Comments on: Allison’s Story

By: Tam

Tam — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:32:59 +0000

It doesn’t matter if you have 1 of everything in the book, SOMEONE will want 2.

By: Lipstick

Lipstick — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:27:38 +0000

I only wanted to add this because is it unfair to bash Mary Kay for what is a normal practice in sales. Whether you are selling computers to a Fortune 500 company or selling cars at the town lot, this is what you will learn. If you don’t like sales and are uncomfortable with those tactics, you should not join any type of sales venture.
Anna I would like to point out a BIG difference between MK and other sales jobs like those you listed. The sales person in the examples you cited does not have any money invested in inventory, and they do not have overhead and business expenses. They must use sales tactics to close the sale and make a commission.
The tactics most on this site have a problem with are that MK teaches their SD’s to push “purchasing an inventory” with phrases like “You can’t sell from an empty wagon”. The truth is purchasing inventory puts a new recruit at a higher risk for losing money. Most of the time, they can place an order and have it within 3- 5 days. Placing an order before you have customers places you at a greater risk for losing money and not having the items your customer will need on hand.
Once you have built up a steady clientele and can determine what they use on a regular basis, then you can invest in a small amount of inventory. As for purchasing Limited Edition items, once again you are “guessing” what might sell and risking having inventory that won’t sell on your shelf.

By: Anna

Anna — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:45:29 +0000

I can understand some folks being upset about being mislead by unscrupulous directors. And I will say I am not a Mary Kay rep – I am researching whether or not I want to do this. I appreciate all the comments here and find them very helpful.
But one comment I want to make on the Sales Tactics discussed here. This is NOT unique to Mary Kay. Reading any book on sales, how to close the deal, work any sales job – this is what you will be taught. Good sales people know what to say to overcome reluctance.
I only wanted to add this because is it unfair to bash Mary Kay for what is a normal practice in sales. Whether you are selling computers to a Fortune 500 company or selling cars at the town lot, this is what you will learn. If you don’t like sales and are uncomfortable with those tactics, you should not join any type of sales venture.
Again, thanks for all the information here….it’s helping me come up with questions to ask the MK consultant.

By: Kas

Kas — Sat, 23 May 2009 02:06:39 +0000

I just can’t stand the idea of watching somebody buy a night cream for $30. I like the products but I buy off of Ebay and you can buy MK lots for less than 1/2 of WHOLESALE. MK needs to make their products reasonably priced.

By: Tam

Tam — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:40:30 +0000

Kelli,

BRAVO to you for doing your homework and reading and understanding everything! If you want to join for personal use, please don’t let them talk you into carrying inventory! You can direct your friends / family to the generic website where they can view the catalog, get their money, THEN place your order! That will cut down cost of books and the necessity of ordering them and paying $ 8.95 shipping for books!

Please join us in the forum and feel free to ask any and all questions!

By: Lipstick

Lipstick — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:32:36 +0000

Thanks for posting Kelli. There is a lot more information that can prepare and forewarn you of other bits of MK manipulation in the forum.

I invite you to click on the word FORUM in the tan toolbar at the top of the page. Not only will you be able to read about other peoples personal experiences in MK, but also how to avoid making some of the common mistakes.

We talk about a lot more than MK. There are topics on current events, family, cooking, health, humor and even a section for active consultants. You will find honesty, smart women, friendship and a lot more…and you won’t have to spend a dime to get it!
Come on in, friend!

By: Kelli

Kelli — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:50:22 +0000

Wow! I really love the all the great advice. Like some of you I have just recently signed up with MK. I have to tell you that my decision was wholly based on the product and wanting to service my family, friends and co-workers. I thought about maybe doing a little more, but after the following…. I have decided to stick to what I wanted to do in the first place. Get my product at wholesale. I really love what the product does for my skin. But….. it is amazing that after you sign up it really isn’t about how wonderful the product is , but about how to get others to sign up under you. I am a person who is detailed so I read everything and watched all of the training videos. I am amazed with how everything is about manipuliation. After researching I decided to go to a training and was even more amazed with how each person was not really given the chance to say no. The way the questions were asked made me feel like the person’s intelligence was being challenaged. “How could you say no to a car? “or “How could you say no to making more money.” (Not exactlly in those words ,but close) It makes me a little ashamed to be part of it. No where on the paper they were filling out did it say “No thank I’m not interested.” There are so many things I love about the company. The product, no animal testing, and the 100% garantee. I think it is wonderful to be able to offer the opportunity to others, but I hate the munipulation. I have decided to only order what I need and what my family, friends, and co-workers need. They really do not mind waiting. I was told that most would, but I have stuck to my guns. But I am concerned for others who do want to make this a carrer, and feel that they have to order so much product. It DOES cost more then just 100 dollars to start up. Thank you for letting me vent.

