Students Please Stay Away from Quixtar
The following message was from the Indian Students Association in USC and one of the students who requested to post this in my blog said:
This Quixtar thing in USC is very popular and I know lots of ppl who are in this chaos, probably if you put in your blog about it…more students can get to know about this
You are new to this country and you might meet people who would try and sway you away from your original goals (complete an M.S. degree and get a full time job).
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do yourself a HUGE favor and just politely walk away from Quixtar (named Amway in India).
People who come from India with a Dream are given false promises, lured and swayed away from their original goals to get a degree and job.
Here’s the truth about Quixtar
I had a friend who started a ‘business’ with Quixtar. He tried to get me into it. I said “No,” and a couple of months later, he got out, too.
If you use your brains, it’s clearly not a good idea. Please read on…
If you don’t mind being with an organization that make promises they can’t keep, a company that forces you to turn your personal life into a business life, a business where you sell a mixture of things that are needed and things that are bought solely to make good income for your "upline," a business that I feel really forces you to push other people to do things that are not so great at – then you are set.
But if you have a clear conscience (again, which is my opinion), your conscience will either wither away or it will force you to do the right thing — leave Quixtar.
Here’s the Quixtar Business Model
- Tell people they WILL become RICH. Show them 2 other people who have gotten rich through Quixtar.
- Sell motivational tapes and CDs to potential participants.
- Anyone (friends, wife of 15 years, family) who says Quixtar is bad is just jealous and not willing to work hard. Distance yourself from these people.
- Remember, you’re running YOUR OWN business!* (*All profits from goods sold go to Quixtar. You’re required to have an “upline” (read: BOSS) to guide you.)
- Good luck trying to sell unbranded products with no advertising support that cost as much or more than popular store brands.
These guys who are the millionares in the business are practically worshiped; I’ve seen it with my own eyes. These big whips are the only ones who will make real money.
It’s because the whole business model is framed to brainwash recruits to work to “build” your business when in reality, you only earn more money for them by spending yours.
The problem is that it is a clear pyramid scheme. And when the pyramid is already so big, you are so far down it, so you’ll never make any money.
They feed you new "success stories" but they are actually fake. Fortunately, my best friend saw the light and decided to stop this madness.
Real entrepreneurs spend over 100 hours per week building their businesses and that’s why they make millions of dollars if they’re successful.
Work for just 10 hours per week with Quixtar and you’ll find yourself in a deep hole pretty fast.
My Personal Opinion
I have seen many people asking me to get into Quixtar, some of them were roommates of mine. For sure, they will talk in a very convincing way, I have been to their meeting, and I had a very bad experience.
That meeting was from 6.30 PM to 8.30 PM and I didn’t have a car so my roommate dragged me to the venue; I will take my final exam by next afternoon.
My roommate was supposed to give me ride back home after meeting, but he took me the home of the group’s leader (or network’s head, something like that).
I told them when we met that, “I have final exam tomorrow so I must prepare for it.” There were around 35 students in their home who came to attend the meeting for the first time.
I asked them to let me go, but they insisted and asked that everyone be given a 5 minute speech about what they learned from the Quixtar meetings and how each one plans to implement them.
Finally, when my turn came at 4 AM, I blasted at them. Then I was allowed to go, so I reached home at around 5.30 AM.
Quixtar Followers Aprroach
They would usually try to strike up a conversation in a friendly manner to get your attention in any place imaginable. Like this guy who approached me while I was shopping in peace for my groceries at Walmart.
He said, “Hey, your sandals look good,” and then he introduced himself and after 5 mins he asked for my phone number. I asked him if he’s with Quixtar. He was surprised to see how did I know. I asked him to just leave me alone with my shopping.
If someone who is making money through Quixstar, then it’s good for them. After all that’s the nature of any business, not everyone can be successful. But there is certain way to approach the individuals and I was not impressed with that.
Talking to anyone randomly from Walmart or in restaurants or while working in lab and saying things like “I will take you to a meeting where you can make money” is not the right way to ask.
