Mary Kay Cosmetics: Destroying half a million women a year
To many, my fight against Mary Kay Cosmetics is puzzling. Why would I want to waste my time with it? After all, they’re only selling lipstick. It’s a harmless company started by a little old lady 45 years ago who wanted to give women an opportunity.
WRONG! Mary Kay Inc. is anything but harmless, and that’s why it’s so important for me to continue to educate people about the company. They are running a scam that brings in $2 billion in sales to headquarters each year.
Where does this money come from? Often from those who can least afford it. The name of the game is recruiting and frontloading. Bring her in and get her to buy an inventory package of $600 to $4800 right away. (If she doesn’t buy within the first couple of weeks, the chances that she will buy anything at all go down exponentially.)
Start with the largest package and work your way down. All the while, tell the new Mary Kay consultant that she can’t be successful without a “full store” of products. Tell her that if she wants to be at “profit level” and really start bringing in money for her family, she needs a lot of products. After all, you can’t sell from an empty wagon!
Mary Kay is a recruiting scheme. The vast majority of the products sold to the consultants is never resold to an actual customer. Is it because the consultants really don’t try to sell? No! It’s because the products are of mediocre quality and are overpriced. Besides that, women have oodles of choices on the internet and in the stores. There’s just no need to go through the hassle of dealing with a Mary Kay lady, especially when you know that she’ll eventually try to recruit you and never let up!
Here are some numbers and facts that I pulled together for Pink Truth, my consumer education site about Mary Kay. Word on the street is that recruiting figures are way down in the past year, but the below numbers are the most recently reported numbers from Mary Kay Inc.
From Pink Truth:
I thought it would be interesting to take a look at some real figures regarding Mary Kay and consultant turnover. We often hear pro-Mary Kay women (and their brainwashed husbands) rave that there are millions of women who have had wonderful experiences as consultants, so the company must be fantastic.
Now here’s my theory. Are women quitting Mary Kay because it was everything they wanted and more, and because they were making money doing it? Or do they quit because they are dissatisfied and are not making money? I submit to you that the reason women quit being independent beauty consultants for Mary Kay Cosmetics is by and large because of failure in the business.
I do understand that some may be perfectly happy in Mary Kay, but quit because of family circumstances or other reasons. I’m just saying that the vast majority likely quit due to a negative experience.
Over time, Mary Kay has been increasing its beauty consultant count. Now it’s important to note that this is the count of consultants at any given time, such as the year end total. The number disclosed by Mary Kay does NOT include all the women who may have come and gone during the year. Mary Kay simply picks a point in time and says “Today we have X consultants.”
In the United States, there were 500,000 consultants in 2001. In 2005, that number was 715,000. Worldwide the numbers have been growing quite a bit faster. (Hence the push to open new markets like India and the Czech Republic.) In 2002, there were 950,000 consultants worldwide. In 2005, that number was 1.6 million.
Here’s where it gets interesting and where we find out the truth about the number of consultants that Mary Kay Cosmetics churns each year. I’m using United States figures below, because of the disclosures that Mary Kay made last year.
In 2006, Mary Kay disclosed that the company had over 700,000 independent beauty consultants in the United States. This was similar to the 2005 reported figure of 715,000 consultants in the United States. This implies that at the current time, the number of consultants is staying relatively stable. (i.e. For every consultant recruited, one drops out.)
Mary Kay stated in its response to the FTC’s proposed Business Opportunity Rule , that there are 2,400,000 “disclosure opportunities” (meaning interviews) per year. That’s 200,000 women interviewed per month. Mary Kay Cosmetics further stated that there are 40,000 new recruits per month. (Thank God those other 160,000 per month said no… a total of two million women per year who turn Mary Kay down.)
At 40,000 new recruits per month…
That means that during 2006, Mary Kay Inc. recruited 480,000 women in the United States, and 480,000 women in the United States quit. Add the 480,000 quitters to the 700,000 (or so) U.S. consultants on the books at the end of the year, and we’ve got a total of 1,180,000 (yes that’s over 1 million) women in the United States who were “in” Mary Kay at some point during 2006.
What a staggering churn rate, though, isn’t it? Depending upon how you look at it… 41% of the 1,180,000 involved during the year quit. Or of those 700,000 on the books at the end of the year, 69% of them will quit in the following year. 480,000 women churned and burned in 2006.
During 2007, Mary Kay will burn through another 500,000 American women. And in 2008, they’ll burn through another 500,000. And so on every year….
Mary Kay, destroying half a million women’s lives every year.
