Actually, Amway is like 'doublemint' chewing gum. Amway is two scams in one. First is the product based pyramid scheme, where Amway cult initiates basically are their own best customers, buying their own products in a self consumption relationship to the Ada, Michigan mother-ship. Secondly, there is the tool scam where all the Amway self-consumers are urged to purchase all the mundane training materials to include seminar and rally tickets. These purchases make a very, very small group of top of the pyramid distributors very wealthy. These folks are commonly referred to in court documents as 'kingpins'. Both Amway and the tool kingpins operate a money extracting scheme. Both hold a monopoly over the dream inspired believers which buy everything and sell very little.
I realized that this is a simplified version of what the Amway Global Scam is all about. Suffice it to say that any type of pyramid scam is bad news for those participating in it. Generally they are the bamboozled believers in the scam who are expected to buy all the badly overpriced products and the endless chain of propaganda which masquerades as training materials. The Amway sellers of products and the kingpin sellers of tools operate their scam in an unholy alliance which basically feeds upon their own children.
The nearly fifty year history of Amway can be described as the 'financial holocaust' because believers in the scam have a near 100% rolling failure rate. Those hoping to make money, end up generally losing theirs. Expenditures to sell the scam on others as well as buying the monthly quota of products in a the tool scammer's 'pay to play' game of deceit, generally make profit objectives merely a pipe dream. Folks believing in the Amway dream might as well try to chase down the Leprechaun at the end of a rainbow or waste their time and money buying Power Ball tickets. Most people strive senselessly in the scheme until they eventually re-enter reality, realize that success in the scam will always be just beyond their reach and quit. Oddly enough, many of those who quit seem to blame themselves for not working hard enough in the scheme which they were badly oversold on.
If you have found this blog while researching the Amway Global 'opportunity', you have come to the right place to find out what Amway Global really is; and, if you are wise, save your time and money from being extracted by this cult business which is designed from the top down to make you the loser in their plan. I recommend that you read Quixtar Cult Intervention and Amway Global Cult Intervention. There are countless articles of interest there which can help guide you through the treacherous Amway Global waters of deceit.
44 comments:
IBOs need to remember that buying from yourself is not business. It's called shopping. The only business is selling retail to customers (non IBOs) and selling wholesale to downline.
IBOs are folling themselves if they think otherwise.
Joecool is a very smart boy. In his own words when you shop you buy from yourself. So, I guess that when I shop at Walmart I buy from myself......? I thought I was buying from Walmart! Here you have it, a smart lad coming from a convoluted shopping paradigm. You should own Walmart boy! That way you will make some money too!
Joecool...
All the plans show how you recruit so many and they recruit so many and so forth and so on. It just isn't that simple. Many may get recruited, but many quit, and many do not buy much, while many do not even recruit even one person. There is no simple plan as suggested. It becomes a major struggle to maintain even that which one accomplishes, and what one believes they have accomplished comes undone so very easily. To sum up, a person striving in a scheme must jump through countless hoops in the circus. You can trot up a down escalator, but who would really want to?
I'm thinking of buying stock in amway global or, if it has one, a parent company so i can make some money off all the retarded consumers. Anyone have anything bad to say about their economic stand?
P.S - Please no moral lectures
3/31/09
Charlie...
These fellows, the DeVos - Van Andels, operate a private concern. They are not openly traded, except to those who have been significantly on their dole, like congressional Republicans. Their finances are a universal entity called a 'black hole'. But don't feel bad, fortunately for you, you may 'invest' in the 'opportunity' if you so will; it is purported to pay off in the millions if one can believe the training materials, er, cough, snicker, snicker 'how to swindle your fellow man' on the 2 to 5 year plan? They instead ought to be doing 2 to 5 for swindling their fellow man or simply for blithering ignorance.
I suppose anyone can get in on the Amway Global ground floor business opportunity.
Possibly there are some foreign Amway organizations which are listed on an obscure exchange. Occasionally I run into some article or other mentioning Amway.
Actually Amway doesn't seem to be all that interested in sharing any of their 'extracted' take. Sorry traditional Madoff investors? In Amway, these 'investors' are called IBOs and ABOs besides other names I am sure. Beyond that, business dealings within Amway are rather convoluted in this most secretive of mafia like organizations, the Amway world cult. Fair enough?
