Amway: The Untold Story

Hey asshole - why dont you get a life instead of trashing this company. If you spent a fraction of the time on building the Amway business as opposed to maintaining this sight, you could be making some serious money by now.

I am sure you have no success in any other areas of your life so you take it upon yourself to trash others who are achieving both in and out of the Amway business.

Dear Sidney,

I have been checking by your website periodically for over two years now. Sorry to see you had to close shop. You have done a great job at exposing the lies and deceit - I learned it all the hard way. You can hold your head high…

Sidney,

Wow. Great site. I didn't even realize that something like this existed. It is interesting to see all the different responses you have as well. I had my own little Scamway experience too. It started when I was in the service and looking forward to getting out. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do and it just so happens I was approached by one of the robots. Well, needless to say, given my situation and desire to earn some good money, I got sucked right in. I began doing everything in earnest because the numbers just looked so good. I thought I could really make this work. I actually saw myself making some good money doing this crap. However, it didn't take long before I knew something was dreadfully wrong. The kicker for me was my sponsor. My sponsor was a complete knucklehead and lying loser. You never knew if he was telling the truth or not. He sounded like a broken scamway tape. He couldn't even speak in normal sentences. He had to talk in all the cool little amway lingo. It was bad because he was incapable of sponsoring any of his own thoughts any more. He was completely and amazingly brainwashed. Having been in the Marines and he was in the Army didn't help things either. I never really paid much attention to his and the others religous zealotry and bible thumping until several months into it. I think I scared them a little because I didn't care about that stuff. I was so focused on the numbers. Then I began to see the truth. The truth was this: No one in my upline was making any money!! I was doing better off than my sponsor and my direct distributor!! The other big thing was that no one could or would answer my questions, like why do I need all these tapes…they all say the same thing and they are boring? When are we going to get some worthwhile sales training etc etc? Why do we have to stay up half the night listening to ridiculously boring and not-so-good motivational lectures. Why have all these allegedly successful people in this business come from such loser backgrounds? I'm not a loser. Do you need to be a low life when you start this thing in order to be successful? How about learning successful techniques of selling products etc? Boy did I cause a little uproar. Once I figured out the tools scam I broke off relations with everybody. Stopped spending money and let the relationship die. Thank god.....no pun intended. All in all, things weren't too bad with me. I only showed this to a couple of friends who laughed at me....now I'm out of it and we're still friends. It's been a couple of years since this debacle and I chalk it all up to just being young and stupid. However, I do pity the people who really fall head over heels for this crap. If they get some sort of wierd, twisted religous satisfaction from doing it then hey, whatever, but for those who think they are really going to make a million bucks....wow, you're and idiot and I would like your phone number cause I got a few deals for you.....fool. For those who think they actually get their freedom I say this.....freedom from what! If, and I mean If, you are one of the half of one percent who get to quit your "normal" job, you get what?....You get to quit one job for another! You quit your "normal" job for one of running your scamway business. The thing doesn't run itself! To make all those "millions" do you know how many people you need to deceive? Do you know how many tapes and other tools you need to push? A whole lot! You aren't going to be waking up at the crack of noon if you want to be rich in Amway, you have to peddle, peddle, peddle like all the other robots. You have to be known as something in this world. Banker, Doctor, Lawyer, Stockbroker, Golfer, Loser…something. I just know I don't want to be known as a Scamway robot.

I really wonder how many people send you rebuttals you never print. That's the same repression you believe you are fighting. When people 'see the plan' the have the God given right to get involved or not. To do any job you need information. That is packaged as tools. Inexpensive and plenty. As a programmer I buy books in my field all the time that are 50-100 dollars. Never once has Bill Gates approached me or made himself accesible to me to help promote my career in computers. On the flip side I have acess to some of the most sucessful people in this business. I hope you continue your ragtime ranting. Those people who can't succeed, need someone to blame the failures on, for justification that they gave up on themselves. How else would Geraldo, Jenny Jones and Jerry Springer get the slugs of life to grace their stages. I make my own decisions and pay my own bills. It is up to each of us to choose a path, and take the bad with the good. I am replacing a large computer career income with an Amway income and people who can't last in the real world insult those who stayed in the race. Hope you find whaterver it is you're good at. Crying never paid any bills.

Have you ever heard of free enterprise? By the comments on your web page I would say not. If Success principles, good moral values and ethics are cult like behaviour then bring on the Dahli Lama, 'cause I'm ready baby. You quoted cetain statements made at Amway functions as being brainwashing in style. Let me ask you this, why is someone in a public gathering, drunk, dressed poorly for -10F weather, screaming at the top of his or her lungs called a great fan if its a football game, but you consider us cult like?

