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June 28, 2006
In Their Own Words - 8
By Xanadustc in Their Own Words
Who is correct about the number of people that make Diamond? ThisBizNow or Danny?
A lot of people say, ‘well, how many people go Diamond?’ Everybody that wants to, everybody that sticks in there. ‘How many people succeed?’ Everybody that sticks in there.
Who Succeeds [MP3 Download], BWW164: People of Strength, Team of Strength.
That sounds a little deceptive, does it not?
The Wrong Business
By QBlog in Quixtar
I've said it before and after listening to Combden's message I think it's time to say it again:
If the success or failure of your business is determined by a few bloggers exercising their First Amendment rights then you're in the wrong business.
June 27, 2006
What Do You Do?
By Truth in A/QMOs
Anyone who has spent anytime in a Quixtar Motivational Organization has heard many things said about the nasty J-O-B. Jobs are made to be the enemy of everything that those motivational organizations stand for, and many times is compared to slavery. Very simply in their world having a job is a miserable existence.
While I was in Britt World Wide I went from having a job that I liked to somehow resenting that job and being very unhappy with it day in and day out. Upon leaving BWW I once again enjoyed the career that I had chosen and actually had my salary go up almost $20K in one year after putting my concentration back into my career.
Now I enjoy my job and I do not see it as the paid slavery that BWW tried to make it seem. I do not have a boss that watches my every move. Quite the contrary our management has a very hands-off style since we are viewed as the subject matter experts when we are hired for our positions. Matter of fact I only see my boss once per year at review time. We are given great flexibility with our work schedules and vacation time. For example, this past two week vacation I took only cost me 3.5 days of vacation off the books. In a nutshell my J-O-B is quite the contrary of what the BWW stereotype of a job is.
Now I understand not everyone out there loves or even likes their jobs. I know there are some out there who even downright hate their jobs. But is it as many as BWW and other motivational organizations would have you believe? Well that is why I want you to comment about your job. No doubt everyone has some aspects of their job they do not enjoy but on the whole do you like or dislike your work? Is your job the world of despair that the motivational organizations say it is, or do you enjoy your work?
June 26, 2006
Quixtar Sales Tax
By Xanadustc in Quixtar
A while back, I did a post where the issue of sales tax was brought up. There seems to be some controversy over this point, so I figured we might clear it up.
First, all this can be found on the Quixtar site if you have a password. What follows are a few things from the 26 page [PDF file] from Quixtar.
In summary, an IBO is charged sales tax on the retail price on products for the region you are in. If you sell an item to another tax jurisdiction, you are required to collect all the differing sales tax and send it to Quixtar with a Tax Adjustment form.
If you use an item yourself, you have the must fill out the form and get your difference back.
Some may suggest that this is optional, but the document clearly states on page one:
YOU MUST FILE A SALES TAX ADJUSTMENT FORM WHENEVER YOU SHIP OR DELIVER PRODUCTS TO A DIFFERENT TAXING LOCALITY AND/OR YOU SELL AT ADIFFERENT AMOUNT THAN SUGGESTED RETAIL.
The only exception listed regarding this rule is if a customer pays for the item with a credit card directly from the corporation, Quixtar will charge correctly based on the shipping address of the customer.
What kinds of sales are covered by this rule?
- Sales made to other states.
- Different local sales taxes in the same state.
- Retail sales not made at suggested retail.
- Products for personal use or demonstrations.
- A sale made after a change in sales tax if you purchased the product from Quixtar before the change took place.
Are you filling out proper paperwork for your business?
June 24, 2006
Casey Combden Joins Task Force
By QBlog in Web Initiative
Someone recently sent me a voice message reportedly from Casey Combden of Quixtar's InterBiz motivational business. The message describes an integration between Combden's business and Orrin Woodward's Team business. It also explains an Internet task force built to "eliminate negative not only on the Internet but to eliminate negative period."
