14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Scott,

I found your website over two years ago. Of course, it was after I became an IBO. Luckily, it was only after a month or two. I give you credit that my wife and myself for not going down that road. I read you FAQs section, then clicked on "if not quixtar, than what" and checked out the three finance websites you had listed. The one I liked the most was Dave Ramsey's website. I had never heard of him until then. We quit our membership (or whatever you call it). We started Dave's program. At the time we had over $150,000 of debt, now two years later, we had dumped $50,000 of debt. We probably be debt free minus the house in 18 to 20 months from now. The mortgage will be paid off couple years after that. I just got laid off last month, because of these steps we have taken, we are not panicking. I am however anxious to get back to work and get debt snowball going again.

When I look at your website tonight, I didn't see Ramsey's website link. If you can, can you please put it back up. I know there are others out there that needs debt information as much as we did. Thank you for what you done for my family and I.

Sincerely,

Todd from Texas

Mr. Larsen,

I have two co-workers who belong to Quixtar. I was surprised recently when I learned they have both chosen Realtors other than my wife: I share an office with them and thought we were close. Is there a philosophy within Quixtar that says not to do business with non-believers? Thanks for your reply and your web site.

Russell

Hi Scott!

I found my old planner from 1999, including my AmQuix notes from functions, my Plan Showing Calendar, etc. If you want access to any of these, please let me know.

As a point of reference, I added up the mileage that I recorded for my "business" including traveling to show the plan and to get to functions. From January 1999 through June 1999, I logged 13,101 miles!!! This is someone of no little skill who never got past 1500 pv!

I have to go back and add up what I spent on "tools" and everything else during that 6 month period. And I was "in" from July 1997 through about June 2001.

Ugh... I feel ill...

Hi Scott:

I've spent an interesting hour reading your website regarding Quixtar. A good friend (and struggling father of seven children) has approached my husband and I with his "new business". He kept referring to a book he read with "quadrants" in the title that's about going from the 95% of people who struggle and struggle and never get ahead to the fantastically free and rich 5% such as those involved in this type of business "mind-set".

Having had past experience with Amway that my marriage barely survived, I was, of course, skeptical and researched the Internet on the subject to confirm my suspicion.

I shiver as I remember that Amway experience and how I had to continue working and keeping my baby in daycare while my husband spent the majority of my income on Amway products. All I wanted to do was stay home with my baby and could have, if we had budgeted the money from his income and quit buying those ridiculously expensive products. One day I just had enough. My husband pulled into the driveway after coming home from work and one of those "tapes of propaganda" (as I referred to them) was playing on his stereo full blast. I was thinking, "Who is this person?" This man was so excited and hopeful because he got to work all day and then go out to meetings or host them in the evenings and on the weekends. As a bonus, he never had time for the kids or for me.

Meanwhile, I was rewarded by not having good childcare for my daughter and constantly taking her to the pediatrician for ear infections because she was in daycare. Also I got to work all the time and have nothing to show for it but a box full of products and business materials. And gee, here I was, working full-time in a very busy legal secretarial position, trying to be a good mom, breastfeeding, caring for a baby all evening, and then my bonus--sleep deprivation.

After witnessing that day how charged-up and gung-my husband was about that business in spite of the way we were living, and after he turned that stupid tape off and came into the house, I gave him the ultimatum: it's Amway or me.

Thankfully, he chose me. Not three months later, we were able to sock away some money and I was able to quit my job for a few years. Needless to say, our marriage and the family has thrived. We may not always have the extra to buy the kids $100 athletic shoes, expensive designer clothes and exotic vacations, but it works.

So I thank you for reading about my experience and I realize that I am not an attorney or business professional able to offer you a comprehensive analysis of the downside to these schemes. I do, however, along with my husband, represent a great number of the "prospects" out there so vulnerable to the words "business opportunity". One thing that I found interesting in listening to our friend describe the people who made it big under their program was that all those he mentioned had been doing okay financially before they started Quixtar. By this I mean, they were accountants, attorneys, electricians, plumbers, engineers, etc., those most likely to have had the expendable income necessary to more quickly reach a profit-level in their businesses.

Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Theresa

Scott,

I've been in Quixtar with BWW for almost a year and I'm not writing this to curse, threaten, or cast a spell on you. My best friend showed me the business plan almost one year ago. I have read the books, litened to the tapes, and attended everything. I have only registered three members, and one IBO. But, I do NOT regret one day I've been in. The success thought process I've learned has helped me own a 60K a year tile company at the age of 20. I've got right with my creator (not a requirement to be in business).

My self image is ten times what it was a year ago. I'm healthier because of the vitamins and supplements. EVERY aspect of my life is better because of the Quixtar opportunity, but mainly Britt World Wide and it's leadership. I hope that whatever it is inside you that produces your intense hatred and desire to tear others down someday subsides and allows the good, productive, and virtuous person God intended to be victorious. Like I said, I did not write this to tell you off or curse you. I wrote this more for me than you. But also to tell you that even though you are not happy and like to attack others, I'll still pray for you and never try to destroy whatever it is you contribute to society other than partisan facts and slander. I hope and wish the best for you.

