Amway is a pyramid scheme, and I have lost a friend to prove it.
I’m betting it’s more likely than not that someone you know has also gotten involved with Amway. The company is ubiquitous and seems to be infiltrating even the most rational social circles.
If someone has recently invited you to coffee because they’re looking for people to help them run a “business”, chances are you’re in danger of becoming an Amway target.
There’s only one big problem: Amway is a pyramid scheme.
What is Amway?
Amway is a pyramid scheme posing as home and lifestyle business. They use multi-level-marketing tactics to sell beauty, health, and household products.
You have to purchase Amway products directly from an Amway distributor, they are not available in stores. Amway products are not necessarily bad in themselves, it’s only the business operations that is suspect.
Is Amway legit?
The answer to this question depends on whether you want to admit the truth to yourself or not. Is Amway a real American business with a real presence and real products? Yes. Is Amway a scam? Also yes.
Amway’s presence in American culture doesn’t legitimize it’s shady business practices. It just means it’s a long-con that’s been running for decades thanks to using it’s billions to lobby lawmakers who want to shut it down.
What is a pyramid scheme?
The dictionary defines a pyramid scheme as:
“a form of investment in which each paying participant recruits further participants, with returns being given to early participants using money contributed by later ones.”
Because you have to pay fees to be part of the business, and you earn a percentage of the fees paid by your recruits, Amway is a pyramid scheme by the most traditional definition. You actually can’t describe it as anything else.
Is Amway a pyramid scheme?
Amway is a pyramid scheme for the same reason all pyramid schemes are pyramid schemes: the focus is on recruiting new members and selling a lifestyle, not actual products.
Amway is a multibillion-dollar company that uses “multilevel marketing techniques” to sell cosmetics and household products. They have really aggressive recruitment techniques and cult-like practices.
They’re super shady and sued on a pretty regular basis, but still manage to trick new people into the fold!
Amway does sell some products, of course. You can by a number of household goods and cosmetics through their store. However, the main focus of the business isn’t selling stuff: it’s on finding people to work for you so you can grow your downline.
If pyramid schemes are illegal, why doesn’t Amway get shut down?
Understanding why Amway is still allowed to operate despite being an illegal pyramid scheme requires delving into the history of the company. Amway is a rich and powerful political player, and more than once in history they’ve bent the rules to suit themselves.
The Amway history
Amway, short for “American Way”, was founded in 1959 by Jay Van Andel and Richard DeVos. That latter name should ring a bell: Betsy Devos is the daughter of Richard DeVos and current Secretary of Education in the USA. It’s pretty easy for your family business to circumvent the law if you’re regularly rubbing shoulders with the president.
The DeVos family is a major donor to the Republican party. Before his death in September 2018, Richard DeVos was American royalty as the 60th richest person in the USA, and the 205th richest person in the world. He’s practically diety of American Capitalism, and this is the real reason Amway can operate an illegal pyramid scheme without any consequence.
One of the best investigative journalist pieces on the Amway cult is the podcast The Dream. It’s a riveting listen about both the political history and business psychology of the company from the inside out!
How Amway Works
Amway targets emotionally and financially vulnerable people and promises them security, family, and money.
People that are secure in their personal relationships aren’t easily brainwashed by Amway’s creepy “family” angle. Likewise, those with sufficient income are rarely swayed by the “exciting opportunity” to “build an asset” for themselves.
Amway uses the tried and true tactic of exploiting the weak. By aggressively pursuing friendships, establishing mentors, and building an active community, it’s easy to see why being part of Amway seems like a good time to someone who’s been feeling lonely.
Self-improvement and lifestyle changes lead to positive outcomes
Amway encourages new participants to start eating healthy and work-out. Big surprise: taking care of yourself feels good. However, those who have been in a funk for a long time might attribute their new health and self-esteem boost to Amway rather than positive diet and lifestyle changes.
Then they have recruits set goals, make vision boards, and sell them on the dream that they’ll “be retired in 2 to 5 years”. Amway is a pyramid scheme, but it’s masked under the real positive life changes subscribers make.
Once Amway has their claws in, they get their new recruit to switch everything over to Amway so they become their own customer. By ordering household and beauty products through their own online store, they pay a premium for everyday items and get a small kickback which they try to sell as this amazing perk. I don’t see why you wouldn’t just choose something else.
Can you really make money with Amway?
Yes, you can make money with Amway, but it’s very unlikely. Only about 1 in 4 people who join an MLM like Amway make money. Most people will end up spending money on things like registration fees and conferences.
How much does the average person make with Amway?
The average person makes virtually nothing with Amway. That’s right, $0!
Amway has readily disclosed that the average income of all IBOs and even Platinum Founders is a piddly $628 per year. They also mention that a shocking 37% had no sales at all!
The median income of the top 1% in Amway is $50,363. That means even the absolutely top Amway earners, those who make more than 99% of other people, half of them aren’t even cracking $50,000 per year.
There’s nothing wrong with a side hustle
I’m not trying to slam Amway as a profitable hobby. I’m a big promoter of the side hustle. This is extra work or a part-time job you take on to earn extra money in order to reach your financial goals.
However, I don’t think any kind of multi-level marketing organization is the way to do it. Instead, there are plenty of amazing ways to bring in extra money without going broke and making all your friends and family hate you.
One of my favorite side hustles you can do right from the comfort of your own home?
- Sign up for Swagbucks and earn points for surveys, surfing the web, and watching videos that you can then redeem for cash or gift cards
- Sign-up for Rakuten and receive 1% to 8% cash-back for shopping online at your favorite stores, like Amazon and Sephora
- Sign-up for KOHO and get a bonus 1% cash-back on all your spending
These put more money in your pocket every day, without pissing off anyone you love.
How I lost my friend to Amway
In university, my best friend’s roommate was caught up in the snares of Amway. It started innocently enough but rapidly declined into a spiral of crazy we could not rescue her from.
She told us she was “building an asset for herself”. Her bedroom was littered with binders of Amway sales strategies and tactics. She listened to Amway’s “positive affirmations” CDs while she slept. She even attended international Amway conferences. This cost thousands of dollars out of her own pocket and have yet to return anything.
Before we even really knew what was happening, she had moved out of my friend’s home and into some kind of Amway halfway house.
Why is Amway bad?
Amway is bad for you. Like really, really bad.
The company causes recruits to spend and ultimately lose money rather than make it, and isolates them from all their friends and families in the meantime.
Amway will make you spend thousands of dollars out of pocket on product and events
The first, last, and likely only person that’s going to open their wallet for your Amway store is you. You’re going to invest in the products to sell to your friends and family, as well as all the workbooks, courses, and conferences Amway will demand you attend.
Amway center events require you to pay thousands of dollars to register and attend, and then all travel costs will also come out of your pocket. You’re likely to never see a return on the money you pour into your Amway business. So if you’ve already spent a pretty penny, cut yourself off now.
Amway forces you to cut ties with anyone that voices their concern
After her departure, my friend’s now-ex-roommate promptly cut every non-Amway person out of her life. We don’t know how she’s doing anymore.
Amway actually tells recruits to do this. They say you should cut ties and end relationships with anyone that doesn’t support you. If friends or family don’t buy from you, or worse, criticize Amway, they’re labeled as dead weight.
Is Amway a dream or scheme?
Before my friend abandoned us, she tried to pitch us first. A senior Amway person came to my friend’s home, and presented to a dozen of us about the company. I had to sit through this really bizarre presentation where they insisted that Amway was not a pyramid scheme.
Just for future reference: anyone that has to say “it’s not a pyramid scheme!” is probably trying to sell you on a pyramid scheme
They told me I was wasting money by putting it into savings and the stock market. Which is weird, because I’m the one making money and they’re not.
You can read more about the company here. If you want to hear more creepy personal stories about other people, like my friend’s roommate, who has been tricked into Amway, there are some good ones here.
If you know Amway is a cult and still want to succeed, you might enjoy this guide: How To Be A Good Amway Cult Leader
Does anyone make any money with Amway?
Yes. It is true that some Amway participants will genuinely earn a good income from the business. Namely, whoever can exploit their dumbest friends and family to fall into step.
For every dozen critics of Amway, there’s always one fool that insists his brother’s friend’s cousin made a killing. They retired in 3 years and now live in a giant mansion in Honolulu. But everyone else is spending way more than they’re making.
You’ll notice on every page of Amway’s books they’re forced to print “the average monthly earnings in 2012 was $84”. You’re going to earn the $84, you’re not going to retire in 2-5 years.
Have you ever known anyone that’s tried Amway or have you tried it yourself? What’s your thought on it or other MLM firms?
306 Comments. Leave new
I somehow am in the small number of people who is oblivious to Amway up until now. It sounds pretty creepy! I find it extremely sad how exploitative these businesses are to people in vulnerable situations. Thanks for the info!
All that info is not true! Looser talk.
absolutely 100% right …looser talk
What’s the name of the book they want you to read when trying to get you motivated to join Amway. It’s on positive thinking
Business of 21st century.
I have been in the business since 1965 and find this article is totally false. The products are totally planet safe, non caustic, leave NO soap scum in your drains, don’t wear out your clothes , washing machines and dishwashers and other appliances last longer. The company has highest integrity and has alway paid bonuses to those earning them. Whoever wrote these articles does not have the true story, at least not the complete story. Real pyramids are regular companies. In Amway you can help the people you sponsor make more than you.
The author here is completely clueless and should do homework before writing things like this. I did this business in the early ’90s and it is not a Pyramid scheme. You can get bigger than your sponsor in terms of income, etc. It’s actually a very simple business and it works, but it has/had a bad rap. The worst you will get out of it is positive thinking. I no longer do the business but several things I learned from it have helped make me successful in business and life in general… Plus I’ve made some lifelong friends I would not have met otherwise.
Its most definitely a pyramid scheme by all means no two ways about it.
Yeah, how come a pyramid scheme can allow downline to override Upline? Think before you write
Yes a bad rap from people who failed. Sadly they have completely discredited the American dream realized and materialized by Rich and Jay.
Yeah most of the people here are just losers who won’t admit that it’s their fault that they weren’t successful. I was in Amway for 3 years from 2015 to 2018 and I never got past the 1500pv pin. But I’m never going to be a loser and go online and bash a company because I didn’t work hard and listen to my upline. It was my fault I didn’t want successful. Amway is not a pyramid scheme at all. I was making more money than the person above me. How is it a pyramid when I made more money than the person above me. Also Amway sells products. We don’t get paid to recruit. I’m tired of failures bad mouthing a company due to their own lack of success. It’s so pitiful. I don’t even like the owners (Devos family) I don’t agree with their political views and I don’t plan on ever going back to Amway but that doesn’t mean I’m going to lie and act like there is any ring wrong with the company. HERES MY ADVICE: Never listen to negative failures opinion on something. They can’t give you any good advice. They are full of victim mentality and will never admit that it’s their fault they weren’t successful. There’s way more losers in the world than winners. Remember that
Oh boy. You and the chums above are the “dumbest” friends and family she’s referring to. Y’all are just a waste of human organs.
Dave R. You are a liar.
Clearly not a Dr.. neither of you know how to spell loser….the looser idea that no one gets here is that this is indeed a scam. You go through a process where they just want to “make sure you’re in it for the long hall,” willing to put in the work. If you did it and it didn’t work out, good on you for moving on with your life, but the point is that these people have found a way to buy in and “recruit.” The difference is the wording. Literally had it shown to me, and what is a pyramid scheme? One person has to recruit so many people and it is based on what you recruit. This scheme has people that they recruit or “create business” with to sell their product. They give you the spill that it is different from any other business, but there is no other product outside of theirs that is their own and you sale to what? family and friends. They also give the caveat that there will be some bad news out there on them because there are bad “branches” of the company, guess what that is a GIANT RED FLAG. Also, when you can search a company and see the info on how it is a cult, mlm and pyramid scheming, and you choose to join it anyways, because that is 100% on you and doing it because it is the “American Dream?” The only this the “American Dream” is is the person who turns the blind eye for promise of money and you either make it or you don’t it doesn’t matter who suffers and the more people you can exploit, the better.. Ah, what a dream. This is no different than any other leach out there that is willing to suck the life out of you to get ahead, they just want to sale the promise of friendship and family. They come around when you put it out there that you want to make a difference for yourself, you’re ready to do things different. Keywords that attract them like a drop of blood in the ocean and the sharks are coming for a tasty treat. Do not defend it because you think you did okay with it, or you did it and didn’t lose it all. They still support horrible people like the Devos and you only helped accelerate horrible people. I may not become a millionaire but the “American Dream” is an old stupid term given to people to make them believe that they could live richly while in all honesty just working themselves to the bone for that person sitting comfy in any office telling them how to live their life while barely paying them a living wage. All the while exploiting every person (especially those of color and immigrants who will work for less money) and all of our natural world putting us in the position we are in now with Covid. All so they can take a vacation, escape to Mexico, or pay off the however millionth time they have been sued by someone, they have the money so they cannot be touched. This is where accountability lands, this should not be allowed. This world was exploited on the backs of free labor so that it could make the white man rich, you’re just buying into it even more by defending this. They promise money for freedom, but still only have you sale their products….. how is this not a pyramid scheme again? Oh the wording they use? Guess what they changed the wording to seem more legit and to find a way around the illegality of a pyramid scheme, but when it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck… you may be involved in a pyramid scheme, and bashing other people for putting the truth out there when you choose to ignore it is….ignor..ance, yes ignorance.
Amway is not legit. They do not enforce their own “10- Customer Rule”. To be legit, according to the 1979 court ruling, each Amway distributor MUST make 10 retail sales to non-Amway members to be legal. This ruling is what supposedily makes “legit”. However, Amway does not enforce this rule.
Look at the videos online, or go to an Amway presentation, all they talk about is you joining up to get their products at a discount and recruit others to do the same. There is NO mention of a 10 retail customer requirement. At some meeting they even state that there is no retailing or selling the products to others required. This is what makes Amway an illegal pyramid scheme.
If Amway enforced their 10 customer rule, today, the majority of the millions of Amway distributors would not receive one dime (99% don’t make anything anyway).
Thus, Amway operates as an illegal pyramid.
I’ve looked at many MLM’s and I have seen only one which pays comissions based on an actual retail sales requirement. Their police is: No sales, No bonuses. (No, I am not a member of this MLM or any other MLM)
Bottom line, unless and until Amway enforces their 10 Customer Rule I would advise everyone to stay away.
“loser” ….. at least learn how to spell.
A loooooser will spell the word looooser so perfect. Stay broke you loooooser! Stay broke for lifetime, buying toilet tissues from 99cents store to clean your shitty ass!
A pyramid is a hierarchical structure wherein you have a lot of workers at the base, a few managers, fewer Senior Managers, some Directors, lesser Vice Presidents, a couple of Presidents and a CEO. Any Corporate house .. where you have one CEO, A President, few vice presidents, a little more Directors, more Senior Managers, some more Managers, lot of Asst Managers and humongous lot of workers at the base level….. The base worker can never be paid more than an Asst Manager or Manager…… however this is NOT the case in AMWAY…. It is the perfect system, where you earn as per your abilities and the amount of work you put in….
This article is the handiwork of a loser or someone in the Conventional Market which earns more than 250% profit (or 70% of the cost of any item sold in the market) that each one of us spends…. Tve concept of Free Enterprise and Direct Selling is threatening these free loaders and this article is an attempt to defame the God Sent ANWAY System of Direct Selling…..
Yes
Wait! Amway is an illegal pyramid, but is ok as a side hustle? Kind of a contradiction dont you think?
Then you go and conflate your false notions with some kind of political favoritism. You’re all over the place here, and at no point have you made any kind of coherent sense.
Please Bridget, explain to us peons exactly how the Amway opportunity works. I mean, really breakdown the business/pay structure so we idiot’s can really understand.
YOU CANT. I know that because your ridiculous article proves you have absolutely no factual knowledge of how IBs actually work.
And as for your libelous targeting opines regarding the weak and lonely, chew on this!
There’s countless IBOs in Amway that have walked away from six figure incomes because they’ve built HUGE IBs. Serious, integrous IBOs go to great lengths to find WINNERS with as good a work ethic or better.
Why would I want some lonely sad sack that has no motivation. Make sense?
The investment: costs less than a Costco membership depending on options.
Yes the mentorship groups have fees, but that’s an investment. If you buy tools and let them sit in your shed and rot, they’re worthless. Make sense?
Bridget Casey, I hope you comment. Maybe we can have a positive dialogue of facts. I won’t hold my breath though.
Your responses to other comments; “nah” “lol”
That’s some pretty profound stuff…
Read the post again, don’t just skim headings this time. Pay special attention to the part that says: “I’m not trying to slam Amway as a profitable hobby. I’m a big promoter of the side hustle. This is extra work or a part-time job you take on to earn extra money in order to reach your financial goals.
However, I don’t think any kind of multi-level marketing organization is the way to do it.”
Hi Bridget, I can totally understand what you are saying in the article. I myself was an IBO in Amway a few years back. I spent a lot of money on products ( I like the products) and recruited a few people. But never liked the idea of getting other people into the business. But yes, I liked their conferences and meetings which have some positive impact. I know one of my college friend whose husband is into this business since his teenage years. I asked her now a few days back, how is the business, her answer was not very enthusiastic. Also, now I have one friend who is after me to join the Amway in her team.
I have told her many times that I don’t want to get into that, still, any conversation I have with her ends up with Amway. I googled about Amway and found your article because just a few minutes ago she sent me a video of explaining products.
