It sounds as if you have had a bad people experience.  Not once did you mention that AMWAY or Worldwide Dreambuilders endorsed any of the comments you  overheard. I wouldn't either and would walk away and not associate with that person.
    Also I thought you were talking about adults in your article.  No where did you mention any "mobster type" compliance tactics.  All you mentioned was the err of the human element that is in any business but is not a representation of the collective whole.
     Also when we look at big groups of people. Reliable Statistics can be gathered.  But if we look at two-three people and say they represent the whole group the data is flawed.  I am told the "2-4yr. plan" comes and the 8 success principles that are taught, come from examining the group of successful people in the World WIde Dreambuilders.  It is my understanding and first hand knowledge that people who work this success plan have well above average growth in their businesses.  Its not a secret they teach it to everyone in there business who is willing to listen.  And if the business does not grow you can use the 8 step success principles to ifnd out why.  If all 8 aren't in line, growth is hampered.  Ive seen them and they are all common business sense, but every body has a different learning curve.  Some faster some slower.  How fast you grasp and practice them, determines how fast or slow your business grows and how much you can help others.  Its the adage of you must practice what you preach and never ask anyone to do what you won't do yourself.
     Also you keep mentioning "pyramid".  The 8-5 work environment itself is an example of a true pyramid.  In a "pyramid" profits flow upward only and not down, the person below cannot surpass the person above no matter how hard he/she tries. Sound familiar? Work place maybe? You need the permisssion of a higher up to surpass the people above you.  Sound familiar? Promotion maybe? Depending on the depth of field above you it takes retirement or dissmissal or death for you to rise up the ladder. Sound familiar? Most jobs maybe?
     What  I have described above is a basic corporate structure.  Just look at the origanizational chart of a corporation.  I think you will see it more closley resembles a "pyramid" structure as one can find. What makes it legal is.....THE FTC SAYS ITS NOT A PYRAMID.
      My understanding of the "AMWAY" structure is totally different.  Moneys flow freely thru out the structure no matter whose above you,based on the size of your business and efforts. You can surpass the person above you and proceed to a higher level of income and achievement without the permission of the person above you.  In short you can move past the very person that "sponsored" you. Even make or be making a better go at it than the person who sponsored you.
      I will admit most Amway distributors are very different.  They are a person most of us feel uncomfortable around.  There desire to achieve business success is well above average.  Is it because they are special? No. Its the mentoring & rebuilding of the person & their self-esteem.  To take advice from only successful people.  That makes sense doesn't it? It is said that if you want to buy jewels you don't purchase them via the advice of a bricklayer.  The same holds true in, you wouldn't take your Ford to a Chevy mechanic and ask him how to make it perform better.
      Look at the successful franchises out there.  If you opened one you wouldnt run it your way.  They wouldn't let you.  You would want to maximize your investment and use a method that has most of the bugs worked out of it and that would be the one the corporate store is using.  The difference is, Im told,  that in an AMWAY distributorship the decision is still yours on what to do.  The advice your given to build successfully is just that advice.  Also at anytime you feel the advice your getting isn't quite right, like with a doctor, you get a second opinion.  You reach to a higher success level and ask the same question.  But what you will find after time is that regardless of business ventures all successful people have similar traits and thought patterns on what to do.  Though said differently the advice is none the less the same.
      I've met my share of AMWAY distributors.  I find them to be a very determined bunch.  They never say die.  The pursuit of there goals is paramount, their convictions strong. Some more eager than others.  They strive for the American Dream but at a different level.  Instead of sending their bosses kids to private school or college they want ot send their own.  Instead of building their bosses dreams of a nice house and clothes and financial security. They want to build their own. Whats wrong with that?  Thats free enterprise at work, building a business in America.  You should never step on people as you rise to the top.  You may someday need them if you fall down along the way.
     What it all comes down to though in any business is HARD WORK.  No business was ever built by just sitting and waiting.  My father always taught me that movers and shakers make things happen.  Im told its the same in the AMWAY business.  The harder you work, the better off you will be.  Isnt' that true every where?  My friends that are distributors have proven this to me time and time again.  They have never stepped on anyone or scolded them for decisions they make about family matters.  They truly  love the people they associate with in & out of there group.
     I should know I am one of these people.  I have owned my own businesses before but none as awesome and fulfilling as my AMWAY business.  The people Im with are always there for me and I for them. We are like family.  We have laughed & cried together over events in our personal lives.  Before this business I was a police officer, now that job gives people false hope.  Talk about decieving people.  I also owned my own business. But nothing allows me to help people the way I want, like my AMWAY business.
     I am thankful for the mentors in my organization.  Who have walked ahead made the mistakes and sacraficed to better my path and those I mentor. And Im very proud to say; I am part of WORLD WIDE DREAMBUILDERS.
      I am not an employee/spokesman for WWDB or AMWAY Corporation.  I am a distributor.
      I thank you for your time and thank you for increasing my desire to build my business to even bigger heights.  The information you have provided will help me in being a better mentor to the people who call me.  Iam sorry your experience with the your business was such a negative one.  May you be prosperous in all you do.
 

