Amway is an addiction, claims this forlorn fiance.
He missed their wedding shower to go to an Amway conference.
When forced to choose between his future bride and Amway, he chose Amway… despite the fact that, in 2 years, he has no downline and only one customer: his mother.
Is it possible that the Amway multilevel marketing “cult” can be as addictive as gambling, alcohol or drugs?
Share your opinion or experience below.
Here is the account we received from a forlorn fiance, who wishes to remain anonymous:
“Up until two days ago I was engaged to the man of my dreams. We had great plans for the future…for us…for a family. He had always been in Amway and he never actually worked at it until I pushed him to do it. I told him that if he was going to do it he should do it 100% or he would never see a profit, because he wasn’t seeing one. I challenged him that if he didn’t make a profit or see any prospect that he should quit or drastically cut back on the money he wasted on it. He agreed. Time came…no profit…he didn’t keep his promise.
“Lately, he became more and more distant from me. He wasn’t even himself anymore. He was hiding things from me and I knew he wasn’t happy but he could never put into words why. It was very comparable to someone addicted to drugs and hiding it from their loved ones. I comfronted him about my fears and he only shut me out. He turned me into his enemy. Everything I said was against him and against amway in his opinion. Every decision he made was based on amway instead of based on us.
“One night it got very bad and he randomly stated that he had bought tickets for an amway conference the day of our bridal shower. I know boys don’t usually go to the shower, but he had already promised me he would be there to help clean up afterwards and go through everything with me. I was excited. I knew there was a conference that day, but he promised me he would be there for me. He went behind my back and bought a ticket anyways. I explained to him that it was very hurtful and there would be other conferences, but only one memory of our shower celebrating us.
“He looked me straight in the face without any emotion and said he cared more about amway than he did my feelings.
“Now he says he can’t remember saying it, but he knows he did. This is the kind of mentality and addiction it has become for him. He regrets this action now, but he knows it isn’t exactly something you can just take back. He is sick…just like someone addicted to drugs. Only I don’t know how to help him with this addiction. We couldn’t even go on one date without him trying to contact our waitress/waitor. It consumed his every though like a crack addict desiring one more hit and doing anything to get it.
“I wanted to believe that amway was safe and it could be done in moderation. Hey, I liked the idea of retiring young too. I was there for him and supported him through it all. Now I see that it isn’t right. A half lie is still a lie and amway cannot be done in moderation. A gambler can’t just gamble a “little.”
“At this point I wouldn’t care if amway were possible and being a millionaire was only one contact away. I would rather be homeless than a millionaire and see someone I love so sick and not be able to help them.
“This is the result of amway in my life. I have to watch someone I love deeply be consumed by it and addicted to it and make nothing from it. I fear he will be like that for the rest of his life. It will never be enough. He will always need one more customer, one more prospect.
“He has been in amway 2 years…has no people under him…and no customers but himself and his mother when she can afford it. He did everything they asked, went to the meetings, listened to the cd’s, went out 3.4.5.6.even 7 times a week to contact.
“I even would take him back after everything if he could just give amway up. I tried to be reasonable and accomodating and let him do it as he pleased in moderation. All things in moderation…anything good can be bad if it consumes your life right? Well you can’t do amway in moderation that is what the cd’s and everything teaches…every person you meet is a potential client.
“I would do anything to have the real him back. I know what he said was hurtful, but I also know that it is the addiction talking, but he wont quit.
“I am afraid he will never see the light that it isn’t worth this. He is giving up his fiance and who is to say what is next. His friends…whom he has already lost many…his job as an accountant….his family?”
WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAVE YOU KNOWN ANYONE WHOSE RELATIONSHIPS CHANGED AFTER THEY GOT INVOLVED WITH AMWAY OR OTHER CULTLIKE MLM ORGANIZATIONS? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
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Ironically, some IBOs and motivational leaders proclaim that Amway saves marriages.
I can understand and relate to the author of this article. My difference was that he told me about "the business" at the start of our relationship, 5 years ago... However, he didn't tell me it was Amway, until about 2 years ago. My guy has been on and off with it, and thinks that is why he hasn't been "successful". Recently, he purchased "Live The Dream" and it has propelled him into full swing. He already has 2 jobs and is a full time student, (yes, he is only getting a degree to be a better IBO). This leaves very little time for our relationship, and he knows time is important to me. Recently, I just broke down and asked him to choose, me or Amway. He gave me his answer, with no hesitation, loud and clear, Amway. I stupidly, still fight for this relationship!!!! That tells me that something is fundamentally wrong with ME to still hang around!!! When he is listening to those CDs and motivational books, he acts like a completely different person than he normally behaves, just like the author pointed out about her fiancée...I wanted to share my agreement with the author, and ask if anyone knows of any particular groups out there that is available to help us, the ones who have lost the loves of our lives to this wrecking ball of a corporation?
