It’s Not a Facial and It’s Not Free
One thing that irritates me about Mary Kay is that they train their consultants to get new customers by offering prospects a “free facial”.
First of all, a facial is a procedure that is performed by licensed and trained aestheticians. You know: those people who are trained and licensed to take care of skin.
The “facial” that a Mary Kay consultant wants to “give” you is simply a face washing session designed to sell you the products. Period.
And YOU do the washing. She just teaches you how. And I use the word teach lightly as well, since most consultants know very little about the products, in my experience, and are simply sitting there spouting off facts on the cleanser or moisturizer you happen to be applying and assuring you it is better than anything out there.
Second, if you consider wasting at least an hour of your time and being exposed to some pretty strong-arm sales tactics free, then go for it. Me…I’ll just say no and run.
Why this company and its reps are allowed to call their little selling appointments facials is beyond me. It’s very misleading.
Lipstick on 
Ann on 
Brooke on 
Tam on 
Great point!
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So true! I was just hit up to go to one of these, but the MK consultant wanted me to go get a “free pedicure” at her area-wide event (i.e. all the big-wigs will be there with their extensive strong-arm recruiting tactics and memorized ways to overcoming to your objections). Of course I knew I was not going to go, but to help this lady see through the fog, just a wee bit, I asked her if this would be the same exact type of pedicure I’d recieve if I walked into a salon. She said “we do the soak but since we aren’t licensed to apply products, we let you do that”. Wait – isn’t that skipping quite a few steps? Has she been in MK so long she’s forgotten what a real pedicure involves? I asked about getting rid of callouses and making the cuticles all neat and tidy, and about the massage, etc. She said they don’t do that, but that this is their most popular “free workshop”. I told her that I can’t waste gas to drive 30 miles to give myself a pedicure in front of strangers when I could do that at home for free, and no thanks. I hope that made at least a tiny light bulb go off in her head: that the selling point, “free pedicures”, is a lie. If she had been instructed to be truthful, she would have said, “free foot-soak, we provide the water.” Yippee.
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i didnt think mary kay still sold nailpolish – how could they do a pedicure?
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anyone can nit pick about all the things they think are wrong with any company - what about all the great things that Mary Kay herself did for women in general – why not concentrate on the big picture … and be thankful – i think of al the Mary Kay people i know that have done such wonderful things for women and helped so many restore their self esteem – for every complaint letter i have read on this site – there are more than likely hundreds of other success stories and blessings that would outweigh the negative. Mary Kay was a beautiful spirit and had a heart to help women. in so many of the letters these complaning women state that the products are good and still use them –
RESOUTION – be thankful NOT grumpy…
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Val, we’re not nit picking. If you’d read the site and spend some time here, you’d realize that.
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Wow .. it continues to amaze me that if it bothers an individual – change it. It’s YOUR business. I have never offered a free facial. As I’m aware, my mary kay website also does not say “free facial”, it says “Free Consultation: For the ultimate in customer service, turn to me for personalized skin care, beauty advice and the secrets to successful gift-giving…” All of which are true. When I invite customers and potential customers, I typically offer them $25 in free product as a gift and a free pampering session. If they invite three or more friends who are over 18 and do not currently have a beauty consultant – I double it to $50. I explain to them exactly what we’ll be doing – they’ll have a chance to try many of our products and decide what they want to take home. We also have free prize giveaways, I’ll be offering them a follow up appointment, and they’ll have an opportunity to hear how they can do what I do. I also tell them that we laugh and have fun and they’ll fit right in. Because we do, and I believe they will! (if this sounds redundant .. I mentioned this on another post) That’s basically exactly what I share with them.
I’d also like to point out that there are some good reasons we don’t put product on our customers. First of all, it’s not legal in all states if you’re not licensed. Secondly, I share with all of my customers to expect this, because I believe it’s important that they learn how to do what we’re going to do themselves. I won’t be in the bathroom with them the next morning. I believe that there are many women who don’t use cosmetics because they don’t feel as though they’ve been sufficiently taught how to use them. Teaching is a big part of what I love about what I do.
When you make a decision in your heart to be as truthful and honest as possible – it really changes so much!
