Why is TVI Express NOT a Pyramid Scheme – In Response to Kasey Chang’s yet another controversial blog!

Interestingly enough, Kasey Chang, an ardent critic of my blogs is giving words to his thoughts and criticism about my blog entries.

I think it’s good for more the explanations are, more are the chances to get to the TRUTH!

Apart from being a response to his “critique” of one of my blog entries about ACCC-TVI Express case (as he bases the most part of his blog on TVI Express being a pyramid scheme), this blog entry, MORE importantly, aims at explaining WHY TVI Express is NOT a Pyramid Scheme!

First things first - What is a Pyramid Scheme anyway? How is it defined?

Let’s find out.

As per Wikipedia –

“A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves the exchange of money primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, without any product or service being delivered. Pyramid schemes are a form of fraud”

As it states a pyramid scheme is the exchange of money primarily for the enrolling of other people without any Product OR Service.

OR it is even generally described by people as a scheme where people at the top make money but the others don't.

In regards to TVI Express, the product component obligation is fulfilled by their 6N7D vacation package which is their core product and has now been revised to 7N8D for some of the accommodations depending upon the hotel and availability. Apart from the product fulfillment, they also offer a range of services and what are they? See below:

1.      A big number of discounted deals listed through their travel engine

2.      Lifetime access to a full-fledged travel portal.

So, this appear to have met the criteria for the definition of a product being "6 Nights and 7 Days (OR 7N & 8D for some cases)"  and that of a "Service" by giving lifetime access to a full-fledged travel portal with most of the deals with discounts.

Therefore how can it be a Pyramid Scheme when two of the items that are required to be omitted in order to be a Pyramid Scheme are in fact included in the TVI business i.e A "Product" and a "Service"???

Another thing, as per the MLM Laws, another defining feature of a Pyramid scheme is the criteria which such companies set so that the members are obligated to fulfill them in order to be able to redeem the product such as multi-level movement of money or recruitment of a certain number of people prior to the redemption.

While, with TVI Express, there are no such conditions. One is capable of redeeming the product right after joining them.  The TVI Express sign up voucher ensures your position with them while the Package Redemption Certificate (which is made readily available to you as soon as you sign up in your member backoffice) can be instantly used for the redemption of Product, without recruiting any members or without any virtual movement of commissions up the levels.

Before I go further, let’s also learn a little more about the TVI Express Product, information about which, you can also find on their official website (even if you aren’t a member). Please refer to their latest announcement dated 9^th June, 2010 under the section “Announcements”.

The TVI Express redemption certificate entitles a member to book a vacation at any of the 6,000 3-5 star hotels/resorts across the world where they have direct/indirect tie-ups. The occupancy limit ranges between 2-8.  2 is the assured number by them as a company since the vacation is promised for a couple; however, some of the hotels are even giving higher occupancy, as high as, even up to 8 people with up to 3 bedroom units on a single redemption. But this is specific to a particular hotel and the availability at a given time. All this for mere USD 150 which goes towards taxes and processing charges and has to be paid to the company and not to the selected hotel (As all the arrangements are made by the company in advance so that the redemption can be made at any of the desired accommodations).

Okay, coming back to the main point – PYRAMID SCHEME!

Now, regarding making money by recruiting people. This is a bit ambiguous as you would indeed make more money if you introduced more people to this travel and accommodation opportunity. However, this is no different than any business where if you have more clients or customers who like what they see and decide to buy the product and you were directly responsible for introducing this new person to the product, the company rewards you accordingly.

Which is exactly the same as any business where Salesman No 1 sells more products than Salesman No 2 and therefore, the company rewards Salesman no 1 more than Salesman No2 As Salesman No 1 has brought more money in to the company.

All of the above indicates a win, win, win situation. The new customer wins because he now has access to discounted travel and free accommodation (exclusive of taxes and processing). The company wins because it has been paid by the new customer and the Salesman (person who introduced the new customer) wins because the company pays him more commission.