Such information seems to confirm the "Web Initiative" that I've written about previously and that Mark Glaser described in his Online Journalism Review article about companies subverting search results to squelch criticism. In the interest of public debate I'm including the message as it was sent to me in a special edition of QBlog Radio. I'm distributing it in a podcast format to increase awareness and to provide my own commentary.
I've also transcribed the entire message which you can read below. I may have misspelled names and any corrections are appreciated. And of course you can listen to the message in a variety of ways.
The player below will stream the audio in your browser and is available at Odeo or you can get the episode from iTunes or download the audio (mp3 at 13 MB) onto your computer.
MESSAGE TRANSCRIPT
Hey guys this is Casey [unintelligible] to all the business builders, hope you guys are doing great. I just want to let you know that since Orrin's come in we've had some really positive things been happening at an administrative side. I wanted to give you guys a quick "heads up." We have been getting closer and closer to partnering with Orrin. As you know he's obviously got some incredible things going on and thousands, tens of thousands of people attending his functions. His standing orders are going through the roof. And he's just got the whole power player process nailed down. And the momentum that you know we look to develop and certainly succeed with and I have you know asked him obviously if we could just learn as much as we can to plug into his system.
Couple of real big positives is that he is sending us some audios that we will be integrating into the InterBiz business system here in the next several months and Rod is receiving some of the titles. In fact one of the speakers that we're going to be getting in that has partnered with Orrin is Billy and Peggy Florence. And that's a huge opportunity for all of us. Course for those of you who know Billy and Peggy, Billy has been the president of the IBOA International board, he is an Executive Diamond. Guys very, very successful. Very wealthy. Wonderful people. Some, some of my dearest friends over the years and so it's just been a real pleasure to know them.
And so we are going to be receiving not only a combination of all the Team's audios which is Chris and Terry Brady, you know Orrin and Laurie, Tim and Amy Marks and Larry and Marsie Van Buskirk. I mean we're also going to be getting Billy and Peggy.
So, our objective is just to start integrating as quickly as possible into the InterBiz business system and adding to it. So, so that's a huge opportunity.
Second thing is, is that we have partnered with Orrin. We got into a conversation about the negative on the Internet and Orrin said that they built, specifically built a task force to eliminate their nega... to eliminate negative not only on the Internet but to eliminate negative period by doing what I'll refer to as strategic Web hosting. And they use something known as a blog. A blog is where people write articles about their day-to-day transactions. It's a journaling that's online that you just do and you kind of make notes about things that you believe or that you're positive about et cetera.
I have a very important email that Rod has sent me that I would like to send to all of you. I'm going to use Lou to manage this because obviously I can't manage all of your names and everything. But I'm going to give you Lou's Kate number here and what I want you to do is not answer me back but just send a message off to Lou to make sure that you've got the email that you want to use to produce the highest and best results.
Second thing is this, is that please pick one of the subjects there's a ton of topics there. We're going to start what we call linking between all the blog sites and ourselves just to produce a more positive appearance on the Internet. It's just an attempt to kind of push down the negative about Quixtar and specifically about either myself or InterBiz so that we have a bet... a better chance of producing a higher result.
So, so this is just our first attempt at organizing everybody and doing so in a way that can really service, you know service to obviously help build the business so that we don't have to deal with the people who get, who we lose from you know checking the Internet for either InterBiz or Casey or, or whatever it happens to be Quixtar. Quixtar is going to be tough to push down but the more positive we push up forward about Quixtar the more potential we have.
So, so things are going great and I just want to let you know obviously we're going to continue to work as closely as we can with Orrin. He has been very gracious, very generous in his time, in his energy and his staff. He's actually really pushed a lot of resources forward so that we can be blessed by it. He was really turned on and very, very excited about what we're all doing and you know there's obviously a chance for future you know collaboration together. So, this won't be for a long time but you know as we start to build more closer to their culture. Obviously that's our objective is to build towards their culture, not them towards us. So that we can obviously start seeing some greater and better results.
