Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Amway - Life After Amway?

As I have stated in a previous post, I am a former Amway distributor, or IBO. While I was active, my life was consumed by Amway related activities. If I wasn't at a meeting or showing the plan, I was at coffee shops or at other public places looking to meet potential recruits to add to my group. I was in Worldwide Group at the time and I was always taught that we were "helping people".

Looking back, we didn't help anyone who didn't join the business. Even those who joined didn't actually receive "help". The help that my upline refered to was simply someone upline showing the plan and helping active IBOs to recruit others. Sometimes this was done for free and sometimes you paid (for open meetings). Every opportunity was used to look for recruits, even weddings and other social events.

When I finally realized that the Amway opportunity was not going to deliver lifelong residual income for me, and due to some conflict with my sponsor, I decided to leave the business. Well, all my lifelong Amway friends never spoke to me again. Most of my group quit except a few of them. Allegedly, one of them continued on in the business and allegedly reached the platinum level. All that means to me is this person spent tens of thousands of dollars on tools.

The really strange thing for me was after I left the Amway oppportunity and worldwide group, I suddenly realized how much extra time I had on my hands. I also realized that I had extra cash to save as my income wasn't being consumed by PV and support materials. I was able to save and invest some of that surplus and I am glad that I did today.

As time passed, I also read and heard about some of my crossline friends losing their homes and/or going bankrupt. I am fairly certain that their consumption of standing orders and function attendance was a major factor in their lives. I also discovered through various media that our WWDB leaders had lied to the downline about tool profits. They had said nobody made a profit from tools. I later found that some of them made most of their income from tools.

I also discovered later that some uplines lied about paying for their homes in cash, and who knows what they may be lying about today. I believe upline greed has led to many of the problems the business opportunity faces today. I started to learn about some of this back in 2003 - 2004 and I eventually registered as a member on Quixtar blog. I have been debating Amway since then.

The best discovery I have made was that there is indeed life after Amway. :P

127 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who are you to decide what's best for my life?

Unknown said...

Yes there is life after Amway, even as an employee (that I was). It is sad to say that all you statements ar VERY true. Looking from the inside I was able to realize how unprofitable this business is for IBOs/ABOs. (if you can call it a business) Why? 80% of Amway payouts goes to 2% IBOs/ABOs (Most of the laders). The same leaders who force you to buy the motivational tools (now they are calling it educational). So you end up spending and spending money on this tools but no income because the products are so expensive that nobody wants to buy them and you make no money from them, unless you self consume and sell them to your relatives.

Trust me, I know all the numbres (margins on products, value of products, ABO payouts, income from tools, percentage of success, retention rates, atrition, ABO profitability at all levels, reputation problems etc etc etc.

When I left Amway it was obious that this is not an option to earn money except for a few leaders who make money of all thier downlines on CDs, books, seminars etc etc.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME ON AMWAY.

Joecool said...

Thanks for your comment Samantha. I hope you will read and comment on more articles with your perspective.

Anonymous said...

Amway is totally a mind game. Controlling your mind is the name of the game. Each and everything that is said from the stage, in the cd..is done for a reason. When you are in it, you dont think u are being manipulated. Rather you are made to feel like you are a winner..and you are exceptionally better off than the average outside(non-amway) people, whereas in reality you are loosing every day- loosing in the sense, you are not getting the results for the efforts u are putting.

Every possible negative situation that could happen is thought of and covered from the stage, and the cd. For eg: let's say u have been in the business for 5 years and not making profit. You will listen to a cd where the speaker says nothing happened to them for the first 5 years of business- so u will be like, this is so similar to my story..if I stay a little more time, it is going to work for me.

The job world and the outside people (non-amway people) is painted in such a negative color in the system, so u will be like business is not working..but jobs dont work either...let me stick it out and make it in the business...anyway i will not be able to even spend any time with people outside, let me stay in the business.

You are encouraged to have bigger dreams and get pictures of your dreams on your fridge or have a dream board. In a way this keeps u in the biz, b'coz it is your dream and u are like, how can i choose to leave the biz and these dreams.

Big time stroking of ego happens in all associations. At all associations, whoever that is getting results at that time is promoted through the roof. Sometimes when u are not getting any results, some of the big pins, wont even acknowledge ur presence. U will be like...i will show it to u, what i am capable of and will stay in the biz some more time.

The main goal of the system is to keep u in the biz for some more time, until that next function or seminar comes to pump u up or give u hope. In the meantime u will be buying 300PV worth of product and increase Amway's business and will be buying tools and be inncreasing your system's income.

If u have a few people in your group, quitting becomes even more difficult, u will be like..how can i tell these people, whom i gave dreams and got them in...that i am not going to pursue.

If ur upline is in the local area, if u tell them that u dont want to continue, they will come to ur house, spend hours with u and will use every technique in the book to keep u in.

For those of u who have read "How to win Friends and Influence people"- two main techniques are used from that book in amway business:
1) Appeal to Nobler cause- There is no real money in Amway for most people- so what do they appeal to - Impacting people, better marriages, great families, Free Enterprise, Intagible benefits like becoming a better person etc etc etc.

2)Dramatize your ideas- This is what happens in the function- whereas everything is dramatized--incredible fear about economy, job world is put in your mind and incredible rewards achieved by people in the business is constantly talked about( in a crowd of 3000 in a function, at the most 20 so called successful people talk-so there is your ratio of sucess.)

So, how does this business run? why do people stay in? for HOPE...HOPE of making it one day..HOPE of achieving their dreams...They stay afloat with HOPE

Anonymous said...

Life after amway:

1) Don’t have to report every single second of my life to my upline. If he calls on a Sunday now, I can tell, “Yes, I am at home, relaxing”. When I was in Amway if I was not out there making it happen every second of my life, I was not a real man.
2) I can go on vacations and enjoy myself (Earlier if I went even for a day somewhere, I would be thinking…”Man what a waste of time…I could be out there meeting a guy, who could be the next platinum, diamond on my team).
3) My wife does not have to think too much about asking me to do a chore at the house( In Amway it is drilled in to you, that women should take care of everything at home, so their husband’s mind is freed up, so that he can go out there and Impact more people).
4) Savings account is increasing
5) I don’t have to creatively think how to save money- so that I can invest in tools, buy 100% of products from Amway.
6) I don’t have worry to about how I can impact people constantly with such great values learnt from the system.
7) If I walk into a store, I can just buy what I want and walk back. I don’t have to look for sharp prospects while I am living my life.
8) Don’t have to look at every person I come across as a client or a prospect for the business.
9) Can have real conversation with people without the pressure of looking for a cue to talk about an exciting new product or the exciting business opportunity.
10) I don’t have wear formal shirts and pants on a Sunday and try and look like a sharp business man, who just happens to bump into you at the local store.
11) Don’t have to drive 100’s of miles -If there is a no-show and don’t have to hear the stupid words from my upline that “How proud they are of me being a Winner for Never giving up.”
12) Don’t have to have a false hope that the next book I am going to read, or the next function I am going to go to is going to give me the answer to take the business forward.
13) When you already have costume jewellery for a life time, your wife does not have to buy some more, just because an Emerald or Diamond lady thumpingly said from the stage- “Ladies if you really are passionate about the business you would be wearing the jewellery from the latest catalog and set an example for your team.”
14) I can have real conversations with my family (negative people when I was in amway).
15) Don’t have to sit at Starbucks after Starbucks and show this million dollar plan, but when pressed for details- tell vague things.
16) Don’t have to buy expensive products and convince myself – that cheap people always compare prices, but quality people look for value( The truth of the matter is even though Nutrilite is such a great product, nobody would talk about it if it did not have any PV for it).
17) DON’T HAVE TO LIE TO MYSELF, TO MY FAMILY AND EVERYBODY ELSE- HOW THIS BUSINESS IS THE REAL DEAL AND HOW I AM ABOUT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
18) The Pros are unlimited…Cons…??? Are there any??? I am still thinking.