Of course, an MLM company like TVI Express has added advantages in that if this new customer wishes to start a home based business, he can introduce more people to the TVI Express product and therefore the company will then pay him commissions. So the same opportunity is available for everyone. If they choose not to introduce anyone else that's fine, they just use the "product".

And please note:

My last blog entry sure was copied from one of the announcements (about currently ongoing TVI Express Europe Boot Camp) by TVI Express on their website but DARN, my ardent critic Kasey Chang missed my comment right above the copied and pasted announcement which stated “Have a look at the announcement below I am copying for those who have not yet viewed it on TVI Express website” and mistook me for missing the end note from TVI Express.

Any suggestions/comments would be sincerely welcomed.

TVI ExpressTraining Boot Camps - Europe Calling!

TVI Express just announced a series of boot camps to be organized with the first one starting in Europe tomorrow. This is absolutely a great step in training people and leaders not just about a company but also about the industry practices, methodologies and what it takes to be successful!

Have a look at the announcement below I am copying for those who have not yet viewed it on TVI Express website.

Europe Calling

Dear TVIites,

We at TVI Express, are elated to announce our first ever Boot Camp which is to be held in Europe for 10 days beginning 20^th of June, 2010. All members who achieved the targets as announced in the Golden Eggs Launch Event in Surabaya, Indonesia would be a part of this glorious event which would happen for 10 days across 5 countries.

This event would help in transformation of the current workforce ground into an even better and ultimate terrain to be at, in order to enhance the training and marketing methodologies presently in use by our personnel’s and thus creating better marketing agendas, and all this - while holidaying through nooks and streets of the beautiful continent – Europe.

The group will be divided into two sub-groups – Group A & Group B with Group A leaving on 19^th of June while the Group B will leave on 21^st. Please be informed that any submissions from people (apart from 141 members who qualified for this fully sponsored event) for this Boot Camp (as per the announcement made at Golden Eggs event. Surabaya) will be rejected.

Given below is an outline of the 10-day Europe travel agenda:


Day - 01 (20^th June): JAKARTA – AMSTERDAM

Day - 02 (21^st June): Arrival at Amsterdam - COLOGNE - FRANKFURT

Day - 03 (22nd June): FRANKFURT – TITISEE – SCHAFFHAUSEN - LUCERNE

Day - 04 (23^rd June): LUCERNE – MT. TITLIS - LUCERNE

Day - 05 (24^th June): LUCERNE – DIJON – PARIS

Day - 06 (25^th June): PARIS

Day - 07 (26^th June): PARIS – BRUSSELS – AMSTERDAM

Day - 08 (27^th June):  AMSTERDAM

Day - 09 (28^th June): AMSTERDAM – JAKARTA

Day - 10 (29^th June): JAKARTA


The final arrival in Jakarta will mark the end of this remarkable journey.

The trip would be a fun filled one with training sessions organized in various destinations which would make this event even more memorable and help you extend your business beyond the boundaries.

We request all candidates to submit their Visa and Passport copies (if they have not done so yet) to Support Staff at our Indonesia Office latest by the 18^th of this month, as the first group leaves on 19^th June.

This is just the beginning of our boot camps with next to be organized soon for our Indian distributors in Thailand, a country situated in the heart of Southeast Asia.

Stay tuned for more announcements and we will keep you informed about all upcoming events and attractions.


Sincerely,

The TVI Express Team
Touching Lives Globally!

Conversation with a blogger Kasey Chang about some TVI Express facts and his CONTROVERSIAL blogs

Kasey Chang, one of the bloggers here, is actively blogging about TVI Express. Recently, we both indulged in a conversation about some of his much controversial blogs about TVI Express.
In one of his blogs he claims that TVI Express has misled people to believe that Mr. Warren Buffet is one of the investors in TVI Express and the proof he backs up his claim with, is this TVI Express link: http://www.tviexpress.com/expert-watch.php

If you check out the link, you will easily figure that TVI Express in no way has indicated that Warren Buffet or any of the public figures listed there has endorsed TVI Express or even has any relation with TVI Express. Rather, they only intend to shout out the power of Network Marketing Industry. And well, the heading itself reads – “What Those That Know Network Marketing Are Saying”

So what’s the fuss about? Now did that really need a debate? You decide it for youself

Link for the conversation:

http://kschang.blogspot.com/2010/06/found-who-warren-buffet-was-really.html

Here, I would also like to post for you the conversation between me and Kasey over this. Decide for yourself what makes enough sense.  I know the conversation is a bit long and you would need some patience to read through it and I still feel  it could have been stretched upto a novel’s length, but I decide to leave it to you to figure out the rest  yourself.

