In my previous article “An encounter with Amway / WWDB recruiter” I shared my story about encountering an Amway recruiter.
In this article, I want to give you some tips on how to spot and recognize Amway recruiters so you know what to expect before they waste your time / money.
Let me give you 7 tips on how to spot Amway or WWDB recruiters:
#1 – They hang out in coffee shops
They hang out in coffee shops a lot! Starbucks seems to be their typical place. They are usually friendly and will initiate contact with you in the pretense of “we are just being friendly”. Sometimes you can also find them in Barns & Nobles’ Starbucks coffee shops.
They dress really sharp. As the saying goes: “Dress for success”. They dress sharply to give you the impression that they are really successful. If you look around you, they would be the only ones in the coffee shop, dressed so sharply and sitting by themselves. Consider how they dress along with the other factors I mention below.
#2 – They carry a specific set of self-help and business related books
There’s nothing wrong with self-help and business books, but the Amway recruiters carry a very specific set of books (from authors such as John Maxwell, Robert Kiyosaki).
From my experience and the experience of others, here are the books they carry with them and ask you to read:
They might lend you their own copy as long as you agree to read it and meet with them again.
#3 – They tend to be mysterious
When you ask them about what they do, they will become mysterious and never tell you what they do. A direct question like: “What do you do for work?” will not get you a straight answer.
You might get an answer like: “I am an entrepreneur”, “I am a IBO (independent business owner)” or just change the subject.
#4 – They keep mentioning the words “mentor”, “IBO” and “being independent”
They mention one or more times words such as “my mentor“, “being independent“, “working for yourself”, “business partners“, “business opportunities“, “building a network“.
Example scenario: “Oh, I was not so good at such and such, but that all changed when I met my mentor. He taught me everything I know”.
They might also perhaps tell you a story about their mentor and how he has a villa, how his wife does not work and how he just wakes up any time he wants and mentors others as a hobby.
They will surely belittle people who work a regular job (probably including you).
#5 – They try to inflate your ego
They try to inflate your ego and tell you that you’re a good hardworking person, with a good character:
You got what it takes, you could be a good fit for my kind of business, let me take your number and let’s meet again
Another example of that is when they try to compliment you in order to establish rapport: “Excuse me, but I really like your hat”, or “Excuse me, but your shirt is so cool, where did you get it from?”
# 6 – They want to meet with you more times
The first meeting was just to sense whether you are “worthy” of their time and whether you have the ability to be “mentored”. If they think you were sold the dream and are hopeful, then they try to set up an appointment with you, so that they:
- Lure you more and speak vaguely about what they do. Remember, once they feel you took the bait, then perhaps they mention the word “Amway”, “WWDB” or other big company that resells for Amway.
- Give you hope by keep saying and mentioning “perhaps I can introduce you to my mentor, he’s a good teacher…but first you have to earn his respect”
Lending you one of their books for you to read is one way to set up another meeting with you.
#7 – They start to look like a Déjà Vu
Weird enough, you will notice that you are running into them often in your favorite coffee shops but with different unsuspecting prospects. It happened with me many times when I was writing my book in a coffee shop. I would observe from a distance and shake my head in disappointment. The same steps, I shared in this article, were being played against another person. Often times, they interview couples and focus more on the female because she can be easier to influence. If they win the female over (say the wife of the prospect), she might influence her male partner.
That’s all I can think of now. If you have more ideas or thoughts on the matter then please share them in the comments.
Here are some books and links that shed some light about the true nature of working with Amway:
- Amway: The Cult of Free Enterprises
- False Profits: Seeking Financial and Spiritual Deliverance in Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Schemes
- Amway dreams – the things they will say
If you want to approach MLM with some humor and have 30 minutes to spare, I promise that you will enjoy the following video from November, 2016.
Can you make money with Amway?
You might also like:
This article is very accurate. Once they’ve lured you in, the recruiter will introduce you to his/her mentor at one of the mentor’s seminars. After the seminar, you will have a follow up meeting with your recruiter, and then the recruiter shows you the business model, and discusses the agenda for future meetings until you’re “offered a partnership.” The amount of work you’re required to do for this company in order to “become rich” is ridiculous. They say that you’re an independent business owner or an entrepreneur if you join the company, but in reality your recruiter is your boss, and you’re giving up your time and freedom to help someone else get rich, which is the same thing as being employed.
I want to clear up some malperceptions about Amway – only two weeks ago I joined the organization. They are masters of persuasion and mentor and teach others how to do the same (they’re the softest-sellers in the world, if they’re doing their job right). I’ll give an example. Let’s say you want to take a new girl on a date but you live with your parents and drive a junker. Instead of picking her up in your junker, you borrow your dad’s ferrari (or rent one) to pick her up and take her out with. Naturally, she falls for your apparent credibility and you two plan on a second date. You will never get that second date unless you present yourself credibly, regardless of your income or posessions – this is what Amway teaches – how to present yourself credibly regardless of how broke you are. That is business and it’s what all good salespeople do, in and out of Amway.
Additionally, the process is designed to turn-off people who are already satisfied with their life, and appeals to those who are hungry for bigger things than a J-O-B and piss-poor retirement plans that rely on illusive economic stability. It always starts with the big dream (financial freedom and working 20-hour weeks – within 2-5 years, depending on your capabilities), that appeals to almost everyone between 25-40. It would be foolhardy to start with the “network marketing” pitch, which would have been very ineffective even on me personally (and is not effective in general).
Let’s make it clear I’m appreciative they’re teaching me these things and that I did get lured in, because I am truly sick of the cutthroat pyramid that is corporate America, I’m sick of being a slave to that and having to kiss my boss’s ass and walk on people to get ahead (Amway is looking for people like me who are sick of that, not just anyone). Those of you who are talking smack about Amway are simply not seeing the big picture (God bless ya). I’ll have you know that the FTC (who goes around shutting down the actual pyramid schemes) uses Amway as their poster-child for a legal, sustainable multilevel marketing campaign. I’ll reiterate, pyramid schemes are illegal, multilevel marketing campaigns are legit (Mary Kay, Avon, etc. – not that they are all the same, Mary Kay reps in my opinion are hard-sellers).
Once you’ve been “lured”, you meet with them a second time (this time for an interview) with hopes of being introduced to millionaires. If they determine you’re a good fit for the organization, they open the door to their mentors (upline) which, believe it or not, are indeed millionaires and are now contacting me everyday and offering their mentorship, directly answering my questions, and even chit-chatting with and getting to know me and care about me and my success – I’ll get to meet them in person soon. They are the nicest most helpful rich people you will ever meet in your life.
Lastly, your mentor is NOT your boss. In this business, YOU are your boss. YOU decide exactly how to move forward and make decisions. Your mentor is there to serve you and show you the ropes, they help you set goals, motivate you, and support you – they MAKE time for you (unlike any BOSS I’ve ever had in my life). These mentors encourage you not only to succeed, but to surpass them. If anything, I’m THEIR boss!
This business is about positivity, humility, helping people actualize their dreams, and dramatically shifting peoples’ paradigms. I apologize on behalf of Amway for any of you who had anything less than a positive experience with a representative. Chances are, they were being too much of a hard-seller, were focusing on the exploitative (dark) side of sales rather than the purpose of Amway which is to help the right people realize and achieve their dreams.
I’ll end with this: people fear what they don’t understand. Most people are complacent in their 9-5 jobs. I wish them no ill-will and appreciate that they exist. If Amway was for everyone, then it would NOT be a successful business. It’s for those who are willing to put in 2-5 years of hard work and step WAY out of their comfort zone to acheive their dreams – which only about 2% of people or less. I hope this cleared some things up. Godspeed and prosperity to you all.
Bravo Paul! Best wishes on building a life of significance and fulfillment!
Paul, You are extraordinary and did an excellent job of explaining not just Amway, but network marketing as a whole. I get REALLY annoyed by people who paint network marketing companies as a scam, and say they ‘don’t work’. Yet they aren’t willing to put the time and effort and hard work in to be successful. Paul, I wish you mountains of success. You have a great head on your shoulders! Kudos!!
Yes paul. Yes. Tell em brother. The greatest people I met were with amway.
Lets do this !!!
Can you please contact me I need a mentor the one who brought me to learn about them has drop the bussness leaving me to have no one to turn to I need help start a bussness my name is priscilla my email is cameronprince2518@icloud.com or text me at1 (775) 815-0623 need some one who lives in Reno Nv
This comment is Awesome!! I’m a proud Amway IBO!
Good for you Dakota. How many people are you recruiting a week? And if you don’t recruit on a continuous basis, would you say you would find this business profitable?
How do you like this show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6MwGeOm8iI ?
YAAAAS!!!! WWDB has truly changed my life. Oh my God!!! I hope y’all could one day truly see and understand the bondage that America has truly purposely lured us in, and that Worldwide Dream Builders has created a way out creating a 2-5 year plan that has been tried and true over and over, and is happening more rapidly because there are people who actually gets it. And the hard work is not about sharing the opportunity that is available. The hard work is self. Changing the bad habits that has been imbedded in us for most Americans since day 1. Lazy, selfish, impatient, processed oriented vs result oriented, ungrateful, instant gratification vs delayed gratification, and so on.
Paul, ☺️ thank you so much for breaking it down. And if they don’t understand from what you shared, well I truly feel sorry for these people.
With Love and Peace
I actually work in an accounting department of one of the motivational companies and all my clients are on the up and up with what they are doing. Also none of you believe this but all of them are Christian and gift so much of their income to their churches and other organizations. I was shocked when I went to my interview that it was an Amway company. Guess what, they pay 100% of my health and dental insurance and put so much towards my 401k each month even though I’m only do $25. If you’re not hungry to succeed, then yes this industry is not for you. It’s not for me but I love guiding them with their tax planning. They are no different than you or me.
Ali, I don’t believe that your statement is true. Several WWDB diamonds got into financial trouble and their personal financials became public record when they went into bankruptcy. Not a cent was donated to charity. Rather, I saw credit card debt and unpaid taxes. The diamonds are greedy and will take your last dime if you allow them to.
I love your comment. This is great!
It really describes it so well. Different strokes for different folks!
See, that is devious. It sounds appealing to those who want something more out of life. Meanwhile, all of their peers have nothing but bad things to say about it. And the only ones who have anything good to say about it are people like you: those who are involved in it. You network marketers preach about how I should start building my own legacy rather than someone else’s when in reality, if I become a part of it I will STILL be building someone else’s legacy 🤷♂️
So Paul, it’s been 3 years. Now that you’ve put in all that hard work, have all your dreams come true? Did you reap the fruits of your labor? Are you one of the 2% or did you not step far enough out of your comfort zone to achieve success?
Paul is dead, crushed under the weight of giant pyramid scheme.
Okay, I’m my own BOSS and there are mentors (who are mill/billionaires) who motivate me on the path. Great. But, what is it that I build upon as a an IBO? On the face-creams and food-supplements of Amway? Or by recruiting/luring more and more members who are gonna do the same? What is the valuable business learning an Amway agent is gonna get once he thinks out of the Amway box?
Unfortunately people get involved in a cult, hopefully soon they will realize what is truly happening 🤞
“The amount of work you’re required to do for this company in order to “become rich” is ridiculous.” That is why you will never be successful in business. Just to much work.
Thats why you will never be successful at anything. because your a loser who thinks hard work is too hard. have fun at radio shack for the next 50 Gibson!
amen you have to be willing to put in the work most people wont. most of society lives in the 95% im not and refuse not to i now live in the 5%.
Really!?! How many hours are you forced to put in at work each week, or fear termination? 40??? 60??? 80??? Now that’s a lot of hard work for your boss, your owner! “Your owner: one who owns you.” Yet, you will NEVER get rich at your JOB in 40 years! Crazy! If You consistently put in half that time, in Your own business, you too can be successful. But you quit because it was too much for you.
Notice how none of the Amway folks return here to say “see, I followed by upline advice and now I’m a diamond”..
Instead they disappear, never to return.
All mlms are a professional scam, they got me for 10k, becarefull mlms are everywhere 🙂
if its the same as being employed why would you choose 40 years to retire vs 2-5 years to retire. Poor comparison i’d say.
thats the truth! build a pipeline for your water instead of carrying buckets all your life. because what truly matter is freedom and the life style, your family and building great relationships its not about the money yes its important but money comes with it so stop trading your time for money in you job or career – ca = pop, reer= but. and one more thing they believe in building people not using them like your job who micro manages you.
I’m sorry you had a negative experience, but do you honestly think that building wealth doesn’t take work!? To quote Einstein, “You can’t solve a problem with the same method of thinking that created it.” They discuss future meetings so both parties have time to build trust and demonstrate accountability. I am college educated with a degree in engineering and I’m grateful because I’ve learned how to do PROPER research over the years and by just following the plan, my income has grown substantially and is right where it should be for the effort I put in. I’ve also read the ENTIRE 121 page legal documentation for FTC vs. Amway Corp dated May 8th, 1979 and this document declares the Amway Sales and Marketing plan to be a legitimate business. I decided to trust in those who had fruit on the tree. To make a souffle you must follow the recipe for the souffle, regardless of how tedious it may be. If you follow it, you’ll get a souffle. Most people want the prize, but they just refuse to pay the price.
Thomas Paine wrote, “That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly.” Anything worth anything in life takes time and patience to build. This great country wasn’t built overnight and neither will wealth be built without hard work, but that’s the point. Work hard now, and buy back the rest of your life. If building wealth didn’t take work and effort, then more people would be wealthy.
All the numbers add up and the hardest thing for anyone to do is get out of their own way.
