Everyone Can Hold 2 Mary Kay Classes a Week!

STUPID and a lie!!!!!!!
I believed it so much, I was always top sales person in the unit, but do you think I got money out of it? Then what do you think I was told? That I didn`t have the skills! God! I consider myself an intelligent woman, I think I would have already got the concept of about anything in world in the amount of time I spent reading, learning and practicing MK. Still. I believed that it was not enough. Isnt it the easiest thing to make a woman believe, that she could still try harder? Well I wanna say, that in a J.O.B that they like to call the journey of the broke at least pays when I show up and do my job. I was there to hold classes and wasted money, energy and mostly my time and emotions and got back VERY little.
Anyways, I just wanna say, that it is sad, sad, sad what all these women belive, and I am not going to support them with buying the product anymore let along selling it..

I'm with you, happyquitter. I was always number 1 or number 2 in sales for over three years. I was told I had all the skills and appointments I needed (I booked 20 to hold ten PER WEEK! I can sell anything), and it would just take time....and time....and time. After three years, four DIQ submissions, and massive selling, I can tell you: it's an outmoded way to make a living. Hence - why most don't make any money. Lord knows, I didn't.

I looked into starting a Merle Norman Studio, after having floundered around with MK. The Regional Manager and I had a good laugh when I answered the question "why do you want to open a Studio?" with "because who wants to clean her house, fix refreshments, invite a few friends so they can wash their faces and buy a lipstick!!" That's right almost no one whose check would clear the bank!!

Years ago the buzz was 3+3+3 - when did it drop back to 2 and if 3 could get you anything you want, when did 2 become a part-time job and part-time income?

Oh, this makes me mad! I have stellar skills after over 12 years in the business. I'm always receiving compliments from customers about how reliable and knowledgeable I am without being pushy. I'm fair and considerate and always have the best interest of team members in mind. My bookkeeping and follow up have become top notch over the years.

The reason MK didn't work for me and I didn't make money is because I refuse to become obnoxious, pushy and deceptive.

I attended everything for all those years and the only thing it did to me was get me caught up in all they hype and pretense. That's what caused me to use my credit card rather than impose on others and that's what got me in trouble. Every Director knows the importance of getting those new recruits to meetings...to have them get caught up in the hype and pretense of it all. Without it, they lose them.

And by the way, holding classes is a pain. It didn't take me long to realize that one or two women at my table was more than enough. I built a sizable customer base and reorder business doing it that way and didn't have to put up with all the hostess BS.

[quote]Yes, even the consultant who has 1 1/2 jobs and family responsibilities. Rarely do you meet a person who does not spend 6-10 hours per week in front of the television, playing Bunko, or some other activity which has nothing to do with her job or her family. What could it mean to her to invest that time into preparing for, traveling to, and holding 2 classes per week?[/quote]

If you are a woman with 1-1/2 jobs and family responsibilities, then for the sake of balance and sanity, you NEED those 6-10 hours a week in front of the TV--NOT WORKING for MK!

What is wrong with these crazy people?!

Boy, this NSD doesn't want anyone to sit down for a second. "...even the consultant who has 1 1/2 jobs and family responsibilities." I had children and only one job and one husband who wanted dinner. I was exhausted at the end of the day. But in the MK world that is an excuse not to get going and pursue this career to its fullest. My marriage would have ended, that's for sure. Are they nuts? And, we all know the 60/40 thing doesn't work. I always love it when they say that once you get to profit level inventory you will make 40%. No you won't. You will be in debt forever and needing another real job to get out of your mess.

[quote]If you worked at Wal-Mart, you would have to do something to get minimum wage. If you work your MK with half the hours but all the dedication, you could get a company car-the suit-nice commission checks![/quote]

Ugh. I did work at Wal-Mart and it was a hell of a lot less work than MK and I made &11.50/hr because I worked every weekend. Give me Wal-Mart over MK any day.

Oh and today I am kicking back reading PT with my coffee because today is a holiday...and I still make my same paycheck this week even though I am RELAXING today...because of my great JOB!

Wouldn't want to be making phone calls and feeling guilty for not working today, which is what I'd be doing if I were still trying to sell MK.

"So talk to your Director...she wants your success probably more than you want it for you."

I know she does. She doesn't want to make co-pays on her "free" car. She wants a nice commission check off of your orders. She wants you to recruit and become a DIQ so you will place even more orders.

[quote]you could get a company car-the suit-nice commission checks![/quote]

In reality, you don't "get" a company car, you have to maintain production quota (or make co-payments). And, you don't "get" the suit, you have to purchase it (at an exhorbitant cost). Is this correct?

There is sooo much wrong with this. I always did have a problem with the book two appointments for one slot. So what if they both hold? Stick someone you convinced to hold a class with a last-minute substitution consultant? That's classy. Oh, or just have them all come to your house - when the two appointments may be 30 miles apart, the hostesses has already cleaned and made goodies, all her friends have planned to go to her house, and then you switch it to yours at the last minute. Of, dump an extra 3-4 people on one of your hostesses. I'm sure we've all held parties where women were on the floor around the coffee table, or sitting on kitchen counters because of the lack of room. But just have her pull up a few more chairs.

Blech.

If you want to work 9-2 while your kids are in school, and only do one night for your meeting, schedule your classes then.

