Why I No Longer Recommend Quixtar
as a Viable Home Based Internet Business Opportunity


This page is not intended to be just another expose or negative piece on an already beleaguered multi-level marketing company - there are plenty of those on the web already. It is however my perspective as a Quixtar IBO (soon to be "former" IBO) and independent home based Internet business operator on the business model presented by Quixtar.
Beyond my opinions of Quixtar, I intend to offer you some positive alternatives for earning income from your own home based business. I am a believer in MLM's, network marketing, or whatever you choose to call it. Further, I believe the Internet is possibly the most important business development to happen in my lifetime and will revolutionize how we all do business. Ultimately the revolution will be more widespread and bigger than the Industrial Revolution.

Do you want to be your own BOSS?
Originally, I thought the Quixtar idea sounded pretty good. Here was a company with a proven track record in network marketing and an infrastructure of products, distribution, and promotion already in place. Had they capitalized on those strengths combined with the explosive growth of ecommerce on the Internet, I believe they might have had something. As it turned out, Quixtar was really nothing more than Amway with on-line ordering. I believe they have missed some of the most important changes taking place in this new ecommerce market.
To begin with, there are simply too many rules and regulations forced upon IBO's (independent business owners) by Quixtar that do not allow an individual leverage the power of the Internet to grow their own business.
One of their more crazy rules allows an IBO to have a personal web page, but it cannot be anything more than a description of who you are. If you suggest the reader contact you, i.e., "prospecting", your site cannot be built in such a way to be findable with an Internet search engine.
Quixtar is more like a franchise in that as long as you do business their way, you're fine, and their way is the traditional Amway way... one-on-one, face-to-face prospecting. Innovation is discouraged - unless "content approved" by Quixtar - because they say in essence, "innovate cannot be duplicated".
Being your own boss in the Quixtar model is more "feel good" psychology than it is reality. About the only sense of being your own boss is that you decide what hours you work. As for making the kind of decisions a real business owner would make - you won't be doing that with Quixtar.

Are you an entrepreneur?
Mired in out-dated "face-to-face" prospecting techniques, the Quixtar model does not allow entrepreneurs to use the full power of global communications through the Internet to reach their target market. The Amway rules effectively don't allow a distributor to use the WEB to market his business. There are those who have tried only to have their web sites ordered off-line by Quixtar. Do a search using just about any major search engine for the keyword "Quixtar" and what you get are allot of web sites that no longer exist or are selling some other product. What you do find is the corporate Quixtar site (nice for them... bad for the IBO who can't be found).

No, if you're going to grow your Quixtar business, you can't do it using what is possibly the greatest marketing tool in recent history, the Internet. Rather, you will be required to grow your business using the traditional Amway model - "face-to-face" prospecting. Anyone who has experienced the the global reach of the Internet will immediately recognize this limitation.

One of the most important and powerful features of the web is the use of search engines that quickly locate sites using keywords. Most web sites will derive 80 to 90% of their traffic by way of search engines. It is probably one of the MOST important marketing tools an independent business owner has at his disposal. This one feature is THE power of the WEB. It is through the search engines that the small business owner can compete with the major corporations. So, how does Quixtar address this advantage of a web based ecommerce business?

a) Prospecting Web sites must be passcode protected, utilizing a passcode that is not easily determined by individuals seeking to enter the site who have not been personally invited.

j) Meta Tags of any kind. Prospecting sites shall not be searchable on any web search engine.

Complete list of Quixtar rules - Bulletin 17

Obviously, Quixtar does not want you to have a web based business. What good is your web page if consumers can't find it using a search engine or can't get on a page without a password? The key to success with a web based business is to get lots of traffic to your site and the resulting exposure to promote your products or services.

Assuming the Quixtar IBO does get some people to view the Quixtar web site, what then will turn that prospect into a customer? Will the products and prices sell themselves? Does the Quixtar site offer an overwhelming value for people to make a purchase?

How do their prices compare?
It's really hard to compare prices on many items because the Quixtar catalog pages do not list model numbers making it real hard to know just what you're getting. I wondered more than once, "what are they trying to hide?" In many cases, you are directed toward the "partner store" which is essentially the same store if you went there directly and avoided the Quixtar shell. Prices are the same, service the same, shipping the same - "It's the same thing!"
I honestly tried to make a price comparison chart of major brand products for you to see but was thwarted either because Quixtar did not include model numbers or advertised obsolete "special buy" products. In the case of Amway branded products, there is no accurate way to compare prices because the products are not available elsewhere. Suffice it to say that in almost EVERY case after adding sales tax and shipping charges, I could find what appeared to be the same or like product elsewhere for either the same or lower price.

