If someone is a good liar then they have the potential to be part of the fraction of 1% of IBO’s who make money at Amway. This is because you have to lie all the time when recruiting prospects or finding customers to buy overpriced shit.
Some of the lies that IBO’s are expected to tell:
“No, this isn’t Amway. We just use Amway to move our products.”
“Where else can you work a business 10 hours a week and earn $100,000/year.”
“After a few months you will be making thousands of dollars.”
“You will save money by buying from your own store.”
“Everything to do with the business is tax deductible.”
“We’re debt free. We pay for everything in cash.”
“Amway owns the Amway Stadium in Orlando Florida.”
“Amway saves marriages. There’s a low divorce rate in Amway.”
“People who don’t succeed in Amway are either lazy or they didn’t try hard enough.”
“Now is the time to get on board because exciting changes are about to happen.”
“People who are not involved with Amway are broke losers.”
“Tools are optional.”
“We will buy back your tools if you leave the business.”
“We sell high quality products and they’re reasonably priced for their high quality.”
“You will collect residual income for the rest of your lives.”
“I work with a team of millionaires developing online businesses.”
Of course the biggest lie is denying the business has anything to do with Amway. That goes with tricking prospects into coming to a meeting. Even when the prospect specifically asks if this business opportunity has anything to do with Amway the IBO denies and lies.
Its really amazing that IBO’s spout off lies and then claim they run an ethical business. I love the bullshit about how every IBO out there thinks they offer outstanding customer service. Almost every non-Amway entrepreneur out there says the same thing about how they offer the best possible customer service and how their excellent customer service sets them apart from everyone else.
I’d say the majority of people who sign up as IBO’s are probably honest people. After they’ve been with Amway for a few months their conscience takes over and they become uncomfortable lying to people about how great business is going and how Amway is so wonderful. They’re not making any money and they’re spending a fortune buying Amway products and tools. They cut their losses and quit. Amway is a poor business choice for anyone because it has less than a 1% chance of success but Amway has a zero percent chance of success for honest people. It is difficult to fight with your conscience over the lies you constantly have to tell about Amway. Its the good old “don’t speak negative” bullshit aka “telling the truth”. Amway IBO’s refuse to acknowledge any truth that might be negative. When someone asks how business is going the IBO who is losing money has to lie and brag about how good business is and how its growing. I mean you tell someone the truth about how much money you spend each month hundreds of dollars and you get a check for $10 from Amway how desirable does that sound to a prospect. When someone asks how the products taste the IBO has to lie and say they taste great even though those food bars are nasty tasting shit. They have to brag about Perfect Water and lie about how it cures every ailment known to man.
All the lies are uncomfortable for honest people and they take their toll on a person having to lie all the time about Amway.
Not everyone is honest. Some people have no trouble telling lies. There are IBO’s who have been in Amway for many years. Maybe they’re making money or breaking even. Maybe not. Either way they’ll still lie about how good business is and how fast its growing. The IBO’s who are the best liars are the ones who stick with the Amway business for years and have a shot of being part of the fraction of 1% who make money at running their scammy Amway business.
Over the years they’ve perfected the art of telling lies. Our upline were professional liars and what I've observed is that its easier for a liar to become an Amway IBO than an honest conscientious person.
When it comes to Amway professional liars only need apply.
All others - RUN as fast as you can.
So true, and so sad. What a way to live.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the Bible's quoted too often in response to your column, Anna, but listen to what my class was studying at church yesterday. This is from a letter that Paul wrote to his friend Timothy, who was "like a son" to him:
"You can be certain that in the last days there will be some very hard times. People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless, heartless and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. These people will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. Even though they will make a show of being religious, their religion won't be real. Don't have anything to do with such people." 2 Timothy chapter 3, Contemporary English Version.
Nobody can tell me the Bible doesn't apply to modern life, when it describes some Ambots so well and tells me to stay way from people like that!
Thanks Mom! Gee Paul must have known some Amway ambots,
DeleteAmway the cult of greed where worshippers must love their Amway Diamonds more than life itself and where they all sit around jabbering about how rich they're all going to be one day and how the rest of the world will be dead or broke by age 65.
Amway is full of a lot of negative things, and it makes you feel all sorts of ways. I've been pissed off, disgusted, annoyed to name a few, but I've also been uncomfortable. They want you to list names and phone numbers of people yet they don't tell you what for. No wonder why they all lose their family and friends. Hell, no wonder why they even want it that way, they want you to feel like they are the only family and friends you know so you will stick to them until you croak.
