Well this may seem like a long ways out but make no mistake Dick Devos is running for governor of the State of Michigan in 2010. My CWPF's (close warm personal friends) have given me the heads up to some of Dick's plans. In true Rebellion fashion I will share the latest with you here.
We have all endured the marathon campaigns currently underway for President of the United States. In true wannabe fashion Dick Devos is beginning to lay the ground work for his campaign. As I have reported before, Alticor actually believed that the more Dick Devos talked about Amway in his campaign commercials, the higher his poll numbers went. I am sure this is more delusional or more likely egotistical thinking on the part of Devos. Many believe the entire name change fiasco is all part of the grand plan to get Dick Devos elected to Michigan's highest office. If they really do believe their poll numbers, the name change to Amway would be a logical PDCA cycle for his next run.
According to my CWPF's our friend Dick, who found no time to mediate the dispute between Team and Quixtar, has a new interest. It has been reported to me that Dick Devos is in the process of meeting with groups of African-American pastors from the city of Detroit. The word is Dick is now "very" interested in urban renewal in the Detroit area. Apparently included in this PDCA cycle and run for governor, will be a few million dollars for Detroit area pastors or non-profits. Dick's a smart fellow, he realizes that being elected governor is more than copying a few speeches from his daddy. Detroit is the softest area in the state for any republican candidate and what's a few million bucks when you blew 30 million the first time around?
Let's face it, Michigan is the perfect place to seek the governorship. Michigan is down, with an abysmal economic, and tax climate. Michigan's condition in some ways is so bad that it seems that it can only get better. Indeed Michigan may be like an 0-16 football team. A place where marginal improvement could be cause for fanfare. A place where an ex-executive of a flat line company like Amway might even sound good. The citizens of Michigan can only hope other candidates can step up to the plate and keep Michigan from becoming just the next purchase of the Devos family.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
FROM THE FRYING PAN TO THE FIRE
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
EQUAL CONSIDERATION
The NBA playoff season is upon us. I must admit I took great joy in watching the Detroit Pistons pound the Orlando Magic. As most of you know the Pistons took the series (4-1) against the Magic. While watching one of the games the television commentator discussed the Magic and their recent coaching personnel.
The commentator discussed the hiring of University of Florida coach Billy Donovan by the Magic in June of 2007. Mr. Donovan was very excited to be hired by a NBA team and one close to his existing home in Gainesville, FL. Mr. Donovan promptly signed a 5 year, 27.5 million dollar contract to coach the Magic. Less than 7 days later Mr. Donovan had second thoughts and walked off the job. It wasn't clear but some surmised that Donovan was never told it was Amway. Just kidding.
"We have the legal right to hold Billy to the contract he signed, but with him having a change of heart about leaving college basketball, we want him at the University of Florida," the Magic said. "We have granted him
permission to break his commitment and return to the Gators."
Could this be true? So let me get this right. The Magic, owned by Mr. Devos, released Donovan from his contract of $27 million plus, but Amway is intent on imprisoning IBOs who made $6? Could there be more wrong with this? Not only that, how about the millions and millions of dollars loyal IBOs generated for Amway. Well, we all know what they got for their loyalty. What is even funnier is that Mr. Donovan was allowed to go back and sign a new contract with the University of Florida to do of all things coach basketball!!! Not only did Mr. Donovan get released from his contract he got to go earn a living! Now life is good in Florida. If only us common folk could get the same consideration from Mr. Devos and his offspring.
In another news story Mr. Blackwater himself Erik Prince made a great comment as he addressed the Economic Club of Grand Rapids this week. Prince, in referring to the services they provide and whether or not they do a good job he said, "If we don't serve our customer, they fire us," he said. As many of you know Prince is related to the Devos family. Once again how can this kind of thinking be available to our friends in Ada and they go on ignoring what really happened to them?
LEADERSHIP @ WORK
A Message From Dallin Larsen
Last week, a company in California by the name of Imagenetix filed a lawsuit against MonaVie and listed many of our top distributors in the suit. I’m pleased to let everyone know that this lawsuit has now been dismissed. To give you a brief background on this situation, when MonaVie was first introduced into the marketplace in 2005, we included in the Active formula an ingredient called Celadrin®. We later, removed this ingredient from the formula. However, Imagenetix claimed in their suit that some of our distributors continued referencing Celadrin® on their websites, and as such, they believed that we were liable for damages. I’m pleased that both our attorneys and Imagenetix attorneys were able to come to a meeting of the minds, allowing this case to be dropped. As always, it simply proves that communication is the key to resolution. In this particular case, we were able to take a lemon and make lemonade out of it. It’s a tribute to our team. I’m genuinely excited about the new relationship that appears to be developing between MonaVie and Imagenetix and I’ll share more about that at the convention in September. The reason I bring this matter up is to remind each of you once again as independent distributors, to never make product claims, to never make unsubstantiated income claims and to never state that our product includes ingredients that it doesn’t include, even if it once did.
