Vector Marketing Is Not a Scam: Still, The Job is Far From As Advertised

No experience necessary, flexible hours and potential for large earnings; these are the words on a pamphlet put forth by Vector Marketing, just one of thousands littered across university campuses to target students.

Vector Marketing is the sales firm subsidiary of Alcas Corporation, a company that manufactures a diverse line of kitchen knives and accessories by the name of Cutco. The company doesn’t sell its product in stores, but rather through a one-on-one approach that involves personal demonstrations in the homes of potential customers on an appointment basis – the no cold-calling strategy is just another attractive aspect of job.

The opportunity for large profit is undeniable. Vector offers a guaranteed base pay of $16 per appointment or a weekly commission if it exceeds the money you earn from appointments. Commission varies from 10-30% based on your success, and even if you don’t make a sale you are guaranteed the $16 base pay. Considering that Cutco’s most popular knife set costs just under $1200, a Vector representative can earn well over $100 in just one appointment based on commission.

Troy Winkelman, a 19-year-old student from Wisconsin who worked at a ventilation fans manufacturer prior to Vector, was able to make $550 in just three hours of work.

“[Through Vector] I just paid for tuition, room, meals, gas, insurance, and repairs on my car,” said the Wisconsin College sophomore.

Still, there seems to be more unsatisfied ex-Vector recruits and harsh criticisms of Vector than there are supporters of the company.

One website blames the company for unethical business practice and scamming young students because they are “trainable, ignorant of corporate practices, non-threatening to potential customers, and don't have many other work options.” There are also over a dozen websites labelling the company as a complete scam.

Numerous Facebook groups are targeted towards boycotting the company, one of them with over 500 members posting their negative Vector experiences. To further encourage the boycott, an online petition to stop the company was started and now boasts over 7,500 signatures.

In a 1996 Washington Post article, Wisconsin Consumer Protection Department supervisor David Tatar said that a 1992 survey of 940 Vector recruits found out “that almost half either earned nothing or lost money working for Vector" and that "workers in [Wisconsin] earned less than $3 a day on average selling cutlery for Vector."

The truth is that Vector is not a scam. All of its claims are legitimate, but there are some aspects of the job that one needs to consider before applying that aren’t necessarily covered on the job posting:

Unpaid Training

Right after the interview, all employees are required to attend mandatory training and seminars. Unfortunately, these are 3 unpaid days spent in an office for 6-8 hours each day. There are friendly competitions and some fun interactive activities, but the overall training isn’t something to look forward to.

You Pay Them to Start

All Vector representatives are required to purchase a sample knife set to demonstrate for customers. This ranges from $100-$150 and needs to be paid before you receive any money from Vector.

Make Your Own Appointments

Your first appointments will be done with family and close friends, and after each demonstration you are expected to request 15-20 contacts who would also be willing to see your presentation. You tell them that you get paid whether or not you make a sale, so most people will give you approximately 10 names and phone numbers of people just willing to view the presentation, regardless of interest.

To schedule demonstrations, you need to call the people on the list and explain to them who you are, how you got their number and the reason for your call. Determining who to call, making the phone calls and arranging a meeting that suits your own schedule as well as the schedule of the potential customer is all done on your own time.

Travel to Destinations

Once your appointments are set, you’ll need to get to the homes of your potential customers – wherever they may be. The time to travel to and from their house could take just as long as the approximately one-hour presentation. If you don’t make a sale, suddenly your $16 base pay turns into a measly $8/hour.

Weekly Meetings

Mandatory weekly meetings are arranged for Vector representatives to reflect on their sales of the week. Again, they are unpaid and are done your own time. The necessary travel time to branch offices may not be worth the hour-long bragging conference. On top of the meetings, Vector representatives are required to call their managers before 8:00 a.m. every day to discuss the day’s scheduled appointments and previous sales figures.

Vector does provide opportunity for great earnings, but remember that the key word is opportunity. Nothing is guaranteed and to fully benefit from the job at Vector, be prepared to put a lot more work into it than you expect.

Extra travel, meetings and phone calls all take away from the flexible schedule you thought you had. This job can be the get-rich-quick scheme it promises, but it takes the right person and an unanticipated amount of work. For some, it's the most notable job on their resume. But for others, it's barely worth a mention.

May 2, 2008 10:26 AM

Guest :

Just another little tid-bit of information. Be prepared to get phone calls from about 15 of your friends asking you why they received a call from Vector Marketing telling them that you yourself are doing great and love the job. That's if you want a free veggitable peeler.

May 12, 2008 9:31 PM

Guest :

At least McDonald's guarantees you a wage.

http://cutcocomplaints.blogspot.com/

May 15, 2008 12:33 AM

Guest :

Vector Marketing is not a scam but we need to think about what it teaches young minds about business. We all want our kids to go to college to hopefully better themselves and the rest of the country but this business targets and teaches young recruits to bend the law to just be unethical not scamming but misleading. As a society we need to draw a line especially where young minds are concerned.

Vector Marketing is though guilty of breaking employment laws hiring applicants as independent Contractors for tax purposes but still having mandatory unpaid trainings, meetings and early or late harassing phone calls from managers treating applicants like employees. They started this idea under the vague job posting making applicants believe that they were working for an actual company when their success rides solely on them having to find their own contacts(family and friends).

May 16, 2008 5:27 AM

Guest :

The meetings aren't actually mandatory, they are simply for the representatives benefit. They are independent contractors who reserve the right to do what they want with their business as long as they don't misrepresent the company. However, the meetings will help you to gain skills that will increase your efficiency in selling the product so it's always good to attend if you want to do well.