So, hope you're all doing great. Lou's Kate number is 866-***-****. In fact what I will probably do, Lou if you get this message you know send a message directly to everybody so that they can actually get the message. Guys we just need to have everybody, all you have to do is write a paragraph. I'd like every single person, that means husbands and wives independently I really need your support on this.
So husbands and wives independently you know if every just write three-four sentences you know, "I think InterBiz has been an incredible way for me to be a great mother. It's blessed my children. My children producing better results. I have more free time to be a mother with them. And I'm excited about the personal growth I've experienced and Casey and Jeannie have been wonderful friends." Like that's the article I need you to write. I mean something as simple as that. Or the power of the system or the power of particular CD or book. You'll get, you'll get the email from Rod and we'll make this thing fly.
So, love you guys. I really need your help on this one and we really need every single person to step forward and do this with...
A few observations about the message:
- Casey never mentions Quixtar success. He talks about the attendance at motivational functions and that Woodward's standing orders are going through the roof. But where's the mention of how many Diamonds Team broke this year or how many new Emeralds are in Billy Florence's group?
- Casey says "you know" a lot.
- Seems like there's a lot of partnering and communication going on with some of these Lines of Affiliation. Interesting.
- Giving a script to your downline to blog about is lame with a capital "L."
So, what do you think about this message? Is it newsworthy or just business as usual?
UPDATE: The Quixtar leaders seem to be emailing each other about this post. My site stats show email links from Total Production's webmail. Total Production is the company that builds a lot of Quixtar leader sites, particularly for Jody Victor and Orrin Woodward.
The person who clicked the link appears to be using the email address "jerry@totalproduction.com" which is the same address used by Gerald Smith in the Whois information for the Total Production site. Interesting that the administrative contact for the company the built Jody Victor and Orrin Woodward's sites might be getting emails about this message from Casey Combden.
June 21, 2006
In Their Own Words - 7
By Xanadustc in Their Own Words
In this installment, we learn that Danny Snipes thinks BWW is the best:
Of course we got the Britt Team, and the Britt System…the BWW system…the best educational system there is! Stack it up against anything out there…any other training system for business owners, any college education, this produces more people succeeding in life than any other system there is out there. Period! Bar-none…the best!
» Download BWW Best [MP3] From “People of Strength, Team of Strength”, BWW164
First, let us say that almost every system claims that they are the best. Are they lying, lunatics, or over-excited (or any other option I forgot)?
Regarding college education, I think that if you are speaking in terms of whole-population financial success rates, I would argue that the average income of a college graduate hovers around the $30-50,000 range (for a reference, simply Google ‘Average Income College Graduate’ and you will get a host of news articles and reports). The average Quixtar income is around $1380 directly from Quixtar (note that some will argue that average has dropped, I pulled $115 a month from the SA-4400 on the main Quixtar page).
If so many are succeeding, why do only 1 in 14,000 make it to the coveted Diamond level? Why do only 1 in 400 make it to the average income of $42,000?
My final point, since Danny has left BWW to join LTD, which does he say is the best now?
June 20, 2006
Did You Ever Receive This?
By Truth in A/QMOs
Well my vacation was very relaxing and I am ready to get back into the swing of things. Today I was doing a review of the Rules of Conduct for another article I am writing when I came across something very interesting. Section 7.5.1 of the Rules of Conduct state:
...Each IBO who sells BSM under such arrangements shall provide to each purchaser at least twice a year, during the months of September and March, the following or substantially equivalent language conspicuously printed on a postcard:
“We have a continuing interest in you and your business. This special message is to help you evaluate expenses that relate to BSM available to you. Your expenditures on these items should be reasonable compared to your business volume and profits. You should review your business expenses and decide whether you wish to continue purchasing BSM. The use of BSM in connection with your business is voluntary and must always be in compliance with the Rules of Conduct.
If you wish to discontinue receiving future [tape or book, etc.], please return this postcard. IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE THIS POSTCARD BY (_______________), YOU WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE FUTURE ISSUES OF [tape or book].”