I would just like to say that I am a mk consultant this is my second month. I absolutley love it my friend got me going. We go to seminars and my sales have been fairley good since i started but I have 4 kids and I work full time. That was expected when I started it’s pretty much for extra money and some girl time which I need. I use all the products myself and absolutley love it. You know, how would you really know what the product is worth while you say its over priced, thats suggested retail so us “consultants” can make money too.. Thats the whole point. Maybe instead of looking into all the negatives you should check out the positives. I think it’s a good business for women or men You got to set your mind to it if you really want to do it otherwise you will fail.
Ladies, ladies, please approach this “opportunity” like an accountant. The numbers do NOT add up – you will NOT make executive income. Tracy is spot on!
Andrea, I’m with you on this. I am also a MK consultant. A friend of mine got me into it as well, we have our girl time, it’s fun and doesn’t stress us out. I’ve used MK products for many yrs as I can not use the cheap stuff without my face breaking out and scaring. MK products are wonderful I try everything so that I can give my customers a clear picture of what they are getting. All of my customers have seen first hand what other products do to my skin, so when it comes down to it they know that I’m not running a scam. MK is nothing but positive for me! And to the guy that speaks of brainwashed husbands…… my husband supports me in whatever I do 100%! As well as I support him in everything he does 100%! My marriage is a partnership. It is a wonderful feeling when you help a find a product that helps solve a problem that someone is unhappy with about theirself.
Drinking the Pink Kool-Aid: ” to become a firm believer in something, to accept an argument or philosophy wholeheartedly or blindly.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking_the_Kool-Aid
I used to be a Mary Kay consultant. Some of what Tracy includes in her article seem biased, almost like she had a bad experience being a consultant, but I do agree with some of her opinions. I think that the way they set it up is sort of a sham. You really do go into it thinking you are going to make a great sum of money by the way they talk it up. They make it sound so easy. They really pressure you into joining and make you feel bad if you don’t. The meetings felt sort of cult-like and I remember getting bashed because I didn’t wear a skirt and nylons to a meeting. I think that the makeup is mediocre (MAC and Estee Lauder are much higher in quality, in my opinion) for how high it is priced. It’s obvious I’m one of those people who didn’t have a great experience with it, but I think it’s great if it’s something you want to do and you are succeeding at it. I agree that it’s a pretty high turnover rate, but what that probably means is that a majority of those who are still with Mary Kay are the veterans. As long as their consultant rate isn’t going down year after year, they might be okay (for now).
I am shocked at your synopsis of MK products. I have a very good friend who worked her way up to a directorship in the Mary Kay family after finishing college and was with them for over 15 yrs. She had nothing but a positive experience and spoke highly of theirbusiness and the fairness. While it is important for them to recruit, it is never “shoved” in anyone’s face! Your negativity makes one wonder what made you turn so sour!
I like their products, while I continue to use others on the market, there are some products MK offers that serve the purpose well. Pooey to you! I am a former model and skin care is very important to me. I think MK offers wonderful possibilities to those who embrace it.
Tracy, really? Mary Kay only? Please also go after Avon, Longaberger, Pampered Chef, PartyLite, LiaSofia and all the other “home based” businesses. Do you really think Mary Kay is the only one with pushy consultants who try to get others into their business and want their consultants to have a certain amount of product? From a consumer’s point of view, they seem all the same to me. I’ve been to all kinds of parties. They are all about women having a semi-legit reason to get together and gossip and an opportunity to lay seige to some unsuspecting patsy. Come on, in America, we should all realize it is “buyer beware”, whether it is stocks, insurance, housewares or cosmetics. That you have singled out this company tells me that you have a personal ax to grind with Mary Kay. People who have a personal issue to work out are seldom un-biased. I’m not saying that everything any of these companies’ reps do is on the up and up, but, I really doubt your motives are any more altruistic than theirs. How many books have you sold?
Karen – I don’t write about Mary Kay to sell books. The readers of my books are not interested in Mary Kay or any company like it. So yes, my motives in discussing MK are altruistic. I have spent hundreds of hours of my time and thousands of dollars educating consumers about MK. There is nothing in it for me except the satisfaction that I am providing information that will help many more women say no to this disgusting company.
I dislike all MLM companies, including the ones you mentioned. Normally, I would say buyer beware, but the MLM companies do business a little bit different. They sell and recruit with lies. Even cautious people who ask a lot of questions can be sucked into these companies if they believe what they’re told. (And the recruiters are very slick about it. Well-trained so their lies are believable.)
I’m not sure what kind of axe you think I have to grind with MK. The company is full of predators. Truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And that’s why I’ll continue to spread the word to consumers about it.