Amway Malaysia is listed. It pays decent dividends.
Dear Mr. "Diomond,"
News to you. I have never been a Amway/Quixtar cult adherent. I've avoided that mistake, one "WITCH" you obviously haven't. Sorry for your luck. Your observation that everyone who criticizes Amway is a failed or former business partner of Amway doesn't carry any water here.
I was just wondering where in the world did you learn to spell? And it isn't very nice to shout. I'm sure you are going to go far in the AmScam 'bidnez.'
Mr.quixtarisacult
I was just wondering where in the world did you learn so much about Amway? Obviously you seem not to risk yourself in anything good or important enough to give you financial freedom. Financial planning is somthing you should look into instead of waisting your time here.
My family are now well accommodated thanks to this "OPPORTUNITY" And thanks to my "MISTAKE" now i live the way I always wanted. And not "BITTER" like some other people!
OH MR.quixtarisacult IT'S REALLY NOT NICE TO CORRECT PEOPLE ON THEIR SPELLING. YOU SHOULD REALLY LEARN SOME MANNERS.=DAND IT'S Mrs.Diomond TO YOU!
I am so glad I came upon your blog. I was recently approached by this man who was introducing me to all of these products on his website and when I went to look at his "about" section, I saw that he was affiliated with Amway Global. So I googled it and came upon your blog! It completely confirmed my doubts about this "project" he was working on. Thanks!
Sophia...
You are very wise. Thanks for your comment. You are why I write this blog, and may you succeed in other good pursuits. qiac
You skipped the bad part. Had some family involved in this cult. Somewhere in the cult manual, they tell their members that anyone who is suspect of Amway is a loser who doesnt want to be successful. They actually have these members believe that a million dollars is literally around the corner and those of us who dont join the cult are to be avoided and ridiculed.
Luckily I have thick skin and made 6 figures already but these folks tried to convince me that Amway is better than having a six figure income.
How many families have Amway wrecked?
Thanks for the article. I was approached last month by a recruiter who wouldn't tell me what exactly his business did. Amway works by creating a community. They strive to be vague. The top ranking IBO's don't tell people that they'll be part of the Amway Global organization, in fact, you discover that when you go to register. As soon as I was told I could be making 6 digits by working part time on top of going to school, I knew it was a scam.
Amway is truly an amazing company to be able to last 50 years. I'm so glad those "Christian" business men have given me a model to screw my community!
I was approached today by a recruiter, was left the CD's. Luckly while i she was here I came upon ur site and confronted her to the SCAM. She very quickly, left.......
scot...
I am so happy that the tables were turned here. No gullible recruit found at your house. You are the reason I write this blog. Thanks so much for your comment.
I really want to start this "scam", I am very confident in my ability to recruit many people with internet and web-site related ads that end up having my number to do they're business and I see that the percentage of what I get when I have enough people under me is a lot of money even if they don't buy anything, just "join"... I haven't started the steps in this "scam" yet but I need to know what do you think of using the internet for this?
I went to one of the Amway presentations recently... Needless to say all they do is BRAG about the amount of POTENTIAL THE BUSINESS HOLDS. I constantly asked for a business plan from my friend ... alas Finally I got one. And Guess what!? It LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE A PYRAMID. I argued, but I was outnumbered by people in "THE BUSINESS" [i was @ one of their "MEETINGS"] -- IF YOU ARE READING THIS in SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH BEHIND AMWAY KNOW THIS!--> You will see 100s of people PROMOTING AMWAY Rather than the other way around. The first GOOGLE RESULT for "AMWAY GLOBAL SCAM" is a site PROMOTING the company. -- The people are BRAINWASHED! Why do I say this? I saw it FIRSTHAND from my friend who introduced me to "the business" [as they call it]... EVERYONE IS TOLD TO LISTEN TO CD's WHEN THEY HEAR CRITICISM ABOUT THE COMPANY! --- Can you believe it?! AMWAY went far enough to TARGET a problem that caused them to loose their valuable $$ supply. -- Its an MLM SCHEME. A very DEVELOPED ONE. They have CREDIBLE PEOPLE SUPPORTING THE BUSINESS so it seems more authentic... but IN THE END IT IS A SCAM.
I will be uploading a Youtube video shortly, I plan to post the link here soon.