ReplyDeleteThat shit wasn't happening to me. I didn't even attend most of the meetings when I was in. My car had some issues and that was an excuse I used, even though I really didn't want to go to everything they did. By then I had in mind that they said it literally takes just 10 hours a week and you will be rich and headed towards financial freedom. OK, if it is really 10 hours then what's with all the important meetings? I live in Elizabeth, NJ and meetings were in Edison NJ, Sattlebrook NJ, Manhattan, WTF! Then there was phone team on Sunday, WTF is that? Very irrelevant.
My brother and I been having our doubts and were about to get out, but one night really sealed the deal. When my upline told us "You definitely want to be there" about some workshop that will advance you 6 months we went, of course making sure it was free as I didn't see the point in charging people at least $6 to attend such an "important" meeting. We went and it was 4 hours of listening to several assholes talk about this and that and of course the clueless imbeciles going off like hyenas. My butt fell asleep a few times, yet no break or anything. That was the last straw.
Amway starts off with dishonesty. When a person is recruiting someone, notice how they never let the person know exactly what they do and what the person would do if they would "go meet some important people with business professional attire". How about not telling anyone what it is and other crap. WTF? You can be going someplace and conspiring with others to rape someone or rob a bank, why so secretive? Nothing but dishonesty, and still many people think it's legit because it's still around. Scams are still around and happen each and every day, Amway is a huge one just like others such as Primerica. We need more people to speak out.
Hi Sprigsleg. Thanks for telling us your story.
DeleteI wrote a post awhile ago about that name list. Just because we had someone's name didn't mean we had a phone number and some of those people on the list might not even be willing to give us a phone number like the cashier at the gas station. I found out that name list is an Ambot diversionary tactic the assholes in your Amway upline want you to do mostly cause it wastes time and distracts the Ambot from seeing how much money they're losing. But as long as you still have people on that list then it represents hope. There's still suckers to prospect.
The car having issues is a good one cause most ambots drive shitmobiles that are always breaking down so it's reasonable. Surprised they didn't send in some fired up Ambot to pick you up.
Yup Amway meetings are all the same. The asshole doing the speaking always says the same thing and total rip off when you gotta pay to hear some Amway asshole speak who's saying the same thing you heard a million times before.
Scammers!
Oh so true. Sick, isn't it? Married to an Ambot. I know, I know. But he's the only one in the relationship that drank their cult tonic. I stand by my original opinion: these people are brainwashed cult crazies. Lol. Business is going well? Sure, if you think a $30 check after spending $300 on shit products is "going well". I can't convince him to get out because he thinks our upline is his best friend as well as the almighty. Gross. I'll continue to rebel by not dressing up for meetings, not using artistry because it effed my skin up anyway, not drinking their shitty energy drinks, and not taking their vitamins because I know how to eat a balanced diet. Haha, sorry for the vent! Thank you for this blog. It's my therapy. Glad I'm not alone in feeling this way.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous. What you just said I could have said. And have probably said somewhere in this blog! Us women who are married to ambots get it. We all have the same story. The details of our life circumstances might differ but the Amway part of watching our husbands get sucked into the Amway cult of greed and being abused by the upline assholes is the same. That's why this blog exists to let others know they're not alone in how they're feeling and the hell they're going through. We can only help others by writing down the pain and sharing. I'm glad this is your therapy. It's our therapy too!
DeleteI don't even know where to start. I would however, like you to say out loud, Anna- "I tried to tell you." I read your blog back in the beginning of April, before I was convinced to sign up as an IBO and sign my life away to this scheme. The person who sponsored me is my personal trainer, as well as my client in my real job- Advertising Manager for our local paper. I totally trusted him (and still do in other aspects of life) and I let my trust of he and his wife bring me on in the business. I spent hours at open meetings, went to a conference at the end of April and am now being a little chastised for not making enough contacts, not buying my tickets for summer conference, and I am going to miss a meeting I would have to drive 3 hours for tomorrow- a Saturday night in the beginning of summer.
ReplyDeleteI am a successful, college graduate, single woman. I am 30 years old. I have so many other things I would rather be doing on a Saturday night then driving for 3 hours, paying a $15 fee and listening to the same stuff I've already heard.
Even before I signed up, CDs and books were thrust at me to listen and read. I love to read and have found the books quite useful- in my personal and professional life. However, the CDs make me feel like I am being brainwashed. I was told to listen to them whenever I was in the car. Well, I'm sorry, but I happen to like MUSIC! And cussing, and drinking and dancing. I like using my free time to RELAX!
I have been losing sleep and honestly, not doing my real job to it's full potential because I am so worried about pleasing my upline and the team! I feel like I am in an abusive relationship and I'm cowering in the corner, scared. Everything I have read written by you and by the comments, is so true. It's crazy that this has affected so many people's lives.
