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February 4, 2008
New Event Rule posted
By Truth in Quixtar
Over at the Ada-Tudes blog there has been a post about Quixtar's new rule which will allow sales of products at events. Of course as with just about everything in Amway or Quixtar there are restrictions. Here is what was posted as the "pending" rule for event sales:
4.3.3 Event Sales: The display and sale of health, beauty and sports nutrition products by IBOs only at temporary (no more than 10 days) health and beauty shows and certain kinds of sporting events (e.g.: bike race, marathon, 3-on-3 basketball tournament) are permitted. The following information must be received by the Corporation, in writing, 30 days prior to the event, to allow sufficient time to grant approval.
4.3.3.1. A written description of the type of event (including date of event).
4.3.3.2. Name of the specific product(s) to be displayed and sold.
4.3.3.3. A list of specific literature to be used at the booth or for handouts. Any privately produced material for handouts or display must be sent with the booth request for approval.
4.3.3.4. A signed statement from the Platinum or above IBO accepting responsibility for booth activity and include a list of all names of IBOs staffing the booth.
4.3.3.5 A post-event accounting of total volume sold must be provided to the Corporation by the Platinum if the volume sold is part of the qualifying volume for Silver Producer or above for purposes of verifying 70% Rule compliance.
I think the new rule is great and all since I always thought it was completely stupid to allow a booth to be set up at events but no sales were allowed to be made. But, I still don't understand why they need to restrict the sales. I can understand that the health and beauty products along with XS will most likely be the best products to use at an event. But what about having a booth at a festival with a jewelry display?
I also don't agree with IBOs not being allowed to secure a permanent booth somewhere. It was clear in the article that sporting events were allowed but only temporary ones like a tournament or a race of some sort. Personally I don't see the problem with an IBO securing a permanent spot at a concession stand at football or baseball events, or perhaps a permanent booth where other products can be sold. In every other area of business it's a snooze or lose world, so for those IBOs that do what it takes to secure other areas to sell their products should be allowed to do so.
Comments
Those rules are idiotic! Why on earth place so many restrictions on people? I thought there was an honest effort made to "legitimize the business" by promoting retailing. I guess that idea went down the tubes.
Yeah the Platinum being involved takes away from it being your own business. It is just rhetoric. IT IS NOT YOUR OWN BUSINESS, NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE OR DICE IT.
Now, seriously, how in the world can ANYONE think that they own their OWN "business"?
LOL! I mean come on. All IBO's speak so negatively about having a "boss" and how employees are told how much they can make, when they can work, eat, etc etc etc.
If those rules and regulations don't sound like having a "boss" to you, than you really need to get a grip on reality.
A TRUE business owner is NOT held back by regulations on where (s)he can set up or sell their product. I thought Quixtar was just a "supplier" if my supplier decided where I could and couldn't sell my products, and for how long I could set them up, I wouldn't be running my own business at all.
WAKE UP PEOPLE, as Lisa said IT IS NOT YOUR OWN BUSINESS!
I'm glad they're allowing this.
Since it's inception in '59, Amway has tried to protect the "little guy" - the IBO who is selling 100 PV per month. Let's face it, a "Big Guy" like my Grandfather's business could simply create an avalanche of Amway products due to our warehouse/marketing abilities/expendable dollars, etc. So it has been traditional that Amway allows *some* advertising and product placement.... and now it looks like they're loosening the reins a bit on those who WANT to retail.
I don't see the supervision of a Platinum to be a bad thing - Platinums are at the level where they understand the Corp Rules.
Deb
Wait a minute. I thought this business was about SELLING products.
Oh, my bad. It's about BUYING products.
One helluva "business", huh? Don't know of ANY OTHER business in the WHOLE WIDE world, where you 'make money', by BUYING products!
'Paradigm-Shift'!!!
Proud IBO and U.S. Navy here! Proud to serve my country and have a business in it. As far as rules...I know alot about them being in the military. Integrity, I think is more a part of these rules. I may not agree with them but they are rules. I see some say that other businesses owners are not restricted to selling their products but how are they not? Meaning they would have to buy license or pay the city to set up and sell their products in certain places. Isn't that true?
DH tried this, he was a "co-sponsor" of a 10K, 2-man relay, handed out a lot of XS samples and literature.
Cost a couple hundred bucks when all was said and done. Yield? $0. Not one sale. Runners don't want that crap.
But the IBO will have to purchase the product to have on hand for resale. Sounds like it's good for the corp with all risk borne by the IBO.
Last verse same as the first.
