Jury Awards $11.2M in Mary Kay Suit

Oooppppss!!! I cut off the Beginning!

Is there something wrong with SLCP’s devotion to God? I think people should listen to what she has to say. She’s right!

If you can’t understand unless you, “actually walk along the road _with_ Jesus” then you should be walking about two inches from Him you’ll never regret it! There is nothing wrong with seeking God’s will for everything (including MK) for your life. In fact there is everything right about that. It shows that she is a smart woman.

About the thousands MK burned (I really have never heard a story yet that wasn’t because of the consultants irresponsibility, if anyone knows one let me know), what about the tens of thousands that’s lives have been enriched (for every national there is at least 550 or so active consultants) people shouldn’t try to bring MK down because of the minority. Not to mention woman who aren’t even consultants. When I facial a woman and at the end she starts crying saying no one has ever made her feel beautiful before, (even if she doesn’t buy any product) that’s what it’s all about, women seeing both their inner and outer beauty. Even the people who are nasty on this thing, you have it hidden deep inside too. Maybe they have had a rough life who knows what the source of the anger is from but I know you all have it somewhere.

Loves and Kisses,

Angel

I’m borrowing from another wise woman. These are not my words, so don’t go jumping over to LJ and pouncing on _her_.

Here it is:

http://www.mlmwatch.org/01General/10lies.html

http://www.pyramidschemealert.org/PSAMain/resources/tenlies.html

http://www.falseprofits.com/Nonretail.html

http://skepdic.com/mlmhar.html

http://www.marketwaveinc.com/articles/MLMNameGame.asp

http://mlmlaw.blogspot.com/2005/08/kudos-to-brian-headd.html

Just for fun: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0UQX/is_7_68/ai_n6160853

http://www.mlmwatch.org/01General/mlmlies.html

Now your turn…show me some cold hard statistics that MK is the #1 selling brand in the US, your schedule C, and actual sales NOT orders. Show me where more than 1% of ALL consultants suceed in MK. Tell me how many have been recruited into your unit, how many are T status or I status, and long they actually stay in the unit. How many can you name that have been there longer than 1 yr, 5 yrs, and 10 yrs. Yanno, cold hard figures.

Wow! Emotional thread!

Yup…still waiting for Christina to talk more smack. Questions have been asked. Are you woman enough to answer them???

Hey, Wanna Know, why so curious? =P

Looks like Christina and all the other Pinkos have learned their lesson. MK is MLM, and MLM is bad. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid.

Wanna Know, you already know too much! Stalker Night!!! Absolutely brilliant! =]

I was a member of the mary kay cult for several years before realizing what an evil thing it is.It was about to cause me to lose my husband and family. I was $60,000.00 in debt and so depressed I was ready to die. My Mother taught me not to lie or stealn ever. But guess what one of the first things is that you are taught in your Mary Kay training? Whatever anyone ask you about your Mary Kay business answer them with something wonderful and keep smiling while you are doing it. Not only are you lying but smiling while you are doing it. I wonder what God thinks about that.

http://www.thepinkingshears.org

Jacie Lys, way to demonstrate that “go give spirit”. I can feel the love and compassion in every word of your post. If your viscious, cruel rant is indicative of MK success, I’d rather be a failure.

Whoa!! Laughing hard. All you Mary Kay Bashers need a life. I just found this site by accident- apparently a bad accident! I am willing to bet you losers who failed at Mary Kay are Democrats, your whining sounds just like them. Before anyone calls me a kaybot, I am not a consultant, just a customer. My consultant is very successful and has a (gasp!) Pink Cadillac. She is very nice, loved in our community and is always at the school with her kids. She talked to me before about the opporunity and it sounds great, just not for me right now. She did tell me that as a new consultant working her way to the Pink Cadillac she put in a lot of hours and made some temporary sacrifices and that is what makes it worth it now. The hatred spewed here by you non Mary Kay people is truly pathetic. Maybe you should get off the computer and go get a life. If only you had put this much energy into your home business!! What a bunch of whiners. And oh, the vile hate speech is coming from the non Mary Kay folks by a high majority. I don’t blame the consultants here for trying to defend themselves and their company to vile hateful people like you. Another big clue that you are whining Democrats. Attitude reveals all! Go get a life!!

