What happens to many unsuspecting people is they join Amway thinking they will attain wealth and riches by "owning their own business", but in reality, they have basically become unpaid commissioned employees of Amway. You don't get health insurance, vacation, or any fringe benefits. You get to work unlimited hours and you get commission by moving products. You can leverage your commissions by increasing this unpaid sales force by sponsoring others into your downline.
Some people do succeed employing this method, but you will need to be an elite recruiter in order to get people to sell Amway products for no salary. You are also handicapped right from the start because past IBO behavior has soiled Amway's reputation in the US and Canada. This point is supported by the fact that Amway's sales appear to be growing the most in foreign countries and not in North America. Seems that everyone I know has been at one time, involved with Amway (and had a bad experience) or knows of someone who had a bad experience (i.e. tricked into attending a meeting, or deceived in some way about the opportunity or the products).
Even if you are a great recruiter, your likelihood of attaining Amway success (emerald or higher) is a tiny fraction of 1%. And for those who attain Amway success, they have great difficulty in sustaining that level. It is why there are hoards of "former" emeralds, diamonds and platinums.
You may hear about how Amway was found "legal" by the FTC or that Amway is #1 in online health and beauty sales. All of this may be true, but it doesn't change the fact that an IBO is basically an unpaid commissioned Amway salesperson. You absorb all the business expenses, pay for your own training, and you get to share your commission with layers of upline (more middlemen), some of whom do not help your business, and some who don't even know you exist. It's a great deal for Amway but not for IBOs. You move their products and absorb the expenses and in doing so and they pay out a commission. As for any awards or credits Amway receives, it's great for Amway, but you are an IBO - an independent business owner. You are not Amway.
Bottom line - if you can get people to work for free, you can find numerous opportunities to get rich that are much better and more lucrative than Amway. :-)
It's true that there's no salary, no benefits, no health insurance, no pension, and no paid vacation time in Amway. It's all just commission on sales, and on the sales of your down-line. On this basis alone, going into Amway is a disastrous choice for anyone, as 99% of all Amway members can testify.
ReplyDeleteThe argument given by Amway freaks is that, despite these disadvantages, Amway allows you (as an "IBO") to control your own career and to make as much money as your own energy and initiative can get. That's why they make a big fuss about how the name Amway means "the American Way" -- in other words, you are free and independent and not under an employer's thumb. You are the one with the responsibility for making your way in the world, and earning money.
But the cold, hard reality is that you have no real control as an IBO in Amway. The company or your up-line can get rid of you at a moment's notice. You are basically forced to buy products that you don't want and can't sell; you are cajoled into attending "business meetings" and "functions" that are of no use whatsoever in selling or recruitment; you are browbeaten into buying tapes, books, and printed material that are also useless; you have to agree to pay to all sorts of fees; and if your up-line decides to rearrange your down-line to suit their purposes rather than yours, you can't do a thing to stop them. Where's the "American Freedom" in this?
Everything in Amway is designed to bleed the average IBO of money, endlessly. Joining it is financial suicide.