The numbers do not add up. See for yourself https://imgur.com/viahV1B
Yes, it is a legal, “legitimate” business. That doesn’t mean that their practices are not predatory and doesn’t negate the fact that the VAST majority of people will not earn meaningful money from participating. Some MLM / network marketing places have income disclosure statements. Here is one for Young Living https://i.redd.it/cf4srhv26vd11.jpg Amway’s won’t be much different. You will see that the real earners are typically less that 1% of the company.
Most people will hand wave this away with references to “hard work” or lack thereof. “If it was easy, EVERYONE would do it!”, “what, are you afraid to roll your sleeves up?”, bla bla bla. That’s all well and good until you realize over 95% of the people in the program aren’t even making minimum wage across the year after business expenses.
“I decided to trust in those who had fruit on the tree.” They have fruit on the tree not because of their technique but because of the pyramid. It’s like the guy who is only successful because he sold a 100k copies of his book on how to be successful. The only thing there is to learn from this is if you want to be a real earner you have to start your own pyramid
Unless you have a following of 50k+ people on Instagram that you can constantly get new recruits from, you’re going to be hounding people at coffee shops and malls, cold calling them to join your downline after you’ve exhausted your list of friends and family.
oh my lord you guys really have no idea what world wide is about Amway has nothing to do with world wide, world wide is a leadership organization and no they are not your boss have you ever looked up the definition of a mentor because its about helping others succeed before you. and if you really look into what they offer its pretty amazing. all they tools you say cost so much really don’t compared to any other organization for example they offer life coaching, marriage consoling, etc. if you look at the prices of other life coaches its ridiculous how much they coast and success audios. major functions are only about $150 in world wide if you look up a weekend to see any other successful seminars they are about $2,000 and if you really think the work is “so hard” you obviously don’t really and truly want great success because it isn’t given it requires very hard work.
If you didnt have to pay for motivational things or the communikate app even if this was a yearly subscription not a monthly one i can see it, but buying into the crap they are telling you is just flat out dumb. You are paying MONTHLY for crap. If they really wanted to help you it would be free, basically you are still stuck in a job because you are working for the ceo’s
You are so right this blog is so sad. I would love to see all of you negative people get to where your going by doing your mundane task of being an employee. An if you are making way for yourself your overhead is way more that the one they offer for you for the price of a pare of shoes.
They do not charge you for their time. They ask that you support the system that helps you grow. I hope all of you do your research for yourself.
The group checks out on FTC and BBB.
An John Maxwell himself endorses this leadership organization.
this hole blog is sad.
You must be one of those people who tried amway before and didn’t have a dream big enough to get you to succeed in the business
If you didnt have to pay for motivational things or the communikate app even if this was a yearly subscription not a monthly one i can see it, but buying into the crap they are telling you is just flat out dumb. You are paying MONTHLY for crap. If they really wanted to help you it would be free, basically you are still stuck in a job because you are working for the ceo’s.
It’s WAY better than going deeper in debt by getting a loan to start a business blindly on your own, unless you going to go deeper in debt to hire a mentor who has the life that you want unless you already know someone who (cause it’s who you know, and I didn’t know of any young retirees or millionaires who has the healthy friendships and marriages who has the life that I want) who has the life you want and will teach you and show you for free how to be free.
I hope and pray that you will wake up and see and know Truth before it’s to late. I mean it was truly a blessing that someone must had saw something good in you in order to present this opportunity to you. Because not anyone nor everyone qualify. It’s only for the selected few. So I advise you to take a second, third look. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. This is true feeedom.
Peace and Love
“The amount of work you’re required to do for this company in order to “become rich” is ridiculous.”
Show me a way to make money at a high level that doesn’t require it.
I completely agree with you Mike. This article is totally spot on… I recently encountered a new version of this ‘mentorship’ type MLS program that was religious based. Ie You become prosperous so that you can give back to others. Based on Kiyosaki’s book. It totally misled some fellow church members of ours. And is literally a cult. It was completely deceptive and could smell it a mile away. As soon as people start asking you a bunch of personal questions, Red Flag. Its formulating their sales pitch. Knowing this, I had my fun with them trying to out them during the conversation despite their covert deception. The sad part is that they preyed on weak members of our congregation and convinced them that this is how God wants them to make money – so that they can then mentor others. Completely ridiculous.
A) You don’t earn someones trust so that they can introduce you to their mentor. Unless their mentor happens to be bill gates.
B) With real mentorship, the mentee finds the mentor; not the other way around. If someone is desperate to be your mentor, red flag. The arrogance. If mentors are good, mentees find them. So don’t drive up to Starbucks in your Honda civic and tell me you’re going to mentor me on how to be rich or ‘prosperous’. You’re a liar and a deceiver up to no good.
I grew up in church. I’m a Pastors kid. And I know the Word of God. I truly have a relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. And I have never seen a debt free full time family member, spouse, parent, friend, Servant, who has the time to spend more time with Father God and Lord our Savior Jesus Christ then working to pay off debt living paycheck to paycheck.Christians (and I don’t even like to identify myself as a Christian because we truly do a terrible rep of our Savior to the world) marriages are just as bad as the unbelievers if not worse. The divorce rate is sky rocketing. We finance food, clothes, Christmas gifts, Halloween costumes, etc. living beyond our means when Father tells us not to borrow because now many of us are slaves to the lender. Having to work the rest of our lives paying them back. WWDB TEACHES AND PRACTICES EVERY WORD IF THE FATHER THAT PROCEEDS FROM HIS MOUTH. The relationships are so real. We’re like truly spiritual siblings practicing brotherly and sister Love.
There is so much division , even racism, among us in the church. And it’s why the unbelievers are not attracted to Jesus. Because if we were truly living according to the teachings of Christ in all five areas of our lives, people would be running to the Church, crowding, climbing the roof, lowering the sick to get to the people of God, the same way they did Jesus and the disciples. The Church is lost. And we need to repent, seek our Fathers face, and turn from our wicked wsys. Because the world needs Him more then ever. And He is not returning until His remnant is ready.
So I pray, who ever you are, that the eyes of your heart will open to see what is really going on. I have been praying for the remnant for a very long time. Because I want the world to see- especially America, Who our Father the Great I AM – Who God is. Cause the unbelievers truly believe that we are all alone without a hero – without a Savior. When we know Who He is, but because of our selfish and lazy instant gratification ungrateful what’s, they can’t see Him. The only way the unbelievers will know is by our Love for Him and for each other.
I Love you. And I hope you see and hear God’s Heart within mines, in this message.
Blessings,
Peace and Love
People need to stay away from mlms 🙂,there are a professional scam
This article is crazy amazing. I cannot believe that this was written LAST year. This happened to me THIS year. I was approached by a young couple who just wouldn’t tell me what the hell it is that they’re trying to “offer” me & gave me a book by ROBERT KIYOSAKI called The business of the 21st Century. They also gave me a book to read called the go-giver. They kept on saying and repeating words like Mentorship, Building your own assets, saying how they had connections to wealthy people, how they can mentor people into becoming financially independent in 5 years, and basically stated sugar coated fantasies like “I too, used to work at chipotle for 9 bucks an hour and all that changed when I met ____ he became my mentor and taught me everything I needed to know about life and business.” & guess where I met them 3 different times? AT STARBUCKS. Whoever wrote this article, damn its like you were actually there. So finally they mention the word AMWAY 4 hours into a meeting I was in with 8 people, and that’s when I knew I had been wasting my time. Because I had another shit encounter with AMway in the past, when a friend of mine had been sucked into it and had completely changed. Ugh. People are disgusting.
Hello Ash,
hehe, glad you liked it! 🙂
Well, I met like 5 of them. They all acted the same…so I kind of got fed up and also managed to analyze and understand their strategies.
Believe me, if I kept running into them, beyond the 5th recruiter I would have written a sequel and part II to this article!
Tell me, did they also flatter you?
And, which state and/or city did you run into them?
HMM this is very interesting.. Lallouslab- do you still work 9-5? and do u intend to until 65? so.. 2-5 years is a problem but slaving 2-5 in school wasnt? with no pay back or job gaurantee
? Kissing your bosses behind and needing to ask permission to leave to attend to your sick mother is better than busting you hatch to get somewhere in life and never look back.. Im sorry you had a bad experience and couldnt see the big picture. 98% of the world doesnt. Now dont get me wrong, not everyone in amway or wwdb know what they are doing , but the ones who are dedicated and follow a system , breaking their comfort zones, they actually succeed.
Well if you keep running into them that’s gods way of telling you that maybe you should go ahead and do it
Your experience was just that, an experience. Check out BBB for truly researched report on the Amway business. People who actually know how to utilize the opportunity succeed and can mentor you to create wealth, if they felt it would make sense to put THEIR time and money into helping YOU to understand it.
Wow, ash. Your comment nearly had me in tears. The GALL these people have to expect you to care about learning from better off people than your friends, reading a book to learn about business, or FORCE you to believe that just because you’re ‘in business’ means you become successful. Stay at your job, you’ll be safe there…they’ll say.
you make no sense why would you take advice form your friend if hes not a millionaire and doesn’t have the answers i’m not saying diss your friend but why look up to someone who is going to settle for mediocrity for the rest of their life. that’s like asking a non brain surgeon how to operator on a brain.
Oh my goodness, this happened to me just this last week, I just came home from my first meeting with them(at a Starbucks:) And it is pretty much exactly as they described. This article is awesome and desrves a lot more attention!
I love this organization! I love how it promotes loving on people and personal growth! There are two types of mindsets, idle and growing, we promote growth. Don’t knock it till you give it 100% love you all, God bless!
I had a negative experience with a blogger on the internet once, does that mean ALL bloggers are no good? You’ll have to choose between the two pains in life: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret. I encourage you to choose wisely.
Yeah when I get approached by young Christian couples I generally just assume they are swingers or selling Amway.
Thank you so much, Lallou, for these 2 amazing articles on WWDB/Amway. Spot on! I had a similar experience in CA. They do use a lot of flattery, mixing friendship with ‘business’, playing on your dreams and emotions especially family and children, putting down jobs and people who chose not to go into this ‘business’, vagueness, bait and switch, giving a sense of exclusivity of the club (‘if they like you they might make you an offer’), and they absolutely have to have to get a commitment from you for next time before they let you go. Painful experience but no losses, thanks to you and other warning sites. So sad that this is going on in the world :'(
Thank you for your comments. I am sorry you got caught in your scam!
Would you be kind enough/have some time later on to share the story with me in private (through the Contact me page) or in another comment in this article?
I have a few more stories about the recruiters and my negative experience with them that I have not written yet as well.
Another way to tell if a couple are Amway recruiters is that they always appear in pairs and let the same-gendered person within that pair talk to you (a male talks with a male prospect and a female talks with a female prospect). This is because strangers are more prone to talk with other strangers if they are same-gendered. A female prospect might think a male Amway recruiter is trying to ask for a date for example.
Every Line of this article is result of a true experience. I have gone through all this shit and then quit it until it was too late. This is a true fact. All sponsors go through exactly same steps for luring newbie.
Very true. I still have one of them in my skype and also investigated that another one came to my office when I was a normal job recruiter. That one probably was not looking for a job, but he wanted ATS access to phone numbers. I don’t say that Amway is bad, but the way recruiters works actually is scam by classification.
How exactly does getting phone numbers as sales leads classify this as a scam? I’ll remind you that wallstreet brokers, hot tub salesmen, and even bankers all use these sales leads collecting methods to build their customer base. Lastly, there are goofy people in all different types of businesses. Do you attribute all blame to McDonalds or WalMart when you have a bad experience with one of their employees? I defend Amway Global and WWDB because they actually liberate people financially and teach them how to rediscover their power and unlock their potential, ultimately fulfilling their destiny. Sure, there are some goof balls. Life is full of them. You cannot know the power of this opportunity until you go to an Amway event and see for yourself. You’re just hating on something you know little about.
thank you thank you thank you Paul most people wont except the truth then again we do live in a entitled, small minded, and narcissistic society.
Ahh the uneducated response to an opportunity to create success in your life. Anybody who starts their own business utilizing the Amway corporation has a satisfaction of a reliable supply company to contract with. If you truly evaluate the opportunity, it is sound. The experience is with a specific person or couple and can’t be mixed up with the opportunity. The amount of time and energy put into 40+ years of your life’s commitment to your boss’s company is really just improving their portfolio. If you were to truly evaluate the opportunity with a conscience mind, there is no waste. The time it would really take to create success in your life would add up to approximately 1 full year of regular 40 hrs a week, to create an ongoing income in your life. Yet here is another prime example of how a person not willing to go out and put effort for their family’s future will try to derail as many people as possible because it exposes them for lacking courage. Fully educated people of this opportunity understand that it would take hard work, commitment & support to do something for themselves; and aren’t afraid of a challenge. Nobody is your boss, except yourself, and for an employment mentality person that’s the bad thing, because it means nobody is going to be hanging a paycheque in front of your face to do what you need to for your company to grow. Take some time to fully understand what may potentially be in your hands and you’d be surprised.
You’ll never argue with a rich person about money, and you’ll always find poor people who will tell you how you can’t make it.
This article is 100% accurate; first off, I’m already successful with a developing business making six figures (low six figures) but six figures none the less. I’m also months away from obtaining my Master’s degree as well as prior military. The problem I had is that he kept trying to sell me a dream when I’m already living one and doing what I love. Boasting about luxury trips and items comes off as bragging or showing off, he must have assumed I could not afford to buy these items or trips already. I even gave him my game plan to continue succeeding and he downplayed it and made it seem as if it was small potato’s (Mad Disrespectful). I also referred to myself as a boss and he told me “I’m not a boss but a winner”. Why not? I run my own small business. MLM pitches may work for people who don’t have a plan, skill set, or income they want, but I have a plan, skill set and my income is continuously growing. They’re selling dreams to people who don’t want to work hard, develop a skill set or read to develop their knowledge, stop it with the short cuts and develop it the right way. Research investing, saving, and education; stick with it and you’ll be successful.
