Caution – the beverage you are about to enjoy is HOT

Is it just me? Do we have to be warned about everything these days?

Everyone knows about and talks about the McD’s thing, but it is everywhere.

Peanut containers have a “caution – contains nuts” warning.

Hair dryers scream, “don’t use in the shower”

My iron warns me, “don’t iron clothes on body”

The toner at the office reminds me, “warning, don’t eat toner”

(there’s more… click the link below to read more!)



The piece of cardboard my parents threw in the windshield to keep the car cool in the sun warned, “Do not drive with sunshield in place”

Are we really this ignorant? Do we need these warnings? Considering that most of these were born from either a lawsuit or fear of one, the sad answer to that question is yes. Because apparently if every company that has ever created a product for us does not warn us of every possible way that we could possibly injure ourselves using that product – some opportunistic, unscrupulous moron is going to sue them.

So – you tell me. Should a recruiter disclose every possible outcome of you joining Mary Kay BEFORE you sign up?

Look, I agree that anyone who says, “you will make millions guaranteed” OR “you can make an executive income working part-time hours” or anything similarly misleading should be shot on sight. (figuratively speaking) But even if some recruiters ARE saying these things… who’s fault is it that you just believed that at face value?

You mean to tell me (and by you, I mean any generic person out there that is whining that they would have “never joined MK if they had known ‘the truth’”) that you were so greedy and desperate for a quick buck that you just believed that you could BUY more money by placing progressively bigger orders? It doesn’t even make sense. You obviously were “had” by a professional con(wo)man. That does not mean that MK is a con. It does not mean that the majority of directors and consultants are working the ultimate con on you.

It is no surprise to anyone anymore to say that we live in a litigious society (read: we are “sue hapy”). And now with the advent of the blog-o-sphere, any ONE person that has a bad experience can band together with the other 300 or so other “mistreateds” and make a scene.

That is where this blog (hopefully) comes in. There are some people on some blogs crying, “foul” about Mary Kay. It is their stance that there is more bad than good in Mary Kay. In other words, there are so many people working a con in MK that there isn’t even a real business going on. However, with a sales force of 700,000 in the US alone (plus or minus) it does not seem likely to me that the experience of 300 or even 3,000 people can really speak to the “common experience” that can be expected in Mary Kay. ON EITHER SIDE of this discussion.

Nonetheless, it is important to air concerns and allow for complete answers/explanations to them. When someone feels the confidence to air a grievance on this site – because of the anonymity offered or because of the (relatively) non-hostile environment – everyone wins. When that grievance or complaint can be satisfactorily resolved – everyone wins.

Thanks to everyone that has continued to make this site what it is. It is greatly appreciated. Special thanks to Shay for all the great posts!

I hope you guys don’t mind me getting all “political” with the poll this month. Keep in mind that I have no way of knowing who you vote for… it is truly anonymous, so give it a go.

Sales Guru OR Master Manipulator?

I recently walked into a cigar shop. I did not walk in because I was interested in buying a cigar. I walked in because part of my job required me to venture into this cigar shop and discuss something with the owner.

The required conversation was quite brief and after exchanging pleasantries and dealing with business, I asked him about his products. It was a sort of generic, “What would you recommend for someone who has never smoked a cigar (me) but was just a little bit curious?” He walked me over to a bin of cigars and pulled two out. “This one is a pretty good place to start”, he explained.

He walked me back to the register while he told me a little bit about it. When we got to the register I asked him about cutting off the ends. I had seen people in movies cutting their cigars but had no idea what needed to be cut. He took out a cigar cutter removed the cigar from its packaging and showed me by cutting it right in front of me. Then he showed me how to light one by lighting the second one he grabbed. So now I have a cut cigar in a “fresh-lock” baggie sitting on the counter in front of me.

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He is smoking a cigar and has a “I am really busy so if you’re not going to buy anything, get out” demeanor. Not rude, just busy. Then… he said nothing. There was a long awkward silence. Probably not really long, it just felt long. I knew he wanted me to buy it. I knew he couldn’t really sell it now that it was out of its wrapper. Finally I volunteered, “How much is it?” “Two Bucks”, came the instant reply. Again, silence.

Finally I pulled out my wallet.

I have thought about that encounter quite a bit. Is he a really good salesman because he got me to buy something I would otherwise have not bought?

Is he manipulative because he knew I would feel bad about not buying something he would have a hard time selling.

I know it is just two bucks and either way it doesn’t really matter, but I believe that how you see this scenario will say a great deal about you as a consumer, as a sales person, and will probably be a good indicator of what makes you uncomfortable about Mary Kay.

Sales is sales. The point of being a sales person is to convince people to buy the product you represent. If you are not convincing people, you are just an order taker. (Tom Hopkins) Anyone can take an order when someone is already convinced that they need what you have. It takes a salesperson to convince someone that they need what you have.

It seems like there are three types of people that sell things. Only one should be considered a “salesperson”.

Order taker – not a salesperson. (People already wanted the product)
Manipulator – not a salesperson (People never wanted the product – now they hide from you)
Convincer – salesperson (People didn’t want the product, but you won them over and they love you for it!)

Because not everyone will want what you have to offer, a good salesperson knows when a “no” is really “I’m not sure” and when it is “NO, NOT EVER”. There is no point wasting your time with a “NO, NOT EVER” but a “I’m not sure” is exactly where you want to spend your time. Overcoming objections is a huge part of sales.

What are your thoughts? What are good sales tactics? What are awful tactics?

What are things you know work, but are uncomfortable doing because you hate it when it is done to you?

Where do you rank yourself? 1 – 10

1 is the order taker. “I don’t sell to anyone unless they ask me” “I don’t offer ‘up sale’ items, or suggest anything that they have not asked for specifically”

5 is the happy middle. “I pride myself greatly on my product and won’t “give it a rest” until either you have tried the product, or made it clear to me that you are not interested at all.

10 is the manipulator. “I won’t leave you alone until you get a restraining order, and even then, I know you are just “playing hard to get”. I will send you catalogues through a friend of a friend.