Like Many Consultants, Lydia Has Too Much MK Credit Card Debt
Your Name: Lydia
Date Joined MK : 2/28/2008
When Left MK or Still Active?: Still Active
Initial Inventory Purchased: 1800
How were you recruited?:
Through a friend.
Memorable experience you had in MK:
Love to get together with other positive thinking women. I really enjoyed giving gifts to my relatives & chruch ladies.
What did you learn from MK?:
How to run a business wisely & with integrity. How to listen to those around you with experience.
What are you doing now? :
Regretting how I ignored my husband’s advice & how much debt I acrewed on the CC. I need to sell back a lot of product. Or do about 5-10 trunk shows!
Additional Comments:
I believe that there is a smart way to run any business, it just depends on what level you want to be at & how much time & energy you are willing to commit to this business. PLEASE KNOW that when you purchase any amount of inventory that you are comitting to do that much work in your business to even recoup sales to pay for product. Do not think that you are at a profit level until ALL of your product is paid for.
Lipstick on 
Ann on 
Brooke on 
Tam on 
“PLEASE KNOW that when you purchase any amount of inventory that you are comitting to do that much work in your business to even recoup sales to pay for product. Do not think that you are at a profit level until ALL of your product is paid for.”
Well, if only MK or my former Sales Director had told me that before they told me that to be profitable, I had to have full shelves! I foolishly followed her advice because I thought she was being truthful when she said she made 75K per year in MK. I figured that to follow in her footsteps would lead me to a similar place. She failed to mention that check was from a really great year eons ago, and that it was one of those “these results are not typical” things, even for herself. It did not accurately reflect her average earnings. She also failed to mention that check was before taxes, before inventory replacement, before directorship expenses, before figuring that only 50% was “profit”, and before sales expenses, discounts, Sect. 2, gas, …(and on and on). That was when I was brand new. This is the idea I was fed by the MK machine that continues to churn out these manipulative ‘misconceptions’. I knew it would be work, but I fault myself for naively believing what I was told: that it would only take “4 – 6 hours per week to make over $500″! Maybe, if you only count the actual show/class time, and leave out all the emailing, computer time, phone calls, getting brochures and hostess packets mailed, packing/unpacking, setting up and cleaning up, and the fact that shows cancel and don’t have very high sales. Even then, you’re not really making all that much for all the time you put in after all the deductions, the income isn’t guaranteed, it isn’t even really YOUR business (you can’t do what you want w/ it, you have to follow MK’s rules, and you can’t sell it or leave it as inheritance in a will like a small business owner can theirs), the hours and manipulation and pressure suck, and there aren’t any benefits.
Taco Bell begins hiring at $9.00/hr now… just kidding
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I agree #1…I was discussing with the lady who owns the Curves I have a membership at how difficult it is to buy inventory that you have to sell or be forced to eat. It’s not a new concept but apparently MK’s take is to pretend it’s easy. So far all I do is send a couple of The Looks out to people I know want to peruse them, keep my website renewed because it makes it easy for telling people how to look up stuff and submit orders (not to mention that the new makeover tool is rather fun hehe), and keep a couple of the basics around that I know my people will buy (a couple of each type face wash, moisturizer, one microdermabrasion set, and one or two of the shades of foundation most often purchased). Most of them will gladly give me a dollar or two if they want a sample and then when I need to make a big order I spread the word and they all tell me what they want. That works pretty well but I did notice the other day I somehow had a second stash of products I didn’t realize I had so I REALLY don’t need anything for about six months.
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I forgot to mention now, the lovely amount of blame that has been bestowed upon me by my spouse whenever I mention anything now about savings, money, spending, etc. We paid one of the CC’s off with our own money, and now that I’m returning my inventory, and we’re getting most of our money back through that and taxes, it’s so hard. He holds it over my head so much, even when he decides to go out and buy something leisurely. *sigh* I guess I just have to wait that part out – the part about the “I told you so” that comes whenever you make a mistake.
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Everyone makes mistakes, Lydee. I’m sure your husband has made a few. I’m sure he has probably bought something that didn’t turn out to be as advertised, for instance. He should be GLAD that you were smart enough to realize you wanted out NOW rather than years down the line. You have lost very little. Tell him to chill out
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That’s unfortunate that your husband feels the need to rub your mistake in your face….geesh…not like you don’t already feel bad enough….hope he’s perfect and never makes any mistakes!
