Your Amway Coach?

 Many engaged IBOs in the Amway industry are advised to put their faith in their upline. To think of your upline as a coach or a mentor is an excellent strategy. They are supposed to have your best interests at heart, and they will steer you to success if you will only be willing to learn and be open to suggestions. Many of my uplines, including some of my former uplines, were the first to utilise the term "copy" or "duplicate." You will be successful if you are able to accomplish this. Even the most basic of individuals can copy. The upline may make a joke about how they got through school by duplicating other people's work. As a result, many independent business owners (IBOs) do exactly what their upline instructs them to do.

After that, however, the uplines deflect blame away from themselves. The vast majority of Amway defenders will also argue that downline should not merely follow the advise of their upline leaders. Occasionally, they will make the ludicrous assertion that standing orders and functions contain guidance that must be deduced from other information. That information is presented in the style of a smorgasbord. You pick and choose what you require and toss the rest out the window. Especially if you are a new IBO or prospect, I want to tell you that you are being heaped with guano (crap) on your shoulders. Your upline is credited with years of expertise and wisdom in the Amway industry, which is why you are spending a lot of money for things like voicemail, books, cds, and other functions and services. So why would their counsel be something that you could pick and select from a list? What would a new IBO do if they didn't know what to choose?

Consider the possibility of hiring a guide for a wilderness excursion. The guide is expected to be a seasoned outdoorsman, perhaps even an expert in his field. As a result, if he advises you to consume specific plants or fruits, you may be confident that he is providing you with sound advice. Take for example, eating something that made you ill to your stomach, only to have the tour guide inform you that he only shows out different types of plants and fruits, and it is up to you to decide which ones are healthy and which ones are not. After firing the guide, you'd warn everyone you know not to use that guide any more.

Although there are "systems" like Network 21, WWDB, and BWW that have been "guiding" IBOs for up to 20 years or more in some situations, the number of diamonds produced is insignificant. Sure, there are many new platinums, however it has been discovered that many tool-consuming platinums are either losing money or earning very little money for their endeavours. On top of that, it appears like Amway is losing ground in North America, at least according to sales figures. One might safely infer that any new platinums that break are just replacing the volume of a platinum that no longer exists or a platinum that no longer qualifies for inclusion in the platinum pool. And here's the kicker: my previous upline diamond looks to have received all new qualifying platinums since the time I was in the firm, which is quite remarkable. My previous diamond contained a total of six downline rubies. As far as I am aware, none of these rubies are still considered platinum, despite the fact that I have heard that some of them are still in use.

Uplines also instruct their subordinates to accept responsibility for any failure on their part. As a result, you had IBOs who did everything that was asked of them, only to be let down by the system. These IBOs, on the other hand, frequently blame themselves for their failure. The BBB should get a written complaint from former IBOs who accomplished everything expected of them just to be let down. This is my opinion. Amway apologists tend to believe that a lack of formal complaints indicates that the system is working when, in fact, there is no unbiased substantive evidence to imply that the system is functioning properly. It appears that some people achieve success despite, rather than as a result of, the system.

The catch to all of this is that uplines are avoiding taking responsibility for the results of individuals they "mentor" and benefit from. IBOs should question why, if their upline was truly concerned about their performance, they are required to pay for any assistance they receive from their upline diamond.

Whose Best Interest Is Served?

 When it comes to some LOS leaders, such as those I had at WWDB, what is really insidious about them is that they appear to be cutthroat, vicious businessmen dressed in fine suits, who are disguising themselves as your mentors and friends. They will convince you that they have your best interests at heart and that they would never intentionally lead you astray if they can get you to trust them. On the surface, you might believe this to be true, but take a closer look at their activities and it becomes clear that some of these uplines are truly vicious businessmen who would take every penny they could from you if they had the opportunity. Based on a WWDB IBO blog, I have excellent cause to assume that this is still being done by the organisation where I previously worked. On this blog, I notice all of the same teachings that I learned while I was an IBO, as well as some of the same claims, such as buying houses in cash, that I heard then. It's a little frightening.