I found this interesting because I don't ever remember recieving such an item in the mail or with my standing order at any time. I asked my wife because she would often go through the standing order before I saw it. She also did not remember ever recieving any such correspondence. So to put it simply I am wondering how many of you out there who were ever on standing order remember recieving this kind of correspondence from your upline twice a year like the rules state?
Is this another one of those rules that is just ignored by the LOSs and is never brought up because many IBO's (including myself) never throughly read the Rules of Conduct? Just another reason I encourage every single new IBO to sit down and take the time to throughly read the Rules of Conduct and call out their upline when they are in contradiction to those rules. Or maybe this is a brand new rule?
Sipping Lemonade
By QBlog in Blog News
The old saying explains that if life hands you lemons, you should make lemonade. But what should one do when life serves up lemonade? I say, "Drink it!"
Some regular readers have noticed that my blogging activity has declined over the past couple of weeks. The reason — I've been drinking lots of lemonade (metaphorically speaking).
So, while I'm busy drinking all this lemonade I don't have nearly as much spare time to devote to this blog. I'll still be around but I won't be posting quite as often as before. Preston, Tom and Drew are doing a wonderful job of keeping the QBlog tradition alive and well.
And now you know. And knowing is half the battle.
June 14, 2006
In Their Own Words - 6
By Xanadustc in Their Own Words
This week, we learn that we are not doing good (as long as we have a job, anyway).
In John Crowe’s own words:
How about this one: ‘Well, I’m already doing well, I’m already doing really well.’ Compared to who? [sic] What standard of ‘Mr. Bigshot’ do you have? You’re doing well compared to Paul Miller? Bill Britt? I love it when people go, ‘I’m doing pretty good.’ Let me give you a hint: If you have to go to work, you ain’t doing very good.
» Doing Good [MP3] John Crowe, BWW166, ‘Stay Young at Heart’
If I am hearing John correctly, we need to compare ourselves to other people and we have to find some way of producing enough money to never work again.
Never mind the fact that comparing yourself to other people is absolutely fruitless.
Never mind the fact that work is a great thing to do. Whether you are giving your skills to better mankind or to just put food on the table, you are a person deserving of all the love and respect that any other person would get. Let us not forget that!
Let us also not forget that research shows you have a better shot of getting rich playing the roulette wheel in Vegas than making money in an MLM [PDF].
So, if I need to go to work to pay my bills, I am not doing good, huh? Am I less of a man than if I rob people blind for a motivational tape that they do not need or profit off of a product that is way over priced?
June 13, 2006
What are you joining?
By Xanadustc in A/QMOs
The other day, I read an interesting book called ‘Stop Dating the Church’ which I reviewed recently. I thought that Chapter 4, titled 'Join the Club,' made some interesting parallels. I write this article as a warning to those professing belief if any religion because I believe that by joining a Professional Development Program affiliated with Quixtar, chances are, you will be joining a new religion.
In the book, the steps to join the church are well laid out. Indeed, joining anything is going to follow these steps to some degree, but my question is: How far? You see, if I join a job, or a new school program, or an even event of some sort, I will be following these steps. But in the Professional Development Programs, it is my experience that (in general) they require all your time, even to the exclusion of church activities! Here are the steps to joining a group:
- You Join – Signing the forms, getting all info together, all that “legal junk” that was so downplayed in my group.
- Make the Group a Priority – This does not necessarily mean top priority, but group activities should precede general entertainment.
- Try to make your leaders job a joy – You know, listen, submit, etc.
- Find ways to serve the group – Help with the behind the scenes items.
- You give to the group – Money, time, skills, etc.
- Connect with the people – Build close relationships in the group.
- Share your passion for the group – Be committed to share about the group to people outside the group.
Now, I adapted these out of the context of the church and into the context of a general group. I just wanted to show how I believe a PDP in Quixtar is similar, except that in many of them, they ask you to abandon all other groups for themselves.