May 1, 2009 11:13 AM

Guest :

"You Pay Them to Start"

Thats where the siren rings. Be smart and avoid these god awful scams.

http://www.spamlaws.com/vector-marketing-scam

May 1, 2009 11:13 AM

Guest :

"You Pay Them to Start"

Thats where the siren rings. Be smart and avoid these god awful scams.

http://www.spamlaws.com/vector-marketing-scam

May 1, 2009 10:07 PM

Guest :

I have experience watching friends get involved in a scam. This smells just like it. Asking you to pay upfront like Vector does is a huge red flag. If you are guaranteed to make that much money then the company should be able to pay for your upfront fees, knowing all the money you would bring into the company. This is a way to scam unsuspecting college students. The supervisors are Think about it. $16 base pay. Thats more than most adults make. Job's just aren't that easy. And job's that pay that much just are not that easy to get.

May 6, 2009 12:33 PM

Guest :

all in all a more fair account then most online of vector marketing, but keep in mind that the unpaid training is not unusual of many companies out there, nor is the deposit required for the sample set, and is just that a deposit, and is fully refundable whenever the representative chooses the leave the company. The representative can do appointments as far as they choose but it is their choice and most reps prefer to work around their area and around their schedule. As far as flexibility, one phone call to an office instead of a stop in, and a one hour meeting a week is pretty low maitenance as far as most positions go. All in all no one will dispute the fact that Vector marketing is just that, an opportunity, and an amazing one, but it is up to the individual representatives to succeed.

May 9, 2009 8:45 AM

Guest :

I actually just quit my Vector training when I started seeing everything in this article come to the surface. One inaccurate thing in your article however. They train you ask each client you meet with to recommend only 2 contacts (not 15-20). Other than that this article is very true. The reason I ended up quitting was when the "DM" told me to blow off my other jobs to make a ridiculous amount of appointments that weekend. I walked out and never called back.

May 11, 2009 8:06 AM

Guest :

I've worked with them for 4 years. Mandatory meetings? Calling before 8 a.m.? Never heard of such things.

The job is a great opportunity to start your own personal business. You will gain skills that will help you for life, and YES it is very hard so don't come in our doors unless you are prepared to work hard, learn, and develop your self for success. Most people that work for us wind up being very successful people in a wide variety of professions.

May 11, 2009 8:12 AM

Guest :

May 11, 2009 2:14 PM

Guest :

I was there for 3 months back in 2002. I've created a report that exposes everything about Vector they don't want you to know. It will save you hours of time searching for the truth. Everything about the Vector Marketing Scam is right here. http://www.MyCutcoSecrets.com

May 12, 2009 9:34 PM

Guest :

I worked for Vector for 6 months now. I've been promoted to assistant manager and next year I'll be opening my own business with Vector at the age of 20. I'm currently making 30% off what I sell, plus money off what the office sells. I can easily sell $1000 a day. That's $300 in a day for a 19 year old. The people who say Vector is a scam just see the $15 base pay and think they can scam the company. Then, they find out they have to work for their money. Vector is for the go getters that want to make their dreams come true through integrity and work, not the people who want the luck and things to fall in their lap.

May 13, 2009 5:16 AM

Guest :

...So I have an interview at Vector today..
..After reading so many websites that have discriminatory remarks about the corporation, I'm feeling hesitant to go.

..I just hope it isn't a scam..

I guess I'll find out.

May 14, 2009 12:20 AM

Guest :

I have been working for Vector for almost a year, July 4th!!!! I started out where everyone from the company does, including the Western President Bruce Goodmann. I was a Rep. I made $800 in my first 3 days of work, not including the 16 hours of unpaid training. My next full weeks worth of work i made $1,340. Yes, I worked incredibly hard, probably harder than I had ever worked before. My Distric Manager pushed me to do all i could. He wanted to see me hit my goal. He spent hours on the phone helping my when i had questions, and helping me make sales. I was in the office all the time, not because i had to be, but because its fun. I talked to other Reps, many of whom helped me out with advice and encouragement. I was growing my bank acount very quickly, but grew personally much faster. On my 11th day I was promoted to Assistant Manager.My case is not the norm, I worked hard, and when after what I wanted. I was able to pay for my Out of State tuittion for the college of my choice because of Vector, and because of all the work i put in, and because of those 16 hours of unpaid training, and because I spent $145 on a sample set. Thats why we don't market in stores. It keeps the price down for costomers, the quality up, and it allows those people who want to make good money with no experience to do so. Is this job for everyone? NO!!!!!!! You must be Self Motivated, Willing to put in work for small results at first, then make more while working less later. You have to be positive, because things dont always go well, but you know with the support of that manager who always calls you, and those really cool people from the office that you have team meetings with, and then have team night out, you will be fine, you will get back to sales, and you will make money. Finally, I want to stress the most important part. Money is great, but it is earned and speant, and it isnt made into more money. Experance is however always there, it always benifits you, and it will always allow you to get another job, one that might fit better. Vector for many is a way to get their resume recognized. My first ten days have a promotion from Trainee to Sales Rep, then to Advanced sales rep, then to advisor, to senior advisor, and Assistan manager. Thats 5 Very Impressive promotions in ten days. Im a Senior Advisor for a Multi Million Dollar Marketing Corporation. With this resume, I am now in the #4 Managment, and Buiseness college in the nation. I owe my present and future to vector.

May 22, 2009 3:17 PM

Guest :

wow, so you're going to comment on how "horrible" a company is and you can't even spell VEGETABLE correctly.
you're a real winner.
like they said, vector is NOT a scam. you're just not going to make any money unless you are good at it.

May 26, 2009 8:24 AM

Guest :

"The truth is that Vector is not a scam. All of its claims are legitimate, but there are some aspects of the job that one needs to consider before applying that aren’t necessarily covered on the job posting:"

Is the author high? Misleading people is scamming them. That's the point of a scam. An infomercial telling people they can "make money buying and selling things online without ever seeing the product" is a scam or "lose weight with these free pills...($80 shipping/mo. in fine print)" is a scam just like this is. Everything in the few paragraphs after the ad shows it plain and simple. These companies are everywhere. Look for tell-tale words like "rapid advancement", "promote from within", "face to face marketing", "direct marketing", and "compensation is on a pay for performance basis". Looks like they have moved away from "sports marketing" and using comedy in the ad, ie "looking for marketing ninjas" since people have caught on.

