Family crisis (life or death)- Anyone have any info on Quixtar (used to be Amway)

[Geoff_M]

It does have the cult feel to it although I was not in a branch of Quixtar that had the VanAndels.

Amway/Quixtar/Alticor is wholly owned by the DeVos and VanAndel families of Michigan. They make and sell the products to the entire distribution network.

There was a lot of "believing the dream" type stuff, and a lot of books. Some of the books were better then others - I have one called Checkmate that I still refer to about paying down debt, and one called Positive Personality Profiles that has helped me with my sales (my current position). The author of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" has actually endorsed Quixtar which really confuses me.

There certainly have been a lot of big name nationally known motivational speakers that have aligned themselves with Amway/Quixtar over the years. However, in the case of Robert T. Kiyosaki of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad", there appears to be some nagging questions about him too: Link But the endorsement makes sense in that his target audience is the same as Quixtar's... People that want to gather a lot of wealth for themselves. And if Kiyosaki can pull down some serious speaking fees at Quixtar events, then why the heck not?!?!

THey have great products especially the make products through Artistry - but I didn't buy enough to bother to keep the membership, and plus it put a strain on my friendship with my upline. Yes I quit - but I am still friends with my former upline.

Yes, they do make some nice products, though we've found them to be very overpriced in general even with the "Me-Mart" discounts!

 

[jipsy]

Been there done that got the t-shirt. My ex was eyeball deep into it and pretty much sold off everything we had. We lost everything, including our marriage. And we were sponsored by a double diamond's sister and BIL. Very close to them.

Read this, it will really open your eyes:

http://www.cocs.com/jhoagland/

 

[canwegosoon]

OP...to get out of the grasp, he has to quit, go cold turkey, return product and walk away and never come back. I was in MK and it was horrible like Laura posted. I could easilly see how someone who had never worked, then heard the "stories of millionaires" sould get sucked in hard. I would call his doctor, and see if there is something that can be done. Wishing you both all the best

 

[lookingforward]

But he's not in TN... he's in Florida and you can absolutely have someone committed per the Baker Act:

http://www.psychlaws.org/PressRoom/faqonbakeract.htm



Make the call... please

I am trained and certified in the Florida Baker Act and all licensed mental health professionals as well as medical providers AND law enforcement officers can and do baker act when the client meets the criteria. That said...your nephew would have to be a clear harm to himself or others OR actively voicing his desires to die or cause harm to himself. In the state of Florida it takes a great deal to involuntarily hospitalize someone. If the officer asks him "do you want to hurt yourself" and he says "no" they can't take him in if he is otherwise acting normally (coherant, dressed, able to care for himself).

Best bet would be to get him to a mental health doctor as soon as possible for an evaluation. They may be able to stabilize his depression (if he is) or his mood disorder (if he has one). A public baker act facility (assuming he has no insurance and can't go private) will be a quick 24 to 48 hour stay where they will stabalize him with medication and give him a treatment followup plan. It would be up to him to 1. take his meds and 2. go for therapy. He is an adult and can't be forced if he is outpatient.

I know it sounds depressing but there is help out there for him. And if he is saying how he wants to die or would be better off dead call for help immediately. My thoughts are with you and your family!

 

[rafe]

My wife and I are Quixtar IBO's and run a successful business. Our hearts and prayers go out to him and the rest of your family. I hope you are in the process of getting him help.

Quixtar is not a get rich quick scheme. When I do presentations I tell people this up front. I also let people know that I am presenting them an opportunity to be either a business owner or a client. I am just as happy to have a new customer as I am to help a new business owner get started. If they choose to do neither one it does not change our relationship at all. I am not a recruiter or a cult leader. No one is required to buy any tapes, cd's, or books. As far as the religious issue we have christians, hindus, buddists, and nonbelievers that come to our business meetings each week. I never talk about religion with people at our meetings. There is a positive message that is promoted which has to do with how you treat others, how you help others, and how you improve yourself. You can find these same things in many best selling books at any bookstore. I am not in the brainwashing business. It is not my goal to control anybody. I want to offer an opportunity for people but only if it fits into their family goals and dreams. I run a really simple business. I don't lie to people, cheat them, or scam them. If I don't know the answer to a question I tell them I don't know but I will find out. I think people on the outside read things into our business that simply is not there. Sorry about rambling on but there comes a point when you get tired of all these people attacking you about stuff that is untrue. I am like most IBO's who runs an honest business just like the others businesses in your towns and cities.

We will pray for the well being of this young man and his family. God bless you.

Rafe

 

[LindsayDunn228]

My wife and I are Quixtar IBO's and run a successful business. Our hearts and prayers go out to him and the rest of your family. I hope you are in the process of getting him help.

