Vector - Cutco vector marketing is too a ripoff Bay City Michigan

I worked for vector marketing during my fist summer in college. I saw an add in the paper that was boasting an hourly rate. I went to the place which was a shabby looking hall in the basement of an office building. After the presentation that was not in any way informative, we had our one on one interviews. I asked them if this was a door to door or telemarketing kind of position and was told no. In fact, I was told that I would be provided with leads. We were also told that only a certain number of people could be hired. Afterwards, we found that all 15 of us had been hired. When we inquired about that, they said that they were keeping all of because they liked us so much and couldn't say no. They would deal with corporate later. They then gave us the knife presentation, and asked which of us were still interested. Those that raised their hands were given a form to fill out and told that this was just a form to sign out a set of knives. It wasn't until we got to the bottom where we sign when we saw that we were required to pay $140. When we asked what that was about, we were told to disregard that and just sign. They told us that we would not have to pay that fee if we attended the conference that was coming the following week. Needless to say, after the conference, we were told that the so-called big boss, through out the policy and we now had to make good on the contract we had signed. They tried to make things better by telling us that if we sold just a few sets of the steak knives that our set would be paid for because they would just take whatever commission we earned. As if we already didn't feel stupid for working for them, the leads that they promised us were actually self generated. They stood in the front of the room and asked us to think about all of the people that we had ever met, and tell them a number. They then asked us to write down their names. When we had done that, they told us that those were our leads. When we reminded them that we were told they would give us leads, they said that they just did. In the end, none of us made any money and were out the cost of our sets. The Cutco knives are great. I have no problem whatsoever with the product or the company. It's Vector Marketing that is the problem. Afterwards, we found out that the three guys in that office were trying to get promoted to district managers and had to basically reach a quota. 

As a concerned father of my 18 year old son who just got back from one of these interviews I feel the need to put my two cents worth in on this ROR! I've read several sites regarding Vector Marketing, and one fact that stands out on this company of all of the sites there are maybe at tops 10 to 20 positive reviews of this company which consist of 90% of the positive reviews from current employees the other 10% are people who are considering the company after the interview. As for the other side there are literally thousands and thousands of complaints against this company. There are 0 reviews from customers about the products, 0 (positive) reviews ex-employee. This speaks volumes about what these other responses are saying! It says to potential well informed consumers that doing business with this company might not be the poor decision! As a business owner myself I have two salesmen who get paid an average salary plus benefits and perks based on their records and sales. As a salesman they have certain tools they need to perform their job, to which the company pays for (Phones, laptops, and our products)! These salesman walk out the door with thousands of dollars of merchandise and equipment. So to be a legitimate representative of a company the salesman should be given the tools to perform the job required, if they want to charge you for there merchandise to sell "YOU ARE NOT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THAT COMPANY" You are a subcontractor which means you are on your own if the company selling you the kit provides nothing else. If a company says anything else they are lying to you, and you should beware that you are not really an employee rather a customer. There are very detailed descriptions of the techniques used by this company listed all over by people who have been through this situation, and my opinion is that the shady techniques used by this company should not be overlooked by someone considering employment with Vector! First off 10% commission is a lousy rate, the majority of the companies that subcontract their sales force and require you purchase their merchandise for resale will charge you a resellers price, plus shipping cost, and the remaining amount from the sale belongs to the salesman. With this a set of knives sells for 250.00 (from what I've read) you pay 145.00 (now assuming this is the resellers price and shipping) you should be receiving 155.00 commission! However this companies practice only gives 10% which is 25.00 which means you are getting less than the national average for this type of sales. Second and most of all YOU are providing the contacts, YOU are making the presentations, YOU are doing all the work, while they are providing the product! This is capitalism at it worst, Most people just out of high school or in college, are not business mature enough to understand that hard work takes time to pay off, and you don't get something for nothing, You are not weak for questioning these practices! There is a business ethics code that companies like this ignore, it is unethical to promise thousands young people just starting out in life that they "WILL" be successful if they buy into this business plan, and then put up impossible rules and actions designed to make most fail, just to find one or two that might succeed!

