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» Anyone ever actually BUY anything from Amway??

From billy's workspace   

Anyone ever actually BUY anything from Amway??

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created by billy on May 19, 2008 at 07:47:25 am     Comments: 17

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I've had friends sell Amway, and they do actually have products most are fairly good, but cost way more than equivalent products elsewhere. Also most of the sellers end up buying a lot of the products themselves, often being their own biggest customers.

But as is true in most multi level marketing programs, they way to make money is to get others to sell (and become their own biggest customers) under you, and for them to trap people under them. The more levels under you the more money you make, however the thing to keep in mind is that those below you will eventually run out of people to trick into selling, and few people who don't sell the products keep buying them.

Amway is actually a legal scam (in my humble opinion).

posted by roygbiv on May 19, 2008 at 08:28:55 am     #

Yes, I have...it was nearly 25 years ago...a neighbor was selling Amway Products, with that I felt an obligated to buy something as he was a neighbor...

I agree, billy, their products were good but, too pricey...I only purchased the one time. When my neighbor did approach for a sale I would explain my budget simply would not allow. That's the truth!

posted by MARIELORA on May 19, 2008 at 09:14:27 am     #

Thanks - They had a great pitch, but when I asked further about their multi, they just started talking about how much money I could make if I bought in...

I went away thinking how funny it'd be if I walked into a shoe store asking about a new pair of loafers and instead of coming back from the back room with an armload of shoe boxes, they have a job application instead! :)

Anyway, thanks - I guess I'll stick with my good ol' Kroger one a day's.

posted by billy on May 19, 2008 at 09:40:00 am     #

Amway seems to try make it's sales cult to think that they're going to get rich like Rich (DeVos)... They're had major legal problems and tried changing their name because of the stigma the name invoked. Most people don't make any money via Amway and there are better shopping options locally.

As for vitamins, Kroger brand are more than likely made by Leiner Health Products who were part of the largest criminal antitrust conspiracy ever and more than likely import all or parts of the supplements you take from China or India, so they're probably loaded with mercury, oxidants, and low grade artificial vitamins.

posted by charlatan on May 19, 2008 at 04:40:57 pm     #

I remember about 10 years ago, I had heard from someone that Amway's Stain Remover was next to perfect in getting out "baby stains."

I called up a friend who I knew sold the product and inquired about how to purchase some.

I couldn't get the person to leave me alone. I ended up practically screaming, "All I want is the frickin spray. Why can't I just buy the frickin spray."

posted by corky on May 19, 2008 at 07:31:34 pm     #

My dad went through a time in his life when he sold Mason shoes. He bought several pair himself. I think I had left the service, and was living at home. He had started work again after Workmen's Comp paid him $500, and told him to earn his living (his right bicep tore off at the shoulder while lifting a roll of carpet to stand on end; the doctor said that it was probably a genetic weakness). I used to send money home until he healed enough to start on another job without the weightlifting. He believed in the product (which makes it easier to sell), and used to take one or both of my little brothers along as "shills". He would park over at Southland, and start asking if anyone needed shoes. He had the gumption of a salesman (I never could do it), and would usually sell one or two pair on a Saturday and Sunday. Not much, but it helped to feed the kids.

posted by oldsendbrdy on May 19, 2008 at 09:08:31 pm     #

/\
It reminds me of this mafia movie:

posted by charlatan on May 20, 2008 at 12:22:17 am     #

When the salesman is more interested in NOT selling you the product, just walk away. Obviously you're being faced with a scam, even a legal one like Amway.

posted by GuestZero on May 20, 2008 at 04:01:29 am     #

At least if you get suckered into AMWAY the unsold product doesn't eat.

http://www.alpacanet.com/

posted by holland on May 20, 2008 at 01:20:46 pm     #

I used to work for a local chemical company that manufactured cleaning chemicals. We made toilet bowl cleaner for Amway...as well as Lime-A-Way...Johnson and Johnson, Clorox, etc. Apparently, someone was buying a lot of Amway toilet bowl cleaner...because they used to be on of our biggest clients. We made one kind of bowl cleaner for all the companies....so, if you bought Amway...you were getting the exact same thing as if you bought Clorox,etc.

posted by Kooz on May 20, 2008 at 02:51:37 pm     #

My $0.02 may be out dated as it's been years since I was a distributor. But, for the $$, some products are higher than you'd get at the store, but the core Amway products (household items cleaners, and such) were very economical. They were highly concentrated so, if you followed directions, you should save money.