As CEO of this company I also want you to know that we’re in great shape and in great hands at the company. Business is booming and May appears to be yet another record breaking month. In the last 40 months since MonaVie was introduced to the world, we’ve shattered virtually every record in Direct Selling history, thanks to each of you. What this means is that we’re no longer under the radar! And in today’s litigious environment and with MonaVie’s unprecedented success, I’m sure this won’t be the last legal case we will have to deal with. It comes with the territory but I don’t lose any sleep over these sorts of things nor should you. We have a plenty large war chest to protect this company. We’ll keep doing the right things and ask you in return, to always represent this company in an exceptional manner.
I just returned last night from an wonderful Regional in Vancouver, Canada. What an absolutely gorgeous area of the world! Wherever I go, MonaVie is exploding! From the United States to Canada, to Australia, New Zealand and Japan, we’re growing. And yes, we’re also gaining new distributors each week in Singapore and France and don’t forget Puerto Rico! And, if the early registration numbers are any indication, Brazil is going to absolutely explode with MonaVie! Our future has never looked brighter and I remain humbled and grateful to each and every one of you for the commitment you have shown to helping change the world, one person at a time, through this amazing product and business.
See you in Orlando Super Regional on June 7th!
Dallin A. Larsen
Founder, President and CEO, MonaVie
CHANGING SEASONS
I want to report to you that The IBO Rebellion will be shifting gears a bit. The time has come for a change of season here on the Rebellion. As the battle with Amway / Quixtar grinds on I will continue to keep you posted. However, I will be discontinuing all comments for any future posts. The reason for this is quite self evident as most of us are out building our futures in Monavie. This has left a large void, and meaningful or intellectual commentary has become quite rare. Not only has the recent commentary been ignorant but this blogs comments are being used to propagate lies that those associated with Amway would have you believe. This will not happen on my watch.
I want to thank you all for the time you have spent reading and commenting here. Though comments will be disabled I will continue to post items of interest as well as any and all developments involving TEAM and our antiquated friends in Ada.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
AMWAY SPARED EXTERMINATION IN UK
It was reported today in the UK Times that Amway has been spared from extermination in the UK. The entire UK Times article can be viewed here. In large part Amway appears to have been spared because of some of its "radical" modifications it has initiated since the UK lock down on its business. I am sure Amway will shamefully claim this to be one of their finest victories. The reality of this decision is Governments , Judges, and regulatory agencies have an ultimate goal of compliance with the law. Apparently Justice Norris felt the changes initiated by Amway as well as the punishment they have endured of not operating for nearly a year to be sufficient. In other words, Amway was spared due to their "radical" changes and were sentenced to time served.
One of the "radical" changes made by Amway was their drastic price reductions. Amway has yet to adopt these reductions in North America. In an article written by Chris Knappe he lists the four changes promised in the UK and goes on to quote Steve Van Andel:
- Eliminating fees to become a distributor;
- Taking control of sales and distribution of motivational materials and events;
- Agreeing to publish average distributor earnings in England;
- Offering orientation classes to give a better idea how much new distributors can expect to make and how long it might take to earn at a given level.
Van Andel stopped short of saying Alticor will implement all the practices in all its markets. "As we go along and do business around the world, we try to go along and learn what we think are the best practices," he said. "As we learn those best practices, we'll bring them to other countries."In other words we will continue charging excessive prices as long as we can. Mr. Van Andel doesn't sound to be endorsing any of these changes as good ideas.
Of course no report of Amway would be complete without the usual blaming of IBOs. In a statement issued by Devos and Van Andel, they seem to dismiss their own faults and again focus on blaming the IBO as the cause of their problems.
"Even though he dismissed all three claims against us, the judge also had harsh words for Amway. He was not pleased with the way some IBO organizations had misrepresented the opportunity in the UK, and held us responsible for failing to enforce our rules."
Wouldn't this make you want to do business with these guys? What, no mention of your pricing and horrible opportunity?
The UK Times article also pointed out Amway's dismal financial performance:
It appears Amway's ability to survive is dependent on new markets where their history of being what some call an inferior business model is unknown. One has to ask how much of Amway's success in Asia is driven not by being a good business model and more by the insatiable desire of Asian consumers to buy and own American goods. After all even Buick's are a hot commodity in China.However, the High Court heard that in Britain the company had faced "serious and sustained financial difficulties" in recent years. Between October 2000 and December 2005 it made an annual average losses of £2.9million. The firm was dependent on the support of its European parent company which in turn derived most of its income from its shareholder in Amway Korea, the court was told.
In recent years, Amway has expanded rapidly in Asia and the Far East, especially in China, Japan and Thailand. The region now accounts for an estimated 80 per cent of its business.
It is good to see Amway UK changing. It was more than obvious that something had to change given the shamefully anemic results or lack there of for UK IBO's.
