Cutco Knives
May 11th, 2008 by Chronic Consumer
I’ve never paid much attention to cutlery before, but a few friends of mine are on a mission to convert me to Cutco knives. Apparently, this is one of the top brands out there (though I’ve never heard of them), and lots of people swear by the products.
I went to the Cutco website to check out the offerings, and have to say that I was impressed by the range of cutlery sets they have available. Unfortunately, however, I couldn’t find any pricing information since the knives aren’t actually sold through the website. You have to enter your zip code to find an independent dealer, but that page wasn’t loading properly for me.
So I went to Google Product Search instead and discovered that the “Ultimate Entertainer Set” (pictured above) costs a mind-boggling $3,849.95!! Um, wow, I think I’ll pass on these!
This entry was posted on Sunday, May 11th, 2008 at 7:25 pm and is filed under Interesting Products. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
May 12th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
My MIL has had her Cutco for about 40 years, and they still cut, and have never been sharpened! We have the Homemaker set and love it. The table knives are the best, as well as the spreader with the blade on one side. Can’t live without them.
May 12th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Really?? 40 years without having to sharpen them? Well, I guess if I spread that $3849 price tag over 40 years, it becomes a *little* more reasonable!
Thanks for the comment!
June 14th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
That sure is the list price…..however you can actually get that set for $2499 and it comes with 12 table settings! I’d say it’s beyond reasonable
June 16th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Michael, I guess I just can’t fathom spending that much money on knives, no matter how good they are or how many settings are included.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
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July 5th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Cutco is crap!!!
Sure they cut forever they are serrated. This is the lazy solution.
Ever see a professional chef using Cutco? NO
There are MANY quality knives out there that are far better, cheaper, and easier to obtain then Cutco. However a real knife will require regular upkeep and some learning on the part of the owner as far as sharpening etc.
I’m particularly fond of the KAI Shun line their wide blade Santoku will pop hairs off my arm without touching the skin for thos eof you who don’t know that is straight razor sharp.
Bottom line if you are lazy, don’t mind high pressure sales people, and want on overpriced overhyped product get Cutco. If you want quality look at what real chefs use: JA Henkels, Shun, Global, Wusthof, Hiromoto, Masahiro, Chroma to name a few
July 14th, 2008 at 12:14 am
I personally sell cutco knives and will vouch that they are great knives. if the above source did his research he would know that they are not known as a serated edge. cutco also makes several straight edged knives. my comparison knife for presentation is a wusthof. although they are comprable the cutco outperforms it. the cutco knives are also availabe at 1/3 the price of Henkels and wusthof.
if you get them from an independant contractor(through a district office) you will get a much better deal than can be found online, plus get the benifit of trying them before you buy them
July 19th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I too personally sell Cutco and i can offer that ultimate entertainer set for alot cheaper than you see up there. If you give me a call at 239-633-6332 I can offer it for $2449 or on a 5 pay option of $498.40 over five months, now that’s BEYOND RESONABLE!
August 5th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
i am a cutco sales personan i can tell you that i love them, i’m still new in the game but if you actually listen to presentation you will find out why cuto is better than wustof and henkles. i can also tell u that the ultimate set is 1999.00 which the same price you’ll pay for a wooden handled wustoff set on sale with is missing about 10 pieces. and questions just email me or visit myspace
402464842 | http://www.myspace.com/402464842
August 15th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Just bought a mid range set of Cutco knives for $849 with taxes and shipping. It is a set of about 6 to 8 knives with an awesome scissors to boot. That is all the carving type knives I will need.
will get the dinner knives someday. great as a steak knife. The young man who did the presentation was polite and did not apply pressure. Just incentives. Oh, the ice cream scoop is awesome.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
$3849 ?! ARE YOU INSANE? i’m a sales rep as well, but i can get you the ultimate set WITH flatware for $2089!! if that’s still too much, i can get you the ultimate set by itself for $1700…on top of that, i can still hook it up with some free stuff. email me at xavieg07@yahoo.com if you’re interested
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Ummmm all of you guys on here that sell Cutco, like me, are NOT supposed to be “trying” to sell your Cutco by saying hey give me a call & I can get it for you for this. You aren’t supposed to broadcast yourselves over the net to try & sell your Cutco.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Crooks, crooks, crooks
November 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
it’s a knife, Some people pay that much for a car!!!!!!!
December 21st, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Wow! Talk about the hard sell.
Anthony Bourdain talks about the rip-off known as knife sets. Most professional chefs only need a few high quality knives, not a complete set.
In addition, their knives are NEVER Cutco.
