Comment Number: 522418-07957
Received: 7/12/2006 3:05:24 AM
Organization: Quixtar/World Wide Group
Commenter: Mark Miller
State: WA
Subject: Business Opportunity Rule
Title: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
CFR Citation: 16 CFR Part 437
No Attachments

Comments:

I admire the commission’s efforts to level the playing field and reform a system that makes entire industries look corrupt. Changes are needed to weed out bogus ventures and add legitimacy to other bona fide opportunities. Although some of what I may need to do in my business will change, it will make other businesses come up to some of the same standards our organization has been following for years. This is a good thing. I have a business affiliated with the Quixtar corporation and developmental support from the World Wide Group. In the nearly 3 years I have been involved with this business, I have found the people I work with to be of the utmost integrity and character and I am proud to be among them. I have told many people that even if I didn’t make a dime from this business, (which is not the case) the association, Mentorship, and growth I have received from it have made this one of the best decisions of my life. I have ever been misled or lied to. Even when I didn’t agree or go along with something, time usually proved the counsel I received to be valid and correct. Some of the issues I have while reading the NPRM on Business Opportunities are as follows: Adding a bunch of regulations might scare away more prospects than the business model itself. All the “protections” might spook someone new to business or may seem so complicated and confusing, they may not feel they can keep up or duplicate what I do without fear of missing something and having legal action brought against them. What makes our business model work is its simplicity and duplicity. Wide sweeping regulations make that a difficult claim. Legal actions: Anyone can make a claim. That doesn’t mean the claim has merit. Even baseless and frivolous clams may chase away good people. Any rule stipulating the disclosure of legal claims or litigation should be limited to those in which the seller (or the corporation in our model) was found in the wrong. The Reference List. In an age of anti-Spam regulation, do-not-call lists and other privacy issues, the mandatory reference list is a bad idea. I love the business I’m in and the people I work with. That doesn’t mean I’m willing to take multiple reference calls a day. Also in our business, a reference list could open the doors to prospect hijacking and the dissemination of bad information. Giving someone contact information doesn’t do anything for the authenticity or accuracy of what that contact might say. Within World Wide, we encourage prospects to attend functions, (many of which allow guests to attend for free) where they will get around people associated with the business. It’s a good way to keep everyone on the same page. Since I would be in attendance also, I have no worries about losing my prospect to someone else. I know not all businesses (even those associated with Quixtar) work like ours, but forcing a rule such as 10 references may be too much. Waiting Period I took 4 months to decide to get involved in this business. I did my due diligence and got to know the people I would be doing the bulk of my work with. But I also know people who have been ready and hit the ground running in our business who did more in their first week than some do in years. Quixtar and World Wide have very good buy-back policies ranging from 30-day periods to 180 satisfaction guarantees on products. With policies like that in place there really isn’t any need to force a waiting period for someone who feels ready to get started right away. When I talk to people about this business, I have no trouble telling them how I researched it and our key leaders trough the FTC, BBB, and Attorneys General before making any decisions regarding my involvement. That being said, I do not feel it is my responsibility to do their due diligence for them. It is my understanding that the corporation and the FTC have reviewed the documentation I provide them. I appreciate the opportunity to take part in this process. Thank you.