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You are here: Home / True or False? / True or False: It only costs $100 to join Mary Kay

True or False: It only costs $100 to join Mary Kay

By L J September 24, 2008 218 Comments

TRUE and FALSE.

To become a Mary Kay Consultant, you must sign an agreement and pay $100 for your “starter kit.”

However, in order to stay “active,” you must place a $200 wholesale product order with the company every three months.

Now, it makes sense that you can’t just sign up and never place a product order. That would be silly, since the whole point is to sell the product. And it makes sense that in order to be considered a Consultant that you would have to order certain minimums to be able to represent the products.

What doesn’t make sense is the big presentation on “initial inventory packages” that comes after one has signed the agreement, and the sudden push by your Director to start your Mary Kay venture with hundreds, even thousands, of dollars worth of inventory.

The problem is that in my observation and experience, Directors almost always emphasized the $100 starting figure and never mentioned what came after that: a hard push to buy an “initial inventory package.”

Many women know nothing of the impending “Inventory Interview” they will be subjected to once they join MK and many current consultants feel guilty recruiting women with what they feel is only half of the story.

Comments

  1. lisa says

    September 24, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    i realize my unit isn’t the norm for most of the gals who post here, but i would like to say, again, that some units are doing things, i believe, mary kay wanted it to be done.  my director has been in mary kay for 28 years and a director 20 of those.  we don’t have recruiting blitzes, or wholesale ordering prizes, or some of the other things i’ve seen posted here.  my oldest daughter sells mary kay as a way to make extra money while in college (she also works on the campus), and when she came in, we did the debut thing and she was able to have a “first order” that “qualified” her (although, there was no purpose for us – i wasn’t trying to win anything or do red jacket).  she had orders that totalled just over $800 retail, we ordered $600 for the orders ($400 wholesale, plus, then, “some” inventory) and she then had almost $150 that night of her debut to pay her car payment.  in her case, she didn’t have to put out any money for the first order.  she then did some facials and classes at the college and when ordering the second time, did it the same way – collecting money for the orders and ordering just a little bit over what she needed and had some monies towards her car insurance.  i truly thought that this was how all units were teaching their gals to do, so that the new beauty consultant didn’t have out-of-pocket expenses at first, and could actually pay a few bills or whatever with that extra money right from the get go.  am floored that any director or consultant would even talk about anything more than a $600 order for several orders.

    Reply
  2. Baroness vFP says

    September 24, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    Lisa, I know there are a few (a VERY RARE few) like your director. But having been a director myself, I’ve seen that the majority are not that way, because they’re not trained to be that way – quite the opposite. They are taught to frontload inventory, and if a woman doesn’t have open credit, then she’s not worth your time. If fact, if she doesn’t place at least a star ($1800+) order, she’s not considered “serious” about her business (therefore you should not devote any time to helping her). I went to many, many, many trainings where this was taught.

    I was told while still a consultant to never speak about inventory. My director would handle that after my recruit signed up. We spent much time later as directors discussing the ins and outs of how to get women to place an initial star order, and that $2400 was the bare minimum “profit level” a consultant should start with.

    Reply
  3. Tam says

    September 24, 2008 at 6:03 pm

    Baroness, as IBC we were basically forbidden to discuss inventory or even mention it!  Our SD did ALL inventory talks and you got it, I knew of girls who took out loans for $1800 in inventory !
    I was told minimum order was $600!

    Reply
  4. lisa says

    September 25, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    baroness – how long were you a director and how long have you not been one?  do you think this “frontloading” idea came after mary kay’s stroke/death or before?

    Reply
  5. Baroness vFP says

    September 26, 2008 at 12:18 am

    I was in MK a total of 5 years I think (I have the 5 yr pin, just not sure how long I stayed after that). I was a director for almost 2.5, and I quit 4 years ago – I wasn’t terminated for missing production (which is what happens to the bulk of directors; that, or they just run out of credit and money).

    I think frontloading became very prevalent with the rise of easy credit. MK always touted having inventory, but for so long it wasn’t that easy – in the beginning, most women had to have their husband’s co-sign a loan if they wanted inventory.

    I knew Ann Sullivan and talked with her at length. How she did things through her career was very divergent with what the company has become. She did not seem to be aware of the truth of the present MK (that I could tell). She seemed close to MK, so I have wondered if MK was similar in thought to Ann even pre-stroke (not as aware), but I think the rampant frontloading tactics increased after she was not at the helm.