Drew Spafford

P.S. Thanks fo keeping the Stupid people out of the business!! Keep up the good work!!

Hi Scott,

I was just approached by a very nice friend of mine that has been sucked into Quixtar.

I was in the process of de-bunking the meeting he kind of tricked me into going to when I ran across your site.

Cheers,

I came across your web-site while investigating what Quixtar is all about, unfortunately my girlfriend whom I love more than anything is involved with Quixtar and has been for nearly a year. I have become increasingly nervous about what she was doing. Repeated road trips to convention centers in South Carolina, and every Tuesday and Thursday she goes to meetings and she is consistently buying the "Tools" and trying with some success to sign others up.

It seems that I live in the real world, I’m an International trader, I trade nearly every single futures and options market around the world, I have been doing this for over 16 years and I’m very successful with my chosen field; So I think I have a good understanding of finance and how money is made and lost. My question and statement that I gave my girlfriend was this, if I "buy bonds and they go down I’m looking at a loss", "if the market goes up I’m looking at a profit" it’s that simple. I told her that is a real "loss" and or a "real" profit. That said I asked her to write up her own P and L (Profit and Loss) to see if after a full year if she was making headway.

My comment and or question must have touched on a sore point because she fails to see that her current job is financing the "Business" while this is fine I cannot get across to her that she is spending more than she is collecting thus she has a loss. She does not see it this way but the last time I checked one and one equals two. I’ve repeatedly told myself while this Quixtar is not for me, I cannot tell my girlfriend that I think she is nuts and from what I have read people are in this business for about three years and then they seem to wake up realizing in fact they are not making any money or they feel guilty that they have made money at the expense of others.

I say this, the "jury" is still out on if my girlfriend makes money and the only thing I can do is wait and see if she makes it; I hope she does make it but something tells me that might not be the case. The only constant in life is change, and we will all have to see if Quixtar can change and reinvent the wheel by changing the human habit of shopping.

If Quixtar makes that much money from sales and its all true why not list the firm on the stock market? lets do a Quixtar IPO does anyone know why this would never happen? Not because the Quixtar people say that’s not the direction, it’s clearly because they would be perceived as another Enron with creative financing and wonderful balance sheets with profits that supersede anyone and then the SEC would step in and then close them down and all off those people in Quixtar will be without there fearless leaders.

Most people in the Quixtar business are weak and bold, weak because they need a tape or CD to tell them to get out of bed and be a go getter giving them the will to be the best, (you need a tape or CD to help your success? I thought humans had self confidence maybe that’s just me ) and they are bold because they look you in the face and say we will make money and have a six figure income. That might be true but let’s do the P and L and see if that’s the case otherwise let’s keep the six figures out of it and look at the facts. How much you made today? How much did you make today? I said it twice because no one can give me an answer.

In closing everyone involved with Quixtar should ask for a Tax return from the top distributors in Quixtar showing they made the money they claim from selling the products from the web-site NOT the self help crap, show that 1099 from Quixtar lets see the $$$ come on boys if you make this much $$ shut me up and show me the 1099 anyone got a 1099 or a tax return showing the six figure income from working 5 to 15 hours a week extra? I would like all "Up Lines" to do the right thing and shut me up the only way that can be done is show me that you did it because if I was in Quixtar and I made the six figure income from selling stuff on the Quixtar web-site I would ram rod that 1099 right into peoples faces who doubted me. NOW do not show me that 1099 showing you made money from the self help tapes or the tools you sold, it’s been made clear to me that you make six figures from the selling of the products that are on the site.

I would like to know what you think

Scott,

I'm sure you must get this all the time but I just wanted to say thank you for making such a high quality, informative web site. I am a engineering student at the University of Virginia and was told about the plan by a "friend" from high school. His recruiter was the one that gave me the first meeting. He actually was suggesting that this was worth dropping out of school for. I mean talk about false hope. In any case he of course suggested that I do some research on the business but avoided the question when I asked the name of the company. I was luckily able to figure it out and stumbled upon your web site. I'm going to a big meeting on Tuesday pretty much just to try to convince the other guys that were at the meeting with me to at least look at your site. Once again I just wanted to say thank you for saving me money, countless hours, and possibly my future.

Thanks,

Edward

It is true that when I read sites like yours it gives me the reality to what I trust we all believe in - the freedoms that we cherish and defend - in this case specifically the freedom of speech-in America are alive and flourishing. What I think some people who cherish and benefit from these freedoms neglect to understand is that this freedom comes with a price and that price is responsibility.

