Mary Kay Opinion 316

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I am a seasoned Mary Kay Consultant, starting my business 10 years a go as a fun hobby. My recruiter (who came in with a $3,600 initial order) is no longer with the company, nor is my original Director. My recruiter tried for a couple of weeks, then quit. I have never had a job that took only 2 weeks to learn. She did not fail, she CHOSE to quit. I pressed on. Her decision did not affect ME. No one steals your joy unless you let them.

In the past 10 years I have built a comfortable business in my own way at my own pace. Many believe I am "Director Material" and they are correct: I love people, I enjoy enriching women's lives, I love the sisterhood Mary Kay has to offer. The corporate world is a male-dominated back stabbing scene that I deal with every day. You Know, J.O.B.=Joyless occupational bondage or Journey of the broke. Mary Kay is more my style.

Inventory is an OPTION with Mary Kay Cosmetics. Your Mentor/Director did not read your signals or listen to your heart when you were making your decision to purchase inventory. I came in with a $600 order, although I felt some pressure to order more from my Director. No one forced you to order huge amounts. You chose to.

I just sponsored 2 lovely ladies who joined my team last week. One has placed an inventory order, one wants to wait. I am exchanging some of her starter kit items for things she would rather have for herself. That's the GO-GIVE Spirit.

When someone joins my team, I conduct their first party/class/grand opening and take orders. THAT money goes toward her initial product order. For 1 time only, the customers prepay before they receive their orders. That means the new consultant uses THEIR money to place her order and has no out of pocket expenses.

I love and nurture my team members, even if they strictly do personal use. I would have done the same for you.

I am sorry you had a negative experience. I pray that one day you will give Mary Kay another chance, even if you merely "let go" of all the bad experiences you had. You have the right to be happy. Don't waste your "gifts" being angry.

Future Director

Okay, FD, let's stipulate that you're a "good person" and that you don't take advantage of new recruits by convincing them to make particular decisions just because you have a financial incentive to do so.

Let me say, first off, that actually seems like the right way to run a business. Consider the alternative: trick people into buying something that's not going to meet their needs (i.e. more inventory that they can comfortably handle, financially or otherwise). You not only risk losing that customer (i.e. recruit), but you lose the chance with the 25 people she tells.

When you're dealing with someone whose income depends on making the sale, that's not typically the way it works, though. I think your altruistic behavior is most likely unusual for Mary Kay directors.

And how could it be? It's not as though Mary Kay Cosmetics encourages people to operate at their own comfort level. The new recruit is told that she has this once-in-a-Mary-Kay-career opportunity to buy inventory at this big discount. Perhaps a businessperson who won't take maximum advantage of that opportunity really isn't cut out to be in business.

But my point is that Mary Kay creates the problems that so many Mary Kay defenders want to blame on a few rotten apple directors. Ite's not just a few directors that are rotten, it's the Mary Kay system that's rotten.
EliMantel - 12 May 2007

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