It amazes me that the MLMer’s never have anything new to say. The comments are continually recycled. Thank goodness Tracy is biased– she is also honest, courageous, and dripping in facts to back up her statements. it is obvious to anyone who reads this entire blog that her motives are altruistic.
I hope some day the DSA and MLM companies will be lacking enough money to “encourage” Congress to shy away from enacting legislation to shut them all down. Until then, I’m grateful to Tracy and others who continue to educate consumers–real people are being harmed every day, both financially and emotionally–sometimes with devastating results.
Tracy,
Regarding your statement,
“Mary Kay is a recruiting scheme. The vast majority of the products sold to the consultants is never resold to an actual customer. Is it because the consultants really don’t try to sell? No! It’s because the products are of mediocre quality and are overpriced. Besides that, women have oodles of choices on the internet and in the stores. There’s just no need to go through the hassle of dealing with a Mary Kay lady”
While you may have had good intentions writing this article, I think you make a lot of unnecessary assumptions that it does indeed seem like you may have had a bad experience with MK and are trying to deter others from the company. First assumption, “The vast majority of the products sold to the consultants is never resold to an actual customer” The consultant buying the product should bear some responsibility, as the nature of any business is such that you don’t carry too much inventory unless you establish a track record based on sales to determine an optimal inventory level. Additionally, a company does not get to 2 billion sales by “scamming” as you suggest and still be in business for over 15 years. MK has tapped into a business model that has made them successful and tries to empower women to be successful too. Not all women have the acumen for busines, those who don’t soon discover that this is not for them and leave albeit at a financial loss to say the least. Secondly, you mention that the products are of “mediocre quality and are overpriced. Besides that, women have oodles of choices on the internet and in the stores” You have not provided a list of other cosmetics companies, their product quality and price such that we the consumers can make a comparative analysis. You have come to this conclusion without providing any statistical data upon which we can look to and hopefully draw the same conclusion you have drawn. Finally, MK business delivery method is such that they use other women to sell products to other women . We cannot fault them for this stance. There are many delivery methods available to any business, this just seems to be one of the delivery mechanism they use.
Selina – I think you may be a bit confused about my article, so I’d like the chance to clear things up. I’m not writing about Mary Kay because of a bad experience I’ve had with the company. I’m writing about it because almost everyone loses money in MK, and it’s not for lack of effort or business savvy. It is because it is an MLM system that guarantees losses for almost everyone except those at the top of the pyramid.
I am a very successful business owner, with 10 years under my belt in this business. I’ve proven to be very good at selling and executing a business plan, as my success here shows.
Mary Kay has been very successful as a corporation and has made oodles of money at the expense of women around the world who only have financial losses to show for their time in MK. I do not applaud them for that because they are a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They don’t empower women, they victimize them.
As for other products… There are thousands of them and there is plenty of information about all of them on the internet. I’m not here to provide you with statistical data about cosmetics. That research you can do on your own, and then you can form your own opinion. I’ve simply given my opinion on the products based on my personal experience with cosmetics.
Game, set and match to Tracy. Again.
And it only took 8 hours for someone to prove my point…
Tracy,
I applaud you on your business acuity and the success thereafter. My overaching points in reading your article is firstly, it is ridden with personal experience that it is thusly rendered subjective in it’s analysis because that is what stands out. Secondly when I ask for statistical data it is analogous to me making the point yet again that you are using your personal opinions (subjective) to educate consumers on MK as a corporation whereas providing more data (objective) would make the point much better while leaving out your heavy reliance on opinions. Indeed consumers have cosmetic choices, and one of the many choices in line is indeed MK cosmetics which if i can introduce an opinion i have found lots of women actually like . What data do you have to support your arguement that half a million women a year are destroyed by MK other than the high consultant turnover rate which could easily be attributed to other factors not related to MK business strategy; such as the realization that business ownership is indeed not for the faint at heart. As the adage goes 9 out of 10 restaurants fail in the first year. This data does not therefore lead me to malign the restaurant industry as a scheme.
“As for other products… There are thousands of them and there is plenty of information about all of them on the internet. I’m not here to provide you with statistical data about cosmetics. That research you can do on your own, and then you can form your own opinion. I’ve simply given my opinion on the products based on my personal experience with cosmetics.”
Yes, Selina, I do in fact have an opinion about Mary Kay and discuss that opinion here and elsewhere. That’s what blogs are for. If you want a statistical analysis of the cosmetics industry, you’ll have to go elsewhere.