I see some say that other businesses owners are not restricted to selling their products but how are they not? Meaning they would have to buy license or pay the city to set up and sell their products in certain places. Isn't that true?
If that's the case, and it frequently is, it's the government that is restricting/controlling what/when/how you sell merchandise.
Also - unless it's guns/alcohol/tobacco - it's the SAME rules for everyone.
The rules that A/Q imposes on business owners are not the same for everyone else. They're overly restrictive, even with the change above.
Seeing as you don't think A/Q has different rules than everyone else seems to show that retailing is not a focus of your business.
Thanks goodness that I found this blogs or else i would be in deep ****.
Here is my little story.
My sponsor (not official yet) told me about this programs without giving me any real details at all. He didn't even mention that this biz is about retailing. I, honestly, have no idea that this biz is about retailing to begin with. He sorta leading me on how this biz will make you a fortune in the future. Well, hell I was excited and went to a couple meetings with him (one was a seminars).
After the 2nd meeting, man I was pumped. All the plans, the "Circle" they drew, the "potential income", my goodness, sound freakn awesome and realistic,too.Even the CD and the Brochure that they gave you was exciting and interesting as well.Well guess what? I've just realize everyone there at the meeting, included my sponsor, put up a very exciting show. It was so realistic then, until I read everything, posts and comments, from this blogs.
I thought this was a "opportunity" for me to start a better life. I am disappointed at this moment but gladly that the truth (thanks TRUTH!!!) is out, at least for me.
PLEASE STAY FAR FAR FAR AWAY FROM THIS Q-TARD/AM-WEENIE
sorry if there are any inappropriate words.
Once again, TRUTH is the truth
Please listen to him, it will save you like it saved me
SOON TO BE IBO (NOT),
You are looking in the wrong places. Internet blogs are not the credible place where to get truthful information from. Quixtar is an approved member of the BBB. So, call the BBB and verify, ok? Then, compare with what these blogs say. If BBB says, "yes, it is approved", forget about these blogs and move on. I did.
From Beth Dornan's Blog:
http://insidequixtar.opportunityzone.com/default.aspx?p=10
There was an interesting exchange in a forum last week about Quixtar's BBB (Better Business Bureau) rating. One person suggested that neither Quixtar nor any LOA had achieved a "AA" rating from the BBB.
And that's true. Because the BBB does not rate companies against a scorecard and assign a rating with letters or numbers. NOTE: As it's been pointed out in comments, some local BBBs have rating systems but West Michigan, which administers Quixtar's report, does not. Rather, the BBB provides information on whether a company has a satisfactory record in dealing with consumer complaints and issues.
This from the BBB's FAQ:
The BBB reports on a firm's marketplace practices. It does not report either individual or business credit information. BBB reliability reports contain information about the nature of the business, its principal officers, a three-year summary of any complaints processed, and any government action involving the company's marketplace practices. Most Bureaus will also report a company's BBB membership in its public report and note whether it participates in any special BBB programs to improve customer satisfaction.
The BBB does not endorse or recommend particular companies; it provides information related to customer satisfaction and complaints so consumers can make informed decisions based on the experiences of others.
"Rather, the BBB provides information on whether a company has a satisfactory record in dealing with consumer complaints and issues."
Yes, so it makes sense. BBB provides information on legal companies. BBB does not provide information on scams if they have a satisfactory record in dealing with consumer complaints and issues.
I see the almighty "Anonymous" has imparted his/her wisdom here.
You do know that AMO Diamonds are not reliable sources of thruthful information.... I mean, a Double Diamond talking about living below your means, how can you trust that???
No, Anonymous, the BBB has no input as to the "legality" of a business, it merely reports whether there are any open US investigations by the agencies that regulate sich things, such as the FTC (thankfully for A/Q, TDI in the UK is not a US agency).
So, what did the BBB say when YOU performed your due diligence and called the BBB. You claim here "If BBB says, "yes, it is approved", forget about these blogs and move on. I did." to have done so, but since we know that BBB does not approve or disapprove of a business, we know that this is not the response you received. Care to try again? Maybe you meant that Q is accredited?
In fact, we'll pass over your misinterpretation of the response you allegedly received to your alleged phone call, and stipulate to the fact there are no unresolved complaints against the big Q as a retailer.
Could you explain to all the readers how BBB accredidation, basically an indication that the customers were satisfied with the resolution of whatever complaints they had with a product or products, translates into Q being a viable business model?
Please connect the dots fully.
Oh, and what was your PROFIT last month? Bottom line on your 2007 Schedule C? The answers to those two questions speak much more clearly to the issues raised by SOON TO BE IBO (NOT) and rebutted sans any factual references by you.