I had an interview with one company similar to this. Went in for the first interview and it seemed like a cool place. The interview lasted maybe 5 minutes at the most. They said they'd call back the top 5 people. They called me and said I was in the top 10...ok, that was strange, but I needed a job. I went in and did "job shadowing". They drove everyone interviewing at least 30 minutes from the office, so we couldn't just get our cars and leave. We followed the interviewers around while they went door to door selling warped Disney books, unlicensed NFL hats, and crappy watches to businesses. I asked the guy if he did this in the rain/snow. He did. Then at the end, he showed me all the cash he had made that day, almost literally rubbing it in my face. It was $300, but he had to pay back 75% of what he made to pay for the crappy merchandise. In the end He got $80 walking miles in a suit for at least 9 hrs. selling to businesses that clearly had a "no solicitation" sticker on the door, and getting yelled at when trying to sell in a grocery store. And apparently this was a good day cause he sold all his merchandise. The kicker was when he was talking to another employee on the phone. He told me they took someone out who was 6 months pregnant doing all this and the employees were mad, my interviewer included, because she was complaining.

May 27, 2009 1:37 PM

Guest :

you obviously do not know enough about the job. You are a private contractor when working with vector so every mile you drive you write off $0.55 a mile. Saying your pay goes from $16 a demo to $8 a demo based on travel expenses is misleading. Vector dose not do payed training because people go around and sit through trainings to get paid for doing nothing but sitting there. Vectors training is instituted in college curriculum in many schools including but not limited to NC state and Boston college. Again I feel this whole piece is deceptive. Vector is in the Wall Street Journal saying that it is a great work opportunity, and if your argument is that it is hard work then I assume you are just looking to find a get rich fast scheme.

Jun 3, 2009 3:17 PM

Guest :

A BIG SCAM STAY AWAY KIDS
(A JOB THAT IS HIRING ALL THE TIME EVEN IN RECESSION)

Jun 3, 2009 8:25 PM

Guest :

I work for Vector as a PRA. I call the rep's referal lists. I noticed that not too many people take the jobs or show up for the interviews for that matter. I don't think it's a scam job anymore with the bbb rating of an A+. But I don't like the fact that they are independant contractors and that the referals tend to hang up with me because I can't tell them too much about the job. I am just the receptionist, I'm not the manager, so don't atomatically assume it's a scam until you come in for an interview and hear the manager out! If you receive a call from a Vector employee saying that you have been refered is the reason we are calling, it's because one of your friends is a rep and they refered you. You might have went to www.workforstudents.com and filled out an online application. And in addition, the base pay rate is not $16, it is $14. So please don't bite our heads off when we call! Thanks!!!!!!!!!

Jun 8, 2009 3:52 PM

Guest :

Please they advertise like you're going to make $15 an hour. It's not until you get through the actual training that you realize that you are only paid for going to the appointment. You could spend a day presenting to someone and only be paid $15 if they decide not to buy. They are frauds!

Jun 11, 2009 12:28 PM

Guest :

SCAMMMM

Jun 11, 2009 9:24 PM

Guest :

Im curently trainging right now and they ahvent said anything about a 150 payment on a sample kit...fuck that if they do...i aint got the moeny to do that shti...and the trainging days isnt payed but its fun and you dont have to pay for them...

Jun 13, 2009 6:54 AM

Guest :

Another website with FALSE information about Vector. You can return the starter set of knives after the working experience for a full refund, so the start-up cost at Vector is zero dollars.

Jun 13, 2009 3:51 PM

Guest :

Can you say Vector paid this site for a good article.... SCAM

Jun 15, 2009 3:23 PM

Guest :

thanks for the info it was very helpful, i was going to make an appointment for an interview but this info made me realized that for me it's not the job i want.

Jun 15, 2009 3:23 PM

Guest :

thanks for the info it was very helpful, i was going to make an appointment for an interview but this info made me realized that for me it's not the job i want.

Jun 17, 2009 7:13 PM

Thomas Alan Gray :

I read your article with interest because one of my sons worked for Vector and did fairly well. He might have stuck with it longer but was hampered by lack of a car. I don't recall him having to phone in his appointments but if he did it probably wasn't an onerous task.

He had the opportunity to keep his sales kit, which he declined; he was reimbursed for it. He earned several knives as bonuses though.

We let him practice on us and wound up buying a set thanks to the impressive demonstration. We've had the knives for 8 years and they're lasting well. I don't expect the D-edge blades to need sharpened for another two years. He found his first customers among our friends and church family, and we've asked over the years how they like the product. No one has been displeased. The knives are expensive but are of excellent quality, and hold an edge very well.

So regardless of what you think of Vector's sales methods, it's a good product and it's not a scam.

Jun 18, 2009 11:03 AM

Guest :

I just started with Vector Marketing and i have made a lot of money in the past few days. The training is unpaid but it is very beneficial and is definitely worth the time. It's not like three pain-staking of training, you just sit and listen and take notes and practice the manual used on the demonstrations. It was actually fun. You even get to test out the knives yourself in one the training sessions. This job is not a scam, the only people who think it is is the people who tried and were too lazy to call and make appointments and go to them. Those people should just work somewhere that does not require any self-motivation!
And you can work right in your area so it's not like you are traveling really far and using up gas and time, you schedule your appointments yourself so you can schedule them all around where you live.
To succeed in this job you only need self-motivation and people skills.

Jun 18, 2009 1:32 PM

Guest :

this is complete bull.
i work with vector marketing, yes, WORK, so i think i would know that nearly all of this is bullshit.
unpaid training? what, is the four hundred dollar paycheck after your first WEEKEND not good enough?
one meeting per week? you REALLY can't manage that?
i've had MULTIPLE jobs before this one, and i've never seen a bigger paycheck in my life.
and we do NOT ask for ten to fifteen names. try about four or five.

get your facts straight before you throw around the word "scam."