Like there's so many women duing that time just waiting to have a party. And they have so many friends available at that time, too.

We all know that we book parties when we can get them. The world doesn't fit into our nice little, colored-highlighter plan sheet.

blech again

Sure, every women can fit two classes in a week. But you notice later, she starts talking about follow-up phone calls, interviewing potential recruits, bringing them to events. Nice how two classes a week has now morphed into all sorts of other activities.

blech blech blech.

This is just three complete lies I've seen. I'm sure you all can find many, many more.

[quote]Rarely do you meet a person who does not spend 6-10 hours per week in front of the television, playing Bunko, or some other activity which has nothing to do with her job or her family.[/quote]

You mean time to herself, to kick back and relax? Personal time? Time to read a good book, watch a chick flick?

I guess in Mary Kay all your time outside of work or family is Mary Kay's time.

Faith first, family second and Mary Kay all the rest of the time? There is no U in Mary Kay, so get used to it.

[quote]If you hold appointments --you will sell product.[/quote]

You don't hold appointments. The person with whom you have the appointment decides whether the appointment will be held or not.

All this drek just makes me SICK and it's been 3 1/2 years since I cut the pink ties. They just tell lies, lies, lies and somehow we fall for them. I look back and wonder how I got sucked in.

recoveringmkaddict wrote: "I attended everything for all those years and the only thing it did to me was get me caught up in all they hype and pretense. That's what caused me to use my credit card rather than impose on others and that's what got me in trouble." I did the SAME thing!! And wound up with $25K in cc debt, a "fully stocked store" and still didn't have the things that my customers would order.

For this NSD to talk about how a mom should take her 6-10 hours a week of free time and focus it in on MK is just ridiculous, but that's what they teach. So many times I'd be sitting down, relaxing with my family and yes, watching tv, but thinking about MK and what I SHOULD be doing. Ugh.

I'm just so glad this website is here to remind me of not just MK but other MLM's that are out there to suck us in.

UCCCCCCK!!!! This post brought back very bad memories . . .

Lazy is right - you work when you can get a hostess to have a class. It's such a lie to say that you can make your own schedule in Mary Kay.

For instance, I may have an hour between 10 pm - 20 pm to make booking phone calls, but if all my prospects are at work and can't take personal calls, who will I talk to?

If I normally have a date with my husband on Friday night, but that's the only time my hostess is willing to have her friends over, guess who's going to be sitting home by himself that night?

But let's face it - women don't do parties the way they used to. They don't want to obligate their friends for an overpriced sales pitch in the guise of a girls' night out. And even if the IBC manages to find a hostess who can scrape together a few friends to have a party, she has absolutely NO guarantee of any income from that evening. So many hours of booking, preparation, travel time, set-up, demonstration, individual closings, clean-up and delivery, and no guarantee of a decent profit for all that work.

As I said in the beginning: UCCCCCCK!

"she wouldn't bother her friends and family to buy the products, etc......"

Yes, you can only bother people so much before you alienate everyone and they RUN when they see you coming, or they don't answer the phone when you call. When will these people get it?

This highlights what I could never understand about the business and make 'work.' How do you call up another consultant or a hostess and tell either the consultant you need her to hold a class last minute (what if SHE has a class?!) and/or the hostess that you're having the class elsewhere/having another consultant hold it.

I said to my SD once 'I am used to getting things done *myself*, not relying on other people to make it happen FOR me.'

I used to feel the guilt too, like any 'free' time, I should be doing MK.

blech!

Why is that every time we have an email from a Director on here the type-o's are staggering?

Now that's said, lets take a look at the Ultimate Gift Guide from MK and lets plan our parties around it


*clears throat*

Why, thank you so much for coming to todays appointment. After we slather on the Satin Hands, lets look at the first page. We have the limited edition body care sets for $15! Along with, is a disclaimer that your and your customer will not go on line and check out the goodies at Bath and Body Works. And above that...you get a free bag if you get a limited edition body lotion and the matching solid compact. Those compacts are great as they won't tip over in your purse and make a mess and no we won't even mention the roll ons from last holiday season! Shhh! We don't talk about those!

And the limited edition Mini Fragrance Collection...for those of you who want to try all of MK's scents and you want to save me money so I don't have to buy samples for all you heffers...by the box! You get mini's of all the fragrances and please in the name of all that is holy don't ask me what a "modern oriental chypre" is.

And the Limited Edition loose eye shadow...with the "bling" on top...$14 is a steal for such quality, but there's a disclaimer inside that says you won't head to Walmart to get the exact same thing for $10 less.

Lets talka bout the Eeu de Toilette Fragrances: Simply Cotton: Laundry Soap. Warm Amber: underarm funk covered up with Secret Baby Powder scented deodorant. Exotic Passionfruit: your kids juice box. Sparkling Honeysuckle: bug spray. BUT! Get the Limited Edition Simply Chic Fragrance Lip Gloss Duo and you can get smelly with all four fragrances AND have a lip gloss to screw into the end.

And lets not forget the stocking stuffers! A $15 dollar mascara anyone?

Please note that I have said Limited Edition numerous times...once these things are gone, they are gone, but please don't go to TouchofPink.com in January...all of my great sisters in Pink will be unloading all this limited edition crap there after the holidays are over! Get it now for full price from me!

And sorry, I won't be taking checks this year, so many have been rubberised!

