Customer Reviews

Merchants of Deception: An Insider's Chilling Look at the Worldwide, Multi Billion dollar Conspiracy of lies that is Amway and its Motivational Organizations

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Merchants of Deception by Eric Scheibeler

There "are many different types of cults. There are religious, political, financial, self improvement, UFO, and other types as well...As different as they all are, most have certain defining characteristics that lump them into the category of a cult." In the 1990s Eric and Patty Scheibeler fell victim to a business cult that has been snaring innocent families for several decades. The indoctrination into the Amway cult financially, emotionally, and spiritually bankrupted this couple whose only intent was to provide a financial and moral backbone for their family. Thanks to the political clout that Amway and Quixtar have had over the United States legislative, judicial, and executive branches of the government, this destructive cult still rends the American dream from licit families to this day.

The Scheibelers rose rather high in the ranks of Amway's independent distributors (or IBOs) before having to admit that the higher they rose, the more destitute the actually were. Upon breaking away from the decade long brainwashing they suffered at the hands of Amway professionals and its distributorship program, Eric and Patty faced attacks on many fronts. They were sued on just about every trumped up charges that teams and teams of attorneys on Amway's retainers could dream up. They were bled to the point of bankruptcy and foreclosure. Their reputations were smeared with nefarious glee. They were even threatened bodily harm by fanatics within the organization. Yet, despite these overwhelming odds, the Scheibelers decided that they could not turn a blind eye and just walk away. Their own personal moral code required them to expose the Amway cult for what it is in the hopes of tumbling this evil giant and preventing the defrauding of any other families.

Scheibeler has prevailed against many odds by maintaining his website [...] (when Amway has successfully shut down all other websites through legal action) and by providing his book, Merchants of Deception, for free electronically prior to its print publication. Through his and other's efforts, Amway's stranglehold on the European market has be eliminated and it is only a matter of time before its American protectors (such as George Bush Sr., Newt Gingrich, Oliver North, Zig Ziglar, Robert Schuller, Charles Colson, and Billy Graham to name a few) turn their backs on this megalithic pyramid scheme. Perhaps the dawn of the new decade will bring about justice to the millions bilked by the Amway cult.

I grew up in an Amway family and watched members of my family spend over 40 years chasing the big Amway "dream" and not be any closer to achieving any of the lofty goals they were promised. The problem with Amway, and groups like it, is that for anyone to do well and make their fortune, many, many others must fail and lose their money. Good business is a win/win for the consumer and owner. With Amway its smoke, mirrors, and deception covering up the house of cards they sell.

For years I was pressured to follow with supporting the "family business." I grew up hoping my parents would not try to recruit another of my friends' (or even girl-friends') families. Finally as an adult I decided that once and for all I needed to figure out the truth about Amway, so I could make peace with it or move on. In searching I stumbled upon Eric's book and my eyes were opened wide. I don't blindly believe everything I read, and I tried to disprove most of what I read. Try as I might, the only items that contradicted his experiences were Amway's own sales propaganda. I devoured this book, unable to put it down. It read like a great novel, but the frightening thing is that this was a true, first hand account of one man's actual devastating battle with this company. Eric opens up about his entire personal struggle, the toll on his family, his finances, and his friends to expose the almost unbelievable corruption in this organization.

A few years ago I was fortunate enough to meet Eric and have dinner with him when he was in town. I can tell you first hand, he is the real thing. This story is the true account of his life and I applaud the bravery it took for him to step up and blow the whistle on Amway and Quixtar.

I thank him for what he has done to help others see the truth of this company. If you have loved ones in Amway, friends trying to recruit you, or are tempted by this truly "too-good-to-be-true" business "opportunity", you owe it to yourself to read this book and find out what is really going on inside of Amway/Quixtar.

From the records of a former Wisconsin Attorney General: The top 1% of Amway distributors in Wisconsin in 1997 had an average net income of minus $900. Meanwhile, a tiny fraction at the top were getting rich - but not from selling Amway's soap products.

As it turns out, these IBO's (Independent Business Operators) are required to buy inspirational tapes and attend expensive seminars sponsored by the "Diamonds," who gouge their IBO's for these services. Only 4-5% of the Diamond's income comes from commissions off the soap. They make millions off the "tool" material, as it's called.

