Joining Mary Kay: The Peril of Making a Snap Decision

Leave us not forget that part of "Mary Kay training" is to NOT reveal the down and dirty of the career path. Nobody would want to be a Director if you make it look hard, or stressful, we are told. Mary Kay herself told us to Glide across the water like a SWAN, while ferociously paddling our buts off, under the surface.

In other words; deceive people. For their own good of course, because women put up such unnecessary barriers.

Think you weren't trained with deception? Guess again. Weren't you told to come to the hostesses door with only one bag? "You wouldn't want to make it look like you had to haul of this stuff to do appointments, right?"

And so right from the get go, you are slowly being indoctrinated into being something false, something that "appears" one way while actually being another way.

Nobody wants you to think in Mary Kay. You have to be too dumb to doubt, you want to avoid "analysis paralysis".You want to do "what your Director says".
And it starts right here with, "don't think about it...make a heart decision, not a head decision"

This is all good counsel, duped.

I was a very successful advertising saleswoman when I joined Mary Kay. I absolutely thought that I could earn the trips and the cars because I was good at sales. I had even listened to several top director tapes and still did not realize that the only way to achieve these prizes was through recruting. Now, you can either think that I'm incredibly stupid, or there were some serious omissions in the recruiting information presented to me.

In fact, critical essential details were left out throughout my entire first year of MK, when I became a director and did not realize that I would have to hit the DIQ production requirements every single month FOREVER! Again, either I'm a total idiot (I don't think so!) or my NSD's "Do it Fast!" and "Just get there and then figure it out!" mantras are cunningly designed to push you forward without knowing what you're getting yourself into. By then your ego and your money are too invested to allow you to quit.

The really sad thing is not only the financial carnage that results from all this manipulation, but the damage to your self-esteem as well. Every time I uncovered another MK "secret", like co-pays for FREE cars and chargebacks for returned product, my NSD feigned shock that I did not already know these things.

So, bottom line is, she was irreparly damaging my financial future (Think years of no IRA contributions and very little into Social Security), and promoting the erosion of my self-confidence while lining her pockets and quoting scripture. And she darn well knew what she was doing.

I really wonder what God is going to say to these MK predators if and when they make it to heaven.

itsnotjustme???
I appreciate your comment from the professional woman's point of view. BTW your name says it all!
Mary Kay dupes more than the stay at home mom or the woman looking to make big income who doesn't have a corporate position. In fact Mary Kay is an equal opportunity abuser! MLMs are just plain set up that way!

Mary Kay pushes the lie that they are a "dual marketing concept" and "there's room at the top for everyone" to hide the very fact that they are multi level. So why the deception if there isn't anything to hide? Or could it be that they do have something to hide? Absolutely!
There positively is NO advancement without recruiting and no amount of sales will earn you anything more than a gold plated $3 trinket!
You've stated it correctly. No trips,
No executive income, No free cars, No work from home and raise your children etc., etc.! Just ask the multitude of women here!
I thank God for every woman who finds her way out and shares her story so others who are reading out of curiosity can find the truth!
Everthing about Mary Kay is carefully crafted to put money into their own pocket. Nothing more, nothing less!

Dear lurker, do yourself a favor and take to heart what dupedbypinkfriend, Raisenberry and itsnotjustme??? have said. It is rock solid advice they are giving you today. It is better to build your future on this advice than the sinking sand of Mary Kay Cosmetics!

Yes, my friends....Mary Kay Cosmetics is a multi-level marketing scam that is designed to rape you and manipulate you into actually liking it. No one held a gun to our head?? Of course not, that's not the method of operation. Otherwise, we wouldn't get sucked in and want all the candy that MK dangles in your face. MKC, NSD's, and SD's throw all that candy and glittery crap on the ground so you'll bend over...and then you get the rest. I know I'm drawing a really strong picture but that's what is happening here. When you hit all those emotional triggers (ie, family time, financial independence, girl time, etc), it becomes difficult to see what is actually happening. When you finally do, you are so locked in and invested, that it's hell to get out and move on. Pay attention lurkers! Know what you are signing up for. Look at everything before you make that decision.

I am so happy for this website i wish i had found. This site before i signed up all i can say is amen to pinktruth and god bless them for this site!!

itsnotjustme?---you hit it on the head with you comment about finding out about the "hidden" crap--not till you get there! I had no idea about "chargebacks"...no body ever mentioned them. I was told that production got easier because your team grew bigger and more skilled as you went.

NOT.