December 21st, 2008 at 2:50 pm
P.S. You can find Bourdain’s suggestions here.
http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Confidential-Adventures-Culinary-Underbelly/dp/product-description/0060934913
Should you take his word as gospel? Beats me, but at least you know that, unlike the Cutco salespeople on here, he’s (probably) not making a commission on your purchase.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I work for Cutco and that ultimate does not cost even close to 3,800 probably someone trying to sell at a high price. in fact it doesnt even cost over 2,000
February 11th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Cutco is a testament to marketing and psycholgy. There double D (Pronounced Serrated)will cut for a long time as will a Ginsu knife. And the steel and production technique are similar to very low end knives. The real story is the MLM style door to door sale technique of Vector. These people make Mona Vie look like amateuers. Something is worth what people will pay for it and Cutco and Vector are masters of commitment and psychological manipulation. They call it Vector for a reason, like a virus or bacteria they leverage the natural self serving behavior of others to spread there product far and wide. Watch and learn.
March 4th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Look, you don’t want the Entertainer. Its way too many knives and you’ll never need all of them. The Homemaker set is the best set for home use. I’ve personally own one and would suggest buying one off ebay. Even if it is slightly used, the product is going to be great. I also know that if you know what you want you can call any of their offices and place an order over the phone. If they won’t do it, shoot me an email at cxa05e@acu.edu and I can help you out. Hope everyone has happy shopping!
March 18th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
i own a cutco hunting knife best knife i have ever owned .seratted blade or otherwise i have had other seratted blades tryed to cut raw meat serattions loaded up with meat .my cutco never has .ihave used the knife for 40 years just sent it back for its first sharping .blade does not stain from blood .one tough knife .my wife bought it for me in 1969 .the knife was well worth the money she paid for it.
March 21st, 2009 at 4:48 am
CUTCO Knifes ARE NOT serrated. The double D edge is three strait edges protected by a recessed point. If the points dull, its okay. These points are just there to protect the three strait edges that, when you look closely, are actually three little strait edges. This lets them cut Forward, Backward, and Strait down, and is what makes CUTCO the best selling knife in America.
June 6th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
My parents got CUTCO when I was a kid (over 50 years ago), and have inherited their set. I have added some additional pieces myself. They still work beautifully. I love to cook, and appreciate fine tools. I have tried other high end brands, but for me, I prefer and trust CUTCO. I have never had a rude or pushy sales person. I think they have one of the best training programs for young people – at least it seems that way in our area. And no… I do not sell them or gain anything monetarily from saying this. Just like anything else, you come across good salespeople and bad… I guess I have been fortunate to have the former.
June 13th, 2009 at 1:17 am
I’m a Cutco rep and would recommend getting the Homemaker set. Its half the price of Wusthof and Henckles, offers twice the quality and Cutco comes with a FOREVER GUARANTEE. If you are interested in these high quality knives, or just want to know more about them, give me a quick call at (561) 506-7877 or email me at dnicolas1424@live.com and I will be glad to help you out.
June 16th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
You reps love to try selling online don’t you. I would recommend to anyone looking to buy CUTCO to call customer service. They will find the closest and nicest rep to you. For all the rest… have fun having your contract terminated! :
July 14th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Look I am a chef and I use the cutco knives. They are really good and I highly recommend them.
September 16th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
i am a cutco rep. and i swear that these knives are the greatest in the world! yeah they are a little pricey but once you have these, you wont want to use any other and there for never having to buy new cheap knives. my uncle-in-law actually owns Wusthof, the competator thats sold in stores,(that costs more!!) and they look nice but they have to be sharpened all the time. where as cutco, stays sharp for a long long long time (8-12yrs) and on top of that if you need em sharpened, just call up a rep and they’ll sharpen em for free!! seriously these knives are amazing and im not just saying that cuz i sell em either.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:34 am
I’m a CUTCO rep and if you need any CUTCO products don’t hesitate to email me: lburnes21@yahoo.com
November 7th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I’m a sales representative and I see some people have said that there aren’t professional chefs that are using them, but that is false. I have sold to many restaurant owners and executive chefs as well. Those are some of my best customers. Rachel Ray actually used our Santoku knife until she developed one of her own to make more $$$ for herself. In addition, many people have had their CUTCO for 20,30, 40+ years and swear by it;even when it goes unsharpened. Our sharpening is done in-home for free though. Thought I’d leave some input.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Actually if you do your research like i did, cutco uses 440a grade steel it is the same as kabar which jsut so happens to be made by cutco too, and that is what the marines use, all other knives use a 401 grade of carbon stainless, including wusthoff, shun, michael bras, and any one else you wanna talk about, cutco also is the onley company to have a forever garentee, look it up if you want to it is the same as snap on, even if you dont have a reciept. they are the onley ones to do that. they also have been featured on the history channel for modern marvals for being the world’s sharpest knife, on american made for being made in america (olean NY) they have been in consumer digest for being having the best value of any cutlery as well as garden tools, all of these things that they were reconized for were unpaid, thats right they dont have to pay for advertising because it is so good. and as far as their “Pushy Reps” go. they are mostly college kids, yea they are real intimadating, and i told the one who came to my house no and guess what he said ok have a nice day, then i researched called the office and i bought a homemaker set later and i have never been happier and they were half the price of my wusthoff. just thought i would save sombody else the time of doing the reaserch i did.
