Ex-Mary Kay Consultant Shares Her Experience
In a recent post (which was prompted by disturbing comments left on Franchise Pick), we asked: “Is Mary Kay Cosmetics a Cult?” This prompted a number of comments that can be viewed on previous posts (”Does Pink Stink or Is Mary Kay OK?” and “Is Mary Kay Cosmetics A ‘Cult of Greed’?”)
A Franchise Pick reader who goes by the name “Mommy” shared this account of her experience as a Mary Kay Consultant and Director. Her advice to prospective Mary Kay consultants is “run the other way and don’t look back.”
“Mommy’s” Comments on Mary Kay Cosmetics:
It’s not a cult, but it *just* skates on the edges of a pyramid scheme. As a former Mary Kay Sales Director I can testify to everything Laura said. I was lied to by my director from the beginning. “I work 15 hours a week and I make an executive income! It’s SOOO much easier when you get to be a director! Just find a way and make a way and then you’ll just get to sit back and collect the commission checks!”
Stupidly, I did as I was told to the tune of more than $10K in credit card debt and a lot of missed time with my children, only to get there and find that being a director is much harder than being a consultant and you STILL DON’T make any money after you add up all the expenses. I spent 3 years in MK. Year one I lost $78. Year 2 I went for directorship and lost $7,000 year 3 I was a director and then I quit and I still lost $4,000.
Ladies, if you’re looking for info on MK because someone has approached you about signing up, RUN the other way and don’t look back! Those “salaries” the Mary Kay lady showed you in the magazine? They don’t reflect the chargebacks, car payments, etc. that the company deducts from directors’ deposits. And those are the top of a VERY large group of women, and they’re still not making as much as the compny would like potential recruits to think. The recruiter told you it only casts $100 to start, right? Yes and no. Your starter kit is $100, and NOT RETURNABLE after it’s opened (read that fine print). But then after you get your kit, someone is going to want to talk to you about “how serious you are about your new buisness” and “investing money in yourself” to buy INVENTORY. New recruits and inventory orders are what the MK pyramid is based on. Trust me — I used these scripts to get people to buy $4,000 worth of makeup because at the time I believed in it.
It’s all just smoke and mirrors. 99 percent of the the people never make any money or lose money. The only way to get to the top is to have no conscience and great charisma. If those two attributes are yours, you can make a fortune in Mary Kay — call an NSD and sign up under her personally and you’ll go straight to the top. But the price of getting there is very, very high.
DO YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH MARY KAY COSMETICS OR SIMILAR OPPORTUNITIES? LEAVE A COMMENT AND SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
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POSTED IN: BIZ OPPS/MLM, MARY KAY, xBuyer Beware
9 opinions for Ex-Mary Kay Consultant Shares Her Experience
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Aug 10, 2007 at 6:19 am
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MKBiz
Aug 18, 2007 at 3:51 pm
I believe many would benefit from a course in Money and Business Management before tyring to atttain directorship. If you do not make money as a consultant, you will not make money as a director.
Christy
Aug 23, 2007 at 9:57 am
I totally believe that everyone should have knowledge in money management. Everyone in the world (not just MK) dangles a carrot in front of your face to get more out of you. If you do not manage your money correctly and keep getting the carrots that you so badly want with money you don’t have then of course you are going to go broke. Mary Kay, like any other business, is a great business opportunity that gives people a chance to earn potentially alot of money. It also offers above many other businesses, I believe, a fun, rewarding, Christian atmosphere with women (if you are on the right team) who are inspiring, motivating, caring and helpful. This business is like any other in the fact that we are all humans. Not everyone “perfect” is going to join Mary Kay and so unfortunately there will be those who are greedy and just want you for “more money”. If people truly cared about other people and their success (like we do on our team) then they would be taught the right principals and money management. Mary Kay is a wonderful business that every woman deserves to at least hear about the opportunity and then make a knowlegable decision for themselves. I would suggest praying about it and let God guide you not only about business decisions but everything in your lives. Just because one person is not successful doesn’t mean someone else can’t be.
MKLifer
Mar 5, 2008 at 6:32 am
MK is Blessed
sean
Mar 5, 2008 at 7:02 am
MKLifer:
I don’t think anyone doubts the Mary Kay company is blessed. It’s whether the women selling (or, rather, buying in the hopes of selling) are blessed is what’s in doubt.
How much of what is sold by MK is actually resold to end-user customers? How much is part of the failed investment by hopeful women hoping to be empowered?
Why doesn’t Mary Kay screen potential reps for sales ability prior to signing them up. As the MK mission is to empower women, aren’t they concerned about setting some women up for failure… and lowered self-esteem?
Are the women at pinktruth.org and http://somecallmeduh.wordpress.com/ upset because they are not blessed? Or did they lack faith?
Christal
May 23, 2008 at 11:34 am
I am also a former Mary Kay consultant and placed 22 in Queens Court of Sales.
If you run MKay like a business with a business plan and do not fool yourself and overstock for your actual activity, you make money. Easy to be misdirected without a real plan.
I personally decided after years to promote products that are drop shipped and eliminate inventory. Juggling and try to push what doesn’t move got to me.
I also like the baby boomer market which is the biggest market ever. In fact I am in prelaunch and setting a few good leaders with Ageless by Rejuvenate Worldwide as we speak and the excitement is awesome but the investment is not a huge inventory.
Everyone needs to create a business plan, know why they are working and stay with their own passion.
Here’s to your success!!!!!!!!!
Paula Q
Jun 21, 2008 at 3:13 am
I think Mary Kay has wonderful products and is a wonderful company.
I am concerned however, about what appears to be a tendency to want the reps to heavily front load product. Let’s face it though, MK isn’t the only culprit of this. I got loaded down with excess inventory from another cosmetics company I joined. The key is to find a company that doesn’t require a huge amount of inventory or keep inexpensive samples around if you feel you really need to show the products.
Turning your living room or dining room into a “storehouse” only works when you know without a doubt that you will be able to move a huge amount of product.
Good luck to everyone in finding a company that works for you.
iKAYBOT: RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!
Jul 7, 2008 at 10:43 am
[…] Ex-Mary Kay Consultant Shares Her Experience […]
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