Hey, just because you failed in your attempts don't take it out on the people trying to gain success in the best business opertunity on the planet

Hello--and i appreciate your site.I am a distributor in TEXAS in the Dexter Yager line and everything jeff probandt has exposed is exactly as we thought it was.I am a 1000 pin and i have repeatedly asked questions about the tapes etc etc---and get the exact responses jeff has outlined here! Jeff is correct on his stance on changing the <<<SYSTEM>>>>. There are great people in amway====but there is D-E-C-E-P-T-I-O-N also. I have been lied to many times----and if you question the upline they treat you like the antichrist----they are wayyyyyyyy to serious--i just sit back and laugh. Thank you for proving what we always thought was true but were denied.Thanks to Jeff also!!!!

I don't want to take up a lot of your time. The reason I'm e-mailing you is that my wife and I are out of the fog…:-) I saw an web site about the BSM agreement, is there any way to get the money back for the tools that we invested? Thanks to you we saw the light.........

I am just researching the sites and really not surprized in what i see. after attenting one of the meetings and seeing the difference in my wifes personality I started looking. right now she has been with it 8 weeks. I never approved of it. Even our two sons are in thanks to or neice. I could always sense something was wrong. Even now I have knots in my stomach because of the way it is affecting our marriage. After 31 years of Good relationship I am ready to throw amway out of my house and separate from my wife if she won't quit. I pray, I cry , I argue. God help those of us who are going through this.

There is money in networking products, and there is money in the tool system to be made. Both of these are positive in my book. Something to look foward to. Bottom line, the business works better WITH my upline's tool system than without it, period. This is a business, it is to be treated as such and those who criticize it really can look back and truthfully say that they did not do what it took to make it in this, THE greatest opportunity in the business world. These are good people that I am in business with, all the way from corporate, to my upline organization. I forgive you for your attacks on us, but ask you to refrain, please.

Have you considered a site or something in Australia? Legals can be somewhat cheaper over here.There is Amway here unfortunately,and ex friends of mine are in it.But our laws can differ to yours,which can make life easier for the likes of yourself in different cases. Also,if there is action here,the newspapers and tv current affairs would have a feeding frenzy.

I have only just found out about this here site and am very tore up about how some-one like yourself has to back down,for sake of the dollar(or the lack thereof).

btw,I was in a mlm called OmegaTrend which was taken to court several times by Amway years ago,and they(Am) lost.O/T wasn't as fanatical as Am,and the set up wasn't as bad either,but still I found that I could lose friends very quickly and .....oh well,it wasn't for me.Give me good ol' retail-over the counter any day.

The businesses that people start up selling Amway products and services are not professionals they are average people looking for the easy life that everyone would like to believe is out there but in reality doesn't ; but for the others that know there's a price to be paid and that no one is going to do it for you. Those are the people that are actively looking for the best vehicle to get them where they want to go. When they find it they run with it . To find that vehicle you most first find someone that you think know how to build it and copy everything you can from that person about how to build that vehicle.

The skills needed to build a good business are learned and for some people they don't want to do what's needed to learn the skills or use them to the level that will make them effective. People will do the things they feel comfortable with. That's why most people fail. They don't push themselves to the next level.

I most be the exception to the rule. I don't believe that the big wigs in Amway are out to get me. I've read a lot of the letters sent to you saying how Amway is stealing them blind, but what they don't say about how they ran THEIR business ( sending more money than what their business was bringing in. ) . Most people fail in building a profitable business in Amway because they're unwilling to make the changes that will help them to grow to the level at which they can do the things that their sponsor would like them to do. Instead they spend their personal money until it runs out or they get frustrated then quit( they stop all activity) I know this probably won't change you or your supporters views about the Amway opportunity but for some us it's the vehicle we've been looking for and for many more people out there willing to do what it takes.

I look forward to seeing my letter among the hundreds of others you have posted.

Dear Sid,

After just a quick read of your site, I must admit that 90% of opinions offered are based in fact.

Amway does have nuts who treat it as a religion - BEWARE THESE ONES - they do nothing but go to those seminars and carry on. When not at a seminar they approach people asking them the usual stupid question "I've got a business I'd like you to look at." "Is it Amway?". "It's something new and innovative, come to my place or better yet I'll come to yours and I'll discuss it further".

Apart from badgering the unknowing general populace, these nutters count the days to the next seminar or "Family Reunion".

But apart from the fruitcakes and the sleazy "Network Group Tools" promoters, underneath all the grime, there is still a good solid business or at the least some savings and shop at home convenience for yourself.

Just everyone must be made aware that Amway only sells products and has a marketing system, it is everyone else and their mumbo-jumbo that screws things up for the unsuspecting.

Mr Schwartz,I wouldn't think of asking someone so already negative, to research the rest of the negative world for bad things like mlm's the family killers,worse than casinos for taking your money,and oh yes the big one,are you ready? The 5,000 business questions you should ask before starting a business, but didn't, so now your doomed to failure!!!!My God, who did henry ford ask those questions to? Or Sam Walton? Or Ray Crock? How do people like you get so twisted?You left out the biggest key word in your entire attack,CHOICE!!!!! I didn't see any swastika's,but i'm sure if I checked in your closet,there might be one or two laying around??????

