Reader Mail Archive
June 12, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 80
Posted by QBlog
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 5, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 79
Posted by QBlog
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!
May 29, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 78
Posted by QBlog
I don't get much Reader Mail from outside North America so I'm excited to share this particular submission from down under. As always, I left the message intact without edits and my comments appear in bold.
name: Shane S.
date: May 16, 2006
message: Do you actually have any brain function for business success. Have you heard of intellectual property.
Yes, I'm very familiar with Intellectual Property and how the Internet has challenged traditional ideas about its protection and distribution.
I have built a Q12 Platinum business in Australia. I have built a sales program (for instant cash for my IBO team, a lead generation program from this sales program to find new IBOs. You want people like me who attract traffic to the website and spending - to go and speak at a seminar, and have 1000s of people around Australia learn what I teach (i am a high school teacher) & take my speeches, which I try to make inspirational as well as educational - and then give away that knowledge which I have accumulated through experience. How do you propose that a training system be sustainbale when people are not paid.
I've never suggested that people should not be paid for their work. I do know that training a Quixtar (or Amway) downline is a requirement of the Business Rules and rewards are provided (in the form of a thriving downline) if done correctly.
Oh thats right if the payment amount for speakers is above a limit you decide then it is ok. Of course your bum chum BO (redcoat) Short who I have met several times - took heaps of money for speaking in Australia - oh the integrity of following a man who purchased legs for Diamond qualifiaction. Poor Bo, he did not know what he was doing - he just got talked into being paid $20,000 for his Aussie tours.
Interesting comments. Is Shane condemning Short for his downline purchases and receiving money for speaking? Or are those actions to be commended? I've never defended Short's actions with Quixtar (or Amway) but merely sought to set the record straight regarding his involvement with that business.
Just so you know, the people that use ourt motivational training do grow, develop and get something out of it. Of course if we give it away as you stupidly suggest, then the value of the information declines. How do I know? - because when I download mp3s for free from the web, I don't listen to them a s closley as for the one s I pay for.
Using this logic the likelihood of a downline listening to motivational audio increases as the price increases. Why not charge $5,000 for each recorded seminar or rally?
You clown trouser, success has a price - in any field - I have spent 3 hours with Dexter once and I have no prtoblem with his free enterprise approach to being wealthy - from speeches and cds, functions - why? becasue business is about bums on seats - if you could attract people you deserve the money - of course you ability to influence large numbers of people in business probably does not exist.
Funny, I thought this business was about selling products. Silly me.
Do you have a problem with Bill gates, The Wal Mart family, Micheal Dell - who are your business heroes? Lets examine tehm and find out the price they paid for success.
Great question. Some of my business heroes include Steve Jobs, Sergey Brin & Larry Page, Jeff Bezos, Herbert Kelleher and Fred Smith.
Your proposal about the system is a s dumb ass as it gets. How do pay people people to put the system together if their is no profit? Of course you would argue that their should be your limits of profit set, once it is past that we should communise the system. Well done brains!
What I've suggested in the past is that Quixtar's motivational business be opened up to competition. Let a competitive marketplace decide the value of the tools businesses. Allow innovators to be disruptive and provide choice. Is that so wrong?
I'm glad people in Australia are reading the Quixtar BLOG. Maybe I should do an International Reader Mail once a month.
May 22, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 77
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail makes me wonder if Quixtar is a business opportunity or a marriage counselor or maybe even a dessert topping?
name: anonymous
date: April 15, 2006
message: i think the buisness is a wonderful thing and the friends you meet will impact you for the rest of your life.
i think all the people who are complaining about the buisness are the ones who ran and hid with their tails between their legs at the first hint of a storm!
don't bring everyone else down because you weren't strong enough to deal with all the positive and good things that are said about everyone if you would just stop and listen.
i know it has helped my marriage and my self confidence. you negative bloggers need to back off and not rain on the parades of ibos that still belive in a dream! GO DIAMOND!
I think Quixtar is both a business opportunity and a marriage counselor!
May 15, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 76
Posted by QBlog
This installment of Reader Mail deals with one of those hot-button issues, homosexuality. The author writes in wanting more information about how Quixtar relates to his particular lifestyle. As always, my comments appear in bold.
name: DM
date: March 20, 2006
message: HI Qblog,
I am a new IBO, recently joined in February and am very excited about the quixtar opportunity.
I am under Doug Weir between us are four upline/downline. I believe in the business and am part of one of the fastest-growing IBO teams anyone has seen (at least they are saying so). I am a 22 year old college student at a prestigious university and the business model made sense to me because of courses I had taken in Economic Geography, and as an Economic Development major, it all made complete sense to me.
That's great!
I also liked how many of my team members are Christians (not all) and that was something we have in common. However, something that concerns me is that I feel slightly uncomfortable about the relationship between this business team and my sexual orientation.
I just read a thread about gays/lesbians in quixtar and something about a Yager individual on your blogsite. I have been to one Weir team meeting & Nightowl meeting and although I did not hear any specific condemnations of homosexuality at the meetings, there were a few moments when I felt quite tense as it seemed that the speakers wanted to speak out against homosexuals but couldn't seem to muster up the courage to outright say anything specific.
However, there were several instances of innuendo concerning a negative feeling towards homosexuality. One speaker used the words "disgusting" and "sick" when beating around the bush about something he couldnt seem to say outloud. He also continuously repeated the phrase, "you can live any way you want to, thats youre choice... but". It seemed cowardish to me.
My limited experience with Quixtar was with people who believe homosexuality is a sin though I have encountered a few individuals online that are very friendly to the gay lifestyle.
Aside from those uncomfortable moments, I did meet one gentlemen who seemed to be flirting with me and who set off my "gaydar". So I felt encouraged that there was at least one other person there that shared my position.
I'm not sure setting off one's "gaydar" is the same as sharing a position. Gaydar isn't 100% accurate.
I also did a search for quixtar on myspace.com which has a very high ratio of glbt members. I found a few quixtar groups, but none of them had openly gay members in the groups. I just cant help but feel concerned about the erie feelings I have experienced with the BWW team.
It seems to me that the mistake that the recruiters are making is that they seem to be assuming that by recruiting Christian IBO's that they are creating a heterosexual empire, when in fact, many many homosexuals are Christian.
Really? I did not know this.
Personally, I have not discussed my sexual orientation with anyone in Quixtar simply because no one has asked. I am not ashamed of my sexual orientation and I have no problem discussing it with confidence and authority. I am the type of person who chooses not to acknowledge morons and stupid people who say stupid and moronic things. When people talk about homosexuality as if they know something about it when they do not, I simply do not acknowledge them. I suppose that by not engaging in a conversation with them about it when they bring it up that they then assume that I am heterosexual or that I am ashamed of my orientation.
Although I have no intention of allowing a controversy over my sexual orientation hinder me of growing my business and eventually going diamond, I still feel concerned and feel that it is appropriate for me to act with some caution when concerning this matter.
As far as my personal goals are concerned, I hope to find my soulmate/partner in this business and to go all the way to executive crown and perhaps get married if the laws of my country allow me to do so someday. I also believe in the sanctity of marriage. I believe that when you make a commitment, that commitment is for life.
Can't argue with that.
Thankyou for your time. Any updates on this topic will be greatly appreciated.
Unfortunately I don't have any updates. From my observations this isn't a topic that gets much attention in the Quixtar groups. It probably should but it doesn't.
Do any site visitors have feedback about your experience with homosexuality in Quixtar?
May 8, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 76
Posted by QBlog
This Reader Mail was certainly inspired by last week's post analyzing Quixtar prices. As you know, I'm not all that concerned with the price of the Quixtar products but obviously it's an issue with others like Brian.
name: Brian
date: May 4, 2006
message: Funny you write about the pricing system. Being as my wife (soon to be ex) is big into Quixtar, and I am very much NOT into Quixtar, I've done a lot of compariosns, like you said though, it's a different area, so prices are somewhat different.
We spent $54 on laundry detergent, and Dish Soap...that was it $54 for both those items, which would have runus maybe $20 for the same supply at a grocery store. When she was in charge of the budget, and directing a lot of cash into Quixtar for the house, we came up short EVERY month. We bounced checks, etc, etc.
When I took over the last 3 months we've had between $500-900 left free at the end of the month, and I'm no financial wizard.
90% of th products are horridly overpriced, and when you add in taxes, and shipping it gets ridiculous.
It comes down to payihng $1.50 for a 24 oz XS energy drink, or .79 for a 32 oz Powerade.
One thing I've also noticed about the people in Quixtar is that they always tried to tell prospective IBO's they did comparison shopping...and they did but they ALWAYS went to the highest priced stores possible, so the prices looked closer.
Anyway, keep up the great work.
The biggest indicator of whether or not Quixtar prices are competitive is how well they sell to non-IBOs on the open market. If the only people who see value in a case of XS are the IBOs who claim that self-consumption as revenue then it's possibly a poorly priced product. However, if non-IBOs are clamoring for the drinks then it's a good indication that the price is competitive.
April 17, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 75
Posted by QBlog
This Reader Mail tackles questions of privacy, ethics and the law. If true, this looks to be a clear violation of HIPAA though I'm no lawyer so I could be wrong about that.
name: Jade
date: February 27, 2006
message: I have a question about the soliciting of people in this quixtar business. The person whom contacted my now former husband and I got my contact info from my medical file. He is a doctor in our area. Can he really do this??
My ex is now "one of them in a big way" I joined and buy a little here and there. I refuse to buy cd mags and go conferencing. Just a question I would like your opinion on.
Thanks alot and have a great day.
J
So, what's your opinion? What would you tell Jade?
April 3, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 74
Posted by QBlog
This, my friends, is why I do this blog. There's something in it for everyone.
name: creylish
date: March 6, 2006
message: I wanted to tell you I appreciate that you have taken your time to maintain and work this site. I was angry at first, I will admit this, because someone I was interviewing for my team verbally attacked me because of the information he gathered from this site.
But, I have recently had a person tell me that BECAUSE of the comments I was ABLE to post got on board.
Freedom of speech is great, and I hope that we can take the information the critics give us and create a better Quixtar business!
My reply to creylish, "Great. Now you understand!" Do you understand?
February 6, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 73
Posted by QBlog
I decided to edit this week's Reader Mail because it quotes one of my own blog posts. Two paragraphs from the Quixtar Backbone Project have been shortened. Maybe it's not really editing if I remove my own words.
name: Jolene
date: January 28, 2006
message: Hi
A fairly new IBO from NS, Canada.
what you say here: "...I know, and have always known, that Quixtar is filled with wonderfully decent people working hard to make a better life for themselves and their families..."
I think that is amazing. That is us.
We've been in the business for about a year now but we haven't done much i must say. But we're learning. We've been busy and just ahven't had time - well- we thought we didn't - but after reading blog after blog and site after site talking about the system and the tools and the seminars etc etc...and how people make so much money OFF OF US - well - we remembered how in the beginning we decided that we didn't really want to go to seminars - sure we'd go to some - when we could - and we bought some tapes WE thought were good - off of ebay - and we truly believe in the business - and the better life - and THAT is what we think quixtar is about.
thanks for listening
Isn't that the essence of what Rich and Jay built years ago? Ordinary people building a business instead of participating in some sort of motivational movement.
January 30, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 72
Posted by QBlog
Not much else I can say to this Reader Mail besides "you're welcome."
name: Sarah
date: January 28, 2006
message: I'm sure you get tons of messages like the one about to send, but I have to. My husband and I were recently showed "the plan". I listened to the cds, and I was ready...woohoo...I am going to be rich.
Then I started thinking about all the questions we had...that were being avoided...every single one of them shows up your blog. You're insights are exactly what we are worried about.
Thank you so much for starting this and keeping it running. We have a second meeting tonight with our "sponsors" or "upline" tonight...and I can't wait to present these concerns to them. I will write more about what I find out.
I know that you are not trying to persuade anyone in either direction, you are just posting your opinions, and the truth, which is a whole lot more than I am getting from these people we just met a month ago who would like to be "our lifelong friends" in this wonderful "business". I cannot thank you enough.
Sarah
January 23, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 71
Posted by QBlog
I'm no expert on marriage but I'm betting Quixtar is not the best place to go for keeping a marriage alive. After all, it's just a business right?
As always, my comments appear in bold
name: sam p.
date: January 17, 2006
message: You are a man of no integrity.
Because I don't share Sam's affinity for an MLM I have no integrity? That's odd.
This business is the only thing that has kept my marriage alive.
I'm sorry but that's just sad.
I could care less about the money.
Good for Sam. If only Quixtar were filled with people who felt the same way!
You are not a nice man with no conscience.
Grammarians to the rescue!
I will pray for your Heart!! Im sure you will find him some day.
Sam
I'm hoping "him" is God and not some Quixtar-crazed IBO with a grudge.
That's all the Reader Mail this week! Thanks for reading and keep sending in your emails.
January 16, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 70
Posted by QBlog
This week's Reader Mail is from Julio R. and is a response to Reader Mail 66 from Luis H. The mail from Luis explains that his girlfriend is in Quixtar and he would like to convince her to be more skeptical of the business. Here's Julio's response:
name: Julio R.
date: December 19, 2005
message: Reference Luis and his girlfriend. I was an IBO with Quixtar for 2 years, and after returning from Hawaii this summer from a Lifestyle conference I said "this is it no more of this for me".My losess for the last two years amount to almost $20,000.00, must of it in functions, books and tapes(cd's) that did not teach me anything about how to market products, but pretty much on how to manipulate others into getting in a "business" that did not deliver what it preached. This expense, my friend Luis was not including buying those products from "my mart".
The largest check I received fro Quixtar was $699.00 after spending a large sum of money in order to qualify or a pin (what an idiot I am). The last check was for $4.20. I'm a Hispanic just like you so if you want to contact me , please feel free: (email address removed). You're doing the right thing by staying away from it.
By the way I was at 1500 pv an had a downline of 25 people. Gradualy they started to fade away because THEY WERE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY, specialy with this "pipeline concept" IT DOES NOT WORK! Again if you would like to contact me, feel free.
Good luck
Julio R.
I removed Julio's email address but if Luis or anyone else would like it, send me an email and I'll forward it to you.
January 9, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 69
Posted by QBlog
Juice Plus has hit my radar again.
date: January 5, 2005
name: Katie
message: Is Juice Plus and some water filter part of this whole corporation????
By "whole corporation" I assume Katie means Quixtar. No, Juice Plus is not part of Quixtar. Quixtar does sell an excellent water filter but I don't know if Juice Plus does.
I was first introduced to Juice Plus through some of my wife's friends at church. I know almost nothing about it though it seems to be affiliated with something called NSA.
Sites like MLM Watch take a "critical look" at the business. That's about all I know.
January 2, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 68
Posted by QBlog
A request for assistance.
name: kevin
date: December 29, 2005
message: Have you heard anything about groups filling the Georgia Dome with 100 diamonds. I was in Jerry Boggus's group a couple years ago and he told us all the God told him (Jerry) that He (God) was going to build 100 diamonds in Jerry's group and they would fill the Georgia Dome in September 2007.
Shortly after that announcement I went to a meeting held by Ron Hale and Ron was saying the same thing to his group. I quit the business shortly after that after wasting three years and $10,000 +.
Have you heard of this Georgia "Dome Diamond" prophesy thing.
Thanks.
kevin
Nope. I haven't heard of this at all. Maybe one of the QBlog readers can shed some light on this? Please leave a comment if you can help Kevin out. Thanks.
December 26, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 67
Posted by QBlog
This week's Reader Mail will hopefully clear up some confusion about Quixtar in Canada.
name: Jared F.
date: December 23, 2005
message: I agree with you on your views toward Quixtar. A few things: Amway is still Amway in Canada, but Quixtar in America with Alticor as the owner; the real problem with "the business" is the company that makes the tapes, etc like WWDB, WWG, etc.; I, somehow, live an impossible life because I love my j-o-b.
I believe that loving one's job is un-American but maybe Jared is Canadian. Regarding Amway in Canada, I think it is called Quixtar up north. That may explain the Quixtar Canada website.
But of course, I could be wrong. Anyone from Canada willing to shed some light on this for Jared?
December 19, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 66
Posted by QBlog
I have an idea. Why doesn't Quixtar make a "General Help" page where people can easily send questions and get real, honest responses (in a timely fashion)? Beth Dornan, Robin Luymes, are you listening?
As always, my comments appear in bold.
name: Luis H.
date: December 16, 2005
message: Pls. help! (just found your site)
My girlfriend has been attending Quixtar meeting for 4 months already and she wants me to join the "business" but I found your site and told her about it, she doesn't believe on anything else than the business.
She argues the products are good and money is coming back from purchasing them.
Help! questions: Why do people loose money?
People generally lose money because they spend more than they earn. I'm not trying to be a wise guy, it's simply true. Also, according to personal testimony, internal corporate documents and court records those at the top (Diamonds) receive most of their Quixtar-related income (70%-90%) from selling motivational and training material (tools) to those not making money.
Is there any help group in Los Angeles that can help to open her eyes?