DON'T be a SUCKER THAT GETS FOOLED BY PROMISES OF TONS OF $$ earned by others.... THEY JUST WANT YOU to BE PART OF THEIR "LEG" [their referral] so they can GET YOUR CREDIT!
Just recently got approached by one of my friends who was turned into an Amway slave, who asked me if I wanted to make some extra money. Being a college student, how could I say no?
However, during my second meeting with an Amway associate (platinum level apparently), he encouraged me to research Amway online but specifically mentioned to avoid simply googling Amway Global.
The fool might as well have begged me to search Amway. Fortunately these online sites were fraught with warnings of both scams and pyramid schemes, which sounded interesting as both associates seemed to describe Amway as a pyramid. Once you add in the fact that you must pay $300 to both join and become licensed by Amway as an IBO, I must come to the conclusion that Amway is just a hair away from being a pyramid scheme.
Those tricky rascals.
Incidentally, in two days I will be meeting once again with an Amway associate, and I look forward to crush her with the knowledge that I have gained by a little research. I hope that I can make her cry.
Heyy !!
Its really helpful what you have posted here.
I was contacted by 3 people on the same weekend and all of them want to make me IBO in Amway.
....ohh man !! This is too much !!!
:)
Anyways, I read you blog, I read the two articles you have sugessted.. It so helpful.. Thank you so much !!
Cheers,
Nachiket
Reading these comments is soooo very interesting. It is quite obvious that none of you (especially you quixtarisacult) haven't a clue about what you talk/blog about. It is sad that in todays world that so few people have any idea how "business" works. Further more, has anyone thought about checking with the Federal Trade Commission??? No, that would mean that you would have to do some actual work on your own instead of just listening to someone that hasen't got a clue.
The FTC (thats the Federal Trade Commission for those that could figure that one out) has done extensive investigations into the business practices and the "business plan" and guess what(?????), the FTC found that the practices and business plan are TOTALLY LEGAL AND IT IS NOT A SCAM!!!!!
That is not to say that there are not unscrupulous individuals (much like quixtarisacult) that will mislead and actually lie and deceive.
Oh well, there will always be sheeple out there that will follow "false messiahs". But I won't get into politics in this post.
Bottom line, check things out before you do or say anything.
it's amazing how the Amway distributor scam is perpetrated by so many entities that are like tentacles of this venomous,money sucking squid. It's amazing how the IBOs, the scammed, learn how to pitch to others, all following the same spiel as dictated by multimedia their instructions, "tools", which they have to buy and which make money to the kingpins. It is even more amazing how they refuse to listen when told that they are being scammed. It is beyond belief that amway still exists and that the BBB has not shut it down, in fact, they gave it a A rating. I have been aghast reading about this "legal" pyramid scheme, the magnitude of which I only recently grasped. How is our own US Govt protecting the consumers from this life-sucking cult? It is almost as bad as Scientology. And in fact some of the stuff I read in Merchants of Deception or watched in the Dateline Expose evoked the tactics and methods used by the Nazis to "fire people up" during rallies.
I know relatively intelligent people who have been sucked into this. I guess common sense is not that common ...
This post is absurd. Pyramid scams, or ponzi schemes, are illegal. There's no commerce taking place. It's the opposite of what amway does. You all apparently know next to nothing about amway's business, which is an 8 billion dollar a year company with over 50 years credibility.
If you took the time to look at amway's website, you'd see everything they sell. These are things that anybody buys every month: soap, paper towels, breakfast bars, vitamins, medications. The list goes on. IBOS are given a return on the volume of business going through their name.
But, i guess, ignorance is bliss.
Alright, I have read the posts hear and it sound like most of you have your heads on right. I have a good friend who is head strong about getting involved in Amway and spending 143 dollars to get "trained" on how to be successful.
Now when he told me this I was really skeptical (and still am because I know it sounds like a crock of bull) and I am trying to explain to him why this Amway isn't a gateway into becoming a millionare (I really don't want to see him throw his cash away).
Anyways, he has offered to take me to one of their meetings to "learn about the greatness of Amway" and I figured what the hell I may as well go and ask the right questions.
Now that I think of it though, I would like to ask the really right questions to stick these bastards in a corner.
Do you guys/ladies have any questions you suggest I should ask these sales reps of Amway so that I may how my friend that it isn't as "easy" as they say???
