The Truth About the Mary Kay Pink Cadillac
Mary Kay plants fluff pieces with the media to hype the company. Mary Kay’s public relations department sends out press releases and contacts reporters in hopes of getting television and print media coverage. This, of course, fuels the constant push to recruit new consultants.
Mary Kay is one of the most predatory multi-level marketing companies I have seen. I like to call it a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The company pretends that it “empowers women,” when in truth it is nothing but a leech which sucks millions of dollars out of women’s wallets each year. Mary Kay pretends to offer a business opportunity, knowing full well that almost everyone involved will lose money, because it is nothing but a glorified pyramid scheme which our government allows to operate.
The best marketing tool ever created was the Mary Kay Pink Cadillac. Everyone in the U.S. knows that a pearly pink Cadillac is a “sales incentive” for Mary Kay Ladies. What they don’t know is the harsh reality of the Cadillac drivers: They make relatively little money. I estimate that the typical Cadillac driver makes about $30,000 per year after business expenses, which includes the value of the Cadillac.
This estimate assumes that the sales director’s unit does the minimum production required for Cadillac status. If she does not meet the minimum, the picture is even worse. In that case, the Mary Kay director has a “co-pay”… which means she has to pony up some cash for the car. Then you can figure her income each year would be more like $20,000 to $25,000 (again after business expenses and including the value of the Cadillac).
While most of the Cadillac drivers are struggling to maintain the minimum production required to keep the Cadillac, the company reaps the benefits of the rolling billboards. What a great marketing ploy! The general public sees these status symbols, doesn’t know that most driving them are making little money, assume the women are raking in six figure incomes, and Mary Kay looks like a fantastic opportunity.
There are currently about 1,000 pink Cadillacs on the road in the United States, but the number keeps dropping as the consultant count keeps dropping. (Mary Kay stopped reporting the number of U.S. consultants years ago, as they were so embarrassed by the falling numbers.)
Watch the video below to see me explain the Cadillac con. The video is old, but the facts are still the same.
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Exactly on point! My entire life until reading PT – I was under the impression that the Cadillac was a prize. Turns out it’s another money making shill for MK Corp. Forgo a portion of your commission for the “privilege” of LEASING the Cadillac at MK’s inflated math numbers. Oh, and pay inflated MK insurance on it, to boot.
Same here – I assumed they earned them for reaching certain levels of sales (like actual sales) and were theirs to keep, permanently once won. There was a lot I didn’t know about MK, and MLM in general, before I ended up here. The “free car” shenanigans were particularly WTF to learn the truth about.
You mean you don’t get the commission AND the car?
Is the Cadillac still the status symbol it was in the 1960s-1980s? I know a lot of successful people who drive expensive cars to make a statement. Not one drives a Cadillac.
I’ve heard these referred to as “grandpa” cars. They are no longer the flex they once were.
My sister, who’s worked in the auto parts industry for 40 years*, says they’re not even prestige cars for older folks anymore – they go for Lincoln, BMW, Mercedes, and Land Rover. Audi and Lexus are better performance wise and much more popular, and Audi makes the fun little sporty cars too.
*Got enough of a bonus for her 40th anniversary to pay for her upcoming vacation to the UK with some left over, and people with JOBs are the losers??
Yup. Caddies have been grandpa cars since at least the 90’s. Even in the 80’s they were just boxes on wheels.
More and more directors are choosing cash instead of cars. It’s easier to hide your lack of production because no one can see what your income is ( or lack of income). You maybe make enough to pay your own car payment for a nicer car than a Chevy Trax, Equinox or a Caddie. Plus, there is no humiliation of having your car picked up while your neighbors watch because you missed the production to keep it. But the way the company is headed it will be harder and harder for directors to make the needed production for cash or car! The current trend is join the company and become an influencer, no inventory needed. I predict in the near future MKC will do away with all car incentives except the Cadillac, since that car is the company mascot. I believe MKC is the only MLM with a car “stepping stone” program. I see that going away, but the rolling billboard ( love that, Tracy!) is here to stay at least until MKC gets sold, goes affiliate or sinks altogether.
Yes! The fact they can just make payments if goals aren’t met is part of the reason the caddy still has some impact and they can fudge how successful they actually are. I’m sure if there was a rule on the number of payments you could make to keep the car, even more of them would just take the cash.
And you only have the option of an electric Cadillac. In some parts of the US I’m sure those cars are easier to have, but in Dallas we’re still not that electric friendly. But I imagine anyone living outside of 4 big metro areas would have a much harder time if they are trying to keep a unit going with people spread out. (Thinking of Chelsea and her drive home from picking hers up at Leadership).