I came back here just for giggles to see if I was right. I knew some loser would attack my intelligence. So “Missy is Gullible” answer the question- are you a Democrat? Did you vote for Kerry? LOL Good grief. I highly doubt my consultant is “paying” for the Cadillac, it is her 3rd one if I remember correctly. She has a beautiful home, her husband works for her so he has no income. I think it is safe to say she makes pretty dang good money. Look, if you don’t like the company that is fine, but quit acting like a dang socialist who hates prosperity and profit. If you want socialism move to Cuba. Like I said before. Get a life! Your words are so ugly, I can’t imagine what your outsides look like. Good luck succeeding at anything in life. HA!

Hey Missy~

Do you have a website? I would love to order from you if you are a real working MK consultant.

I have been in Mary Kay only since January of this year. I am currently a Mary Kay Director and loving it! There are not many companies that trully care about their working crew. Although we are all independently responsible for our own businesses, the company still looks out for the consultants in many ways that not even companies with true “employees” do. The bonus compensations are unbelievable, but you do have to work. There is nowhere where you will see that it says “Mary Kay is Easy!!” It’s not easy, but having, and running your own business never is. There is a LOT of work involved, and if you look into it like you would any other business prior to investing in it, this can readily be seen.

I have been in business for myself befor and did quite well, but find that this company offers many other things that I not only enjoy, but repect. No brainwashing, no hard handed pressure, simply hard work and lots of compensation. We could go on and on about what Mary Kay (the company) may or may not do because we all have our opinions, and there is a lot out there about the pros and cons. We can choose to believe whichever side we want. I so far am a believer that it works. Personally I want to thank them. I am happy with the company and will be with them for a long, long time.

Who are you all trying to convince? The audience has reduced to people who already _have_ an opinion about MK, and you’re not going to change it by posting here.

The sick fact is that just the very existence of this discussion points to failures within the Mary Kay structure. Why on earth would anyone want to be involved in such a “wedge” concept? If you haven’t joined Mary Kay as a consultant, please know that you’ll be facing a lot of this kind of talk… defending yourself at every turn… people buying from you because they “want to help you out”… lots of loving kindness that pops like a thin balloon.

Mary Kay has done an excellent job of quelling the story of those “other 99%” that don’t make millions. One or two happy MK people showing up to tell others to “get a life” is doing nothing for the cause. Take a step back and look at what you’re all saying.

Mary Kay is the best thing on earth. Mary Kay is evil. It is neither. It _is_ an approach to marketing who’s time has long since past.

Tell me this, Mary Kay ladies: How many of your customers _prefer_ to call you, wait for you to return the call, set an appointment, be shown a plethora of other products, just to get a new mascara or cleanser?

The point that Mary Kay is missing is that people have long since migrated to shopping on the web, shopping anonymously, heck, even shopping through QVC. The model worked in the 60’s and 70’s. It doesn’t work anymore. That’s why it’s so _hard_ to “work this business” these days.

It’s a market shift. Open your eyes.

I have been following this discussion for a while now simply out of curiosity. I am appalled by MK’s actions in regards to terminating the “independent contractor” with breast cancer. It is so ironic due to the fact that MK has promoted itself as a supporter of BC research and of women’s issues. Their motto is something about enriching women’s lives.

I do not sell MK, I do not use MK, yes, I have been approached by women who sell it wanting me to buy it, join the sales force, etc. I have tried some of their products by samples given to me, but their products aren’t for me. I am not interested and I tell them that up front. Some can be rather annoying, others not at all. It doesn’t matter what facet of life you are living, you have to have some backbone and “just say no.”

If these ladies want to sell MK, let them. They’re not bothering anyone who doesn’t want to be bothered and who has enough backbone to say so. If selling MK works for them, more power to them. I’m sure many other women with serious health issues have been terminated from other corporations due to inabilty to produce directly attributable to their illness.

