| Comment Number: | 522418-09576 |
| Received: | 7/14/2006 7:03:18 PM |
| Organization: | Quixtar - Subsidairy of Alticor |
| Commenter: | Robert Bauman |
| State: | CA |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
To Whom It May Concern: In response to the proposed rule(s) which would affect networking-type businesses, I offer my opinion as an Independent Business Owner (IBO). I have been affiliated with networking organizations for over fifteen years ... am I wealthy as a result? No. But I have made sufficient income to keep me involved - plus we like the products (and my wife is very fussy). The fact is the opportunity to increase our income to some predetermined goal or taget is always there if I so choose. When presented with the networking program I registered without waiting; I didn't need a cooling off period. I trusted the individual presenting the program and the company behind it. Over the years, I have registered truck drivers and professionals and all in-between. If prospects wants to hold off a day or two before signing up, that's their prerogative. If they want to check with the Chamber of Commerce, or the BBB, or do a blog search, or whatever, they can this as part of their due diligence - as should anyone going into a business, particularly if there is a big investment required. I agree with your attempt to weed out or prevent dishonest networking / work-from-home / etc. type businesses, but to require the type and level of disclosures (financial records, legal matters, referrences, etc.) you are proposing what would be a hardship for a majority of people desiring to build their own business via free enterprise. It is important to note that those who are willing to put a forth the extra effort to gain some additional financial options represent a huge, huge number of good, honest people (IBOs and prospects alike). It appears the FTC is being more attentive to the squeeking wheel rather the conducting a study to see what the majority of networking people want ... and their reasons for joining. It appears that the FTS is using a sledge hammer approach to a tack hammer problem. I believe there are a lot of people who became disgrunted with their networking organization, but I also believe that every successful company in the world has had its share of unhappy customers, employees, and vendors. I further believe that any networking company that is an ethical, honest, worthwhile organization will have available for full inspection its Rules and Regulations, its methodology of income production, its internal censoring procedures, and other such data. It should also have guarantees of refunding monies invested after a reasonable period of time. I am sure there are already such protective measures in place which are not being fully enforced. In general, it should be up to the prospective IBO to make up his or her owm mind whether to sign up or not without the FTC trying to legislate protective measures which could cripple this truly unique form of free enterprise. If there is questionable activity taking place, let the state or the state Attorney General handle the accused offender. I repeat, don't apply a sledge hammer when a tack hammer will do. Thank you ... Robert Bauman, an IBO with Quixtar. (P.S. In case it is not apparent, my degree is in economics.)