Also, the book I pulled these from gives the example of a person being in a group but he realized that he was not as committed to his church as he was to the external group. He also makes the point that we can only be fully dedicated to one group, there can be others we participate it, but one will tend to dominate. Does your Quixtar business dominate, or does your church dominate?
June 12, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 80
By QBlog in Reader Mail
Virtually every corporation puts out material to inform and motivate its employees. I routinely receive such content and it's never bothered me in the way that it seems to bother today's Reader Mail author. But then again, I never had to pay for that corporate content. As always, my comments appear in bold.
name: Brian
date: June 7, 2006
message: Just a few things I've noticed recently about Quixtar. I'm sure it's the same for most lines of sponsorship... but the firs thing was
1) price of catalogs.
They make you pay for these right? I've seen the ones my wife gets, and there is a price on them...WHAT business charges you for catalogs? If Macy's charged for a catalog, wouldn't most people jusy refrain from buying things from them? They cost 4 or 5 bucks too...if I recall correctly.
I can't recall if we paid for the catalogs or not. I know when my wife was a Quixtar Member we didn't get charged for the catalogs that came in the mail.
2) The Achieve magazine.
These things are HORRIBLE as far as being a tool to help IBO's, all they do is make the sickness worse. I watched my wife literally tear up while reading the lateset issue (if you haven't seen it, by all means, totally hilarious...Diamond who looks like Sean Penn, made it as a single dad, the business "helped" eventually make he and his wife get along...way too funny)
I don't know if I ever read an Achieve magazine but I've heard it's gone downhill since one of its editors left.
Anyway, I asked her what was so good about the article, and I got the reply something to the effect that, if you KNOW you have something that WORKS, and you've seen it work...it could be the one thing that inspires someone to do something great with their life, then it's totally worth it, and you should want to work harder, and share it with more people.
I would hardly call a check for $14 a month "working"..but it goes back to the mindset, that these diamond success stories, and seeing people they "know" in the magazine all makes them think that they need to work harder. Without having a tape, or a meeting the fire gets re-lit.
The other thing that's odd is that the stories in those magazines seemt o focus on different types of stories, so they can motivate single parents, immigrint families, older people, etc.
It's no secret that a significant portion of Quixtar's growth comes from minorities and immigrants. It would make sense that they'd want to appeal to those demographics.
June 10, 2006
Zeal
By Preston in A/QMOs
I've been struggling to with something over the last few months.
Wal-Mart uses some techniques I consider unethical to keep prices low for consumers. I personally do not visit Wal-Mart, but I do not stop my wife from going there when she chooses.
This line of thought came back to me when I was thinking about my recent meeting with Dick Davis and Brad Duncan. WWDB prides themselves on being "different," and Dick Davis said to me that the goal of WWDB is "transparency."
That being said, would your zeal for or against Quixtar and/or the motivational organizations change if you discovered one of the organizations really was different than the others?
It is a question I am struggling with, along with the very nature of Quixtar itself: Should Quixtar be condemned for failing to correct the motivational organizations and letting abuse occur a full 23 years after there was an acknowledged problem?
Gnarls Barkley - Enjoy
By QBlog in Miscellaneous
Absolutely nothing to do with Quixtar but I just have to share this video.
June 9, 2006
QBlog's Farcical Help Desk - 52
By QBlog in Farcical Help Desk
Every Friday, the QBlog Farcical Help Desk™ answers the Quixtar questions that nobody dared to ask. Additionally, each Help Desk answer is guaranteed to end with some form of punctuation or we'll refund your money. No fooling!
Question: Are IBOs required to sign the BSMAA before
purchasing or even using the tools?
Answer: Nope.
Q: Great. So why does my upline tell me that I need
to sign it?
A: Because some groups require that you sign it to use their tools.
Q: Oh. Which ones?
A: Ummm. All of them.
Q: Huh? I thought you said I didn't have to sign it
to buy tools?
A: You don't.
Q: So, which Line
of Affiliation will sell me tools?