I have read with interest your discussion regarding your grievences with Amway/WWDB.
I am sorry you are so bitter. no one would go to such great length to air their opinions without a deep sense of anger and resentment. I am sorry that you feel this way. I think that whatever level that you had achieved IS very pertinent and doubt that you had achieved any level of success and also that you never wanted to be a distibutor anyway. I do not share your opinions. I still have my friends outside WWDB, I still go to family functions and get togethers, My DD has always said to put my marriage ahead of my business and I have always done so. It was easy to get customers (an FTC/IRS requirement if you are going to claim business deductions.) My customers are happy with the products and the service we provide. My wife and I did product comparisons and concluded that, indeed, at retail these products are a better value. We conduct our business ethically and honestly. The business that my wife and I are building is done togther with consensus. The relationship that we have is stronger than ever we talk more and do more together as a family than before the business. The difference between your experience and ours is, maybe, that We listen to the tapes go to functions and then see how these ideas apply to us and our goals and apply these as we see fit. Recently my wife had a miscarriage and so I missed a function to stay home and do what I could to help. I related this to my DD and his response was that was where I needed to be AT HOME with HER!

I am sure that you believe that you are doing a service to some. But you offer only one half of your "Story" and in a bitter rage you hurt many distributors that are building their businesses honestly and ethically.

I wish you good luck and happiness for the future

Subj:  Amway
Date: 98-04-01 02:19:34 EST
From:)
To: exambot@aol.com ('exambot@aol.com')

I read your site
Interesting....

I was first involved in Amway in 1992-3

I didn't spend much... and didn't do much.  I did manage to more than break
even.

I recently got involved again.
My new upline has been giving me some new advice ... such as
"If you can find a product cheaper somewhere else...then get it there"
And...
"Don't spend more on tapes and tools than you can afford"
and
"We'll lend you and your downline any tapes that you need...."
This time  I've showed the plan 20 - 30 times a month since I started, and
have pre-qualified my prospects.
I follow some of the advice on the tapes... and have tossed other tapes in
the trash ( including a few loaners...  oops)
Anyway...  I'm making some money (more each month). It seems to be working
this time.

I'm a professional stagehand so I've worked for many Amway group's major
functions.  Many of the groups are scary ( to put it mildly) but there seem
to be a few where integrity and lack of excess still reign. I think I've
hooked up with a good one.
( Foley>McEwen>Golden  )
I will keep careful track of my expenditures and continue to buy my books
from discount book stores (by the way  the recommended books that I've read
have all been worth reading... )
If the figure quoted in the Amway Bus. Review is accurate ( 1 in 45 active
distributors reach at least silver direct (7500 pv) than Amway still seems
like a good bet.  The problems seem to occur when ever there is excess
  Too Much of anything is no good ( be it tapes, meetings or even zeal )
Thanks for the food for thought ( and thanks for the warning about WWDB...
I'll avoid them   or anything similar ) But , at least for now, I'll
continue to try to build my Amway business ( without the help of the
extremists )
 

You forgot to mention show the plan.  Sorry you became such
a loser in
the buisness.  Sounds like you lost your dream.  If you
cared so much
for the public to know how we work, you wouldn't fill there
minds with
such embelished lies.  You are truely a loser!