Joecool said...

Thanks for sharing. That was awesome!

Anonymous said...

Please, post another bullshit comment!

Anonymous said...

We actually have a great marriage after we decided not to pursue Amway. How can you ever be happy inside, happy in your marriage, when you are constantly failing in something you are passionately pursuing?

In of the cds by Brad Duncan talks about how Julie Duncan does not ever nag him. In fact many of the diamonds talk about what a great wife they have who supoorts them completely. Most of these diamonds, went platinum in a year, emerald in a few years- this was all in the 80’s and 90’s. I always used to wonder how these ladies would have reacted- if they were putting in so much hard work for 5 or more years and are nowhere close to even platinum.

There are constant messages in the system that ladies have to be in submission with their husband and the husband should be counselling and be in submission with the upline. How can a husband be in submission with a upline, who suggests idiotic things like qualifying silver or eagle when we have 4 or 5 people on team. In one of the Go Diamond events, a BWW diamond Vishal Jain said, “If you are not in submission with your upline, you have a fake marriage”. When you hear this, and your upline is recommending idiotic things and you are not in submission with your upline- you start thinking is my marriage fake? We are thankful we don’t have to sit through and listen to all these miserable stuff any more.

Anonymous said...

Ask Brad Wolgamott how his great marriage is doing.

Anonymous said...

To succeed in Amway, you have to follow the system. That's true of any business venture. And if you're passionate enough about something, you don't constantly fail, you make it. The only time when you constantly fail at something is because you're not passionate about it. You sound like you weren't passionate about your Amway business when you moan about those ladies feeling like crap knowing that they had to work hard for 5 years to make it to Diamond! It sounds like you did Amway without excitement but rather with doubt and feeling like you were forced to go Diamond. No wonder that with that mindset, people do quit and drop dead like flies.

Joecool said...

How come so many people follow the system and fail? Did Greg Duncan follow the system? Is that why he is in bankruptcy proceedings? Why aren't there many new diamonds?

Anonymous said...

I think you people need to rethink your priorities in life and figure out what you really want. It sounds like you either don't know how to follow simple steps or you were looking for a reason to quit because you are lazy. Grow up and get a life!! -A True World Wide Dream Builder

Anonymous said...

I stopped DREAMING and started LIVING...

The duncans are in such bondage to $$$ AND THEY do not even know it.. They are slaves to $$/Greed

Anonymous said...

even Brad Wolgamott the TOP DOG is World Wide Dreambuilders now feels that he is FREE since leaving wwdb

Anonymous said...

what is wolgamott doing now, who is he with? what organization? and does wwdb recognize the fact that duncan did not pay taxes? and has homes foreclosed on? please advise, my in laws are hard core and they think that those are all lies and not true, i have been in twice and back out,i see through all the b.s....but they will defend that group to the death, it is affecting my marriage as i am married to their daughter..PLEASE HELP!! and they say amway saves marriages...please

Joecool said...

Here's the link to Greg Duncan's bankruptcy:
http://www.amquix.info/duncan_bankrupt.html
The court documents and all the info is there. As for Wolgamott, just go to the WWDB website and Leslie Wolgamott is featured alone. Interesting?

Anonymous said...

Funny how reading a positive book instead of watching tv is called brain washing. There's nothing wrong with cutting distractions from your life. All it does is free up time. So, if I'm not watching tv, drinking, spending money on credit cards that I don't have, why not fill my time with something that earns me money? It may not be a million dollars, but an extra $500 a month is still a car payment I don't have to worry about because of this business.

Joecool said...

Reading a book or not eatching TV is good. But done under the guise of avoiding "negative" is cult-like. It's good if you spend less money on drinking or whatever, but how many IBOs earn any money? Most take a loss after subtracting expenses. The tools make it much worse. The tools amount to an extra car payment for many.

Anonymous said...

The amount of mind control in the WWDB is staggering, once you're able to look at it from the outside. I gave up a Silver business, 4000pV most of the time in a divorce, and rarely made a NET profit, despite being between eagle and double eagle parameters. I doubt that anyone who follows the system can turn an actual profit(on your tax return) below the Ruby level. Life after Amway = more money, less stress, more hobbies, no more guilt trips, and happiness.

Joecool said...

Thanks for the comment. I agree and I was at about the same level as you were.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Thanks for sharing your experiences. It is true, when people get out everyone that stays in looks at you like you are a failure and they probably would not socialize. There are so many other business opportunities out there. It simply comes down to YOU in anything YOU do. I have to agree though that the Amway biz is tough and you have to always stay in qualification. Missing b-days, funerals, family events is B.S. That is ridiculous. Many successful people that make a few hundred a year don't miss birthdays that are in other businesses. It is a struggle to decide to stay or quit, as the association of people is a breath of fresh air. So many people out there are negative and it gets old hearing everyone whine about their lives all the time and they do not do anything to change it. I see both sides.(Pros and cons of building the biz). I guess it comes down to what your passion is in life. Some people are not meant to be coaches/mentors and some are. The business is extremely time consuming and costs a lot of money to build it. More than meets the eye... this is for sure. But other businesses cost a lot of money to start up as well with most small businesses fail within first 5 years statistics tell us. Still.... mixed feelings! The books are good though, as well as the CDs. We can all use self improvement and they are dirt cheap!!! Very small investment. It is the cost of the products that is very expensive, although many products are of high quality and the cleaning products are green, which is nice. Even if we quit building the business, I think we will buy some of the products because we like them. Maybe retail is the way to go as opposed to being a business retailer since the products are pretty darn good. AND... we are very picky about products and have never been WALMART shoppers. YUCK! Therefore, price does not bother us. We are worth more than saving a few bucks. (our health and home that is). Cannot put a price tag on that! Anyways... good luck to everyone in what they do. Still Thinking... Still Unsure! Our upline would probably die if they knew who wrote this.

Anonymous said...

How do you talk someone out of this, when they are true believer? I'm afraid that she will waste years of her life by the time she realize that it was a big scam to make $$ for the 'preachers?'

Anonymous said...

I agree there are a few dorks that have used AMWAY as a supplier. There are some people who take adantage of people and try to sell them crap. The business model does make sense. Buy products you would buy from safeway, COSTCO etc from yourself. They are good products at a good price. It is not sham wows or snuggies or a late night TV items...although some of them are pretty cool looking.They are things you use each day, money that you would spend at stores. I think it is easy to over spend...on anything. This business is not a fix my finance fast type business. You need to be caution about your finances, at all times. If your finances are all over the place then they will continue to do so for the rest of your life, succeed or not.If you dont want to buy the "training materials" then do not buy them. Can they benefit people? Yes. Can they not benefit people? Yes. If you are convinced into starting a business then do not do it. If you can sit back and take a look at using AMWAY as a supplier for your business, do it. If you dont feel comfortable with the people who are your "upline" and that you feel they are scamming you then don't do it. But be sure to get all the facts. As in all things do not brand all things of the same tree as bad. I am not an american. Do i think all Americans are racist about terrorists? No, but some of them are.Do i go around calling every american i know a racist? No, because it is not polite to do so. So do your own research, not from blogs, not from wikipedia

Anonymous said...

Hi. I've been crying for weeks since I learned my best friend has been recruited by Amway. She is in so deep and it seems there is nothing I can do. All she talks about is money, how she must have a lot of it, how Amway is the only way to live and anyone having a job (eg me) is stupid. And we are best friends! Few months ago she could have talked for hours how money does not make anyone happy, how she loves her job and the industry, etc. As there seems to be many ex-s in this site, could you give me advice, is there any argument or any way I can open her eyes before she looses all her savings? I have read quite a lot about it and it seems that at this early state no common sense arguments can reach through and I am getting quite desperate. She is such a sweet person and now she is hostile towards the entire world outside the Amway world. I've seen it once before when a religious group did this to anotehr friend of mine - we "lost" her for 5 years before "she came back". I know Amway uses the same methods on people's minds and now it seems I am about to loose another firend for years. This kind of activity should be prohibited - within a few weeks a person is brain-washed that all her friends who have been there for her for years and years through everything are suddenly "bad and". How can people be so cruel and obsessed about money??
Very sad friend. x

Anonymous said...

