MLM Blog – Network Marketing Blog

MLM Expert, Len Clements On The Amway Global Compensation Plan

Posted on 19. May, 2009 by Ty Tribble.

By Ty Tribble, MLM Blog Founder

I was listening to a recent podcast from MLM Expert, Len Clements and he said something about the Amway compensation plan that I found very interesting.  Mr. Clements is a court certified expert in MLM/Network Marketing and founder of Market Wave Inc,  in case you were wondering about his credentials.

So here is a quote from Mr. Clements about the Amway Compensation Plan:

Hmmm.  That sounds really familiar.  Oh yeah, that's what I have been saying about the Amway/Quixtar plan for years.  Here is a link to the podcast where Len makes the statement.  The podcast is one hour and forty minutes long and the quote is near the end .

Back to Amway Global...

Amway is an $8 Billion company, but my guess is that only 10% (roughly $800 Million) of that volume comes from the U.S., down from an estimated $2 to $3 Billion in the 90's.

Is Amway Global a good business opportunity in the U.S.?

Let's answer that with a couple of questions...

1. Can you name a Network Marketing company that has a worse reputation than Amway/Quixtar?

2. Can you name a company that has a worse dollar to volume ratio than Amway/Quixtar? In other words, how much does it cost you to do your 100 points?

Amway Global has a Stairstep Breakaway Plan (not a Unilevel Plan like some folks at MonaVie claim).  The Stairstep Breakaway plan is typically considered as a plan that is disproportionately weighted towards the back end.  In general, top earners typically (not always) do fairly well and the mid to low ranks suffer.

Continue Reading

XS Energy Drink Owner Files Bankruptcy

Posted on 13. Mar, 2009 by Ty Tribble.

Amway Triple Diamond Greg Duncan, a leader in Worldwide Dreambuilders - WWDB and owner of XS Energy Drink has filed bankruptcy.

Get the details here: WWDB Greg Duncan Bankrupt

Continue Reading

Amway WWDB Triple Diamond Greg Duncan Bankrupt!

Posted on 12. Mar, 2009 by Ty Tribble.

My former upline in Amway/Quixtar is bankrupt....

Amquix.info:

World Wide Dreambuilder's Triple Diamond and former IBOAI board of director Greg and Laurie Duncan have been in bankruptcy court  since Sep. 11 2007!  A site visitor notified me of the bankruptcy after checking up on their numerous houses that were in foreclosure last year. 

The Duncan's listed assets of $63 million and debts of $8.4 million.  Despite having millions in net worth, the Duncan's cannot service all their debts.

The Duncan's owed $1.7 million to the  IRS for back taxes and penalties and $452,000 to the State of Montana for back taxes.

In April of 2008, the Duncan's filed a reorganization plan and  disclosure statement under court sealing that was later unsealed when it went into Chapter 7. 

Supposedly $9 million of Duncan's cash got drained away in a lawsuit over the rights to sell he XS energy drink.   I obtained documentation of a suit involving the XS energy drink brand with a company called Cetalon.   Cetalon claimed it was given marketing rights for the XS brand and was suing for its piece of the pie after Quixtar became a major buying.   Greg Duncan was named as a defendant, and  Cetalon went bankrupt when it lost the case.

All the bankruptcy documents are public record on Pacer.

Continue Reading

Amway/Quixtar News Moving To AmwayBlog.com

Posted on 27. Aug, 2008 by Ty Tribble.

A little housekeeping is in order...

When I launched the MLM Blog in 2003, the majority of my experience in Network Marketing was in Amway/Quixtar, so I wrote a lot about it.  To this day, I try to keep up with and report on the goings on with the company, but I now get the vast majority of my readers at MLM Blog from other subjects, not just the Amway/Quixtar rumor mill.

So, when I have big news about Quixtar such as the change back to the Amway brand, I will post it here. however for the most part, those who are looking for Amway news will find it at the Amway Blog.

Beginning with:

Where's WWDB Jim Harstad?

