Wow . . . I stumbled on this site while searching options for liquidating MK inventory and I'm absolutely speechless!

I'm a 25 year old grad student from NY who got involved with MK this past summer. I met my recruiter at my part time job and chose to attend a class simply because I was interested in networking with her. In talking to her initially I found that she worked her full-time job in the industry I am interested in going into. Her director got me -- once she found out I was an MBA student, she pretty much said all of the things that I wanted to hear. As a result I signed up and ordered $1,600 wholesale worth of inventory. As I am sure you all can understand, I had a *little* help jumping off the inventory cliff. My reasoning/justification at the time was that it would force me to commit to seeing MK through.

Trouble is, about 2 weeks after I had my grand opening my mother was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. I am fortunate enough to be living at home and have a very flexible schedule between school and my part time job, so I take her to all of her appointments. Her first round of chemo was dose dense every two weeks and her second round is weekly. I'm in class two nights a week and have no desire to be away another night of the week, faking a "rah-rah" attitude in a class trying to get people to spend money. So for the last 4 months I haven't done anything with my MK business, except for a few email/website orders. Meanwhile ordered an additional $800 wholesale by Sept. 15 to make Ruby Star -- yes, even still more encouragement from my district manager to help me along. Tho I am sure I disappointed her, she wanted me to make Diamond Star! So here I am, $2,400 wholesale inventory and barely working my part-time job so that I can be home for my mom. At the time that I ordered my inventory I could afford to carry that inventory, but now that I'm not working as much or doing MK I simply can't. I have bills to pay and school to pay for!

I finally made the decision that I need to send my inventory back to the company. I cannot in good faith keep this inventory -- all it represents is money being tied up that I need NOW. My mom's treatment will take a year at least. We started in September with chemo and she won't finish until the beginning of March, which is when she will have her mastectomy and then its on to radiation... I called my recruiter, she was sad and really didn't know anything about the return process...amazingly enough she didn't really try to talk me out of returning my product. In fact she said that maybe the company would be willing to make a note in my file regarding my circumstances so that I could resume later of inf I chose to.

However, an hour later I got a call from my district manager -- 30 minutes of coaxing and veiled threats. She told me that she was sad to see me making a permanent decision for a temporary situation and she didn't want to see me regret it. If I sent my inventory back I could NEVER EVER be a consultant again. She told me how fortunate I was to have a business that I could take with me. She suggested that I take my products along with me to the treatment center and pamper the nurses and other patients, that I would make sales without even trying. She went on to tell me how she did the same thing for the nurses when her dad was in the hospital and how she walked out with a $200 sale without even trying. I told her that I would never do that -- I wouldn't feel comfortable, not to mention that I don't think it is the time or the place at all. When I am at the treatment center I am there for MY mom, not to take advantage of others -- its just wrong on so many levels. Then she told me that I should try and sell as much inventory as I can at 30% off, which I am actually doing, because I will only get 90% back from the company and again its a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I told her that I knew that and wasn't concerned about it, because between the sales I have had and freebies I will end up at least even if not a little ahead. I mean come on -- 90% is $240, I would still be getting $2,160 plus tax back. "Oh, I'm not sure about the tax. NY state already has the tax, so I don't know that you get that back." ARE YOU KIDDING ME? GMAFB! What does she think I am, stupid? Then of course, the next argument was the more I shipped back, the more shipping I would have to pay -- "is it really worth it for such a temporary situation?" Oh, did I mention I resent my mother being called a "temporary situation"?!

So needless to say, the district manager pretty much made up my mind for me. I am trying to sell the inventory I have left ($1,600 wholesale) at 30% off. Anything left over I'm shipping back as a big ole' F-U. The sad thing is I like my recruiter, yet the district manager has managed to alienate both myself and my recruit. There are some nice products, but for a company that prides itself on "God first, family second, work third," work sure seems to come first! I'm so over it!!!

First, I am so sorry to hear about your mom.  I will keep her in my prayers that she have the strength she needs to see it through this trial in life.

Second, the directors are going to tell you everything they can think of so that they do not have any chargebacks on their commission checks.  They really do not care what is going on in your life just keep buying and don't say anything negative.

Ship back everything you can.  Any expenses that are left file them on your income tax as a business expense/loss.  I think there is a worksheet somewhere here that you can use to figure up your inventory.  Just call MK for the 90% total and date due to MK.  Then use the worksheet and send it back.  You do not have to wait for the MK form.

Forget about Mary Kay and take care of your mom.

Chaos Tamer, thank you.