Jun 18, 2009 2:06 PM

Guest :

a friend of mine used to work for them and he didnt like it they told him all the same bs about $16 an hour and it wasnt. 6 months after he quit they called me saying i got referred by him so i said ok set up the appointment, i called him and he told me the job was crap and not worth it, now my cousins "working" there and hes saying how he is going to make 3000 a week ... we'll see

Jun 18, 2009 2:08 PM

Guest :

what kind of job doesnt pay you for training? if im gonna drive 5 miles or whatever i better be getting payed

Jun 18, 2009 9:04 PM

Guest :

I just had my interview today and am starting training next week, yes it did look like a scam to me at first too but after reading all the comments I honestly think it's not nearly as bad as people put it, if you're willing to go out and work for the money, you will get it. As for $.55 per mile of driving and what not... Take a bus? Honestly your never going to make anything if you don't try which is why it is set up the way it is but you can't really lose anything accept time from training and the interview even if you get the sample kit and all because you can return it for a full refund.
Lastly it actually pays $17.00 per interview and I realize it's not as easy as if it were per hour but most interviews are less than an hour which is again why it is set the way it is.

Jun 18, 2009 9:05 PM

Guest :

Jun 18, 2009 9:07 PM

Guest :

Ok everyone listen. those of you who have never worked for vector, don't judge a book by it's cover. Vector is a great oppurtunity for people to see what it's like to have your own business. If you do the work, you get paid. No lie, it is hard work. But it can end up being worth it in the end. If you schedule only five appointments a week, of course you'll get paid nothing. But if you work hard, get in five appoinments a day, thats about 400-500 dollars a week. That's good money and you don't ever have to sell anything. Although doing that many interviews, you tend to sell alot, especially since its people you know that you are selling to. Like i said, it's hard work. I've only been through first day of training and i am a very smart person and can smell scams a mile away. I can tell this is real. it just isn't easy. This article is misleading. Those of you afraid to try it, give it a chance and see whaat it's like. It might just not be the job for you.

Jun 19, 2009 5:53 PM

Guest :

Whether this company is a scam or not is truly determined by how dedicated and good you are at selling these knives. Not to bash CutCo, they ARE great knives, but you really won't make a lot of money at this job right away unless you are a phenomenal salesperson. I've been at it for about a week now, and dislike my job very much. I don't think it's nearly as flexible as they claim, where the business meetings ARE mandatory (they say they aren't, but if you miss one you might get into some trouble; I know I did).
It is $17 dollars an appointment, but where they say the appointment only takes around 45 minutes to an hour, I'm finding many of my own appointments are taking around 75-90 minutes, not including travel time(which I was originally told would be a business expense, where in actuality it is not) and phone preparation.
I took the job upon its flexibility, but have found that the amount of training and office time is somewhat ridiculous, considering it is unpaid. I beleive many students are in fact being scammed, but not all.
One friend of mine is making excellent money at this job, and loves it. He's been a great salesman and is quickly rising in the ranks of the company, however thi would not be the case for every individual.
Basically, I'm not trying to bash the company here, as I'm afriad that may have seemed, I think it is a great set of knives, but I don't think this is a job for everyone. Students out there should go in to the job well informed, and I find that Vector does not do a good job of informing its employees.

Jun 20, 2009 12:43 AM

Guest :

Vector is the best decision ive made in a while.
my base pay IS 16 bucks.
my managers are soooo cool and i work for the DVM of the Gulf Coast and that dude is BANKIN on sales. yes, HE sells, he doesnt quit. i as well am BANKIN on this job. the product is one of a kind and people really do like the presentation. Cutco knives are one of a kind product. sure, this is the last thing i thought i was gonna end up doing. but the experience that im getting is way more advanced than anyone my age and im 19. some people are just afraid of "too good to be true" try it out. it worked for me, and i plan to continue in the company for the rest of the year if not more. it is the opportunity of a lifetime. and as for hiring during a recession, Cutco, vector, and its employees are making more money than ever cuz people are spending more money on eating out than a nice home cooked meal and people are wanting to have that back. by having cutco they have the ferrari of knives that will last you a lifetime. i dont regret workin at vector at all. and its NOT A SCAM!!!

Jun 22, 2009 12:38 AM

Guest :

I'm a 19 years old and a sophomore at a University in Ohio. I also work for Vector in the summer. Yes I do sell Cutco and its line of kitchen, hunting, fishing, sporting knives along with other kitchen tools and utensils. and get paid ridiculous amount of money to do it. Yes there are meetings I attend to, even though they are unpaid, in order to get better at my job (and make MORE money!). Those $145 are probably the best 145 I ever invested in my future. I also pick when my hours 40 a week.
I love this job because what I get paid on comission is 30% of WHATEVER I SELL. That isn't even the best part, I've yet the to reach the 50% commission level. This is done by selling 30k of cutlery. I' have been working a month now and sold 17k and have made IN ONE MONTH 3.5k. I made all that money in the entire 3 MONTHS of my summer

Jun 22, 2009 3:01 AM

Guest :

Their intention is to get their own employees to be their main customer (start up kit) and once they succeeded at getting this done (after the clever interviews and promises)whether or not the employees remain, does not matter that much anymore.

Oh yes! There are stories about people actually making it. How? Perhaps they have connections whom are a little better off financially than others? Oh that A+ rating. Of course!!!--after they beguile their own employees into buying the merchandise. THATS the aim of the company. You aggregate ALL the souls whom fell victim to this elaborate scheme, the company makes a lot of money and earns some approbation from Wall Street of all entities.. Hmmmmmmmm

I am not saying you can't hone your salesmanship by peddling products. Heck, you may learn a little about the trade and build upon it. However, the point here is the motive of the company and that is to get you (employee) to BUY their product.

