The AMO's offer free motivational speeches for people who have not yet joined the Amway system and they sell motivational seminars, tapes and literature to Amway distributors.
Amway employs a system of "levels" to reward successful distributors; higher level distributors act as mentors to newer distributors.
While supporters of the system point out that Amway is an easy way to earn money on the side and that it makes sense to buy products for personal use "from your own business" wholesale, critics charge that even the wholesale prices published by Amway are often higher than retail prices elsewhere, especially if shipping and handling costs are taken into account.
Distributors do not have to pay for shipping or handling.
As the products are of higher quality than 'regular' wares, this is not an issue for most people.
Amway does not qualify as a [pyramid scheme]? since the main aim of the enterprise is the sale of products.
Critics point out however that participating in the system is not free, that AMOs often emphasize the attracting of new participants over selling products and that many distributors spend little time actually selling products to others.
Reports that AMOs target psychologically vulnerable people and that some distributors have become alienated from friends and family who did not support their activity are rejected by Amway supporters as exaggerated.
Amway has recently created an internet arm called Quixtar?.