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Quoting from Admn “The “facial” that a Mary Kay consultant wants to “give” you is simply a face washing session designed to sell you the products. Period.”
Quote from Andi, “All of which are true. When I invite customers and potential customers, I typically offer them $25 in free product as a gift and a free pampering session. If they invite three or more friends who are over 18 and do not currently have a beauty consultant – I double it to $50. I explain to them exactly what we’ll be doing – they’ll have a chance to try many of our products and decide what they want to take home. We also have free prize giveaways, …”
It doesn’t sound free to me. You’re giving away $ 12.50 per person, for a facial, but turning it to a Skin Care Class and doubling the give away to $ 25, plus prize giveways?
That’s a min. of $25 in sales for a facial or $50 in sales for a SCC in order for YOU to break even, not counting samples, gifts, products used, brochures, phamplets, choices cd’s passed out, paying for your gas, time, etc.
While your costs can (and usually) are re-couped by customer purchases, they are basically expected to buy. Anytime I am invited to ? whatever type of home party, if I attend, I will purchase something. Otherwise, I just don’t go.
I think today’s society has expanded beyond the “home” party – people are busy and just don’t want to fool with “home” parties. Also, I would be cautious, again due to today’s society, about inviting unknown people into my home.
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all of you who are bad mouthing the mary kay business are just jealous that you didn’t think of it yourself!!!
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leelee, have you read anything on this site? Most of us have been or still are in the MK business, jealousy has NOTHING to do with it! This site is all about education.
Instead of knocking us why don’t you tell us of your experience and why you think MK is so wonderful? It’s an open forum and we listen to both sides.
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“think of it yourself” — hahahaha – Mary Kay has scripts for all this! NO one has to “think of it yourself” if you are willing to buy into it, give it away, beg, bum and “borrow faces”.
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We are in sales, as is everyone else on the face of this earth. Some sell cars, homes, fast food, legal services, banking services, good looks, sexual favors, groceries, dental care, psychiatric care, or just plain old labor. “Everybody sells something”. Even the stay at home mom has to sell her kids on what is right from wrong, or on what foods are healthy to eat, or on the benefits of doing well in school. Now I sell cosmetics, and these tactics are the tricks of the trade that have been proven to work, and that’s why we continue to use them. That’s why all those in direct sales use their same tactics, because they work. It may sound silly or even degrading to someone that sells fast food because all they need to do is show up in a uniform and operate a register. My work offers much more than just a pay check, and so it should demand more that just a time card.
Also, MK is the number one selling skin care and color cosmetics in the nation for more that 10 consecutive years. Any woman that cares about her skin is going to want the best. For me to pass judgment on her and assume she doesn’t want it, can’t afford it or is too busy to try it would be hypocritical. Not only that, but what other cosmetic company do you know of that will come to your home, at your convenience and teach you and your friends how to take care of your skin or apply makeup? What other cosmetic company do you know of that will call you in two days and two weeks to see if the formulas you selected are working well for you? What other cosmetic company will allow you to return used product and exchange it for something else? And what other cosmetic company is going to wake up for you at 5:00 in the morning when you finally realize that you are completely out of foundation? If you ask me, Mary Kay is one of the best things that have ever happened to women.
Oh, and just because: The definition of a facial is a treatment intended to improve the appearance of the skin of the face. And a pedicure is simply a treatment for the care of feet. Both words have been and are continuing to be used by consultants because that is exactly what they are offering. And yes it’s free!
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Total and absolute baloney. There is a marketing company that doles out these little monikers and you have to pay tens of thousands of dollars to even see the data it’s based on. Companies can basically find any “top seller of” title they want and find data to support it.
Pretty much every single one out there. Most all companies accept returns. Even drug stores will accept returns. Whoop de do!
In my experience, this really never happens. Women are busy, yes, but I’ve never met a woman who is so out of it that she runs out of foundation. Usually, every woman I know has 5 or 10 of them.
More baloney. By your definition then my putting on foundation is a facial because it might improve the appearance of my skin. And putting lotion on my feet is a pedicure. HA!
The word “facial” is chosen to make women think they are going to receive something NOT JUST PUT PRODUCTS ON THEIR OWN FACE.
