| Comment Number: | 522418-05802 |
| Received: | 7/3/2006 4:26:56 PM |
| Organization: | |
| Commenter: | Barron |
| State: | VA |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
I have been an Independent Business Owner with Quixtar for some time now and this business opportunity has allowed my family to achieve a number of our financial goals using only the spare time we have at the end of the day. We have traveled, increased our income, and made innumerable strong friendships based upon trust, respect, honesty, shared goals, and interest in each others’ successes. When I began as an IBO I was given a very accurate picture of what it takes to succeed within this business model in terms of time, effort, and expense. I offer the same accurate information to those that I sponsor into this business. If they have further questions, I answer them, taking whatever time is necessary to allow people to understand how it works and how they can anticipate it working for them. Even though I offer accurate information about income and expense, I never exceed the information that is published by Quixtar and reviewed by the FTC – even though in my experience I make more money than what I was told that I would in those examples. I have no motivation to lie to them. If I do, they quit and are given 100% of their money back. Additionally, this business never pays us for just sponsoring people, it only pays for the successful marketing and distribution of actual products, which gives me a further incentive to stay honest and develop a business friendship based upon trust and respect for their needs and limitations. I compete with Wal-Mart and Nordstrom’s, not Ponzi schemes. I make sure that all – every single one – of my prospects understands that this is a legitimate business and that it requires effort to succeed. I also let them know that, at most, they only spend $120 to begin their business with Quixtar. Most of my prospects spend closer to $60 to begin. A seven day waiting period would unfairly harm my business by not allowing people to capture the excitement they feel when they realize that there is another business model that they can become a part of, instead of simply being a consumer at retail stores. A seven day wait would also give prospects the perception that there is some sort of a problem that they need to uncover and that by mandating a seven day wait we are absolving ourselves of liability for their ignorance or laziness. They would be apprehensive. That is no way to begin a business. Additionally, my productivity is cut in half if I have to meet with each person twice to accomplish the first step in creating new business and profitability. Providing references to prospective IBOs is another problem. My day job is a Police Officer. I cannot have a person, unknown to me, obtaining my information simply because they were contacted and offered this opportunity. I invite prospects to professional business meetings held in public spaces where they can evaluate the other people in this business operating in their area. This provides them with more information than just a list of names, anyways. A litigation list is a hurdle to accomplishing new business. Just because someone sues another person or entity does not mean that that lawsuit has any merit. But to the average, ignorant person, all they would see are a list of lawsuits. It is unfair for me to have to overcome existing negative perceptions in addition to these outlandish rules in order to continue to participate in free enterprise. As far as earnings estimates, I always share those earnings estimates that have been approved by both Quixtar and the FTC. What more is needed? Substantiation of personal income is a bad idea. I am careful to make it clear to my prospects that not everyone is successful within the Quixtar business model because not everyone is willing to work hard and follow the rules. If I had to disclose my income to others, it might make me target of ridicule, of jealousy, of robbery. This business is honest, extremely ethical, and good. It should not be tampered with or hampered. God Bless.