Don't forget, we're partying with a purpose!

Everything I wanted to say has been covered.

Blech indeed.

thinkingpinkstinks

My marriage would have ended, that's for sure. Are they nuts? You will be in debt forever and needing another real job to get out of your mess.
====
Well my marriage ended before it had time to begin, my husband had enough of lonely nights. so sad & does MK care? huh!

P.S. I'm the one that works next to a MK consultant...she called a hostess and said "I have a nice little gift for you if you keep your class appointment". Now they have to bribe hostesses!

she called a hostess and said "I have a nice little gift for you if you keep your class appointment".

Yeah, I fell for that for my first facial. I was really excited, until I saw my gift was a sample tube of hand cream. Somehow I thought it was going to be "nice" and not "little".

Don't be afraid to double book - it doesn't mean you'll be holding 2 classes (that almost never happens).

Thank you, NSD, for being so honest about how rampant cancellations are even if you're lucky enough to get people to actually book appointments!

Simply Cotton: Laundry Soap.
Warm Amber: underarm funk covered up with Secret Baby Powder scented deodorant.
Exotic Passionfruit: your kids juice box.
Sparkling Honeysuckle: bug spray.
This is so accurate, ThinkPink, you have nailed it!!! That "Warm Amber" is actually offensive, gag!!

Minerapearl, I'm so sorry that you ended up in a divorce. I'm sure there are countless Consultants, Directors and NSDs who ended up the same way. You almost have to. Your life becomes MK and your husband and family become a nuisance to do when you are trying to get this ball rolling. I left my husband alone so many times it wasn't funny. I'd rush to make him dinner and off I went to be at some stupid MK thing. I missed being home at night. So glad I'm out.

Minerapearl,

Mary Kay and every other MLM has ALWAYS had to bribe people for their time!! Just another way to tack on more expense for the individual consultant. There was a ridiculous hostess program where you bribed the hostess with $75 retail worth of products for $25 if she had a qualifying class/party.

According to Mary Kay math it was only costing you $12.50!! Can you get excited about THAT!! Apparently, in number of fogged in consultants could - but non-fogged women couldn't. Apparently most had a hard time coming up with $75 worth of MK drek that would be worth strong arming at least 2 of their friends and family into showing up at said class/party.

[quote]Rarely do you meet a person who does not spend 6-10 hours per week in front of the television[/quote]

Rarely do you meet a consultant who can book, coach hostesses, pre-profile, pack, set-up, hold, close each guest, clean-up, and deliver products after 2 classes in 6 - 10 hours total. They [url=http://www.kimskeys.com/Training/Booking%20and%20Holding%20Skin%20Care%20Classes.pdf]train you to do all those things[/url], and they're time consuming. In my experience, there's no way you can get in and out of a class in the 2 hours they like to claim. People want to have fun, and they don't want to be rushed. So you can be rude and turn them off, and skip the closing activities they train you to do with each guest, or you can take more like 4 hours between set-up, giving the class, closing (working with people at their pace during the class and closing), and tear-down.

I couldn't even get past the very 1st sentence! :s
[quote]It is my observation that every consultant can find the time to hold an average of 2 classes per week. Y[/quote]
Note: She did not say, "It is my own experience that tells me that..."

Of course not b/c she has never experienced booking, at least, 2 classes per week and holding them!

Didn't read it all, and didn't read all the comments yet, but had to stop and post this once I read rawjoy's remark..and this IMO gets to the crux of the matter...the BIG CON.

Their aint no way miss NSD DOUBLE BOOKS a time slot. Their AINT NO WAY she does what she says. The "dove tail" bull crap is just that...Nobody does it and nobody with any sense would...but these FAKES sell it like it is common good business sense.

WHO is going to substitute another IBC for an appointment that was WOOED, called back, reconfirmed, PRE PROFILED and then DUMPED at the the last minute for A BETTER ONE!

You NSD's are so full of crap you infuriate me.

This little "con" was instituted back in 1963 as if AS IF, anyone would really double book themselves in every time slot in order to make money in spite of cancellations, RISKING the customer relationship. WHAT NONSENSE! Nobody does this and yet they talk about it like they do!

There is no reality in Mary Kay! They repeat stories of yesteryear in attempt to buffalo the new IBC's AS IF they really know what they are talking about.

You know what..I love how all we ever have to do is post Mary Kay training in order to hang them as the liars and manipulators they are. Honestly Miss Lurker, if you can't see what a load of dung you are being fed, stop going to meeting for 3 weeks and RISK getting your mind back.

And Rachel's comment is accurate too! You are going to read the situation and function at the pace that builds customer relationships. Once again, the BS machine cranks out the crap. Two classes a week = 2 hours on the phone, 4 hours there, and a possible hour follow up/redelivery. Add the meeting, and any study or research-..interviews or guest events minimum 16 hours a week.

Raisen, back in the late 70's when I first joined MK, my director told me that I would get bookings because she would dovetail them to me. She said she had so many that she needed more consultants to work with. You and I both know that I never ever got a booking from my Director or any consultant that I knew. You were lucky to keep what you had on your datebook, and that was years ago. It did sound good though and I fell for it.