Wall Street giving praise to this? Go figure

Jun 22, 2009 8:07 PM

Guest :

I just went to the interview today, and it looked like a great deal. When I got home, my mom didn't like the idea of it, so I decided to look online, and think I have a good picture of it now. It seems like a legitimate business, and they lure you in with the money per hour, but what they don't tell you is, you have to find the customers yourselves. I already have a part time job, and the unpaid meetings and training will disrupt my current job. While this could be a good opportunity for some, it isn't for me

Jun 23, 2009 10:33 AM

Guest :

F*ck cutco, it is a scam and the author of this article is a sellout. Vector "Marketing" preys on young people to hassle family and friends to sell this crap, its overpriced and junk. Vector Marketing should be shut down

Jun 23, 2009 11:29 AM

Guest :

Tell your friends not to give your number then if you dont want them calling you. And there actually are people that make a lot of money and move up to management positions and are set for life. The advertisements are a little bit general but the people that work there seem to be happy and doing fine with everything.

Jun 23, 2009 7:01 PM

Guest :

Definitely the best and most honest description I have been able to find so far. It's as a job should be... you get out of it what you put into it.

Jun 23, 2009 8:01 PM

Guest :

Had the interview...regretted it. There were clearly 'planted' employees who praised the quality of the knives and such.....one was eerily enthusiastic about the knives, I don't know why. Anyway, if you have to PAY before being paid, that's a bad sign.
Secondly, I left the interview halfway through...AND SOMEHOW STILL GOT SELECTED! What the heck? Any serious job would refuse to even consider me. Stay away, seriously, it's not worth it.

Jun 24, 2009 7:17 PM

Guest :

I just went to an interview today. They said they will select the best for the job, but they seemed to select everyone.Also it is really unsafe going around stranger homes. So you it's not a scam. But it really is hard to make money.

Jun 24, 2009 7:41 PM

Guest :

I've been with the company since the end of May. It has its ups and downs, but it's not a scam like everyone seems to think. They aren't particularly up-front as far as the details go until you get into the training, but they are by no means a bad company. The knives are really awesome and they're not that expensive seeing as though you never have to buy anymore.
Anyone that thinks this is a scam hasn't stuck with it more than 2 seconds. Put forth the hard work and you'll reap the benefits. If you want to sit back and get free money then your lazy butt needs to look elsewhere.
The only downside to the company is the unstable paycheck. I had a crappy first one, a stellar second one, a decent third one, and I'm going to have a stellar fourth one. That's just the nature of sales though, and that's exactly what you're doing: SELLING.

Jun 24, 2009 7:42 PM

Guest :

Jun 25, 2009 7:23 PM

Guest :

I work for Vector, and with amazing results. I regularily pull in $1000+ paychecks every week working part time. 7,500 people putting their signatures on a boycott is nothing compared to the kitchen sales juggernaut that Cutco is. With over 15 million customers and over $200 million in annual sales, Vector and Cutco are driving forces in the cutlery market. They are the top selling cutlery company, with the second only averaging $50 million in sales anually.
I would also like to clear a few things up about how the business is run. I am a sales representative in the Omaha, NE branch. Our team is simply excellent. Dane Espegrad, our disrict manager, is a great guy, as is CJ Ricciardi and the rest of our management team. They are willing to accept your call at any point during the day, and you needn't call everyday as long as they know what you are up to. The training I received boosted my confidence and communication skills greatly, and working here is a positive environment where everyone is glad to work.
You do have to pay $142 to buy your demonstration set of knives. I use these all the time in my dorm room, and they are fully refundable when you are to leave the company. Working at Vector doesn't cost you anything.
I find that the appointments, which last 45 minutes to one hour, are really enjoyable for me. I really like the products that Cutco has. The artiicle is very misleading on the price of the knives though. The most popular set costs less than half of what the article claims. The knives are also guarenteed for LIFE, so you never have to buy knives again.
The meetings are a blast to go to. Our team regularily has themed meetings, which are often followed by a fun outing. Recently the theme was neon, and we went to play lazer tag since we all looked ridiculous anyway. We also award prizes for the most outrageous costume.
Before you start slinging mud at this wonderful company, you should talk to someone who has been successful with them. You should also evaluate the product before attacking how the company isoperated, as I noticed the article ignores the product almost entirely. Yes, you must be self motivated and driven to succeed if you want to work for this company. Luckily the rash can be thrown out and only positive, hard working people are hired on to the team.

Jun 26, 2009 8:06 PM

Guest :

I agree with the person above me. I work for Vector and they are a great company. Yes, they aren't upfront about what they do initially, but once you get to the interview, you hear all about it. The training isn't that much work, my manager is tons of fun, and the people I work with are really cool. Plus, the earning potentially is enormous.

In Oregon & Washington, you don't have to pay to start. You write a check and they put it in a safe in case you try to steal the knives. If you steal them, the check is cashed. If you don't, you get your check back once you return the set of knives.

Jun 27, 2009 1:04 AM

Guest :

I worked for vector for 2 weeks! I didn't sell anything, but I was working soooo HARD! I was loyal to this company, and I was very motivated to do whatever it took to succeed! But then, the day when I was about to make my very 1st sale of a basic homemaker ( which is one of the most expensive sets in the catalog) I called my manager a thousand times, and she never picks up the phone. I wanted to make sure that everything I did was correct so I wouldn't make any mistakes that I would be held accountable for! So after 2 full hours of calling my manager and her never picking up the phone, my customer had changed her mind! I was soooo pissed because my manager would call me all throughout the day asking me about my appointments and this one time when I needed her the most she never calls me back!! I had to call her back 5 hours later, and she finally answers! I tell her about the whole situation and at first she gets angry at me because she really wanted me to get my customers card number! So she tells me to call her back and see if I could get her information over the phone, and by this time my customer had changed her mind! So then she gets even angrier and says that if I don't make a sale by this weekend then she will take me off of base pay! This means that even if I get appointments I won't get paid ANYTHING!! I guess she thought that this would motivate me to sell some knives, but it didn't work! It pissed me off, because I put sooo much effort into it, and I worked there for only 2 weeks! She didn't want to give me a chance to sell some stuff, but its okay because I have me another job, and at least I'm guaranteed to get my money in a nice office and with my own desk! God doesn't like ugly, and I am confident that Vector will soon go down for scamming college students! I don't care what anyone says, Vector is a scam especially when you have to pay them first with this outrageous fee of $148.49! Thats bull****! Don't be fooled children, I learned a valuable lesson. Oh, and 1 more thing. Don't be fooled about the Direct Deposit thing, because they scammed me with this and almost got another 148.49 out of my checking account! My manager played dumb with me about this, and said that there was no where on the application sheet for direct deposit, but I have the receipt to prove it! Total scam!!

