| Comment Number: | 522418-06448 |
| Received: | 7/6/2006 11:45:31 AM |
| Organization: | Tastefully Simple, Inc. Independent Consultant |
| Commenter: | Amy Spairana |
| State: | NY |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
I am concerned about the proposed Business Opportunity Rule R511993. I understand that the FTC’s mission is to protect the public from unfair and deceptive acts or practices. However, some of the sections in the proposed rule will make it very difficult for me to sell Tastefully Simple products and help others start Tastefully Simple businesses of their own. One of the most confusing and burdensome sections of the proposed rule is the seven-day waiting period for new consultants. Our new consultant startup kit costs only $170. This waiting period gives the impression that there might be something wrong with our business. Tastefully Simple, Inc. has been in business for over 11 years. The company has a proven track record of fair and honest practices. And there is an 72 hour opportunity for new consultants to change their mind and get their money back, no questions asked. Under this waiting period requirement, I will need to keep very detailed records when I first speak to someone about Tastefully Simple, and I will then have to spend much of my time preparing and sending in reports to Tastefully Simple headquarters. This will be a major burden for me, and it doesn't help to protect the public in any way. When I became a Tastefully Simple independent consultant two years ago, I did it primarily because I wanted to earn some additional money while rasing my two boys. My family now depends on my Tastefully Simple business as our PRIMARY source of income, and I'm very concerned about the proposed Business Opportunity Rule, because I believe it will jeopardize my business. I appreciate the work of the FTC to protect consumers, but I believe this proposed new rule has many unintended consequences and that there are less burdensome alternatives available in achieving the FTC's goals. Thank you for your time and for taking my comments into consideration.