And you are wrong. Amway is not a pyramid scheme. I made more money than my upline before I quit and I saw many examples of that. That fact alone proves how wrong you are. Why do you guys spread so much misinformation. I’m not in Amway anymore but I loved my time there. I just wasn’t ready to build that type of business. There is nothing wrong with This company. It seems you were the problem and you can’t admit that to your own shortcomings. That’s all I read.
How about this section along with various others:
“The answer to this question depends on whether you want to admit the truth to yourself or not. Is Amway a real American business with a real presence and real products? Yes. Is Amway a scam? Also yes.”
Just because you put a nice little recovery there at the end to make it look like you don’t have a vehement bias against the company doesn’t absolve you of this non-credible opinion based malarky.
Respectfully, you also never truly defined a pyramid scheme; just your ill informed understanding.
I feel sorry for people that read this and think they’ve made an educated decision about an opportunity.
A pyramid is a hierarchical structure wherein you have a lot of workers at the base, a few managers, fewer Senior Managers, some Directors, lesser Vice Presidents, a couple of Presidents and a CEO. Any Corporate house .. where you have one CEO, A President, few vice presidents, a little more Directors, more Senior Managers, some more Managers, lot of Asst Managers and humongous lot of workers at the base level….. The base worker can never be paid more than an Asst Manager or Manager…… Tgat is a Typical Pyramid…. large atvtfe base and Single at the Top…. any Government system is a Pyramid.
However this is NOT the case in AMWAY…. It is the perfect system, where you earn as per your abilities and the amount of work you put in…. and a person at the base can earn much more than the person above him, based on his hard work…..
This article is the handiwork of a loser or someone in the Conventional Market which earns more than 250% profit (or 70% of the cost of any item sold in the market) that each one of us spends…. Tve concept of Free Enterprise and Direct Selling is threatening these free loaders and this article is an attempt to malign and defame the God Sent ANWAY System of Direct Selling….. work of satan
you just described Amway lol.
CRINGE… your post sounds like you’re doing a cheesy amway pitch. make sense?
You’re probably one of those people who gets a group of unsuspecting kids desperate to find a way to make money into a room, and tell them to be an annoying prick to convince people to sell amway products everywhere they go. make sense?
And you probably tell them to fake an cocaine high from an amway energy bar at the gym to get attention and try selling it to randoms. understand?
And you sound just like the amway parasite I had to hear when I’d stop by the office on the weekend, hearing him in one of the conference rooms where he ended every sentence with “make sense” or “understand,” because that’s what the seem to have to do to use a cheap NLP technique to brainwash impressionable kids or desperate adults into buying into amway. Make sense?
Amway is not a zero sum game. Someone has to lose for someone to win, and if you’re making money on Amway, you’re draining someone elses time and money by either getting them into a losing venture or selling them something at a premium. Make sense?
You seem brainwashed yourself into not feeling remorse for what you do. understand?
I hope you wake up and get right. make sense?
blech. make sense?
You’re very ignorant and seemingly unintelligent. Please do objective research on the company. I quit Amway years ago but I know for a fact that it’s not a scam or some pyramid. That’s pure ignorance. If I made more money than my upline and saw many others doing the same than it can’t be a pyramid. Also if I knew people making six figures who would show me their bonuses as proof than I’ll trust that over losers on the internet who failed at the company any day.
I am an IBO and have never been required to buy anything. Everything is a choice. I’ve been to conferences and never paid more that $200. The IT company I work for has paid thousands for me to go to conferences however. I also used most of their products before I became an IBO and love them which is one of the reasons I decided to sell. I can work as much or as little as I want to. Depending on my personal financial goals. People who don’t make money are either not putting in the effort or not utilizing the training. As far as targeting poor/ignorant people my team is made up if professionals who already make a decent income. We just want an opportunity to make a residual income. In my company employees make bonuses on the profit of the company. The higher your position the higher you bonus percentage. No one seem to have an issue with that!
I’m sorry about your friend but maybe she did feel unsupported by her friends which helped her realize who her real friends were. I’ve seen the same thing happen to people in sororities or fraternities.
I’ve known others who are Mary Kay , Pampered Chef, Scency and other types of consultants and have the same basic marketing design.
I am very sorry you had such a bad experience. My husband was a physician and an IBO for 25+ years. I joined him after we married for another 22 years. We enjoyed the people we worked with and were not lied to, forced to take advantage of anyone and we certainly did not treat people the way many of you were apparently deceived. I still use the products and like them more than most I can buy in the stores. If my health was better I would probably be a part of the company again.
Amway is a total and complete scam. 99% of IBO’s will fail. Only 1 in 400 will become Platinum and 1 in 10,000 will become Diamond. These are Amways numbers. IBO’s are just salesmen for Amway which has a shitty reputation and severely overpriced products. Find a better company to sell goods for – real estate, insurance etc. if you stay with Amway you will find out the hard way!
ohhh honey. Looser? Please buy a dictionary with all your Amway money.
Don’t just get one persons word for it. Try other sources too. Better Business Bureau for example. The really it sounds creepy is because this guy made it sound creepy. The person has distorted the truth. Probably because he does not want anybody to succeed in it. Also try http://www.thetruthaboutamway.com
absolutely right..
True. Does not even understand the true definition of a Pyramid Scheme
this totally wrong info… i will request you to confirm it from the authentic source…
” if u have toothache , take advice from Dentist only, never from a plumber ”
we should know , whom to listen, this world is full of negative people …
I just resntly joined the amway busniess and i have seen alot of positive things about it so far i am doing ok not making millions but am growing in to a better person and enjoying what i am doing sorry you think this way they did have a bad rap years ago but now there is alot information now to emprove your life and those around you they have never told me i have to stop talking to my family or friends but jave helped me and my boyfriend grow closer together and value one enother
Alot more i love the products they are great .
If I can be honest, I thought this way too. When I read the books, the audios and focused on the business I was on a HIGH. I felt like my mind was expanding and I too was growing as a person. It felt liberating. But then I realized, “wait my way of thinking is getting more and more narrow to think EXACTLY how they think” I’m sure if I had read those books on my own, I could’ve applied them in my personal life WITHOUT Cultway. But since I was consistently focusing on the business while reading those books and listening to audios. I was no longer able to think for myself it was some sort of dependency on my mentors. Then you’re crying to them because “you’re so grateful you met them and they gave you this opportunity” THAT’S when they know “we got em!” it’s like you think a lightbulb turned on…but really the lights just went out. I listened to EVERYTHING my uplines told me. But for anyone who really believes in God, will know that God has a way of revealing things to you that is not going to bring you closer to Him or can cause mental/spiritaul harm. It’s terrifying. I sometimes just burst into tears thinking about how my mind was indoctinated by URA. I cry for the people they prey on the join the business,(single moms/dads, young adults who are looking to “live the life”) I pray for them and I pray for my friend who introduced me, I want him to get out too.
It is a legitimate legal business
Nah
It is wrong, ofcourse if you open your own shop, then why you go to some another shop to buy. It is a networking project. You earn a lot by doing work. Ofcourse, it’s a business n have to do work for it.
I was involved with Amway years ago, but lot contact with my leaders.
The person who write this hasn’t a clue. It’s actually the opposite of Pyramid selling – as you only buy what you have orders for. A traditional Wholesaler and then Shop is much closer to Pyramid selling.
As to the training it was second to None – teaching Team work and Positive Mental Attitude – with wellbeing at it’s core.
It’s just shocking people like this author can twist the truth to make a story – The Media has a lot to answer for.
Man Amway folks who call folks losers are probably not making money cause that is not how you build relationships.
If you ever want to use the great Amway products without all the business building hassles, just reach out to Warner E Taylor over on Facebook.
I can see why many folks are upset with these Amway people who have zero marketing sense and throw up anything on good people.
Yes you can make money in Amway.
All you have to do is complete their compensation plan.
It’s the training teams that are not a part of Amway that are not coaching up their people properly on how to market and sell properly.
That was me and I apologize to anyone who I may have weirded out.
If you do join Amway I recommend you seek outside training in sales and marketing as there are other ways to grow an MLM which is less weird.
Your point of view on Amway and Network Marketing is so false. I am a business owner and have been for about 14 years. When you start any business of any kind your most likely going to fail. Your not a failure if you keep growing and learning and eventually if you learn from your mistakes, you will get it right. Most people want to own a business but do they. You have to have confidence and a burning desire. In a way a person’s better off failing in Amway and loosing a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars than loosing your house etc. I’ve met people that have failed in multiple mlm’s and then became very successful. The issue is most people don’t treat Amyway or any other mlm as a real business. You have to work hard every day. All businesses are structured like a pyramid and the top people make all the money.
sorry, but this is just crap. i’m with amway and its nothing like what you described. i buy whatever products i want or need, and go from there. there is no “cult”. there is nothing funny happening at meetings, just a lot of positive reinforcement, goal setting, and support.
its your call how far you want to take it. and yes, people make money from it just like any other job.
i used to love reading your blog but honestly, this post has totally turned me off.
I guess you aren’t dedicated to building the business. If you were, you would see some of what was described here.
i’ve been to events, i attend meetings, i buy and use the products (but only the ones i actually like, like some of the kid vitamins cuz my kid actually really likes ’em, and their makeup/skincare i really like because it works for my skin)….there has never been one mention about “ditching your family or friends”, there has never been any pressure to buy nothing but Amway….
i think a lot of it depends on your upline and their own values and integrity. my upline is incredibly supportive of however far i want to take my business and even though i’m not as eager to attack it, they’ve turned into friends and we hang out, regardless of amway.
if people are simply looking to become rich quickly by signing up as many people as they can, yeah, it can be a sh*t program to get into. but if people are actually looking to help each other out and create a supportive atmosphere, then its a good thing to be around. the things i’ve learned at the meetings and conferences have helped me immensely in all areas of my life because i’m way more confident now to pursue my own dreams outside of amway.
and what the hell is wrong with buying toilet paper online?? if this was to be a joke, i think its a pretty lame one to try and make. grow up.
Wouldn’t the expenses to attend meetings and such, eat up any money you made from Amway?
how is upgrading your business or going on professional development be any different in any other business be different than this? same thing. you go to learn, to expand, to network….im confused why you’re so confused about this. this is a business, just like any other…except people here want to help you succeed rather than bring you down.
i’m actually baffled by this question.
sorry, i had two thoughts going on with that first sentence LOL
Monica,
You didn’t answer the question. Did attending the function cost you more than you made? If so, then your business had a loss. Not saying you should not have any professional development but you as a business owner needs to discern how much training you need or you could continue to operate at a loss. I’m sure that’s not why you got into business.
They’re tax detuctable! It’s a business! What business doesn’t need investment!?
You buy gas for work and have to attend conferences and meetings for your job. Does that eat into your salary?
where are you now because thats the whole point your their customer not a distributor and you bring more sad folks in to buy into the cult. If you think is so great why aren’t their products in stores and the business model isn’t even to sell products which is supposedly why they are in business to begin with what are they truly selling a dream.
I have been in the business. A check from Amway might be as little as $32.00. The cost of tickets to an event, hotel room, transportation and meals while traveling were exponentially more. Also buying CDs and self help books were highly recommended, as well as monthly meetings to hear the words of wisdom to those who made it big in the business. People like Emmet Smith were paraded in front of us as Amway distributors. I cannot remember all the names of top people, but I imagine they all received a piece of the monies we spent on buying “tools”. My take is if you had a full time job, it was very difficult to show results doing this part time.
lol
weird, I can’t reply to “Joe”…
I go when I can afford to, and if I can’t, I don’t.
What a shocker hey?
Don’t worry about replying to “Joe”. He’s a worthless troll.
http://www.thetruthaboutamway.com/category/amway-critics/joecool/
Well said… I rather buy what I’m going to buy for myself anyway, through amway and get paid a quarter than to go stand in line at Walmart with only 3 registers open and buy from them and get nothing in return… So I guess call me crazy
You can buy Walmart online and have your products delivered at home for $100 yearly. And buy all the times you want free delivery, at Walmart prices.
I am guessing your gonna retire in 2-5 years though right?
God bless you & your heart. I completely agree with you my sister!
i am dedicated, & know each & every point of amway…. ask me anything… amway is one of the best business… plz dont spoil by irresponsible comments…
I have a question. My friend told me about Amway, I am eager to join but like as much as it’s about helping people achieve success, what about you? like, does it really make you money and the amount that actually satisfies you? If they telling me that i can retire soon, which i really do want to… how far do i have to go with it to reach that point? and at the same time not be a slave to this.
Maria you must be committed to the business and do what the business tells you to do. Many people leave Amway simply because their upline wasn’t a great leader for them and eventually they lose confidence in themselves. The business requires you to buy their products monthly and recruit people into the business for PV. The amount of PV determines your level in the business. There is too much to explain. Speak to an IBO about the plan. All I can tell you is that the business is great, they offer you bonuses once you begin succeeding your way through, but it is up to you how far you go in the business. Just like any business, you must invest. One man made it to the Emerald level (around $10,000/per month +bonuses) in ONE YEAR. It all depends on how much you want to succeed. I am in Team Vision and I am glad I found this gem of a company. Good Luck to you if you apply!
I it’s a scam and if you really think this is for you, to make money you must be willing to fool a good amount of people just like they’re trying to fool you into believing you can make thousands. The retired ones are people in top of the pyramid because they live of small “investments” people like you tend to start with.
correct nothing like this
Sounds just like Herbalife! Planet Money did a great podcast on it recently (also, how shorting in stock trading, works) http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/01/16/169468312/the-fight-over-herbalife
I’ve never met an Amway person, maybe it’s not big in Ontario. Is it similar to Avon? My mom’s friend sold Avon on the side when I was a teen and I grew up on Avon (still buy, occasionally.) But this sounds quite a bit different…
I find Avon less creepy.. the whole “family” structure of Amway is the weirdest part. And the encouragement to cut people out of your life that criticize you because they are “unsupportive”… I’ve never known Avon to pull those tactics, but I kind of think as all MLM firms the same.
Amway doesn’t tell anyone to ditch their family. That’s a personal choice made by individuals who see themself succeeding in business & want to hone in on developing themselves as a leader. That’s kinda hard to do if you have someone constantly putting you down saying you won’t be successful. & usually said negative people never actually take the time to analyze the business plan on their own. They resort to google & find articles like this from people who have experienced something negative. MLM is similar to franchises. Just because one subway is ran terribly doesn’t mean they all are. Same with different Amway uplines.
This is so not true at all! Bridget if you don’t know facts or have any credibility don’t write.
Avon is worlds no 2 company in direct selling ( 10.8 billion dollor)….. Amway no. 1 ( 11.3 billion dollor )
Never heard of Amway before this post. How exactly do they target people? Where are their recruitments? Just curious if it’s a regional thing.
My understanding is they’re all over North America, but I’m sure more regions would see it than others.
I know one of their recruitment techniques is “everyone is a contact” — so sometimes you’ll get someone you used to know in high school or from an old job call you up and ask to go for coffee, then they’ll say they have an “exciting new business opportunity” etc. It seems to rely mostly on acquaintances and distant friends.
Over 100 countries. Crazy how they’ve fooled so many governments lol
Ooo creepy. I’ve never heard of Amway but I’ll make sure to steer clear!
I have not been a part of Amway, but I was a part of some MLM back on college. I quickly learned of the problem and got out without any large expense.
good
I’ve never heard about Amway, but stay away from Pyramid schemes promising a life of immediate riches.
There’s a company exactly like this called Organo Gold which sells…get this…mushroom coffee. It is INSANE. CRAY.
Never heard of Amway, but I know a ton of organizations like this! (i.e. Usana, ACN)
This is so sad. My boss came into my office “today” telling me his sister is selling something new – his divorced sister with two kids that lives with his mom and occasionally needs help making her car payment – it’s not Avon, it’s not Mary Kay – Its Amway. I let out a huge groan. He said she is really pumped and is planning to attend an industry conference or should I say family reunion. I just hate to see people be taken advantage of especially those who need every penny.
Right?! MLM schemes like Amway are most harmful to the most desperate people. It’s really sad.
amway is not a scheme…
My mentor is a senior executive engineer. Hmmm. Doesn’t line up with your belief here
Like your boss
Ha ha. My poor neighbour tried to sell me Amway cleaning products stating that they were organic and so pure that you can spray it on plants. She never read the list of ingredients. When it is written “keep out of reach of children and pets” and “may be harmfull is swallowed” chances are it will also kill your plant. People who refuse to see the scheme with the “new age buzzwords” that is Amway are doomed.
u met wrong person, who also does not have a good knowledge…
Their s this multi purpose cleaner that cleans everything even your teeth
I’d never heard of Amway until now, but there certainly are pyramid schemes all over the place. It’s mind boggling.
This website came up in my Google Alert, and since my name is Bridgett (with two t’s) and I blog about Amway, I wanted to leave a comment to ensure that there is no misunderstanding or confusion. I am not a contributing author of this blog “money after graduation.”
Thanks.
~Bridgett
(using an avatar as a “proof stamp” that I am who I say I am)
Google alerts for Amway? That sounds kind of strange. Who uses google alerts for Amway?
Oh my gosh… WHAT? Amway? That company that’s been around for 50 years? That company that partners with 3,500,000 entrepreneurs? That company that’s partnered with Disney, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Sears, etc…? That company what works in 80 countries? Amway’s CEO is the head of the US Chamber of Commerce? 65 laboratories? 500 scientists? yeah… Total scam… I mean why purchase higher quality products through a single mom or a freshly graduated student needing to pay off his school loans? Walmart and Amazon need all the support they can get. And they waste money on advertising to get people to buy crap from China!
