Almay, Amivo, IBS what are they about?

MickKnipfler

DjP,

is was me that posted Zzzzzzz. Not because of the reasons yu seem to think though. Only bacause the debate seemed to be going round in circles. BMS guy is in a respectable business that is not a Pyramid Scheme, is quite legal and is mis-understood by many people. Quite often if you're looking for something, you will find it!

BFG_2

Oh gee, lets all have a big hug-fest for BMS guy....after all he's only selling magic frying pans for £300, unnecessary water filters for £200 and unnecessary vitamins for £100 (all figs made up, just like his 'science')....all tat (or is it tatt??) IMO.

I object primarily to the means by which these items are sold...ie the frying pan saves all the vitamins that 'bad' pans let go; tap water is poisonous and you'll die without our vitamins. I exaggerate....but only a tiny, little bit.

Read 'respectable' BMSGuy's postings & Scamway's blurb ref tap water and see for yourself....scare tactics and 'false science'.

Quote :is not a Pyramid Scheme,....(just)
is quite legal (just)..........and is mis-understood by many people (I agree, especially those who are suckered in with claims of 'a new life'.

Ask yourself this.......why do so many of these firms not actually tell people what they have to do until they have got them to an indoctrination meeting??

I'm all for people seeking opportunities to improve their lives, but they should do from a position of informed consent, not mumbo jumbo MLM junk (IMO).

zzzzzzzzzzzzz

TPAOY

Just looked back here to see what has been going on. Haven't read all of the posts, but seems to be a real battle going on.

I can see what the IBS/Amway distributors are saying as this is exactly what we were told to say. Never admit to there being any problems and always refer to cost per use.

Now that we have escaped and can buy any products we want, I'm amazed at the quality of items such as Ecover. Our bills have dropped substantially too, so Amway doesn't make sense for products.

Sorry to hurt any Amway/IBS distributors hoped for liveliehoods, but in the UK it has really collapsed and products are now shipped from Belgium. Last Amagram featured loads of new high levels in countries such as Romania and Russia where the scam can now work.

If you are an IBS distributor and read this, please check out http://www.amquix.info/amway_exdiamonds.html which lists lots of ex IBS Emeralds and above. This is proof that it doesn't work and get out now to cut your losses.

tawnyowls

Thanks for this. I've been approached by a friend to go into IBS (funnily enough, I too thought of the same meaning for that abbreviation as given above!). My spidey-sense started tingling as the 'business model' was described, and when we were given the 'inspirational' CDs, there on one of them were the couple who'd given an Amway presentation that we'd attended a few years back. During the presentation, I'd asked if it had anything to do with Amway and was assured it hadn't, but the Amivo site clearly states that it is run by Amway.

I won't be taking this any further. There's enough info out there on the web to convince anyone that this is, if not illegal in the letter of the law, at least unethical, and more importantly, it doesn't work. Direct selling does work - look at Avon and Tupperware - but the difference is, companies such as these have real products that are good quality, and agents can get their money just from selling the product. They do get more if they recruit agents, but that isn't necessary to run their business. In contrast, Amway/Quixtar/Amivo 'distributors' are not selling a product (the products are a red herring) nor a service - they are selling a 'business model', to wit, pulling others into the scheme, and that's where the money is to be made. This is clear from any of their presentations, where they say they're not interested in anyone who doesn't want to recruit.

TPAOY

Glad to hear you avoided getting caught in the trap! :beer:

Any chance you can find out from your friend what has happened to the IBS website? Or even IBS themselves?

MothballsWallet

I know this is old, but TPAOY has bumped it. This thread has reminded me of an early Sluggy Freelance cartoon...

Yes, this is a joke, but as the saying goes "A lot of truth is said in jest", and I'm sure Pete Abrams (Sluggy's creator) wouldn't have drawn that joke if he wasn't inspired from real life.

trisontana

The UK government is trying to have Amway closed down because it reckons it's nothing more than a glorified pyramid scheme. This from today's Times :-
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article2951266.ece

To quote a few points :-

The Government investigation claims to have revealed that just 10 per cent of Amway’s agents in Britain make any profit, with less than one in ten selling a single item of the group’s products

....the Amway scheme involved targeting the “gullible”, “deluded” and “vulnerable” to join the scheme and accused the group of “dream selling.”

and finally

Richard De Vos, who founded the group in the United States in 1959, has an estimated personal fortune of $3.6billion.

lavamyz

this may well be old news but go here;

http://www.jerryandmandy.co.uk

MothballsWallet

BT, nPower, Evesham Technology, MBNA, Shop.com, H&H Bancroft, Disney (says it all really), Carphone Warehouse, Talk Talk - I bet they are all pooping themselves since their "best friend" Amway was shut down by the UK Government earlier this year...

marleyboy

Its nothing more than a glorified pyramid scam, simply re-worded, (much like the rest of them) their sole purpose to extort your cash.....nothing more.