The comments in Maroon are Kasey’s and while those in Black are mine:

Kasey’s Original Post:

“On TVI Express website, under "Expert Watch", you'll see that they quoted Warren Buffet:

We've already explained that Mr. Warren Buffet was "richest person in the World" in 2008, but NOT 2009 or 2010, as per Forbes.com.

But did you ever wonder just WHICH companies was Mr. Buffet was referring to? It sure was NOT TVI Express.

Turns out one of the companies he was referring to is Pampered Chef, which Berkshire Hathaway *does* own. “

Which brings up another interesting point...

FACT: EVERY legitimate network marketing company has a "code of ethics" for their independent consultants or distributors. Amway has it. ACN has it. Pampered Chef has is (see above).

My Reply:

Kasey,

If you have a closer look at the link http://www.tviexpress.com/expert-watch.php

You'll see that the page in no means gives the impression that Mr. Warren Buffet is endorsing TVI Express. The heading on the page itself says "What Those That Know NETWORK MARKETING Are Saying"

Here's an excerpt from your blog

"But did you ever wonder just WHICH companies was Mr. Buffet was referring to? It sure was NOT TVI Express."

All the business tycoons and experts listed there are talking about Network Marketing/Direct Selling and not TVI Express in particular and TVI Express's clearly even reflected that on their page.

All they are trying to emphasize on on that page is the power of Network Marketing industry and not any personal endorsements.

Don't try to mislead people by posting things that give a wrong impression to people about something that's not true. It may only fetch you increase in the number of views for your blog but not the credibility.

Kasey’s Reply:

@EmJay07 -- You clearly did not actually understood what I wrote. You and I understand the page does NOT actually say Warren Buffet invested in TVI Express, but there are dozens, perhaps hundreds or thousands of people who actually think it does.

"TVI Express has some of the greatest investors in the world backing this company. For example, Warren Buffet, Mike Branson [sic], and many others are involved. " -- http://ezinearticles.com/?TVI-Express-is-an-Exploding-Home-Based-Business-Opportunity&id=2803121

"Warren Buffet and Richard Branson at the helm of the prestigious UK financial group backing TVI Express!" -- http://www.facebook.com/pages/TVI-Express-Emily-Adams/210073236642

and there are plenty more out there.

The reason I am blaming TVI Express is the wording are misleading to some people. TVI Express shares part of the fault, by providing NO DISCLAIMER, and has NOT combated any of the false information that its distributors had spread. Again, IT HAS NO CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ITS DISTRIBUTORS. That is the point I am making.

Did you notice that any mention of "Sir Richard Branson" was removed from TVI Express website?

I am not the one who gave wrong impression to people. TVI Express is. By NOT citing the actual company Mr. Buffett was referring to, and NOT publishing a disclaimer explaining that TVI Express had NOT received any investment from Mr. Buffett, TVI Express itself has confused the issue, and it had NOT censured any of the distributors making false claims. THAT IS NOT the behavior of a reputable company.

And you really think I care about how many views this blog gets? Hah! A few Adsense (tm) links? Ha!

My Reply:

@Kasey

So you mean to say it's TVI Express's fault if the independent sites or people on their Facebook profiles try to mislead people about Warren Buffer or Sir Richard Branson?

In my humble opinion, it's not reasonable to hold TVI Express accountable of something they never claimed!

It doesn't make any business sense.

And about disclaimer, it wasn't needed since it was very clear on the page.

Your comment:

"You and I understand the page does NOT actually say Warren Buffet invested in TVI Express, but there are dozens, perhaps hundreds or thousands of people who actually think it does."

