CUTCO

[JONTHEBOMB]

Cutco "The World's Finest Cutlery"

Who has heard of this company?  And what are your thoughts?

Cutco's site: http://www.cutco.com/jsp/home.jsp

Last week I got a job working for the Vector Marketing Corporation who's employees sell Cutco.  I went through a three day training course.  On the third day I found out about their recommendation system.  After you do your presentation for a customer you ask the customer for some names and numbers.  Then you try and get the customer to dial up their family and friends so you can set up appointments with them. 

Would you be willing to give out family and friends phone numbers to a salesman that asks nicely?

I was thinking about quitting at the end of this week, but then I found this site:
http://cutcocomplaints.blogspot.com/
I will be quitting tomorrow because they are liars 

[mmmPeanutButter]

I know that they're big on the "make lots of money" fliers and what-not.  However, I will say that the cutlery itself is amazing.  That's all I really use.

I think in order to do really well you need to live in some fancy neighborhood and your mother needs to be head of the rotary club or a bridge player or some crazy socialite. 

If you don't have those social connections, then you're bound to fail (in my opinion). 

But while you're working there... buy the knives.  Especially the bagel cutter and the vegetable knife. 

[JONTHEBOMB]

I think the cutlery is great, but not the world's finest.  And I received a 70% discount on a sample pack that I show to customers.

The sample pack includes:

• 2 3/4" Paring Knife
• Trimmer
• Turning Fork
• Spatula Spreader
• Table Knife
• Cutting Board
• 7 5/8" Petite Chef
• 6 3/4" Petite Carver
• Basting Spoon
• Super Shears
• Peeler

Retail Value: $517
I got it for: $144.45

[AtomSmasher]

Isn't Cutco one of the names Homer came up with when trying to name his internet company, along with Inter-Slice?  A name that sounds cutting edge.

[AtomSmasher]

I decided to go looking for the quote:
Homer - I need a name for my company, something that is cutting edge, like Cut Co, or Edge Com, or Inter-Slice
Marge - How about Compuglobalhypermeganet
Homer - The name's not important.


no, I don't have anything useful to add to this thread.

[JackTucky]

Retail Value: $517
I got it for: $144.45

I like "retail price" comparisons.  In order to be a true retail price, it has to have sold for that at one time.

Like some jerks make money fast CD, retail price $199, your's for just shipping.

Right.

Jacktucky

[JONTHEBOMB]

Isn't Cutco one of the names Homer came up with when trying to name his internet company, along with Inter-Slice?  A name that sounds cutting edge.

Speaking of the Simpsons I found this in Wiki's Trivia section for Cutco:
"The cutlery brand and the sales tactics were parodied in the episode I Married Marge of The Simpsons where young Homer tries selling Slashco knives."

You can find the episode in the season three collection on disc two.  I watched it yesterday and loved the part when Homer handed some old lady the knife blade instead of the handle  , that's classic Homer.  Also on a side note when Homer goes to the Nuclear Power plant a second time to get a job Mr. Burns is playing Mrs. Pacman.

[shardian]

My wife did this about 5 years ago during the summer. We were very skeptical, but it ended up being pretty neat. Their stuff is high quality, but definitely overpriced. The starter set is a schweet deal that you get to keep. She was paid $14 per demonstration for the first few weeks as training, whether she sold anything or not. She was pulling in close to $500 a week with her $14/hour and commisions. Eventually, they cut off her $14 pay and went straight to commision. She quit after that (she wasn't a very good saleswoman... ).

So my recommendation to you, stay on and visit all of your family for demonstrations. Do it for about a month and you'll pull in a good amount. And if you are good at selling, you can make a good amount of cash once you get bumped up in commision percentage. If you get a connection into the rich neighborhoods, you hit the gold mine.

[JONTHEBOMB]

My wife did this about 5 years ago during the summer. We were very skeptical, but it ended up being pretty neat. Their stuff is high quality, but definitely overpriced. The starter set is a schweet deal that you get to keep. She was paid $14 per demonstration for the first few weeks as training, whether she sold anything or not. She was pulling in close to $500 a week with her $14/hour and commisions. Eventually, they cut off her $14 pay and went straight to commision. She quit after that (she wasn't a very good saleswoman... ).

I get $15 for every appointment or commissions depending on which is higher.  I am not very good salesman either (I read directly from the training manual  )

So my recommendation to you, stay on and visit all of your family for demonstrations. Do it for about a month and you'll pull in a good amount. If you get a connection into the rich neighborhoods, you hit the gold mine.

Even though I could probably get a nice amount of dough I would rather not waste my family's time. Here in Rochester, MN there are a ton of doctors, but I don't know any.  Also, the job would take up my whole summer so there wouldn't be any time for my cabinet or BYOAC.

[shardian]

My wife worked 20-25 hours a week - all daytime hours, and no weekends. You consider that taking up your whole summer??? Go work at the grocer store bagging groceries for $5 an hour for 40 hours a week including EVERY Friday and Saturday night and then you can complain.

[JONTHEBOMB]

Your wife had to be working 30-35 hours a week.  If she earned around $500 every week and didn't work on the weekends that would be about 7 appointments per day ($500/$14= 35.7 appointments per week) (35/5 days = 7 appointments per day.  An appointment takes about an hour to complete and then there is travel time to also consider.  Also, setting up appointments takes time.  I spent two hours calling more then 20 people and I was only able to set up three appointments.  Vector also has weekly meetings that also tend to be at least three hours long. 

The company lies to its employees and fails to mention that for each sale you get a 10% commission, (if higher then your base pay from appointments) while the manager gets a 25% commission off your sale (no matter what). 
Would you keep working for a company that lies to you?

[shardian]

Ah crap, I erased the reply I had written. I'll try to redo it...

My wife got $14 base AND commissions. The $14 is meant as paid training. If you arent't getting both, then you are getting screwed.

Once you add in commisions, it is easy to see how my wife made what she did. Almost everyone bought something from her, even if just a simple kitchen tool, or the super shears.

I hope you weren't inferring that I was lying.

There is a reason they target young college kids as their salespeople. They expect you to go to your family for your first set of appointments. They feel sorry for the poor college kid and most likely buy something. They also will probably go the extra step and put in a word for you to their friends to assure they will see you. If you go against the grain and not use your family, then you have no chance of establishing a core base of possible appointments that might have a reason to let you in their house.

Oh, and one last thing: My wife's mom set up most of her appoinments for her. She loved having an opportunity to call all her friends and family.

[JONTHEBOMB]

My wife got $14 base AND commissions. The $14 is meant as paid training. If you arent't getting both, then you are getting screwed.

We get paid $15 base or commissions depending on which is higher.  I wonder when they changed their payment policy?

I hope you weren't inferring that I was lying.

Just trying to figure how you came up with your answer.

[shardian]

I would say their change has something to do with salespeople like my wife.
She took them big time.
She sold about $1500 worth of stuff, but they paid her about the same.
They make their money off the people who really take to sales and keep going after the first month. One guy I went to high school with started the same time as my wife, and by next summer, he was running the local Vecor marketing office.

[Stingray]

Would you be willing to give out family and friends phone numbers to a salesman that asks nicely?

I wouldn't talk to him long enough for him to ask the question, but assuming he asked it in mid-air between my front door and the tree I threw him at, no I wouldn't.

-S