Jeff, I really appreciate the insights you've provided on the business. I've been in the business 4 years but have been struggling with a number of issues, particularly the 1) expense to build the business; functions, tapes, books, etc. 2) the overall price of the products; most are excessive.

I feel like when I get a monthly bonus check( which I have for every month since I've been in) I'm just getting money back because I've overpaid. This is more prevalent at the lower PV/BV levels. In your articles nothing was mentioned that I could see about product pricing at distributor or retail. I have a lot of difficulties selling much of anything at retail unless the person is desperate. And if they do purchase at retail, they tend not to be a repeat customer. I actually feel guilty charging anything above my cost.

I'd appreciate hearing any insights you may have on product pricing structure; particularly the Nutrilite where the biggest PV and BV can be found. The 30% savings we tout is in reality less than 5% or so over the competition. That's my observation on a lot of our products. I believe the quality overall is good, but not necessarily exceptional( the value is not there)

Dear Sir,

I know you probably get alot of email from distributers like my self who are distributers and proud of it. I don's see how anybody can say that Amway is bad. There may be bad distibutors in the business, but that doesn't make us all bad. When you own an Amway distributorship it your own business and you can do with it what you want. You have no quotas, you are not pressured an any way. As far as the cult side of it. I wish it was a Cult because as you should know in a cult the members follow the leaders every wish. And its hard for me to get my downline to buy there own products.

You make references to the tapes and seminars. The place I currently work spends thousands of dollars a year on similar things for there employees. They send us to see such motivational speakers as Zig Ziggler. Whats the difference? People need motivation to do anything.

The business does work. Its just I think some distributers give the whole a bad name. Like not all insurance agents, lawyers, and car salesman are bad. But, they have a bad reputation, because people tend to dwell on something bad someone does and not the good.

I am 24 years old and have a good job as a computer programer. Me and my fiancee can barely make ends meet and we don't even have kids yet. So, what do you suggest I do to help in my financial situation? I did what I was taught and went to school and got a good job. Yet I am still broke.

Hope is a wonderful thing. Have you ever seen how happy someone can become when they buy a lottery ticket and start dreaming about what it would be like to be away from the stress of our jobs.

I hope you email me back soon. I would like to chat with you more. Maybe we can chat over ICQ or meet in a chat room.

Thanks for taking the time to read my emal.

SIDNEY, YOU ONCE CONSOLED MY ME AND MY WIFE, IDURING OUR TRIBULATIONS WITH THE COMPANY. I NOW FEEL YOU AND I WERE CORRECT RE THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE BUSINESS. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS.

You seem like a very narrow minded person and that's too bad.

My husband and are successful with our business; we have both been very disatisfied after being downsized in corporate america several times. Our business is successful because we are honest and regular folks who want the same things other distributors want: save money, save time and get 80% of our groceries delivered to our door without the hassle of traffic and grocery lines.

The money we spend on positive and uplifting books and seminars as been well worth it, I would have gladly spent the same money on other motivations material. I would rather my family and I be brainwashed ny those positive things than commercial T.V. and Radio.

Mr. Schwartz…

I am sorry, but no other statement can fulfill the bill of my opinion more succinctly than:

YOU ARE SO FULL OF SH**!

I am NOT the "typical" distributor…and I hope I have the opportunity to meet you some day, and feed you your own teeth. The comment made by the other person, that you are a "dream-stealing".. etc, is fully accurate. Twenty years ago, I too felt I was "Scammed" by Amway; the truth of it is, I became a distributor downline from a total jerk. There are plenty of jerks in this world, including, obviously, YOURSELF! And now, my expostulating fool, for the first time in over 20 years, I have re-joined the ranks of Amway distributors, in a GOOD line of sponsorship (World-Wide Dream Builders), and am in the process of regaining my life, my family, my self-esteem, a moderate fortune, and a life wherein I will PROUDLY and UNASHAMEDLY be priveledged to help thousands of God's Children to do the same.

But not you. You and the others you have drawn into your snare of negativity will die broke, unfulfilled, unimportant, unloved, and a parasite on the rest of humanity. And as to "de-activating" your web site "Before a Billion-dollar company can sue" you; fear not. Your acts of impotence are as terrifying to Amway and all TRUE businessmen as would be the actions of a blood-sucking mosquito on a pimple on the ass of an elephant. I wish they would in fact squash you and others like you; however, their laudable actions follow those of the Saviour: Do no harm. Enjoy your broke, impotent life. A real man would have the balls to do something productive......My suggestion is that you repent, and make restitution with mankind, your Maker, and Amway for all the mud-slinging you have done. Or, alternatively, jump into the path of a Mack truck. Unless you do, you are simply a waste of skin. Just like all the other parasites you apparently emulate.

