Written by Chick In dissatisfAction

Are you a hypocrite?  That is the same question I recently had to ask myself.  Since resigning my sales director position and returning all my products, I have had to do quite a bit of soul searching.

I believe it takes time to fully “POP” your pink bubble.  Accepting the whole truth about your Mary Kay career and about Mary Kay Inc.  is a lot to swallow.

Imagine that you are like me:  Hundreds of consultants have been in your unit, numerous DIQs, Queen’s Court of Sales, Queen’s Court of Recruiting, several FREE cars.  For me to accept the truth that I quit a successful career for a fake one, that five years of my life were wasted with no retirement, that all my up-line was lying to me, that my friends were not really friends, that Mary Kay Cosmetics didn’t care about their sales force, and that I HAD BEEN LYING TO WOMEN FOR YEARS was too much to handle all at once.

In talking with hundreds of current and former Mary Kay sales directors, it is clear to me that many of them didn’t realize what they were agreeing to when they signed their agreements.

Another uplifting email from someone who is desperately in love with Mary Kay…

It breaks my heart to see this many angry women who could not make it in the Mary Kay world.

Why are you blaming someone else???  It sounds like you are the ones to blame for your failure!!!  All you had to do is work your business smart!!!

I have been with the company for 2 years and I have no debt!!!  And I carry a $4000 inventory!!!  If something is going to hurt me or my family financially and emotionally, you know what… don’t do it!!!  (interesting concept!!!)  (are you ladies that gullible???)

We really don’t need any more proof that the MK Marketing Plan destines most participants to fail. But, just for fun, let’s look at some numbers.

If we assume the plan is going to be executed as designed and that “everyone” can succeed with this awesome opportunity (gag) what will the numbers look like?

Here’s me…the new recruit, red, hot and rollin, sharing the opportunity with anything that moves. Yeah me!

How often does Mary Kay change products? Not often, according to the company! From Mary Kay’s online FAQ for customers :

Our core product lines are updated once every 3 to 5 years to take advantage of the latest innovations in skin care. And although we don’t do it often, we occasionally update our packaging to ensure that we continue to stay on trend and keep our presentation current and fresh. Remember that we’re in the fast-changing cosmetics business. Much like the automobile, fashion and consumer electronics industries, in the cosmetics industry, newness is what attracts customers to the brand.

One of the first things I was taught after I started Mary Kay was how to “reconnect” with old friends in order to sell the product. They get you to make a list of “everyone with skin” that you know, so you can start begging them to “help me meet a challenge” or “help me start my business” or some other lame guilt trip.

Once you get through your list of current friends and family, you’re encouraged to think of old friends you haven’t talked to in a while. You call them under the pretense of “reconnecting” (what a great buzz word), but then as soon as they ask what’s new, you launch into your spiel about this great new thing you’re doing (Mary Kay).

This is another heartwearming email that a sales director sent to her unit as she was leaving Mary Kay. Three cheers for the truth!

I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I was just notified that as of 1st of next month I am no longer your Sales Director with Mary Kay.  The company has chosen to terminate me due to our unit’s lack of production (orders).

As many of you know, I had a baby not too long ago, and we have had several personal issues here at home.    I did ask for an exception given this along with my 11 years with the company, but it was denied.  Normally these exceptions are granted without a problem, almost all of my offspring have been given them at one time or another, but they have chosen not to extend this courtesy to me even though I have never asked for an exception before. 

Written by SuzyQ

Um, not so much.  Mary Kay Seminar will change your economic picture for a while.  I wonder if MK has paid attention to the economy.  It would appear not.  Gas prices and the prices of airline tickets (and their added costs—that seems to change daily) are really really high!  Note to Corporate:  Watch the news, any channel.

It’s interesting.  We are told that the training at seminar will change your business. You will go from mediocre to stellar after your classes.  And then Mary Kay tells us there is nothing new…  it’s the same thing… no magic:  Book, Sell, Book, Recruit.  So simple. 

The hallmark of pyramid schemes (masquerading as something legitimate under an innocent-sounding name like multi-level marketing) is false earnings claims. We at Pink Truth know that time and again, research shows that more than 99% of people LOSE MONEY in MLM.

Nonetheless, practically all you ever hear about is how much money participants are making. And these claims are largely lies. When confronted with the reality that so many people lose money in MLM, the companies themselves resort to excuses like “women don’t really want to make money with Mary Kay… they do it for fun and as a social outlet.”

Written by SuzyQ

“If you do not have a full store, and are attempting to sell out of an empty wagon…  not only will you have an upset customer, she might even call another consultant who has a full store and not only will you lose that sale, you will LOSE THAT CUSTOMER!”

Oh the drama trauma.  That part of the inventory talk goes something like this:

Director:  Mary Kay does not require you to carry an inventory, and I don’t require you to carry an inventory, but my job as your director is to give you my best business advice, wouldn’t you agree?