Amway

[DolfanBob]

I have been seeing new ads for Amway running on several cable channels lately. I had long thought that no one in their right mind would deal with Amway.

What are your experience with them if any ? And since it is or was a pyramid type business. What would be the value of getting involved with them at this stage of the game ?

My Mother did not sell Amway back in the late Sixties early Seventies. But she did buy the products. She swore by that all pupose cleaner they sold.
Their Herbalife products I have heard about, and people say they are good vitamins.

I was told that Barry Switzer is a early Amway sponser and has a lot of people under him in the business.
I went to a Amway convention way back in the Eighties with a Girlfriend who worked at a business run by a Amway Double Diamond. I could not believe the Money love fest that went on that night. Everyone walking across the stage talking about their Diamond status and how they parked their new Mercedes next to their bosses Volkswagen. I left early.

[Ed W]

My girlfriend invited me to attend a meeting one evening.  I went, not knowing it was a pitch by an Amway distributor.  At the time, I was doing wedding photography to help with my school expenses.  The distributor knew this (it's a small town) and made a specific pitch about camera equipment.  He could get me a 'wonderful deal' on cameras and lenses.  His price was more than the camera shop, let alone any discounters.  I pointed that out and said that what I really needed was fast, reliable photo finishing and a good source for film.  He couldn't help with that, but I'll never forget his pitch.  "If you become an Amway distributor and buy from other Amway distributors, it all serves to grow your business!" 

That bit of inanity sent me out the door.

A co-worker here got involved in some cellular telephone service re-selling business.  As I understood it, the plan involved selling unused time through a local repeater, so if the cellular site was operating at, say, 70% of capacity, the remaining 30% could be purchased at a discount and re-sold.  Naturally, the co-worker was trying to get other people to sign up for the service and to work as sales associates under him.  I pointed out that it's a classic pyramid scheme.  He replied, "No, this one is more like a trapezoid!"  Needless to say, he's still driving a beat up old car and relying on continued employment for his eventual retirement.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I have been to a couple of their pitches over the years and have tried to maintain a steady supplier for some of their products.  Some of their household stuff is VERY good and I would buy it if it was in WalMart!

Last one (7 or 8 years ago) wanted me to sign up.  I just wanted to buy products.  He sold me things for about 6 months, then stopped returning calls.

I gave up.

[we vs us]

I have been seeing new ads for Amway running on several cable channels lately. I had long thought that no one in their right mind would deal with Amway.

What are your experience with them if any ? And since it is or was a pyramid type business. What would be the value of getting involved with them at this stage of the game ?

My Mother did not sell Amway back in the late Sixties early Seventies. But she did buy the products. She swore by that all pupose cleaner they sold.
Their Herbalife products I have heard about, and people say they are good vitamins.

I was told that Barry Switzer is a early Amway sponser and has a lot of people under him in the business.
I went to a Amway convention way back in the Eighties with a Girlfriend who worked at a business run by a Amway Double Diamond. I could not believe the Money love fest that went on that night. Everyone walking across the stage talking about their Diamond status and how they parked their new Mercedes next to their bosses Volkswagen. I left early.

I can't speak to Amway directly, but their structure is amazingly popular, judged solely by the amount of meetings they (and their) ilk hold around the city.  Whether it's Mona Vie or Kangen water or Herbalife or You-name-it, I think they really play into some really bedrock ideas of the American dream, ie:  you can be your own boss, and you deserve great wealth.  It's always the path to those two golden ideas that's the rockiest part.

[custosnox]

My father used to sell it in the 90's, may even to this day, not sure though.  He sure hasn't gotten rich, and tried to get me in under him.  I don't really remember much about the products though, it's been so long since I used any of it.  Here recently I've been more impressed by Watkins products.