As for the sales practices, unfortunately, too many people saw only $-signs. Those who were successful focused on the end reward (financial freedom) but not at the risk of pissing people off. It's not for everyone, and you still had to sell products. That was the theme behind the successful ones.

Too bad way too many Amway distributors didn't and apparently still don't get that.

As for the obvious question or curiosity for why I'm not involved? I tend to be shy around people I don't know and dislike cold-calling. While there were honest techniques around that, my personal drive didn't overcome my natural tendencies. So, I gave up.

Still, I met some really great people and learn a lot -- lessons from the tapes I still use today.
-Mike

posted by miked918 on May 21, 2008 at 11:18:21 am     #

Amway people played on my son's naivety & gullibiltiy & young ego, convinced him to quit his job (if he was 'really serious about being successful, he had to devote more time to Amway) - he got orders, was extremely organized, had every day booked solid - and his life went down the toilet financially fast - was the beginning of his end - and it was his end. A young kid, duped - got more in debt, wiped him out. I hold Amway largely responsible for the downward spiral my son's life took.

posted by starling02 on May 23, 2008 at 10:49:04 pm     #

Well, Star, other than the imprisonment (which I seem to recall as your son's current fate?), I do hope he's learned his lesson. The people who get sucked into Amway (and other such multilevel marketing frauds) are doing it primarily to make money and to do no useful work. That's a deadly combination.

posted by GuestZero on May 24, 2008 at 05:43:18 am     #

My son was naive & gullible, and yes, he learned his lesson the hard way. Of course, Amway did not 'force' him to commit a crime - but Amway convinced him about things that increased his debt, which put him mentally over the edge. My son also gave us all the hard sell of how wonderful Amway was - young male pride, ego talking - he needed people to believe he was doing the right thing by doing what Amway told him to do (Including highly expensive conventions he could ill afford). Amway cost him plenty.

posted by starling02 on May 24, 2008 at 07:27:35 pm     #

To answer your question billy - yes, Amway is a pyramid scheme. Check with the BBB & you'll learn more. Avoid at all costs. I did try many of Amway's products (to help my son), and was not impressed. Expensive & not worth the money.

posted by starling02 on May 24, 2008 at 07:29:11 pm     #

Guest, there are actually multilevel marketing programs out there that do work and actually provide a product someone can really use. Now amway is a scam. Mom and dad were involved in it in the 80's and made some money,but got tired of having to pay the people under them from their commissions. I can not remember their products being anything to write home about either.

posted by camaroman2125 on May 24, 2008 at 10:18:40 pm     #

The people who get rich on amway, are those at the top of the pyramid. You are expected to sell to friends & family & bring others into the pyramid - or you don't make money. My son as emotionally bullied into spending $300 per convention (or he clearly wasn't serious about being a successful person). He came home with a notebook with photos of the wealthier amway people, and a 'goal' list, that amway encouraged it's sellers to 'think big' (castles, private planes, islands). My son is the most organized, motivated person I've ever seen. When I looked through his amway attache case, he had every day booked with many appointments - he worked damned hard at it (and he's good talking to people) and he believed in the product (because they told him to & he was gullible, he was 19 yrs old, what did he know about laundry soap?) . He got orders, but he wasn't getting paid for those orders (that he had to put cash up for). Lots of hustle involved, and milkng friends & family for orders.

posted by starling02 on May 26, 2008 at 08:46:48 pm     #

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