    Once women were able to basically get same-day credit for thousands of dollars, or already were carrying around cards with open credit lines, it’s too easy for uplines to use credit to advance their position. As long as they can continue to churn through recruits who are initially willing to put $3000 on credit, they can keep advancing up the ladder, and MK Corp and their own uplines encourage this behavior by applauding these women and holding them as examples.

    I can tell you how many times I had to watch Amy Dunlap paraded before me as the model of what you should achieve in MK. And Hilary Courtney! Or just look at Christine Peterson’s area in general. It’s deplorable.

    I doubt this is what Mary Kay herself intended; however, she chose to structure her business as an MLM instead of a legitimate corporation, so eventually the MLM structure itself leads to this exact type of behavior. It doesn’t really matter if she never wanted that to happen. I think what’s going on now is largely a result of easy credit, but is the culmination of a type of behavior that has been going on since well before that – this is what MLMs breed. It’s just easier to accomplish now. You can find similar stories, just not as many, from 20+ years ago – eerily similar.

    Reply
  6. L J says

    September 26, 2008 at 10:35 am

    “We spent much time later as directors discussing the ins and outs of how to get women to place an initial star order, and that $2400 was the bare minimum “profit level” a consultant should start with.”

    Baroness, this was common practice in my area. Lots of Directors trained other Directors that they should start with $2400 and NEVER mention lower inventory amounts. That’s the way many Directors were running their business. Unbelievable.

    I definitely agree that credit cards and women’s easier access to credit helped make MK the mess it is. I’m sure Mary Kay Ash did not have this in mind. But the world is much different than it was when she started the company.

    Reply
  7. Lipstick says

    September 27, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    True, it only costs $100  +/- to join MK…it’s what it costs after that, that matters.  One can easily spend $3000 getting just the “necessities” and then what?  Think of it this way, even if you return your inventory MK gets to keep 10% of what you paid for the inventory plus the profit on the necessities.

    Multiply 240,000 new IBC’s x $240 = $57,600,000 multiply that x 36 countries and you get a huge total of $2,073,600,000.  that’s pretty close to the $2.4 B they declared as profit  for last year isn’t it?

    Just thought I plug in a few figures…so you get
    the general idea!  Add in the profits from business supplies, samples, carrying cases, web sites, business cards, checks and the chargebacks on commissions from those who returned their product and the numbers just grow!

    Sickening, isn’t it?

    Reply
  8. My Beauty says

    September 29, 2008 at 3:12 pm

    Lipstick, yes it is sickening.  You are right, $2.4 billion is the miminum that the MK corporation is raking in yearly.  And I as I said in a previous post they are not totally forthcoming in reporting their profits.  Lisa, for what ever reason you and others continue to stand by MK.  What more will it take for you to realize that no one in MK is making “executive incomes” except for the real executives in the corporate office?  These underhanded tactics to get women to get to buy more inventory really doesn’t even benefit the directors, since their cars can be repossessed and commissions charged back to the company if they fail to place sufficient orders every month.  Basically all you do as an IBC is line the pockets of those corporate fat cats!  Are we not seeing this play out right now as the result of the Wall Street meltdown?  And just like on Wall Street greed and unethical business practices that benefit a few while leaving the rest of us struggling, will eventually catch up with MKC.

    Reply
  9. princess diva says

    October 2, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    Oh my goodness! I have been and IBC for well over 5 years and I have never heard of such things that have been mentioned here. I have never heard of anyone giving prizes away for recruiting new IBC’s or that you HAVE to have a min order of 2400.00 for inventory I just find this to be outrageous. What areas are you all from

    Reply
  10. Lipstick says

    October 2, 2008 at 8:11 pm

    princess diva,
    I was in the Diamond Go Give area for 8.5 years and I returned my inventory last Sept. for 90% buyback.

    I still have tons of discontinued MK on my shelves.  I even quit my full time job to devote more my time to my MK “career”.  I now drive a school bus and make more in a year than I ever
    “sold” in MK.

    Too bad, there weren’t sites like this one then.

    The practices you read about all happened every day in our area.  the focus was on booking to sell and then recruit, not on making sales as it should have been.