Thanks Dontae. That’s what I am talking about.
The Amway people seem to think it is either “Amway or the highway”. They are trained to think alike and they lose individual identity.
Besides, all those defenders of Amway or those susceptible to follow Amway / recruiter others don’t know any better. So in the end, what is meant to happen will happen.
People with jobs are on the highway though no?
Hi! lallouslab
I wanted to send a question your way, I’ve noticed this article was written 2 years ago but has received a lot of traction in the past year. I wanted to address some things you mentioned in your article to ask you how they are misleading?
1. Amway is partnered with Starbucks, so that is why you see many Business owners in those locations, they are also partnered with many other top blue chip corporations including the most exclusive company in the world at least at the time of writing this, Apple. For those of you who question the legality of this opportunity, then I ask if you truly feel you have done more research then billion dollar companies legal divisions.
-Amway can be built without worldwide, as you can log onto Amway right now and sign up, you will be given a random sponsor who most likely will teach you to sell product, and that’s it.
2. This was going to be the punch line for point 1 but I realized this covered 2 as well, Worldwide is a training program and gives you leading books that match the industry you are trying to master to create your success in and this is the difference, the “addition to” and truly the value.
-Books on how to have people skills which is quickly becoming a lost art amongst the younger generation who know how to text but can’t seem to look people in the eye or remember a phone number much less a name without it being saved in their phone.
-Books on how to build a network marketing business, that’s right, the first book we give you talks about how this is in the field of network marketing.
3/4. Can I ask you if you woke up in your apparent worst nightmare, and your living was tied up in Amway (humor me) what would you say to present what you are doing?
-I’m excited to hear what you have to say, judging by most of the replies on this port you might not even read this, or type “that would never happen…so”
-Well that is where coaching comes in, someone that works at their first job, that is fresh out of high school that has no experience CAN build this, I’ve seen plenty of people retiring at the age of 22. What other opportunity in the world can do that?
-That being said, I want to say this, what I have come to believe is that you have to talk to people that are looking, anyone that has conveyed a message to you should of realized that you are not looking for an opportunity, and i have no idea why you received an offer. THEY probably were trying to build their company by just hip chucking people in, which is the same as throwing mud on a wall and seeing what sticks.
-If people continue this it means 2 things,
1, they are building it blindly, with no help from a mentor, or are ignoring their mentor.
2. this is only sustainable by doing this all the time, and is thus fully NOT STABLE int eh long run. Which is a poor representation of the message that should be conveyed
-I’m sure its obvious by now I’m an IBO, you want to know what my approach is?
“I met some successful families that have taught me how to build the Amway business, and are looking for key people to work with, if you are serious, let me grab your number”
Where am I misleading someone?
5. We’re looking for god hardworking people, with good character. if we miss represented you when pointing this out, please tell us, we don’t want to waste our time. and the up to $10,000 (Though all funded from your business account, which should be profits from your savings/earnings) it takes per person you sponsor in pouring into them and helping them with training or even just life stuff. It’s called building a friendship, and my coaches have cared about me way more then any classmate or co-worker I’ve called a friend. Why? having a financially vested interest in my success tends to make someone really want to make sure the advice they give you is actually worthwhile.
6. All business is built by appointment, if it isn’t then you aren’t taking it seriously.
7. Well that at least shows the people that tried to speak to you, aren’t quitters. that’s good to hear.
Hard work is what builds this company, putting in consistent effort for 5 years, you will replace your job income and your time becomes spent just helping your team, which usually is just answering a few voicemail’s, and visiting your teams home and helping them build their team. These people become your best friends, and you go on trips all over the world, you bring families together and fix the power of the home. Both parents raising their kids or whatever that looks like, together full time. That is so amazing, and you cannot convince me that changing lives like that isn’t worth the hard work.
Thanks for your explanation. This “business” is what it is. I don’t have any issues with that. I have issues with the approach, the mystery, the wasting of time, being dishonest and after reading more about “this business” I have seen many people who lost their friends “because they are not dreamers”, lost their families (marriage broken), lost a lot of money, all because of a dream that was told in the form of “bait and switch” to unsuspecting people.
You think if the recruiters (all of them, around 4 people approached me), were honest and upfront and did not waste my time and told me what the business what, I would have written the article? No.
If they answered me when I asked them “So what’s this business?” and they told me “we resell for Amway and we sell motivation tapes and learning material”, I would have said: “No thanks” and then moved on. That simple.
But no, they wasted my time, gave me vague books (business of the 21st century), kept asking to meet me, kept selling me dreams, etc.
I am tempted to close the comment section from now on because I am done explaining myself.
Look on the internet and you will find countless people with similar experiences. Go blame them and leave me alone.
It is not just about you though. That is the point. I am sorry you had negative experiences but plain and simple it was the person you met. The Amway business is not about the person building. It is about what it can do for others. You love your job? GREAT!! Then I am sure you are good at it and happy in your life. But the Amway business is willable. That means what you build can be passed on for three generations (or more if each one kept building). Can you say the same for your job? And again…even if you love your job, depending on the stage of life you are at, your values can change. You could have a sick family member. You yourself could be injured and need to be off work for a long time. The same thing could happen to someone you care about. There could be causes that you would like to give more generously to. Trips you would like to take. People you want more time with. I hope your job provides you with these things, or whatever else it is that you want. Mine sure didn’t, and I was a registered nurse. It left me limited in what I could do and I had no control of my time. I do now. I am sorry that there was a negative experience for you. That it sounds like someone played to your emotions and was insincere. I think that is cruel and manipulative and clearly did not work out for them either. I cannot speak for how those people were trying to build their business, maybe they just felt very desperate, but I can speak for mine. There are some of us who are building with integrity and good character. Where it isn’t just about the money. I have invested hours and hours into building true friendships with the people on my team, and work very hard to help them succeed. They matter to me as people. I believe that is how it should be and it makes me just as mad as you when I hear about people doing sketchy things and getting us all lumped into the same box. Amway is a great company, you just have to understand they are only a supplier. The interaction you have is from the person themselves, and I can see from your story, that the person was seriously lacking. I am thankful my experience was different.
This blog is something else. I’m not taking sides but it seems that … 1 … the fact that the vast majority of people are either more likely to be comfortable than take a risk or would rather work hard at a 9-5 and retire into social security (or in some cases both) is why there’s so many negative things being said about Amway.
let’s face it, the article is correct in how they approach people, but some people are looking for something totally different than corporate America or working at Best Buy. If those people want to work 10x’s harder and try and build business than what’s the harm to the rest of the people that don’t believe in MLM. And of course the top people make the most money, they’ve been doing it forever so they should make the most. It’s a business and everyone starting should have to work their way up.
Do you know how much it cost to start and own a Subway or any basic business for that matter? If you’re in a MLM like Amway and you do lose a few thousand in the first 2 years big deal! If you stick with it and build you will turn the corner and being down a couple thousand in two years is nothing compared to being in debt 50-100K for starting a traditional business.
I’m not an Amway member but I wouldn’t rule it out if I am ok with the concept of knowing I may go down before going up; nothing different than a night at a casino.
My closing thoughts and advice, if you want to pursue a MLM than do your research and be realistic about it. You won’t make the money they claim as fast as they claim you will make it. But the thought of making what I currently make it 5 or even 7 years and being able to quit my job and work that one in less hours is something worth contemplating. DOn’t buy more product (CD’s and books) than you can afford in the early years and if your sponsor can’t respect that you have the wrong sponsor. Put it in God’s hands and do what you (NOT OTHERS) think is best!
The person who brought me to know the bussness has drop out I need a new mentor to help me start a bussness I need some one from Reno nv please help if you can my name is Priscilla my email is cameronprince2518@icloud.com or text me at1 (775) 815-0623 thank you
If you like giving your valuable time to a company that actually is a pyramid then you are ok with a Job(pyramid = all money flows up) sound firmilar? You will never make as much as the CEO but yet that’s not a pyramid?? If you are looking for more time with your family then find that vehicle that works for you not the other way around. WWDB is not about pushing product it’s about developing leaders and then duplication. It’s that simple. Look up Ponzi scheme to learn about what a illegal pyramid scheme are. If you want to be a better person, a better husband, a better father and a better servant to humanity WWDB is that opportunity!
Thankfully I just stumbled upon this article that is certainly true…… I met a couple, they took me and my wife through a ‘qualification process’ that started in a coffee shop… we decided to believe…… and 3 years (not months- for all those who can’t handle delayed gratification), my wife retired from her job as an accountant and I will step away from my corporate job next year. Trust me when I tell you nobody on our team says we scammed them, in fact we have built
Incredible relationships. Why? Because we didn’t listen to sites like this and chose to do real research….. because we trusted ourselves over people we had never met like those on this site.
Cheers, we wish you all the best!!!
Good stuff.
It looks like a scam!
Wake up at 6am- get a cup of coffee at Starbucks- complain-go back in ur car (paid on time), go into a cubic for 8-12 hours- get back in ur car- go to Starbucks- complain-get a cup of coffee- go home – eat food- watch tv- play games on the tv- have a 3 pack of beer- brush ur teeth- look in the mirror and say,” I am so excited about about my next 50 freaking years in that cubic”. THAT IS A SCAM! Some sold you the goods.
Here is another scam, they learned to say, “I love my job because it fulfills me.”
My Question is this, would you do it for free?
If you lost your job would you do it for free?
Here is another thing job people try to sell there scam to other people, that is to have a job for 50 years with no hope.
They try to steal your dreams, your family, your life.
Be careful when you have dream, to not talk to a job person they will lie to you.
If I had a dollar for every complaint from job people I would be a multimillionaire today, actually 5 years ago.
Job people do not want u to think for yourself.
It sounds like they are trying to create a dictatorship!
I am 50 year old, my own business… I have never seen so negative people against ownership. Go to Russia, I guarantee u will come back to the USA.
Negative people do NOTHING!!!!
Go home boy!. get your beer… and go to your cubic Son!
Be a good boy, iam proud of you! Did I do right!🖕
Hey Gee, you are no different from all the others who say the same thing. You are not taking my article for what it is worth. I have been into so many business opportunities non of them are like this one: dishonest, hiding, inflating truth, sneaking and ridiculing other businesses.
You, Amway and WWDB people, see things in black and white: if it is not WWDB/Amway then it is not good.
You meet classical people who perhaps fit the description you are saying: they are taught they love their jobs, they complain, they stay until their retirement in their jobs, etc…I even do not agree with such a mindset.
People can be smarter and plan their retirement / making their own business without falling into a pyramid scheme.
I know many business owners who never participated in the Amway/WWDB scheme and are successful. You praise Amway/WWDB as “the way” to becoming “not a slave”.
When I meet honest and upfront WWDB/Amway recruiters then rest assured, you and the other Amway/WWDB commentators over here, that I will write an article praising their long lost honesty.
I challenge you to read all the 7 points I mentioned and prove me wrong and prove me that this is not what they do.
Before concluding: I may do some things for free, like sharing information on my blog or giving my time to others who seek help. Amway/WWDB recruiters as you know deep inside, do NOTHING for free. They will recruit you so they get a cut of the profit and tools selling.
Until that day comes, I will keep sharing my uniform experience with various recruiters.
Gee, just to reply to your last judgmental part which is not based on observations, facts and experiences of others:
[quote]
I am 50 year old, my own business… I have never seen so negative people against ownership. Go to Russia, I guarantee u will come back to the USA.
Negative people do NOTHING!!!!
Go home boy!. get your beer… and go to your cubic Son!
Be a good boy, iam proud of you! Did I do right!🖕
[/quote]
I am 35 and I am very accomplished. I have a job and my own business. I have accomplished more than you could have ever dreamed of when you were 35. Am I claiming? Read about me and find out for yourself.
Life is not “Amway or the highway” okay? Stop defending dishonest people. Why dishonest I say? Read the article and the comments of all those who share the same experience.
Again, when the recruiters are upfront and honest, I would consider writing another article…
Having said that, I am going to write another article on the topic just to shake up the blind Amway/WWDB defenders and perhaps save a poor soul from falling into their clutches.
It’s either a sunk cost fallacy, or confirmation bias, which leads these people to come in and comment on the wonders of MLM (probably the same person). It’s funny, when you’re recruiter shows up to recruit you in a junker, and talks to me about retiring in 5 years. If all of these MLM people were retiring that quickly, then there would be nobody left to recruit.
Hey lallouslab, just a quick FYI. I respect your opinion and although what your sharing with regard to your 7 points is a skewed view, it can certainly be percieved as accurate. However you do yourself a disservice by saying “pyramid scheme” and not understanding the compensation plan that Alticor utilizes. Your blog would have much more weight if you researched and wrote about that. Good luck!
In the article I did not mention the word “Pyramid” not even one time! Perhaps you read that in the comments?
Gee, Gee, you sound pretty negative here.