Subject:
   Date:
         Sat, 11 Apr 1998 21:17:27 -0400
   From:
 
 Obviously you're a broke loser!
 
 

Delivered-To: rk1865@cdsnet.net
Date: Thu, 07 May 1998 08:44:18 -0700
From: >
X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.04Gold (Win95; I)
To: rk1865@cdsnet.net
CC:
Subject: Question...

My freind is involved with WWDB, and has encouraged me to go to a
meeting as a guest.  She said it's christian, and many people are born
again at the meetings.  Are YOU a christian, because your website is a
little vauge in that area.  I never knew Amway was a christian
organization.  And what do the people sell?  I can't figure that out.

                                  lmz

Delivered-To: rk1865@cdsnet.net
Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 18:52:41 -0700
From:
Reply-To:
X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Win95; U)
To: rk1865@cdsnet.net
Subject: Worldwide Dream Builders

Dear rk 1865@cdsnet.net,

I sincerly feel for you.  Fortunatly your story is the minority of the
stories I have heard.  I have been to many of these functions and have
listened to many tapes and have found the people to be genuine and
helpful and very sucessful.  Your story is too bad.  I would blame
myself if my business doesn't work not WWDB.  But I'm not you.   WWDB is
one of many different businesses I have been involved with (although
this is the only multilevel business I have ever considered) and as a
sucessful business person already I am very impressed with this
organization.  When ever I had a business failure though I blamed myself
not pawn the blame on someone else,  but then I'm me not you.  I hope
your dreams come true anyway and am wishing the best for you,  WiLL Dunn

Delivered-To: rk1865@cdsnet.net
Reply-To: <
From: "
To: <rk1865@cdsnet.net>
Subject: WWDB
Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 02:47:45 -0500
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet Mail 4.70.1162

I just read your disertation on WWDB, and I have to say that there are alot
of truths in what you are saying, however I don't agree with everything you
say. Now we are two totally different people with totally different
attitudes.
I joined the business when I was 18, I was told that i was very ambitious,
and that most "kids" my age did not think like I did, that may be true, and
may not be, I don't know.
I can not tell you the amount of things and activities (Concerts, parties,
DATES) that I passed up. In order to be at a function. I took everything on
faith. And to this day i believe that I never became a Diamond or even
Direct, because I was never willing to do what was "necessary" but man, I
sacrificed alot!!!!  But to me, what it was that was necessary to be
succesful, I was not comfortable doing. My upline was great (I use WAS,
because I am no longer in the business), but after my wife and I moved
halfway across the world, I never recieved so much as a phone call. We even
sent Christmas cards, no returns.  We have even requested make-up color
charts, about a year ago. Still haven't got them.  My wife always says
"They supposedly Love you, do they not anymore?" I honestly don't know.
Well maybe I do. Maybe I just don't want to know.
I always enjoyed the tapes. I Always enjoyed the major functions. I hated
going home afterwards. It felt like family.  I liked the values that I was
told about on the tapes and at the functions, and I still do. I don't
believe that everything you are told is CULT oriented.
I am a Christian, and I became one as a result of the business, at a Sunday
morning function. I still believe it was one of the best decisions of my
life. I liked that they taught Christian values.
Well, I can only say what WWDB has done for me, it really helped me build a
good morale foundation. And that was very hard to find at my age. It was a
great learning experience. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if we had
stayed in. Probably not much. But now I have a baby boy, and I don't know
If i would leave him for a function out of town. I had a hard enough time
leaving him with my mother -in-law, for a weekend get-away with my wife.
If I could go back and be 18 again. I probably wouldn't do anything
different, except attend a few of those concerts, etc....
Thank you for expressing your feelings. I believe however, you should not
discourage others from attempting the business. Who knows, they might even
make it.
God Bless!
Ben
 

Hi,

Thank you for your web site.

I was in WWDB for over 2 years. We became silver directs with a huge
downline, only to realize after 2 years that a lot of the things told to us
were not true, but exaggerated. As we began to slow down on our
involvement, our upline directs totally turned on us. I could write you a
letter of our story, but that would take days. Basically in a nut shell, we
are going to sue our upline and WWDB for the many wrongs, with a goal of
putting a stop to the lies and deceit.

