Subj: Amway
Date: 97-11-03 13:39:39 EST
From: To: exambot@aol.com ('exambot@aol.com')
Hey there! Great website! I unfortunately got into Amway back in August.
However, as soon as I joined that cult (because that's what it is), I
began doing some searching on the net during lunch at my JOB (Oh no!
that dreaded thing which supposedly holds me prisoner) and found some
very interesting and well-researched information. So, I pretty much got
out as quickly as I got in. Even though I know the person who sponsored
me had no clue at the time (she may now, for all I know) and was just
following the direction of her upline direct, I still feel like my life
was used against me. I had recently gone through some rough times
(cancer and other illness plus a divorce), and this was all used to make
me feel that Amway could and would get me through those desperate times
and that I'd be debt free in a matter of months. After explaining to my
upline direct that I could not afford the products, much less the tapes,
books, and functions, her response was that I have to spend money to
make money and that I had better get my priorities straight! HA! I guess
paying those medical bills and student loans along with other
obligations first is definitely having those priorities out of whack. Of
course, I was told time and time again that I would never get anywhere
in my job. Well, I don't believe that to be the case at all. What I do
believe is that my career and my not knowing my place (i.e., not being
that good little submissive girl I was supposed to be) was in direct
conflict with Amway's philosophy and work was being done to nip that in
the bud as fast as possible to get me sucked right on in. I guess that a
big thing that helped me realize the HUGE mistake I made was attending
the Childer's Free Enterprise in Atlanta over Labor Day weekend. Of
course, I had to put the whole trip on the old credit card (which was
something I promised myself I would not do). The whole time I was there,
I felt like I just didn't quite fit in. After all, I'm a single woman
who is trying to develop a rewarding career (i.e., fulfilling my dreams,
which of course Amway encourages, if it fits with their plan of getting
more people sucked in!). Most of the women there were not only silent,
but basically nonexistent except as an arm ornament for their husbands.
It really made me sick that Amway propagates this kind of behavior.
Also, it's disgusting that Amway does not trust its distributors to
exercise their free will when making decisions about what is on TV, the
radio, and other forms of media. I guess we are just all stupid little
black sheep that must be herded back in with the flock led by our lord
and savior Dexter Yager!! Oh brother. Also, how come the truth about how
the profits are really made is only revealed to a select group of
people? The real money is made from selling the tapes, books, and
functions to one's downline. Also, based on what I've learned from my
search, money is also made from the handling fee charged to everyone
each time they place an order. Also, the direct is entitled to 1 free
shipment each week, so even though the rest of the downlines each get
charged for shipping, since Amway gives the direct free shipping, guess
who's getting that money? Bingo! The direct! Seems pretty ludicrous to
me if you are into such unethical and illegal behavior. Anyway, sorry
about my rantings. I just thought you may want to add more info. to your
site. :-) You have my support and best wishes...

Subj: Make your own choice without cutting others down
Date: 97-11-04 05:02:10 EST
From: To: exambot@AOL.COM
"Your Amway Distributor, My husband and I have been in this business for
three years now. Although, we have never gotten off of our butts to
really
do anything with it, we still believe that it can supply the dreams that
we
have. We are not in it for the money per say. Only to use that money, if
we obtain it by hard work to use in many diffferent ways. One of the
ways
is that we've always dreamed of building a large gym type complex to try
and help keep troubled teens off of the streets. To also help our church
out in any financial needs. The main reason my husband is building this
business is to come home and spend time with our children and give them
things that we cannot give them now. Our two children are under the age
of
two, so it hardly seems like big sacrifice to want to spend more time
later. We won't have that opportunity of spending time with them if we
don't do this business. It would only take a short time to do this , to
supplement his income. Is that such a bad dream? And what about wanting
to help other people just save money? The products may seem expensive,
but
have you compared them with others? They are consentrated you know. I
have never seen products work and do what they say they're gonna do
before.
I do know of people who have had a bad experience with Amway, but it has
always been the person representing Amway and not Amway itself. I think
that someone has been mislead here and many others have been too, but
that
has been the misrepresenting parties fault and I believe some day they
will
pay for it. It's up to each individual to decide whether or not to do
Amway. They tell you t on tapes too that it's not for everyone. So the
ones that don't want to do it or don't like it, quit cutting the
business
down. It's not going to make a difference anyway!

Subj: WWDB
Date: 97-11-06 00:18:37 EST
From: To: Exambot
I recently got into WWDB and decided to look at both sides of the coin.
For some people I'm
sure your story hits home, but luckily our up-line is great. They
suggest we go, but if we have
other things planned or just don't have the money the jot down all the
notes for us. I also like
some of the other people who have writen would like to know who your
upline was. Anyway, I
hope your life is now what you hoped it would be.

