Comments on: Mary Kay Cosmetics is suing another product liquidator

By: Salesman

Salesman — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:49:30 +0000

“Yes the pressure is there to buy more product but it certainly isn’t because my director forces me to or anything like that”

Your word choice gives you away. A legitimate salesperson would feel pressure to sell, not buy. You’re a customer with a job title.

By: SD

SD — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:01:40 +0000

I am a consultant and I love it. Yes the pressure is there to buy more product but it certainly isn’t because my director forces me to or anything like that. It’s only because I want to do well with my business. I haven’t been doing all that great because well I haven’t been doing the work. I can’t blame the company or my director.

I can understand why people get frustrated with their directors because I know some pretty dodgy ones! I count my blessings I have an excellent director and national sales director that genuinely cares about what happens to us.

I have lost customers because they realize that they can go on eBay and buy something for half the price or less. I see where people are coming from when they think “Oh why buy it for 10 if I can get it for 5?” Well before MK I worked for a cosmetics counter… some of those brand names mark their prices up almost 95%!!! I am trying to make an honest living and I understand in this economy people are looking for the best deals but trust me… if someone were to make a site that sold MAC or Chanel at excessively lowered prices I am certain they’d have a lawsuit on their hands. Don’t think that it’s just Mary Kay that protects their own name.

By: MICHELE

MICHELE — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:12:26 +0000

beautypeddler.com sells mary kay products. What is the difference if they sell it or Touch of pink sells it.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:43:05 +0000

Being an “ex” IBC I can see why so many refer to MK as a “cult” I was really blinded and that the world of MK and their “alleged” philosophy of God First, Family 2nd, Career 3rd….HA! Just try to go to you son’s play or soccer game and miss a “meeting” or other MK event…..your director will chew you up and spit you out just like mine did to not just me, but to so many of the IBCs on my team! The ONLY thing that EVER mattered was who could buy more than who and who could recruit more than anyone else…God was completely not in the mix believe me. Another thing, what IS with their stupid car logo sign that reads Mark Kay…..no phone number or contact. I asked MK Legal about this, because it’s very scary when you’re driving home at 10pm and there’s a car following you….all the way home. Well, after honking my horn so that my husband came out right away….I found out it was just a lady who say “my sign” and just wanted product. MK Legal “won’t” even allow an IBC to put her contact phone number….now that is just plain STUPID and DANGEROUS!!!!

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:49:07 +0000

MaryKay- for some people there is no other option, no other cosmetic products that will do what these do for them. But, in ALL economies, everyone looks for the lowest price, not the highest. But they will also factor convenience, salesperson demeanor, etc. If I am locked into ONLY purchasing from a consultant at a higher or “uncomfortable” price, I WILL find something else that is “good” enough at a lower price and switch to it. Or some other company will see the opportunity to make an identical product for less and sell it at a lower price. Happens all the time. That’s economics.

The Mary Kay name is their livelihood. But, if I were to sell a product and say, “This is similar to this Mary Kay product.” Should I be sued? I am complimenting the MK product. This is done everyday with all sorts of prouducts.

If I have product that is un-returnable and I paid money for it, I am not just going to throw it away. I am going to find a buyer for this, especially if I can get what I paid for it or just a hair more. Depending on age of product and who I am intending to sell it to, I might just give it away. But the HIT is on ME. I made this decision. I purchased the product and thus I own it. The internet, ebay, etc. allow me to reach a larger audience than my neighborhood to sell product that I have trouble selling.

Suggestion to Mary Kay, make your website and all your consultants have an EASY to use “Storefront” on the website to sell off discontinued or aged products at cost or something like that. If you are seeing “competitors” offering this service, than you are not. Don’t sue them out of business, make it easier for your consultants to do it on YOUR website. You’ll gain more business and positive goodwill.

Have a Merry Christmas (or other religious holiday) and a Happy New Year Everyone.

By: dee

dee — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:30:21 +0000

I honestly can believe some these responses and this post for that manner

I quit the biz 10 years ago but remained a customer because mk really is the best the I do question some of the consultants integrity

But that is no hit on the company

The bottom line is folk take responsibility for your actions. This is a business. I recently came back to MK to build a biz because to me there is nothing like direct sales

And if you are really to be a real business women and stop blaming everybody for your woes and inventory you can’t sell you will be a better person

Truth is you CAN sell mk at regular price. People are doing it everday. People still go to MAC even in this ecomomy and purchase their stuff and we know their stuff is expensive and the foundation in my opinion is not as good as MK

The problem not being able to sell is not MK fault it is your own unwillingness to responsibility for your own professional development. To relying on your recruit to close your sales close your recruits and being new is no excuse either. READ BOOKS! On marketing for crying out loud learn how to be a real consultants leann how to brand YOURSELF. PROMOTE YOURSELF that’s if you as a person know how to add value to someones life and not just try to sell a lipstick. If you don’t know how then that’s another issue

IF you learn how to truly market your products. The use of MK name will never be an issue

And to get back on the topic yes touch of pink and all the other pinks are dead wrong. MK worked hard to build their brand they should fight and WIN

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:42:39 +0000

Competition is not selling a product created by a company and being resold under the same product name. In the world of tickets for events – that is scalping. Competition would be creating your own product and selling it. By the way I was once a very active Consultant who earned a car and who became a Sales Director by selling the products under the “oh so restrictive” Agreement. Today I do nothing with my business, but don’t harbor anger and resentment toward the company because I decided to reduce my work level. Just as everyone cannot be a successful doctor, lawyer, teacher, mechanic, etc. – not everyone can succeed in sales of any type.

By: Andie

Andie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:55:35 +0000

I’d like to point out that all of the product I’ve received on-line has been FRESH-when MK changed their “look” I started getting the new product also. Let’s be truthful-customer service is simply not as important as it once was. I am unwilling to pay a 50% markup for “service.” I’ve been in sales for 20 years (for one of the worlds only AAA rated companies) and we always tout the importance of our “service.” Well that isn’t keeping our customers around when they have less disposable income to spend. Period. Same for Mary Kay-they can’t keep using the same old business model and expect to stay as profitable as they once were.

By: Andie

Andie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:43:55 +0000

I can’t believe this is an issue. In this economy- Mary Kay should just be thankful that they are selling enough consumer product to maintain their manufacturuing operations and R&D. I am a long-time Mary Kay user but I stopped going through a consultant about 18 months ago. I loved her but it is ridiculous to expect that I should spend $20 for an item that I can get on eBay for $12 (including shipping!) The reality is that the current economy has forced a lot of major corporations to make major changes in pricing and sales structuring. Mary Kay can not expect to keep the same sales model in this financial climate. A smart consultant whose sales are down will turn to venues like eBay so they can continue to maintain their sales levels w/ Mary Kay. Better to sell product for a reduced profit margin then not sell anything. If eBay wasn’t an option for me I would truthfully just switch to a cheaper store brand and stop buying Mary Kay alltogether-which would result in reduced sales for Mary Kay. I’m thankful for eBay and “smart” consultants who understand the value of playing the market.

By: pinksedition

pinksedition — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:59:01 +0000

Guess what, I was a consultant and I still have inventory left long after my contract expired. I have been selling everything for a dollar, no matter what it is. I don’t care about the money. I hate MK and if I had thought of it sooner I would’ve only charged 9 cents because it’s not even worth a dime. Is that unfair competition for other consultants? HEHEHE