Your site is filled with very solid sounding comments and positions which you and some of the other people quoted present yourselves as the experts in this subject matter. Yes you know the jargon and it is clear that you must have been involved but it is also obvious that you do not have all the facts and there are many statements in your site that are simply not true. So although you have the right to your opinion you are defrauding people by exhibiting these opinions as a facts - on the great new toilet wall of the world-the internet!! Unfortunately most people are not self sufficient and responsible enough to make up their own minds, so they read information like yours - opinions (right or wrong) dressed up as facts and form wrong opinions that are as wrong as the person that displayed them.

My suggestion to you is that instead of using this frustration and energy that you have developed to defraud and misguide you refocus it on something that builds as oppose to something that tries to destroy. Then and only then will you be offering society a worth while service! Untl then you are just another person with another opinion not adding value to anyone or anything.

Sincerely

Mauricio Gonzalez

Hi,

I have spent the last four hours or so reading much of the material on your site. As an IBO myself, I would just like to let you know what I think of your research and my brief opinion, which you may or may not pay any attention to. Your site is well researched and very comprehensive, however, the problems I found were that the site is extremely one sided and very little positive information about Quixter (i.e. the Amway Business) is given. This makes it very difficult to make and educated decision as no information about non-negative facts is given. I appreciate that the site is loaded with lots of information about why NOT to be an IBO, but there are equally sites out there which have tons of information about why TO BE an IBO. I think further balance in your argument would make your site for informative. The second point I'd just like to raise is that alot of the information presented concerns various PEOPLE in the business and not the actual BUSINESS itself. People will always do nasty things no matter what they are doing, it's an unfortunate fact of human nature. A lot of the information you give concerns people and thier problems with the business, but not really the business itself. You might want to look into that as it somewhat lessens the impact of your site.

Otherwise I appreciate the work you have done, which is clearly extensive, and hope that you can take some of what I have suggested and make it work better for you.

For me, I'm perfectly happy with the IBO status!

Sincerely,

Sean Riskowitz

Juding from your list, it looks like a lot of folks made some money in the bsuiness. How could I get in? and could I sponsor you since you have so much time on your hands? What exactly is wrong with making a profit on tapes, books? Tell me of a retail store that sells tapes and books that make no profit. People pay to listen to entertainers, speakers etc. what is wrong with people making a profit from what they have learned? I really don't get it. Do you think all participating IBO's don't know that there is money being made out there? I think you just pissed because your not getting any of it. My question to you is what do you make off of this sad web site of yours?

Of course I’ve been approached several times for either Amway or Quixtar business opportunities. When I ask questions or say I’m not interested I always get the same response. "You don’t understand"

Having twelve years experience with my own IT consulting company I’ll be the first to say "No I don’t understand businesses that don’t use profit loss, balance sheets, or other standard accounting principles"

DM

Hello, Just wanted to thank you for all the great information you've provided on your site about quixstar. I'm in the military and my local area is infested with young army enlisted soldiers who have bought into this and think they will become rich.

I am in the unique position of having contact with the right people at Fort Bragg, NC than can help educate incoming young soldiers. Can you help me put together an information packet that I can have mass mailed via both print and media to young soldiers?

SCOTT,

THIS EMAIL IS NOT MENT TO AFFEND YOU IN ANY WAY OR CHALLENGE YOU. IAM JUST WONDERING WHY SPEND SO MUCH TIME MAKING SOMETHING LOOK SO BAD? GRANTED THERE ARE BAD SIDES TO EVERYTHING. THERE ARE GOOD THINGS THAT COME OUT OF EVERYTHING. YES THERE IS SOME GOOD THAT COMES OUT THE AMWAY/QUIXTAR BUSIENSS WOULD YOU NOT AGREE? YOU COULD SPEND TIME TAKING A SIDE OF ANY BUSINESS MAKING THEM LOOK GOOD OR BAD. WHY ONLY FOCUS ON THE BAD SIDE OF THE AMWAY / QUIXTAR OPPURTUNITY.DID YOU HAVE A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE BUSINESS? WHAT IS IT. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO MAKE SUCH A SITE?

RJK

Reprinted from http://www.webraw.com/quixtar/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1866

I'm so glad I stumbled onto this website.

I've been in Quixtar/Amway for 16 years ... along with the rest of my family (Dad, Mom, brother, sister). We were recruited under false pretenses by my mother's cousin ... who was sponsored by HER brother ... so there's a *family* connection in the upline.

NO ONE in my family has made money in this business. I was serious about it for about five years (age 20-25), until the journalist in me finally overcame the brainwashing and I saw this business for what it really is. Oh, and being GAY gave me quite a unique perspective on all the "pro-family" propaganda they force down our throats.

When I was still going to "major functions" with my family in other cities, in order to keep my sanity I used to slip away during the seminars an hour or so at a time (easy thing to do in a stadium or convention hall setting, where everyone is constantly getting up and stretching their legs) ... slip out of the convention hall, and visit the local gay bars!

