| Comment Number: | 522418-07090 |
| Received: | 7/9/2006 8:32:57 AM |
| Organization: | Xango, Avon and LiaSophia |
| Commenter: | Barbara Hansen |
| State: | CT |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
Barbara Hansen July 09, 2006 Federal Trade Commission/Office of the Secretary, Room H-135 (Annex W) Re: Business Opportunity Rule, R511993 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20580 RE: Business Opportunity Rule, R511993 Dear Sir or Madam: I am writing this letter because I am concerned about the proposed Business Opportunity Rule R511993. I believe that in its presented form, it could prevent me from continuing as a Distributor with XanGo, Avon and LiaSophia, and destroy my small businesses. I have been an independent home based business Distributor for 8 years in different companies over the years. Originally, I started my Network Marketing business because of the products. I loved the products and wanted to earn some additional money. Please don’t use this unnecessary Rule to destroy our small businesses!! We need them! The Heartbeat of American Business is Small Businesses, many of which are Home Based. Some of the sections in the proposed rule would make it virtually impossible for me to sell my products and operate my Home Based Businesses. The waiting period will give the public the idea that there’s something wrong with me or our plans and also reflects badly on me. I also think this seven-day waiting period is totally unnecessary, because XanGo already has a 100% buyback policy for it’s single focus functional health beverage product . One of the most difficult sections of the proposed rule is the seven day waiting period to enroll a new Distributor. For example, XanGo’s membership and sales kit only costs $35. People buy lunch, dinner, TVs, cars, and other items that cost much more than that and they don’t have to wait seven-days. Under this waiting period requirement, I will need to keep very detailed records when I first speak to someone a prospect and will then have to send in reports to my company. I am a small home business and this burden will hurt or destroy my business. This proposed rule is actually anti-small business. Finally, the proposed rule requires the disclosure of a minimum of 10 prior purchasers nearest to the prospective purchaser. I am glad to provide references, but in this day of identity theft, I am very uncomfortable giving out the personal information of individuals (without their approval) to strangers. Women in my organization may be subject to sexual or racial harassment so this part can’t go in at all, unless the FTC passes an addition to this rule prohibiting sexual or racial attacks related to this disclosure. In the end the rule must bind the FTC to take direct enforcement action on sexual and racial attacks with a special unit assigned to monitor actions related to the disclosure forms. I have seen many scams on the Internet and been approached by many crooks. This rule will do nothing to stop them. It will actually hurt my business! This rule will not stop Crooks – they violate the current rule all the time. But I am a good American citizen and it will hurt me. Thank you in advance for your attention to and favorable consideration of this request. Sincerely, _____________________________________ Barbara Hansen Independent XanGo Distributor Avon Beauty Rep. LiaSophia Jewelry Advisor