Hi,

After reading your information I would like to share with you my thoughts. I have reacently left Amway but still believe that It is a great organization to be associated with . Im 23 and if it were not for the amway organization and the motivational support material I would not be the success i am today in my own endevours. regardless of the money made by any diamond I thank them from the bottom of my heart for supplying this information.This positive motivational information is a lot cheaper than all the other material that comes from other sources. STOP AMWAY BASHING. Anyone who doesn't make money from the amway should still be a richer person in heart and soul.

dear sir,

After reading A good percentage of your web page, it saddens me that someone would go to such great lengths to bad mouth an organization that basically is good. As with any large business or group of people you will always find some bad eggs mixed in with the good, but the facts are that a majority of people who are Amway distibutors are good, honest, ethical people. i have not been a distributor long but i can tell you that because i'm doing what the people who sponsored me precribe, i am doing well and growing every month. As for the tapes all i can tell you is that A. i have 6 months to return any tape and get my money back from the tapes, and B. i have never had anyone force me to buy any tape. As a new business owner i don't spend a dime on outside advertising in this business, which is truly unique. I look at the tapes as being a form of inner advertising strictly for my own entertainment. They remind me that if other people can be succesful so can I. If people make a profit from the tapes, so what. I would expect to make a profit as well if i were producing material that was motivational and helpful to other people. That i believe is capitalism 101. Nothing in life is free and neither is Amway. It takes hard work and commitment and investment of time and money. I freely choose to do everything i can to make my business grow. after all that is the beauty of this system; it's my business. please spend a little less time being negative, there's already too much going on in the world we live in that's negative. If you really want to go after someone, go after corrupt politicians and drug dealers, they're located in every city in america so you should'nt have a hard time finding material. Have a great day, by the way have you ever considered owning your own business?

Hey Sidney, I have a 2 question for you. If Amway is a such a Big Scam, then why do they continue to strive on? People can pay for the start up cost and if they don't like it, then they can just get their money back. So, where is the scam? I want to know more about the scam that you are talking about.

after stumbling on to your page I must ask you a question, who pays you for the time you spend on this attack on the corporation

Amway is a cult, a wolf in sheep's clothing. I have been solicited by these people 3 times in the last 12 months. unfortunately, all 3 times it was by people that i considered friends. they lied to me and didn't tell me it was amway until they broke out the pad of paper and started telling me about the "american dream." i have had these people solicit me at church which really makes me sick. do all you can to tell the truth about these unethical and greedy people.

Just thought that you might find this interesting. A navy doctor I know (female) after five years in the navy is contemplating giving up her med career to sell Amway. She used to be my friend but now I maintain my distance because her husband also a doctor tells me I am her first prospect. I certainly have no intentions of giving up my job as a computer technical systems engineer to sell that crap! I can't help but laugh at the stupidity of a person that spent all those years in med school and has not yet completed any residency training but throws it all away to chase dreams such as these.

She has started buying all the products and has even tried to demonstrate them to me. I really think this corp uses christianity and cult like behaviors to lure their victims. I wish I could tell this person how stupid she is and how much time and money has been wasted,(tax dollars) someone else could have made better use of the education and navy training, that is now being flushed down the toilet. I wish I had the nerve to bookmark your site and send it to her but that would be unwise cause she would be vindictive.

Dear Mr. Schwartz:

You do not know me but I am sure you will become quite familiar with my “presence” from this point foreword. I, like you, am a proponent of free speech. I, like you, believe in the power of the internet to present my views.

But our difference differ. I am a success. You are a novice. You, per your admissions, have little better life than to stay at home and brood over a computer and espouse one sided and distorted assessments of the fine people that choose to work for a brighter future in Amway. There are countless people that fail at business everyday. Their risks are based on drive, commitment and personality. Some actually succeed. Some fail. You, my friend, didn’t even try.

You and your drones (who in generality would fail at selling ice in Texas) expect a quick rich scheme; an experience where you expect to find money growing on trees. Lazy greed is what took them into the business. Perhaps some met with a less than honest distributor. Yes, my friend, there are some unscrupulous Amway reps just as there are like ministers, teachers, or even electronic engineers. The fools judge the whole by the part. As a distributor I have never been forced to attend functions, buy books or tapes, show “the plan”, or even buy the products. As a free thinking human, I make my own decisions. I don’t look for a loser’s direction.

You create “informative” web sites yet refuse to post the more positive experiences of Amway. You fail to profess the true nature of why you build web and promote anti-Amway web sites. Amway has been tolerant of you. I don’t see you as a threat, simply a bug on my windshield that got in my way.

You hide behind the constitution thinking that your backside is protected. Perhaps you have never met a true warrior that is willing to fight and enjoy it. I am a simple distributor with a technological gift that I love to flex. Any general knows that the first steps of winning a war is to disrupt the enemies supply line and to harass the troops until moral is eliminated. Fortunately the same constitution that gives you your rights, gives me mine. Lord knows I have the resources, knowledge and commitment.

I encourage you to publish this email. But somehow I doubt you have the intestinal fortitude to let your followers know what they are getting into. Come to think of it, you don’t know what to expect. The coward you are asks others to post your opinion because you are scared to deal with Amway in the courts. I am not Amway and I am not acting on behalf of Amway. I’ve gone fishing!

You will see me when you see me!

Nice job.