Aaaghhh! I was better off not reading this. These NSD's prove that it has been DECADES since they have actually held classes with any consistency. "Ask the hostess to just pull up a few more chairs..." Lord have mercy don't let me hunt this woman down and choke her, cause for the effect she would be having on poor unsuspecting IBC's racked in guilt for being such LOSERS, I would choke her just to see her beady eye's pop out. (Hmm, seems like time to make another therapy appointment)

Tracy, you're right...she admits at least a 50% cancellation rate!

But ah..then there's that recruiting component...You rely on the guests to get new bookings, but if you recruit the hostess or one of the attendees, all the guests you just met (save one-maybe) will want to be the RECRUITS new appointments...to help their friend! AS IT SHOULD BE! So where does that leave you Miss IBC...needing to rebook all the double time slots??? Hmm???

Those two appointments a week IF they even hold, will produce one or two classes that will only hold if you DONT recruit. They will also produce phone tag, rescheduling and cancellations that can put the appointment out 3, 4 weeks! Recruit anybody along the way, and you are back to warm stalking to find fresh leads, only to end up cutting your own throat by adding competitors. Anyone who wants you to recruit your customers is after THEIR money.

Your customer might buy $300 a year, that means your Director will get 23% of $150. $34.50 commission

Ah but if she recruits her for you, and gets her to buy into the "dream"...and she orders 5K to 10K through the course of the year before she figures out the scam, your Director has made $2300.00

AND if she can convince her never to "close the door forever" by returning her inventory...she keeps it!

Catching on yet,?

**thank you for being here***
this is the only topic here I post to, so if you don't mind me staying, I wanted to say I was married Sept 1988 and divorced 1990. In between that I went to Dallas to see MK. I think she died not too long after that. I was in the front row. MK was being escorted to the stage, I jumped up to take her picture and was told to get back to my seat. My husband at the time asked me not to go to the seminar, my kitty even did #1 on my suitcase. It was a sign. Now I can say Pi$$ on you MK and all the fakes and liars. I cannot say how happy my life is now. I don't look back!

My N$D's I-Story was that she consistently held 2 classes each week and that is how she built her business. (And became a success! )
I'm sure that there was more to the story than that, but my point is - while she was doing this - it was actually a possibility.
There were no cell phones, no internet, no caller I.D., and no market saturation.
To give this advice to current Consultants is an insult. It is not do-able. It's just another glaring falsehood of MK.

thinkin'---that dovetail crap was in the interview info as a "avenue of income"...everybody remember that one? AS IF!!

Honestly we were TOLD to sell it as a avenue of income, and right now I am SO ASHAMED that I even mentioned it myself.

When your eyes open to this, you really see, how what they convinced us to do was sell "Mary Kay's dream and Mary Kay's success...NOT the actual life we were living in Mary Kay...sell the POTENTIAL ONE.

This was "key" to allowing us to regurgitate the madness. It wasn't YOUR reality...it was "A" reality..a potential...a possibility that you were selling. And that continues today. They sucker new recruits by selling a vapor..and that is why they call it a DREAM..because it isn't real

The MK NSD and her uninspiring instructions at the top of this page is living in an imaginary pink fabricated world. MK Inc. and its selling practices would fit in if we all lived in "Stepfordville" like in "The Stepford Wives" movie. The women in that movie were turned into superficial robots. MK Inc. and its principles don't fit in the real world.

but if you recruit the hostess or one of the attendees, all the guests you just met (save one-maybe) will want to be the RECRUITS new appointments...to help their friend! AS IT SHOULD BE! So where does that leave you Miss IBC...

Recruit anybody along the way, and you are back to warm stalking to find fresh leads, only to end up cutting your own throat by adding competitors.


Raisin you are exactly right! This is why they say "analysis is paralysis" in Mary Kay, because when you actually stop to "think" for yourself, you know it doesn't work.

I feel bad for the fogged Directors who must maintain a customer base to sell products to AND maintain a neverending pool of recruits, knowing they will all be in competition with each other for customers!

The MK NSD and her pink propaganda (letter at the top of page) is in a deep pink fog to find pink victims! This letter reflects that MK Inc. is struggling and desperate.

[quote]Rarely do you meet a person who does not spend 6-10 hours per week in front of the television, playing Bunko, or some other activity which has nothing to do with her job or her family[/quote]

Geesh, there they go telling grown women what to do with their lives! Its none of your business miss mary kay.

[quote]My heart yearns for you to truly understand this concept..[/quote]

Can you just imagine any other real business person talking in these terms - nope, never.

Raisen, you are in top form today. Love it!

Yeah! Can you imagine going to any professional and being told. Oh, so sorry! I have double booked. I won't be able to cut your hair but here is Miss So & So. She will be doing your hair today. If that happened to me I would run the other way as fast as I could. Too bad I didn't do that when I was invited for my so called "free pedicure."

Rarely do you meet a person who does not spend 6-10 hours per week in front of the television, playing Bunko, or some other activity which has nothing to do with her job or her family

Why not go play bunko?! There is 11 recruits there! You can pamper them too! I am sure they would love it! NOT!

Do any of these people ever hear of downtime?? didnt think so.

And yes, I love how the dovetail thing works- it screams, we know appts cancel, blow you off etc.

I had no time to deliver or book color appointments. When I facialed or did a class I did skin care and color at the same time. Also carried the whole line in the trunk of my car. Never lost a sale as I always had product. But I never made money either. I was lucky that my SD sucked at recruiting but then again he unit was so small she could not afford to have a recruit make it to SD. I guess in the long run I was lucky.

