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May 4, 2006
Are Quixtar Prices Competitive?
By Xanadustc in Quixtar
On my site, I set out to do a modern price comparison, but there were a few problems with this approach. The first was that the prices of products in my area may not be same as prices in your area. The next was that the format of a blog is not great for such things, and I am not going through the trouble of putting up data that is impossible to read and follow.
Next, it is almost impossible to do a study that is comprehensive enough. I spent four hours in the store and STILL did not collect enough data. However, I still would like to affirm in a comprehensive manner why I believe Quixtar prices are not cheaper than store bought products as a general trend. Remember that Quixtar prices are very predictable under most considerations.
Here, I will give (hopefully) enough detail that each person can take this information and go to his local store to determine if purchasing Quixtar products would truly be a great savings. The obvious disadvantage to this is that it is not going to be exactly accurate, but it should be a better lasting model.
Are Prices Important?
The first thing I have to do is qualify why the cost of the products is an issue (and believe me it is an issue in BWW).
First, on the Getting Started tape series from BWW, the first is called ‘What to Do Next?,' one of the Executive Diamonds talked in great detail about the money you can save by buying from yourself as opposed to going to the local store since you save about 30% on products. The tape was given out with the literature pack for a while (JM25 “The Solution for your Future”) and it claimed that the prices are “very competitive.”
However, the savings of large buying clubs is later discredited as not working and the speaker moves back to the buying smarter concept. The ‘smarter’ concept is the ‘Pro-sumer’ model proposed by Bill Quain in the book “Pro-Sumer Power”, which has a quote on the Part One summary page, “When you Pro-sume, you add to your bank account.”
In another book by Quain, “The Quixtar Price is Right!”, he has a small section at the beginning which defends higher prices. The section is titled, “It’s Smarter to Add Value than to Lower Prices." We also have testimonials from other BWW tapes stating that you should not get hung up on “savings mentality.”
Are prices the most important thing? Sometimes, and sometimes not. If you are buying a car or house, you will tend to pay more for what you are looking for. But things like soap, toothpaste, and laundry detergent — I wager that it is not a real big issue. You need to decide for yourself if it is worth paying $16.99 for 24 bags of popcorn or $5.79 for 18 bags. To quote Dave Severn, “It comes from the same kind of COB!!” The examples could go on.
Shipping
When you go to the store, you spend some time and a bit of gas and get your products immediately. With online ordering you still spend some time (unless you are using ditto and have a perfectly calculated shipping plan), wait 2-10 days, and pay shipping. Many price reviews have included a shipping fee. That is not a good way to do it. The best way is to consult the Quixtar shipping help page which has all the information you would need to determine your shipping fee when buying from Quixtar. If you go there, you can see the price of shipping is by cost of the order (except a few products that have a preset delivery fee).
Store for More
The Store for More is where you find the same products that are sold at regular retail establishments rather than Quixtar name-brands. As a general rule, the list price is similar to the retail list for the item (determined by the manufacturer). The IBO price is anywhere from 87-95% of that price. The PV will be 15-20% of the list price and the BV will be 2.2 times the PV. For simplicity:
- List * 0.90 = approximate IBO price
- List * 0.17 = approximate PV
- PV * 2.2 = BV
Your shipping fee would be the IBO price.
Exclusives
There is a little more variation, but we are safe to assume a price range of 66-79% of the list price for most exclusives. The PV is 32% of the list price and the BV is 2.8 times the PV.
I hope that this study will help you to determine if the Quixtar prices are better or worth it. I have not talked about quality. Consumer reports has never had a whole lot of major praise for Alticor products, they are simply products not much better nor worse than others. It is my opinion, however, that they are far more pricy than competing products.
Comments
Further, i am tracking down a price comparison chart done in an urban area. I will post that to the forum as soon as it is located.
Just to show the cost of each membership:
Costco:
US: $50
CAN: $55 CDN (~$49.50 US)
Quixtar:
US: $40 ($39.95 if you're nitpicking)
CAN: ~$44.44
Assuming $1 Can == $0.90 US
Quixtar membership:
"Register as a Quixtar Member
For a yearly fee of $19.95, Members save with special pricing on products purchased through Quixtar Choices and Store for MoreTM Catalogs. You also earn Q-Credits® Points on purchases made through Quixtar Partner Stores."
http://www.quixtar.com/Business/Register/Default.aspx
Insider,
Whsat all did they include as the cost of the SA8? Some of them take shipping into account, while others do not.
