Comment Number: 522418-12732
Received: 7/17/2006 11:51:26 PM
Organization:
Commenter: Edward Metzger
State: OH
Subject: Business Opportunity Rule
Title: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
CFR Citation: 16 CFR Part 437
No Attachments

Comments:

To whom it may concern, I have been a part of the Quixtar Independent Business Opportunity for over six years. It has been my experience that most prospects wait at least seven days to register in this business opportunity. There have been the occassional few that have registered in less than a week. I believe that this requirement to wait seven days should be removed because of the 100% money back policy. On the part of requiring each IBO to provide 10 references locally to each prospect, I believe it would be a negative to any business similar to the Quixtar opportunity. Not all groups develop their business with the same integrity that I do. Some of the references might be more that happy to register my prospect into their business. This would end up creating more work for me, and not necessarily creating a better opportunity for the prospect. In my opinion, requiring ten references would be a detriment to my business, and unfair to the prospect and needs to be eliminated. In the matter of requiring each IBO to turn over a list of all lawsuits to prospects is obserd. As with any very large company, there are many lawsuits filed that are not legitimate. This rule does not address that issue. It would cast a negative light on this type of business. With Quixtar,Inc. being approved by the Better Business Bureau as well as the FTC, I do not see how this would benefit any prospect. It would appear that the FTC is going against its own approval of our business model. I do not think that this rule would be a benefit to the prospect for any direct marketing opportunity and should be removed. The rule about disclosing personal income would be the biggest set back to any prospect. My income might reflect a limited amount of time to develop my business, or my unwillingness to work as hard as the prospect might work, or have just a completely different set of life circumstances. Besides, my personal income is just that, personal. If it were a matter of public record, I would not have a problem with discussing my income. It is not, so I do not believe that I should have to hand out my income statements to new prospects. This requirement needs to be removed. If you make an income claim to a prospect, you need to be able to back it up with proof. If you have no proof, then most people would automatically assume that you are lying to them. With my business, we have an FTC approved income sheet that is made available to all prospects. This requirement should be eliminated. Most people who look at business opportunities are skeptical and will investigate until they have enough information to make a decision on their own. I believe most people are smart enough to know when they are being lied to, or cheated. I would hate to see a few disgruntaled people ruin business opportunies like QUIXTAR's IBO plan, or any direct marketing plan that is legitamite, for others who are seriously looking for a way to get out of debt or other financial situations. Thank you for listening. Sincerely, Edward Metzger