Okay, I have to vent really quickly. I was looking for an Almond Beige Day Radiance Liquid Foundation so I tried Donna's site
(I know, fool me once, shame on you and all, but hear me out). I was very specific in my request (I only wanted one foundation and I wanted to trade for it). Here is the way things went down between myself and the lady I was
TRYING to work out a trade with:
E-mail 1 (From Her)NOTE: The list of my items for trade was already posted when she made the offer.Hi, Shan ~
I have exactly 4 Almond Beige DR Fndtns left in my inventory.
But you need to specify which type you are in need of.
Almond Beige DR Liquid Fndtn w/SPF8 (1)
Almond Beige DR Liquid Fndtn Oil-Free (2)
Almond Beige Cream Fndtn (1)
I would love to help you out.
Let me know?
Thanks!
E-mail 2 (From Me)I'd like the Almond Beige DR Liquid Fndtn w/SPF8. What would you like in excange from the list I posted?
E-mail 3 (From Her)Hmmmm, ... you're right. I see it now. You posted a list. You prefer to work where the exchange benefits are all yours.
I prefer to work where it's best and fair, and there is equal benefit to all parties = A win/win/win.
Even and equal benefit to all parties = Like MK teaches = The Golden Rule.
Want to re-think your offer?
--------------------
As an offer of further explanation for total and complete understanding:
I keep a 10X STAR inventory (w/TW, a 15X inventory)
in service to over 200 customers and I make sure I never have any holes or needs. That there is never a time where I need somebody's help to fill an order. It does happen on rare ocassion, as is happening to you right now, where a Customer wants something that is no longer on my shelves. That is a moment where I am happy to find someone who has what my Customer needs, and I am happy to do whatever that Consultant wants of me, becuz she is the one who can fulfill my service needs to a Customer.
I need nothing that is on your list. If I did need something from your list, that would be great ... and it would all work well for everybody, I guess. But I have no needs. Sorry that didn't work out, but I really don't want to restock my shelves w/your discontinued products. Such a trade would be to your 3X benefit: obtaining what you need, sell it at retail, plus moving your old inventory- and to my 1X gain plus a 1X detriment. uhh...
Do you mind taking a moment for me?
I truly do not understand a Consultants' insistence to "trade only." There are a few of you out there. It's actually even across the board with fairness, when someone who is in need of something, pays normal w/s amounts to get those needs fulfilled.
Asking Cons = gets what she needs = WIN!
Providing Cons = moves what is sitting = WIN!
paying w/s price for it = EVEN, neither win nor lose for either party = same as if buying from MK
(and no Consultant is profiting off another. It's w/s price and tax already paid)
Customer = gets what she wants that she's had a hard time finding = WIN!
That reads to me a Win-Win-Win, everybody has equally benefitted and happy, happy.
Then that Asking Cons gets to turn it around and charge retail price, as is normal. And that's the only spot where there is a profit made. She'll recoup even the minimal price of postage (usually $1 or so).
Anyway, take a moment, think about it and get back to me?
Happy to help you out so you can provide great service to a happy Customer.
THANKS!
E-mail 4 (From Me) 
The item I'm requesting (a liquid Day Radiance Foundation)
is discontinued, so I'm not sure why it's being considered a big deal to trade either something that's discontinued for it. If that doesn't work for you, it's no big deal. I actually have 3 of the Alomnd Beige foundations, but like to keep a minumum of 4 on hand as my customer often orders multiples at the same time. There is a
current Ivory 100 foundation listed on my list as well.
I am not "breaking away" from practicing from the Golden Rule. I made a request, you made an offer and I was upfront about the manner in which I wanted to handle the transaction. I didn't offer you something and mail it to you without telling you it was discontinued (which I have had happen on this site previously, hence my having the Bronze 0.5 in a pink pan for example.) I like to be upfront and honest with people when working with them. Also, our director taught us to "borrow" product minimally and since this item is discontinued, I can't borrow it from another consultant and replace it later.
I don't appreciate you implying that I'm trying to "get over on you" (you state that I prefer to work where the exchange benefits are all mine.) If I don't have something you need in exchange on the list I posted, it's fine. If there was something else you wanted in exchange that was not on the list I posted, you simply had to ask and I could check my inventory (I've done this with others with no problem). I do prefer to trade as an initial option so my inventory levels are kept even. I would not have had a problem with purchasing it if another pass could not be reached, but I prefer not to utilize that route until others have been exhausted.
There is nothing wrong with me doing things that way and your implication that something is wrong with me for doing so is unfair and inaccurate. There is nothing wrong with trading a discontinued product (yours) for another item that is from my inventory (new or discontinued) if it benefits both parties (just because we couldn't work out a trade deosn't mean it never works). I have conducted trades, made purchase and sold items on Donna's website without incedent on my part. I have received products that appear to be used, lotion refilled with another type of non-MK lotion in an effort to pass it off as full and a couple of other mishaps from other consultants on Donna's site, but I still tell people upfront when I'm conducting a transaction. I exhibit honesty and fairness becuase that is what I would want in return. Any insistence that this is not the case is an unwarranted insult to my character.
I just needed to vent really quickly, girls.
Al this for
one discontinued foundation?!
Sheesh! 
Lesson learned- I'm staying away from that site from now on!!
