| Comment Number: | 522418-05064 |
| Received: | 6/29/2006 1:29:40 PM |
| Organization: | Quixtar |
| Commenter: | Michael McFerren |
| State: | TX |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
Dear Sirs, Refer Business Opportunity Rule, R511993 My wife and I have been involved in the Quixtar opportunity since September of 1999. My brother registered me and I was not pressured into joining the business team. I also encouraged 3 of my 5 children to be involved in the Quixtar opportunity with me. I was given plenty of time to make a quality decision to be involved in the Quixtar opportunity. By the same token, when I am working with prospects, I am careful to state that this is not a get rich quick opportunity and that it will require work. Due to the fact that Quixtar has a 6-month money back guarantee on the starter package (typically about $175.00 in TX) I am not in a hurry to “sign up” prospects. I make very little money in the registration of a business prospect. My goal, as an IBO with Quixtar, is to identify people who are looking for an opportunity and are willing to work and learn our business system. In addition to the starter package all the exclusive products they purchased through Quixtar during the first 6 months are subject to the buy-back policy as well. This policy is a good protection for new IBOs and prospects looking at the business plan. Since it is very easy for people to release their IBO number and get their money back, there is no good reason for 7-day waiting period. A 7-day waiting period puts undo limitation on the prospect who is excited and may have other people that are ready and anxious to get going. After the initial business disclosure, my prospects usually have a 24 to 72 hour period of time to review the business plan. The website “thisbiznow.com” is provided for them to get comments from the executives of Quixtar partner stores, as well as a link to the Better Business Bureau to view Quixtar’s standing with that organization. I am uncomfortable with providing a list of IBOs to be “interviewed” by my prospects. The main reason is I don’t want to be on someone else’s interview list. We provide an environment for training and for prospects to meet and talk with people that are already involved. If the prospects feel that they need to “interview” other business owners, they have that opportunity at any one of the training sessions made available to all IBOs and their prospects on our team. I feel that the “list of 10” is an infringement on my privacy. A list of litigation provided to a prospect is deceitful. Any company that has had any success and appears to have money in the bank is a target for any crackpot that truly is looking for a “get rich quick” deal through litigation. It is unfair to the prospects and it is additional legal burden to the IBO who is interested in expanding his business. It is also a misrepresentation of my business. An Independent Business Owner (IBO) is just that—independent. What one business owner does should not have an impact on how I run my business. The disclosure of income is another area of deceit that should be avoided. Quixtar has an FTC-approved model representing the income range for a Diamond IBO, and the income range for the “average active” IBO. To talk about my personal income would be ludicrous when talking with new IBOs. It would be like saying to them, “I have been married for 28 years, so that means that your marriage will last that long”. The length of someone’s marriage and the financial growth of their business is strictly based on how hard they work at it. What other IBOs make in no way reflects what the prospects will actually do. Of course I think it is helpful to disclose what the potential is, if they have a good work ethic. I have been involved with Quixtar and my business team for 7 years. I am satisfied that I was not pressured or unduly coerced into joining or building my business. Like any business I have had good years and years that were not so good, but the benefit to my thinking and the association with other like-minded people have been invaluable.