I found this as I was searching articles about the negative impact of Amway to show my brother, and I am glad to have a voice. Someone asked how many families has Amway wrecked. It is wrecking mine. My younger brother was a loving, funny, and just plain fun person. Everyone liked him, and everyone wanted to be his friend. Amway has turned him into a negative, Amway-obsessed zombie who cannot even have a conversation without trying to recruit someone to Amway. I used to fight with him occasionally, now we barely speak because he just cuts me down without even realizing he is doing it. He thinks that he has all the answers and someday I will understand. The ridiculous thing is that from every $200 he pumps into this corporation, he gets about $14 back, and that is at most. He attends seminars to make himself feels successful, when really, he is achieving nothing. My parents are both very successful, in fact they are his main source of income though they do not agree with Amway at all. Still, he believes that hey have it all wrong. My dad is a pension consultant, and my mom teaches preschool to blind children. But this to my brother is not good enough. Amway is the only thing that is good enough.
I am not trying to cut down my brother, because I do love him and I hope that he can be saved. But in the meantime, I want to prevent other people from going through this. I will continue to post to this and other sites in hopes that maybe he will come across it someday, and realize how much I do miss him. I just want my brother back.
You are a great man. You are so smart you caught the 8.2 billion dollar company for the company that they are. Debt free, over 50 years old, product saleing, and multi level business. You may want to rember that the products they sell are made in this country by true americans. Two of the ceo's have lead the US chamber of comerce. They also have the money to partner with Best Buy, Sears, and other fortune 500 companys. Their over priced products are a myth a 40 wash box of soap for under $9.00 less than a box of tide at walmart. its great that the web gives you a voice to talk about that withch you know nothing. Wish you well and hope you get correct information. For those who read this bathroom wall you will get what ever view you want. try typing in Ilove amway in the serch you ma find a new look at a great old business.
Haha, I love this. Too bad I've seen an 18 year old make $800 bucks in 2 weeks without spending much money. Seriously last week I met him. Basically payingless than $300. But you are right about IBOs buying from themselves. That method is encouraged, people don't have to buy products for themselves. The system has changed to be more like a business, selling to customers. Which is good. I love reading these 'scam' ideas because it all depends on who helps you out.
you are all sad broke ass losers guaranteed. have fun working your life away and knowing nothing about how to take advantage of this opportunity.
A while back, I sold an item through Craig's List. The buyer showed up at my apartment and discovered, through a bit of small talk, I had just finished my degree and was on the job hunt. He casually mentioned his "buddy" was starting up a promising online company and was looking for a few young, ambitious employees to help launch his website. Desperate for a paycheck, I took the bait. Later that evening I attended a web conference with one, Gator Strong (what a name, right?). A "Kingpin" disguised as a do-gooder family man who simply wanted to share the secrets of financial independence.
This is where the fairytale ends. Once you sort through the smoke and mirrors, it's easy to see the truth behind people like Gator. They only care about using you to pay the utilities on their vacation home and could care less about your well being. Why else would they resort to such low levels of deceit just to try and swindle a few bucks out of a jobless college grad?
Thanks a million for this article! Without such valuable information readily available, I might have fallen victim to Amway's get rich quick garbage.
CULT. I thought my Amway upline truly cared about me until i developed another business interest. at that point, they dropped me like a hot potatoe. i found out quickly it was always a conditional friendship.
CULT. I thought my Amway upline truly cared about me until i developed another business interest. at that point, they dropped me like a hot potatoe. i found out quickly it was always a conditional friendship.
i enjoy amway tree years ago and guess what nothing happen they tell you we can help you but i sign and i never recieve help i start for my self and i do it good but they became mad whit me because i do not wanna buy the books and the cds and i stop because i start having problems whit my family's wife and i do not wanna that even i have problems in my work and with some friends so amway maybe is good business but the people inside is very bad with you when you try for your self.thank's for the article.