Also, they will never use the word Quixtar until they take you to the meeting or while they talk. All they say is about business model where you can make money.
Make good friends with them and ask them nicely, I went to meeting because my roommate asked in polite way.
Every student I saw when I was in school who was in Quixtar has one aim – get as many students to the meeting, but that doesn’t mean you need to ask each and every stranger you come across in your life.
Who can make money with Quixtar
Again, it’s my personal view because I’m not the kind of person who can talk to everyone asking them to attend the meetings to make easy money. If you have the stomach to do that, then go for it.
I might be wrong, but international students in F-1 visa status cannot make money outside campus employment. Getting paid from Quixtar might violate one’s visa status, so you might get deported for that.
What Next?
If you have marketing skills, that’s good, but above all if you are a student in F-1 visa, with 90 days rule of unemployment, finding a stable job is a more intelligent approach than searching for quick small income sources.
I have explained with examples in previous posts that it will take 5-7 months to get a job, if you start looking for jobs after graduation. Job search has to begin well before your graduation date.
To help you with that, I have put together a guide for job search using LinkedIn exclusively for students, lists of mistakes to avoid in resumés and the 10 top job search websites to get you started.
Quixtar sucks donkey balls!!! stay away from it!
I think its a pretty ugly business. People from Quixstar/ foodstar (whatever!) present them selves saying that they have an amazing job opportunity as sales associate or smthg like that, with tons of lies! Then you go the meetings, %99 is Indian, they pretend to be as professional as possible, and they tell you bunch of irrelevant charming ideas. Then as you to buy Cds boooks and so on. I persistently asked them how and how much I will earn until when?! Than I quit in the shortest time.
Thanks!
Quixtar is ok, but the crooked part of the business is the big seminars.
This business model isn't different from AMWay or Herbalife. I think some people can make some money, but they have to sell their soul to the business.
I would never do this. But some people do.
Hi Folks,
I have been in Quixtar for the past one year. I am a student at USC. But as a student I feel Quixtar is absolutely not necessary. I know that its a legitimate good business network which can fetch you a little money. But as an international student from India I would strongly suggest new students to study and hit up in grades rather than getting into other stuffs. This is absolutely my opinion.
Quixtar is the most amazing passive income model i ve come across. You need to be persistant and consistant to make money in any business. If it was a scam the corportaion would not celebrate 50 years, nor would it be a 7 billion company worldwide.
Well said Robin.
Common sense prevents you from quitting. I currently don't attend school (personal choice-financially it wasn't there several years ago). My girlfriend does, however, and I encourage her to excel to no end. My thought is: if you are there and you are going to do it, go do it!
Right now I conduct my business on the side. I am doing this to find a solution to a problem of knowing that I'm not pleased at working all the time. To be honest, I know it's valuable, and I'm blessed to have a job, but the business owner inside me wants more to do with interaction, the fun of travel, and just living life on the edge. I guest I'm a rebel of sorts.
Just a couple months ago I hit an all time high, making a four digit check and subsequent two to three digit checks from retail sales. And that was at 2500PV…
Can you make money? Yes. Will it take work? Of course. Don't let anyone tell you different. But a little hard earned effort goes a long way with a vehicle that really gives it to you when you perform.
And if these checks aren't real, then you better notify my bank. Because they continue to accept them.
My point is, don't ridicule what you don't understand. Any great business, person, etc. in history has always had critics. And I like critics. Keeps us performers on our toes. I just don't like outright jabs that are uneducated.
Best Wishes
-dig4truth
So what recourse is there for students who end up quitting school at upline's advice and end up failing in both quixtar and school?
We appreciate your discussion of our business and I agree that there are certain things to avoid if you are a serious student who has been approached by a representative of Quixtar. At Quixtar, we agree that obtaining an advanced degree is valuable and your participation in our business should not interfere with your studies. Some Independent Business Owners (IBOs) have stated you should just skip the studies and go straight into business; we believe there is room for both!