Quixtar is not a get rich quick scheme. When I do presentations I tell people this up front. I also let people know that I am presenting them an opportunity to be either a business owner or a client. I am just as happy to have a new customer as I am to help a new business owner get started. If they choose to do neither one it does not change our relationship at all. I am not a recruiter or a cult leader. No one is required to buy any tapes, cd's, or books. As far as the religious issue we have christians, hindus, buddists, and nonbelievers that come to our business meetings each week. I never talk about religion with people at our meetings. There is a positive message that is promoted which has to do with how you treat others, how you help others, and how you improve yourself. You can find these same things in many best selling books at any bookstore. I am not in the brainwashing business. It is not my goal to control anybody. I want to offer an opportunity for people but only if it fits into their family goals and dreams. I run a really simple business. I don't lie to people, cheat them, or scam them. If I don't know the answer to a question I tell them I don't know but I will find out. I think people on the outside read things into our business that simply is not there. Sorry about rambling on but there comes a point when you get tired of all these people attacking you about stuff that is untrue. I am like most IBO's who runs an honest business just like the others businesses in your towns and cities.

We will pray for the well being of this young man and his family. God bless you.

Rafe

Thanks so much for sharing, Rafe

Like I said, I'm not an IBO for Quixtar to see and make money. I'm just in it for the wholesale prices

 

[Laura]

What's your opinion of those who've been on the "inside" and say it is like a cult, rafe? What about the Dateline video, for example?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

And why was that necessary?

 

[Laura]

And why was that necessary?

Oh, please. Just because you're not in deep doesn't mean that rafe isn't talking out of his butt. Or are you in it deeper than you want to admit?

And why would someone join the DIS just to post that stuff?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Oh, please. Just because you're not in deep doesn't mean that rafe isn't talking out of his but. Or are you in it deeper than you want to admit?

I'm not in it deep at all. Why on earth would I lie about something like that? I am not good in sales and have no interest in it. I just have a good friend who is an IBO and sampled some products to me. I liked them and started buying them from her. In the long run, it was cheaper for me to become an IBO. That is my only tie to Quixtar. I have never been to their conferences, meetings, read the books, etc. I don't have any interest in that.

Sheesh.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

And why would someone join the DIS just to post that stuff?

I have to admit, that is fishy behavior. I didn't notice that was their first post until you pointed it out.

Odd.

 

[Laura]

Then why must you doubt those who've seen the ill effects an "opportunity" like Quixtar has on people? I'm glad you're only in it for the discount and aren't sucked into a vortex of debt and self-doubt.

But a business like that, I think Geoff said it well, would never get a dime from me. No thanks.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Oh I don't doubt for a second that people have gotten screwed by the company. Not in the least. But like I said before, the same happens w/ Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, you name it. There are very good experiences and some very bad ones.

I am not responsible for the decisions other people make with their finances and whatnot.

 

[rafe]

My wife and I pay all of our bills on time every month. Actually we have paid off a vehicle a year early, paid for our part of a wedding, and went on a trip this summer for a week in Mexico. We do not have an inventory of goods that we stock to be a certain level in the company. We are running a business and the purpose of a business is to make money. We do devote a certain amount of time each day to the accounting end of the business. There are many organizations associated with Quixtar. Quixtar is a supplier. I think some of the things some of you are upset with have to do with certain organizations associated with the supplier Quixtar. I do not make any products but I have a web portal where people can go to shop. I cannot speak for all the organizations associated with quixtar. It is not good business sense to cheat people out of their money or life savings. I never encourage people on my team to spend more that what they would normally spend going to another store. My wife and I both work jobs and do this business. We are not going to run out and quit our job to devote all of our time to running the business. If at some point it grows to the point where my wife can leave her job we will look into it. I repeat this is not a get rich quick scheme. It will take you a while to be successful in any business. We are relatively small in this business but big enough to where what we shop for is free each month. If I go to Wal-Mart or any other store my shopping will never be free. Do I make some money? Yes I make some but that is the purpose of business. Understand that I have an online mall. I am very happy if people want to be my customers just like Sam Walton was very happy seing people shopin his stores. I am practicing free enterprise. If you do't like the products then you go shop at another store/mall. To me it is good getting what I need delivered by UPS or the Post Office and I don't have to waste gas or time to go shop. The main thing is nobody is going to twist your arm to do this.

Rafe

Sorry but I am not part of some big brainwashing network trying to take over the world LOL

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Rafe, I, for one, do not doubt your words. What makes it strange is that you have 2 posts to your name, both on this thread. Did you join the DIS just to make these comments, or who are you really on the DIS?

 

[Geoff_M]

I am not a recruiter or a cult leader. No one is required to buy any tapes, cd's, or books.

rafe, welcome to the DIS Boards!

I'm glad to hear that you appear to be in a more benign line of sponsorship. And you are 100% correct that purchasing tools is not "required". Quixtar is very quick to point out this fact is stated as part of their IBO agreement. However, I'm sure you're familiar with the old phrase in "the business" (I've heard my Dad parrot it too) "Yes, the tapes, books, etc. are optional... but so is success!!!" So while per the IBO contract recruits don't have to buy "tools", great pressure is often applied to them to do so... they are told repeatedly to not do so is to invite failure.

