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December 27, 2007
TEAM blogs sure are interesting.
By Truth in TEAM
During my hiatus from blogging the whole TEAM v. Quixtar debacle began and as many of you know a new batch of blogs hit the scene. I have seen them referred to many times as simply the "TEAM blogs". I have taken some time to review some of them and read some of the articles on a few of them. One thing that I can say for sure is that they are interesting to me.
Now I don't know about the rest of you but for me it seemed for quite sometime if you looked up Quixtar on the internet you got either a "critical" site, or a "pro" site, with many of those being ran by Quixtar corporation. These TEAM sites however bring a twist with them with the fact that they praise the training system and bash Quixtar/Amway as a corporation trying to take freedom from the IBOs.
In some cases I can see their point as I also feel some of the Quixtar rules are are unfair, especially when an IBO wishes to leave Quixtar for another MLM. However their praise and rational for training systems is something I no doubt disagree with. I like this new twist however and while I think they go just a bit too far with the whole freedom fighters who will fight day and night by each other's side routine, I certainly look forward to seeing how many of these blogs last and which ones stand out from the rest.
Comments
Dave, IBOs getting hosed by Amway is no real surprise. The entire company is too flimsy to even use as a "support system." There are systems that are out there that say that the Quixtar opportunity is the best opportunity for you to own your own business or as they say "future." Even if one wanted to get into an MLM, Amway is a rather poor choice. I also disagree with TEAM's emphasis on their miraculous leadership education. I think this war between disgruntled IBOs and Amway Corp. was bound to happen. It was only a matter of time before their shaky truce would collapse. What I find a bit ironic is that VanAndel and DeVos left their old MLM because of some of the same concerns that TEAM has with the current Amway Corp. Now the same is happening to their corporation under the control of their children. Not only are the rules and regulations unfair, in a lot of cases, they are downright unenforceable. Trying to maintain a monopoly on IBOs' "independent businesses" doesn't sound all that legit in most courts. Guess that is why they have the entire arbitration deal. I am a currently enrolled IBO bidding my time until my annual enrollment expires and I am no longer an IBO. It is just a bit too much when a company finally listen to their IBOs only after so much litigation. The education in any of these systems isn't particularly spectacular nor highly efficient at retailing the overpriced products. One can only hope that new prospects understand everything that is going on and then execute their decisions based on credible intel.
I would be the first one to tell you that the TEAM should lower the price of their training, however, the TEAM training system was able to break diamonds develop strong numbers in a company that was (is?) virtually dead.
They had poor compensation, high products and the worst reputation in the industry, yet they still grew rapidly.
Whatever they are teaching seems to work and if applied to a good company, they have a chance to make a big impact.
I have thought for some time that the price of the training is not really the problem.
Think about it. TEAM charges something like $80 a month to be "on system", but in order to do 100PV in Quixtar, it will cost you $300! You can do 100PV in most other companies for between $100 and $130.
Should TEAM charge less $ for their system? Yup.
Is the TEAM system the main reason people lose money in Quixtar while with the TEAM? Nope.
Of course, the TEAM (and every other Quixtar leader) has known how bad the Quixtar deal is for some time.
It is amazing to me that there is over and over the discussion if this business is profitable. Am I the only one that ever ran a profit and loss statement for their "business"? I forced my hubby to look at the numbers. One year, net loss $6000. Most of this on funtions and tools. Or charging product for retail sales and then having to use that profit to cover tools. Still my husband holds onto the dream that he will make it. Don't like to be a dream stealer so I let him continue. I hate the lack of integrity when he talks about the business, and he always tells me that if I found someone to be in "our" downline then it would start working. How can I recruit someone into a business that costs over $6000 a year? I understand the feeling of belonging to an organization, but there are great volunteer organizations that one can belong to with the same type of leadership training that doesn't cost so much and they do something positive for the commmunity. Hey, and by the way, has anyone looked at the most recent Achievers magazine. The list of new achievers is getting smaller and smaller......
ILD Widow,
There are other folks who thought about the Quixtar "opportunity" as you have. For most in organizations like BWW/Gala, logic almost never becomes a priority when considering all of the details of their businesses. The Amway/Quixtar business is a money-pit. The amount of money you place in could have been better spent on investing or looking into other network marketing opportunities that have a compensation plan and price-valued but high quality products that a person can have full confidence in when building their business.
Just to say I've been an IBO for 6 years and the business only costs what I decide to spend. There are no financial requirements, outside of the initial sign up fee, what is it now, something like $50 bucks? If your losing money in this business it's by your own choice, it's not necessary.
There's only one blog that seems unbiased and makes sense to me. The blogger quotes actual testimony and court records and makes a lot of good points. http://barristerquixtarlawsuit.blogspot.com/
I agree with you, Truth, that a lot of those blogs won't stand the test of time, but it's pretty neat to watch the fireworks! Seriously, you have to admit that IBOs are getting hosed by Amway.
Posted by: Dave | December 27, 2007 11:23 PM