There were some great comments to my first post of How I Think TEAM Could Win, and I would like to elaborate and expand somewhat on my thoughts.
Comment: “That is an interesting the theory. I do have one problem with it. I don’t see how Team could be a legally functioning business, without a marketable product (or product line).”
To answer that question, well TEAM does have a legally functioning business. They sell TONS of tapes, CD’s, books, admission to meetings, etc. that make them millions of dollars annually. The TEAM as a business has been thriving. Every meeting and function they put on costs money and there are many products they are trying to sell. These are all motivational in nature and some don’t even have any mention of the Quixtar business. In fact, a Platinum IBO recently stated that they made 2/3 of their income from TEAM bonuses and 1/3 from their Quixtar business. So for many of the high-level TEAM members, the legally functioning TEAM business was more lucrative than the business opportunity they were peddling to the masses!
Comment: “A question I have is how they can hope to succeed against a company that has a track record of tenacity in law suits within the relatively short time that they are bound to their non-compete clause. It seems likely that this could be easily tied up for more than 6 months. Is there something I am missing?”
You’re exactly right. TEAM needs to legitimize their lawsuit to have any chance of winning. I think they need new legal representation, especially consider their legal team has failed in previous lawsuits against Alticor. My post was meant to get people to think outside the box as far as a legal strategy that has the potential to win, however you are right that Alticor will undoubtedly win the case because of their size and history of vigorously defending their company’s practices and their tenacity at discrediting their critics.
Comment:“If, in fact, an individual joined TEAM first – what did they join: what did they pay to join and what services or products were received in exchange for joining TEAM. And, if they did not then become an IBO would they have a reason to continue in their relationship with TEAM?”
The products and services offered by TEAM included meetings and books, tapes and CD’s produced by the TEAM leadership. In theory, if TEAM would defend themselves as a legitimate training organization then they could theorize that individuals could join TEAM for the “leadership training” and motivation, but we know that’s not true. Because TEAM exclusively promoted the Quixtar opportunity, it would be difficult for them to prove they can exist without that component in their operation.
I’m glad the post got people thinking outside of the box, however I know it is very very unlikely that TEAM will win this particular case even if they were mounting what I would consider a more viable lawsuit, because Alticor is just too damn big and powerful. They will not lose this case because the precedent it would set will ruin their business structure so they will spend whatever it takes to win… it wouldn’t surprise me if they added a special temporary “upcharge” to their products for customers and IBO’s to help pay for a lengthy legal fight with TEAM and any other organizations that may join the class-action.
For More Information:
[tags]team, team of destiny, orrin woodward, tim marks, shaun carter, platinum, diamond, quixtar, amway, alticor, lawsuit, class action, ibo, books, tapes, cd’s, meetings, functions, business opportunity, network marketing, mlm, nutrilite[/tags]
Hello Shaun,
Even though the paperwork for new IBOs for Quixtar and TEAM are filled out at the same time, TEAM membership is processed much faster online, while Quixtar applications must be forwarded to upline Platinums first, prior to being submitted to Quixtar by mail. Quixtar will issue a temporary IBO number until the paperwork is processed and verified. Quixtar’s process can take up to 30 days, were TEAM only minutes. However, they process the application according to the date the IBO signed it. Since the applications are filled out on the same day, but not TIME stamped, either party can argue theirs was signed first with no evidence to back it up other than a statement from the IBO who signed it.
For those IBO groups that merged with TEAM recently, such as Billy Florence’s TEAM DCI, and TEAM Legacy, that is not the case. For them, most of them were Quixtar IBOs first. I fall into that category.
I am a high “C” IBO and also a small “S type” business owner/manager. I always do a great deal of research and consider the pros and cons of every decision I make. I have never made any decision without getting all the available facts first. While there is much negative about both sides, Quixtar and Team, I also consider the source of that negativity and the context in which it is given. Team has shown the most integrity and honesty in all of this. I realize that does not win court cases, but it wins my loyalty!
Team will ultimately win the loyalty of the IBOs, many of which are not even affiliated with Team. Even if Team cannot solicate IBOs for any new venture they undertake for 2 years, IBOs will seek them out first. I will be one of them! That is not against Quixtar’s Rules of Conduct! All I have to do if Team looses is wait 6 months to seek Team out and join them!
In my oppinion, Quixtar has already lost the loyalty and trust of all IBOs including the IBOAI, capable of free and independent thought, who really want to “Have Fun, Make Money and Make a difference!” These are the IBOs that have made Quixtar great and they are the ones who will leave and join Team!
Since it is the quality of leaders that truly make a difference in the success of any organization, Team will succeed and Quixtar will fail in the long term sceme of things, as Quixtar will have few leaders left for IBOs to follow.