I am posting more of this article from The Truth About Amway than I normally would because I think that this is important.  MLM companies don’t know what to do with the Internet (in this case it’s not just Amway thinking like it is still the 90′s):

In the 21st century, not being able to have a blog or website actively talking about your business is just plain weird.

The Social Media guidelines unfortunately have further violations of the don’t be weird rule. On a page called The Rules of Conduct Applied to Social Media the guide explains a few things that are violations of the Amway Rules of Conduct. For example -

no posting any pictures of Amway products
no posting any Amway logos

From the perspective of a prospect investigating the products or business this is weird – particularly given non-IBO bloggers and journalists are free to do this, indeed are encouraged to do so! Some more -

no showing of the plan without physical presence
no sponsoring without physical presence

Yup, all those LOAs offering the ability to show the plan over the internet (a perfectly sensible thing to do!) are violating the rules. That’s weird. It’s clear Amway’s rules still need some work and in particular some proper definitions. In some sections they clearly imply that the entire internet is considered a broadcast medium technology, in other places such a definition would be inherently contradictory – it would for example ban me using email or my VOIP telephone to call a friend and invite them to a business meeting! Talk about weird. One gets the impression that a few too many lawyers have been involved in the rule-marking process.

When rules are unclear or contradictory, it invites people to break them. Once one is broken, it’s easier to break others – something nobody should want. The new Social Media guidelines are a good step in the right direction, but the underlying problem of Amway’s outdated rules still need to be addressed. What’s most disappointing about it is that North America is probably the most advanced Amway affiliate in this area.

It’s nearly 2010, Amway. The Internet isn’t new anymore. There’s smply no excuses for there not to be clear, modern, consistent guidelines. Amway – don’t be weird.

Mlive:

The news, which the Press said it obtained from a confidential memo distributed to employees earlier this month, deals a blow to West Michigan’s job market as well as to Amway’s carefully managed public image. It comes after the privately owned company celebrated its 50th anniversary and reported record sales of $8.2 billion for 2008. Amway also is in the midst of a major advertising campaign.

The alleged outsourcing of jobs overseas was a major criticism Democrats levied at former CEO Dick DeVos during his unsuccessful GOP bid for the governor’s seat in 2006, and company leaders have voiced their commitment to the local workforce.

The layoffs at Amway’s Ada headquarters will begin in the second quarter of 2010. Affected employees reportedly will receive severance pay, advanced notice and job-placement and training assistance.

MLive gets the scoop on this story while other news outlets in Amway’s back yard talk about “consolidation”.

MLive:

ADA TOWNSHIP – Amway Corp. is poised to move what could be hundreds of local jobs to Costa Rica as part of a sweeping streamlining of its global operations, according to a confidential memo obtained by The Press.

The Ada-based direct seller on Oct. 5 told employees it was moving finance functions currently handled locally to a new “enterprise process center” in Costa Rica.

Other centers are planned for central Europe and Asia that will affect operations in those regions.

“This move will have a substantial impact on current finance positions in North America, Latin America and Europe, though specific impact and numbers will not be clear for six to eight weeks,” a fact sheet provided to employees said.

Voxy:

Amway, one of the largest direct selling companies in the world, has signed Vodafone to provide mobile services to its New Zealand business owners.

With more than 100,000 Independent Business Owners in New Zealand and Australia, Amway offers a range of high quality products to consumers such as Nutriway vitamins, Artistry beauty products, Emma Page Jewellery and XS Energy Drinks.

“Amway is delighted to partner with Vodafone, one of the world’s largest mobile phone groups. Vodafone offers Amway an energetic high-tech partner to help substantially grow our business. This partnership will help Amway to connect with thousands of new consumers,” Michial Coldwell, General Manager of Amway of New Zealand and Australia, said today.

mLive:

ADA TOWNSHIP — An Amway Corp. manufacturing line has restarted production this morning after eight employees were taken to area hospitals and treated for breathing difficulty caused by a release of powder in the plant, company officials said.

The workers were treated and released and did not suffer significant injury, said Mike Larabel, Amway’s chief of fire protection.

Larabel said a dust collector clogged and was being cleaned about 6:15 a.m. when several workers complained of respiratory problems.

There were 40 employees in the area, where laundry detergent and dishwashing soap are manufactured. Authorities did not consider the chemicals toxic and there was no danger outside the plant at the company’s 7575 E. Fulton St. headquarters.

Chrissie Cudd:

Many years ago, during a very bad week as a REALTOR®, I became involved with Amway. Three customers had tanked on me in one week, and I’d been working with all of them for months. Amway was presented to me as an alternative to real estate, and I bit.

While Amway did not end up making me the money I had imagined, it did teach me a lot about how to look at my business and my life. At that time, Amway recommended a path to success that included three things: ‘books, tapes, and functions’.

Here’s what they meant:

Books: Amway recommended reading one book each month. That book was written by someone like a Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie or an Og Mandino. They were books that had something to offer that would make you a better person.

Rocket’s Rants:

One of the things that the lunatic fringe defending Amway seems to do is harp on the fact that Amway has been around for 50 years so it’s gotta be good.

Being in business for 50 years has been done by lots of companies big and small. Bottom line is, you need to have a reason for people to want to do business with you, and being around for 50 years isn’t necessarily a good reason. You need to have something compelling people to want to do business with you.

How does this translate in the Amway business?

In North America, the Amway name has been dragged through the ditch plus is the subject of relentless ridicule in many circles. In my humble and informed opinion, this is because Amway was complicit to a number of abuses going on with unjustifiably high prices, as well as the motivational tools business which Amway did (and I personally think continues to do) nothing about.

This is from an article about China cracking down on scams…

The lies told to perpetuate the schemes can be both outrageous and highly convincing, says Wang Hao, author of A Record of My Pyramid Sales Brainwashing, a book published in January.

“At classes, teachers would tell us that ‘Hillary Clinton became very rich working for Amway. China secretly supports our industry, as Amway is so successful earning Chinese people’s money. Our country wants us to be the No. 1,’ ” Wang says.

In 2007, Wang became a mid-level manager in the Heavenly Lion pyramid scheme in Zhejiang province. The operation was raided last month by police.

Wang Hao welcomes the crackdown but says more should be done.

“It’s not that hard to find pyramid sales, as these groups are large, and neighborhoods realize they are doing strange things,” he says. “But the victims must be given psychological support and help to find new jobs. They believe they can make money, and many will try to find another scheme,” he says.

Brad Wolgamaott is suspiciously missing from the World Wide Dream Builders (WWDB) website.  Brad’s wife Leslie has her picture on the site.  Leslie was reportedly alone during this weekend’s River Rendezvous at Ron Puryear’s River House.  WWDB is training and motivation system founded by Ron Puryear that “helps” Amway Global IBO’s build their business.  Brad and Leslie Wolgamott were Double Diamonds sponsored by Brad and Julie Duncan in the World Wide Group.

Update From WWDB.biz:

New Horizons

As we all know, life is always changing. Presently Brad Wolgamott is seeking to add value to people outside the World Wide Dreambuilders system while Leslie continues to work with World Wide Dreambuilders in building a great future. The nature of their relationship has changed, but they have an amazing story from their past.

This is a funny video that I saw some time ago, but just ran across it again. If you don’t want to watch the video, the guy buys like items from Meijer and Quixtar (Amway). The comparison comes out to Meijer = $26 and change and Amway = over $80.