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Lydee, I’m so sorry to hear about the way your husband has responded to what has happened to you. It’s a traumatic enough experience without him making you feel worse.
I will offer one piece of advice – stop responding to him when he talks like that. When he realises it gets NO response from you he’ll stop. He can only hold this over you as long as you allow it.
Let go of the guilt.
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I “DECIDED” to become a part of Mary Kay in August of 1994. I became a Director in September of 1995. Won my 1st of 4 Cadillacs in March of 1996. Was Head of My Class and #1 in the Nation out of my debuting class of Directors. Was in the Circle of Achievement for 4 consequtive years. Had 3 Offspring Directors, 2, 2nd Line Directors (one of which was a Cadillac Director and in the Half Million Dollar Circle of Excellence her 1st year as a Director, as well as her 1st year in the business.
With all due respect, the website and chat room, is a haven to support mediocrity and to have a place where others will support the old “whoa is me” sob story.
Instead of bashing Mary Kay, your director, inventory or whatever else you want to bash or blame, why not just say: it wasn’t for me because I wasn’t willing to work that hard.
I worked my Mary Kay Business with passion, determination and with a desire to win, all while working full-time (50-60 hours per week) at Merrill Lynch. By the time I quit my job at Merrill Lynch, I was already making $6,000+ as a director with MK.
I was diagnosed with presumptive MS in 1997 and worked and maintained Cadillac status until 2006. Once it became too difficult for me to be “Effective” as a Leader, I made the decision to resign my position. I mean I could barely walk, my speech & ability to write were impaired, I had fallen about 500 times, moved to a new city, 1,100 miles away from my family (as a single woman) and no friends and rebuilt my area from not even meeting minimum production. I wanted success & I wanted it bad enough to work through pain, frustration and adversity.
Bottom line: My initial investment: $1,800…EVERY decision I made was MY decesion. No one forced me to work hard. No one forced me to re-invest. No one forced me to recruit. No one made me do anything I wasn’t willing to do or wanted to do based on what I wanted to achieve. Anybody that becomes a part of MK or any Network Marketing Company for that matter, has the SAME EXACT possibilities as anyone else.
Mary Kay cannot create credit card debt, you & your choices create credit card debt. That’s like saying Neiman Marcus or Dillards or Visa created my credit card debt. That’s ridiculous!
Please stop enabling each other to be losers and play the blame game. Take responsibility for your own actions. Be grown up about it and just say: “I wasn’t willing to work that hard.”
Sarah Daniel
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Very good Sarah. I am so glad that you are proud of your acheivements. I just hope that when all of that comes crashing down, and it will, that you will come back here and learn what you haven’t learned yet. I also hope that you don’t have that “it’s my business mentality”. It isn’t. Mary Kay can snatch it away fast and what will you have left. What you are doing is repeating the lies that you were encouraged to recruit with in your training. So, you may think that you are doing right, but you aren’t. We are all very successful women and we saw through that “facade” soon enough. So, before you come here and bash us, know that we have heard it all before. You don’t know us and we don’t know you. So before you judge us take the time to get to know us. It irritates me that we hear the same old story over and over again especially when you go on the rampage that you just went on. You do you and we will do us.
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Wow! You ladies are incredible. I appreciate your well wishes for me in my situation, but I assure you that no matter the challenges I face, I in NO WAY have a disability. Instead this condition has given me the “Ability” to empower others and give them permission (by example) to live beyond difficulty and adversity.
I didn’t nor do I need Merril Lynch, their benefits, retirement, healthcare, sick pay, vacation time or Social Security, Based upon the effort I put into the Mary Kay business that I built, I was able to put away a very sizable nest egg as well as afford my own benefits, take all the paid sick time when I needed to and took vacation on my own time and did for literally 2 years without missing a beat. By the way, if I had stayed at Merrill Lynch there is no way that I would have been able to maintain a 60-80 hour work week under extremely stressful work conditions in my situation. I watched them fire people for having migraines, so I would have really been in the cold.
I took full advantage of every opportunity Mary Kay offered to me. The training & journey to my personal best was worth every dollar spent, every frustration faced, and every minute I spent building my organization. It gave me the necessary mindset needed to deal with what I deal with everyday. It gave me the platform in which to build my now $250,000+ a year consulting firm. Luck had nothing to do with my success. I took care of business and worked it! When I couldn’t work it, my business took care of me. Tam, MK did work for me, I resigned because I could not effectively, to my standard, support the women in my organization. MY CHOICE!
