In our ongoing, open discussion of Amway / Quixtar and other Multilevel marketing (MLM, Direct sales) businesses, FranchisePick.com commenter Sister Sam offers this warning:
Something that has been overlooked in most of the criticisms of Amway/Quixtar is the Registration Contract itself. Unless you are an attorney, you have no idea just how restrictive, one-sided, and dangerous it is to sign an Amway Independent Distributor Registration Agreement.
First, if you never achieve any success with Amway, you don’t risk much by signing the contract. But if you reach a level that the corporation considers successful and then try to leave, watch out!!
On the …read more

(FranchisePick.Com) Have you ever had a good friend or close relative join AMWAY (Mary Kay, Herbalife, Quixtar, Meleleuca, Shaklee, USANA, nuskin, or other mlm, multilevel or network marketing scheme) and suddenly become… ANNOYING?
Our post IS AMWAY A GREAT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY? prompted thirstyfox to share what happened when her sister joined AMWAY/QUIXTAR:
My sis was in it once, wasted all her time and in the end made little or nothing.
She got back into it recently against everyones advice.  It’s like a cult that turns you against your family so you don’t listen to them. Now she has no time for family, just …read more

According to a story on Unhappy Franchisee, the Toronto based direct sales apparel company Weekenders closed shop abruptly, abandoning its distributors with little regard for orders that had been placed or commissions and payments due.

According to the Unhappy Franchisee story:  “The company, its direct marketing association, the blogosphere and especially the major media have been oddly and curiously mum on the event. In fact, direct sales clothing company Weekenders, which had been in business since 1984, thanked its many loyal distributors by letting them know they were getting screwed over by a form letter after the fact.”
The article quotes …read more

(FranchisePick.Com) This is the latest in a series of guest posts on the Mary Kay cosmetics business opportunity.
This post is from SCAM, who blogs at Scam Types.
Are you a Mary Kay consultant? Ex-consultant? Customer? Ex-customer?
Please share you experience and opinion with a comment at the bottom of this post.
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Is Mary Kay Cosmetics a Scam Club for Girls? by Scam
‘You may think I’m foolish
For the foolish things I do..’
“Pink Cadillac” – Bruce Springsteen
Was the Boss singing about Mary Kay, a multi level marketing cosmetics organisation?
Of course not, but his lyrics may have …read more

You may think of your Mary Kay, Pampered Chef or Avon business as a, well, business… but does the IRS?
Tax Resolutionaries reports on an important tax ruling that could affect you and your business.  Or hobby:
Ladies, this is one that you need to take great heed from. Before you invest in all those Pampered Chef, cosmetic sales and even “pleasure toy” shows, you might want to talk with Brenda Konchar, a Mary Kay Cosmetics representative who took her case before the Tax Court in Ralph D. Konchar, et ux. V. Commissioner, Tax Court Summary Opinion 2004-59.
Brenda Konchar reported net losses …read more

(FranchisePick.Com) This is the fourth of a series of guest posts on the Mary Kay cosmetics business opportunity by David Shepherd, publisher of the Balanced Mary Kay blog. Thanks to David for taking me up on the invite to guest post.
Are you a Mary Kay consultant? Ex-consultant? Customer? Ex-customer? Please share you experience and opinion with a comment at the bottom of this post.
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MARY KAY: Hot or NOT? (Part 1 of 4)
MARY KAY: Hot or NOT? (Part 2 of 4)
MARY KAY: Hot or NOT? (Part 3 of 4)
MARY KAY: Hot …read more

(FranchisePick.Com) This is the third of a series of guest posts on the Mary Kay cosmetics business opportunity by David Shepherd, publisher of the Balanced Mary Kay blog. Thanks to David for taking me up on the invite to guest post.
Are you a Mary Kay consultant? Ex-consultant? Customer? Ex-customer? Please share you experience and opinion with a comment at the bottom of this post.
__________________________
MARY KAY: Hot or NOT? (Part 1)
MARY KAY: Hot or NOT? (Part 2)
Mary Kay Cosmetics: Hot or Not? (Part 3) …read more

(FranchisePick.Com) This is the second of a series of guest posts on the Mary Kay cosmetics business opportunity by David Shepherd, publisher of the Balanced Mary Kay blog. Thanks to David for taking me up on the invite to guest post.
Are you a Mary Kay consultant? Ex-consultant? Customer? Ex-customer? Please share you experience and opinion with a comment at the bottom of this post.
__________________________
Also read: MARY KAY: Hot or NOT? (Part 1)
Mary Kay Cosmetics: Hot or Not? (Part 2) …read more

(FranchisePick.Com) This is the first of a series of guest posts on the Mary Kay cosmetics business opportunity by David Shepherd, publisher of the Balanced Mary Kay blog. Thanks to David for taking me up on the invite to guest post.
Are you a Mary Kay consultant? Ex-consultant? Customer? Ex-customer? Please share you experience and opinion with a comment at the bottom of this post.
Now… take it away, David…
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Mary Kay Cosmetics: Hot or Not? (Part 1) by David Shepherd
They …read more

(Top New Franchises) Have you ever been involved with “direct sales” aka multi-level marketing (MLM)? Which one?
Amway? Avon? Cutco Knives (Vector Marketing) Equinox? Forever Living? Goji Juice? Herbalife? Juice Plus? Longaberger Baskets? Mannatech? Mary Kay? Meleleuca? National Safety Associates (NSA)? Nu Skin? Primerica? Quixtar? Shaklee? Tahitian Noni? Tupperware? USANA Health Sciences? VitaMark? Watkins Incorporated? World Financial Group?
What was your experience like? Did you make money? What was your most unforgettable experience?
Do you still sell via multilevel marketing?
Is multilevel marketing …read more