Should Be An Interesting Week

Well, I must say, a LOT of IBO's have come out of the woodwork (not Woodward..hee-hee) and responding to Amway/Quixtar/Alticor's media blog about the diamonds that are no longer in the business.

Basically, you have 2 schools of thought, Amway is right and Orrin is right.

There is just a myriad of loaded questions that the critics could ask Amway or Orrin, or Billy Florence or Chris Brady, or Fred (aka "Zack") Harteis, or Don Wilson et al.

This is a very different type of exodus in Amway. Firstly, it's not just one "disgruntled" person who is messing up big time and has lost sight of things. This is over a dozen high level people that have decided that this business is just not worth hanging on to.

Whatever happened to this being a willable business you could pass on to your children? If that is true, why are there a dozen or so thinking it's not worth it?

For years, many "leaders" and hardcore IBO's have been saying prices were competitive, plain and simple. Why is there now a lawsuit by the same dozen or so claiming that because the prices are so high it's an illegal pyramid scheme?

Why are we now finding out only now that less than 5% (Point # 45 in the lawsuit) of sales are to people outside of the business when it was known last year? Probably because it's a privately held company and it doesn't have to disclose that fact to anybody. I remember people always saying that it was better than other businesses because it was privately held. Is that good? This suggests that perhaps it isn't such a good thing to be involved in a privately held, and therefore unaccountable business.

Let's not forget about Woodward, Harteis, Wilson et al. How can you be telling people something you benefit from for so long, then just walk away? How can you be saying one thing for most of your Amway career and then turn around and say the exact opposite at the drop of a hat? Bo Short comes to mind, in that they were either lying all those years, or they are lying now.

In short, this is one huuuge can'o' worms that's just been opened. Humpty Dumpty has fallen off the wall, and I don't think all the king's horses and all the king's men are going to be able to make it right again.

I wish I could say I felt sorry for one side or the other. I really do. But this song has been sung for a very long time.

Now it's time for everyone to pay the piper.

Stay Tuned

For the IBO

Over at Beth Dornan's blog there was a post about five ideas that Quixtar needs to stop doing. I enjoy reading the IBO feedback (other than Tex) because I truly believe there are IBO's who are doing this for a number of reasons, but not necessarily to have a mansion and expensive cars.

The two points that struck a chord the most with me are Tex's post and Jeffrey.

Tex said to quit pretending there's no tool profits. I believe Quixtar does need to be reminded of this, and since Tex obviously has nothing else on the go, I think it's great for him to be all over Quixtar's ass to keep them reminded of the problem.

Jeffrey's comment was well thought out, but I especially liked #3. Shipping. There you have it. Someone is openly saying that the shipping is expensive.

Shipping has ALWAYS been a bone of contention for me personally. It is sooo expensive, yet you'd think with all the shipping of products going on, that Quixtar would be able to cut some kind of discount with the shipping companies.

I understand that it costs money to get products to people. Anyone who doesn't think shipping is worked into the price at Wal-Mart is plain stupid. I also understand that Quixtar products are alleged to be a cut above, therefore more costly. I get it.

When you combine the "higher quality" product with the shipping costs, you get a really, really expensive product, which probably cost more than at a local store, plus you pay additional shipping costs, and furthermore, you have to wait for it a week or more, depending on where you live.

IBO's are notorious for saying that Quixtar's power in the marketplace is a force to be reckoned with, due to the massive volume of products moved each year.

How about using that big stick to cut down on shipping for people in order to make their businesses more competitive?