Jun 27, 2009 4:34 AM

Guest :

no cold calling? your a fucking independent contractor you find all your own leads they give you nothing but the knives for 138 bucks

Jun 27, 2009 4:34 AM

Guest :

no cold calling? your a fucking independent contractor you find all your own leads they give you nothing but the knives for 138 bucks

Jun 29, 2009 12:17 PM

Guest :

The letter I received today says that base pay is $18 per hour!
Let's see...go to college, work my ass off for four years, get a bachelor's degree, and come out with a great paying job, which probably isn't even close to $18 to start...
OR...
Graduate high school, no job experience necessary, and start off making more money than most Americans...during a recession!
If this isn't a scam, then what the hell is? People...don't defend it and say it's not, because you know it is and your just a prick.

Jun 29, 2009 12:25 PM

Guest :

ok, so the letter says starting base pay of $18 per hour...more than most Americans. Best part, NO JOB EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. We're in a deep recession. hmm...should I waste four years in college to come out with a starting pay less than $18, or just work for Vector!?
The letter also says that the company has JOB OPENINGS BECAUSE OF CONTINUED GROWTH AND EXPANSION...I SHOULD BUY STOCK...O wait, Vector doesn't have stock...but it's growing and expanding, while hiring kids who know nothing about marketing...
SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM, don't be a fool and fall for it...nothing in life is this easy...NOTHING!

Jun 30, 2009 8:07 PM

Guest :

so yeah the demo set you have to pay 144$ for is a deposit ad even if you dont get the money back...gess what? yo jst got 500$ worth of knives for 144$ which you can do what you want with! :) i have been working for them for like a week or two but have not earned mone cause i am to lazy to set up appointments so far...but i still do not think its a scam cause they are not taking any of my time or anything until i start actually working, and when i start working i am getting money! woot :)

Jun 30, 2009 8:08 PM

Guest :

o and the letter does not say anything like 14$ per hour it says 14$ per appointment!

Jul 1, 2009 12:34 AM

Guest :

i live here i las vegas, and i just got the job, out of the countless people that applied and tryed so hard for an interview, i was one of hundreds to be selected for the job, i start my training next week in july, and im really excited for it, i dont kno if its a scam or not, but ima try by best in this job, i work at Jack in the box! i work drive thru!!! wth! i will put in my 2 weeks tomorow, im done with fast food, im ready for a real job

Jul 1, 2009 5:25 PM

Guest :

Yes, I work for Vector as well. I started Saturday and so far have made 3 sales. I've barely put any effort in so we'll see how I get paid come Monday. I'll come back and post my results. One thing a few people are right about is that the products Vector sells are very, very high quality and are not pieces of crap. Then you have an amazing guarantee rarely found anywhere. Look, you have to put effort into this job. I payed for my sample kit, which is normally a price of $540, but I only put down $145. Plus, I can return for my money back, or if I quit the job, sell the knives for $540 or less. Plus, the customer can still use the guarantee even if they didn't buy the sample kit from me when I was a sales rep. Look, I guarantee this isn't a scam, but there are a lot of things to look out for. Make sure when you're driving somewhere far, you're getting something out of it, at least recommendations. I know that I've been promoted to 15% incentives and am now officially a sales rep. I'll let you guys know how it goes, but these aren't cheap products being sold. There's my 2 cents.

Jul 1, 2009 10:55 PM

Guest :

The term "scam" it seems is often used rather indescriminately; it carries a strong connotation of outright fraud or grifting, but a lot of people use it like it just means "ripoff". This annoys me a little, because there is a difference between a company asking too much of you, and it actually committing fraud.

I have a close friend who's working for Vector right now; he's thrilled with the knives (which have the best warrantee I've ever seen, on top of just being really good knives); but less so with the BS he has to deal with from his employers. The good news is that not only don't you technically have to sell the products (you get compensated anywhere from $14-18 depending on where you live, per appt.), they're actually really good ones that are fairly easy to demonstrate, and if you can find someone with the money for it, it's very easy to sell even at a high price... however, the bad news is they expect you to sell crazy amounts of cutlery in a RECESSION. They bug you sometimes daily trying to get you to up your sales and go to (allegedly) optional meetings, they require several full days' training, do not compensate for travel expenses, and they teach you to use what are actually in some cases some very pushy sales tactics.

Plus, that $140-150 some you spend to get your starter kit? Does not include every single piece, so he found himself for instance unable to demonstrate the ice cream scoop or French knife, because he didn't have them yet. However, you get to keep the knives - including reselling them if you wish - or get a refund, should you decide to quit (and you get discounts, IIRC, on more cutlery). The warrantee is actually a "forever" warrantee - it extends for longer than your actual lifespan to allegedly the lifespan of the company itself, and includes "free" sharpening (you still pay shipping and handling fees for this).

Also, you're pressured to make countless appts., and to pester all your appts. for more contacts, which can make you feel like a jerk.

If you're a sociable go-getter with TONS of energy and patience who's good at sales and lives in a wealthy area, it might be a good fit, especially if like my friend, you like the product. But those who are more laid back or self-conscious, who don't like to be pushy and/or live in low-income areas (like my friend)? Especially if you're looking for it as a "main" job? I would say look elsewhere; you have to put up with too much for too much risk of low return.

Jul 2, 2009 6:25 AM

Guest :

yea i just started with them. Theres a lot of stuff that seems too good to be true and most of the time it turns out to be "too good to be true". and yea they do twist a lot of things they say. you have to pay for your own gas when doing appt. and pay your own phone bill. and i thought you get paid commision and the hourly wage which they said at the interview. turns out you get paid one or the other. even delivery drivers at dominos dont pay there own gas at work. Im going to see how my 1st paycheck turns out then make a decision to stay or leave.