BC, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT. ATTEMPT TO MASK WHAT?
No where in my statement did you read a victim, blame it on someone else story. I walk and live fabulously in my situation, high heels and all. Hide behind? Baby Please! I still walk with pride, without assistance or a wheel chair, even though literally each step could be my last! Yes, it’s that critical! I don’t need or want to hide behind a situation that has brought so much power & possibility, through the pain. Anyway, I wish you all the best!
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I, like Megan, would like a small workable inventory and maintain my active website. But how can I get rid of the inventory that I do not want and cannot sell. I have a few customers that I would like to keep and I like the MK product for myself. Ive gotten into a lot of MK debt and I am working my way out of it now. Advice please?
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JZ -
Do you actually get orders via your website? I ended up directing my customers to the company site and had them e-mail me their orders. My sister was the only one who used my “official” website anyways!
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JZ, if you have been active within the past 12 months, I would suggest, you call MK to see how much inventory you are eligible to return for 90% buyback. Then you can get rid of your unneeded product that is not moving that way. It will terminate your contract, but you can buy fresh product from ladies who no longer sell MK on our site for wholesale or less.
Plus there are always MK consultants that are personal use and would be will ing to sell prioduct to you and your customers for less than retail.
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JZ, sorry I didn’t mean to press the submit button. If you still have questions join us in the forum by clicking on the “Forum” button in the black toolbar at the top of the page. You will find many people who will be glad to answer your questions and help you!
We talk about a lot more than MK in the Forum, we discuss current events, cooking, fitness, health, our families, our jobs, our hobbies, humor and much more. We’re a friendly, supportive group of ladies…come join us!
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Yes I do get orders through my website, my regular customers order through it. Yes I have been active in the past 12 months and I am considering the buyback option.
Have you heard of this website: http://www.pinkchoices.com/index.html? Any thought or comments on it?
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Never heard of it, but it’s yet another person starting a website to resell Mary Kay at a discount.
Apparently, they haven’t been watching the Touch of Pink lawsuit proceedings.
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I have done a bit of trading through other groups (there are several on yahoo) but I would like to sell to those who could use what I have! I will check out the forum. Thanks.
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Word of advice: don’t pre-purchase inventory. Sell and collect first. ANY entrepreneur on the planet will advise you to use OPM – other people’s money.
You see, I am an considered an ‘expert’ marketer in MLM’s and from the corporate perspective YOU the CONSULTANT is the customer. So OF COURSE they are going to encourage you to ‘front load’ your inventory LADIES. Do not be fooled by this strategy.
98% of the consultants that purchase product do not sell it and 80% of them do not return it to corporate for a refund. Only 2% of the salesforce actually works this business “like a business’ and unloads the product to their customers.
Oh. And another thing. Being in debt – isn’t a Christian principle. It’s bondage. Remember, God FIRST, Family Second, Career Third? Yeah. Stick to what they preach.
So, here’s my proven success formula that has created hundreds of millionaires over the past 20 years: lead with the opportunity first…then “downsell’” the “no’s” into purchasing product. Everyone needs a mascara or a lipstick or moisturizer. Start high and work your way down.
Happy Selling!
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Very true. Exactly what we try to get through to people here. When they quote the sales figures to you in Mary Kay, they’re talking about how much product the COMPANY sold to CONSULTANTS.
Not sure where you got those percentages.
Well, with that “success formula” coupled with your earlier advice for people to not front load, how in the heck do you expect your leading with the opportunity to garner you a single penny?!
In order for you to make money recruiting, your recruits have to purchase inventory from the company. PERIOD.
So much for your being an “expert marketer” in MLMs.
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Thank you for your post Irene, it’s nice to see a pro-MKer with practical advice rather than accusations and blame.
Anyone active in an MLM would be very wise to heed your advice.
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Actually, while much of what Irene says is valid, her idea of focusing on recruiting, given she says no one sells anything, makes little sense, as I tried to point out earlier.
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Very helpful advice. Thanks ladies.
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That comment above was met to be from me not Irene, sorry.
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So, JZ are you using 2 different names to post on this site? Or is “Irene” using your email account to post?
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Yep, she is.
