Amway Is Not A Pyramid, It's An Iceberg?

I was in discussion on another forum and a comment was made about Amway being an iceberg, because you see the shiny clean ice on the top but you do not see the majority of the iceberg. Or in other words, the diamonds show you the fancy suits, jewellery, care, mansions, jets and what you don't see is the financial structure that takes place in their businesses at times. My former upline would tell audiences that they could skip meals to buy more standing orders because you might hear the one thing that could make your business explode. Sadly, I didn’t really listen and to date I have not the experience of viewing my business as "exploding".

Sure, on standing orders, you won't hear too much of the unethical and "wrong" teaching, because some of this is monitored by Amway, but it's the night owls and smaller group meetings where the real teaching is disseminated. This is where I was told to practically sell my soul to achieve in Amway. This is where the teaching comes in where you should be purchasing at least a small amount of tools in order to succeed. This is where you are told to never miss a function unless it's for your own funeral. A newbie or casual observer won't see these things but if you ever commit to becoming a business builder, this is likely to become your world. This is how the leaders get their core teachings to downline, by sending the information downline via the platinum’s.

You don't see the backstage at functions and meetings. Current rubies and platinum’s have made commentary about the diamonds literally laughing about how easy the business once you are at their level. You don't see the where the cash collected at the meetings and functions go because it’s not your place to. There have been some past comments about literally, suitcases of cash leaving the premises. If your diamond upline has a mansion and a fleet of nice cars, it's likely that tools money played a significant part in your diamond obtaining it.

It's a simple conclusion. The tools have a higher mark-up and have fewer beneficiaries to split up the bonus. A $7.00 Amway product might cost $3.00 or so to make and the rest will be bonus money split up by the layers of IBOs. Whereas a $7.00 cd might take 50 cents to produce and only platinum’s and higher receive any compensation from this source of income. But rank and file IBOs rarely ever see a true and transparent picture of this side of the business. It is not really in their interest anyway. They’re not the one host the meetings. It seems to be shrouded in secrecy, just like the underside of an iceberg but I challenge IBOs to be real businessmen and women and ask upline the tough questions about how the money is made and how they can get involved. Do not accept rhetoric and anecdotal stories. In real business, schedule C business tax returns are the normal way for verification of business income. If you are going to "invest" your hard earned money into the system to the benefit of you and your upline, you should request this information. 

Would any of you purchase a conventional business from someone without proof that it is profitable? Why would an Amway business be any different? Seek a true picture of what you are getting into.