Anyway, my real concern is my parents. My father, an engineer, is quickly reaching retirement age (he's now 63). I understand that he has NO retirement savings whatsoever (NO penion, NO 401K ... NOTHING) ... because for the past 16 years (the most profitable earning years of his career), he's been funnelling all their discretionary income into the "system" ... because, as he's been saying for the past 16 years, "Amway is MY retirement". Unfortunately, despite his best efforts, my parents NEVER reached ANY pin level. Not for lack of trying, either. 16 years worth of opens ... monthly rallies, major functions ... house meetings ... driving for HOURS 3-4-5 times a week to "show the plan" ... yadda yadda yadda. Buying EVERY tape and book their upline recommended.

It's not the MONEY that Amway has cost them that concerns me the most (although it's considerable ... probably close to $50,000, all told, once you factor in the premium they've been paying for overpriced merchandise). It's the lost TIME, and FOCUS that Amway has cost them. My parents are smart, hardworking individuals. Dad is a nuclear engineer (he's designed nuclear power plants, bridges, and commercial buildings ... and of course, their house). Mom is a homemaker who doesn't give herself the credit for the WHIZ at bookkeeping that she really is, as well as a gifted seamstress, furniture refinisher, and crafter.

If my parents had NEVER seen Amway in the first place ... back when they were in their 40s ... Dad probably would have continued to focus on the career he's loved (but Amway has taught him to *hate*, because it's a "J-O-B"), and most likey by now he would have transitioned into a prosperous consulting business ... or even become a partner in his own firm. Mom probably would have opened her own consignment store, selling antiques and her own creations. They wouldn't have alienated their family and friends, who are now hesitant to have contact with them out of fear of being "prospected".

Anyway, you all get the idea. In addition to the stress Amway has placed on their lives and their marriage, other life events have intervened, including them moving my dad's mother in with them. And my baby brother is still in college. They put an addition onto the house to accommodate Grandma ... so they've had to refinance the house, taking out another mortgage (which my mother has told my sister is in excess of $200K).

So ... my worry is not purely financial for my parents (I'm in a financial position to intervene and help them ... even support them ... but they're too proud to ask. I'm still preparing for it, though, and as a son who loves them deeply, it would be my honor). My REAL worry is the STRESS they're under:

-- Stress on my Dad, 63 years old, to pay bills, support his mother and college-aged son, and pay off a $200K mortgage, while many of his friends are already enjoying retirement ... free from work ... living in their long-ago paid-off homes.
-- Stress on my mother, who's beginning to show signs of the strain of being a *caretaker* for 36 years and counting (four kids, her mother, her aunt, and now her mother-in-law).
-- Stress on their MARRIAGE, as their upline feeds on pitting husband against wife, when the couple fails to succeed in "the business".
-- Stress on BOTH of them, for being made to feel like "failures" by their upline for every day they're *not* Diamonds by now.

Any ideas out there how I can help remedy this situation?

Hi Scott,

Here's another 'go-getter' who finally got up and went.

"Paul Sarvadi wants Administaff to be the entrepreneur’s best friend"

Last I saw him, he was an Emerald in the Neuenschwander Organization in Houston. That was mid 80's.

Energetic guy, soon to be Diamond. (... or maybe not.)

He finally made it, but not in Amway.

Today he is head of Administaff, providing temp help/office staff to 'real' businesses.

Sorry to hear Setzer is still around; that group is probably still draining people's resources. And he Knows it!

I tried to make it work for maybe 5 years, never feeling comfortable about it. We could barely afford these extra expenses, and I knew that people I'd sponsored couldn't either. "But you need to spend the money to be successful!"

I finally couldn't afford to "fake it til you make it." And I wasn't selling my real business to go full time in Amway.

The last event I attended was Allan Neuenschwander's first Family Reunion, held in Albuquerque. (why there I wondered, since his base was Houston? Maybe to make more off the travel business?) I guess that was his first big event to enjoy the fruits of the "other ways to make money" that we as distributors were not told about. I remember hearing at the Neuenschwander Emerald party, that "if Allan can do it, anyone can." He was a dork, I guess, but he seemed so sincere, and must have finally sponsored 6 DD's.

Anyway, I felt sick reading all the horror stories over again. It took me years to get over the experience, and I still wonder " but it could work, couldn't it?" until I find these sites again and go "phew", what was I thinking?

Thanks.

Robert

Thank you for writing on this website what you know about Amway / Quixtar. I was involved in late 2001 and got out of it in late May 2004. The newest rules about not having another MLM business is what really upset me and I knew something was wrong. The "pot calling the kettle black" phrase fits Amway / Quixtar. They're out there to close down stores and openly said so recruiting me so I joined beacause of fear. However, the constant saying of closing down stores is what partly got me out. They're all for stealing someone else's dreams but don't want their downlines stolen by other MLM marketing businesses. I look around Amway / Quixtar to see what is new and I've sent out e-mails forwarding information that I have found. People need to be warned of what a scam it is.

Keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

I read your article on Greg Duncan a quixtar IBO, I have never met him nor do I know him personally but it seems to me, why is he wealthy and obvious you are not. If I were getting advice I would obviously talk to the guy that has wealth as opposed to the guy who is upset that somebody else does.

Why waste some much time and energy being negative, you certainly appear to be on some kind of vendetta, I hope you find peace with whatever has made you so mad about this man.

Hi Scott,

I am a new IBO, I do respect your views I you are probably an ex-IBO. The only part that was interesting to me were about the business tools. This business is like anything else in life their are no guarantees of sucess and I believe their are those out there that make sensational claims that might mislead peoples expectations. It happens in the medical field, science field, and in the business world in general. I was never promised I would be successful and I am smart enough to understand what it would take to accomplish success in this business model. The problem many people have is expectations without realistically working to accomplish the goal of success. The business does give principals of how to be successful and many are not realistically doing the things that it would take to succeed in this business model. If people see an opportunity to save on products it does not take alot to know you can buy products cheaper, some get involved because they view this as a business opportunity to make money but then don't what to do what is necessary to be successful. If you owned a traditional business their is no guarantee of success or that you will get promoted on your job, you would work hard to try to accomplish those goals.

I am not naitive enough to believe everyone in this business is a good person but the fact is if you accomplish the guidelines you will get additional income. I could write many articles like you on politicians, big corporations, and etc. with problems. The government sued Microsoft but I bet you still use their software and I could go on and on. The fact is it can begin success to those that work to be successfully and unfilled promises to those that don't.

Thanks for the info, I will read I apologize if I can across and being mean that was not my intent you seem to be a very reasonably person and I will evaluate the points that you have made.

Hello, I went to a meeting last night and got interested enough to sign into Quixtar. After doing some research this morning and not being able to get rid of that icky feeling that something just wasn't right, I called the people and told them to hold onto my paperwork until Monday so I had some time to research this on my own. They started to panic, but agreed to hold my application until I felt comfortable. I am possibly going to offend some dear friends by doing this, but I want to give my friends the information for your websites so that they may also get a different perspective on what they have gotten themselves into. Just wanted to thank you for taking the time to put his information out there for people to get the other side on and make intelligent decisions for themselves.

Yes they did mention Quixtar and showed me a catalog, they did NOT mention any 70% selling to customers and in fact kept repeating how you are in business and you are your own best customer...sell to yourself and get rich...I asked if you could sell to others if you wanted to and they were like, well, there is a "program" where you can sell to someone and they would be classed as a client or a member and they would buy through you...but they didn't elaborate or even push it, but they did push that it was NOT based on being a salesperson!!! I'm currently trying to talk my friend into getting out of this company before they are in too deep!!

Scott,

First off, thanks for putting up and maintaining the website. http://amquix.info/amway_divorces.html

I was looking up an old friend Jim & Connie Agard of Charlotte (Lake Wylie area) and your site popped up and so it seems to indicate they split up. Sad.

You don't have a listing for Larry and Joanie Gammell of Ashburnham MA and than of Johnson City TN. I know them through my sister in law Kathy who is Larry's sister. I lived in the next town over from them and observed their raise to fortune. Larry was the service manager at the local Lincoln dealership in Fitchburg MA. I visited them once at their farm in TN.

Larry and Joanie (than to Robin) was my upline Emerald. it was Larry and friends who showed me Charlotte NC and the idea of living wherever you wished to.

I never made it anywhere with Amway but don't regret much as I am a free and worldly educated man today as a result. I owe a great debt of gratitude for the very able person I became.

L & J divorced years ago after they made it big and moved to a grand horse ranch in TN. They had a son named Jay and I can't remember the daughters name. Both must be in their late 20's by now.

Larry remarried to a model of a southern woman Robin of Darlington SC (she ran for Mrs. America soon after they were married, but she did not place). They adopted a child about 5 years ago. They live in Manchester NH. As far as I know they are still Emeralds. There is still a sexy photo of Robin on a Yellow Mustang sprawled out in a bikini over at a used car dealership on Independence Hwy in Charlotte. LOL (she denies it, but I know better) I recently went over to visit that dealer/friend and that photo is still there. :)

It was fun remembering all this and sharing what I know.

Sorry, I don't have photos of any of them.

Tom

Well..... the actual line of sponsorship was very muddy. Let me drag some of this out of my head.

Though we said Larry was in Agard's group, but that is not the truth.

Larry and Jim were similarly motivated and joined forces. In their seeking how to run this business, they found Jim Agard.

I first met the Agards in their home in Hudson MA, BEFORE Larry Gammell started in "the business" (1975?).

I remember the Agards house filled with people and their speaking (and other uplines too) in a round robin fashion in all the rooms of the house and a motorhome. As I was a kid I wandered around the house and motorhome (a GMC Eleganza) listening and absorbing. it was all fun and exciting.

They both wanted to divorce from their own lines of sponsorship and was a big deal with the Amway Distributor Board in Ada.

