For more than 40 years, the network marketing and multi-level marketing industries have been vigorously monitored by such federal and state agencies as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), U.S. Postal Service, State Attorneys General, and State Corporation and Security Commissioners, and similar agencies worldwide. In general, these agencies viewed network marketing in a skeptical light because of spurious past experiences. Although the past 40 years have produced some resounding success stories, regulators continue to keep a watchful eye on the industry.
Numerous aspects of various network marketing programs attract the concern of certain government agencies. The two areas which are most prominent are the methods by which a company attracts new distributors, and the basis on which incentives are rewarded. For example, demanding payment from an individual in exchange for the right to sell products, and basing bonuses or commissions on the successful recruitment of others into the network (unrelated to the sale of the company’s product), are illegal.
Since 1979 the FTC has been refining its definition and acceptance of legitimate direct sales or network marketing programs. In its landmark decision concerning a four-year action with Amway Corporation, the FTC found that most aspects of the Amway marketing program were legal because: (1) no compensation was paid for recruiting, (2) compensation was linked directly to product sales, (3) the company provided a comprehensive inventory buy-back policy, and (4) the company required its distributors to sell a certain percentage of their purchased products to retail customers who were end users of the product.
In addition, in a most recent case, the Royal Court of Justice in the United Kingdom held in the case of Secretary of State of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform against Amway (UK) Limited that in order to be in compliance with section 120 of the Fair Trading Act 1973, commission can only be originated from actual sales of products and no commissions must be paid in respect of introduction of prospects on actual recruitment.
The resulting of these rulings opened the door for legitimate entrepreneurs to seek out people eager to build independent businesses through the networking form of product distribution. It was this condition that provided the groundwork for Market America to launch its powerful marketing plan and unique compensation program.
Since the FTC ruling, there has been an evolution of network marketing and multi-level marketing programs. Today almost every conceivable product is merchandised using network marketing. The industry has become intensely competitive with companies competing for independent distributors to join their ranks. This competition has resulted in the development of a variety of compensation structures. It has also stimulated further scrutiny of marketing plans and their compliance with the laws enforced by various regulatory agencies. Although there are contradicting interpretations of certain legal limits by the various agencies, Market America has meticulously observed even the most stringent of these regulatory interpretations and has continuously maintained a conservative posture of cooperation and compliance with regulatory agency interpretations and directives.
The Market America marketing plan has been designed to meet these regulatory requirements. Each Independent Distributor is sponsored into the organization by another Distributor. The Management Performance Compensation Plan (MPCP) offers Distributors the potential for significant financial rewards based on product sales. The plan has no inherent limitation, so each Independent Distributor has an equal opportunity for success if the requisite hard work is put into the marketing plan.
The marketing plan was developed to avoid negative incentives and/or pitfalls and to minimize limitations frequently inherent in other network marketing programs. The Market America marketing plan contains minimum referral sales requirements to ensure regulatory compliance. One interesting observation is that the very design of our marketing plan eliminates the potential for abuse or misrepresentation. The design of our plan is such that economic incentive is based entirely on products reaching end users. Furthermore, Distributors must produce 200 Personal Business Volume and a minimum of two customer sales totaling USD$200.00 before becoming qualified Distributors eligible to receive compensation credit for the Group Business Volume generated by Distributors in their organization.
Only submission of a nominal subscription fee is required to participate as a Distributor in the compensation program. As a Distributor, compensation is paid only on sales volume accumulated by qualified and active Distributors who have satisfied their minimum activity requirements. A Distributor occupies a Business Development Center in the binomial network structure and qualifies to build a marketing organization and earn commissions by first meeting specific sales and personal Business Volume requirements.
The marketing plan includes a policy for buying back all currently marketable products or literature purchased within one year of return date from Distributors who are terminating their distributorships, or purchased within 30 days of return date for Distributors not terminating their distributorships. The policy requires that product first be offered to upline Distributors to avoid a chargeback of MPCP compensation previously earned. The total process for a return usually takes less than 30 days if the Distributor follows the procedures set forth in the Market America Career Manual. Compensation must be charged back, in the absence of a buy-back by a sponsoring or upline Distributor, because the product was never sold to an end user. Sale of products to the ultimate consumer is a fundamental requirement for the earning of compensation in the marketing plan. The policy also allows for customer returns and full customer refunds on the product from the selling Distributor within a 72-hour period from the date of purchase.
Market America has also engineered a means by which Distributors can avoid the temptation of making extravagant product or income claims. Video, audio and printed presentations relate exciting, objective information about the company plan and products. One of the biggest potential problems in the network marketing industry is misrepresentation by a Distributor in business presentations. Distributors are contractually obligated to understand the marketing plan and present it properly. Executive Coordinators are contractually obligated to train, supervise and monitor their organizations and guard against misrepresentation. Market America encourages Distributors to use only company-developed marketing tools in group settings and prohibits unauthorized income claims or use of unauthorized literature or marketing tools. All other materials must be sent to the company for prior approval. This practice minimizes the risk of misrepresentation.
Market America has established a Legal Department to oversee Distributor ethics and policy enforcement to ensure that the company’s operational standards remain intact and that each Distributor honors all applicable federal, state and local laws. The company is represented by credible and experienced legal counsel in the areas of regulatory compliance, multi-level marketing law, securities law and business opportunity law. The strength and future of Market America depends on innovative products and marketing, but the company equally relies on Distributors who adhere to its policies and procedures.
All Market America Independent Distributors are required to comply with all policies, procedures, rules and regulations set forth in this Career Manual, and these may be amended from time to time. Part 2 of the Career Manual is included as part of the Independent Distributor Application and Agreement and is legally binding, as are the other terms of the Application and Agreement. It is illegal for an Independent Distributor to persuade anyone to make a payment by promoting benefits from getting others to join Market America network. Do not be misled by claims that high earnings are easily achieved.
Market America honors all federal, state and local regulations governing good business practices and requires all Independent Distributors to do the same. The company is a direct sales company marketing products through Independent Distributors. The policies, procedures, rules and regulations herein are applicable to all Independent Distributors and Market America.
Last Modified :09/19/2014 3:17:08 PM EDT