| Comment Number: | 522418-10735 |
| Received: | 7/16/2006 9:42:44 PM |
| Organization: | Quixtar |
| Commenter: | Nathan Brink |
| State: | FL |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
FTC, I have been affiliated with Alticor the parent company of Quixtar for over 15 years. The personal growth benefits have been tremendous in my life and would not have been realized had I not been introduced to this opportunity. Access to thousands of products and services have added convenience and quality to my lifestyle for which I am also very grateful. When I first started my business, I was informed that continuing education in this industry would be an option if I chose.It was explained to me that as in every profession, techniques and markets evolve requiring further education of the professional. I accepted this common sense business principle of continuing education as my responsibility, and as a requirement for myself personally to create a business plan. I explain to business prospects and customers my experiences and reasonable income expectations that will be a result of hard work and goal-setting. I use Quixtar's income rule of explanation since their data encompasses all of their IBO's and not just the few I have ever met. It is explained that the incomes are not guaranteed and are close approximations. They also give percentages of IBO's who are active and non-active. I find these disclosures to be very informative and transparent, with the emphasis always focused on personal responsibility. Quixtar is not a get-rich-quick opportunity. There are also no guarantees of success. This is stated in the sign-up information and on their website. The customer and Independent Business Owner support is superb and I believe second to none. Sign up fees and product purchases are fully refundable, including shipping, for up to 180 days. This greatly reduces any fear of undue risk or loss of money. Product purchases when becoming an IBO are not required but are encouraged in order to create familiarity with a product line that an IBO would like to focus on. IBOs can purchase products for personal consumption or for customer promotion; there are no minimums required. Again there is no great risk here for IBO or customer, just the time invested in research of the opportunity and the products. Specifically, regarding a 7 day waiting period, potential IBOs already have the option to wait to enroll after they are introduced to the Quixtar opportunity. In fact, prospects are already encouraged to research Quixtar as much as they like. However, mandating that persons wait to become IBOs would be unfair to the persons who want to get started without waiting seven days. Our refund policy guarantees satisfaction and eliminates risk. Unscrupulous companies would not adhere to this rule and how could they be held accountable? The proposals suggesting the need to provide personal references, litigation lists, and financial substantiation do not make business sense and would be an invasion of privacy. IBOs registered with Quixtar are not all working directly together in the same way that all car dealers are not. Every customer of a car manufacturer is not provided this information when they would like to buy a car. The customer is interested in the features and benefits of the car, not who has sued or wanted to sue that car manufacturer for any reason. This analogy may not be perfect but it applies to all business. Business,by definition, involves a seller a buyer and a product or service. It does not require anything else. While I understand the desire to protect consumers from unscrupulous business deals , the rule proposal would severely hinder legal and ethical businesses. The problem is age old, how to increase liberty for honest people while decreasing opportunity for dishonest people. Thank you for the opportunity to be involved in this issue. Respectfully, Nathan Brink Quixtar IBO