I used to follow the blog of a WWDB IBO named "Shaun". He used to run a blog called "Expeditions Of Truth" http://expeditionoftruths.com/.. The blog is not running as Shaun has now quit Amway (imagine that? He swore he would be a double eagle ruby making will over 100k. What could possibly go wrong?) In typical fashion, Shaun did not allow opposing views on his blog.
He seemed to think that not only is he in business with people full of integrity, but he also thought that he was going to retire in November 2011. Is this now May 2024? While I think doing business with people of integrity is a good thing, I also know of many successful people in business who are ruthless. So are Amway and in particular, WWDB people full of integrity or are they just as ruthless as other businesspeople? Does it matter? In my opinion, it doesn't matter except for the fact that WWDB people seem to think that they have integrity filled leaders.Well, let's look at some of these leaders. Back in the 1990's, the current batch of WWDB leaders swore that nobody made a profit on tools. Nobody knew the truth at the time. We now know that this was a lie. Is this integrity? We know that Greg Duncan, a triple diamond, was in chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings some years ago. Not paying for your obligations is integrity? We know that Greg Duncan and David Shores had homes foreclosed (Public information). Is that a move filled with integrity? With the tons of money Duncan and Shores make, couldn't they have made an effort to pay off their debts? Is that integrity?
If you look at a blog linked to this one "Rocket's Rants", there's a YouTube video of "crown" Brad Duncan telling rank and file IBOs that they can make "hundreds of thousands of dollars" a month. First of all, I wonder if Brad Duncan has achieved this himself, let alone any others? Even if someone had achieved it, it would be illegal or unethical to portray that kind of success as achievable to an Amway prospect.
Brad Wolgamott used to talk about how WWDB had a low divorce rate. Is it full on integrity for WWDB leaders to separate or divorce when they talk about integrity and how Amway and WWDB saves marriages? What about Dean Kosage? Another divorcee? Are they full of integrity? What say you Shaun Guthrie of WWDB? What about Howie Danzik whose website doesn't mention that he was once married to Susan? Is it integrity to say you built the business as a single when Howie previously built the business with his former wife Susan?
Amway's owner Rich DeVos acknowledged that the "tools" were likely a pyramid scam and Amway did nothing after sales dropped following some attempts to clean it up. Is that an integrity move? I don't know but it sure seems as if WWDB and Amway have issues where integrity is concerned.
I was prospected three times, and in all cases a lot of effort was put in to hiding the name Amway.
ReplyDeleteThe one time I was specifically invited for coffee to catch up on what we were up to, in our shared line of work, as friends and ex colleagues. But when we met, there was none of this, and I heard quickly that it was only a way to prep me to come and listen one evening to what the group of sharp and successful "entrepreneurs" were up to (which a little digging exposed to be Amway - Network 21). No catch up as friends or ex colleagues over coffee. Deception right from the get go. When I shared this story at a family gathering, it was clear it has happened to many others too. Marketing Amway by stealth, hiding the name that puts people off (I wonder why) in a hopeless attempt to get people to hear them out, telling people it's something else and then it is really Amway. I then chatted a bit on the professional interest group I follow, and even there, people shared the same negative experiences, including heart breaking stories of friends and close relatives who destroyed their lives with a time and money wasting obsession.
Since this is happening way on the other end of the world where I am in Africa, yet is so cunningly similar to many things people in North America have experienced about Amway, I have to think this utter contempt for integrity seems to be widespread.
Even asking them directly, the one guy said they (this group of successful entrepreneurs which I think is already a lie) partnered with many companies, where he listed a few including Microsoft, Apple and a few other impressive names, oh, and (as if by the way) they partner with Amway too. As if to give the impression that they are not an Amway group as such where I've heard all the bad things about, but a novel concept of entrepreneurs who as a group themselves have all these partnerships. Like they personally (or the businesses they owned) partnered with Microsoft. In reality he merely signed up with Amway (where the only criteria is willingness to pay the fee) and Network 21 (where I suspect the same applies).
Call me old fashioned, but seeing the huge discrepancy between the picture they paint and what the reality is, none of what I describe above can remotely be considered integrity. What is sickening is that if they sign you up, they expect you to trust them implicitly and consistently. People counter that saying they are friendly and helpful (in how to sign you up). Well of course they are.
Now I like "friendly", I really do, but if it comes to a choice, brash and honest would be much better!
Thank you for sharing your experiences. It seems that deception is a common thread amongst the Amway faithful. And it is likely being taught by upline leader, who the downline believe are full of "integrity". How ironic.
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