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Putting the Person back in Personal Finance

Monday, February 12, 2007

How To Deal With Friends Involved in Quixtar and Other MLM Schemes.

It seems as if there is a certain percentage of the population that just doesn’t understand that Quixtar and other MLM “sell to yourself and others” programs are just not worthwhile. They get lured in by stories of people who made six figures by following that scheme and think they can do the same.

It’s almost as if they’re brainwashed into these systems and are taught to attack and silence others that disagree with them. In fact, I will be outright surprised if someone doesn’t comment on this article and write how I’m misrepresenting their organization. I have advanced website statistic software in my website, and I can see how people got there. There is not a day that goes by when someone searches for something like “Quixtar February 12, 2007.” It’s almost like there are a group of pro-Quixtar attack writers that anyone who has something less than perfect to say about them. There are also a number of websites which have no other purpose than refuting all of the bad things that people say about Quixtar.

If you have a friend involved in Quixtar, or a similar MLM situation such as Amway, you know they’re not always the easiest to deal with. These “friends” are so convinced that Quixtar is the way to make money and make yourself financially independent, there’s no telling them otherwise. If your friend is fine keeping his or her “business” to him/herself, then you don’t have a problem. Just never talk about Quixtar to them, because in their mind they are absolutely right and you are absolutely wrong.

Quixtar tends to attract the personality type that won’t just let it sit at that. In order to be successful at Quixtar and other MLM schemes, you have to convince a bunch of other people to sign up to the program and refer you, it’s the nature of the beast. So there’s a very good chance that your friend who is involved in one of these schemes is going to want to try to refer you to their organization. They are already convinced that it’s the way to go, and will probably think you are crazy for not wanting to get in on the system. Politely say that you are not interested, and if they ask again, you two have got some problems.

In the event that the person won’t take no for an answer, you can tell that they have a very serious character flaw. They are only interested in having you as a friend because you could hypothetically make them more money. What kind of friend is that? If your friendship is dependent on you being a revenue source for your friend, they are not a friend at all.

One last piece of advice, do not try to convince the person involved in Quixtar or whatever MLM scheme or scam they happen to be involved in that they are wrong. Chances are they will bite back at you, yell, kick and scream. There’s an old quote that states “a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” There’s just no persuading 99.9% of people who get involved in these things that what they are doing probably won’t make them any money, so don’t even bother.

Don’t even mention their “business” around them. If they mention it, just say you aren’t interested. Let them brag all they want, let them live in their own little world. Eventually they will figure out that they aren’t going to make money in the Quixtar system and will go back to actually working for a living. If you are one of these people involved in Quixtar or a similar MLM scheme, go ahead, kick, scream, attack and complain all you want, you were going to do that anyway.

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15 Comments:

Anonymous Tim said...

My girlfriend's cousin asked us to become a part of Quixtar. After putting up with the sales pitch and frequent requests I said no. Now they don't talk to me. :) It's crazy stuff. I've never known anyone who made more than they spent with this company.

February 12, 2007 6:26 PM  
Blogger Ellen said...

My brother and his new wife were into that. Thank god, my brother's come to his senses--he was only snared for a few months--but she's still involved. When he was at the height of his IBO Rah-Rah mania, I had to very sternly ask him not to bring it up to me again, several times. I mean, I love him, but it's really quite irritating. Very gung-ho.

There's also the option of agreeing to trade books with them--you'll read one of their motivational books if they'll read one of yours. Then give them a copy of Merchants of Deception, and if they actually read it, they have a chance. (If not, at least they'll stop bugging you about their stupid scam.)

February 12, 2007 10:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more with the article! I was harrassed several times to join, and finally became SO disgusted that I told them to quit calling me, and even had to call block them!! I now have a friend involved with their BS, and we have to avoid talking about Quixtar b/c everytime we do, it just ends up in an argument. So far, it has been two months since he agreed to take the Quixtar job, and all he has done is spend money on gas, their products, etc. and not made a dime, yet he keeps defending them. He says that he just has to take care of the preliminary business, and then the bucks will be "rolling in!" It is so irritating to listen to such nonsense!

February 21, 2007 2:19 PM  
Anonymous Tex said...

We actually use the "Merchants of Deception" e-book in our business, as we have developed a tool system that does not scam people, which is the root of the Quixtar problem.

March 6, 2007 2:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No, the 'root of the Quixtar problem' is that Quixtar makes most of it's money from those aforementioned "tool system scam" participants, and allows the abuse to continue because it benefits their bottom line, much more so than having to cater to a free-market could.

It's a mutally parasitic relationship between the corporation and the 'leaders' who prommulgate the 'tools' (and brain-washing), and they each have blood on their hands.

March 6, 2007 6:44 PM  
Anonymous Tex said...

The lying cowardly "kingpins" have actively designed the tool scam, and A/Q has passively allowed it to continue.

If you think the entire opportunity should go away, I can respect that position.

However Q does not make most of their money from the "kingpins", as most of the volume comes from IBO's below the Platinum level, the same IBO's who are being ripped off by the "kingpins" via the tool scam.

Regarding "brainwashing", I prefer the term "lying", as it is much more accurate.

March 6, 2007 10:59 PM  
Anonymous Forgiven IBO said...