I'm writting you from Romania, where Amway came officially from nov 98.In Romania there are already a lot of dreamers who cannot see the reality of such a system. Unfortunatelly there are no proves till today that Amway is a crook. I checked washing products and i wasn't really satisfied. People is looking for money not for a fair biz , that's why I think that putting a light on this monkey business is a good job.

Having just been "solicited" by a distributor, I welcome your site and information very much. I am by nature skeptical and rely on a variety of information resources. Thank you!! I truly appreciate the work you have done.

Dear Investigator: After reading only your first 3 pages, I wanted to express to you my feelings. I was in a group that I could have gone broke in so I'm not saying that they aren't there. BUT they are not all like that. The books, tapes and tools are necessary just as they are in any other business. If the upline is making a profit on them, they will have to answer to that by God, or someone in their group. I personally feel that as long as those tapes and books are helping me be motivated and make money, I don't care if the tape maker is making any off of me. I am still making more than he can possibly make just by sellling tapes!

My suggestion to you sir, quit wasting your valuable time trying to disprove a successful business. Why not become a distributor. You probably could have become a millionaire with the time you have spent investigating!

I mean this sincerely. There is NO other marketing network that can offer a person the money and freedom that Amway makes available. Joanne

PS I'd be happy to sponsor you!

I been an AMWAY distributor for five years. I have never had a negative experience. No one has ever twisted my are or made my buy any tapes or products. When I signed my application I did it of my own free will, Just like millions of people before me have. I have met and worked with high level distributors and found them to be of high moral caricature. You have a right to your opinion about AMWAY and I respect that, however if you really want to blow some smoke check out some of the other "Just like AMWAY only better" businesses out there. I believe you will find that we do indeed set the standard for a MLM business.

After being in the business world for 38 years I can assure you that if you spend enough time investigating any large businesses inner structure you will find not everyone is exactly above board.

Sorry your so unhappy

Hello, I have been surfing the net for the past hour and came across your page. I LOVE IT! I only wish that my husband could have seen this several years ago. He has been in Amway, 3 different times. The first time, was with his ex-wife. Second & third time with me. Second time I was supportive, as much as I could be. But I refused to push my family and friends to join. The third time, I refused to sign the paperwork. Eventually, I did. But I signed my name, and wrote beside my name, that I was only a spouse, not a part of Amway. We have went broke for the tapes, books, etc. It has been several years since his last attempt at that three ring circus. And yes he was gone a lot, and money was tight. But you know the old saying, you have to spend money to make money. Well, to make a long story short. His upline have all stopped doing Amway, and there are several that are still furious with Amway. I really hate Amway, it caused a lot of problems within my marriage. But guess who won that battle....I did :-) And if anyone ever mentions Amway to me, I will set them straight on what it really is about! People might as well take the money and burn it. Because if a person does make it in Amway, that's because someone else died. Or they sold themselves for the "DREAM." And that is what it is, a nightmare.

I think people like you who only have bad things to say about Amway on the internet are the biggest losers of all. First off, the corporation does not have anything to do with some people's misrepresentation of them, secondly the opportunity is there for any who are willing to work the plan. I have noticed that the only people who have time to open web pages against Amway are the ones who didn't have the guts, courage and persistency to make the system work for them and they want to drag all other possible "successes" down with them in their mediocrity. I am proud to be an INA Independent Business Owner who is affiliated with Amway and will always be. Maybe you should print a few of the people's supporting letters instead of your loser profiles. Think about it, did you actively prospect people or were you too scared to talk to others. It works for those who work it fella! Too bad you are too scared to try it.

Dear Amway hater

I got myself invited to an Amway presentation. After poking holes in their set-up (and the presenter got pretty heated) - the chump asked what we thought of it. I was the only one in the room to say that I thought it was "EVIL"! Damn thing is - I don't exactly know why. Go figure. Please send me more info. Something about this crap REALLY worries me, can't place it though.

Death to Pseudo-Pyramid Schemes!

Chreers not cheers to you it seems that amway has more power than you the links to infringment have been dimmissed all it says is oops what happened to so called links pertaining to Amway all im doing is exercising my first amendment rights in saying that you lost and Amway won

DEAR SIR, I HAVE BEEN AN AMWAY DISTRIBUTOR FOR 6 YEARS NOW AND I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY DECEPTIVE PRACTICES IN EITHER THE PRODUCTS OR THE AUDIO TAPE TRAINING SYSTEM. MY CHOICE TO BUY AUDIO TAPES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PEOPLE SKILLS AND PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION HAS PAYED ME BACK 10 FOLD MY INVESTMENT. NO I AM NOT AN EMERALD OR DIAMOND I AM JUST A SMALL DISTRIBUTOR WHO HAS FOUND A GOOD IDEA, HONEST,TRUSTWORTHY PEOPLE, NOT AFRAID TO DO A LITTLE WORK

" DON'T ASK BROKE PEOPLE FOR THIER ADVISE, YOU MIGHT JUST TAKE IT AND END WHERE THEY ARE".

dear…whoever you are:

first of all… i have to say… your homepage is rather good… but: it's really sad that you don't understand the profit of the AMWAY business… AMWAY is a big business; it's not just help you to make money; it also tells you how to make friends and how to chose the product that you need.

in the first title of your homepage you said: MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE MILLONS FROM AMWAY IS BECAUSE THEY SELLS BOOKS AND TAPES.