Your comparison to the restaurant industry is not valid. A restaurant is a real business. MLMs like Mary Kay are nothing more than recruiting schemes which, by design, create massive losses.
Sorry, I forgot. It’s a blog therefore subjective.
i am a mk consultant and a ffing hate it, i want to quit so bad, but the person i turn to makes me feel so bad, and asks why what can i do to improve it for u to like it, there’s nothing, i love the products, but i think they are a big rip off for the price..
i hate the meetings, and i get ripped into if ive missed one even though u dont have to go to them!
i hate mk
when i joinned they never told me i would have to pay 600 dollars to get the products in so many weeks or the det collorects willl be on ur door!
dont join people!
I am a mary kay consultant and i have been trying the products for about a year now. I love this products more than the others. Ans yea we sell lipstick and lotions but we are honored to.The women that sells mary kay is a complete women and professional. If you dont like it that your opinion but i do so whatever.
I have been running a small MK business from my home for 10 years now. I order enough inventory for myself and my small customer base a few times a year. I make enough money to pay for my daughter’s competition dance. I have two aunts and several friends who are director level and above. Many of them drive MK cars. Of course, I would love to make the kind of money the leaders in this company make but I choose to work my business less than what that takes.
What is curious to me about Tracy is how maliciously she speaks for someone who claims to be altruistic. I have experienced all of the things Tracy has said but it is sorely misrepresented. Isn’t it a no brainer that there will be some who are corrupt, some who just can’t say no, some who take sales too far and some who aren’t cut out to have their own business? This is unfortunate but a reality. But you should know that at the heart of MK is people. Women, who genuinely care for eachother. This has been my experience – a great one. Experience is something Tracy doesn’t have.
What it really comes down to is your choices. How much should I work my business? How do you want to spend your time? Are you cut out for sales or better off working in another occupation? How do you want to conduct business? Are you going to lie and manipulate to get to your goals or are you going to conduct yourself as a sales professional? Bottom line, we reap what we sow.
Tracy – What are you sowing here? I see nothing that brings good.
Chloe – Please quit your MK business. If you are that miserable, no good MK recruiter would want you to stay in. Shame on whoever is making you feel bad in order to keep you in. At the same time, take some responsibility for your inability to say what you mean and stick to it. No one is making you go to meetings, order product or anything else. These are your choices.
Alana – There is nothing malicious about how I speak. What is malicious is the way MK makes money…. by using “independent” representatives who lie and coerce women into this “opportunity”. They misrepresent their earnings and they don’t fully inform women about pertinent facts before they are recruited. THAT, my friend, is dishonest and malicious.
And yes, I have plenty of experience with Mary Kay on which to base my opinions.
I won’t apologize for telling the ugly truth about Mary Kay. Someone has to. What am I sowing? I am providing critical information that recruits need. And hopefully by getting this information in their hands, fewer will sign up for this losing proposition.
I started selling MK in April 09. No pressures, etc. I simply wanted the product for myself and family. I hardly make anything as I sell to them at cost. I have a full time job so this is not my sole income.
I did not get pressured to BUY A BIG INVENTORY! I buy what I want, when I want.
If I dont want to go to meetings. I DONT GO.
Simply put, everything is what you make it. I know how to say NO. I dont go to meetings because I dont care to wear slacks and jackets. I keep up with the new products, I have business cards, I have a website and I am taking a loss on my business this year. WHY? Because it takes money to start a business. And taking a loss is not going to kill me! MY Husband is not brain washed either! I can think for myself. I am independent. I see nothing wrong with Mary Kay. Whats the difference in it and anything else you sell? TRUE, you can buy other makeup over the counter at the drugstore, etc. BUT, it is no better and certainly no higher then MARY KAY!!!!!
Mary Kay goes a long way. YOU use less then other products. It goes a long way!!!
Thanks!
ONE BIG PINK BALLON! You buy it because it looks pretty and you want it! But it doesn’t last long or can blow up instantly You will know the truth about MKcompany ONLY when your family member works very hard for 7 years in MK cosmetics and still cannot afford to buy a pair of jeans unless her
( working) husband gives her American Express to shop. She shops, lives in a beautiful house and always says to her customers” come to my house to see how I live. If you want it- start the business!”
She is so brainwashed and unfortunately her husband too. I feel bad for him: he pays all the bills, supports his whole family and just like other husbands BELIEVE that one day his wife will make a milllion of $ and they will all retire. Buy that time HE will spend $ 2,000 000 in her product purchases!!!Good luck!!! I feel uncomfortable when she makes phone calls and tells women” You can make great money in MK company even you have kids and you are a stay home mama” Why she can’t? Why she can’t even sell one miracle set or recruit her girlfriend?( Who is smarter) Her husband’s AMEX is already on fire with all MK orders for her over $ 1800 every three months.