I didn't know Directors re-signed "T" consultants under their own names when needed. I didn't know you were "expected" to activate your last few recruits to "find a way or make a way". I didn't know some Directors had husbands in finance who lent money for production, I didn't know some Directors knew how to liquidate product to overseas exporters.

But you are right...once you are intrenched and heavily invested...how do you get out? Not to mention the complete shock of finding out that what you believed about the honor and integrity of your upline and the company was completely misguided.

once again ladies - you are right on the money! Did anyone ever tell you "DIQ is the hardest you'll ever work in your career?!" That was told to me time and time again. That my friends is a lie. When I went into DIQ, I had a decent team that was working (the average) - and the same avereage was recruiting, so I didn't have to do it all myself. We finished 4th at our career conference for debuting units. THEN the work and struggle started. The years I was a SD was a constant level of work. Never letting up, and honestly never getting much ahead. I couldn't bring in people fast enough to replace those who quit or lowered their activity level. I never wanted to leave on vacation because I was afraid of what I'd come home to. Even when I went on vacation, I was never really present because of the constant worrying, or trying to meet people where I was on vacation (that is just so sick!!)!!!

I don't actually regret my journey into directorship - because it's taught me one very important lesson - that this is a company that preys on people and their emotions and ambitions. If I'd never experienced it first hand, I probably would still be pursuing that position, sinking deeper into debt attending all the events, etc. I'm older & wiser now, and see this company for really what it is.

So, needless to say, when someone tells you that line "You'll work your most in DIQ" - drop what you're doing, and just run away. It's a lie, and it will rob you of your peace, sanity and integrity faster than you can say "Mary Kay Ash".

(I hope that all made some sense! Been in the sun a bit too long today!)

[quote]So, bottom line is, she was irreparly damaging my financial future (Think years of no IRA contributions and very little into Social Security), and promoting the erosion of my self-confidence while lining her pockets and quoting scripture. And she darn well knew what she was doing.[/quote]

Eek. That is so painful to read, Itsnot. I really hope some people are reading today, and taking this to heart.

duped, that was the line from Itsnot's post that got me too.

All of these women know if they can get "mary kay into you"...you will take up the chase for many months...even years. They set the trap knowing the bottom falls out repeatedly from every Unit and so the life of the Unit is in the constant churning of new recruits and DIQ's. I pity the Directors still trying to rebuild downline who have not figured out that they may have spent 10,15,20,25 years to find themselves back where they were 20 years ago. All that time, effort, money, hope, padding the commissions of the upline and Corp. Of COURSE they will tell you that "you can do it". They know it will take years upon years for you to get there and all that production will continue to generate CASH for Miss NSD. Oh by the way, when over 7 different Directors told my NSD that they were buried in debt...you'll never believe this, but at no time did she offer to financially help them. They made their own beds, they were told, in the nicest way.

So if you are foolish enough to go for car or Directorship...just remember you are signing up for monthly production quotas that can not be sustained by your average "we dont want the sales type" unit members in SALES volume. It will inevitably fall on you. You never "win" a car in MK. You never "earn" one. Regardless what they tell you...You will pay for every last nut and bolt on the thing.

This is an excellent article, Duped. Thank You.

[quote]Ask to see proof of the claims of wealth and glorious prizes that the Mary Kay lady is excitedly telling you will be yours, if only you join, work hard, and stay focused.
[/quote]
[quote] Investigate that lake that you are about to dive into. Determine the true depth, realize that it is murky water, and that there are hidden rocks under the smooth surface that is so alluring.
[/quote]

"And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil."
Amen

Duped, what an incredible post, my friend! WOW!!

Pure genious, duped! I just hope that the lurkers here that think it"will be different" for them reads and re-reads your words. Those nagging words coming from your gut is God reminding you who really is 1st!

[quote]just remember you are signing up for monthly production quotas that can not be sustained by your average "we dont want the sales type" unit members in SALES volume.[/quote]

No kidding, Raisin. This part of the sham is especially evil. They make you think that if you just get the bodies, they will magically transform into a unit of topsellers.

I can not imagine giving my whole life to this scheme, and having the rug pulled out from under me. I shudder to think of what I would do. Just the other day, I saw my NSD's Escalade at the local coffee shop and I had an intense desire to ram her car in the parking lot. I wanted to run in there and scream to her lastest victims, "Stop! She is evil. Don't listen! Run!"

I was only in a year, and the damage to my relationships and my finances was incredible.

Please, please, please, lurkers: really listen to these ladies' words. They gave years of their lives for nothing. This is the truth. Don't let it happen to you.

I was the impulsive type. I made the decision to join Mary Kay immidiately after attending an event. They made it look like so much fun. Nobody fixes themselves up where I live, so I was real impressed with how beautiful the Mary Kay ladies were. It didn't take me long to realize I had made a big mistake.