A balanced business that includes retail of our products and recruitment of interested individuals (often those who are first your customers) is a way some individuals can earn income in their spare time, choosing when and how much effort they will put in. Entrance fees are only about $50, with product intro kits adding another $50-100, depending on which products interest you.
To fully disclose, I am manager of Quixtar's PR and Advertising. There are IBOs who sell training materials and motivational events, but those are strictly optional. There are those who overpromise on income, telling you a six-figure income is possible within two years. It certainly is possible, since it has been done before, but it is not probable. We discourage this approach to prospecting and have created mandatory disclosure brochures that clearly state average incomes and describe the best ways to earn moderate incomes for new IBOs.
Please don't throw out the baby with the bathwater when it comes to this business opportunity! It has helped many individuals across the U.S. and around the world earn incomes consistent with their goals — small or large. Thank you!
First of all, Robin, you guys at Amway corporate office are just puppets. You have no idea and absolutely no control whatsoever to how IBOs operate their businesses.
Just go and listen to some talks given by Bill Britt or Brad Duncan or Tom Foley in their CDs. If you have the guts, sneak into one of the night owls. You attend only the main event, where people share nothing crazy from the stage. But at the night owls and at unmoderated leadership evens – go and listen for yourself. They even make a mockery of you inside those meetings. You Amway guys did not have the guts to control any of these "systems". Rich De Vos had to back down after his straight talk talk made in the 1980s. The reason is the diamonds are the ones who bring you in the income!
> We appreciate your discussion of our business and I agree that there are certain things to avoid if you are a serious student who has been approached by a representative of Quixtar. At Quixtar, we agree that obtaining an advanced degree is valuable and your participation in our business should not interfere with your studies. Some Independent Business Owners (IBOs) have stated you should just skip the studies and go straight into business; we believe there is room for both!
It is not "some" IBOs. Almost every diamond makes a mockery of education. It only few, like Howie Danzik, who honestly say they respect educated people.
> A balanced business that includes retail of our products and recruitment of interested individuals (often those who are first your customers) is a way some individuals can earn income in their spare time, choosing when and how much effort they will put in. Entrance fees are only about $50, with product intro kits adding another $50-100, depending on which products interest you.
Robin, are you an ostrich? Because, it sounds like you have your head in the sand. When I got signed up, I paid close to $300, because I was told there is no way my sponsor will sign me up without a tool kit and getting on the standing order program right away. So the registration is about $50, the product starter kit was close to $100 (maybe reduced now), the tool kit was $100 and then the standing order for the first month, $50. So your number of $50 is just on paper!
> To fully disclose, I am manager of Quixtar’s PR and Advertising. There are IBOs who sell training materials and motivational events, but those are strictly optional.
REALLY? You Amway corporate guys keep making this statement. BUT you know what the system IBOs add after saying this? "Tools are optional, and so is success. We know nobody who has succeeded in this business without the standing order program." And then 2 months later, they make you feel like a wimp if you are not on leadership standing order, which is 1 more CD per week. Then there is tool order you have to send every week with 2 additional CDs minimum per week – so it adds to 4 CDs per week. Slowly, they say you need to listen to 1 CD per day and hence you need at least 7 CDs a week!
Do not act like you do not know these things. Go and get the facts and try putting the noose on the systems. I know you cannot, because even Rich De Vos could not do it. It is out of your hand now!
> Please don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater when it comes to this business opportunity! It has helped many individuals across the U.S. and around the world earn incomes consistent with their goals — small or large. Thank you!
In all the above statements, you have clearly told what Amway's stand is. Here, you do not. Why didn't you tell here how many people fall into this category? It is 0.012% of the people who reach platinum in the history of active IBOs. So it is 1 in a 10,000 active IBOs, and then the percentage of diamonds is like 1 in a 100,000. So quite making statements about how many people made money with this and start telling how many people did not make any profit with this. If you take the average of all the 1099-MISC that go out of your office, it is just over $1200/year and people spend anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000/yr running the business!