# Saying 'No' To Scamway **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 25, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308 "2009-02-25T01:51:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/21 "2009-02-25T17:54:16Z")
My BIL is involved in something like this. He came over with his “lead” or whoever the hell it is to talk to Ivylad…I refused to sit for the pitch and took a nap. Some time later, my BIL came back by to say they had finally kicked the business off, and he told me that Ivylad had had a dream and he was proud to tell me he already had four people in his downline! I gave Ivylad a glare, said, “I’m done” and left the room. It turned out that BIL had misunderstood something my husband had said…Ivylad had given him the $25 to buy some books or something to make him look good in front of the lead, but had no intention of doing anything with this (they sell Mona Vie.) I should have realized Ivylad would never do anything like this without discussing it with me first, and all I know is that it’s been about a year and my BIL still is working his day job and doesn’t have his new BMW yet. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/22 "2009-02-25T18:39:14Z")
Every time they ask you, respond with, “Lose weight now, ask me how!” ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/23 "2009-02-25T19:08:35Z")
Say no firmly and, if necessary, repeatedly. They were impolite first. Pressuring your friends and relatives to buy something is impolite. So the bar has already been dropped below 100% consideration for the other person’s feelings. IMHO you should decline just as readily as if you were being asked to join them in a drug addiction. The mentality and consequences are not so different. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/24 "2009-02-25T19:10:19Z")
My SIL’s DIL is involved in Quickstar. She asked me to check it out. I looked at the website and didn’t even respond to her. And she never followed up! I find it astonishing that so many people get involved in it. The DIL isn’t making any money, they’re always off to a cult meeting, and she has no salesmanship in her. I guess some people are just born stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/25 "2009-02-25T19:17:36Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Poke them in the eye everytime the subject is brought up. If they ever bother ask you why you are poking them, say “Ask me about AMWAY AGAIN MOTHERFUCKER!” > > Should work. I am having a really rotten day, and that just made me laugh out loud! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/26 "2009-02-25T20:08:43Z")
Look them in the eyes and state the following. I want nothing to do with Amway and when you mention it again including right after this talk I never want to see you again, so drop it now. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/27 "2009-02-25T22:15:49Z")
It’s almost impossible (in my experience) to have a normal relationship with someone who does Amway - it goes one of two ways: –they just never seem content to accept that you really don’t want to join, and keep bugging you. –they accept that you really don’t want to join, and waste no more time associating with you. Because the whole thing is built upon the notion that you can exploit your existing network of friends to make fat stacks of ca$h, but because this is very different from the original purpose of your existing network of friends, it risks destroying it. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/28 "2009-02-25T22:40:41Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Look them in the eyes and state the following. > > I want nothing to do with Amway and when you mention it again including right after this talk I never want to see you again, so drop it now. Just to be clear: the outfit in question is not Amway, but I’m assuming it’s the same kind of deal. I was actually curious whether or not anyone on the board might guess the company. I’m interested if anyone has any horror stories specific to it. I’ll keep the company name a secret for now (for various reasons) but I’ll let you know if anyone guesses what it is! ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/29 "2009-02-25T22:42:48Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > It’s almost impossible (in my experience) to have a normal relationship with someone who does Amway I understand this. But what if the person involved is your mother or father? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/30 "2009-02-25T22:54:48Z")
How about this? “The only way to succeed with these types of business is to be an asshole to all your family and friends, and I don’t want to do that to my loved ones.” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/31 "2009-02-25T22:55:02Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > I understand this. But what if the person involved is your mother or father? ☹ It will quite possibly end in tears. Amway was a significant factor in my parents divorce. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/32 "2009-02-25T22:56:50Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > I understand this. But what if the person involved is your mother or father? ☹ Inundate them with independent information. They’re never going to get the straight dope from Cults Backward “R” Us. Give them the facts. Sucks to be you, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/33 "2009-02-25T22:58:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > How about this? “The only way to succeed with these types of business is to be an asshole to all your family and friends, and I don’t want to do that to my loved ones.” Agree. This is really a much better idea, and far more likely to work, than saying you think it’s a scam or a pyramid scheme - because these organisations tend to have scripted answers for arguments about it being a scam, so all you’ll get is a smug “no, it isn’t” spiel. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/34 "2009-02-25T23:44:12Z")
A friend of ours hosts a night at the tennis club every 6 months or so. He pays to rent out the club as well as all the beer/soda we can drink, and we all get to play tennis, racquetball, wallyball and/or just socialize for free all night. The only thing he asks is that you bring an appetizer to share. It’s a great time. The last time we went, a guy Mike, who I know only from this event, came to a group of us sitting around and drinking, and asked if he could introduce us to his wife. Puzzled, we said, “Sure.” We soon found out why he was acting so goofy. She was a Monavie salesman. They no longer suffered from knee issues or tennis elbow. And the energy they had every day was miraculous!! Being all liquored up we could barely contain our disgust and stopped just short of ridiculing them. But we were all aghast that Mike used our mutual friend’s generosity as a vehicle for his wife to peddle her shit. Another friend of mine, Linda and her husband Mark, got suckered into Amway about 20 years ago. They routinely bounced checks and had their utilities shut off for non-payment, but never missed a quarterly cult rah-rah session down in Atlanta. Anywho, one night at a friend’s engagement party, Mark took my husband aside and asked him if he felt “professionally fulfilled.” My husband, who doesn’t suffer from shyness, said, “Mark, I can’t say I’m all that fulfilled. But I’d dig ditches before I’d exploit my friends in order to make a buck.” And that was the end of that conversation. To the OP: you must be firm and clear. "I am not interested. And I wouldn’t appreciate my friends giving out my name and number without my permission, so I’m going to pass on your offer. " ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/35 "2009-02-26T00:49:22Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > I understand this. But what if the person involved is your mother or father? ☹ “I love you, but I don’t want to discuss this with you/don’t want to get into business matters with family.” I suspect there will be lots of “Bye Mom/Dad, love you, gotta go.” and “I’m sorry, you know how I feel about this.” ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/36 "2009-02-26T02:05:10Z")
I can’t discuss religion or politics with my parents. It’s perfectly normal to have verboten subjects wtih friends and family. You just stick to common ground. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/37 "2009-02-26T02:14:01Z")
So how much will you pay me for each lead? That’s not enough. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/38 "2009-02-26T02:22:57Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > So how much will you pay me for each lead? That’s not enough. I like the way you think!😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/39 "2009-02-26T02:31:07Z")
It’s the only way they will leave you alone. Leads are worth something. Then go google free sales leads and charge them for each one. It’s a business. You are supposed to get paid for business. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308/40 "2009-02-26T04:47:23Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > The DIL isn’t making any money, they’re always off to a cult meeting, and she has no salesmanship in her. I guess some people are just born stupid. I always just figured Scamway meeting were for people that didn’t have the imagination, personal skills, or sex appeal for D&D. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saying-no-to-scamway/487308.md?page=3)