Getting the Most Out of a Mary Kay Consultant's Credit Card

And if you don't think that MK Directors are in denial, remind yourself that she is SENDING this email around and apparently has no idea how HORRIFIC, calculating, manipulative, self serving and evil the "find a way or make a way" strategy really is. No, she will pat herself on the back for her resourcefulness. In fact, I can pretty well guess that there are a few Directors reading right now, saying to themselves, "well what's wrong with that?"

I particularly like the leave-her-with $100-of-space so it doesn't decline. Yea, that's go-give.

Whoa...don't get me started...

Oh. My. God. What is wrong with these people!

Step four: Prepare to spend eternity burning in hell.

[quote]If they do not get the $1000 they were declined there is no point in waiting they need to try something else
[/quote]

Yeah, as in run like hell.

Either way, it's totally wrong, but I don't think I quite get it. At first she says she can get the card bumped to a higher limit just by "pressing in the numbers below" but then it seems they just called and asked for a limit increase. That's not a particulary new idea. Is there an edit so others aren't tempted to follow this path?

In this economy, with so many people losing their jobs and trying to survive, how can these SDs even think of putting these women into more debt buying MK.
One's credit card limit is personal information, not something that a SD should be privy to. It just goes to show you how desperate these SDs are to survive themselves and how little they care about anyone.

There is more to consider here: It would appear that the director has the personal card numbers and information of the consultant - and you wonder if she doesn't keep that info on file somewhere. Some newbie unsuspecting pink blinded gal would not think a thing of the director keeping that information. Think about it: I know that I can call my card and punch in my numbers and without ever talking to a human I can find out my credit limit, how much credit I have and how much I owe. How convenient if a director would choose to have that information available to her in order to pressure a poor IBC when orders need to be placed. She might not TELL the IBC she knows how much room there is on the card but she would know how much th IBC could technically do....

Perhaps I am off base. Surely no director is that evil, manipulative, underhanded, oh what am I thinking???!!! Say it ain't so....

This new wickedness is beyone "beelief"!
The person who thought this strategy up should have to face criminal charges for the pure abuse this represents.
I think as time goes on we will see more of this desperate type of behavior as fewer and fewer new IBCs will have access to the kind of money it takes to keep a director's unit going. Especially a trip director!
Think about it, what this shows is that the few that do have access to a card will be making up the monetary difference for the many who don't have the cash and can't get a card for orders!
I'm so glad I'm out. Mary Kay is nothing but a abuser, a raper of innocent women's credit and self esteem. They are not the enricher they claim to be. The only thing they enrich is their own pockets!
I know they will never feel any shame or remorse for what they do but SHAME ON YOU MARY KAY!

Every year corporate and the NSDs get more desperate. This is positively the lowest of the low!

Little girl:
Mommy, what did you learn in Mary Kay?

Mommy:
Well honey, Mary Kay taught me how to make money off other women so we can have the lifestyle that we so richly deserve.

Great message to give to your children!Makes me sick!!!!!

I agree with thinking. Once it became evident to me that my debt wasn't going to go away with that magical surge in business I waited and waited and worked hard for, I knew it was the beginning of the end. At that point, how could I ask another woman to use her line of credit for anything to do with the business when I knew firsthand that wasn't the way to do business. My recruiting career was over at that point and I knew my sales unit would diminish as a result.

The above email is unconsciencable, especially when the media has revealed how Americans have overused credit and there's so much good info out there about recovery (for example, Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman). Anyone at this point who is still charging anything is in denial and will have to face financial recovery sooner or later.

You would think that Mary Kay would come up with a better plan after having to process all those product returns. Isn't it evident to them at this point that this frontloading concept isn't working?

This is just sick. Might I add it also looks suspicously like a gun being held to someone's head.

"If the total credit is $5,000 they can use up to $4900 right away."

Can you imagine the dollar signs in the Director's eyes at this point? A good (and manipulative) Director can put some unsuspecting new recruit into debt that will take years to pay off. This is so sad.

This is just sick. I truly hope this post gets a lot of attention. How can they possibly think fleecing a person is justified?

Good grief. MK greed stops at nothing.