Greed, idolization of those 'who made it to the ranks' and words like: 'once you made it to emerald, you are free'. free??? right...what about showing at least 15 plans or more a month, attending meetings, expo's, strategy meetings every evening, even sundays!!! listening to brainwash cd's every day, reading books = all compulsory. having to attend seminars, rally's etc. supporting, encouraging downline to perform, pushing x amount of pv every month. this sounds like work to me, this does not sound like someone being 'free'. There is such a big emphasis on socializing with friends as you have sooo much time, but actually these friends are either prospective ibo's or they are in the business. this 'friendship' only lasts while I push enough pv and make it to the next level.....if I'm out, our so wonderful friendship seems to have never existed. life is consumed with amway...24/7/365! when sick, i am being encouraged to 'think' myself healthy for the sake of the opportunity to meet somebody new who may take me to the next level.
Come on you suckers, get a life!
I am glad it did not take me years to see through this 'oh so wonderful' opportunity.

Anonymous said...

I am an Active IBO in AMWAY and guys if you have made a choice to quit its your decision and one should respect.
We have to understand in AMWAY I am working for myself and not for anyone else. Buying tools such as CDs and books are all optional if you want to take your business to next level. You do learn lot of things from these CDs and Books.
One of the upline in my LOS has been diagnosed with Cancer, now every meeting we do perform prayer for him to get well, I dont know anywhere else if we do perform this kind of exercise. He has touched many lives in this business and near to become an emerald.

Joecool said...

You could do this exercise in church.

Anonymous said...

I was in WWDB in the 1990's in the Greg Duncan line of sponsorship. I suppose it was easier to become a brain washed lemming in the early to mid 90's as the amount of available factual information was very limited. It is sad that so many people really believe that they will achieve financial independence when the chances of it ever happening are slim to none. It is also no surprise to me that Greg Duncan, who bragged that he bought his house with cash and had no mortgage went through a foreclosure. It is all window dressing meant to catch the venerable dreamer who eventually will not be able to distinguish fantasy from reality.

Joecool said...

Greg Duncan had multiple foreclosures and he had an interest only loan. What a hypocrite!

Anonymous said...

I was involved for two years in the early 90's. I was not very active but attended some meetings and a rally. After doing some simple math I realized I could buy a Snickers bar cheaper from any vending machine than I could from myself no matter how much discount I got. My sponsor has a taco shop and said the cheapest taco he could buy was from himself. That is true but he did not buy his taco supplies from Amway. Folks, just do the math. Oh, and for the sincere Christian out there, is this really what the Lord wants you to do with your time and money? Would'nt it be better to be as excited about spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his shed blood for our sins than to spread the Amway message????

L3g1tcitizen said...

you know what.. it all makes logical sense.. have you guys ever recieved your bonus checks? have u guys followed the 10 core principals? and why are you people talking smack about Amway? its a SUPPLIER! thats like me saying Best Buy is a scam.. it makes NO SENSE. know what you talk about, you guys may have been screwed over.. and your getting a BUSINESS license to become an INJDEPENDENT business owner.. no one puts a gun to your head and yells buy my cds and semenars.. all i would pay for is the main events held every two months because those are AWESOME!!! oh my gosh. it keeps ur motivation up and your social networking with really cool people and HELLA hot woman. THAT right there is worth it. (and of course the bonus checks haha) im a real guy and im telling you right now that you all are in something TOTALLY different than of what Im in.

Anonymous said...

yep. it's called real life. care to join us?

Anonymous said...

I've read every single comment in this blog and all I see is excuses for not building Amway. I would agree that the business is not easy to build and very time consuming. But nobody can deny that the business model works if you work it. I can honestly say I did not give it 110% consistently for 2 years (please look back on your calendar if you were showing the plan 3-5 times a week constantly for 2 year. That is what it takes to get success i this business. Which I think is a small price to pay for financial freedom.

I am also on the fence about not pursuing the business at this point. What I have not seen in any of these blogs are what other option is there? conventional business? Which is just as hard. Investing which I don't have any money for. Yes I can use money for business tools to invest what $200 - $300 a month is that really gonna get me financially free? I have to make very good selection where to invest to even hope for a good return. I can't just let any fund manager take my money and hope for the best.

Someone once said in the business, when the mind is stretched to see the possibilities, the mind cannot go back to where it was. So I can NOT see myself being at the job till I'm 65 maybe 75 with the way things are today.

So for those of you who decided not do do this business, what are you doing do get financially independent?

Anonymous said...

Yes, after i quit amway (about a 2yr stint), i invested my time and money into a much more reasonable venture and i am far far far better off today. I've actually achieved the dreams that amway promised but were impossible to deliver.

Anonymous said...

Care to share what that is so we can get an enlightment?

Anonymous said...

Bunch of f*%king loosers giving their stinking opinions about a $10.2 Billion Corporation. Get a life people. Start taking some resposibility. Atleast someobody had the courage to build it to Diamond level & above. All you people have not even gone 2500 pv but have all the negative opoinions about how the buisness didn't work for you. Go start a Conventional business & you will know.

Joecool said...

Maybe you're a fucking loser and you're not a 10.2 billion dollar corporation. Why don't you get a life?

Anonymous said...

i was sponsored by a diamond...my wife and i reached the ruby level with double digit legs...won the diamond incentive award.
we no longer are in the business and i like myself much better as i dont look at every person as a downline...and i but toothpast that does not cost 4 dollars...

former ruby in world wide dreambuilders....

fired up.....lol

Valdemar said...

Some people go to work, and someone will go diamond.

Anonymous said...

What a flipping idiot! My wife and I have been associated with URA for a little over a month and have doubled our initial investment and looking to triple it next month. Besides EVERYTHING products and mentorship has a 100% money back gaurantee, its a win win if you are accountable and coachable.. just because you didn't work 100% of the 9 core and take advice don't be a moron and speak lies on WWW with absolutely no face or accountability to it..

Anonymous said...

ooooh looks like someone got bitten by the scamway bug! tsk tsk tsk...

Anonymous said...

Way to own up to your own failure boys and girls. Maybe if you spent more time working and less time blaming everyone else for not making it happen FOR you, you would have done better. Buying the (optional) tools doesn't guarantee success. Attending the (optional) events doesn't guarantee success. How many times did you read and hear that in your time in the business...I would think it would have sunk in eventually. Working your butt off does work. Getting shot down over and over again, and still having the courage to keep going works. The tools are just tools...not magic tools.

What I have noticed is that negative people who don't take ownership for their own actions always fail. I saw that someone asked who the new diamonds are. Well...I saw a new one presented two days ago. They don't happen often. Mostly because people have been taught that when the going gets tough, you run away and find an easier way. Probably why we have such a high divorce rate, or why people jump from job to job. Any excuse will work to avoid facing your own shortcomings.

So, before you start slinging mud at a business based on the mistakes of one or two people in the whole place, understand that it is the same as putting a person's entire family in prison for that one person's crime. That's just plain dumb.

What many of you seem to be saying is that you gave it your all, and built a diamond business, but you weren't paid...that you were robbed and ripped off. That is an outright lie, and you ought to be ashamed of yourself.

You get paid in direct proportion to the amount of success you have. If you were unsuccessful, maybe you should have tried changing your approach and improving yourself. Maybe you should have been a better mentor.

On the other hand, if you were even a little successful and you received even one bonus check, and you cashed your bonus check, and you spent that money...then double shame on you for lying to people and discouraging them from trying something just because it was too much work for you or you didn't like it.