They may even assert moral superiority, such as by using religion as a foundation for the development of the company. "Amway is a God-pleasing business," I've overheard several leaders proclaim. Really? Is it possible that God enjoys deceiving and manipulating others? I would respectfully disagree. They may tell you lies about companies such as Amway and/or WWDB. IBOs have a lower rate of divorce than the rest of the globe. He or she may provide you with an abundance of unsubstantiated information. I strongly encourage IBOs to investigate and verify such claims.

As an IBO, the diamonds may tell you that you should never, ever skip an event. The only justification you could give for missing an event was that you were attending your own funeral. Several crossline IBOs I've known have rescheduled pre-planned family celebrations such as anniversaries, weddings, and other special occasions in the name of being core and attending all functions. Some IBOs did, in fact, abandon their jobs in order to attend events, and it's possible that they did so because their uplines instructed them to do so. Also encouraged and told to go into debt in order to attend a celebration were Independent Business Owners (IBOs). This was acceptable because it represented a "investment" in your company.

Our group was also forcefully encouraged to purchase additional CDs on a weekly basis. To be honest, you needed to listen to a CD every day, and you couldn't just listen to the same one every day, could you? Couples were instructed to purchase separate standing orders for themselves. Brad Duncen even had a true north tape (cd) that stated that sponsors were to eat the standing orders for downlines who quit because it was too much work to call upline who calls upline who calls upline in order to cancel a standing order because it was too much trouble. They didn't seem to mind upline phoning upline calling upline in order to set up a standing order, which was surprising.

In the end, I was fortunate enough to be rising up the pin ranks at the time of my defeats, which made them not as heartbreaking. I ended up losing money in my first few months of operation, but I was generally profitable by the time I reached 4000 PV. Unfortunately, my crossline did not fare quite as well. I am aware of at least one couple who filed for bankruptcy. No one knows how much their WWDB affiliation led to their bankruptcy, but I am confident that it was a significant influence. I am also aware of at least two couples who had their homes foreclosed, and I believe that their ties to WWDB played a role in those foreclosures as well. Perhaps they were duplicating, since two WWDB diamonds had their homes foreclosed on at the same time.

Do not be taken in by this ruse. If you let them, the diamonds will take your last cent despite their pleasant demeanour and well-dressed appearance.

Real Businesses Take Years To Profit?

 In my years as an IBO, one of the things that was mentioned, and I believe is still said in some Amway meetings, was that conventional businesses do not make a profit for the first five years. That is a fabrication. Businesses that operate in the traditional manner make a profit as soon as they sell their first product. The initial expenditure in equipment and rental property may prevent them from making a net profit right immediately, but they will earn from the sale of products in the future. The same approach would apply to an Amway firm, with the exception that Amway Independent Business Owners (IBOs) have trouble selling products to customers. Imagine opening an Amway catalogue and comparing their prices to those of local merchants. You'd have a good idea what I'm talking about.

Despite the low start-up costs and low to no overhead expenditures, the majority of independent business owners never make a profit. I will admit that many independent business owners (IBOs) never do a single thing after they sign up. I believe there is an underlying storey to this as well, but I'll leave it at that for the time being. Even among the most serious IBOs, and even among those in this group, the vast majority will never produce a net profit if they are utilising marketing tactics. When you factor in the costs of the website, voicemail, standing orders, books and functions, and CDs, IBOs may expect to have their bank accounts drained of a couple hundred dollars per month at a time, on average. Those who work for Amway, on the other hand, profit from product purchases, and those who work for someone higher up the chain profit from tools. Because the tools have a bigger profit margin than Amway, it seems natural that certain upline members earn more money from tools than from Amway products.

