Mary Kay - Watch Out!

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by pinkiebell1001
For you Mary Kay sellers, what does someone have to say to finally make you give up??? I mean, she seems like a really sweet lady so I really don't want to be rude, but I'm just really interested! What can I do?!

Say to her, "Do you have a Do Not Call list? If so, I would like to be on it".

I don't know what the laws are like where you live, but in Canada, we passed privacy legislation and if someone says something like this to you, you MUST comply.

[UKDaisy]

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
Say to her, "Do you have a Do Not Call list? If so, I would like to be on it".

I don't know what the laws are like where you live, but in Canada, we passed privacy legislation and if someone says something like this to you, you MUST comply.

Say something like that. Some women are very pushy in this business. And when I say pushy I mean friggin' annoying. I, personally, do not make phone calls I only send out the brochures with samples and let them know via mail or one email every quarter about sales that are coming up.

You just have to simply tell her "look, I'm going to quit you all together if you don't stop hasseling me!" Be firm. Some of the women think its great to keep calling b/c it keeps them fresh in your mind. That's crazy to me. So just plainly say "i'm going to quit using mary kay all together or find another consultant if you dont' back off"

That's what I would do, and have done in the past.

[UKDaisy]

Originally posted by laura ryan
I am a little late responding to this one - reading thru the thread -too funny! btw - anyway, your director DOES NOT make all that money off "sales". The only thing many of the higher earners are selling is "inventory" and that's what you need to know about this business.

They are not selling product to the public - they are selling product to the distributors and for those orders, directors make up to 26% commission on their personal recruits. So, do the math. How much, at 26% would a director make on a 4200 inventory? Quite a chunk!

IN ADDITION to that, she'll get a number of bonuses for recruiting new ones, for exceeding production levels, etc.

Sales reps in Mary Kay are going National in record numbers AND in record time because they are selling inventory. I have documents on Mary Kay Opinions and my site www.thepinkingshears.org which are from Nationals who promote how to sell inventory to a new consultant and the new bonus structure which focuses on recruiting and that, from what I know is what puts them in a "pyramid" arena.

They've upped the ante to a 4200 Pearl Level inventory and the "new crop" of directors will tell consultants that that is "profit-level" implying anything less would not reap success. When a "seemingly successful" director communicates this to a consultant, for sure the consultant wants to be successful, so oftentimes, she will take the director's advice and borrow from Grandma if she has to to get amount of inventory.

The bonus structure for recruiting and commissions is turning MK into a product based pyramid, or a thinly veiled one., in my opinion. It has many payouts from multiple levels.

Since directors always flash their commission checks, ask to see her Schedule C, tax document for her business to gleen exactly what the income comes from.

Top director trips are reported as "income" and are valued up to $30,000. The lease/insurance payments MK makes on the "free"cars is reported as income as well as all the "free lunches" and prizes awarded by the company. The sales tax for the "leased car" is also reported as income as well as other awards.

So, I know you are assuming most of the income comes from personal sales and maybe some does, but don't make the statement unless you've seen her Business tax form complete with expenses/prize/award allowances.

The purpose of doing parties in MK was to work "full circle" meaning a customer is to eventually become a recruit.

All the direct selling companies are about recruiting and that's where the big money is.

Show me ONE consultant in this business who consistently sells $1,000 worth of product EACH week of the YEAR (I don't know who that would be, I don't know any) and that would net them $52,000 in "sales". Well, from that, knock off 25,000 which is what it COST them to buy the product. Knock off another 7% of tax on the retail value and delivery costs, books, promotional items, samples, etc. not to mention discounts and that further cuts in to that $25,000 they could make. That $1000 is IF (big IF) they sold ALL the product EVERY week at FULL RETAIL value. Unheard of in nearly all circles.

I've been writing to talk about MK for a few years now and I have yet to have anyone say THEY personally are selling at that level. When MK was publicly traded and was required to post their average earnings per consultant, the figure was $5,000/yr in "sales".

Recruiting is the name of the game - you do not move up in a direct selling company unless you do so and make production quotas.

Why do I feel like I just got bitch slapped by you? Oh wait b/c I did.

I actually visited your website and found it somewhat beneficial. However, b/c of your last post in respond to my post I'm slightly peeved.
Pm if you wanna talk.

[staffies]

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
With regards to companies like Mary Kay, AVON, Partylite, that scrapbooking company (I forget the name), AMWAY, Pampered Chef and Market America.....


IF THE PRODUCTS ARE SO WONDERFUL, WHY DON'T THEY SELL THEM IN STORES?

I am a male MK consultant and the reason we don't sell in stores is so that the company can offer great prizes. You see, MK is not a get rich quick but it's nopt a pyramid either. Every consulant earns the same 50% on every product she sells. You pay $100 for a starter kit which includes over $400 of free product and all the supplies to demonstrate the product to 30 women. You have the option to order product, but if you don't order it, you won't have anything to sell. And your director will work a plan with you to get this if you can't afford it - ways to earn free product.

If you do recruit people, MaryKay Inc. pays you comissions. The way they cab afford to do this is because they don't have the overhead costs of stores, salesforce (we don't get salaries) and distribution channels.. Also, we just introduced advertising, ut our costs are minimal compared to other companies - because of this model they can afford to give great prizes.

Mary Kay Ash started this company to enrich women'slives and allow them to earn what they worked for. If you are interested in more about the company and ho it works, visit my website at www.marykay.com/sstaffieri and click on "Start a Business".

