ted@teldata.UUCP (Ted Becker) (03/19/84)
********* Does anyone have any information on the Arthur L. Williams Company? What do they sell? What are its bad features? From the initial pitch I received from the salesman it's hard to tell what he is selling. I am sceptical when I am told his plan provides total financial planning and will replace my life insurance and investment programs. I want to have as much information as I can before I make an appointment to talk to the salesman again. Last time I talked to a salesman about investment oportunities him tried to sell me an Amway dealership. I would normally tell this kind of salesman to buzz-off but this man is a church friend and the scoutmaster of my son's scout troop and is not the kind to be involved in a scam.
mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton) (03/21/84)
A. L. Williams is an Amway clone. They are also basically a legalized pyramid scheme. The difference is that Amway sells household products, and Williams sells term life insurance. Both seem primarily in business to be a pyramid scheme, and the products they sell are secondary. They want you to buy insurance, but they also want you to join their pyramid and become an insurance salesman. (When I went to one of their presentations, which was billed as a "let's everybody on the block get together and meet each other, and by the way we'll tell you about A.L.Williams", I could not avoid laughing out loud at all the people on their film who got up and said "I've been with A.L. Williams since it was formed in 1973, and I'm rich now" - sure, they're at the top of the pyramid! Their pyramid shaped logo is also a good chuckle.) It must be pretty successful, however. The guy up the block quit his full time job and is now full time with ALW. He seems to be home all the time (lots of time to spend with his family) and always seems to have two new cars. He has a nice house, too. Oh, in case you are wondering how such a pyramid scheme can be legal, as I understand it, a strict pyramid scheme has people paying money just to join the pyramid. Amway and ALW have you pay money for something of value (insurance or products), which is entirely legal, and then this money is distributed up the pyramid in the form of "commissions". Also, I don't think you have to buy insurance to join the pyramid.
rjb@akgua.UUCP (R.J. Brown [Bob]) (03/21/84)
"Pyramid" in the negative sense that comes thru
in your article is referring to a scheme that is
patently illegal. Every industrial and sales organization
that is based on the military model is a "pyramid".
Your use of the term is similar to McCarthy era terms of
"fellow-traveler", etc. - sort of smear tactics.
DISCLAIMER: Not involved with ALW or Amway
Bob Brown {...pur-ee!inuxc!ihnp4!clyde!akgua!rjb}
AT&T Technologies, Inc.............. Norcross, Ga
(404) 447-3784 ... Cornet 583-3784