I started dating a few weeks ago and my sponsor (also my trainer and client that I have to see 3 days a week) says, "When was I going to find out about him? Oh, he's gotta come to a meeting. We can judge his character by how he reacts to the business" EXCUSE ME?? I don't think it's your job to judge his character and it's awful that I feel ashamed even telling him I am involved in the business!! And I've only been in since mid-April.
The one thing I will say positive about this experience is that I have met a lot of positive and happy people - well, at least they seemed to be, probably all a facade anyway.
I am ready to quit, but I am shaking at the knees, grinding my teeth and losing even more sleep because I don't want to have to face him- yet, I need him to continue his advertising with me and I need to keep working out. I'm terrified. But- I am a grown woman!! I wish he had never crossed a line by inviting me out. I don't want to do that with my friends or people I know. I don't want to expose them to this cult, and yes, it is quite cultlike. I even looked up the exact definition so that I wouldn't feel bad calling it that. But, I drank the kool-aid. I am just trying to spit it out now.
Sorry for the long rambling. I guess this was also a way for me to vent.
Hi Katrina. I feel bad for you reading your story. Little comfort but you're not alone. Just about all of us have the same story as you. Just told slightly differently.
DeleteAmway is all about destroying relationships. They're after the new person in your life if he won't sign up for Amway and support you. Yeah right. They just want his money. Or at least get him away from you so he can't make you see the light and you'll quit which means you've cut off the cash flowing to your upline. And see you're embarrassed to tell him you're in Amway. It's really embarrassing telling people you're in Amway. Do you really want to be involved with a business that you're too embarrassed to tell people about.
Amway is affecting your job. I can't tell you how many unemployed ambots I knew or those who became unemployed while in Amway. Being in Amway gives them the attitude they're better than everyone else. No one at the workplace needs to put up with that kind of attitude from a coworker. Plus the Ambot is usually fucking around on company time doing Amway related stuff, phone calls and texts from upline, doing Amway searches on the Internet that kind of thing. Now you're dealing with an account at your business that you can't hide from. I don't know what your policies are at work if this is a conflict of interest that could get you fired. If you have a sympathetic boss perhaps now is the time to come clean about the Amway thing. Imagine what the worst thing is that can happen. You lose the account. You lose your job. You're young enough that you can move on.
That's too bad your sponsor is someone you deal with several times a week. Not so easy to walk away from. That's why maybe your boss can help you out, like assign that account to someone else.
And yes being abused by the upline and humiliated when you can't find people to come to meetings or buy enough Amway products is all part of how this cult abuses it's followers. You nailed it when you said you felt like you're in an abusive relationship cowering in the corner. That's how being in Amway makes everyone feel. Everyone is abused by the assholes in their Amway upline.
You were a student so you see the value of an education. You haven't been in Amway too long so just consider the money you spent an education. A learning experience. You won't make that mistake again. And you said you got some value out of the books. The CDs are all brainwashing bullshit marketed as motivational or training. Stomp on them and thrown them in the garbage. It'll make you feel better.
Yup come back here and vent. This is what were here for. Let us know how it goes. Just keep saying no if they hound you to buy more shit or go to meetings. $15 now?! They were $10. That's how they really make the bulk of their money. Selling tickets to ambots to come hear them speak.
Good luck to you!
@Katrina June 7, 2013 at 4:56 AM
DeleteScAmway is a con game deliberately setup to benefit the owners and top AMO charlatans at the expense of intellectually castrated, razzled-dazzled tithing ambots. If you delve into the deliberately designed part you will realize sooner that 99%+ failure is designed into this whole farce thereby guaranteeing that as many adherents will lose their money/investment than they will make, without exception. Further, that the money diamonds pretend to be flash with is minimally from scAmway than it is from AMO's - sale of CD's, books, meetings etc. (Diamonds are paid about 20K to speak at weekend conferences, then sell the same repeated talks on CD's to unsuspecting ambots). For some of them all that cash amounts to 85% of their income much to the chagrin of scAmway founders - Google "directly speaking" talks by Rich DeVos.
Go here and read this free eBook by a former emerald. http://www.transgallaxys.com/~emerald/
Let's explore what you said
KatrinaJune 7, 2013 at 4:56 AM
Delete"...I was convinced to sign up as an IBO and sign my life away to this scheme."
"I totally trusted him (and still do in other aspects of life) and I let my trust..."
That's what ambot charlatans are trained to do - exploit relationships. Yes you were exploited.