The person who wrote this article about Amway Global being a "scam" obviously doesn't understand the company at all. You ARE NOT FORCED to buy anything. They recommend you do, but they also state that IT IS ALL OPTIONAL! you DO NOT have to buy convention tickets, books/CD's, or any of their products. If you do it is your choice, just as it is your choice how much you spend on anything. There's no punishment for not buying. Another thing I would like to point out: Amway is in more than 80 countries around the world. It is associated with major companies such as Sears, Office Depot, Home Depot, Bank of America, Best Buy, and many other companies, as well as being associated with Miss America and Disney. If Amway was really such a money stealing company, so many large companies would NOT be stupid enough to be associated with it. Or are you saying that dozens of companies and a lot of the world is stupid enough and you are the only smart ones? I respect your opinion, but please do a bit more research before you talk down on a RESPECTED COMPANY. People do this business however they want, nothing is forced. And obviously you have to work to make money! You have to do that anywhere! As for Amway being a pyramid company: WRONG! Pyramid companies(those in which the person at the top makes all the money while everyone else puts in all the work) is ILLEGAL! Amway is a multilevel company where different levels make different amounts of money and those people that put in the work get paid, not the one at the top. Amway is completely LEGAL and also works with the IRS. It wouldnt be able to be associated with the IRS if it was a pyramid(which is once again illegal). Don't believe me on that? Do research on the law suit Amway had a few years back on people suing Amway for being a pyramid. At the end of the case Amway was recognized as NOT being a pyramid and being completely legal. Again, please learn more about this company before you talk crap about it. Thank you and have a great day :)
RESEARCH
Joecool, more research needs to be done on your end to find out more, how is it that a company can be a scam and be back by the BBB, or even be in the library of congress as the model for all franchising businesses? how is it that a company like this is in over 80 countries and makes over 8.2 billion dollars a year, and gives over 3 billion of that back to its IBO as bonuses? how is it that they own basketball teams, and hotels, and yet they are not in jail for running a scam? if you look at business scams under the current USA laws they would all go to jail if what you where saying is true. RESEARCH my friend, this is what you must do in order to obtain FACTS on something before you write about it. I did the RESEARCH and this is what i found even on the BBB website they are one of the BEST business opportunities out there, and also best employers for all those who actually work for AMWAY GLOBAL. I am not a IBO nor do i Work for AMWAY, i am just a guy who was talked to about the chance to be an IBO and did some RESEARCH and found this bogus blog along the way. There Products are top of the line, best there is on the market in their areas, and they may cost a little more but you are also buying in bulk these products not a single package, if you do the math and the RESEARCH it is not bad to BUY or SELL AMWAY products.
Tambien Hiitler tenia poder en muchisimos paises, talvez hasta mas que amway y muchisimos sguidores (lideres de otros paises) pensando que llegarian a tener el mismo poder y prisioneros. Entonces por eso era bueno. Tenia paz con rusia, pero ya teniendo en sus manos tantos paises fue por rusia y no se la acabo con ellos. Asi aqui ya tienen tanta gente que estan obligando a los que no quieren entrar a amway y fastidiandolos, QUE YA SE ESTAN EMPEZANDO A QUEJAR Y CUANDO LA CANTIDAD DE QUEJAS CRESCA Y SE SALGA DE CONTROL, VA A DESAPARECER ESA EMPRSA, TARDE O TEMPRANO, EXAGERANDO PUEDE QUE HASTA SE LEVANTE GENTE EN CONTRA DEL GOBIERNO PARA QUE CIERRE ESE NEGOCIO Y POR MAS QUE AMWAY PAGE AL GOBIERNO SERA TANTA GENTE ENOJADA CONTRA EL GOBIERNO QUE TENDRAN QUE RECHAZAR ESE DINERO Y PROCEDER A REALIZAR AS ACCIONES JUSTAS EN CONTRA DE ESTA EMPRESA. sOY DE MONTERREY NL MEXICO, NUEVO LEON ES DE LOS ESTADOS MAS INDUSTRIALIZADOS Y DONDE VIVE LA GENTE CON MAS DINERO DEL PAIS, aqui hacen analicis de cualquier producto que el publico pida, aqui se mueven mucho las demandas. El producto amway es bueno pero no es de excelente calidad, esta a nivel de productos del supermercado. Por ejemplo el jabon esta a nivel de 1 dolar 50 centavos
Can anyone tell me what this last Anonymous comment says? I almost did not post it, but the curiosity got the better of me. What is that? Spanish? Any good interpreters out there?
