Amway
I first encountered Amway when I was a wee lad, I’d guess around age nine or ten. My sister and her husband started selling it. I remember going over to their house one day and finding every normal product they owned replaced with exotic sounding replacements; Tide was replaced with “Amway XJ-11 Detergent” and the Ivory soap was replaced with “Deter.” Looking back, I always though “deter” was an odd name for a product - to me it meant “discourage,” or “cool-sounding German boy’s name,” but not the kind of name I’d want to wash my hands with.
If you’re not familiar with Amway, it works like this. Instead of buying products from a store, you buy them from Amway, and they ship them to you via black, unmarked helicopter. You in turn recruit your friends to buy Amway products through you, and for each product they buy, you receive a small percentage of the profit. They in turn sell to their friends and so on. Graphically, you might say it looks very pyramidal. The theory is that since Amway products are so much better than name brands, you actually end up saving money by using less product than you normally would. That combined with the profits you make from selling to your friends will enable you to lead the lifestyle you’ve dreamed of. Combine the savings and product profit, and in theory, you’ll be retired in 6 months.
[This is a secret message visible only to you, Steve. If I end up being assassinated for writing this article, I’ll leave the evidence in that place I left that thing before.]
My sister stopped selling Amway just as soon as she started [but not before giving me the Amway Old Spice equivalent for Christmas], and I soon forgot about it untill after I graduated from college. At that time, I was working a dead-end job at IBM in Research Triangle Park, NC. A co-worker from another department approached me one morning and asked “Brad, how about I take you out to lunch today? I’ve got a great business opportunity for you.” I replied, “As long as it’s not Amway!” I laughed, but he didn’t. That disparity should have set off warning bells in my head, but alas, they were silent. So I told him I’d go.
We met at that great restaurant on 54 just west of Alston Avenue, Lee Ho Fook’s place. My co-worker, who I’ll call Dick, leaned across the table when we sat down and immediatley peppered me with compliments. “Brad, you seem like a very smart, capable go-getter - the type of guy with entrepreneurship in his blood. I’ve had my eye on you ever since you’ve started, which is why I asked you out to lunch today. You see, I’m involved in this organization for entrepreneurs like yourself. We’re having a meeting on Tuesday evening in downtown Raleigh. It’ll only take an hour and I’d like you to come.” All of this even before the spring rolls had arrived. I of course asked “What is this organization of which thou speakest?” He would NOT tell me. Instead, he said, “You know, if I tell you the name, you probably won’t come. A lot of people have stereotypes about this company. I’d rather you come to the meeting before I tell you.” I had nothing better to do that Tuesday, and being the adventurous scamp I was, I told him I would attend. In general, if you butter me up with Chinese food, I’m game for anything.
The meeting was held in a non-descript office park in a plain building …not an identifying mark anywhere. It reminded me of the place where they kept the bodies in the movie Coma - stark, white, and mysterious (much like me). Everyone of the attendees wore a suit - I have never seen so much polyester and hair gel outside of church. My friend Dick spotted me in the parking lot and escorted me in. To stroke my ego even further, I was led to one of the folding chairs on the front row. People introduced themselves, shaking my hands left and right.
An important looking man eventually took to the podium. He introduced himself as the chapter president, welcomed us, then told us his story. “I once was a loser, much like you, but thanks to this organization, I am whole. I was once sick, but I am better now. And now there is work to be done.” He then invited a couple to speak, and they told the same story of failure to success. They even showed a PowerPoint, that showed that if you bought $1000 worth of mystery product, and recruited X participants per month, you could afford a summer house in the Hamptons. Person after person took to the podium, giving compelling testimonials.
The testimonials went on for about an hour, then the chapter president approached the podium again. “You’re probably wondering who we are,” he said. “I would have told you sooner, but I thought you’d bolt for the door. We…are Amway!” My heart sank - I could have been home watching Kate and Allie, but I missed it for this trash. Luckily, the meeting broke up within five minutes. Before BradBrown.com could bolt for the door, Dick approached me with the grin of a new puppy, “So what did you think?” I believe my exact words were “Jesus {adjective} Christ, you have got to be {adverb} kidding me. Why didn’t you tell me this was Amway?” He looked surprised, as if I had rejected the greatest gift in the world. I walked past him, and that was the last time I spoke to Dick. He eventually left IBM, and died a few months later in a car wreck under mysterious circumstances [which is a mysteriously convenient way to end this story].