Now, I have a question for you guys, assume that the IBO cost is the same as the store brand items, and the quality is equal, what about your customers? They are paying a much higher cost. In fact, the awsome 45% discount on exclusives corresponds to a 45% increase in the price for the customer. We are in business to SELL these products for profit are we not? If that is the case, how easy is it for you to sell these products at the prices given?
Haha, but Costco makes a profit.
How many IBO's can make that claim?
I'd note that the current Consumer Report's web-page has SA-8 costing 43% more than the Costco brand, with about a 20-30% less "quality" rating.
Significantly different from the first comment.
Correction to my earlier post (Thanks Brad!)
Quixtar US: $19.95
Quixtar CAN: $39.95
Looks like Canadians are getting a far worse deal.
(Found on Quixtar.com. Price changes depending on whether you select US/english or Canada/English).
If you register as an IBO last I checked the total came out to be $47.25, because of the MANDATORY IBOAI membership.
US renewal fee:
$45. Mandatory items: US IBO Insurance, US IBO Board Support (IBOAI), and US Qxtar Renewal.
Optional: IBO Publication Subscription: $20.00 + $1.00 Tax.
Total renew PLUS publications, $66.00
http://www.ibofacts.com/Quixtar_Questions.htm
http://www.countdown9199.com/
This two links alone, should pretty much clarify the discussions surrounding Quixtar/Amway.
Enjoy the lecture!
B>Further, i am tracking down a price comparison chart done in an urban area. I will post that to the forum as soon as it is located.
X>I have several of those written by IBO's, I have torn them all apart on the statistics. You have to doctor them up pretty good to make Quixtar products nicely priced compared to other items.
X,
You mentioned the preset delivery charges that are separate from the regular shipping costs. If you buy any paper products (paper towels, bath tissue, kleenex), you can expect to pay a preset delivery charge of $5 or $6 *per item*, e.g., $5 per combo pack.
And apparently the Kleenex bath tissue that comes with the combo pack is nothing like the kleenex you find in stores. Kleenex is known for good quality but when my friend whom I signed up as a prosumer (hoping that she would become an active IBO) ordered the combo pack, she complained about the quality of the bath tissue and even the premiere paper towels (those weren't perforated properly). She didn't like just about everything she ordered.
In my experience, Quixtar stuff is just more expensive and more hassle, especially considering shipping charges and being taxed at retail cost (which I understand is necessary), especially when you need to do your 100PV by ditto on the first of the month and you really don't need anything at the moment.
And when you do need something, because of the 100% product use thing, you have to wait for the item to arrive, which could take 2-10 days. And that is IF you order before your shipping day. My shipping day is Tuesday, and if I don't order something before 11pm on Monday (or is it midnite?), my products won't ship till the next Tuesday unless I pay extra for shipping. At least, Amazon and the other online sites ship stuff almost immediately if the item is in stock.
Mevi: If we're comparing CostCo v Quixtar prices, membership prices is a better comparison.
Porkchopjim: care to start a thread with the CR info? I'm baseing my claims on the one referred to by QBlog. I think you are reffering to the one that was redone as they tested SA8 incorrectly. Even in the "fixed" version they compared Quixtar retail price with CostCo members price. My claim is based on the "fixed" comparison and members vs members, with the note that costco membership, as confirmed above, is higher.
Quixtar in Canada IS expensive. Products, fees, both.
Me and my friends shop online all the time, why don't we shop at Quixtar?
- Other eCommerce site are fast to use. What a novel idea. Although Quixtar.com has come a long way. It is embarissing that many eCommerce website are far more convinient and usefull than Quixtar.
How about amazon.com, letting users put their reviews up there?
- There is not much value, if any, to shop from Quixtar, at least to me and all my non-IBO friends. Not worth dealing with a not so pleasent site where similar product is every where usually cheaper.
You guys are so funny... 1st of all, if you check your resources everything is getting expensive these days…. 2nd you guys should really check this out with your Local member.. I am in with Scott Harimoto’s group. (World wide Group) The game plan totally changed like you can counsel or give a board plan threw your own personal web page. 3rd every big company is switching over to E-commerce. If you think about the price and trying to make 7500 PV by your self you’ll never make it or maybe if you have a big account then it might be possible… that is why you have to play the numbers game like every other business….. If you have any problem plz call 8083752629
This Business is legit~!!! It is member of BBB.