Well.. i have to say that it's really a good title but now for me; or other distributors… because we know that the money we made from AMWAY is base on the PV and BV. but; if it is like what you said (big sell of tape and book), well.. you won't make any money from it. because there's no PV on those things… (they are within some BV). surely you know that 100 PV=3%. and you have to make 7500PV(which is 25%) six months in one year to become a DD(direct distribuutor). one DD's monthly income is about $2,000-4,000.

if you sell millons of tapes or books… you won't gain any PV or money…SO…WHERE IS THE MILLONS OF MONEY COME FROM???? From AMWAY???!!!!no.. I DON'T THINK SO

in taiwan or china; AMWAY is a huge business which gives people lots of opportunities to sucess

i hope that you will give yourself another chance and look back on your amway business… maybe it's because we are in the different group of amway… so it make you so hard to feel good about AMWAY… but; believe me. i am an amway distributor who is gain money on it( i don't sell tapes or books). i am a 17 distributor and i am happy to doing my amway business

and hope you give yourself another chances of it…

good luck to you and your amway business.

I really don't know why you trash Amway so much. Sure the big pins make $$$ off the tools, but as a relatively new distributor, I really didn't have a firm grip on my business until I started investing in the tools. They are definitely a worthy investment, as my volume and income has risen greatly with my use of the tools (Britt system).

The people who fail in Amway are the people who sign up, talk to 10 of their friends, read web pages like yours, and say "Amway doesn't work", and they quit. The people who are successful are those who tell those 10 friends what's up, and keep plugging away. I really don't want to work 40 hours per week until age 65 as a bank manager (my temporary job), but if that's your cup of tea then great.

Thanks for your time.

THANK GOD THERE IS A WEB SIGHT LIKE YOURS. ME AND MY WIFE WERE INVOLVED IN AMWAY FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS WE ARE BOTH EDUCATED PEOPLE SHE HAS HER CHEMICAL ENGEERING DEGREE, MY SELF A CRIMMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION THEY PREYED ON US BECAUSE OF BEING A MILITARY FAMILY AND SHARP PEOPLE. BUT I STARTED NOTICEING THE WAY THEY WERE TRYING TO CONTROL OUR LIVES.AND THERE WAS SUCH AN EMPHASS ON BUYING TOOLS TO THE POINT THEY HAD ME PUSHING TOOLS ON PEOPLE THAT COULDNT AFFORD TO BUY AS MANY AS THE UPLINE LEADERS REQUESTED.WHICH WAS REALLY MONEY USED TO LINE THERE POCKETS. THESE PEOPLE REALLY DONT CARE ABOUT ANYONE ITS ALL LIES. AND THEY ARE COUNTING ON PEOPLE BEING FOLLOWERS, NOT LEADERS.ITS A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS TO(TELL SOMEONE THEY WILL BE RICH IF THEY STICK IT OUT AND THE WORLD WILL BE THEIRS ENOUGH, THEY WILL BELIEVE IT) I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS CULT,WHICH HAS RUINED MANY OF THERE LIVES. SOME ARE STILL BEING RUINED EVEN TODAY BECAUSE THEY ARE BELIVEING A LIE.ALL SOMEONE HAS TO DO IS ASK THEMSELVES (IF IT ONLY TAKES 2 TO 5 YRS TO BECOME RICH OR 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR TO MAKE $2,000 TO $3,000 A MONTH) AND DONT LISTEN TO EXCUSES. WHY ARENT YOU MAKEING TONS OF MONEY. (REMEMBER THERE IS NO EXCUSE).I AM NOT A COUCH POTATAO I AM VERY ACTIVE 8 TO 12 MILE RUNS ,AND I AM A POWER LIFTER. AND I WORKED THE AMWAY DREAM HARD CORE AFTER A YEAR WERE ONLY 3/4 OF THE WAY TO DIRECT AND NEVER PUT ANY MORE THEN $200 IN OUR POCKET A MONTH.I TRIED TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE OUT AS I COULD BUT IT WAS TO LATE THEY WERE ALREADY BRAINWASED AND THE GROUP TRIED TO DISCREDIT ME SAYING I WAS A DREAM STEALER AND BROKE. WELL ANY WAY WERE OUT AND ME AND MY WIFE HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A BETTER LIFE WERE TOGETHER MORE AND ARE REALLY LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST. THANKS FOR YOUR WEB SIGHT AND TRYING TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING SCAMED BY AMWAY, FOR AMWAY TRULY IS THE DREAM STEALER. BEWARE VIRGINIA BEACH AMWAY IS TARGETING OUR YOUNG MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN.BECAUSE THEY ARE YOUNG AND HAVE A STEADY INCOME FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OUR MORE. PLEASE DONT LET THIS HAPPEN TO OUR FUTURE LEADERS.

