Vector Marketing Corporation FAQ

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Questions about our company? Read below.

We are Vector Marketing Corporation, a direct sales company (dsa.org). Our sales representatives have been selling Cutco™ Cutlery (www.cutco.com), the world’s finest cutlery, since 1981. We believe in creating a unique and rewarding work experience for people. We are a privately-held, American-made, American-owned company headquartered in Olean, NY.

What is Vector Marketing and Cutco Cutlery?

Vector Marketing is a member in good standing with the Direct Selling Association. Our independent sales representatives sell Cutco Cutlery, the world’s finest cutlery. Cutco has been made in America since 1949 and is guaranteed to last forever.

We believe in creating a unique and rewarding work experience for people. People who succeed with us are hard-working, have a positive attitude, and have a willingness to learn.

Learn more about our people and programs here:

Why am I seeing Vector in the news?

Vector Marketing has earned its fair share of organic media coverage over the years. Whether it’s for our alumni, our charity efforts, or the work we do everyday -- our goal is to help people understand the many personal and growth benefits that working in direct sales provides.

Here are some of our favorites:

Annual Rankings of CEOs (#27) on USA Today

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/12/11/ceo-awards-amazons-jeff-bezos-drops-over-30-places-ranking/2629799001/

Forbes.com - The best companies for corporate culture in 2019

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelmontanez/2019/12/10/the-best-companies-for-corporate-culture-in-2019/#2b26b4906dc3

LA Times - How I made it

https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-himi-jason-markk-20171105-htmlstory.html

College Magazine - 10 best summer jobs for college students

https://www.collegemagazine.com/best-summer-jobs-for-college-students/

Wall Street Journal - Summer Job; Nice Pay - if You Can Cut It

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121789140861111649

Business Insider - Successful people credit Cutco

https://www.businessinsider.com/cutco-knives-famous-successful-alumni-2019-1

VoyageMIA - Meet Jeremy Boyd of Miami New Times and V Digital Services Wynwood

http://voyagemia.com/interview/meet-jeremy-boyd-miami-new-times-v-digital-services-wynwood/

Cleveland 19 Former Cavs head coach Mike Brown’s son Cameron making his own way

https://www.cleveland19.com/story/37893325/former-cavs-head-coach-mike-browns-son-cameron-making-his-own-way/

USA TODAY: Did your company make the list of best US companies to work for?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2018/09/18/best-companies-work-united-states-glassdoor/37777849/

Mike Dawid - Movers and Shakers

https://www.laduenews.com/business/columns/movers-shakers-mike-dawid/article_a93d90f9-3853-5086-a8ed-69d7f87134c7.html

Katie Lance - How selling knives in college inspired my business today https://www.espn.com/espnw/voices/story/_/id/15626662/cool-jobs-sports-mary-beck-svp-marketing-promotions-mlb-nhl-networks

Entrepreneur.com - Slicing and Dicing my way to becoming an entrepreneur

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/245652

AOL.com - “How selling knives eventually landed David Walton an acting gig.”

https://www.aol.com/video/view/how-selling-knives-eventually-landed-david-walton-an-acting-gig/55365e4fe4b0c533388bb23d/

Deca Direct - What working for a sales company has taught me

https://www.decadirect.org/2016/06/14/what-working-for-a-sales-company-has-taught-me/

The Vector Impact: He Started a Charity While on Vacation in Costa Rica

https://www.thevectorimpact.com/ccwi/

Channel 10 News Tampa - Sandwiches for the Homeless

https://www.wtsp.com/video/news/local/sandwiches-for-the-homeless/67-2199926

Cutco Corporation Charitable activities

https://www.cutco.com/company/giving.jsp

I got a letter in the mail advertising winter or summer break work. Is it from Vector?

If the letter says “Vector,” then yes, those are our letters. If you are unsure whether the letter you received is an official letter, you can go to DidYouGetALetter.com to verify its authentication.

How did you get my name and address?

Just like many other companies, we use a third party company to send out direct mail pieces each year. They get their information from various sources. Anytime you fill out your name and address for things like cap and gown orders, taking standardized tests, summer camp, sports camp, etc, your information is subject to being passed on or sold to affiliates and third parties.

If you’d like to be removed from our mailing list, you can do so at http://vectorremoval.com .

Contacted via text, phone, social media from someone who says they work with Vector?

This is most likely a legitimate contact from Vector. Several years ago, due to the popularity of social media, we recently began using Facebook and other platforms to reach out to potential applicants.

We urge everyone to do their due diligence (https://www.thevectorimpact.com/sales-job-scams/) when considering any work opportunity. As for Vector, our interviews are conducted at established branch offices and have not been linked to any unsafe behavior.