When you read between the lines, what most of you are actually saying is that you overspent on things that you thought would do the work for you, and then sat around and waited for those tools to go build you a diamond business. When the books and CDs didn't roll on out the door and go sign up some new IBOs for you, you bought a whole bunch more. You kept dumping money on a dead cow expecting milk, rather than holding yourself accountable.

People say the business model doesn't work. Of COURSE it doesn't work...not by itself! YOU have to work, and work hard. Don't discourage other people from trying to make their dream work just because you couldn't be bothered to put in the time yourself. You clearly weren't accountable when you were in the business, and you still aren't. If you want to sit around and do nothing, expect to get nothing in return. I'm not saying you are a bad person, I am saying that it's sad that you can't take ownership for your own failure.

In closing, to those who were shocked when your up-line stopped spending time with you when you quit, well...people with a winner mentality don't have much reason to associate with quitters. I know I don't. You are who you associate with after all and it's a waste of time. Besides, with your attitude and your need to blame anyone but yourself for your failure, well honey, you're just poison to a self motivated positive thinker. Yet again, no one to blame but yourself. It's not their fault you are all bitter and negative. You control your mood, thoughts and attitude. No one else can.

I ran across this site while looking for something else, and just had to respond so that those of us who are working hard at it remember that we are part of the 1%. Don't let the 99% get you down.

Joecool said...

BS. You can work your ass off and not make a cent in Amway. Yes, tools are just tools but they don't work and lying uplines promote them as if they were magic. That is the scam. Amway folks have just as high a divorce rate as the rest of the world. Who told you otherwise?

Good luck to you.

Anonymous said...

Was in WWDB with wife from 98-02 or so. Her Emerald cousin was direct sponsor. Really liked the business aspect. Hated the selling aspect. Liked the products but they are too expensive. Tools are very costly. I enjoyed it when we weren't fighting about it. lol. I learned a lot. I am very cheap so this would never work for me. I hate sales so this will not work for me. We don't have extra income so this will not work for us. We are on a tight budget.

So, it does work. You must like sales and talking to people or BSing. You must have extra income for tools, products and meetings. You have to get lucky and sponsor the right people. I am NOT one of the ones you should try to sponsor.

Anonymous said...

So Thankfull to Amway and World Wide without them i would loose my marrige.Even if its going to take me 20 years to build this bussines i would still build it.Brad dunken did a mistake in being double minded ... but thats good, now he can teach it and tell us not to do it because thats what he did and it didn't work out.I dont care about the money part i care about association.Because only of wwdb my marrige is saved and i feel happy every day.If you have something better than amway then show me, job part you can leave to urself. But if you have nothing to give to people just shut up and stop making such a stupid posts about how amways stole ur money,friends,TV ,and whole bunch of other stupid shit.People like you complaine about everything they do and it doesnt matter if its amway,job or anything else in this world.Ur ass is in a warm place because you have a choice you were born in a wealthy country but think about other people who were not as lucky as you are, dont be selfish... i wish you could grow up the way i and other pople did then you would be happy for any opportunity in ur life.Stop complaining and gossiping and your life will become much better.

Anonymous said...

i would rather work like that even 50 plans a week just amazing thing , than for someone who doesnt even care about me!!!! I think you should get a life.

Joecool said...

Yes, you can pay to work for 50 plans a week and lose money?

Joecool said...

After 20 years you still won't have a net profit.

Anonymous said...

My wife and I went to 13 q12s in a row never missed.. we love our life much better than before.. those of you building the business. Heres a flash.. we left while we were profitable rubys because bondage was too expensive for the measly 6k/month income

Anonymous said...

yeah but youre a weiner... i mean winner

Anonymous said...

8 years in WWDB in the 90's. Thousands of plans, functions, tapes, product pick ups etc. Got divorced, lost thousands and thousands of dollars. Never more that $7500 pv. Averaged 3000pv-4000pv.
Wish the internet had been around then so it wouldn't have taken so long to see the scam. My sponsor was a ruby in 1991 and I believe still is 22 years later. LOL . 3-5 year plan...what a bunch of douche bags.

Unknown said...

Ur awesome

Anonymous said...

I spent 12 years in the Amway business. I will forever be grateful for the books it lead me to. I was HARD Core and knew Ron Puryear when he was an Emerald. We were raising small children who were left behind as we went to the requisite seminars & rallies all over the western U.S. We were 'losers' if we didn't go - setting a bad example to our downline. It was heinous and I was fully engaged. We were the local hosts of our rallies & seminars. I got to wear the dresses and hob nob with the (now) diamonds. What a brainwashing I experienced. We went into debt, pretended we made money when in fact, I was trading product to my OB to birth my baby.

It was an elite club - bible banging, republican loving brainwashing club. Some do, some don't, so what was the battle cry. Divorced for several years now, I look back and see how the blatant greed and avarice has paid those involved. My 'hero's" bankrupt & divorced and if you google their names, they haven't done a DAMN thing to improve our country or planet. There is no mention of them using their MILLIONS (which Was from tapes/books) to better our world. I know the books/tapes business because one of the carrots back then was if you go Pearl, you'd get a kick-back on the tools. I achieved Pearl and the upline changed the policy... had to be emerald to get the secret kick-back.

I am happy I learned what I did - but it's a scam. Sorry folks. It's a greedy greedy scam.

Anonymous said...

yep--weiners...i mean winners stay in amway! ;)

Anonymous said...

You're darn right Brad "Dunken" can tell you how not to screw up like he did...... in his new 42 disc set. $29,999.99. You won't want to miss these CDs. There is a real gem on disc 27, but you won't understand it unless you listen to discs 1-26 first. The follow up books and further material will also be available to you, at a nominal fee.

And this guy's going on about the intangibles. His dream has shifted already, so he obviously isn't profiting. Half a year later now, wonder how he's doing?

Anonymous said...

My hope is after a few months people see the big picture rather than after years of dedication and money spent

Anonymous said...

My son has just graduated college and has met the man and company you speak of. Tears rolled down my cheeks as soon as I found out he had made the decision to join the BUSINESS. My family has been turned upside down. I am praying we come out of this stronger than I could have imagined. We all make decisions that our parents don't agree with but we do it anyway. Praying until something happens. Glad u wrote this for people to be informed of what's going on

Anonymous said...

Ya missed the point of how the business actually works. who the hell is spending thousands of dollars on tools..at most its $80 a month for cds and a book..oh forget it just go back to the life of watching tv.

Anonymous said...

What do you do in the meantime as you watch your family members go deeper and deeper . . .?! We are losing our relationship with them but it made to seem that it is US who are choosing to lose them . . . I don't trust the "Business" and struggle connecting or respecting anyone that does. Help.

Joecool said...

There's not much you can do. Your family will have to snap out of it on their own. People who oppose the amway business will labeled as "negative" and ignored.

Anonymous said...

Apparently u r also speaking with no face. Aren't u being negative? Isn't that a no no?

Joecool said...

Negative is usually the truth about amway.

Anonymous said...

I just went to a seminar tonight as a guest and still confused what Brad Duncan does. No one explained what they do. All that was said is that we will make 5k a month. I know this blog is older but please someone school me. I don't want to do something I will regret!

Joecool said...

They recruit downlne. The theory they teach is you buy your points to earn your bonus, and maybe sell a few items to friends, and the rest is recruiting others. If you can recruit many downlline, you might eventually make some money off them but the whole thing is a scam in my opinion.

Anonymous said...

I attended and my husband and I just joined... Kinda getting a little scared now after reading all of these comments. I have been to two meetings so far and heard Brad Duncan speak.. And I must agree with the person above. I really dobt what he actually did or does.. He says he is and entrepreneur and all... I mean it's really nice to hear so many positivity in it and I get so excited after however when I get home I get this really bad feeling. And the products are Solomon expensive. I don't know how in the hell that will put money back in my pocket. Can someone please help me!!!!!

Joecool said...

Do the math. You move/sell 100 PV, you will earn around $10 from Amway. If you attend functions and get the standing order, you will be losing money. If you can't sponsor a lot of people quickly, you will lose money month after month.