The IBO's are kept in the dark in a secrecy-like setting of mind-control rules reinforced by the tapes and seminars. IBO's end up having little or no life outside Amway and their programs. They all think their colleagues in Amway are doing better than they are - but following the mind-control tactics embedded in the tapes and reinforced at frequent meetings keeps them from finding this out....okay, I know this is beginning to sound crazy.

Out of 10,000 IBO's, only 414 remain after five years (from Amway's own reports) - a 96% drop-out rate, far from their advertised 100% rate of successful IBO's. Those 96% who leave Amway are ostracized from contact with the system and legally and financially threatened into silence. Scheibeler has established contact with dozens (if not hundreds) of former IBO's who are recovering from a sort of Post-Amway De-Programming Disorder.

I don't particularly like conspiracy theories and Scheibeler's memoir is painful to read - it could be organized better and could be shorter - but it's pretty clear this company acts like a cult carrying out a ponzi-scheme. They manage to stay barely clear of legal disaster with a big fleet of lawyers and big political contributions in key spots.

Other countries have had better luck kicking Amway out, but Amway has wiggle room with the politics and legal system in corporate america. Scheibeler's grievance list goes on and on and he lists several other companies in the appendix to look out for - but Amway may have a patent on the cultishness. Looks to me like they earned the author's title "Merchants of Deception."

Since the 1980s, a number of ex-IBOs have come forward w/their Amway-related horror stories, telling how efforts to "build their dreams" became a nightmare. However, Schiebeler's experiences truly make for a gripping story that tells how, despite all the promises of "financial freedom" and "becoming your own boss", the actual Amway experience couldn't be further from the truth...you'll read about how Schiebeler:

- Was told to cut ties w/"unsupportive" fam and friends
- Learned how to pitch the business w/o mentioning the Amway name
- Shelled out $$$ to send his kids to private school, rather than put them through the "evil" public school system
- Discovered most of the money earned by Direct/Diamond distributors comes from the tool system and weekend "functions"
- Put his health, his marriage, and his children's future at risk (yet they remained loyal to him, and were there to support him after making the decision to leave Amway)
- Never earned anywhere close to the 6-figure income he was promised, despite bending over backwards to make his business succeed
- Realized how strong ties w/the Republican party and company founder Rich DeVos' influence w/said party make it impossible for anyone who doesn't toe the GOP line to succeed in Amway
- Initially dismissed these aforementioned gripes (when revealed online by ex-IBOs) as laughable, only to gradually discover they actually had some serious merit
- Became the target of a retaliation campaign after his decision to leave, followed by repeated attempts to buy his silence
- Finally managed to rebuild his life through the support system he discovered, both on and offline

Though this fascinating true story has been available for years as an e-book, an actual print volume has been long in demand by Amway critics, ex-cult members, etc. and this updated edition proves to be well worth the wait...the often shocking nature of Schiebeler's revelations aren't easy to take, but definitely give the book a real "can't-put-it-down" quality that ensure you'll want to keep reading, no matter how harrowing. I highly recommend it for struggling Amway IBOs, their friends/relatives, and those ex-IBOs who may have had an even remotely similar experience.

Unfortunately, my wife & I were in "Amway" more than one time. You think we would have learned our lesson the first time around. When "Amway" didn't 'work' (for obvious reasons now), we thought "the system" of other over-priced products / services, in order to pay commission downline, etc. just might be the answer. Yes, sadly, there have been a few others since then.

Let me just say that ***NOT*** building any MLM/Network Marketing "business opportunity" has brought a tremendous peace and freedom to our lives. We are now home with our children (instead of 'putting our kids on the back burner and aside for that 'one day down the road' hollow promise, we are no longer missing the daily happenings in their lives - times we are not willing to sacrifice because of the love for our children, etc). Others can now also approach us without worrying about the 'latest hook or hidden agenda' that we are trying to 'get them into or do'. And, we have more money from NOT 'building a business' with all the endless purchase of products, tapes/CDs/DVDs, books, functions, etc., PLUS with following sound financial principles from Dave Ramsey. The list can go on-and-on.

