So I am standing in a store isle trying to choose from wide variety of jewelry making supplies, a woman came and pretend she is trying to choose too. After couple of minutes she started talking with me beginning with a compliment, and then continue asking more personal questions, like what I do and so on. She mentioned couple of times that she and her husband have their own business, which turns to be very successful, but did not say what they do exactly. Then she said they are actually currently looking for people to work part time, who will earn not more than a $1000 a month, it is an job something to do with internet, and people can work whenever they want and for how long they choose.
Of course, I did not like that she is not giving me more information, but I decided maybe this is not the place for that. I do not believe that things happen by chance in this life, so I guessed she approached me on purpose to offer me a job, but it was strange to me how someone will offer you a job, just like that. Of course I wanted to see what this is all about, so I agreed to accept more information from her.
The next day she told me their company partners with AMWAY and she sent me a video that was about 5 minutes long, but there was nothing that gives me an idea what did is all about, the only thing I understood is something to do with internet advertising and networking. The web site with the video was very very basic with nothing in it.
I began researching the company name, but found NOTHING in the whole wide internet, so I though that this is weird. Then I looked at the EMAIL she sent me and because there is nothing that can lead me to some more information my eye cough the domain of her email - LTDTEAM.COM. When I goggled that there was so much information I did not have enough time to read it.
Apparently LTDTEAM and AMWAY are either the same company (no one knows that for sure), or partners or just do the same thing. Their members recruit people who have to attend some kind of a free sessions that teach you how to make money. I did not wanted to go to that session, because I did not wanted to lose my time in something I am not interested to do. Also after a detailed research I found out that on these sessions they ask you for $100-$200 to get in and start making money, but also you have to recruit more and more people. The people you recruit will pay the same amount you paid, and you will probably get a percent of that money, so the more people you find, the more money you get (this is just my guess). What is the actual work you do? I found article that states you help them sell some products they have, for example they have beauty products, cleaners and so on. The woman that approached me said they work for companies like Circuit city (which I think does not exist anymore), and other famous brands, but I did not understand what is the connection between these brands and their own products that have nothing to do with Bath and Body Works, for example.
According to many websites LTD, Amway and others are absolutely legal. These companies teach you how to make money from the things you already buy in the stores (no idea what actually this means). Sounds like these at home jobs that you pay some money for a package and they send you information what to do to make money. Of course there are so many different opinions out there that it is impossible to conclude whether this type of money making is scam or not, but if they are approved by the government as legal then they should be legal. It is maybe just the way they work, and once their reputation is damaged, no other way back. On the other side maybe the bad reputation is the reason they work this way, without giving information, and recruiting people on the street by a friendly conversation.
However, this type of job is not for everyone. Different types of jobs are for different people. For example an artist may not want to work as a musician. So everyone have the right to choose what they do. Me personally, I choose not to get involved in this type of jobs, I would like to know details, the company to be more open, to make money out of something I love to do, not lose my time for something that will not give me the knowledge I want.
The other thing I did not like is that I found even information that on their meetings they talk about religion. Well, I am very sensitive on that topic, I am a religious person, and I would not like someone to preach about religion, when the main topic suppose to be actually money, I am sorry but I just do not see the connection, and I don`t want to see it, especially through the eyes of someone else. One has nothing to do with the other, they are even in conflict. The most detailed article I found is http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1892112/the_truth_about_ltdamway_pg3.html?cat=31. It explains in more details what this is all about.
All this is of course just an opinion and it is not a fact, everyone should make their own conclusions based on their own research. I will provide some of the websites I found information and you will conclude for yourself.
http://erichmusick.com/index.html?article=709 Provides plenty of information and comments on that topic. There are many comments connected with Christ and religion as a whole that I still do not get what is the connection with making money and business, while my religion do not really support that. The other blog I found is http://leadershipteamdevelopmentscam.blogspot.com/2009/03/leadership-team-development-scam.html. It has a lot of comments that supports these type of business and explain what are the benefits. Here you can find many comments which sound more negative http://www.city-data.com/forum/raleigh-durham-chapel-hill-cary/568450-leadership-team-development-ltd.html
Very interesting blog about MLMs: http://www.thetruthaboutamway.com/amway-is-not-a-scam-but-you-can-still-be-scammed/
Again, all this is just an opinion , I do not say that these companies are scam, I just want to provide various information for people who are wondering what this is all about. But still be careful...