No idea. Sorry. Anyone have any suggestions?
Any support for hispanics?
Again, I appeal to readers for suggestions.
hope you can help
I'm not much help here but maybe some readers can help out.
Seriously, if you out there have any idea of how to help Luis please send me an email or leave a comment. Thanks.
December 12, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 65
Posted by QBlog
Better late than never. This installment of Reader Mail is similar to many emails I receive, simply wondering what I really think about Quixtar.
name: Christy H.
date: December 9, 2005
message: Just curious about how you feel about the business - really. Or I guess I am curious about your wifes experience.
My Husband and I joined for a short time - spent alot of money on tapes/books/products and discovered that this business eats alot of TIME and MONEY at the beginning and that it would truly take a lot of both to build to the point that you are making anything.
And we also quickly realized that you would spend the rest of your life as a cheer leader to keep your "team" producing to maintain your income. The start up fee was painless but they get you in the cost of educating about the business. I guess it's great for some people but not if you have or want a life outside of Quixtar - like a family. Well, for what is worth that's my opinion, but I am curious about your experience.
Thanks
My wife has mixed emotions about her involvement with Quixtar. She truly believes that many of the Quixtar products are superb and of the highest quality. She would use them today if they weren't so expensive. However, she will also tell you that she probably won't get involved with the business again (even if I didn't run this blog) because she thinks there are better ways to spend her "free time."
I believe that Quixtar, like all male-dominated MLM businesses, is fundamentally flawed. There are no exceptions.
That doesn't mean that people building a Quixtar business are fundamentally flawed. In fact, many Quixtar IBOs are honest, respectable, hard-working Americans (and Canadians) trying to earn extra money for retirement, their children's college, a dream vacation or peace of mind. I genuinely admire those IBOs.
However, I also understand that there are some serious problems within Quixtar and many of the Lines of Affiliation. Some uplines use cult-like tactics to manipulate their downline. That is part of the dark underbelly of Quixtar.
But I don't want to jump on my soapbox right now and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the business. I think I've already explained my opinions on this blog over the past three years. The advice I always give people curious about Quixtar is to thoroughly research, ask lots of questions and treat it like a business instead of a hobby. I gave my sister that exact advice when Danny Snipes' son tried to recruit her into the business.
December 5, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 64
Posted by QBlog
I love thought-provoking emails and today's Reader Mail doesn't disappoint.
name: Mat
date: December 2, 2005
message: If you truely support the first amendment show others this site
Obviously I support the First Amendment. My love of Free Speech is one of reasons I publish this blog. However, I also understand that one of the realities of Free Speech is the need to embrace all types of rhetoric — including acrimonious and offensive comments.
Attack Blogs
The Forbes article, "Attack of the Blogs," that Mat referenced examines some of the more unsavory characters in the Blogosphere. Reporter Daniel Lyons details the case of Gregory Halpern, CEO of Circle Group Holdings, and describes how his business suffered after being attacked by a masquerading blogger.
Then the bloggers attacked. A supposed crusading journalist launched an online campaign long on invective and wobbly on facts, posting articles on his Web log (blog) calling Halpern "deceitful," "unethical," "incredibly stupid" and "a pathological liar" who had misled investors. The author claimed to be Nick Tracy, a London writer who started his one-man "watchdog" Web site, our-street.com, to expose corporate fraud.
It turns out that Nick Tracy was really an Oregon man named Timothy Miles who is facing SEC charges. Halpern and his business appears to be the victim of an old-fashioned smear campaign of the worst kind.
Lyons goes on to explain how many bloggers routinely victimize corporations like CBS, Microsoft and IBM. He also points out that sites like Google (with their Blogger.com service) allow people to post blogs with virtually total anonymity, encouraging vitriolic content.
Google and other services operate with government-sanctioned impunity, protected from any liability for anything posted on the blogs they host. Thus they serve up vitriolic "content" without bearing any legal responsibility for ensuring it is fair or accurate; at times they even sell ads alongside the diatribes.
Are All Blogs Vitriolic?
But is the picture really as bleak as Lyons paints? He admits that "attack blogs are but a sliver of the rapidly expanding blogosphere" and he's absolutely right. Bloggers do a lot of good, investigative work (remember Dan Rather?) and blogs provide a valuable publication tool to those living in oppressive regimes (Iranian bloggers).
And consider "attack blogs" that share the truth. They're not all partisan muckrakers out to destroy (Wal-Mart Watch blog) but many are simply consumer advocates supporting change in business, government or industry. And there's this to consider, blogs that libel or lie aren't protected by the First Amendment. It may be difficult to track down the author of an anonymous blog but even Gregory Halpern tracked down Timothy Miles.
Don't Break The Law
Bloggers need to follow the law while exercising their First Amendment rights. The EFF provides some guidelines for bloggers who may not understand defamation. Blogging is quite possibly the most powerful publication method in history so don't abuse that power, especially when covering controversial topics.
Obviously there will always be a few bad apples but you don't have to be one of them. Be responsible. Be accountable. Don't break the law.
November 28, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 63
Posted by QBlog
I believe most IBOs are rational, honest people who just want to make some extra money with Quixtar. Scott A. seems like one of those hard-working IBOs. My comments appear in bold.
name: Scott A.
date: November 22, 2005
message: I've just stumbled across your site and I must say that you've filled a very much needed gap in the quixtar debate. I've been an IBO for a little over a year now and can definitely appreciate the need for unbiased information on the web. Although I've seen some drastic improvements of late there is still a lot of ground to make up.
What type of improvements I wonder?
When I first saw the quixtar opportunity I spent about 7 weeks investigating the business before I decided to sign up. I've run a conventional business for years and wanted some straight shooting on the facts. I found it incredible how blatantly ignorant some of the nay-sayers were but I couldn't understand the hype of the pro-quixtar side.
I had a similar experience.
Eventually I signed up because of my now-sponsor, someone who you'd describe as part of the quixtar backbone. I haven't made any significant amounts of money and have only a small downline but the support of some good people like him has made a huge difference in my life over the last year.
I would guess that the majority of IBOs join because they like and respect their sponsor first and like the business opportunity second, or third. That's how Quixtar and Amway build their business — with relationships.
Having someone that I know is genuinely interested in my success and that I can call any time of day for advice is worth so much more than I could ever express. I had no idea that this was part of the business when I registered but don't know where I would be without it. There were days when knowing that I got to be around those people was the only thing that kept me going. The best part is that because they were there to support me when I wasn't doing anything I know that my efforts now will pay them dividends in the future and they fully deserve every penny they will ever get. I can proudly say that because of my association with them I have turned around my personal and professional lives and have a growing downline, which makes me even more excited because they stuck with me too.
Well, good for you.
Is the business for everyone: absolutely not. Is everyone in the business good: no, there are some bad apples. I can say though that this is the best group of people I've ever had the pleasure of being around and am very grateful that my sponsor had the courage to ask me if I was looking. If you'd like some people for your backbone project I'd love to help. I hope that it will help someone make the right decision, be it to register or to go on their own path, at least they'll know they did their due dilligence. Thanks again.
I sent Scott A. an email inviting him to participate in the Quixtar Backbone Project. I hope he accepts.
November 21, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 62
Posted by QBlog
Monday Reader Mail is back — and just a little tardy.
When I received today's featured email I thought it was a prank, some disgruntled anti-Passport guy trying to spread rumors about Bo Short. Turns out, the rumors are true, at least in part. I'm still trying to sort out all the details.
Anyway, here's this week's Reader Mail with my comments in bold.
name: Joe
date: November 19, 2005
message: Passport Online is dead! The man that bashed the MLM industry, the man that bashed Amway and Quixtar...
I really don't think Bo Short ever bashed the MLM Industry as a whole, though he has been publicly critical of some its practices.
...is going back into the so called MLM world that he left is shutting down Passport and trying to bring Passport Associates into his new personal Oasis Life Sciences downline. He states that he doesn't care about the money or titles but here he goes again.
This is an interesting point. Bo Short and Passport Associates emphasized the fact that there were no titles in the business. The lack of titles contrasted with the Emeralds and Diamonds of Short's previous MLM experience with Amway and Quixtar.
He is now trying to push a $1200 sign-up for the Oasis business opportunity.
Bo Short and Passport, What a joke!
I don't know about the $1,200 claim but some Passport Associates have complained that their uplines are "pushing" the most expensive Oasis Starter Kit.
The Story?
So, what's the story? I honestly haven't had time to research this very thoroughly so I'll provide a few links for you to try to sort all this out for yourself.
- Audio of Bo Short explaining the Oasis switch
- Letter from Bo Short to Passport Associates
- An inactive Passport Associate's report on the company's changes and his personal perceptions
- Distributor Force to Merge Into Oasis LifeSciences
- Passport and Team Oasis
- Oasis LifeSciences
- Team Oasis
- Open Forum discussion about Oasis and Passport
I should also mention that a number of former Quixtar and Amway Diamonds have joined Oasis LifeSciences. Joe Land left Quixtar last year to run his Oasis business. Marshall Douglas and John Terhune are part of Bo Short's new Oasis leadership team and also former Quixtar Diamonds from the Team in Focus.
If you have any additional information about this development please let me know.
October 31, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 61
Posted by QBlog
Well, things seem to be getting back to normal on the site so I'll go ahead and post a Reader Mail. This entry is very interesting and complex. The Reader, Robert, asks questions about the United ABLE Association and... well, just read the email and my comments that follow.
name: Robert
date: October 27, 2005
message: I came across your webpage while doing a little research on Quixtar based on a recent encounter with an unusual way of pushing the Quixtar "business". I work for a non-profit organization that works with people with disabilities. I was asked to attend a meeting for the "United ABLE Association", an organization that claims that it can provide resources and support for families with a disabled family member. They also have plans to build community centers that will be residential villages for families with disabilities.
From the moment the meeting started, I was suspicious. There was another person there that I knew, and she had the same feeling. There were a lot of vague promises, and talk of how to be become a "qualified" participant in their program. The process would begin by providing the names of friends and family members that might want to "participate", whatever that means.
In conversation after the meeting with the woman running the presentation, she admitted that it was tied in with Quixtar (these would be the "philanthropists" backing the scheme... I mean, the program). I never got more than vague answers on how the system worked, but was only told to come to the next meeting.
Their webpage also links to something called the "Smarter Shopper Network". While Quixtar isn't mentioned anywhere on this site, they do offer the "Gift" books I've seen mentioned in connection with Quixtar.
It seems like simply a recruiting tool to get people with disabilities into the system. While it may provide a "business opportunity" for them, I am amazed at how they go out of their way to never mention Quixtar in any of their on-line information.
Their webpage is full of promises for these "Eagle's Nest" villages, but they have yet to break ground on one.
I was wondering if you had come across anyone involved in this organization.
Thanks for the work you are doing!
You're welcome Robert and I hope I can help shed some light on this organization. I haven't found much but maybe it's enough to prompt others to share more.
Who's Behind It?
- The site werable.org is registered to Brian Bennett
- The site smartershoppernetwork.com is registered to Jonathan Bennett
- The site giftalbumchoices.com is registered to Lori Bennett
- Lori Bennett is listed as the primary contact on the United ABLE Association application page
- John Sestina, a prominent IBO, is quoted on the "How We Help page
What Is It?
It's difficult to determine what this site is all about. There's a definite connection to Quixtar with the use of the Gift & Incentive program but the details of that connection aren't clear. The about page explains a bit more:
The Bennett's gathered a group of philanthropists who have committed their wealth, expertise, and resources. Together, they created this organization and its unique sustainability program, with the result being an innovative concept that enables independence - for life!
As a sustainable organization, there is no need to hold fundraising events, beg the community for money, or get government funding. This unique funding program provides a perpetual, residual funding stream for the organization while directly benefiting children and adults with disabilities, and their families.
The Disclaimer & Approval
The Bennetts obviously understood that some would be dubious about their organization and so they offer the following statement on the Help Now page:
This is not a get-rich-quick, or a pyramid scheme. In fact, it's a business plan that has been approved by the government and is accessible to virtually anyone interested in operating an independent business. Thousands of individuals faced with a disability are already successfully using this business plan to improve their lives.
Sounds a lot like the sort of line one would hear from a Quixtar IBO. What's frustrating is that after searching around the Bennett's sites, I still don't have a clear grasp of what exactly their organization does. Maybe I'm missing the obvious but all I can conclude is that they're IBOs trying to help the disabled.
However, there's something very distressing about the ambiguity of the site. It's almost (dare I say it?) like they're trying to use the disability issue to build their Quixtar business. I'm not saying that's what's going on here but it's all very confusing when it should be crystal clear.
Call For Help
I'm asking you, dear readers, to shed some light on the United A.B.L.E. Association. See what I've missed and guide me in the right direction. Look around the sites, see what you can find. I want to be fair here and that's why I'm not drawing any conclusions, just asking questions and stating what a casual observer might conclude (just like Robert).
If you've had experience with this organization, maybe you could provide more detail. Thanks for your help.
UPDATE (Nov. 3, 2005): It's worth pointing out that the United A.B.L.E. Association websites (werable.org, smartershoppernetwork.com & giftalbumchoices.com) have undergone significant changes since Monday's post about the organization.
Some of the changes I've noticed:
- giftalbumchoices.com is now gone, replaced with an email link (anyone have a screenshot?)
- Smarter Shopper Network is now password protected
- The About Us page has been edited to remove the following:
As a sustainable organization, there is no need to hold fundraising events, beg the community for money, or get government funding. This unique funding program provides a perpetual, residual funding stream for the organization while directly benefiting children and adults with disabilities, and their families.
- The John Sestina (an IBO) quote is gone from the How We Help page
- The following disclaimer is now missing from the Help Now page:
This is not a get-rich-quick, or a pyramid scheme. In fact, it's a business plan that has been approved by the government and is accessible to virtually anyone interested in operating an independent business. Thousands of individuals faced with a disability are already successfully using this business plan to improve their lives.
Please let me know if you find other changes that I've overlooked.
October 24, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 60
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail comes from a newly disgruntled IBO. As always, my comments appear in bold.
name: James G
date: October 22, 2005
message: I became an IBO a month ago. I made it clear that I had very limited funds and it was all I could do to scrape together $160.00 to get in. Most everyone there at the meetings, except for the multi-millionaire doing the speech, was half my age. The speech was laced with little sexual comments to relate to the college age students that packed the room. Everything was one big "pep rally". Upon further investigation I found there is very little saving on products as stated, in fact, some are 2 or 3 time the price of similar products purchased elsewhere.
But you're getting PV/BV AC/DC BBQ on every purchase!
Everything was high pressure to get a list of my friends to start calling. When I was told I had to sell using a format which in reality was a combination of deception and baiting my friends, I started to ask questions.
That was your first mistake.
I was told not to think "negative" thoughts. I asked more questions about actual products for sale and prices, but got only a few token partial answers in order to satisfy my questions. I am 48 years old and have delt in sales and advertizing for most of that time and I know a sales pitch when I hear one, and I know deception when I hear it to. I tried to ignore it because the whole upline claimed to be Christians.
Is Quixtar a ministry or a business? I keep forgetting.
I finally had enough and said I wanted a total refund. I now find I have to make special request to two different people to get a refund. I have to pay to ship back items I did not order. The final straw was I had to talk to the multi-millionaire who talked to me like trash and told me, "I don't talk to stupid people (like you)." I listened as he was rude and told me I was a bad example of a Christian because I was poor and had a ill wife and that no one would want to be a Christian if I was the example.
Wasn't Jesus poor? I think he was a Christian.
He tole me he was responsible for saving thousands of people and wanted to know my head count of people I had saved.
I'm no theologian but I kinda thought God saved people, not man.
Quixtar is more of a cult that a business and I am not a lemming to follow along blindly while deceiving my friends in to this lie.
I assure you that your experience, while unfortunate, was unique and isolated to your specific group and is in no way indicative of other Quixtar Motivational Organizations.
Isn't sarcasm wonderful?
October 17, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 59
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail mentions media coverage of Quixtar. Unfortunately, there isn't much reliable media coverage about Quixtar and the general public is left searching for independent information. As always, my comments in bold.
name: Brian
date: October 10, 2005
message: I was approached by my co-worker's husband regarding the Quixtar "business opportunity" needless to say, I turned it down. He was very polite about it, telling me, "The business isn't for everybody" and then cautioned me against believing everything I read on the internet, because there's no system in place to enforce accuracy.
Such logic always cracks me up. What they really mean is "don't believe anything you read on the Internet unless it's positive towards Quixtar."
Thank goodness! Now I don't have to donate my money to all those nigerian businessmen.
For the real meat of this message, following his cautionary tale of dubious internet information, he told me to check out the Quixtar article that should be appearing in the Oct. 14th USA Today. While it might not be the king of journalistic quality, you might want to take a look at the article, and disseminate some justified feedback to your adoring (and sometimes unadoring) public.
Thanks Brian. I checked USA Today online and didn't find any articles about Quixtar. I know that Quixtar ran an ad in USA Today on October 7 (as part of the DSA advertising insert) but I don't see any articles. Maybe the article was only in the print version? Anyone have a copy of the October 14 USA Today?