Subj: worldwide
Date: 97-11-07 05:46:21 EST
From: To: exambot@aol.com
I browsed through your site and found it informative. I'm just curious
to what year did you attempt
to build your Amway business, which organization and who was your
upline...I've been really
thinking about this business I was fired up for about a month but then
reading all the manuals
and literature I just didn't believe that it was an opportunity, I
really didn't know where to find
more information about it..But I would like to say that your site did
help clear things up a little.
Because after all they say not to ask anyone about Amway because they
don't know Amway....
But are an X distributor that help clarify a few issues that I was
concerned about...
Thanks.

Subj: Amway
Date: 97-11-13 01:36:16 EST
From: To: exambot@aol.com
I read your page, and yes, they do say SOME of the things that you said
they did, but you lied and exaggerated on MOST of it. I am in Amway, and
it is wonderful. I think you are just one of the people who got into
thinking it was an easy way to make a lot of money, and then when the
big
bucks didn't come rolling in at first, you gave up and thought Amway is
nothing but a big scam. Yes, the products are expensive, but you have to
give a little more for the convenience of DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR. It
helps
out everyone. This business is a wonderful opportunity, FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE
WILLING TO WORK FOR IT. You are not going to become a triple diamond
overnight. It takes years, and you have to work to build your business.
You have no boss, you don't have a certain limit you have to sell, you
go
on your own pace, and that is what I think is wonderful about it. I have
a
baby with severe medical problems, and I have no problems having nurses
or
family come sit with my little boy for a few hours while I attend a
meeting. I WILL NOT NEGLECT MY SON, SO DON'T IMPLY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE
IN
AMWAY NEGLECT THEIR CHILDREN. You get to spend more time with your
children than going out everyday to work an 8-9 hour a day job, now
don't
you? And then the time you spend on laundry, housecleaning, dinner,
family
meetings, going to store after store to find what you need, HOW MUCH
TIME
DO YOU REALLY GET TO SPEND WITH YOUR KIDS? Why not put a little time in
now, to be able to spend your entire day with them, and send them to
college, and get whatever it is that they need. So don't tell me that
Amway is not a good idea. Not only I, but one of my downline, a
preacher,
researched Amway a long time before getting into the business. There is
absolutely nothing wrong with Amway. You just have to be willing to get
off your ass and work a little. In the future, you will, or in your
case,
would have, appreciated the money you get from Amway. I think that the
people who didn't do their part to make the business work are people who
are just jealous of the people who are successful millionaires from all
the
hard work of the driving and the meetings, and the time they gave to
show
the plan, and everything they did to make their business work. Perhaps
you
should have listened to your tapes, and you would have learned that they
do
help you. I love to hear from people who started out just like me, and
became so successful, because I know with a lot of time and effort for
the
first few years, I will succeed too. And all of my upline are my
friends,
they are wonderful people who are willing to help you whenever you need
it.
They are there for you DAY AND NIGHT, now that is what I call a friend.
And you do need to turn to upline for help, THEY DO KNOW BEST, THEY'VE
BEEN
IN IT A LOT LONGER THAN YOU!!!!!! And I do not stop associating with my
non-Amway friends and family. I talk to them and check on them a lot
more
than I do my Amway friends. And I pay all the bills and do the finances,
not my husband. And my husband and I wear whatever we want to the
meetings. We had a fairly good sized one at our house and I was in my
pj's. Your upline and downline don't EXPECT you to dress like a business
person, especially if you can not afford it. We do not discriminate
against anyone!!!! And yes, the business is in fact helping my
marriage!!!! My husband and I hated each other, and even separated for a
while. We got back together and got into the business, and we get along
better. What are most marital fights about? NOT ENOUGH MONEY!!! Amway
helps with that! We are in this 50/50. Actually we are in it 100/100. He
does not try to ignore me, or make me smile until my face hurts, see,
there
you go exaggerating again. You are not risking your future by not doing
the business, and I have NEVER been told that. You get out of it what
you
put into it. It is up to you to decide how much you make! You may put
about $300-400 dollars in it to begin with, but it is well worth it.
What
about the car you bought so you could drive to work, the house you buy
cause it is near work, the money you spend on the clothes to go to work.
Let's face it, you can't leave your house naked and walk to work
everyday.
And once you get there, what do you hear? A rude bosses mouth all day
long.
So you spend what? $10,000 to $15,000 on a car, $50,000 to $100,000 on a
house, and a varied amount on clothes depending on where you shop....
And I
have a wonderful time at the functions and rallies and meetings, and
driving to get there. It is a break from everyday life, and time to
spend
with great people. My upline loves it, my downline loves it, and people
like you are why Amway has a bad name. Once they hear Amway, they don't
want to do it, but ya show them the plan, and BOOM!! they're in. I don't
think millions of people are wrong. I think you are. I think if you
would
have spent a little more time looking at the positives, and actually
getting out and talking to people to get your business rolling, you
could
have been successful instead of a LOSER...(isn't that what you said that
we
call non-Amway people or people who failed at the business?) Nobody
calls
anyone a loser. We are a bunch of great people who get together from
time
to time to make our dreams come true and have a wonderful time doing it!
We aren't pressured into anything, but any normal person will look down
on
a negative person such as yourself. With an attitude like that, no
wonder
you didn't succeed. Perhaps you should try again. This time, with a good
attitude, and keep in mind... you have to give a little to get a lot.
The
time you give now, and the money, will pay off in the future... I have
to
go now to take care of the son I spend 18-20 hours of my day with. What?
Are you suprised? I am a very busy Amway member with lots of meetings
each
week, and I can still spend that much time with my son? You damn right I
can. You need to stop your lying, cause you don't know
EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!
Yours truly,
A VERY HAPPY AMWAY MEMBER
(how happy are you?)
(Funny, if this person is so happy and convinced that I am lying, why
are they so upset?
Shouldn't the greatness of this religion, uh, excuse me, BUSINESS, speak
for itself?)