In my very humble opinion, MK doesn’t really care about providing ongoing customer service, great makeup, etc. to its customers, it simply wants to amass a huge sales force that must purchase and try to sell its products. I have tried them. They are no better than the average drug store varieties and certainly not of the quality of most of the luxury brands sold at department stores. They are not worth the price they ask for them, but honestly, how many cosmetic products are? I believe someone hit the nail on the head by saying, if the product is so great, why does MK have to put so much effort into having people push it. Sure, advertising is a great influence in the cosmetics industry. We as women especially aspire to look younger, more beautiful, etc. However, I am sure a great deal of cosmetics are sold by word of mouth as well. If Clinique or Revlon, comes out with a great product, I am more likely to hear about it from another woman than see it in an advertisement. That’s the way it works . . .women talk to other women. I teach in a high school. You should have heard the talk last spring amoung the young women about the new Jergins skin lotion that gives the skin a glow to it. It hadn’t even been advertised nationally, and the stores in our area couldn’t keep in in stock. Young women were driving 60 miles or more to purchase it prior to prom.

I have never heard anyone say anything great about Mary Kay products, except the women trying to sell it.

I have never specifically sought out a MK product because I have heard other women talk about how wonderful it is. I have done that with other cosmetic lines, ranging from Lancome to Cover Girl. If MK had really great products and didn’t have to try to sell to the captive audience of its consultants, it would probably be available in stores. They promote the idea that their sales techniques are more convienent for women with busy lives. Who has time to call a MK consultant, play phone tag for several days, make an appointment, arrange your schedule to meet up to make the purchse, all to purchase a tube of lipstick? Hey, I would rather run to the mall or if I don’t have time for that, I’ll grab a tube of lipstick at the grocery store, it’s not like it’s a one of a kind lifesaving medication.

After reading so much on both sides of this issue, I plan to stay away from MK ladies. I have better things to spend my time on than makeup.

I cannot belive that some of the participants of this conversation are so militantly pro or con MK. Come on . . . its makeup, not US foreign policy.

I chose to sell MK because I really love the product. I mean really. I think a lot of the motivators they use are weird, in fact I don’t always agree with the MK mantra but I LOVE the products. Love. I totally see why some people think it’s “cultish” but you have to decide how much of it you are going to buy into.

I am glad this woman was compensated-if she was sick then her quotas should have been suspended until such a time that she was well enough to continue managing her sales force.

There are some amazingly stupid statements on here. You can believe in something yet still retain your own opinion.

Laura, QUIT emailing us…so sorry you do “get it” but you dont have to expose your nasty website http://www.thepinkingshears.org to my people who do…. I would appreciate you not signing in AT ALL anymore. Jodi Even

oooooooh-kaaaay! Something’s going on that someone doesn’t really want to talk about for real. Just confront “Laura” directly, and leave the rest of us out of it.

Why are you so afraid of your brainwashed minions hearing about the truth?

And, yes, I’ve seen some pretty nasty responses from the MK “leadership.” Obviously they know how to put a guest book out there, but don’t know how to use it. Instead, they just try to make “Laura” look bad. Nice.

I’m running right off to sign my agreement. NOT!

In response to Not Bothering Anyone, if you are so worked up about Mary Kay ladies bothering you, you must be letting them bother you. I have a neighbor who sells Mary Kay and is constantly trying to get an “in” with me to try her products. When she asks, “I say’no.’” Nothing else. I don’t give her a chance to go any further with her sales pitch. The MK ladies have been taught lines to refute any excuse; therefore, no excuse, no line. It is actully pretty funny to watch her try to figure out what to do. Another observation that I have noticed is that people who work for direct marketing companies all “help” each other out. The MK ladies host Pampered Chef parties, the Pampered Chef ladies host Home Interiors parties, and on and on and on. I guess what it boils down to is a bunch people trying to sell junk that no one wants to a bunch of other people trying to sell other junk to people no one wants. It’s all pretty funny when you think about it. I can’t believe how malicious this group is on this discussion, both sides. I don’t remember how I stumbled on to this site, but I keep chuckling to myself about how shallow it is that so many people are so concerned about makeup and what someome else is doing. I think the majority of you need to get a sense of humor and a life. Signing off for good. I don’t need this negativity. Thanks for the laughs.

Missy says:

Another big clue that you are whining Democrats.