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Hi Christy,
You seem very confident in your Mary Kay business. All of the wonderful benefits that you have outlined in your post, I can assure you, are pulled from the multitude of scripts that Mary Kay circulates and regurgitates in order to win over possible customers and recruits. Anyone that has ever been in Mary Kay has heard your song and dance before and most likely believed it, just as you do, at one point.
Most of the people that come here and post something similar to what you have, don’t bother coming back to see what others have added in response to their statements. They refuse to accept any possible opposing opinions about what they feel so passionately about. They look at some of the views and experiences expressed here as negativity and are quick to dismiss anything different than what they live and breathe at the weekly unit meetings, conference calls, Career Conference, and Seminar.
Normally, I would spend some time countering most of the things you have said, but I can easily see that you are in Mary Kay land and have been manipulated to the point that nothing anyone would say to you could get through. I truly feel sorry for you because I once believed it all, too.
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As for the “free” comment, I was referring to the Consultant’s costs, not the customer. It’s not free to the consultant who has to spend time, energy and gas, not to mention samples, products and supplies.
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I am really surprised as how vehemently some of the ladies on here are bashing Mary Kay. Seriously, it IS a business. The people who sell it DO beleive in the product, not just the “monikers and tactics etc.” I have used this product for years along with millions of other women who DON’T sell it because the product speaks for itself. I recently signed on with the company merely because of what the company does for women in the business industry and because I LOVE the products.
Some of the comments made it seem like a brainwashing cult! Again, laughable.
Mary Kay representatives generally tend to be self motivated, excited, intelligent, savvy women who know what they want and make a way to get it.
That is commendable and impressive. Good luck to all you ladies out there enriching your lives. It is a great solution to wanting a flexible, fun, motivating career. It is SMART!
And it is teaching. Most of my clients come TO ME and ask for help because they are overwhelmed with product choices on the market and have NO IDEA how to take care of their personal skin issues or how to use cosmetics in any way. That is what I love about it, it’s fun, exciting and rewarding. It makes you feel good about yourself and others. Whay is that bad? Isn’t that the kind of job everyone wants?
I think anyone bashing the company may have had an inexperienced consultant and didn’t give the products a fair try. Because if you try it you love it!
Thanks for hearing me.
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Lee, you must have not read very many posts, because most of the anti-MK posts are not against the product, but against the tactics used to recruit, front load consultants with product they don’t even know if they have customers for and the general manner in which MK touts God first, family 2nd and career 3rd and then proceeds to make MK the center of your life.
Lee, my advice would be to read the posts here and make up your own mind. Everything you hear in the MK “rah-rah” meetings is not fact! Just be aware of the pitfalls and don’t let anyone talk you into doing something you don’t feel comfortable about or don’t have good reason to do.
Contrary to what your recruiter or SD will tell you the products do not just “fly off” yourselves because of MK’s stellar reputation for a good product. Most people will tell you they have been turned off by pushy consultants/recruiters who don’t understand the word no and continue to call people pestering them to have a SCC or come to an event!
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Lipstick,
Excuse me…but I did read all of the posts above! Do not patronize. There was plenty of bashing against the company and it’s consultants. My post merely stated my opinions regarding the my experiences with the product, the companyy and my customers. My first sentance says…
“I am really surprised as how vehemently some of the ladies on here are bashing Mary Kay” (the company, not just products)
In my last sentance:
“I think anyone bashing the company may have had an inexperienced consultant and didn’t give the products a fair try. Because if you try it you love it!”
Yes, you are right that others are against the sales methods of the company, but it is unfair to take a few negative experiences and throw the whole lot in.
AND MK is not the center of my life…another assumption and generalization.
My family is the center of my life. My newly widowed mother and my children are. How dare you assume that all MK consultants are brainless twits being “talked into” anything at “rah-rah” meetings!
I am 37 years old and a professional marketing career woman (outside MK). I work fulltime (outside MK) and fully capable of making up my own mind thank you! Your posts come across as patronizing and dumbed down for a simpleton.
Any professional, proprely trained MK consultant would not be pushy or pestering, it is bad business. In any sales position, not just this one.
