Barnes and Noble Stalkers. LEAVE ME ALONE!
*Rant Warning*
Here’s the scene, you go to Barnes and Noble hoping to browse a few books and read a couple magazines only to have some complete stranger comment on your shirt or the book you are reading. At first the person seems like a genuine human being as they ask you probing questions that usually end up taking a turn towards your education. Something sort of like
“So you went to NC State, what did you study?”
and then its,
“so do you work in that industry now?”
and then the conversation turns towards business where they will mention something about how successful they are or something along those lines
“Have you ever heard of [Insert Made Up name]?”
The most recent of the culprits was Snipes and Associates where this couple came up and started a conversation with wife and I. Nice people, so it seemed and Jen chatted them up, and as soon as they started those probing questions, I knew they were tryin to take advantage of my sweet woman. And sure enough
“Have you ever heard of Snipes and Assoc?”
I cut in them off and we went on our way but I was furious. We do these people have to stalk me in Barnes and Noble, Target or any other place. Leave me alone. Leave my woman alone. If I wanted to be part of your pyramid (excuse me, Multi-Level Marketing as they like to call it) Quixstar scheme, I would have asked you.
I seriously think next time, I’m either 1. going to ask him lots of stupid questions and then give him my friends name and number so he can badger him about coming to their next cult-like meeting, (that would be the cruelest of piratical jokes), or I’m going to lay into him and ask him/her ‘if you are so successful why are you looking for targets for your Snipes and Associates business in Barnes and freakin Noble?’ or a few questions to expose what kind of idiots these people are for buying into this pyramid scheme / wanna be amway gone wrong.
For those who don’t know QuixStar is an Amway company that is basically trying to re-invent itself on the Internet, that passes through a loophole in the law b/c of their slogan “buy from yourself and teach others to do the same”
I don’t understand why people get involved in these things. If you want to start a business then start one, don’t buy into some quixstar junk; I guess it’s people looking for the easy money.
Here is a good breakdown of Quixstar / Amway from a professor at Central Mich.
I think the worst part about it is the fact that you can’t have a conversation with a stranger anymore w/o having to wonder if they are trying to prey on nice individuals like my wife who think that people have good intentions in mind when really they are going to try to give you some Quixstar kool-aid to drink. Hell, now that I think about it, I had a professor in grad school at ECU who used to push this nonsense. Sad!
Has Anyone else had this same experience? And if so, post their business name as a comment here so we can hopefully keep others from falling in their trap…
The 2 most recent are
Snipes and Associates
Smart Research LLC
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19 Responses to “Barnes and Noble Stalkers. LEAVE ME ALONE!”
John and I had a similar experience in Target a few years ago. I wish we could remember the name of their “company” so you could post it on your website as well. Those people are so annoying (not to mention rude, clueless…etc.)!
If quixtar is a “pyramid scheme” then why did Microsoft, IBM, Compaq, etc. build the site? For that matter, why would companies like Disney, Circuit City, Barnes & Noble, Bass Pro Shops, etc. get involved with it? Get a clue!
Do you have any facts behind your statements? Or are you just basing your information on what they tell you in one of your cult meetings.
If you were to do some research for yourself you would know that Quixtar is Amway, and although Amway was ruled by the FTC to not be a Pyramind Scheme it was only by a loophole.
Quixtar and its predecessor Amway have been controversial for years because of allegations that these companies are pyramid schemes. Most of the products sold by Quixtar are to its network of IBOs for personal consumption rather than to retail customers (which, could make it a pyramid). They claim that many IBOs practice the “buy from yourself and teach others to do the same” method of multi-level marketing. The sales made through the Quixtar website, however, does allow the IBO to distinguish personal consumption and retail sales but it is based on an honor system; in the sense that the IBO can label the goods purchased for personal use to retail sales at their discretion. This will ensure that the IBO gets a larger monthly check from Quixtar. By this loophole, Quixtar IBOs can bypass a 1979 Federal Trade Commission ruling that addressed this issue.
In conclusion call it what you want, but the fact of the matter is you have to Quixtar people have to distinguish themselves from a Pyramid Scheme, a real business does not have to make this distinction.
