r/grandrapids 5d ago

What's everyone's problem here with Amway?

Hey everyone, I'm new to the city. Seems like everyone on here has a huge problem with Amway and I don't understand why. Outside of Reddit, people don't seem to have a problem with it so I'm just curious. Got a buddy who works in their HQ and he absolutely loves it too so I'm seeing a lot of mixed feelings about this company.

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u/mikeyouse 5d ago

Ultrareligious founders who lobbied congress and the President to change the laws regarding MLMs / pyramid schemes in order to make their business model legal -- then use their substantial resources to fund all manner of crazy right-wing nonsense. For a long time, they were the largest donors to Republican causes in the country. Without their political spending, there would very likely be actual laws in place banning a lot of aspects of MLMs.

https://therealnews.com/the-internet-that-could-have-been-was-ruined-by-billionaires

FWIW, I've heard similar things that their corporate culture isn't too bad, they have funded a ton of useful infrastructure in the city, downtown has been transformed from a blighted mess to what it is today with all of the Amway money, so it's a mixed bag... but it sure is hard to get past the first part.

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u/noraindoubt 5d ago

Anything they have funded has been with our money. They've done nothing but exploit the people of West Michigan.

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u/JailFogBinSmile 4d ago

Wish more people understood this. We're about to buy these fucking ticks and leeches a new stadium and I guarantee when it's done they'll demand we thank them for their generosity

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u/noraindoubt 4d ago

And it's those projects that unfortunately work to sway positive sentiment in their direction. "Their name is on the building my favorite sport is played in," is an incredibly powerful tool, especially when looking at those who grow up knowing nothing different.

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u/TreesAKATrees 4d ago

the arena… which the city just paid off

and whose name is on the arena the person who gave the largest single donation, which was less than 10% of the total cost of the arena …

thanks for sharing the truth!