I like you, Jathan. Well said. You’re a business person with a heart and sense.
I cannot believe the rubbish you have been writing about Amway. One of the most successful companies in the world, bigger than VISA, Hilton Group, Estée Lauder. They have been going over 50 years and are all over the world. I have never once been told I am part of “the family”. If people aren’t interested, so be it. Don’t bad mouth something you know very little about. I suppose you’re happy to buy from companies like Amazon or Starbucks, two huge companies who have recently been part of a British Government enquiry because they had wangled their way out of paying billions in taxes here in England. Think about that next time you order a coffee or buy a book!!
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Am way was found guilty in Canada for tax evasion in 1983 and customs evasion in 1989.
Johnny, regardless of the topic 1983 and 1989 were a looooong time ago man! That’s the same tactic used in politics. So and so did this 30 years ago, as if people don’t change. I don’t belong to Amway but ’83 and ’89 was ages ago man.
People does not have guts to succeed in any business . If u do not succeed and put blame on someone else . It’s your belief system issue . Change your thoughts otherwise whole life you are writing blocs and never make money in any things in life . Unsucceful people keep writing blocs . Only reason they do not make money they do not have guts to talk to people due to rejection . Do not blame someone else for your failure . Success would not be easy . Yes u can make lot of money . Trust your guts . You do need any permission to succeed why you need someone else permission who is already not so successful .
Bunch of losers
If u fail it doesnt mean everyone will.
U r de one who is creeepy get a life man
Amway is de best networking business they been in business for half decade without going far you can get the answer dat amway is not pyramid scheme
That’s more than half a century already, Sammy. The company has served more than two generations!!! What a scam, if that’s how you see it! I pity the author. I’d say broaden your horizons … or have an unbiased mindset …
absolutely right sammy…
Money spent on conferences and products bought from personal web sites can be written off from your tax as personal expense since you become a business owner.
I want to buy your buSiness from you, can I see your license???
While that is true (and I know nothing about Amway, so I won’t offer an opinion on the company), it doesn’t mean much, because a tax write off isn’t worth anything unless it’s enough of a write off to put you in a lower tax bracket. Say you have $1000 in business expenses – that $1000 is tax deductible. That doesn’t mean you pay $1000 less in taxes. It means you don’t have to pay taxes on $1000 of your income.
Depends on what your annual Amway income is.
I have been in the business. A check from Amway might be as little as $32.00. The cost of tickets to an event, hotel room, transportation and meals while traveling were exponentially more. Also buying CDs and self help books were highly recommended, as well as monthly meetings to hear the words of wisdom to those who made it big in the business. People like Emmet Smith were paraded in front of us as Amway distributors. I cannot remember all the names of top people, but I imagine they all received a piece of the monies we spent on buying “tools”. My take is if you had a full time job, it was very difficult to show results doing this part time.
America is too skeptical! The Federal Trade Commissions ruled in 1979 that Amway is NOT a Pyramid Scheme but reather a multi-level marketing company. I’m not an Amway rep nor do I buy their products so I don’t have any skin in the game here. I just did my research. Folks that believe this crap don’t realize that 90 plus % of all the negative comments on the net actually come from true Pyramid companies to make legitimate multi-level marketing companies look bad. Pyramids are illegal. Multi-level marketing companies are very legit. Other than Amway, Avon, Tupperware, Home Interiors, Pampered Chef and Kirby Vacuum just to name a few. By the Way, Warren Buffet owns Pampered Chef and has stated on more than one occasion that he would own more for them if he could talk the owners into selling. Home based business’s will make you more money than any other occupation you can be involved with. All legitimate multi-level marketing companies have to be members of the DSA (Direct Selling Association – http://www.DSA.org). If a company is found to be a Pyramid Scheme they cannot be a member of the DAS. Also, all multi-level marketing companies have to have 100% approval all State Attorney’s Generals in all 50 states (again do your research). Stop and think about where you work. There’s most likely a manager, then assistant managers, and on down the line. Put it on paper and see what it looks like. Kind of shaped like a pyramid isn’t it. You probably worked your butt off to convince somebody to hire you at a job you hate. Ans then, you work your butt off everyday to make those above you “rich”. All you do everyday is tread hours for dollars. Don’t place your belief on what others tell because they’ve most likely are just repeating what somebody told them and have no experience. Look at a third party website such as http://www.successfromhome.com and go to the store and buy one of there magazines.
Mark is Totally Right↑ No one tells you to “put aside Family & Friends”…but it’s just common sense that “birds of a feather flock together”
just amazing & best reply to the post… good work …100 % agree
What kind of Dr you are? What do you do in Amway and how much money you make?
Yes! MLM is not the same as “pyramid scheme” . In every business the people at the top make more. In an MLM anyone can work up to the top, unlike in a pyramid scheme. Some of what is described in the article is very cult-like if it’s true, but I would imagine it is like with any business: it depends on who your upline is. If your upline is a creep, the whole team is going to be creepy. If you have a good upline, the whole team will reflect that. Any business, MLM or otherwise, can isolate people from friends and family. It’s called being a workaholic.
This
If Robert Kiyosaki, Warren Buffett, Og Magdino, Donal Trumph & many more of the Richest & Successful ppl in the World say it’s a good idea to join a mlm like Amway! Who ever listens to quitters & Losers that don’t hv anything to fall back on w/ No solutions to offer is plain stupid! Going to School & get a Carrear takes alot more time & effort $.
HAHAHA
I think I would consider an MLM a good idea if I owned one too, but certainly not if I’m at the bottom of one!
Also, please stop commenting under multiple names. Your IP is tracked, you’re not fooling anyone.
You notice that they call people that disagree losers. Learned behaviors. You guys sound brainwashed.
You have been mentally diminished by MLM Carrear? WTF??????
Yep work 9-5 and you’ll be rich and retire at 75. I’m a part of Amway and make 2200/month on top of personal training. I probably need to stop Amway right?
Oh I bet you do make $2,200/mo, Larry. I bet you do.
Ok if you think so.
Your a straight bitch and you just want to knock down this guy for putting his two cents down, well you should do some legitamate research before you just tell this guy that hes full of shit and give him LOL’s. Besides, what the fuck are you doing just sitting on your computer commenting negatively on blogs that you know nothing about. Your a hypnotized bitch and I believe that this guy makes 2.2k a month, at least, in this thing. I guarantee you wouldnt be such a bitch if you understood how to do the same thing, but some people just cant believe something and have faith, so they knock it down and shatter other peoples dreams around them. Well I hope someone shattered your dreams when you were a kid, because isnt that what everyone wants? To be around negative lethargic fucks who spend their days finding stuff that doesnt make sense to their peanut sized minds and calling it out because they dont understand it? Well LOL to you too. Your whole life is probably a big LOL. Oooh whatchu gonna do read my internet code or whatever and come set me straight? Bitch I am straight, I aint crooked like you so consider waking the fuck up before your short insignifigant life is over in the blink of an eye
This is opinion based material. I want facts.
Here is my factual response to the author:
FACTS:
1. Amway is an 11 billion dollar privately held, debt free corporation note in Forbes magazine several times and that is #1 in online health and wellness with all certified organic farms. Like Uber, Etsy, Lift, Ebay and Amazon, the allow everyday people to work as independent business owners with them in exchange for compensation.
2. Amway is notably owned by author and owner of Orlando Magic basketball team Rich Devos and Chairman of US Chamber of Commerce, Steve Van Andel. Pretty sure the government would not have the owner of an illegal pyramid scheme as their Chairman and could definitely find Mr Devos Courtside at a game to arrest him for his 11 billion dollar illegal business.
3. Amway is a manufacturing and distribution company that makes everyday commodities people use on a regular basis and compensates individuals for purchasing and promoting their brands vs Walmart or other competitors that don’t compensate them for their loyalty and dollars spent.
4. The Federal Trade commission tried Amway and found it to be what they referred to as a legal and viable business that is not a pyramid because a pyramid is an organization with no real products or services that only circulates money through recruiting others people. Because Amway only pays when products are purchased (not people signed up), they are by definition, NOT a pyramid.
5. Amway has a 90day 100% money back guarantee for startup cost (which is less than $60) for anyone who tries the business and a 6 months, no questions asked refund policy on all products purchased, even if used. So you really have to be an idiot to lose money. There is no buying quota, you don’t have to front load products and you and your customers can order what you need directly from the site and get things shipped to their front door in 3-5 days. You get paid a cash percentage of all spending resulting from your personal orders as well as referrals.
6. Unlike the job you probably work, Amway pays for performance not position. Your boss will always make more than you but in Amway if you cause more purchases than the person who introduced you to the opportunity , you out earn them even though they got started in business first.
7. Airforce Military Colonel David Coley and his wife Ltd Sharon Coley, Author and Worth Magazine voted financial planner of the year John Sestina, ex Pro football player Tracy Eaton and countless thousands of professional doctors, teachers, military personel, accountants, etc who probably aren’t hurting for money, have used Amway as a way to create a secondary professional income where they control their time and money because they understand wealthy people build networks while broke people participate for no money on things like Facebook or write pointless, uneducated blogs based off the failed attempt of people close to them who probably have been unsuccessful in anything they’ve attempted before or after Amway. Of you can’t eat, drink, clean and talk about it with others, you probably aren’t very smart.
I hope this helped to educate you. Would hate for you to continue to look like an uneducated liar to all you friends who watch football and will see the collegiate national championship winners hold up the Amway Coaches Poll Trophy, open Vogue magazine or watch New York Fashion week to see their national Artistry cosmetics campaign or watch the Orlando Magic or Chicago Cubs play and see Amway plastered all over the signage.
The “job I probably work” is this website.
I have no boss. I am president & CEO. I am a real business owner — as in, I own every part of this business. I create the products. I do not peddle toilet paper or hand soap to my friends and family so I can make pennies on their subscription fees. I have to actually think up something new, produce it, market it, and sell it. You want to be paid for performance? Create something yourself, and then see how you do. That’s the most honest measure. Can you make six- or seven-figures from your own creativity and grit? We’ll never know, you’re too busy drinking the Amway kool-aid and patting yourself on the back for being a “business owner” even though you do not own Amway and can’t really see you’re doing what you hate — making someone else rich — even though it’s right in front of you.
I am not an uneducated liar, stupid or unsuccessful. Last I checked I had a graduate degree, a six-figure online business, and no boss. Catch up.
I think you are a good person and probably a good business owner. A lot of people can’t start a biz from scratch like you did but some people like me use Amway as a vehicle to provide for my family. Different ways of getting there, but you and I want what’s best for our family.
AWESOME REALITY as a REAL business not a FAKE `business` like MLM distributor!!!
Congratulations on building a business for YOU. Not everyone is you or thinks the same. Not everyone is able to do that or even have a passion that they’ve developed. If Amway is a way to help at least why knock it. All that you mentioned in the article is not something that happens to everyone and no one is brainwashed just trying to figure out something different. Have you considered that your friend didn’t want to associate with someone criticizing her all the time? How long would you be friends with someone who always sought to knock what your doing even if you saw benefit in it? Jobs are whole idolized pyramid schemes, but we’re conditioned to think that’s all fine and dandy, but anything outside that is just terrible. You just said you sell and market products, what’s the difference between you selling vs. Someone selling products from MLM ? NOTHING if the products are good then what’s the problem! Some people I’ve encountered have been from homeless individuals to Doctors and built a great business with Amway and a friend who is in another MLM is able to provide for her son. So, what’s wrong with that, if it is beneficial? Big companies are partners with Amway, so why would they do that if it is a “scam”? A+ on BBB so why would a scam be rated so high. Just because it isn’t conventional don’t knock it. No one preys on individuals who are unstable financially or emotionally, it’s whoever has the drive and wants to do it. Congratulations on your accomplishments(honestly), but others are wanting the same and some can’t afford to go or even graduate school or school’s not their route.
Amway is a scam that financially bankrupts vulnerable people. It is never “a way to help”. It only hurts people.
Hello Tomi,
I can tell that you are involved in amway and you are passionate about it. I was involved in amway/wwdb up until a few days ago. And I too, said everything you just said. They limit critical thinking skills by giving you the verbiage to defend Amway when situations like this come up. But have you honestly looked into the company itself and tried to see where the negativity is coming from? Not from someone who “tried” amway and wasn’t successful. Even now, after choosing to stay far away from Amway and any other MLM company I still have a hard time reading about people’s experiences who were only involved for a few months and inevitably lost money because they didn’t give it a fair enough chance to make money. BUT! MLMS are a corrupt business model. Can you make money? YES. Is it moral or ethical? I’d say no. You make money by recruiting there’s no way around that. Not necessarily for having a new IBO sign up but from the products they purchase, also known as their monthly 150-300 PV DITTO. The products are pretty much irrelevant. It’s a way of having a CASHFLOW go up into the pyramid to “appear” to be legitimate. Betsy Devos is Rich Devos’ sister in law who is heavily involved in the political party which came in handy when it came time for the FTC to go after them. The government will not shut down Amway – anytime soon anyway, because they BENEFIT from the corruption of companies like this from their lobbying efforts. So just because it is “legal” does not make it right. Especially if you’re involved in AMWAY as of now in 2021 you would know the major EMPHASIS they are putting on actual selling of the products now. Previously the business plan was 100PV personal use and only 50PV customer volume making the IBO the best customer and customers almost irrelevant because you can not earn a sufficient amount of money by selling products alone. You need to recruit other people and have them invest MONEY (products) into the scheme. Now, because there is a major anti-mlm movement and their dirty little secrets are becoming more and more prominent they have majorly emphasized on the actual selling of the products and are teaching IBOS to have 50% of their PV come from customers now. If this was a legit business based around products (therefore “not” being a pyramid scheme”), this would have been the requirement all along. But they’re doing it to appear more legit to the FTC. Even though, there is NO MAJOR MONEY MADE IN SELLING OF PRODUCTS alone. Even if you recruit a huge team you are betting your success on the HOPES that everyone you recruited will stay involved in your business. That to me does not seem stable or a way to gain any kind of freedom. There are actual psychological issues that come from MLMS as well from the toxic positivity, love bombing, gas lighting and so many other things that I didn’t realize until recently. I too, was one of those people who believed my upline loved and cared for me and everyone who had a bad opionion of amway was just “negative” and because I wouldn’t want to trade my life with them(something they teach) I didn’t listen to anyone who was negative or skeptical of the company. But, I hope you can hear my heart, whether you stay involved or not, do ACTUAL research, not just what AMWAY tells you to look at. At the end of the day, no matter how much they flaunt being able to own your own business, you in fact own NOTHING. You become an employee to amway constantly recruiting and selling people the Dream.
everything you said was 100000% FACTS!
I was approached by someone who was in Amway business. He was very aggressive and with a attitude. He claimed that all you need is to recruit six new members and you are set for life because those six will recruit another six and those six they recruited with recruit six of their own. They will be your downlines and whatever they sell, you receive a commission. Unfortunately this business model is flawed. Those six you first recruited, five and all six will drop out within the first year. Thus, you have to be back on the recruiting circuit. The retention rate for a newly joined member is extremely low. You might have to spend years doing recruiting before you hunker down with six members who are staying for the duration.
You are the most free person in the world to come up with the false stories about Amway
Seems like he went out of his way to right that advisory. First off your friend seems a little fishy. I think your friend is you. Well I never heard of those tactics, and selling is optional. Do your research before you post these hilarious posts.
Lmao
absolutely right… he needs some study
Any network marketing works but it all depends what you put in to it. Seen lawyers, doctors,all types of professionals in this business not just struggling middle America. Sounds like you have a grudge.
Everyone has their opinion. Amway is a great business model, but there are knuckleheads just like in any business.
This information is based on 1 person that sounds like she was weird and working with some weird people.
Positive with Amway: Anyone can join!!
Negative: Anyone can join!!!
Amway is a great business!!!!
People that don’t make “any money ” in Amway are most of the time the ones wishing it was a pyramid scheme and most of the time they are lazy and want a get rich quick scheme and don’t want to work for it.
Awesome!
Thanks Bridget for writing about this.
I know a few people who are in this Amway ” business” and i can tell you that they are pretty much brainwashed. They tried to get me to join them and invited me to go to their group meetings. I did go a few times and it was hard to sit through the whole thing. I could not believe all the bull crap those speakers were feeding these people.
Pyramid scheme or not, Amway is creepy and functions as a cult. These crazies nearly sucked me in. What made me really question them though was when after they explained to me their “business plan”, I told them that i’d take a few days to think about it, to talk with family about it. They immediately tell me not to tell my family about them, that my family would be skeptical about the opportunities amway would bring me, that my family would discourage me from doing it. What kind of shady business doesn’t want you to tell your family about them???
This is true. Even in their audios they say “your friends and family won’t understand you but that’s okay because WE are your new family” Telling your downline “don’t do ANYTHING without your mentors knowing”. I know it’s a cult (I was told NOT to look anything up about the company) so I didn’t (if it’s so legit and so great) why hide and tell them “don’t research” HUH?! Also, when I saw my friends house stacked with boxes of products I’m like shouldn’t all of this be sold by now? But no they want you to focus on bringing in more people. It’s crazy. Now to the cult part, I saw it is because not only did God reveal to me it was before I even looked up anything about (I looked it up AFTER I got out) but to glorify the 1% of the things they have and the trips they went on and saying “this COULD be you too if you just do this and that…” and then they throw up “…and yes we thank the Lord…but LETS TALK ABOUT THIS MANSION THEY JUST BOUGHT SO COOL RIGHT!” God said to me, “they aren’t glorifying me. They glorify the things they have and just throw my name in it” He then said “look around your apartment” (at that time amway products were everywhere) God said, “how is this bringing you closer to me, you are consumed with this business” and I had to get out and I’m now praying for my friend to get out cause he is just sucked in!!!