I actually went in for an interview with these people. I actually read it in the newspaper also. They were offering $15 dollars an hour. That was without commission also. But once I talk to the guy he wouldn't answer any of my questions. I asked about the product and who we sold it to and he totally diverted the question. Later I found out that I had to pay money in order to work there. I was in shawlk because its a job. I thought I was getting paid to work. This place is just a huge scam. They don't want you to know anything about the company then what they tell you. They say they are open about what they sale but how is that possible when they aren't even open with the people that might become there future employees. If you ask me I WOULD NOT work for them!!

i would like to say that vector is in no way a scam.  it can, like any sales job, be highly lucrative.  i have worked in sales and marketing on an off for about two years.  recently i was laid off from my job at the factory, and decided to take a job a vector.  we did the group interview, and they had us fill out a sheet about ourselves, which for some strange reason asked what are parents professions are, so i said mine were a chemist and a physical therapist.  now i got the job

1. How much time is required for a sale?
2. What is your average travel time to see a prospect?
3. How many appointments per day?
4. What are the expected sales comissions?

and finally

5. What is the salesman's expected closing rate?



1. depends on the rep..... i take 45-90 min
2. 2 sec- 3 days. you find them and you choose who you want to see so its your call
3. again you work as hard as you want so 0-12 if your devoted
4. sales vary 10%-50%
5. id say 66.6% but i'd shoot low at 50% when you first start

legit job you do have to work it like a job to really make money... i've been working it like a hobby lately and made 1.5k this past month so if you really work this like a job you can really make alot of real good money. not a scam. not even close.

1. How much time is required for a sale?
2. What is your average travel time to see a prospect?
3. How many appointments per day?
4. What are the expected sales comissions?

and finally

5. What is the salesman's expected closing rate?

*Excellent knives are not exactly hard to find and buy, so there is a LOT of competition.
*Consumer Reports writes test reports on knives and I have even seen comparisons & recommendatins in Smart Money.

The first two "rebuttals" provided no information that would address the above five (5) questions, but rather these rebuttists seemed to have only posted personal attacks. You might say these were the unkindest cuts of all.......

I am a Cutco representative and have been for the last year or so. When I saw the ad for the job, it CLEARLY stated that your training is NOT paid!

Secondly, these complainers are whining that they actually have to put a deposit or buy their kit??? These knives are expensive, not free! Cutco used to loan out kits for free and has probably lost thousands of dollars to deadbeats like these who want something for nothing! How many of these reps would just get the kit, not work then take off with the knives without paying for them?? HMMM I wonder..... And besides, the cost of these kits is usually a greatly reduced price- A deal at any cost! Like I said, Whiners wanting something for nothing!

Did any of you reading these complaints ever wonder what kind of job history these complainers have? It seems to me as if they are complaining that they have to do some actual "work" to get paid..... Thats what a paycheck is for- WORK!!!!

Asking people for 10 names of the people that they know personally, is not alot to ask for! This company is actually HELPING their employees become successful by having them "practice" on their friends and family! Do these complainers actually KNOW so much that they think they can go out and make a $2500 sale on their first appointment with a stranger when they dont know the script or how to drop down??? Its an easy and fun way to practice, and if you come from a better than low brow kind of grouping and you are not illiterate, heck you might even make a sale if they can "afford" it!!!

Now dont get me wrong, I am not making millions from Cutco! Heck I am still at the 15% level, but I also dont work it on a full time basis! You get back what you put in, if you dont work, you dont eat- That saying is in the bible lazy people!

If you buy your kit, even if you dont sell a single knife; They do not charge the full price of the knives in the kit, so you still made money by saving money!