If you can’t do it then it is your problem not this business. This business is getting better and better. If you are really broke then no one can help you beside your self!!!!! And GOD…. GOD Bless you. I am 23 years old and I live in Hawaii. I got to school and work at HMSA.
NO WAY!!! It is a member of the BBB? Oh heck, that does it for me, Quixtar is the greatest business in the land.
Buhyun, you might want to read the archives and visit the forum, you might be the 1000th IBO to come here and use those lines. Does he win a prize Qblog?
Correct me if I am wrong , but can't any business be a member of the BBB UNTIL someone lodges a complaint against said business with the BBB?
The BBB is simply a clearinghouse of information on businesses. To become a member, a business contacts the BBB, and pays. To remain a member of the BBB in good standing, a business must make good faith efforts to resolve any and all complaints. Quixtar is a BBB member in good standing, and if you look, Quixtar has had 23 complaints in the past 36 months filed with the BBB.
Thank you for the info dmm.
Buhyun,
Is it true that Scott Harimoto was demoted to emerald? I heard he was working the functions with other directs again.
Looks like Canadians are getting a far worse deal.Posted by: Croaker | May 4, 2006 06:38 PM
Canadians pay extra for the chance to have a better government.
The Prices are all Relative(/b>
The answer would be different depending on WHO you ask.
If the prices WERE Competetive to ALL Parties, the merchandise would sell itself. But, if the mdse sold itself, there would be NO need for all the so called TRAINING and MOTIVATION; and THAT is a very lucrative business, by itself.
THE MANUFACTURER: he doesn't need to compete for shelf space, market share etc. He has a captive market. Growth is measured in number AND Retention of Ibos or Members or Clients (mostly Ibos is my guess). So, the manufacturer DOESN'T EVEN CARE if prices are competetive.
HIGHER PINS: they don't care either, as much of their activities are putting on shows, selling materials to CONVINCE YOU they are priced competitevely.
NEW Ibo: probably will OVERLOOK the price competetiveness factor. Will also spend a great deal of time and money at his own cost and expense (seminars, tapes and books)CONVINCING HIMSELF, that Business Ownership, Financial Freedom, The American Dream, Leaving a Legacy, Getting Residual Income, Getting your wife home from her J.O.B., the Power of 'Concentration' and 'Duplication' MAKE THE PRICES COMPETETIVE for HIM. Besides, you don't think someone is going to MENTOR you for FREE do you?
NEW PROSPECT: will almost never ask to see a price list. Will take the WORD of others, especially someone they TRUST that the prices are MOSTLY competetive. and the Cycle begins again, until a year later: RENEW OR QUIT.
THEREFORE:
1. Convince yourself FIRST
2. Convince OTHERS Next.
3. TEACH THEM to do the SAME (convince more.
4. EVERONE attend and support the MOTIVATIONALS
What MOST NEW Ibos and PROSPECTS Don't know, is that ALL the Numbers are either exxaggerated, ommited, don't result in bonuses AS DEPICTED, or are dramatically LESS except for a small number of people.
In my opinion, it is not just the PRICES that are excessive. THE GROWTH AND INCOME PROJECTIONS are also exxaggerated, with the discaimers, of course. It is just that THESE figures are NOT so readily apparent, to the prospective Ibo and even some seasoned Ibo's.
For those out there arguing the membership fee, don't forget to take into account the fact that you can get the IBO Insurance and the US IBO Board Support (IBOAI) refunded if you so desperately need the $16 dollars back. Also, the clauses in the sign up section are so clear cut on everything that is being debated on this site that if you read the small print and educate YOURSELF, then there is no need to read any of this crap that is being written-both positive and negative. And if it's such a big deal for you to spend a bit more on a product, then you should be getting a better job because obviously you're going to be an employee for the rest of your life.
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I'd note that it the last consumer reports, SA8 at members price was the same cost per wash and same "quality" rating as their "best buy" from CostCo, which has a higher members fee. Also see my SA8 v TIDE thread in the forums for other confounding variables when trying to do price comparisons. What's written on the front of the box isn't always the same as what's in the fine print.
Posted by: insider | May 4, 2006 4:02 PM