It is understandable that Amway apologists may point to specific sales figures, which is nice and dandy. However, when I look at the kind of sales that Amway generates, the figures are inconsequential. I recently came across some comments that made me a little chuckle. After being invited to an Amway recruitment meeting by a friend, a prospect reportedly sat through the presentation (which was attended by no one else) and politely declined to register as a result of common politeness. According to the commentator, after the encounter, he felt terrible for his friend and decided to purchase something from his friend's IBO website, which he described as "feeling like a charity contribution." This begs the question, given that Amway's products are almost certainly consumed by IBOs themselves, and I believe that very few Amway products have ever reached the hands of a non-IBO client.
The question today is how much of the IBO retail sales are essentially charitable contributions made to IBOs by family and friends who simply feel sorry for their familiar IBO out of the minuscule amount of retail sales generated by the IBO industry. When I initially declined to join Amway under the sponsorship of my future sponsor, they did approach me and encourage me to purchase some of their products. However, as a single male, my age group demography did not correspond to the products that were being promoted. If my recollection serves me well, I ended up purchasing the Amway liquid auto polish. However, while the auto wax performed equally well as the other popular brands at the time, I recall that I paid approximately $12 for it around 1995. Current prices at Target and other area retailers range from $7.99 for a jumbo-sized bottle of Nu-Finish liquid vehicle wax to $5.99 for Astroshield liquid car wax, and the store occasionally offers them on special for $5.99. So, in essence, if I purchase my vehicle wax on a shop special, I am receiving approximately twice as much car wax for the same amount. I understand that Amway zealots will want to compare the pricing with an online source, but as I previously stated, I prefer to make my purchases in person and to take advantage of shop discounts, which are offered every couple of months in my area.
I'm aware that I've seen other members of my family and acquaintances involved in multi-level marketing at times. And while I was previously in their shoes, I now consider their efforts to be a little sad, especially considering that they are essentially following the same road that I followed as an IBO roughly 12 years ago. I don't tell them no, but I just refuse to look at their plan or join as a downline in their company. I have also provided philanthropic contributions to some acquaintances who have become interested in multi-level marketing on occasion. If nothing else, it's important to show your support for a friend. Ultimately, these MLM buddies came to the same conclusion as I did and departed on their own accord. Some of them continue to read my blog, while others have silently slipped away into the sunset. They do not maintain an educational blog in the same manner as I do, but not everyone is able or willing to do so. (Does this sound familiar?)
To be honest, after reading some of the comments about the courteous friend who purchased an Amway product from a friend, I'm left wondering whether IBOs are actually making retail sales or whether they're simply receiving charitable contributions from friends and family in the form of Amway product purchases.
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