Leslie C. Shares Her Story
I love these web sites! I have been harboring anger for the past few years and I finally have a place to share my story.
My name is Leslie C.* and I started my Mary Kay business in 2000. I went to a meeting with a friend/consultant as her “model.” I must say that I did join without any coaxing. But I did it just on a whim. I am in the Lancaster PA area and Jewish. This meeting was full of biblical references, Christian doctrine and prayer. I almost fell out of my seat. I figured what better way to stir the pot than to stick me in it. Not only am I Jewish but I am from New York. Just what this area’s Mary Kay meetings were looking for.
I started my business with $2400 (Diamond) order. I didn’t need the income nor did I have to go into debt to pay for inventory. From my experience, I am one of the few who didn’t. I found out that I was an “adoptee” and that my home unit was out of the Philly area. My real director was a very down to earth, blue-collar lady, who I really loved. I found the directors in my area were awful. There entire business was built on phony warm chatter and cons. They would have sold their soul for an name and phone number. With the exception of one lovely lady, the rest were selling lipstick in the name of Jesus. Now I have no qualms with religion at all. But business is business and religion is religion. The two just don’t belong together.
I spent 4 years with MK. I earned a car on my first try, I was in queen’s court of sales twice. I was in the top 20 (#19) and # 12. I was number 1 in the number 1 unit in all of MK, with the number 1 director of MK. I went to Seminar 4 times, and 1 for the top 100 consultant weekend. I had boxes of jewelry including diamonds and other stones, not to mention tons of costume jewelry. I was in DIQ twice but did not make it. It was during my last DIQ that things went down hill.
My daughter became very ill in January 2004. At that time I put my business on hold. I had a boatload of inventory on my shelf and was not selling anything. I still had inventory from my final push for end of the year (June in MK world). I needed to focus all my time on my daughter and did not want to work. Well, this did not go over well. My director had not time for me or my problems. She would only deal with my when I wanted to go back to work. Finally I decided that it was time to go. If not one person from this whole company cared to even call about my child, then I was done. I realized that I was only as good as my last sale, as my last order, as my last recruit. I sent my entire inventory back (over $16,000 retail) to receive my 90% back and never, ever heard a word from anyone again. In fact one of the many girls I recruited, who did go into enormous debt, sent hers back four months after me and the company sent me bills for over a year to reimburse them for the commission on the amount she returned. I did not send it back. I am saddened that all the preaching about how we must in MK respect the personal choices of all people was just a lie. I still, to this day, feel guilty for all the woman I talked into the opportunity and who went into debt. Some of who are still in debt, one of who almost filed personal bankruptcy. Some of the girls suffered in their marriage due to the debt.
This company preys upon those with low self-esteem. It makes promises that it just can’t deliver. It uses God as its platform and then throws you away when you don’t make them money. It is sad and full of lies. I am glad to have walked away before even more damage was done.
Now I am a stay at home mom…and I love it.
*Real last name changed to protect author
Lipstick on 
Ann on 
Brooke on 
Tam on 