Kasey, this is no rocket science. If you and I could understand what it is, then it definitely is crystal clear for everyone else to understand as well.

People make use of lot of cheap tactics in order to promote their own personal network but then it's not the company that should be held accountable for it. Rather, those websites which share non-ethical information should be shut down.

Kasey’s Reply:

Perhaps you and I are actually SMARTER than the rest of the people? And TVI Express is aimed at the lower-end of the spectrum?

And why isn't TVI Express doing anything about these "unscrupulous distributors"? Other companies have a code of conduct. ACN, Amway, and real MLMs have Code of Conduct. TVI Express has nothing. You ever heard of any distributor got kicked out of TVI Express? I don't think so.

Why? Very simple. TVI Express itself is a pyramid scheme. TVI Express would NOT have a code of conduct because it cannot abide by it itself. It also will not kick out any members because a pyramid scheme relies on recruiting MORE members, not getting rid of existing members, even if they are doing bad things.

Rule #1: lie as little as possible

Rule #3: tell the truth, but in a misleading way

Rule #6: stay focused, be committed to the lie

And what you're doing is

Rule #9: counterattack, force the critic on the defensive

(from Top Ten Secrets of Effective Liars http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/extreme-fear/201005/top-10-secrets-effective-liars )

My Reply:

Well, may be you think too highly of yourself to say that you're smarter than rest of the world or may be you want to ignore the truth simply because you want to keep sticking to what you said even if it holds no grounds... (I'm sure readers, if any, are laughing at this right now) but I don't think that way because I never underestimate others and beleive in the facts.. anyway I don't want to go there .. talking about psychology and "secrets of liars" since I'm here to talk more about facts.

Although, I thank you and I'm honoured for you have considered me as a part of spectrum you fall in but NO THANKS!

And the "lower-end" spectrum..hmmmm ...weelll...ummmppphh... Ha!

If you're refering to people involved in Direct Selling as being in "lower-spectrum", then I guess Mr. Warren Buffet, Mr. Bill Clinton, Mr. Robert Kiyosaki, all these are from "lower-spectrum". You must be having gala time enjoying your "higher-spectrum" level on your blog site while writing all this that you do and boasting of your spectrum. Ha?

Apart from the above, I know many not-so-famous but highly qualified and experienced leaders who are a part of TVI Express.


That's very perceptive of you Kasey.

Again, how do you know TVI Express hasn't kicked out any members? PERCEPTION again! and what do you base that on? Ah again, a Psychology Link :| that you want others to read too while ignoring the facts and to follow a perception and validating it by your psychology guide. Ah, makes no SENSE!

Let's get to the facts then.

I personally know of many people who have been blocked or rather "kicked out" by TVI Express for promoting the business in a wrong manner and yes, that spells CODE OF CONDUCT.

Although this whole thing is very irrelevant itself to main point from where this whole conversation initiated but still feel free to let me know should you like to know about some such cases. And oh well, I may not be able to link you to some psychology site but sure can give some REAL facts in case you don't mind them much.

Don't mind me saying this but it's rather clear that you should do your homework well before you make your perceptive comments about something.

Think about it because it will help you put your over-perceptive and in some ways paranoid mind at ease.

Kasey’s Reply:

You "personally know" some people kicked off. Great. Good for you. The problem is, you can't prove it. What you know is merely hearsay, unless it can be supported by outside evidence.

Unless TVI Express releases a code of conduct on their website or publish such a list, you got NOTHING to prove your point. When TVI Express does so, I'll post a retraction. Until then, you've proven nothing.

Provide some FACTS along with personal observation, next time.

TVI Express-ACCC Case

This is for all those people who think that TVI Express is banned in Australia.

TVI Express is NOT banned in Australia!

ACCC - Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, without making confirmations about the facts or even without initiating any contacts with the company (TVI Express) made allegations on three TVI Express members (not the company) in Australia

And people, it is not the first time this has happened. ACCC is well known for doing that. ACCC initiated such investigations in the past as well against some of the major names in MLM industry, namely - Amway, ACN and many more.