October 3, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 58
Posted by QBlog
Who makes money in Quixtar. One inquisitive reader wonders if the motivational salesmen are the only money-makers in the Quixtar MLM.
name: Deb
date: September 28, 2005
message: Quixtar is Amway, or Amway is Quixtar. Isn't it true that only those affiliated with that business that sell their "motivational" tapes are the only ones making money?
Actually, a few people make good money from Quixtar without selling the motivational materials. However, the best way to achieve Extreme Freedom is to tap into the lucrative motivational business.
September 19, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: Hello There
Posted by QBlog
It's time for another installment of Monday Reader Mail. How exciting.
name: Mark
date: September 12, 2005
message: hello there.
That's it! That's the Reader Mail! Disappointed? I was too. And then I started really thinking about what Mark said in his very brief message.
He said "hello." A friendly greeting that one might expect between people meeting for the first time. A bit formal but very appropriate for an email. I thought of Mark typing that greeting and in my mind's eye he's smiling warmly.
And the "hello" is followed by "there," a sort of probing greeting that sounds almost like a question. Maybe Mark would like me to better define "there" for him or maybe he's highlighting the fact that I'm there and he's here?
Of course the real message isn't what Mark said, but what he didn't say. He didn't try to defend Quixtar as other emails did that day. Nor did he stoop to insults or ramble endlessly about his horrible disdain for Quixtar IBOs.
Mark is confident, sure of himself. He knows what he knows and doesn't feel the need to boast about it or try to convince others that he's right. He is also a poet, knowing that sometimes less is more.
That is why I think this Reader Mail should be remembered as one of the very best Reader Mails ever. Mark took the time to visit this site, write his message and email address and click submit — all to say "hello there." I applaud you Mark. You're an inspiration to me and to everyone out there reading this. THANK YOU!
September 12, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 57
Posted by QBlog
This Reader Mail is ripped from today's recent headlines.
name: Dan J
date: September 6, 2005
message: Have you been following the Doris Shaw story in Michigan? She and her husband went Diamond and EDC back in the late 90's. Turns out she was borrowing money and buying product, but defrauded people out of millions.You can find info about the case by searching on the Internet.
Dan J
I have been following the Doris Shaw story.
And now the August 29 headline from WoodTV proclaims that Doris Shaw stole millions, goes to jail for one year.
What Shaw did was con people, many of them elderly, to invest millions of dollars in a phony real estate scheme. In fact, she used their money to buy warehouses full of Amway products in an effort to become a major distributor.
You know, I think I'd do a year in jail for a few million bucks.
September 5, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 56
Posted by QBlog
This Reader Mail is unique because it comes from a blind "reader." As always, my comments are in bold.
name: N. C.
date: September 1, 2005
message: Hi there,
I've been approached by a person who is an IBO in Quixtar. My good friend has been in the business for short period of time. On your about page it says that the owenr of the site wasn't actively involved in the business. How does this justify the need to create this site?
There are many reasons this site was created but initially, it was because of my wife's involvement and I needed a place to express my thoughts, opinions and concerns about the business.
I'm really wondering because I am trying to find work. You see, I am legally blind, I don't know if you know anybody (or possibly yourslef) knows what that means. I saw this oppertunity to get a job (because when you're blind, it's VERY HARD to get a job). Discrimination has not completely exited the earth unfortunately.
I'm not doubting (at least not yet) that the blogs here are true pictures of people's stories... or experiences. As you said in your About page, Quixtar is a legitimate business.
Many of the stories are simply expressions of people's experiences with Quixtar. There are lots of stories that extol the wonders of Quixtar but those don't often find their way onto the average blog.
What if someone was to simply retail items, would that be a better way of approaching the business? I'm confused here, it's a legit business, but yet I keep seeing people who claim it's a cult or something of the sort.
Some people feel that it's a cult. Quixtar claims it's not.
Also, on one blog someone said that if you didn't sign up, they would be sarcastic to you (the people who presented the system) and "make fun" of you, or something of the type. I haven't expierenced this. Could you please help me out here.
I never really experienced this either but apparently it's what some have endured.
I'm honestry trying to make a good decision, and simply claiming things, or "venting" isn't any kind of proof of anything...
Nor is blindly (sorry, no pun intended) trusting everything said by an IBO to promote his business. Ask lots of questions. Do research. Demand answers and proof.
I'm not on either side here, I'm making a decision, so I'm not for this or against this... what can I get help with here?
P.S. Wow, WHO THE HECK sent you their credit card info? That's insane LMAO. What did they want to proove? Or Say? haha,
PEACE
"Take It Easy" (The Eagles)
cheers!
I'm glad N. C. is seeking more information about Quixtar. Maybe you can help?
August 29, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 55
Posted by QBlog
You remember the "Mysterious Meeting" right? And who can forget the "Curiosity Approach?" This week's Reader Mail shares one man's introduction to the phenomenon that made the word "Amway" a punchline.
name: Jason
date: June 22, 2005
message: Dear Qblog, I was approached by a Quixtar "Coach" in Barnes and Noble. I was interested in what he had to say. I met with him the other day. The potential of making alot of money is romantic. But at what cost?
There was alot of flash and bravado in the counseltation. I wanted to know more, he gave me a CD to listen. I listened to it. It seems like a AMWAY pyramid. I read some of your site and I interested to know your viewpoint. What are the pros and cons of this Business. It seems fruitful but i am skeptical.Any INFO would be great.
Thanks,
JAson
My viewpoint is pretty well laid out on this blog. What I tell people is to do research, ask lots of questions and demand to see everything in writing. It's good to be skeptical.
August 22, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 54
Posted by QBlog
Reader Mail is back! This week's entry is straight from the Quixtar playbook complete with references to the BBB, the alleged "thousands of lawyers" and ambiguous income claims! As always, my comments appear in bold.
name: Richelle
date: August 19, 2005
message: Just one man's perception is exactly right.
Yeah, that's right. What other perceptions are there? I suppose there's a "woman's perceptions" and maybe "hive-mind perceptions" if Richelle is part of a collective intelligence like the Borg?
I guarantee that this one man has never taken the time to actually understand how quixtar works. And obviously this one man has nothing better to do with his life than to sit on the computer and get upset about a group of people using a system to do something with their lives and make some money.
Well, if that "group of people" actually made money this site probably wouldn't exist. What's that average income again? Before taxes and expenses and not including healthcare and retirement? $1,380 per year? Wow!
I wish you guys understood that Quixtar is nothing more than a vehicle to do something successful, just like your job is to you. Except I make lots more money than your job makes for you. :)
Notice the veiled income claim? Richelle has no idea how much money I make and doesn't offer personal numbers for comparison but still uses the opportunity to make derogatory assumptions. Anyone care to join Richelle in this game of speculation and guess how much money he/she is making each month from Quixtar?
It's about helping people be successful, and what's wrong with that? If you truly understood what you where talking about, and what this group of people is all about, you would understand that.
I guess you'd rather sit on the computer and criticize other people who have a dream of doing something significant with their lives, than doing something significant yourself.
More assumptions. Actually I stand at the computer. I realize it's odd but I like to stay on my feet.
Have you looked at what the BBB has to say? How about Dunn and Bradstreet? What about Forbes? How about the thousands of lawyer teams that all of our partner stores have had investigate our company before putting their names behind ours? Do you think Officemax or Barnes and Noble, or hundreds of other stores would risk their reputation by supporting us if we where a SCAM? Get the facts before you make a judgement call, and before you try to tell other people how to think.
Sincerely,
RichelleQuixtar IBOs are in deep poopy if they're relying on the lawyers at OfficeMax and Barnes & Noble to ensure the legitimacy of their business.
And for those who like to read, check out what Forbes has to say about Amway and Quixtar:
On a personal note, thanks to all you QBlog readers for sticking around when I wasn't around so much. You're what makes this blog worthwhile... even you Richelle.
August 1, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 53
Posted by QBlog
Better late than never.
name: James
date: July 28, 2005
message: Thanks for this blog! I had a quixtar meeting at my Apt. last night. And thanks to your blog that guy is never coming to my place again.-James
Well, you're welcome... I think.
July 25, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 52
Posted by QBlog
Screw the 70% Rule. It's too complicated to understand. It makes my head hurt. Just don't fill your garage with products and you'll be fine. Right?
name: Jerry
date: July 21, 2005
message: Ok, I've been getting the pitch. When I brought up the 70% rule they chuckled.When I explained the The Mich Att. Gen made it clear this was a very important point to make a MLM legal, I was told that the AG didn't know what he was talking about. That nobody sells, you just buy what you need.
things that make you go hmmmmm.
What the hell do those Attorneys General know about Multilevel Marketing anyway?
July 11, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 51
Posted by QBlog
To prove that not all Reader Mail is filled with obscenity-laced diatribes I offer the following submission from Joy Z. No, not Jay-Z but Joy Z.
name: Joy Z.
date: July 8, 2005
message: I came across your website and I am so happy I did. I feel like I am not the only one who is experiencing the after effects of the Quixtar experience. I too was an IBO and I walked away from it. I only wish I did it sooner.
Still, I can not find the words to explain the experience, its sort of like those good dream bad dream experiences of "What the hell was I doing there?" Anyway, thanks for reading this so far. Have a great day. You're doing a good thing here. I will keep reading your blog. Best wishes!!
Thanks Joy Z. Glad you like the blog. Have a safe and pleasant day.
July 4, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 50
Posted by QBlog
Happy Independence Day America! This week's Reader Mail is from a cartoonist who wants to share his comics with the QBlog readers.
name: Francois T.
date: June 27, 2005
message: Hello ! I've been following your blog for a while, and I saw you have comics going on. I've recently started making my own comics, and I made some about Amway. If you want to check them out, here they are:
- Draw Those Circles
- One Book To Rule Them All
- And In The Darkness Bind Them
- The Madness of Crowds
- Newfound Riches
I thought you might get a kick out of them. I also have a list of my comics at Insolitology.
Enjoy and don't blow off any important digits as you're celebrating the holiday.
June 27, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 49
Posted by QBlog
Sometimes Reader Mail can be almost poetic in its simplicity and profundity.
name: Toya
date: June 25, 2005
message: What Do you do for a living now that you're not in quixtar.
That's great question even if it doesn't end with a question mark. What do I do for a living now? Well, let's see. I have bright red grocery cart full of cans that I push around while asking motorists for spare change. Sometimes I sit in the park and scream at the pigeons because I know their dark, insidious secrets. And occasionally I stop by the local library to freshen up, post to this blog, answer emails and read Highlights for Children.
Indeed, my life has taken a downward turn since my exit from everyone's favorite MLM but this is the life I've chosen and I make due the best I can. Thanks for writing Toya!
June 20, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 48
Posted by QBlog
I haven't inserted my own comments in the last few Reader Mails so I'm making up for it with this one. Enjoy and, as always, my comments appear in bold.
name: Cliff
date: June 17, 2005
message: Mr. whoever you are.
Looks like somebody didn't follow the instructions on the contact page.
This is one man's perception but obviously not a good one. Go to the ftc and you'll find that it found that neither amway nor quixtar is a pyramid scam. There is no substantial investment and I've never been lied to.
My "upline" put everything infront of me in the begin and I was quite ok with everything he said. By definition, a pyramid is a scam where all money flows to the top. So whomever is in earliest get's the most money. I know this to be quite untrue in this business because I make more money then the 2 people who are in my direct line of sponsorship above me.
Actually, the FTC definition differs slightly. It says, "In pyramids, commissions are based on the number of distributors recruited. Most of the product sales are made to these distributors - not to consumers in general."
I see you are a little upset because of you inability to perform such tasks. This is not an attack but one must question why one man would go through all the trouble of getting a web blog page, paying for it, just to say negative things about it.
It's really not much trouble at all and it's much cheaper than golf.
I absolutely love this business, make very good money and it's only getting better and I've only been in a year. I don't care that there are a bunch of people above me making hundreds of thousands of dollars becaus in the end they're helping me pay off $41,000 of debt in school loans that I didn't have the money to pay off working as an certified public engineer.
In reality, there aren't that many people above you making hundreds of thousands of dollars per year from Quixtar. According to Quixtar's own numbers, there are less than three thousand people who could even earn $75,000 per year. As that annual income increases, the potential pool decreases.
I'm sure if you and your wife were strong enough to make any money with the business, you wouldn't have any this. How about you make a blog about enron, usair, southwest or the local elementary school teachers getting laid off. How about the government and the ridiculous war that's going on. May about the colombine shoot years ago, terrorism or any of the other negative stuff that's going on in this country and world wide.
Coincidentally, all the people running blogs about the subjects just mentioned are asked why they don't run a blog about the evils of Quixtar or multilevel marketing?
This is the first business I\'ve seen that actually helps people in more ways than just riches. I've found God, my girlfriend, great friends, mentorship, direction and focus because of this. You tell me at you job that your boss is showing you how to make more money than him or your co workers want to actually see you become their boss? Probably not, your boss wants to always be your boss and you co-workers want to make sure you never pass them and won't ever lift a finger to see you succeed in life out of pure jealousy. I see this at my job everyday but that's to this business I won't see if after 2005. I'm retiring at the age of 25 and will never work a job again.
Good for you.
My children will never see their dad go to work a day in their lives.
I'm not entirely convinced that's a good example to set for children.
I'll be the one raising my children and not some day care. Again, I'll stand by this business forever and I'm proud to be an IBO.
Glad to make your acquaintance Cliff.
I'm always concerned when people speak in absolutes about businesses. "Stand by this business forever" is a long time. Things change. People change. Businesses change. Oh well, I'm sure Cliff knows what he's doing.
June 13, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 47
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail is a bit of a departure from the norm. It features an email from Don Hargraves, one of the original Amway/Quixtar website operators.
name: Don Hargraves
date: June 12, 2005
message: Just so you know, I've started a blog of my own. At present it's formless, I plan on letting the topics develop on their own.
Anyway, here it is: An Outsider in Saul Alinsky's World
And your blog is in my list of blogs - the first one on that list, in fact.
It's cool that he's blogging. I usually don't link brand new blogs like this because so many just start up and quickly fade away but I have confidence that Don's will continue for quite a while.
Don has been following the Quixtar BLOG since the beginning. It was his encouraging emails in those early days that helped convince me that maintaining my blog was worth the effort.
For those that don't know, before this blog there weren't any blogs about Quixtar. None. Zilch. Nada. Just a bunch of websites similar to Don's Memory Hole and a couple of message boards. So, I was concerned that people seeking Amway/Quixtar information just wouldn't "get" blogging. In fact, for a long time I had a big "blog explanation" on the main page to define blogging for newcomers.
Anyway, Don's blogging and his efforts look promising. If you've ever spent time at his other site you'll see that he's a pretty fascinating guy. So go check out An Outsider in Saul Alinsky's World and say howdy to Don.
June 6, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 46
Posted by QBlog
I assume today's Reader Mail is from a Quixtar IBO but I sincerely hope that I'm wrong.
name: rob
date: May 21, 2005
message: What a stinking negative bag of shit you are? Why don't you go and help some people, those who are hungry, needy, downtrodden people. You will get all the curse in the world for trying to tarnish a honest company which gives an opportunity to people to succeed.
You don't mind being loyal to Colgate toothpaste for the rest of your life without even a thank you note from them; you don't mind paying retail and sending Macy's owners to hawaii and pay for some one else's divorce with your consumer money; your mouth is full of dog shit. Go and kill yourself.
Your existence is a waste of space. Do atleast 1/1000000th of what Bill Gates has done to this world God will give you some blessings. If you cann't do good, don't do harm. You LOW SELF IMAGED stinking ass hole. Why don't you shut both--your ass hole and your cakehole. WASTE OF SPACE!!!
Be thousands of curses be showered on YOU!!!
After reading that profane rant all I can do is chuckle and shake my head. And if "rob" is an IBO I'd probably pay money to see him show the plan.
May 30, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 45
Posted by QBlog
This week's Reader Mail brings up an interesting question, and it's not the question being asked by the reader. The question is for Quixtar and its wonderful IBOs — why is the reader asking ME about refunds and not you? I think I know the answer and you can read it after Brian's email.
name: Brian
date: May 14, 2005
message: Thank you for setting up this page. I wish I had looked into this about a week ago, BEFORE, I became an IBO. The whole thing is definately a sham. I'm just curious if there is any way to get some money back. The refund policy seems to be really shady. I dropped about $150 for everything, and I realized I'll probably have to eat it, but anything I can get back would be great. Thank you for any info
Ok, here's what I think is the most likely answer to the question I posed above — Brian feels deceived and doesn't trust that Quixtar or the wonderful IBOs will give him an honest answer. And if I'm right about Brian, then it's a sad, sad commentary about Quixtar.
May 23, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 44
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail demonstrates that people do not appreciate being deceived.
name: Robert C.
date: May 16, 2005
message: First, I have no idea what "bloggin" is. All I know is a few things. First, I believe in the efficacy of network marketing. Secondly, I've been involved in the "old" Amway - tired of the order pick-up, prepay, and attempting delivery and gettin paid by my customers.
