Amway is the largest, oldest and best known representative of “multi-level marketing” (MLM). It is the most prominent member of the Direct Selling Association.
安利是最大、最早、最著名的“多层次传销”(MLM)的代表,它也是直销协会的最重要的成员。
This icon of “direct selling” just announced that it has agreed to pay restitution to consumers and reform costs estimated at over $150 million. The payments are in response to consumer accusations that Amway/Quitar is operating an illegal pyramid scheme. The settlement is the largest in MLM history.
这个“直销”大佬已经宣称同意支付赔偿给消费者并实行改革,这些费用预计将超过1亿5千万美元。这项费用主要用于应付消费者对安利/捷星非法传销运作的指控。这项处置在传销史上也是史无前例的一次。
Three Directors and Advisory Board members of Pyramid Scheme Alert served individually as experts or consultants in this historic class action case against Amway. The suit was filed by the law firm of Boies, Schiller & Flexner。
来自“警惕金字塔”的三位理事和咨询委员会成员分别作为专家或顾问服务于此次针对安利的集体诉讼。本次诉讼由‘Boies, Schiller & Flexner’律师事务所受理。
The size of the settlement astonished some observers and the news is spreading fast. It was reported on the front page of the USATodayAmway11.05.10. About $55 million of the total is in actual cash and products as restitution for victims and legal fees. Other elements of the settlement include substantial price reductions to make retail sales feasible, and major changes in the infamous “tools” business that will require Amway to take greater responsibility. These schemes are run by some of Amway’s top recruiters and have been allowed to function as arm’s length, rogue operations, though highly beneficial to Amway.
本次处置的规模之大震惊了好些关注此此的人,消息也飞速的传播来来。这则消息于10年11月5日被登载在了USAToday的头版。总额约五千五百万美元的现金和产品将用于支付受害者赔偿和律师费。此次处置的其它细节还包括实际地降低产品价格,以使产品零售具有可行性;并且最大的改变在于安利需要为其声名狼藉的营销“工具”担负起更大的责任。这些传销行为虽然只是由那些安利高级营销人员运作,被安利公司允许在与之保持一定距离的前提下(注:暗指防火墙)进行欺诈运作,但安利公司却是最大获利方。
The huge settlement throws open to question the validity of Direct Selling Association’s “Code of Ethics” and the legitimacy of all other multi-level marketing companies as viable “business opportunities.,” based on the Amway model.
这项巨型处置对直销协会“伦理法则”的正确性和其它所有基于安利模式的传销公司作为可行的“商业机会”的合理性都广泛地打上了一个大大的问号。
Among the accusations made in the Amway class action suit that resulted in Amway’s agreement to pay $150 million (the suit was technically brought against Quixtar, the now defunct name used by Amway for its North American operations):
在这个致使安利同意支付1亿五千万美元的集体诉讼中(此次诉讼也技术性地起诉了捷星,安利之前在北美运作过程中使用过的一个名称):
* Amway is an illegal pyramid scheme.
* Amway’s Kingpin companies that sell “motivation and training” products to recruits are also an illegal pyramid scheme.
* Amway criminally violates federal racketeering law.
* Amway violates California’s “endless chain” law.
* Amway masks “criminal behavior” with claims that it is in compliance with a federal Amway ruling of more than 25 years ago. In fact, Amway is not in compliance with the ruling.
* Amway induces salespeople to buy thousands of dollars of overpriced products and useless “success tools” and then to recruit others to do the same in an endless chain scheme that dooms, by design, nearly all to losses.
* Amway deliberately deceives consumers to enroll in the pyramid scheme in which they inevitably suffer financial loss.
* Amway’s arbitration rule which is intended to prevent victim lawsuits against it is unfair and “unconscionable”.
* Amway commits wire fraud and mail fraud.
* 安利是一个非法传销。
* 销售“激励与培训”产品给营销人员的安利总公司也是一个非法传销。
* 安利违反了联邦诈骗法案。
* 安利违反了加利福利亚州“无穷尽链”法案。
* 安利宣称它遵守着一项25年前的联邦安利裁定以试图掩盖其“罪行”。事实上,也没有遵守此项裁定。
* 安利引诱销售人员购买成千上万美元的价格超高产品以及无用的“成功工具”,然后用同样地方式招募新人,这在设计上就决定了其无穷尽模式,几乎所有的人都是要损失的。
* 安利故意欺骗消费者参加传销,期间他们将不可避免的要遭受财产损失。
* 安利的仲裁条款意图阻止受害者们起诉它的不公平和不合理。
* 安利犯了电话诈骗和邮件诈骗。
原文出处: http://pyramidschemealert.org/an ... es-the-ftc-and-doj/
译文: http://bbs.fananli.com/viewthread.php?tid=417
在美国本土百分之九十九的参与安利销售者没有获得任何收入……真杯具 |