I was involved in Quixtar at 18 and built the "business" for a little over 3 years. I barely broke even. I used to contact people at malls, gas stations, anywhere for "The Dream" of not having to work another day in my life like the Kingpins. Long story short, I learned many good things and success priciples that have helped make me a successful entreprenuer today. However, I have seen and experienced the many evil, covetous, deceptive, and down-right demonic practices that come from being an IBO in organizations like BWW, LTD, WWDB and many others.

The IBO contacting you is someone in desperate need and is more than likely being deceived by someone. You may think you know that person as a friend, but if they join an organization like Quixtar, all that shows is a desperate need. All you can do is love them (tough love is still love), forgive them, and support their soul in prayer. They will figure out whatever it is they need to figure out one way or another, or they will rise to dedicate their lives to the path of the kingpins.

Either way it's their choice, but don't let their choice influence what choices you make. You're better off thinking for yourself.

Bottom line...this article is spot on.

March 9, 2007 6:11 AM  
Blogger BleedMetal said...

This post has been removed by the author.

March 9, 2007 6:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yeah my boyfriend just became involved and im trying to be supportive. i even bought some TP off of his site but told him never again will i pay that much when i can go to walmart and get it for a lot less!!! and his mentor and all want me to pay 100 bucks to go on a convention,but wont even let my bf and i stay in the same hotel room.....man

March 9, 2007 2:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Look for the next best thing and make your move. Make money fast.
Make money online - http://web.ecomplanet.com/WEAL2336/

March 18, 2007 7:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

WOW. This must be the try, fail, and bitch paradise for you guys. Let me make contacting your friends very simple for you guys because I really feel sorry for you. Here goes...Talk to your friends one time about how you are building a business from home and regardless of whether they check it out or not, leave them alone. Don't EVER bring up your business again unless THEY ask. Yes, the world is a hard place. You have to know that 98% of any independently owned business will fail. That is why there is so much try, fail, bitch. And don't think that the 2% who succeed never fail. The difference is winners try, fail, LEARN and try again.

March 22, 2007 9:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

For all of your information, the business powered by Quixtar has a 100% success rate for ANYONE that follows the system. If you follow the duplicatable system, you CAN'T fail. If you fail, it is because you didn't follow the system and do what was recommended. I went for awhile not having any success myself until I really sat down and tried to figure out why it wouldn't work. I told my mentor (someone who was successful, not just my sponsor) that I would put him to test. I would do everything he told me for 6 months. If it didn't work I was out and it would be his fault. I actually was trying to prove him wrong but did everything he advised just because of the deal. It worked within two weeks and I made more profit than I had ever in the previous 2 years. That is a fact. If you had a bad experience with Quixtar, the problem is not with the Quixtar opportunity (it is just an opportunity not a guarantee). The problem is that you are not teachable. When I bacame teachable, that is when it began working for me. You will fail when you try to recreate the wheel.

April 2, 2007 4:29 PM  
Anonymous Aspi said...

That's right. As far as I'm concerned Quixtar is simply an opportunity for those who don't have the means to do it otherwise. A low-risk, low-capital way to make it big in life.

Honestly speaking, those who talk ill of Quixtar are just jealous, lazy, and will never really amount to anything in life.

Personally speaking, I've never met anyone who's followed the Network21 system for a couple of years and not made it BIG.

Anyone who achieves anything great must face a lot of rejection (like what you nuts are giving out) and for those of you who are thinking of building this... if your friends stop talking to you after they know that you're doing this, atleast now you know who your true friends are.

April 5, 2007 8:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Everyone can be successful if they only follow the system? That's BS. I have been listening to a few of the tools that a friend of ours provided. Lots of great nuggets of truth, but very little actual connection between 'the opportunity' and the experts that are cited with such fervor. On one CD, they talk about some big financial expert without mentioning his name, then refer to him like "remember who said this" and "keep in mind who we are talking about".

If you watch the video on earning potential on the facts about quixtar site, there are a few interesting tidbits:

- They refer to income repeatedly. Per the video, gross income DOES NOT include other business expenses that could be 'significant'
- The average active IBO is making like $115/mo in income. Doesn't take much in the way of expenses to mess that up. How does a cell phone, gas money, etc. stack up to that income?
- In 2005, 0.22% of Direct Fulfillment IBO's made $40k or more in income. What percentage of IBO's are "direct fulfillment"? If 66% of all IBO's are ative, and X% are Direct, 0.22% must equal 3 people (note: estimate by poster).
- It takes 10 years, on average to be diamond, where the average earns $75k/year. How many of those years were profitable? How much did they spend to get there.

I believe there are good things people can learn from the experience, but if I look at their own statistics, I'd have 100% certainty of earning $25k/yr if I spent the same time/gas money on a second job...

April 11, 2007 8:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello its Amway. The Owners of Amway Started Quixtar because the govt made them stop making claims of the huge amount of money that they could make. I just went to one of these meetings. They only try and get really young kids that have never heard of Amway. Oh and yes they are a Cult of Crazy people. They said ask your upline before you buy anthing date anyone what is that about? I was in the military and never had to ask my squad leader if I could date a girl. They are just trying to get your money in those cds and books. Why do you think there are so few "diamonds" Because you will never make it. They are all making money on you buying the tapes and going to the conferences. Please if you are in this program search out someone that used to be in Amway and ask them what they thought of it. And believe me the people that started Amway have started Quixtar, because Amway was getting so much bad press from the govt. Just use your head.

April 30, 2007 11:11 PM  

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