Had been in it for over 10 yrs, however, no longer in it today.
But you people have no idea how it runs, your clueless.
All you do is get some part of a small fact and twist it to make it look wrong, you can do that with anything, as long as you don’t want the truth to get in the way. Your not even worth my time.
I can see how one bad experience or one negative anecdote can turn you away from something–in this case, a business. But if you took the time to find out more information you’d see that this is really quite, quite far from the truth. Amway has been certified as a legal, non-pyramid scheme, and you’d know that if you just did a simple google search.
“They make you order your toilet paper online.”
So what? What’s your point? Today you can also order condoms online from stores that offer them! You sound just like the people you say business owners involved with Amway call jealous. Your review is just pathetic but then if Amway was not for you, you just got to move on in life and focus on something you have passion for. Spending time to rant against Amway will not make you money, you will only lose your time and what better you could have done instead!
absolutely right…
Amway is a good company and has helped a lot of people worldwide already which should be because they existed since 1959(?). There’s just one thing I did not like and that was when some top distributors introduced their own training seminars and made it a part of Amway. Then some uplines made it compulsory to attend these meetings which are not free but on one hand you’ll get trained. Some distributors just gets hyper-excited acting queer instead of thinking business-like. It’s up to you how you’ll behave. Their products are mostly good. Surely, you’ll not earn if you don’t work it out. Of course, prospecting is part of it just like any other business. Then the business presentation, then closing the deal or have the prospect sign up. It doesn’t end there. You have to guide your distributors until they can made it on their own. Just like any distribution business, you have to check how your dealers are performing. Have a business mindset and hardworking attitude and you cannot avoid earning.
my friend, my sincere requesr to you is – please don’t misguide people..
i am a pediatrician from pune, India & i personally know so many poor people ( ex.- a riksha driver – santosh gaikwad, a tyre puncture shop person- bhumkar, a truck driver- vilas ghule , javeri- student & so many ) have changed their life through amway business…. all earning more than Rs. 70000 per month income… so many from other higher professionals also ( Rakshit Bhardwaj sir- vice president-IT company ).. i have no. of examples ( can’t write in detail)
so friend , grow up , study amway business in detail by an open mind…
how can u challenge a company having Rs. 70000 crore turnover ???????? Are u that much expert to comment on this ????? in this business , no investment is there, u are destroying hope of a common people, but remember ur comments can never ever change mindset of a strong & ambitious persons …. such persons are growing fast & answering u by their actions ….
Keep watch on amway growth, still growing fast… new manuf. plant started in India on 18 nov 2015 with 550 crore investment… now study- how did indian govt give permission to this, if u r right ….
Thank u ….
That fucking guy tricked me to go to their zombie meeting, I got there and it looked like a little family meeting, I was lost as I kept asking the guy what’s the business is about and what am I going to do, what’s the description but he kept avoiding my questions. He gave me his website the day prior but I could not see what it was about. He kept saying that he was going to help me to have financial freedom as they have a strong network where they deal with professionals who work with Bestbuy, lululemon, etc. I can’t believe I actually went there, please slap me, I deserve it! That’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever done, I spent two hours of my fucking time to go listen to blood suckers. I feel like I deserve a good slap by allowing myself to go there. I’m so fucking pissed off.
Do you really believe the internet
Check out the criminal charges filed against several Amway India leaders, the $100 million U.S. class action settlement, the criminal charges (and guilty pleas) of DeVos in Canada, findings in India and Taiwan that the business was illegal.
And these facts from Amway U.S.:
-“For calendar year 2020, the average income for all U.S. registered IBOs at the Founders Platinum level and below was $628 before expenses.”
-In 2016 the average annual gross income for active IBOs (48% of all US IBOs) was $207
-“[Only] 56% of all U.S. registered IBOs in 2020 received a payment from Amway in at least one month for sales that occurred during 2020.“
-Breakdown of the 56% of IBOs that actually received any money at all in 2020:
“The Top 1% earned $83,032 (average) and $50,363 (median)
The Top 10% earned $13,734 (average) and $4,402 (median)
The Top 50% earned $3,149 (average) and $472 (median)”
-Average annual earnings by PIN level, average time (years) to reach, and % of all IBOs at the PIN level:
Founders Platinum-$43,377-(3 – 13y)-0.50%
Platinum-$18,991-(2 – 11y)-0.21%
Gold-$14,316-(2 – 11y)-0.16%
Silver-$9,950-(1 – 9y)-0.25 %
-“[Only] a small proportion of IBOs achieve higher levels” and “the typical time and required effort to achieve such levels of recognition are extraordinary”
-“[Only] 318,000 IBOs earned a bonus in 2018”-NOTE: It is not clear if this fact is limited to the approximately 1M US distributors, or the approximately 3M worldwide.
-Estimated Amway revenue has not surpassed 2013 levels in any of the years following
Why do you worry so much about this website or each and every comment? Instead of reading every comment and responding, why don’t you utilize your time on something useful? If the business is legit and people are making money, don’t worry about negative.
Oh my God I’m going through this hell right now with my boyfriend and I feel like we’ll break up eventually because of this. He’s so brainwashed into thinking he’s going to become rich in 5 years, which is really sad. I’m a marketing major and I know a scam when I see one and this company sells nothing but false hopes and dreams.
I really hope he does break up with you if you can’t support his dreams. You are going to ruin someone who is going to be a great leaders for his family one day. He understands that if he doesnt own, he will be owned by his job. For you to believe more in your 4 year, no guarantee, probably have student loan debt education will really help separate you from the masses but question his partnership with an 11 billion dollar corporation that is #1 online and has given him something he can own is sad. If he were studying to be a doctor and hung out all day at the hospital with other doctors and went to medical seminars and studied audios or videos from physicians that came before him, you’d probably say he was focused or determined. But because his dream is different from the masses and you can’t understand it, you condemn him on a blog ran by faceless people who don’t give a damn about you or him. Macy’s is closing over 200 stores and capitalizing on online marketing and sales. Walmart also. Your boyfriend decided to put himself in the way of that online traffic. I believe he will be successful in 5 years if he keeps working hard and not let you steal his dream. Stop trying to get him to join you on the 40hours for 40years plan.
You’re wrong he’s going to be rich if he believes In himself some people get rich in less than 5 years because they believed in themselves
Though I have mixed feelings i tend to agree with Hillary. Through my father in law, My experiences were in the early to mid 90’s.
I feel they were less than realistic on the money you’d make vs. the effort required. I was never told to ditch family or friends but rather surround yourself with positive people, which is what we want to do anyway, right? It was made clear to me what I got out of that business very much depends on what I put into it, which is true of many businesses. Its also clear, as many business go i was told what money you make put back in to your business. At least initially.
Still, I do feel they sell false hopes and dreams, I wasn’t told to lie to anyone but i’ll say when it comes to inviting people to meetings it was suggested, implied and recommended to be less than completely upfront what it was about. And do not give any specific answers. I have attended meetings and conferences. There’s no doubt it cost money. You don’t HAVE to do anything. You are welcome to stop anytime.
I never argued on the start up cost or costs to attend meetings or conferences because I believe it takes money to make money. isn’t that true of most businesses? Still part of me feels It does seem like a scam and does feel like a cult.
And yes it costs money. They do advise you to first be your own customer buy your own product. And I have to admit some products are good, yet other products are absolutely nothing special. Your uplines encourage you to so to speak live, breath and eat Amway 24/7.
I think its possible to be successful in Amway. But I think those that are tend to be convincing, able to talk a good game, good leaders, smooth talking and VERY charismatic. Those are the minority, not majority. All the qualities I am not.
The problem I had was everyone i mentioned it to was immediately turned off.
This Lady is terribly misinformed… As a Amway IBO we give you plenty of chance to say no and ways out of this. People will always bad mouth things that they don’t understand you know why because its easier tosay something negative than to take the time out of your day to find out what your really talking about and here is just some food for thought. I started this business a few years back and just listened and did what they asked me too. Because of it i was Able to bring my wife home. Successful people will away do what unsuccessful people aren’t willing to do.
You’re a toolbag.
YES.
When I was a little girl (in the 90’s) my parents were involved in Amway.
My mother was absolutely hooked into it and tried to sell all her church friends on it.
I remember being forced on long car trips, to listen to tape after tape, of all these people ranting about their great success and gaining “Diamond Status” in the cult- er, company.
Every product in our home gradually became Amway.
Shampoo, soap, and yes, toilet paper. Even our food.
Amway was all they talked about, it was insane.
Eventually my mother must’ve realized something was up, because one day all the Amway products were tossed in the trash.
It was a creepy thing to watch my parents become absorbed in something like that. I’m just glad it didn’t go too far.
omg! my friend is like this…everything, their life is amway. Did your mom say what made her realize what was going on? I’m praying for my friend to get out.
My son has gotten involved with this company. I am scared to death for him. We try to talk to him, but he seems so brainwashed that nothing we say has any impact. We don’t know what to do.
I notice only one person has indicated any sort of income ($500/week – WOW!!) – but without stating their expenses. My sister (in Australia) has been involved in this for decades and has made nothing, despite co-opting several others into the fold. I had to quickly learn to ask what she was inviting me to before I accepted any invitations and eventually had to tell her not to ask me to any more Amway things. Then she started on my fiance.
Yes, you might save 25% off the Amway price by buying it through your own business, but you could save 30%+ by buying it at a normal shop. At least there are usually only a couple of profit centers making money out of you when you buy at a shop, not all of the ‘up-lines’ who make money from you in Amway.
This is a business for the gullible – perhaps why they do so well in religious communities.
All power to the few who make a lot of money from their underlings, but most of them make nothing – unless they claim their travel to family functions etc as business deductions ‘cos they bored their family witless talking about it.
I went to a Amway meeting was one of the people in this situation they are creepy, the guy who tried to get me into Amway used my teammates death to incite conversation between us. He used my teammates death to try make profit off of me. I say try because i had this guy who did this spend money on me, who would buy me dinner and i would always tell them how cool the ideas are, every meeting was the same they made it seem like a family instead of a business. with a 200 dollar buy in they’d guarantee I’d make it back in a month or 2. Thankfully i chose a better financial option which was spent that 200 on weed and flipped that sack for money. made my money back in one day. Like to see them give results like hustling on a street, honestly they use aggressive terms just like the Presidential candidate they use aggression or use chances to take advantage of people who have experienced loss, they use comfort and happiness to overshadow the intentions they truly have next thing I know i’m being asked for a 200 dollar buy in then asked to go to trips to Iowa where i’d have to drop near a thousand to go. Now the guy who tried to get me to join alienates himself from everyone he has known who isn’t into the Amway business. These are facts guys and girls they aren;t so much like a cult just someone who will do everything to get your money in a trickle down economic policy that doesn’t work.
such a lier
The reason some people received $84 was because they didn’t work hard enough to earn more. This business isnt for everyone. Just try the products and of you dont like them then return them you have 6 months to return them. Just dont start stating facts that aren’t true just because you lost a friend. They probably left because they trying to be with people who were trying to succeed. Take it from me im 16 years old and this business has not failed me yet.
If any one work that much hard in anything. they make more money than here and also not to trouble friends and family.
Do you even know what a pyramid-scheme is?
What “tricks” are you talking about?
Your paragraph starts with “from what I’ve seen” … I don’t believe you’ve seen any facts, sir. I only learned about Amway today, but I can spot a bullshitter when I see one.
negative blogs are written to attract attention and, more importantly, internet traffic. So the only schemer I see here is you.
I absolutely agree with this post! I was recently approached by a friend to attend a “business meeting” regarding a “great business opportunity on the Internet” but he did not wanted to say anything until the meeting happened with him and his friend, who supposedly was the owner of this business venture. When I arrived to the “meeting” Suprise! I saw other friends there and about 300+ other unknown people. Immediately warning bells started ringing and I knew it was a pyramid scam anyhow, I stayed for the meeting and indeed by the end my suspicions were confirmed and it became quite obvious that the my friend’s friend was the recruiter. A few days later I heard back from a very close friend of mine who had also been approached and attended a separate meeting, she questioned me about it because the recruiter told her that I was “very excited at joining this venture” which of course was an absolute LIE and an obvious attempt to manipulate and pressure her to join! After two weeks, the recruiter contacted me ACCUSING ME of stealing a USED lip gloss from his wife the day of the so called meeting and then proceeded to ask me why hasn’t he heard back from me?!?! Could you imagine? The freaking nerve of these people!!!! Of course I put him in his place and hope that he never, ever dares to contact me again because if he does I will file a complaint for harassment!!
You are full of shit.
Amway give everyone the OPORTUNITY, to have financial freedom. But you have to work for it.
If you stay home watching T.V. you will not make a nickel.
Amway is the #1 business in the world and the best quality of products.
Okay then, just like any other business with the same models and those more reputable, we can choose any model and become equally successful. You have to work for any job your acquire.
My wife started to sell this stuff. After a few months, everything in our house was Amway crap, bought with my money at ridiculous prices. My family could not talk with her without her mentioning Amway in every breath. In an attempt to discover what was going on, I went with her to an Amway seminar. Around a thousand people all screaming and shouting “fired up” and cheering the pompus rich asses paraded on stage as Diamond distributos. After the show I went around back and see that these “Diamonds” drove old beat-up cars. I saw how easy it is to brainwash people at cult meetings.
We lost most of our friends, who wouldn’t even answer the phone any more. And we lost most of our money on useless crap that nobody wanted to buy. And I lost my wife.
OPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPORTUNITY?????????
I would rather attend training that are proven success from people that I know are reputable. I have attended a meeting with a “mentor” and then the first house meeting. Not for me. I can build big business elsewhere not through this pyramid. First of all I have no problem buy the products from my own store, but they do tell you to get a whole new group of like minded people, which gurus do, that are not on your same agenda.
Fact: They do not tell you whatsoever what the mentoring is for. You spend three meetings only to get to the main meeting and still don’t tell you unless your presenter says it.
Second, they are selling the education behind marketing and how to do it more than the products. Okay I would have had no problem with that if they said that upfront. I am a teacher, I can sell education to anyone.
Third, you don’t lie to me and sell me. That is the biggest thing. Everyone couldn’t understand why my husband and I weren’t laughing at the stories that lasted longer than the pertinent information. That is because I know psychology so well I know sales tactics to skirt around the truth. I was stone cold in the face and many were uncomfortable because we didn’t react but the vibe in the room was creepy and we were watched closely. It was more of a “We have to choose to partner with you.” Well guess what, I am putting you on interview like you are me!
I’m not going to down it in any way, but if I am going to sell something, it won’t be something already shady, bad track record, lies from the beginning and a stigma on the name.
I can learn all these techniques elsewhere and sell something more profitable. Just do you due diligence before you get started. The choice is up to you.
I dont think that we should justify the blogwriter ….instead be happy that some people are out of amway…becoz we need drivers,house maid ,n etc if everyone will become successful …who wil drive our luxurious cars n all.
Out of Amway? Doctors and Lawyers and CEOs also
Amway, Herbalife and the other MLMs are the biggest scams in history.
Amway takes advantage of gullible idiots, who can be found everywhere and turns them into Amway zombies.
A simple question these stupid Amway zombies should ask themselves is why am I paying $30 for a box of dish soap when i can get one for $3?
The zombies have been convinced that Amway products are better quality. The stupid zombies are neck deep in debt, driving 10 year old clunkers, lost all their friends buy they’re so happy that they’re finally getting to use ”better quality products”.
They’re convinced that they’re ‘entrepreneurs’ but they’re actually worse than salesmen because most salesman at least get a salary and don’t have to buy their own hyper expensive products to keep their jobs.
A long time ago when i was 8 years old my mom tried Amway. Even at 8 i asked her the simple question, if the products are so good why won’t they just sell them in a store?
Well, they don’t sell them in a store because they cost 4X of what a comparable item costs and that extra cost is used to pay your uplinks.
It’s the ugliest scam in history and the fact that they unleash their brainless Amway zombies to defend their business online infuriates me.
Governments around the world need to wake up to this plague called MLM which are nothing about pyramid schemes and snuff them out with the toughest legislation.
RUDY YOU DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT IN AMWAY DOESNT MEAN YOU KNOW THAT IT IS A SCAM, BTW IT IS NOT BECAUSE YOU WILL ALWAYS MAKE MONEY NO MATTER WHAT.
THIS IS ALL CRAP, EVERYTHING THIS GUY/GIRL IS SAYING IS ALL FAKE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I AM A CROWN IN THE BUSINESS AND BECAUSE HE IS SAYING THAT IT IS NOT A PYRAMID SCHEME. ESPECIALLY, BECAUSE I HAVE AN UPLINE THAT IS IN THE LEVEL EMERALD AND I AM IN CROWN, EVEN THOUGH HE INVITED ME I PASSED HIM, SO THIS IS ALL CRAP IF ANYONE ONE IS INTERESTED IN THIS WONDERFUL OPERTUNITY CONTACT ME.
This article is all silly talk and based on no “real” evidence. There really is nothing “creepy” about it, it’s business. It gives ordinary people and even highly successful people who are willing to work hard, the opportunity to become an entrepreneur. You as an individual must just pick the right company for you to partner with, which suits your values. Amway is a very successful Network Marketing company. I speak on behalf of the Network Marketing industry for I’m involved with another very successful Network Marketing company, which is a proven way of making good money. The Network Marketing industry is predicted by Paul Zane Pilzer to be the next trillion dollar industry by 2020. It’s frowned upon because people don’t see it as a “real” profession.