Brad Duncan is a good speaker but then again, his job is to recruit prospects so he's going to say what you want to hear.

If you have more questions, my contact information is in my profile on this blog.

Anonymous said...

We have lost our daughter to Amway and their crazy beliefs. We are saddened beyond belief! She believes everything hook, line and sinker. We have heard it all. We are "negative, her upline knows everything about her finanaces and her relationship, she doesn't have time to come to family functions because she's doing something worthwhile and someday we'll understand, she'll be able to stay at home and raise her children and take care of us in our old age." And on and on. We want her now, not when it's too late! Amway is a swearword in our family these days.

Joecool said...

Thank you for sharing that. It's sad what involvement in Amway can result in. I hope your daughter sees the light soon. Not much you can do until your daughter sees it on her own.

Anonymous said...

joecool IS awesome. that's why he's named joecool. :)

Anonymous said...

I kept believing the so-called Leaders that I should stay in my marriage "no matter what" and all the "quitters never quit" crap. I believed them for awhile and stayed with the woman whom repeatedly cheated on me. Finally, I had enough and divorced both her and the business. Much happier now without both. Since then, I have learned that 99% of what they teach is complete crap..... I could list all the lies I was told, but this entry would be pages long and a lot have already been listed. My opinion, if a marriage is not meant to be, Amway isn't going to save it.....

Joecool said...

Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you're in a better place now.

Anonymous said...

Go get 'em, Tiger.

Anonymous said...

They just broke 3 diamonds in the last 2yrs.

Anonymous said...

$80 a month times how many people?

Anonymous said...

"9) Can have real conversation with people without the pressure of looking for a cue to talk about an exciting new product or the exciting business opportunity."

This really does ring true.

There was this nice girl that came to my door peddling some sort of donation for greenpeace, and I told her I wasn't interested, and my roommate pops to the door and starts 'qualifying' the girl asking her questions like "are your parents proud of what you do?" I thought that was quite rude. She starts smiling nervously as he starts explaining a great opportunity with a business, blah, blah, blah.

I kicked him out 8 months after that incident because he couldn't afford rent.

Anonymous said...

I met those Duncan scumbags back in the early 90's @ a WAY too expensive "rally" in Portland. What a waste of time and money. The place was FULL of sheeples who were screaming. What a joke!!!!

Joecool said...

I was there in the mid 90s. By the time I went, I had stopped building the business so I just went and treated it like a vacation.

Anonymous said...

Well said...

Anonymous said...

Perfectly said! Its not a get rich quick scheme! I bet none of you made it past 2 years?

Joecool said...

It's not get rich quick and it more likely not get rich at all. You're lucky if you don't lose money.

Anonymous said...

I completely agree. I just ended my business a week ago.

Anonymous said...

It's funny that you state "You're lucky if you don't lose money". You're losing money everyday... It can be gas, food, shopping, etc. It's just where are you putting that money into.

Joecool said...

Buying gas or food is not losing money. It is a living expense. Now buying ridiculously overpriced stuff like Amway products and also paying for training, now that it losing money.

Anonymous said...

I have rarely seen anyone actually make $500 a month, every month

Joecool said...

Heck, people rarely make $25 a month in Amway and if they do, that is gross income, not coutning the business expenses.

Unknown said...

You are bunch of idiots :D :D :D

Unknown said...

Idiots:D

Anonymous said...

WOW! I'm so surprised on what I've just read.. I'm currently new to this WWD Business my life has been..should I say "stressful" after I joined in. once youre in youre supposed to do a core run which is listening to audios, reading a book, reporting to your upline and looking for clients everyday.(supposed to brainwash you or motivate you to keep going) I've been for a month and as a working/student this has been stressful for having to Maintaing 150 PV points which is ($500-$600) per month.and including the communiKates.

1.) Stress of not going out looking for clients EVERYDAY( even when you dont feel like goin out the starbucks,malls anywhere )
2.) Always thinking every person you see is potential "$$$" (I hate to admit it but this is how I see people that I don't know since I got kinda brainwashed)
3.) You miss a day like not doing anything listening audio/reading book or reporting to your upline is not being "CORE" yup! gotta do this core stuff.. where youre mind has to get motivated/pumped up to never give up your business and stay in the business etc..etc... (I have to admit thou some of the books are good specially how to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie)
4.) I've become more worried than relaxed (as I mentioned in #1 and #3)

I Used to had that fire, that motivation burnin in me after I was taken in my first FED rally this past month. but after awhile that fire slowly went away.. even when i listened to audios now its not the same... As I look outside the box. This is not working for me. thank you guys and for the people that were in and went out this business and sharing your thoughts and experience that there is still life after amway. This made me think about what I got myself into... I wish I've read all about this sooner.

for the people who would like to take chance with this business, MORE POWER to you!

Anonymous said...

To Mr. Anonymous above who posted on Nov. 11, 2013: Why don't the leaders just release the educational material (tools) for free online? Imagine how much that would help the businesses of their downlines! ~ $80/month (plus product purchases for self and functions) can easily exceed $1000/year (if not $3000 or more) easily. Assume that the leaders have hundreds of downlines and you can see how they'd make a living off of selling these tools that could be easily distributed for less money, if they actually had any interest in doing so instead of just using them as an income source.

Joecool said...

Bottom line, if Amway leaders wanted people to succeed so they could also make money, they would teach for free. But they don't. They charge for everything and the IBOs get hosed thinking they are learning valuable information.

Anonymous said...

The FED conference you went to, was that in DC by chance?

Joecool said...

Mine was in San Diego

Unknown said...

Wow, never own a franchise then. Imagine spending 3.5 to "sign up" with Chipotle or McDonald's and go to 4 mandatory conferences a year costing $2500 each. Then having to recruit employees that will never have the same opportunity as you. The problem is most people think it's easy and when it really takes work they quit.

Anonymous said...

The sad thing that I am seeing here is that many of you were miss guided in the buisness. Ugliness shouldn't make you spend money, they are supposed to be there for you if and when you need them.
Remember, this is YOUR buisness. You can do what ever you want. If your Ugliness pushes to hard then you don't actually HAVE to listen.
My up line and I have a very good working relationship. He is there whenever I need him, he incourages me to get up when I am down, he loans me HIS training materials, and he ALWAYS has my back.
Unfortunately not everyone works with people like that, clearly, but that doesn't mean that the buisness doesn't work. It does work.

For those of you who say you put way too much money into the buisness.. why did you do that? The training tools are NOT MANDATORY. If you can't afford them that is ok.
As far as buying your own products for PV goes, all you need to buy are the things you need. I buy toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and anything else I want when I want it. You should be doing this anyways. If you owned a Nike store you should probably wear Nike. It's the same thing here.

You people who fail at this really need to stop running to the blogs. All it is is negativity. Do you really want to be known as a negative person? Because to everyone out here on the world wide Web that is all you are. Just another "negative nancy"

Joecool said...

When your upline says tools are optional, but so is success, there's not much choice is there?

Joecool said...

If you don't like the blog because you see it as "negative", then don' visit. It's not like you are forced to come here. Like tools, being here is optional.

Anonymous said...

I can remember as a little kid a picture of a 10,000 sqft house and a ferrari which i believe was brad duncans on our fridge and a freedom note.. My parents did amway actually did pretty well but quit to start a construction company and within a couple years we were living in a 10,000 sqft house on 5 acres paid for cash and owned a helicopter and making alot of money.. But all i remember was always brad duncan. I find this interesting because now i own a company and always wonder but what happens when this fad of amway or quickstar goes away i think most of these piramid business are a scam for the greedy people at the top.. My parents were buck and nadine hollandsworth.

Joecool said...

Glad to hear you're successful in your own business. Greg Duncan, Brad's brother and upline filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy back in 2009. There was no mention of Brad helping him out financially. LOL

Anonymous said...