Wow, I’ve been recruited by AMBOTS all my life when I was in my early teens and then early 20’s I checked it out., mostly at bookstores and coffee shops where they prey on people while they read all the educational Self help books their upline tells them to go out and buy. From my experience, the only people making money are the people who author the books they buy….and AMWAY corporate charging hundreds of dollars for their conferences and also $60 plus bucks a pop everytime they have a local 1 day thing. I am sooo in love with my Girl but she grew up not believing in herself (perfect target for amway) she’s now in her late 30’s and all of a sudden she started asking me questions about how id feel about certain companies…she was fishing. surely her soon to be upline told her to do this. But wait, there is more…it lead to me suspecting she was talking about Amway and I told her my true opinion…the one i list above. Well low and behold all was fine when she said but its not AMWAY its World Wide Dream Builders! I was suspect and when she started to go out late and “Coach” people all over town…then came the books and the “product” she said they “help” people and dont focus on selling a product….then all of a sudden came the little white bottles of everything from shampoo to face wash…then the little bottles of water etc (look way down in the corner of all packaging and what do you know….AMWAY logo). Next thing you know, they are telling her that she needs to be with a partner that supports her which i do…but theres more…the partner must support her in this “business” or she wont be successful. Here we go. Anyway I support her best I can without ever mentioning her “project” and I really really pray she is successful in this because I cant stand to see her hurt. But what I fear most is that she will separate from me, later fail and be without both me and her “WWDB” dream. But by them…it will be too late for both. Finally they go so far to seperate themselves from the rest of the world as to hold religious ceremonies or “felowship” at all of their meetings and conferences…I’ve got nothing against a religion I go to church myself….but not in my office building and it isn’t mandatory. All I can say is that being with someone that is in this company is like being with someone addicted to crack…i’ve actually know someone addicted to crack but not dated and yes….its really like that. If your relationship is new and the person gets involved with WWDB either get the out quick or you get out of the relationship quick you will be hurt. Its too late for me, I love her…you all SAVE YOURSELVES!
If you truly love her, then you’ll support her in whatever she does. You sound like you have some very wrong and misinformed information about the American way corporation. It is not a door-to-door soap company like it was 50 years ago. People are actually growing and finding direction in their life with what Amway and Worldwide have done. They teach to love on others and uplift people, how in the world can that ever be wrong? This is not a recruiting business, this is a opportunity to lead and build something of your own and leave a legacy. When I am talking to people in the community I am just looking for future leaders. Not everybody is cut out for this opportunity and you shouldn’t shut anybody down that may be a future winner. When people look up Amway or worldwide on the Internet look at the real sources like FTC or better business bureau, not forums like this 🙂 Just love her man, love her, that’s what God wants.
@WWGfan: I understand where @anon comes from. I have witness the programming he’s talking about first hand. Imagine for instance putting a sticker in your bathroom mirror saying: “Marry a dreamer” . Imagine the programming and “racism”. If her partner is not a “dreamer” she is encouraged to leave him for another. A couple doing WWDB is better to maintain than lone wolves.
I happen to be in agreement on this. Ones relationship should not end due to your partners distain for the others activities. In all relationships there is yes and no, and um hell no. Being told by someone else that they don’t support you is unmoral, and the reality is all they want is one more person to sign up and charge monthly fees for. More product samples, more seminars, more fees. I want to hear from someone who started right from the bottom, the very bottom, no income bottom and tell me if they have retired within those quote un quote 2-5years. In short I hope your girl hasn’t left you, all you’ve done is look out for her best interest and that’s putting her before yourself.
I “retired” debt free in year six.
I’m going thru the same thing, my fiancé was approached at her job, and now she meeting with these people every other day.
The Amway drones are taught to avoid negative people so if you don’t buy into Amway like they do, they move on. They only feign interest when they think they they can rope you into becoming one of their down line. Amway doesn’t work because the products are not priced competitively enough to make them attractive to real customers. Thus the majority of sales are IBO’s self consuming their own products.
And because people aren’t making money, retaining IBO’s is a huge problem. What many people do not see is that Amway is just a front for the diamonds to operate their scam legally. Amway provides the product which gives the diamonds legal cover for their tools and functions business, where the real money is made. For that reason, many of these diamonds also run a motivation or life coaching business. Significant money is made here because the products have a higher margin than Amway products and only higher pins get a cut of the tool and function profits. Rank and file IBO’s simply contribute to this lucrative business for the diamonds.
Hi I have a question. I met with someone who said the mentoring is Christian based and that they don’t charge. In fact she told me it’s pay it forward. Could this be a similar thing?
Beth, the same thing happened to me recently. Wolf in sheeps clothing. Everything they did, say and even they way the acted aligns with this to the T. I want them as far away as possible from me, I don’t care if we go to the same church.
“Lured” like a spider spider in a web you can’t escape from? Ridiculous, you get info and make whatever decision is right by you. I allowed the fear of poison written by people justifying their fear to prevent me from investigating an opportunity once. Thank god that for me and THOUSANDS of others who had the guts to think for themselves a second chance came along for me to study properly (not on the bathroom walls of blogsphere.) Trust yourself to learn fursthand, the results if you are a hard worker are worth eye to eye research. If not, it’s your life goals on the line…no one else is paying your bills. Think outside the box, those in the box are drowning sadly in this economy.
Lured like a spider spider? Very funny 🙂 Well, I explain exactly the usage and the whys of “lured” in my article. Most people would agree on the choice of words based on what happened and my experience.
It’s crazy how convoluted and paranoid this explaination is. EVERY business in the world starts with recruitment. These people invest their time and energy into random people to find out if they’re “looking”. As in, are you okay with working 40+ hours a week 50 weeks a year away from your family for the next 40-50 years of your life OR do you want build yourself an asset where you could potentially change the outcome of the next few years. There is nothing wrong with that. People who want to develop into better versions of themselves? Have better people skillls? Understand how to positively build and Influence organizations? People are going to and have been doing that anyways. Why would anyone have a problem with them being trained under mentors who dedicate their lives to this. This article has nothing to do with WWDB or Amway. This is obviously a guy who’s had a bad experience with a PERSON. Spread the hate online all you want. Highly respect leaders support WWDB and quite frankly- it’s just going to keep growing all over the world not just in the states. There’s literally no argument against what they do other than people are paranoid over a business they don’t understand. And no. The charts on this site are definitely not accurate. Anyone with any real logic can see how rediculously biased this whole thing is. And take it from a skeptic. This whole website is a paranoids guide to being someone’s bitch (your boss) 9 to 5, 365, for life. But apparently that’s not a scam.
Hey Paul,
I’m interested in this business and am trying to get some respective and it be awesome if you could shed some light. You mentions that you started in the business about a year ago. From your progress threw the all mentoring how would you reflect on the the business? In others surfs when thinking in retrospect from when you start to where you hoped to get to compared to currently where you are at now and how your expectation contacted to yours progress in this business?
“Paul
April 20, 2016 at 9:44 am
I want to clear up some malperceptions about Amway – only two weeks ago I joined the organization…”
Hey Joel I’ve been in business for 3 years and I’ve found the relationships you build in the industry to be pretty life changing. It isn’t the business model that changes people, it is the relationships. Every platinum-ship, has a different way of doing things and you need to work with people you trust. My wife and I never put pressure on people to join and we’ve made a pretty good side income with it. There’s more I could say but I’ll just say it works, it’s legit, but it takes time and effort. 🙂
Wow this is the worst article I have ever read you know nothing about true opportunity and non the less I don’t know anyone like a Mark Cuban, or Warren Buffet or anyone who is wealthy that would have the willingness to teach you how to achieve that type of like style Amway is on of the greatest success story’s in America and well respected this blog should be band with all the false information on it.
Pops so sorry Mark Cuban is pretty anti MLM Zealot hehehehehehee
Also MLM intellectual reduction is process……….band instead of banned
Every thing mentioned in the article is true. My brother and sister-in-law got sucked into this scam. It’s ironic that all these commenter defending the scamWay and how bloody fantastic it is, but in reality most of them have not made any money doing it. Average IBO made $115 in 2011 and only 0.26 % of IBOs made more then 40k, I highly that things changed since.
World wide group doesn’t recruit…. they qualify people and obviously you weren’t qualified!! If you’re offended by this post… then you know you weren’t qualified and if you’re offended about that, then you should change!
This is exactly what happend to me. An old friend from highscool randomally texts me adter years of no contact. She says she has an opporunity for me after saying how much she missed our friendship and how she always talks to her boyfriend about me. ( yea right). Me, being naive said i would like to hear about it and she set up a phone interview. We talked and she never really answered any of my questions. She told me they expand business projects with different companies. Just like how safeway has a club card. I still had no idea what she was getting at. I asked her what their company name is and she said duskin development. She then said her friend josh would like to speak to me and his time is very valuable and she knows im such a good person. We just got off the phone interview and my questions are still unanswered. He told me would i rather sit at a desk and work for the rest of my life or make a residual income. He said there are no dream jobs and peoole have passions but it turns into work.. STILL NO ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS! I specifically asked him so many times what would i be doing? NO ANSWER. He wants to meet at starbucks and i thought of bringing my boyfriend because my boyfriend will ask him so many questions and i feel like ill get a good laugh 😂 I get that people need to work hard to have an actual business that makes good money but these people just need to be upfront and honest instead of avoiding questions.
I just ruined a recruiter’s interview with someone. He said he worked for Duskin International from Seattle. He pretended not to know what a pyramid scheme or multilevel marketing company was. He looked terrified. This was in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Hmm. Well if you were someone who we should listen to you’d end this with something like: “bottom line its a scam, but if you do what I tell you and listen to me and work hard I’ll show you how to become a multi millionaire and live in the top tenth 1% income bracket in america. The only thing separating you from me is time, valiant effort, and an unwavering resolve.”
Also unlike illegal pyramids/jobs this business gives you the opportunity to pass up your sponsor (and even you sponsor’s sponsor!) and make more money than them, the way this works is no different from companies such as McDonald’s, Whole Foods, and Starbucks who have duplicated and the franchise owner takes only a small portion (lets say 3%) from each one. Hell, Tu-Pac, Elivs, and Mac Dre duplicated music and are making money in the afterlife (we being outworked by dead people!) I’ve seen the plan enough to know that you still have a misunderstanding of it, took me 5 viewings to get it and fully wrap my head around it. In fact, one of my buisness partners makes way more money than his sponsor who brought him onboard and their coach because of the hard work he put into building his business and helping others build theirs. Another one of my business partners is making a crapload more money than his sponsor who quit (thank God cus that man was teaching some wonky things from what I heard)
Also, if amway were an illegal pyramid, why did Office Depot, Apple, The Gap, Saks, Guitar Center, Discount Tire, The Disney Store, Best Buy and many more companies partner up with amway? This ain’t sales and recruiting, its consumption and leadership. A lot of new ibos struggle with questions but its all a learning process! I didnt come out the womb with the facts about Amway, I was skeptical and opened my mind up, started thinking like a business owner and investor (which they don’t teach in school), went out and made a fool of myself here and there at first, LISTENED (keyword in this industry LISTEN) to people who started off as I did and became successful and here I am growing as we speak.
I’m in business for myself, I run a company called Unity Development thats devoted to helping people from all walks of life with the right attitude make it. I dont need a website or office building. Broke people think corporations and whatnot are sky scrapers when they’re really just a bunch of papers in a folder (peep Rich Dad Poor Dad for clarification, I’ am not the sharpest man out there). I don’t work for Amway, they work for me >=] they do all the administrative work I’d be stuck with in the dark ages. WWDB provides training and support so I can be an effective leader, companies like Whole Foods who focus on micro management could benefit from stuff like that.
Get educated buckshot, you’re in the dark. Careful who you listen to!
Dr Dre mentored Eminem who mentored 50 Cent. If Fitty said “Hey slim, is this a pyramid? I saw this blog online that said youre a recruiter.” Eminem woulda said “Nah, keep asking me that and you won’t even make 50 cents.”
Did you just compare rap music to selling overpriced products ? LOL wow
Same experience here, in Seattle, WA. Approached in a public park by a young, attractive, and well-dressed couple who complimented me on my shirt and started talking about Star Wars (the shirt was of the movie). They eventually moved on to their projects, but always talking about e-commerce and building reoccuring income streams and such.
Then came the talk about the mentor: a 27 years old that already retired, along with his wife (25 years old)… It was all about mindsets and reading “The go-giver”. We talked for a while, and try as I might, they would always come back to talk about entrepreneurship.
They complimented me and said that I could do it too. I said I wasn’t sure, but that I would give a look at that book. We had already exchanged phone numbers before I my spider-senses were tickled.
Got a few text messages, complimenting me again, and then a phone call with the offer to meet with the mentor, who was interested in my story. I asked a few probing questions about the mentor and his business experience, and could only get the name… googled him and found nearly nothing. Eventually managed to get his LinkedIn and credentials were very slim.
Spoke to the mentor on the phone, who was shopping at the grocery store, and he was about as vague as the first couple. I asked point-blank about what he does and he said that it would be too complicated for me to understand… that I would need hours in face-to-face meetings to get it.
Never mentioned Amway or WWDB in any of the conversations.
Like others that were approached, I have a good job and so does my wife. We are not in an unhappy situation. Probably would have been more likely to try this if I had been dissatisfied with my lot. (I do want to start a business, but will do it through education)
Spoke to my wife, who had the brilliant idea of googling the name of the book with “scam” and got to this (and many other similar) page. Thanks for your sharing this in the first place.
I wrote back saying that I was not interested.
Would have loved to hang out with the first couple as they were really easy to talk to, including on topics that most people are not very informed on normally… I hope they weren’t faking it all the way. Thinking about it now, I will delete their contact from my phone and move on – you just can’t know for sure that they would not try to use information that they could glean about us against us. I am actually bummed that I have to do this.
Thanks for your experience. That’s what I don’t like about them: how vague they are. If my guess is right and from my encounters with various recruiters, their “interest” is not real. They want to recruit you, that’s all. As long as you play along they will be positive with you. If you ask questions, they drop you.
**This review has nothing to do with the legitimacy of the companies or business owners listed. This is merely a negative opinion.
For accurate company reviews, please visit the Better Business Bureau who conduct actual legal investigations. Both companies have received A+ ratings. http://Www.bbb.org
https://www.bbb.org/snakeriver/business-reviews/business-opportunity-companies/world-wide-group-llc-in-spokane-vly-wa-25000084
“Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution.”
