Comment Number: 522418-10781
Received: 7/16/2006 10:27:33 PM
Organization:
Commenter: Susan Pick
State: IL
Subject: Business Opportunity Rule
Title: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
CFR Citation: 16 CFR Part 437
No Attachments

Comments:

We have been Quixtar independent business owners (IBO) since 1997. We started with the mindset of having a small business on the side. When we got involved we knew that it depended on the time and effort that we were willing to exert. It was never presented as a get rich quick opportunity. Time, dedication, persistence, following good business practices and having good ethics were all values that were presented at any meetings we have attended. The continuing education has been phenomenal to us as a couple and as individuals. This is the only opportunity I have experienced where we have been personally mentored in how to develop a business. We have experienced both financial rewards as well as personal benefits as a result. Our mentors have always allowed us to grow in our own pace. There has not been any pressure to do things we were unwilling to do. That’s the beauty of the business. You are rewarded (or not) based on your performance. No one ever apologized for that and we did not expect to get something for nothing. When we were sponsored we received enough information to make the decision to get involved. We also knew that we could return any product for a full refund. There were no minimums to buy. The quality of the educational support is second to none. The cost of that was outlined and you participated voluntarily. When I have sponsored individuals I have provided them with the same if not more information. Prospects can register for less that $100. With the proposed FTC ruling we would want to eliminate the waiting period before IBO’s could register at least for opportunities like Quixtar where a prospect can get his money back if not satisfied. We also would ask that the requirement to provide 10 references be eliminated. This requirement would infringe on the privacy of IBO’s whose name, address and phone number was provided and it would also potentially penalize the sponsor who would be required to give this information by giving the contacts undue opportunity to register the prospect themselves. The Quixtar opportunity has been and is a wonderful opportunity for us as a family. We used common sense in checking it out. We were not forced to invest large sums of money with the promise of huge returns. There are always going to be exceptions to the rule but, this is a tested and proven business. People are people and there will always be those who prey on people. There are safeguards in place in the Quixtar opportunity to prevent that. I don’t think that everything can be legislated. We want there to be safeguards to protect us and others as individuals but, we also want there to be an opportunity to work at creating a business that allows for fair competition in the marketplace. That’s what free enterprise is built on. There is hard work involved and no amount of legislation will prevent someone at some point from somehow feeling that they were wronged. I would ask that there not be undue legislation that prevents the spirit of competition. Those who are unscrupulous will find a way around it. Please don’t penalize those just trying to better their lives with a business that anyone could do if they applied themselves.