Ignite and Stream Energy - Is it a Scam?

[10can]

Here in Texas there is an energy company called Stream Energy that also owns its marketing business called Ignite that uses Multi Level Marketing to sell its energy.

It is set up like Amway and I do not trust it and wanted to see if any of you guys have had any experience with them that you can tell me about.

Thanks

[jeffrey]

Quick and easy advice is stay away from MLMs if you don't want to lose money.

[10can]

Is MLM really that bad?

[gackle]

I look at MLM this way: Every company needs sales and marketing to get their brand out in front of their potential customers. The traditional way and what most companies do is spend thousands and sometimes millions of dollars (for large companies) on marketing and advertising. MLM companies approach it in a different way. From what I've seen, most don't spend much money on marketing and advertising. Instead they elect to rely on MLM to provide free word-of-mouth marketing from its members. Members get financial benefit from it and happy members mean the word about their company is spread more.

Now just like any job, not everybody fits well with MLM. People that are good at sales will usually do well in MLM. Also, like any other regular company, success depends on if what the company sells is really in demand and how the company positions itself in the market. This website used to have a featured sponsor or partner that was a MLM, Mannatech. My parents know many people in the organization that have done so well that they no longer need to "run the business". Their downline provides them enough commissions that they are truly considered rich in our society.

Like any business venture, there are costs to get started and potential for loss. If it's something that your good at and passionate about, then, like any other job, you should excel at it.

[jeffrey]

Is MLM really that bad?

The problem is that many are set up to be more like pyramid schemes. If the company tells you how much you will earn by recruiting rather than by selling, then it is moving closer to a pyramid scheme. People get hooked in because they see all these possible profits from recruiting others. Unless you get in at the beginning, this is not where your earnings will come from. Unless you love sales and are willing to sell to everyone, avoid mlms.

[spooon]

alright. I'm an ignite independent associate for ~3weeks. here is my take and take from it what you will.

I joined primarily because the risk/reward was low. it cost me $329 to join which included support, manual, and some other stuff. Then an optional $20/month for a website that allows me to sign up customers and agents.

In 1 week I paid $329 + $20, yet they were running a bonus where I could make $200 if I found 2 people to switch the electricity in 7 days to stream energy. That was easy. If I hired an agent and they also did the 2 switches in 7 days I would pocket another $200 and they would pocket $200.

Math: $400 - ($329 + $20)= ~$51 ( there was a $3 processing check fee i think).

Not bad considering everyone on the net was crying out loud that mlms were bad since they suck the money out of you but instead I made ~$50 in 1 week? I'm not sure what all the fuss is about but I MADE money.

Then the next hurdle was how fast could I earn $20/month so my business was free? I'm on pace to get promoted to MD in ~ 6weeks. The avg is 8 months. I just found a good agent that had good connections.

The $/kw rate isn't the best but it's currently $.1199 1yr contract @1000kw and that's way better then txu/reliant. I don't force people to join me or switch. I just try and share why I did it and how I'm saving money now. My electricity bill saved me $72 last month since switching from my high reliant month to month rate.

all you need is 3 agents and 8 electricity customers. after that you just manage your downline and wait to get promoted unless your a go getter and want to find more to accelerate your promotion. I'm on pace to make $55/month residual (doesn't include hiring agent bonuses).

monthly payout: $55-$20 = $35/month.

That isn't bad since I wasn't making that before. And for every person in my down line that hires another agent I get another $75 each.

all in all not bad. Maybe I got a good game plan in how I built it up.

I welcome any new associate who is interested to hit me up and just ask me what I think. I'm not some professional salesman as I'm just a regular guy who wants to share their experience as this is my first business and mlm gig I've done.

[Madwand]

My name is Scott and I'm an Ignite rep. Here is the #1 and fatal problem with Ignite and Stream Energy.

The wave of Web 2.0 marketing has allowed people to grow their MLM business in ways never dreamed of in the MLM industry. MySpace, YouTube, Blogging, and 100's of other strategies have made it possible for Network Marketers to drive a steady flow of fresh prospects to their business every day. The Pros are hitting 5 figure monthly incomes in under 60 days with this new trend.

Nearly every single MLM company encourages their reps to use these strategies to build massive downlines except for Ignite.

Ignite is still stuck in the same old MLM methods dated back to the 1970's. These old style methods are fading fast and are becoming very ineffective in today's market.

My personal experience: I created a simple YouTube Video about Ignite. Within 3 days I was in the #1 position on Google which is not hard to do if you know what you're doing. I was getting contacts everyday from people curious about the business. Within 7 days my entire Ignite web page was shut down. I couldn't add a customer or sponsor a single new rep.

