Mary Kay Opinion 207

Just had a horrible experience with an out of town sales director who signed me up, then of course couldn't provide any training, the local sales directors she tried to palm me off to didn't want to be bothered, because of course they would do all the work and she'd get the commission, and she was extremely high pressure about trying to get me to buy thousands of dollars of inventory. The fact that I told her nicely several times we didn't have the money for that because we are paying off medical bills made no difference to her at all, she kept on high pressuring me. Then it got really WEIRD. After I told her buying inventory was getting the cart before the horse because I had no prospective customers and didn't even know how to give a skincare lesson to somebody, then she got another of her out of town recruits to pose as a customer, claiming a desire to place a big order, altho nothing specific was ever mentioned. However, she kept using the words "product" and "inventory" which is how Mary Kay consultants talk. She wanted to know if I had any "product" because she was an impulse shopper. This pawn was in a city all the way across the state from me and would have had to wait for shipping even if I had "inventory". Several other things were said which didn't add up, and then the bitch insulted me when I told her I was happy with the way I have my business organized and had no intention of purchasing inventory I don't need, I will just place orders for people. I was so disgusted at the manipulation attempt and insult to my intelligence, I haven't talked to that pushy sales director since.

Anybody else's experiences along this line would be interesting to read.

Khezla Durr - 27 Aug 2004

I am really sorry this happened to you. In fact, it makes me sick to think about a follow consultant doing that. Especially since Mary Kay founded her company on the golden rule. Unfortunately there are some consultants who are only in it for the money and I very blessed that my director uses her MK business as way to minster to other women. She was not pushy at all. The truth is, that although it could help your business out by having inventory, it is not necessary! If you don't have the money you don't have it. Enough said. I could not afford alot of inventory myself so I just built mine up slowly as I got more customers. It would have been nice if I could buy more in the beginning, but I just couldn't do it at the time and it is fine because it is growing just as well. There are some people who signed up to sell mary kay just to do a little selling on the side. In that case it would be foolish to buy alot of inventory not only because you could go in debt but also because our products are always changing and some are discontinued at times. I tell my recruits that if you really are 100% serious about MK and are willing to get on the phone and hold classes every week AND you have the money and time ...then go ahead and buy inventory. Otherwise, there is nothing wrong with taking it slow. Hold a couple classes, see how you like it, find some customers., make some money.....and then build up your inventory. I hope this helps.

Katie

WOW!!!!! Get on over to the Complaint Station to share this story too! There's a link from here.

Hi this is Wendy and I have not been on here for a really, really long time. I am actually 10 1/2 weeks pregnant which was a complete surprise for us. I have also had horrible sickness for the last 5+ weeks! So my MK has been a blessing because I work when I can and sleep and moan and groan the rest of the time.

I wanted to address the comment above.

I have received many, many, many calls from customers whom I've never met, that ask me if I have inventory or product on hand and most have lived fairly far away from me!!! I know it's weird but it happens!!! They are sometimes loyal MK'ers who have worked with other consultants and know that they want what they want, when they want it. Others who haven't used MK that long but want a consultant have worked in or worked with other rep's from other businesses that can carry inventory and they know that when they order, they don't want to wait. I am that type of customer of other home businesses. I first ask the rep if she has the products on hand and if she doesn't, I may do a courtesy order from a party but I won't stay a customer.

I just got a call late last week from this gal I had never met and she asked me right out if I had products for her immediately. She has a consultant who has totally ignored her order and this gal said she needed the products quick. She was also a former MK Director! I took her order which was $90 and I told her that she should follow up with her consultant, that I would service this immediate need but I wanted her to work with this other gal. I told her if this other gal is seeming to set MK aside, I will be happy to work with her again on her future orders.

So you see, unless you know for sure that this gal who called you was a "posing consultant", it's very likely it was a customer. The fact that she was rude is probably a good clue as to why she hasn't been recruited into MK! She has a lousy attitude and makes a better customer.

I hardly think a consultant in my unit would pose as a customer for me. Most consultants are more mature than that. This is just how I look at that situation.

I am still receiving Lots and Lots of emails/calls from people who look for advice. I am so happy to answer those emails! I know I stumbled across this board last year for a good reason. In my sickness though, I have not posted recently but I still check my emails daily. Hi to Steph by the way, sorry I keep missing your calls :-(

Take Care Everyone!
Wendy Turnidge 08 Sep 2004
612-588-1569

well kehzla you seem to have the same problem i had. they were willing to tell me anything they could to do what they wanted. they actually told me my business wouldnt go far at all if i didnt get and inventory. a majority of these women are fake women without any real finacial struggle i have found who are being supported and to them spending their savings on something like that is no big deal cause they already have the world handed to them. and just because someone isnt willing to be railroaded into spending excessive amounts of money on makeup, and find paying their bills a little more gratifying, doesnt mean they have a lousy attitude. maybe it just means that they are living in the real world. and when they hear the words,"this is your business to run how you like." that is what they expect. they dont however expect to be talked to like and idiot that is gonna hand over her checkbook to make someone elses a little fatter for some plastic jewelry and some cosmetic discount. i think it is about time that women who are in this business realize that they are not true salesmen, because if they were, they would realize the best way to sell is to relate to your prospective customer, not elevate yourself above them. just be real.
Erin H

- 10 Dec 2004

Hi there!

Wow, this statement from Wendy is very interesting:

<<<wendy says: So you see, unless you know for sure that this gal who called you was a "posing consultant", it's very likely it was a customer. The fact that she was rude is probably a good clue as to why she hasn't been recruited into MK! She has a lousy attitude and makes a better customer.>>>>>>>>

Where do we begin? No one really knows if the person on the phone was a consultant or not, yet, I tend to agree w/the original poster in her assumption that it was a consultant posing as a customer by the turn of events. First, the director pushes and pushes for inventory, then out of the blue, the MK consultant gets a call from a 'prostpective customer' who uses the terms 'product', 'inventory' and 'impulse buyer'. Why would you tell someone you are an "IMPULSE BUYER"? Isn't that what they TEACH in MK? That women are IMPULSE BUYERS when they talk you into INVENTORY?

I didn't see any evidence of the caller being rude, as Wendy claims, only pushy and perhaps, very likely, a phony customer. If the director is pushy, why wouldn't some of her consultants be?

What sparked me to comment on Wendy's post, was the sentence highlighted at the beginning where she flagrantly judges the caller based on rudeness and then implies that certainly, no one RUDE would ever be recruited in MK - then the kicker - "SHE HAS A LOUSY ATTITUDE AND MAKES A BETTER CUSTOMER" . I hope none of Wendy's customers read this site. To me, that is saying a rude person could not possibly be recruited in MK, but that same rude person with a lousy attitude makes a better customer! Good Lord Wendy. How judgemental can you be?

There are TOO many directors AND consultants in this business who pressure women into doing things they do not really want to do, they do not let up and that is being RUDE. I think it's arrogant to imply that only saints get recruited into MK and the rest of the world can remain only customers or worse, working for Corporate America!!!!!!
Laura Ryan - 10 Mar 2005

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