Subj: Re: Amway
Date: 97-11-13 19:53:02 EST
From: To: Exambot
I have thought about creating my own site. I am not sure how to but I
think I will figure it out and
do it. I think my wife would be most happy to help. Thanks!

Subj: WWDB & Amway
Date: 97-11-20 03:28:10 EST
From: To: exambot@aol.com ('exambot@aol.com')
Hi!
I've spent the last couple of days surfing to find "positive"
information about Amway and World Wide Dreams Builders to pass on to
those "negative" family members and friends. What I found was totally
opposite of what I was looking for. I'm glad I decided to search for
information.
My husband and I were suckered recently by a distant stepbrother.
Everything sounded so absolutely wonderful! To think that I could
retire from my J.O.B. in potentially 6 months and that we could obtain
our biggest dreams was a big selling point. We signed up and paid our
$182.00 without any regard to what bills were due or the holidays. I
knew (almost) right away that this wasn't going to be good at all.
First, I have always been a comparison shopper and even at distributor
pricing I wasn't saving anything. Our budget is tight enough already.
Second, a few hours a week?! Come on now. Let's add 20-30 hours to our
already long work day. Then go to rallies, seminars, spend money we
don't have to go to Dream Night...it will be worth it.
It's only been two weeks. I'm supposed to pick up my first order
tonight. I don't want to go.
The people I've met all seemed so loving and caring. Especially my new
found Stepbrother and stepsister in-law. They seem like such nice
people. But they preyed on my faith, my belief in Jesus. They are
using this "to they're advantage" to try to sway me from what is right.
The Bible says God wants us to be humble. I have always been content
with a simple life. I have never been one to focus on materialistic
"things". Sure, I'd like a nice house of my own but I don't "need" or
want anything. They brainwash you into believing otherwise and thus
turn your attention away from God and what you know in your heart to be
true and right. (I consider this as worshipping another god which, of
course, is a horrible thought.) Yet in the same breath they say it is
all because of the Lord.
I found many lawsuits against Amway and its distributors and more than
enough information to run as fast as I can away from this PYRAMID SCAM.
Very few people will ever be successful with Amway. The rest of us, as
you helped to explain, will only suffer loss. The type of
"excommunicating" of negative people is much like the Jehovah Witness
cult. I certainly don't want anyone telling me that I can not be part
of the lives of my family for any reason.
This part my sound really weird to you but I will tell you anyway (I am
a normal, functional member if society and the work force):
Last week I had a dream that scared the daylights out of me. (This was
when I thought Amway was SOOO GOOD.) The dream was short and went like
this: A friend had called in tears, she was having difficulties with
life (marital, career..whatever...it didn't matter what the reason was).
I told her to go to her window and look at what surrounded her. I too
went to my window. What I saw was a cloud front that went as far as you
could see. But they were not clouds. They were herds of horses running
in the sky. The ground rumbled in a circular motion (kind of like an
earthquake) with the pounding of their hooves. It was Armageddon! I
asked my friend on the phone if she knew what this was, who was
responsible. She said that she didn't know so I told her...
The World Wide Dream Builders were responsible.
Now I know in real life that God, Jesus are truly responsible. But I
woke in a cold sweat with the words in my head and a dreaded fear that
somehow World Wide Dream Builders are or are associated with the
Anti-Christ. (I am normal!)
I'm getting out. Thank you for being there to help me realize. I'll
never get my money back, I signed away my rights to do so (without
knowing, of course). But I will get back my life. You may use any of
my comments in your articles.

Dear Exambot,
Thanks for the reply. My husband and I "got out" Tuesday night when we
picked up our first and last order. Of course, our "sponsors" tried
their best to tell us that all the information I gathered was
"inaccurate", written by "losers" who didn't do well so they are
"blaming" the organization, that the source of the information was
incredulous, etc. I printed pages and pages of this "garbage" (their
words) and gave it to them.
Of course, they did everything they could to change or minds and swore
they would call (these are family members) and all that...so far, quiet.
But that's OK, I'm glad we saw the light before we got in too deep.
Thanks for being there to get the information out to those who do not
yet know.
Best Regards,
Woodstock NY

-Subj:
Date: 97-11-24 08:24:57 EST
From: Reply-to: To: exambot@aol.com ('exambot@aol.com')
You're right on the money with this one!!! Keep up the good work, the
only way to combat this kind of scam is through information whereby
people
can see and judge for themselves!!