There are several lessons in this story.
- If you work in a dead-end job and are approached by a dead-end co-worker, the words “great business opportunity” have no meaning.
- Just because you can save money by buying a 20-lb bag of potato chips, doesn’t mean you should.
- If people are dressed up for Sunday School on a Tuesday night, and they’re entering a building with no signage, it could spell trouble.
What are your thoughts? Have you had success with Amway? If so, how? Am I doing the math wrong, or am I just extremely prejudiced having been scarred at such a young age? What’s the relationship between Amway, Scientology, and the Illuminati?
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You’re extremely prejudiced by having been scared at such a young age!
Actually I had a different “young age” experience. My mother was buying Amway products and one of them was called “Crystal Clear”. They had a very small pocket sized spray can designed for using with glasses. I was 7 or 8 yr old and I tried this stuff on my glasses and WOW! I’ve never forgotten the difference it made.
30 odd years later I now have my own Amway business in multiple countries. It does work, but it takes a lot of time and effort. Is it worth it? The great majority of those who have succeeded will tell you yes!
And they’re still great products too
http://www.amwaywiki.com
http://www.thetruthaboutamway.com
But ibofightback cannot explain a number of things about his “business”.
ibofightback is not well respected by either Amway/Quixtar, or the critics.
ibofightback is not credible. I read somewhere that he’s a PR guy for network 21, one of the groups that bilk IBOs by selling them cds and seminar tickets.
ibofightback is also know as insider. Either personna sucks.
Amusing and informative. Thanks for writing this entry.
Hi, I came across you blog on the Scoobie Davis Online site. Thought I needed some comic relief, so here I am.
Your comment about hiding the evidence to keep these people from offing you may be more serious than you think. I guess I need to find one of those lock boxes too!
I guess I’ve become an activist in this insane world of Quixtar/Amway critics. I just hate to see people I know and love victimized by these cult motivational scams. People become victims and then they victimize others and so forth and so on.
The problem is, Amway doesn’t make better people out of anyone. It teaches them to deceive and scam their way towards an unachievable goal and in the process rope others into loosing time and money along the way.
It is good that word is getting out about this and the other lesser known scam schemes going around. Best of luck to you. I will link you to my web site: http://quixtarisacultintervention.blogspot.com
Any negative comments about any tried and left idea is absurd. These people whoo made it had to have done something right. You can’t be an ex-amway or ex-quixtar IBO and say it doesn’t work. That’s exactly why, because you QUIT, yet you’ll work a job for 20-30-40 years and expect to do alright!! The facts say you won’t.! Research the retirement income average in America for those who took that route, after working their entire lives, then take a look at those who try it and still maintain an independent business of their own on the side and tell me what makes sense. To put ALL your time into a corporate system that promises only 1/3 the income (if that) at the end of your hard work? To not attempt to reach some of the goals these real life people in the amway and quixtar businesses have reached? Please!!!! At least there is hope for those who are committed. You have no hope in the corporate world! These two entities are of the most successful business conglomerate affiliations in the world to date. Check their resume in detail in profits and paid IBO accounts and you will see!!! That’s enough for now. Reach me back at karl.farewell@yahoo.com for any emails or comments. I love feedback….
Funny story…at least until the guy died…
Check out my site on Amway/Quixtar.
Scott
Scott, are you referring to the story where ibofightback’s identity is confirmed?
My guess the declining diamond jims are still faking it until they never make it. There has just been too many whistle blowing diamond level defectors to discount each and every one of them. I’m so glad I was smart enough to avoid the quixand trap. Does anyone here need a quixtar intervention? Maybe I can interest A & E in your particular problem. Come over to my website for your first taste of freedom.
rocket french…
haha nice one mate i like this post!…
IBOFightBack is David J. Steadson.