You see it's Ignite policy that you can not use any other web page or link to promote your personal ignite web page. Without warning they shut me completely down.

I then created a few simple online classified ads for the purposes of acquiring customers. I sent them to Ignite for approval and was again told that I can not do any such advertising.

Since I build my business by marketing online I was basically shut down almost completely. I live in Ohio and I can't easily gather all my friends and family together to start an Ignite business in only Texas and Georgia. Friends and Family never work anyway.

Ignite is way behind the trend and this will be their ultimate demise unless they change they way they allow reps to market their business. So many other companies have beat them to the punch (Ambit, Affordable Energy, Zurvita to name a few).

If you like the old fading methods of MLM then go for it. If not then I would not recommend Ignite.

Information Provided by

Scott Marvin

[TexRider34]

I'm not understanding how this could be a scam when all you are doing is what other companies are under paying their employees for doing. TXU pay employees very little for going door to door.

I guess everyone is so use to the CEO's making the big bucks and have the little guys programmed to make the bare minimum with a few benefits. WOW!!!!

If its not for you, then its not for you. It already is and will continue to be a life changing experience for me and what I will be able to do.

And as far as the $329.00 and the $24.95 a month. They are all tax right offs and most of all its for ME. I have made that money back to where its a mute point. Its definitely not a scam to the Stream customers and I'm definitely not getting scammed. So, sit back and watch us roll on with this scam. PEACE!!!!

[georgiagas4cash]

I applaud the rules and regulations set forth by Ignite, powered by Stream Energy. All new associates check that they read these and will abide by them. It clearly states that we NEVER advertise for customers and they send out warnings all the time. If one wants to advertise to build their business, they simply get it approved so that the company has control over what is being said and all statements in the advertisement are factual.

Personally, there were several people in my upline that did damage to many of us and Ignite in Georgia and hindered our immediate success. They were professional networkers, not ordinary individuals who wanted to take advantage of deregulation and build a Plan B income using the business model of inviting 3 or more people to become partners. They brought in massive numbers of people, could not possibly train well, made many promises to "be there" leading the team...then after the second month of getting paid on leadership bonuses, decided the pay wasn't good enough (over $30,000!) and left the company. That was fine and their decision, but they tried to take us with them. My downline was so disgusted, it killed momentum, and has taken many of us longer to build back and reach goals.

Ignite is genuine. I am now one of the leaders who is always coaching and training others to make their goals. It's still up to each individual to learn and grow by staying plugged into meetings, by setting appointments and by showing the plan. The more one does this, the more their team will succeed.

If you are looking for a Plan B, please consider Ignite. It never hurts to look!

[wincrasher]

Welcome to the wild west of unregulated power. Guess who pays for all this MLM?

[TeamMpower]

I had a long conversation about this with one of the VERY high- ups in the company (corporate, not an associate) and he was very clear on why the almost complete ban on Internet marketing. The word "deregulation" doesn't mean anarchy and the utility field is still very regulated in many ways. The Public Service Commissions and Public Utility Commissions do not want associates muddying the waters with a bunch of "lose weight now, ask me how" kind of stuff out on the net. They want to keep this a dignified, professional industry, so much of the company's license to do business in the state is contingent on them NOT allowing people to have free-reign on the Internet.

All that said, I'm a computer guy for a living and my partner is an Internet marketer so don't think that we don't feel the allure of marketing that way. However, for me, my best team has been built with a very hands-on approach - what the associates refer to as "belly-to-belly". We've built a very strong team this way and it's been very duplicatable.

Personally, this is the best business I've ever done!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Madwand

My name is Scott and I'm an Ignite rep. Here is the #1 and fatal problem with Ignite and Stream Energy.

The wave of Web 2.0 marketing has allowed people to grow their MLM business in ways never dreamed of in the MLM industry. MySpace, YouTube, Blogging, and 100's of other strategies have made it possible for Network Marketers to drive a steady flow of fresh prospects to their business every day. The Pros are hitting 5 figure monthly incomes in under 60 days with this new trend.

Nearly every single MLM company encourages their reps to use these strategies to build massive downlines except for Ignite.

Ignite is still stuck in the same old MLM methods dated back to the 1970's. These old style methods are fading fast and are becoming very ineffective in today's market.

My personal experience: I created a simple YouTube Video about Ignite. Within 3 days I was in the #1 position on Google which is not hard to do if you know what you're doing. I was getting contacts everyday from people curious about the business. Within 7 days my entire Ignite web page was shut down. I couldn't add a customer or sponsor a single new rep.

