Stephanie Joined Mary Kay Twice

Your Name: Stephanie

Date Joined MK: 2001 / 2005

When Left MK or Still Active?: 2001 / 2006

Initial Inventory Purchased: 3500

How were you recruited?:

2001: Went to a party at the dorm where the local director was the consultant and signed from there.

2005: Ran into a friend who’s mom sold Mary Kay.  Signed under her.

Memorable experience you had in MK:

2001:  Daily phone calls (even when I was in class) asking how much I sold that day.

2005: Director’s twice daily phone calls and her rude comment about my family ~~ We had just purchased a new puppy whom got really sick.  So while she was in K-State Vet Clinic fighting for her life, the conference was a few weeks away.

I was getting daily phone calls from my director with her telling me that I NEEDED TO GO.

About 10 days before deadline the person whom I signed under (she was very nice – no problem with her) called and asked if I had made a decision.  When I told her that I had decided I wasn’t going to go because I didn’t want to put my family in that financial pinch since I had just purchased $3000.00 in product.  She said she would miss me, but understood completely and wished Opal (pet) luck in getting well.

The final straw happened about 20 minutes later when my director called me house DEMANDING to know why I wasn’t going.  When I told her my reason she said:  Did your husband know that this is training you couldn’t get here?  Does your husband know that you will get nowhere if you don’t attend this conference?  Does your husband realize this is YOUR business NOT HIS?  Does he realize how stupid he is being right now?  Do YOU realize how stupid YOU’RE being right now?

THAT WAS IT!  I had enough of her!  I had already told her why I, ME, and ONLY ME, had decided not to go – it had nothing to do with him.  I informed her it was completely my decision and he was supporting me either way.  And from now on, she was not to call my house or talk to my husband, EVER AGAIN!

What did you learn from MK?:

After the 2005 experience, I learned to stand up for myself and my family, so I am grateful for that lesson.  Though, I will never say another good thing about this company.

After informing the person whom sign me up in 2005 I was stopping, I went to one last meeting and informed the director I did not appreciate her attitude toward my husband nor did I appreciate her comments about my family or me.  I showed her the letter I was sending to Mary Kay so she knew what I was going to form a complaint about.  She did not apologize.  She said I was making a “HUGE MISTAKE and WOULD REGRET IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!”

After sending the letter to Mary Kay, I was at least expecting a phone call or a form letter – but I got NOTHING!  My ex-director had never been contacted about her actions toward my husband or I.

Since leaving, I have found at least 15 to 20 people whom  have been under that same director and have all left because of the same treatment of their families and themselves.

What are you doing now?:

I have my own home-based business with a woman’s company whom REALLY does not push…

You do your thing and they are there to help if you ask.  But you must ask.

Additional Comments: I believe many experiences with Mary Kay depend on the type of people whom you are under.  If you have people who support and not nag then you’re off to a good start.  Though, this company does not support that theory – they support – MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU CAN!  FORGET WHAT OUR SLOGAN IS!

Popularity: 11%

No! Not Another Article About How Great Direct Sales is, Especially in This Economy

I’ve mentioned before (See this previous article) there have been numerous stories in magazines, newspapers, and on the television talking about how lots of women are flocking to the direct sales companies given the downturn in the economy.

Yesterday, I picked up my newspaper only to find yet another article about companies like Mary Kay and AVON seeing an increase in their sales forces.

Mary Kay rolled out a new ad campaign in March to try to recruit new consultants. According to this latest AP article, Rhonda Shasteen claims that the traffic on the Mary Kay website increased by 108 percent during the month of March.

Every story I’ve read or seen is always the same. So-and-so was laid off and then decided to sign up with XYZ “direct sales” company and at her first party made $2000. Something like that.

And what a great option direct sales is, they point out. An extra fun job where you can make some extra money.

But here’s what I want to know: Who is going to buy all these products? All these women are signing up to peddle these products, to make some extra money in this lackluster economy, but who is going to be their customer?  You need CUSTOMERS to make any money selling. As more people sign up to sell these products, there are now even more consultants competing for the same customer.

Another thing these articles never mention: These products aren’t cheap. As people are being more frugal, I doubt that they are inclined to pay $13 for a lipstick or $15 for mascara when they can find comparable or better products at the drugstore or Wal-Mart for half that or less. Besides price, the selection at the stores is phenomenal…and you don’t have to deal with a sales person calling you every other week to try to get you to hold a party or invite you to a “girls’ night out” recruiting event.

What burns me is that these stories never mention the expenses, or if they do, they gloss over them. I’ve never seen any mention of the pressure that Mary Kay recruiters exert on new consultants, trying to convince them to shell out thousands of dollars on initial inventory. Never.

The problem is that the people writing these stories know NOTHING about what they’re writing about. And thus, the picture they paint is distorted and incomplete.

Popularity: 4%

Allison Realized Her Blood Runs Red, Not Pink

Your Name: Allison

Date Joined MK: 03-28-2009

When Left MK or Still Active?: Still active but in the process of leaving

Initial Inventory Purchased: $1800 (biggest mistake EVER!)

How were you recruited?: I ignorantly recruited myself by going online and finding a random consultant and emailing her.  Not my brightest idea ever, it turns out.

Memorable experience you had in MK: The first time I ever called my SD on a blatant lie.  She told me that I could accept a 12-month fellowship in another country and still make money off my team, even though I couldn’t actively sell.  Big fat lie and we both knew it.