Let me encourage you to own a copy of this MUCH NEEDED book. Having a 'hard copy' allows you to underline, flip pages back-and-forth, and maybe occasionlly throw it across the room for not realizing how we we have been and still are being 'duped', etc by countless other MLM/Network Marketing Companies out there. This book definitely needs to be in the hands of literally thousands upon thousands of people around the world no matter which MLM / Network Marketing Company you are, or were, in.

If you would like a ***FREE*** digital download copy, with NO 'hook or hidden agenda', then just send an email request to lessonsonthejourney@yahoo.com and I will forward one to you which you can then download FOR FREE to your computer, and if you choose, send it to your friends, relatives, etc. [AND there is no hidden agenda, hook, sales pitch or products to purchase...:0) ]. Let me also encourage you to visit the following websites: lessonsonthejourney.blogspot.com / mlm-thetruth.com (is one of THE most eye-opening websites on the dangers of MLM / Network marketing. Download his new FREE e-book - I cannot recommend this site enough!!!), There is also a tremendous DVD called "Believe" - a satirical spoof on network marketing that you will watch again-and-again. You need to also check out the other books listed on amazon.com, such as: "Amway Motivational Organizations: Behind the Smoke and Mirrors" by Ruth Carter, "Amway: The Cult of Free Enterprise" by Stephen Butterfield, as well as "False Profits: Seeking Financial and Spiritual Deliverance in Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Schemes" by Robert L. Fitzpatrick.

Finally, whether you are a Christian or not, whatever you do, DON'T miss purchasing and reading Athena Dean's two books, "All That Glitters Is Not God: Breaking Free from the Sweet Deceit of Multi-Level Marketing" and "Consumed by Success: Reaching the Top and Finding God Wasn't There". Her books are filled with down-to-earth information about the lies, deception, etc. of MLM after her having reached the top level in her particular MLM and making $22,000 a month - and yet, she almost lost her family in the process, as well as the tremendous out-go in just keeping her business going.

It has been said that TRUTH can always withstand INVESTIGATION. Enjoy your journey into truth, and let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.

First, the bad: this book was not copy edited. As a result, it has a 0.1%+ error rate regarding grammar, mostly, which equates by my rough estimate to be about one every 750-1,000 words, or every 2-3 pages. However, I was able to read it for free in pdf format.

On the positive, this book was an incredible work of transparency that has outed organizations enveloped in secrecy whose sole intent was to sell non-retail items (motivational materials) to those who trusted them enough to abandon reason and the advice of friends and family.

In reading Eric Sheibeler's story, people who engage in networking should be able to take with them the undeniable fact that they are not business owners of any kind, but, rather, sales reps, as is the intention of the parent company that supplies them their goods when the goods are supplied to them at a price that would allow them (the goods) to be sold at a competitive market price for an immediate profit.

Since Eric and his wife were at a very high level, they were privy to more private meetings than the average person in Amway. After he went inactive, this story of a sleep-deprived Christian businessman who is living a lie as he struggles to figure out why he is unable to make more money than he has been works to expose to the very people who cheated him, hoping that as he ascends each rung of the ladder he will find the person who will put a stop to the (hopefully isolated) criminal activity he has stumbled upon. But he finds no one who will help, and, instead, works with a group of underground activists to take legal action with the assistance of an attorney who represents him for free while being sued himself.

What ends up being exposed is a story of extortion, cult-like teachings, money laundering, tax evasion, the ruin of personal reputations, finances, and families, and a business that is still going regardless of all these things.

Merchants of Deception is an amazing book about the power of money, and the greed it can create in unscrupulous individuals and corrupt corporations.

Eric Scheibeler takes the reader on a gripping, white knuckle ride as he and his family, longing for financial freedom, instead descend into a terrifying spiral of financial bondage and desperation.

Amway has long been the target of critics for its prosperity culture, supposed "compassionate Christianity" and rabid, cult-like followers. It has also been suspected of deceptive business practices that are systematically passed down to its representatives. This is one of the keys of this book: the hidden, secretive "system within the system," whereby Amway's top-level ("diamond") producers REALLY make their income.

Scheibeler was a top-level Amway insider. When he discovered this massive, on-going fraud, he courageously exposed it, risking his future, his income, and incredibly, his health and life. Instead of being rewarded for doing the right thing as a whistleblower, he became a target.