The High Court heard that between 2001 and 2006 the number of British agents not earning any bonus income at all varied between 69 per cent and 78 per cent. In 2004/5 only 74 agents out of 25,342 earned more than £10,000 in bonuses.Finally, Amway has agreed to greater transparency. Income disclosure has never been a strong suit for the company. The refreshing nature by which companies such as Monavie handles income disclosure should embarrass Amway. Compare for yourself what prospective business owners can examine (Amway SA-4400, Monavie Income Disclosure Statement; Monavie Compensation Plan). As much as Amway may claim victory they may have just agreed to their own demise. Amway UK was unable to make profits during a time when very few IBOs were making any money and prices were extraordinarily high. One struggles to imagine how they will succeed with reduced prices and while holding orientations to explain how miserable their opportunity really is. Unless of course the family was just over milking the cow. The orientations, along with the publishing of incomes in the UK, will do nothing to perpetuate their business. It may come to pass that though the judge has spared Amway UK an immediate death he may have sentenced them to a slow painful one instead.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
US GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGALS ASSISTED BY ALTICOR
The IBO Rebellion has received a great deal of information regarding unauthorized non-citizens participating in the Quixtar business in the United States. From all of the information I have received it appears to be common knowledge that these illegals immigrants are building Amway / Quixtar businesses and that the corporation has turned a blind eye. Well it appears those days are over. Here is an article posted May 9th, 2008 in the Grand Rapids Press.
____________________________________________________________________
Business owner sentenced to house arrest for attempt to smuggle relatives to West Michigan
Posted by destep May 09, 2008 06:16AM
The owner of Flat River Inn & Suites will pay a $45,000 fine and serve six months of house arrest for attempting to smuggle relatives into West Michigan from India. Kalidas Patel, 33, offered an undercover agent, posing as an Alticor Inc. pilot, $80,000 to fly relatives, U.S. District Court records show. Federal agents were tipped off to the man's plan by an Alticor employee who stayed at Patel's hotel. He also must perform 200 hours of community service.
Is this Alticor's first step at a new commitment to securing U.S. borders? Alticor was clearly very comfortable with a Federal Agent posing as an Alticor pilot. The article also indicates that an Alticor employee alerted the government in this situation.
Under the quid pro quo scenario has Alticor, who finds itself faltering in North America and under numerous accusations of operating as an illegal pyramid, decided to barter with the U.S. government? Alticor, rather than face action by the FTC or other government regulators, could be offering something politically expedient in exchange for a favorable outcome. Politics are nothing new to Alticor or its owners. The easiest thing for Alticor to offer in this situation is the illegal immigation cookie at a time when it is a hot button issue. Imagine if you would, Alticor notifying ICE or the U.S. Border Patrol about certain public gatherings such as large business functions where a large number of illegals are present. As crazy as this may sound to you I can guarantee you it doesn't sound nuts to those, BEHIND THE WALLS OF QUIXTAR, if you know what I mean. If you were dying and the only way to live is to cut your leg off, you will cut your leg off and be happy about it because you lived. Alticor may be facing a similar situation and one can never tell what they would be willing to part with.
Of course this may all be speculation or this may be dead accurate. I will leave it for you to decide. However, if I happened to be one of those IBOs with a not so legal immigation status, sit close to the door at functions the rest of the year. After all that new guy on your team just might not be who you think he is. He could very well be IBO Federal Agent with a bogus IBO number compliments of Alticor. After all, the government is famous for paying outlandish prices for items. What better place to shop than Amway / Quixtar?
Friday, May 2, 2008
IBO REBELLION THANKS AMWAY
The IBO Rebellion would like to apologize for my absence. As most of you know MonaVie is in full swing and the results are incredible. I am investing most of my time building my future as I would suggest most of you do to. I will continue to keep you posted on developments as they become available.
The primary focus of this post is to say THANK YOU to Amway. Thank you for being who you are. I know many of us, including myself, was disappointed that those running Quixtar didn't have a dream big enough to change. Thank God they weren't big enough leaders to change. Their affection for the status quo has doomed them and ultimately given all of us our freedom all be it 6 months later than than it should have been.
It has been so refreshing to deal with a company where everything is clear and straight forward. The sheer volume of information available to distributors about MonaVie and their businesses is world class. MonaVie also supplies a world class product that boasts irrefutable benefits for the end user. I have had many conversations with other business owners imagining where we would be if we would have been building a MonaVie business a long time ago. I just see dollar signs thinking about it.
As for Amway my thank you list is a long one. Thanks for being so arrogant that you have lost touch with both IBOs and the markets they purport to serve. Thanks for refusing to address pricing. Most of all thanks for the ingenious idea to resurrect the AMWAY name. The number one rule in athletics and business is don't beat yourself. The Amway name resurrection will go down in history as the beginning of the end, the tipping point, the big nasty. I am also thankful that Amway has acted as shabby as they have for the last 9 months. They have simply begged for their defeat. The courts of America and the court of public opinion will continue to hammer Amway and their "illusory" and "unenforceable" contractual clauses.
In case it is isn't overwhelmingly obvious those associated with TEAM are victorious! I want to thank you for that to AMWAY. Why you ask? Well, once again you presented yourself as the perfect Goliath. You so perfectly attacked such a vast number of IBOs, using threats, bald faced lies, and on your good days, half truths. Frankly you galvanized the masses.
Now make no mistake, this war is far from over. It will likely go on and on. Amway will continue to produce their number one product these days, litigation. Whatever the case, the TEAM and those associated with TEAM who have chosen to pursue a MonaVie business and will continue to grow market share for MonaVie and enjoy a lifestyle of having fun, making money, and making a difference.