Stephen
sstaffieri@marykay.com

[Tickled Pink 2]

Originally posted by pinkiebell1001
Ok...I need help:P I work in a grocery store, and there was a woman who came in and she apparently worked for nordstrom. Well, she had this button that said "ask me how you can win a 500$ shopping spree at nordstrom"-well, i was curious, so i asked her how, and she said "Mary Kay!"

That is really weird, because I am a MK rep and someone sent me this email that said something similar. Anyway, when I clicked on it, it grabbed everyone in my address book and sent an email to them telling them "Hey there's this really cool website where you can get a $500 shppoing spree from Nordstrom". I apologized to everyone on the list when I realized what it did.

[pinkiebell1001]

LOL...well as far as i know, her 500$ shopping spree really is legit, but who knows. She ended up calling me the next morning, but i didn't anwser, so I'm assuming she's either A) given up, or B) decided a different plan of attack, lol. All I know is that I plan to avoid avoid avoid!:P

Originally posted by Tickled Pink 2
That is really weird, because I am a MK rep and someone sent me this email that said something similar. Anyway, when I clicked on it, it grabbed everyone in my address book and sent an email to them telling them "Hey there's this really cool website where you can get a $500 shppoing spree from Nordstrom". I apologized to everyone on the list when I realized what it did.

[laura ryan]

Originally posted by kiteflyerzl
I was walking through the mall the other day and this lady stopped me. She was a MK consultant. Said they were on the lookout for "sharp" looking people for before/after makeover photos. I told her that MK skin care makes me break out and that I'm an Estee Lauder and Lancome addict (both facts are true). When she left I wasn't sure if I should be flattered that she thought I was "sharp" looking or offended that she thought I needed make-over. How "sharp" can I be if you think I'm a good makeover candidate.

Well, telling women they look "sharp" is one of the teachings in MK, truly. When I first heard it, I was flattered, but then as I got more involved and heard others say it (then heard what they "really" thought behind their backs when the credit cards weren't readily available) I found that I could never call someone "sharp" again. EVEN if they DID look sharp, I couldn't say it. It's one of the things they ruined for me.

What they are really looking for are recruits who look like they have money. We WERE told by a National Sales Director's husband at a DIQ (Director-in-Qualification) meeting that we really needed to look for women with "credit". See how it works now? MLM=Recruits=Sharp women=Credit cards

I was even told to not talk to anyone who had filed for bankruptcy! - Saying "she filed bankruptcy" to your upline is like the worse thing you could ever say......well, almost because the WORST thing you can say is I QUIT!

[laura ryan]

Originally posted by AGDee
I do have to say that I'm a big pampered chef fan. I love kitchen gadgets and would want one of everything if I could afford it. Some Tupperware lady comes to our building a couple times a year as a fund raiser for Hospice and I've picked up a few items from her. I'm so glad the Home Interiors craze is over though...

Tastefully Simple is another good party to go to, because there actually is some very good food!

I've not heard anything bad about Pampered Chef - I am sure there are stories, but not like with MK. We used to post on the Complaint Station before it was taken down (for some reason?) and our complaints got MK into the top 10 businesses complained about (that happened QUICKLY) and there were a TON of companies listed on that site. Toyota was #1 and there was a huge debate over something and might have even been the reason for the site's demise, but I don't recall alot about PC and get this, Avon wasn't even LISTED! I thought that was great! Don't know anyone in Avon required to inventory load like they are doing in MK.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by valkyrie
It has to be much cheaper to sell stuff without the expense of having an actual store -- I'm sure that has something to do with it, right?

I don't know. I'd never do sales in a million years, but I like some Avon stuff. However, I HATE WITH A PASSION anything that involves parties, except Tupperware because that's funny in a retro sort of way. NOBODY WANTS TO HAVE OR ATTEND THOSE PARTIES. Seriously.

They have a Tupperware kiosk at the mall by my house.........

[laura ryan]

Originally posted by 33girl
I think I would have overturned a bowl o' dip or two over that one.

TOOOOO FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by kdonline
In my 39 years of life, I've never known anyone who actually BUYS & USES Mary Kay makeup.

It's always been amazing to me, that MK needs so many sales reps.

WHO IS BUYING THIS STUFF!??!

Yes you do.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by teena
If you need 100's of emails flooding your inbox, constant calls to your home and work and just constant harassment, buy Mary Kay or become a consultant.

I had to put a filter on my email and start screening my calls to avoid the Mary Kay brain washing police. I went to a 'party' where all the women were nice in Stepford Wives sort of way. I made the mistake of wanting to compare products, you could have heard a pin drop.

Mary Kay is a cult that uses brainwashing as well as many of torture techniques to 'convince' you. STAY AWAY.

I hear from my consultant once a quarter when she puts together a big order from people she works with at her regular job. Other than that, I hear nothing from her. I've actually never been to a "party" either.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by WLFEO
I went to a Pampered Chef Bridal Show once and it was a little awkward because the bride ends up knowing exactly how much $$ you spent on her. But it was a Pampered Chef invitation so it's not like this one was disguised (like the one amandaruth described- that is just not right!), so I knew what I was getting in for when I decided to go.

That's how the one I went to was too. Everyone knew it was a Pampered Chef Bridal Party.........

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by adpiucf
I personally like MK eyeshadows, eyebrow pencils and liners. I have a few friends with very sensitive skin and they use the skin care line with no breakouts or complications.

I love it all too and have no problems (where I have with other products).

[staffies]

Originally posted by SmartBlondeGPhB
Yes you do.

MK isactually #1 sellingbrand of skin care and color cosmetics in the US for the past 12 years so it's being bought and I'm selling it!