[quote] I don't think I quite get it. At first she says she can get the card bumped to a higher limit just by "pressing in the numbers below" but then it seems they just called and asked for a limit increase. That's not a particulary new idea. Is there an edit so others aren't tempted to follow this path?[/quote]

Shockingpink -
The consultant and recruiter may have called and just asked for an increase. But the scenario seems the same as with other of cc companies. I have seen it happen in other situations. When you are issued a new card, they may give you a small amount (much smaller than your actual balance will be) to use right away, perhaps even before you get the card. I am thinking that is what the initial $1000 is. Then once you get the card and activate it (which is what they did) the full balance becomes available.

Again, I may be misinterpreting what actually happened here. I thankfully never had a MK card! But that is my guess.

I should simplify and say seems like what they did is found out the new cc# and activated it (prior to receiving the actual card) to access the full line of credit. Certainly a manipulation of the system.

I'm ashamed to say I did things like that too. I was desperate because of the money my husband had given me to buy inventory. I wasn't selling anything, so I got desperate to show him that this business really would work and I started recruiting (That's where the real money is right?). I would tell new recruits that it was so important to have a credit card there just in case, and if they made a small purchase, their monthly bill would only be $10.00 a month. THEN I would tell them about all the "free" stuff they could get if they used the credit card to do a "600", knowing that would be temtation enough for them. I consoled my conscience by telling myself it wasn't my fault if they didn't "work their business" and now I feel terrible because I have family members who still have inventory from years ago.

I really thought I would be "enriching" lives, because some of these women would learn how to dress nicer, put on makeup and their husbands would be happier, even if they were in debt.

This is awful.

The whole issue of recruitment is bad enough. This is just shameful.

This is just so sick! Even when I was deep in the Director fog, I never played with other people's credit. That was just crossing the line for me.

Is this the kind of crap they teach on top director trips? This lie rates right up there with the check is in the mail....

"I'm your Sales Director and I'm here to help you start your business."

I can't imagine where these types of teachings are coming from.

Oh, wait...

"I know you can guide a person to a 3600 decision, but I am here for you as a support mentor!" (NSD Pam Shaw)

"Small order hanicap new consultants. $3600, $3000, $2400. These are the three levels to explain. Are you spending time explainin $1800, $1200, and $600s? Why? You need to built [a business] on what works for the masses and present it that way." (NSD Stacy James)

"Are you being fair to your new recruit by bringing her in with less than 3600? Choose to operate from your power and leadership and guide her to invest profit level!" (NSD Mary Pat Raynor)

[IMG]http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z227/sportica/ironpyritestarorder-1.jpg[/IMG]

Jeez, forgive my many spelling errors in that last post, friends. My zeal hath overcometh me!

(Goes back and does a few pages in her Pre-K Disney Princess "Fun With Phonics" workbook)

What's funny is that this email has been circulating for a few years now, but plenty of sales directors think this is the newest thing to help their production!

This is so very wrong on so many levels.

Where do these directors get off violating the privacy of financial information of their consultants?

Does the word "FRAUD" have no meaning to them?

And yet my director accused me of "embezzling" funds from my business when I took the cash earned from a skin care class to buy my children badly needed shoes.

I am with PinkApostate...Do not get me started (any more than I am right now).

I'm with rxtech. Reading the email the fraud siren was pealing in my head. While it may not technically be fraud it stops just before crossing over the line.

this has been going on for years and years. I personally know someone who had her recruiter/ESSD open up a card in her name and order inventory. She found out she was a star consultant when she read it in applause and other consultants said congrats to her. This SD in now a NSD.

DidPink - I'd love to know which NSD that was!

Dear Lurkers:

Understand this, if you do this you have now given your SS#, date of birth, name, address, AND now your CC# to a complete stranger!!!

If, by chance, this person is a "friend" or relative, they are at a minimum in the pink fog and in a time of desperation will definitely consider using this information to place an order in your name! (if not just do it without considering it)

DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO EVER HAVE THIS MUCH PERSONAL FINANCIAL AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING INFORMATION!

She will get off and move on and you will be stuck paying for it unless you want to press charges and sue her.....

DON'T FALL FOR IT! There are many members here who have spent years paying for things like this their director's have done, if you have any questions, just ask us.

(my apologies to all PTers for the capitals, this stuff makes me crazy)

Kirads09...thank you! That cleared it up for me.

Thanks Scribbler for pointing out that as directors we were taught that helping new consultants start out with large orders was our JOB. Directors don't see anything wrong with manipulating credit card orders because otherwise the "poor" consulant would not have enough inventory to be succesful. NOT helping her order the most inventory possible was setting the new consultant up for failure. It's not until you are out of the pink fog that you can see this kind of training for what it really is.