Also, the fact nothing is going to retirement is a big factor. I know a woman who was out of the workforce for 15 years ( reasons not related to Mary Kay). She calculated her retirement and realized all she would get would be $300 dollars a month. Imagine living off of that!!! It really is something to worry about.

Even if your SD is making a living as a top 2% of the Top 2%...how is she making her money? She has to be very good at getting you to believe you either need to be a "star consultant"...or you "need to be a Director". She is being paid to encourage anyone and everyone who will BITE, to run the career path. It makes no difference if you have only held 2 classes in your life...YOU are her "next Director".

She rationalizes that she shouldn't judge you--if you want it bad enough you can do it. How can being paid to be an encourager be so wrong??

Here's how. She KNOWS the shape she herself is in. She KNOWS the shape her former Directors are in. She knows the area Directors and who is making what. The top2% are hanging by their epoxied fingernails. She KNOWS how many DIQ's attempted the career path, charged up thousands and died off. She knows how many other IBC's have done the same in all the other units she is associated with. She sees that overall, year after year after year..nobody emerges with a successful SELLING business, on sales alone from her Unit. Every documented production report shows that production comes from the orders of new recruits, duped and believing that they need more product, have to stay consistent, need to qualify for yada yada, have to "top off" to go "on target".

It never seems to DAWN on anyone that even if a member or Director hits the Queens court LEGITIMATELY...she is STILL only talking about less than 14,000 in earned income. BEFORE, travel and event expenses. These are the creme de la creme...and there are barely 400 a Seminar out of a million consultants.

Could You be one of them? You might. If all the planets align properly, and you are attractive, personable, have a enormous social network, book only women with money time and friends, work the phones, fishbowls, networking organizations, at all times, everyday, never missing any opportunity with your antennae always up. You have to be 100% self motivated and you'd also have to be impervious to your Uplines manipulation or your business will mismanage the money. Sound like fun? Think your Director knows that this ain't you? Think she cares? And when you get this "dream job"...you will have to dupe the next generation of naive and unsuspecting into thinking they are the one in a milion that can get it all to work...even if you can't.
In other words, you will become a paid actress, playing a roll for the benefit of an audience you must convince to buy your unit production, or else you will have to.

After all, you are just selling an "opportunity"...not an actuality. Nothing wrong with that,now, is there?

Duped, this article is great. 100% true, I hope it saves some lurkers some time, money and a lot of pain. Itsnotjustme??? I believe we have the same nsd. It still kills me how badly she manipulated me and lied to me. Every time I found out something new, I made an excuse for her and blamed myself for not knowing that sooner. There is no excuse for her. evil is evil.

No job. Nothing going into retirement.Credit card debt. Really depressed. Go to an MK event. Rah rah. Sign up. Try it for a while. Quit. No job. Nothing going into retirement. HUGE credit card debt. Really really depressed. The only difference between the 2 are an adjective and an adverb. Not much to crow about!

[quote]Just the other day, I saw my NSD's Escalade at the local coffee shop and I had an intense desire to ram her car in the parking lot. I wanted to run in there and scream to her lastest victims, "Stop! She is evil. Don't listen! Run!"[/quote]

Ya know, I feel this way so much about the MK person I know. I think she is just mentally sick the way she has treated me & other with all the lies, manipulation & above all her loud, arrogant attitude.

She is such a phony, that she makes a big show out in public about being the "perfect" wife - but in truth, she lusts after other men! She pretends to be the "perfect" mother, when in fact & truth - she neglects her children terribly. She truly is evil. It is so disgusting when you are able to see the Jekyll & Hyde sides of the Mary Kay Director.

Buyers BEWARE! Nothing is what they want you to believe that it is.

Duped I thoroughly enjoyed your post. You have created the panorama along with the lovely additions of Raisinberry, fresh, Itsnot, and oneless. Great commentaries, I can already feel the old knot in my stomach that thankfully is not part of my life anymore.

berry, I agree - that knot is lessening, and going away. That's freedom! When you can see - honestly see what's transpiring, and make the decision to step away and break the chain - it's like nothing else. It's just exciting!

Mary Kay only succeeds by keeping the hamsters and new recruits in the dark, as to the real conditions of doing the business. "Never be Negative" shuts down personal conversations where Directors and unit members might see that the problems are universal, and that most are in the same boat. With no ability to check what you are told, you can be told anything. If you press, you will be labeled and shunned...and ultimately replaced. MK has found a way to exploit the worst in people while massaging their consciences in such a way that they think they are uniquely superior.