People are so quick to jump to conclusions about things they have no understanding or experience of. I love seeing all the positive feedback tho. With anything good in this world there will always be ignorant people (like the person who wrote this article) who will try and bad mouth things. I’m not here to pick a fight, but do your own research before trusting a single article like this.
People may say we’re “brain washed” but we’re just breaking the status quo, a comfort zone is a nice thing but nothing ever grows there.
People will never know what they don’t know.
Shout out to all the successful people in Amway and other companies.
OPERTUNITY??? WTF????? Pyramid Scheme Mental Obfuscation anyone?????
Wow really awesome do you know Jose bobadilla
The funniest part is that Amway specifically takes low income & low education individuals and convinces them that they’re suddenly “entrepreneurs” and “business owners”. These white trash dregs then go on to wear that suit they bought 20 years ago for a funeral. Ill fitting today as it was then when they got it for $40 at Kohl’s and spend their Obama bucks to attend these gatherings. Ahem, these “business meetings”. These meetings that the Marriot probably has to bathe the room in Lysol when these degenerates leave.
They’re all too stupid to realize these are simply private labeled generic products. $40 for a “multi-vitamin” pack. Aka $0.75 to the company for manufacturing costs.
Honestly it is sad at the end of the day. Trash people who have no concept of how making money actually works. Go to school, get a degree. Stop having 4 kids in your 20’s and then when you realize you can’t find the time to actually get a decent job, you have to delude yourself that you’re some kind of business savvy individual.
There are two ways you can quickly judge Amway. The first is by taking a community college Economics 101 class. MLM relies on obtaining wealth directly from those below you. You’ll hear a lot of Amway people making faulty comparisons to how other companies work – but the fact of the matter is that the growth of employees of, say, McDonalds is due to the outside demand of the wider public while the growth of “Members” of Amway is due to the internal need of Amway to become self-sustaining. There’s a reason why Amway focuses all its energy on its “networks” rather than the products it actually sells. It should be noted, however, that most of what Amway does is COMPLETELY LEGAL. It’s the equivalent of asking your friends to give you a quarter for every dollar they spend and then encourage them to make the same deal with their friends (with you taking an uptop percentage.) This is why Amway does indeed “partner” with large businesses…such large businesses realize the simplicity of Amway and are more than happy to take a portion of that profit! The issue, however, is whether there is an actual career in Amway – and the simple answer is not unless you either got in early or have lots and lots of family, friends, and poor souls you can get to agree to be below you in your “network.”
The other way that you can quickly judge Amway is by the profile of their members. Many come from lower middle class religious backgrounds and have recently undergone personal issues (e.g. marital struggles) or boredom that cause them to look for some job that offers an easy way in and a holistic form of management. Many are unwilling to either put in the time that accompanies developing an actual profession (and will thus scoff at higher education) or put in the risk that accompanies creating one’s own business (and will thus scoff at how much the average person works per day.) They’ll often use trigger terms such as “early retirement,” “success,” and “freedom” without ever actually offering anything of substance of what Amway consists of. If anyone questions them – instead of taking time to explain how exactly Amway operates, they will point to a small group of people they know that got rich using Amway or point to all of the businesses that “partner” with Amway . Finally, some are often very protective and defensive of Amway online. You’ll see throughout the comments here (and countless others on blogs criticizing Amway) persons of such stature. You’ll also see that these persons, more often than not, use extremely poor grammar and punctuation, use profanity, and will almost never give an actual counter-argument of substance (but will rather point towards the businesses that partner with Amway, attack other businesses, or direct you to some site ran by Amway members.) Go ahead and see how many of the pro-Amway comments in this blog fit these traits – all of them.
Ok, tell you what, if you have any actual questions, ask them right here. I’m a recent inductee into this “cult” of Amway. If you truly market yourself as someone who is knowledgeable and can provide something more than opinion, shoot. If you don’t I’ll take it as you got paid to bad mouth Amway just like the person who wrote this blog. She even stated in one of the comments above that she gets paid to market her own blog, and this is her business. Please show me something I haven’t already seen, and convince me that I shouldn’t join this; we can have a real conversation.
We don’t have to convince you of anything. Join, and 6 months from now when you’re still not making enough to live on, you’ll quit on your own.
You make great points. I enjoy the products and the rebates the companies pays me to have people I know and meet to shop through its online portal. If this process isn’t for you or other people that’s ok with you. Everyone has choices and I choose this avenue. But to say that many of the people involved aren’t very well educated and the like is kinda insulting; those on my team have advanced degrees and about 45 percent are working professionals with terminal degrees. Just my thoughts.
Actually the company pays us directly not the wealth from those on our team. What the team makes is their money and none of it goes to other team members. The govt collects money through taxes and pays its bills and helps those that are less fortunate. Not this company; you eat what you kill basically. Just my thoughts. And as far the education of the members on my team, I posted that below. Just my thoughts.
A friend recruited me into Amyway. I joined initially but after going to one of their conference and hearing all the chants. I knew it was a Cult of desperate money hungry fools! That was the last they had of my money.
By the way the conference I went to was back in 2008 or 2009 in Chicago.
I was a former Amway Business Owner. I quit after going to their conference in Illinois in 2008 or 2009 (it has been a while). Amway is a Cult, Pyramid Scheme and a SCAM!! You’re almost better off flushing your hard earned cash down the toilet.
Amway was forced by the FTC to admit publicly that the average profit for their members was roughly $1400 a year. Also Amway makes more profit charging their “independent business owners” fees for “training” than they do for their actual products. You’ll notice Ambots spewing the same recycled script over and over whenever you challenge them. They also lie about their success rates . It’s called “fake it til you make it”. Every person I’ve ever know in Amway comes off as incredibly sleazy. Oh, and by the way? “Looser” means “less tight”. A “loser” is someone who loses. Like most Amway members.
lol! These comments are funny. I too am an IBO with Amway. I made $200 in one day! How much did you make? The only people who do not succeed are the ones who don’t work to succeed. This is a business for crying out loud, what business do you know has been successful without making an investment? I’ll wait……….
$200 in a single day isn’t very much money.
200 is a lot of money to those that aren’t making that amount. Maybe we can change the dialogue. What would you suggest to this person to assist with their goals. Maybe your input and life story can be an example/guide to others to follow your path. Just my thoughts.
It is a pyramid scheme …..was it it and got out…..that is true.
You earned a new reader today. Amway people are total scumbags who want to sell you their shit and promising great rewards, wasting a great deal of your time. I hate those pyramid schemes.
Here is my experience from amway. (spoiler, not good) I was an IBO and part of a business team for 2 years. went to 6 big conferences and really did my best to sell and share the opportunity. I ended up getting like 5 or 6 people in under me and then some under them. some people quit but I was sold on the dream. after the second year and time to renew I went over how much I spent every month compared to checks received from the company. I was getting anywhere from $40.00 a month to $200.00 but usually under $100.00. after the two years I was thousands in the negative. I thought would I want to get somebody just like me in the business? someone to go to the conferences, buy from themselves. at first I said yes but then I realized I would of sponsored a lot of hard working people and made them go broke. my uplined usually pressured me to drive a long way for meetings, buying stuff. all the events were super late and I was really sleep deprived. all of these are cult techniques. look it up.. do it.. I found that most people who are emeralds and diamonds make way more off the cd’s and events than even the amway part. usually if they share income it is there one best month but most the time I find they make crap. I wont go into details but I really didn’t want to continue. I went back to finish my degree (which my upline convinced me to quit school!!!) I got my degree. now just 2 years later I have actually doubled my income, met the most beautiful girl, Ukrainian girl with a perfect accent. she too was in amway and quit. I am working in a job in my degree field (server administration) and she actually started her own business. Amway had good business principles but you are much better off to go start a real business not a multi level marketing business in which you do more buying than selling and if you actually do selling you will need to sell a whole crap ton to get any money, in fact you will make more money working part time at mcdonalds than actually just selling amway products and I am guessing that is even if you get 15+ customers. do your research on where the top dogs are making money, then if you are in business yourself please recap your spending vs income and then question did my upline push me away from friends, family, or choices I would of done differently. If you spent the time to read this thank you as I kinda went long, I am so happy now and was only acting happy in amway as they say “fake it until you make it.”
I am a AMWAY IBO and they DONT MAKE YOU BUY TOILET PAPER , probably you heard it from someone else and dicided to wite it down … Things are differently.
An old friend and her husband asked if they could catch up as we hadn’t seen each other for a while….well, they showed up with their Amway upliner and tried to rope us into joining…my husband, trying not to smile too much mentioned the pic they were showing us was actually a pyramid on it’s side! The upliner got antsy and said he was making 6 figures. I asked him if he was, why did he have holes in the soles of his shoes and drove a bomb to our house? Haven’t seen those old friends since, funny. I felt like I had brushed of leeches who wanted to suck any money I had into their “business”. Problem with Amway, it IS a pyramid scheme and the money is funneled straight to the top. Last I heard these people had purchased a caravan and were driving interstate to meet new people in the hopes of roping them in! They spend all their savings,tried to scam their friends and made nothing……
WOW Honestly, THAT IS INDEED CREEPY! I know all about Amway. I was deceived into attending a “meeting” years ago when I was clueless. THIS is not for me, thank you! I had many people woo me with the Amway pick-up lines and I neutralize them and clearly let them know I am not interested at all. What is creepy in your experience is that these old “friends” brought an uninvited guest into your home. Even if this person wasn’t pushing an unwanted presentation on you, it is inappropriate to bring an uninvited guest. (I did not see that they told you they had a +Plus-One with an easel & marker!)
When i was 23 years old I was introduced to Amway through mutual friend. I had never heard of the company before that time. I went to school for business, yet was bartending because I couldnt find a job that I was really passionate about. This was of making money was foreign to me, but I have always been open minded. I have now been in business for 9 years. The 1st 5 years I was only making between $4,000-$6,000 a year. It was really me just learning how to better communcate with people and developing myself as an individual( I was extremely intreverted when I got in business). For me, this has been a phenomenal opportunity! I have also realized that many teams under the Amway umbrella do very different techniques, just like not all football teams under the NFL banner are ran the same way. I can honestly say that I have never bought toilet paper online so can’t relate to that statement. As far as “loosing a friend”. If your “friends” are negative and dont support you, then why would you continue to associate with them? Life is to short to be around people who don’t believe in you. I think this is a wonderful opportunity, but obviously not for everyone! “Pyramid schemes” are illegal in the US and companies like Nike, Apple & the NCAA FBS would probably stay away from such thing. (That’s just 3 of the hundreds of companies partnered with Amway). Their are bad apples in every bunch, but that doesnt mean all the apples(Amway business owners) are bad. Just someone who is 32 and speaking from personal experience. Hopefully people wont make a decision based off of someone who didnt make it, or even get in business.
I just looked online and found nothing about Nike and Apple in a partnership with Amway.
Amways seems to have them as “partner stores” which gives Amway shoppers a discount, but this isn’t any different than getting a discount on these same places through eBates — but no one would say eBates has “partnered” with Nike and Amway.
You said you only made $4,000 to $6,000 per year for the first 5 years (ridiculous, no idea how you lived on that). How much do you make now? Even if you bragged about doubling your income you’d only be at $8,000 to $12,000.
Nike and Apple have been partnered for 3 years. They don’t need to market and advertise that to create volume. That’s what we do. Also, amway is designed initially to be part time,no full time. I worked a full time job, while putting in time to build a business online. I don’t need to explain what we make now but it’s enough to make a living. Look up the BBB if you want to do “research”.
Did you keep any friends who, while wish you luck, did not opt to join “the business” because it was not for them, or do you now limit your friendships only to people who recruit to Amway?
Working a traditional 9 to 5 job is a pyramid scheme, why? Is because you are working for someone else. Your working for their dream. The richer gets richer while the poor gets poorer. Why work so hard on something in which you can never own.
No. A traditional job would only be a pyramid scheme if you got paid by the number of people you recruited into the job, and also from the people your recruits recruited
This is 2020 Wake Up!
Oh boy have i and everything to describe is 1000% accurate. The part were my higher intelligence kicked in is when they wanted access to my contacts. Why would i give you my contacts to market to. Thats called seo search engine optimization leads companys pay each other tons of money for leads but i’m suppose to give my contacts to my team leader for free and they profit from my sales. All it really takes is a little common sense to see through the con.
Lies Amway isn’t a pyramid it’s a win win everybody wins.
Not true Amway isn’t a scheme you should see how Amway business owners lives are like they don’t work their kids are happy they look young even though they are 50or 70
where are you now because thats the whole point your their customer not a distributor and you bring more sad folks in to buy into the cult. If you think is so great why aren’t their products in stores and the business model isn’t even to sell products which is supposedly why they are in business to begin with what are they truly selling a dream.
Lies Amway isn’t a pyramid it’s a win win everybody wins.People have amazing lives I amway
Hi! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I truly enjoy reading your posts.
Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same topics?
Thanks a lot!
Anyone else noticing the huge push to join an MLM movement since Covid? Primerica, Arbonne, Mary Kay, Avon, Heritage Makers, Jamberry, Thirty-One, Monat, Amway Global, Seacret, Scentsy, Tupperware, Doterra, Beachbody, Mamavation, Pruvit, etc..
Why are all these companies depending on those who cannot see the manipulation, isolation and learned behaviours which are benefiting the pyramid scheme?
The result is a continuous recognition of the ability to manipulate those who are targeted into victims for profit.
Wow. This entire blog is so cringe. Super biased. Partnerships with Amway are paid back in product and points for the same amount paid in store. Imagine blogging like you know everything based off your “research” very credible. It’s a standard network marketing model. Pyramid schemes are illegal btw, I would look into that and find out for yourself that Amway’s not because you don’t make money off the act of recruiting. Other sources say the same. I’m honestly more concerned about your intelligence with the way you respond back to people even going as far as using “kool-aid”. Let’s make it clear that you don’t know as much as you think you do Bridget, even if it is your job. This is why we tell people to do credible research outside of a blogger with an opinion. As they say, the one with the facts is never at the mercy of the one with an opinion. See ya!
Wow. How exactly do you expect anyone to take this site seriously with no facts being used in the articles? This is a total fabrication.
Amway people are so easy to spot.
It’s my belief that mesothelioma will be the most deadly cancer. It contains unusual features. The more I really look at it the more I am persuaded it does not react like a true solid human cancer. If perhaps mesothelioma is really a rogue virus-like infection, hence there is the possibility of developing a vaccine along with offering vaccination for asbestos uncovered people who are at high risk of developing long term asbestos relevant malignancies. Thanks for giving your ideas for this important health issue.
This is interesting.
I agree with 90 %
Amway is a pyramid and illegal because it teaches new distributors to “buy from themselves and teach others to do the same.” They discourage new distributors to develop a customer base. This is by definition a “pyramid scheme”. In the 80’s distributors were “required” to service at least 10 customers per month. This is not a requirement anymore. It is now taught as a “wholesale buying club”. Why? Because no one wants to sale the products to customers and the products are overpriced. The 6-4-2 plan is a fallacy because no IBO has a retail business. No IBO makes a profit from selling the products. The only profit is from selling the idea. Amway is not a pyramid by design but by action. No one makes a profit by selling a product at wholesale and selling at retail. The $$$ is in selling the tools to the downline.
The Amway 6-4-2 plan teaches that one will be able to retire and live the good life after sponsoring 6 downline distributors who reach the level of “direct distributor”. This is a lie. Why? Because most distributors quit within the first year and you will be working your ass off on the road 7 days a week to keep the rest in the business; hosting rallies, functions, nuts and bolts, drawing circles for your downline, speaking for other organizations, filling orders, counseling your downline and on and on. Why do the Diamonds own motorhomes? Because they are on the road working with downline distributors 24/7. No IBO makes any profit in Amway until they go Diamond and the profit is from the tools business. The Amway corporation is the only one that profits from the sale of products.
Yes, this is all for the most part, true. I was approached by a cousin who tried to pressure me to “Change my buying habits.” She expected me to work at it to purchase from her products “I purchase anyway” from Wal-mart, etc. What was missing was convenience. I was supposed to plan ahead, thirty days in advance, what I was going to need and buy it from HER at a premium. FTS! She did use the “If you had a business, I would support YOU!” line. When that didn’t work, she became angry saying things like “You would rather risk your relationship with family instead of doing this!” She paid me another visit after I flat turned her down and became angry again. This time telling me, “Don’t get mad at me if I pull up in a brand new Mercedes!” That was 25 years ago. She busted her ass and never got it off the ground much less got that brand new Mercedes. She lost thousands going to pep rallies, conventions, etc. Meanwhile, my wife and I ran a successful catering business for 22 years but quit only after having to take care of health issues with our daughter and problems of her own. Of course, we haven’t spoken since because I am a loser and toxic because I refused to succumb to her insane sales pitches.
The Amway Satan Brigades have arrived!
What Amway does is the epitome of taking (carrying) the Name of the LORD in vain.
They twist people’s faith into gullibility so they feed on their desperation.
How much did you liars pay Procter & Gamble for dragging their name through the mud as Satanists throughout the ’80s? Oh, that’s right, $19M, lol.
America will NEVER be a theocracy!
This post and the comments were very entertaining. If Amway is this huge company how come I’ve never heard of it? Sketchy and weird.
Also wish I could post that little intro from The Office when Jim exposes Michaels pitch as a pyramid scheme. Hahaha.
