PC I think that is the MK mindset.  I remember I was warned not to buy anything online because it would be old.  I don't know for sure but maybe the stuff I sent back to MK corp. will end up in somebody's FRESH order. 

I know I b*tch about fresh with ebay b/c I have seen people selling the OLD OLD OLD starter kits and saying "you can use this product for your self" bla bla bla. I was like GROSS!!!!

Like this one:http://cgi.ebay.com/Mary-Kay-Indulge-Soothing-Eye-Gel-Cream-Treatment-Mask_W0QQitemZ300147348875QQihZ020QQcategoryZ67469QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
The seller has a picture of the old eye gel, with the gold cap (from at least 3 years ago) and says in the listing that it is "Fresh, no expiration date" !!! are you kidding me??

Or this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Mary-Kay-Night-Solution_W0QQitemZ260156566521QQihZ016QQcategoryZ67472QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
That bottle design is from 2 years ago, and they admit that they had it at a yard sale and it didn't sell!! So you know it was sitting out in the sun....

And this one!! http://item.express.ebay.com/Mary-Kay-CREME-to-POWDER-FOUNDATION-BEIGE-2-0-LOT-OF-2_W0QQitemZ110168123167QQihZ001QQtrZexpQQcmdZExpressItem
Didn't those pink cases go out, like, 4 years ago?? That make-up HAS to smell bad!!!

I really worry about MK on ebay, but not here! 

Even you think you get them "fresh" from the company, I know for a fact they re-send returned inventory back to the consultants.  So it might not be as fresh as you think.

OMG!!! That's completely crazy! I can't believe they didn't even bother to look at what you returned, just shipped it off to the next poor person!  That's pitiful and cheap!

that's hilarious...wish I had thought to do something like that

rethinkingpink...if you have absolutely verifiable proof of this, it would be VERY interesting. Very interesting indeed.

The whole warning by MK corp and directors about not buying items off of eBay, etc because they may not be fresh is a bunch of BULL. It's to scare you so that it will create a seed of doubt in your mind and persuade you to order from the company, hence more moolah for them.

There is just as much if not more risk in buying from some consultants. Many don't handle their inventory correctly. Then there's the risk that they keep it all in the trunk of the car, no matter what the weather. (Don't laugh...I knew two consultants that did!)

Well, all I had was emails from 2 different ladies saying they recieved items w/ my little label on them in their order from MK Inc.  That was back when I was part of a group on another forum that used to be known for being vehemently anti-MK and they all wanted to "sink the pink Titanic" (  ).  By the time I got those emails I had moved on and decided not to hold onto all that anger anymore, so I told them to call MK about it, they had the bottles w/ the proof on it, they had the best shot at doing something about it.  So, no, I don't have any "proof" anymore.  There were people at this other anti-pink forum I used to be part of that claimed to have had that same experience - recieving items in their MK order that had other consultant's reorder label on them.  That's what inspired me to do what I did. 
The only reason I advocate ordering at PL or any place like this is the ease of getting whatever you need, even if only 1 little thing, without having to order up $200 worth of stuff to make it 'worth it'.  I hardly have any inventory left to sell so my reasons for suggesting that aren't based on making any money for myself here.  There have been times since I quit MK that I have wished I could order directly from MK for certain things, but I've had no trouble getting them here.  Most importantly, whether you choose to sign up or not, don't lose sight of YOUR OWN reasons for doing it and remember how you want to do it.  Never let anyone else pressure you towards a prize/goal/status and lead you into overstocking/debt.  Only order what you have customer orders for or what you KNOW without a doubt you'll sell.