Also, Lurkers, if you have been out of MK for awhile and did not exercise your re-purchase option from corpse and suddenly find an Applause mag. in your mail, it is because you have been re-activated-- your director has a copy of your agreement, SS# and everything. Is this ethical? Nope, but it happens all the time... goals to meet and all...

Send your product back, send a letter to the company, do whatever it takes to get off the rolls.

Oh, and if you are concerned that you will never ever be able to be an ibc again if you return product, you would be amazed to learn what a remorseful letter with $1800 order will do to soften hearts. You have realized that the enforcement of rules is abitrary, haven't you?

Its sick...I am sitting here in somewhat of disbelief...its so "in your face" sickening.... But, in a way it doesn't suprise me at all...

Oh yes, there are many dirty little secrets among directors. And they are all justified by saying things like, "We just want consultants to have the biggest advantage possible to start their businesses."

Biggest advantage = biggest inventory

[quote]I hope this helps you – it works![/quote]

Nothing about the recruit, it's all about helping the director suck the maximum money out of a recruit in a hurry.

"Do what you want as long as it's paying off for you." ~ Anton LaVey (founder of the Church of Satan

Wow. I'm sitting here with my mouth hanging open after reading that. The blatant disregard by SD's and Corpse for a woman's financial situation is just horrendous. It actually makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Don't ya like the last word..

"Enjoy!"


What the rest of this statement is...Enjoy your paycheck with this new way to increase someones debt!"

Also, the Top Director trips are a way for MK to push their top producers to produce more. These trips are not just luxury trip these women get to take. The whole time they are listening to the Million Dollar Directors & talking about their MK businesses the entire time.
It is a big fat lie that these women have their lives in some beautiful order. They live, breathe, eat & sleep MK even on a supposed vacation.....SO THERE!

[quote]SuzyQ wrote: Oh, and if you are concerned that you will never ever be able to be an ibc again if you return product, you would be amazed to learn what a remorseful letter with $1800 order will do to soften hearts.[/quote]

Actually, all it takes is the remorseful letter. I did that, and told them in the letter that I wouldn't be buying inventory so that my business would be based on sales alone. I got signed back up lickety-split. Then about a day later I found PT. Sheesh! Live and learn.

this behavior is amazing. I've seen types of these letters many times - and told (as a director) to use them - it will increase my numbers (go figure.). I'm happy to say that I never resorted to those tactics - I truly think the Lord was guarding me from future hurt. But I know of MANY women who were taken advantage of - and that's dispicable (think of daffy duck, ok!). This company will stoop to lower levels each time, while all along quoting scripture to justify their actions. At some point, they will get their due. (and/or doggy doo doo!)

At any rate - keep the truth coming. It shines a light in darkened corners of greed and will show the masses that this company isn't all that it's portrayed to be.

March on, Ladies!

MK business tactics are cold and calculating. Mk has a premeditated con game. This is highway robbery as far as I am concerned. I could never do this to drive a pink Cadillac or other MK vehicle. I am surprised the IBCs that have had this done to them, haven't sued the SD or MK. No wonder there is so much MK stuff on Ebay and Craig's List.

This is HOW I GOT MY DEBT!!!!

Only mine was a US Bank Visa Card not the special MK Corpse Visa. It was only interest free for 6 months then the regular rate of 19% kicked in.
Interesting though, the process didn't go through without hitches like this email claims it will.

I got my card number over the phone, ONLY after the US Bank Branch in Colorado Springs, CO (I'm in CA mind you) spent the entire day going over my credit report. Supposedly this particualr branch in CO does a lot of MK Credit Card accounts. My SD was the one who gave me the phone number to branch and told me which person to speak with! At first they were going to deny me any credit (not because I have bad credit, I just don't have much credit in my own name) until I used my joint credit history with my husband. My SD pushed for $5000 credit limit.

Once I got the number, my SD said she could place my initial inventory order for me over the phone. I just needed to give her the 16 digit # and the exp date.

One little problem, MK wouldn't accept the charge order without that pesky little security code that is on the back of the card where you sign your name - it's usually a 3 digit #. I guess if you don't have the MK Visa card, they require the security code from all other cards@ My SD couldn't get passed that one. She tried to persuade the branch manager to give her the security code - he wouldn't do it. He wouldn't even give it to me over the phone. He said he couldn't really tell me what it was as it gets generated and connected to my account number when the actual card is made. We had to wait until I received the actual credit card in the mail.

