Walking Away From Mary Kay
Written by Melody
I realized quickly after starting my Mary Kay business that this was going to take more of an effort than I could give. The first year I worked my 40 hour per week job and did my MK business almost every evening, taking my daughter with me to meetings and such when I could. After My ex and I divorced I noticed that everything started to go downhill with my unit.
My recruiter stopped working her business altogether but then picked it back up after urging from our Director. I started feeling like the only reason our director even bothered to contact us was because SHE needed the money. Her husband had met with us regarding how wonderful the opportunity was but I also realized after about year of this, he worked so many hours he didn’t even see his wife and was probably just glad she had something to do so she would leave him alone.
Currently, I avoid several phones call a week from my director and recruiter among the hundreds of emails they send. Today I actually cancelled the email account because I am so sick of seeing their names EVERY TIME I log on. I am also seriously considering changing my phone number so they will leave me alone.
My problem is though I really enjoyed meeting new people and enjoyed showing people how to take care of their skin. I believe that is the way to go regardless of what you sell, take care of your skin, do not buy anything you don’t need and I did not try to sucker anyone out of money.
For instance, I had a customer who was going to buy several things for herself and family for Christmas. Her total order came to about 240. I had to use her bathroom when I was there and upon looking for a towel to dry my hands I saw 4 unopened microdermabrasion kits she had purchased from someone else. I told her that if she wasn’t going to use it then there was no sense in buying it. Why waste money on something you will not use? I ended up not selling her anything but I can’t abuse it. It’s not fair to her and would be going against what I believe in.
I would enjoy providing skin care to men and women if there was not so much pressure from the company and the consultants who want you to make money for them. As of now I am inactive and will soon be terminated. I was wondering if I wanted to keep myself active just to purchase items at ½ off for my family and friends.
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I loved that part too – teaching about skin care and makeup. I eventually got a job with Dior as a makeup artist in stores. Consider local department stores and ask to meet with a brand’s account executive to be a traveling artist if you live in a metro area (I did). Or you could work behind counter and still do some makeovers. I loved that job.
“I started feeling like the only reason our director even bothered to contact us was because SHE needed the money.”
Bingo. This is how money is made in MLMs like Mary Kay…from the pockets of the downline. Contrast this to real businesses, where money comes primarily from purchases made by outside customers.
” I was wondering if I wanted to keep myself active just to purchase items at ½ off for my family and friends.”
No, you don’t. Unless you’re ordering $250 or more every quarter, your discount will be ZERO and I kind of doubt that even a big friend group goes through that much stuff four times a year. You’ll find yourself ordering junk you don’t need to make up the difference and it will start piling up on you. Besides that, as long as you’re active, your director will think there’s a chance of using and abusing you to keep her title, as well as open you up to shady stuff like placing bogus orders under your name. Far better to call the company and terminate your contract and not leave any loose ends.
Given that there’s eleventy-squillion beauty brands out there, I’m sure you can find something just as good or better elsewhere. Plus, buying from a real store or website gets you reward points, sales, free gifts, and no aggravation.
Pinkiu’s suggestion is a great one. You could also start a side hustle doing special occasion makeup (weddings, proms etc).
They will deffffffffff order in your name. She’ll need a qualified to finish car and will ask you to sign back up so she can place a $600 order under you. You’ll get a tax sheet for that the following January. Reading of your director, I’d follow this suggestion.
Girlfriend, just tell them. They’ll never stop otherwise. I loved the concept of Mary Kay also. It’s just painfully toxic. I actually still have customers who buy on my website keeping it active so I have yet to escape, but it’s fun seeing inside scoop of intouch from what I learn here at PT. I’m an ingredient junkie and actually haven’t used the product in years (officially stepped down as a director October 1, 2024). When I saw red dye was in the body wash, I was done. Like, why? And the 50% discount after retail tax and shipping ain’t all that much of a deal. $12 foundation is a solid deal, but other than that it’s not worth the hassle of $225 every 3 months. Had they kept the naturally line I would have considered it. Now I use jojoba oil for everything and I look better than when I did with a 47 step routine. I will confess, please forgive me, but I was having horrible breakouts the other day and found the facial peel in my drawer. Decided to use it. My face was perfect the next morning. DANG IT. But glycolic acid can be purchased healthier at a health food store and I’ll have that ready for next time.
I remember one night after a meeting and after having shared a little too much about her personal life and private finances, my Director hugged us goodbye one by one as we left the meeting and told each of us “jokingly” get to work, I need the money. Everyone laughed, but when I got in the car, I felt really used. Yuck.