    Reply
  11. MK Confuscious says

    October 6, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    Wow!  I am a little floored and scared now.  I have recently purchased a $4600 inventory.  Which suddenly feels like a dunce cap on my head.  With that said, I am selling it quite well.  I have a full time management position in Sales & Marketing training and that has afforded me a “jumpstart”.  I guess my question to you all is this… I know and am very aware that there are “pushy, rise to the top, go-getters” in not just MK, but many other outlets, but do you all think it’s impossible or will be impossible to actually do well selling MK.  Of course I’d love to replace my income, but let’s face it, I will have to work crazily hard to do that – I know.  I really just did it for the opportunitity to connect with women and make some extra money.  I have specifically not included my director in my classes because I do not agree with how feverishly she ensues the “interviewing” process.  I have declined to purchase large amounts of inventory at end of month “cram-session”.  For me this is a stepping stone to my own consulting business.  Your thoughts on whether one can accomplish great things by just selling or is it all in the recruiting.  I mean, if I have sold half of my inventory now and not replenished it and choose to only reorder what I know my customer base will support and I’m not forking money out left and right, but rather putting money in the bank – can it work?  I have been in for 3 months.  I did place the $200 minimum each month, but it was not regular inventory it was Holiday stuff.  and FYI I declined to order the thousands of dollars in 12 Days of Christmas they were all so adamant that I get.  I just want to know, if I stick this out for ME and run this as my business and keep the over zealous MKers out, will I be okay or should I duck now and run for cover?

    Reply
  12. FTMaryKayIBC says

    October 7, 2008 at 2:45 am

    I believe the negativity that many a spewing on her is why you were not successful at Mary Kay.  This is a great business opportunity, but you have to work.  Nothing will be handed to you.  I love my business, customers, and team members.  I only want people to feel comfortable about the choices they make.  It’s sad that you feel you have to be so negative.  MK Confuscious, I believe you will do great in Mary Kay.  Believe in yourself.

    Reply
  13. cream shower says

    October 7, 2008 at 9:43 am

    I don’t know much of MK, but they offered to me send these products paying 100$.
    I wondered these products are good and if it is a great business.
    Really,I prefer continue with my job and I forget MK.

    Reply
  14. cream shower says

    October 7, 2008 at 9:47 am

    excuse me, there is a mistake in “send”, I want to say “sell”

    Reply
  15. L J says

    October 8, 2008 at 10:19 am

    “I believe the negativity that many a spewing on her is why you were not successful at Mary Kay.  This is a great business opportunity, but you have to work.  Nothing will be handed to you.”

    Blah, blah, blah. Heard it all before.

    Wouldn’t it be nice if the ONLY reason women didn’t succeed at MK were because they were lazy?!

    FTMaryKayIBC, I’ll bet you I had more customers and higher sales per week than 98% of consultants. I WASN’T lazy OR a failure. I simply realized the smoke and mirrors and scam of MK.

    Take your “negative” somewhere else. It’s Sooooooo old!

    Reply
  16. My beauty says

    October 8, 2008 at 10:48 pm

    FTMaryKayIBC, go back and read the posts from Lipstick and myself.  After that go do some research on the profits of the Mary Kay Corporation.  What don’t you get?  This is not about whose negative and whose not.  The point that everyone here is trying to make is quite simple.  NO ONE IS GETTING RICH IN MARY KAY EXECPT THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVES!!NOT IBC’S, NOT SD’S, CORPORATE, YOU KNOW THE PLACE WHERE YOU ORDER ALL OF YOUR MK CRAP FROM? You can continue to keep minimizing this down to us former IBCs being negative, if that makes you feel better, but it doesn’t change the fact that every time you place a wholesale order, buy “business tools” and all of the other useless MK paraphrenalia you only line their pockets!!!  They don’t care two hoots about how many sharp women you meet or how good you feel about yourself.  Just keep charging up your credit cards and selling the bogus dream to other unsuspecting women, so they can get that $100 fee and that inital inventory.  At that point you can take the products and burn them, they don’t care.  I don’t know what you feel MK has provided for you that you wouldn’t be able to get doing something else. You damn sure aren’t making any more money that couldn’t earn on a job with medical benefits, retirement plans and paid vacation time. 

    Now to MK Confuscious, here’s my advice.  Don’t waste not one penny of your money or one second of your time with MK.  It sounds as though you have a real career and I believe your time and energy would be better spent on that.  If you have entrepreneurial desires, I say go for it.  There is no business to be started with Mary Kay, since it’s already been started by someone else.  The bank will remind you of that when you go to set up a “business account” and you don’t have a Tax ID, because oops!, you don’t really own a business! You are just an independent contractor.  It can never be your own, it will just have you spinning your wheels.  If your gonna spin your wheels, don’t do it for someone else to profit from it.