Amway is a scam. Read this and pass it on to everyone you know, so they don't get scammed: http://texsquixtarblog.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteTex, thank you for the information. This is unbelievable. You know I did not want to say that is scam or not, but obviously there is a need to do so. It is sad that they want to rip off regular people who cannot afford to lose their petty cash. I hate that.
ReplyDeleteThe story as old as the world... They almost got me a couple of times back when I was a student. Thank God I was smart enough (or lucky enough?) to not let that happen.
ReplyDeleteThank God Olia. Nowadays people have to research everything including job offers. There are many other "businesses" that recruit people for all kinds of jobs, but you know the truth is that it is hard enough to find jobs now, so whenever someone offers you one out of nowhere, you have to know that there is something fishy. I get all kinds of calls and emails from careerbuilder.com and other jobs web sites. They ask me to go for an interview, but when I research the company and see that they do not say what you will do, I just refuse.
ReplyDeleteI am an IBO with Amway, and I happily use the LTD training system. You either did not understand what was presented, or like a lot of people, are making decisions based on what people who do not really know what they are talking about. I am not trying to offend you. That wasn't the point. This system is so simple, but even intelligent people who present the plan can make it look harder than it is, even if they don't mean to. Some people just explain the plan better than others. Maybe you could go back and see someone else present it? Here it is in a nut shell- You change where you buy the things you already buy. You sell some products to friends, family, co workers etc. (you get the idea). The whole networking thing is not necessary, but it will allow you to make so much more than you can by yourself. It's called the power of duplication. A few people can get a lot more work done than one person. Look at McDonald's. Each franchise pays the Kroc family 4% of the daily take. That is about $100.00 per day. Doesn't sound like much right? Well multiply that times around 32,000 franchises. 100 dollars per day or 3.2 million per day, which is more appealing to you? That is basically what you are doing with your Amway / LTD business. I would be happy to explain this to you, so that you can make an informed decision as to whether or not this opportunity is for you. No sneakyness. lol Just straight forward with the facts. That is how I wanted it when I got started. The only "catch" to this business is basically what you are sitting on. This isn't a get rich quick skeem. You get out of it what you put into it. It is simple, but not everyone has the motivation to change their life and do what will free them from the things in life that are holding them back. What are you willing to do to free yourself? ryanturnersr@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteRyan, thank you for your response, I really appreciate that. It is great to have somebody explain more clearly what this is all about.
ReplyDeleteYou are right I did not understand this type of business (I wrote it in my article honestly), and one of the reasons is that the person who contacted me about this could not explain in details, which is not her fault. Actually she was really really nice person and really wanted me to come to their session. As I said in my article above I know that once there is a negative review of something on the internet, it puts in people`s head that there is something fishy. But the reason I am not interested in this type of thing is simply that this is not something I want to do. I am a sociology graduate, and I want to focus on other things. You know how there are people who can make money from everything, and will find a way to make it work, well, I guess I am a different kind of person. My principles are that I want to do what I love to do, no matter how much I earn. This is nothing to do it the type of business Amway and the others does, it is mostly me. I posted this article explaining this. And that is one thing that LTD team member told me, if it is not something you want to do then there is no reason to loose our time.
Thanks again Ryan for you great response. I wish you luck in your business, and I keep your email just in case I change my mind.
Almost a year has past since Ryan posted. Is he any closer to freedom? Though I do wish him success overwhelming odds are it is not too be. Even IBO's that are emeralds (which over 99% never acheive this level) only make a meager amount of reward- 35k a year or so. The very high ranking members of amway make the vast majority of their profits by selling cd's, seminars, etc. to their downline. This is the hidden business that is so unethical.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, what is your point? 95% of all businesses fail in the first five years, so why should Amway reps need to perform better than that before people stop calling it a scam? Not all stores are Walmart; not all distributors are diamonds.
ReplyDeleteAfter two years I am wandering what happened with Ryan too. The Amway web is still working and I am sure many people make profit out of it. I am also curious about other different companies like Amway that makes money through recruiting/selling. If you guys still remember to check my blog it will be nice to hear you opinions.
ReplyDelete