Why fill a storage unit when you can return the items, even up to six months later? Talk about wasting your money. Scary to think about what else you hoard!!!
Ugh. Honestly this exact coffee shop scenario happened to me. And here I thought the girl wanted to be my friend. 😒
Katie, I am curious. what lead you to research and find this blog?
I would like to see, physically with my eyes, how much money someone with 3, 5, and 20 people “under them” make. I’d also like to see tax returns, write offs and real financial statements for someone who has been in the biz for 15 years or more with that amount people. Why? I’m a teacher, my salary is posted, let me see your salary. I have to buy school supplies for my students and need a little more assurance I can do that then a “I’ll introduce you to millionaires”. Unless they are buying my student’s/probably your kids school supplies, then they’ll have to meet me at Target while I’m shopping. Let the $$ talk and not the coffee shop mentorship promise talk. I was asked my thoughts on networking, after reading”the book”. I replied, “It would help me find people to open a nonprofit that provides free education with food programs in Guatemala to orphans (which, I am serious about). I was called and told I “wasn’t a good fit” after that meeting. So…. Show me the $$. I have kids to feed. They can’t dream about success on an empty stomach.
Kel, I doubt they will show you the $$. It is all about recruiting people and taking money from them. This is your typical MLM with a different packaging and name.
You’re opinion of this company is awfully wrong lol. They are a 9.5 BILLION $$ company they don’t need your 200$ start up cost that is refundable lol. Broke mentality
I’m a IBO partnered with the Amway corporation and all I can say is wow. If you run into any new business recruiter in any business for that matter doesn’t mean they have good people skills so they might come off as weird at first and that’s just a start and it’s a good start. Nobody starts off professional. This person that wrote this probably doesn’t have a good self image and tried the business and didn’t committ too their own business and failed so they point at others saying this is why I didn’t succeed. It’s an excuse and this is bad publicity of false information. Trust me I would never talk someone into my business! Why? Well because it’s a waste of time mine and theirs not because the business doesn’t work but because if they are not teachable nobody will
Make money any how because we ONLY get paid for SALES not Recruiting! Aka a legit business that is partnered with APPLE is not going to just partner with any company especially an I leg leg pyramid scheme so you can check that off your list of doubts. I can tell you this though people don’t join businesses people join people. That’s my rant. And yes you can be financially Independent for up too 4 generations doing the work correctly one time. It’s called a Big Business System for a reason. Rant over have a good day everybody god bless!
Dakota, “his person that wrote this probably doesn’t have a good self image and tried the business and didn’t committ too their own business and failed” . I assure you, I have very good self image and a successful career. I did not even try to “committ”or anything. Their approach turned me off. I ended up doing my own business on my own terms. Good luck selling for Amway.
Thank you so much for this article. My relationship was almost affected because of this “business.” Honestly, thank you. Superb journalism.
Happened to me twice but the thing about me is that I am streetwise so I know when someone is trying to sell me something. The first time a young man approached me and had a convo at a bookstore about life and goals, he never mentioned what he was selling but he did use the word mentor a lot. The next, a couple who complimented my girlfriend’s shoes had the same convo about they going to school to get their masters, then came the word mentor again which made it real fishy. I never met with any of them again even though they did invite for coffee. It is not that I am saying that selling me something is wrong, it is that they make people believe that they are important like, hey that person complimented me but, in reality were just using me and my girlfriend as a target to sell.
Exactly. They are never honest and upfront and they never run out of excuses to justify why they are sneaky like this.
Thanks for sharing.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha you guys literally focus so much on the negativity of everything and just twist it and turn it into lies and abominations. I just made my first billion at 24 years old and not only that but . I was able to teach 8 other people how to do that but not only are we positive and making other people smile but I’m DONATING THOUSANDS OF MILLIONS TO PRIMARY CHILDRENS HOSPITAL ANNND NOT ONLY THAT BUT I PROVIDE SHELTER FOR THE HOMLESS AND THOSE WHO WERE EFFECTED IN THE HURRICANS. SAY IM AN AMBOT. But that’s just the same as tell one of those kids at primary children’s they shouldn’t get the chance to survive or get there bills paid. Because YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULDNT DREAM. But the reality is you couldnt do this business because you weren’t haveing the right mind set and you limited your self and won’t Get the chance to wake up at 11 am and remember you don’t have to go to work and then roll of with your wife and go back to sleep. It’s a new generation and until you grasp that, your blogs will keep effecting the wrong people the people who! Very bluntly weren’t able to get rid of worldly things to build and delay gratification obviously it’s around still because it works. And you’re just jealous because your ego wants to be rich. tell me the last time you showed up some where and got handed money? No where. Hard work not only applies in the business world but in life. The form a formula for success. until you can prove that this doesn’t change the lives of those who actually tried and never once had an excuse. You could say this has helped not only millions but also changed thousands and thousands lives through the power of personal development. You’re probably one of those guys who care so much about being rich you lie and do drugs on the side and then say I’m successful give it a break. Life’s about experience and you’re trying to limit others potential.. if anything you’re just as bad as trump. Actually I’d say you are trump so go back to looking for attention. And maybe plead that some day you’ll be able to make more then you can spend. So I’m going to go back to being happily married with my wife. Which i trust and love and get to be treated the way women deserve. And if you’re a decent human you’d agree that a wife deserves the best and I’ve i have never had any better way. Your job is a legal pyramid scheme and you’re brain washed. Who your boss buys a Ferrari with his bonus who paid for it!? Yoooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! Peace out girlscout😉
No way in hell you are a billionaire, even a thousandaire. Get there bills paid? WTF…..get their bills paid. Then you spend………than you spend.
All I know is, the only constant is change. The middle class is disappearing and I know more college graduates will never pursue their field of education.
If you don’t get on board to this super simple concept, buy from yourself, for yourself, what else can you do that will give you guaranteed complete freedom of time and money? All while pouring into others. You don’t make money until they do.
I’m a successful business owner by day and build this asset at nights and on weekends. I love what I do for “work” but I know the grind is slowly killing me and:
a.) I have zero exit strategy
b.) I work 24/7 and have zero free time
c.) my income is extremely transactional
This business works if you work the business. You have to be transparent and open to change and hard work!
My mentors daughter is 21 years old and will make six figures this year on a twenty hour work week. Most of our team is under 30 and we’ve seen the checks and money. Not sure what’s a “scam” here… would someone like to explain to me what there is to be afraid of? Because if you stick around you’ll find out for yourself and you can always ask any questions to anyone. I think people’s skepticism, lack of knowledge, is so unfortunate because you’re letting it stop you from living your full, full life.
You really think we were put on this earth to trade 40 hours a week, for 50 years of our life and retire (hopefully) at 50% of our income? I don’t think so.
Don’t be ok with mediocrity. That is all.
Dang I feel attacked by the accuracy. I met someone at Dolores Park and was approached in the same way and we always meet in coffee shops. I had a good feeling about it but something about it just doesn’t sit right with me? They gave me more books to read and I’m growing more skeptical.
Amway – or whatever the hell they’re calling themselves nowadays – is a total scam. Their best success is with people harboring ludicrous ideas about making it to the top in “their own business,” with no clear idea what that business involves. Next thing you know, the new recruit spent more than they can afford on a garage full of laundry detergent and has a quota of people he’s expected to recruit into the same pyramid scheme. It never ends well, except for the top scammers in the pyramid. Good luck getting there, and good luck facing yourself in the mirror in the unlikely event you ever do.
Using hucksters as Robert Kiyosaki to help sell the idea ought to be insulting to you the second it’s presented since they obviously think you are clueless fool who falls for ill defined and unrealistic dreams without realizing you’ll be just another cog in the wheel. I’ve seen way too many naive or otherwise frustrated dreamers fall for this crap and it always ends the same way.
A good friend of mine tried to get me into it in the early nineties when I was a broke college student. I passed. Later, I heard he left the “business”within a year after realizing he was being taken for a ride. Amway also had a habit of approaching young guys in military towns in stores, coffee shops, etc. with the same obvious opening line: “You look like a pretty smart guy…” and then leading into this BS “business” of separating fools from their money and calling it networking. They’ve since rebranded themselves to get away from the instant recoil so many people felt when they heard the name “Amway.”
Stay the hell away from these con artists. Time spent with them is time you will never get back!
PS: Here’s an accurate summary of why they are such a scam. Like Herbalife, most of their business is overseas now, since too many Americans caught on and started suing (they paid $155 million in damages back in 2010) They don’t even want you using the name Amway!
http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-1620-amway-5-realities-multi-billion-dollar-scam.html
It is a scam. Long story short, I am a lot happier when I left Amway. What really pissed me off was when my so called mentor made a comment that some of my friends and family were not compatible with me. As an ex IBO, I do my part to warn my friends and even strangers to stay a way. Recently had a victory when by chance saw an old Amway colleague trying to recruit a friend of mine to the organization. I put a stop to it right away and my dear friend who I have known for 15 years is greatful after I explained the recruiter’s spin trying to promote Amaway.
I own a furniture store and literally used Recruiting.com to find my staff. When I got educated on a big business and what WWDB is helping people achieve, I realized I “recruited” people at my furniture store to sell my products (furniture) and I would always make more money than them.
Plus lay off Amway already. I don’t even know of a franchise that offers 90day money back gurantee on the business and 180day money back gurantee with the products.
@Tip Number 5: God forbid people actually act like decent human beings and say “hello” or compliment one another. When did we become so lost that we shun the idea of someone empowering others and encouraging them to succeed by giving them a genuine compliment or building them up? Networking is not “weird” in the business world, and is a common thing in everyday life. There are “weird” people out there though. Like any other industry out there, Anyone can go on the Amway website, get a license, and use it to do good or evil. That is why you must seek out someone who is leveraging this business with the right heart and mindset, and see if they are willing to work with you. Trust me, if they are someone who is doing the right thing they will not work with you unless they feel they can help you become successful.Its the difference between recruitment and selection.
I admire anyone out there who is willing to step out of their comfort zone to reach out to their fellow man to potentially open the door to an opportunity should they want to pursue it. If not, at least have a mutual respect for each other and encourage one another in their passions and goals. If someone loves and is passionate about their job, let them work their job. If someone wants to start a business to create more choice in their life for whatever reason, then the Amway business model or another approved MLM company may be a great platform to begin that journey for low risk i.e. not leaving your job to start a business, high initial investment cost, and overhead. Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. Be willing to invest sweat equity, this is not a get rich quick scheme, it takes work and you have to be a person of integrity and honesty in order to create success in that industry.
I was met by one of these cult. Fellow attractive guy.. he kept saying it was a secret and too hard for me to understand, he gave me a book labelled “50shades of Amway” I wasn’t sure what I was reading. We met in our 2nd meeting and this is where he leaded me to some basement and had his way.. afterwards he told me I’ve been Amway. Now.. I’m a fruit bat and am part of Amway.
Everytime someone writes a negative review of Amway or these other MLM’s the Ambots come trotting out with their little scripts to tell how wrong you are and how great Amway is! I guarantee you most of them are not doing well with Amway at all and have probably tried and failed at numerous other MLM’s. Reason being they cannot hack a regular job and lack the ability and focus to be successful working up the ladder. They want easy riches and success. Most Ambots fail, it’s a know fact. A few will do well but they could probably sell cars or sell real estate and do just as well. Natural schmoozers with good people skills and some business acumen can thrive anywhere. But the average Joe will shell out literally hundreds….if not thousands….to attend ‘meetings’ and ‘trainings’ and buy ‘materials’ and ‘supply’ and annoy and bother their friends and family. We see through you and your slick patter. Keep drinking the Kool Aid, suckers.
Love all the AMWAY cultists knee-jerk defending their cult. They use all the usual buzzwords their cult reaches them too.
Okay so currently I’ve been meeting with a couple from WWDB in less than a month I drove 20 miles to meet them. I love how they did not reveal to me that they were partnered with WWDB or Amway. Very clever the whole time I thought they were in real estate. They honestly made me reevaluate my plans for my future in such a short spasm. However I have not fully swallowed their stories. I have searched up all the speakers or “diamonds” from the audios they’ve sent me and I can’t find solid proof of their wealth. Plot twist I used to be an employee (not a distributor) by another notorious MLM company so seeing their money back guarantees for Amway or marketing plan makes me realize it’s the same as my former employers. One must understand that joining WWDB fees are not directly with Amway. In total you’re probably spending $136 for WWDB which may not be a lot for some of you but it is to a part time employee full time college student as myself. This doesn’t cover the expense of gas and attire or tickets for the highly recommended seminars. I went to a seminar btw and I’m just not a complete believer I need proof all these young people are doing it. Another thing I hate is that all the audios mention how to become successful you must pretty much brush off your family. I spoke to my family and they’re willing to support me but I’m very close to them and if we have family events I want to be present. Also the whole religion part. Like seriously if you plan to cater to millenials religion and the idea of marriage is a lost idea women want empowerment and they try to pitch to you. “Don’t you want to be a fulltime husband/wife mother/father?” Like no thanks this earth is overpopulated and monogamy is out.
I got “recruited” today. I almost set an appointment to chat on the phone. The recruiter mentioned “mentors.” I then googled “recruiting in bookstores mentoring business opportunity.” This post was in the results. I immediately told the recruiter that I wasn’t interested if it’s Amway.. it was. Thanks for saving me the time that I would have wasted. To those defending Amway, watch the documentary “Betting on Zero.” If you still want to defend Amway, post some solid numbers here to convince me you’re successful (not your potential for success) and not taking advantage of people, and I will listen.
