| Comment Number: | 522418-04755 |
| Received: | 6/28/2006 9:57:00 AM |
| Organization: | RI Business Solutions |
| Commenter: | Steven Rulli |
| State: | NC |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
This letter is in response to the proposal before the FTC in reference to businesses that use the Quixtar Website as a supplier. The proposal stated that there would be requirements to have a 7 day waiting period, 10 references, disclosure of my personal business records, etc... There are a few problems with this proposal. Most importantly, it doesn't accomplish the desired effect that the FTC stated which is to "make sure consumers have all the information they need to make good decision about participating in a business opportunity." The intent is admirable, but the result is subjective and varies for every consumer. The amount of information one person needs to make a "Good" decision for them may be entirely different from what another will need. Being that a person’s “good” or “bad” decision is subjective, one business owner’s success and performance records do not help anyone make a good (or prevent a bad) decision. What is important to make a "Good" decision is not what "I" (the business owner) have done, but what "They" (the consumer) have the ability to do. If I tell you that soccer is a good game to play to stay in shape due to the running, it doesn't matter if I am currently in shape from playing soccer as long as the information I'm providing is honest and accurate. Secondly, a waiting period for anything is for protection. To protect, you have to look at who you're trying to protect. With a firearm purchase, you are potentially protecting the general population while a police background check is done. In business, someone's good or bad business decision comes back to a freedom of choice issue. Who are we trying to protect with a waiting period? That is as ridiculous as making me wait 7 days to buy a dishwasher from Best Buy because I might not have done all my homework and you think I’m able to get a better deal from Sears. First of all, if I want to buy a dishwasher from Best Buy, I don't need the federal government to ask me, "Are you sure?" Yes, I'm sure or I wouldn't be putting my hard earned money into that business owners hands. Well, if I didn't do my homework and there was a better dishwasher at Sears, the decision is mine! Maybe the choice wasn't a good decision in your eyes but what if the owner of Best Buy is my cousin, and I’m giving him my business even if his product is down right lousy? Isn’t that my choice? Buying a Mercedes Benz car is a bad decision for someone that makes $18,000.00 annually, but not for someone that makes $200,000.00 annually. Bottom-line, the waiting period won't change anyone’s decision because even if they're making a bad one, they thought it was good when they made it. No one is doing a background check for them to validate the decision. All you do is delay it. That could do more potential damage to a good decision than prevent a bad one! Besides, even a good business decision may not have the desired result in the end. That doesn't necessarily mean the initial decision was bad. Most new business fail in the first three to five years due to lack of money, not a bad decision. The ten reference requirement doesn't accomplish anything either. You can find ten people to say anything about anything with vary little effort. This is another hassle of free Americans and business owners. Do I need to check with 10 people and wait 7 days before I rent a movie at Blockbuster? What is some people didn't like Blocker buster video? What is the movie I was going to rent had a scratch on it, and didn't work? Do I need the Federal Trade Commission to protect me? No, I'm pretty sure the burden lies on me, the consumer! Who I choose to do business with is my choice! That is why America is the LAND OF THE FREE!