Consulatnts lie to each other every day. Pat each other and make those loud parties to show that they are so succesful. Ok . Show me your salary for one year!!!Sorry if you did not understand something- My English is a second language ( I am from Venice, Italy)
hey,just a while ago my cousin called and asked me if I want to join Mary Kay.I said I’ll check it through the net…and this is what i found…hayz..
its so confusing…now I really have to think hard…
I am always intrigued by comments left by those who know nothing about Mary Kay, yet, they write books and open up websites trying to “expose” some dirty little secret like a story written for Dateline or 60 Minutes.
Ladies, sales is hard work. Sales is the hardest profession you will ever love. I have been in MK for 15 years and I intend to never retire. I love what I do. If any of you who are consultants “love” what you do, then stay away from this site. I happened to be searching for something else and felt compelled to see what was here. I am very disappointed in those who feel they have “tried and died” and feel they need to educate the entire world on why MK did not work for them.
Sales is about building relationships, strong bonds, learning to love all types of individuals – even the ones who want to try all the lip samples you have, and most importantly LOVING what you do.
I did not begin my business with Inventory and was never pressured in to doing so. I am never contacted by my National or my Director to hold “X” amount of appointments or parties. If I need them, I know they are an e-mail or phone call away. I have a private business coach and mentor – because I choose to have one. My success is dependent upon me treating my business for the way it is to be treated: LIKE A BUSINESS. If you are not working, not occasionally warm-chattering, holding appointments and making phone calls then you have a hobby – not a business.
No rocket science here ladies – just work!
I sold MK years ago when I was very young. I quit after 6 months. Then, I sold it again when I was married and a bit older. I soon stopped a second time, but not because I didn’t like it or see the value in the products. I stopped because I wasn’t motivated and I wasn’t willing to work as hard as others. I think I originally started with MK because it was the only way I could see thow I could get some business experience and make a few dollars. What I didn’t realize was, I didn’t have the management skills to manage all that I was trying to do…wife…mother…church volunteer…etc. I am bright…very creative with lots of energy but had to get better judgement. Perhaps MK could have taught me more about how to be successful. But I fell into that 95% category of people who give up before really trying. And also to be honest, I had to learn to think before saying yes all the time. That wasn’t the fault of MK. However, the few pushy sales reps and directors did get on my last nerve. Still, I won’t blame the overly ambitious reps who also may truly believe what they are saying.
I don’t see MK as a bad thing. I don’t see MLM as a bad thing. In fact, some of the principles that I learned in MK helped me to develop better skills in my own business today. I even used some of the skills and principles in my parenting. Now a widow, and five kids later…I think I am doing ok. One our children graduated from Wharton…one is graduating from a prestigious film school in May. One is at Yale, and one is on his way to another Ivy league in the fall. The high schooler wants to start her own business. I was able to take the good I saw there at (MK) and some other companies and use it for my prosperity and take the bad I saw and learn what not to do from it.
No company or person is perfect. MK and me included. Companies are like people. I hardly believe Tracy, that this is white collar crime. I don’t think that MK blatantly tries to deceive as you represent. Could things be better? Yes. I am sure that Mary Kay herself (from the grave if she could) would agree. It is not the original company that she created and was so passionate about.
Yes, (MK) makes the very hard push to get sales reps to feel very committed. They are no different from any other MLM company. With all this being said, I think we as women have to do two important things…learn to say no, when to say yes, and learn to look at these things with business eyes and not goo goo eyes. This is hard for us, because so many of us still do not have the opportunity to have our own businesses and raise a family at the same time. Secondly, we need to see the value in a things we do, mistakes and all…and use it to our benefit. Then we have no regrets…and we can help our sisters learn from a healthier point of view.
Whereas I appreciate your efforts to make us aware…and please don’t stop….but also, please don’t exaggerate. What seems to be an exaggeration of the issue to me, almost places you in parallel position with those pushy reps. You seem to have a clear disdain for the company. Could you offer the women some positive advice? I am sure that you have some. I Love your energy and how you are tremendously gifted. May God Bless you in all of your endeavors.
Respectfully, Darlene
Darlene -
I haven’t said that Mary Kay is white collar crime.