As was expected, ACCC LOST every such case they filed. What have you got to say about it?

As far as TVI Express is concerned, TVI Express hired a Sydney based professional attorney to render their assistance to these three individuals and for your knowledge, all the court orders have been EVADED.

Besides, on the internet, some people are also talking FBI doing some investigation against TVI Express. Does any here beleive in rumours? I ask so because some people think that they can write whatever on internet and it will be promoted as if the readers are fools.

Okay, let me tell you - Had TVI Express been under investigation of any sort by FBI, there would have been some word from FBI on their website and the company would not have been running such successfully and growing like it is (with all the legitimacy).

Do such people really expect us to beleive this absolute rumour which is nothing but a piece of useless bull****? Think about it.

Anyone beleiving so is wasting his/her time.

I personally don't mean any offence to people who write and spread such rumours because I pity them for them being so uninformed!

TVI Express 7N8D Vacation - Comments by Kasey Chang, one of the bloggers

Some of the bloggers on here spare a lot of time and energy to raise points that are not only non-worthy of looking at but also intend .. INTEND.. to spread unnecessary negativity about something while being ignorant of the truth.

BUT people, all these efforts are futile. Here's one example:

Kasey Chang, one of the bloggers here, as I was reading through his blogs, comments on TVI Express's Product Launch

Here's the link for you all reading this:

http://kschang.blogspot.com/2010/06/tvi-express-announced-they-are-charging.html

The charge of USD 150 is no shocker since TVI Express has always maintained in the Terms & Conditions that taxes and processing charges will be borne by the members and members are happily availing these vouchers and planning full fledged vacations with their family.

Hey, with this product one gets a world class luxurious vacation in a 3-5 star hotel/resort for a cost of mere USD 150!

What MORE can one expect for USD 150?

Kasey's comment:

""As consolation for all this bull**** they are putting members through, they are throwing in one extra night, and allow you to take along some extra poeple (up to 6), if you can squeeze them all into a single room.""

About the occupancy, they say that the maximum occupancy is of 6 people but that really depends upon the hotel and accommodation [as made clear by them in their announcement - Point # 2 - "As stated above, depending upon the accommodation, you can take along up to 5 people with you (a maximum of 6 guests after confirming the occupancy from online inventory)".]

Besides, no hotel would allow for an impossible occupancy unless there is enough space to do so.

The points raised by Kasey not only ignore the true worth of TVI Express's magnifique product but also reflects some unnecessary negativity that holds no grounds.

One must look at the good points always for looking at bad does no GOOD but in this case, the points raised were not even attention-worthy.

So, with the launch of TVI Express product, I'm sure all the rant will come to end and if it doesn't, trust you me, it will do you no good at the end.

Always make an informed and educated decision!

Attention: Kasey Chang and his readers! (TVI Express)

To the special attention of Kasey Chang and those who read his blogs.

With this blog, I intend to pinpoint one of his blogs, where he intentionally/mistakenly (I don't want to go there..) talks about something that holds no meaning. No offence intended to him or anyone; however, I believe that I must voice it for I opine that this blog of his is unnecessary and meaningless.

Pertinent link is as given below:

http://kschang.blogspot.com/2010/06/found-who-warren-buffet-was-really.html

If you have a closer look at the link (which is being referred to in Kasey's blog) http://www.tviexpress.com/expert-watch.php

You'll see that the page in no means gives the impression that Mr. Warren Buffet is endorsing TVI Express. The heading on the page itself says "What Those That Know NETWORK MARKETING Are Saying"

Here's an excerpt from Kasey's blog:

" But did you ever wonder just WHICH companies was Mr. Buffet was referring to? It sure was NOT TVI Express."

All the business tycoons/experts/public figures listed there are talking about Network Marketing/Direct Selling and not TVI Express in particular and TVI Express's clearly even reflected that on their page.

All they are trying to emphasize on on that page is the power of Network Marketing industry and not any personal endorsements.

Kasey - Don't try to mislead people by posting things that give a wrong impression to people about something that's not true. It may only fetch you increase in the number of views for your blog but not credibility.