Other difficulties, such as high prices for numerous things (which are higher than local merchants) and a bad reputation resulting from IBO behaviour such as misleading individuals into meetings, combine to create a business opportunity with nearly impossible obstacles to overcome. In fact, only one or two persons out of tens of thousands are able to overcome these odds, and they are usually charismatic in their approach. Even individuals who reach the summit of diamond achievement may find it difficult to keep their qualification. It is fairly normal for someone to get to the emerald or diamond levels just to regress and fail to qualify the following year, as has happened to me. So much for residual income and strolling along the shores of the world's beaches.

As a result, I am not familiar with the specific figures regarding how long it takes for a typical business to earn a profit. It could take as long as five years. After reflecting on my own experiences and conducting some research, I've come to the conclusion that the vast majority of Amway Business Owners NEVER MAKE A PROFIT, with the vast majority of them incurring net losses if business expenditures are taken into consideration.

Losing Your Shirt While Thinking You're An Amway Success?

 In my opinion, one of the weaknesses of the Amway compensation model is that the newest IBO, who may also be the one who puts in the most "Work," receives the smallest income. Amway reinvests approximately 32 percent of its profits back into the company through compensation. An IBO who completes 100 PV earns a 3 percent bonus, with the remaining 9 percent going to uplines and sponsors, among other things. Some members of the upline may not even have met the IBO who performed the actual task. Is that really fair, and is it a level playing field for all participants? I'm curious what some of these uplines do to earn the lion's share of the bonus you worked so hard to earn. Yes, the upline diamond may demonstrate the plan in an open meeting, which may be beneficial to you; however, you must pay to be admitted to that meeting.

Many of your uplines will speak of dreams and the fulfilment of those desires. However, if an IBO takes a step back and considers his or her actions, it is clear that he or she is constructing the fantasies of others rather than their own. For each unit of volume that you move, you receive a little percentage of the bonus. If you are part of the system, you are also paying upline in the form of tool purchases in exchange for the privilege of providing them bonus payments when you make product purchases.

It is for this reason that your upline diamonds can parade around on stage in fine outfits and show you their expensive vehicles, mansions, and other luxuries, among other things. This is due to the fact that they are profiting from your efforts. You are assisting them in realising their ambitions. Your commitment to shifting volume and placing purchase standing orders is helping to make dreams come true. The aspirations of the upline. While it is possible to dream of having your own downline to exploit for your own gain one day, the reality is that unless you are actively recruiting new members to your organisation, you will never accomplish the kinds of dreams that uplines talk about. In the meanwhile, though, you are undoubtedly assisting someone higher up the chain of command in the achievement of their goals by attending each and every gathering. Ironically, even if your upline leaders are unaware of your personal situation, they will encourage you to never give up your position.

Here's a challenge for IBOs and/or prospects who are interested in being part of the Amway organisation. 100 PV will cost you approximately $300 each month, and adherence to the tools system will cost you approximately $200 per month on average, depending on your usage. Are there any situations in which it would be wiser to simply write a $100 check to your upline and not even join? Instead of participating, wouldn't you be better off staying in your home and watching television? If you've gone through all of the information on this site and still want to join, good luck to you, but keep in mind the following: With your participation, whose hopes and ambitions are being realised? Which is more important, yours or your upline?

Is Amway A Viable Business?

 I have debated with Amway enthusiasts over the years, and I have yet to understand what they find so appealing about the Amway opportunity. Is it possible that some of these Amway advocates are so naive or delusional that they actually feel that a business in which one out of every few hundred people has a chance to earn a profit while the vast majority of the remaining IBOs lose money is a good opportunity? I'm not referring to those that sign up and then do absolutely nothing. Many independent company owners (IBOs) sign up and invest a significant amount of time, effort, and money only to discover that the system does not work (particularly in the United States), and they make the business decision to resign and/or to pursue other opportunities.