What did you learn from MK?: Always listen to your gut, especially when an older, well made up woman is trying to push thousands of dollars of products on you and is not letting you get a word in edgewise. 

What are you doing now?: Nannying for the cutest little boy.  They are paying me $12 an hour to come watch tv and sleep here (the baby is in sleep by the time I get here after my full time job).  Ive made over $600 alone doing that this week, which is more than I EVER made in MK!!!  And its way more fun!!!

Additional Comments: After arguing with my SD about returning my product to the company, and having her lie to me about MK, I decided to take a shower.  When I went to put my MK night solution away after I was finished, I dropped it on the tile floor and it shattered (why they put it in a glass bottle, I will never know!).  A large piece of the base flew up and slashed my leg.  As I’m standing in the middle of the night solution and my blood is running down my leg mixing with the solution I realize- my blood runs just as red (not pink) as everyone else’s.  That was the last straw for me.

Popularity: 5%

Remember Those Lawsuits Against MK Liquidators I Mentioned in December?

You surely remember my post on December 6, 2008 regarding the fact that Mary Kay Inc was targeting online resellers of Mary Kay products with lawsuits.

As you know, I take seriously the privacy of the sources of my information. Unless they give me permission to name them, I don’t and don’t want to.

Unfortunately, one of the impending lawsuits I was informed of personally became public with its official filing in late November 2008.

The lawsuit against Mary Kay Inventory Liquidators Sharon & Dennis Lilly is similar to the lawsuit against Touch of Pink.

Sharon Lilly became a Mary Kay consultant in January of 2006. Mary Kay Inc alleges that Ms. Lilly was advertising and selling Mary Kay products online and sent her a letter demanding she stop. When she didn’t, MK terminated her consultant agreement on May 17, 2006. Apparently that’s when Sharon Lilly opened her online store, www.sharonscosmeticshoppe.com

However, according the the complaint filed, Sharon’s husband Dennis signed up to be a Mary Kay consultant on May 26, 2006, allegedly so Sharon could continue buying MK products at a discount. It took Mary Kay Inc nearly two years to figure this out: they didn’t terminate Mr. Lilly’s consultant agreement until April 30, 2008. Now, Mary Kay Inc calls Mr. Lilly’s act of signing up as a consultant “fraud” which is pretty strong language.

The main accusation in the lawsuit against the Lillys is that they interfere with Mary Kay Inc’s business model by soliciting consultants to sell their product to them, the Lillys, rather than an actual “end user,” as they claim Touch of Pink does as well.

Mary Kay Inc also claims unlawful use of their trademarks and that the defendants confuse consumers into thinking that they are purchasing guaranteed Mary Kay products from an “authorize” Mary Kay consultant. But how confused do you need to be to think you’re buy from a Mary Kay consultant when the Lillys’ site clearly displays a disclaimer that they aren’t affiliated with Mary Kay cosmetics?  (Hint: pretty darn confused. Step away from the TimeWise.)

So far, the Lilly’s have been subpoened and we await their depositions and the continuing proceedings in this case.

Like I told you in December, Mary Kay Inc is apparently going after the Inventory Liquidators online, whether they’re selling on eBay or from the own site. No doubt other lawsuits will be formally filed in the future.

Here’s the entire lawsuit filed against the Lillys for your reading enjoyment:

Mary Kay Inc., Plaintiff  v. Sharon K. Lilly and Dennis C. Lilly, Defendants 

Please note that the lawsuit document is over 2 MB — it’s large, so it will take a few extra moments to download and appear on your computer.

Popularity: 4%

Mary Kay Consultant Targets Job Fair

I was listening to a story on NPR today about a job fair in Sedona, Arizona specifically targeted toward retirees returning to the work force.

Toward the end of the story, they were describing a few examples of the businesses who were looking for workers at the job fair.

And suddenly, there she was. The woman from a “home- based cosmetics sales business” extolling the virtues of her company and how it was so much better than a job because it was your OWN BUSINESS.

Gee…I wonder what that home-based cosmetics business could be?!  

You can listen to the audio of the story yourself at this link:  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99744004

(The consultant is at time 3: 30, approximately.)

Popularity: 2%

In These Tough Economic Times, Mary Kay is NOT the Answer

Beware.

No doubt Mary Kay directors everywhere are training their consultants to recruit based on the economic situation.

I can just hear it now: “Mary Kay is an ideal source of extra income, especially today, when everyone is feeling the pinch from the economic situation. For just $100, you can have a part-time business making full-time income and help out your family.”

Please…don’t buy it.

First of all, we all know it doesn’t just cost $100 to join.

Second, you’ll most likely have MORE debt if you join Mary Kay, and if you’re like lots of Mary Kay consultants, more debt than you ever had in your life.

If you’re still intrigued by the Mary Kay shindig, at least do some reading here. You’ll more than likely thank us later.

Popularity: 6%

Allison’s Story

Your Name: Allison

Date Joined MK : August 6 2006

When Left MK or Still Active?: May 2007

Initial Inventory Purchased: August 2006

How were you recruited?:
By an old friend who had just got herself started in Mk.

Memorable experience you had in MK:
My first big party. It was fun but I learned quickly that MK was not a job for me.

What did you learn from MK?:
Organizational skills

What are you doing now? :
Trying to figure out a way to get rid of all this MK product stilling in my house.

Additional Comments:
Don’t bother trying to get your products repurchases if it’s been over a year since your last order….just tried and I got a “sorry but can’t” from MK.

Popularity: 4%

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