I bought in to Amway because of an incredible presentation which captivated me until I thought (then confirmed) I heard the word Amway.
Now, (May, 2005) I am contacted by a friend about this "new" e-commerce business. Quixtar being the marketing "agency" behind it. The more I listen and learn, the more I suspect as well as communicate to the "mentor" "coach" who chastises me for trying a multitude of network marketing companines, I say to him "this sounds remarkably like Amway." Only today *(May 16) do I discover that this so called new company is in fact the "New" Amway. Disgust and dissappointment.
If there is nothing to hide nor be ashamed of re Amway, why the dammed (sorry) secrecy and deception of calling and naming it what and as it is?
I just want to get straight answers to legitmate questions before I give it all up to pursue my own dreams (sound familiar?).
I just want a legitimate e-commerce business that I can be proud of and not be ashamed of mentioning its real name.
Any help and or advise would be most appreciated.
Sinderely,
Robert C.
Unfortunately, I have no advice except to say that Robert should fully educate himself in all aspects of e-commerce and multilevel marketing. I imagine the MLM crowd will advise that Robert join their MLM because it's different, unique and immune to the problems and deception that Robert seems to detest. With that said, what advice would you give to Robert?
May 16, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 43
Posted by QBlog
This week's Reader Mail selection speaks for itself.
name: Ryan H.
date: May 6, 2005
message: What a joke this whole web site is.
If you didn't make in Amway or Quixtar and want to play Blame Someone Else, this is the place. Wah Wah Wah!!! Someone made money off tapes, books & funtions. They should of charged you weenies $1000.00 for your registration then maybe you could a appreciate the system & take your bus. serious.
Maybe you should of signed up for Excel. Then tranferred your group to Shaklee.
Get real you cry babies, look in the mirror and take some responsibility for your lot. Quite blaming others you IDIOTS. Business' fail every day in this world. Suck it up!
Wah! Hey guess what, Alticor grew again last year. Hah. Still legal, still selling awesome products & still a profitable business if you work at it. Networking or Retail. What ever way you choose.
I'm Out
Sounds like Ryan's a true leader. If only he knew how to spell.
May 9, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 42
Posted by QBlog
I generally don't edit Monday Reader Mail but the length of today's installment demanded that I make some minor corrections and style edits to preserve the intended flow of the email. My comments appear at the end.
name: Scott N.
date: Mayu 6, 2005
message: I feel compelled to share the experience that I had last night with Quixtar. Let me begin by saying that to this point I have not made a decision about the relative advantages/disadvantages about this company. I was however a little disappointed by their approach to me. I spent many hours in Communication Studies courses while completing my college degree and these classes helped me to see what these people were trying to do to me. I would like to share this information with others so that they may be aware of what the initial meeting will be like or so that in retrospect they may have an understanding of manipulative tools that were used on them.
To begin, when I was approached the offer was made for the "member" to pick me up, this was done so that the "guest" will sacrifice their freedom to leave if the meeting becomes uncomfortable or they decide it is not for them (thankfully I passed on the ride). Once arriving at the meeting location we were quickly ushered through a twisting path of hallways at the facility (in this case a hotel and convention center not associated with Quixtar). The trip though was longer than it needed to be and I feel that this was also done to confuse the "guests."
Once we (the guests) arrived in the meeting we discover that everyone there was dressed in suits and ties (or comparable formality for the ladies) while all the guests were dressed casual to say the least (blue jeans and T-shirts in most cases). This is used to make the guests feel out of place by being underdressed. At the time that we walked into the meeting we were separated from the members that we knew and were placed in the front row of the meeting. This was done to again make the guests feel out of place and to stop them from leaving in the event that this meeting was not for them.
Next we were introduced to our speaker, John Doe (have no idea what his name was), who was of course the owner of a multi-million dollar business. He began by finding things in common with each of the guests, this is done to make him be perceived by each guest as much like the individual guest, making his message be received better. This process was used mainly in the beginning of the lecture but was also applied through the entire talk.
Once the speaker began, he promised to take 45 minutes of our time (which was in fact 2 hours) to tell us about his glorious experiences as a business owner (by the way the name of the company, Quixtar, did not come up until the last 5 minutes). Throughout the lecture he informed us of the glory of his company and how poorly we were all doing because we had regular jobs and not one of these companies. The main focus of the lecture (approximately 1.5 hrs of it) was focused on how bad we were all doing and how great he was doing.
Some of the manipulation devices he used during his lecture were as follows.
Get them saying yes, he would get on long lists of questions to which the answer was yes (from his point of view) and would be supported by the members saying yes behind us as every answer and then end with something like "Wouldn't you want to own one of these companies?" This was done to convince the guests to follow the group.
Also he would keep falling back to how much money he has while feigning humility, this was an attempt to establish himself as an expert while also keeping likeability.
He dropped names of very large companies who were involved with this and informed us that "We don't need to research the company because those companies all did their research and they have more resources than we do." This was again an attempt to keep people from making an informed decision on their own and an attempt to site credible experts. He also said this in a demeaning manor as if patronizing those who would doubt what he says. This was in a parental "because I said so" manner which is another attempt to take control of the encounter.
When he finished his discussion of why we could not possibly want to go against his wishes he began to get the real nuts and bolts of the company and how it works. The only problem is this part of his lecture was filled with loose ends, incorrect math, and contradictions. He began by breaking down the returns that could be expected from this business. However when beginning calculations he did not remove the start up fee (which was cut in half over the course of the lecture). When this was pointed out to him, he was not happy and patronized me directly for caring about a measly 300$ (which at this time was down to 120$). He then went on to display the amount of one time bonuses plus expected returns, which were then all lumped together to develop an expected yearly salary. This number was then used to make projections for coming years incomes (even though it included one time bonuses). In the middle of this he stopped to discuss a points system which was never truly defined or explained. I personally believe this was used to confuse the issue of the math that was being used, sort of a bait and switch approach to the topic.
At the very end he informed us that this was an "elite" organization and he would not let just anyone join. Talking about how he would only accept those people whom he felt it would be safe to have around his family. This was done in an attempt to pull all the other manipulations together. If you have accepted him as similar to you, allowed him to be your friend, and viewed him in a parental manner then it is the next logical step that you would want him to like and trust you.
Once this lecture was completed we got some "success stories" about how great it was to own your own company and how silly we all were to be willing to get up and go to work for someone else. At this point in time they called a "brief intermission" with more to follow. People from the back of the room started advancing on the guests and pinning them in small groups so that the guests would be exposed to additional stories about how great the program is.
Seeing what was happening I exercised my opportunity to leave before I too was collected in the one of these small pep rallies. As I said in the beginning, I personally have not made a decision about this program. I will be conducting my own research on the matter, in fact that is how I came to find this website, but I feel that it is important to be up front and honest with people at all times in all things. I do not feel the meeting was honest and to that end puts these people on an uphill path to convince me.
I felt it was important for those people who were exposed to this sort of meeting without the
benefit of training in the field of communications studies to have a full understanding of what was
done to them and for what reason.
Well, if you got through all that then you'll probably recognize some of the things Scott mentions. Like Ryan, my journalism training helped me to recognize some of the manipulative marketing tactics used while "showing the plan" and probably explains why I was never impressed with Quixtar or its IBOs. Have you recognized similar tactics at Quixtar meetings? Have you recognized such tactics relating to other businesses and if so, which types?
May 2, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: Special Edition
Posted by QBlog
Today's installment of Reader Mail is expanded to accommodate its uncharacteristic length and format. Generally, the Reader Mail series features a single email and my comments. However, this particular installment consists of several email exchanges between the Reader (Bob) and me. Bob's messages will appear in blue. I have not edited any of the emails except to correct some grammar and protect identities. Also, Bob's email display name was Jim S. which explains my confusion about his name.
My reason for doing this Special Edition is that the communication between me and Bob encapsulates my experience with many Quixtar IBOs, including my wife's former upline. In fact, the frustration that resulted from similar communications while my wife was still in "the biz" served (in part) as the impetus for this blog.
Finally, before getting to the emails, I would like to thank Bob for actually responding to my messages. It's unfortunately rare that someone replies to my questions and I was delighted that Bob took the time to engage in a dialogue.
name: Bob
date: April 26, 2005
message: Hi Ed. I was checking out your site and noticed in your About section you claim to be unbiased and try to maintain objectivity with regards to Quixtar. But all of the links listed on the first page are definitely anti-Quixtar. Blogs, news reports, everything... Do you need some links for all of the positive stories out there from reputable sources? I can send you some in the interest of "fair and balanced" reporting if you wish.
Let me know what you think, and have a great day!
Bob
name: QBlog
date: April 28
message: Hi Bob,
I would very much like for you to send me some links to all the positive stories
out there from reputable sources. Send them to me and I'll post them all on
my blog.
Thanks,
Eric J
name: Jim S.
date: April 28
message: That's nice to hear... hopefully some of them make it to the first page:
- quixtarfacts.com
- ibofacts.com
- quixtarresponse.com (response to the Dateline link you have)
- internetretailer.com (Lists some partner stores whose lawyers think it's a good idea to link with Quixtar)
- stores.org (Quixtar #7 online)
- Business 2.0
Quixtar has been a leader in online Health & Beauty for years. In the "Numbers" section of its December 2001 issue, Business 2.0 ranked Quixtar #1 in sales for the online Health & Beauty category, with 20.5% of the estimated $1.45 billion market segment. Based on the analysis of Nielsen/NetRatings and Harris Interactive eCommercePulse, Quixtar was ranked ahead of Drugstore.com (12.2%), Merck-Medco.com (5.7%), Avon.com (4.5%). and MaryKay.com (4.1%).
That should be good for now. Not saying Quixtar or its people are good or bad, but I've done years of research on this company, and most legitimate sources are positive to it. The negatives are former IBOs and media sources, typically.
I'll be interested to see your links page in the future.
Bob
name: QBlog
date: April 28
message: These are your reputable sources? These are your stories? This "should be good for now?"
You sent me three general links to sites run by Quixtar or its IBOs, a link to InternetRetailer’s 6 month old, three paragraph blurb announcing partner stores and a link to Business 2.0’s home page (which makes no mention of Quixtar). This is the best you can do? You’re not impressing me Jim.
So you’ve done "years of research on this company" and this is what you come up with? Ok, here’s the "positive" that I’ve come up with after over two years of researching this business:
- I have a link to a Quixtar employee run blog on all my pages (including my home page)
- I have a link to a blog run by a Quixtar IBO on all my pages (including home page)
- My News page includes links to five blogs sympathetic to Quixtar (2 run by IBOs and 3 run by employees)
- There are the following links to various posts on my blog that have something
positive or neutral to say about Quixtar:
Positive Things About Quixtar
Trying To Figure Out The Truth
Single Day Sales Record
Amway Sales Growing
Sometimes People Make Sense
Why I Don't Hate Quixtar
I Like SA8
Bless Orrin Woodward's Site Redesign
Interview With IBO Systems
Jennie Loves Quixtar
RedStar Is Live
Quixtar BackBone Project
Record Day
All of the "March Of Perceptions" series
Now THAT should get you started. There’s a bit more on my blog if you’re interested. And to be quite honest, my blog is possibly the world’s largest repository of unbiased and totally independent collection of positive or neutral stories and information about Quixtar.
By the way, my name’s Eric not Ed.
- Eric J.
name: Jim S.
date: April 28
message: Wow... those blog links of yours sure are reputable. Um, who are they?
Or is this your way of saying you won't put the links up to offer balance. If you have a negative article from Dateline, perhaps you should put Quixtar's response up as well. Instead, you have a collection of blogs and opinionated editorials.
Count the beans, they don't add up. You can't with a clear conscience think that it's balance.
name: QBlog
date: April 29
message: Jim (or is it Bob?),
You’re obviously missing my point. Your original statement called into question the volume of "positive" content from reputable sources linked from my blog. I have scoured the Internet for such content for over two years and wanted to see what you found that I missed. Your response was not what you promised. They weren’t stories and from reputable sources. If you want to argue about what qualifies as a reputable source, we can do that but generally the content produced by a company about its own business is considered biased.
There are other issues as well:
- I’ve searched the Web for over two years and haven’t found many "positive stories" about Quixtar. What I do find, I post on my blog. I suggest you follow the links I submitted. You’ll see that some of them are posts that link to OTHER sources. And sometimes when I can’t find positive stories from reputable sources, I create my own. My challenge to you remains, please send me links to positive stories about Quixtar from reputable sources.
- You questioned my ability (and willingness) to link to content that was positive about Quixtar. My response provided links and examples of how I do link to positive content, repeatedly. I might contrast that with Quixtar’s unwillingness to link to independent sites that pose tough questions.
- Your response here is telling. Instead of replying in kind, with a host of links as you promised, you attempt to bait me into posting your links (all of which I already link to on my blog except for the Internet Retailer link) and frame it as a question of conscience. Interesting strategy but not one I’m entirely unfamiliar with.
I suggest you spend some time researching the Web and my blog to become better educated. Those who have put in the time and effort generally understand that I strives to be a voice of fairness and independence on my blog.
I still want those links.
Thanks,
Eric J.
name: Jim S.
date: April 30
message: Eric,
It's Bob. I must apologize, I didn't follow the blog links because I don't really
pay much attention to uncorrobarated opinions. I went to your site because it's
the first that pops on Google, and wanted to be familiar with it.
As for links to stories, the majority of reputable business sources i.e. Business 2.0, New York Times, Hoover's Online, etc. are subscription sites. Any links I send you won't work. Nor will I send you the articles and violate copyright or my subscription ToA. I might recommend yourself subscribing to those three sources as a start and do some research there. As we both know, anything free is worth what you pay for it.
I also know this. John Maxwell, an acclaimed author on the topic of leadership and who happens to have the most shelf space at Barnes & Noble, went on record stating, "Among all of the businessmen and leaders that I have the pleasure of knowing, there is nobody that I respect more than Ron Puryear [head of World Wide Group]."
John Sestina has gone on record on tape stating that aside from a military or govt. pension, there is no better method of long term wealth than the Quixtar business. Frank Feather, noted futurist, has gone on record stating that Quixtar will be one of the 5 largest online buisnesses in the world. Dr. Bill Quain, professor of marketing For the University of Florida has written books on Quixtar and its benefits.
And probably my favorite endorsement comes from a man named Glen Wilson. He is a retired Secret Service agent of 20 years and now the CIA Agent in Charge for southern Arizona and Mexico. He did research on this business with capabilities we don't have, through DoJ, DoD, FCC, FTC, Secret Service archives, and others. He stand by this business as well.
So, given that list of individuals who support Quixtar and have something to lose financially by their support, I'll trust them, and not some guy who sets up a blog on the Internet. No offense intended to yourself or other bloggers. There just isn't the same respect or possibility of loss behind the claims that you make.
Bob
name: QBlog
date: April 30
message: Bob,
Please provide links or detailed bibliographical references for all the quotes,
material and claims that you make. There is no copyright violation to send links
to subscription services and I subscribe to all of them that you list.
Also, why would you complain about my lack of links if you’re claiming that it’s impossible to link to those sites anyway? If you send me what I ask, I’ll publish it. Just pointing out that you changed from your earlier position of claiming to know of "links for all of the positive stories out there from reputable sources."
You haven’t sent me links and I’d like those links. If links aren’t possible (in the case of a book or non-online industry journal) then a detailed bibliography will suffice (I’m assuming you know how to compile a compliant bibliography but if not, let me know and I’ll send you instructions).
What I’m basically asking for is corroboration of your claims. And no offense is taken, I’m just asking you to prove your claims. I look forward to your reply with the proof.
Thanks,
Eric J
name: Jim S.
date: April 30
message: http://www.team-kmi.com/headlines.php3
name: QBlog
date: April 30
message: Thanks Bob,
Though I’m not quite sure what you sent me. I asked for detailed sources
and you sent me a link to a headlines page, that contained no references to
any of the content you mentioned previously (that I could find). However, I
continued to search through the site to see if there were other spots that contained
what you promised and came up empty. Can you be more specific please?
Thanks,
Eric
name: Jim S.
date: May 1
message: Apparently that link didn't contain what you wanted? referenced new articles and endorsements? I guess I'm not quite sure what you want then.... sorry.
Bob
name: QBlog
date: May 1
message: The linked page contains the headlines of five articles dating back from Sept. 2003 to July 2001. None of the articles mention Quixtar and therefore, can’t have a positive story about Quixtar. To be sure we’re looking at the same thing, I see the following headlines (one isn’t linked so I won’t include it):
- USA Today - September 15, 2003 - Middle class barely treads water
- MSN Money - April 28, 2003 - Is $1 million enough to retire on?
- NY Times - Aug 17, 2001 - Dell Loses $101 Million for Quarter
- NY Times - Jul 12, 2001 - Yahoo loses $48 million in the first quarter
- NY Times - Jul 06, 2001 - Jobless Rate Rises to 4.5% as Economy Remains Weak
The endorsements do not reference any of the quotes you mentioned below, at least not from what I could find from my review.
