| Comment Number: | 522418-09994 |
| Received: | 7/15/2006 3:29:01 PM |
| Organization: | |
| Commenter: | Partyka |
| State: | MI |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
I have been an Independent Business Owner for 16 years. The opportunity has enabled me to grow in my business experience. The opportunity has also enabled me to expand my personal education and provided me with information on personal improvement. I have never regreted becoming an Independent Business Owner. My life has improved because of my experiences. When I registered as an Independent Business Owner, I was given ample time and information to make an informed decision about whether to register. I felt comfortable with my decision and was not under any type of pressure. When I sponsor people, I spend time with them answering their questions. I want people to be as comfortable with their decision as I was with mine. People that I talk to about the Quixtar business opportunity are told that it is not a way to get rich quick, they will have to work hard. I also tell them there are no guarantees of success. That is explained to them by me, and I also tell people that they are welcome to speak to other Independent Business Owners at the bi-weekly Workshop. People that I register into the Quixtar Business Opportunity can get a full refund of their registration fee should they change their minds and decide to leave the business. Some people will take a few days to think over their decision to become an Independent Business Owner, during which time they can look over specific information related to the opportunity. Other people have made a decision right away. I agree that people should be given time to make up their minds, however I do not think it should be required that they wait 7 days to register. It would be an inconvenience imposed on them should they feel they have enough information to make a decision. I am not required to wait 7 days when I purchase something and would feel impatient if I made the decision to purchase a home and then was told I must wait 7 days, during which time I would be given references from 10 people in the neighborhood along with their names and phone numbers. I believe the waiting period should be eliminated, at least for opportunities like Quixtar where a prospect can get his money back if not satisfied. I also believe the requirement to provide 10 references should be eliminated because it would impose on the privacy of those being used as references as their phone number, name and address would have to be used. I do not agree with the requirement to disclose past litigation because not every company is as honest as I believe the Quixtar company to be and could simply ignore this rule. I think that requirement should be eliminated also. As far as having to provide prospects with my personal financial documents to back up an income claim -- I never had to tell anyone what I was making at my day job when I worked for the public school system and I do not tell people what I make with the Quixtar opportunity either. I tell them what the income opportunities could be should they be willing to work hard. If disclosures are required, I believe that the disclosure provided by the Quixtar company which covers average monthly gross income for 'active' IBOs is an easily understood document, and that other companies could follow their example and do the same. I believe that the proposed FTC rule is basically good and I support its general objectives that help people make informed decisions, but I do hope that it is modified so as not to penalize those of us who are honest and make it more difficult for us to do business. Thank you for the opportunity to give my input.