Not stereotyped says: Now THIS is a hilarious statement. I don’t think there are “party” lines in MK and I am another proud Republican and a born again Christian. And, according to MK reps, a loser, a whiner, a quitter and now, a DEMOCRAT! Good grief. If YOU are a republican, I might change.

Here we go again, calling people losers. And it’s MARY KAY people calling names!! Don’t try to tell me that the people against MK are being brutal. No way. MK is brutal. Give it up.

Here we go again, calling people losers. And it’s MARY KAY people calling names!! Don’t try to tell me that the people against MK are being brutal. No way. MK is brutal. Give it up.

And to get where you are, you had to convince women to stock up on “inventory” that will never be sold. Can you sleep at night? Especially since you’ll have to convince at least 16 more women to do the same….put their families in debt so you can have the position of “Sales Director” for which you’ll be paid about minimum wage. Yee haw!

All the negativity from pro-MK thinkers:

Roslyn Yearwood says:

I hope the women who won the lawsuit realizes that “what goes around comes around” Have you really won? Just remember “You get what you deserve”. And for the people who say Mary Kay consultant are dumb. It takes one to know one.

Posted by: Roslyn Yearwood on October 02, 2004

Princess says:

All of you who are saying these negative things about Mary Kay have no idea what you are talking about. Christine has not a clue what she is talking about. Her statements alone show that she is actually on of the dumbest people around.

Jennifer Clinkscales says:

It is not Mary Kay, Inc. fault if a consultant doesn’t know how to control spending. Mary Kay offers a chance to either carry inventory or not; it’s the consultant’s decision and it’s the consultant’s fault if they rack up thousands of dollars of debt. Learn how to organize, plan, budget, forecast, and most of all, SELL! If you can’t, you don’t need to go blamming the business. Every business has to know how to do these things. If they don’t, they will probably fail, and they can’t blame anyone but themselves.

Jeannie Guadagnoli Wray says:

I hope and pray she finds peace for herself and for her family. “God first, family second, career third” (maybe she wasn’t paying attention).

Billie says:

This lady may have won 11 million dollars, but I guarantee you, if you were to walk up to her on the streets today, she’d just as miserable now as she ever was (and probably complaining about some other injustice).

Wanda reiterates:

“WOW! I can’t beleive this settled. I hope MK appeals and even slaps her with a countersuit”-Meredith deLeo

“I hope the women who won the lawsuit realizes that “what goes around comes around” Have you really won? Just remember “You get what you deserve”-Roslyn Yearwood

“I am appalled that this woman sued Mary Kay and even more so that she won. This never should have happened. This was simply another case of someone looking for the free ride. Unfortunately, she got it”-Princess

And now the voice of reason, which goes unheeded:

Tammy says:

To my sister consultants who are posting comments on this issue – kindly step back for a moment before you do so! Please remember the principles which shape our Mary Kay businesses and lives, and moreso consider that if we indeed respect and uphold the values that Mary Kay exemplified and inspired us with…much of what has been said here would not have been said. Mary Kay would not have reacted in some of the manner of fashions I have seen here nor would she have approved of it. Please govern your input with wisdom.

Dee thinks she’s being positive:

And if it were not possible for a woman with a family and cancer, speak to National Sales Director Rena Tarbet and let her know it can’t be done. She’ll let you know otherwise…she’s done it…and is still doing it. Cancer or not. We make decisions in our lives. If you choose to be positive, you’ll make it. If you choose to be negative, you won’t. It’s all up to you. Whether you say you can or you can’t, either way, you’re right.

KC says:

