My wife is a Quixtar Member. She joined up last year with the intent of buying some Artistry products. She never actually bought those products for various reasons but I ended up buying some XS Cherry Blast last October. And while I really enjoyed the drinks, the Quixtar shopping experience didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped. But what the hell, mistakes can happen in any business right? You bet.
So today I decided to shop around Quixtar to find something else to review. The Kahveccino drinks on the Beverages page looked tasty so I got out my bank card to purchase a 12-pack. Notice the KAHVE promotion in the graphic below? That's what I clicked to start the purchasing process.
However, after clicking the promotion I was greeted with the following error page. Was this a temporary glitch? Apparently not. I checked back several times throughout the day with the same results.
But hey, errors happen right? Sure. Now, where would Quixtar put a flavored Cappuccino drink? Hmmm. Maybe under the "Cappuccino, Hot Cocoa, Cider & Soup" category? Well, as you can see below, the Khaveccino I desired was absent from the Cappuccino category. Where to next?
Aha! There's a Khave Coffee category which I suppose is the parent brand of Khaveccino. Success right? Well, maybe not. As you can see the Khaveccino was placed at the bottom of the second page of the Khave category. I nearly overlooked it but my persistence paid off.
Now the delicious Kahveccino was just a few mouse clicks away. I noticed the price, $25.65, but heck that's just a bit more than $2 per 14 ounce bottle which doesn't seem so bad. Sure, it's pricey but I can deal with that for a product review right?
Wrong! After taxes and standard shipping the bill totaled $34.05 for a dozen 14 ounce bottles of Mocha Kahveccino. That's over $2.80 per bottle. My common sense kicked in and whispered, "there's no way you're paying $34.05 for those 12 bottles." However, after doing a little Froogling I found that buying a dozen bottles of Starbucks Frapuccinno actually cost a little more per ounce ($.26 per ounce compared to Quixtar's $.20.2). Yipes! This coffee stuff ain't cheap.
So, about that QBlog Curse...
Maybe I'm not really cursed but I was a little miffed that getting the Kahveccino in my shopping cart wasn't as simple as I'd expected. Oh well, next time I bet everything will work perfectly and the QBlog Curse will go the way of the Bambino's Curse.
Comments
Nailed it CK, I may pay $5 for a drink like XS ONCE, not $30 bucks!
I have purchased from many eCommerce sites. squashgear.com, AST vitamin (Mike recommended me), mp3 player and stuff. NEVER had a problem. Takes 5 minutes MAXIMUM including checking out. For each site! Only time I spent was reading various reviews of different products and making up my mind.
As a developer of various eCommerce sites, here is my opinion.
1) If as a customer, it takes you more than a minute to find a product, leave the site!
2) If site ask too much information, make things unnecessarily difficult like instead of having your email as login, demand you to have some number etc. and then save that number, site owner is communist! Who else will make their CUSTOMER have so much hassle?
Never shopped at Amazon but if they do that too, they suck too!
3) If site is confusing and not properly categorized, leave it. Find some other site.
4) Too many errors leave it! Many errors in delivery etc. could be as well.
I think eCommerce is more of a trust issue. You get charged and wait some time before the goods get delivered to you. I do not trust some unprofessional site!
I returned Quixtar muscle vitamin like 2 months ago, NO re-imbursement yet! And return shipping is not free any more, at least up in Canada.
Come one Quixtar, u are a billion dollar company. Why your site sucks? I thought that now any one can shop at Quixtar, it will be much better experience for customers?
Qblog,
I like how you intentionally leave out one important factor in your article. The PV/BV factor on the Kahvechino's. 14.95PV/$17.95BV per case- thats double of that of XS for PV! Depending on your level, its enough to offset the shipping costs.
I hope you enjoy those Kahvechino's! Maybe next time you'll put them on Ditto delivery Qblog! ::wink::
here's a tip one glass of ice, shot of Kalua or Irish creme liquor, and one botle of Kahvechino's dude you got one excellent summertime drink!
Or, for the non alcohol drinkers- try this. 10 Ice cubes in a blender, 2 scoops of vanilla Ice cream, one bottle of Kahvechino, blend until smooth. Mighty tasty chocolate/coffee malt/smoothie.
I hope your summer is going well Qblog!
Michael,
I like how you assume things. That's neat.
I didn't intentionally leave out anything. My wife is a member and she doesn't give a rip about PV/BV. Neither do I. Not sure how you missed it but the entire post is written from a Member's perspective.
Not to be contrary to CK, I like you CK, but... I love three of the XS flavors, I love Kahve whole bean coffee ground and brewed in my kitchen, and I HATE all Kahveccino flavors - even Kahve2 - espresso & cream.