Joecool you make a "HUGE" point, unfortunately you also miss something that is completely obvious ... an old saying that reigns true unfortunately. If the training materials were "Free" no one would place any value on them, which is the paradoxical problem if you ask me. So that is why the distributors have to pay for their education or Tools. Hell when I was in Quixtar years ago I had a couple involved who paid for the CD's weekly and after a month of them working their business I showed a Plan for them. I noticed that the Tools they had were all still in the plastic wrap. I suggested that they stop purchasing the Tools, because they were obviously not using them. Getting back to the Paradox, when we pay money for something we value it ... but the most important things in our lives we place little value on because they came to us free. (Examples - our Dreams, our Goals, our Love of Friends and Family) Yet we place value on things that we pay for, which in a lifetime can easily be replaced. That is why the Tools aren't free.

Joecool said...

Truth be told, people don't necessarily need tools to build the business. The tools are just a way for upline to make more money. The reason why so many people quit is because they aren't making money, AND because they are buying tools, they are actually losing money.

Lea said...

Hello there,
I'm thinking to join Amway because when I search for best mlm marketing amway is always the number one recommended at every link I click on google search results..

I have a good feeling about this business however I am not going to join yet without seacrching for the reviews about this company.. please advice me. Thank you so much!

Joecool said...

Read more of this blog and get more information. Most IBOs (nearly all of them) make nothing or lose money in Amway but you have to decide.

Anonymous said...

The thing is, every person's circumstance is different. Maybe you had a shitty sponsor. Maybe you weren't in it for the right reasons. It's not about what the people up top are doing, its about what you are doing and how you apply it. I don't condemn anyone's comments, I'm sure a lot of people have bad experiences with Amway, but you can't let them influence your life so much that it kills you and your marriage. It's not for everyone. In my opinion if you let it affect your life to the point where you see everyone as a prospect and can't live your life without Amway on your mind all day, that is your issue. You need to learn to separate business mentality from personal mentality. Don't let Amway destroy your life but don't discourage people from doing it because it may not work for you but it may work well for someone else. So it all comes down to how you fit into it. And not everyone does. It is unfortunate that some people go into this thinking it will not be a lot of work and dedication, because any business venture or success requires those two things. So you can't necessarily blame Amway or specific people from Amway, because that means you are assuming there's not a couple bad apples in the bunch. But from my experience I have been working with wonderful people from Montana who have really helped me move forward in not just business but life. The separation is in the preparation.. not just with your Amway business, but with how you prepare to let this business into your personal life. And some people just cannot handle that.

P.S. Joecool, as I may not agree with everything on this page, I appreciate your mentality as a moderator. Just thought I would share my thoughts on Amway. This blog is useful because Amway is not for everyone! Continue your cool headedness. Let me know what you think!

Joecool said...

Thanks for your comments. The thing is, not matter who the sponsor is, you are likely to lose money in Amway. Look at the 6-4-2 plan, or whatever version you use. The majority are on the bottom trying to build a group. Even if "you" succeed, you will have a hoard of people donwline who aren't. And as they purchase tools and functions, they are losing money.

This is what people refer to as "churn". People are constantly churning through the business. If you were to add up all the business expenses of the entire group of IBOs, it will match or exceed the amount of bonus the entire group gets from Amway. Do the math is what I will encourage you to do.

The only ultimate winners will be your upline that's high enough up the ladder to make profits from selling the tools and functions. The tools and functions have higher profit margins than Amway products and less people share in the profit so it's an easy conclusion that more money is made in selling tools and functions than from Amway.

And that difference, is why Amway is not a good idea and why the Amway tools are a scam.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I hope I reciece supportive responses. I am practically a single mom. I am hard working and always will be, I see nothing wrong in strong work ethic for it builds character and strength. I have attended 4 meetings now. Have been introduced, and invited. I have been questioning everything, such as why is it more important to recruit than it is to market your products and websites? If I owned a store my main forces would be my sales reps, my main focus would be selling my product. But I realized that what they are doing is calling their consumers business owners and telling them to shop at their own business, also saying all products are consumables. So it is a cycle, you have a committed customer (IBO) that is supporting "their own business" and also getting more and more "IBO'" which are really just customers. I don't have a problem with this scheme, but I do have a problem with how this are presented to me or a problem with how someone wants me to perceive something... I'm wondering if I can even make even just a small investment here, just an extra income.

Joecool said...

Honestly, because Amway has a minimum 100 PV to earn a bonus, there are many easier ways to make an extra buck. If you do a honest price comparison, Amway products are not really competitive. Your ability to leverage volume basically relies on your ability to recruit downline.

I wish you well in trying to generate a second income.

Unknown said...

I AM WATCHING MY DEAR FREIND GET TOTALLY SCREWED WITH THE NEW U.R.A. ASSOCIATES I FEEL THEY ARE SCREWING HER INTO THE GROUND FOR THEIR OWN PROPHIT, AND PLACING HER DEEPER INTO DEBT!!>>>> LOW DOWN SCUM BAGS.

Unknown said...

I am being approached by a guy who is working with URAssociates and I immediately felt like it was a pyramid scheme. I am going to a small venture meeting tomorrow in Kalamazoo to see what is up with it, but I am going wary with these things in mind:

1) I am not an outgoing people person who can recruit and motivate at all times. (To add a disclaimer, I am good with people that I know and I give sound advice and I love to help, but I don't want that to be my business.)

2) There is a lot of money that goes into this... over a period of time. The $250 startup fee does not seem that big right now, but once you get caught buying materials to make you a "better recruiter/IBO" and you don't act on them you are going to lost money no matter what. If you work at this and are that outgoing business type who will recruit anyone and everyone and you enjoy it, it might work for you.

3) I am a Mechanical Engineer who makes a decent living, but I work a lot. I know that I am not going to have the time to devote to recruiting/selling things, and though they don't ask you to look for people, it will be come a necessity. When I work 10 hours a day and then have to deal with people I know that I am not going to do well necessarily.

4) I value my family and friends too much to risk recruiting them and act like their "Boss" in this type of a venture. I value my time away from work, especially now that I work all the time. I am already a "Workaholic" with one job, I am not looking to take on a second that will possibly get in the way of my relationships.

It really comes down to the type of person you are and what you are willing to sacrifice to get ahead. This might be great for a single person who is/was a marketing/business major who wants to get their feet wet for some time in order to learn the ropes and then start their own real business (take advantage of the system to glean what they can). But if you are looking to make money on the side and use that to become your income, good luck. What you put in outside of your day job is what you get out... and what you put in outside of your day job is taken away from your family and friends.

It is your choice. If you have any questions for me or you live in the Kalamazoo area and want to meet up, let me know. Do what you really want, not what they tell you will help you do what you want.

Joecool said...

Hi Patrick,

Even if you work hard and do all the things the upline says, there is still a good chance you will fail because your downline are unlikely to be able to do the same and because Amway has a bad reputation, it's hard to recruit people.

And also, most people end up doing little or nothing and quitting. It's hard to gain any traction under those conditions.

Unknown said...

You make a good point there. At this point in time, the marketing strategy that they have is almost entirely outdated, and if you are not able to get other people involved, you are most likely not going to be able to pull a revenue. To win people from places like Amazon, Newegg, Walmart, Costco, etc. will take heaps of effort and you only make a minimal gain off it if anything to recoup your expenses (expenses being time, effort, money on training, etc.)

I went to the meeting tonight and they had a speaker who got into this probably 20+ years ago. His wife left her job in 2000. At that point in 2000, big internet market sellers were only beginning to bud. These days, if you don't have a website and marketing strategy that can beat amazon or any established retailer with a good reputation, good luck.

My "upline" (I haven't bought in yet) has been at it for 10 years and is "looking at $90,000 for this year," and he is desperate for more. I can see it in his eyes and his presentation. The difference is huge between what he is making and what our speaker is making. They really don't get the real speed of the dynamic market that we live in and the real possibility of people looking at not spending money on product that costs more even to their "benefit". I know time is an issue, but the vibe I am getting from his wife was not that positive either. He is being consumed by it.