Patsy,
Many Amway IBOs literally become brainwashed to a point of no return. They will choose Amway over a friend or skip their brother's wedding because of an Amway meeting. It's a sad but very real dynamic. Basically your boyfriend will have to realize this on his own. His upline may have tagged you as "negative" and you will be shunned unless you become interested in Amway.
I would suggest you ask your boyfriend when he plans to be profitable, and what happens when that date comes and he's not?
If you click my name, it will link you to my blog where there's a lot of information and a lot of my Amway experiences posted there. Good luck.
I am petitioning the IFA (International Franchise Association) to hold their franchisor members responsible for acts of fraud, threatening, stealing,lying and creating false documents to terminate their franchisees from their agreements.
Although our franchises may be different most are members of the IFA and the IFA is stealing our rights to due process by helping these franchisors word their contracts in a way that when we sign up to start also forfeits our rights to due process should THEY commit CRIMINAL acts against our franchise.
Please go to the link below and sign my petition. Then download it and post it to your web site so others will know and can sign as well.
Thank You!
Todd A. Peterson
I am petitioning the IFA (International Franchise Association) to hold their franchisor members responsible for acts of fraud, threatening, stealing,lying and creating false documents to terminate their franchisees from their agreements.
Although our franchises may be different most are members of the IFA and the IFA is stealing our rights to due process by helping these franchisors word their contracts in a way that when we sign up to start also forfeits our rights to due process should THEY commit CRIMINAL acts against our franchise.
Please go to the link below and sign my petition. Then download it and post it to your web site so others will know and can sign as well.
http://www.change.org/petitions/veterans-deserve-success-not-matco-tools-franchise-failure?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=friends_wall
Thank You!
Todd A. Peterson
Joecool,
I actually have asked him that very question. When I tell you his response, you will see how far gone he is!
me: "You're giving up me and our relationship HOPING to get rich. What happens in 5 years when you are still in the same place you are in."
Him: "If I am not successful in 5 years, that just means I am not working hard enough."
I know that my relationship is over, I just have to accept that... And I do have to say, I was so glad I found your site, just to be able to vent my heartbreak...
I know I have to move on, it is just so hard, for so long he was not only the love of my life, but also my best-friend.
I will follow up on your blog page. Thank you!!!
Patsy,
Thanks for sharing. I'm glad you found some some value in reading my blog.
I was an IBO at one time also. I was an up and coming IBO and despite reaching a fairly significant level, I made no money because of expenses.
Around that same time, my upline advised me to ditch my fiancee and that was the final straw for me and I quit.
It's an odd thing, how Amway leaders can tell you that their system is foolproof and and in the same breath, convince you that any failure is because you didn't work hard enough or follow their instructions to a "T".
I wish you well.
I have a similar situation my boyfriend of 4 years is brainwashed by amway. It's to the point I do not know what to do. Every time I try to talk to him he refuses to listen he turns into a brick wall. His friends have tried too and nobody can get through to him. I have become the enemy to him and its breaking my heart. He is a totally different person now he has turned into a liar and selfish person. He's constantly listening to the CDs and he has filled his whole backseat with amway products and the whole corner of his room is filled with boxes of things he's NOT selling! He blows me off to go to meetings and conventions without even caring about my feelings. He is giving them thousands of dollars and he refuses to see he's not making anything but a fool of himself. I have even told him on numerous occasions it's me or amway and everytime he makes it clear what's more important, I don't know why I stay I love him with all my heart but amway has ruined our relationship I wish there was something I could do to salvage it but unless amway stops there's no saving the relationship.
I share the same pains as some of you except my fiance actually works in one of their facilities. He is dedicating his life to that place and has no time for me anymore. I have always joked that it was a cult but didn't realize that others felt the same. He has changed since he was hired in full time. He lies to me and hides stuff from me and has even resorted to paying for phone xxx becuase he has become so distant. I don't know what they say to them while they are there at work, but I have a feeling that they have pep talks that encourage them to be so devoted. Is it really worth loosing your family? These employees need help. Live sleep eat amway. well all I can say is amyway can get bent.
Amway saps the working will of people who may not be of leadership quality, but would have certainly made for productive members of our society. Amway is to blame for this, but so is American Culture...as well as you yourselves. Myself for that matter.