Saturday, August 6, 2011

Amway's Legal Loophole?

There's been much debate recently on the James Randi Educational Forum (JREF). Most call Amway a scam and one prolific defender cites the point that IBOs are not Amway. And Amway doesn't sell training materials. While that is legally true, the owner of Amway, back in 1983 acknowledged that the sale of tools was, basically unethical and possibly illegal. However, inaction by the Amway corporation led to the heyday of the tool scam and financial abuse of downline. There's the loophole that covers Amway. IBOs are independent.

However, these same IBO leaders could not run free scamming downline if Amway were to intervene. I believe Amway doesn't take any apparent significant action for fear that these leaders would move their groups to another MLM. The result over the years is a lousy reputation in the US where the name Amway is associated with pyramid, scam and other undesirables. I suppose Amway has survived though, because of a saying by PT Barnum. There's a sucker born every minute. I suppose there are enough pockets of young or unsuspecting people who can still be convinced to join, so it's business as usual.

Which brings to to the next point. Unfortunately, new IBOs are basically suckers. They pay a fee to Amway, in order to become an unpaid Amway salesperson. You absorb your own time and expenses in order to move Amway products, and if you move enough of them, you can get a minimal bonus. You also at your own time and expense, recruit other unpaid salespeople for Amway. Your reward for this is you get credited for a portion of their sales, provided they use or actually sell anything. Most IBOs do little or nothing so your efforts are usually in vain.

But the real trick is to have IBO leaders convince downline that voicemail and cds and live meetings (seminars) can actually help you succeed. There is zero unbiased evidence to suggest that this training or tools do anything but make handsome profits for the people who sell them. Even if many IBOs sign up and do nothing, there are enough serious ones to support the pharoah diamond leaders. And food for thought, do IBOs really need voicemail in an age of email, twitter, facebook and other more efficient means of commincation?

So yes, Amway IBOs are not Amway. Amway diamond leaders are not Amway.

But if Amway cannot or will not stop those who taint their name, then they simply must live with the reputation of being a scam or a pyramid. They can be legal to the letter of the law, but most people see it for what it is. Being legal doesn't necessarily mean ethical or moral. It is my opinion that when you sign up for Amway, you are nearly assured of losing money. It's not your fault though, it is the result of a bad system. I encourage everyone to do their due diligence before joining any business, Amway notwithstanding.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

good advice, joe. it's about using common sense, something all the ambots badly need.

Anonymous said...

Abortion is legal, too, but somesome still dies a horrible death.

aurora

Anonymous said...

The truth again, something that ambots like to ignore.

Anonymous said...

Joe get grip on the times tools are such old news Amway does accreidation now on tool systems are brought up front to all new IBO.s
Amway just had a Billion dollar month in June in product not tools get with the times Joe keep being a critic we will just keep growing

Joecool said...

Accreditation is a joke. A diamond can tell you to spend every cent you have on tools, even tell you to skip paying your bills so you can buy tools. And then you simply edit that part out when you issue the standing order. See how easy that is?

Anonymous said...

Anon @8:34, you need to "get grip" on proper spelling and grammar. It just might make you look a little smarter.

Anonymous said...

If any resposible adult buys too much of anything and does not pay there bills there the fool this is there Own Business they are free to do what they want when ever they want I have never been told that Ever! Amway did not have a Billion dollar month in June by selling tools it was product not tools The tools are used by choice and if a person is being forced they simply report that person to the Corp or just stop dealing with any such unethical person that would suggest such a thing remember common sense can still be used at all times
just keep being a critic we will keep growing

Anonymous said...

i will keep being a critic and just like any other piece of garbage AMWAY WILL ROT FROM THE INSIDE OUT!

**proud Amway hater**

Anonymous said...

I guess look smarter like all the Harvard educated people that are running the US economy into the ground !

Anonymous said...

whatever that means...

Anonymous said...

Amway is awesome! Best business opportunity tapping into your consumption habits, word of mouth and profit sharing! Why can't people open their eyes with child-like faith and see the reason why Amway has been around for 52 years and continues to be a blessing for all?

Joecool said...

Child like ignorance is why people get sucked into the scam.

Anonymous said...

So many fuckin bitches on earth...