By: truthseeker

truthseeker — Thu, 07 May 2009 07:10:01 +0000

I congratulate all the good directors who really worked hard in building their carrer, and who has been faithful to the well set principles Mary Kay Ash taught us. However it is too sad to find some people who are destroying this business reputation committing fraud, and showing people shortcuts.
Even worse when these people are NSDs like in Utah.In the last 3 to 4 years the Hispanic Areas have experimented big scandals from identity theft to encourage consultants and directors to go into debt to complete productions, and asking thir full paycheck back.
I understand well you have dedicate an inirial investment to start any business, but when you don’t allow people to recover from that investment, because your selfish and your hunger for money, you are not helping anyone, instead you are destroying lives and creating family problems.
This is going on in Utah, the market is killed because the bad reputation MK has here. Their have been some complains filed for identity theft and fraud, but the hispanic office did not do anything yet. could someone help to discilpine these National Sales Directors? Belive me there are good hard worker women here who are victims of these NSDs. It is easy to check it out Headquaerters, just check how many directors this NSD had in the last year; around 20, now in less than 1 year she has hardly 11. Call the people who are gone and ask why they left. You have their numbers in your records. I am talking about directors, women who worked hard to get to that possition. not losers…

Don’t be afraid to disclosure and prevent the good apples to get ruined.

Please someone do something. This nation was foundated in the truth and good values. in God we trust

By: Lipstick

Lipstick — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:32:37 +0000

Trudie, I know it took a lot for you to write what you did and it is probably more meaningful than everything else that was said, because you are close in age to Jess and in the same situation with young children.

Sometimes it takes somebody who is walking the same path to get the point across! We love having you in the forum and I hope Jess will join us too! You said it so well in exactly the same words that Jess has probably been hearing!

Karma love to you, Trudie and thanks for sharing what’s in your heart with Jess.

By: Trudie

Trudie — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:29:06 +0000

Oh Jess, my heart goes out to you. I just recently decided to get out of Mary Kay. I am also a young mother (25) with two young children. I can really relate to the excitement you must be feeling right now. It seems like its the opportunity of a life time with everything you need to make your dreams come true. Its so important that you know that this Sales Director has been trained to get you to feel this excitement. Please don’t get me wrong, I truly believe that most of the women that are in Mary Kay are genuinely caring, positive women with good intentions. Mary Kay uses a veil of empowerment, encouragement, glamour, appreciation, positivity to motivate their Independant Beauty Consultants and Directors into feeling that the opportunity can bring them everything they’ve always wanted when in reality, the product isn’t really as high demand as they make it out to be and the opportunity is FAR from what they say it is. Please understand if you want to make any type of profit at all doing Mary Kay, you will need to work A LOT more than 40 hours a week. Even if you work your business as hard as you can, do everything right, book three classes a week, pre profile all guests and talk to every woman who comes withing 3 feet of you and offer them a facial, you will not see much of a profit if any AND your precious time with your little one will be non-existant. I did Mary Kay for about 4 months and did everything I was told to do. After seeing how hard I had worked and that I had NO PROFIT to show for it whatsoever I decided that Mary Kay really couldn’t enrich my life the way they said it could. I am now paying off debt from my inventory and business supplies and I know for a fact that I am going to have it payed off much sooner now that I’m no longer with Mary Kay than if I had of continued to buy into their ‘dream’. I hope that you continue to read here and get all of the information you need to stand your graound in Mary Kay and not get pulled in by all of the manipulation. I know that you will do what you feel is right for you, but my advice is to not sign that agreement and keep your distance from that Sales Director. Mary Kay was the first experience in my life that I can honestly say I would take back if I could.

P.S. We would all love for you to join us in the forum. Theres a lot of really great women here.