This compensation plan is not used very often any longer. Although elements of the plan are seen in many companies, most  with knowledge of Network Marketing compensation consider the pure Stair Step plan (such as Quixtar’s) to be outdated. 

The Stair Step Break-A-Way is probably the best known and most often used of the five basic different programs. It was the first type used and once it was declared legal because of Amway fighting a great legal battle for it, it got copied more and more. Most of the copycats are no longer around cause they didn’t take the important things into consideration.

It calls for unlimited first level personal sponsoring and limited depth (levels) depending upon the amount the company can afford to pay out and how they want to pay it. The Stair Step Break A Way is called by many different names – Conventional, Amway, Management, etc. and has a great many variations. Different names were given to appear to have a different approach.

http://www.mlmia.com/blibraryarchiveJune03.aspx#stair