I have said Friends who have been swollowed into “Quixtar” or as they call it Team (Michigan based). As for Anonymous, why are you so scared to post your name? Admittedly, if I was Disney, Circuit City etc, I would jump on this “Business” bandwagon –they are making a mint off from the people who are “in the busines”, so good for them, they make good money off from you people as they know you are not comparison shopping because “you’ll pay yourself back” with your point system. I don’t give a hoot if you spend $5.00 + shipping/handling for toothpaste and get, whooo $2.00 back for that you still spent $3.00 for toothpaste when you can get it on sale for $1.50 or shop your local dollar mart..image that only $1.00? Ligitimate businesses do not have to promote “buying” into their business. If I bought a McD’s franchise tomorrow I would be extremely profitable because the product!! yes product (which these people never sell–they don’t come up to you and ask you if you want to buy a product..they want you to buy into the “business”) sells itself. That my friends is a ligitimate business.
–Angela R, Michigan
Hey Evan, long time:
I went reading random entries in your blog and this is one of my pet peeves as well. Like you, I am now suspicious of people who attmpt to strike up a conversation with me. Whenever someone approaches me out of the blue wanting to talk about “business” or “leadership” or anything like that, a red flag shoots up.
What’s worse is that this problem is excessive around military bases. I actually get calls on the phone from friends of mine asking me if “I want to make more money”…which surprisingly did not involve porn, but something even more sleazy (if that were possible).
One of these people I met was going through the line at Books-a-
Million and hitting up EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN LINE. He got to me and started talking about SINCGARS secure radios–at first I thought he was a spy or something, but I later found out he was just a Quixtar drone. He gave me his business card and asked for my e-mail, which I declined to give him (much to his protesting).
If I were an owner, I’d be throwing these people out of the store.
I was roped into 3 meetings for this ridiculous scheme called Pre-Paid Legal. The “recruiter” was well equipped with 3 jets skis, 2 boats, a mansion on the lake and many other toys, including a hummer ( all of which i am sure he was heavily indebted to the bank for). He portrayed the life which he promised we would all have if we just “invested”. I laughed at them all, and had fun using him for his toys!!!! Many of my friends joined, and 2 years later their “business” went bankrupt!!!
My latest solicitation has been on my myspace account, for you guessed it….Snipes
Ha ha… You people are amazing. Juding an entire company, with over 3 million members, based off all 4 or 5 of your “enfuriating” experiences… Right? Thank God no one has judged you, your company, or an organization you represent because of YOUR retarded example. Of course there are gonna be a few morons in ANY group. Take this website as an example for all of the internet’s pages. Although this page is pretty pathetic, the internet, as a whole, as really been a good thing for the human race. It’s all a matter of how you look at it. You can either be pessimistic like all of you, or you can be optimistic and appreciate someone who wants to help you. Have you even SEEN the “Snipes” business plan? I just saw it tonight and whoever gets you started doesn’t make any money until YOU do.
Anyway, back to my point… Have you all ever been to a church for example? I’m a Christian myself, but every group has a poser or two… Oftentimes a lot more than that. All I’m trying to say is, don’t be gay (sorry for all you liberal geniuses out there) and assume the whole of this “Snipes” organization is like the idiots you associate with or attract to yourself.
WOW!!! Unfortunately you have no idea what a pyramid is. You’re apart of it now….you idiot. Corporate America is the pyramid. Weathly people build networks…broke people (such as yourself) build debt. But you’re just like the 98% of Americans…judging something before you know what it is. The gentleman that approached you and your wife was giving you compliment by approaching you with a first class business opportunity. I’m glad to know that he did’nt waste, his time efforts or energy with you!!!! Oh…and remember…stay broke because with the way you think, you will be that way for the rest of your life. I might even see you as a greeter at Walmart….start practicing (LOL).