About 4 months ago I signed my life away and joined the cult that is Mary Kay came to this site and saw the light. Anyway wanted to share this retarded email sent to me by my director (she still sends me stuff) The lady that recruited me had to step down from dictator I mean directorship because everyone she signed up jumped ship on her (she was uber pushy)I know this well because she called me everyday. Anyway long story short I got the starter package in my bathroom and Ive been exiled because I didn't want to go up (don't you just want to throw up?) enjoy

From: Debbie Stut-----
Sent: August 5, 2009 6:38:42 PM
To: Me of course

I would like to do a pacesetter class with those people who like to move up the career path. It will be six weeks meeting once a week. I want feedback on time slots that would work for people, so let me know if you prefer week nights (which nights you are free) or weekends. It would be a 2 hr session with homework for the week. For those who don't live in the city I can include you in as well.

If you are interested in participating please answer these 6 questions and send them back to me:

1. Where do you want to be in your career and by when? (I want a great career but not with you to many lies)

2. What don't you understand? (How you can trick people into your cult MLM which you entail is a legit business)

3. What do you want or need to learn? (Ive learned all I needed to know from pinktruth I am now a hater and a downer as some like to lovingly call me)

4. What are you willing to do to advance in your career? (Basically go back to school and get a real degree I think that will help don't you? the gov's willing to give me a real break )

5. What are your frustrations? (Getting emails from you..... I guess I have control and could block but I'm to lazy)besides deleting the emails arent that hard anyway

6. If you could ask Mary Kay one question, what would it be? Actually two: why your son's are a bunch of assholes and why they ran your company into a shit hole of trickery?)

I will need to hear back from you by Sat Aug 8th as I would like to start the sessions next week and finish up by the end of Sept.

Debbie Stut----
Senior Sales Director

Ah pacesetters... she learned this at seminar, as we all did, about every other year. Skip it, it will make you feel guilty and won't change your "business"

Hi Pinkpig,

I tried to email you (when I clicked on your name it gave that option), but I don't think it worked!

I recieved the exact same email today from my director!

I think we might be in the same unit!

I am new on here and a new consultant (signed in March). If you are interested in contacting me I think you can email me by clicking on my username.

I would love to chat!

Sure email me moccachild@yahoo.com I have blockers on my email but I'll look out for yours. I get emails still from the director and I personally don't want to deal with her emails about why I'm on this site so I will not divulge my real info.

Looking at the post pic it reminds me of a funeral procession.... scary thing is that in a way it is if you count going into financial ruin a death of some sorts

I just blocked my sd from emailing me but i wonder how I can keep her from sending me all the waste of paper through the mail , and those damned applause mags ugh
seriously they shouldn't have wasted such beautiful trees on lies and whatever else is in that dreadful thing .

NotAKaybot -

Applause comes from MK Corporate, not your sales director. You can contact MK at (800) 272-9333 and ask to be taken off the mailing list. If you've returned your product, your consultant number will be deactivated, and you'll cease getting any e-mails or U.S. mail from MK.

If you're not sending product back, but want to resign MK, you need to contact them to deactivate your consultant number. This is important, not only for stopping MK mail, but to prevent your director from placing an order in your name in the future, without your knowing about it. (This is frequently done to meet a unit number quota, contest goal, whatever.)

Good luck!

That's true I've been meaning to do that .
It's like a bad prank that my sd played on me . She really acted like she cared and wanted to help me become
successful . Anything to get that commission check .

Hey PinkPig, I got some bullcrap, too! I think I posted this somewhere else on this site, but allow me to share with you.

I was one "excited" ,"on the move" to doing bigger and better things via Mary Kay. I started MK in March 2003. I was depressed because my mother was sick and I was looking for something to lift my spirits. Looking back, I don't know if I was on dope or dog food. At any rate, initially I was gung ho about doing the business. The red flags went up, but I ignored them whenI went to a hatchet --I mean, meeting and one of the SDs told me about the great tax benefits of MK. So during the break, I asked her to elaborate on what she meant. She told me that would be something that would be better answered by my accountant. I thought to myself, "Why the would she mention it but not be willing to talk more about it to me? I can't make an informed and educated decision like that!" (1st red flag ignored . I went ahead and placed that first order, becoming a Ruby star Then, the next quarter, half the stuff I ordered was discontinued and I was stuck with it! I thought, ok, I would just try to sell what I had. Well, that got old and I stopped. I just began ordering just enough for myself and the one or two customers that wanted some MK products. OK, let's fast forward to 2008. By this time, my mother had died two years prior at the age of 55, and my grandmother, who helped my mother raise me, was gravely ill as well. She, too, died quickly from aggressive bone cancer, and needless to say, I was devastated. My director called, I thought, to check on me. We talked for a minute, but of course, she eventually got around to trying to convince me that I needed to continue my business. At that point, I wanted to tell her where to go. But, respecting her age. I managed to get the lump out of my throat ( I had been crying about Granny) and tell her that I was not thinking about Mary or Kay. If I became inactive, I didn't care. I told her that Mary Kay could not bring herself back from the grave, so I knew that she stood no chance of bringing my mother or my grandmother. I also told her that at age 39, I was the oldest woman in my immediate family on both sides and that was a heavy load to carry. "Furthermore, if I want to talk about Mk, I'll call you. Until I am able to climb out of the abyss of grief, I could care less about Mary Kay". She said, "So you're just going to quit your business...just let it go?" I told her I didn't care and bade her good day.