You may want to stop replying to genuine respectful posts like you responded to mine. It was rude. I didn’t join a cult for goodness sake. I opened my own business selling products I enjoy. Simple.
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You’re out of line Lee. If you read anything patronizing in Lipstick’s post then it was because you wanted to. What she wrote was neither bashing or mean, but her opinions and experience. Since you said your post was you “merely” stating your opinions, why shouldn’t she?
If you perceive people sharing their experiences as bashing, I can’t help it. It’s nothing new.
Unlike Lipstick’s post, I felt anger coming from yours.
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Hi Lee,
I read Lipstick’s reply to you and I can see how you may have taken it the wrong way. I honestly don’t think she was intentionally trying to be rude or belittling. To me, her post didn’t come across as patronizing. Lipstick has a lot of years in Mary Kay under her belt and it would be wise for you to open yourself to some of the views that she has expressed to you.
The warnings and opinions that you may come across here are based on the very real experiences of the people that share their stories on this site. I’m sure you’ve heard your fair share of “I stories” by now and I know that you are used to hearing nothing but the positive experiences. These are our “I stories” and it’s not fair for you to come here and try to dismiss what we have to say. Contrary to what you may think, the experiences you see here are the norm in Mary Kay.
“How dare you assume that all MK consultants are brainless twits being “talked into” anything at “rah-rah” meetings!”
Lee, most of us here were once Mary Kay Consultants or Sales Directors. To call you a “brainless twit” would be an insult to ourselves at one point in our lives. Again, I’m sure that Lipstick didn’t mean for her response to come across this way to you.
The manipulation in Mary Kay is something that a lot of people can’t identify right away. The company and it’s National Sales Directors have perfected their mind games over the years and are able to disguise this manipulation with all kinds of tactics that have been proven to work on so many women in the past. I’m not saying that you are brainwashed or that you are involved in a cult. I’m trying to help you open yourself up to take a good, hard look into the things that you are learning at your meetings and events through Mary Kay.
It wasn’t that long ago that I was in your shoes, Lee. I came here, like you, and took all the experiences as negativity. I thought that surely my experience with Mary Kay would be different than what they were speaking of here. My efforts to make the business work for me were profound and I knew that I was going to succeed. Now, I look back and I’m so thankful I came across this site when I did. Even though I found it shocking and couldn’t believe any of the negative views at the time, once I started to see the manipulation shine through the perfect picture that is Mary Kay, I thought back to what I read here and realized that these people weren’t the liars.
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Lee, I am truly sorry if you felt I made statements regarding you personally. I reviewed my post and I do not see anything belittling or demeaning to you personally. I believe I was pretty general in my comments about MK the company and my point about not disliking the products was missed by you entirely.
As far as brainless twits being led astray at “rah-rah” meetings, those were your words not mine. I merely made a statement that everything said at these meetings is not the truth and I stand by that statement.
And last, but not least, try taking apart your training scripts and see how many times you are encouraged not to take “no” as a “NO” answer, whether it be in recruiting, selling or booking a SCC. This is the way consultants are trained and it is not by a few “bad apples” . It is spelled out in the MK corporate training literature and scripts.
I truly wish you the best in your MK career path and if you are happy where you are, I am happy for you. Even smart women have been taken in by the scripts, training and the cautionary statements to not listen to any negative comments. Best of luck to you in your endeavors!
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I am a consultant with Mary Kay. I love my “job”. I am not a religious person, but my family comes before all else in my life. I work this business when I want, around my other wise very busy life. I am not a pushy sales person. In fact I cant stand sales people in general! I have had SCC that I have lost money at (free gifts, and samples) and I have had very successful SCC. We are taught to “up sale” but so are most businesses out there, how many times have you heard “do you want fries with that”? When someone wants a lipstick, we ask about lip gloss, lip liner. It’s natural for us, we wear it all together ourselves, so that’s what we do. However we are also taught when the customer says “no” or any form of no, then we are to STOP. I then add up their ticket, schedule the next apt and give them there product. Just so you know if you ever feel miss treated by a consultant then you should get in contact with the company and tell them. Just because someone does not agree with something someone else said, it does not mean we are being “manipulated”. Life is always about individual opinions. This is my view/opinion on my life. We are each in titled to our own views/opinions, however we do not have the right to push our views on others.
