Comment Number: 522418-01855
Received: 6/12/2006 3:11:26 PM
Organization: Independent Distributor, Homemade Gourmet
Commenter: Laura McGee
State: IN
Subject: Business Opportunity Rule
Title: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
CFR Citation: 16 CFR Part 437
No Attachments

Comments:

I strongly oppose the proposed Business Opportunity Rule R511993. I do understand the responsibility of the Federal Trade Commission to protect the public from "unfair and deceptive acts or practices," but the rule as proposed would make it very difficult for me to operate my business as a Homemade Gourmet Independent Distributor. One of the most confusing and burdensome sections of the proposed rule is the seven-day waiting period to enroll new distributors.. If anyone wishes to become a Homemade Gourmet Distributor, they may simply fill out an application. This is far less than many, if not most, consumer purchases, from TVs to all manner of household appliances, none of which require a seven-day waiting period. In addition, the seven-day waiting period is unnecessary in that Homemade Gourmet already has a 90% buyback policy for products! The proposed rule requires the disclosure of a minimum of 10 prior purchasers nearest to the prospective purchaser. There are many problems with this proposed requirement. In this day of identity theft, I guard my personal information carefully. I am uncomfortable with the notion of people I don't know giving my personal information to others without my knowledge or consent, and am equally uncomfortable with the prospect of having to do the same myself with other people's information. I understand that those who sign up after the rule takes effect would be told in writing "If you buy a business opportunity from the seller, your contact information can be disclosed in the future to other buyers." I believe that this would dissuade new people from signing up as distributors as they are concerned not only about identity theft, but also about their privacy. People today are understandably reluctant to share their personal information with individuals they may never have met. Providing the ten references also could damage the businesses of numerous Homemade Gourmet distributors. Lower ranking distributors often are involved in more than one direct selling company. Providing a list to a potential recruit, who may already be a distributor for a competing direct selling company, may be an invitation to solicit existing distributors for such other opportunity. The ten reference requirement also is an administrative burden. In order to obtain the list of 10 prior purchasers, I will need to provide Homemade Gourmet with the prospective distributor's address, and then wait to receive the list of the 10 nearest distributors who became distributors within the past three years. Each prospective recruit will need a customized disclosure statement. This will result in a delay far longer than seven calendar days before any potential recruit can sign an application. In view of the fact that many people enter direct selling part-time to earn extra income for a specific goal, such as holiday purchases or a family vacation, the long wait which the proposed rule will entail may make the goal unattainable. The proposed rule calls for the release of any information regarding lawsuits that allege misrepresentation, or unfair or deceptive practices over a ten-year period, regardless of whether the company was found innocent or not liable. Today, almost all business lawsuits contain claims of misrepresentation or unfair competition. It does not make sense to me that I would have to disclose these lawsuits unless Homemade Gourmet, or its officers, directors or sales department employees, had been found guilty or liable. I have been a Homemade Gourmet Distributor for only a year. I admire the company's commitment to helping families in the United States and beyond. Adding red-tape to our business will only hinder our ability to pursue that mission. PIease, do not add additional unnecessary red-tape to the process of starting a home-based business. Thank you for your kind consideration, Laura McGee Homemade Gourmet Independent Distributor