I am glad that I was brought up with an analytical mindset, being an engineer and having a project manager as a dad. I see things that they don't and reading people is key in this situation. The speaker is sitting pretty having gotten into it earlier. My "furture upline" is really not as he manages a verizon wireless store as a sales manager. They are trying to negotiate their next raise off of their downlines' expanding interests, and it isn't looking too hot at the moment. Interesting to see how many people are taken in completely by it though. Need to do more research, but I am not impressed at all. And they realize it.

Joecool said...

Good luck to you. Note: Even if your contact is "looking at 90,000" this year, they might be talkign gross and not including their business expenses. Amway folks are great at making claims and not backing them up. I believe eve diamonds do not live the great lives they portray - because they can't afford it. If you really study the Amway compensation plan and understand it, diamonds don't make nearly as much as they lead you to believe.

They will tell you what you want to hear to entice you to join. Many diamonds are probably in debt trying to "keep up with the Joneses". And with so many Americans in debt, why would diamonds be any different? The few diamonds who had their income exposed showed they were not living the carefree and debt free life they want you to believe. The few who got exposed had back taxes not paid, credit card debt and high mortgages.

Anonymous said...

As the American economy slowly tanks, and people cut back on their spending for inessentials, businesses like Amway will shrink. The desperation that Patrick Trela sensed at those meetings is just the beginning.

Recruiting a new IBO into Amway isn't just hard work. It is next to impossible these days.

Unknown said...

People complain about the price of the products being too high and that you can't build a profitable business in Amway. But think about a company called Nordstrom. They have very highly priced shoe, clothing, accessories that can be bought anywhere else cheaper. Yet they are doing great. It is because of thier legendary customer service and customer loyalty they build. the price of the products arent the issue, there are always people who will pay higher price for good quality products. But what Nordstrom and others have proven is that if the customer service is extraordinary then people will come back and buy again and again.

Anonymous said...

Ty Joecool, ex ambots, and ambots to your insight. I currently live in Honolulu. My spouse was approach by his accquaintance and introduced him into this NM Business. His accquaintance and spouse said they were debt free and explained the 4 quadrants, he and his newly bride were on a verge of divorce. After that We were given a "tool"(book by R. Kiyosaki-21st century business ) to read in a certain time frame. In their words, it was to see if we were able to commit and prioritize to finishng the book by the next time we meet. Basically, the book is geared towards building a business using the cashflow quadrants. They change your thinking into hate working traditional jobs. The next step after reading that tool was to attend a meet and greet with the Sponsor who is a Platinum (husband and wife- shane and joey). They are semi-retired. She started at 19yrs old and became a stay at home mom at 25yo. Her husband was a starbucks barista when first approached by her, and yadada. They are debt free, they mentioned that if one were to look up Amway/WWDB (anyone's experience with the company because they did not win) you just disqualified yourself there. He says to look into BBB and FTC and do some credible home work. He wants to know the credibility of the company itself.
To my knowledge BBB ratings are based on the company's willingness to resolve an issue with the complaintant. I could not find the WWDB on there. FTC shows about NM(network marketing) and the levels involved in it, the type of questions to ask the upline, ect.

After the meet and greet they gave homework to everyone (yound folks) who was lucky to be chosen to attend that apartment meeting, write down 50 things you would do if you had all the time. We had to meet with our sponsor and were given tools (a book, a cd by matt and theresa tsuruda- a multimillionare from haleiwa, and a compensation plan) as a homeowork for the next meet.
I Never thought that my spouse and I would argue to the point of throwing in the towel bc of the want to be financially independent, live off from the supplemental income, and own your own business.

This is tearing us apart because I am not being supportive (submissive is the word they used at the meeting). My mind and heart is not there. I do not feel right in making money off of the downlines, giving money to the uplines, while trying to buy into more "educational tools." It costs a lot to live in paradise and is afraid of pouring money into a hole. Hawaii is saturated with so much IBO's of different Network Marketing Businesses.

Idk what to do at this point, we've tried to talk it out, but I am stubborn to change my frame of thinking into the cult-minded one.



Why is it that the sponsor(amway/wwdb) can only work with married couples, instead of just 1 spouse?

Anonymous said...

I've recently had some problems with my business, but it really has nothing to do with whether it works or not. By core standards I have been horrible. Maybe 1 plan per week and occasionally $0 purchase in a month; however, using what I have learned, in the last year I have reduced my debt by $1000 (when previously, using expert financial advice, I was steadily going further in debt.)

Business wise, even with my inconsistency, I have managed to break even, even after accounting for the business materials.

So, with a small stretch of definition, yes, I have made significant profit in this business.

If your sponsor suggests you go in debt, go around him. He is lying. If your whole line does the same, then your line has become the group of scammers this blog warns you about.

If you can't get good answers, then JoeCool is right, it won't work, or at least will not work well, and it is practically impossible to get around the Diamond in an organization. I recommend cutting your losses. Perhaps later you can find an honorable line as I did. In any case, the business will take a lot of work and hard skin. Not everyone is prepared to do what it takes, and there is no shame. If they try to shame you into it, see the previous paragraph. I am not prepared to be a doctor, not because I lack ability, but because I am unwilling to deal with what they do on a daily basis. However, I did not admit that until I completely investigated what it took, what all the benefits were, and if it was worth it..., to me. (Christians would call it, 'Counting the cost.')

I never look at 'prospects' for the amount of money they can make me. I want to do better, but I can survive on my current income. I see potential for them. Very often the people I approach are simply people I would like to get to know better. Without the 'excuse' of business, I might never even meet them.

JoeCool, the business CAN work. I have several friends at multiple levels (1000 pin through Diamond) that have shown me the results (net, not gross). I know this doesn't fit with the majority of previous responses; however, I have to reiterate (hopefully a bit more respectfully than several) that there are different lines of sponsorship. Some are, unfortunately, the scumbags like many of you have encountered, but not all. Done properly, with the right advice, the Amway Sales and Marketing Plan does work.

Joecool said...

Anonymous, Amway does work exactly as it's designed. It's designed so that a few upper level "diamonds" or higher ups make money from downline sales in addition to sales from cds, books and functions. That's exactly what the Amway plan is designed to do. If Amway actually worked, there would be lots of retail customers instead of teaching that you can "buy from yourselof" or "be your own best customer".

Peterisland said...

I am an emerald in amway I'm not part of world wide but I have had the oppurtunity to speak for their organizations and hang out with them in achievers trips. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. But facts are facts. They just upped their incentives by 33% in 2016 and now as a silver (first month hitting 7500) you receive a 3 thousand dollar bonus. I have a lot of people in my group who are on a membership that allows them access to training and cds and books but I don't see that profit the organization board receives that profit. Uplines don't make money off of tools. Organizations do yes but how do you honk they can hold meetings and conferences without funds. You pay for what you get. It took me 10 years to go emerald and 6 of those years to go platinum. I am thankful that I stuck with it. Because my income now is beyond he six figures and all I do now is help people get out of debt and replace their fulltime income so they can do what they want, not what a boss allows them to do. It works if you work it. Any other business venture will cost you thousands more and more time. I know because I was a traditional business owner.

Also anonymous is very credible..... if you can't show a name don't listen to their opinion

Joecool said...

"if you can't show a name don't listen to their opinion"

Is your name Peterisland?

And if you spoke to WWDB groups, isn't that cross lining?

Nice try but that BS about upline not making profit off tools but organizations do. The upline owns the organizations. Surely if you are an emerald you could do a better job of defending your scam.

John Doe said...

"Peterisland" said, "I am an emerald in amway I'm not part of world wide but I have had the oppurtunity to speak for their organizations and hang out with them in achievers trips."

I'm going to call BS. Not only is your English atrocious, but the idea of an actual Emerald coming to this blog is unfathomable. If you aren't going to supply an identity to support this claim, then I'm going to assume you are a new IBO and are currently failing at the business.