What is a pyramid? Something where the person on the top makes all the money and the people on the bottom can never make more than the person on the top right? Well guess what, are you ever going to make more than your boss in any job you go out and get…NO! Hmmm..interesting. The way you think is exactly why 98% of america can’t retire at the “retirement age” of 65…go check that stat out at ssa.gov (Social Security Admin). People have made six figure incomes a month…tell me that they’re not going to be checked out by the FTC and everyone else to make sure what they’re doing is legal…They just wanted to help you make money
I was just approached by one of these “drones” in a local Wal-Mart. I was reaching for a bag of spinach when I was ask, “you comfortable eating spinach already?” I replied with a quick yes, and tried to move on my way. The “Consultant and Retention Strategist”, as his card says, continued to bombard me with personal questions that was was giving very few answers to. When I mentioned that I was in law school he suddenly had a friend who was needing some help with “some legal work.” When I pressed for details he could give me none, and he pressed me for my phone number twice after I told him I was not comfortable giving him my contact information or cell phone number.
I had no clue who Snipes & Associates was, and doing a Google search on the name lead me to this sight. I’m totally offended that they recruit in this fashion, and blown away that fools actually fall for this. I may never be the successful attorney that all first year students aspire to be, but I sure as sh** won’t be striking up conversation with complete strangers in front of the spinach in the produce isle in Wal-Mart. If anything I feel better about my choice to attend law school, someone will need to represent these idiots in court someday.
Wow. Like the above poster, I did a google search of Snipes & Associates after I was confronted in a Target. The man who started the conversation was quite nice & well-spoken so I chatted. I was hesitant to give any info other than mere superficialities, but I did get suckered into my name + phone (I know, I know - now!). He did mention an upcoming meeting which obviously I will not be attending. However - what is it that they do w/ the info they obtain anyway? Is just a solicitation to come to the meeting or is the name added to a marketing list, or ? I’m naive and (still) curious but now quite angered as well.
You idoit, those people are just trying to see if you are open minded. I see that you used wikipedia as one of your sources for a scheme, try going there and looking up information about that quixtar company. Try going to the BBB and looking up that company. I think that is a great opportunity for some people, but not everybody. It’s people like you that make the internet a dangerous place you jerk. The next time someone comes up to me and makes a comment about where I went to school, I will thank them and tell them that it’s either not for me or what ever. But dude, you are a idiot!!! what are you, one of those people who used to “blog” all over the bathroom walls. GET A LIFE!
Thank God for Google. This same exact thing just happened to me last weekend at the bookstore, some guy started going on about the magazine I was looking at and insisted I met him for a bite to eat. So i did and hes telling me about some workshop. I knew it was some scam. What a joke. Thanks for posting this blog, you rock!
I was at work today (officeMax), when a gentleman asked for dry erase markers. I led him to the correct aisle and he then was overly thankful and then began to ask me about my education. I just happen to go to NC State. He then told me that his “mentor” who was 24 years old went to NC State. He told me if I was interested to give him a call.
By the way, his card has Snipes and Associates, “I-Commerce Business Development.
i am not going to bash how someone wants to make their living, but harrassing someone in a retail store is terrible. I had a quixtra prick follow me from a Target to a Walmart one time. If that isnt the definition of a stalker i dont know what is.
someone said it beautifully: if your business is so good, why are you recruiting in a best buy/target/walmart/etc… looking for people.
Here I was thinking I’d made a “friend” over our shared interest in the Pittsburgh Pirates… of all things… another Snipes guy in a Home Depot in Charlotte, NC. Ah well.
A sniper got me in his scope at a Dunn’s Brothers. Nice guy, smoothly transitioned into the money making side of things. I asked what they were doing and he said to attend a meeting to better understand…they do not give out ANY specific info. I gave him my number…I’m sure I’ll have him come to me to explain things over a drink. I’m old enough to take care of myself and make a good decision, as alot people are in this world. IMO, this marketing strategy is mentally draining and you HAVE to know well-rounded people to make it, hence, most fail to make the grade…however, for the ones that are motivated enough, well, they make it happen through there action and hard work EVERYDAY…you want it, you better go get it…period!
My 20 year old son was recently approached by a woman in the paint department at Home Depot. She feigned interest in helping him decide on what color to paint his room, asked enough questions to find out he was a student majoring in journalism with a public relations emphasis, & then told him she & her husband had an advertising company. He gave her his cell # & she gave him a very generic, printed at Kinko’s business card, for Snipes, Aycock & Assoc., & then called later to set up an “interview.” Thankfully when I Googled “Snipes” I came up w/ this post. Reading it on the Internet gave it a little more cred. than just mom being suspicious & he cancelled the “interview.”