Also, when I do a certain level of work, I can earn prizes from MK (key word -EARN) – ontop of the money I make. If I were solo, it would simply be the money, the prizes from Mk are a perc.

So, I must follow some rules but for me, the trade off’s are well worth it. If they weren’t worth it – I simply wouldn’t continue on as a consultant.

You said:

“What bugs me about this, is that “I” don’t get to sit at the table and have a say as to what the packaging will look like, how much R&D $$ will be spent on new product, what the new product will be, when it will launch. Simply put, “I” don’t get a say.”

Were you promised any of these things? This is not an inherent part of joining any organization.

I am sure that Sean (who has much more knowledge of franchises than I) would agree that if you bought a franchise (much more “ownership” there I believe) you would not get many of these things you are asking for.

If you wanted to have the kind of ownership you are talking about, you are going to need to start your own product line. Then you get to have a say in research and development and things like product launch time lines.

Otherwise, you are simply signing up to sell someone’s product for them. I think most people see this part of the business (the part you are complaining about) as a benefit. You don’t have to worry about the research and development (a very costly endeavor as I understand it) but you get to benefit from their effort of doing it. If the product they are turning out, the rate they are changing things over, or ANYthing about the company is “not you”, then you should find something that “is you” and be a part of that.

I think mk4me spoke pretty well to the advertising aspect.

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Now, having established that what you experienced (no involvement in product research and development, etc) is the standard… It is the way things are. It is in fact, typically a selling point. The question is not whether or not this is the way Mary Kay is, but whether or not this is what was offered you.

Did someone tell you that you were going to get to make these kinds of decisions? Or did you hear “own your own business” and translate that to mean that you would have a hand in everything?

If you were given the impression that you would be involved on such a large scale, why did you not question that? Did it really not occur to you to ask in what way you would be contributing to all these aspects of the company? Were you not at all curious about whether it would involve sitting in on board meetings, conducting nationwide surveys, extensively testing various new formulas (and on and on)? I can’t fathom how that would work logistically.

The angle “we will do all the ‘back end’ work so you are free to just sell the product” just makes a lot more sense.

Whenever I have a client that has a complaint about a discontinued product, I always ask them to call 1-800-MaryKay and let them know, they do listen.

At the Seminar at Expo, you can talk to the Product Development staff and they are very willing to listen.

When the Company discontinues a product, they look at the volume of purchases from the consultants, if the volume is low, it may discontinued, if the volume is high, it won’t.

As far as advertising, there are many, many legally approved ad slicks that we can use to advertise, the Company does pay to advertise in publications and have now even started advertising on tv. The only thing we aren’t free to do is design our own ads. For the protection of all of us, I am actually glad we have certain standards to adhere to. I have scene some facial boxes in different establishments that look like a second grader put them together, that is not the image I want someone to have of my business and products.

So I guess there are two sides to every coin.

If one doesn’t like the parameters we are asked to follow then we don’t need to be a part of it.
For the most part, I feel I run my business as my business – even franchises have certain rules they must adhere to.

Section 2 items are NOT returnable. Sell them on ebay or Craigslist…. after you have terminated your Mary Kay agreement.

Any other product that falls outside of the 12 month parameter, you can sell to a liquidator if you want or on ebay. That’s provided you can’t sell it in a fire sale. Why not? Why give it away and get nothing for it? You can’t sell on-line when you’re active, but there’s nothing saying you can’t when you’ve terminated your agreement.

Go to pinktruth.com if you need help locating a liquidator.

Personally I used anneszoo. There is Touch of Pink as well.

Okay, I think I’ve figured out what bugs me about the whole MLM, “my expectations” versus “their (corporate’s) expectations” thing is.

As a consultant you “own” your own business. So they say. What bugs me about this, is that “I” don’t get to sit at the table and have a say as to what the packaging will look like, how much R&D $$ will be spent on new product, what the new product will be, when it will launch. Simply put, “I” don’t get a say.

But I have to do all the donkey work at the other end in order for the product to be successful? And absorb 100% of the cost.

When has Mary Kay ‘ever’ asked the sales force their thoughts, opinions, etc., etc. on any product, it’s performance, needs for improvement. Whether it’s a favorite of their customer base and whether their general population actually purchasing the product will be upset if it’s discontinued???? They never ask for any upward feedback. The sales force are stakeholders in the business. Their opinions and input do count. They’re the ones at the front line. Not the NSDs. The NSDs haven’t sold since Christ was a cowboy (in many instances).

See that’s what rubs me wrong. It’s not “my” business if I never get a say about anything except how much I finally end up selling the product for. I say that, because I’m very much controlled in how I am “allowed” to advertise my business, right down to where and when.

Theoretically, it all sounds good. But for a lot of girls, when you execute [it] it just doesn’t work out that way.

That’s my experience and there’s nothing out there (re corporate involving its salesforce in R&D and product developement, etc.) to say that reality contradicts that.

If any business shows a loss but the expenses are in line with the profits, the IRS can still allow it.

And a very common mistake is inventory is not a business expense. Inventory is an assest. With many of the common mistakes made, it is highly possible that Brenda Konchar’s expenses were so out of line, that the IRS had every reason to disallow them.