| Comment Number: | 522418-05115 |
| Received: | 6/29/2006 5:53:40 PM |
| Organization: | Flanagan International, Inc. |
| Commenter: | Christine Flanagan |
| State: | NY |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
Dear Sirs, In the 17 years that we've owned our IBOship, I can honestly tell you that the Quixtar Business has been everything that had been presented to us. There have never been any false claims or misrepresentation of the program to make us believe it was a "Get Rich Quick" scheme. We were taught that what you put into it, you get out of it. In other words it requires work. We're very grateful for our income through the business. It helped to pay for our wedding reception and purchased our home. It also supplimented Christine's full-time income so she can stay home to raise our 3 children. It's given her the opportunity to be a career woman by working the business together based on our own calendar, and still have plenty of time for our family. We personally do not share our income with IBO's for the same reason we wouldn't share our paycheck information with coworkers. However, we've never misled anyone to believe we were making more than we actual do. Our goal is to teach new partners how to have a well rounded business. We explain that if they show the plan, use and sell the products, and teach people to do the same that they too can have a successful business as shown in the marketing plan. Those who choose to join the business soley to retail the products are taught about retail sales. We are all for the proper education of a potential IBO. We have been in total duplication of the BWW system by supplying all potential IBO's with a universal literature pack at the end of a presentation of the plan. If the FTC required any additional information to be included, that would not be a challenge. We encourage our IBO's to get back with their potential IBO's within 2-3 days of showing them the plan to answer any questions. In most cases, additional educational material is provided, and if there is an interest for them to become partners an appointment is set to get them registered. Therefore, from the date of seeing the presentation to date of registration is generally under 7 days. Recently, we personally registered a new IBO after following the above procedure. Unfortunately, he researched the Quixtar business on some unknown websites and changed his mind about building it. After trying to re-educate him on the facts, he was still adament about discontinuing. Christine informed him that it was up to him to contact Quixtar corporation to terminate his business, and he would be issued a full refund of his start up fee (approximately $160 after product bundle purchase.) This 100% satifaction guarantee is what makes Quixtar different from other businesses. The challenge we would have with a list of local IBO's for reference would be (1) the potential lack of edification if they're not in the same Line of Sponsorship or group. (2) if the local IBO is only in the business for personal product use and not the opportunity. (3) if they've had a bad personal experience that they'd share (as an emotion instead of fact.) It is our personal opinion that these facts could have an inpact on the potential IBO's decision to join. In closing, we believe in the values of the founders of the Quixtar Corporation and feel it unnecessary to tell a grown adult that they're not "allowed" to get involved in a business for 7 days. This would be an insult to that individuals intelligence, not to mention go against the American Dream and Freedom of Choice. Sincerely, Christine and Patrick M. Flanagan Emerald IBO's