| Comment Number: | 522418-10172 |
| Received: | 7/15/2006 9:18:19 PM |
| Organization: | Quixtar - iTeamUSA |
| Commenter: | Tom Michelini |
| State: | MI |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
COMMENTS TO THE FTC PROPOSAL: I have been an IBO with Amway/Quixtar for 10 years now. It is a very legitimate and profitable opportunity where I have gained so much knowledge and expertise that helped me in my other traditional businesses. When I was first introduced to the opportunity, I was given plenty of information and all my questions were answered without any ‘hard sell’ tactics. It was up to me to do my due diligence and check it out with the Attorney General of MI, the BBB, which all gave Amway great reviews. I have since encouraged new prospects to do the same as me. By legislating these stringent rules upon multi-level type businesses only succeeds in punishing those of us honest, hard working, and legitimate business owners. Unethical people never follow the rules anyways, so this proposal would not affect them in the least. PROBLEMS: 1. 7 day rule is senseless since Quixtar will give the prospect his/her money back if not satisfied. 2. I would not want everyone to pass out my name and personal information. It does nothing to add credibility to the business opportunity. 3. Total waste of time to list every litigation. Why not, then have every government official and politician do likewise, since there is so much corruption, waste, and illegal activity in government? 4. Quixtar and iTeamUSA keeps it simple and discloses the income upfront. 5. In business, unlike government and unions, people are rewarded by their efforts and time they devote to their business. It is not based on seniority or ‘who you know’. So, it is ludicrous to prove income because each person is different. SOLUTIONS: 1. The FTC might better spend its time trying to figure out how to enforce the many laws on the books in a much shorter time span. It typically takes 5-7 years to close down an illegal scheme or scam. In the meantime, the owners have ripped off a lot people, made lots of money and then open up a similar scam with a new name. Why is it we know the scams and the FTC doesn’t investigate sooner and shut them down? 2. The proposal the FTC is considering should be equally considered in any type of business and not just target home based businesses. In fact there is so much corruption and illegal activity/scams among professionals like doctors, lawyers, etc. 3. The FTC should do more to encourage small business and home based businesses since jobs are becoming fewer and fewer in the new millennium. We must now use our intelligence now to create opportunity and income rather than rely on jobs or someone else. Emphasize the positive – not the negative and allow us to police ourselves with your assistance instead of imposing unrealistic burdens on us. Tom Michelini - 7/15/06 (Quixtar – iTeamUSA)