There's only so much you can do

So I opened my big mouth with a “just be careful” about the Quixtar thing. And in response, my friend was annoyed and defensive (understandably so, given that I told him he tends to be a certain flavor of gullible when it comes to money). I was also told I should “get the other side of the story,” which translates roughly into “see what their marketing people have to say about why their company is so peachy and wonderful.”

I read Quixtar’s website before I started my research. Somehow I’m inclined to take federal complaints and NBC reports over what the company's public relations people have to say. Things like, “Wouldn't it be nice to earn some extra income? Or eventually say goodbye to your 9-5 job?” Spare me. When words like “easy” and “money” and “success” are thrown together in a pitch, the eyebrow should quirk at the very least, because it all invariably screams “SCAM!”

But, whatever. It’s his time, money, and effort. I voiced my concerns and tried to look out for him. Not my problem if it doesn’t turn out to be the express lane to easy cash. Of course, I could be wrong — but that's rarely the case, no?

Signing off, this is the cranky skeptic.

[Addendum: For some strange reason, it appears this entry is receiving some extra traffic from Quixtar Blog — so I'm including a link to my first Quixtar post that wraps up my analysis of the company.]

Comments

[QBlog]

Regarding your Addendum:

Welcome to the great Quixtar debate. You'll notice that those involved in this debate (both pro and con) are passionate, to a fault. I'm trying to come up with a name for this phenomenon but for now I'm just settling on the Quixtar SubCulture. Make a few blog posts about it and you may soon be swamped with Quixtar Advocates slamming you and defending their business of "Freedom." It's quite interesting and it's what keeps me motivated to stick with my Quixtar Blog.

Cheers.

[Derek]

Your site has definitely made for an interesting read these last few days. Keep it up!

[QBlog]

Thanks Derek,

It's so great to know that "normal people" like you (not directly involved in this Quixtar SubCulture) actually enjoy reading my blog. That's always been one of my primary goals, to make it readable to the uninitiated.

I will keep it up and you do likewise.

[QBlog]

Ack. I hate doing this because you've been so kind. Feel free to delete this comment.

The link to my blog on your site, isn't working. It should be something like

http://www.quixtarblog.com
or
http://www.webraw.com/quixtar/

but instead it's this:
http://inquirewithin.typepad.com/inquire_within/2004/07/www.webraw.com/quixtar

[Derek]

Not sure how I managed that, but it's fixed! Thanks for pointing it out.

[Eric Medin]

I recently got out of a relationship with a girl who is currently involved with Quixtar. My story is a very long and, for the most part, interesting story. It's amazing how deep her faith of the system goes. Quixtar was a major reason why she and I broke up. She's a particularly religious person (Southern Baptist) and as such tends to be easily sheeped. I am a non-practicing Presbyterian who goes to GT where such things like religion are taken with a grain of salt. So when I told her that "frankly, I think I can make more money doing my own thing" she got very offended. Right now she's spending ALL of her free time building her business - which entails LOTS of meetings with "prospects" at coffee shops, bookstores, you name it. I want the best for her [read: She would be better off not in the business] but she's entrenched and no amount of "evidence" supporting my argument will make it past her biased ears.

I wish I could offer you advice with dealing with new IBOs but frankly, they just get sucked into all the hype and quickly assimilate with "them" and quickly deride/dismiss dissidents of the system.

Good luck, and keep blogging!

[Caleb]

Wow! Its Eric Medin! I say that because I'm surprised. I'm still new to blogging and I was just at Eric's blog the other day. To see him at a different blog is really neat. I've noticed there is a whole blogging community! This can be adicting. :)

[Shadab Mahmud]

Hey you "normal" ppl out there. I attended a Quixtar seminar yesterday and today I am faced with the decision of whether I should make the initial investment of $250 to start off the "business". It's not the $250, but its more about the risks involved (which I don't know of) if I go in. I am a full-time engineering student in a good university and have good prospects. Do you ppl think it wise to start? If so can I get out? For God's sake, advise me! :-)

[opaqa]

for god's sake. DON'T PAY $250. it really only cost you $40 to register with Quixtar. grrr... it's pisses me off to see people get cheated like this. http://rossublu.blogspot.com/2004/07/quixtar-do-your-research.html