All I would like to say is that, to earn money you may have to spend some. its not a scam like you all say but it does take patience, time to get what you want. its not a cult, there just family based, if any of you would take some time to read the "material" books they have you would see that. Ill give you that its not for everyone, that a lot of hard work. money does not grow out of trees, you just cant expected for them to give you enormous amounts of money. I mean what store would give you money back for what you buy? no of them, when they have discounts in stores what are you really saving where the money? All I'm trying to say is that basically its not a scam, its hard work and you have to invest, after all its your own business you make it grow. if you recruit someone and they are really working and earning money you aren't going to receive money form their hard work you stay where your at until you decide to do something about it.
anonymous...
Thank you for your comment. I really beg to disagree with you. I agree that it is a lot of hard work and yes a huge investment in the end, most of which DOES NOT pay off. Being a 'core' believer means you pay through the nose to buy the PV each and every month, and then you invest your time and money recruiting a 'downline' and should I mention the TOOL SCAM!
Obviously you are 'sold' on the Amway 'spin', but what they say and what really happens in the end generally are two different things.
Do you not have an upline 'cult' leader? Do you not hold cult like meetings either at your house or at others?
I'm just asking you to think about what you have involved yourself with and to read the actual sordid history of Amway. You may in the end realize the truth is anything but what Amway says about itself.
My husband is hellbent on making it big in Amway. We are now IBOs and have been for almost two years. He grew up with his father in Amway but it was not for his father. A Diamond in the business made an impact in his life as a young man. I am very very skeptical because how do you become successful in a business when your spending almost $500 a month just to get your monthly PV? And yes I also agree that the products are overpriced. I think the only thing I have been happy with is the Detergent. I don't want to not stand behind my husband because he says he has always wanted to do this, but at the same time, listening to his upline who mysteriously only seems to call or contact us to say hi when we make an order or spend in the business, I want to scream at him and wave my arms up and down. He is a smart man why can't he see through this. Anyways, I gave him a year, and if we are still in the same place but much more broke, we are calling it quits! I just wanted to add that I see the scam too! I am just stuck in it for another year =(
Anonymous: Hopefully he will come to his senses before then. Sorry for your luck.
Dear reader
This message intents to serve our Spanish community in USA, it is against Amway..
Esta es una falsa promesa en tiempos de crisis. Mi querida senora esposa es un IBO lleva un ano en este negocio ficticio.No ha logrado convencer a nadie.Si sigue esto veo divorcio.Ha gastado mucho dinero en cada encuentro, esta dividiendo la familia.Parece un zombie amargada y frustrada porque nadie a su alrededor cree en esta via de hacerse millonario.
No creemos en esto, pero Ana Maria tiene el cerebro lavado con Legacy of clean detergent, pero nosotros preferimos Tide
Muy simple, investigue sobre Amway.
Estas son las conclusiones:
-Los productos son excesivamente caros.Entonces, alguien que quiere hacerse millonario porque no tiene dinero necesita consumir a nivel de millonario para enriquecer a otros.Es como pasar por el inferno para llegar al paraiso. No tiene sentido.Quien necesita ATARSE a un precio exagerado y a una marca desconocida en un pais de mercado libre?
- La red que necesitas formar tiene que ser tu familia, tus amigos es decir la gente mas cercana, esos que han estado en tu vida siempre.Ellos son a los que necesitas convencer para que consuman, estos son las victimas. ESTO ES INMORAL.
-Te hacen esclavo de las orientaciones, seminarios y convenciones.
- Te prometen apoyo mientras seas sus esclavos luego te sueltan como una papa caliente .
-Hay mucha informacion sobre la practica de Amway, pero esta en ingles.La experiencia de Los exIBO es negativa.
Recomendacion:antes de meterte en Amway lee
Cualquier intento de obligar a alguien a pensar, actuar en contra de su voluntad es una forma de esclavitud exactamente igual que si le cierras el horizonte para que se haga, diga, repita, promueva un solo camino, es decir consumir solo lo que viene de Amway.
I knew Gator when he was a double diamond. Everything in the blog is correct. Buy from yourself, buy the self help tapes, go to seminars, show the plan blah blah..spend $200 to get $14 back. It's a total pyramid scheme.
Agradeciendo al comentarista de habla española por su entrada. Amway es un esquema pernicioso sin importar en qué idioma se describe.
Great site!
Thank you.
Post a Comment