I think that it was very insensitive the way my director called me knowing that I was dealing with grief. I also think that it was by Divine Will that I stumbled upon this website. I love most of the products that they haven't changed around and screwed up. The older ones that I couldn't find through the company, I found through TOP, which I understand is having some problems out of MK. I wish them luck. I have found only one skincare line to rival MK and that's 3lab, but they are so expensive. But I have a "Just Over Broke" and I'll work and pay for whatever I want. As far as glamour, M.A.C. is running circles around MK anyway and if MK doesn't stop screwing with products that work, I'll be giving my skincare and glamour money to 3lab and M.A.C.

So, Pinkpig, I think everybody on this site has made contact with an MK mummy at some point. At least you got a hold of yourself in 4 months. I've been involved for 6 years.

Hey Getdapink,

I hope it's o.k., I just put a 3 Day Butt Rash Hex on your former Director.

ican

I'm still a personal use consultant and she's still my director, but I LOVE the butt rash hex!!!!!!!! You go girl!!!

Think I'm gonna start a new MLM - what with all that Butt Rash going around since Ican found PT.

Ground floor opportunity! Minimum inventory purchase to get started: $200. Order today! It's already flying off the shelves!

[IMG]http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo357/swimmy11/ladyamb_detail_photo-2.jpg[/IMG]

Getdapink, Glad you like it!

Duped, You never cease to amaze me!
Ican Karma you in 6 hours.

That's what one would need after ican's hex...right??

Getda, I want to officially welcome you to Pink Truth. I've been reading several of your posts on the discussion boards, but hadn't said an official "howdy-doo" So, hello and Welcome!!! Love your name and the boot avatar.

I'm appauled at your story with the SD intruding upon on your grief. Unfortunately, I've read about lots of that kind of thing happening - others who have had family pass away and their SD's and NSD's are right there pressuring them to "work their business" with no concern or care about their feelings. I'm almost starting to wonder if this isn't some tactic or attempt to capitalize on a person's grief and get them to order product, not just recruit. Think about it? Haven't we all been told that when we feel bad/down/depressed - go buy something? How many women will talk about feeling kind of blah or whatever and they go shopping for a new dress or pair of shoes as a pick-me-up? I could very easily see the tactic being - oh so-and-so is feeling very upset or depressed because of the death or illness of _________, I'll see if I can get her to order some product. I want to make sure she stays on top of things so we make production. She doesn't need to be "side-tracked" by her feelings.

It sounds to me like the leadership is betting on someone being side-tracked by their grief so the leadership can help themselves by getting the person to order more inventory.

In a not so funny way, it's amazing how none of these vultures even understand why those that respond with anger, are angry!!!

Lurkers, stay out of these types of businesses - MK and any MLM. They will steal your soul before you even know what has hit you.

Duped, I think your product will sell nicely - now what is the commission for those of us who recruit others? I'd like to see your marketing plan and your income Schedule C before I make my final decision, oh and do you have a "Golden Rule?"

See, gals, I'm learning. Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks!

So glad you asked, SPT. Commissions range from -25% to -50%, depending on how many suckers, er, uh, excited recruits you get.

The Marketing Plan? Um, well, it's I con whoever I can, you con whoever's left.

Our Golden Rule is "Deliver the masses from Ican's Butt Rashes, but replace them with ingrown hairs."

Sign me up!!!!!


Oh, shoot, guess I didn't learn as much as I thought I did!

Duped you're just amazing

Hey Duped!
For a cut of the action, I'll make the hexes STRONGER so your customers need to buy MORE lotion.

Duped,

What do you have for ingrown hair?

Can they be purchased separately?

Or will you get into trouble for breaking the basic?