Continue Reading

WWDB’s Greg Duncan OWNS XS Energy Drink….

Posted on 27. Jul, 2008 by Ty Tribble.

Update: Greg Duncan Bankrupt?

WWDB Triple Diamond, Greg Duncan actually owns one of the most popular product lines in the world of Quixtar, XS Energy Drink, according to an article in Beverage World.

The article lists the co-owners of XS Worldwide as  Josh Bradbury, Scott Coon, Greg Duncan, David Vanderveen. Scott Coon was once an Emerald, personally sponsored by Greg and I believe that David Vanderveen is a cousin to Amway/Quixtar owners, the Van Andels.

Here is the first thing that came to my mind: No matter how bad Quixtar's compensation plan is, I'm betting that Greg Duncan will be sticking around. He is probably making a lot of money when all of the other lines of sponsorship promote XS Energy Drink.

Now, speaking of XS Energy Drink and Greg Duncan, I found a bit more interesting news...

It seems that Greg Duncan is expanding his marketplace outside of Quixtar with a brand of energy drinks called, "All In". 

Here is a link to an article that calls Greg Duncan, CEO of All In Energy. So now, Greg Duncan, along with former World Wide Dream Builders diamond (current Emerald?), Rod Jao, who is Vice President of All In Energy are out selling a product that competes directly with XS Energy Drink.

"Competes directly with Quixtar" is probably the most important words to consider here if you follow the Quixtar non-compete rules that the company has been making waves over.

Continue Reading

Quixtar Success?

Posted on 16. Apr, 2008 by Ty Tribble.

Just read this on former Quixtar Executive Diamond and founder of the TEAM, Orrin Woodward's blog:

My letter to Doug Devos clearly explains that over 600,000 people who speak English as a first language signed up into Quixtar in 1999 and 2000.  Out of these 600,000 IBO’s (misnomer?) only six achieved Founders Emerald or above by the end of 2004.  This is 4 to 5 years and only 1 out of 100,000 achieved $87,000 annual income from the plan with both the husband and wife working exhaustively.  Out of those six who achieved Founders Emerald by 2005, five were on the Team – Tim Marks (Founders Diamond), Doug Stroh, Mike Foos, Matt Abraham, Kirk Birtles were all founders emerald or above by the end of 2004. (I believe this is the five.)

If this is not true, Amway's legal team would be all over Woodward, leading me to believe that the statistics are true.

Your thoughts?

Continue Reading

Bill Britt Refusing to Reimburse UK BWW IBO’s for Canceled Meetings

Posted on 23. Jun, 2007 by Ty Tribble.

Here is an update about Bill Britt's actions in the UK related to his BWW support system:

It would appear another potential lawsuit is on the horizon. Britt Worldwide dream builders and other network marketing mlm organizations have given the impression they were waiting for Amway to reimburse and compensate them for canceled functions.

My source, who is a diamond has told me they were given the distinct impression by Amway personnel that they would be compensated by then, for cancelled funtions. He refers to the original letter from Amway 4th may to quote

"Enquiries  For example, if any IBO has a planned meeting for which tickets have been sold (that is required to be cancelled and ticket purchases refunded), or
they have unsold inventory of BSM, or
have unsold Starter kits, or have completed applications not yet submitted to Amway, they may contact the dedicated enquiry telephone number – 01908-629400 (press option 4)."

With respect this part of the letter can be interpreted any ways.

The following emails are quite interesting it would appear Amway was prepared to come some wazs and then backed off.

The diamond has commented, luckily we did not have a seminar plan so our people are not owed monies. However I know BWW owe around $75-$100 thousand dollars to their ibos.

it is a real mess, they are blaming Amway and visa versa.

I would think that the wealthy diamonds in the USA will foot the bill.

I have met Bill Britt on one of the councel meetings in the past and would say he is one of the most genuine honest people I have met. I am surprised he has not sorted out this potential scandal earlier. He obviouly has not been informed that his Uk ibos are hurting and have not been reembursed.