JZ = Irene
The latest comment from an Irene was irene — not capitalized. That came from a different email address.
Why JZ is also posting as (capitalized I) Irene I don’t know…
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My bad, I am not Irene…just made a mistake because I was thinking about her comment. Forgive me, I am pregnant and losing my mind
And definitely considering selling back what I can of my inventory. Even though I am little intimidated by the process.
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I am some agree that we have to take responsability for our own actions, that is true. However if everybody would think ONLY that way, people who have trust on other people would be silly and stupid, and that is not always the case. If we would live in a “perfect world” where we could trust anyone, where no bad intentions or ulterior motives would exist … But this is no the world where we live. There are people who takes advantage of others. People who tries to make money from someone’s else lack of experience or lack of information. Or even worse people who intencionally does not disclosure all the information from the beginning. Otherwise there would no been need of a justice system in this world.
It is too sad but there is people like that in Mary Kay like in every where, and our objective should be to make people aware that like in every where we have to keep our eyes wide open and be not part of this way to work. Mary Kay brought a lot of happiness to our lives, however some people who I had to deal with dissapointed me.
In Utah the Hispanic NSDs are driven the business in a wrong way. One of them claimed to be the number #1 nationwide in sales for 2 consecutive years what a nice accomplishment!!! but it would be really nice if she would not try short cuts and some questionable tactics to do that. I feel sorry because some people who really worked hard and honestly, were left behind for someone who did not, and used fraud and other tools to get the award.
Now it is not hard to see the consecuences. The fake directors she had, are not contribuiting to her production anymore ( because it is hard to keep a Lie that long) Also from the more than 2o directors she was suppose to have to meet the requirement to be a NSD, there are now hardly 12!. Another hint, She use to have a “production of more than a Million per year” now, her last month check was only $7,ooo dollars…
o be a NSD making only $7,000 dollars?… some successful consultants and real directors are making that much !!
Those are the consecuences of our acts and decissions, however how do you think this Lady feels? what is she doing about it? Well… It is too sad but her reaction was not possitive, she is still doing the same even worse, the way she treats her group, how she is motivating her area to get into debt using false arguments, taking advantage of poor hispanic people who came to this our country with big expectations. Mary Kay is a good way to make our dreams comes true, but when a powerful vehicle like this falls into someone who only persues her own and selfish benefit, it could destroy people’s dreams, families and lives. I would say sometimes we are not aware of the consecuences of our decisions, and when you work with people you can not pretend to be blind and just say ” Please stop enabling each other to be losers and play the blame game. Take responsibility for your own actions. Be grown up about it and just say: “I wasn’t willing to work that hard.” It is more complex of only that.
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Why is it when someone is defending MK and saying it worked for them b/c they worked it, they still choose to walk away from MK? If life is becoming difficult for some reason, why not walk away from the secure job and all its bennies? Hmm?
Why not just ‘step down’ from your regular job? For all the blather about MK being the career of your dreams, prove it by leaving your job.
Leaving your MK instead of your secure J.O.B., but trying to convince us it was another of your ‘choices’ tells me you’re not as sure of MK as you would like us to believe. It’s all part of the justification process. It’s human nature to convince ourselves that we did not make a mistake.
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You owe it to yourself to read SARAH’s comment as many times as neccesary so you can realize GOD gave you the power to choose and BLAMING the company, your husband, your sponsor, your neighboor, your dog, your ….(insert your excuse here) ONLY makes you what you chose to make of yourself. In this land of opportunity blaming others for your failure is pathetic!
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I don’t get the logic… They tell people to take out a creditcard to buy huge bulks of inentory even when people say they are financially strapped. You hafta do what you can afford at the moment. It was suggested to me that I start off with $1800 inventory for star status and ask family & friends for money to cover those expenses or apply for a card. I said NO. I spent the amount of money I was most comfortable with. I was unemployed, so I saw do anything else as a wreckless decision.
I’m all for that belief in being faith, but there’s such thing as blind faith. I refused to be sucked into all of the hype without reading the stuff more thoroughly. In actuality, you really don’t a bulk of inventory on hand. You can place an order online after getting enough product requests… or try setting up a website. I don’t like how there’s so much emphasis on the amount u order. I care about what Imma SELL.
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“Pretty In Pink” i too dont get the logic in it all. I just dont understand how you cant Simply say NO. “shrugs shoulders” I guess you live and learn.