Hi post author,
I can’t see your name. Wanted to get your phone number. I met similar person and I told him about your blog and he was telling let’s have conference call. Can you please provide me your phone number.
Hello MJK, I have no interest talking on the phone with anyone. No point as well. Thanks.
lallouslab that’s because you’re a coward that hides behind your computer screen. Nothing you say is true and you know it, that’s why you won’t give out your number.
What do you plan on achieving by insulting and call me names exactly?
I’ve know a lot of people who’ve been involved with Amway but I know none who have made any amount of money with it.
I’m sure the brain washed will think all these people, from all walks of life, are just lazy.
So sorry for you because I can understand how the work hard mentality is appealing. But please use that hard work to build a skill set, get an education in an area in which you can support yourself and build your own empire.
I know of what I speak. I started with nothing and worked my way to a very comfortable life, no mlm involved.
Amway people often talk about retiring early with buckets of money raining on them, But anytime I ask where I can find some of these young retired Amway people, I on;y get insults or excuses. That’s because they don’t exist in real life. Sort of like Big Foot. Plenty have seen or heard of Big Foot but nobody has ever caught or shot one. Because they do not exist.
Unfortunately, that’s my experience too. I don’t care how much money one makes or if one retires or have shiny things to brag about. It is important to show a character, honesty and a good attitude towards others. My experience with the recruiters is nothing but hidden intent to recruit me and avoid honest questions. Then, I get attacked and called names for trying to get real info on whether I want to work with them or not.
You haven’t see any because you have not been through the process such as attending the meetings.
Not true. I used to be in Amway. The “proof” that someone was wealthy consisted of unverified statements and slideshows on mansions and sports cars. But no actual bonafide income verification. Later we saw a diamond in bankruptcy and 2 diamonds who had homes foreclosed. Amazing since we were told that diamond pay for their homes in cash.
I was once a manager at a luggage chain in Washington State. Prior to that, I was aware of Amway and how they worked. For a two week period, men would come into the store – nicely dressed, friendly, outgoing – and chat with me a bit about luggage, then take my business card, thank me and leave. A couple days later I would get a call from one of these men, reminding me who he was, when he had been in the store, etc. He would then say “You know, you struck me as being a really dynamic individual – I think you would be interested in my marketing business” The same line, delivered the same way each time. Having been familiar with “Amway-speak”, I knew what this was leading to, and I would nip it in the bud by responding “No, thanks, I’m not interested in Amway”. Each time I said this, I would get the same response: “Oh, you’ve heard of us, then!” in a tone of surprise and delight. This happened five times to me in a two week period: FIVE. And each conversation was identical. It just proved to me what I had known all along about Amway. FYI, the recruiters aren’t legally allowed to recruit you, in person, while at your place of business – hence the taking of my business card and calling me later.
Anything worthwhile require s work. Building any business requires work. I think Amway could cleanup their reputation overnight by revealing themselves early on in the process. I have had multiple run ins with these folks and was a distributor myself for a time. I couldn’t see asking folks to spend $20 on an amount of TP they could get at Costco for 1/3 the price. At the ttime.
It was disappointing because I either thought these folks were interested in being friends or in my most recent case, had a service that I needed. Two days ago I wasted 2 hours plus another hour round trip to get no info other than someone borderline shaming me for not wanting to amass untold wealth. I let him know that before I agree to meet with his mentor and ask my wife to join, I would put together a proposal and if we are on the same page, great. Would have no part of that, so I just “got something on the calendar” and then sent the proposal anyway.
I made sure to let him know that I was not interested in Amway or anything like it. Haven’t heard from him since.
It was an almost total waste. I did learn a few things and was inspired by the young man’s passion. I actually think he will do very well with it. I wish him luck.
I see this theme in the comments here too. It’s all or nothing and if you don’t agree with Amways model you should just be ashamed for not wanting to amass wealth.
The 7 items were uncanny in my meeting and I feel kind of sad to think that someone who was so friendly will now most likely shun me. Hopefully that won’t be the case.
If you took the time to get to know the people in those organizations you would realize that they are some of the most kind-hearted people who truly want to help people and see them do well in life. Maybe instead of “inflating your ego” they were giving you a genuine compliment but your self-image is so poor that you didn’t believe it. It’s sad how you seem to be so close minded and think the worst of people you know nothing about.
Nah, your analysis is incorrect. I met so many of them. They are like robots. They have the same exact lines and approach and I documented it in this blog post. Many commentators agree with him, read their comments and see for yourself.
This blog post will always draw two kinds of people: people like you who want to see the positive side of doing MLM and others kind of people who see that the approach is dishonest, malicious and driven by self-interest to get more prospects and profit from the MLM scheme.
They truly want to help you only if you are contributing to their income by attending seminars and buying tools. If you stop your purchases, you will quickly become shunned. I saw it many times.
Wish me luck on my next meeting number 3. I get to meet the recruiter and her 2 mentors. I live in Vegas and are meeting me at Starbucks.
I hope you will report how your meeting goes and what they emphasized in the meeting
“The amount of work required is ridiculous”. You’re absolutely right. The amount of work to become wealthy in anything else without relying on luck is far more. We don’t want everyone to get in. Its a weeding out process.
WOW!!!! I am so thankful that I found this! You saved me from wasting even more time than I already had with these deceptive “Christians”. I have an UNBELIEVABLE story to tell about my experience with these recruiters. I actually just got home from meeting with them after giving them their book “business of the 21st century” and was just told that I “qualified” to get an invite to a meeting this Thursday. I came across your article when googling “am I being scammed by an amway recruiter” and “I was told to read business of the 21st century by a stranger”. Thank you so much for writing this. Please know that THREE years since your experience shit hasn’t changed. In fact it’s worse because they refuse to tell you it’s AMWAY! Ugh. So aggravated at my experience. I will be back to share my story in the morning!
I’m an IBO with Amway …. it’s tough having a mentor that can guide you and help you get debt-free, Pay cash for the last two cars, Drop a significant amount of money on the house… be careful with Amway May teach you success principles how to live a better life.. All the haters out It’s an opportunity if you work hard you have control of your future instead of some boss at a job it’s an opportunity if you work hard you have control of your future instead of some boss at a job… No I agree not everybody’s Going to get wealthy in Amway at least you have a shot, I have met many people in their 20s, 30s and 40s retiring with strong six-figure incomes. I asked you what is wrong with that if you want to go work a job a man go for it why hate on people that want something more for their lives .. just because it’s outside the box doesn’t make it wrong or a pyramid scheme .. wake up ppl Look at a job it’s a pyramid structure the guy at the top makes all the money and you work hard for his dreams and goals..
Your mentors are fake. They want you debt free only because you will then have disposable income to spend in standing orders, voicemail. books and functions. They don’t advise you to get debt free and invest for your retirement or in case the Amway business doesn’t pan out. They want you “all in” for Amway because then you reach a point where you are “too heavily invested” to quit.
The job is a pyramid is a lie. In a corporate structure, the CEO might make the big bucks, but even the janitor or other rank and file employees receive a pay check that they can pay for their bills and rent/mortgage with. In Amway, the diamonds get the lion’s share of the money and it comes directly out of the pockets of their downline in the form of PV purchases, and purchases of tools. The lowest level rank and file Amway IBOs often take financial losses while the upper level IBOs are making an easy buck. A rank and file IBO works hard for losses so the diamond can make their dreams come true.
How is it a better life when more than 99% of IBOs don’t even make a net profit?
Like several honest positive people on here have mentioned, AMWAY & WWDB are two different organizations. ANYONE can sign up with AMYWAY, but not everyone is going to make money and become successful. Most fail doing AMYWAY alone, but when partnered up with WWDB who are submissive to mentorship& coaching there is a high success rate. Not everyone is qualified to be apart of WWDB, because they are looking for people who are sick & tired of being an employee and want both TIME & MONEY. Where can you find that while building wealth with the support of a leadership & entrepreneurial training organization? That’s right, no where. That is why the WHAT is never mentioned, because the average people don’t have a big enough WHY to change their lifestyle. It doesn’t matter WHAT the business is, or HOW it is done because it is all for WHY we do what we do.
Everyone has to be an entrepreneur in today’s world because more and more broke college students cannot find a decent job to pay for loans, and get in more debt to catch up with society’s standards of life which is a house, financed car, credit card debts, etc. So the mass majority is in bondage to jobs who take away more time away from what really matters and do not add or help build a brighter future. Wake up people, you either work for a business owner or you become one. We are learning from parents, teachers, professors, peers who are all BROKE. When there is an association who want to share the wealth and sow into people who are against the masses.
No one here can afford to be skeptical, because no one can afford to! If you are after different results, you have to do different things with your life for better outcomes. Whats working for the majority, is no longer working. So it’s time to be ahead of life not behind it.
The current traditional system of this economy isn’t working! Jobs are not designed for people to be successful, they are designed to make business owner who invested time & money to create it successful. Artificial intelligence will soon take many jobs away from the many Americans who don’t even want them. Housing is crazy, people will die in debt, and will remain in bondage to debt and we have been condition to think this is OK. Ppl are commuting further & further away living in houses that no one can live in while spending the best hours of their days, and best time of their lives at work, making a living but not living a life.
We are human BEINGS, not DOINGS. All the negative bashing commentators will continue to do this with anything and everything, you cannot forewarn people if you didn’t compete the educational process. The process was created to filter out winners who want to life FULL TIME, and serve part time. People who are winners, and will follow other winners. We live our whole lives on the weekends, giving left overs to our family. This business is for everyone, but not everyone wants to build an asset that can generate wealth in over time. Everyone is looking for get quick rich schemes, and this is not one of them.
Funny how no one questions the amount of years we have to be in school, end up in debt. But everyone wants to question a proven business plan with a business leadership program that produces the most successful entrepreneurs that are free from the job world and are in business for themselves. There are millions of negative reviews on people’s poor experiences, and should be used to overgeneralize two organization that provide an options to people who want to have a better quality life. That’s like having having a bad experience at a Mexican restaurants, and you hate all Mexican restaurants. Free enterprise is what makes this country great. Other people from other countries know it, which is why they come here to open up mom & pops shops or family businesses. That’s why you can be a youtube star & be well off. Wake up people, if you don’t become an aggressive entrepreneur, another 5-10 years will go by and NOTHING WILL CHANGE FOR YOU.
I know I will not live my life for a paycheck. This is a network marketing business of leaders not, recruiters. And it is a way better compensation plan, than what a JOB can get you. You work for someone who works for someone, and you can never make it to the top. Will the CEO ever take the time to teach you what he/she is doing? I highly doubt it. If you ever make it that high in the corporate world, it will take years & time.
TIME is the currency of the wealthy.
MONEY is the currency of the poor.
Too many sheeple, and not enough Shepherds
The biggest regret in life are the shouldas, couldas and wouldas that lead to a complacent life, not a great one.
To all MLM members that’s been in the business for more than 1 year. Are you making sufficient money to keep your household afloat? Be honest.
TheTruth, you say that when partnered up with WWDB people who are submissive to mentorship& coaching have a high success rate.
I’m sorry but the math does not support that.
WWDB has been going for what, 20 years? If there was any significant level of success, you could add 12 downliners in 6 months. Then each of them could do the same. That’s adding only two downliners a month! All you got to do is get two downliners per month. Same for your downliners. In like 5 years, your downline tree would exceed the population of the united states! One person, in 5 years, with even minimal success with WWDB, could could reach world domination. And yet, less than one in 300 Americans are WWDB IBOs. That’s not exactly world domination. And with thousands of people doing WWDB for 20 years, the combined downliners would have far exceeded the population of the world.
But it doesn’t work. There is no high success rate in any sense of the word. Unless you redefine it to mean something else.
Now you of course are going to say it’s because people don’t work hard. But look. People work hard. Not all of them, but many of them. Two thirds of Americans own or are buying homes. A third of Americans have paid off their homes.
Over a hundred million Americans are working jobs making real products or services and making America tick. They are building cars, houses, sky scrapers, airplanes, ships, they are growing food, trees, and they are making films and writing books.
There are millions of very diligent hard working persistent Americans living a life of Perseverance and making go of it in a wide variety of fields.
If there was any way for WWDB/Amway to actually have a high success rate, people by the hundreds of millions would figure out a way to do it.
But it cannot work. Because an Amway/WWDB IBO does not actually produce a product or service. He only skims off of skimmers who are skimming off skimmers who are ultimately skimming off hard working victims who are working normal jobs. And then the IBO has the audacity to shame the real hardworking people as being in bondage and losers and all that — when they are in fact the source of the money that allows all the scammer IBOs to make any money at all!
And one final comment is that you are living such a lie and you provide the very proof in your closing comments.
You say, and I quote:
“TIME is the currency of the wealthy.
MONEY is the currency of the poor.”
If time is your currency and not money, then why the tarzan are you wasting time posting to forums? I mean really, if money is not your currency then what does it matter what goes on here?
The fact is, you are poor, and money is your currency and you have time to try and fight the fight to try and get more suckers to sign up under you and part of that is trying to present a good image on the internet because in fact people do search the internet and find out bad stuff about pyramid scams, and it does turn them away, and in fact even for a good submissive and well mentored IBO, finding any level of success is extremely difficult and the negative comments on the internet are doing significant harm to pyramid scams.
The fact that you took the time to write to a forum debating the topic clearly proves that you yourself have not found any level of high success and are struggling to get downliners.
I really do feel bad for you. Just answer this one question for yourself: What if even 50% of the population became IBOs and quit their jobs? That would mean the other half the population would have to be working twice as hard to pay for everyone who wasn’t actually producing a service or product.