    Reply
  17. Lipstick says

    October 9, 2008 at 2:35 pm

    FTMaryKayIBC…I’m glad it’s working for you, but just because it didn’t for me doesn’t mean that I didn’t work my business and it didn’t work because I was negative.  I used to be “perky and pink” just like you!

    It’s rude to make assumptions about people and call them names, that’s why I didn’t call you any names just because you are still in the pink fog and I’m out. 

    Peace to you and hope you can get the hang of working the “Golden Rule” soon or they might kick you out of MK for treating others in a manner you would not want to be treated!

    Reply
  18. MK Confucious says

    October 9, 2008 at 8:28 pm

    Well, it seems that there are some who are still head strong and believe in it, some who won’t be sad if the corporate plaza burns down tomorrow and some who don’t care really one way or the other they are just sharing info. 

    I am going to stick it out a while longer.  Let’s face it I do have about $2000 more to sell.  I am betting I get rid of that all this holiday season.  MK Corporate making all the money is no different than any other corporation.  I work for let’s say…… the largest soft drink company in the world and I get a great salary, but I know that I’m not the one banking the profits of the things I teach people to sell everyday.  I don’t have a personal jet or a $2 million salary. 

    So it doesn’t bother me that MK is making money.  They should.  I realize I aide in that process.  I’m fine with that. Sure I’d love to think I could reap all the benefits, but isn’t it true that there are very few other outlets with a marketable product that I could invest $4700 in and turn a profit of $2K in 3 months.  Not a whole lot. 

    Truth is, if I want to stop tomorrow I can.   If I want to keep going for years to come, I can do that to.  Everything is realtive and it’s not what it is…. it’s what you make it.  I hope to make this something good for me.   The way I want it.  I think I can do that.  Thanks everyone for the open and honest dialouge.  I respect everyone’s opinion and I’d venture to say that no two people here had the same circumstances or experiences and therefore each perspective is unique. 

    Best wishes to you all and thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  19. Lipstick says

    October 9, 2008 at 10:40 pm

    Sure I’d love to think I could reap all the benefits, but isn’t it true that there are very few other outlets with a marketable product that I could invest $4700 in and turn a profit of $2K in 3 months.  Not a whole lot. 

    MK Confucious…I would hope that you are making more than $2K in 3 months at your day job!  It sounds like to me you are saying WOW $8000 a year is really good money…the truth is it ewuldn’t probably pay the interest on your mortgage for the year.

    The point being MK is making money off YOU, while you get deeper in debt.  Good luck to you in your business.  I make more than that in a year just working 180 days driving a school bus and I only work about 3 hrs and 15 minutes a day and I don’t have to go to the mall to warm chatter the students that ride my bus..they come to me at their appointed stop!

    Reply
  20. My beauty says

    October 9, 2008 at 11:10 pm

    MK Confucious I do wish you the best, really I do.  I think it’s great that if you are going to see it through that you are doing so with your eyes open.  However let me just clarify something.  MK is different from companies like the soft drink company you mentioned.  The soft drink company will hire based on your qualifications, offer you a salary according to your qualifications, offer medical benefits, 401k, give you and expense account and let you drive the company car as long as you are an employee.  MK will not provide any of that, though it will often be presented as chance of a lifetime “career opportunity”.  The soft drink company makes no claims to you the employee that it will “enrich” your life.  Just do the work you were hired to do and you still get paid.  You also don’t have to recruit your own competition to sell the same product, and then train her to recruit someone, and so on.  It’s not that corporate is getting rich and you’re not, it’s the fact that ordinary women are being led to believe that purchasing a starter kit and “investing” in inventory is a gateway to business ownership and financial freedom.  From what I have observered it is just not possible.  With no prior sales experience, no customer base except you unsuspecting family and friends, no freedom to advertise as you choose, women are told that MK is the ticket to the life she wants to lead.  No company that I’ve every worked for has made that kind of a claim.

    Reply
  21. constancemaye says

    October 14, 2008 at 5:35 pm

    This is my question, it is my understanding that I can purchase the start up kit, and then not have a business but just buy the products for personal self, as long as i keep up the required $200 every 3 months?  I’ve been going to a few training classes because I love the MK product and have never felt any pressure to purchase any products or become a consultant.  Thanks!

    Reply
  22. Lipstick says

    October 14, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    constancemaye, that is true, actually you only have to place a $200 wholesale order 1x per year to stay “active”. 

    Just be very careful about attending the training meetings and all…you will be pressured to order at least $600 or more in inventory to start your business.

