insider201283 (August 21, 2008 at 11:04 am)

Uh, no. True. For any given volume, recruiting people to generate it COSTS money. It's analagous to a traditional retail store. You employ additional salespeople, an expense, in the hope that the increased volume generates enough revenue to cover expenses plus provide a profit. The *fewer* people you can generate the same volume with, the *more* you make. No money at all is made through recruitment, only through product sales.

drummingreg (August 21, 2008 at 3:49 am)

"We're not in the recruitment business, it's merely a strategy for increasing sales volume." False. Why would anyone work hard when they can have a hundred people working hard underneath them PLUS they will supposedly make a killing.

insider201283 (August 20, 2008 at 1:26 pm)

If people are recruited and there is no demand for the products, then Amway will lose money, since recruiting and having to refund costs money. Anyone is welcome to give it a try and if it doesn't work for them, they can get their money back. Your "outsiders" claim shows your ignorance of the model. The majority of people who register are not actively trying to earn an income, they register for the benefits of membership, including cheaper pricing - not to sell.

insider201283 (August 20, 2008 at 1:22 pm)

I have founded, built, and sold multiple businesses. Some successfully, some not so successfully.Your supply-demand comment indicates you don't understand MLM. We're not in the recruitment business, it's merely a strategy for increasing sales volume. A lack of demand has exactly the same influence on our business as any other. You either find a way to increase demand, or you find another product to market. As it happens our main focus these days is health & beauty, and demand is way up.

insider201283 (August 20, 2008 at 1:20 pm)

I can give you a virtual 100% guaranteed way of losing weight too, but doesn't mean everyone loses weight. You have to act on it, change some habits, do some things differently. Many people start on weight loss programs, but for whatever reason don't continue. If folk won't do it for good health, they won't do it for money. It's more than just hard work required, plenty to learn as well. Some folk just decide it's not worth the effort. As I said, it's for anyone, not everyone.

insider201283 (August 20, 2008 at 1:17 pm)

You can "consider" it whatever you want, doesn't make you right. MLM is a legitimate business, even taught in some business schools, and has had many positive books written about it by business experts.Unfortunately many scams that are not MLM call themselves MLM to try to claim legitimacy. I'm tending towards believing that most businesses that call themselves MLM are not actually legitimate MLM and are scams, so I understand your perspective.

drummingreg (August 20, 2008 at 7:04 am)

There is a huge supply of salespeople and very little need to have so many when only 18% of the product is bought by outsiders. Amway must have huge overhead costs! Oh it doesn't have to pay its associates anything unless they sell or recruit? Well then they should just focus on recruiting and get as many people as possible to be forced to buy their products so they can reach PV. Already do? Then they should sell them tapes which brainwash them into staying. Wow, you guys are good.

drummingreg (August 20, 2008 at 6:55 am)

I haven't even noted on Amways flaws in basic business laws. I'm not sure of your education background, I'm assuming it isn't business. You can probably understand supply and demand though. If x # of salespeople try to sell x # of a product but the demand is less than than x # you have a surplus. With ALL mlm's making up less than a third of 1% of American Profits (which includes the money which is made from seminars not just products) there is very little demand but a huge supply.

drummingreg (August 20, 2008 at 1:35 am)

One must turn outside the world of business - to religion and politics to find people who work as hard for as little financial reward as most Amway people do. -Forbes Magazine

drummingreg (August 20, 2008 at 1:18 am)

"I'm yet to meet anyone who honestly did the hard work recommended and didn't succeed. There's probably some, but it's rare." I find that laughably untrue. You honestly expect me to believe that you have a guaranteed way to become rich and not eveyone in the world is doing it? All you would have to say in your multi-million $ ad campaign is say that there is a 99.9% correlation between working hard here and becoming rich. People that work hard don't always get rich, it's okay, you can say it.