And your statistic that 95% give up before really trying is completely made up. This is a standard response when people criticize the abusive business model MK uses. They assume people didn’t really try. I’ve interacted on pinktruth.com with thousands of women who really did try and didn’t get results. Why? Because the products are overpriced and difficult to sell, and even when they’re sold they don’t offer enough profit to make this a workable job. The only real money is to be had if you participate in massive recruiting, and even then your chances of success are slim to none.
Tracy,
I too want to thank you for the effort and energy put forth here. I was once a consultant as a part time job and will let you know that I enjoyed it very much. I too put forth the money for the upfront inventory but I was able too. Had I not had the money, there was an option to sell from others inventory until I was able to buy my inventory. I will agree that there are some very pushy reps in the business but those are the ones in your statistics from the Applause Magazine.
I found like many women that I was not organized enough to manage church, family, full time job responsibilities and Mary Kay. So, guess what had to go. I have been a Mary Kay customer for about 20 years and I enjoy there products very much. I am 40 and get complimented very often on how young I look. I do not say that to seem vain but I attribute it to the Mary Kay products.
I am sorry for the women who jump into anything without first doing the research. I am not a college educated person but I do know to educate myself before getting involved in anything. With today’s opportunities there is no excuse for going into something blind.
And that’s exactly why this site and http://www.pinktruth.com exist – So women can do real research on Mary Kay before they get involved. Until about 2005, there was literally NOWHERE to get the “other side” of teh Mary Kay story. The one in which the sad statistics about 99% of women losing money with it…. the reality.
I have not had any experience with MK, but, I have tried many times with any number, regardless of what the are selling, you have to have a large supply of money to get the business off the ground, if i had that I wouldn’t need the business! I love what yo are doing, and I wish I had gone searching for such information when I had been recruited by HERBALIFE, just to name one of the many scams out there! I give my self credit though for being ever optimistic and hopeful despite the money I have lost, and that attitude, unfortunately makes me a target! Keep up the fight, it’s worth it!
Ladies please beware Mary Kay is a scam! Its not what you think it is. You have to dish out so much money for expensive low quality products that aren’t up to par. Save yourself time and money & find something else to do. Avon,MK,and any other cosmetic business isn’t worth it. Why do you think we’re not selling MAC,Revlon,Covergirl,etc? Because the name says itself we don’t have to market those brands,the brands market themselves.
I really wanted to get into MK to help pay off some bills. But after reading this I feel that I might have another bill to pay off. Now, I really need to think about this change
I also am a MK consultant, and have been for about a year now, and I use it just to make some extra cash when I need it. I think that your view is entirely way to skewed, yes you are encouraged to purchase a large inventory and it is 100% true that it is way easier to have it on hand and you make money more easily that way. The fact that you say it is “cult” like is crazy, you wouldn’t say that about any job, and most office jobs require. oh gee I DONT KNOW A SKIRT AND PANTYHOSE or at least in dressy attire!!!! Just because it is not in some fancy big buidling and is from mostly inside of your house doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t treat it as if it weren’t a professional setting. Private schools require girls to wear skirts, are they a cult too??
From personally seeing it, the high turnover are for people who don’t have the motivation to do anything with it and let it fade away, it is still WORK. You still have to do stuff to earn that money, it doesn’t fall into your lap.
I love all of the products and have used them for years before I by myself decided to become a consultant and get the discount. I don’t even do very much and I make extra cash and get the stuff that I need for free.
ALSO, just because it has a high turnover rate and someone decideds to not be with the company anymore does not mean it destroyed their life!
If you decide Mary Kay is not for you, you can send every little product you have straight back to the company and be reimbursed!!! Not to mention that the company fully replaces any product that a customer doesn’t like, whether it is full, half empty or completely gone.
I really think you need to look into what you are talking and I agree with some of the other women that you seriously have a biased view.
I would blame whichever psycho you had pushing you, not the entire company. My Director is amazing and never pressures me if I decline something, and she is extreemly successful.
It is a persons attitude you seem to mostly be complaining about.
Go out and meet more women in it before you go off on a crazy rant.
Tracy,
I just came across your website as I was about to order my Mary Kay Cosmetics. I can’t believe that I’m sitting here wasting my time writing this, but I am SO FED UP with people who are sue-happy and/or want to blame others rather than take responsibility for their own actions. What made you pick Mary Kay Cosmetics? It appears that you had a bad experience with the Company or a consultant. Were you ever a consultant, or even tried the product?
I was a consultant over 35 years ago. I love the products and have used them since that time, along with products from different companies. While I was a consultant, I saw the skin care work magic for many people with very bad acne; others it didn’t help as much, but, at least they looked and felt great about themselves. Not everything works the same for everyone.
