AMSOIL- A brief history

STEVE07

Isn't the politically correct term follicly challenged?

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Smokintoad

from page 1
1.- "AMSOIL- A brief history
My opinion of Amsoil is quite low,as many of you know.This is not so much because of the product,but because of the way it is marketed.They use multi level marketing,or pyramid marketing which while not illegal is immoral in my opinion,below are some facts,I have researched them and found them to be accurate

2.- Corporate structure
Amsoil markets their products through a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) network of Dealers who sell to defined customer types known as wholesale customers, retail accounts and commercial accounts.

Amsoil also wholly owns and manages a MLM subsidiary called Altrum, which markets multivitamins, water filters, cleaning products and gardening fertilizer.[3]

3.- Multi-level marketing (MLM), also known as Network Marketing, is a marketing strategy that compensates promoters of direct selling companies not only for product sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of others they introduced to the company. The products and company are usually marketed directly to consumers and potential business partners by means of relationship referrals and word of mouth marketing.[1].

4.- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a decision, In re Amway Corp., in 1979 in which it indicated that multi-level marketing was not illegal per se in the United States. However, Amway was found guilty of price fixing (by requiring "independent" distributors to sell at the low price) and making exaggerated income claims.[8]

The FTC advises that multi-level marketing organizations with greater incentives for recruitment than product sales are to be viewed skeptically. The FTC also warns that the practice of getting commissions from recruiting new members is outlawed in most states as "pyramiding".[6] In April 2006, it proposed a Business Opportunity Rule intended to require all sellers of business opportunities—including MLMs—to provide enough information to enable prospective buyers to make an informed decision about their probability of earning money.

In March 2008, the FTC removed Network Marketing (MLM) companies from the proposed Business Opportunity Rule:

The revised proposal, however, would not reach multi-level marketing companies or certain companies that may have been swept inadvertently into scope of the April 2006 proposal.[9]


Unfortunately Amsoil falls into this last category and is still operating
Steve"

I did read the entire posting... yes it's all about how Amsoil is an evil MLM / Pyramid thingy, and not so much about a bad product thing. Have you had first hand experience with these products or services, or been a "victim" of the Pyramid or MLM marketing you believe Amsoil is guilty of?

It appears as though Wikipedia is the undisputed "factual" source of all truth now, so lets go through what you copied and pasted...

1. Seems to be your own unbiased opinion which I have no problem with.

2. Is copy and paste from Wiki Amsoil page. True Altrum is a subdivision of Amsoil .

3. Is copy and paste from the Wiki MLM page.

4.- Is copy and paste from the Wiki MLM page under the heading "Criticism of MLM". By the way.... Amway is NOT Amsoil and they are not connected.

So I think your thread title is not accurate, maybe it should read "Amsoil- a Wikipedia opinion" or "Steve's Amsoil Pyramid/MLM Opinion"

Not that it matters, but I am not a Amsoil Dealer, Independent whatever or even a preferred customer. I currently buy my Amsoil products at the local HD shop. The 2 oil studies from 2006 and 2009 give me enough reason to buy it, I think the products are great and have had good experiences with them. If the studies are fakes then why have the other oil companies not brought litigation or performed their own studies to refute the data?

I do pay $100 a year for an Executive Membership to Costco .... I can get a Preferred Customer Wholesale Membership with Amsoil for $20 a year. Before I joined Costco I had plenty of friends and relatives trying to convince me to join, the satellite networks, cell phone companies, pest control companies and even your local HD dealer, all give kick backs to customers who refer customers. I have never been approached to become an Amsoil dealer by anyone.

This forum does good job of helping many folks find related first hand experiences and opinions that can help them make good decisions as it should.

If I discuss my good experience with a product, that does not necessarily mean that I am a schill for that company. If I give my opinion about what I believe is an outright attack against something, it's still just my opinion based on My own experiences, and is open to reasonable discussion.

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STEVE07

In reply:
1- It is my own unbiased opinion backed up with irrefutable facts.

2&3- Yes they are copied and pasted from wikopedia for no other reason then the fact that after much research into the company I chose to use the wikopedia text only because I am a slow typist and wikopedia summed up all I was trying to say.

4- I never said that amsoil and Amway are the same company.I used that to show that they operate under the same marketing scheme (which IMO is dishonest) Their whole corporate structure is completely a pyramid scheme,if not how do you explain the sponsorship that makes up their corporate structure? Amsoil got lucky in the change of laws in the fact that they were not brought up on charges after a 10 yrs. investigation by the U.S. justice department.You can check that one out for yourself ,I left it out of the original post as my intent was only to state the fact that this is in every way an MLM company.My intent in putting in #4 was only to draw a comparison.

Never have I said that the product was good or bad,only that they operate in a manner that I wanted others to be aware of. There are volumes out there about Amsoil others can research and decide for themselves.This company has been embroiled in controversy since day 1.