If you ever have a question as to whether a Vector office is legitimate, you can contact us at 1-866-704-0682 or email at vectorpr@cutco.com.

I don’t recognize the name of the person who I was told referred me to Vector. Is this legit?

This is most likely a legitimate contact from Vector. We give our sales representatives an opportunity to refer people to our positions. In some cases, they refer others whom they may not have spoken to in a long time.

If a recommendation doesn’t remember the person that referred them, we will still let them know that we have work available and offer them the opportunity to get more information.

Again, we urge everyone to do their homework when considering any work opportunity. As for Vector, our interviews are conducted at established branch offices and have not been linked to any unsafe behavior.

If you ever have a question as to whether a Vector office is legitimate, you can contact us at 1-866-704-0682.

The Internet Hoax. Why Have I seen things online suggesting I’m in danger?

In the summer of 2015, a parody twitter account, looking for followers, made up a lie about Vector Marketing, saying that our direct mail letters were a rouse to attract young people to a location disguised as a sales office to drug and kidnap them. This tweet was 100% false, yet went viral very quickly. 

Almost as quickly, proof from reputable sources began emerging. Snopes  debunked the rumor as false, along with a Sacramento, CA CBS affiliate, a Roseville, CA Fox affiliate, and a local Baton Rouge WAFB news station. When faced with the facts about our company and the harm he was doing to the anti human trafficking movement in the US (www.ourrescue.org), he removed his tweet. This was not until after the hoax had taken hold (Why do people fall for viral hoaxes?) and shared/recreated by many across the internet. (How not to fall for viral scares.)

Snopes

Sacramento, CA CBS affiliate

Roseville, CA Fox affiliate,

Baton Rouge WAFB

While we believe that the vast majority of those perpetuating the lie are doing so with the desire to protect those they care about, the fact remains that it is a hoax. There is no evidence to suggest that any group or individual has ever impersonated Vector Marketing on a letter, sign, website or building. 

Our sales representatives, factory workers, and corporate employees work hard to deliver a world-class product. We are proud of the name Vector Marketing and for that reason we have vigorously defended our reputation against this hoax in the past, including going to court (and winning) and will continue to do so if necessary.

We invite everyone to join us in learning about the human trafficking problem in this country and how you can help. Here are a few places to start:

RESOURCES:

https://www.ecpatusa.org/

http://nysatc.weebly.com/who-we-are.html

https://polarisproject.org/

www.ourrescue.org

How do we ensure applicant and sales representative safety?

Vector Marketing has been interviewing applicants here in the US since 1981. Our interviews are conducted at established branch offices and have not been linked to any unsafe behavior.

We have always had direct contact with potential recruits. Because the communication tools society uses continue to evolve, so do our methods of getting in touch with potential applicants.

Many Vector Marketing offices are now using text messaging and social media as methods to create awareness about the openings and to schedule interviews. This practice is becoming more and more common in the job market space.
(
https://hrexecutive.com/recruiting-gets-smarter-with-targeted-texting/)

We urge everyone to do their homework when considering any work opportunity.
(
https://www.thevectorimpact.com/sales-job-scams/)

If you have a question as to whether a Vector office is legitimate, you can contact us at 1-866-704-0682 or email vectorpr@cutco.com.

Do you have to pay anything to work with Vector?

No, there are zero start up fees to work with Vector in the US and Canada. With a positive attitude and the sales training we offer free of charge, you're ready to start earning.

In the past, Vector asked for a 100% refundable deposit on the sample set of knives provided to sales reps to show Cutco. However, in February 2011 after hearing feedback from many of our previous representatives, we reduced the size of the sample kit and eliminated the sample deposit. While training is unpaid, this is the same training that was used for years in classrooms at Purdue and University of Calgary, which means that our representatives have access to top-notch industry training.

Is Vector Marketing a multi-level marketing (MLM) company?

No. We are a single-level direct sales company. Sometimes there is confusion regarding the difference between single-level marketing companies (like us) and multi-level marketing companies (MLM). MLM companies encourage their sales representatives to create a “down-line” of other reps to sell under them. The rep is typically paid on the down-line, and in many cases can stop selling because they are earning so much off of their down-line. 

This is not the case with Vector Marketing sales representatives. While our reps can win prizes/earn incentives for personal recruits, we do not pay reps on multiple layers like a multi-level marketing company. Representatives do not build down-lines and they are not required to participate in this program to work with us. Many choose to do so, simply out of excitement for the position. We think this is where the confusion lies.

Contact us

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Vector Marketing. 

Further questions/comments?

Contact a local organization here.

Public relations line 1-866-704-0682

Email vectorpr@cutco.com