| Comment Number: | 522418-06983 |
| Received: | 7/8/2006 12:00:51 PM |
| Organization: | Stampin' Up! |
| Commenter: | Margaret Husting |
| State: | CA |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
Dear Sir or Madam: I am writing this letter because I am concerned about the proposed Business Opportunity Rule RS11993. I believe that in its present form it could prevent me from continuing as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I understand that part of the FTC's responsibility is to protect the public from "unfair and deceptive acts or practices" but some of the sections in the proposed rule will make it very difficult, if not impossible, for me to sell Stampin' Upp! products. When I ask someone to be a new demonstrator they want to join "right now", not in 7 days! They are so enthused and want to get started as soon as possible. Sometimes there is a "special" that can be earned and if they have to wait past that deadline then they will not get that special from the company or me. Not good for the customer, the company or me. Once they sign up, if they have changed their mind, for one reason or another, then they can do that and get 90% of their money back. I don't know of any other place where you have to wait 7 days to join something or buy something. I have been a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for 11 years now and would hate to see any changes made. I have been retired for 10 of these years and it has given me untold happiness as I am currently, and for the past 5 years, a teacher in the Art of Rubber Stamping at the local Community Services Department in my city of Huntington Beach. This is where I teach people the various techniques of rubber stamping. The ladies that come to this class, and children too, in the summertime, love this class. We have all made some very wonderful, lasting friends and all because I am a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. My husband likes it because I am not complaining all the time about "what am I going to do today?" I know exactly what I'm going to do every day. It also gives me spending money for trips I like to take every year. And, of course, for more stamps! The proposed rule requires the disclosure of a minimum of 10 prior purchasers nearest to the prospective purchaser. While I would be glad to provide references, I am very uncomfortable giving out the personal information of individuals without their approval to strangers in order to get the list of the 10 prior purchasers, I would need to send the address of the prospective purchaser to Stampin' Up! headquaerters and then wait for the list. I have people buying stamps from me that live in other states and wouldn't have this information to give to them, then what? they can't buy stamps from me? Reading the whole list of things that have to be changed seems like such a waste of time when what we are doing is so satisfying without doing all these extra, time consuming things that would need to be done. I have complete faith in Stampin' Up! and surely don't want to have to know of every lawsuit, misrepresentation or unfair practices or all the rest of it and I'm sure a new person coming in to the business doesn't care either. I am 77 years old and love doing what I do, helping others to make and send greeting cards and love doing it. Please don't take that away from us!! Sincerely, Midge (Margaret) Husting