Are You a Con Criminal?
Over at Pink Truth, there is a provocative piece, What are the Mary Kay Little White Lies?
"One of the reasons you are kicking yourself for joining Mary Kay is, you knew it was suspect from the beginning. You felt it in your gut but you swept that idea aside because you fell for the charisma and sincerity of your “presenter.” One of reasons you successfully got guests to attend, is because you did not tell them the total truth, because if you did they would resist your invitation. You know this. You cheerfully called guest events by any other name besides recruiting meeting. Your first was innocent, being naïve and all, but eventually you figured it out... and bait and switch no longer bothered you. As mentioned in the Dreams Drive and Deception article , the small seemingly insignificant “little white lies” do a slow indoctrinational assault on your integritythat one hardly notices. We here at Pink Truth are chastised for “not taking responsibility” for our “lack of integrity” and I have to say we do own 50% of that issue. "
One of my observations is the people often detect a fraud, but somehow let their mind talk them out of what they know to be instinctively true: run away.
Tracy identifies a number of techniques which allows the MK recruit to skirt the truth, and here they are:
"It still begs the question though, how even from the beginning we understood that full disclosure – “honest communication” would not create the “success” we were looking for. Some examples:Don’t say “dollars"... just say the number “just 104”
Say “practice face” instead of sales appointment, she might not book, otherwise.
Say, “you plus two”, that seems small and you can add more when pre-profiling.
Call everyone in the fishbowl and tell them they won the free facial.
Say, “I was challenged by my Director” even though technically you weren’t, it makes people want to help you.
Use “yes answer” questions, they make the prospect agree with you, instead of finding out what they really think.
Use a choice between two things instead of asking a yes or no, like, would you want to take home the Miracle Set or the Ultimate Miracle set? Asking a direct question will many times get you a “no.”
You’re not “recruiting”, you are building a “team”... business associate is so much better! "
A number of these sales techniques are what we would come to expect from any legitimate sales or distribution company.
Well, except for the fake prize trick.
How do you know when you have crossed the line with your sales technique, from smooth compliance operator into con criminal fraudster?
Any suggestions?
Comments
I have been reading about MK and as a former consultant I got to tell ya you guys are right on the money regarding MK. I have recently exercised the repurchase and have found that the star consultant gifts that I and other consultants earned selling MK products and the free product that I received on my first initial order (business start-up inventory) I have to pay for, how does a company such as MK give a gift then because you are exercising an option offered at sign-up, make you pay for them? I began with $1800.00 inventory and I got $300.00 RETAIL VALUE FREE, the wholesale is yes 50% $150.00 I have to pay the lesser of the two and the star consultant prize was a wallet and notebook organizer valued at $129.00 according to the in-touch website, personally quality wasn't what I expected. The economy we are working with now is too hard for MK business and my director says it doesn't (the economy) affect the cosmetic industry. HELLO!!!! I was born at night but not last night. Glad to be leaving MK. Didn't see the scam for all the glamor. I was up front told my recruiter that I didn't want a car I was allergic to the alloys in the jewelry and I didn't want to bring anyone to any meetings, all I wanted to do was sell the product. My recruiter was supportive of ladies putting money in her pocket and all but ignored those of us that didn't do so good. At meeting if you sold $300.00 and up you got a atta girl and if you recruited anyone you were top dog, what is so great about the red jacket? the 1099 at the end of the year? The endless hours spent preparing for an event is so contradictory to what we are told, I only worked 35 hrs this week and made this much money!!!!! What they don't say is the additional 35 hours worked to get the bookings. I worked twice as long and hard to NOT get anywhere with my business. I am a true CHRISTIAN and MK should be ashamed of some of the units out here using the LORD as a vessel to line their pockets with money. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU THAT ARE USING GOD IN SUCH A WAY!!!!!!!
Posted by: susie wilson | March 26, 2008 1:53 PM