It’s such a scam! And there is no high level of success. Sure a few scammers are able to trick enough people into it to make it big once in a while, but ultimately it collapses under them and they come crashing down because they aren’t actually creating value because they aren’t creating a product or service, they are simply pyramidically skimming.
Frankly, and that’s the truth.
They put me through a vetting process and gave me the book business of 21 century and go giver . They also said however it’s not Amway
The vetting is just for show. They will sponsor anyone with a pulse if you agree.
Saying it’s not Amway is pretty misleading considering you become an Amway IBO and your bonuses come from Amway and you sell Amway products and are bound by Amway rules.
Why would anyone sign up with people who are deceptive about what they are doing?
You know if these IBOs are doing so well, why don’t they hand out $100 bills with recruits? When you’re financially independent and vacationing the beaches of the world and driving the latest cars and all that, what’s a lousy $100? Dream big! Right? Just think how convincing it’d be to to a recruit if you meet with them and after the meeting hand them a crisp $100 bill and tell them there’s no strings attached, it’s just to show that the system really does work.
Of course the IBOs can’t afford to do that because the system really doesn’t work for over 99% of them.
~Frankly that’s the truth.
We actually pay for our dowblines first everything! To show them they don’t have to spend money!
Not sure who “we” is there Jordon, or what exactly you mean. But if you’re saying you specifically pay all the signup fees and initial costs that’s real nice but I don’t think that’s very common. No recruiter has made that offer to me.
And it didn’t sound like it Lallous had that experience either.
But that is all not exactly relevant to my point that if recruiters really had time as a currency and not money due to the fact that they just had so much money — then recruiters would be like handing out $100 bills to prospects — which we don’t see. Most recruiters are driving old faded cars like the shameful working class and frankly haven’t got an extra $100 to hand out.
Which brings us back to the indisputable mathematical fact that the system fails for over 99% of people.
Systems don’t fail people, people fail themselves. Systems are simply a tool. McDonalds is an example of of a very successful system. Follow their system and you’ll be profitable. People that say a system fails 99% of people are either part of the 99% that never really applied the system and quit or never got over their fear to even try it themselves.
This isn’t like your job. You don’t put in an hours worth of work and get an hours worth of pay, or even a years worth of work. This is building a business asset. You spend years building it so it pays you for a lifetime.
The world has taught us instant gratification. If that’s what you’re looking for, this business isn’t for you.
The world has also taught us to look after #1. That’s a great way to spend 30-40 years working for someone else. All wealth is created by serving other people. If that doesn’t interest you, this business isn’t for you.
You say that systems don’t fail people. How absurd! Some do and some don’t. Anyone who says no system ever fails anybody is not even being honest with themselves, much less the rest of us.
Some systems are designed to fail some people for the benefit of others, like Casinos, organized crime groups, the Mafia, and Amway.
You are right that you don’t put in an hours worth of work and get an hours worth of pay: You put in years of work and lose thousands and 99% will fail miserably!
But you not building a business or assets. You (as an IBO) produce no value, no product, and no service. You simply con people into conning people recursively. Your only assets are a bunch of conmen like yourself. Problem is, they figure out that it doesn’t work after a few years and throw in the towel.
Think about it. Amway has been going for almost 60 years! Most of the adults alive when amway started are dead now! There’s been 3 generations of people born since amway started!
And yet less than a third of one percent of Americans have even tried it! And according to amways own numbers, over 99% of active IBOs fail miserably!
And why, when people have been multiplying for generations, has amway not taken over by storm? Simple: Because most people can see that it is a complete failure for IBOs. Sure amway CORP makes tons of money off scamming IBOs.
If the Amway system was even mildly successful for a significant percentage of IBOs it would have taken the world by storm. But that would not have worked because then everybody would be quitting their jobs and becoming an amway IBO and there wouldn’t be enough people actually working to produce *real* products and services (i.e. REAL value) and the whole thing would collapse.
Amyway *only* works at all because 99.99% of IBOs are actually working their day jobs and pouring their hard earned money into amway.
And the high failure rate is engineered into the system because if the system became too successful, it would implode.
Don’t believe me? What if even 50% of people were making all their money from amway and not working *real* jobs? That would mean the other 50% would be doing ALL the work to pay for and feed themselves AND the amway IBOs. the whole system would collapse if it was successful.
The high failure rate is engineered in.
It’s like pick-pocketing as a profession. It works fine because only a small percentage of the population does it. if 99% was making their living pick pocketing, who’d they pick pocket from? eachother? ha! they’d all starve because pick pocketing doesn’t make cars or bread or houses, and with everybody pick pocketing, there wouldn’t be anyone to grow food or build houses or cars or anything.
Frankly, that’s the truth.
PS: But thank you for the great false claims – I added some of them to my “Lies” section on my mlmscams.info website which you can see by clicking my avatar!
The Amway “system” guarantees failure. It’s mathematical. Look at the famous 6-4-2 plan. It is a design to have one (1) platinum and 78 who aren’t. Platinum is the alleged level where someone finally begins to make a profit. Any of the downline of that platinum will be losing money if they attend functions and participate in the “system”.
When people brag about all the “new platinums”, all they are doing is bragging about more and more people losing money. A diamond group consists of at least 6 platinum groups in their downline.
The system is just a means to recruit more and more tools and functions customers. That sums up Amway very concisely.
My advice is, if someone is taking you through a teaching process, go thru the entire thing and don’t stop half-way! Learn! Meet the people and get to know them! Then decide for yourself if you like them and if you believe they can help you personally. If you have a better option in life, then do that. Blogs are just opinions from people you’ve never met and hardly know anything about. You can’t even use a blog as a factual source when writing an essay. So don’t get scared before you even try.
I met the people, then I did what most people won’t do – I DID THE MATH HA HA HA!
Actually, I didn’t need to do math because Scamway’s fine print disclaimer already had the math done for me. 99.99% of people who try fail!
The ones who make some kind of income are swindling thousands of people.
The system cannot work for more than a fraction of a of the people who try.
If it worked for even 25% of people, the whole system would bloom, get all pretty then pop like the a big soap bubble because you can’t have even 25% of the population freeloading (Unless they are a vicious armed part of the population)
Freeloading? YES! Freeloading! As an IBO you are not producing a real product or service. You’re not building homes, cars, roads, or growing food or doing anything that brings any value to society.
Real value comes from making or providing real products or services.
But I do agree with you that nobody should get scared.
Just do the math, see it for the scam it is, and don’t try.
Frankly, that’s the truth.
PS: And as an IBO, even though you’re not producing cars, roads, housing, or food, or any other product or service, you are still consuming cards, roads, housing, food, and other products and services. And who pays for those? Who indeed? Ahh, yes! It’s the losers who still have their day jobs! That’s who pays for you to consume all those things without making any of them!
Definitely a case of swindulaus freeloading!
Hey, just being Frank with you. Who else could I be?
Meeting someone in person doesn’t mean they have any more credibility than a blog author unless they’re going to reveal their financials such as a schedule C business tax return. Especially when IBOs are taught to fake it till you make it.
You might also be shown a copy of someone’s check as evidence that the business works but you don’t know how much business expenses were expended to receive that check. You also don’t know if a check is a one time event or if the income is sustainable.
Instead, your upline or someone higher up will tell you that their income is none of your business.
Shaun, why don’t you follow your own advice?
Look, here, I’ll begin taking you through the teaching process where you will learn how amway is a scam. I fully expect you to continue through this teaching process and to not stop half way through. Learn! Get to know the truth! Don’t get scared!
Here is your first assignment: Figure out where the money comes from. Let’s say you’re making $1800 a month after amway expenses. That’s poverty level for a 3 person family. Where is that money coming from? How is it getting into the amway system?
You can’t say “from other IBOs” because they have to get it from someplace else as well. You can’t have IBO’s handing money between themselves expecting it to multiply. How does your $1800 per month get into the amway system from outside the system?
Because I know that amway IBOs can’t do math or they wouldn’t fall for this, I’ll give you a clue. It just may come from the very losers you shame for working for other people, the ones you tell are on a dead end career path and are just wasting their lives making other people rich.
When you’ve completed this assignment, let me know and I’ll present you with your second assignment.
Don’t be scared, explore these lessons!
Hi Joecool. I can tell already that we will agree to disagree. That’s ok.
Your argument is that an IBO should pull out their financial statements and tax documents. This is misleading. Every business, regardless of what type of business, looks bad in the beginning until it finally becomes successful. On average, 95% of business fail in the first 5 years regardless of business industry. Ask any college student to put together their financial statements and tax documents and it’ll look bad. The same can be applied to the majority of employees that have been working for their first 5 years.
Amway has been in business for almost 60 years. The assumption that they have been scamming people for 60 years is incorrect. If Amway was a scam, the Federal Trade Commission wouldn’t use the company as a benchmark for all other network marking companies. If Amway was a scam, the Better Business Bureau wouldn’t give them an A+ rating. If Amway was a scam, the wouldn’t be business partners with Disney, Lego, and Microsoft. If you want to see what a real scam company looks like, go to the Better Business Bureau and search Equitable Acceptance Corporation and compare them to Amway.
These are all basic things taught to people who go through a teaching process with WWDB before both parties, the potential student and mentor, consider any financial or time investment together.
Blogs like this are misleading because there is no accountability or even an ability to determine the integrity of the person giving their opinion. Meeting these people and spending time with them for a couple months while going through a free teaching process gives anyone interested the fair opportunity to determine if they want to continue forward or not depending on the character of the individuals they’re learning from.
So yes, my advice still stands. Go through a teaching process and learn. There is a lot of information taught by WWDB. Meet the people and determine their integrity for yourself. Don’t stop halfway.
Hi Frankly Speaking. We will also agree to disagree. That’s ok too.
First off, the math. The teaching process utilized by WWDB before any further time or financial investment is considered covers that. If you did go through the entirety of the teaching process, they teach you how to utilize the Amway compensation plan to calculate how much you earn. You can also use that to calculate different senerios which is what I did in order to mathematically prove that I can earn more than my mentors. I have a background in engineering and project management so math is nothing new to me. In fact, these calculations were quite fun because they were simple compared to what I used to do before.
You also talked about freeloading. This is also easy to answer because they teach this too. Every business provides a product or service even Independent Business Owners. If Amway and their IBO’s weren’t providing a product or service, they wouldn’t last about 60 years let alone 6 months. Amway doesn’t advertise. IBO’s are literally their advertisements. An IBO’s life is the advertisement. This is why WWDB has a ‘code of ethics’ and upholds it’s members to a higher standard. People that violate this standard are asked to leave no matter their financial success. WWDB is a mentorship and coaching system, and if you are a member of WWDB, you are part of the mentorship and coaching service. That includes someone striving to be the best version of themselves through a lot of personal growth. Even if they’re not literally coaching someone, their example serves to inspire others to be better.
That said, the money comes from Amway. Amway is a company that doesn’t advertise. They pay you, the IBO, to advertise for them. Every product purchased from Amway is bought at wholesale. Part of that wholesale cost that would have been used to pay for advertisements on TV or other forms of media goes to the IBO instead.
This and a lot more is taught through the free teaching process used by WWDB before anyone can consider whether they should continue further or not. This is why I encourage people to go through the entirety of the teaching process and get fully educated before making a decision. Blogs like this are misleading because they provide opinions from people outside of the industry and present them as if they are facts.
I would like to point out that it is illogical to value opinions from blogs over the judgement of the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau, and other business that partner with Amway including Disney, Lego, and Microsoft.
So if anyone is going through a teaching process, learn from them! Go through the entire teaching process! There are already thousands of people that have benefitted from being a part of WWDB. WWDB might be for you but you never know until you spend time with the people and learn from them.
Shaun,
In your reply to my comment, you made numerous dubious claims which I could shred, but because you made several blatant lies it’s simpler to just point out that people can ignore you because you’re a liar.
You can agree to anything you like, but I don’t agree to disagree with a liar.
1: You said Amway doesn’t advertise. That’s a blatant lie. Just google it! They advertise on TV, Billboards, and even the internet! Just put Amway into google, and first match is a paid placement ad! They clearly do advertise. Big fat lie. Put it on a diet or render it down for lamp oil.
2: You said the money comes from Amway. That too is a blatant lie (or you’re really bad at math)! Even if amway gives you 25% back on a $100 purchase, the net flow of money is still going *to* amway, not coming *from* amway.
Amway Corporate cannot and do give you money to consume their products. They have to hire employees to make those products, and buy raw materials, pay property taxes and building expenses. They TAKE money, not GIVE money. Sure they jack up the price they charge you then give you some back, but when you consider the money flow both ways, they are raking in a profit for the products they sell, not giving out money on average.
You can’t just look at the $25 they “paid” you — you have to look at the $100 you paid them as well, or the $75 you actually paid for the product. Where does that $75 come from? From kickbacks from your downliners. And where do they get it? Ultimately, somehow, the money has to get into the amway system from outside the amway system, unless amway is printing money LOL.
Again, a big lie. The money gets into the amway system from entry-level IBOs who are working a normal day job and pouring in their life’s savings buying amway products so that they qualify. One huge lie. While amway may pay a few people more than they spend, they are fleecing millions of others in order to do so. The money does not come from Amway because amway has to get it somewhere before they can redistribute it and they get it from swindled lied-to entry level IBOs who are working their behind off on a *REAL* job and losing their shirt to Amway. The money comes from outside of amway, and it comes from the victims working *real* jobs where they do provide real products or services. You told a whopper of a big lie on that one too.
3: You said that you have a background in engineering and project management so math is nothing new to you.
That cannot be possibly true (Or you’re a huge liar) because you cannot possible have a background in engineering and project management and not know that you can’t just brag about the $25 they send you when you had to spend $100 to get it! So again, either you’re a liar for claiming to have such experience, or you’re a liar for knowing that the money doesn’t come from amway while saying it does.