YOU HAVE TO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS!!!!!!!!

AMWAY DISTRIBUTORS FOR 7 YEARS AND WEALTHY BECAUSE OF IT IN MORE WAYS THAN JUST MONEY! WE NOTICED YOU DIDN'T PUT ANY RESPONSES FROM ANY HAPPY AMWAY PEOPLE. OH YEAH, YOU DON'T HAVE A WEB PAGE ANYMORE!!!

Dear Mr. Schwartz,

How can we ever thank you for taking the time to investigate one of the shadiest businesses in the world today? Long before I read your articles, I knew the promoters at Amway were con artists from observations of others' wasted time and money but I had no idea of the extent of it. The thing that is most amazing is how folks cling to this vague notion of hope. Would these poor misguided people have no "hope" if Amway didn't exist? Have they ever thought of working for a living and dollar-cost-averaging money into mutual funds? Apparently they are so brainwashed there that they have no idea how easy it is for any ordinary worker to become a millionaire a by doing this! From what I understand, Amway tells them that the stock market is like one big casino - a gambling arena! And people actually believe this! Amway is certainly a cult, like so many "religious" sects in which people follow blindly. I know two people who managed to get out. They said they would go to any lengths to do what they were told, and "the funny thing is, you don't see it while you're in it. You walk around smiling but are so unhappy inside. It is like looking at life through a narrow tunnel that focuses only on Amway". How very sad. And there are so many people who are prime targets for this sort of thing. There are such fantastic legitimate financial opportunities out there. I would advise them to join a good investment club, read the "Money and Investing" section of the Friday Wall Street Journal where the 1, 3 and 5 year mutual fund returns are posted - every Friday night, then decide for themselves if investing in the market is "gambling". I have quadrupled my (small amount of) money in the market - effortlessly. Amway would be my LAST choice in the world! Again, thanks so much for going out on a limb for others.

Thank you. You have confirmed what I have suspected all along.

Sourpuss. Perhaps you should build something of value to other people instead of bashing others who do. You'd then have the resources to battle a law suit from a billion dollar company such as Amway. Know why you're broke? Obviously not. You're broke because critics are a dime a dozen. Worthless. Useless fodder for other "going nowhere fast" whiners who can't stand on their own two feet.

I know of attorneys who make little money. I know of dentists who make little money. Car dealers, factory laborers, doctors, consultants, etc, etc.. They all have one thing in common: they all have someone else to blame for their own shortcomings. A scapegoat. Amway is your scapegoat. If you can handle the truth, look in the mirror to see a Grade A, first class loser.

I am Going Diamond !!! It's great and you should try. Maybe you can do something good in your life !!! More money than they told me I could make!!! Great!! I am retired at age of 30 using Amway.

Sidney,

I never had the misfortune of falling victim to Amway or any other MLM scheme, so I have no idea why I've been so heavily impacted by your web page.

I just can't seem to read enough. I initially started searching for Amway stuff on the web out of sheer boredom and the fact that my former in-laws are true believers who tried to recruit me heavily over the span of about 6 years.

I considered them to be mindless drones who devoted far too much time to something that was obviously costing them a fortune. I always just assumed they were the exception to the rule. Your web page (especially the viscious hate mail) demonstrates that they are in fact just like most other Ambots.

This is truly terrifying! How can so many otherwise rational people succomb to such rubbish?

I sympathize with your decision to bail out in light of impending litigation, but I think it's a shame that your seemingly endless knowledge on the subject will go to waste. Is there another way for you to continue to enlighten the public?

If you have the time, please email me back. I'd like to know more about your motives for starting this most admirable anti-Amway campaign.

P.S. I have many funny in-law stories that really emphasize 99% of what your web page tries to illustrate.

have anything better to do than to rip apart something that you are not intelligent enough to succeed in but a monkey could. Why don't you get a worth while hobby and warn people about something truly dangerous. An Amway Distributor

Why have you shut down your site that has been so helpful to so many people? Please don"t buy into all of the lies. Or is it that you are to afraid to tell the truth . Always tell the truth , and don't be afraid of the one's that tell you to beware of telling the truth, because the truth will always prevail in time.

Dear sir,

Thank you for taking the time to read this short comment to your site. I read briefly, the contents of your anti-Amway site. I have been involved with the Amway business with affiliation to the Britt Worldwide orginization. I do not wish to contest your opinion, or the reason for your objections. I would, however, perfer to let you know of my experiences. During my time with Britt, I have never see anything illeagal, immoral, or improper TAUGHT by anyone. I cannot say that nothing wrong has ever been done, for that would negate the basic truth of human imperfection.

I have never been forced, coerced, or pressured to buy anythin, including "tools", tickets, or products, or do anything against my will. BWW tries in every manner to make this as harmless as possible to people who decide to get out of the business. All tapes are guaranteed for 6 months, and function tickets are satisfaction guaranteed.

