Mary Kay Director Tells NPR “A new rep. working full-time can expect to earn close to $50,000 in a year.”

It’s true. And I nearly laughed myself out of my chair when I heard it.

NPR’s Morning Edition on January 27th, 2009, did a story on how, supposedly, companies like AVON and Mary Kay are seeing big increases in sales.

Reporter Gloria Hillard interviewed Mary Kay director Linda Klein. Says Hillard in the story, “Klein says a new rep. working full-time can expect to earn close to $50,000 a year.”

Really? Can I see some numbers somewhere that substantiate this claim, Ms. Klein? Because I don’t know of any AVERAGE Mary Kay rep that earns $50,000 a year.

Even directors, who flash those big checks around, aren’t really making as much as you think. They rarely tell you the expenses involved, including time, required to receive such commissions. And they hardly ever tell you that those commissions aren’t based on the sales of the consultants they recruit but rather the orders for inventory that those consultants place with the company. Lots of that inventory winds up in the basement or at garage sales when the women who join realize that the earnings claims are overstated and the time commitment grossly underestimated.

You can listen to the complete story here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99898912

As is predictable, many Mary Kay consultants have shown up on the NPR site to leave their positive comments about the company.

If You Sell Mary Kay Products on eBay…Beware!

Just wanted to post this to increase the likelihood that resellers and liquidators will see this. I have posted this on eBay as well.

Mary Kay Inc Files Lawsuits Against Numerous eBay Sellers of Mary Kay Products

Dateline: December 4, 2008

If you sell Mary Kay products on eBay…beware! Mary Kay Inc. may be coming after you.

In the last week, several eBay sellers of Mary Kay products have been served with lawsuits.

You may also be aware of the ongoing lawsuit that Mary Kay Inc. filed against Touch of Pinks Cosmetics, and eBay seller who also runs a separate online store selling Mary Kay products.

The Mary Kay consultants who spend their days policing the listings on eBay and turning Mary Kay sellers in to Mary Kay Inc. are surely gloating and celebrating now. Unfortunately, there’s no evidence that these sellers have done anything wrong. And especially given that Mary Kay Inc. has yet to win any judgment against seller Touch of Pink, these additional lawsuits seems a little premature and aggressive.

If you sell Mary Kay products on eBay, I would urge you to make sure you be careful — whatever that may be, I suppose, at this point. Mary Kay Inc. is out for records from these sellers to see if they are purchasing products from active consultants and directors in the company. They assert that this is interfering in their business.

We will have to wait to see how this all plays out, but either way, it is vitally important to anyone liquidating all those excess Mary Kay products on eBay, and for that matter, other sellers of similar products.

What is the Best Way to Tell a Mary Kay Lady to BUZZ OFF?!

I received this question from a visitor named Kristen yesterday and it made me laugh out loud! Here’s her entire message:

What is best way to tell a Mary Kay lady to BUZZ OFF? This woman keeps bothering me, wanting me to sell MK. She says things like- “Oh you would be so fun to work with!” and “You’d be really great!” She ends every message with a chipper “I look forward to hearing from you!” I keep politely hinting to her that I’m too busy, but she still keeps contacting me anyway. I thought I would ask all of you- what would YOU say to get an MK lady to GO AWAY!

Well? What would YOU say?    Help Kristen out. I’m sure she’d appreciate it!