Mary Kay: Hatin' On The Pink
Mary Kay Ash started her cosmetics company in 1963. Since then, Mary Kay,Inc has grown to a 2.2 Billion dollar company in sales with 1.6 million Independent Beauty Consultants.
Mary Kay tapped into the emotion and sense of sisterhood with American women wanting a business of their own, and Mary Kay became a household name. Mary Kay holds a distinct identity in American culture, (What are you thinking about right now?) That's right; a pink Cadillac. It's hard not to think Mary Kay and NOT think about their famous incentive award to their top salespeople.
My only experiences with Mary Kay and its distributor force are few.
1) I had a friend in college who joined Mary Kay and was cajoled into getting a $500 bank loan to purchase inventory. Even at that time, I thought that was excessive and the tactics her sponsor used to convince her was borderline abusive.
2) My wife tried and used Mary Kay Cosmetics and hated them. "Thick and clown-like" was her opinion; and way too pink.
And before you think I'm going to say that Artistry cosmetics is her preference instead; calm down, she prefers Estee'Lauder.
But, my experiences pale in comparison to the more vocal critics of Mary Kay, Inc. I just came across PINKTRUTH.com and it makes some Quixtar-critical websites look like an endorsement for the company.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
PinkCadillac--The godmother of anti-Mary Kay blogging. PC bravely started the first blog dedicated to revealing information about Mary Kay. When she decided to close her blog, she donated her archives to us, and we occasionally resurrect some of her best posts.
MK Nightmare--Her 16-month Mary Kay journey started with a Cadillac-driving director and a Starbucks latte, and ended with a cheap red blazer and over $10,000 in credit card debt. She’s happy to have a career that doesn't involve hunting down "anyone with skin" and does involve a 401(k) and paid vacation. MK Nightmare lives in Washington State and is glad she doesn't have to wear skirts and nylons in the rain anymore.
SoLostInWI--On the path...probably in the wrong direction. SoLost once loved Mary Kay and all it stood for. Now she realizes the truth about Pink. SoLost remains anonymous here because she remains anonymous on her personal blog. It’s her
"comfort zone."
PinkAllergy--She’s a former consultant who left Mary Kay in 2005 after only a few months. PinkAllergy saw and heard a lot in her short time that bothered her. That experience made PinkAllergy want to help spread the word in hopes of keeping others from getting burned.
Leslie--A recently divorced SuperMom of four children, Leslie is trying to figure out her next career direction. She’s a former Mary Kay sales director who quickly became disenchanted with the opportunity.
Whiz--Like so many other readers, Whiz was approached by a top director and was told she could not afford to pass up this opportunity. Having seen it destroy a young girl's health and self esteem through her mother’s involvement, she knew immediately it was a hoax and steered clear. Some say Mary Kay works miracles. Whiz says it works people over.
The site includes 10 Reasons Not To Do Mary Kay, and critical resources regarding Mary Kay. And like most blogs that criticize Multi-level Marketing companies, Pink Truth is visited by proponents of the Mary Kay company trying to defend their company and its tactics. The results are not without debate or ridicule.
Take for instance, and most recent, today's response to some reader mail at PinkTruth."Yes, ladies, it’s time to share an uplifting email with you. You see, people like Lara McKeever think that they are so smart and clever and convincing, that we are just going to drop our fight against the corruption in Mary Kay. What she (and other sales directors who send me hate mail) needs to understand is that her words of hate only strengthen our resolve."
The entry continues with the reader's mail, and the blog author's response ending with;
"You've now been exposed for the liar and the hater that you are. Please go sell some lipstick."
And if want lively blog comment discussion, then you can look no further than this entry, with its 180 comments and counting.
This site gives new meaning to "being in the pink", and it doesn't sound good from either side.
posted by David Robison | 7:53 PM
9 Comments:
I asked one of these folks if they would be interested in writing about their point of view for the MLM Blog Network and I got back a venomous email filled with hate for all things Network Marketing.
I have never seen such a horrible response to a simple innocent question that could benefit their cause...and they wonder why they failed at Mary Kay.
I'm just a lurker. I am a former "kaybot" but chose to leave because of many of the things that I experienced that are very similar to those posted on the anti-mk site. At first I was intrigued that so many women felt the same way I had felt and there was a vehicle to actually talk about it. Then I was a bit annoyed. The anti-mkers have no mercy and are not willing to see it from any other point of view other than their own. And, now, that I am unfortunately addicted to that blog and a few others, I am appalled. I read quietly and feel for anyone who tries to reason or tries to explain themselves because they will be destroyed on the site. Unfortunately the kaybots that post haven't perused the site enough to know that they will be decimated. They do not understand the terrain into which they have just stepped. The anti-mkers are vicious and mean-spirited. Although they have many good points, they will not give another point of view a chance. Its the anti-pink way or no way.
Ty's "MLM Blog Network" is dedicated to pushing MLM so-called opportunitities on people. Why would an anti-MLM site want to contribute hits and advertising revenue to such a dishonorable cause? Pushing more MLMs on people, as is Ty's career, doesn't benefit the Pink Truth cause one bit.
Anonymous - What would you expect from an anti-Mary Kay site other than anti-Mary Kay sentiments? If you want a pro-Mary Kay site, then go start one.
The MLM Blog Network is dedicated to giving people a voice. Pro or Con.
I have always welcomed all writers and frankly the only time I get intervene in content is when I feel that a writer has resorted to blatant advertising in lieu of telling their personal story.
Based on the lie about site traffic on the recent Pink Truth press release, I suspect they could have used my help.
I have visited the Pink Truth site and others myself. I have found that there are many thoughtful women who were burned by Mary Kay and the points they make against MK, that it is a micro-managing, greed advocating, deceptive about the true chances of success while frontloading all the garbage they can get the unsuspecting innocent to buy business "opportunity" are all valid IMO. Mary Kay should definitely be exposed.
THAT SAID, the site owner of Pink Truth strikes me, and has almost from the beginning, as an egotistical and meanspirited BITCH ('cuse my French). Sadly she is leading her "followers" down that same dark alley. My guess is that the reason she was rude to the MLM Blog Network is because she doesn't want any competition. I hate MLMs too and don't like seeing them promoted (afterall they ARE experts at self-promotion right?) and I can understand the anger at waking up and realizing you've been HAD by a corporation like Mary Kay, but that's no reason to be a total shithead. The lady's got a chip on her shoulder the size of gibralter. She bites the head off of anyone who dares question and will delete their posts immediately. I feel bad for the potential MK convert looking for information who happens upon her vile bile. Fortunately though there are other anti-MK sites where the participants are nicer.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. The pink truth owner is indeed all you said and more. Ruthless, hateful and more than bitter.
I can't imagine all the time she must put in. Wish she devote that much time to bringing down child pornographers instead of poor MK sales reps.
At FranchisePick.com we are trying to get to the truth about Mary Kay Cosmetics as a business opportunity for women. Your input is needed and invited:
http://franchisepick.com/does-pink-stink-or-is-mary-kay-ok/
Now that we found you, we'll add you to our links
Thanks
I hope what you shared about Mary Kay is right....
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