Basically, what I’m wanting is the detail you promised (by implication) to provide. For example, if I say that there’s a story about the new Apple operating system at CNN.com, you may search for quite some time and never find the exact story I’m referencing. You may find a story about Apple, but for us to communicate clearly we must be sure that we’re reading the same story.
The best way to ensure such clarity in communication is for me to be as specific as possible. To do that I would provide a link to the exact story or directions on how to get to that story and possibly some context of why that story is important. CNN Link - Discusses the new Mac OS
However, you have given me nothing but general directions.
"How do I get to the theater?"
"Drive that way."
"Which way?"
"That way."
"Do I turn? Which street should I look for?"
"Guess I’m not sure what you want then, sorry."
My point is that you initiated this dialogue by implying that you knew (with a certainty) of positive stories about Quixtar from reputable sources. Yet I’m having a very difficult time getting links or bibliographical references to such stories. Either you were overstating and exaggerating to begin with or you were simply lying or maybe you were stating something that you didn’t know to be true for yourself?
Whatever the case may be, I’d really like the material you indicate is out there. If you say it’s there, let’s see it.
Thanks,
Eric
April 25, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 41
Posted by QBlog
It's Monday. Time for Reader Mail.
name: John C.
date: February 1, 2005
message: I really love following your blog. It's composed of really worthwhile material that makes people, and the average IBO (ok, how about the IBO that knows in the back of his mind that it's a scam) think about what they are involved in.
My wife and I signed up for Quixtar in March of 2004 and we ran hard for six months. We hit 1000pv once by buying 600 points ourselves (and were praised for it). After my second function (Summer Conference/Family Reunion), it was my wife's first, I started doubting the whole thing. There were no facts to back things up, just idiocy and fallacies like "if the dream is big enough the facts don't count". We were running up debt and had absolutely no free time. I stumbled upon this site and Scott Larsen's site and read them thoroughly.
For the sake of fairness I read just about everything I could find online about Quixtar. The negative outweighed the positive by far. It was interesting that my upline could not give me any answeres to the questions I posed other than "You shouldn't believe what you read on the Internet, it is the bathroom wall of the world". That's funny, I didn't know the IRS, FTC, etc. resorted to communicating on a bathroom wall. Anyway, at that point I ceased all involvement in the business, but my wife carried on because some of the upline ladies had their claws deep in her. They told her that they'd love her no matter what and that I'd eventually come around. She was afraid of losing the "friends" that she had made. After having to evaluate things on her own she came to the same conclusion I had, and in December stopped participating. She hasn't heard from any of her "friends" since then.
So, life is back to normal now. We work our J-O-B's (I ponder why they wanted me to hate the whole reason I was able to lose so much money in Quixtar) and have our evenings and weekends to play with our dogs, watch tv, or whatever. Life seems better, and it\'s easier to do anything (like plan a trip to Cooperstown, NY over Hall of Fame Induction Weekend) without having to see if it conflicts with a conference, team meeting, covered dish, joint scam session, or general brainwashing.
The real reason that I decided to contact you was to point out some information about two supposedly wealthy people who are/were Quixtar Diamonds. The first is Doug Wead, and the second is Joe Land. Doug is a successful author who has two bestsellers about the Bush Administrations, and also has his own motivational speaking business. It certainly doesn't sound like he makes his money from Quixtar. (you can find this info by googling Doug Wead and visiting www.dougwead.com).
Joe Land (although no longer in Quixtar) just strikes me as a greedy fellow. This link documents how Land was a "real-estate" guru in the 1980's. So, I wonder how much he ever made off his Amway business.
Thanks for letting me vent (I just feel compelled to share my story, guess I think I was really duped). I hope you find that information about Doug and Joe useful.
Regards,
John C.
Just to clarify, Joe Land of Quixtar was NOT a "real-estate guru in the 1980s," at least according to my sources and the information I've been able to find. The Joe Land this email refers to just coincidentally shares the same name as former Quixtar Diamond Joe Land (now a Diamond in Oasis). Same name, different people.
April 18, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 40
Posted by QBlog
Sometimes Reader Mail can come from the strangest places.
name: your mother
date: April 14, 2005
message: you have no life....get one...
There's some spectacular irony here, if you look hard enough.
April 11, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 39
Posted by QBlog
I love Reader Mail. Here's another. As always, my comments are in bold.
name: matt m.
date: April 6, 2005
message: I'm sure you've been asked this a million times, but I can't help noticing that you say you started this Quixblog, so potential IBO's could get more information, help them make decisions, that none of your motives are to hurt Quixtar. Yet, as far as I can see, everything I have read on your site is negative. What gives?
What gives is that you haven't read much of the site.
You seem to be falsely telling people that nothing here is meant to be biased, yet again, everything is negatively biased.
You're right. By the way, did you know cigarettes kill, driving without a seatbelt is dangerous and the ACLU has a political agenda. Oops, being negative again.
I understand that you are telling people that this is all just one man's perceptions, but please give people the opportunity to see everyones perceptions, not just the negative ones. You say in your statement that you don't hate or love Quixtar, well come on, share with us some of the things you think are good about Quixtar, we've certainly read all that you don't like. If you need some help there, I'd be happy to lend a few lines...
Sincerely,
matt m.How bout this. You start blog, a real blog, and spend a few months posting the "positive" about Quixtar and I'll link it on my blog. Deal?
I don't expect people to read the entire blog archives before sending in comments but I do expect some deference when those archives haven't been fully digested. Maybe something along the lines of "from what little I've read, it seems that such and such" or "I've only read three posts but..." Matt M. makes sweeping statements about this blog and obviously hasn't read much, if any, of the archives.
Anyway, it's not a big deal to me either way, just a suggestion.
April 4, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 38
Posted by QBlog
This edition of Reader Mail features a "letter" sent to Quixtar by an angry IBO regarding the redesigned Quixtar.com. I was given a copy of this letter, which seems to be a direct complaint about Quixtar's relaxation of purchasing restrictions. Apparently, Quixtar's former Web site only allowed purchases by IBOs, Members and Clients while the newer site allows anyone to buy directly from Quixtar, circumventing the "IBO connection." The "letter" is lengthy so my comments will appear at the end.
name: David D.
date: September 8, 2004
message: Dear Quixtar,
I must write you immediatly to inform you of this very unfair approach you have taken with your new redesign of the Quixtar web site. I have been around in marketing and promotions to long to know when I have been one upped. Your NEW design is only your NEW approach at market your products and recruiting clients directly using the internet. I may not be a web site designer by profession but I know how they work. You are breaking you own rule laid out for IBO's to adhere to 4.3.2 — may not use methods including tv, etc., computer communication networks including the internet, or any other means by which personal contact is not present to secure members or clients or to solicit the sale of products. The following however statement it is permissable provided such media or website meets rhe requirements set out in the IBO PROSPECTING/PRODUCT SALES WEB SITE BULLETIN.Which basically adds in that entrance to the website must be passcode protected to see, order or gain information about the company or product. YOUR "NEW" web site does not any longer.
It also states in rule 9.8 IBO Advertising (Mass communication, radio, tv, fax,bla bla, including the internet.)
Please see your Business Compendium to review these rules again.
I would also like to comment on the use of this method you were using prior to this "NEW" Quixtar web site. The old back door approach msut have been working so you got bolder and decided to take it blantaly and stick in your associates faces.
This that I'm referring to is in regards to making certain pages with major keywords attractive to the search engines. Which weather they are submitted to the search engines directly or not these search spiders would find your pages you left open.
Meaning you did not code into the web page to block the product page. Which upon placing an order for an item directly to the interested web surfer looking for the product to the Client register page. Easily prepared for anyone unsponsored to sign up.
NOW LET ME GUESS?
Your going to tell us and all the other IBO's you figure out your new scheme you were going to assign these new clients to certian IBO's. Right, something like that.Even if you thought you had a fair chance of making that idea work your "New & Old" web site had the ability to uncheck and opt out of be serviced by an IBO. Stealing business right under our hard working nose. Promoting your products and company while you skim off the very web site we support.
Another example of catch-22 in Corporate America, or "Do as I say, Not as I do."
SHAME ON YOU.
Obviously David isn't happy. However, my experience indicates that he's in the minority among IBOs. Most don't seem to care that customers can circumvent the IBO. And that's fine with me. Many seem to believe that the "average Joe" is unlikely to stumble onto Quixtar.com and buy anything. That doesn't exactly speak well of their E-Commerce (or I-Commerce) model but apparently IBOs don't mind.
However, here's something that really has me confused. Quixtar's business is ostensibly designed to "cut out the middle-man," "save on advertising" and pass that savings on to you — the IBO. Great! And the IBO gets a percentage of every sale (with various qualifications and restrictions in place) as an incentive to sell products and build his network (aka downline). There's some obvious sense to this model because without the IBO, Quixtar doesn't make money and is more than happy to "reward" its sales force with bonuses.
But when customers can purchase products directly from Quixtar.com, without any help or contact with the Quixtar sales force (IBOs), what motivates Quixtar to "assign these new clients to certain IBOs," thus distributing a percentage of that purchase back to the sales force? By circumventing the IBOs, Quixtar has cut out the middle-man, saved on advertising AND eliminated the need to give a cut of that sale to anybody. Yet Quixtar continues (for now) to randomly assign PV/BV to IBOs (presumably a Platinum in that area) on sales made directly from its Web site. My question is WHY? To honor the commitment to IBOs, right?
Well, what happens next year when Quixtar sells $200 million worth of products directly from its Web site? Don't you think those at the helm will seriously reconsider awarding a bonus for sales made without the help of IBOs? It may never happen, but it could. And that's what has me fascinated. Quixtar is inching closer to a true E-Commerce model and IBOs (with a few exceptions like David) don't seem to mind. Or maybe David is misunderstanding this change to Quixtar.com? Maybe I'm having trouble grasping the business model? If you can help out, please don't be shy.
March 28, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 37
Posted by QBlog
This Reader Mail reads like a script from IBO Head Quarters. It's amazing really. As always, my comments appear in bold
name: Kevin S.
date: March 24, 2005
message: I am an IBO who is making a great financial opportunity come true with Quixtar. I am making much more than your posted average income. Besides I am not average.
It's not my average income but Quixtar's. I just posted the same numbers that they distribute. The Average, Active IBO earns $115 per month.
Average people fail with Quixtar, and then post negative comments on the internet.
Average people fail with Quixtar? Then why is it marketed to average people?
You can make excuses or you can make money, but you can't make both. This is true with Quixtar or whatever your chosen income source is. Sometimes you just have to let losers lose. People quit everything, they quit jobs, marriage, and even Quixtar. Then they put negative crap on the internet, which is the same as the tabloid magazines or writing on the bathroom wall.
Just because it's negative doesn't mean it isn't true. Smoking kills. It's a negative message but still an important one to hear.
This is what they use as their loser's limp for not doing what it takes. I am doing something positive with my life, I wish I could do the same for you.
Not sure what a "loser's limp" is but I guess I'm supposed to have one. Anyway, how many IBOs does Kevin S. represent? In your experience, are his comments typical or unique?
March 21, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 36
Posted by QBlog
Reader Mail this week is about Quixtar products, specifically XS Energy Drink.
name: joe
date: March 14, 2005
message: Cool site...I'm not a fan of Quixtar or any of the MLM's for that matter, but I do like drinking the XS gear stuff, but I who the hell do I order the stuff without being asked to sell it... I just want to buy it not promote it... why don't they just sell the crap in a store somewhere?
Well, I'm not sure of the rationale behind the restrictions on retailing XS drinks but I do know that rule 4.3 of the Business Reference Guide states:
Retail Stores: No IBO shall permit the Corporation's products or services to be sold or displayed in retail stores, schools, fairs, PXs, ships, or military stores; nor shall he or she permit any of these products to appear in such locations even if the products or services are not for sale. No corporate literature shall be displayed in retail establishments.
If I'm reading that rule right, IBOs are responsible for how products are sold and displayed AFTER he's sold them. So, IBO Bob could sell a case of XS to Larry. Larry then takes the XS to his Deli and says, "What the hey, I'll sell these to customers!" Larry places them in his display fridge and now IBO Bob is in violation of rule 4.3. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding the rule? That's entirely possible. It's sort of confusing.
The XS Gear site further explains that:
It is critical that the retail establishments know and follow the resale guidelines established by Quixtar rules and regulations. In short: the actual XS brand (logo) cannot be displayed and the Energy Drink must be poured out of the can and into a container (plastic cup, sport bottle, etc.) ...The XS Energy Drinks cannot be sold in the can through a retail business or in vending machines.
Thankfully, XS Gear also provides some insight into the rationale behind all the retailing restrictions:
To appreciate the reasoning behind this Rule one must keep in mind that it is designed to give people from all walks of life the ability to own their own business. Allowing our products to be sold in retail or service establishments would give those IBO's (sic) that have access to them an unfair advantage and would be contrary to the person-to-person nature of the business.
I applaud Quixtar's efforts to be fair to all IBOs and to maintain a level "playing field." Just one question, is the spirit behind that rule applied universally? Just asking.
March 14, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 35
Posted by QBlog
This week's Reader Mail presents a very interesting question.
name: Laura
date: March 10, 2005
message: I was wanting to ask you a question. My younger brother has been in Quixtar for a year and my parents are trying to help him to see its cult-like ways. He told my parents that it was ILLEGAL for him to divulge that he is losing money to his recruits. Do you know if this is true?
Wonderful. So it's legal to tell everyone that Diamonds are filthy, stinking rich and that buying tapes and going to meetings is the way to do the same but it's illegal to tell anyone that you might be losing money?
I'm flabbergasted. Laura presents an honest question about something she was told by her IBO brother. To answer the question, no, it isn't true. I'm not a lawyer and I don't claim to be all that bright but common sense demands that there is no way it's illegal for an IBO to be honest about his business. At least not in the U.S.
Now, I have a question to no one in particular. Is the statement from Laura's brother the exception or the rule among Quixtar IBOs?
March 7, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 34
Posted by QBlog
This week's Reader Mail brings up the "partner store" topic. Quixtar is "partnered" with many respected businesses and therefore Quixtar must be a respected business.
name: Chris
date: February 28, 2005
message: First I don't agree with you, quixtar has worked for me, and honestly its not for everyone. (like you) It takes smart and motivated people. Most people who fail lack one of those. I personally didn't think it worked at first but then I thought why are my friends making money if it didn't work and why bass pro shops and circut city partner with them if it was some kinda scam, think about it as a business owner or ceo your not gonna put your company on the line your name is the most important thing.
Circut City and co. like it spent money on lawyers to look it over carefully. The lawfirms name are at stake too. Quixtar is and has to be regisetered with the Fedral Trade Comission. They keep us from getting scamed. One problem with this type of business any IBO can personally scam anyone. -chrisPS your negetive
The FTC comment is obviously false so I won't dwell on it. However, I would like to spend a moment examining the "partner stores."
On the Web, there are different types of "partner stores" and they aren't all created equally. One method of "partner stores" on the Web is affiliates. Affiliates basically mean that you drive customers to a site and get some sort of reward for doing so. The affiliate programs have rules and guidelines but they really don't care who you are or how you do business, they just want customers.
Partner Stores
Another kind of "partner store" is the type Quixtar uses. It involves a contract, specific guidelines that each party must follow, a level of integration between backend systems and usually some type of revenue sharing. One important aspect of this style "partner store" is to note that the participating stores do not change their Web site to accommodate the partner (in this case Quixtar) but the partner changes his site to accommodate the "partner stores."
Why is that important? Well, it means that the "partner stores" have less interest in the partner (ie. Quixtar) than the partner's interest in them. I'll try to illustrate with an example.
Tour Example
Let's say you own a very popular tour guide business. As part of your day-long historic tour you decide to stop for lunch at one of several fine restaurants around town. You approach each restaurant owner and present the following offer:
If I agree to bring my tourists to your restaurant at least once a week, you will agree to give everyone a 10% discount and cut me a check for 1% of all they spend at the end of each month. Your business increases on your slowest days, you get free advertising as an "Official Partner" on all our brochures and I get an incentive to bring them. Everybody wins.
Several restaurants agree and a contract is signed. Now you've got "partner stores."
Obviously, the restaurants owners aren't all that interested in how you run your tour business. They don't want you bringing hooligans to their restaurants but beyond that, they don't care. They don't care if you tell off-color jokes on the tour bus or if you run stoplights and speed. They just want your business. However, you (as the tour guide owner) care very much about the restaurant. Because that restaurant is part of your tour you want it to be nice, serve good food and provide a quality experience for the tourists. Thus you're more interested in their business than they are in your business. Similar situation with Quixtar and its "partner stores."