December 25th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Wow… Sadly, KA-BAR is affiliated with cutco, however KA-BAR knives do not bear a fleeting similarity to cutco. The Marine KA-BAR is made with 1095 carbon NON-STAINLESS steel without the triple D edge. It can put up with a lot more abuse and can be easily sharpened to a hair-popping edge. 440A is a substandard steel, if you look at most cheap, made in China knives, they will be made of 440A. I doubt Wusthoff and Michael Bras use 401 steel on all if any of their knives, and I know for a fact that Shun uses a core layer of premium grade vg-10 steel with surrounding layers of softer steel to provide a sharp edge with a strong blade. I don’t doubt that cutco makes a decent choice for someone who is going to give their knife no maintenance for years, but you can never expect one to compete with a razor sharp knife made with high grade steel. The triple D edge allows Cutco to make knives for a cheap price that satisfies the average consumer who has never had a truly high quality knife, turning over a very high profit in the process. If Cutco was truly interested in making great quality knives, they would at least use a better steel. To name a few good American stainless steels: 440C, 154cm, and s30v.
February 20th, 2010 at 10:42 am
For all you people who keep telling everyone that you dont see cutco in professional kitchens… THere is a reason… The guarantee does not apply for commercial use first of all…. And cutco isnt trying to help out professional chefs who have Global and Shun… They want to help people who cook in the kitchen 4-5 days of the week, and no elaborate decorated meals. Those people want knives that get the job done and are a good value. That ultimate entertainer set, which is 19 specialty knives, 12 table knives, and 12 4-pc sets of flatware…2500… There aren’t many places that you can acquire that many pieces for 2500, not to mention it would be the last set of knives/flat ware you would ever buy. AND they just added cookware that you can get a full set for about 1000… With the forever guarantee as well… That is 3500 dollars for a FULL KITCHEN of supplies. Tell me if Shun, Global, MAC, Wusthof, Henckels, Chicago Cutlery, Messermeister, Forschner or any other knife brand can compete with that sort of deal.
March 5th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
1) A “Forever Warrenty” in its self says they expect them to fail
2) Pro Chefs dont use Cult Co knives ( Rachael Ray says herself she IS NOT a Professional Chef)
3) The knives everyone talks about like Wusthof done need a warrenty your not going to wear them out
4) It is insane to pay what Cult Co wants for there knives you could own custom made knives for that and not have knives that look like they were from the Dollar Store
5) $3800.00 for all those knives and flatware tell you what send me the money and I will hook you up with some good stuff that you will never be sorry for if I can have the change left
6) Cult Co preys on people that dont know cooking or knives the guy that tried to sell me left my house after I smoked his junk with my Old Sebatier that was given to me by an Old Chef friend ( I dont know how dang old it is but I will say its well over 60 years )
7 and finally
anyone that likes Cult Co knives good for you everyone is different but as Anthony Boudain talks about Buy a set of global knives and save alot of coin and still cut like a pro
April 11th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
I don’t know where you got your marketing degree at JD, but when a company puts a forever guarantee on something it’s not going to fail 99% of the time. Companies don’t like giving away free stuff and if you think cutco wants to replace your knives when you break them, your a bit silly. If you think the sharpener you get from your other high end company is going to return your knives back to factory fresh sharpness your silly.But cutco sharpens and polishes in your home or for free. So if you want a set of fake knives that claim to be great but are really made in china buy henckels, they sell their name and only manufacture 10% of their own pieces JD. Cutco ultimate set runs 2099 and its a 19 piece set, and guess what none of the pieces are a block, a sharpener, a pair of crap scissors and a steel rod. the 19 pieces also don’t include 8 table knives. Wutshof and all the other high end names great products, but cutco sells for vector and that’s why its commercial chefs don’t use them, there isnt enough restaurants in the world to sell 250 million a year big guy
June 8th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Im a Cutco Sales Rep, and the price is not $3,849.95, it’s actually way cheaper.
And if it was that much it is well worth it because the quality is superior, it will be the last knife or set you will ever need to purchase because they last forever guaranteed.
If anyone reads this and is interested in finding out more about the product or pricing feel free to contact me at adropje@aol.com
June 8th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
First, I’m a sales rep for Cutco myself and no, I’m not publishing my info to sell anything. I work in the same office with the top selling sales rep in the history of Cutco and if he saw reps posting on the web trying to get sales you’d be bounced out in a hurry. He will be the first person to tell you that the product sells it’s self and that high pressure sales reps don’t last long with us.