There are, of course, some people who make money with Amway products. If no one profited from the opportunity, the opportunity would be lost forever. However, it is mostly the exploitation of the downline that accounts for the success of the upline. Certain uplines derive the majority of their income from the PV volume of their downlines, as well as from tool purchases. I mean, even a lottery has winners, you know what I mean. Even ponzi schemes and other dubious investment opportunities have a few successful participants. This is not to imply that Amway is in violation of the law. Amway is lawful on paper, but because of the way the opportunity is set up, those who profit do so primarily at the expense of those who follow them in the business.

As far as I am aware, there are no groupings in which all IBOs may win and make a profit at the same time. If there are rogue groups that just focus on retail sales, I would imagine that there are a few of them, and while these groups can be profitable as a group, they are few and far between. This is due to the fact that the majority of IBOs are affiliated with a LOS such as WWDB, BWW, LTD, or N21, and all of these organisations appear to be focused on recruiting new IBOs. Yes, they may throw in some suggestions for selling products, but their "training" materials are primarily comprised of motivational speeches, feel-good tales (whether genuine or not), and the notion of never giving up while continuing to acquire further tools.

Some uplines have the audacity to begin teaching their downlines that their Amway business is not about making money, but rather about saving your marriage, making you a nicer person, or providing some other diversion to keep you from thinking about how much money you are losing month after month after month. Some organisations even include religious and political themes into their functions and meetings. As far as I can tell, the typical business-building IBO enrols, receives some of the necessary tools, and attends a few functions before discovering that the products are difficult to sell because they are not priced competitively with other retailers, and that a damaged reputation is nearly impossible to repair after a few events. These IBOs have realised that they are not going anywhere, and they have decided to walk away, considering their losses a valuable life lesson. However, it appears that many uplines who have lied and deceived in the past are continuing to do so today, frequently by simply altering history to their own advantage (i.e. lying about making any profit on tools).

There are many IBOs, prospects, information seekers, and detractors that read my blog. My question is fairly straightforward. What is it about the Amway offer that is so appealing? For the majority of people, it is simply a waste of their time and money. However, while I'm sure there are people out there who "did the job once" and then sat back and collected barrels of Amway money while sipping Mai Tais on the beaches of Jamaica, I don't personally know anyone who has done that. Crown ambassadors are still working as hard today as they were many years ago, in my opinion. There have been reports of diamonds losing their homes to foreclosure, a major diamond entering bankruptcy, and a horde of WWDB diamonds purportedly selling off palaces that they supposedly purchased for in cash in the past. The possibility exists that their way of life is just not sustainable.)

Is there an advantage in the business for a normal independent business owner? There are some lottery winners, just as there are some gems in the rough. The presence of a lottery winner does not imply that it is a good idea to spend your money on lottery tickets. Amway is not a viable business opportunity since it promotes the lifestyle of diamonds. While Amway is a business and not a game of chance, the outcomes of both are frighteningly similar - that is, there are a few winners and millions of losers in both cases, unfortunately.

What is it about the Amway offer that is so appealing? It's not there in my opinion.

If Not Amway, Then What Should I Do?

 In one of the more amusing comments on my blog, IBOs express their dissatisfaction with Amway by asking, "Why don't we propose a better solution?" I assume it's not enough that facts and experiences are presented here so that information searchers may find and make informed decisions about whether or not to join Amway, but we also need to recommend better alternatives? Well, I'll throw some ideas out there. I am not urging anyone to listen to my ideas and opinions, and I believe that you should not act on anything you read here without first conducting your own due diligence and doing your own soul searching as well. Having said that, here are my thoughts on what would be a superior alternative to Amway:

1. Become a more responsible steward of the money you already possess. Many individuals earn enough money, but they spend far too much of it on items they don't need or don't want. For example, a $5 cup of Starbucks coffee on a daily basis. Saving and investing with discipline are essential. It is possible to save a significant amount of money over the course of a month or an entire year by eliminating certain optional expenses.

2. Take on a second job and set aside a percentage of your earnings for savings and investment. 3. Not only will you have more discretionary cash, but you will also have extra money to put down for your retirement years. Try to pick a career that isn't too stressful and that you will enjoy doing as well. Working part time at a sporting goods store or golf course, for example, might be something I would be interested in doing in the future.