I did Amway for several years. There are a few secrets Amway members don’t understand when they are in the heat of it:
1. Your upstream does not care about you. They care about the money you provide them and will quickly abandon you if you stop performing. This was what ultimately turned me off of it. When it dawned on me that their kindness was really focused on the dollars I provided, it sickened me and I had to step back. It took a while to pull myself out of it.
2. People sell to their social level and down. This is the primary problem with selling Amway. Tiers under you will be like a crumbling house. You will only pitch to people you are comfortable with which will be at or below your social level. Imagine that going several layers down and you end up having a very weak structure.
3. People at upper tiers hoard product they can’t sell to look like they are successful. I saw it with my upstream. I was like … why is your garage filled with Amway products? Years later after watching an expose on Mary Kay I understood.
Amway did teach me how to be a good public speaker. I think of the time and money I spent as an investment in that. Beyond that, it was useless.
What a dumbass article
Simply a factually wrong and contextually misleading article by someone lacking even a basic understanding of business. Good luck in your endeavors. The fact that you are harvesting info from the comments further shows your true colors.
Typical amway loser response. Either you hate it when people speak against this pyramid scheme or your are in denial that you are failing to realize the dreams they promised you. Which one is it?
It’s a very interesting perspective and one that is grounded on a lot of other people’s past experiences. It’s just interesting to see the varying range of opinions. Disclaimer: I recently got involved with Amway and started. I don’t use this as my main source of income, and don’t plan to. I don’t need to.
My start up costs were around $200: $100 for a starter kit package (products), $35 for an education subscription (optional), and $65 for starting fees.
Of this, $100 on products is fully refundable for 180 days, even if you use all of the products for awhile and decide it’s not for you. The starting fees are also fully refundable for 90 days. My thought process: I don’t like this, I’m down $35. This is a pretty small investment risk wise to start a business.
For all of the transportation/conference fees, my team is completely remote. We have zoom and online teleconference calls weekly which are free (zoom subscription needed for organizer). It is also how I plan on continuing to grow mine so that individuals don’t have to pay anything in this aspect.
I was never once talked into joining this business. I had multiple meetings with the two people who brought me on (engineers, already successful within Amway). They didn’t ever try to talk me into joining. They wanted to know who I am and what drives me. They were up front, told me it was network marketing, and told me to do research to draw conclusions for myself. If I wasn’t passionate or curious, it’s an absolute waste of their time to help me out and they invest between 3-5 hours a week.
My plan is to grow the business using the same ideals. I want people to be curious and passionate in the business. I want people who are already successful in their lives and are looking for other options, similar to me. I’m up front, tell people that this is network marketing, and tell them to do their own research. It’s not worth my time to try and convince you to do this, you need to make that decision for yourself
I’ve also been told to stay away from friends and family for awhile. You can talk about it if they ask, but don’t let it affect your personal relationships as those are the most important aspect of your life. It’s great to bring it up to friends and family, but prove that you can be successful with it first and only if they are looking for other sources of income and are aware of the work it will take.
It is eye-opening to see how Amway is labeled. I could absolutely have the same opinion as other individuals if I was approached by different-minded people. So many different groups can represent Amway in so many different ways. I don’t know what will happen, but I have already used conversation, leadership, and relationship building skills to become more successful (financially and relationship wise) in my engineering career.
“There’s a large difference between an added paycheck and having peace of mind at the end of each night.”
It is always about trying to get someone else to do the same as you, so that, in the end, YOU gain from their efforts.
There may be a different shade of Amway lipstick on things now, but it is still trying to profit at someone else’s expense.
MLM / Pyramids are GROSS!
You are unique in that you say your policy is to be upfront. Each and every interaction I had with an Amway person looking to recruit was smarmy and not up front with what they were hawking. I still would not be interested, but your presentation would cast a better image.
My dad tried Amway a couple of times. I’m too young to remember the first time but I can’t forget the second.
My dad filled the house with Amway products and mom wasn’t allowed to buy typical things from the grocery store anymore. We HAD to use the Amway products. I didn’t realize at the time that My dad had to buy the products at premium prices. I thought the company was supplying him with samples.
Dad talked about nothing other than Amway. We were forced to listen to motivational lectures in cassette tapes all the time. He would pop them in the stereo and pipe them through the house. He’d even play them in the car every time we went somewhere. He tried to sell products to all of my aunts and uncles and to recruit them into the business. He never spoke of anything else. There were no conversations that didn’t revolve around Amway. All of our lives were completely consumed with it. Dad was a different man, constantly wide-eyed and unable to relax. He became someone we didn’t recognize.
Then he started pushing Amway at his 9-5 to his coworkers. When the boss got wind my dad was fired. He’d been with the company for 15 years and was a regional sales manager, but they couldn’t tolerate his moonlighting for the Amway cult.
My mom was disgusted. She’d been through the Amway debacle with my dad before. Both times it nearly ended their marriage. Thank God he loved her enough to give it up. He never turned a profit, lost a stable secure job and very nearly his family.
To you Amway kool-aide drinkers, my dad is not a loser. I know you like to call people that when they are against the program or share a negative experience. He bought into it 100% and devoted so much of his focus and energy to it that it nearly cost him everything. He is a loving, devoted, hardworking, law-abiding, tax-paying, church-going husband and father. He is the farthest thing from a loser.
Because of Amway, my dad struggled to provide for his family. My mom’s salary was only a fraction what my dad’s had been and she was burdened with being the sole bread-winner for several years while my dad searched for new permanent employment. It was hard for them. There were many screaming episodes. I know my dad was contemplating suicide in a few of his darkest moments.
They burned through a huge amount of their savings to hold on to our house while my brother started college. My mom even worked odd jobs on the weekends.
Dad eventually got back on his feet and found a new job comparable to the one he lost. He worked there until he retired and my parents were able to replace their savings. My mom was even able to retire 2 years early. We never speak of Amway anymore.
Bridget Casey,
Thanks for the article. My only request is that you give evidence of the claims you have made. As a person who is seriously considering joining Amway, it would give me a lot of clarity in deciding if this is where I want to spend my extra time and money. Thanks again for the article.
Maybe I can help ;-). Google, “Amway is a scam” and read through the first few pages of hits and all their connecting stories and links.
The time it will take you will last the rest of your days, thereby not giving you the time or opportunity to do anything else (there is so much of it), and in so doing you will be kept from taking the action of joining Amway.
Short version: It IS a scam…
Sounds like a religious cult. Of course Betsy DeVos looks and acts like she’s in a cult.
Betsy De Vos – the Amway heir who destroyed the DOE. Who needs education when you can join “The Business”?
For everyone who wants evidence…..I am the evidence!!! I joined Amway after one of those “I’m building a business asset with some friends….blah blah” lines I got from someone I had last spoken to in high school. I joined and went through the brainwashing process. Fortunately I started asking the right questions and we started looking at things from a different perspective. It didn’t make sense to try and get low income people to spend so much money on products and events, just for a 0.3% chance of breaking even. It is a negative-sum game for those at the bottom. But the biggest loss is the friends and family. And the losers at Amway try to convince you that your grandmother is a loser and it’s ok to miss your daughter’s birthday because there will be another one and you are making the money for her…..what if that’s the last one you can attend??? And what if you spend all your money on amway and can’t afford another one??? MLM is ok as a side thing when you are making a good income somewhere else….but be careful because nothing is guaranteed….actually what is guaranteed is that you will lose your blood, sweat, friends, and money for the smallest return you’ve ever seen. Oh and someone these amway people think they know more about the financial market than you do….they tell you that amway provides a better return than the stock market. Thank God I left that business. Now I look from the outside as so many of them jeopardize their children’s futures to make money for those at the top of the ladder.
Ps: I bought one of their stupid e-spring water filters….the water doesn’t taste any different from my tap water……go figure!
This whole thing is a lie. Amway was investigated in 1979 and was found NOT to be a pyramid scheme. It’s a $9B company, been around 60yr, A+ BBB rating, and the owner is a two-time chairmain of the US Chamber of Commerce. Anyone claiming this is a pyramid is an idiot.
I find it rather interesting how actually most Amway distributors are professional people lawyers doctors realtors. Firefighters contractors. Read Robert Kia Saki cash flow quadrant.
I’ve been an Amway distributor for three years and I have seen people in their 20s 30s and 50s walk away and within a period of 3 to 5 years. Including in my own family and circle of friends.
Facts not opinions.
Troy – really cute comment but it reeks of bullshit.
Amway has been around since 1959 and is partnered with 7 of the top 10 companies in Forbes Fortune 500 list. They are listed as the 47th largest privately owned company on Forbes list of privately owned companies. Also, they have been #1 on the Direct Sales Associate list, a sponsor for New York Fashion Week, a sponsor for the Miss America Pageant, and the bench mark company for the FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC). People do your homework!! Check out the Better Business Bureau to see their A+ rating. Check their reviews to see how many negative interactions they’ve had versus Amazon or Walmart.com. They have less than an a 1% return rate on products. Amway is AMAZING!! They offer a level playing field and is open to anyone who wants to learn. Who is out there offering to teach YOU how to build, grow and manage a business? Not this chick!! Who is out there trying to PERSONALLY teach you how to manage wealth? Not this chick!! If you are listening to her, then you’re just wasting your time on her personal opinion, not the facts. If you want the truth about AMWAY, check the statistical data and the financials. Look for Amway in the news. They operate in over 100 countries and territories worldwide. How is that a pyramid scheme? Amway operates on a pyramid-like platform, but it’s inverted. Scheme is the word that makes the phrase negative. Amway is NOT a pyramid scheme and if you were to check with the FTC, you’d know that. Please do NOT listen to blogs and personal opinion. Check the facts!!!
Huff!! I read the whole article in a single breathe. I now consider myself lucky to come across this article before getting coaxed and trapped by AMWAY further. I was just about to join their pyramid legacy. Now i consider myself out from their legacy run.
You obviously don’t know the legal definition of a pyramid scheme if you’re calling Amway a pyramid scheme. Pyramid schemes make money from recruiting/signup fees. Amway distributors make no money off of “recruiting” the only money made is tied to product sales.
It’s almost as if the family dynasty running the Amway pyramid scheme has made sure the legal definition of pyramid scheme excludes them? what was their name again?? DEVOS something??
your DNA also pyramid , you mom, dad, grandparents. your kids are thinking you are a scam ? this is ladder you can grow how much potential you have, office is actual pyramid where CEO, Manager and you.. where you can’t beat them in income, here it is possible you negative spiller, grow up
Exactly!
Being able to see this in 2021, I can say this article is false to those who are not doing what’s being said in this article. This article was written by someone who had a friend in the wrong environment in building the business. I with my current experience have been able to save $400 more than I planned to save, by going through a vetting process that lead me to a budget session. I was able to look at where my money was going with my upline helping me. There are those who spend $600 a month on fast food without realizing it and all “amway” does is help you take half of that money you were already going to spend, and put it into your business. Now let’s put these numbers to use. With that $600 “john” was spending monthly he takes half of the money he was ALREADY going to spend, and put it towards products for himself. In return john receives $60. Now that $60 is only made because he bought the products through his mom and she is a costumer of his that gives him incentives and different percentages of pay by being a customer.
Unfortunately your incorrect in calling it a pyramid scheme.
1. Do 30 seconds of research about what a pyramid scheme is. You will see the explanation of what they are and they are 100% illegal.
2. Amway has been leveraged by people who quite frankly should never have been in business. But Amway is just a vehicle. If someone had a car crash because they were speeding and being reckless, you don’t blame the car for the accident, you blame the driver which is the same for Amway. It’s just a sales company. People just leverage the company in different ways. Some not so good and some are amazing.
Please do some real research and stop spewing your opinion as facts on the internet.
Cheers
This may sting, but YOU’RE WRONG. I feel bad you lost your “friend” and honestly that you are lost and confused. Amway has changed our lives and the lives of many and we are beyond fortunate someone stuck their hand out to us. It sounds like you could use that kind of environment too. Bathroom walls of America is the only place you can post your unwanted opinions and that’s not healthy. If you haven’t been involved personally and pursued the incredible opportunity, you shouldn’t be writing about it. Case closed. Go to the source people.
While I agree with you in general, your comment about Betsy Devos is not fair. She was only a year old when Amway was founded. She was NEVER in a position to influence any government impacts on Amway. I got sucked into Amway when I was much younger, quickly realized I wouldn’t make any money and got out. I don’t know how they are still in business.
Thanks for posting this. I had a staff member fall for the Amway scam. He ended up losing a lot of money and all of his friends. Poor kid. BTW, anyone wondering about this should watch ‘On Becoming a God in Central Florida’. It’s a wonderful dramedy about what happens with these sorts of organizations and how they target the weak and exploit them.
Interesting how this lady was able to figure out that it’s a pyramid scheme that is illegal by the way but the lawyers at Apple, Nike, Microsoft and other partner stores of Amway hasn’t figured it out yet. WOW.
Actually, if you look up pyramid scheme on the Federal Trade Commission website you can find the REAL definition. You will also find that the Amway business model is used as a measurement tool to determine whether other e-commerce business are legitimate or illegal. Please do real research before posting your opinions as fact.
Many comments here confuse the Amway corporation, which supplies the products, and the business opportunity that is being pushed.
The Amway corporation is a company owned by very rich people. If I did not have ethical issues with the idea, I would have loved to own a share and that business.
However a share in that very profitable business is not what is being offered, what is on offer is a business opportunity as a distributor of their products. At least that is what it is in name. In practice the products are quite expensive and difficult to sell even using the “high quality” angle. What the groups say is “don’t worry, no need to be a sales person. Just buy your own stuff through Amway (from yourself). And get others to do the same, and motivate those to get others under them.”. That advice ACTUALLY does make the way groups are run, a pyramid scheme. A pyramid is an organisation that participants join for the purpose of income, where the vast majority of the income is generated from participants. It is a problem because in any hierarchy those without others under them, outnumbers the rest. It is not a problem if you can bet what you signed up for without having someone under you.
That is why a job in a hierarchical organisation not a pyramid. In my last job (I’ve since run a real business for 8 years) I had no one reporting to me, yet I got everything I signed up for and then some. In Amway, for people to get what they sign up for (and let’s face it, it is extra income for the vast majority), you need people under you. The vast majroity can’t (mathematically impossible in a hierarchy where downline is two or more).
Because those who loose out will be the majority. Always. The fact that it’s possible to out earn your upline does not make the opportunity not part of a pyramid. The fact is in practice you’d still need to be someone’s upline to achieve that. Besides, in corporations, to which IBOs compare this, a sales person can often out earn his boss. Amway is not different this way, as they claim.
Amway itself does not actually say buy from yourself and get others to do the same (though their prices and compensation plan highly encourages it). Their contract is written is if selling products to non participants is a viable way to earn good money. The dirty work of saying this (buy from yourself and get others) out loud is done by group leaders, who are arms length removed and not employed by Amway. That is how they get away with it.
The Better Business Bureau measures complaint acknowledgement by corporations, in this case the Amway corporation. It has absolutely nothing to do with the prospects of the business opportunity on offer. Amway has a system auto acknowledges all complaints with a reference number, that is how they get a full score. That score has got nothing to do with the business opportunites in offer in the groups. If all income is derived from other participants, then it is a lousy business opportunity, and a pyramid.
Those who bring up the 1979 FTC ruling should read the actual ruling. It is based on the premise that IBOs are required to have at least 10 external non member customers. It actually says so as motivation for the ruling.
“No need to be a natural sales person, just from yourself and get others to do the same” is in direct opposition to the premise of the ruling. That’s why Amway does not say it, but are happy hire people to do it for them.
We know the 10 customer rule is not enforced.
If you need downline to succeed, and downline join with the same expectation, it is a pyramid. Because it means by design most participants will loose.
……This explanation / comment, though very detailed – is rooted in a foundation mis-information and ignorance in understanding the Amway business model and compensation plan. From one of many perspectives reading your comments, you lost me when you said, “I run a real business.”
You make accusations of a pyramid scheme (along with a definition) but don’t actually share your sources in defining what a pyramid scheme actually is.
Just like much of the society today, we will settle for partial and less truths – as long it fits our own narrative because we believe the false idea that ones experience is the universal truth – not actually finding the real root of the problem that exists in any people building people business.
This article is FACTUALLY INCORRECT! If you are looking here for your answers, instead of asking the people who are presenting you the opportunity, you’ve come the wrong place for REAL FACTS! Go back to the people who have the facts for your answers! This business is AMAZING!!
Wow! What an essay, you should publish a book about this like other folks do.
Btw, i have never seen smart person like you. Because amway exists in 100+ countries amd each country recruits more than 10 lawyers just to make sure it’s not pyramid or scheme. That makes it over 1000 lawyers around the world. That is the reason you’re the smartest person I’ve ever seen, you could see what this lawyers weren’t able to see.
Speaking of a friend, do you mean those aimlessly drifting friends of yours who gossip you when you go to toilet during happy hour? I am glad i lost them way before i got the opportunity to be part amway. And now i have friends who thinks amway pyramid yet the don’t stop helping me in my business even tho they’re not in the business with me. That is what I call friendship. They respect and support my decision even if they disagree. And i respect amd support what they do.
But let me tell where all of this your post come from,I bet when your friend started chasing her dream in amway you gossip her because you couldn’t take it. That made you feel uncomfortable amd left behind. That’s the truth sweetheart.
The problem with so called smart people like you is you’re so smart that you’re un-able to achieve one meaningful thing in life.
“I trusted a friend and i lost a job, then i trusted a stranger who saw potential in me and my life was never the same.”
One final thing, the reason we submit ourselves to amway business because amway business is not only a asset amd legacy building business, it’s also character building business through leadership. The best part is it reveals your true character, then it reveals people around you then it reveals the world as it is. And that is one thing smart people like you don’t want to have. The Ego is so big, you can’t see the reality.
