A Husband’s Response to a Sales Director Quitting
Following the receipt of a letter from a long-time Mary Kay sales director to her unit, the husband of a consultant sent this response.
This letter is likely representative of what so many Mary Kay husbands and boyfriends see. That they’re not being “unsupportive.” They’re being realistic and factual. They see and say that Mary Kay is not a viable business opportunity. That isn’t unsupportive. That is love… wanting the best for your partner.
His note:
My name is xxxxx, husband of xxxxxx. I am sorry to hear of you stepping down. I only wish it had happened years ago. I have no ill feelings for you, but I despise Mary Kay. I wish I could put them out of business tomorrow and return money to all the women who are in financial trouble because of Mary Kay.
I could see Mary Kay for what it was, a scam. But xxxxxx had the Mary Kay blinders on. Twice I had to bail her out of credit card debt. I could see it coming but I had to let her lose $6,000 before her mindset would change. But it took that much money because of all the crap she was fed by Mary Kay.
The sad part is Mary Kay has some really good products – but they’re too expenses! So now xxxxxx is pretty much a personal use consultant with a basement full of “product” that is worthless.
I feel lucky that she only wasted about a year and only lost the $6,000. But I would much rather have the money in our savings account. Mary Kay has a smooth operation. Xxxxxx is a pretty smart woman but she fell for all the hype. I can only imagine how many women are out there whose lives were literally destroyed by Mary Kay.
Xxxxxx is a teacher now working 50-60 hours a week for roughly $10 per hour. But she is very happy. It really is what she was put on this earth to do because she is the only Bible some kids will ever see.
This letter probably won’t mean much to you but I feel better just getting this off my chest. I wish I could tell the world what I think of Mary Kay, Inc. So if you have a plan to take Mary Kay down you can count me in.
I wish you the best in whatever direction you choose. I know you will be successful.
P.S xxxxxx hasn’t seen your letter yet, let alone know about this letter I’m writing you.
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How telling that my first reaction to this letter was, “Only $6000? She was one of the lucky ones!” We’re so used to the idea of women having lost tens of thousands of dollars in Mary Kay, many to the point of declaring bankruptcy.
This isn’t even to mention the failed marriages due to the financial ruin caused by MK. If the couple didn’t break up over money per se, they broke up over the loss of trust from the consultant or director hiding the debt from her husband.
Thank God it sounds like the letter-writer’s marriage survived. Thanks to this gentleman for sharing this with us.
My kudos to this man for keeping his temper throughout this correspondence. I am sure the first couple of drafts were filled with anger and vitriol toward Mary Kay. (I know mine would be). My wife continues to work as an MK independent consultant and I don’t like it. All told, I think I’ve paid out nearly $8,000 in credit card debt, not to mention a trip to seminar and various “Red Jacket” retreats which are nothing more than a psycho-babble, self-validation “re-treads” designed to get the women away from their husbands and keep subordinate team members buying product every month so a select few can remain in NSD or car status. I’ve been accused several times of being “too traditional” in my thinking as to gender roles in marriage. Here’s my take: Ladies, if your husband is providing a home, health insurance and access to medical care, a well maintained vehicle, food in the pantry and refrigerator, plus all the little extras ($200 salon hair appointments, manicure, etc.), YOU need to reciprocate and not complain about your social life passing you by because you made the decision to marry and have children. Mary Kay is nothing but a pyramid “rent-a-friend” scheme designed to suck away your wealth and likely much of the equity in your home if you’re not careful. It’s a crime we live in a society which values personal vanity and the pursuit of material status over the education of children. I for one am glad his wife is happy. What disturbs me is the fact she makes only $10.00 an hour passing along knowledge to our children which lasts a lifetime. Can you say the same for a candy pink Escalade?
I agree with most of what you’re saying (unless I’m misreading). If a woman is provided for by her husband, while she will likely be grateful, she will still have social needs. I don’t know if you’re referring specifically to your wife, but if she or anyone else on here is looking to MK to fulfill that spot, you’re not wrong for having that need.
I chose to be married and have kids, but that doesn’t mean I can ignore the social aspect of myself. But there are so many things out there you can look to that won’t cost you your family, finances, and marriage like MK will. Look into MOMS Club (an international organization with lots of local chapters), MOPS, or even meetup.com to find moms groups with common interests. MK just preys on that need that we all have. There are plenty of alternatives.
“It’s a crime we live in a society which values personal vanity and the pursuit of material status over the education of children.”
If history is any indicator, this sort of status quo won’t be going on for much longer before something big breaks (see: France, 1783; Russia, 1918, etc).
I agree with these husbands. I was that MK wife who thought she could make it Mary Kay. I did the check book and paid the bills so I knew what I was spending. After getting snookered into becoming a director, the shine came off of Mary Kay. Thank God, my husband didn’t throw me out when I told her how much I had spent in Mary Kay. I best guess is $20,000. I stayed in to sell off my inventory and pay off my debts. I stepped down as a director, didn’t order, just sold off inventory. And I NEVER went after those stupid prizes, nor attended another Mary Kay event.
Eventually I found PinkTruth and realized that that I had to just quit Mary Kay. June of 2012, I sold off the last of my slim inventory, and had Mary Kay retire my number. My husband and I are very happy with our Mary Kay free life. Some of us are slow learners, but most of us eventually figure it all out.
My husband would agree with this man’s letter – although, mine would use a lot more inappropriate language. I came to him after a few roughs months and he was compassionate. He admitted he believed there was potential for success but the more he watched me try and try to get it off the ground, the more he saw that MK was eating at my happiness. I was being forced to be someone I’m not. To push people I love. He was even more supportive when I told him I wanted out.
I like what this husband had to say. He worded it great and it sounded like he and his wife are still together. That’s good, I can only imagine how many women are ruined financially and divorced because of MK.
Bless that poor man for staying by his wife as she drank the pink kool-ade. They were fortunate to have a strong marriage in the first place to weather the MK storm