Comment Number: 522418-08554
Received: 7/12/2006 11:44:18 PM
Organization: XanGo LLC
Commenter: Sherrie Kunze
State: ID
Subject: Business Opportunity Rule
Title: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
CFR Citation: 16 CFR Part 437
No Attachments

Comments:

Re: Business Opportunity Rule, R511993 -- I myself am a consumer so first let me express my appreciation for the FTC’s priority to protect consumers. Understand there are fraudulent groups out there, Business Opportunity Rule; R511993 unfairly targets legitimate direct selling businesses. I would also express my concern regarding the impact this rule will have on them. I have been in direct selling business for about 1-½ years. I was introduced to this business as a way to help pay for a product that improved both my health and that of my husband significantly. My husband is on social security and has crippling arthritis in his hands. Our small business provides a bit of extra income as well as helping us pay for the product that has changed our lives. The total investment for this life changing business was $35! No more risk that a Sam’s Club membership. The direct selling model has taught me that anyone can succeed & that if someone wants to change their life dramatically, they can change it. This is a perfect example, and I am paraphrasing here, “give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day… teach a man to fish and he will be fed the rest of his life”. In this country many are facing cut backs & lay offs, people are loosing their self-respect when they find themselves forced to take hand outs or become homeless. This weakens our country and our economy, leads to depression, illness, destruction of families and death. Parents are being forced to leave their children to be raised by strangers or to take care of themselves after school because 2 incomes are required just to make ends meet. With direct selling businesses, low rate unlimited long distance, and the Internet, parents are able to provide for their families and be there to raise them, to provide the right influence and keep their children safe and out of trouble. This strengthens our country and our economy and reduces crime. It reduces the financial drain on other taxpayers and government resources. People involved in direct selling are there for each other. They build strong support teams for others, teaching them skills & giving them the confidence to succeed. No taxpayer or government funding required… just people helping people. How great is that! One of many concerns is the 7-day waiting period. Many people I contact are all over this country and in other countries. I’ve never met them in person but they too are looking for ways to improve their financial situation and/or their health. Those who are interested want to begin right away. I do not see how this is any different than a person answering a help-wanted ad. One is not required to wait 7-days before hiring someone responding to an ad. Or how this is different than a person going to a health food store or on-line to purchase food or other products they need. The health food store or the Internet site is not required to wait 7 days before providing the products they want, are they? Another of my concerns is providing the information for 10 nearest existing sales people. Once again I contact people all over the country and the world. Trying to gather this information is very impractical. In addition I am very concerned about releasing someone’s private information. Identity theft is an every day occurrence that destroys lives, and stalking incidences are very real & terrifying. I do not feel it is appropriate, safe, or legal to give someone’s personal information, address etc., to someone else. Keep in mind that most likely I have never met either of them. There must be significant trust built for a person to give personal information in the first place. This would defile that trust. In addition there could be personal or company liability should they experience harm from their information being released. Thank you for your time. Sherrie