While the story of the Scheibelers' ordeal was set principally in the 1990s, it is still taking place today, and is even more relevant and powerful. Many unfortunate former IBOs (Independent Business Owners) are still fighting Amway's corporate pitbull legal teams in order to get their hellish stories out to the masses.

Even more stunning, desperate families, numbering in the tens of thousands, are trying to escape poverty in the current dire financial situation in America and abroad. They are the number one targets and are being victimized by Amway and many, many other Multi-Level Marketing companies, lured by the promise of riches beyond their wildest dreams.

Instead, most, if not all, end up worse off and destitute, while a few top-level "kingpin" leaders live lavish lifestyles off the broken backs and broken spirits of their "downline" distributors.

Making matters worse, it appears government entities and politicians have not only turned a blind eye to the average consumer's suffering at the hands of these swindlers, but they have willingly participated in their endorsements and promotions as well!

Scheibeler writes with a face-paced style that makes the book hard to put down. He is engaging and analytical as well. He backs up his claims in the book with reams of documentation. It is a powerful and chilling look into a corporate culture that is ruthless, corrupt and criminal to the point of being truly evil. Highly recommended reading.

I obtained the free ebook and read it in its entirety, and have exchanged emails with the author.

Amway is probably the oldest and possibly the most respected of multi-level marketing companies. However, many other companies have copied their business model, and as a result, there are many, many such companies out there. Multi-level marketing is a fatally and fundamentally flawed business model. Consider this illustration. If I offer you a million dollars on the one hand, but on the other hand, I offer you a chessboard on which I place a penny on the first square, two pennies on the second square, four pennies on the third square, and so on, doubling the amount each time, which will you choose? I will choose the chessboard. Why? Because by the time you have doubled 63 times you will have a sum far larger than a million dollars. MLM works the same way, only to the detriment of everyone who isn't at the top of the heap. MLM only "works" if you have a downline. A downline is a group of people you have recruited under you. All of their sales get you a small percentage, and if you have enough people in your downline, theoretically, you make a lot of money. Unfortunately, in so doing, you have subjected countless people to the probability that they will work very hard, be unable to recruit enough people to produce any significant income, and will end up losing their shirt (like one of my family members did, several times). So the only way you can make money is to cheat your downline out of the possibility of making any significant money. There are only 7 billion people in the world, and only a fraction of those can even be recruited. Those who get involved will discover sooner or later they have been had, and they will leave.

Why isn't MLM illegal? Because companies like Amway make enough money for the people on top that they can afford expensive lobbyists who will make sure there is a loophole in the law. A number of famous and influential people have also been co-opted, including people with political clout.

Here is where Eric Scheibeler comes in. He got involved in Amway, and in time, rose very high. However, in order to keep people involved, Amway started to develop motivational materials. I have seen how they operate first hand. They use cult mind control techniques. They don't outright lie to you, but they will tell you things, knowing that you will jump to conclusions. The conclusions will be erroneous, and you will be cheated, but they can't be prosecuted for fraud, because they didn't actually SAY these things to you. So in order for Scheibeler to keep his downline and his enthusiasm, he began to purchase motivational materials and seminars from Quixtar, which is Amway's subsidiary. He spent a LOT of money on this, and all it did was destroy his health, interfere with his family relationships, and create incredible havoc in his life. He was going on so little sleep it's a wonder he didn't have a fatal accident on his way to some seminar. Eventually he saw the light and got out. This book is his story.

I have personally witnessed how destructive MLM is. It also wrecked some of our family relationships, including costing one of our children his marriage. I wouldn't wish this off on anybody. In order to find MLM attractive, you have to have a strong sense of greed. In order to succeed, you have to be unscrupulous in how you treat people, including your loved ones. MLM has permeated the natural supplement industry, and has created a lot of ill will among many people, and it has been very expensive for those of us who rely on these remedies, because it makes them much harder to get. MLM companies tend to overprice, include very little active ingredients, and do not use state of the art formulas. They give ALL of us involved in natural healing a bad name.

Read this book! You need to be informed. Even at the steep used price, it will save you untold grief if you find MLM attractive. Tell other people to read it. The sooner we get rid of this scam, the better. Whatever you do, if you find out a "business opportunity" involves a downline, even if you only have to recruit 2 people, RUN!