Many uplines and IBOs will talk about their system. More often than not, the various systems such as WWDB or Network 21 will tout themselves as the best, fastest growing, proven, and most profitable. I know that was promoted when I was an IBO and I believe it is still promoted this way. There are many comments on the internet from IBOs and recently former IBOs that indicate that this is true. But let's take a look at these claims.
How does one determine the best? You really can't. The best is an opinion unless there are established criteria on what constitutes the best. Of course, every upline will think their group is the best, but what can factually be derived from that claim? If you are an IBO or prospect of Amway, try asking that question. Based on what do you make the claim of being the "best" group or system?
Fastest growing can be proven or disproved. But for the most part, we know that Amway isn't growing by leaps and bounds in North America. During the Quixtar tenure, it appeared that Amway sales in NA either stagnated or even shrank. Amway supporters cite overall Amway sales going up, but it's reasonable to conclude that the increase in sales is primarily in foreign countries. For some odd reason, Amway no longer reports North American sales, but simply lumps everyhing into a global sales figure.
As for any system to be making claims of proven, all these systems have basically done is proven that they are dismal failures. Based on Amway's own figures, we can deduce that less than half of one percent of IBOs ever reach the platinum level. The platinum level is approximately where you might see a small profit if that platinum is CORE. There is some documentation indicating that platinums might lose money at that level. While the study is dated, the expenses associated with being a platinum have gone up significantly since that study (Wisconsin Attorney General) so it can be very possible that platinums continue to see a net loss these days. It's also very visible that there are fewer diamonds in north America today than a dozen years ago. Diamonds have quit and some were terminated. It appears that most new diamonds come from foreign countries where Amway has not yet suffered reputation issues.
Makng claims of fastest growing is also one that can be proven. However, try asking your sponsor or upline for evidence of this claim. Also, is the growth occuring in your area? Are you from the US or Canada? Citing growth in Korea for example, is unlikely to mean anything for the vast majority of IBOs. And even if there is some growth, how does that translate as leverage or an advantage for you? Ask these questions and see what answer you receive, if any.
The system is proven for sure. But it's proven to be a failure. The numbers supplied by Amway clearly back up this claim.
Amway no longer reports statistics on its North American sales because the figures are embarrassing to them. The plain fact is that the ordinary consumer simply has no interest in overpriced, mediocre products that have to be purchased through a complex system with an attached "Plan."
ReplyDeleteLet me give an example. When my cousin was trying to get me signed up in Amway, I pointed out to him that if Amway indeed worked, very soon everybody would be in it and the market would be saturated and it would become difficult to sell Amway products. (This was years ago, when Amway was still primarily peddling soap and household cleansers). My cousin replied "No, not at all! The most saturated city in regard to Amway dealers is Montreal. And despite this, Amway only accounts for five percent of detergent-cleanser sales in that city. Therefore even in Montreal there is plenty for room for growth, and for a new dealer to make sales!" And he then gave me that big, self-satisfied grin that is a mark of Ambot zombies.
This seemed a good answer, until I thought about for a while. Then it occurred to me that if Amway accounted for only five percent of such sales in Montreal (its most thoroughly Amway-infested city), this meant that 95 percent of the ordinary citizens of Montreal were still buying their detergents and cleansers from supermarkets and other non-Amway sources. Why was that? What the hell were all those Montreal Amway dealers doing?
The answer is clear: The market was only at five percent because the vast majority of the citizens of Montreal DON'T WANT the crap that Amway pushes. They'd rather have the convenience, quality, and reasonable prices of Procter and Gamble. Back then (as now) Amway products are sold in large part to IBOs who either use them personally, give them away as samples, or warehouse them in their garages or basements. And despite Amway's expansion to now deal in all sorts of non-cleanser products, their sales to ordinary consumers remain dismal, and continue to plummet.
The other reason for the poor Amway sales in America is the cumulative effect of wonderful information websites like this extensive one run by Joe Cool, and the fiery one run by Anna Banana. Eric Scheibeler's devastating book is being read widely, despite the frantic efforts of Amway's legal goons to suppress it. Believe me, in the internet age this sort of intellectual firepower is devastating. There isn't anyone in America today (except brainwashed Ambots) who doesn't realize that Amway is a fraud. The facts are all out in the open. As a result, it's becoming harder and harder to get people to join up. Perhaps this is why the Amway overlords have expended their new efforts in spreading the Amway bullshit to Third-World nations where the populace is less literate, and doesn't have as much access to computers and the internet as Americans do.
But the real kicker is the lousy quality of Amway products. If all you have to sell is overpriced shit, most people won't buy it. It's as simple as that.
Thanks for your comments. I believe Amway's products to be average in quality but premium in price. For that reason, Amway simply cannot compete with retailers like Target or WalMart. It's for that reason that IBOs need to justify Amway prices by saying Amway is higher quality or that Amway is environmentally friendly.
DeleteBottom line is that people are seeking to buy "premium" laundry detergent. They'll be content with the cheapest detergent, which is also likely to be environmentally friendly.
I believe most Amway sales are to sympathetic family and friends and not much anywhere else.