    They will try to talk you into doing more than personal use…so be wary.  Actually you don’t have to join MK to get product at 1/2 price, there are several websites including ours where former consultants sell their inventory at wholesale just to get rid of it.

    You can also purchase from on e-Bay.

    Reply
  23. L J says

    October 15, 2008 at 9:36 am

    $2000 profit in 3 months equals $666.66 per month. (Is that symbolic?!)   🙂

    For part-time money, it’s okay. But it certainly isn’t the “quit your day job, Mary Kay is the answer” solution they’re always talking about.

    And how much time did you spend making that $2000?

    Reply
  24. constancemaye says

    October 15, 2008 at 11:35 am

    I never thought about using other websites to order product really…thanks!  so if I did decide to get the start up kit though, would i still have to attend training classes and what not? Its really not required is it?  Also, just because I got the starter kit, do I get 50% off products or is that not the truth?

    Reply
  25. Lipstick says

    October 15, 2008 at 2:31 pm

    constancemaye, if you order the Starter Kit, you are not obligated to do anything else.  They will try to twist your arm and tell you you need to attend weekly meetings, special training events, Career Conference, Seminar…all of which is designed to keep you on board and ordering whether you are selling or not.

    You will get things in the Starter Kit that you can’t use or don’t need unless you are going to have classes.  Believe me, you can save yourself a whole lot of headaches and money just by purchasing on-line from former consultants or liquidators.  IMO

    Click on the Forum button above and register as a member and you can read all about many topics and visit the trading board and see what is available at prices that are at or below wholesale on this site alone.

    Click on the Inventory Liquidators button above and you can see the liquidators that have been approved by PLH and learn more about them.

    Also you can read of many other former and current consultants experiences and learn much more about the “opportunity” before you sign on the dotted line and become a consultant.

    Joining the Forum is free, you don’t have to ever post if you don’t want to, but itfyou do, you will find many friends and we talk about much more than MK.  Please come join us!

    Reply
  26. lisa says

    October 22, 2008 at 3:39 pm

    mkconfucious and constancemaye – i would like to respond to your posts, but feel i would take up way too much space here on pinklighthouse’s site, or blog, so if you’d like, e-mail me at .  just put mary kay in the subject.  i am a current consultant and have been for 28 years – i’ve posted a few times here, as i too was shocked at some of the shenanigans some consultants and directors (and i guess, even nationals) have pulled to get recruits and production.  was thinking maybe i could help in a format that wasn’t taking up pinklighthouse’s page.  thanks lj for letting me post!  lisa

    Reply
  27. L J says

    October 22, 2008 at 6:46 pm

    Lisa…please respond to posts HERE, not in emails. It’s not fair to other readers and it misses the entire point of the site.

    I don’t want people taking conversations elsewhere in email this way. If you have a response to something said here, then respond please.    🙂

    Reply
  28. lisa says

    October 23, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    sorry!  just had a few thoughts about how these two ladies could make mary kay work for them, and i had already posted some long responses before.  how do you get those little smiley faces?

    Reply
  29. L J says

    October 24, 2008 at 9:54 am

    Lisa…don’t worry about long posts. We’re here to discuss. Break up your text into paragraphs so it’s easy for others to read and follow and go for it.

    I for one would be interested to hear how they can make MK “work.”

    Reply
  30. KD says

    November 23, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    Ok, I ‘m glad I read this before I invested a lot of money into MK. I’ve only bought the starter kit and was trying to figure out how to get the inventory.

    Reply
  31. Lipstick says

    November 23, 2008 at 10:59 pm

    KD if you haven’t yet received your Starter Kit, just refuse the shipment when it comes and they will refund your money.  If it has already arrived, just contact the MK Return Dept. and tell them you have changed your mind and want to return your Starter Kit for refund.

    They won’t refund your shipping charges either way and you’ll just get 90%  back, but at least you’re not out much.

    If you want to make money on the kit and have people who will buy the full size fundations or skin care for retail then by all means do that and you may come out even or ahead a little and you can just call and self terminate yourself.

    Good luck and glad you found us before you ordered inventory.