For those of you with decent work ethics. Please ignore these complaints about Cutco! Cutco has been around for years and they make a quality product and stand behind it 100%! How many other companies will sharpen and polish a knife you found at a goodwill store, or Grandma, or Aunt Ethel put in her will for you for free?

So to all you lazy people who complain about wanting something for nothing...
GET A JOB AND QUIT WHINING! PUT UP OR SHUT UP!

I have several critiscisms of your comment, and as a contractor through the company, NOT and employee, working towards managment I feel I have the knowledge to correct your statements. I am just sorry that your unfortunate experience has turned away so many potential successful individuals.

First:
"The man was sleazy and I could tell immediately that it was a scam. I stayed to be courteous." You went into the interview with a negative attitude. And before you ever heard anything you already had a predetermined disposition about the opportunity.

Second:
"After a long presentation, he told us that he could only hire 5 of us,"
Although I doubt that a stand up individual such as yourself would lie on a public forum, the situation that you encountered here is NOT at all a correct portrayal of the interview process.

an hour and a half IS a long time for someone who is preoccupied with the MMORPG that they have to return to when finished trying to find a job that pays an hourly rate. (hourly jobs have very limited income potential because there will never be more than 24 hours in a day) Vector marketing is in no way an hourly job. Although your income is proportional to how much work you actually put in.

As far as the office saying they could only hire 5 individuals, either this was misunderstood or the office manager that interviewed you was mistaken because for the most part offices are always looking for any individual capable of following instructions.

Third:
"The "interview" basically consisted of some quick questions, and then him telling us we were hired." This statement was exaggerated. Those "quick" questions took up about 70 minutes of that hour and a half interview, and it was more an explanation of the product, pay scale, and work conduct expected, with some questions to ensure attention thorughout the interview. Because the opportunity is so unique it is virtually impossible for for anyone to tell who will be good at it by an interview. It is this fact that ensures anyone who is able to drive, read a manual and talk with customers without behaving like the normal rebellious youth is given hired. The ones who were not ment for the job will eventually weed themselves out, and there is no obligation by anyone to stay with the company.

Fourth:
"Then we learned that we had to buy a Demo kit"
Yes you do have to either buy your demo kit for 75% off, or put down a deposit which is at a 75% discount off the full price. This deposit is fully refundable if you choose not to stay with the copany. If you have ever worked at Abercrombie and Fitch, Aeropostale, Hot Topic, J crew, Khols, JC Penny, Wilson's Leather, Meijer, Walmart, Radioshack, or any number of other outlets, you probably have expierienced having to buy at least one outfit or a shirt or somthing from then to be considered "attired". Exact same principal.

Fifth:
"You have to go door to door,"
I have no other way to put it...... This statement is FALSE and in fact is against company policy. You do presentations in peoples homes, but not at random... In fact your visit is scheduled and timed very strictly.


Sixth:
"Also, the building that they used for these interviews was a rented out hall made into an office. It was not an established company in the town like they had said."
These offices are called branch offices and are run by branch managers individually. Not by the company. But these offices are directlly associated with the parent office. I garuntee that nobody in california or even michigan for that matter would want to travel to the home office in New york to attend meetings. This is not a con but a pro.


Seventh:
"....actually take the job and they ended up losing money."
The only way that you lose money is if you treat it like a hobby. I garuntee if you treat it like a hobby you will pay the job. But if you treat it like a job you will be rewarded. (imagine that! Having to work to get paid?)

Eight:
I am not sure why i am still correcting a statement that is virtually all false. Hopefully the readers of this statement will realize that this and many others like it are in most cases the result of a person who gets by on the 8-5 job at slave wages and spends most of the time on the clock in the bathroom or on break... A lazy individual. Obviously this isn't true for everyone, but use your better judgement, and make a descision for yourself.

But even if you choose not to take the opportunity for what it is, don't spread false truths about something that you personally were not dedicated enough to succeed at.

Thank you.