A: They'll all sell you tools.
Q: Without signing the BSMAA right?
A: Well, no. You have to sign the BSMAA.
Q: But you just said I'm not required to sign it to
buy tools!
A: You're not.
Q: So, WWDB will sell me tools then?
A: Right after you sign the BSMAA.
Q: Argh! This doesn't make any sense at all. If it's
not a requirement then why do I have to sign it?
A: Welcome to Quixtar.
Q: You are not going to believe this.
A: Try me.
Q: I just had a meeting with Orrin Woodward and Chris
Brady at Dunkin' Donuts!
A: Wow. That's pretty cool. What did you guys talk about?
Q: Lots of stuff. We talked for hours. It was great.
And you know the coolest thing about the meeting was that I run this website
that sorta criticizes their Team motivational
business but they still wanted to talk to me and answer my questions. They were
so nice and really willing to help me understand their business.
A: That's really neat man. I'm happy for you. So, what are some of the
things they said? They tell you about the Tool
Contract?
Q: They told me all about it but I can't tell anyone
else. I did the secret handshake oath and I'm not allowed to talk about that.
A: But you can talk about the problems that you were posting about on
your website right?
Q: No. Well, yes. Sorta. I can say that the problems
were NOT normal and Chris and Orrin were very sad and angry about all the bad
stuff that happened when I was in their business but they assured me that crap
like that is rare and they'll be sure it never happens again. Ever.
A: Right.
Q: And OH MAN, there's this other thing that they told
me that really opened my eyes. I now understand why they don't come out and
publicly reveal all the details of their tool business and show exactly how
much money is made from that business.
A: Ok, why don't they?
Q: Geez. I can't tell you that either. Secret handshake
and all. I can tell you it's because they are helpless. Their hands are tied.
They would love nothing more than to let us all see the wizard behind the curtain
but the Men In Black won't let them do it.
A: Men in Black?
Q: Yeah. See, if they told the world all that they told
me then they'd have to blow up the planet. National security stuff you know.
A: So what exactly was the point of this meeting?
Q: I got free coffee and doughnuts.
A: Now I understand.
Q: Who's paying for the Qrush
ads?
A: That's a great question.
Q: So, what's the answer?
A: Can't tell you. But you can try to guess.
Q: Is it Quixtar?
A: Nope.
Q: Is it Qrush?
A: Nope.
Q: Is it someone in Michigan?
A: Getting warm.
Q: Is it someone connected with the IBOAI?
A: *click*
June 8, 2006
Qrush Ads Return
By QBlog in Web Initiative
The anonymous defamation artist known affectionately as "Qrush" has resumed his advertisements with Google's Adwords program.
What's interesting is the keywords he's using to promote his messages of hate and deception. I've discovered that he's purchased the following:
- Brad Duncan
- Larry Winters
- Bill Britt
- Dexter Yager
- Orrin Woodward
Who's paying for those Google Ads? Who paid for them in 2004? If a strategically crafted subpoena were to be submitted in Flint, Michigan I bet we could find the answer to those questions.
June 7, 2006
In Their Own Words - 5
By Xanadustc in Their Own Words
In today’s clip, John Crowe tells us that:
We never leave each other, folks. You may leave us, but we will never leave you. We will never quit on you. You can quit on us, we will never quit on you.
» Never Quit on You [MP3] from BWW166 “Stay Young at Heart”
The long, long line of shattered dreams tells otherwise. That is all I have to say.
June 6, 2006
Conversations with the Critics - Rara
By Xanadustc in Miscellaneous
I had a chance to meet with a new critic on the scene: Rara. She was in BWW under Kanti Gala for about a year and a half. From the very beginning she was a little skeptical, but signed up with her sponsor, who was her boyfriend, to support him in the business. I did notice a few similarities within our experience in BWW as well as some differences.