Funny memory; my best friend (who was a sponsor to me in my first joining in High School) and I remember getting seemingly drunken annoying calls from our upline sponsor. Later that sponsor was none other than the father of my best friends new wife. Boy oh boy, that was interesting as my friend later went through all the records and had seen who did what to who. All this created a rift that could not be repaired with us.

I remember it was Bernice Hanson who made the final vote and arrangement allowing them to change their line of sponsorship, though they made special arrangements for income to be quietly shared with the original sponsors and still rewarding Yager for Agards and Agard for Gammell's businesses.

Agard became linked directly to Yager (I don't remember his original line of sponsorship right now)

Larry Gammell's actual sponsor was a school teacher in Fitchburg at the time and now lives in New Jersey and made it to Pearl level. I think dropped out like most of us. I may get their names in a day or so. I have a lot of photos,old Yager leadership photo books and tapes around here too.

I have a lot of Amway experience that was positively influential in my life. My first blush with it was when I was only 8 with my parents attempt. I joined myself when I was 14 (yes an illegal dist). I joined up MANY times as I could not stand not being around these people.

One of my cherished memories as a child was spending time with Art and Ollie Charleton (I think the first Crown Distributors), who gave me my first glimpse that I could truly be whoever I wanted to be. I was just 10 than, when we played with his huge model airplanes in his yard. Apparantly he knew of my parents divorce and he came 60 miles to pick me up and I know now to give me hope. I imagine they are gone now. Last I knew, they had retired to an island they bought in Florida. I never knew anyone to love life like they did and that changed me too.

The Amway business always sucked for me (my highest level was 1,500), but the positive thinking attitude I learned effects my life daily. I guide a lot of my life by the way they changed me. I could easily write a book from what I learned by being with these people.

Factoids; For several years, my Mom was Agard's housekeeper (but was more like family) at their home on Blossom Street Fitchburg MA (big 14,000 sq ft stucco villa mansion from the photos). All this was a kick, as we knew them from way back and more of a kick when Larry and Joanie would be hanging out at the house too. When I was a kid in High School, I worked for them from time to time too helping my mom or cleaning the yard.

I remember the day somone tried to siphon fuel out of Jim's new Bus Coach (Converted American Eagle Coach). Trouble is, Jim had converted one of the fuel tanks to a sewerage tank and that is what they got. LOL

My love of architecture started by the Agards study of that mansion home and it's extensive remodeling.

I used to drive by their home daily regardless of my own being in the business or not, to see who may be there or a latest toy. I found it very motivating and entertaining to live vicariously through them. I was almost as thrilled for their achievements as if it were my own. Now I see they are split up or some other reason for only showing one name in the record and photo.

After 27 years, I am getting a divorce myself.

If it was not for these people, I would not be successfully owning my own business (25 yrs now).

Few know, I have an undiagnosed learning disability, likely the same as my 3 children have and getting specialized tutoring to compensate.

I could go on and on, but I'll stop now.

Tom

age 39 + a few.

I've been telling my partner about Free Enterprise Weekends that were held (still are?) in Charlotte I used to go to, and now he wants to enjoy some of that ra-ra too.

Hello my name is Andrew Fong I live in Melbourne Australia I have just been to an Amway business development meeting or A2K or Network Twenty One as they call it here. Thought I just like say that your site has given me more information then the 4hr seminar gave.

Thank you

Howdy!

I was on your website reading about amway/quixtar. I am in a jam here. My in-laws have pursued quixtar for the last couple of years and have gone no where. My wife feels caught in the middle. How can I tell them its no good? They beleive in this with such conviction. Please give all the suggestions you can.

Thanks

Brandon

Scott,

I would appreciate your opinion please.

Thanks,

thanks scott,
my district manager and her husband have mentioned to me numerous times in the past few months, about their on-line business.
they wanted to share with me how to increase my income.
I just ordered a gift from a catalog that I received from them at Christmas. it made me decide to look into Quixstar on my own.
when I typed in the name, and saw all of the negative sites listed.........I went there first. after reading 1/2 of the letters on your sight, I know not to go any farther.
I won't EVER have time for us to get together for them to share their business with me, then I won't have to tell them "no thanks!!"
I'm sure you just saved me much heartache, not to mention a bunch of money!!!!!! thanks!! barb

Scott,

If you haven't seen this yet................

''The governor was having casual conversations with someone he believed was his friend,''

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-tapes20.html

Thank you for your site. It helped me realize that I needed to get out of "the business"

(former N21 IBO)

Matt

Scott,

I've been completely taken in by your site over the last couple of days - so much new information, so many suspicions confirmed, so many memories (sad ones, for the most part) relived... Great work indeed, and thank you!

Ironically, I found your site by accident: I was doing a Google search on Doug Wead due to the recent news regarding the secret Bush tapes.

I suspected it might have been the same Doug Wead, the Amway Diamond, and sure enough it was (so much for a "trusted and loyal friend"). And then I found your very interesting site, and figured I'd drop a note of praise.