Instead of holding 2 classes a week in your "spare" time, why not take 2 classes at a community college or university. You will start towards a degree in something that you will be paid nicely for. Now that is good use of your "spare" time. My advice is free of charge and you don't need to buy $1,200 wholesale to get it!

shyblush...in a pyramid, its a win-win for the SD. If she pushes somebody up the career path, she is benefitting from all that production. I once knew a DIQ recruiter who HAD an up and coming diq on her team, that individual pumped a lot of the production. One debuted, and then the next. For the months of the Diq duo, the SD was FLUSH with production. Her Unit was gutted when 60 left. Because they were "weak" having been ZOOMERS, the units collapsed and of course, any leftover heartbeats got deposited back into the parent Unit.

SWELL....and DEFLATE. Swell and Deflate. Over and over and over it goes. If a SSD knows how to hang on and surf the wave, she will inherit her old unit members back...and that's how you get these 200 person units that do base production of 8,000...all Personal User's. Miss SD then just needs a Cash Cow Newbie or two doing Star to drive a caddy. Life is grand when you have a seared conscience.

Hi - I've been reading this site for a long time. I have a friend who is a MK director who is thinking about getting out and I have been sending her info about the great stories here. Hopefully she'll be here soon.

I did just want to comment on this: [quote]It has been my observation that there is at least one good recruit prospect at every class (a person who needs money, is already working 2 jobs, needs to get out of the house, is looking for a way to get back home). [/quote]

This chick is seriously in denial if she thinks this is still the case. Maybe a few years ago, but now that unemployment is 10 percent and 80 percent of those laid off in the recession are men, women have to get back to work - REAL work, not MK "work." It happened to me - I was very part-time at a little consulting firm, and then my husband got laid off 6 weeks ago and I am back looking for a full-time job (and not having much luck). If women are looking to "get out of the house," it's to get a job with benefits to help replace their husbands' income. And I don't know ANYONE who is "looking to get back home" right now. If a woman has a good job with benefits, they should hold onto it for dear life! Those are hard to come by right now and if you leave, there are probably 100 very qualified people who will happily take your place. Quitting to do Mary Kay is professional and financial suicide right now. My friend who is looking to to leave is finding that out - they have huge debt (of course) and she had a long professional career before she quit to do MK about five years ago - she has great skills and solid experience and cannot even get called back when she applies for assistant-level jobs (and she was an executive director in her regular job at one time). DO NOT do Mary Kay thinking there are tons of women out there to recruit. People need real jobs right now.

Two more thoughts:
[quote]Then, get on the phone for and Hour of Power to schedule 2 appointments in each of those times. [/quote]
I have a friend who is a powerhouse salesman (he sells huge office computer systems to big corporations and really does make "an executive income" and he told me once that the hardest thing for any salesperson to do in the beginning is get on the phone. He believes very strongly you are either the type of person who enjoys calling people to sell them something or you are not, and if you are not, it takes a lot of work and willpower to overcome your natural aversion (and even then it doesn't always work). That's why the whole "Mary Kay looks for people who don't like selling" thing is such a crock. If you don't like selling, you won't like selling Mary Kay - either the products, or the "opportunity."

[quote]she wouldn't spend a few dollars on a babysitter, she wouldn't bother her friends and family to buy the products, etc...... YET she will go to a job and pay a babysitter and go to their trainings to learn that job, all the while her friends and family are buying makeup and skin care from someone. [/quote]

First off, isn't the whole idea of Mary Kay that you will have MORE time with your family? If you're trying to "get back home" isn't the whole idea to STOP paying childcare costs? When you pay daycare for a regular job and get training, you can take those skills with you to another job. Mary Kay skills are not going to travel with you. I love the cavalier attitude about parking kids with the babysitter. The mixed messages are unbelievable. This is a great way to be home with your kids but you have to "work this like a part-time job" and if that means childcare for your kids, so be it.

And yes, there is someone selling me and all my friends makeup and skincare. She's at Target, or in more comfortable financial days, the MAC store, where they have very nice products for much less than Mary Kay products cost or AMAZING products for about the same amount of money. Contrary to popular MK belief, not everyone buys Mary Kay "from someone."

I was in mary kay for 5 years and then I was "fired". I did everything I was supposed to do. So, I was never home with my family. I was also gone every weekend to fairs and craft shows. Two years I was gone the weekend after thanksgiving. On that friday, I was at a craft show at a mall that started at 5 in the morning until 9 that night. Saturday was 8am - 9 pm and Sunday was 11 am - 5 pm. I missed the whole 3 day weekend with my family. Gone to the meeting every week which was never only 1 hour long, was ususally at least 2 by the time you got home. And as for having classes, our town is so saturated with mk consultants, you have to look outside of town, we're talking anywhere from half hour to 3 hours away. It has taken me a long time to get over it, but I now have a job with no weekends, benefits, and paid vacation and sick leave. I have been off work for a month because of my hysterectomy and not even had to think about work and still receive a check. I never thought I would have been glad to end mk, but I am. I do miss the people I met and the customers I acquired. Some don't speak to me anymore because of the lies my sales director has told. I keep telling myself she will get what is coming to her, but I just wonder when.