Differences
While we were both in BWW, there was a removal of a few of the teachings between our teams. This is important to note so that we do not clump all experiences into one mold. On the other hand, there seem to be critical abuses in many of the systems, so to play the "My system does it right" card is not necessarily the correct approach either!
One critical difference was the relationship of the crossline in our teams. In my team, crossline friends were normal and even accepted. Some of my best friends in the business have been crossline, and that trend held even for the leaders on the team, including two Emeralds who were friends and crossline with each other. Rara says that on her team you were not permitted to associate with crossline unless your upline was present. To explain: Even in our group, we were not supposed to discuss our businesses with crossline because they were not our counselors. On Rara's team, they did not allow such interaction at all, because they figured that since you both have the business in common it was too easy for the conversation to move to business.
Another difference that I noticed was in how questions were answered. I got the impression that my team was a lot gentler with questions. We would try our best to answer questions that people had. Rara reported that questions were often deflected. This does seem to line up with some of Kumar's reported teachings -- that you don't answer questions directly, but appeal to the questioner's emotions and STP some more because it doesn't really matter.
Products
Rara and I talked in detail about the products. As I have often reported, everything I bought was much more expensive from Quixtar, and the quality was nothing to write home about. Rara did tell me that the jewelry line from the Personal Accents Catalog was very well-priced, especially since it included shipping. The perfumes were also nicely priced. These were the only two products she was comfortable promoting, because she felt they actually were a good deal. Overall, we both agreed that there really are no products that we would consider using now that we are not involved in the business, mostly because the prices are high, the shipping cost adds even more to the price and you have to wait too long for your order. Also, the overall quality of the products is nothing special.
We also talked about Artistry for a bit. I liked the Artistry skin care systems. I switched to Tolsom after that line came out, but I found the quality to be terrible and the price absolutely outrageous, so I switched back to Artistry before quitting the business. Regarding the price of Tolsom, I honestly think it is a test to see how committed people are to buying overpriced products. In a personal test, I found Tolsom shaving gel to be less effective than Edge shaving gel. Where I shop, the price of Edge averages $2.50 for 8 oz while the Tolsom is $9.65 (IBO) or $12.45 (Retail) for 7 oz. Rara thought it was interesting to see how many skin care products the upline could convince the men in her group to buy. She commented on seeing her sponsor's bathroom full of skin care products, even though they're typically targeted at women.
Reasons for leaving
One of the differences between Rara and me is that while I was involved in the business I was not interested in maintaining any part of my old life. But Rara said, "I consciously tried to maintain my individuality while in the 'biz,' but I did wish I was 100% CORE." She also did 7 of the 9 core steps with varying consistency.
It is interesting to note that we both left Quixtar for the same reason: We were spending too much money and earning too little in return. I totally submitted to the system. I was plugged in, doing meetings, driving miles, contacting, listening to several tapes every day, reading many books per month and attending all the meetings I could (even though I was driving 300 + miles every month to attend them). Following the system and buying the products required to maintain my 150-300PV per month was costing around $400-$600 a month. I flat ran out of money. I finally left the system when I could not afford to participate any more due to having a car payment.
Rara, on the other hand, was never as committed to the system as I was. She never bought any books, only borrowed them. She was on Standing Order Tape for a period of time and even bought extra tapes. She tried to listen to a tape every day, but found it difficult because she really did not like them.
She got to the point where she did not have enough money for herself, and she refused to go further in debt for Quixtar. At this point, Rara was going to slow down on buying and focus on finishing school. Then she would pick up the business again when she had a better job with more disposable income. This is when she found out about the tool profits. She says, "When I confronted my upline about the tool profits, I think my upline's response was more like, 'Well, we didn't tell you because you didn't ask,' making this somehow my fault." This was her final convincer that Quixtar is not the greatest opportunity in the world.
June 5, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 79
By QBlog in Reader Mail
In light of recent meetings with WWDB leaders I thought it appropriate to publish a Reader Mail from someone claiming to have been involved with that organization.
name: Mr Gregg
date: May 24, 2006
message: I have a sad story. In the summer of 2005 I joined the WorldWide organization. In response to information my new employer shared with me. I invested only $70. I can only say that it was an educational expense.