3. Establish a modest business of your own. The most serious problem with Amway, in my opinion, is the seemingly infinite supply of training that uplines are encouraged to sell. It results in the majority of "severe" IBOs incurring a net loss. In contrast to Amway items, you can select a specialised product and sell it on sites like eBay or Craigslist. Another form of small business could be something as simple as learning how to make modest household repairs or laying hardwood flooring, for example. These kind of services are quite widespread, and they may be quite profitable..

4. Don't do anything. Due to the fact that the majority of business development IBOs lose money, doing nothing, while amusing, actually makes you better off financially than losing money as a result of functions and standing orders.

5. Invest more time in your family's well-being. The irony is that many IBOs have this as a goal, but they actually spend less time with their families as a result of their Amway-related obligations.

That's all there is to it, guys. There are various alternatives to investing your time and money in the Amway business and Amway motivational organisations that you might want to consider. Here are some suggestions. While the suggestions above are merely suggestions, only you and your family can determine what is best for you and your family. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to pursue.

IBOs Or Glorified Amway Customers?

 I've been having a discussion with several friends concerning the concept of customers. Amway's most vocal supporter maintains that independent business owners (IBOs) are customers, and claims that a large number of people join Amway solely to become customers. Now, I'm not sure how someone could possible come to that conclusion, but regardless of whether it's correct or not, these individuals are still classified as IBOs in the United States. I'm not going to get into the legal repercussions of the 1979 FTC ruling and the 70& rule, even though the rule's intent was to prevent IBOs from purchasing their bonuses with their bonus money. In addition, it will be interesting to see how the Federal Trade Commission's action against VEMMA plays out. According to the FTC, Vemma's distributors only sell 22 percent of their items to those who are actually consumers in this particular situation. This was one of the factors that led to the recent shutdown.

ICERAT/David Steadson/IBOFB/Insider/Icerat According to reports, IBOs who purchase and then resale to downline members are meeting the sales requirements, and the downline members are clients of the company. Let's just go with it for now. What's more, independent business owners (IBOs) do not buy and then resell to their downline. Isn't it true that IBOs order directly from Amway? Purchasing directly from Amway allows independent business owners (IBOs) to receive some volume credit for their downline purchases, but the upline does not purchase and then resell anything to the downline. So, other from sales to supportive friends and family, are IBOs actually making any sales to those who are not IBOs?

If independent business owners (IBOs) are not selling their products, but rather are mostly consuming them themselves, it follows that the majority of the upline bonus is derived primarily from the pockets of the downline. I believe that the tools company is a pyramid scheme because only independent business owners (IBOs) are purchasing standing orders and attending activities. Because Amway items are not sold to the general public, the Amway business opportunity would fall into the same category as the Amway product line. I'm curious as to what the Federal Trade Commission would say now if that were the case. I'm curious as to how the Federal Trade Commission would rule on the current state of the tools system.

This is something to give careful consideration. If you are an Amway business owner and you are selling little or nothing, where do you believe your bonus will come from, you might be surprised. Depending on how you go about it, it either comes from your own pockets or by taking advantage of your downline, who then contribute a portion of your bonus from their own pockets. A system like this requires you to attract as many people as possible into your downline in order to maximise your bonus. Because the greater the number of people you can leverage, the greater the amount of bonus you can earn. One of the problems with this method is that people eventually realise they aren't making any money and that paying exorbitant amounts for "prestigious" soap and vitamins is not worth it, and they quit. When these people give up their Amway dream of mansions and private jets, they seem to lose their drive to continue making purchases in the company.

Amway sales would increase almost every year if former IBOs continued to purchase Amway products. This is because the former IBO's purchases combined with current Amway sales should continue to rise, rather than decline. The reality however, is not quite as simple as that. What type of business allows employees or company owners to serve as the principal clients and still prosper? Amway is not an exception to the rule, which is because there is none.