I have been in the professional world for many years, and I have not found a business out there yet with the quality of people that I have found in the BWW group.

I cannot speak for other lines of sponsorship, they may be operating on different sets of values, but I have see only truth, honor, charity, equality, and love expressed by the poeple I've grown to know. I can read your comments and, and my attitude will not change for these simple facts:

My marrige has totally changed for the better as a direct result of being involved, I have overcome a drinking addiction as a direct result of being involved, My relationships with my faimly and freinds have grealty improved from my involvement, I have grown tremendously in my faith as a direct result of my assocation with Amway.

Sir, please consider this as I can testify that I cannot count the number of people whose lives I've seen change in the same way mine has.

I have lived in michigan, and have grown up with the Vanandels and DeVoses in my neighborhood. Those two families have made such a tremendous difference in my community, I cannot begin to describe. I can tell you truthfully, they are good poeple, guided by right morals. However, not knowing you, or your moral constitution, I cannot begin to speculate what values you hold to. If, by some chance, they are judeo-christian base, you would appreciate these families.

Sir, I do not seek to change your opinion, only to inform you of my experiences.

I thank you for your time

Mr. Schwartz,

I wish to God (the one above, not the one Amway worships--the almighty Yeager) I had found your site a few years ago. It would have saved myself and my husband a lot of time a few hundred dollars and one very large broken dream. They sell THE PLAN based on dreams. Unfortunately, they're selling a load of crap. To those who say that we should have stuck it out and had a little more faith in THE BUSINESS, or that I couldn't make it in the business world with any business, I beg to differ. I am currently the owner of a just-starting-out-and-struggling gunsmithing shop. Yes, women can do things like that too.

While we were in Amway, we did sign up two people. One was my husband's cousin, the other was his step-brother. Both of them dropped out at the same time we did, and for roughly the same reasons. Our up-line wasn't really all that bright. They wound up bouncing checks on us and my husband's cousin. Then he bounced a few of the bonus checks for our sponsor's sponsor. That's right, the money that they were supposed to be paying out wasn't there when it was supposed to be. THAT is when I said "NEVERMORE", to quote Mr. Poe's "Raven". I was in this thing to make money, not to get ripped off with all the rah-rah (that caused quite a battle on the first weekend event we went to--but that's another story for another time) and the sponsors' writing bad checks or depositing my checks two days before they were supposed to, thus costing me the bad check charge.

If that is their idea of a money making business, I'd hate to see what they'd call a looser!!!! Thanx for listening to my raving, it's been building up for a while. And keep up the good work for the uninformed.

A few years ago I was quasi engaged to an Amway man. The one stipulation was that I be willing to join Amway. Now he was Jewish and I was willing to take on his faith-- and I really cared for him. So I went to a meeting. Shiney Vegas curtains were all over the place and pictures of grand houses were also up. I sat down and everyone was dressed in their best clothes. I was in a blue velvet gown with chandalier diamond earings-- he said this was a four star event. I saw a couple going around, the wife in diamonds and a fur coat. Ah,I thought, she just got off the plane. To my suprise, when she sat down she kept on the coat, as did the other woman who was also from Alaska.

The ceremony began. The was a prayer where we prayed to Jesus. Not bad for the Christians, but what about the non-Christians? I would have been a Messianic Jew had I married this man, but I was offended for HIM. And we said the Pledge of Allegiance and I think we also sang the Star Spangled Banner. It was like they had confused Thanksgiving, a military "mandatory fun" dinner at the Officers' Club, and a sporting event and jumbled them together. Did I mention that the guests of honour sat facing the audience on a stage? Tacky for a civilian, non bridal dinner! I felt like I was sitting "below the salt."

After a half hour of rah-rah, dinner was started. We were served canned shrimp on a bed of spinach. Canned shrimp in Alaska three days after crab season closed? You could buy fresh crab for way less, and canned shrimp while I was in a $500 dress and wearing diamonds? How gauche! We each got a silver dollar of rice on a bed of hardened rice with semi frozen veggies-- it was like they had boiled their TV dinners and tossed them on plates.

The wives of the successful Amway salesmen sat eating in their fur coats, acting as if it were the best food she'd ever eaten, the other one in thin gloves with the diamonds over them. Every now and then, bits of food would land on the coats. As the men got up to talk later, the wives sat smiling and fluttering their eyes and blushed.

I can't argue with them that they are debt free, but this is terrible. they really had fluffed up opinions of themselves, and all the people below them looked up to the gurus as if they were SO much smarter and better. I have shaken hands with other millionaires who got their money other ways and they seemed more low key than the trumped up Amway icons.

It was very sad, but I couldn't marry my quasi-fiance, as I would not commit to his other love and he said I was not open minded or accepting. C'est la vie.Maybe he has a woman who sells it with him who wears gloves and fur coats at the dinner table and doesn't notice that she is eating canned shrimp when she paid $75 for a ticket to an event!

My appreciation and thanks for the efforts you have done. Very professional and what I assess to be real and fair. It definitely helped me in making my decisions relative to Amway.