What can you expect when it turns out you are only a number, preferably prefaced by a $ sign? Funny thing is, she told me that she would be following up with me the following week (which was last week) to see how I was doing with my sales and find out what she could do to help. Haven't heard a peep. I'm guessing she's hoping that by laying low I'll forget this whole thing, because I obviously can't do anything on my own *rolls eyes*

I will prolly call tomorrow to find out the official numbers and request my form. Let's see how fast she calls me to discuss this permanent solution to a temporary problem. Thank god for caller ID and press 7 to delete, LOL. I'm thinking that returning will be the best thing, plus I can return all of the foundations and whatnot from my friend (who I recruited and she alienated by leaving 15 messages in 2 weeks and that's not counting the times she called her without leaving a message -- all to "welcome" her to the family. I now realize it was to get her on the phone to push for ordering inventory.) and recoup some of her investment.

Might have to change my VM outgoing message to "Tough shit...family and my bank account come first." Hehe...

Cloud~

Hang in there with your Mom ~ it sounds like you know what is best for you and your family.

The sooner you de-pink yourself the better ~ be glad you didn't get more in debt with it.

This is a GREAT Group of Women who will stear you in the right direction as well as support you in your decisions regarding MK and Life.  Glad you found us and I look forward to seeing you on the board.

 

 

Not this stupid "pamper the cancer patients/nurses bullshit again! I can't take it. These directors have some nerve. Not only is it solicitation, it's tacky beyond words.



Of course, you know this is a lie, right? With a big inventory order, everyone can be a consultant again.



Yes indeed. Here's the link: http://www.pinklighthouse.com/inventoryreturnwksheet.htm

By the way, cloudkckr9, don't, I repeat DON'T waste your time trying to sell stuff at 30% off. It's not worth it to you and isn't worth it to the customers. That discount means nothing. They know you get a 50% discount. Anything less than 50% doesn't mean anything to people anyway.

Welcome cloudkckr9! Send your stuff back and move on.   

I am just so glad and feel very fortunate that I can be home with her and help her as much as I do. I mean its such a small sacrafice compared to all the sacrafices she's made in her life for me.

You know, I keep going back and forth on whether to return the product or find an alternative way to sell it, but honestly I think sending it back is the best option -- then I can't be tempted to order just "a few more items" or junk like that. My friend who I recruited wants me to call my recruiter and tell her just how much her director cost her, but only AFTER I mail my inventory back, LOL. I feel bad for pulling her into the drama that I am going to mail back the parts of her starter kit that she won't use so she can recoup a portion of the start up fee. She's pretty happy about that

You know, the more I think about her suggestion the more offended I become. I mean not only am I there for my MOM, not to work my business, but I am there with people who have severally compromised immune systems. Chemo KILLS off your immune system -- so why the heck would I ever want to chance getting someone sick no matter how ok I feel for a couple bucks. Not to mention no matter how hard you try you can't gurantee the quality/safety of your product. I mean I try my hardest to ensure its not contaminated as it gets used, but after reading some of the stories here about consultants getting RETURNED goods in their orders, I wouldn't put ANY of this on my mom. Not a chance! And the nurses, yes they may be healthy, but they are in contact with patients all day... The possible consequences are so not worth it and I would not want even an inkling of a doubt that I caused someone to get ill and end up in the hospital. When you're undergoing chemo even the smallest things can send you to the hospital or be life threatening. COME ON! Where is her common sense?! And don't get me started on the financials -- after co-pays up the wazoo, do cancer patients really have a lot of money laying around to spend on product?! We don't!

At this point, thanks to my director mainly, I have no desire to become a consultant again. Thanks to this forum I know how to get the things I really want in the future and help out people who are in the position I am in.

I'm giving it until the New Year -- I have a flyer made up that I emailed out to several clients/friends/family. If any acts on it (there have been about 5 so far) great! If not, no skin off my nose...I should end up even after my return, with the added benefit of recouping my friend's starter kit cost. There is no way I am going to worry myself silly over boxing it up before Christmas/New Years since they won't receive it until January anyways... I signed up in June, so I have a *little* time LOL!

So glad to be here, thanks!

Hi Cloudkckr9.  We're so glad you're here.

Positive energy and prayers going out to you and your mom right now.

You are a wonderful (and smart) daughter.  I'm so glad you're there for her right now.  It matters so much.


   Yup!

Given everything going on in your life right now.....you really don't need the added distraction and pressure from a Director.  You've made the right decision.  Good luck with your "going out of business" sale.