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Jacob, God also gave us a brain to use to make smart decisions like not wasting money on joining MK and lining somebody’s pockets with commission checks for product that will NOT “sell itself’ or “jump right off your shelves”. God intended us to use our brains and not fall for every silly scam MLM that comes by like Satan holding out promises of riches if you just sell your soul!
MK needs to quit quoting God and using Him to try to dupe unsuspecting women into parting with their hard earned cash for worthless dreams. MK=Satan…stay away from the apple that will destroy your life!
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MK=Satan, oh my goodness! This takes the cake. This over-generalized, sensationalized comment is unbelievable. I really don’t understand your mental state. How you can make these kinds of statements is beyond me. You have went from misrepresentation and suing to oh they are the devil. I really think you need some kind of therapy to help you deal with your emotions. As I stated in another post (which I can’t seem to find now) misrepresentation is everywhere, am I agreeing that is is right, of course not. But it is everywhere you look. If you are a bible believer then the downward spiral of the whole world is due to Satan so you can’t just simply say that MK=Satan, you would have to say the World=Satan.
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What nothing about MK using falsely using God as a way to make money? Pretty one-sided if you ask me. My mental state is fine, thanks! I don’t need therapy and thanks for all the lovely compliments!
Still hanging out looking for answers? I was just as angry as you when I first saw one of thes sites..how could anyone trash my beloved MK? Blinders off, pink fog lifted! Hallelujah!
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WhoCares just want to heckle…for who knows what purpose. She must have gotten up on the wrong side of the padded room.
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Thanks for putting it all in perspective BB!
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She must have gotten up on the wrong side of the padded room.
Or put her pad on sticky side up. Sheesh!
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Nope, no heckling or looking for answers here. None of you have any answers for me. Just can’t believe how you equate MK with Satan. Still can’t believe that one.
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Still can’t believe you think MK is wonderful and does no wrong! I think you are here just to heckle. You must not have many appointments with your customers or you wouldn’t be here harassing the mentally ill! LOL
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Yep my padded room has everything I need right in it, thanks for your concern BabyBlues. I just have a different opinion than you folks so, of course, I am the DEVIL now. So sorry to ruffle and offend your precious feathers.
Lipstick it doesn’t matter what anyone says to you, you see one way and that is your way. That is fine with me, you are going to argue until your face turns blue because you must enjoy it, I, on the other hand have better things to do. So you take care of yourself and keep telling everyone how MK is run by the devil himself so that you can feel better about yourself. Maybe you can save enough people from joining Mary Kay that you will eventually feel fulfilled in your quest. Good luck to you! May your life be filled with joy.
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LOL you guys are seriously having a all out brawl. Complete with MK. Devils and lots of other cool stuff.
Im ready to bring out the popcorn and lemonade grab a seat and watch….
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Ohhh, looks like Whocares has been called on her crap, and is taking her ball and going home to sulk. After she tells us all what we think and feel, of course. Nice.
Hey Cynthia,
Can the lemonade please be spiked?
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Funny though in rereading WhoCares posts… I do not really see any opinion!
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I think she pulled up her “big girl panties” and went home ! LOL
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=)
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Hey BC, it already was LOL
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Cynthia, are you already in the forum? If not, you should join by clicking the link above. We have great discussions and alot of fun in there…
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Come on and join us Cynthia!
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okay i will….. no more fighting? i was having a great time
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We can always agree to disagree…see ya inside!
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Cynthia, we get along fine in the forum…mutual respect all around. Not to say we never disagree, but as BabyBlues said, we can agree to disagree and we don’t personally attack each other!
Come inside, we’d love to have you! If you decide to come inside and you decide to make an introduction post, please be sure to let us know you posted as Cynthia on the Main Page, so we can give you and “extra special” welcome!
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If I just received my “order” that was put in by the Director and have not opened the boxes, can I return everything for a full refund?
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Renee
Probably not, but you can call the MK branch your SD ordered from and tell them you have changed your mind and the order is unopened. Ask them if you can have it picked up by UPS and returned for a full credit.
If that fails, you might check with your credit card company and see if they will back out the charges if you return the shipment. If you return it I would ship it with delivery confirmation and insurance.
If the above fail you can always return it for 90% buyback. Post and let us know what you were able to work out if anything. Best of luck to you!
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