Then of course, my SD got all the information and placed the order over the phone. I was so trusting. I never ever thought for a moment this person has all the information she needs to place an order in time she wants. Fortunately, she never ordered anything without my knowledge. I was just within the time limit for placing my initial order because it took 10 days for the credit card to arrive in the mail and it fell just before the end of the month for her to make it count. She put in for the $3600 + extras she said I just had to have. She tried to order the $4200, but by the time tax, shipping and her "extra's" were added it was over the limit on the account,so she had to go for the "smaller" order. As it turned out, I ended up with almost $4700 on my first charge - she left me just $300 room on the card. I couldn't order anymore stuff - like I would have needed to anyway, but you know the ordering requirements to stay active. By the time the interest started accruing, I was almost over the limit every month and was barely keeping up with the payments. I was sank financially before I ever sold anything. And that doesn't include all the business expenses I incurred in addition to the inventory junk.

This just makes me SICK, SICK, SICK that they can get away with this.


MK needs to be taken down!!!!

I HATE MK

Stinkinpink, I'm in shock - really! This is absolutely the worst of the worst. To be taken advantage of (and you were) by that SD just blows me away. Seriously, as Angelwoman said previously, I can't believe that these SDs haven't been sued for these tactics. They have destroyed the lives of many women and sent them into huge debt that will take years to recover from.

Step two: If the consultant gets the $1000 limit it is usually higher, make sure you print or write down the card information including the card number and expiration date

Wha...??

There is so much wrong here, I would need a diagram to explain it all.

Disgusting.

When us directors were told this was the right way to "help a consultant start her business", we did. I never went this far, but did recommend new consultants apply for a credit card. Some did get them and others got denied. Some got small loans to buy inventory. But once I saw that most new consultants either quit MK, stop returning my calls or return their inventory, I also stopped believing. I lost faith in the "Opportunity".

What's horrendous is that so many of these SD and NSD bloodsuckers know that 99% of the new consultants will fail, lose money and get into debt. They just don't care. Some of them even laugh about it.

Disgusting.

And to think that we former directors used to think we were smart for doing this type of thing. God, please forgive me.
Ladies, if you are thinking about getting into this business, please DO NOT give your director or anyone else the power to run you into debt. Run as fast as you can, find a legitimate job instead.

What did Mary Kay always say? Nothing happens until someone sells something? I guess in this context it could be Nothing happens until someone charges something... It is rather appalling to think these women are being trained in this way. I know quite a few know better but do it anyway. I'm just thankful I never qualified for credit!

Its called a Seared Conscience

I too hope that a "sharp" Lawyer finds the magic loophole to bring this company to its knees

Yea seared conscience ain't the half of it. Over and over we see the same thing. They sign up, because we exagerate results and lie about our own personal situation. We are told to do that since we "aren't selling our experience, we are selling the opportunity, which could be anything for them"...and since so much depends of POSITIVITY, you will kill your own Units momentum by telling the truth.

Every Director out there has lost her way. She used to have a conscience, she got into this because she wanted to do something that produced a future and a quality of life, in a Corp that appears to be ethical! It is a shock to the system to find out what an elaborate con this is. And every other day, we post ANOTHER proof.

Reality Check for Lurking Directors:
You know the weeks your best people are having. You know what sales YOU are making. Is there any earthly reason for you or a new recruit to place a Diamond Star order...amounting to 6700.00 in retail product when you KNOW she will not sell that amount for AT LEAST 20 WEEKS~~~~ Even if she was a HOTSHOT? At $300 a week...she will be out of skin care and ordering AGAIN, and 2500.00 will be tied up in excess product that it will take her a YEAR to liquidate..if she even can! While you get another and another "balancing her inventory" order that she will end up STUCK with when the friends and family dry up.

When she figures out she isn't making money, you will push recruiting, and when she gets all excited about $24 commission checks, you will push for car. Then she will be trapped in "making up the balance" of the 4500...when she hasn't even sold the original 3K...

This is structured choreographed manipulation, that most every new recruit with any ambition falls into, in blind bee-lief that YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

Only Do not kid yourself. Your NSD is doing the IDENTICAL SAME THING TO YOU.