Just my humble opinion. ;)
hey Qblog,
I tried the page in question and the error message is still in place. 12:28AM Friday Morning.
I decided to close out, go to the home page, and try a search simply for the "kahveccino"
The search revealed this link:
https://www.quixtar.com/search/default.aspx?N=50001+60001+70005&Ne=2&Ntk=All_Fields&Ntt=Kahveccino&Nty=1&D=Kahveccino&act=A02&sid=104F40B4B6B6
which did bring me to the product listing for both flavors in one click.
That being said, I have to admit if the member or client wasn't sure of the name, it would taken longer, although the "Search" does account for misspellings and suggests the correct spelling.
BTW, on an unrelated topic, if Columbus or Tupelo MS hotels are booked Sunday night, I may take you up on that BBQ dinner, as we evacuate for Hurricane Dennis.
Hopefully, we won't have to drive THAT far, but it's a possibilty.
Dave
Hey here's something interesting.
In your post that you wrote about signing up as a Member, I left a comment and mentioned I was fleeing from Hurricane Ivan last year....now you buy another product and I may be leaving because of Hurricane Dennis....hmmmm, coincidence?
Cue the creepy music!
Dave
Qblog,
The curse strikes again!! LOL
I am sorry for assuming anything Qblog, please accept my apologies. Nice to have you as a member-and give us a member's perspective.
Laughing, Dorothy!
Actually, I don't mind XS, drank it before a marathon once (won't do it again, need the calories if you're going to run 26.2 miles). Just wouldn't call it 'tasty'.
Were you ever able ot retail EITHER drink? And do you know the rules about kahveccino? Can an IBO sell them to the gas station owner up the street, and the gas station owner put them in the cooler next to the Frappuccinos?
ck,
The rules are the same for any quixtar product, you can retail to gas stations, bars, etc. Any retail establishment. They can sell quixtar products, they just can't display them in a cooler or on a shelf. As with the bars, you could sell them Kahvechino's wholesale, and allow them to put them in flavorful drinks. But they can't advertise quixtar products either.
I hope this answer your questions as it has been posted in other forums/posts
I don't know which was funnier:
"I like how you assume things. That's neat."
(somehow, I just see the Depp-version of Willie Wonka saying that)
-Or-
Mikebots lame attempt of being hip and cool by mixing his bogus product with booze.
Another winning recipe Mikey! I liked it better when it didn't have the A/Q crap and had vodka and or milk -- they call it a (White) Russian
Hey, if I want a coffee liquer over ice, why would I need another coffee-part added to the drink????
Imran - I agree with you!! I shop elsewhere on the 'net - and NOBODY is as difficult to deal with as Quixtar! Heck - I can buy a book from Amazon in about 30 seconds flat, plus they give me free shipping if I spend $25. That's not outrageous, IMO.
Also, if you are trying to find "business information" - Quixtar is about as helpful as teats on a boar hog......
Deb
Oh Michael, you're hopeless....doesn't matter if the product is good or bad, it's the PV it carries.......
Never saw a sales person in any other business who'd rather talk about sales bonus instead of product.
Assuming of course, that you have customers.....
Imran-
Geez Imran, I guess I am a hopeless Ambot when you really think about it, have to agree with ya there. I just thought the other IBO's that wanted to try the Kahvechino's would be interested to know how much PV it carried...
however, I do drink the kahve's almost daily. I love them as a creamer in my coffee in the morning. This is a product I would buy even if I wasn't an IBO. This is about the only product I could recommend I get in ditto delivery every week seriously.
How's that for a product testimonial Imran? ::smile::
This makes for a VERY interesting transaction if I'm a customer not wanting to go through the hassle (yes Michael, it is a hassle) of buying this stuff on line:
" They can sell quixtar products, they just can't display them in a cooler or on a shelf."
So someone who's out looking to have some Kahvechino's has to go door to door asking the counter monkey if they have any Kahvechino's?
I mean since they're not allowed to display them. FIRED UP!
That is convenient as all hell, isn't it?
Good Grief.
I've never had any problems like that, but I guess they happen. I just don't think its fair to make it out like the whole sites like that. So qblog finds one bad link and now everyone is saying its too hard to find stuff? Give me a break! It was one error!
Most of the products, if you do a search the page pops up, or if you look thru the catagories you'll find it.
The reason the drinks have to be poured into a glass or cup is partly so they can't be sold in bulk at retail establishments. If I knew someone that had some pull at Walmart and got XS in their, it gives me an unfair advantage. The company was designed to give the average person the chance to own their own business, and if you could buy XS at a Walmart then it makes it harder for individual IBOs to sell it.