    Reply
  32. lisa says

    November 24, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    who can believe it’s been a month since i posted here last?  where did nov. go?  anyhoo…..my thoughts on how to make mary kay work for anyone are simple (i believe everyone should be selling something, even part-time). 

    first, and foremost, NO large inventory purchases.  in my opinion, $400 is max, and then, only once every 3 months (of course, this would be determined by how much your doing mary kay and your sales). 

    second, try, try try to get a central spot to always go to to do your facials, classes, open houses, whatever.  i do mine at my house, but if that’s not possible, try to find another consultant who has room in her house to set up a “mary kay” room.  me and 2 other consultants did this for a year at one of the other 2’s house, so we didn’t have to “pack” anything – it was already there.  we had washcloths, mirrors, product, etc. all there and the table was constantly set for 6. 

    thirdly, i wouldn’t worry about purchasing all the gift-with-$40-purchase items, and the mary kay product giveaway or discount to the hostess.  i find gobs of cute things at clearance or discontinued prices, or stock up after the holidays for the next year.  i want my hostesses “buying” the products and giving them something that they can use around their home or for their family.  i’ve traded out $10 retail mary kay product at businesses for $10 gift cards from their establishments.  the 2 favored cards from my customers are a $10 gas card or a $10 restaurant card.  lately, there hasn’t been as much stuff on the pink sale as there has been in the past, but i’ve had great success with buying items from that in trade for the gift cards. 

    fourth, you will sell what you, yourself, use.  i love the bella fragrance and have sold lots of it in the last year just because gals noticed the scent; i love the firming eye cream and put it everywhere!  have sold at least a dozen of that product alone in the last 3 months, so definitely wear the mk line.  i don’t wear make-up, but i have an “eye need it” club (i think some gals called it a mascara club) and have about 9 customers that buy a mascara and eye/make-up remover every 3 months and each time, get to pick something from my “goodie” basket.  the prices in that basket range from $1 to $4 (my cost), so at the very most, after 4 club purchases of the $15 mascara and remover ($14), i profit about $48-50 from each club member in a year, after she’s picked 4 things each purchase from the “goodie” basket.  but i have 9 gals in it, so that’s about $450 profit that i don’t do anything or go anywhere for.  i guess another point, then, would be to “showcase” an item each month, or this sorta “club” thing, so if you were busy and didn’t necessarily do shows, classes, facials, etc., you could still make some extra money.  i really like to do trunk shows at christmas.  i generally do one at my part-time job the monday night after thanksgiving and one a week at a hostess’s house till and including the week of christmas.  the hostess gets the “tower of 12 days of christmas” and opens whatever box coordinates with whatever requirements i’ve placed on that box.  there is just no way someone couldn’t do this and not get at least $2000 extra money for christmas – we have too many gals in our unit that do this, and for some, this is really their only time to “do” mary kay.  they sell a few things here and there, but this is their focus.  anyway, i’ve rambled, so i will go.  if anyone would be interested in how my first trunk show this year went, i’ll post after next monday (the day of it).  i know this is an anti-mk site, so i don’t want to offend with my rah-rah enthusiasm – lol (i just learned that one – lol -laugh out loud!)  have a great thanksgiving ladies!

    Reply
  33. SassyC says

    November 24, 2008 at 11:46 pm

    Lisa, you are entitled to your opinion and you’ve had a better MK experience than most. KD will have to make up her own mind as to what will work best for her.
    Nice to see you posting again Lisa! 🙂

    Reply
  34. L J says

    November 25, 2008 at 10:59 am

    Lisa…Do me a favor and break up your posts in the future. I did a little just now…but it’s IMPOSSIBLE to read your incredibly long posts when they are crammed into one large paragraph.

    Some of your ideas are good, but there are plenty of MK women out there doing these things and seeing minimal results. Why? Because there are just too darn many MK consultants out there and the super-excited market for the product just isn’t there to the degree the company and directors want you to think.

    As for your statement about doing the 12 Days of Christmas and picking up $2000…..I don’t think I EVER saw one consultant sell one of these. The directors talked it up every season and took time “training” consultants on how to wrap all these darn items and put them in baskets etc, and how it would be an irresistable ggift and a huge money maker. But it never panned out.

    Why? Because people don’t want only MK for Christmas!!  Two and Three hundred dollars for a bunch of Mary Kay? That’s NOT what’s going to make it a great Christmas for any woman I know.

    Reply
  35. lisa says

    November 25, 2008 at 11:07 pm

    i wasn’t saying i sold the towers; i give them to the hostess of the trunk show.  so the $2000 (plus) in sales is from the trunk shows, themselves.

    i didn’t know i could break up these sentences till just now.  i just hit “enter” a couple of times, and whaddya know?

    anyhoo…..just a point of interest, here, about the “too many consultants” – i have never been approached by one mary kay consultant in 28 years of selling!  it kinda upsets me – my best friend is also a mk consultant and she has never been asked by anyone either and we live in a supposed “flooded” area.  there are 3 nationals in about a 35-40 mile radius and my friend even went up to a director and commented about her sweater and this director just said thank you and moved on.  anyway, just ideas that have worked well for me over the years.  for this first trunk show, this monday after thanksgiving, i have offered the hostess $5 for each person who comes (14 and up).  i’ve never offered this before, always using the tower of gifts instead.  we will see what happens!  seriously, if you all would prefer i not talk about my mary kay, i won’t.

