Questions.

Pink Truth, a site that should not be taken seriously because of the outrageous unproven opinions they proclaim as truth, has posted a series of questions.

Because someone reading these questions might think they prove that Mary Kay is as disreputable as Pink Truth claims, these are the answers that they claim to be looking for. All of these questions are either illogical, or have an answer that, while truthful, does not support their conspiracy theory that MK is intent on destroying womens lives and therefore is not "good enough".

Until recently, the "rules and regulations" on PT said that no 'pro-MK' comments were allowed. So I have been using this forum to answer questions posed and correct misunderstandings where possible. As of November 12, that guideline has been adjusted to read that if you disagree, you can do so, provided you are respectful. In light of that, in addition to posting these answers here, I will also attempt to post these answers there.

So, here are the questions with answers. Questions in red, Answers in black (edit Purple!):

Who honestly profits from the sales of Mary Kay products?

The consultant who sold the product (assuming that she sold it for more than her total expenses)

Her recruiter/director

Her NSD

Mary Kay Corporate

Why is it that one purchasing the highest dollar amount in products from the company is called “The Queen of Sales”?

It is assumed that products being purchased from the company are being resold. Why would anyone purchase product they had no intention of reselling or using?

Where are the billions per year that Mary Kay Corporate makes from their consultants going?

Have you ever run a business? There are a lot of expenses associated with running a corporation of this size. Where are the billions of dollars that Microsoft makes every year going? I can’t answer that, but why is it important to know that?

Why do we only know the amounts of products purchased or proceeds donated, why not ALL the numbers about the products?

I followed this link and there are a lot of question raised. Many of them are not relevant questions. I eventually hope to answer all of them, but that is a little bit too much for a Saturday. J As far as ALL the numbers being revealed, the simple answer: They just don’t. If you have a problem with not knowing every detail of how a multi-billion dollar organization operates, don’t join.

If Mary Kay is making billions per year would it make sense that more than one or two NSDs would be making much more than a million or two a piece?

HUH?

What is the motivation of Mary Kay Corporate or the upline to see that consultants sell the product they have already purchased?

If the consultant sells that product she will buy more. Then she will sell that and buy more. Then she will sell that and buy more. How is that not a better plan than a one time purchase? “What is good for the consultant is good for everyone” really makes sense if you just think about it.

Why is there recruiting? If the products are so great and undervalued as to make a 50% profit, why would anyone want to recruit when the product sold so well?

Why does anyone hire people? When you can make money (however much or little) on the effort of someone else it is usually worth while.

We recently bought an acre of property in WA State, built a house on it and sold it. I ‘recruited’ a realtor, a contractor, a painter, a landscaper and many others. They all got paid what they normally get paid and I made money for putting the whole thing together. Why did I do it? I wanted to make money.

Similarly, when my wife recruits someone, they get paid for their effort. They buy the same product she does and sell it. Provided they sell it for more than their expenses, they are making money. How much they make will obviously vary widely, but they have the ability to make money. She (my wife) makes money based on how well they do. She keeps in close contact with all of her recruits and strives to make sure they are not buying products that are not selling.

People recruit because they are offered an opportunity to make MORE money. It is not a requirement.

When will the “Keepers of the Dream” awake and tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth about this “DREAM” everyone is striving for?

HUH?

How come there are so many limitations, hoops and hurdles, time constraints placed on those trying to reach the next career level ?

You mean like needing to have a certain amount of consultants and a minimum unit production amount?

Would it be better if you just call yourself whatever you want to call yourself?

What should levels be achieved based on?

What time constraints?

If you have pulled together a large team of people consistently buying (AND selling) you EARN the title Director.

Pull enough Directors together and you EARN the title National Sales Director.

Most of all WHY are there time constraints? Is this to make it MORE difficult to obtain the next level? If so, why?

What time constraints? Do you have to become a director within a certain amount of time? Couldn’t you (theoretically) be in MK for 50 years and then become a director?

If you are referring to the fact that you have to maintain a level of consultants and production to keep the title ‘director’, than your question is your answer.

Why should you enjoy the title if you are not doing the work?

Why are people who choose to quit Mary Kay called and begged not to or ridiculed for their decision to quit?

I have not gotten to discuss the article this link refers to, but the answer is right there.

The script in question explains it like this:

“I did my first exit interview using this script (Below) last night with a $3600 inventory. We left each other on a VERY positive note. And while she is still deciding what she wants to do, she’s very strongly considering not sending product back. At the very least, she will leave Mary Kay knowing what a wonderful and caring company we are.”

They are not being begged not to quit or ridiculed. Some people actually care about the problems that others had and want to:

1. Make sure the problem can’t be resolved
2. Find ways to create a better experience for the next person
3. Avoid burning bridges. If someone just wants to take a break, they have options available to them.
4. Make sure that if they do want to quit for good, they recoup as much of their cost as possible.

This link will probably be posted here soon as a “what TO do if you are a consultant thinking about quitting or a director with a consultant thinking about quitting."

How is Mary Kay enriching women’s lives…exactly? By providing a product that is needed/wanted?

Yes.

By recruiting customers, who recruit customers, who recruit customers so that Mary Kay CORPORATE always has customers but YOU the consultant don’t? How does that work?

See the answer above to “Why is there recruiting?” My wife has recruited some of her best customers. They are now making her money. She still has customers that have no interest in selling MK.

Why doesn’t Mary Kay Corporate speak to all our questions in a truthful manner?

You mean, “Why doesn’t Mary Kay Corporate speak to all our questions in the manner we want them to?”

If they did not answer in a truthful manner they would face fines and lawsuits. They have a legal team to ensure that they answer questions in a truthful manner.

What you are asking for here is for them to say what you want them to say. You have created a conspiracy theory and are asking them to validate it for you.

Therefore this question is not a valid question.

As you may have noticed, I answered "huh" to some of these questions. That is because I genuinely could not understand what was being asked. If anyone would like to reword those questions, I will try to answer them.

Ok, I am going to go try to post a comment answering some of the questions.

Thanks everyone.

Update: Just posted some of the questions under the name "looking for real truth".
Sat 01 Dec 07:56 (5:56 pm pst)

Update: Have had some conversation with people on the site. All of my comments are still up.
Sun 02 Dec 02:46 (12:46 am pst)

Update: Woke up this morning to find myself blocked! (no explanation either)
Sun 02 Dec 12:34 (10:34 am pst)