I think thats kinda what happened to Avon. It got into the department stores, and now I don't think there Are any more "Avon Ladies", are there?
Oh, and just like anything online, when you buy 1 the shipping per unit is higher. If my neighbor wanted some XS, I'd just buy it thru my number and sell it to them, because buying just one item is stupid, when you buy several things the shipping is spread out and then its that bad.
But if my neighber started to like XS, and Kavhecinno, and the protein bars, etc, then him buying thru his own member # AND accrueing q-credits for himself (for free merchandise), might be worth his while. But no, don't buy 1 tube of toothpaste when shipping would be more than the tube. Order what you need for a month, or if its just 1 thing- have your IBO, friend, neighbor, or relative order it for you.
When you have to hide a product, its probably not a very good product, or maybe its not a very good company. Why all the secrecy in this business?? Ohh..don't tell them we were Amway, don't display the product, don't advertise in any normal method, don't tell them about tool money, don't tell them you have to sell retail, don't let them look at the site until they sign up (need a IBO#!!)
I mean what other real "product sales" company does business this way??
Dawson, you are diluted. And once again, you don't have a real understanding of this business!
There are guidleines regarding advertising to keep a level playing field. As I have stated this is a business intended to give all people from all walks of life the chance to own a business. If they allowed people to buy TV magazine ads, etc. It would give an unfair advantage to the people who could afford that! Its not to keep anything secret!!
You are allowed to do some advertising, but it has to be local and there are guidelines to follow.
Other lies you told:
-Don't tell them about tool $
Nope we DO talk about that, I disclose it in every plan.
-don't tell them theyhave to retail
1st of all you don't Have to retail! You have to retail if want want a differential form your groups volume. In which case we DO tell them that! Once again, you think you know how Everything runs! You don't!
-don't let them look at the site until they sign up (need a IBO#!!)
WRONG AGAIN! We often will talk about doing site tours with a prospect to show them just how awesome the site is!
Not to mention, you Don't Need an IBO# to view the site! Where did you get that?? Go ahead, go to Quixtar.com right now, do a search, look around. The only part you can't view without some type of # (Client # {FREE}, IBO#) is the individual Partner Stores and thats because Quixtar is gonna pay you for everything bought thru a partner, and they have to have a way to track those purchases!
We ARE different than other companies! Thats what makes this special. We don't advertise in normal methods because we work in word-of-mouth advertising, and pay the people who create the volume!
We're not hiding products! We have Great products, and if you had tried any you'd know that! So tell me, which have you tried?
I once had a roommate that used nothing but Amway products, they had a peculiar smell and stank my house up. I tried some of the soap, toothpaste and detergent but was not overly impressed.
Not that product quality is the crux of my argument. Its about simple truth telling.
From my understanding its against the law to be an IBO and not retail.
So you tell new IBO recruits, that they should buy books and tapes to feed cash to the upline, do you also tell them this is where a majority of cash comes from? Interesting, that too would constitute a pyramid scheme.
I don't care what part of the website is or isn't IBO# necessary, I shouldn't have to sign up for, be led through or have to do more then simply visit a e-commerce website to see ALL of there products. Otherwise its just not something I consider legitimate.
Many Quixtar IBO's have far too many sneaky tactics to lure in new recruits. No Tony, tis not I that is telling the lies. You sure have a way with words my excitable little friend.
Tony, Read the "Cave Analogy" by Plato, its a great little eye opening analogy to add to your database.
Dawson, you CAN see all of the products there! You don't need an IBO # to navigate the site! ANYONE CAN!! Can you get that thru your thick skull? Try it right now - go to quixtar.com and start looking around, like you would any other e-commerce site!
Now if you want to see whats on Circuit City.com, then you'll have to go to Circuit city - but if you wanna do thru Our site, you have to have a #, because otherwise Circuit City doesn't know who to give the bonus too! There's no scam about that! There's nothing secret or inconvenient!
Dawson> From my understanding its against the law to be an IBO and not retail.
T> once again you open your mouth and ignorance pours out! STOP TALKING! Just STOP! You DO NOT understand this business, and your lies and assumptions are now bordering criminal!
It is NOT "against the law" for an IBO not to retail (didn't I just explain this?). An ibo only needs to retail 50pv if they want a bonus for their groups volume! If they don't retail 50pv or $100, then they simply don't get paid on downline volume, just their own volume! And they Don't go to jail for it!!
Have your friend explain the basics to you, so your arguments on here are at least tolerable.