Question? Do you know of any attorneys who have handled a suit or class
action law suit against not Amway, but the distributors or organizations
like WWDB. Any info would be helpful.

E-mail me at,

Thank you,
 
 
 

Subject:
        Your web page
   Date:
        Mon, 22 Jun 1998 07:07:45 -0400
   From:
 
     To:
        rk1865@cdsnet.net
 
 
 

I read your web page with great interest. You may be shocked to know
that I am a Direct Distributor in WWDB and I agree with your sentiments.

I would like to apologize for the idiots that you were in business with.
I am especially appalled with item 20 (no retailing required). That is a
load of crap! It also explains why your upline Direct is broke (if they
are even still in).

I have treated this like a business and yes I am on Standing Order. I
just sponsored another 4 legs this month, all of them want to build a
big business and not one of them has bought a standing order tape. I
have plenty to lend and I am teaching them how to retail to make money
to fund their business ( I really do teach this).

I have kept meticulous records on our business and we broke even our
first year, even with flying to functions from the east coast. Anyone
who tells you that this does not require effort is lying. It is no
different than any other business (as far as the time goes). As for the
money, I dropped $2 million on a building supply business and finally
started making profits after 3 years. That is what I call an investment.

Your sponsor should have worked with you to develop a profitable
business from the start. They were thinking of themselves and you
suffered for it. If you ever decide to give it a go again, make sure
that you check out the people you are involved with to ensure that this
doesn't happen again.

Regards,
 

Subject:
        reply to your web site
   Date:
        Thu, 25 Jun 1998 22:22:00 -0700
   From:
 
     To:
        rk1865@cdsnet.net
 
 
 

RK,

I have to say, I agree with your comments.  I made it to the pearl direct
level in WWDB, then ILD, and must say, when I thought about pulling away,
it was difficult.  But it was a very good decision.  I LOVE being with my
family almost every night!  The 'brainwashing' and cultish activities are
powerful forces, and in time, you become part of it and don't even realize
what has happened to you.

I could go on, and on, but I'll end here.

ps  There is a lot of money made on tools.
 
 
 
 

 Subject:
        "Scamway"
     To:
        rk1865@cdsnet.net
 
 
 

     HELP!!!  My husband's brain has been kidknapped!!!   This is an
educated
man of 35 with a wife of 10 years and 3 children ages 4, 2 and 8 months.
Unfortunately, he chooses to spend his few extra hours outside of his
management position with a big company, with Amway!!!  He spent his 4th of
July weekend with Amway instead of us and plans to spend Labor Day weekend
at
a function  also...I am heart broken!!!  Do you have any suggestion of how
to
"deprogram" him?!   I'm tired of making excuses to our children about why
Daddy is never around.  I am also sick of all of his very well rehearsed
answers for every question I have...Amway is ruining our marriage...I'm
afraid
that our marriage will be another casualty of Amway!!!
 
     Please, any advise would be appreciated!!!

Sincerely,

"Slowly Going Insane in Upstate New York"
 

Subject:
        They told me Amway was Jesus Christ!
   Date:
        Thu, 09 Jul 1998 21:55:41 -0700
   From:
        Your
     To:
        rk1865@cdsnet.net
 
 
 

Dear Ex-Amway,
   I read your article and found it very familiar. I quit Amway for a
different reason. I don't know where your personal beliefs are in terms
of God etc., but I am a Bible believeing Christian, as most Amway people
confess to being. However, in my experience, we went to a retreat in
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for a 3 day gathering. I was engaged to the sister
of a Ruby/going Diamond, (there were not as many levels in 1986). Anyway
they snuck us into this Diamond level meeting, and Dave Severn came out
in a black and purple catholic style priest's robe and gave a sermon in
which he said Amway was sent by God to save America, and the world.
Amway is the saving grace of our world!

I thought the Bible said Jesus was our saving grace... anyway I never
could get over this. I quit shortly after, I was making 1500 a month and
was going direct when I quit.
I think Amway is a cult. I am sure that not all members of it are
cultists, but I think some of them are and the rest are just deceieved
into spending all their money time and resources on Amway.

What would do you think about this?
 - In Christ