    Reply
  36. Lipstick says

    November 26, 2008 at 12:34 am

    lisa, I’m glad your expereinces with MK have been good and I’m glad you have been able to find ways to make your business work for you.

    Most of us were not that lucky, but I am glad you did not have a bad experience.  You truly have a heart of gold and it shines through in your posts.

    It is a free country and you are entitled to your opinions and to tell your story and I thank you for always being respectful of our feelings and experiences. 

    I wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  37. L J says

    November 26, 2008 at 11:43 am

    Hey Lisa…talk away! Lipstick said it well. We value your opinions and experiences as well, and you have always been respectful.

    🙂

    Reply
  38. kellie says

    December 1, 2008 at 11:52 pm

    Decide for yourselves don’t go off the negativety of this site.  MK is great and has been great for me I started selling just to buy my products, but decided to give it a try my director never pushed me to buy invetory and does not force or twist my arm to go to trainging.   Granted if you are a popular outgoing person you will do a lot better.  For me I have to work at it to get classes, but it is a great way to make extra money.  FYI  Christmas has been great I already have 6 of the 12 days sold. MK does work.

    Reply
  39. kellie says

    December 1, 2008 at 11:54 pm

    Oh on another point I recieved the 12 days of christmas and it was all i needed.  It was well worth it. 

    Reply
  40. гaгaш says

    January 1, 2009 at 12:10 am

    А комментарии тут по-настоящему интересные. Буду следить за комментариями и далее 😉

    Reply
  41. Amber says

    January 6, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    Lisa you go girl. I too am a very nice an approachable person and have never been asked by anyone to try the Mary Kay products. Until i went to a bridal networking group and met my very first Mary Kay consultant. I tried the products and I absolutely love the Mary Kay products. You truly have to love the products in order to share them with everyone and sell the products.

    I signed up and was told about inventory options but I was never pushed at all to spend a certain amount of money on my inventory (it was up to me to decide).  I was told about the free products I could earn and I had my debut party and had $1000 in sales and put in my first order of $1000 giving me some inventory and I did finish my first quarter as a star.

    You will never make money off your friends and family so unless you put yourself out there and meet new people it will be very hard to move the products off your shelf or have potential new team members… If you push people to buy a large amount of inventory that they are not comfortable with then they won’t be happy and neither will you.

    Mary Kay business has been a great extra income business for me and my family an its hurtful to see so many of you feeling let down by this wonderful company and maybe you were just in the wrong circle of leaders. These leaders  might have been successful but maybe not the right fit for you and your team….

    Anyways I wish you all the best and I do pray that 2009 will bring you success in whatever you do and love doing

    Reply
    • L J says

      January 8, 2009 at 9:24 am

      Oh brother…

      Not another consultant telling us we probably didn’t try or had the wrong “leaders.”

      Reply
  42. Lipstick says

    January 8, 2009 at 11:25 am

    IMO when enough people have had bad experiences with the leadership in a company, it should throw up a “red flag” to the corparation and others who are part of the business teams.

    This says (IMO) that this  type of behavior is either ignored or maybe even encouraged because perhaps the corporation puts profit above ethics and working a business with honesty and integrity.

    Reply
  43. Jessica says

    January 9, 2009 at 12:14 am

    “$8000 a year is really good money…the truth is it ewuldn’t probably pay the interest on your mortgage for the year.”

    My former roomate pays less than this on her mortgage, but of course she didn’t buy a nice house. She bought a small one to fix up and honeslty I think hers is now nicer than mine that I spent a lot more on.

    $8,000 is quite a bit for a LOT of people.

    Reply
  44. Lipstick says

    January 9, 2009 at 12:42 am

    $8000 a year is equal to $153.84 per week before taxes.

    Working minimum wage @ $5.85/hr for 40 hours will get you $234/week before taxes.

    IMO $8000 isn’t so great unless you aren’t working and you aren’t collecting unemployment, but at least with a regular jpb you know what you will earn each week and you know how many hours you will be putting in for that wage.