When you shop at a Quixtar "partner store" you're leaving the Quixtar Web site. That Quixtar logo at the top of the page is just a frame. What tells the store that you're from Quixtar is a special URL code that identifies where you're shopping from. If you "view frame source" and open the store page (with the special Quixtar URL) in a new browser, you'll still get the same deals. (example: http://www.officemax.com/max/ solutions/nav/home.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=no& affCode=QXT &siteID=US1KYpzYJ1g&cm_mmc= quixtar*us*main*link& mid=MQ00101160774) You're leaving Quixtar (or the tour bus) and entering an entirely separate establishment. Quixtar doesn't make that a secret, that's why it can take up to 60 days to get the PV/BV on your "partner store" purchases. I just think it's important to understand exactly what's going on when you shop at a Quixtar "partner store."
The Amazon.com Example
There's a third type of partner store. Amazon.com is a great example of this type. It partners with Target and Toys 'R' Us (and others). When shopping those partner stores the customer remains within the Amazon.com Web site. The experience never changes. Additionally, the packages often arrive in Amazon.com boxes and are tracked through Amazon.com's software. So Target's products are sold directly from Amazon.com's Web site in this partnership, not their own Web site (at least not directly as it is with Quixtar). Amazon has modified its Web site to accommodate its partner stores.
Using the tour example, it would be similar to the tour company building its own restaurant, incorporating the branding of a popular local restaurant and serving food prepared by that local restaurant. The local restaurant would earn money on the food sold and benefit from brand exposure but would not be in direct control of the dining experience. That control would reside with the tour business. Therefore, the local restaurant would be much more interested in how the tour company runs its business because it has less control over the dining experience.
Make sense? I know it's confusing but I believe it's important to understand the nuances of the whole "partner store" thing. Not all partner stores are created equal. And just because a business is "partnered" with respectable businesses doesn't mean that business is also respectable.
February 28, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 33
Posted by QBlog
If it's Monday then it must be time for Reader Mail! What is Reader Mail? It's where real emails sent in by real readers are featured for you to print out, copy and use to line your birdcage. As always, my comments appear in bold.
name: Happy IBO
date: February 25, 2005
message: The only way you can know what this business is really about is being a part of it. Now, you (former husband) were never active so you really have no idea how much support you find here. It's not just about the money, it's about the people you meet and all the friend you make.
Lonely? Friendless? Join Quixtar where you'll meet interesting people and make new friends!
It's about the good times you enjoy with your partner while showing The Plan.
I can't think of a better way to spend time with my spouse on a Friday night.
It's about the possibility it offers you to, in 2-5 years, not 65 years, obtain a passive income.
The old 2-5 year plan. Does the FTC know about the 2-5 year plan?
Who said you have to wait until you are 65 to retire? To those of you that think this business does not work, you are right, it does not work... YOU have to make it work. And YOU have to pay the price.
What is the price again? I missed that part.
It's not easy finding three winners, that's why you get paid $120,000 a year!
Classic. Ending with an income claim.
Does Happy IBO's comments sound familiar?
February 21, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 32
Posted by QBlog
Another edition of Reader Mail. It must be Monday.
name: joesmoe
date: February 18, 2004
message: Your comparison of income to employments doesn't show one thing, how much time does the average person put into their job as an engineer, doctor, etc. and how much time does the average person put into quixtar. If people treated it the same as their real job then they might have different outcomes.
What "joesmoe" is referring to is my post on the Quixtar Average Income. In that post I make some income comparisons using Quixtar's own data. And joesmoe does make an excellent point and one that should be examined. How would Quixtar's income averages change if all IBOs worked it full-time?
Well, the first issue we encounter is lack of immediate revenue. I doubt anyone will claim that a brand new IBO should quit their day job and start working Quixtar full-time. Why not? Because there isn't a guaranteed salary for an IBO as there would be for "traditional jobs." If a new IBO puts in 40 hours he may not get a dime that week. It's hard to live off nothing. Of course, commissioned salesmen are in a similar situation but they generally begin their jobs with an enormous set of tools including solid leads (not friends and family) and extensive market analysis. Basically, Quixtar is designed to be a part-time job with part-time income, at least until a certain pin level. But Quixtar isn't usually pitched (or sold) as a part-time income. It's sold with phrases like "Freedom for your family" and "Flush that stinkin' JOB." The marketing of Quixtar by most of its IBOs is that it is a full-time income, and more.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, Quixtar makes no distinction between those IBOs who work "the business" 5 hours a week and 55 hours a week. The Quixtar Average Income data lumps everyone together. But guess what? All the other income averages do the same thing. I listed the Quixtar IBO averages along with Engineers, Farmers, Small Businesses, Physicians and College Grads. None of the other averages make a distinction between full-time and part-time work. One could make assumptions but there's no way to verify the accuracy of those assumptions.
And so we're right back where we started. Murky data leads to murky conclusions. Maybe Quixtar could provide some real meaty data? Give some solid, detailed numbers about all its IBOs. Why don't they do that? Are they hiding something?
February 7, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 31
Posted by QBlog
The Reader Mail this week is one that makes me sort of "cringe." Read it and then I'll explain.
name:John T.
date: February 6, 2005
message: Wow!! Glad I decided to look this compnay up before getting involved. Did not know it was Amway reincarnated. I just ordered the energy drink at a local race and the guy selling it wanted to talk to me about promoting the product at the races I do. Now that I have the "complete" picture, I will not be getting involed. Thanks for the info.
John
The reason I "cringe" when I read such emails (even though I genuinely appreciate getting them) is that Quixtar IBOs view such experiences as business lost to those "negative Web sites." I believe such hasty conclusions are inaccurate and based on faulty logic. Coincidentally the recording industry uses similar logic when calculating revenue lost to peer-to-peer file swappers. The RIAA believes that every song freely traded on the Net translates into a music sale that was "stolen" (Scott Rosenberg's Blog). The reality is that such assumptions are only partly true at best. If a man downloads a Beatles song after hearing it on the radio, chances are great that he wouldn't have bought that same song if it weren't available freely. He's willing to go through the trouble of finding the song on some file swapping network but he's not motivated enough to spend the money on the song should such networks cease to exist.
And many IBOs take the RIAA mentality when looking at the Web. They see people like John T. who decline the business based on Web information but they fail to understand that such people probably weren't all that interested anyway. Maybe they are using the "negative Web info" as a polite way to decline the recruitment pitch? "I would love to do this Quixtar thing but I just read so much bad stuff on the Web, so you know. No thanks." The focus shifts towards blaming the Web info, and away from the fact that the person just really isn't IBO material (whatever that is).
I know several Quixtar IBOs who thoroughly researched the business on the Web, read all the "negative info" and still became IBOs. Why? Because that's what they really wanted to do and they believe they are IBO material. One guy I know believes that the "negative sites" help his business.
In fact, the Quixtar BackBone project demonstrated that some hard working IBOs perceive value in the so-called "negative sites."
From IBO Sharon Schlesinger answering the questions "How has this blog specifically helped your Quixtar business?"
I have gotten some ideas for retailing a few of our products. I've picked up some solid answers to criticisms about Quixtar. I have heard about some strange experiences that some of the fellow bloggers report, and I am on the alert for such behaviors in my own organization. Overall, I understand the business in a fuller sense.
The point I'm making is that many Quixtar IBOs seem too willing to blame their recruiting problems on the "negative Web sites" instead of realizing that the two (difficult recruiting and "negative Web sites") may not be related at all. Maybe Americans are just less likely to participate in MLM businesses than they were 20 years ago? People change. Cultures change. Societies change. I encourage IBOs to be skeptical of those who say that "negative Web sites" decrease revenue. Be critical thinkers. Don't follow the herd. And above all, don't be like the RIAA. ;o)
January 31, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 30
Posted by QBlog
Every Monday I publish something called "Monday Reader Mail." Today marks the 30th installment of this weekly feature. The point of MRM is to showcase some of the emails sent to this blog every week. The emails are unedited except for the removal of email addresses and last names when provided. As always, my comments appear in bold.
name: Bill
date: January 20,2005
message: Man get a life. Dont be a hater just because you could not support your spouse which probably why she quit. Everyone has the same oppurtunity to build a great business. World Wide has always been up front about the money in the business, no secret. It is a business, go figure. I wonder if Anthony Robins gets a bunch of bull from people when they pay $1500.00 for a day and never get to meet him then hundreds for CDs book ect... and then get to go back to work where they cant apply anything they learned, what about that????
So we're comparing Quixtar to Tony Robbins? Or are we comparing the Business Support Materials business to Tony Robbins? If so, then why not open up the tool businesses to competition just like Tony Robbins?
or how about college these days? Thousands and thousands oh and then the hundreds and hundreds on books, then you get your 25K a year job that your sick of in a few years and thats only if you can find one that you went to school for.
You're right. College sucks. Traditional education sucks. It's the higher learning that's a scam! It all makes sense now. College = Waste of money. Motivational tapes = Great investment.
If you guys are going to post alll this stuff atleast compare it to something. And to the guy that was at FED when Greg was talking a bout Google bombing, how was your first function? The internet is really the bathroom wall of society that is why people google bomb.
So the high-level pin who sent me the testimony about Greg Duncan was attending FED for the first time? I see.
The only reason more people dont have negative about them online is because they have not done anytihng of significant enought o warrant it. Name any huge player in business that does not have negative about them. Losers dont like winners thats no secret and it will always be that way.
I debunked the critical Web site myth a long time ago.
Quixtar is an awsome oppurtunity and yes I think there are some bad apples trying to build it just like there are idiots down at where you work and just maybe, just maybe you are the idiot. So just check things out and get around the people that are actually doing something with the business, something good. Use common sense if you can find it and make your own decision on whats best for you. I thank my upline every day for the mentorship and giving the me the belief that I can go Diamond. What kind of belief do you get at work? That you actually will be working there til 65-70, now thats belief ha haha.... I have to go show the plan now. see ya
Bill
Well Bill, I'm on my way to work at my J-O-B. See ya.
January 23, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 29
Posted by QBlog
I could probably title this week's Reader Mail "LOSER" because it poses a very good question. The real question behind Brian's question is why do so many IBOs feel the need to denigrate those who aren't in "the business" or making millions of dollars? Does an IBO feel better about his business if he puts down others? Quixtar may be a great business opportunity but it's not for everyone and people who choose not to participate certainly aren't losers. Oh well, here's the email.
name: Brian
date: January 19, 2005
message: Thought I would pass along a question I have asked that I have never recieved a valid answer from Amway/Quixtar/other MLM when they espouse the belief that JOBs are for losers. I always ask them if they believe that police officers, prison guards, EMTs and firefighters are losers as well? And if so, then why would they ask for their help since association with them is damaging to their business.
Never have gotten a answer that made any kind of sense.
Thanks, and great blog.
What is a loser? Is a loser someone who doesn't earn a particular income? Is a loser someone who doesn't wear certain clothes or drive a fancy car? Or is a loser someone who feels so insecure in himself that he resorts to belittling others, especially those who don't agree with him, so that he can feel superior and thus artificially bolster his self-esteem?
January 17, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 28
Posted by QBlog
This week's Reader Mail expresses a desire for unbiased and objective information about Quixtar. Information from a source that doesn't stand to benefit from positive or negative impressions of the business. My response to "Paul" was that such fair and balanced information is hard to find and that's regretable. I do what I can but much more needs to be done.
name: Paul M.
date: January 11, 2005
message: I just read the part where you want feedback from whoever is looking at the blog (from January 2003). My girlfriend has just got involved in Quixtar and took me to one of their motivational dinners where they promise hundreds of thousands of dollars and show all of the rich people who have lots of stuff. I somehow found it hard to believe that all 2000 of those people were going to become millionares, so I wanted to check stuff out. So far I've looked at the Dateline special on MSNBC.com and your blog appealed to me as an objective view of Quixtar. So far, I like your style.Paul M.
Thanks Paul. My style seems to annoy some people but those who understand it seem to like it, even if they don't endorse it.
January 10, 2005
Monday Reader Mail: 27
Posted by QBlog
I'm back. It was good to take a little break from the blog but now it's time to get back in gear. Thanks for your patience and I hope you're enjoying the new year as much as I am.
So why did I take a break from this blog?
To seek Holy Grail.
What is my favorite color?
Blue of course.
Why do I ask questions of myself and then answer them?
Because it's an annoying yet effective way to communicate information.
Am I a habitual question-talker?
Well, yes I am.
Do I care if it annoys you?
No, I don't.
Ok, enough of that. Now let's get to some Reader Mail. Oh yeah. And this week's selection is not only fresh but juicy. As always, my comments appear in bold and the Reader Mail is not edited for grammar and spelling.
name: Mythic
date: December 29, 2004
message: I think everything said on this blog is true and at the same time is irrelevent.
I like this kid already. True and irrelevant. I love it. If the dream's big enough the facts don't matter. Continue!
I'm a college student currently looking into quixtar as a possible business. The people who have been helping me were honest from the get go by telling me that only about 20% of the ibo's go anywhere with this business. My question is how is that different from the traditional ways of making money.
Well, with the traditional ways of making money you actually get money for the work you do. I realize it's a bizarre concept but the majority of MLM participants (including Quixtar) not only don't show a profit but actually lose money while involved. Don't believe me? Look it up.
The average college student graduate leaves college with not only a degree but 20 to $40000 in the hole. Even more of them don't end up working in the field they got there degree in.
So that's a bad thing? I can't stand this logic because it's so flawed. Mythic is trying to say that if you don't get a job in the field you studied then you basically wasted your money studying that field. Hogwash. A college education teaches many things beyond the specific field of study (including spelling and grammar). Just because a person doesn't work in the field they studied doesn't mean that education isn't being used.
It's a known fact that every organization is run by the top 20%. Quixtar is no different. The truth is life sucks, we work hard in what ever field we choose and not everyone is going to get rich. Quixtar gets people excited about there product and everyone who signs up thinks there going to be rolling in dough in a few weeks.
Interesting observation. Wonder what the FTC thinks about that?
Is that true for some people yes...for everyone...no. Does that automatically discredit them as an industry, I think not. I think an industry should be discredited when people die from lung cancer or liver failure for using your product. I am not sure if Quixtar is for me yet, but I don't believe they are a scam.
I see. So unless a company's product kills someone, it's beyond criticism. Glad we cleared that up.
That's the Reader Mail folks. Gotta love it.
December 27, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 26
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail asks about the Quixtar group Team of Destiny.
name: daniel
date: December 23, 2004
message: hey i have been reading your page lately and i was just wondering if you know anything about the team of destiny. i was on the team a while ago but the page is down now. just wondering if you know anything about that. and keep on coming with the articles, they are great.Your fan,
dan
Well dan, if you'd been following this blog closely you'd have noticed that Team of Destiny changed their name to TEAM in October. And in case you missed it, TEAM stands for "Together Everyone Achieves More" which is one of the most tired cliches in history.
And to celebrate the name change I've composed a little tune with the help of Daft Punk and Orrin Woodward. Check it out and let me know how you like it.
» Daft Punk and Orrin Woodward - Changing TOD to TEAM (mp3)
December 20, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 25
Posted by QBlog
The wonderful Mr. Anonymous has written me yet again. Let's see what he has to say.
name: Anonymous
date: December 2, 2004
message: If you devoted half the time and money you have used to do a site like this, you could be rich or even better yet have accomplished something out of life that was worth something, but your right you have, you have a professional website which looks professional but im sure your lifetime achievement of talking bad and supporting negativity towards a company that you have probably just read about and have no credibility, is going well, im sure your parents are proud that their son spends his life talking bad about a company in which he has no credibility.
What can I say to that? I think those Anonymous comments speak volumes. One day I hope to be just like Anonymous.
December 13, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 24
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail selection is a true blast from the past. Tim wrote me back in August, 2003 and had some nice things to say about the blog.
name: Tim
date: August 16, 2003
message: Man, am I having fun reading your stuff tonight! Just found your page through Google after having been "hit up" this week by a Quixtar recruiter. Have listened to Greg Duncan CD on "Private Franchising" and am reading Bill Quain's "Pro-Sumer Power!" book.
Love the refreshing, candid thoughts coming out of your pen. Well written...
Well, a belated thanks Tim but it's more of a keyboard than a pen though I get your meaning. I sure hope others enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it.
December 6, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 23
Posted by QBlog
Today's mail comes from an apparent MLM advocate. I'm assuming English is not the person's first language so spelling and grammar errors are understandable. As always, my comments appear in bold.
name: Haim A.
date: September 28, 2004
message: Dear (QBlog)
when i was reading, as you say, your thoughts i was wondering how this Quixtar harm you. i my self don't know this company but have interests in the mlm industry.i'm wondering? do you totaliy lost your faith in the mlm?
I'm not sure I ever had faith in MLM. I've always felt that it was a flawed way of doing business and don't see any evidence to convince me otherwise.
well i'm realy believe in the mlm concept as long as you
1. choos the right company for you (there is a risk of course)
2. understand that this is not a lotory it is real difficult business and all (almost) the business rules is needed here too.regards
Haim
How does one choose "the right company?" Theoretically this seems feasible but in reality, most who join MLMs aren't spending time doing detailed market analysis and research. Most in MLM join because friends, family or colleagues asked them to join.
