| Comment Number: | 522418-08478 |
| Received: | 7/12/2006 9:28:22 PM |
| Organization: | Quixtar/ WWDB |
| Commenter: | Patricia Sanford |
| State: | MS |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
I have been a Quixtar IBO for 3 years. I believe the company is upstanding and honest, though I do understand that dishonest people frequently are in all Network Marketing companies, which is not different from every walk of life. I am in favor of the new FTC guidelines, but against specifics in the proposal. My husband and I have been affiliated with Quixtar for long enough to gain some business success. We love the industry and company. While we are not always positive about our outside jobs, with Quixtar, we have fun, and are helping people in our community to gain financial successes (based on their own definition of success) and personal growth advantages they would not have had otherwise. We both have a combined 30 years of advanced education, and have never been exposed to the level of self analysis, and growth that we have since entering the Quixtar arena. That has been worth even more to us than the financial rewards. We are quick to tell our personally sponsored people, and insist they duplicate our messages, that this is a true business which requires hard work, dedication and committment. It is not a "get rich quick scheme" or a "pyramid". We let them know even before registration that they will get out of this business exactly what they put in. If they work hard, work honestly, avoid hype and simply try to help others to fill a need, they will gain from it, either financially or personally. We let them know IF they do things right, they will not inventory products, lose money, spend money they don't have, and can lose a maximum of only the initial registration fee of $45-$125.00 if they do nothing after registration. Frequently in the past, we have refunded them their registration fee of $45.00 (plus tax) because they decided to not pursue the business. We also are quick to let them know that if no products are ever passed thru their business, they will not make money, no matter how many businesses they sponsor. My specific objections to the proposal outlined by the FTC are as follows: 1. I think a mandatory waiting period of 7 days would cause people to forget what they were interested in seeing the business for in the first place, cause them to still register, but not follow thru or pursue the business to actually make money, and cause them to lose sight of their dream of something better. I think it would also be very discouraging if they had friends or family that chose to join them, but could not for a "mandatory waiting period". 2. I would also lose money, time and potential customers due to the requirement of providing a litigation list. We fully researched the company, organization and support prior to registration, and we encourage our prospects to do the same due diligence. However, to have to copy each infraction of each individual or the whole company to give to prospects is unreasonable and irrelevant. I know there is ignorance in the community, with companies that my husband and I work for, but they are not required to provide a list of infractions and suits to potential employees. This issue is the one I feel the most strongly about and needs to be stricken. 3. I personally do not have difficulty disclosing my earnings to potential customers or IBO's, but with new downline, downline that have been involved for quite a time and not done anything, those that spent their time on personal growth before building the business, and those that don't keep track of earnings specifically, could be harmed greatly, to the point that it could easily deter them from building. We do not endorse falsehoods in our organization, but wish to edify those in our line of sponsorship for doing well. To create a mandatory rule such as this would, in my estimation, cause people who are otherwise honest and upstanding, to lie or spread falsehoods where none are currently necessary. I think those that are currently honest, will suffer. Those that already lie and create deceit will not be affected.