In all fairness, I suppose there may be some money savings if you are not purchasing brand name products but rather purchasing Amway products like their Artistry skin care and cosmetics, Nutrilite nutrition products and SA8 laundry products. As best I can ascertain, those are good products and offer a good value - but not always the products shoppers are looking for.

What about start-up costs?
Unlike Quixtar which costs $99.95 to enroll (or $29.95 if you don't purchase their introductory product pack), nearly all of the affiliate programs available today on the Internet DO NOT cost you anything to get started. Why would someone want to pay for something they can get for FREE?

How much can you earn?
For legal reasons, Quixtar does not make any representations in whole dollars about how much money you can earn. Beyond the legal reasons, it would be insane for them to claim you can earn any amount of money because like any business, what you earn is dependent upon how much effort you're willing to expend.
Quixtar does impose a minimum ceiling (100 PV's per month) before you even start to earn anything. A PV or "point value" is based on purchases that come through you via your downline and "buying" members who purchase through you. Once you reach the 100 PV limit, you then can earn a whopping 3%. One of the goals of the Quixtar model is to switch you from buying YOUR products elsewhere to generating points at Quixtar by making your purchases from them. Assuming you're willing to make that commitment and you're successful in finding a number of other people willing to make that commitment, you might begin to make a little money.
Depending on the product or service purchased, that 100 PV may equate to spending hundreds of dollars a month before you begin to earn anything. Most other affiliate programs pay you a commission starting with your first sale (they may withhold payment until you reach a certain minimum).
So, who are those folks making money with Quixtar? It's not the small business owner working part-time out of his home. Those who are making money are the leaders, the real movers-and-shakers, and those who have built large downlines of IBO's. They are referred to in the Quixtar model as Platinum's, Emerald's, and Diamond's. I suspect the real money is made by those who are allowed to sell BSM's (Business Support Materials) to member IBO's. Those are the motivational tapes and selling aids. It's a real sweet deal for those marketing BSM's because Quixtar ONLY allows you to use "content approved" BSM's in your selling process - virtually guaranteeing a market for the elite Quixtar folks.

Unrealistic or misleading expectations of success.
Is the "greatest business opportunity in the world"? Quixtar claims to be more than just another on-line mall; it will also pioneer a new business model. "A new business model"? As I've already pointed out above, they don't offer a new business model but rather an old "Amway" model retooled for ecommerce. Hardly new and certainly not the greatest. In my opinion, Quixtar had a great opportunity to move its business into the 21st Century, but failed because it simply would not let go of its old business model.

If you read the material presented by Quixtar and some of their representatives, you would be led to believe that the Quixtar web site is one of the more popular sites on the Internet to conduct e-commerce. But, the facts seem to paint a different picture.

According to information on the Quixtar site, Quixtar was rated by PC Data Online as the #4 shopping site based on number of page views per user. Than could mean that each person who visited the Quixtar site had to view an endless number of pages before they could find what they were looking for. They like to call it "stickiness" - I'd call it stuck in the mud and can't get out.

According to the on-line public report provided by PC Data Online I found the following top rated shopping sites:

The top-10 shopping sites as rated by Media Metrix for the month of March 2000 included:

Indeed, Quixtar doesn't even show up in their top 500 sites.

There are too many alternatives for success.
The folks at Quixtar just don't seem to get it! They have built their business model on their past success with Amway and have not embraced the newer models of success found nearly everywhere on the Internet. If you want to build an exciting on-line business, there are better ways. Indeed, there are hundreds of affiliate programs that outrank Quixtar in popularity and don't restrict you like Quixtar. In fact, many of the companies represented on the Quixtar site are available directly and offer affiliate programs that allow you to profit directly.

You might want to consider some of the following, all of which are more popular sites than Quixtar.

That's just ten ideas... and there are hundreds more. If you're really serious about making money using the Internet, Quixtar is NOT the answer. You stand a much better chance at earning some decent money from these and other programs. Be sure to explore some of the following links for more ideas on earning a living with a home based business.

WORK THE WEB


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If you're interested in learning more about Quixtar, Associate Programs, and Internet Marketing, you might want to take a look at some of the following books. Just click on the book cover and you'll be taken to one of the REAL leading ecommerce sites where you can order the book or even join their Associate Program and start earning some REAL income yourself.

The Quixtar RevolutionFalse ProfitsBehind the Smoke and Mirrors
Futureconumer.comDreambizCustomers.ComUnderstanding Electronic Commerce
Winning the Affiliate GameInsider Internet MarketingAssociate and Affiliate Programs


EMAIL me if you have any questions, want to make a comment, or want to learn more about starting your own home based business.