And yes, business is difficult. Yet to the uneducated, many MLM businesses seem "easier" than non-MLM businesses because of the way they're marketed. I'm glad Haim understands that's not the case.
November 29, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 22
Posted by QBlog
It's back to the old grind. The Thanksgiving Holiday is one of my favorites but it's good to get back into the routine again. And part of that routine is posting the ever-popular Monday Reader Mail. Here's today's selection:
name: Jamie R.Hmmmm. So let me see if I got this right. I'm not smart because I don't have the money to fund my own site. That would mean that I'm an idiot and probably a poor money manager. Yet the next sentence suggests that idiots like me should help others make money.
date: October 10, 2004message: If you are so smart you should have the money to fund your own site. Idiots like you should spend more time helping people make money.
Am I the only one confused by the logic presented here? In one sentence I'm too stupid to make my own money but in the next sentence I'm supposed to use that stupidity to help others make money. Classic Quixtar Logic. I call it QLogic pronounced Klo-jick.
November 15, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 20
Posted by QBlog
Monday Reader Mail is back! Last week the popular Monday Reader Mail feature took a break while we celebrated the second QBlog Anniversary. Well, now that the celebration is over we can get back to business.
This week's selection is fairly recent and as always, my comments are in bold
name: William CWell, that's about all I have to say. One thing I've always found ironic is the people sending me email claiming that I'm too negative and critical are themselves being negative and critical. I mean, William says to find the good in all things and all people but he didn't stop to find the abundant good in this blog and in me. I mean, c'mon. Don't you see the irony here? Oh well. Glad to have Reader Mail back. See you next Monday.
date: October 17, 2004message: Your the husband to a former IBO? So what do you really do with all your time? Does your wife work now while you stay home puting all this together?
Yeah, she works in the coal mine 14 hours every day to support the family while I sit in my bathrobe eating bon-bons, blogging about Quixtar and watching "The Young and the Restless" reruns on the Soap Network. You got a problem with that?
Are you trying to get back at someone in Quixtar by holding debates on this site. The only types of people I know that use there time to do stuff like this are quiters and criticizers of everything that goes on around them, alway's looking for something to debate about.
You don't know many people then. Let's look at a brief list of Web sites that publicly discuss important, yet often controversial, issues (aka debate):
» Public citizen
» EFF
» Focus on the Family
» Microsoft Watch
» Operation ClambakeThat's an impressive list of "quitters and criticizers" and I'm glad to be included in their company.
Man I feel sorry for your wife unless she supports you in doing all of this because she quit the business too. you should spend more of your time finding the good in all things and in all people. Good luck in yuor depression.....
My wife supports what I do even if she doesn't agree with everything I do, that's part of what marriage is all about in our minds. Thanks for the well-wishes. My depression is going along just fine. When I'm not stuffing my face with bon-bons I'm chain-smoking filterless cigarettes and listening to old Morrisey records by candlelight.
November 1, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 19
Posted by QBlog
Here's today's reader mail without commentary. I concealed the name a bit more than usual to protect identities. My edits are in italics.
name: Mrs. MI responded by basically saying that I'd keep Mrs. M and her family in my prayers. I haven't heard back from her.
date: October 19, 2004message: I have thouroughly enjoyed browsing your site. I am the wife of a current Quixtar IBO and I am not very happy that my husband continues chasing a false dream. Your site has given me a lot of information. I tried sharing the information with my husband who became angry with me for being negative about his business. I'm not sure how much longer I can take this.
We are on the verge of bankruptcy and I have become very anti-quixtar because of it. We became IBO's in (sometime between 1999 and 2000 - actual date edited out). Until then, we were very good at paying all our bills on time. That very same month it all started and we have since had to let most bills go to collections. I sit and worry everyday that any day now I will be served with a subpoena to show up in court from a creditor.
Our upline strongly discourages bankruptcy, but I'm more afraid of wage garnishing. I became disenchanted with the business when I became pregnant and was very ill from the pregnancy (edited date) and our upline (who discourages having a baby until you are at least at the platinum level... preferably diamond) started giving me the silent treatment, saying I wasn't dedicated because I wasn't attending meetings and functions and just making me feel like an unsupportive, horrible wife. They did not even come to visit us in the hospital after I had the baby. My husband doesn't feel the same way. He says I'm holding a grudge and need to get over it.
He thinks his upline "hung the moon". He's even made comments to me about how he wants to go direct for his upline... if he goes direct, his upline will go (a high-level pin). Now, I just totally stay away from the subject of the business. If he has a meeting to go to I say nothing but bye when he leaves and then hi when he returns. I feel so angry that these people have brainwashed my husband to this extent. He doesn't see it. I'm not one who believes in divorce... nor do I think that money is an acceptable reason for divorce... so I will continue to sit back and quietly worry and pray he sees the light.
Monday Reader mail is real email, from real readers sent in to me and published every Monday. I try never use last names (when they're given) and try to protect the author's identities unless permission is given to share that information.
October 25, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 18
Posted by QBlog
Today's reader mail selection addresses the somewhat controversial topic of homosexuality and Quixtar. I've completely removed the guy's name from this email and replaced it with the name "Mike."
name: "Mike"I appreciate "Mike's" kind words about this blog. I really do try to be as objective as possible and I'm glad that my efforts haven't gone unnoticed. In my email response to "Mike" I basically told him that I never noticed any anti-gay sentiments while my wife was involved with Quixtar but that I never met any openly gay IBOs either. Of course I didn't get around much in Quixtar so my experience shouldn't be considered typical. There may be many openly gay IBOs, I've just never met any in person or online.
date: October 20, 2004message: Howdy, I'm "Mike," and a soon-to-be Quixtar IBO. I greatly appreciate your site. You really do seem to have an objective perspective. Just as listed in the "about" section, many other webpages I've read are strongly pro or con. I've been exploring the opportunity of Quixtar for about 4 months. I've attended several functions, done Google searches, and asked dozens of questions to my potential sponsors. I'm reasonably satisfied that there are no more serious scams awaiting me than anywhere else in life, provided I keep my eyes open and pay attention. Here's the thing, I'm 38 and openly gay, and have yet to find another openly gay Q member. All of the folks in the organization I'll be joining are devoutly Christian.
After searching your site for "gay," I only found a few postings. If you have anything new and not yet posted, I'd love to read about the experiences/consequences of other openly gay Q IBOs. I have joked with myupine that I will be Quixtar's first openly gay diamond, and what a trip it will be when she introduces me and my partner on stage at a function. If you are interested, I'll keep in touch with you about what I experience. I've subscribed to your newsletter, and look forward to getting it.
"Mike"
And though I never noticed any anti-gay attitudes while involved with Quixtar, I have noticed such feelings on various pro-Quixtar blogs. As part of my email response, I intended to include a link the "Sicko" remarks about homosexuality on a certain pro-Quixtar blog but discovered that those remarks had been removed (thankfully). Yet even with the removal of that particular post, the impression some get after reading many pro-Quixtar blogs remains — that there is a sort of litmus test for IBOs before they'll be accepted in the "Quixtar family." The "Right to Differ" may be Corporate policy but it seems absent from much of the culture, at least the culture that's visible online. The apparent characteristics of an "acceptable" IBO are:
- Republican
- Heterosexual
- Married
- Born Again Christian
Obviously there's nothing wrong with such characteristic, they are shared by many great men and women. But such an exclusionary culture would seem to discourage, rather than encourage, diversity within a business. Is there room for an agnostic, openly gay democrat in the "Quixtar family?" I sure hope so in the same way that I hope there's room for an openly Christian, heterosexual Republican in the "Disney family" or the "Proctor & Gamble family."
I hope "Mike" achieves his Quixtar goals. I hope that one day he's able to walk across some stage with his partner as a Quixtar Diamond. Do you share that hope?
Monday Reader Mail publishes every Monday and contains actual emails sent in by actual readers. The content is not edited except when noted.
October 18, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 17
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail seems to indicate that the Amway-to-Quixtar confusion continues.
name: current IBOI've never heard of the "5%" explanation before, that's interesting. And just answer the other questions, my wife was officially "in" Quixtar from around February 2002 to December 2003. She was in QBiz which is somehow connected to Yager's InterNET Services. And while on the subject of various groups, it's come to my attention that some groups have serious problems but it's always (without exception) NOT MY GROUP. Just like the invisible "Not Me" kid in the Family Circus comics, all problematic Quixtar support groups are easily described as "Those Other Groups." If you're a Quixtar IBO and would like to start your own motivational group, might I suggest naming it "Not My Group" to avoid confusion whenever various problems surface.
date: June 2, 2004message: I am responding to your question about whether quixtar is amway. When I first signed up in 1999, I was told that Quixtar was started by the Sons of the Amway owners. They wanted to get away from the process Amway uses. And that Quixtar only allows 5% of its products to be from the head Amway company - primarily the cleaning supplies. How long was your wife in the business? And what was the name of her 'group'. There are different 'business' group. Mine is Interbiz in Canada. I know of 'Yagar' in the states.
October 11, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 16
Posted by QBlog
Today's reader mail addresses the familiar issue of "free time." Let's get right to it.
name: Lisa IBOLisa's absolutely right. It's very sad I spend my free time publishing this stupid blog. And so, to make better use of my free time, I've decided to take up the sport of Curling. For each hour that I previously spent tinkering with this Web site I'll now spend practicing my curling.
date: September 26, 2004message: It is kind of sad that you would spend a majority of your free time creating a website like this when you could be doing SOMETHING with your life....
See you on the ice!
October 4, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 15
Posted by QBlog
Today's reader mail is a commentary on Quixtar's prices and the Point Value (PV) attached to the products. For those who may not know, PV is what determines your pin level (Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, etc.) as well as the percentage of your sales that will be returned to you as a bonus check.
name: saraHonestly I don't have any idea if sara's statements about higher prices and static PV are true but it's similar to what I've heard from other IBOs over the past year. There is a message from Larry Harper explaining that PV is reduced by 4% but BV is increased by 4%. So maybe the lower PV is true but not important because of the higher BV? But wouldn't that just make it harder to reach the next bonus level? All this is so confusing. Thanks sara, now I've got a headache ;0)
date: September 1, 2004message: I am not an active IBO in quixtar due to all the hoopla since the Dateline story and sites similar to yours that have expanded my short termed "tunnel vision". However, I still buy some of the products and today I was going thru the new "Choices" catalog I recieved a couple of days ago. While I was checking out the new (higher) prices on pretty much Everything, I began to notice something else going on too. Not only did the high prices get even higher, but the p.v. didn't budge on hardly anything!!!!! So, now it looks like the active IBO's will be working harder while they're being financially drained QUICKER!!!!
September 27, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 14
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail is an oldie but a goodie. It comes from "RG" who says he is an IBO and the owner of a retail store (watch out for Rule 6.5 violations). As always, my comments are in bold.
name: RGRG closes with a sentiment that many share - do not hide things from us. That evasiveness, secrecy and inability to answer questions candidly is what motivated me (in part) to start this blog. Why is it so difficult for people in Quixtar, in so many businesses, to just be honest and transparent? I admire the few IBOs I've met who display such candor but I just don't understand why they're the exception rather than the rule... at least in my experience. Maybe I'm just running in the wrong circles? Should I move to Michigan?
date: January 25, 2003message: I have been IBO for 2 years. Consider myself decent businessman. My wife and I own a retail store and make 60,000 year but working 70 hours + a week gets old. Our good friends showed us this business and I really thought it would be cool if it worked after all the site is pretty impressive.
RG wrote this in 2003, nearly two years before the big Quixtar redesign. RG, like many others, was easily impressed... at least with Web sites.
In my opinion the products are too expensive and I couldn't convince myself to tell my friends knowing they would have to spend more of their hard earned money than traditional stores. so we use it off and on for convenience. What's amazing is the company is doing 1.2 billion in sales but I see people making $20-30 month. My wife and I went across stage for 1000pv. I was excited however my heart sank when I found out our friends downline spent $1400 of their own money to get there. We don't see our friends anymore too bad they are really hooked however only still making $10-30 month and probably spending $300. If you want someone to walk beside you to achieve a dream THERE CANNOT BE SECRETS!
September 20, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 13
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail raises a question that's been lingering in my mind for quite a while. "Are there any Quixtar Diamonds?" Wait, let me explain before you answer, "of course you moron!" What these emails, and others, are wondering is if there are any Quixtar Diamonds who've reached the Diamond level solely within Quixtar? In other words, is there a guy (or couple) who joined up with Quixtar after September 1999 (when Quixtar.com launched) who was not previously an Amway Distributor? There's this from "jeremiah"
name: jeremiahAnd this from "Hyrum"
date: September 4, 2004message: just wondering, has any one in quixtar, or the associated groups (ie. world wide dream builders) made there millions or at least there 50,000's in the last 5 years, and not as an amway ibo who switched to quixtar?
thanks so much for your response,
jeremiah
name: Hyrum JOthers, like Dave Stone, have been asking this question but I honestly don't know the answer and I doubt Quixtar would specifically mention whether a new Diamond was a pure Quixtar Diamond or not. I'm sure there have been many Quixtar Diamonds but I'm relying on you readers to supply their names. Can anyone provide the names of any purely Quixtar (never involved with Amway) Diamonds? Thanks so much.
date: September 17, 2004message: ...is there any information on how many people have gone Diamond since 2000. Everywere I look, it's the same old Diamond that were there before Quixtar.
September 13, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 12
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail is a little out of the ordinary. It's a request from "Tom" who is translating Rich DeVos's Directly Speaking tapes into his native language. Read his question and if you can answer, post a comment here and I'll send him an email (or he'll see it here if he's reading this).
name: TomMy guess is that 419 is some sort of tax code but I honestly have no idea. Can anyone give Tom some help?
date: September 11, 2004message: Hi QBlog, I am taking advantage of your site to ask for a little help. I am translating Rich DeVos' Directly Speaking transcripts into my language and have problems with one particular sentence.
Rich says: "Number one, clean up your act. And number two, if you know people who are continuing to do things improperly after all of this, then I want you to write us a note and just tell us who's doing it. Don't -- I don't need 419's right now."
Would you please drop me a line or two and explain what does the number refer to? Not being an American, I did not manage to find out anything on the Internet that would help me understand. Well, I hope you will get a chance to write back as time permits. Wishing you best of luck in your future endeavours.
Tom, frequent QBlog visitor from Europe.
By the way, isn't it cool that the Directly Speaking transcripts are being translated into other languages? Wonder if Quixtar or Amway would lend a hand in that effort? ;o)
September 6, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 11
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail is about some weighty issues. I don't think I ever responded to the author and for that, I apologize. I simply can't respond to every email though I honestly try. So, "drj," if you read this, consider it a response.
name: drjI get emails like the one above quite frequently. Too frequently. I don't mind them but I find it really difficult to know how to respond. Often I spend so much time contemplating my response that I end up forgetting about the email and letting it drop into my archives. I try not to do that but really, what can I say?
date: May 7, 2004message: hi,
i did read your about page... i have been on the fence with quixtar for 6 mos. and here's why... I am a roman catholic, I believe in our lord & savior jesus christ, i do not feel that i need to be "saved" as i was born into a family who taught us not to sin, and i currently read the bible etc etc etc... however i do not feel that "religion" should be mixed with business.. if i want to "save" people i will go out and save them... i know that this business works and that i could help thousands of people in charity etc... my whole upline is christian... if they believe so much in this business.. i would love to see them doing the same exact system with all participants being jewish.Specific theologies aside, the Christian/Quixtar conflict is one I commonly encounter both in person and when scouring the Web. This brings up some interesting perspectives though Quixtar does have a growing group of non-Christians.
i feel that i am decieving to people when i ask them if they leave their options open to make some extra cash, then a few weeks later, reveal that they have to change their entire life.. including everything they believe in... i have also considered, breaking slightly away from the system or instead switching from britt to yager (is yager christian based as well) please help me if you can, it would mean more than you know!
Well, I guess God is the best person (or deity) to ask about the Christianity of Yager or Britt of Woodward for that matter. I think that they claim to be Christians but I can't even begin to guess if it's true or not.
Personally, I find the whole "Christian Business" idea troubling. If a business is run by Christians then it should be evident by the way that business is conducted. Why make it a "selling point" in the business.
"Oh boy, that's a Christian business so it must be good." My belief is no, there are some miserable Christians out there just like there's miserable Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Atheists, etc. I guess it's just a preference thing for me and I know many disagree with me but I feel the best Christian witness is the one that speaks with actions, not words.
August 30, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 10
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail is one of my favorites. As always, my comments appear in bold.
name: Kenneth M.I personally find it odd that business associates are referred to as "brothers and sisters" by Kenneth. I realize that the Quixtar culture will probably respond by saying that I just don't "get" what Quixtar is all about and they may be right.
date: April 22, 2004message: My comments about your feelings about Quixtar are not meant by any ill feelings toward you or anyone else that has tried this business or any other business model. I will how ever tell you the many lives that I've seen changed over the years since my IBOship. Lets just say , maybe it wasn't for you. Maybe you require a different type of vehicle to get you where you need to be,and thats cool too,but don't fault anyone else because it didn't work for you.