4: You say “If Amway and their IBO’s weren’t providing a product or service, they wouldn’t last about 60 years”
First of all, I never said that Amway wasn’t providing a service or product. They definitely do. It’s the IBO’s that provide no service or product. If they sold most of their goods to outsiders, then you could say they were providing a sales service — but most of their sales are to other IBOs, not to outsiders!
In fact, there are not enough hours in a day to make a good living just selling the product to outsiders. The system is engineered so that you have to have downliners who have downliners! That’s why Amway prohibits you from selling your products on amazon, etc. If they allowed you to sell via websites, great, you could move a lot of product and make a living. But no, they want to force you to have downliners, because that’s part of the scam.
As to how could Amway stay in business for 60 years? Simple, by swindling millions of people.
But here’s the question, if there was a significant success rate, then how come Amway doesn’t have a bigger share? One in 300 Americans have tried amway. That’s all the better they can do in 60 years?
No, it’s an engineered failure. It’s a scam carefully engineered to bilk hard working people to make Amway Corporate rich by tricking people into the false hope of wealth untold.
And that, my fellow human being, (Hey, I’m being generous today!) is why over 99.9% of people who try fail, because the system is engineered for most people to fail. Because if you had even half of the population being an IBO and not working a loser’s day job, then the other half of the population would have to work twice as hard to make food for the IBO half that wasn’t producing anything! The whole system would collapse.
And the sad part is in meetings they shame you if you have a day job, they call you a loser, and tell you that you’re just making someone else rich.
And yet, as an IBO, who’s really getting rich? You’re just making amway corporate rich! Maybe a few make some money as an IBO, and a lot of others lose money, but amway corporate *always* makes money, regardless of whether you win or lose.
It’s like the casino. Sure, a few win. Most lose. The house always wins.
As to Amway and the FTC? Again, just google it. Amway has paid hundreds of millions of dollars due to fraud charges. Just google it. I’m not making it up.
In closing, you are clearly deceiving people with all sorts of dubious claims as well as bald-faced lies.
And this, my friend, is how amway corporate has made a killing for 60 years even with only one out of 300 Americans giving it a try – by swindling, cheating, and lying, and by training their “sales force” to do the same thing, just like you have demonstrated for us!
So don’t be scared of amway, just stay away from it. It can’t hurt you if you stay away from it.
Shaun,
New IBOs may not have success yet but a diamond who’s been around will never show their financials. That’s because it would show how much money they are raking in from tools and functions or it would show they don’t make nearly what they want you to believe.
Secondly, stop the misinformation about the FTC using Amway as a benchmark for other companies. The FTC didn’t find Amway to be “illegal” only because they had certain protections such as the 70% rule, which is basically BS because they never enforced it. 7 years after the FTC ruling, Amway was indeed fined for false and misleading income statements.
Blog are misleading because there is no accountability or the ability to determine integrity? If that some kind of line from upline? How do you know if your upline diamond has integrity? I used to be in WWDB and heard it live in person on the stage that WWDB was a non profit company (lie) and that diamonds made no money from tools and functions (lie) and that diamond made so much money that they paid for everything in cash (lie).
Ask Greg Duncan why he filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy? Why did Dean Kosage Quit WWDB? Why did Wolgamott get divorced? Why did Jim Brooks get divorced? Why did David Shores go through a home foreclosure? Is this also “integrity”?
If some guy was a gangster but suddenly got interested and joined Amway/WWDB, does he suddenly have integrity? Maybe you should think these things over before responding.
WWDB has fewer diamonds now (US/Canada) than when I was involved 20 years ago. Why is that? Looking forward to your responses.
My cousin is trying to sell me one of these fantasies, or what I’ve just confirmed with your article, a MLM scheme (Go-Giver). Her story of joining follows your steps exactly and she’s trying to use them on me now. I have yet to meet anyone who retires at 26 likes she claims is possible… Amongst many other suspicious statements. Brainwashing at its finest. Thank you for this and the funny video too!
The insidious part about Amway is that they tell you to “build your business” and as the owner, you get the benefit. But the reality is that an Amway business owner is just a small part of someone else’s business, basically functioning like an unpaid employee while upline gets the rewards.
Secondarily, an Amway business owner is a customer of Amway, who along with the upline, gets the most benefits.
I like how this whole post is about amway and wwdb yet the video has nothing to discredit that company.
Amway and WWDB do plenty enough to discredit themselves.
This is great stuff! I just got out of timeshare sales … A lot of similar sales psychology. And I caught on immediately during the first meeting of all the similar processes … Sell the dream, build rapport, exclusivity.. not for everyone … not everyone qualifies, and to the rep … The upper MGMT will sell you the dream of the money and the few that are elite because they’re willing to give their all, and leave the pathetic life of previous job. The brain washing, the pumping up and then feeling accepted when failing but still believing in you that you can do it until you’re broke and the next lamb is lead to slaughter. It’s a survival of the fittest and tell them what they want to hear. The rep to the customer and the boss to the employee. All taken for a ride .. yes few are rich but they’re turning and burning the new nieve dreamers. Next up…
And I don’t think Amway or Timeshare has to have a stigma to it. The product and concept itself is a great idea. Everything depends on the salesperson and their integrity of the process. Sales in general will always have the same problem .. the rep knows more and withholds some information maybe the negatives of the job or product. But this isn’t entirely different from dating lol 😂
Actually, the concept itself is not a great idea. It’s totally criminal. As to the products, they aren’t too great neither, otherwise people would be flocking to buy them just to use them. But the majority of amway products are consumed by amway IBO’s trying to meet their quota. But never mind the products.
The idea itself is mathematically bankrupt. It is carefully engineered to totally fail for 99.92% of people, after soaking them for all they are worth.
The only way to be successful as an amway IBO is for thousands of other hard working nearly innocent suckers to be soaked for all they are worth.
It is not a great idea. It’s not even a good idea. It’s a terrible idea. It’s a scam, a sham, and, well, yeah it’s a cruel form of just-barely-legal theft on the large scale.
If you really think it’s a great idea, either you failed math class or just enjoy swindling people. But seriously, think of all those new recruits, promised glowing dreams of wealth untold, financial independence, and retiring at age 28.
I’ve met a lot of people doing a lot of things, and I’ve never met anybody who had retired financially independent from amway. They all either give it up broke, or they are still working their tail off trying to build their empire.
Sometimes they are driving nice cars, but often they are deep in debt, living beyond their means, to trick recruits into thinking they are wealthy.
The fact is the math shows that the system cannot work for more than a small percentage. Even a fraction of a percentage.
Amway’s own statistics show that way over 99% of people who try totally fail.
The system is engineered that way. Because look, if even half the population was able to make it work, then half the population would be producing NO products. The other half would have to be working twice as hard to make food for themselves and the half that was not producing any products.
The system has to be a failure for 99+% of people or it would implode.
It’s truly a scam, taking people’s money in trade for an impossible dream.
(At least impossible for 99.75% of them.)
You know I stand corrected .. I haven’t done the math and I was looking at the industry as buying products that would be worthy in both of these industries if you’re already going to purchase them. But I haven’t looked in depth at the costs and ROI . I was simply thinking about the vacation aspect of once purchased never giving to purchase again and the Amway co selling useful products in general. I don’t stick up for the process of sales or the people. I agree in the manipulation and crooked ways hidden under fake report and ommissions of truth and full truth .. I am a transparent person because I respect myself. I don’t care for sales that aren’t the same . If it’s good enough to buy it’s good enough to be 100% truthful … Integrity in sales and labels are not easy to find anymore. Starts with the person as a whole!
OMG. So true and annoying. I’ve encountered while shopping and in grocery store. It’s so insincere, the compliments or what you think is a friendly conversation, really a ploy to get you to join.
One girl told me she being mentored and makes passive income. I told her I’m financially sound but she really peaked my interest. Said her mentors are VERY exclusive but she will check to see if they are accepting people.
She called and said that they needed to know I was serious so she needed to meet with me again. I’m really busy and so I scheduled for a week out and she got an attitude with me and was rude. So I told her never mind and said she’d get more bees with honey.
I had no idea it was Amway. Then I met a couple and the guy was being so vague I asked if it was legal and he ended up telling me it was Amway but didn’t try to recruit me. I know this couple. But I’m inquisitive and nothing gets by me. A month and a half later, they finally asked if they could talk to me about it but I said I’m too busy. Maybe another time. I work 2 jobs. I’m a public figure. I travel all over the country for work and I’m involved in policy making. I have a masters degree and I’m doing what I went to school for.
Then a random guy complimented my glasses in a grocery store. Bored me with “making his money work for him and talked about his mentors. I knew he was with Amway. They all sound the same. He asked for my number. I didn’t want to give it. He pressured me so I gave it but I was pissed. I thought he was complimenting my glasses but it was all a ploy.
They all say they’ve been making money with this too!
I already am established. Support my favorite brands. Not looking to switch!
It’s like retiring early is the new thing and seems that they are trying to appeal to millennials. All the people I’m noticing are stuck in office jobs or part time. I actually have a dream job!
Bruh… LITERALLY every single thing that you mentioned was similar to my own experience. Fucking unfortunate too because the dude seems so fucking nice and genuine.
But :-
Dressed in formals to meet me at the GYM today….
Mentions Mentors ALL the time but hasn’t told me who they are yet.
Always trying to compliment me about shit (though not gonna lie not that compliments weren’t in order for said achievements/observations etc.)
Gave me the MLM Kiyosaki book to read so we could have another ‘MEETING’.
Fucking waste of time especially when I finally got into my own personal growth investment etc endeavours. I was trying to look for MASTERMINDS and ended up meeting scammer MLM junkies.
Thank you so much for the article. I just met a party today. And exactly the same things came up. You have spot on description.
Beware everyone!
These people are so good at disguise. Utterly wasted two hours and energy talking to them.
As soon as I stepped out of Starbucks, I saw their expressions changed. Which was my biggest red alert! Leading me to this article.
This is very accurate. I fell for the allure. Not to say the people are bad…very informative thoughtful people.
I never felt honest selling something that requires great effort, charisma, and mysterious positive mojo.
I found myself spending more time at monthly conventions, weekly meetings over an hour away….and constant private message system talking about how many people I met, once, twice, and recruited.
Can you make money yes …but it is highly dependent on how many people you directly recruit. Everyone above you gets a small piece of your efforts. The ongoing motto is a whole bunch of smalls adds up to a lot. They dont necessarily take from you directly…but your success is highly dependent on those under you to recruit …go diamond.
As I said the organization is extremely positive…provides great self development oppirtunity… but be prepared to put time with family, friends, kids, to the wayside. Even be prepared to lose a friend or two….as the time committment is not conducive to freedom…your trading time of working to recruiting as a job. …I was sick of coffee shops….looking for potential people to bring in the fold everywhere I went….just never felt right…. I was working 40 to 50 hours a week at work and another 20 to 30 trying to meet people, go to conventions, participate sometime multiple weekly meetings…all at a cost…I was exhausted, tired, stressed.
There is also a financial piece…for you to receive top bonus tier you need to spend 1000 a month . Amway products…I had so much water and bars coming out my a$$. Also remember it is optimal that the people you recruit spend the same amount.
As I said it’s not all bad…but it gets political…you cant associate with people from other clans….no real friendships are made….and if you build a network and invest in people be prepared to lose those relationships if you dare to leave.
It was not a positive experience for me and almost cost me my relationship.
Good luck out there… but get informed about the pros and cons…and truly understand the investment ….also be prepared to run into situations where you end up trying to recruit someone already in the game. The person that recruited me made me feel like it was a genuine connection…no she was pushing her numbers.
I feel it is a difficult model to follow…you are trained to scripts …how to talk to people. It all felt disingenuous.
I just could not get in lock and step. Only the top 5% of performers will truly benefit. Watch out for san diego… its totally saturated with ego building smooth talking recruiters. It all felt so cultish.
FYI…I am couple years removed from the organization…I have no hard feelings…and I did personally grow. I just think when all the shine is gone….there is a heavy sink of finances…lost time…some friends…and if one day you get out…every friend you made…every connection you cemented will disappear from your life. They encourage everyone to move on…move away from those not part of this network. It’s not all good. But if you have 1000 bucks a month to burn and 30 hours a week after your job….and 2000 to 5000 a year for major convention travel than good luck…God bless.
People can become successful in this business…but not every personality is suited for this. Also they talk about the Ranch and counseling couples… helping people in the organization…well they dont help couples who are not performing…everything about this organization is predicated on success….in my humble opinion it’s not for everyone. It’s a religion inside the framework of christianity.
This organization preys on hopes, desires, it is a motivational behemoth…and you will only be part of the movement if you eat, breath, and sleep it. Which means your old life is gone…which can be good or bad. For me I had a good network of friends, strong network with my church, and successful business network. I was not willing to trade it all.
They will minimize the negative reviews….they say google this and google that…you find negative in everything. They are right…but it takes seven meetings to convert you and sell you into the program…in each meeting they are very mysterious about the next step. It has proven to be a more accurate model in recruiting candidates that will have a higher percentage of success.
I leave you with this….I felt fake, disengionuous, and people became a number…..and I never felt good about that. When we needed help as a couple they could not, would not help. So it’s not a utopia.
A spectrum that goes from amusing to creepy to pathetic to numbing…. cult members determined to believe. Great article! I hope many benefit.
Thanks, Lallou! Have you ever tried to save another person from being scammed by going up to the person who tried to recruit you while they’re pitching to the new prospect and exposing it all?
One time I approached a person just after the Amway person left. I don’t think I have interest in waking people up about this matter. To each their own. If they find this article then good.