"I spent hours at open meetings, went to a conference at the end of April and am now being a little chastised for not making enough contacts, not buying my tickets for summer conference, and I am going to miss a meeting I would have to drive 3 hours for tomorrow- a Saturday night in the beginning of summer. "
Do you want to keep doing this for the next seven years, like yours truly, only to wind up with guaranteed results, i.e. 99%+ of scAmway adherents don't make any money, they lose it and time as well, do you?
"I am 30 years old. I have so many other things I would rather be doing on a Saturday night then driving for 3 hours, paying a $15 fee and listening to the same stuff I've already heard."
Then recognize that and make a decision to quit this cult. It's honorable to quit crap that doesn't make any sense.
"Even before I signed up, CDs and books were thrust at me to listen and read."
Purpose in their words: To get your mentality right, in know terms, to brainwash you.
"I love to read and have found the books quite useful- in my personal and professional life."
ScAmway is hardly the first and last word on books - the books are way cheaper at your local library - FREE! Or Amazon and ebay are cheaper too. Yep same books or whatever you want.
"However, the CDs make me feel like I am being brainwashed."
DeleteNo need to sugar coat and wrap this nefarious ploy in a seemingly celestial sari. It is what it is - brainwashing.
"I was told to listen to them whenever I was in the car."
Lemmie help you hon, cult charlatans seek to occupy your brain acreage and time so you will never have time to think yourself into a reality check. You've been warned.
"I like using my free time to RELAX!"
That's a no no you might think, reason, weigh things, realize this cult is not what you want and walk. That's not good for them, so be prepared not to relax if you remain in this. Just know it will suck your life out of you honey.
"I have been losing sleep and honestly, not doing my real job to it's full potential because I am so worried about pleasing my upline and the team!"
Ouch! I remember when I was there. Pains me. You were born naked, by your self. Right now someone's crapping on your foot and telling you is apple sauce. If you continue with scAmway, start looking for a new job, soon you won't have the one you have.
"I feel like I am in an abusive relationship and I'm cowering in the corner, scared."
Bingo. You are. Being chided for not buying a ticket, etc?
"Everything I have read written by you and by the comments, is so true."
Because it is. Anna is the canary telling ya it is so.
"I started dating a few weeks ago and my sponsor (also my trainer and client that I have to see 3 days a week) says, "When was I going to find out about him? Oh, he's gotta come to a meeting. We can judge his character by how he reacts to the business" EXCUSE ME??"
I told you scAmway charlatans seek to control your entire life, see? You are in a cult. If you didn't know it by now your entire life is in the throws of their control.
"I don't think it's your job to judge his character and it's awful that I feel ashamed even telling him I am involved in the business!!"
Achoo business? You are ashamed because it ain't a business but a predatory, puerile commercial cult. I too felt the shame.
"The one thing I will say positive about this experience is that I have met a lot of positive and happy people - well, at least they seemed to be, probably all a facade anyway."
It's all fakey fake. Be prepared they will never have anything to do with you when you leave. Where's the nice then? Their's is a friendship achoo, of convenience - if you are in you are valuable because your income is an income to them, but if you quit they cannot get their fingers at your income so what is your use to them? NOTHING!
"I am ready to quit, but I am shaking at the knees, grinding my teeth and losing even more sleep because I don't want to have to face him- yet, I need him to continue his advertising with me and I need to keep working out."
Honey, he is not the only account in your city that's game. You acting desperate not like the 30 year young confident, smart graduate. Snap out of it already! Quit this commercial cult and go out and make 10 new contacts per day for the next 2 weeks. You will find a client or two who will replace his butt. Jeeze!
"I don't want to expose them to this cult, and yes, it is quite cultlike."
Wrong! It's not cult like. It's a cult, a commercial cult. There's nothing "cultlike" about it. It's in fact exactly that, a cult!
@Katrina
Delete"But, I drank the kool-aid. I am just trying to spit it out now."
Don't try to be pregnant. First make a decision to quit it. Second, figure out your chips - go out make contacts for your job, tell these charlatan, you will take a month off to re-focus at work or whatever. Work at your contacts like a mad chick, once your ducks are lined up, civilly tell the guy you have decided to go in a different direction or yada yada. Be ready he will want to get back at you for quitting on him (but hew will claim you are quitting on your dreams) tell him it's a shame he has to decide that way, it's good to know him, you be seeing him but not in scAmway endeavors, then turn around and strut. Do not fade away, but be sure to face him. If he will ever tell his story (I doubt) they like to laugh at so called quitters fading away, not having the courage to face an upline. Don't give the pleasure. Good luck, let us know what happens.
ExAmbot - thank you for taking the time to give such a detailed response based on your experience with the Amway cult. I hope Katrina comes back to let us know what's happening.
Delete