You see it's Ignite policy that you can not use any other web page or link to promote your personal ignite web page. Without warning they shut me completely down.

I then created a few simple online classified ads for the purposes of acquiring customers. I sent them to Ignite for approval and was again told that I can not do any such advertising.

Since I build my business by marketing online I was basically shut down almost completely. I live in Ohio and I can't easily gather all my friends and family together to start an Ignite business in only Texas and Georgia. Friends and Family never work anyway.

Ignite is way behind the trend and this will be their ultimate demise unless they change they way they allow reps to market their business. So many other companies have beat them to the punch (Ambit, Affordable Energy, Zurvita to name a few).

If you like the old fading methods of MLM then go for it. If not then I would not recommend Ignite.

Information Provided by

Scott Marvin

[wfhouses]

Looks like this has turned into a long ad for Stream Energy. I/m from SC and have never heard of the company, but I have seen many MLM companies come and go. Just be warned and proceed with caution.

[bjl584]

You would probably make more money buying scratch off lottery tickets than trying to profit from all of this nonsense.

[TESLAFAN]

Ignite, as stated is the marketing arm of Stream Energy. It is 1099 income, and as such, earnings are by pure merit. In traditional marketing, if a billboard is not attracting business in a given location, it's taken down and a new location selected. I'm a veritable billboard. I pressure no one to become an associate, but, as stated by someone much more successful in this company, "If you can't change the people around you, you should consider changing the people around you" (those who can't see the point, those who don't get it, due to fear of the unknown, or consider themselves too busy to be bothered, can't carry on a conversation with people, etc., because the #'s speak for themselves), I don't take it personal. I know this company has just as much, or more, credibility as any of the other former monopolies, or johnny-come-latelys combined. Our annual convention had no less than 10,000 attendees listening to no less than the Chairman of the Texas Public Works Commission speaking on stage with the former Chairperson in the audience as well. The company did not generate 1 billion dollars in revenue in 5 years because their business plan doesn't work. It took GOOGLE 6 years to hit 1 BIL. They're global, we are just in 2 States with less than 10% market share combined. At present. Corporate plans to possibly open in 2 more States by the end of the year, 5 in the next 2-3 years. While upwards of 20 States in the Union are already, or soon to be regulated. Argue if you like, I don't have time, but THIS opportunity lets yo take advantage of what Warren Buffet is quoted as saying: "...the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of America will be due to the deregulation of energy!" Argue with him.

[BarbPoetry]

I thought Buffett, (along with the other wealthy ones), said that the largest transfer of wealth was from the oldest generation down to other generations. ?

[maritza_villanueva15]

I just got an invitation to join them. Can any one comment on this company?

[cschin4]

Kind of amazing this would be posted and almost immediately there is a "rep" on here from a company most of us never heard of! Amazing!

[jeffrey]

Like I have said, stay away. if you are looking through the thread, give weight to the members that have a history on this website (more than 15 posts) -- people that have posted just once or twice usually have a specific reason they found this thread and may not be the most objective parties.

[lrh1972]

I actually see this as one of the benefits of deregulation...I have not joined yet and have done some research...I don't view this as a scam at all!! I'm confused as to how people view it that way. I feel it's people helping people save and make money. In my eyes, the company would rather pay real people to advertise than spend a ton to marketing firms. Also, of course they aren't going to allow for reps to advertise on their own link....legal liabilities allowing people to do so!

Like any job, there is actual "work" involved to get a good ROI so if you are not a sales person, it may seem uncomfortable. it's not really any different than any other company like tupperware or pampered chef! Except you don't have to carry merchandise around!!!!

[rkdonovan]

Here in Texas you have the choice, in most areas, to choose your energy provider. But the provider is nothing more than a billing company. Reliant, TXU, and Direct are just billing companies. The company that maintains the poles, wires, and outages is listed on your bill. In Houston it is Centerpoint. The bottom line is with so many companies to choose from the competition makes for good rates to consumers.
Regardless if Ignite is the network marketing arm of Stream Energy they have competitive rates. Ignite simply markets using the relationship marketing method...nothing wrong with that. So...what's not to trust? Amway can do business legally and so can Stream. Network marketing is not illegal. So if you're looking for a way to save money you should check into the money-making opportunity side of Stream. Set all of your preconceived ideas aside and get the facts.

RD

Originally Posted by 10can

Here in Texas there is an energy company called Stream Energy that also owns its marketing business called Ignite that uses Multi Level Marketing to sell its energy.

It is set up like Amway and I do not trust it and wanted to see if any of you guys have had any experience with them that you can tell me about.

Thanks