Monday, May 12, 2014

Amway's Latest Lawsuit?

Interesting article:

http://doubtfulnews.com/2014/05/amways-latest-lawsuit/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=amways-latest-lawsuit

CONSUMER PRODUCTS, MONEY-MAKING SCHEMES
Amway’s latest lawsuit
by Sharon Hill • May 12, 2014 • 0 Comments

Amway, one of the world’s biggest multi-level marketing companies, is in court again.

Amway’s Claims Are Malarkey, Distributors Say.

The world’s largest Amway distributors expanded their business from Taiwan into Chinese communities in the United States, defrauding their new clients with promises of “enormous profits,” nine Amway sellers claim in court.

Lead plaintiff Longsheng Lei and eight other of the self-described “most successful distributors in the entire Amway organization” sued Amway and husband-and-wife Amway distributors Barry Chi and Holly Chen in Superior Court. They allege breach of contract, fraud, false advertising, unfair competition, unjust enrichment, conversion and negligent misrepresentation.

Barry Chi and Holly Chen are named as the most successful Amway distributors in the world. The plaintiffs allege they were persuaded to attend the Chen’s seminars to become “independent business owners” where they were promised enormous profit. But, claim the plaintiffs, these distributors know that most of the new Amway sign-ons make $100-200 a month. Not enough to live on.

It’s rather messy. Amway certainly does recruit distributors with descriptions of big income. (I can attest to this from personal involvement long ago.) They have been accused of running a pyramid scheme where the emphasis is on recruitment rather than selling a product.

There has been a HISTORY of suits. They have had their wrists slapped but the structure is still going strong. Be wise if you are approached by recruiters. Know exactly what you are getting into.

Did you know that Amway distributors were accused of propagating the Proctor and Gamble satanic symbol legend? Procter & Gamble alleged that several Amway distributors were behind a resurgence of the urban legend in the 1990s (probably to benefit their own sales bottom line) resulting in a suit for defamation and slander. Procter & Gamble was awarded $19.25M by a jury from this case.

It’s hard to say how this current suit will play out.

With all the bad connotations and shadiness behind Amway, they have a fair share of detractors. You can read more about it here.

Amway. Quiztar, TEAM, Team of Destiny, Network 21 – The Skeptic’s Dictionary.

It IS a multi-level marketing plan and that is bad news for most participants who remain on the bottom.

Analysis: Amway Accused of Fraud; Pays $150 Million; Where’s the FTC and DOJ? | Pyramid Scheme Alert.

Amway – The Dream Or The Scheme?.

8 comments:

corporate frauds watch said...

There need to be more and more such law suits against Amway to make people realise the cult of Amway

Joecool said...

Shyam,

What's happening with Amway India?

Will it be shut down?

Anonymous said...

100.00-200.00 is enough to live on in some third world countries. I never thought there was much potential selling soap

Joecool said...

Try selling overpriced Amway stuff in third world countries. That should be interesting.

Anonymous said...

Well in other countries the prices are lower but you have to create 25,000 PV for Platinum and different things like that.

Traffic Monsoon said...

For me Amway is a good company, maybe the best 8 in the MLM world

Unknown said...

I receive many requests from Amway IBO's to meet up to talk about "a fantastic business opportunity." I already know all about MLM's and I have a valued career at a great company as a human resources generalist. Anyways I always agree to meet them but never at my house, only at local sandwich shops and bars(on weekends). I ask the IBO's to buy me a sandwich or a beer because I am their knew client/partner and they can obviously afford it because they are going to be "rich". One night I got a guy to buy me forty dollars of beers because he thought I was so interested. I drunkenly ended the conversation and left to go be with my friends (real people with feelings and personalities) because I was ready to party. I do feel bad because he spent money on me and I'm sure I can afford it easier than he can. haha, amway idiots....

Joecool said...

LOL, funny story!