For the record, I've never been critical of IBOs who work their business honestly, ethically and transparently.
And to all my brothers and sisters who have chosen to step out on faith to transform their minds ,stop e-mailing this guy! You don't have to debat him on the truth, and our truths are not his ,and thats cool too. This bashers page has nothing to do with where we are going. If he doesn't want to be free,let him rest in cheese station "C" ! Peace.
I can only imagine that "cheese station 'C'" is some sort of IBO code talk for "loser." Or maybe it's some literary reference that went over my head?
August 23, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 9
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail is short and to the point (but not so sweet). It's from "beth" who doesn't seem to think very highly of me. Join the club "beth."
name: bethI guess I see things differently. I don't believe I'm tearing anyone down. There are some wonderful people in Quixtar doing some wonderful things but does that mean I shouldn't express my opinions when I notice problems or inconsistencies?
date: August 11, 2004message: I think you are a pathetic person who needs to get a life. Why not spend your time and energy in helping someone instead of tearing down people who are trying to make a difference and not just trying but succeeding. I thank God every day for this business and the leaders in it.
August 16, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 8
Posted by QBlog
Scott B. wrote me explaining why Quixtar isn't a "pyramid." I'm not sure I've ever said that Quixtar is a pyramid but I guess that's beside the point. Anyway, here's today's email. As always, my comments are in bold.
name: Scott B.My guess is that this last comment was a reference to my NOTICE on the Contact page where I discourage "idiots" from sending me email. I suppose I am an idiot because I actually DID send Scott a response. I haven't heard back from him but here's what I sent:
date: June 16, 2004message: I have a couple of comments for you, sir. DO you understand Quixtar cannot be a "pyramid"? A pyramid says the "up-line" will always make more than you. Maybe you did not grow enough (respectively speaking) to fully understand that your downline can make more than you. It's called structure. I can tell you about that later. Also, where you work, I am assuming you have to work, you are not rewarded for the amount of work you do, unless you are like many quiters in the business, who are naturally lazy and do not have work ethics anyway.
I tell you what, I want you to take this "bathroom wall writing" off the net and let people enjoy their life in a business where they find peace of mind.
How did you get to this Web page? I bet you either clicked a link or typed in a Web address. Nobody forced anybody to read my blog.
Even if I never made a dime more, I still love the people I associate with. They are people of character, dignity, people with morals and true friends and NO, not everyone will make it to the diamond level, but that is THEIR decision. Look at Larry Winters. 5 whole years before anything!!! happened and now he is living a 7 figure income lifestyle.
Good for Larry.
Amway, was an unbelievable company. I was never associated with them. In fact, I never heard of them until 2002.WHAT?!? Never heard of Amway? C'mon, you expect me to believe that? Ok, I guess it's possible if you're young. Still, it's hard to believe.
But I have done research, and they were EXTREMELY successful.
Still are. Guess which company accounts for the bulk (around 75% or more) of Alticor's revenues. It ain't Quixtar.
Forgive me, that is if you are making more than 1.2 billion this year, but I have a strong feeling you're not.
It's unfortunate that there are quiters, like yourself, that try to pull everyone else's dream down just because you don't have the "gut's" to keep your own dream alive.
If you're a complete idiot, don't bother sending a message. Or if you do send one, I'll know you're still a complete idiot.
Have a nice day.
Scott,I really try to avoid sounding like a smartass but I fear that I fail at that more than I succeed. Oh well. At least I try.Are you for real? This is a joke right? If so, you�re pretty funny. I like your style. If not then, well, you got me. I�m a quitter. Guilty as charged. Don�t let me stand in the way of your 7 figure income. I�m just a stupid Web person with a dumb Web site. My idiotic ramblings couldn�t possibly affect you or your efforts in Quixtar. The Web is just one giant bathroom wall, you sure got that right. Isn't Quixtar on the Web? Oh, well nevermind.
QBlog
August 9, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 7
Posted by QBlog
This Reader Mail is from someone who does not want to become a millionaire. That's probably a good thing because the Quixtar bonus money will only sustain approximately 200 of them.
name: SteenWell, at least Steen is a happy IBO.
date: May 21, 2004message: Yes- I agree that quixtar is not the "best business" out there....but you know what -- no buisness perfect...NONE- nadda....and not everyone who does become an IBO wants to make millions of dollars.....what if you just would be happy with $80k-$90K a year?
How many Quixtar IBOs are making $80-90 grand a year? According to Quixtar's own numbers, the bonus money paid out could only sustain approximately 2,500 IBOs at the $80,000 level.
One thing that I do think is impt. make sure you know your upline- and trust them-- if they are all about money money money-- then this buisness is really going to be a pain. I started this buisness a little while ago- and I have met some really sussessful people ( on my team- and not on my team-just friends who are participating) sooooo it is possible. With the tape and books you can buy- yes that has always been an option for me - I was never forced to buy them- and I only spend about $12/month on that stuff. I think so many people just get too carried away with this business- emotionally--
I agree. Business should not be about emotions, ever.
My "other job" is in advertising sales- YEAH it's hard --GOSH- you better believe it!!! But I love people -- and I love meeting buisness owners from all walks of life-- so that's what makes it worth it for me-- it just seemed that Quixtar was right up my ally in regards to opportunity! And NO I don't want to be a millionaire and --duh...it's not hard to see that YES of course someone makes a profit on the books and tapes...but just like any other buisness someone is always AT THE TOP...
Yes, someone is at the top aren't they?
..so bottom line- why don't people just step back and think - logically and practically..... someone is always going to make a profit off of the books and tapes-- and yes-- just liike any "sales" type job this buisness takes work!! So many people just think the dollars are just going to roll in- NO nothing in this world is free- it takes work!! So- let me know your suggestions- please title your reply "Quixtar reply" -- thanks for your time :)
My suggestion is to go to school and learn how to manage money. Not the best suggestion but it's a start.
August 2, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 6
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail selection is from someone claiming to be in San Jose. The message contains an interesting suggestion, one that I think Quixtar should notice.
As always, my comments appear in bold
name: San Jose IBOWell, I doubt I could start a blog about Quixtar success stories but I'm sure somebody out there will do so. After all, the "blogging is for losers" excuse about the past IBO blogging void has been stripped away since Jody Victor, Orrin Woodward, Fred Harteis and others started blogging last month.
date: July 19, 2004message: Hey Eric....I'm a happy IBO building a successful Quixtar business....I read your About page.....thanks for being real and not trying to be another "negative" site out there. I'm glad you said the truth about the whole cult crap, Amway, etc....it gets old answering those "common" sense questions people keep asking.
I understand what you mean but doesn't that just come with the territory? I mean, Microsoft folks still field questions about the "evil Bill Gates."
Maybe you can create another Blog site ONLY for people with success stories, so those that are doing "real" research can see that this business works if you work it...which most people don't
July 26, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 5
Posted by QBlog
Today's Reader Mail is part of a deluge of messages I received immediately after the Dateline NBC story aired. I tried to respond to all of them but I'm only one man and so a few, like this one, went unanswered. So, I guess you could say this is my reply to Bonnie's message about Quixtar.
As always, my comments appear in bold.
name: bonnie k.Well, I'm still working on getting my Quixtar Information diploma. I think I still need 12 more credit hours. Wish me luck.
date: May 11, 2004message: To critique Quixtar without becoming informed of the totality of this business opportunity is akin to claiming that a blind man can see.
Huh? So at what point can a person become qualified to critique Quixtar or anything else for that matter?
Whatever negative impressions one may have about MLM's in general are their opinion. I, myself, have never been a fan of multi level marketing. I never sold tupperware or Mary Kay or Pampered Chef or Avon or Fuller Brush...yet along comes a brilliant idea, in which, one gets rewarded for sharing information and referring their friends and acquaintances to an incredible website that pays you for shopping, and all of a sudden, this is deemed a scam. I think Costco is a scam and Wal Mart and Sears and K Mart and every other enterprise out there who takes our money for products overpriced products and we get no benefit at all. Only lies telling us how much money we saved by buying this product. Who saved money? We spent, they made, bottom line, consumers lose. Quixtar turns consumers into aware professional consumers and gives us an equity ownership in their website, with home based tax advantages, discount prices, and ability to sell (if we wish) products at retail.
Consumers lose by exchanging money for products or services? Whatever you say. Oh, wait. I get it. You're being ironic. Or are you?
Free enterprise. Entrpeneurial. The future. That is Quixtar. If you want to write any more about our business, get more informed, and then let me know what you think.
July 12, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 4
Posted by QBlog
Today's reader mail is a classic because it exhibits many of the classic arguments used to discredit people like me. We see the "only losers complain" logic followed with the direct insults and then suggestion of a threat. It really flows quite well and is so similar to many other emails I've received that I'm beginning to suspect that there's some sort of IBO response template that everyone is passing around and copying. You never know.
As always, my comments are in bold.
name: Angela P-K
date: February 18, 2004
message: I am so glad that you have stated that this information is "just one man's perceptions". Obviously, you weren't very successful at Quixtar or you wouldn't be complaining.That's interesting logic. Here are some other "complainers" that probably weren't successful: AARP. NRA. PETA. Rutherford Institute. Martin Luther King Jr. Ralph Nader. Gee, so much complaining.
I am also glad you aren't an attorney (thank God).
Yes, I do thank God every day that I'm not some blood-sucking, soulless lawyer.
You obviously need to take a few business law classes so you can get a better idea of the law of which you claim to know so little about.
Also, you claim that a "moron" tried to send you a donation. Honestly, you would have to be a "moron" to want to make one.
You must be referring to Gerald J. Reardon who, to my knowledge, did not try to send a donation of any kind but sent me his unsolicited credit card information without comment. Mr. Reardon is obviously a moron and has been reported to the proper authorities.
You are obviously the one who has some issues and too much free time and need to "consult a psychiatrist" yourself.
Perhaps if you spent as much effort doing something constructive, you wouldn't be in the self-proclaimed present financial condition.
As far as the law is concerned. I hope you are documenting the "donations" the morons are sending to you. I would hate for you to get audited.
Bring on the audits baby! And speaking of audits, I wonder how well the average IBO would fare if they were audited. Something to think about.
Of course, this is only the opinion of a current IBO and PhD student who is actually successful and can fully comprehend legalease and the finer points of what it means to live in as a Republican in a capitalistic society.
Maybe you should take a refresher course on spelling. It's "legalese" not "legalease."
June 28, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 3
Posted by QBlog
This Monday's Reader Mail selection is from someone identified as "D" and claiming to be a member of the Team of Destiny. I can't vouch for the accuracy of the information "D" includes in the message but it does seem to indicate that the testimony of Bo Short is having an impact on the perceptions of Quixtar among IBOs.
As always, my comments are in bold
name: DAnd inform we will.
date: March 17, 2004message: To the uninformed!
I have been with the TOD for just over a year and a half. I will start by saying they helped me understand a lot of things that no-one had before. That being said. My girlfriend and I joined the team within a few days and were told the same old stuff. System is where it's at! Because we were not married they encouraged seperate IBO #'s. After that they scoffed at us working the business together and insisted we each achieve our 150 PV. Oh yes and the seperate system count.
After all of this we were told to get in and our team would build below us. Well that didn't happen as many people have found. We did sponsor people that didn't do anything and so on. However, I felt like we were lying to people when we were expected to tell them we would build their business and our upline would say things like: my upline didn't sponsor anyone for me so if you want a big team you have to build your team. It all seemed crazy but I was told to stay plugged in and everything would work out.
"Stay plugged in and everything would work out" is something my wife and I heard from our upline. The feeling I got from them was that we didn't need to think, the system would do the thinking for us. Of course, we did "think" and that became a problem.
After I got a rejection based on the internet postings I decided to check some out for myself. I would have expected people who didn't try to build to be upset. However, when I saw a name very familiar to TOD I was shocked. Bo Short had been a few tapes in our 300 dollar top 50 and he had spoken out and quit quixtar completely. This was something I couldn't dispute, nor could the TOD.
After some checking and calculating I figured roughly without voicecom and the internet site. Profits were in the upwards of 40million/year. I figured on 25000 people on system. I thought to myself that they had to pay for the facilities with some of that. So I checked out the price for our 90 dollar major conference at the Breslin center at Michigan State University and although they didn't get specific but based on 7500 people they would charge starting at 8000/day This is a 2 day event and that doesn't include profits from tools and concessions. The amount of money brought in though for 7500 people is 630,000 dollars.!
WOW, That is a good profit. I guess that's why Orrin is putting a 5000-10000 sq/ft addition to his house.
I wonder how many people have contracts guaranteeing a cut of any conference money?
To wrap up I would say this, the TOD says Quixtar is not a pyramid but what is a pyramid is the tool business. The top get more than the bottom. A lot more!
Also, they say you should not like working for your boss who pays you to show up at his pyramid. The TOD has the same pyramid and they don't even pay you to show up!!
Always inform
D
June 21, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 2
Posted by QBlog
This week's Monday Reader Mail comes from Mike who claims to have been in the World Wide Dream Builders group for ten years.
name: mike r.Tune in next week for another exciting edition of Monday Reader Mail!date: May 4, 2004
message: I spent almost 10 years in wwdb
There is a lot of benefit the training that it provides, but as far as buliling the Amway/Quixtar business there are fewer and fewer people each year that actually succeed.I still have a few friend that are still involved in the business and the ones that are actually honest will admit that there is not much success anymore an average of 1 new diamond per year for the past few years.
After speaking to some people recently about the business I am amazed at how many people dont realize where the real money comes from- the system. It is written in the BSMAA form which is WWDB' s tool agreement that every distributor signs.
People STILL don't know about the tool money? Where have they been, in a cave?
WW always compares themselves with other organizations within Quixtar as the average diamond making 250k year what some people dont know is that 50% of that is system money anyway I have moved on an am making more income outside of WW than I ever made in it, which diamonds in WW always stand on stage and say they have nevr met anyone who quit the amway business who made more money after they quit I know hundreds.
Yeah, but they don't have "freedom" and are working for "Da Man" so who cares if they make more money without Quixtar/Amway?
By the way the guy I heard say that several times is reported that he lost his home in Montan to a bank foreclosure and till maintains a diamond bus in wwdb.
Where's Montan? Is that near Montana?
June 14, 2004
Monday Reader Mail
Posted by QBlog
Today is the first day of a new, recurring feature at Quixtar BLOG called Monday Reader Mail. You've probably already guessed how it works but I'll explain it for the slower folks (you know who you are).
Every Monday I'll post an email that was sent in by a site visitor and I'll include a few of my comments. Last names and email addresses (if provided) will be removed. There may be a few minor edits to clean up foul language but for the most part, each message will be posted as it was received, including misspellings and grammar errors. My comments will be in bold.
Today's offering:
Name: IBO
date: May 4, 2004message: Hey, this site is pretty funny. Ever notice how the guy is always the one who wasn't involved. Ya right, more like his wife is breast feeding him and trying to help him save his loser minimum wage ego.
Actually I moved to solid foods a couple of years ago.
This is so stupid because the Quixtar IBO that actually do something make all the information about their lives public and you use the fact that they arn't perfect as if you were just born last night. Who is perfect.
Look, the point is this lady and husband who probably changes tires down at the local jiffy lube don't put all their personal information out there to compare against the Quixtar Diamonds.
I mean come on you put everyday TV watchin and city league softball playin fools on here and give us their perspective as if they are a credible sources for financial independence.
The reason people were approached and agreed to see the opportunity to begin with is because others have created a positive and legal financial situation due to the effort they put into this business.
And then on the other hand you have people that hide behind the internet and say bad stuff about it, yet these negative people have a worse income statement the people they are creating this site for.
I mean forget the negative and make a site for what you do and then the people reading this can compare and decide who they want to take finacial advise from.
I'm sure they will get excited seeing a day in the life of this supposed couple fighting about not being able to pay the minimum payment on the master card.
Give me a break, this is stupid!
Huh?
March 10, 2003
We get letters
Posted by QBlog
Got this e-mail from "fred smith" the other day:
i have been involved with quixtar since launch and am making money. the people that dont make money are the ones who dont educate themselves or quit before anything developes. its sad that people have to sue wealthy people because they dont have the guts to succeed on their own. if you are dumb enough to think you can make money without having to invest some time and money you deserve to be broke. (my opinion) i'm curious to see if this gets posted and not just the negative stuff. have a great day
My comment is: "say What?"
Something in the back of my mind tells me this is just a prank e-mail. Some kid in Vermont who stumbled across my site and was just a bit bored. Yet another part of me knows that this guy is real. He really thinks this way and talks this way.
I'm glad he's a wealthy IBO. I was reading some Quixtar literature the other day and was amazed at how many people had made Q12 recently. This business works. It makes people a lot of money. Yet it obviously does not require people to make a lot of sense, which is fine, because I guess you don't need to make sense if you're rich. Just look at Michael Jackson.
Anyway, daring me to post an e-mail is a good way to get something posted. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff, like McFly in BTTF.