Mary Kay Inc Named as Defendant in New Lawsuit

Mary Kay Inc. finds itself on the other end of a lawsuit, this time listed as a defendant is a case filed on February 10, 2009.

Mary Kay Inc. is being sued by former employee Sandra Garza, who was fired by Mary Kay in September 2008. The lawsuit also names Tammy Gray, a Mary Kay manager, as codefendant.

The suit seeks a “declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and other relief to secure the rights of
Garza.”

It’s an interesting case, with Garza claiming national origin and race discrimination as well as age discrimination and retaliation.

Here’s the entire filing so you can read the details:

garzavmarykayinc

Popularity: 6%

Beware: Stories Recommending MLM Companies Are Everywhere Given This Economy

In just the past few weeks I’ve come across more and more stories in the media regarding starting your “own home business.”

First NPR glorified Mary Kay.

Then just recently, All You magazine did a several-page spread about it.

Apparently people are considering joining these companies because of the tough economy in hopes of making some extra money. Unfortunately, the likelihood is greater that they will add to their debt rather than aleviate it.

And I wonder…had anyone stopped to think about who might be buying these frequently overpriced products from these new “consultants?”  With most everyone being cautious with their spending and many losing their jobs, just who is buying all this Mary Kay and candles and jewelry and superduper juices that these companies hawk?

Popularity: 1%

A Story from Suzanne

Your Name: Suzanne

Date Joined MK : August 29,2007

When Left MK or Still Active?: December 2008

Initial Inventory Purchased: $600

How were you recruited?:
I as at the local curves and there wasa consultant from Mary Kay. I asked for a sample to get a darker color cream to powder due to my Tan. Shared the opportunity with me.

Memorable experience you had in MK:
working so hard and my director benefiting and I get nothing for it.

What did you learn from MK?:
Lot of nepotism wtihin my unit. I was not a personal friend fo the director.

What are you doing now? :
Still at my current job and liquidating all my section 2 product now.

Additional Comments:
Very manipulative company and would cut your heart out., A director who is afraid to recruit and gets upset when her friends are upset and the heck with the rest of the unit.

Popularity: 3%

Another Message from Someone Who Thinks We’re MK Inc.

It’s always entertaining when we receive messages from visitors who think they’ve reached the official Mary Kay site.  I thought this one was particularly fun.

For 28+ years I have been a faithful Mary Kay consumer. Placing my last order a couple of months ago enlightened me to the fact that I can longer purchase your products. I realize that the economy has affected us all and most products have taken on a “they won’t really notice” agenda.

Well, I’m not in that “stupid” category of consumers, after all the years of using your products, that I could not see that you have drastically reduced the size of most/some products (eye shadow pallets while also changing the compact so the old ones do not fit). I realize we all have to downsize but, come on, this is a little too much to bear. It’s a shame as I really did enjoy being able to order a product I liked and not having to go into a store, but… your prices/sizes in today’s market outweighs my option to stay at home and shop! Thanks for the good years.

I hate to tell this person, but I doubt MK Inc. cares.

Popularity: 2%

Why Didn’t Mary Kay Inc. Warn Liquidators Before Suing?

Why is it that instead of issuing a “cease and desist” order or a similar warning to the people selling on eBay, that Mary Kay Inc. just went ahead and filed lawsuits against these sellers?

Why didn’t they give these people a chance to stop their selling if they wanted to?

Why didn’t Mary Kay Inc. use the VERO program set up by eBay to address the alleged violations of their trademark and copyright? If sellers were violating these guidelines, set up to protect companies, then Mary Kay Inc. can simply file notice with eBay and the offending listings are removed. Apparently what Mary Kay Inc. is alleging is beyond VERO. If sellers aren’t using copyrighted or trademarked material or images in their listings and not trying to sell counterfeit products, then there isn’t much to dispute with eBay.

But instead of giving these sellers a warning, Mary Kay Inc. brought down the hammer.

If Mary Kay Inc. discovers that their active consultants and directors are selling products to those who then sell it on eBay, then what? Do they terminate those consultants and directors? Do those people then become examples, used to scare future recruits into behaving?

And what responsibility do those buying excess inventory for resell have to check out the person selling it to them? If there were an underground counterfeit TimeWise factory, maybe that would be reasonable. But as it is, all they know is that it is someone who was probably at one time in Mary Kay. Why should those sellers be required to find out if that person is active? Mary Kay Inc. can claim that by purchasing inventory from their active consultants that resellers are interfering with their business. But actually…they may be helping MK’s business: after all, with more room on their shelves, these consultants can now buy more merchandise directly from the company and keep the inventory loading machine rolling.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, no question.

Popularity: 3%

Former Mary Kay Executives Sued CEO Richard Rogers

It’s true.

The case was filed in 2003.

A reader sent me a link regarding the suit:

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-119468614.html

This lawsuit was settled. Rogers also filed a counterclaim.

Popularity: 3%

MK Inc. Thinks Touch of Pink is Bad? This MK Reseller is Stealing All of Their Copyrighted Pictures!

I’ve been trying to get the word out to resellers of Mary Kay that MK Inc. is filing hundreds of lawsuits against liquidators.

In doing so, I stumbled across this Mary Kay reseller who is advertising on eBay:

http://www.pinkbargains.com/

They have a fancy store that’s much more professional looking than Touch of Pink.

And ALL the photos in their store appear to be Mary Kay Inc.’s copyrighted photos! It looks like they’re stealing them off the Mary Kay website!

Not only that, but ALL the descriptions of the products are copied verbatim from Mary Kay’s website!

Here’s someone who is REALLY violating Mary Kay’s trademark and copyright. Wonder if they’ve gotten slapped with a lawsuit yet?

Popularity: 3%

« Previous Page — Next Page »