VERY interesting read - it's long but worth it.
I'm on my way home from work and I decide to stop by Target to get some light bulbs since some blew out. They recently renovated the store so I'm walking through the isles, also searching for anything else I might need. Out of the blue, a well dressed white guy approaches me. He starts by asking me if I know where a Kinko's is. Very typical of a businessman that has been sent to some strange city to close some deal and he needs to make some copies. So, being the helpfull person I am, I give him directions. As I'm about to leave, he strikes up more conversation. He asks me if I live around the area, how long I've been here, etc etc. I'm always cautious so I tell him enough, but nothing specific. Then, the pitch........
He tells me that "they" are looking to hire some people and could use someone like me. He then gives me a business card and asks for my contact information. So I give him my name and a bogus phone number. I go on my way, (they didn't have the bulbs I was looking for) and don't think much of it. I get in my car and drive off. As I'm heading home, I think more and more of the conversation, person and circumstances. Then it hits me. Almost exactly a year ago, the EXACT same thing happened, in that same Target store. So now I'm curious as to exactly what kind of scheme this is.
The business card has the following information:
Company: Francis Business Group
Position: Business Development and Mentorship
Name: David Clinard
Phone: 772-426-8230
e-mail: dave.clinard@gmail.com
So, just by looking at the card I was a bit skeptical. Why? First, the e-mail address is a G-Mail account. This is ALMOST as bad as an AOL account or even worse, Hotmail. No self respecting business would operate using a free e-mail service. Second, there is no corporate logo on the car itself. It's a nice card, with a funky design along the top with most of the card a light greenish color. Third, there is NO website address. Even startups will have some kind of website address these days.
So I do a little googling and find THIS. BUSTED. My next instinct is to go to the Target website and read THIS. Heh. Now I decide to have some fun. I call the poor bastard up. He actually answers. So, I straight out ask him if he's afiliated with Amway. He denies it and his voice is audibly getting uncomfortable. He explains he is affiliated with Quixtar. Busted again. I then proceed to tell him Quixtar is affiliated with Amway, and since solicitation is illegal within Target stores, that I will be contacting them and the police. Dude hangs up with the quickness. HAHAHHHAHAH
So, I do good on my promise and call Target. The manager is helpfull, takes down the details and promises to pass the info along to thier security team. I admit, I haven't called the cops yet but I am considering it tomorrow. To be clear, Amway, Quixtar and multi-level marketing is not in itself illegal.
FYI, here are some more websites with more info:
Amway/Alticor/Quixtar Sucks!
MLM Survivors Home Page
Dateline - MSNBC
FTC - Multilevel Marketing
Steve Hassan on Amway
Funny, I was contacted by the same guy about the same time you were contacted by him. And I was open minded enough to listen to what he has to say. Today, I am making a 6 figure income from the business thanks to him.
That goes to show that even with same opportunity, how different can the future be for two different people. One's open minded and trusting, the other one, hmm....(you fill in the blank)
Posted by: JR at July 12, 2010 04:12 PMIts sad how many broke people are out there who only think that everyone is out to get them. Yes Francis Business Group is a legitimate business. Yes- you have to work hard to make the money. Yes- it is the most rewarding thing you will ever invest your time and money into. However, for all of the complacent individuals out there who have no dream and are willing to let someone else sign their paychecks for the rest of their life- you just missed the greatest opportunity in America. I thank God every day for this business opportunity and what it has done for my life and the lifestyle I am able to have. Sorry to break it to you, but anything guaranteed to you anyways is a scam- so the catch is this- you have to work for it.
Posted by: jS at November 28, 2009 10:35 AMCould you help me. Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.
I am from Lithuania and learning to read in English, give true I wrote the following sentence: "Holiday train second-in-command, a first case for team transportation 1950s."
THX :p, Jarek.