My my, I sure make you excited don't I? Well Tony you sure showed me. You better work on that blood pressure there bud, all those tapes and books are getting to ya.
So let me revise my earlier statement, Its illegal for an IBO to purchase products only for themselves, they MUST retail a portion of their sales for a bonus...Correct? Its just an ignored rule. Kind of like expecting any sort of manners from an angery IBO like you. So sorry I wasn't clear.
You remind me of a fat little boy that walks through the grocery Tony, you only pick the sugary snacks to eat. Why do you only answer some of the questions asked Tony and ignore the rest? Is it because your scared , clueless or just rude?
"So you tell new IBO recruits, that they should buy books and tapes to feed cash to the upline, do you also tell them this is where a majority of cash comes from?" You didn't answer that one.
But thats ok, you would just say, "hey I sent a check to Qblog, didn't ya see?!"
And your also correct Tony, I am ignorant to many of Quixtar's nuances. Thats why I ASK questions...you would make a great teacher man, if a student asked a question you could mock them and have them flogged in front of the class. Thats what I am learning about QUIX from you bud! Don't ask questions about the business, cause them IBO folk don't like it.
Nice..your a class act, I bet you have all kinds of classy friends too.
Did you read the "Cave Analogy" yet? I bet you didn't you thick headed ignorant criminal A$$.
Have your momma explain the basics of manners to you, so your personality is at least tolerable.
Hey Dawson, you self-righteous pompous A$$! I actually tried to help you with that situation with your friend! You think you KNOW ME because of a post where your ignorant lies, got me a little upset?
In case you haven't frickin noticed, critbots don't ask questions!! Don't imply just because you put a "?" at the end of a sentence, that you or others are just asking for clarification! If you asked a sincere question, I would answer it. But what YOU and others Like you do, is asked loaded questions and make assumptions and accusations!
To answer your loaded "question" - NO, I do NOT tell people to buy books and tapes. I let them know that we have an optional training system that they can plug into if they choose to! I DO think the books are good, and would suggest they read some - but I usually Loan some to them first, and let them choose if they want to buy any.
These books aren't written by IBOs - they're best sellers that Anyone should read and learn something from! And YES, I tell them that there is $ in the training system too!
You say "that's where the majority of [big pins] cash comes from", in the same post where you admit, theres a lot you don't know about this business!! So where is your proof Dawson!! How do you KNOW that?? Or is that just more critspeak! (notice no "?", cause it wasn't a question, cause I know the answer - you're a critbot, all you do is spew critspeak!) Learn the facts, take my advice with your friend, mend the friendship - and then have him answer your questions - even if you're not interested in being an IBO - you can still get the facts.
Good day!
oh and btw - I'm a great teacher. I teach TKD, and my students are some of the best in the association, because they actually want to learn. I don't mock them - because they don't act like jerks and asked loaded questions. They actually want to learn something and are respectful about it. I have not seen that demonstrated in many of your posts and that is why I took the attitude with you, that I did.
LOL..... this is some funny crap man, u think u know SOMETHING about quixtar, well let me give u a hint... do u? no, u don't. U don't show ur evidence, u just say things u heard, and ur friend must be doing bad in quixtar because he's not working at it. This is a legitimate business and the best one out there. I personally know a couple who in 2 yrs from this are making $150,000 a yr... beat that, Kid!
Quixtar products can be cost effective without paying high shipping. Tax is unrelevant because you will pay tax if you are shopping in the retail store anyway. The secret is do not purchase 1 item at a time. Try run your household like a business. You only purchase your food/beverages/and so on once a month. Just like a restaurant restock their inventory. By doing that way, you probably getting the products without paying shipping if the purchase is $750 or more.
Dh has the same difficulties ordering off the site, of course he says all interet shopping is like this (really? I don't go through all that on Amazon or even eBay).
I appreciate your fairness in the price comparison to Starbucks. In this case, I don't think you'll be disappointed, the drinks are delicious, much better than XS.
The difficulty with retailing the Khaveccino, IMO, is that even though it is one of the few products that is cost-competitive, it's also a product that is an 'impulse' purchase for most consumers. I have lots of friends who buy coffee-latte type products, but none actually purchase them in bulk or stock them in their own refridgerators.
They are willing to spend $3 - $4 once a month. They aren't about to spend $34 for such a frivolous item, especially knowing that having it available 'on hand' means they are more likely to drink it more often.
What are the rules on Khaveccino? Can they sell THAT to a gas station to resell, or does it have to go in cups separate from the bottle, like XS?
Posted by: CK | July 8, 2005 2:22 AM