"If the total credit is $5,000 they can use up to $4,900 right away."

Lurkers, if you don't have an inerest-free card up front -and- you can't send a large enough payment to cover the interst charge the following month, guess what? You will have exceeded your credit limit next month. And don't think you'll be raking in $$$$ from sales on that initial inventory purchase to pay your credit card bill, much less any bill. Why should people buy from you when they can buy the same stuff off eBay for cost + postage?

Welcome to the MK business nightmare. You have been set up for failure by the 1% who actually make the "executive income" they tout.

This is exactly what happened to me. I feel so stupid that I couldn't see it...I applied for the line of credit and was instantly approved and boy was my SD happy, my actual credit line was $7600!!

I just want to cry looking at this. She has my cc#s. I am almost 40 years old and NOT STUPID but you sure wouldn't know it by how I allowed her to manipulate me and I just gave her the cc #, let her place the order...ugh.
I think I'm going to barf.

Fortunately I am sending all product back shortly and closing the credit card.

I can't believe I was scammed like this.

Being trusting is not the same as being stupid, though it can have the same repurcussions at times. Don't bash yourself--we all fell for it because we trusted what our friends and "mentors" were saying.

Be glad you are wiser now.

I really feel sick to my stomach reading this. Here's how mine started: my SD "partnered" with a local bank that offered an "interest free, no time-limit loan". I took it for the $3600 order. I made very small monthly payments in the meantime, usuing all my "profit" to order more unnecessary inventory since "you can't sell from an empty wagon"! Well, about a year after I took the loan (and 2 newly opened credit cards later to keep up with all the product changes, etc.) the loan officer got fired and I was given one week to pay off my loan. So, there goes the $3000 + onto another credit card. Four years later, I am wiser but am swimming in $20,000 in MK debt that I will be paying off for many years to come.
Lurkers, please know this: I considered myself pretty street smart but somehow my SD and SSD got into my head and allowed me to do things I NEVER would imagine doing. It took me 4 years to actually "see" my credit card statements and realize the situation I am in. Please, pay attention to your credit card statements, your tax preparer who year after year says "you have a loss". Please, please, please take what you see on this website to heart. Don't think you'll do things differently, because truth is, once you get sucked in, it's too late to recover a lot of those investments. Oh, how I wish I had done my homework and found this site! I cannot believe how I was dupped!

This is a brutal scam!

In addition to obstacles mentioned, 90% of those large 1st inventory orders will become:

-DISCONTINUED
-CHANGE IN FORMULA
-CHANGE IN PACKAGING
-LTD ED will no longer appear in catalog!

What kind of person would activate another person's credit card on a 3-way call? OMG!

The product changes are ridiculous. I was in MK, if you want to call it that, ten years. In those ten years they had the large pink square compacts, the oval "pearlized" compacts, the "platinum" compacts and about a year after I got out, the black ones. And don't forget, with each compact shape change, you have to buy new blushes, eye colors and brushes. That's four changes in a little over 10 years! Not to mention the multitude of changes to the other products. :s

What I'd like to know is why directors are involved with consultant's credit cards and orders to begin with. What other business does that?

NoMKBShere: no other business does that. It should be illegal!! My NSD used to tell me to pick up new consultants and take them to a bank to get a loan. That way I'd know how much it was for and when she'd get her money so I could place her inventory order. She also always told me to call the cc company for the consultants. I couldn't do any of that, it just is SO WRONG!

This is so true! They all want you to get that credit card. You would think if these women are so worried about your future they would not be trying to get you in debt!
This is wrong, wrong, wrong!

In an economy where financial advisors are being featured everyday on some news program or another, BEGGING consumers to reduce their credit card debt or get rid of their cards entirely, this is absolutely deplorable. I consider myself to be pretty tough and able to do some nasty things in order to survive or make it in business but even I wouldn't be able to look myself in the mirror or sleep at night if I was doing this to women.

Apparently to "make it" in Mary Kay, you don't just need a positive attitude and winning personality, you need to be an accomplished CON ARTIST as well. Using people like this would have gotten a person ostracized in their communities a century ago, now it's considered the Mary Kay Way?

Please excuse me while I gag...

geezzzzeee I am sick I was taken by these sickos....

This is unbelievable; which is not to say that I don't believe it. The more I read on PT, each ploy and plot is more outrageous than the last...just unbelievable