Posted by: Jarek at September 8, 2009 02:14 PMIn case anyone is wondering It is not a scheme or any kind of fraud. It is a lagit buisness that has been around since 1959. The best way to learn about it is go to an info session. The whole Kinko's thing is just a conversation starter. And the pyramid is legal because there is a product transaction and no one makes someone elses money its set up completely different than what you think. I personally think people get skeptical because they are afraid of it. and thats why they Weed those people out. But to each his own. and Good day.
oh and dont believe everything you read there are a lot of crazy people out there who are willing to talk bad about anyone. ^_^
Hey-
Your raudel link from the line "do a little googling and find THIS. BUSTED" no longer works and I *REALLY* want to find some more information about Francis Business Group. Just had the wife of a distant acquaintance in middle school cold-call me, claiming that she couldn't explain to me what the job would entail over the phone OR by e-mail, but that a 15 minute chat over coffee would do it. Google's not giving me much on this business and what it's been up to anymore- just a complaint one of their managers filed with the FTC over regulations for recruiting work-at-home types. I definitely want more info- always thought this guy was too smart to fall for a scheme like this.
Please help!!
You're right J, people will need to decide for themselves, but I didn't like being approached while shopping at Target. I did indicate in my original post that Quixtar/Amway are not illegal in any way.
Posted by: e1000 at October 2, 2008 07:15 PMAlso,
Here are few other sites for those people not just looking negative reasons.
www.thetruthaboutquixtar.com
www.ibofacts.com
www.thisbiznow.com
You can research the reasons to not do something (which you will find in any arena) Or you can find the reasons TO do something. Either way, weigh both options and make a REAL decision for yourself, not taking the opinions of others!
Posted by: j at September 7, 2008 02:44 AMOk, let's get some things straight.
1) Making money with Amway or Quixtar is NOT easy money. It takes hard work, and dealing with people that are skeptical like yourself.
2) Someone asking you for your name and number in a Target is not soliciation. If he were to sell you a computer inside Target, that is solicatation.
3) Plenty of people make everyday from a whole host of multi-level marketing companies, both through clients and other people looking for the opportunity.
4) What is sad is the amount of people that will take a random bloggers opinion and experience as truth, versus actually conversing with a real live person that is offering the opportunity to them. Even if, in the end, it isn't for you.
5) Amway/Quixtar and other businesses are NOT illegal pyramid.
Posted by: J at September 6, 2008 10:46 PMDeVos and Van Andel own like half of downtown Grand Rapids. lol
Posted by: asianml at March 8, 2008 12:07 AMwow! I'm glad my post made a difference for someone even after all this time! I'm glad you didn't fall into this.
Posted by: e1000 at January 1, 2008 11:36 PMWow, my wife and I were just at Target shopping for Christmas gifts about a week before christmas when we were approached by a woman. After a few minuits of friendly conversation, she told us we seemed like a very outgoing couple then started telling us about how we could make lots and lots of money.
She gave us her card: Francis Buisness Group.
Sounded GREAT!
So they set up a meeting at a starbucks a few days later. After leaving our meeting with a warm cup of Joe : )I decided to do a little bit of research. I couldnt find anything on Google, which i thought was strange, but after digging a bit, I came across this story and the other articles posted here, and now i feel like a huge fool, lol. There is a seminar on wednesday after new years day, that they wanted us to go to. We wont be going. it all sounds good, but not that good. If you choose to do this, good luck. But we wont.
Interesting post! I had an encounter with that same guy around the same time you did. The exact same experience except at Panera. I got the Kinko's routine with the teaser pitch and then the business card. After he left I looked it up Francis Business group and came across the same link you had in your posting though I just left it alone at that point. . .I guess I could have had a little fun with it like you did. . .Keep us posted if you hear anything back from Target or cops. . .
Posted by: ey at March 8, 2006 11:35 AMsheesh... remember when umm there was a pyramid going around here with all the korean people we know?? shady................
i noticed you have been posting more... because of your car... HAHAHHAHA
Posted by: pegs at January 31, 2006 11:52 PMwow. just read one of the links you posted. maybe you should have informed this guy that he too was getting duped. in case he hadn't figured it out yet. thanks for the investigative work. it's amazing how many people fall for this stuff, all with the notions of making easy money. it doesn't exist!
Posted by: kt at January 31, 2006 12:19 PM