It is not good business sense to cheat people out of their money or life savings.

I agree 100% too. And Amway co-founder Rich DeVos agreed with you many years ago in this recording sent to top distributors where he mentions many of the same problems and abuses here (starts at the 0:40 second mark). Unfortunately, Amway never really has addressed the issues other than to put in place legal defenses into the IBO agreements that would shield Alticor from liability for the abuses by the QMO's. "But wait", you say, "Quixtar took action by putting in place rules that allow people to return and get refunds on products as well as books and tapes! That's something, right?" We, that's what Quixtar likes to tell you, but the Devil is in the fine print... Video of "details".

We are relatively small in this business but big enough to where what we shop for is free each month. If I go to Wal-Mart or any other store my shopping will never be free.

I didn't realize that the "Me-mart" discount in the business was now 100%. If instead you are trying to imply that your "savings" or commission from "buying from yourself" can be applied towards getting products for "free", I'd suggest you do some cost comparisons against other conventional retailers or other internet vendors. Rarely have Amway/Quixtar price comparisons shown an advantage over other retailers... even taking into consideration distributor/IBO discounts.

I also know that Amway/Quixtar folks love to compare their "business" to Wal-mart. When my parents joined I heard all sorts of stuff about how Amway was going to be the "next Wal-mart" (Quixtar too, when it was launched). They were gonna "blow Wal-mart into the weeds", etc. etc. But since then the two companies have pretty much been headed in two opposite directions in terms of business fortunes.

Not in the least. But like I said before, the same happens w/ Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, you name it.

Lindsay, personally if the Mary Kay and/or Pampered Chef HQs were aware of the same sort of systematic abuses by members of their distribution network and likewise opted to do little other than a corporate CYA to protect themselves, I wouldn't patronize them in any fashion either (though being a guy that's pretty safe to say with regard to Mary Kay!).

 

[ducklite]

I two friends, one sells Mary Kay, the other sells Pampered Chef. Neither have tried to sell me on their product or pushed me to buy or hold a party.

The girl that does Mary Kay is a law student and does it p/t to make a few dollars. I can't recall exactly what she said she made last year, but it was in teh $2000 range. Not bad for something she can set her own hours for, and not work during finals, etc.

The girl that does Pampered Chef is a SAHM. She generally does two parties a month--she loves that it gets her out of the house a couple times a month. I'm not sure how much she made last year, but my guess is in the $3000 range. I went to a party she ran that was hosted by her sister before I moved to FL, it was fun and I bought maybe $30 in stuff--stuff that I still use daily--there was no pressure at all to buy.

Neither one is brainwashed or pushy. They both do it to make a little pocket money.

That said, years ago I contacted a local Amway rep to purchase an item that at the time only Amway carried. He got so pushy with trying to sell me everything else, including laundry soap, vitamins, makeup, it was so ridiculous that I just stopped buying that item forever. He also kept trying to recruit me to sell the stuff, to come to meetings with him, telling me I could make a fortune--yeah, buy looking at his falling apart 15 year old car, I'm sure. He called a few times after that, still trying to sell me on stuff, and I finally got po'ed and hung up on him.

It was a very different scenario from the Pampered Chef party where there was no pressure, and the items really sold themselves. No one told me my liver would become toxic if I didn't buy a spatula--but the Amway guy tried to tell me it would if I didn't buy his vitamins.

My point is that some of these companies--and reps--are not like all of them. That said, the one experience that I had with Amway was such a turnoff that I'd never buy from them--or any similar company (like Quixtar)--again.

Anne

 

[Geoff_M]

"The Office" meets "Quixtar"... Man, where have I heard those lines before???

Also, I'm sure it was in all of the newspapers when it was announced, but in case you haven't heard they're "re-inventing" themselves again: Alticor to drop "Quixtar" name and go back to Amway. So now for the umpteenth time when you're approached about this "business opportunity" you'll be told "No, this isn't like 'Quixtar' used to be. They've improved it and kept the good things and got rid of what some people didn't like!"

 

[DVC-Don]

We had some friends who fell into Quixtar and tried to recruit us several times telling us we were never going to make it unless we went along with them (We own an insurance agency with 3 employees and are comfortable). They traveled to conventions all over and bought sales kits. They lost their house last week.

 

[sarahkaiserdse]

I just wanted to say... Alot of different groups use the quixtar website and products about 500 different groups. Each group runs the "buisness" alittle different. It is unfair to group everyone who is affilated with quixtar as a scam artist. My husband and I are members who shop through quixtar and honestly they do have some very good products that are worth every penny. Just like any group their are going to be people who are dishonest and people who truly want to help you. It is a shame about the op nephew but honestly he has to want to get out or seek help on his own.