Jul 2, 2009 10:26 AM

Guest :

Check the bbb's website, I didn't see an A+ rating i saw a NR (no rating)

Jul 2, 2009 11:29 PM

Guest :

I got a call last night from a receptionist at vector saying one of my friends reffered me. I was asked to attend an interview today at 6pm. When I arrived to the run down building that looked almost abandoned I walked in the door and noticed a bunch of people waiting for "THEIR interview." As i sat down and took a good look around, i noticed there was really no furniture (just 2 tables and about 15 chairs, a tv, a desk for the receptionist, and a desk for the so called manager. There was no pictures what so ever. The place was pretty dirty and run down looking.) I couldnt help but to wonder if it was a scam. I was really sceptical. After the 1 1-2 hour group Interview i was hired. But i couldnt help to notice that everyone got hired. I found this extremly odd. But i went with it. I asked every single person i seen working if this was ligit.. but all they could tell me is they think so, but they have only been working for a week. Vector is new to Douglas county in Roseburg oregon. They are clamming its going to be the number one branch in the N.W. Also the base pay was only 12.95, and it was almost $400 for a sample kit.
Anyways... after reading all of this stuff and i mean reading a lot of stuff. I have done my research, i cant help but to think this is a scam. Even though vector is a liget "Knife company" of what ever you call them... I think they deffinatly misslead people to think what they want to hear. ROSEBURG OREGON BE WARNED!!! VECTOR IS A SCAM!!!??

Jul 3, 2009 5:26 AM

Guest :

I just did my first day of training today and have my second tomorrow. But luckily my friends informed me of this scam so i googled it and was like WTF why did i see it before. I mean seriously what kind of job requires someone to pay $150 to start work??????? I am deffinatly not going to waste another 24 hours of my life there

Jul 4, 2009 12:09 PM

Guest :

This shit is really the real deal. BUt like the article says it is alot of work. you have the opprotunity to make as much as you want but you have to look at it like this... do you know and are you around people who want to spend hundreds of dollors on kitchen knives? I mean the knives are really great but it didnt work for me because what familly do you know that doesnt already have a set of knives and/or can afford a set of new ones. lol people are more worried about paying their morgage where i come from. if you live in a very rich suburb then you should do this asap but if you live in middle to lower class and cant get access to "RICH" people then maybe you should try another career!

Jul 6, 2009 6:06 PM

Guest :

Alrighty... Time to say something

For all of those out there that say scam... GET A LIFE!!!

I went through the job. Im not working there, but for reasons that make sense.

you do get the money back after sending in the sample kit. And would any of you "SCAM" people like to know WHY they make you pay?

Well, i happened to be smart enough to ask why they didnt just give them to the reps. Heres why, listen to my words with care.

They had a loaning system for a full year, where they loaned the sample kit to the reps for free. when most of the reps quit, you wanna know how many they got back? LESS THEN TWO PERCENT WERE RETURNED!!!!

Im not working there because they dont really want your financial success. Sorry for those of you who have worked for Vector and had good experiences, but they dont. What they want who are so hyped up about the job that they dont really think of anything else.

The meetings? they are mandatory. At least now they are. The phone call in the morning? apperanty for rookies, maybe. in fact, both are probally for rookies. I do know this: I was told if I didnt make my morning call i was kaput, done.

They want people who are willing to go out every day and do about 3-6 appointments. The job is not for most people. There were a hundred people in my group on the first day. By Advanced training day, there were only 17. The job does have an attrition rate, and a high one. Thats why they hire in bulk. The people who cant handle the requirements of the job just quit, while they get the people who will do well and excell at the job.

So, Vector is a legitimate business. Vector is also somewhat of a scam. So what? Most business that size are. Think of subway, they say everything is fresh. Hmph. Fresh out of the freezer maybe, and wendys says the same thing.

Folks, its just business. Id like to see some of you scam people run a business for 60 years, and see how it works when your done.

Jul 8, 2009 3:44 AM

Guest :

Vector is awesome. People say its a scam because they are lazy and dont want to do work. so they end up leaving because they werent making money sitting around. Then they are mad and go say its a scam. BS. If you work and do what your suppose to youll be succesful. After 3 weeks got promoted to assistant manager. and now im layin in the dough.

Jul 8, 2009 9:58 AM

Guest :

i just signed up with vector and idk if this is real or not, but they give you the option of borrowing the knife set for free with hopes that you will eventually give it back.

Jul 8, 2009 11:46 AM

Guest :

Vector is pretty much a scam. I went throught the training and EVERYTHING!. This was in Calgary, Alberta and actually they pay $19.00 per hour! But it's actually 19 bucks per appointment. You make the appointments and unless you have some serious connections who are willing to buy your products you make next to nothing. Unpaid training that's also useless and you have to buy their knives too. Why do you think they pay so highly? Sure you can make alot of money doing this but you see Vector's workforce consists of mostly students like myself who have been savagely indoctrinated into accepting this job. The job takes too much time to be a sure way of making good money.
The point is, only those people who have rich connections that will buy the products, will prosper from this job. Unfortunately, this is often very difficult for the average student like myself.

Moral of the Story: I wouldn't say that this is a scam but it is right on the threshold of being one. Don't waste your time.

Another thing to consider: Of the 8 places that I applied for jobs (during this recession), Vector was the only one that called me back. Their desperation to suck in students can be most definitely labelled as false advertising.
"All that glistens is not gold."

Jul 8, 2009 11:47 AM

Guest :

Jul 8, 2009 12:52 PM

Guest :

Vector boasts about annual sales that exceeds $209 million dollars; if this is so, why can't they pay their employees a salary?! This business model sucks no matter how you look at it.

Jul 8, 2009 12:54 PM

Guest :

Vector boasts about annual sales that exceeds $209 million dollars; if this is so, why can't they pay their employees a salary?! This business model sucks no matter how you look at it.