I am getting ready to join MK for the second time. It took my recruiter 2 mos to answer all my questions and for me to make the decision the first time. It’s HARD WORK. And I worked hard. However, I realized it wasn’t my life goal. I learned so much about running my own business through the MK experience. And I am a college graduate. (Pretty dumb person, huh) I did not work for MK. I worked for myself. Even as I built my team, I continued working. When I lost recruits, that was their decision, not mine, not the company. I base my new business on the Mary Kay way of running a business. I am rejoining, because this is the only product I know how to use. I got tired of tons of stuff from my “local pharmacy” cluttering my drawers. I use the minimum of MK. My four children use it on their own. Three are Kindergarten and younger. I understand that if I don’t sell, I don’t make money. But at least I’m not supporting my local Walmart who’s goal is to put all the little people out of business. I won’t sell this time around. The company says I don’t have to. I also won’t be given team members, commission checks, cars, trips, prizes etc. Because I’m not WORKING for them. Any successful team leader, sales director or higher knows, you don’t get anything given to you by not working your business. I feel bad for this lady. But she didn’t work for Mary Kay any more than I work for my suppliers. And obviously she didn’t understand how her business worked. Oh, and for the counselor helping past MK consultants. Give me a break. Mary Kay was the only positive thing in my life, I think that’s one of the reason’s I’m signing up again. They obviously had other issues. And just the connection of MK to blame it on. I know my depresion isn’t because I was a MK consultant. To the new recruits, you will get out of this exactly what you put in to it.

Posted by: KC on March 31, 2005

Uhhhh… does the Sales Director do the work, as she says first, or does the UNIT do the work, as in the second statement???

melissa says:

To the person who said Mary Kay owns

Avon- AVON and Mary Kay are not affiliated in any way WHATSOVER!

To all here who have bittnerness and a grudge against Mary Kay, I am truly astonished at the level of hatred and lack of personal repsonsibility. As a Senior Director for 9 years now I must say that Directorship is very rewarding when I work! Directors who rely soley on their units to carry them often find themselves disappointed. I would like to comment on Ms. Woolf- I am from the same NSD Area she was in. For those of you out there who think you “know” about Mary Kay, let me enlighten you. This woman DID NOT LOSE ANY MONEY by MK “Taking her directorship”. I can say this because a Director who IS NOT MAKING PRODUCTION IS MAKING CONSULTANT PAY- no ifs, ands or buts. If your unit does less than $4000 you only get 9% and bonuses don’t even happen until your unit reaches $5000 for the month and if she wasn’t making production then she was doing less than $4000. Where is the money she lost?? Did she truly think MK should pay her commission on sales that her UNIT did not make?? If Ms. Woolf was worthy of her position and a strong, loving leader her unit would have RALLIED around her to make it happen. The fact that they didn’t- speaks VOLUMES. I didn’t know her peronsally but I know others who did and frankly from what I hear she wasn’t a likeable person. THat is neither here nor there because the fact is her lawsuit was unwarranted. The fact that a jury agreed with her means NOTHING. Take O.J. and Michael Jackson for examples. The laws regarding “Independent Contractors” are very clear. The DSA and ALL other Direct Selling companies had/have an interest in this verdict (which was overturned by theway because the LAW is clear). There is nothing unethical about companies that use Independent Contractors- nothing!! I am so astonished at the masses of uneducated people out there who spout off about things the OBVIOUSLY know nothing about.

Mary Kay, Inc is like every other company out there- about making money. True that MK is also about so much more but the $$ is the bottom line and THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT! That is the American Way- Entreprenuership!! $$ makes the world go round! Selling is a noble profession! Everything you have and do in this life is because SOMEONE SOLD SOMETHING.

Those of you that so clearly “hate” MK- I believe your real problem lies with yourself and how you feel about you. Blaming and pointing fingers and being angry serves no one. If you don’t want to be associated with MK- GREAT- then MOVE ON. But don’t try to HURT the women who remain in MK. If you are the caring people you say you are then WHY would you purposefully do and say things to damage the reputations and finances of the GOOD women who are in MK. It is truly shameful and your words and stories say MORE about YOU than they do about MK.

Have a nice day!

Melissa

Posted by: melissa on June 18, 2005

And, the infamous “Melissa” starts in:

Melissa says:

Sara- you are a perfect example of someone who doesn’t know how to take personal responsibility for her actions. No matter how many times you say it or how many different ways, your Director is NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR DEBT. You are your own person and a grown woman who could have said NO. You could have chosen to be RESPONSIBLE with your finances. I don’t care WHAT your Director said to you about team spirit blah blah blah- YOU spent your money unwisely not her. Admit you are soley responsible and move on!