It does beg the question that if the BWW Britt World wide dream builders have known Amway were not going to refund the ticket monies, what has happened to the 100k plus monies and why have the 1000 approx. ibos not been refunded.

Accountabilty is such a strong teaching point in all organizations, BWW are really sending out the wrong message and it going to affect us all, if they are not careful.

Lets hope Bill and Peggy Britt payout their uk ibos, sooner rather than later, it is the right and honorable thing to do. I think they will be horrified as to whats going on.

Lets hope the DTI in the UK, do not get involved in this.

May 15 2007

Dear Diamonds,

Please find attached a copy of the guidelines that Amway will use to address reimbursing appropriate costs for event cancellation. To treat every situation equally Amway will not stray from these guidelines. We appreciate your cooperation in this process. This attachment addresses what costs Amway will cover, what is required before this cost will be address and the duration of this support. I hope that this will answer any questions you or your groups may have on this subject.

Sincerely

Ben Woodward
Branch Manager, Amway UK/RoI
Direct Tel:   01908 629420

GUIDELINES FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CANCELLED MEETINGS:

Amway will consider offering reimbursement to IBOs who have planned events that now need to be cancelled due to the change of UK operations dated 4th May.

Before reimbursement will be considered by Amway the following needs to take place:
1. Evidence provided to Amway to satisfy them that the meeting has been cancelled (a formalised letter sent out to the group by the provider of the meeting for example).
2. Refunds offered to those who have purchased tickets.
3. All refunds have been processed and documents that support this are provided to Amway.
4. All other supporting documentation that relates to the reimbursement are provided to Amway. This would include copies of contracts signed with venues that evidence cancellation fees are required, invoices that demonstrate charges have been made etc.
5. Amway requires that meetings be cancelled promptly in response to our original requests for suspending such events.

Amway considers its reimbursement of venue costs as appropriate support. No costs associated with speaker fees, travel arrangements, accommodation etc will be reimbursed. These are the costs of doing business and will remain the responsibility of the IBO. No other costs outside of venue fees will be reimbursed.

Reimbursement as mentioned above will apply only to those meetings that were scheduled, booked and promoted prior to May 4th and were due to take place from that date (May 4th) up to the date that meeting suspensions are lifted.

Please note that failure to reimburse ticket-holders could result in Amway seeking such reimbursement on behalf of the ticket-holder, from bonuses of responsible ticket-sellers.

From:  Ben Woodward
    Sent: 05/16/2007 10:00 AM GDT
    Subject: Important clarification to my note of yesterday re: cancellation costs

Dear Leader,

After further clarification from my upline, we need to clarify that any venue costs that Amway will consider will be in the form of a loan deducted from your bonuses. Therefore, ultimately Amway cannot bear any net financial liability for the cancellation of meetings for which tickets have been sold.

We appreciate your co-operation and understanding at this time.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Woodward
Branch Manager, Amway UK/RoI
Direct Tel:   01908 629420

Source: MLMLeads.eu

Continue Reading

Bill Britt Responds to Quixtar – Amway Name Change

Posted on 20. Jun, 2007 by Ty Tribble.

I am going to give you a link to an audio "Kate" message from Bill Britt regarding the name change in a second but I have some comments first. 

Britt seems to be happy and positive about the name change, but I wonder, what choice does he have?  I don't see Bill Britt having many options outside of Amway/Quixtar at this point.  There are few companies that would put up with his (let's call it stuff).

The second thing that is interesting to me is that Britt suggested that Amway/Quixtar was about to double the bonuses paid to those below the diamond level.  I have been telling people for a long time that Quixtar has one of the worst compensation plans in the industry.  Of course, IBO's argue with me (and ignore the facts) until they are blue in the face.  Now Quixway is doubling the bonus money.  If they were paying out anything near the amount of money they should have been paying, there would be no way possible to double those bonuses. If they truly are doubling the bonus money, good for them and good for Quixway IBOs.

Stay tuned. We will of course report on all of the changes.

Here is the link to the Bill Britt Audio from The Truth About Amway site.

Continue Reading