    Reply
  45. Jessica says

    January 9, 2009 at 1:09 am

    I didn’t say it was great. I said it is more than many people make right now, and it will pay a mortgage, depending on what house you buy. Many people do not make over minimum wage with this economy.

    Reply
  46. My beauty says

    January 10, 2009 at 12:11 am

    Happy New Year ladies! It has been a while since I’ve posted here, but I see you girls haven’t missed a beat!  Now that said, I have returned all of my MK inventory and I have paid the balance on the MK Visa.  I even sent back stuff I knew they wouldn’t refund, but just didn’t want the crap in my house anymore.  To answer the original question, hell yes it costs more than $100 dollars to join MK.

    A well trained recruiter knows just when to tell you about the inventory just after you have placed t he order for you starter kit.  Not to mention all of the preparation for you party/skin care class. And being a person who doesn’t like to do things halfway, I wanted to make sure my guests had a good time.  Oh did I mention the business kit that you absolutely must have?  And how can you sell a product if you haven’t tested it? So you have to purchase some things of your own to be the model for the products.

    I am embarrassed at how silly I was to really believe that selling MK could actually be a viable source of income, even on a part time basis.  But the truth is I had no idea as to how MK really operated.  None of  that was explained to me until I had signed my life away.  Thank God that I have other things in my life that fulfill me, and I don’t need the phoney validation from MK.

    I think I have said this before but it bears repeating.  Ladies, invest your time in something real.  If you are not happy on your 9 to 5 jobs do not spend what little time and money you have spinning your wheels with MK.  Further your education, find your TRUE passion, write business plan, and open a REAL business in your name with your idea.  This is Mary Kay Ashe’s business and it made her and her beneficiaries very wealthy.  They are the only ones who will collect any profit for the sale of these products.

    And lastly, I understand that our economy is suffering, but I think even those on unemployment earn more than $8000 a year. Hope that this is not being quoted as sufficient earnings a testament to the goldmine that is supposedly MK.

    Reply
    • L J says

      January 10, 2009 at 5:35 pm

      Ladies, invest your time in something real. If you are not happy on your 9 to 5 jobs do not spend what little time and money you have spinning your wheels with MK. Further your education, find your TRUE passion, write business plan, and open a REAL business in your name with your idea. This is Mary Kay Ashe’s business and it made her and her beneficiaries very wealthy. They are the only ones who will collect any profit for the sale of these products.

      HERE HERE! I couldn’t agree more!

      Follow a passion. Find a part-time job or make your own. It can be done…people do it all the time. Sure the economy is tough right now, but things will get better. AND…there are a lot of positives and opportunities out there even in hard economic times. Don’t swallow all the doom and gloom on the news.

      Reply
  47. Lipstick says

    January 10, 2009 at 12:55 am

    Glad to se you back My Beauty.  Happy new Year to you.  with all your Mk gone and your credit card debt paid off it is a NEW year.  Good for you

    Reply
  48. Massage & MK says

    January 10, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    It’s kinda funny/ I came on th web lookin for some Mk “extras” to help me and my business. I found this sit. Read through all the posts. And I feel so bad for all of you who have had bad expriences. I run my Mk along side of my massage business. I offer woman and men facials. and yes I have some recruits. NO One hs ever in our unit been forced to work more than they want, or place a larger order tan they need. As oa matter of fact, our National whom we see ever 2 months, discourages product holdng. Its bad business. As we are all business women, wanting to make a profit. I earn an additional 5k a month w/ my Mk. This is no small beans. Hopefully one day I will be tha fat cat you all hate so much…
     Working on the car of my dreams with woman I like spending time with? Its just fabulous.

    Reply
    • L J says

      January 11, 2009 at 11:03 am

      Wow Massage & MK…it’s amazing what some people like you see…and FAIL to see.

      You managed to completely miss the information and point of the site. No one hates fat cats. We hate the hype and lies promoted by MK though.

      I’d love to see the $5000 a month you claiim you’re earning with MK. That would truly be amazing. But then again, it sounds like you’re combining it as part of your massage business. I hope you aren’t displaying your products and/or offering them in your business. You’ll soon be turned in to corporate by a fellow consultant for violating MK terms.

      If a pink Cadillac is the car of your dreams, you need to dream higher.

      Reply
  49. Massage & MK says

    January 10, 2009 at 9:24 pm

    Oh sorry for all the typos, I hate typing on my laptop

    Reply
  50. Sassy_C says

    January 10, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    Massage and MK….you should have read more….obviously you are not getting the message!

    Reply
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