Another reason I wanted to write is that I have some names to contribute to the "marriage" page, and an associated story which involved some high pins, but I wanted to get some assurance of anonymity before I decide whether I want to do that or not. I am far from being into conspiracy theories, but there has been enough empirical evidence (even on your site) to suggest that one should not put anything past these kingpins, and I do have a family to protect.

Hope you would understand.

Best regards!

BB

I was wondering if you would be willing to send me a copy of your complete site for Mirroring purposes...?!?! I started hearing about Amway/Quixtar in my local area recently and a large number of people have fallen for it. This was when I decided to do some research and stumbled upon the Dateline story which led me here! This is all sooooo fascinating to me, its just unbelievable. I LOVE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE! I would provide full credit to you, linking to your site, etc. I hope we can work something out.

Sincerely,

C. Goetz

Scott - First, thank you for your site and (I never thought I would say this) keep up the good work. And I have look for the info below and apologize if I missed it.

I will not go into my story at this point but I do need your help.

What is a good replacement for the vitamin products and the laundry products? We have been in the biz a long time but haven't bought tools etc for years. My wife does like the laundry products and several adults in my family like double X.

If there are not good replacements, is there a way I can be sure I am not supporting any of the BSM scams by signing up as a member under someone that has no BSM sellers in their upline.

I want my move out of the biz to have a minimal effect on my wife and kids as well as my extended family. I guess I would really rather buy them the amway products they like though a non bsm line of sponsorship if I can at this point. But I am open to your suggestions. I just hate for any of those organizations to make any more money off me. ( upline is ild but out of state and not in tough with me any more thank goodness).

I am not at the point yet where I want you to use my name now but may do that in the future.

I am far enough away from the biz to look at it without emotion and am thankful I found your site.

Dear Scott Larsen,
Thank you for giving such an informative report on Quixtar/Amway. I was approached and persuaded to begin reading and listening to the tools that IBO's push on anyone who they select carefully. I was told you want to trust who you share this business with.
What a line. LOL!
I quickly realized that Quixtar/Amway is a pyramid scheme. I began my investigation of proof to back up my gut feeling.
Thank you for providing such a thorough report about Quixtar/Amway. You have really covered every point on how IBO's suck innocent people into this scam.
If it sounds too good to be true, it must be.
So glad I listened to gut feelings that Quixtar/Amway is dishonest.
Paula in Texas

It is true that when I read sites like yours it gives me the reality to what I trust we all believe in - the freedoms that we cherish and defend - in this case specifically the freedom of speech-in America are alive and flourishing. What I think some people who cherish and benefit from these freedoms neglect to understand is that this freedom comes with a price and that price is responsibility.

Your site is filled with very solid sounding comments and positions which you and some of the other people quoted present yourselves as the experts in this subject matter. Yes you know the jargon and it is clear that you must have been involved but it is also obvious that you do not have all the facts and there are many statements in your site that are simply not true. So although you have the right to your opinion you are defrauding people by exhibiting these opinions as a facts - on the great new toilet wall of the world-the internet!! Unfortunately most people are not self sufficient and responsible enough to make up their own minds, so they read information like yours - opinions (right or wrong) dressed up as facts and form wrong opinions that are as wrong as the person that displayed them.

Sincerely

Mauricio Gonzalez www.lacconsulting.com

Hi Scott,

I appreciate your interest in getting clarification to this. The reality is that my point to "statements not being true" is that your opinions are stated as truths, and that is where I find them misleading and because of this I consider the service that you are trying to provide a disservice to the business world. As I mentioned before you are entitled to your opinions but not to state them as facts and certainly not to state them in a way that misrepresents you as an authority on the subject. I assume that for what ever reason you were not successful in your attempts at the business, and even believe that due to some people that did not run their business ethically and correctly you were not able to achieve what was offered. But the bottom line is that my experienced to date after many years of involvement simply has never reflected any of the issues that your site portrays.

If you took the time to understand that Quixtar and the IBOA have a process in place to be able to report and get resolution to issues and claims, maybe the value for you may have been more than it was. As an experienced business person with over 20+ years of business development and executive positions with the top IT companies in the industry I can tell you that the Quixtar opportunity is a fantastic opportunity that allows people with little business experience the opportunity to succeed. So as I stated in my orginal mail, simply if you want to fufill your goal of informing - then please consider doing it in an unbiased manner - and also reflect and report not necessarily the success of the high level pins of which everyone seems to want to dump upon. But report on the single moms who are making ends meet because of the $500 a month they make in their business, or the families that can send their child to private school because of the additional income they get from their business, or the stories of relationships built through this business that help people deal with life tragedies like the loss of spouses or children and so many more. See none of the people that want to report on "the business" have ever spoken of any of these day to day realities of being in the business and I can tell you that for every ex disgruntled distributor there are tens of hundreds of "successful" distributors who may not have achieved the mansions and the luxury cars but today are better parents, spouses and contributors to their communities and their country because of the association with the business.