See http://www.amquix.info
I have to agree and disagree. LOL.
I’m in Amway and I have been in Amway for sometime now and doing great. It got me my wife closer and I have business in UK and also in Paris.
I want to agree first, that I found some in Amway not transparent enough when introducing Amway to people before even taken them to meetings.
I actually qualify people and also for respect to them and their decision but saying there and then it is Amway.
I thought large majority wouldn’t want to be in Amway because of what I do in begining but I have had success.
No, MLM is not for everyone. It’s for people who study the business, have faith in themselves, and who don’t kiss the butt of their upline, and who are courageous enough to see what is wrong and work to change it in the industry.
That’s what I have done, and taught to all my downlines.
So, I agree it happens, where some may not be clear from begining. But I disagree in the attitude towards the Amway business as something that doesn’t work.
Yes, true. It may not work for some and I cannot explain why mate. All I know is, I put time, focus, see where some went wrong and made sure I didn’t do it.
Also, I don’t ever want someone in the business if they don’t want to and feel pressured. Which is why I question them and tell them it’s Amway and even question more.
Or I’d be wasting my time and they will be wasting there’s.
Anyway, funny story, good write and hey, it’s your experience and thanks for sharing.
Please, any Amway distributor who reads this blog, respect the person story and experience.
It’s ok to disagree and not like Amway etc. It’s a free world and end of day, are we not taught - that we should care about people first than business.
That’s how I see it anyway.
I’ve been sucked into attending a couple of Amway meetings. One guy bragged he bought everything through Amway including his suit and, boy, did it show!
Their pitch always falls apart when you start asking questions about profit margins on products, franchise territory arrangements and specific marketing support. They always fall back on vague statements like “don’t worry about margins, you get a percentage”, “we don’t have franchise territories per se” (ie you could end up with everyone on you block selling Amway products to each other!) and “the products sell themselves!” (then why would you give up part of your margin to me when the product is flying off the shelf without any effort?).
Yes some people make money at it, but if you calculate the per hour return you will better off moonlighting at a gas station.
“You can’t be an ex-Amway or ex-Quixtar IBO and say it doesn’t work. That’s exactly why, because you QUIT, yet you’ll work a job for 20-30-40 years and expect to do alright!! The facts say you won’t.!” -Carl
When I read this, I wasn’t quite sure what “the facts say you won’t” means. What facts? Is this your opinion, or do you have something real to substantiate this? My husband got into Amway years back, and was not happy with it, yes he “Quit”, but he is very successful without it. He works a very fulfilling 8-3 job 3/4 of the year, is a pro athlete, and also owns his own business that compliments his personality. He is very young, and we will be very well off before retirement even knocks on our door. To presume that because someone quits Amway that the will be unsuccessful in life is laughable to me. Maybe that is the problem with the mentality of Amway distributors: “If you can’t sell Amway, well then who are you?” Don’t get me wrong, I like certain products from Amway, especially their skincare lines, but I don’t know a single person who sells this stuff directly (at least not anymore :), so I just buy my stuff online.
I want to give an objective view.
I tried Amway when I was very young in the 1980’s.It is not a scam, but very few will become successfull in it also.
The real problem comes down to the numbers of people needed to make your business Some will overstate how ,and how fast you can make money giving it a bad name.
Second you must sell a very large volume of products through all of your downlines to ever get a bonus worth your while.
Bottom line:You have to be a certain kind of person with great sales ability(selling the company to others).
Just think of how any business would do if they hired people by standing out in a mall asking everyone they see to work for them with no screening.
The amway global corporation is debt free, in 78 countries, and with the internet is better than ever. I wish I could tell u evil didn’t exist but it does. Unfortunately people try to scam people and do the wrong thing which gives Amway a bad image. The corporation is great, best way to join is call the number and they will get u in touch with a platinum or above IBO, someone who has suceeded, rather than being approached by someone who does not have evidence and u may not be able to trust. If its not for u, hey no problem, find something you love to do and go for it.
Great post, but my feeling is people stay in Amway because they make friends - not because it makes them money.