14 Ways We Match Or Beat Ignite Energy… And 3 Ways They Have Us Beat
It is natural that many folks looking at energy deregulation and mlm would come across Ignite Energy & Ambit Energy since they are the two industry leaders as far as size and name recognition. This review is my best effort to give an honest comparison on which has the edge in all the important areas we compete. I have made my best effort to represent Ignite Energy honestly using the most updated information I could find online, via the Ignite Power Center and in conversation with several Ignite Energy associates. If you find that I have unknowingly misrepresented anything please leave a comment and I’d be happy to fix it.
Please note that in the areas of compensation comparison I DO NOT include the monthly promotions that both companies run which adds considerable income to the standard compensation of both Ignite & Ambit. Many Ignite associates have challenged me on this but the reality is that I have access to an Ignite Power Center back office so I know exactly what is and is not promotional income so please do not comment that I am misrepresenting the numbers by not including this area of compensation. It is only fair that I would leave this out for both companies as these promotions change frequently.
1. Free Energy - Ambit has it, Ignite Energy does not!
Our Free Energy program is something that not just separates us from Ignite Energy, but it also separates us from the entire network marketing industry. It’s almost like cheating… except it’s not! We’ve been giving Free Energy away for 2 years now and there is no end in sight.
2. Media Advertising – Ambit Energy has it, Ignite Energy does not!
Ambit Energy is committed to the network marketing business model but is not afraid to take advantage of traditional exposure as well. With solid financial backing, Ambit has acquired additional business and exposure through mass media advertising along with buyout acquisitions. In either case, when an independent Ambit Energy Consultant runs into one of these “corporately acquired” customers”, they simply need to fill out a form and Ambit will transfer that customer to their personal account.
3. More Leadership Bonuses – Ambit Energy pays $15 more than Ignite Energy
If you add up all the levels of leadership bonuses paid out in the Ambit compensation plan you will come to $240, which is $15 more than the total of $225 that Ignite Energy pays out through their similar leadership bonus structure.
4. More Leadership Residuals – Ambit Energy pays up to $2.00, Ignite Energy goes up to $1.50
If you add up all the levels of leadership based residual income paid out in the Ambit compensation plan you will come to a total of $2.00 paid per month for every customer, which is $0.50 more than the total of $1.50 that Ignite Energy pays out through their similar leadership based residual income compensation.
5. Smart Meters – Ambit Energy has smart meter plans, Ignite Energy does not
The ability to work with Smart Meters allows Ambit Energy to offer service plans without requiring a deposit for low credit customers. Ask anybody who has been involved in the energy deregulation industry for any period of time and you will quickly find out how large of a market there is for zero deposit plans.
6. More States – Texas, New York, Illinois, Maryland & Pennsylvania Coming Soon!
This one is pretty cut and dry… Ambit operates in Texas, New York, Illinois, Maryland & Pennsylvania is scheduled to launch 1st quarter of 2011 versus Texas, Georgia & Pennsylvania for Ignite Energy. More states = more opportunity.
7. Better Rates – In my experience Ambit Energy has had better rates versus Ignite Energy
Although it is impossible for any one company to always be the lowest cost provider, in my experience over the past four years, Ambit Energy has usually been cheaper than Ignite Energy. This is not something that will always be the case, but most of the time it’s what I’ve seen.
8. Customer Perks – Ambit offers customer rewards & satisfaction guarantee, Ignite Energy does not
Ambit offers customer rewards similar to airline miles for a credit card. As a customer of Ambit, when you pay your bill on time you will earn points for every Kilowatt or Therm you use. As you accumulate points they can be redeemed for travel rewards. You can learn more about these rewards at www.AmbitTravel.com. Ambit also offers a satisfaction guarantee on their service.
9. BBB – Ambit has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau, Ignite Energy does not
Ambit Energy has maintained an A rating with the Better Business Bureau for several years, Ignite Energy just recently became a member of BBB and currently has B rating.
10. DSA – Ambit is a member of the Direct Selling Association, Ignite is not
Ambit Energy is a member in good standing with the Direct Selling Association. Apparently Ignite Energy used to be a member but is no longer active for some reason?
11. Additional Level Of Residual – Ambit Energy pays down 6 levels, Ignite Energy pays down 5
This one is HUGE folks. Watch the video so you can truly see how big of a difference our one additional level of uni-level residual income can make on your bottom line.
12. #1 On Inc.500 – Ambit Energy is #1 for 2010, Ignite Energy was #198 for 2009
Ignite Energy (Stream Energy) has also experience some amazing growth over their years but Ambit Energy is currently number 1 folks. To give credit where credit is due, Ignite is still larger overall. Their 2009 revenue of $845 million (as reported by Direct Selling News) is really impressive, but considering their 2008 revenue was $825 million (as reported by Inc.500) you can see they have not grown much at all lately and for a company of that size to only grow by $20 Million says to me they are barely keeping up with attrition.
13. Customer Transfer Tool – Ambit Energy allows customers to be transferred within 7 days
This might not sound like a big deal if you don’t have much background in MLM or network marketing but I assure you this: talk with any high up in Ignite or Ambit and ask what a big deal this is and I guarantee they will affirm. This tool lets you transfer your extra customers to anybody in your team to help them qualify for bonuses or commissions but you still keep full tracking of that customer as if it were personal.
14. Commercial Energy – We’ve got it in Texas & New York with the best rates around
For the longest time this was the one advantage that Ignite Energy had on us, but no longer folks! Ambit has added Texas commercial. Contact an Ambit Consultant to check the rates and you will find we are extremely aggressive.
Three Areas Ignite Energy Has Ambit Energy Beat
I started off this post obviously wanting to point out all the ways Ambit Energy is superior but as a few Ignite Energy associates have pointed out there are a few advantages they have over us so it seems to be the upfront and honest thing to share those with you. (1) The Ignite Energy start-up is cheaper. Currently their start-up kit is $299 versus our $429. (2) They do business in the state of Georgia and currently have a bit of a head start in Pennsylvania (only till we show up Jan or Feb of 2011). (3) Ignite Energy is still much larger than Ambit, of course I’ve already reported this in point number 13 above (along with the associated figures and sources), but this seems to be quite the rally cry with the Ignite folks so I mention it again. Of course I’m just don’t get how this is an advantage (seems to me the advantage goes with the company that is still actually growing at a significant rate) but it keeps getting brought up in the comments below so I give the benefit of the doubt here to Ignite.
My closing thoughts… 
Obviously I am a consultant for Ambit Energy and am partial to my company… at the same time I don’t think there is any disputing any of these 16 points. In the end there is nothing bad I can say about Ignite or any of our other competitors, its just a simple case of Ambit going above and beyond. In my four years with Ambit Energy I have never found any reason to doubt their commitment to the mission statement by Jere Thompson that started it all… “To become the finest & most respected retail energy provider in the country.” I wish Ignite Energy the best of success but I believe Ambit has the edge in all the areas important to a customer and/or a consultant
Shawn Cornett
ambitpros@gmail.com
(210) 232-6032
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