company sucks - I hope you are healing well from your hysterectomy. Ironically, a hysterectomy ended my MK career. I'm glad it did too! Did any of your "sister consultants" express any concern for your health and well being? NONE of mine did, and I even called my SD from my hospital bed to give her an update! She didn't even forward my message on voice com... No cards, no get well soon. Why? I have a seasonal job now and my co workers there express concern for the well being of the other employees. Sorry I went a little off topic I just wanted to express my concern for your well being, company sucks. I've been there. Oh, and I'm not even trying to sell you something or give you a job!
I couldn't read through this whole post, honestly. I started getting those old "everyone else is doing what they're training us to do, why can't I?" feelings. I STILL to this day check out red grand ams for that stupid MK sticker :s I don't do it as much as when I was in, but I still look, only now it's the vibe or whatever. I really try NOT to care!
Oh, update: The teacher in my daughter's cosmetology class was told by the director of the program to STOP trying to recruit the students! Yes! one bubble down, so many more to go...

I have been lurking here for quite some time. I hope that you ladies do not mind that I am here because I was never in Mary Kay but I did work in Arbonne. I was a consultant from 2005 to 2008. When I quit, I had so many mixed emotions. The reason that I read this website is because I have not been able to find one for ex arbonne consultants. Although the companies are different, the manipulation, the guilt, the "verbage" (I always hated that word) are exactly the same. I was recruited by a very sweet older woman who believed so whole heartedly in the opportunity that her belief convinced me to join. Even though she was the one who fed me all the lies and hype, I feel really sad for her because it was fed to her too and she still believes it. She is not married, lives alone and on a fixed income and I know that she buys her commission check each month. I have not spoken to her since I quit and I truly hope that she gets out.

There were so many things that I never felt comfortable with but I did anyway because to move up you must do as they say. I hated stalking women in the grocery store, hated calling women to beg for shows, and I felt like everyday that I "worked my business" I was a fraud and a liar. I hated telling women about my incredible "gift" that I had for them (that is what we called the opportunity) when I was charging my credit cards monthly to make a commission. Which was so stupid! I can't understand how I fell for this scam! I am an intelligent woman with a biology degree. How did I reconcile that charging $500 in a month so that I could get a $100 check? I feel like I was temporarily insane. The first time I went to the annual rah rah training conference was about 3 months after I started. I should have listened to my gut because the whole time I was there I was scared to death! It was a cult. There is no other way to explain it. The cheering to Arbonne, the chanting, the idolizing of the "leaders", and the total lack of rational thinking really freaked me out. I should have run. But, instead, I stayed in for 3 years. When I finally left, it was the most liberating feeling I ever had. No more guilt when I was playing with my kids and not working my business. I was able to live life instead of always wondering what else I should be doing to work my business. I feel so sorry for anyone who gets sucked in. It still boggles my mind that I did. I feel so stupid.

Thank you for letting me vent here on Pink Truth. You are providing such a valuable service to people who have been harmed by these companies. I have healed by reading the posts and comments and although the companies are different, the experience is the same. All mlms are harmful and should be avoided completely!

You are completely welcome here fellformlm...we know exactly what you went through, and you are right, it is all the same. MLM's have their "system" down pat...they are all Amway clones.

This NSD is spewing the same trite Pink Speak that has been around longer than she has. Some things never change and the failure rate for any MLM is one of those statistics.

If approached with an "opportunity" too good to be true, run and don't look back! I wish I would have!

If a SSD knows how to hang on and surf the wave, she will inherit her old unit members back...and that's how you get these 200 person units that do base production of 8,000...all Personal User's. Miss SD then just needs a Cash Cow Newbie or two doing Star to drive a caddy.

Wow, Raisin. A BIG lightbulb just went off. I never heard it explained so succinctly and clearly as that. I never could figure out these big unit who I knew were mostly personal use but still had caddies and did the trips.

Man oh man what a scam.

[quote]Contrary to popular MK belief, not everyone buys Mary Kay "from someone."[/quote]

I am 54 years old and never bought a MK product in my life. And I certainly wouldn't start now!

Pinkladynomore - Regarding the dovetailing. I never ever dovetailed in MK in the 10 years that I was a consultant/director. I once booked a Party Lite party from someone that I actually met thru MK. I sent in my guest list and I had 20 friends who were actually showing up. We all loved Party Lite candles and I always had successful parties. This Party Lite consultant had done many parties for me over the years - like $700.00 - $1000.00 parties at a time. Well she sent out my invitations and everything was set to go. I also connected with her the morning of the party date. We were good to go. I baked and made refreshments for my guests, cleaned my house, etc. and 2 hours before the party, the consultant calls me to tell me that she has made a grave error a month ago and double booked that time slot. would it be alright to send one of her offspring consultants who was in the top of her unit to do the party. This girls name was Alissa. I didn't know what to do, as some of my guests were driving a substantial distance to attend and some had already left for my home. I said OK and that it was really too late to cancel the party one hour and 45 minutes before the party. Well my guests arrived. I was serving refreshments and the consultant Allison never showed up. I was mortified and kept making excuses for her tardiness.
45 minutes into the "Refreshment Party"
by now, there was a knock on door. Upon answering it, I said, "You must be Allison". She said "No, I'm Kimberly."
I said who are you? She said Allison couldn't make it so they sent me instead. She stated that she didn't know Allison or my original consultant
but was on their team somehow and that she was sorry that she was so late. They had given her the wrong directions and she had gotten lost. She sincerely felt bad, was a brand new consultant, didn't have but a couple of things for display, hadn't done her training, and NEVER did a party before. Needless to
say, my guests had attended my prior candle parties, and were expecting to see the items that they were going to purchase or at least see the new stuff.
Everyone was so disappointed, aggrevated, and genuinely put off by this display of rudeness by the first original consultant. Needless to say,
I have NEVER called her back for a party since and I must done at least 7 big parties with huge sales for her over a two year period.