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I didn’t see anything personal in Lipstick’s comments and think that the posts she was referring to were ALL of the posts here at PLH. There is a world of information available here and in the forum as well. There are current IBC’s who post regularly as well as former Sales Directors, Team Leaders, etc., with lots of years of MK experience! The wonderful thing about this site is that we are all sharing our various experiences and attempt to do so in a respectful manner. Sometimes the written word does not come across the same as spoken.
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Trudie,
You are absolutely right. However, I am not like most MK people; in fact I’m quite the rebel. I smoke, I drink, I have premarital sex and my mouth is just terrible; when I’m not working. Why else would I be spending my Sunday evening responding to “negativity”. Yes I attend weekly meetings and all the other get togethers and chit-chat sessions they have to offer, and I am always preppy in my pretty pink bubble during “work hours”. But don’t let the smile and head tilt fool you, as most times it is very fake and yes I’d rather go home than hang out with those powder puff girls. However, sales is my job and a smile is a part of my uniform. To me, it’s no different from a gun and a badge in law enforcement. The no negativity policy in MK is just the same to me as the no cell phone policy at my regular job. I expect, accept and respect the opposing opinions of what I feel so passionately about, and many times I would have to agree.
Looks like LJ’s done her homework. It seems as though you both may have been severely jaded from your negative experiences. Rest assured that I am not in MK land as I know exactly what I am doing. Manipulation? sure. It’s no different from a waitress recommending today’s special. What’s more, is I know exactly what people like you think of me and its okay. I think all garbage men stink! It’s just one of those reputations we tend to acquire. When I tell people I work in a psychiatric hospital, they think I’m crazy. And that’s okay too.
To be quite honest with you Trudie, this is my second time around the MK race track. I’ve tried and failed before. Probably because of those cheesy scripts and tactics they used to teach. I’ve been where you are and I know how hypocritical the MK tactics can appear. However, this is my business and I run it how I choose as does every other consultant. I’m no dummy and I don’t like to treat people like dummies, so I dump the misleading scripts, and cut out the cheesy lines. I don’t like to be bothered and I don’t like to bother people, so I’ll ask for permission to call back; every time. Due to my experience, my approach towards potential clients and co-workers is very different; and I’ve found it to be beneficial to my business as well as my relationships with people. Please don’t feel sorry for me, I enjoy what I do and only wish I had a better attitude about it earlier. To dismiss this opportunity simply because some rookie didn’t know what she was doing or because some hot shot used a sales pitch on you, is just sad. And if that’s your final take on it, then Trudie, I feel sorry for you.
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Christy, you sure have a lot of anger in you and it is sad that you have chosen to dump it on somebody as kind and considerate as Trudie.
This is just my personal opinion, but from your post it seems to me that you are a “walking time bomb”. I certainly hope one of your customers or co-workers doesn’t set you off and you lose control like you did with Trudie, a complete stranger.
Wishing you the best in your second try at MK.
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I have read the entire comments above and I am a bit alarmed at the outburst’s. I understand and respect all the opinions here. Do I agree with them all… No. I am an IBC and do not like the tactics and the scripts either, but I am determined to find my own way. I do not offer Facials, I do pampering sessions or classes. (I have a daughter who is a licensed Esthetician and feel it is disrespectful of her hard work)
I believe that we are all so passionate in our own belief’s that we forget that we may hurt others with our comments. I would not take a negative comment here personally. I would use it as constructive criticism. I will continue to peruse this site as I have found useful things and am creating a more open awareness of my business. I do plan on being successful. Success comes in many forms and I will find my own.
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PiecefullLena -
Be sure to check out the forum as well! There’s a TON of stuff there! Just click on the “Forum” link at the top left of the page and follow the directions!
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To piecefulLena…Hi, I am much like you, I’m an active consultant and making my own way. This really is a wonderful site. I have learned a lot and it keeps me aware of the pitfalls that are involved in this business. I agree that we shouldn’t dole out hurtful comments and keep an open mind to others comments. If we take it as an opportunity to learn, in my opinion it will help our business.
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Well said sdelunamom.
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