In answer to your question of whether I have ever known those that have been involved in the Amsoil marketing ploy I have and he bought into it hook,line and sinker before he asked me to help him get rid of the product his "distributor" unloaded on him,assuring him they would take it back if he couldn't sell it. That isn't part of their philosophy,Though some will assure you it is!

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Smokintoad

I believe you were attempting to tar brush them by associating them together. You give no evidence of a pyramid scheme other than saying it. Most of the controversy in the early days was "Big Oil" protecting their market share. If it were not for Amsoil, synthetics would not be so prolific today.
I've spent some time trying to find any investigatory information from the justice dept. and other sources to no avail. If you can provide the source that would be great, I would love to read it.
Just for fun I searched for listings of MLM companies, here is a list from MLM Business Directory Online Featuring the TOP 100 Network Marketing Companies Worldwide.
1) Amway
2) Avon
3) Mary Kay
4) Herbalife
5) NuSkin
6) Melaleuca
7) Usana
8) MonaVie
9) Nikken
10) Shaklee
11) ACN
12) The Pampered Chef
13) Neways
14) Forever Living
15) Tupperware
16) Isagenix
17) Tahitian Noni
18) XanGo
19) SISEL Intl
20) Arbonne
21) Pharmanex
22) Sunrider
23) Oriflame
24) Cambridge Diet
25) Young Living
26) Creative Memories
27) Stampin Up
28) Body Wise
29) Prepaid Legal
30) Excel Communications
31) Jafra
32) Big Planet
33) Agel
34) Nature's Sunshine
35) Unicity
36) Primerica
37) Nuriche
38) Mannatech
39) Synergy
40) World Financial Group
41) Waiora
42) Partylite
43) Univera
44) Genesis Pure
45) Vemma
46) Max Intl
47) eFusjon
48) Zrii
49) MXI Corporation
50) Exfuse
51) Beauti Control
52) 4 Life Research
53) Juice Plus
54) Freelife Intl
55) Omega Trend
56) New Vision
57) Longaberger
58) Starlight Intl
59) Matol
60) Color Me Beautiful
61) World Ventures
62) Cookie Lee
63) Frutaiga
64) Send Out Cards
65) Zija
66) Zoegetics
67) Scentsy
68) Nutrisource Intl
69) Aloette
70) AMS Health Sciences
71) Avalla
72) Sibu
73) Reliv
74) Baywood Intl
75) U First Financial
76) doTerra
77) Trivani Intl
78) Drink Act
79) Youngevity
80) Omnitrition
81) Fragrant Earth
82) Innerlight
83) Original Limu
84) Projoba
85) Nutronix Intl
86) Lifestyles
87) Ignite
88) Advocare
89) Lia Sophia
90) Longaberger
91) Zavita
92) Prestige Travel Service
93) Lifes Miracle
94) Heritage Health
95) Primerica
96) Kaire
97) Latasia
98) GNLD
99) Amazon Herb
100) Via Viente


I don't see Amsoil on the list. So even if your accusation had some merit the MLM community does not agree in there reviews.

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R. Lewis

[QUOTE=Smokintoad;165603]

If it were not for Amsoil, synthetics would not be so prolific today.



? ---- wha ??

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bikermoses

Guess Harley Davidson should quit marketing in those pay to test magazines.EVIL hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah.Everyone knock it off gees Lucas oil has there own stadium.I have always picked my oil by whoever has the hottest pinup.

Smokintoad

[QUOTE=R. Lewis;165607]On second thought, Redline's popularity in the high performance/ racing circles maybe did more for synthetics gaining against dino oils.

Redline has been on parts store shelves for years and years, but some syn's still have not made it to the shelf in many places.

Mobil One really forced the other dino companies to take notice and try to compete for market share.

I think my point was that without the push from early syn companies we would not have the choices we have now.

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R. Lewis

[QUOTE=Smokintoad;165670}

I think my point was that without the push from early syn companies we would not have the choices we have now.[/QUOTE]

It's the R&D / testing of the said oils that has estabilished the choices we have today NOT the marketing of the product!

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STEVE07

Smokintoad,you and I both know that you can pick the site of your choice and paste it here and call it Gospel according to you without stating the source.So I have taken the list of the top MLM companies as recognized by the U.S. Gov.
Here is 1-25 take a look at #17
1.Amway
2.Herbalife
3.Mary Kay
4.Pampered Chef
5.Monavie
6.Arbonne
7.Partylite
8.USANA
9.Melaleuca
10.Forever Living
11.Stampin Up
12.Creative Memories
13.Xango
14.Quixtar
15.Longaberger
16.Isagenix
17.Amsoil
18.Tastefully Simple
19.Nuskin
20.Nikken
21.YTB Travel
22.Shaklee
23.Young Living
24.Prepaid Legal
25.Mia Bella Candles

As for who we should thank for the advent of syhthetic,shouldn't it be Pennzoil??

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Smokintoad

I listed the site I copied and pasted from. I'm not sure where your list came from. A search of the Federal Trade Commision site as well as others shows no such list. Could you help direct me to the document?

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