Holycow - Just wanted you to know that,
yes you're correct. Mk doesn't just give you the "THE SUITS". I had three SUITS and they each cost me between $350.00 - $400.00 plus depending on how many tops you puchases and then let's not forgot to "DRESS FOR SUCCESS" and go out and purchase those matching highheels ( at least 2 pairs for a change) another $125.00 or more and then of course we all NEED the matching bag, another $100.00 plus or way more.
You're talking about a bare minimum of $600.00 each year .....that you're lucky enough to EARN the priveleage of ordering another "SUIT" and accessories
on you CREDT CARD. I could never understand why the suits had to be new each year. Like Directors aren't broke enough front loading their production but MK wants to make sure that they're going broke in style I guess. And what about the jewelry and scarfs to go along. Talk about going OUT in style.

Wow, I bet that Partylite consultant learned her lesson - you don't tick off your good hostesses! Geez! SINCE you were an established Hostess, have done other parties for her, etc., she should have known your party takes preference in the double booked scenario. She totally screwed up - and lost big time in many areas. (I bet you're now a part of her 'training' to her team - don't get your long time hostesses mad!)

2Pink4Me, I never understood why MK changed suits every year. One great suit can last for several years. Obviously, they don't really care about the expenses of their Directors. Corpse knows how dismal the earnings of most Directors are. But, keeping a Director in credit card debt sometimes keeps her in Mary Kay because she keeps bee-lieving that things will change and she will be debt free soon enough. Why do you think they almost insist that you attend Seminar, Career Conference, Leadership, Retreats, etc. Getting you hyped to keep on going is one thing, but I think they have many other sinister reasons.

[quote] I never understood why MK changed suits every year.[/quote]

I've never been in MK, but I suspect MK corporate receives a "cut" from the suit purchases. Seems like whatever little money a consultant/director makes, much of it goes back to corporate in some form or fashion.

Makes me think of the old Tennessee Ernie Ford song: "I Owe My Soul to the Company Store", because the coal miner's pitiful salary ultimately went right back to the coal company to pay for the miner's rent, food, tools, etc.

thinkinpink - when I think about the money that I spent on the "SUITS", shoes, bags, Seminars, Gowns, more shoes, airfare, hotel rooms, meals, Career Conferences, Leadership , DIT, more hotels rooms, airfares, and meals, Fall Retreats, Spring Advances, prizes (JUNK!!!!!)motivational tapes, CDs, and DVDs, shuttles, taxis and LIMO expenses,
and all the frontloaded production and SOOOOOOOOO many more expenses than I could'nt possibly list, I want to throw up.

I have NEVER taken my two children on an AWAY - vacation. You know Disneyland or a long family vacation because I could never afford it. My girls are 25 and 16 now. How SAD is that! Instead I chose to waste and throw away my money on a FAKE DREAM that NEVER came true. Boy - when I think of the money I lost and what a wonderful family vacation we could have had with all that money. WE could've taken a few away vacations. MK should be ashamed that it particularly breeds on women who really do want to change their lives, earn more money to enhance their families lives.

"You book sixteen times, whaddya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt.
St. Peter don't ya call me 'cause I can't go,
I owe my soul to Mary Kay Corp."

2Pink4me, it is even hard to imagine the money wasted by you and others for everything MK. Mary Kay can take you down pretty fast. They have it all figured out how to get and keep your money. I hope you and your children can someday take a fun vacation of a lifetime. You deserve it.

2Pink4me- Don't lose hope - maybe you'll get to take some beautiful grandbabies on vacation some day!

Vintagegold


Yeah, now THAT would be REAL Vintage Gold. I'm hoping that will happen.

[quote]"You book sixteen times, whaddya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt.
St. Peter don't ya call me 'cause I can't go,
I owe my soul to Mary Kay Corp."[/quote]

LOL! Now I can't get the tune out of my head. That took me right back to my childhood in Wilkes-Barre in the early 1960's!

Heh! Twas inspired by you, m'dear!

Well, speaking of booking classes....

I was the Queen of Everything the year I made my one and only DIQ run. I was the top seller of product in my unit, had a solid re-order business, and held lots of appointments. I doubt that I ever had a multiple class week, but maybe one or two times. I'll tell you one thing, I did away with all that pre-profiling, calling, etc. right after I tried to do my first couple of classes. I had it down, and I had the reputation among the other's in my unit as being good at classes. The kicker is a class is a breeze to give if you like doing it, and do away with all that extra stuff. It is getting the booking that is hard and was always the hardest thing for me. That said, I knew what I was doing, was good at it, and knew the product line, etc., etc., but my class sales were never fabulous and no one ever bought a complete collection at one time from me at any class or facial. My customer base was more or less built off of my initial classes from my start up, individual facials, and picking up reorders from long time users whose consultants had quit the business.