"Peterisland" said, "Everyone is entitled to an opinion. But facts are facts."

What the hell does that mean or have to do with anything!? Can you give us some context for your drivel?

"Peterisland" said, "They just upped their incentives by 33% in 2016 and now as a silver (first month hitting 7500) you receive a 3 thousand dollar bonus."

Oh good! They decided to take more money from their failing downlines and shoot it upward to the higher ranks. That should make Amway much more enticing! Those poor diamonds and crowns were losing money because the churn rates are still high but their downlines are shrinking! They need to maximize those profits and steal more money from the remaining saps at the bottom!

"Peterisland" said, "I have a lot of people in my group who are on a membership that allows them access to training and cds and books but I don't see that profit the organization board receives that profit. Uplines don't make money off of tools."

"Allows them access", what a joke! You should be kissing their feet for buying that worthless drivel you call training. And why are you getting the short end of the stick? Oh wait, you aren't really an Emerald, because if you were, then you would definitely be getting a part of the tools profits. According to Eric Scheibeler, a bonafide ex-emerald, he was receiving a portion of the tools money, but still wasn't keeping his head above water.

"Peterisland said, "Organizations do yes but how do you honk they can hold meetings and conferences without funds."

Oh stop it! The organizations are run by "uplines", they are not a part of Amway. I repeat they are diamonds and crowns running these groups, NOT AMWAY! You don't even know the way these BS groups like WWDB work, yet you claim to speak at their functions? Get the heck out of here.

Oh, and don't you worry, they make plenty of money on those "meetings and conferences". They are not doing that out of the goodness of their hearts.

John Doe said...


"Peterisland" said, "You pay for what you get."

More like you pay for what you don't get.

"Peterisland" said, "It took me 10 years to go emerald and 6 of those years to go platinum. I am thankful that I stuck with it. Because my income now is beyond he six figures and all I do now is help people get out of debt and replace their fulltime income so they can do what they want, not what a boss allows them to do."

Again, this is total BS! Why would anyone actually making over $100,000 a year care about this blog? That makes no sense, and they wouldn't waste their time! You don't help anyone get out of debt, and you probably just lost one of your first prospects to this wonderful blog. Ugh again with the bad rhetoric that has been parroted for years! You do have many bosses in Amway, and they are commonly referred to as uplines.

"Peterisland" said, "Any other business venture will cost you thousands more and more time. I know because I was a traditional business owner. "

You were a "traditional" business owner? You ran your own company? You sacrificed your own creative venture to join Amway!? Can anyone take this garbage seriously? You sound like a total Ambot troll foaming at the mouth.

"Peterisland" said, "Also anonymous is very credible..... if you can't show a name don't listen to their opinion"

Unbelievable...you are definitely as dumb as a pot and you are going to call the kettle black? Seriously, you are one lame troll.

Anonymous said...

This bozo "Peterisland" isn't an Emerald, and he certainly isn't a Platinum. He's just some lowly IBO trying to fake it till he makes it.

He's here solely to express his rage about not being able to recruit down-line easily. These anti-Amway blogs have been killing Amway's ability to sign up new members in North America. That's why Amway is losing about 10% of its retail business every year.

Anonymous said...

I saw someone post from URA. And if your upline knew that you were degrading people with that type of language, they would be pretty surprised by your behavior. I know for a fact that is not how they teach you to conduct yourself on or offline! The reason I know, is because I was in it, but saw the light just a short time ago.

Not sure if your are on a Coley, Dussault, Stergar or whatever team, but while I may not be affiliated with the association anymore, these guys would not speak (at least publicly) to people like that.

Anonymous said...

I rember Buck. I was sucked in while i n The U.S. Coast Guard in the esrly 90’s in Seattle. If i rember correct Buck was A gardner then but seemed like a good dude. Glad to here he got out and has a successful biz. What about Larry Locke?

Anonymous said...

I was in the Duncan org in the early 90's briefly while just out of college. The tools were constantly pushed on IBO's to the tune of a tape a week (before cd burners) at $15 per...it was ridonculous. My upline spent more time ensuring I bought tools then being hands on to help build the biz. After a while I had a box load of motivation tapes....so of course they were profiting from these marketing 'tools'. My upline was Rod n Rowena Jao of Vancouver. I attended a Portland Rally and it was hilarious. People flocked to Diamonds like Rod as if they were celebrities...I suppose they were in a way since so few people make it to that level.

Anyhoo I quickly found the Amway name would send most folks running the other way and with the internet coming on full stream the shadier aspects of the business model spread like crazy making it more difficult to build your downline.

I also had to laugh at the cultish focus on material flash- if you didnt buy a cadillac upon reaching diamond then there was something wrong with you.

I left after my career took off and I was earning a good income while having my own time to myself after an honest days work that included pension and medical insurance coverage...the bedrock of stability and protection for retirement.

Every few years I would google the Jao's to see how they were doing and it seems he and Rowena eventually fizzled out...going back to stuffing chicken wings in his pockets at the local buffet to stretch his food dollar...that was his shlocky story he would tout on stage to prospects....that he didnt have to do that anymore. And think about it for a minute...yes you go diamond and everythings wonderful except you now have to fly hither and yon making appearances at rallys and events to please your upline and constantly...constantly work to keep your current downline 'fired up' while building new legs to go double diamond and beyond....there's more to life than being handcuffed to the plan and your organisation to the point of being made to feel guilty and a lesser person for not working the biz 24/7.

A good analogy is when Karen married Henry Hill in Goodfellas and explains how their life revolved around their mafioso family..."no other outsiders absolutely never.." Thats an apt analogy to signing on to the Amway business...except for the criminality (cough) of course. Yonk yonk...



Anonymous said...

Amway is such total bullshit it's hard to believe that anyone still signs up for it. Since the coming of the internet, it's become next to impossible to get a computer-literate person to be in your down-line. If you can read, you know very well that Amway is just a sleazy pyramid scheme.

All the various AMO subsystems are the same: WWDB,BWW, Network 21, URA, etc. They are just parasitical organizations designed to "teach you how to be in Amway," but in reality they make their money not from any sales you make, but only from the endless CDs, books, fees, and function tickets you buy.

I notice that most of the long-winded comments posted above defending the Amway racket were posted years back, and not recently. Can it be that all of those defenders have finally gone bankrupt? Or maybe they've seen the light after earning nothing, having their mortgages foreclosed, and getting divorced by fed-up spouses.

Ambot 101 said...

Joe cool is partly right. You don’t necessarily need to buy the tools, or go to the functions, to make money. It still comes down to product flow. You still need to have a healthy retail business. If you can do that, then your customers are paying for your tools and functions. That’s relatively easy to do with a fairly low product flow. Then, you’re not spending any of your own money. But if you’re not using the tools, don’t buy them. If you’re not getting value from the functions, don’t go.
If you’re not making money, you’re doing it wrong. You should either start doing it right, or quit. Both options are completely ok.
I’ve never ghosted anyone that quit the business. They are the ones that stop returning phone calls.
The sale of tools is not going into anyone’s pocket, except for the folks that actually work at WWG. There’s a lot of office folks that work hard to make building your business way easier. You have people putting together apps, information, technology, logistics, shipping, announcements, to name a few.

Anonymous said...

I don't think Ambot 101 understands that the purchase of tools and function tickets is NOT OPTIONAL in the various AMO subsystems. Your up-line will refuse to work with you if you do not pay for these things. This is completely contrary to official Amway policy, but since organizations like WWG and the others are legally independent of Amway, there is nothing to prevent up-line from doing this.

Ambot 101 is also trying to weasel out of admitting that the "tool" racket is a for-profit operation. There is no purpose for WWG to be in business other than to serve as a training organization for Amway IBOs. The various fees for tools and functions and a spate of other things are what keep the entire WWG organization alive. This is why (unlike in other businesses) the "training" of so-called IBOs goes on forever.