Jul 8, 2009 4:18 PM

Guest :

"I worked for vector for 2 weeks! I didn't sell anything, but I was working soooo HARD!"
I work for Vector right now. If you couldnt sell anything in two weeks. you are a pathetic salesman or saleswoman. If made 1000 in a little less than 3 weeks. I do on average 1.5 appointments a day. And I go on the phone for maybe 20 min a day. This is a great job to make some extra cash. Yes, you need to work hard to make serious money and yes you need to be good...IT IS SALES! Just because its entry level does not mean that everyone can do it well. But 2 weeks? honestly, you were not working hard. This is not a scam. And in regards to the 150 dollar sample kit you have to buy: you can get a full refund when you decide to leave Vector. Many people decide to keep it because it is a wonderful set of cutlery, but I had a friend who did return it and got all his money back. Yes, there is a lot of outside time spent working, but in order to make it worth it you need to learn to be effective. Learning to be adapt to your struggles is a very valuable lesson all young scholars need to learn in order to succeed when they enter an internship or a full time job. Stop bickering. Anyone that had problems with this company, I respect there judgements. But you probably were not right for the job and/or willing to learn from your mistakes. Be self aware of your own problems.

Jul 13, 2009 8:52 AM

Guest :

And yet some more information about Vector, you might want to read the court cases and the outcomes regarding Vector before stating it's "not a scam:"

Admitted fraud:
Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (1999)
Wisconsin Consumer Protection Dept (1994)
Arizona Attorney General (1992)

Jul 14, 2009 6:33 AM

Guest :

i currently work at vector an i hate it.
the people i "work" with are cool bu other than that this job is a piece of shit. you're supposed to be paid base pay or commision, whichever one is higher. well check time rolls around and i only get paid $88 in commission when i know i did a good 20 appointments, so thats at least $245. why didnt i get paid that? because vector sucks. they expect you to call them every morning to check in and come to 2 meetings a week and do "phone jams" and just sit there for an hour calling people. you have to put way more into this job than most people could. i hate this job. hate it hate it hate

and i purposely didnt call them 3 mornings in a row(because that gets you fired) and they call me the other day saying i have to go to this manatory meeting like wtf?
basically its a scam. dont fall for it.

-Carlee Glaser

Jul 14, 2009 8:48 AM

Guest :

I recently quit Vector after only working there a month. And though I loved selling knives to strangers inside their homes, I can honestly say even that didn't make me want to stick around. "Phone jams" were a pain in the butt; I only got on average 2 appointments a day. I hated team meetings. Overall, though while it's not a scam, it is pure self-motivation. If you don't have it, you will hate the job. Those who love working with Vector eat, breathe, and sleep Cutco.

From the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep, it's pretty much all work and no breaks.

Jul 14, 2009 8:49 AM

Guest :

Jul 15, 2009 8:01 PM

Guest :

RECEPTIONIST AT VECTOR I AM , I LOVE MY JOB JUST FOR THE SIMPLE FACT I MEET DIFFERENT PEOPLE EVERY DAY ....MY JOB IS FUN AND YES I HATE THAT I CANT SIT ON THE PHONE WITH YOU AND EXPLAIN THE WHOLE JOB DESCRIPTION . SO TELL ME WHATS THE WHOLE POINT OF AN INTERVIEW OF COURSE IT'S SO THEY CAN EXPLAIN EVERYTHING IN DETAILS . SO ALL THE RUDE PEOPLE THAT JUST GOT ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD TO SIT ON THE PHONE WELL WE DONT . READ THE ARTICLE BETTER ITS NOT 15$ AN HOUR ITS 15$ BASE PAY FOR ALL THOSE THAT CANT READ !!!!OH AND THOSE THAT SET UP INTERVIEWS AND DONT SHOW PLEASE STOP CALLING AND TRYING TO RESCHEDULE !!!ANOTHER THING IS IF THEY DIDNT OFFER YOU THE JOB QUIT TRYING TO SAY ITS A SCAM THERE IS A GOOD REASON WHY YOU DIDNT GET ACCEPTED ... AND RECESSION WE NEVER FELT IT WE ACCTUALLY WENT UP 20% IN SALES THAN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS !!! SO YEAH MY JOB IS AWESOME I LOVE IT AND I LOVE VECTOR !!!!!!! BY THE WAY WE RECEPTIONIST GET PAID GREAT AND WE GET WEEKLY BONUS !!!

Jul 16, 2009 5:35 PM

Guest :

im working for vector right now and this "flexible scheduling" term is completely rediculous. i only want to do about 3 appointments a week because its summer and im only looking to make a little bit of money. this however does not make the managers happy who constantly give you "goals" on how much you should make every week. that on top of the fact that they have these things call SC I and SC II where you're supposed to really try hard and help the "team". funny how you have to work so hard in a team when they also tell you you are your own independent contractor and can do your own hours. this team work and goal setting is just another way the managers put a redictulous amount of pressure on you to do more. it gets to the point you want to quit which is exactly the reason im quiting next week. oh and and pay is done like this. they tell you you make 16 bucks an appointment which is all fine and good but what they fail to tell you is that say you do 20 appointments in a week and dont sell anything and then your very last appointment for the week you sell 2000 bucks woth of stuff. you do not get the 2000 bucks and all those 20 x 16 demos added together. you only get the higher of the two. this means that all that hard work you put in on the twenty demos is for nothing and you only get that last amount. i hate vector marketing and cutco

Jul 18, 2009 7:02 PM

Guest :

a friend recommend vector's via email. i google it half way into doing so i see scam as an option in the search ( red flag)
She boasted going in for training. i checked the site it seemed promising.
so i signed ued at like 2 am.
at 9am ( red flag #1; it shows they have no exlusivity calling back so quickly) the next morning i gt a call saying to come for an interview. at 6 pm?? ( red flag #2)
i travel to victor's it in a severly poverty stricted area ( red flag #3)
luckily i leave out of pure fustration trying to find the place
very wary of my saftey as a female as well.
after reading i'm not going back nor going to make up interview in 2 days