What, you mean you didn't get a couple people booking their own class from each class you held, like it showed in the video?

Black Nova,

LOVE IT!!!

Just a quick question. Why didn't Sales Directors ever make complaints to the company about purchasing Director suits yearly and having to attend every MK event known to mankind. Was that part of your agreement with MK that you had to attend all events and had to purchase a new suit every year. Just wondering. I think I might have skipped a few because of the expenses. I guess, however, that if you didn't show up your unit wouldn't either. Of course, so many don't attend unit meetings and Seminar anyway.

[quote]why MK changed suits every year?[/quote]

To make it impossible for someone to fake still being a director, that's why. By making it a status thing, and controlling the source of the status, they could keep the hamsters running on the pink wheel of debt.

Anyone wearing "last year's suit" must not have kept her unit, she was to be shunned.

and if one did not have this year's suit, one was not permitted to be on the stage at any mk event... oh the horror...

And besides that, people would wonder if you were struggling and just couldn't afford the new suit!

Picture this:
A sea of perfectly made up blue suits with matching shoes and handbag and one lone brown suit.
You would look like the turd in the punch bowl!
The shock alone would kill ya!

Equally humilitating was seeing the name badge ribbons... if one was not in a director car, it was horrible,too...because the more ribbons you had, the better kaybot you were. Funny story, I collected the money at a retreat for everyone in our nsd area and submitted to corp on behalf of the entire area. At leadership that year, I earned a special invite to an event AND a ribbon... caused much consternation among my bff sister directors, me having an extra ribbon and all...

Nice company. They did a lot for everyone's self-esteem. Not!

Hey Suzy~ One time I had only a couple of ribbons so I took them off and told others that all mine fell off the badge! Yeah I lied!
Some more of that "good women doing bad things to fit in" stuff!

"I am still learning scripts and skills to better my results."

Executive pay on part-time hours using scripts? What kind of a viable business model is this?

Ah the joys of datebook "whiteout" in MK. When everyone has canceled and you are starting from scratch trying to find anyone who will book with you. Of course, I must have been doing something wrong. Because if you work FULL CIRCLE you will always have appointments on your book, right?

No. You won't. It's the nature of the beast, especially now that women are more wise to the MK game and just don't have the time to host a class.

Or Tracey, they really just dont want to host a class!

Rachel, didn't read your question til this am. Answer: Are you kidding? ha, ha, ha, very few ever want to be a hostess. Times and products have changed so much since my stint in MK, 93-96. The market is so saturated, there are great products available at Target and Walmart for half the cost. When I started my town was wide open for me, and I had a lot of classes my first year. Then I slowed down, mostly did one on one appointments at my house, and that worked well for me. If someone actually hostessed a class for me, it was because I rewarded them with a deep discount on product, plus a gift.

Yes, PP, I WAS kidding. I should've used the sarcastic font

I remember that video from the mid 90s. They have a class. There is 6 women at the show and all ready. Plus it was a follow up facial for the lady to "Earn" the 2 eye shadows. She booked two shows, and found a recruit. I think this should be under fiction.

Selling Mary Kay products is bunko. You know that bunk is a nice word for b.s. I'm with you guys, you may not make a high wage at Wal-Mart but it's a REAL and STEADY income that can be relied unlike any pitance of money you make trying to selling Mary Kay products. :s

I went to a "toy party tonight and she holds 2 parties every weekend...hows that if people don't wnat to hold parties???
This is all very confusing? :s

NewyorkC09 ... The erotic toy home parties are where Mary Kay was in the early 1970s. They have not yet recruited so many resellers that they are interfering with each other's ability to get sales. If the sex toy company has an MLM business model, it will happen because that's the way MLMs develop.

I regularly visit a small town: population about 8,000 with 10 active Mary Kay consultants and recruiters (based on the number of different names I see on the brochures and cards, which means I am not seeing PUCs). Back in the 70s, there would only have been one reseller.

That's the saturation we talk about: so many consultants in an area that they can't support themselves with sales.

Hey LazyGardens - I used to live in a town of 10,000 with 2 Directors and three DIQ'ers that I knew of. That's at least 80 consultants!

NewyorkC09 wrote:
[quote]I went to a "toy party tonight and she holds 2 parties every weekend...hows that if people don't wnat to hold parties???
This is all very confusing? [/quote]

Uuuummm, she said that she holds 2 classes every weekend. That does not mean that she does. Did you attend every 2 classes, every weekend? She is lying to you to make the opportunity more pleasing to you. If you join then she makes money off of you. If you're so smart and want to defend an MLM, then tell the person (like 2 class every weekend girl) that you will join, after you have attended every class with her for a month. I'll bet you'll be lucky to see 2 classes in that whole month. Get proof, not there words only. They are trained to lie to get you to join!

Does that clear up your confusion??

Corporate challenged us to do 5 million parties this year. The total logged as of June 30 was a bit over half million. According to Sean Key, VP from corporate I saw a few weeks ago, there are over 650,000 MK consultants in the United States. According to all the training I've received, 20% of the people do 80% of the work. 130,000 consultants would be 20%. If 130,000 consultants held 1 qualified class once a MONTH for 12 months, the total would be 1,560,000.