Posted by: Melissa on July 09, 2005

Karl, Karl, Karl… yes, the repurchase option had just been mentioned by Sara, however, it doesn’t absolve all debt, as it’s only 90%…

Karl Wiegandt says:

To those who blame Mary Kay with forcing you into Bankruptcy, you have not mentioned that there is a 90% buyback rule on products that were purchased by the consultant. There are so many responses to these comments that I would like to make, but will abstain for many reasons. The company has been wonderful to my wife and I and I am so I have nothing but good experiences. One thing is that those that are rewarded are those that work. My wife works this as a full time job, and probably more hours than most pprofessions. There is a reaon why there are salaried jobs and self-employed jobs. Those that work hard in this career will reap the rewards far greater than the income potential. And the schedule C comment is ridicous as a good manager of his or her company sees the need for proper money management and will not on a continuous basis lose money because they are putting too much into the business. Does your wife claim all her CASH sales to the IRS, if not then that is a huge reason for this business. Feel free to e mail me any questions that you may have. If this is the only problem that MAry Kay has had in its 43 years of existance, then I think it is a remarkable record.

Posted by: Karl Wiegandt on July 11, 2005

And he just can’t get his facts straight… way more than one lawsuit!

Karl says:

Cami,

I understand your comments, yet i do not think that there is anything wrong with the companies procedure. They do a great job of promoting new inventory on a quarterly basis to keep up with the market and keep the interest of all consultants. Of course there are going to be times when they need to do special promotions and giveaways to move the old and bring in the new. Have you never purchased anything on sale from any department store or grocery store? It is what all companies do on a regular basis and am confused at your hostility for these common procedures.

I am very proud of my wife and HER HARD WORK. Please do not fault her for using her abilities to make an enormous impact on thousands of lives across the united states. Maybe it would better serve you to channel all this energy in a way that would help out those around you, rather than chatting in a forum about the few negatives of a company which frankly has done little wrong in its existance. As I stated earlier 1 lawsuit in 43 years is a remarkable record. Mary Kay REWARDS those that work hard and I would dare anyone to work as hard as my wife does and see the rewards (not financial) that you would reap.

Posted by: Karl on July 12, 2005

Marjorie, Marjorie…

Grow up guys. If you put 100,000 into a macdonald franchise and it fails , whose fault is it?

Posted by: Marjorie Mar on July 19, 2005

The saddest part of this whole thing is that KayBots actually take this kind of a comment seriously, and attempt to respond to it:

Sick of the pinkos says:

Marjorie,

I am about fed up with pinkos like you. I hope you die in your pink bubble. In fact, I hope you and your product go to hell.

Mary Kay sucks BIG monkey balls.

Posted by: Sick of the pinkos on July 21, 2005

Yeah, people are pissed. Let it go. Stick to the facts.

Bamabee, what are you thinking??

But, the company spells everything out in black and white. My responsibilities and their responsibilities. It sounds like someone trusted their recruiter instead of the contract in front of them. As any one who has ever faced a drill sergeant on the first day of basic training knows, recruiters don’t always tell the truth. Buyer Beware. You have the right to be angry, you also have the responsibility to be smarter next time you start a business, and not get sold on emotion and then blame everyone else because you made a bad decision.

Well, she thought about it:

Bamabee says:

I would like to apologize for my comments of just a minute ago. I’ve thought about what I said, and I think I was being harsh. If you don’t want to sell MK, I think you should take it all out the backdoor and make a bonfire with it. I wouldn’t want all that stuff staring at me. I’d be hostile, too.

Posted by: Bamabee on August 03, 2005

And you know this, how??

single mom says:

I am consultant of less than a year and I love the product. The department store products never made my skin look and feel so great. When I made the choice to sell Mary Kay I went in with my eyes open. No one made me order anythng. I order all on my own. The only reason I can see this lawsuit happend is because the consultant wanted to reach her star status every quarter so she ordered more than she was selling and she got sick. Her inventory sat there. She could not service her customers so they went else where.

We are disagreeing with those who, as you say, “… who are just after it for the money and they will “sucker” anyone in that they can by not telling them the full truth of everything.”

I don’t think anyone has a problem with the honest women. It’s the ones who spew nastiness when others are simply asking questions or stating facts.

What’s wrong with that?

And, what’s wrong with disagreeing?