This is really an amazing business. Please go for the facts rather looking for the opinions. After all my research, I came to this page. This is definitely not the pyramid scheme. This business suits form any person from students to the CEO of a company.
When I first introduced in to this business, I wasn’t sure about the business model so I approaached a person, he’s is ex-vice president of Citi Bank in US and surprisingly, he’s beeing in to this Business for more than 35 years.
He just asked me one question- “Do you think am a fool to leave my current vice president position and fgo for this business?”
I said “yes, you might be”, but you know what, after seeing his net worth, I was fuking shocked. He was able to make money 10 times more than his current job within short span of 5 years .In the year 1984, he was financially freedom.
I asked him how, he told that “I ignored the negative talks and researched the business model, once I confirmed it is legitimate, I followed the business education and perfomed the same”.
This page is completely bullshit, because you are ditched by your friend, it doesn;t mean that the whole business model is wrong.
I recommend you to go through the testimonials and case studies and then come with your talks.
Share any of your evidence if you can instead of sharing your personal opinion.
I was just recruited by Amway for about the past month or so. I can confirm that they try to separate you from friends and family. Every speaker was talking about how their parents’ lifestyle was terrible and they didn’t support their decision to join the company. They label this as their parents “not seeing the bigger picture”, subtly destroying your family’s credibility. Pretty scary stuff.
They don’t separate you from nothing. If you want to be better… Tell me who you’re with and I’ll tell you who you’ll become. There’s “friends” out there that say to be your friends until they see you getting serious in such profession, they distance themselves cuz they are comfortable where they’re at and what you do is new to them. They don’t understand and instead of choosing to learn and understand they just stop talking to you. Become diamond and you’ll have true friends for life around the world that share your dreams and not illusions like those fake friends.
I do agree that Amway is an unscrupulous company and should be avoided at all costs, however I cannot fail to see the irony in your use of the term ‘Pyramid scheme’ which is basically the same principle that exists in almost every multi-national company who harvest graduates, with little or no chance of climbing to the top, simply to exploit their naive ambition.
Beware of what this site is promoting. If they can’t publish factual information about Amway then in wouldn’t believe anything they say. Amway is an 8.5 billion company. Our family has made millions being associated with them in business. It is a great opportunity for anyone willing to learn and work.
This article is so misguided. Too dramatic and you can tell an Employee wrote this. Lol.
Amway it’s not a pyramid scheme at all. The only “legal” pyramid scheme is an actual job. Where you can’t earn more than your boss. Amway is built so anyone can become rich… Now if you don’t change your mindset from Employee to Business owner… It won’t work for you. It is not the company that doesn’t work… It’s you. The company has been around for more than half a century.. if it was actually illegal.. they wouldn’t last that long. Stop misguiding people. If you don’t do it.. if YOU don’t have results then keep your opinions to yourself. The only way it cannot work is if you don’t make it work.. but youngins.. Amway it is not a pyramid scheme.. read Business School by Kiyosaki. Read The New Professionals by Charles W. King. Network marketing is a new profession that came to stay and Amway is the #1 at it. Hate all you want.. but stop lying to yourself. If anyone here wants to know about Amway.. don’t read this pointless, misguided article. Whoever wrote it… Complete trash… Don’t be a writer or choose something else to write about something that you truly know about.. not an article of speculations that aren’t accurate at all. If you have any questions about Amway.. go to the source.
Matt, Amway is not a pyramid scheme because distributors (IBO) have to buy a minimum number of items through Amway to maintain their membership. It was this requirement which set Amway as not a pyramid scheme. It sells regular products but only IBOs can buy directly through Amway. AMO which stands for Amway Motivational Organization which is the different from Amway, the Company. AMO is formed by distributors. Both needs each other to survive. AMO needs Amway; otherwise it is a pyramid scheme. So how does it work. The recruiting message is that if you join Amway and find six other new comers (newbies) to join Amway then you are set for life because those six you found will find six newbies of their own and these six newbies will find six of their own… and so forth. When you first join Amway, you belong to someone’s downline or in other word, you have an upline to report directly. Whatever Amway products you sell or your downline sell, your upline and your upline’s upline will receive a commission. This is MLM or mulit level marketing. Now keep in mind AMO which is made up of high power uplines these individuals are called diamonds and they pretty much dictate their downlines what they can or cannot do. One of things that these diamonds implement is that their downlines should buy business support materials (BSM) which include motivational tapes (CDs) and books on a monthly basis. According to the diamonds these motivational tapes supposed to help and guide their downlines toward having successful career with Amway. The tapes (CDs) used to be $6 or $8 a shot. The downlines should get their own tapes and not borrow the tapes from other member within the own family. There is a high profit margin on these tapes and most of the profit goes to the diamonds with very little trickle down to those underneath him. Now there are other reading materials (books) and business functions that downline are recommended to buy and attend. Again high profit margins going back to the top. Now if a downline has $10 to spend, his upline will advise him to spend it on growing his business instead of buying an Amway product which is to buy a motivational tape or book which will help to grow the downline’s business. Now top management of Amway knows of this deceptive practice of AMO but basically has its hands tied and can do very little stop it. Keep in mind, the distributors (downlines) are in controlled by the diamonds. If Amway put too much pressure on the diamonds to stop this kind of practice, the diamonds and their downlines might form their own MLM and cut ties with Amway. Amway will have a tough time selling their products. Again, Amway does not sell its products directly to consumers. Consumers will have to order Amway products through the distributors. That is why Amway needs the distributors or the downlines and is willing to turn a blind eye on the deceptive practice of these diamonds. Now as for the finding six new members to join Amway and you are set for life. This statement is somewhat true. However, drop out rate is extremely high especially in the first year after joining. The drop out rate is somewhere between 70 to 90%. So for the first six members you found, five would have dropped out in the first year. So you have to go back to the recruiting circuit. I read some of the stories that a husband and wife will have to go on this recruiting mission like four nights a week to introduce to friends and family members to join. You might be spending 200 nights annually recruiting for several years and only three or four you found are there for the long haul. It is a very exhausting mission. You might be losing money or showing very little profit the first several years doing this business. The gas money, tapes, books, functions all eat into the profits.
You are an absolutely broken person, employee, sad e lonely.
Don’t have a clue about Network Marketing.
Thank you!
I just want to verify that in Amway, the upline sponsor wont get a single cent for sponsoring new downline into Amway business.
Another thing is, an ABO is only being rewarded for his/her own and own group performance and a bit of bonus from founders themselves.
Because of these two reasons alone, it contradicts the pyramid scheme definition as given by the author already.
I think a couple of things. 1. If someone really wants to do this, they have interest in something like this, and aren’t specifically thinking about making money, are relaxed, and don’t have an eviction notice before starting this, it may work, who knows how long it would take to be making a sufficient salary, but it may work. Do you know enough people who would be your downline and wouldn’t walk away within a month? Are you willing to risk years going by with possibly loosing or making little money?
2. The majority who maybe “somewhat” like sales or MLM, or are in true need of making extra money, or are “maybe” thinking of running a business one day are generally in trouble trying to do this. Are you willing to spend nearly every minute of your free time after you main job (even on lunch break) doing this? Are you willing to buy products that cost more? Are you willing to give up friends and family? This can be troublesome because you are so busy with this or you annoy them with your force of getting them to sign up. You will also become a salesman around your family and friends so they will ditch local or online and buy all Amway. Are you willing to always talk about Amway now when you have your now “little” time around friends and family? Are you comfortable spending every minute at church, work (if you don’t get in trouble for harrassing/moonlightning), trying to recruit to keep your downline up? I am not for it. Yes, some have been successful, but it’s not a lot.
The author of this post seem to have been adversely effected by the Amway company. It must be noted that Anway is working in more than 100 countries and there are unvountable number of foolish people (as per author) who are more educated, qualified and experienced and all are investing huge money in this pyramid scheme(as per author!) snd are leading wealthy life… just for your information…. i don’t think so many people and governments allowing Amway to run in their countries can be wrong except the author. . Mam this company is older than you.. one last thing… at least have courtesy not to mention the name of in open media like this…. you might have to face legal formalities if anybody complains about it..
This is a blatant lie. Both the FTC and the US Courts, as well as a host of other government agencies have confirmed Amway is NOT a pyramid scheme
You’re right, because the US government is free of corruption and there’s no way the Devos family bought their way into anything.
Oh dear Jesus. These are kind of comments we are making now…. LOL
The reason the court held amway is not a pyramid scheme is that sells products to the independent business owners. But the AMO, Amway Motivational Organization, which is founded by the diamonds are interested in the downlines to buy tapes, CD, books attend functions which lined their pockets. Amway and AMO are two separate entities and both need each other for survival.
Ms. Bridget casey .
You need a NECK UP CHECK UP.
Why dont you write little bit about Bernie Madoff’s money trail.
Amway is not for people like you who dont have the intestinal fortitude to understand the compensation plan.
It takes guts to build the Amway biz.
Sadly there are many in North America and around the world who believe this kind of crap is journalism. Your facts are skewed, you don’t have any proof and you are running your mouth about things you don’t even know. Basically just a verbal diarrhea!
For instants, you stated that Betsy DeVos was the daughter of Amway founder Rich Devos. Maybe get your facts straight! She is actually the wife of the son of the founder. She was only in office as secretary of education from 2017 to 2021.
Amway has been around for 60 years and just because it is not a traditional 9-to-5 job does not make it illegal or a pyramid.
Your whole article is just littered with garbage and lies!
Please do the world a favour and go get a job at Walmart because a quality journalist or a blogger you are not!
I’m with amway for just 3 months..I can say it gave me real profit more than I expected, just by selling their products. People love it due to its quality offered. You need to be positive attitude in order to do any business including amway. I love sharing good things, like amway product. It helps peoples live better life. I dont care if they want to join me or not. Yes, my upline do encourage me to attend seminar & buy books. But it’s for myself to build a better me even one day I left amway, the seminar and books I read will makes me a better person. There is nothing to waste on join this business. It’s will develop you to be better person. Something worth to invest with.
Majority of the folks defending are Indian….. Indian based company… defending family can’t blame them.
Anyone can loose friends in any business. Amway is incredible well respected, and if you’re easily offended or care what people think you should not be in any business, get married or have children. Lol
What planet do you live on? On planet earth Amway has an awful reputation.
I buy products. Didn’t lose any friends. Found your page while looking up tax info. You need to do more research. Having a platform to share an opinion is great. Knowing what you are talking about is even better. Good luck to you in everything you do. Cheers
I can’t believe I’m still reading this type of nonsense about Amway in 2021. The fact that even my mother knows about them and they’re still around and doing better than ever proves that they are a legit franchise and as you even admitted, they’re products are good.
They have evolved so much and continue to help millions worldwide.
This is a very childish and immature view.
Ponzi schemes or pyramid schemes have existed for a very long time and keeps getting modified from generation to generation. Amway’s business model is a pyramid. But they do sell actual products so makes it less of a crime. The exploitation lies in the free labor and money that you have to put in. Their products don’t compete with other products on the shelf so they can sell shit for the price of gold; and everyone from up line to down line is customer. Your participation is a subscription. The workers are the customers. That’s why they give you a recurrent grooming session because your devotion is their profit margin. Lastly, they spend nothing on advertisements because their devout followers will buy the products straight out of the assembly line. When you sell your goods at Walmart you beg for space and only get paid based on what was sold, you bear the cost of all unsold merchandise. Here, the workers buy outright to resell so they don’t wait for profit. It’s a very smart and dicey scheme; but you have to be capable of some high level logical thinking to figure it out. And that’s why they play to your emotions
I am stable stable person that heard about this business but wasn’t sought after out of curiosity I did a ton of research read so many bad reviews and found out it’s not necessarily Amway or their compensation plan but it’s actually whatever training group is running the show I track down a few different ones and there definitely are some shady groups I personally signed up with one of them to see how the process works I’m personally not making any money currently I do like quite a few of their products and it’s definitely informative going to their meetings if you’re curious like I was And over the past year and a half to two years I have watched one of the guys that I became friends with succeed quite well which was really cool it’s not for everyone and it’s not necessarily a scam some of the people are just shady
Do you know what is business??? Your activity is called negative passing. And addiction with negetive content. I suggest you to read 21st Century book by Robin Kiyosaki. One of the World best selling book. My dear Reade If you want to get success follow the successful person. Otherwise you are this guy. Without Clarity.
This article is so wrong on how the Amway business works. And it doesn’t work for everyone and they never say you will retire in a few years. Like any job, work is required to go further. Like any business, you have to spend money to make money. People who do not understand business will never understand it. Success,like many other things in life, is earned not given.
The only “brainwashing” that they do is teach people to think more positive and be more motivated in life. The truth is many people are very negative in life, and it’s justifiable since most people you meet will try to cheat you and benefit at your loss. But the people on the platform genuinely feel the need to help others because they were “brainwashed” into feeling so. This platform allows them to help others prosper while prospering themselves. In life to a major extent we “brainwash” ourselves on a regular basis to think we are happy or have some purpose to our existence. We “brainwash” ourselves in many aspects of our lives just to live on. Why not “brainwash” yourself to be a positive thinker and lead a better life so that you can inspire others to do the same?
https://worldofdirectselling.com/ftc-vs-amway-1975-1979/
And
https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/1998/05/pyramid-schemes
If you were to ask someone what a pyramid scheme is, their understanding is most often incomplete or incorrect. The resources above might help. Especially the link to the Federal Trade Commisions website. Based on the information on the Federal Trade commissions website and the court ruling by our own government, Amway is not a pyramid Scheme. I don’t think there is any room for opinion.
I did it and felt like 1) I was spending more money than I ever made 2) I was spending more on “everyday” products than I ever did, which is counterproductive 3) Older ppl who buy in bulk had already heard of Amway back in the 60s so that was a no go 4) You need a full time to afford this part time but can’t have a full time if you’re going to successfully recruit & attend meetings 5) The meetings seemed REAL cultish — ballroom full of ppl & the only person making money is the speaker bc you have to pay to attend — if I made $10 on EVERY person in a ballroom 2xs a week I would be enthusiastic too 6) I would LITERALLY have to canvas the ENTIRE EAST COAST to find enough ppl to make money off of to RETIRE IN 3YRS & 7) They’ve been sued/attempted to be sued SEVERAL times even by an ENTIRE GOVERNMENT as being a pyramid scheme — even been BANNED
Amazing article. Sadly not based on fact but opinion. For example, the definition of a pyramid scheme (ponzi scheme) is weak. Links to wikipedia and blogs – no school that has diplomas take either for “credible sources” as they can be edited a lot. Just ask the creator of wikipedia on his thoughts on the monstrosity he created.
That said, can people lose money? Yes. Do anything and you spend money and it does not come back. Buy a rental and you lost money. You never regain it until you sell the house if you understand assets, credit, and debit.
The thing you should really highlight is doing “Just Amway” versus doing Amway through a group – mentoring/leadership, etc. If you are right in your labeling, she was doing something with an organization that utilized Amway, much like how third parties utilize Amazon to sell products, or other businesses sell at costco and walmart. Strange how normal it is.
So, let’s do some facts:
1. The company is tied to the FTC regulations. Pyramids are found, on average within 3 years by the FTC. The FTC found them innocent of being a pyramid scheme in 1984 I believe after they were sued as being one in 19179 in the Oregon Supreme Court.
1b. Extra fun fact: So was the founder of the McDonald’s system as Franchising was thought to be a pyramid scheme, yet chances are you had something from there recently. Strange. “it’s a pyramid.”
2. If Amway is a pyramid, assuming you are not a closet “Capitalism is bad” but a rational thinker, one must ask why all their partner stores work with them. Small time guys like Microsoft, Apple, Nike, Cabelas, Home Depot, Target, Starbucks, etc. I think they would have “high ethics” to not work with a business that is a scheme. But they pay people who shop with the Amway link.
3. Amway has a board that blocks any decisions Amway does that can harm the people doing the business. I am sure many other “MLM” folks wish they had that as they suddenly saw things change, such as Mary Kay and others having the floor yanked out from under them.
4. Amway requires nothing. You pay for a license. That is required. But so is getting a costco card. Yet you blindly go into costco and get a worse mathematical return and do not call it a pyramid. Amway does suggest a certain balance of business as that is when you start getting paid though. But nothing is required. Just like “you don’t have to go to the gym to work out.” May work out better there.
5. Amway has a A+ better business bureau rating and a 5 star customer rating there as well as being accredited with BBB. Look up anyone else and you won’t see that almost at all. And that is over 40 years. So, not a small feat. Even Bezos’s Amazon fails that sniff check.
6. Any money that goes in goes to Amway as a whole. A legal business has to sell a product or service, so that is not abnormal. However, no money for people “Downline” goes to people “upline”/upstream like a pyramid. The person at the bottom keeps all their money. 100%. The person above them may get a bonus based on performance, but when you actually do the math, it’s not taken away from below and it is not bigger.
6a. If the person “at the bottom” does more work they can surpass the person above them. It is encouraged and about 1/3 of people do that. Not a secret. Also not a secret that it does not happen in any other market/job area. You come in at the job and apply for higher, but your work ethic, while nice is not as important or impactful. Plus, your manager above you will always make more than you unless you apply outside of the company or they retire.
I am curious. If your roommate did separate herself from her friends and family, I suspect it was because they were not encouraging her. If you had a dream and a goal and were so dead set on it, would you hang out with people tearing you and your goal down? I also wonder what would have happened if you supported her and helped her as well as “where is she now?”
