| Comment Number: | 522418-11011 |
| Received: | 7/17/2006 12:57:00 AM |
| Organization: | |
| Commenter: | Stevenson |
| State: | TX |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
I have been a Quixtar IBO since Quixtar first started. When I registered in the business, I was given enough information to make an informed decision. And I in turn give prospective IBOs information so they can make an informed decision. Each prospective IBO can choose to register whenever they want. Some decide right away, and others take a week or two to gather information and meet other IBOs before they register. I let people know up front that this is not a get rich quick scheme, and that it takes work. One of my concerns with the proposed rule is the 7 day waiting period before someone can register as an IBO. This would significantly hinder the growth of our business! Let's say we register a new IBO. They're excited, and have several friends and family members who also wish to register. If their friends/family have to wait 7 days, the amount of volume (from IBOs) that can flow through the new IBO's business that month is greatly decreased. Therefore, their income as a new IBO is less than it should be because their downline IBOs have to wait to register and order! And you can see that cycle reproducing itself. Also, if the prospective IBO lives at a distance from me it is an expense to travel to where they are. The waiting period would increase my expenses since it would involve going back out on several occasions to help that new IBO - with 7 days in between each registration! Currently there is a 100% satisfaction guarantee with Quixtar. If a person registers as an IBO and decides FOR ANY REASON that they do not want to be an IBO anymore, they can get a full refund on their registration for 6 months! Also, every product has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so they could send back whatever product they haven't used and get a refund on that too. So I would say that there needs to be a reasonable cancellation policy, but not a waiting period to register! The new proposed rule would also require us to provide references of other IBOs in the area. As you well know, some people get started in business ( or college, or jobs, or marriage, etc.) and don't do the things necessary to be successful. I don't want my prospective IBO to get the opinions of people who haven't applied themselves. If you wanted to learn to play basketball, would you rather take advice from Michael Jordan, or from the guy who gets the ball out every once in a while to play a game? Just like in our business - we want people to learn from others who have applied themselves, or are at least in the process of growing their business. Plus, there are several different "business teams" within Quixtar. Not all of them use the same game plan to win. Like the NFL - there's lots of different teams with the same goal to win the superbowl. But there are different coaches with different game plans. None are wrong - but few if any are the same! I don't want my prospective IBO to go talk to another Quixtar IBO who is working a different game plan from me. That would create confusion. Also - who's to say that the reference (who is not in the same business team) would not try to register my prospect? Each prospective IBO has opportunities to meet other IBOs on the team already. We encourage that! There are business expansion meetings, seminars, weekend conferences, as well as smaller home gatherings that are made available for prospects to interact with other IBOs. Lastly on this reference issue, I don't want my personal information given out to strangers! In closing, the Quixtar business is a great opportunity. It is an example of free enterprise at its finest. It allows people to create a couple hundred dollars a month or a couple thousand - & more. I have replaced my income from a 17 year teaching career. This proposed rule would negatively impact my business and my income. I agree with the objective of the FTC, but I think the requirements are far too restrictive and unduly burdensome. Thank you.