The readership looks forward to your response.
"If there are rules then it's not your own business"
Really? Is that a fact?
That's gonna be hard news to swallow for all the franchise owners in this country that have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to "own their own business"
McDonald's - rules
Burger King - rules
Subway - rules
Blimpie - rules
Lexus - rules
BMW - rules
Express Oil - rules
Bottom line:
If you want to sell a company's products then you have to play by thier rules.
""If there are rules then it's not your own business"
Really? Is that a fact?"
Yes that is a fact. A franchise owner does not own the business. The business is McDonald's, Taco Bell, KFC, etc. They simply own a franchise of it. The business owner is the franchisee, or someone who built a business from the ground up.
Truth,
Now your just talking semantics. "A franchise owner does not own the business." I didn't say they owned THE business, I said they owned their own business. There are only two families that own THE (quixtar) business. But, you can use quixtar's products to start your own business if you would like to. (but you will have to follow their rules)
Example: when an ibo files his taxes he uses a schedule C (the form to report profit or loss from business) by the way, on that form is a line for Business Name: you cannot put Quixtar. Why? because you don't own that business. Most people come up with a name like: johnmac enterprises. The same holds true for franchise owners. They don't put McDonald's. It's usually pretty similar like: johnmac food ventures.
I think if the IRS is under the impression that you own a business... you might own one.
Also you are using the word franchisee wrong. The franchisee is a person that owns one of the franchises. The franchisor is the company granting the franchise. (according to dictionary.com)
No I am not talking semantics, I am keeping things in context. Something you did not do. The comment was made about if you don't make the rules it's not your business. That comment is true.
A franchise owner does not make the rules and therefore they do not own that business. They own a franchise of that business. There is a difference between a franchise owner and someone who built a business from the ground up. It's not a matter of semantics, it's a matter of context.
The IRS also has nothing to do with the context of the comment. In fact the IRS actually would find many IBO "businesses" to actually not be businesses at all due to the continued losses year after year.
"Also you are using the word franchisee wrong."
Your right, got my words mixed up.
Truth,
To be fair, I realize that your original article makes no mention to IBO's not owning their own business. I was keeping in context by addressing the comments below from Critic:
"You don't own your own business if you need written permission in order to sell somewhere."
McDonald's franchise owners definitly need written permission to sell big-macs in a designated location.
"You don't own your own business if you are not allowed to sell whatever makes you money."
There are strict rules for franchise OWNERS on what can and cannot be sold in that franchise.
From Big Dog:
"A TRUE business owner is NOT held back by regulations on where (s)he can set up or sell their product. I thought Quixtar was just a "supplier" if my supplier decided where I could and couldn't sell my products, and for how long I could set them up, I wouldn't be running my own business at all."
Can we all agree that whoever owns the Best Buy corporation is a "TRUE" business owner? (even if it's a board of directors) But, do you think Best Buy is bound by rules or regulations on when, where, and how they sell Apple products?
By Big Dog's definition, to be a TRUE business owner (no rules or regulations) you would have to OWN every step in the process, from manufacturing all the way to retailing, eliminating even the suppliers.
I would bet (don't have facts on this) that even the Walton family has to follow rules and regulations from some of their suppliers in order to have permission to sell a particular product.
So now we are debating the definition of a "true business owner" and that is: semantics
The reference to the IRS was only to point out that IBO's, franchise owners, and private business owners are seen the same way (at least by the IRS). Just because you obtain a license from a company to sell their products (according to their rules)doesn't mean you don't own A (not the) business. (at least in my opinion, which is what a blog is, right?)
BTW Truth is right about the continued loss year after year when it comes to taxes. I think (off the top of my head) it's 3 years. Any IBO who continues to clame a business loss year after year is asking for an audit.
Who in their right mind still believes they own their own business after reading those rules?
You don't own your own business if you need written permission in order to sell somewhere.
You don't own your own business if you are not allowed to sell whatever makes you money.
You don't own your business if you have to have a babysitter (Platinum in this case) vouch for you.
You don't own your own business if you are not allowed to pick your own employees.
What if I wanted to cover a huge event with multiple booths? Say a city parade. I want to place booths every couple blocks and staff them with non-IBO's. Doesn't sound like that is going to happen. Too bad though, because now I am simply trading hours for dollars. I'm not allowed to open up more that one booth and take a percentage from those sales, I'm only allowed to staff booths with my competitiors -- who are picked out by my Platinum so HE can rake in the residual cash.
Stay away. Stay FAR away.
Posted by: Critic | February 4, 2008 6:46 PM