| Comment Number: | 522418-07053 |
| Received: | 7/8/2006 9:13:51 PM |
| Organization: | XanGo? Independent Distributor |
| Commenter: | Margo Sabater |
| State: | TX |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
July 8, 2006 Dear Sir or Madam: I am concerned about the proposed Business Opportunity Rule R511993. I believe that in its presented form, it could prevent me from continuing as a XanGo™ Independent Distributor and destroy my small business. I have been a XanGo™ Independent Distributor for approximately 11 months. I started my business because I love the product, due to the remarkable health benefits that I have experienced, and I want to earn income. I became unemployed January 1, 2004. There is age discrimination in corporate America. I was not able to find suitable employment despite my skills and experience, so when this opportunity was presented to me, I was thrilled to be able to use my skills and experience again. Now I depend on this income. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone or to the government. Please don't destroy my dreams of financial independence and a debt-free life. As I understand it, some of the sections in the proposed rule would make it hard or almost impossible for me to sell XanGo™. This waiting period will give the public the idea that there's something wrong with me or our company, and it will reflect badly on me. This seven-day waiting period is unnecessary, because XanGo™ has a money back guarantee for its product that extends to 30 days. I have had 2 occasions to invoke this 30-day rule and have not experienced any problem at all with it. I also take issue with the seven day waiting period to enroll a new Distributor. A XanGo™ sales kit only costs $35. People buy TVs, cars, and other items that cost much more than that and they don't have to wait seven-days. Under this waiting period requirement, I would need to keep very detailed records of when I first spoke to someone a prospect and will then have to send in reports to my company. I am a small home business and this burden will destroy my business and my dreams of being financially independent and debt-free. Is that your intent? Finally, the proposed rule requires the disclosure of a minimum of 10 prior purchasers nearest to the prospective purchaser. I am glad to provide references, but in this day of identity theft, I am very uncomfortable giving out the personal information of individuals, without their approval, to strangers. Women in my organization may be subject to sexual or racial harassment so this part can't go in at all, unless the FTC passes an addition to this rule prohibiting sexual or racial attacks related to this disclosure. In the end the rule must bind the FTC to take direct enforcement action on sexual and racial attacks with a special unit assigned to monitor actions related to the disclosure forms. Furthermore, someone has to be the first in any given area. How can I expand my business to other areas with this proposed ruling? I know that there are many scams on the Internet. This rule will do nothing to stop them and instead will hurt my business. This rule will not stop Crooks - they violate the current rule all the time. Why are you not focusing on them? I am an American citizen and under the constitution I am guaranteed the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Please don’t make rules that are counter-productive to those inalienable rights. I want to be allowed to grow my business so that I can pay off all of my debts, support myself and to be able to help others do the same. The proposed rule is sending out the message that the FTC does not want to allow an environment that will grow Entrepreneurs. It appears that the FTC is promoting dependence on government support. Rather than promoting stimulation of the economy with product sales and more money being injected into our economy, you seem to want to squeeze out the small independent business owners who can accomplish this. Is that your intent and the message you intend? I ask you to protect the small independent business owners by not passing this rule. Sincerely, Margo Sabater