It’s very hard to believe that someone’s life was “DESTROYED” by investing $600 into anything. If they invested over what their budget allowed, it’s their poor judgment, no one else’s fault. If I recall correctly, Mary Kay offers to buy back product if one quits (pretty generous, if you ask me); they just can’t be a MK consultant again. Or, if they think they may what to sign up again, just keep the product, use it or sell it, as you would with any other company that goes out of business. The Company’s policies were straight forward and fair to all.
What difference does it make how many people signed up, then quit. That’s the way business is; MK’s a large company and deals with large numbers of people. I was a consultant for about 7 years; quit for a couple of years, then went back for a couple of more years, then quit again. I take complete responsibility for my actions of joining the company and the decisions as to whether or not to stay with the business. Yes, “buyers beware” with ANY company, product or transaction, but ultimately you make the final decision. No one held a gun to my head and forced me to sign up. No, I didn’t make a tremendous amount of money, but it’s like anything else: You get out of it what you put into it. If I had worked harder and put in more time, I would have made more money. I have no regrets and found it to be a fabulous company and a good learning experience.
Perhaps rather than putting all of your energy into trashing the company and other similar type businesses, you could council people on questions to ask and what to look for before taking any job or considering a sales position. This would be more constructive.
I’ve been a customer for 15 years. LOVE THE PRODUCT! When someone says it doesn’t workking it makes me laugh. When I compare my skin to my friends that use other brands or nothing my skin looks much better and I look at least 10 years younger.
I agree with some of the things said about MaryKay. I too was pressured into buying a large inventory and had to spend a lot of money. I also agree that these consultants are high pressure people that make you feel bad about not selling what they think you should sell. I was also under the impression that you could make a pile of money just by selling there cosmetics and skin care. there products are overpriced and I feel not as good as the departstore brands and much more expensive. In any home based business you should really do research before you get into it. If it works for you, it works for you. if it doesn’t it doesn’t and that goes for any business even Mary Kay but MK is very expensive to start and I don’t think lives up to expectations.
I am a MK consultant also. A very good friend of mine and I began our business at the same time. I purchased my $600 inventory at my choice and sold every bit. I love my business and do not in any way plan to stop. My friend however placed her minimum $200 order with no pressure to buy more. She has recentley given up her business at her own will stating her personal life didn’t allow the time for her business. Not because she was scammed or lost money. I have an awesome director who never pushes me to do more than I can or want to. She let’s me know she is there to help if I need her. I am a college graduate and a full time nurse, therefore my MK business is used for extra money and pleasure. I do hold classes for clients and every customer I have loves MK products, as do I. I truely belive with my business, as with any business, you DO get what you put in. If you do nothing with it, obviously you won’t make money. No one pressured me to begin my business, I did it of my own free will, as do others that start. You truely can not blame the company if you do nothing with your business. Blame yourself.
Tracy,
I applaud you for your courage. People like you make a difference in this world. If the information you provided helps one person from making the same mistake others have, then it is all worth it. I’m sure when you posted this blog, you were aware of the fact that some people would disagree. Sadly enough, when people get caught in pyramid schemes, it is hard for them to face reality. As we all know, pyramids arent square, so the success does not trickle down to all. You have to be at the top of a pyramid, very pushy, sauvy, and intellectual enough to persuade your followers to be successful enough to keep you at the top.
Tracy,
Have you done an IP check on these commenters? After reading through the comments it seems clear to me that someone has multi-spammed your comments under different identities.
What the hell? The comments all sound the same…”I love mary kay”…and other such inane redundancy.
Mary Kay IS OBVIOUSLY SKETCHY and I’m proud of you for calling them out on it. Keep it up! You are doing women an important service.
And PLEASE check the IP on these comments and remove the fake ones.
Another thing – How does it empower women to tell them they need makeup (the underlying message being they are unfit without it). We should be empowering women to be their natural glowing selves, radiant from within. None of this chemical makeup crap.
LOVE
mispelled word……………………sauvy…..should have been spelled suave……….as in smooth and charming…….
Ursula – I think they all sound the same because they’ve all taken part in the MK brainwashing. They have been teaching the same scripts forever, which is why you hear so many of the same things over and over…
- you’re just a disgruntled ex-consultant
- no one held a gun to your head
- take responsibility for your decisions
- Mary Kay works when you do
- you weren’t willing to put in the work
- you just wanted a get rich quick scheme
- no one forced me to buy inventory
- i’ve never been lied to in MK
- isn’t there a better cause you could spend your time on
- you’re just bitter
- why not find something constructive to do
- you’re just a bunch of lazy losers
- you’re just a bunch of complainers
- you had a bad experience, move on
- you obviously don’t have what it takes to run a successful business
Personally, I’ve shot down each and every one of those claims as false. But they’re still the scripts the Kaybots are taught…. bless their little hearts.