Part of the price that is paid when you accomplish these things is controversy and that is life.

So no I am not going to try to prove or disprove your opinions. After all they are your opinions and from your point of view they are right, but again simply make it clear that you have no background or experience that makes you an expert in the subject matter and neither do any of the other opinion makers and "investigators" that you publizice on your site - it is simply just another persons opinion. An opinion that is based on hearsay and assembled by putting together pieces of complete information to justify and try to prove this opinion.

I wish you success on any future endeavours that you may be involved with and hope that your experience with Quixtar at least brought you to a realization that nothing in life comes without work. Discipline and commitment are key ingredients to success in life and success in life is not just money-these thing I have learned from the business and have been able to apply them not only in the business but in life.

Regards,

Scott,

My intention is not to change your opinion. So taking the time to point what is not true is an excercise in futililty and I am sure that for every fact that I can give you, you will dispute it with other "truths" and/or reports from irresponsible journalists to once again tell me why I am wrong. So my point again is not to prove you wrong, as it seems your is, my point is to simply get people who use the internet as a soapbox (pardon the pun) to exhale their opinions disguised as facts from an expert and try to influence others opinions to make it clear that it is simply an opinion.

That is it. If I could just find one of these sites that would unbiastly tell the full story, not just a one sided sensationalistic platform for attention I would refer my potential IBO's to go read it. As it is they are welcome to go read sites like yours and others so long as they also take the time to get the information from credible people who are true experts in the subject matter of MLM's - and leave the Jerry Springer level information as simply what it is - entertainment value and a platform for people who did not achieve to expel their opinions and views. Nothing more and nothing less-a free speech and American freedoms-what a beautiful thing!!

So after all this dialogue, I hope in a few months to go into your site to see the format of your opinions changed to reflect that they are opinions. And if it doesn't then long live the American way!

It has been educational and entertaining to share opinions with you and I hope that you have also gotten something out of it.

Regards

Hi Scott,

Thanks for your informative and actually entertaining site (amquix). I was prospected recently by a friend of the family and it all went down pretty much as described either on your site or in "Merchants of Deception" which I whizzed through last night.

I did a bit of Amway in the late 70's so I was sort of ready for something like that since the invitation was totally vague and as usual, I did it for a friend. He naturally brought a regional West Michigan hitter named Doug something or other. The presentation was totally incomprehensible despite my many questions.

After the meeting they loaned me a line of sponsorship book and a copy of one of Kiyosaki's books. Reading through them sent the spine tingling with horror. Kiyosaki seems like a total Bull@#)@#)er to me and elevating greed to o human right/virtue is about as destructive a thing as one can do. The LOS book was ridiculous. Full of illogical reasoning, no real numbers, no real business, all fluffy platitudes and arguments that because people criticized the Wright Brothers therefore Quixtar must be the right choice for you.

I did meet with the friend prospecting me and asked a lot of questions, including that he explain to me exactly where all the money comes from to pay each distributor 2-3k a month based on personal use. No answer of course. But the same glazed look of faith on his face. *sigh* Hopefully I planted a few seeds of doubt, the last thing he needs is to be taken for a ride by Quixtar.

I did want to say that he preached the same exact thing you mention, self-use only, NO selling to others, and the stacked line approach (though he didn't call it that). His use of jargon such as 'opportunity' etc. was very disturbing.

Any input on how hard to push my friend appreciated. He's been in 5 weeks and is already going to weekly meetings, talking about his 'business' and all that. I wish people could do the math.

L.

PS one thing that would help me even more about you site is a bit more explanation of what rubies, platinums etc. are and how it all relates to bonuses. I follow pretty much your arguments on page two of stacking (at the platinum level) but don't understand how distributors 'break off'. I'll send more specific suggestions if/when I get a chance. Thanks for a great site.

PPS If you do quote me on your site, please remove my name so my friend doesn't get too embarrassed ;-)

Scott,

Thank you for posting the information on quixtar. I work at a hardware store and a customer tried to get me involved with the company. After reading about them online, I think I'll invest my money elsewhere!

Thank You,

John

HELLO,

MY NAME IS VANESSA JACKSON AND I AM A NEW IBO IN COLUMBUS OHIO. I WAS SURFING THE SITE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION AND I SEEN THIS SITE. IT TALKED ABOUT WHO WAS BREAKING WHAT PIN, AND I SEEN YOUR NAME. IT GAVE ME THE OPTION TO WRITE SO I DID. I HAVE A PERSONAL QUESTION IF YOU DON'T MINE.......WHAT NATIONALITY ARE YOU AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE BUSINESS? ALSO IF YOU COULD GIVE ME A FEW POINTERS ON HOW TO SUCCEED ON GETTING AN NEW IBO FOR EVERY STATE IN THE U.S.

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANKS ALOT!

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