So, I won’t say it is “looser talk”, but I will say you don’t have a goal, vision, or dream or never had one. I know many who have done this as I have family, friends, and other relations that are involved or have been involved.
As Warren Buffet says “Your net worth is in your network.” Everyone knows this as “it is not what you know but who you know.” So, who do you know?
Even many successful billionaires, self made ones, admit if they had to do it all over again, they would use this model of network marketing. Big companies have figured it out. If you use any app with a referral, congratulations, you are doing it.
To those looking at an MLM opportunity or specifically Amway: find a good support group for the system, Amway is just a business model, with ethical and moral people, a clear list of rules to follow, and people who are growing.
Otherwise, find who does what you want in life and follow them around for a while. Find how they live, the real effort and cost they went through and see if their life matches your ideals and follow them if they do.
Life only happens once. Would suck to be wrong.
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Wow there are some brainwashed dumbasses who have commented on this post… I just got out of the WWDB cult after being in it for several months … I never missed a meeting or anything, but my daughter got sick last week and I had to cancel going to an event at the last minute. My “mentor” called me and acted like it was the end of the world because I wasn’t going and then he went on to say that I am not worthy enough to be in the presence of these rich people. He said more degrading stuff, but after he went off on me, I realized that there were so many red flags to begin with.
lol. This funny article itself is the epitome of SCAM definition. Full of crap (opinion) and not based on FACTS.
Who are you compared to Federal Trade Centre (FTC) that accused Amway’s a Pyramid Scheme and at the end (after 3 years in Court!) they HAD TO ADMIT that Amway’s Marketing Plan is no where near to Pyramid Scheme or Money Laundering as Amway practice FREE ENTERPRISE that allow Distributors gain income by SELLING through INDIVIDUAL or GROUP sales.
Karen tend to allegedly accuse something they don’t even know or understand. Just saying.
“Amway halfway house”? That’s a new one, haha. You’re obviously spewing lies / misinformation as well as your own opinions here. It seems like you’re angry or have some resentment on your friend for leaving you. Which, I’m glad she moved away and is associating herself around people who want more in life and understand how to get there.
IBOs aren’t told that they’re going to become financially free within a set timeframe. Financial freedom means something different for each person. It could mean some extra income to pay off that car or mortgage payment, it could mean earning enough to be able to work part time so that you can be home more for your family (because who doesn’t want to be more involved with their children), it could mean replacing your current job entirely, it could mean having a side income that gives you some security (because jobs lack that. You could literally get fired tomorrow.. and then what?), it could also mean living the life you’ve always envisioned (Again, with hard work put in. Because nothing great ever comes easy) It depends on how much work and effort you pour into your business. (You’re going to get the results you reap) And IBOs don’t and won’t pressure anyone into this. We give an opportunity and it’s up to the person if they’d like to take it or not. Simple as that.
You claimed that IBOs make nothing. The person doing the bare minimum could make $12-$25/month. (Which is still extra income you didn’t have prior) Again, it’s all about your performance. And those numbers you randomly came up with don’t make any sense as Amway doesn’t put a financial cap on people.
Also, you seem to “know” what a Pyramid Scheme is but yet failed to acknowledge that your job you work at is also one. The Employees are on the bottom and the CEO is on the top. The CEO benefits from the work of the employees. However, with that being said I should also add that IBOs don’t necessarily benefit from their downlines. They do by a small percentage but it’s more focused on their customer volume. I’ve seen people who are downlines become a higher rank than their upline. Amway is a fair company.
Amway is all about the products. They are the best products I’ve ever used, in my opinion. Some people are in the business just for the products (because you’ll get an IBO rate on products instead of the retail rate) and not the business side of things and that’s fine too.
Also, you pay a small fee to start up your business and maintain it. I’ve never heard of anyone “losing” money. You literally purchase products as you would from your grocery store and use what you need. These products themselves are cleaner and the household products last longer since they are concentrated. The money you get from PV is a bonus. I’d rather purchase from somewhere that gave me money back than getting nothing back. Just saying.
Side note: Amway made it easier for people and IBOs to save money by not having to purchase their own inventory for their customers, unlike a traditional business where you have to invest in all your products and could then potentially lose money / go bankrupt.
And for those conferences. What my team does (and probably what a lot of teams do) is we split the cost of the tickets, hotel, food, gas.
You have one thing right however, Amway IBOs lift people up and make people feel like family. Wouldn’t you rather that than feeling like you mean absolutely nothing for the boss you work for?
Lastly, Amway has been around for years and is a reputable company. Do you really think if it were “illegal” and a “scam” it would be able to stay around as long as it has? There’s many IBOs who are successful within it. And not to mention, Amway has a variety of reputable business partners.
And to my 10% of dreamers out there, don’t let anybody steal YOUR dream! God bless you!
Amway is like any other business minus the upfront investment.
Any business can be done ethically or unethically, it depends on the person doing the business, that doesn’t make the business bad.
If you seriously want to discuss and know more how to build it ethically, you can drop your response here and I’ll connect back with you.
https://tinyurl.com/GeneralAptitudeQuestionnaire
The author of this piece is obviously emotionally biased. The information she offers is not true. How are you going to talk about something you haven’t been a part of?
She has no idea what she’s talking about!
Reader, if you’re connected to the right organization you’ll blossom and be successful.
This article is written by a complacent person who chooses to subscribe to what everyone else is doing and that’s okay.
We are boldly different and it bothers them.
1. Your definition of “Pyramid Scheme” is incomplete. It’s when there is an exchange of money without there being goods and services. Most Network Marketing companies have some sort of product they are marketing through organized word of mouth referral.
2. Hopefully you don’t earn any income from advertisements because that would be the same thing except leveraging technology versus an one on one connection.
3. Real estate and Network marketing have created the most millionaires in America. This decentralization of wealth gives the Everyday Citizen an opportunity to live a better life, that otherwise couldn’t afford the start up cost of a franchise or other business. P.s. Franchises, Insurance companies, etc use similar compensation structures, go ahead and tell McDonalds that they are a scam
3. I stumbled upon this article late but I hope you’ve upgraded your research capacity or actually know how to make money since 2020. Using hearsay and opinions to try and teach people on finances will damage your other articles that may have merit. But hey, this is America and you are entitled to your opinion
4. Amway actually has partnerships with Apple, Nike, Disney and many others. If they have more to lose by being involved with a “Scam” than you do, don’t you think their legal departments would have said something?
5. Overall this was entertaining to read for a fictional short story.
That’s why I do world wide. It just contracts with amway but doesn’t do the negative stuff mentioned.
This was painful to read – not because of the highly misconstrued claims about the Amway business, but because someone who clearly doesn’t understand the fundamental concepts of what makes a pyramid scheme, a pyramid scheme decided to use their platform to slander the brand’s name wrongly. You mentioned the average pay of an Amway IBO, and nearly in the same breath, you referred to it as a side hustle. Even though you are incorrect in potential income earnings, have you considered that the average person doesn’t have a “side hustle” outside of the typical 40 hours- a week? So even if an individual only made $84 a month, with an Amway side hustle, they’ve already made more than the average person. Instead, the market research surveys you’ve referred people to amount to about $0.10 per 10-minute survey.
Additionally, the average person doesn’t have an entrepreneurial mindset. Amway isn’t selling “get rich quick. They are offering an opportunity for individuals who are willing to put in the work to truly grow a business. It takes years to grow a business (Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg would all agree with that). This business takes little out of you from day-to-day, but it requires consistency in your mindset and grit.
Furthermore, unlike a pyramid scheme, IBOs do not get any money from “recruiting.” We can sign up as many individuals as we want, and our check each month will say $0. An IBO can grow their business when (and only when) they can successfully mentor others in growing their business — this business growth includes selling products! Unlike a pyramid scheme (again), there are actual products. A pyramid scheme is exchanging money for an empty promise. Amway IBOs sell products to customers. Customers receive their orders through FedEx, just like they would if they ordered from Amazon, Walmart, Target, or any other e-tailer. If an individual does not have an IBO, they can order products directly from the website. Nothing sketchy or scammy about that.
There’s a lot of great things you forgot to miss in this review of this business. Like the fact, the Fair Trade Commission has ruled that Amway is not illegal AND is not a pyramid scheme. And that the co-founder owns the Orlando Magic basketball team. And that the business had other prominent sponsorships with crucial brands such as Forbes.
Thank goodness this article exists! Amway has tried to recruit me into their cult on more than one occasion, and it’s a shame people aren’t more aware of just how slimy they truly are. Like glowing anglerfish, they shine this bright light in front of their victims by schmoozing them with promises of prosperity and wealth, only to ambush you quickly when they’ve drawn you far enough into their company and shit you out after it’s too late.
They exaggerate claims of “simple/quick money” by targeting mostly lower/working/middle-class workers; who honestly are mostly nice and hard-working people, but can’t spot a scam when they see one. And then they avoid legal prosecution for their immoral business methods by only using people as “independent business owners” of their company, rather than actual employees, so the company doesn’t have to bear financially responsibility for paying them any benefits or if the people they recruited ended up losing any money.
Bridget I agree with you, I am loosing a very good friend who used to work with me as volunteers in the community. He’s so focus in those businesses with amway and so Desperate to recruit people for that organization. Just because I don’t want to deal with that he’s cutting ties with me
This article is complete nonsense. Anybody that actually knows the in’s and out’s of Amway will read this and shake their head in disbelief. What in the world is this person even talking about? It’s sure not the Amway I know. What courses are you talking about? And what workbooks? And a conference costs about $150. And nobody tells you that you have to go. It’s actually a pretty good time. The Amway I know helps the individuals involved pay off debt, stay out of credit card debt, pay off student loans, helps you work with a professional fiduciary, helps you save and invest, helps you work on your relationships in all aspects of your life… I can go on and on. The statement that Amway tells you to alienate anyone from your life is nonsense. I personally know over 20 people that make over $100,000 using the Amway compensation plan. Also, the people I’ve met are the nicest people I’ve ever met. Amway is a business that allows someone to achieve something based on the work they put in. Period. If you don’t succeed it’s nobody’s fault but your own.
Chris – you have a really cute story but I call Bullshit. You know 20 people in Amway with income over $100,000? I bet your not even in Amway anymore. Amway is a complete sucker bet. You may need to find out the hard way….,
Hi everyone
I bumped into one of the “Amway Guys” and he arranged a couple of meetings to qualify me and I’m still in the process -really don’t know whether should I stop it or not.
anyway, I have been thinking about all of these Self-help books; It’s interesting that they all use the same pattern.
they tell you that the condition is awful and you are gonna be poor unless you do the things which I’m gonna provide you with, in this book.
Statistics are for loosers . This blog was horrible not true at all Amway is the best business vehicle on the planet I haven’t had a job since 1980
Of course Amway (and all the other MLMs) are pyramid schemes. Anyone with half a brain can see it, if they choose to. The products (which are not bad in themselves) are just a smoke screen, the entire focus is on recruiting and ‘training’. Amway reps. stock up on vast quantities of inventory, much of which they will never sell, just to meet commission targets; it’s amazing, you have to see it to believe it (my wife worked for Amway in two countries for around a dozen years, so I’ve seen it all.) Hardly anything is sold to people who only envision using the products – the constant pitch is that you can make money just from the fact of being a consumer; in other words, the products have no end users, the very definition of a pyramid scheme.
That being said, on the corporate level they have indeed been very successful. Their model – the ‘everyday’ products that supposedly everyone wants, the motivational conferences in fancy hotels, the incentive trips, the changing messages pitched to distributors at different levels, the power of positive thinking mantras (and the demonization of any kind of criticism as ‘negative thinking’ that will supposedly destroy your entire business instantly should even a whisper of negativity creep in, which explains the fanatical defensiveness of so many Amway people), even the names of pin levels (e.g. ‘diamond manager’) – has been copied by many other MLMs and it seems, at least on that level, to work.
But most people make next to nothing; it’s there in black and white on the recruitment forms (the $84 average monthy income, mentioned by the author), so even Amway admits it. Only in Lake Wobegon and in the minds of MLM defenders is everybody above average.
Yes a cult. Know from first hand experience the author is 100% correct!!
I use to be an Amway distributor. I was miserable the entire time, the people were annoying, they visit you unannounced and drain every minute they can from you. You have to take back control of your life. Tell them politely but firmly you appreciate their drive and desire for riches but that isn’t your vision or dream. Leave me alone and move on to someone else.
Wow! While I realize that this is the era of fake news, you took the whole “I can put more lies in my article than you can “and said hold my beer!
Amway IBO’s make exactly $0 when someone joins Amway. Zero.
Also, there is a 70% requirement for sales, 60% of which has to come from verified customer sales. The other 10% can be samples in an effort to attain more sales.
The lies in this article are so strong, and then the comments get even worse! Lol! Y’all can go ahead and keep your jobs for the rest your lives and keep striving for that dollar bill. I’ll go ahead and take care of the money thing and that way I don’t even have to worry about it.
I’ve never read a more uninformed article regarding a company or business. Have you ever been to a presentation or actually studied the company? I suspect not. My guess (because I don’t know you) is that you are going on some other blogger’s opinion (who you don’t know and have no idea of their background). You can’t have an informed or legitimate opinion on a company or business without actual (that’s “actual”) research.
The Amway Corporation is just that, a legitimate company that produces high quality products. The distribution of these products is done through business owners who seek to build a network of partners, achieving bonus money through increasing sales of the products.
The beef you and many people on this blog have is with the unscrupulous business owners who provide less that effective training or education to others on how to correctly build the Amway business.
My business isn’t some gigantic million dollar business, but I do profit every year to the tune of $15,000 to $20,000 per year. I didn’t achieve this by pressuring anyone and otherwise scamming anyone out of money, causing anyone to “ditch” friends as you say, or promoting overpriced products.
My business is where it is because of the effort I put forward in encouraging, uplifting and investing in people. Helping them create a legit business by teaching how to build networks of partnerships, NOT by teaching them to be some high pressure salesman. I suspect the latter is all you’ve ever heard and is all you go on based on lack of research.
The other side hustles you mentioned… some percentage back on your purchases… how much would you have to spend just to make an extra $500? About $10,000? Now that’s a scam.
My best advice is to do actual research.
Hi Bridget, thanks it is very much to the point. It’s been running for years and still attract a lot of comments! Good luck with your endeavors and promoting side hustles as you call them. On the same page there.
Amway is a gets away with it and stays in business because it is technically arm’s length removed. Their official compensation plan says there are two ways to earn money, sales to customers, and commissions off the sales of those who signed up directly and indirectly under the distributor.
In practice the sales model just does not fly. People don’t normally buy things like cleaning supplies online, and if what one normally uses does the job, superior quality does not usually justify paying a lot more for the product’s price value point’s own sake. Furthermore, the starting commissions are quite low. And transaction values too. One household only uses so much cleaning supplies and energy bars. It means one needs a lot more transactions to get the same turnover, than, say, a car salesman. Which means harder work for the same reward. So if you want to make money as a distributor through sales in Amway, one needs to be a VERY good sales person. And for VERY good sales people, if that is your thing, there are certainly better more financially rewarding opportunities.
All of this means that building it on selling stuff is impractical, and groups inevitably gravitate to focus almost exclusively on the model of self consumption of Amway products, and signing up other self consumers (who sign up hoping to do the same, namely sign up others to make money off their self consumption). As one person stated it on his LinkedIn profile, he is in possession of a plan “from having watched thousands of businesses worldwide”, where one could earn handsomely by “redirecting monthly expenses and effective networking”. If it does not sound like sales of products to customers, it is because it isn’t sales of products to customers, and that guy, well I can at least commend him for not baking any bones on admitting it. But in effect, all other Amway pitches do the same.
That makes it a pyramid in every sense of the definition. The problem with a pyramid is not that successive levels in a hierarchy earn more. It is that money is generated from the pockets of members, and that it CANNOT pay all the members (who join the structure to earn money) without sourcing that from other members. That is a problem even if a distributor can theoretically out earn his upline (which by the way, is possible in corporations too, I know sales people who out earn their team leader), and it is of course possible even if the product supplier responsible for the hype (the Amway corporation) never goes out of business itself, if it pays it’s taxes, resolve product complaints, and get good business ratings for itself. None of those make the networks of “business opportunities” not a pyramid.
Of course the Amway corporation, clever as they are, never said build it on self consumption and get others to do the same. But the commissions structure encourages that, and the groups are quite open about it. Don’t they always answer the “I’m not into sales” objection with “Fantastic. Neither am I. We are not looking for sales people!”?
What is sad is that people relativize it, saying they’ve learned so much about business. If find that laughable, I learned a lot about business in my last employment, and used that as spring board to start my actual business. The wisdoms imparted by Amway enthusiasts are often diametrically anti business. For example, they justify the practice of not being deterred by dismally pathetic numbers, by over emphasizing that business takes time to build and takes years to profit. That bit is so mis applied and out of context that I don’t know where to begin. It would take another long comment. That is not business mindset, believing such excuses, and that it applies to a small business with no hard assets, one marketed as easy, is cult mindset.
I urge undecided people reading this to not waste your time. Not Amway. Not any MLM. There is so much more to be said, but not enough space. If unsure, take the plan to a real business person or bank loan officer (who would love every excuse to lend money to places where money will be made) and ask that person’s opinion.
If un undecided person reads this and somehow goes ahead, my best advice is to consult a small business accountant from the start, keep track of all expenses, investments and earnings and have an open discussion with the accountant every few weeks regarding where things are heading. This should be a small expense for a serious business builder. If you don’t do that because you know what the accountant is going to say, well that is your answer.