One thing that I was unaware of as an IBO was that our Amway uplines were profiting from our tools purchases. I was in WWDB at the time and I was told very clearly that nobody made money from the tools and in fact, I was also told that WWDB was a non profit organization. Both of these statements were bold lies told by WWDB leaders and they have never been held accountable. We were told that upline cared about us and our success, thus they spent their own money to fly to functions to teach us how to succeed. Nothing was further from the truth and in fact, significant incomes are made from the same of Amway tools and functions, with some diamonds making more from tools and functions than from Amway!
Eventually, the internet and other media made it impossible to cover up these lies and uplines finally admitted that they profited from tools. However, it looks like they downplayed the magnitude of the tools profits. I believe some upline may have made most of their income from tools, especially leaders who may have fallen out of diamond qualification. Now the upline admits they make some profits from tools, but there is still a great deal of secrecy in the tools business. What makes the whole thing ironic is that the uplines allegedly are not supposed to entice Amway prospects into joining by using the tools money as a draw, but at the same time, they are told that tools are vital to their success and that they too, can profit from it someday.
I wonder how many prospects or IBOs would be fired up about buying tools if they knew that their uplines might not currently be qualified at the diamond level of whatever level they claim to be, and knowing that the uplines will make a ton of money whether or not you make a cent as an IBO? Also, some uplines are shameless in pushing the tools on downline. Sure they might cut the newest guy a break and loan them some cds, but once that IBO decides to start building downline, they are likely to be told that a real business owner buys their own tools, or that a business owner needs to be a leader and purchase extra tools for their downline. And that is when the expenses (and business losses) start to add up for an Amway IBO.
How would you feel if your upline is touting themselves as a financial genius but in the background, their homes are foreclosed or they have financial difficulties? What if your upline pushes their morals on you and you find out they are divorced or getting a divorce? What if your upline said Amway saves marriages? Your upline certainly won't say they are perfect, but conversely, they should be held to the highest standards if they are using their status to be able to influence people in their personal lives and at the same time, sell tools and make large profits from the people they influence. That makes it a conflict of interest in my opinion.
My suggestion is for prospects to remove the hype and flashy presentations. Look at numbers and look at your profits versus losses. If you are not making net profits, what will change in order for that net profit to be attainable? Most likely it will be to quit Amway altogether or to stop using the tools and functions which is likely your biggest business expense in Amway.
Hey Joe Cool,
ReplyDeleteI've been curious about the Tools system for years. I decided to ask a Diamond in my upline if Emeralds/Diamonds in WWDB made money off the Tools that IBO's buy and he communicated that they do. No qualms about it. Platinums also start earning money from WWDB depending on how many premier members are in their group. There's also a document posted on their website stating this. Also, if a Diamond does an organizational open, it's separate from scheduled WWDB Second Looks and Regional Rallies., the Diamond then makes profit after cost of the room and expenses.
So is making money off the system legal or illegal? From what I see, it's not a kept secret anymore like it used to be.
Sure, after the tools income could no longer be kept hidden, the diamonds were forced to admit that they made income from tools. In the old days, they swore on a stack of Bibles that nobody made a cent from tools.
ReplyDeleteTry asking the diamond to see a written contract on how to qualify for tools income and how much earning potential is there. I highly doubt you will get anywhere.
Making income from tools is probably legal. But it's a conflict of interest for upline to call themselves "mentors" and they they advise you to purchase tools and functions and make significant income regardless of your results.
Since 1999. how many new diamonds have emerged in WWDB in the US? Very few and we had diamonds quit/pass away. I believe there are fewer diamonds now in the US than 20 years ago. And most of the diamonds that remain are old.
Some years ago, Ron Puryear issued a challenge to WWDB diamonds. To build a new diamondship business on top of what they already have. Now a single WWDB diamond was able to do it and the challenge faded into history very quietly.