| Comment Number: | 522418-00413 |
| Received: | 6/1/2006 9:05:14 PM |
| Organization: | Business owner Nature's Sunshine Distributor |
| Commenter: | Carmela Roush |
| State: | OH |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing this letter because I am concerned that if proposed Business Opportunity Rule R511993 is adopted in its present form, my livelihood as a Nature's Sunshine distributor will be significantly undermined. The very thought of governmental interference in the free enterprise process strikes fear in the hearts of Americans everywhere. Cherished values are a stake, and the FTC needs to be aware of the dangers of ill considered action. The public is not well served by the FTC's overregulation of an industry that is causing absolutely no harm and more than adequately polices itself by remedying any and all complaints by members of the public. Nature's Sunshine complies with all applicable buy back requirements and always makes it easy for individuals to exit the Company, if the business opportunity is not right for them. While the FTC needs to protect the public where necessary, this proposed rule is hopelessly overbroad and misguided. The seven-day waiting period is unnecessary and will interfere with my ability to enter into lawful transactions and enroll new distributors. People buy TV's, cars, and other much more costly items without such a waiting period. This proposed waiting period gives the impression that something is wrong with the plan. And, the burdensome paperwork, which will not even be read by the public, makes it extremely difficult for the individual participant to fully comply, thereby risking fines and other penalties for such failures, however innocent. By these actions, the FTC does a disservice to the consuming public and Americans everywhere who are trying to get ahead by starting their own business, or earning necessary supplemental income to help support their family. While I appreciate the work of the FTC in protecting consumers, I believe this proposed new rule has many unintended consequences that could be avoided by a less burdensome approach. I have been working at my Nature's Sunshine business for ten years. I have a retail store and have offered the membership plan Nature's Sunshine offers to many of my good customers so they can save. My business has give me much gratification because I have been able to offer quality nutritional products to those people who know and appreciate this important value in their lives. There are people who do make up their own rules that are not good. This hurts truly honest and above board companies. Dishonest people are every but there are lots of people just like myself that work hard and are honest. This law would make me look like I was trying to do something shady. I have a hair salon business. I am not a franchise but there are lots of other salons that are franchised. It cost thousands of dollars to start a franchise and it is up to the owners to run a successful business. No guarantee for them to have success if they don't do what it takes. I see no difference in running my Nature's Sunshine business except I did not have to invest $1000 of dollars to get started. Don't put this Opportunity rule R51993 and hurt my business. Go after the guys who make up their own rules and go against codes of ethics that are already in place. Also, note that business owners of all other kinds of business never follow a code of ethics. We as consumers just hope they are honest people too. Thank you for your time in considering my comments. Sincerely yours, Carmela Roush