Wow, I have to admit Tracey that you do sound a bit angry. I am a consultant but I ususlly buy only what myself, friends and family need. I make enough to cover the costs of the make-up and shipping – that’s it. I have never been pressured to buy what I don’t need and the only inventory I keep is for myself. In fact, I haven’t attended one meeting and nobody has jumped down my throat and I’ve been in for about 4 years. I do think providing all sides of the equation are important but it seems like your are only providing one side which is probably why you are getting so many negative responses. Like if we disagree with your opinion we are brainwashed – not sure who would have done that to me since my Director is in another state and I don’t attend any meetings.
Ah… I forgot the “you’re angry” accusation. That’s a good one too. There are plenty of pro-MK websites out there that only tell the rah-rah and are full of massive lies about how awesome MK is. They’re not willing to provide the truth to people researching MK. So the truth is to be printed here. And it is.
I don’t think I was rude at all when I blogged to you, so I would ask why all the mean spirited sarcasm? I was just providing my point of view.
There is no sarcasm Barbara. What I set forth in my comment is simply the truth.
Tracy, if you can’t or refuse to recognize your sarcasm “That’s a good one too.” then that is an entirely whole other issue. Anyways, because there seems to be no real desire to have any issues represented here other then your own and all others will be immediately shot down and disregarded then I’ll just go elsewhere. Thanks for your time and good luck.
Barbara – You’re right. This is not the place for a pro-Mary Kay agenda. MK is a horrible company that preys on women, especially the vulnerable and weak. The entire management team is devoid of any ethics, in the quest for the almighty dollar. The goal is to sell as many thousands of dollars of products to each consultant as possible, knowing their chances of actually retailing those products for any reasonable profit are slim to none. The company knows almost everyone involved in MK will lose money, but that doesn’t stop them. I’m not going to let anyone come on this site and pretend that MK is a good and ethical company. It is not. The fantasies of you and other Kaybots belong elsewhere on the internet.
I am working on a Mary Kay case study as part of an Executive MBA program.
I believe recruiting is the primary strategy for driving sales volume. Turnover is high but probably not too much higher than other MLM systems. What amazes me is this… from the statistics I have been presented from the class, it appears that MK consultants as a large portion [about 90+%] make less that $6.00 per hour. Could this be the true? I took the gross annual commission/earnings of the majority of consultants (no directors/VIP’s/no Star directors) divided by the average hours worked in a year and came up with this hourly figure.
What would anyone think of this broad strategy……1. Mary Kay provided a sample kit of products at cost 2. Raised the bar on expected sales volumes 3. Increased the period of time a consultant must sustain sales for qualification of the VIP car 4. Worked on providing more job enrichment 5. Developed more prepared Sales Directors through business management seminars 6. Created a partnership of franchisee type of environment.
Betcha’ never thought you all would get a guy on this blog……..
Rob – That strategy is a waste of time. Why? Because the “business model” used by MK and other MLMs is an absolute failure. People cannot personally sell a high enough volume of products to make a true living. The only ones who really make a meaningful income are the ones at the very top of the pyramid who have hundreds or thousands of people under them. And in order for those pyramid toppers to make their income, almost everyone below them has to lose money in the scheme (again because they cannot sell enough products personally to make an income).
From a pure business perspective……that is what I am beginning to see come into focus. From those in your blog that have previously posted and stated they are involved in MK for certain friendships, bonding time and just because they use the product–I tend to believe them more so than those talking about a great living. I have to be careful in saying this….but the data and information provided to us from the class handout supports [ and very reliably] that consultant sales can rise only so much, and recruiting is a really big source of growth…[I'm assuming sales growth] for the company. It is amazing also, no one in the blogs I have read here….mention much about the “pink rides” they can win…..is this a pretty challenging accomplish/milestone to reach? I thought the cars were a big thing……..
Rob: There are several articles here about the car programs in MKC:
http://www.pinktruth.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=20&Itemid=90
Woow sound like somebody wasn’t invited to the American Way, while your at it, bash, Wal-Mart, Target, Macy, and all the other sales opportunities that’s in your face every 5 minutes on commercials, grow up and stop being angry cry baby, it’s a great opportunity if your willing to work., if not well you can go off to college and pay over a hundred thousand dollars their and finish with your degree and start your sales position at Home Depot or McDonald’s. It’s called LIFE!!!!!