All of what was shared to me, could be disproved with observant open mind. I disproved the claim WorldWide had no high priced celebrities. My opinion is: the emerald and diamond levels are internal celebrites, with their bonus money, publicity, and perks.
The prices seemed to be quite unreasonable, why would a person pay $10 for something that sells for $6 locally, but if your lucky get $1 back at the end of the month. Big business practise, use someone else's money not their own.
I then went out and interviewed persons employed at businesses that are partner stores, and also checked the on-line pricing compared to the price if you just walked in theier store. In many experiences the prices were higher on-line as compared to walking in the store. The sales people were also affected, if they are paid base salary and comission. They would either not recieve this comission or a smaller amount. One stored informed me, their profit margine is lower for on-line products. Doesn't this hurt an independant business owner? Dont they have expenses?
My tail ends when I did not renew membership January 2006, and my employer was informed by WorldWide. There seemed to be a negative influence on the work environment.
"It was said many times to me that I did not know the plan, or I didn't want to work hard." Suddenly, I was told, my attitude change and it was shown in my "posture".
Well as you can tell I was fired, and my employer claims I quit. Now I am forced goto trial to get unemployment benefits. From what I have read I maybe one of the lucky ones.
I don't know if Mr Gregg's tale is true but he certainly has the grammar skills of a fired up IBO. I'm kidding!
June 4, 2006
QBS - Are Tools Optional?
By Truth in Bumper Stickers
Welcome to "Quixtar Bumper Stickers," a Quixtar BLOG series featuring bumper stickers of our favorite quotes from the Quixtar Motivational Organizations. Each bumper sticker will be posted without comment though your comments are welcomed.
This series does not have a regular publication schedule but all posts are available under the Bumper Sticker category. We encourage you to leave us some of your favorite quotes and slogans, and we might just turn them into a Quixtar Bumper Sticker.
June 3, 2006
Unprecedented Meeting?
By QBlog in A/QMOs
Preston, one of the Quixtar BLOG authors, recently posted about his meeting with WWDB leaders Dick Davis and Brad Duncan. This is quite possibly the first meeting of its kind — where a former IBO who publishes a blog critical of Quixtar's tool businesses has a sit-down meeting with leaders of one of those organizations.
I hope I've made myself clear from the beginning: I want truth. I want to discuss it, and I want things to be clear to folks who may be evaluating their options and looking at Quixtar.
I had the opportunity recently to sit down for two hours with Dick Davis, CEO of WWDB, and Brad Duncan, Founders Triple Diamond. It was quite an informative discussion.
It's not clear exactly what was said at that meeting (groan, more secrets) but we learn that Dick Davis doesn't like the Qrush Blog and that WWDB recognizes current pin levels instead of former accomplishments.
Are we possibly witnessing the dawn of a new era in communication between so-called Quixtar critics and the leaders of the businesses they criticize? What "legal constraints" force those leaders to spill the beans at a Starbucks instead of publicly revealing the "insightful" information?
Which Quixtar leaders would you like to meet with?
June 1, 2006
Quixtar Chatter - June 1, 2006
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- Info wanted - "DD and I are being recruited for [Quixtar]"
- Another Dick DeVos "hater"
- Quixtar Response moves to MySpace?
- Former IBO doesn't appreciate his sponsor's hassling (adult language warning)
- "Joining a new company called Quixtar that literally pays you to buy everyday stuff online"
- Cute Quixtar chic promoting her biz on MySpace
- Creepy experience with an Amway guy - IN A RESTROOM!
- COMMISSION: "And when you can get other people to become a member you will get some commission from Quixtar"
- The Blexican - "I'm tired of people trying to recruit me to the Quixtar army"
- Quixtar D-bags - "I can't believe what a joke that 'business' is
- My side job - "The only reason I got a My Space account was to promote my business so that I could expand"