Second, any product will have it’s fans and detractors. I’ve run into a few Cutco detractors since I’ve been selling and most of their dislike comes from being loyal to another brand of knife. That’s fine, it’s a free country so they can say anything they’d like. The other type of detractors are people who tried to sell for us and couldn’t hack it. They saw that we get paid just to show the product and thought they’d hit upon a quick and easy way to get money. When the reality of the situation hit them they either were let go or quit because they didn’t want to put the work in they needed to.
As for a forever guarantee being a joke, please. Zippo has the same guarantee and I never hear people saying they’re trying to trick their customers. People that focus on that are just looking for an excuse to pour salt on Cutco’s name.
Bottom line, like and buy what you choose to. If I were to do a demo with someone who said they weren’t interested because they’re “junk” I’d just smile, thank them for their time and wish them a good day on my way to my next demo.
June 13th, 2010 at 2:53 am
all you vector reps out there sound the same… like your reading from your manual or something! oh wait you are! vector brain washes you people, quit being robots and just settle down.. personally i believe cucto is the best out there but seriously shut up and talk like a normal person you frickin robots!
June 29th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
I’m a sales rep for cutco, when i got a letter in the mail from vector after my high school graduation i was skeptical of the job, but i’m attending a private university in the fall and needed some extra cash, so i went for an interview. The top 5 things most people don’t know about cutco, (and they don’t teach us any of this, i’ve researched it on my own)are.
1. all the employees in the factory are unionized by United Steel workers.
2. the handles are not made from the EXACT same material as bowling balls or football helmets, because the use for everything is different, but their compounds are measurably close.
3. The nickel-silver rivets aren’t made from the same things as the dentist use in our teeth, however its a stronger, heavier, more reliable material, than what would suit our mouths, but again measurably close to the same.
4. Students get college credit a lot of the time to work for vector and sell their product.
5. Vector has been implimented into many college business classes, professors encourage students to work for vector to learn the business world.
although i am a representative, i also see how people might not want to buy cutco, some people do not cook enough to use the knives, some people like my sister just want a kitchen utensil (ie: slotted Turner) that they are tired of replacing. Cutco customers range in all shapes and sizes. Vector employees arent just paid on commission, we get paid just to show our product, many of the times people really like it and they only get one piece, and then a year later buy another piece, and just build up their set. All businesses want sales, All employees want money, and All consumers want a good deal. Cutco gives them the satisfaction that they won’t have to replace the product again, and if they do it will be on cutco, forever.
July 2nd, 2010 at 10:31 am
You are all so funny. They’re just knives. Don’t you know there are more important debates in the world?
Okay, I’m a hypocrite and I want in on this pointless debate.
I just sent my Cutco set in for FREE sharpening this morning. I’ve had them for over ten years now, and just figured I might as well have them polished up. But they hardly need any sharpening. My biggest problem is I don’t want to be without them for a couple weeks!
Yes, I did get this set from when I sold them for a summer in college. And no, that wasn’t enough time to be brainwashed. These knives are the reason I have fallen so much in love with cooking. When I started selling them, I knew they were amazing. That is why all of the sales people are so good, and not pushy — because they KNOW they have an incredible product. I personally, couldn’t sell anything unless I had I truly high regard for the product.
And yes…I’ve sold to many professional chefs and ex-chefs who, to this day, tell me how the Cutco line beats all others that they’ve tried.
Yes, they can be pricey, but you only need a select few for everyday use, as someone mentioned. And…as a general rule, you get what you pay for. I’m sure the same people complaining about the price of these knives are the same people driving a Kia around town. Or should I say…are the same people breaking down in a Kia all over town.
July 16th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I work for cutco and sold a little last summer and this summer and just want to make a quick correction on the pricing of the “Ultimate Entertainer Set”. The “Ulitimate entertainer set” which is the knives pictured in the wood block actually costs $2,099. The set that costs “a mind-boggling” $3,849.95 is the “Complete Entertainer Set” which includes 12 place settings of completion flatware and 12 place settings of our 5-pc. stainless flatware.
August 8th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
that guy “geoff” is retarded. the reason you dont see chefs using cutco is because its designed for the AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD. the edge is not serrated. it is a blade that was designed by cutco.
August 10th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Cutco is a fine product and they use wusthof for comparison because they can’t even step in the ring with Shun. Shun is forged not stamped, they are perfectly balanced or QC throws them back and they are made of cobolt not steal. Cobolt, as you may or may not know is harder than steal. Forget the forever guarantee. Shun has enough of a warranty to take whatever you can throw at it. If you want a real knife in your kitchen, buy Shun. I love mine and when it gets dull, I’ll just sell it for scrap cobolt and buy a new one.
August 18th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Shun will resharpen their knives for free as well, and were ultimately my choice after trying Cutco, Sabatier, Global, Wustoff, and Henkels.
August 23rd, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Good lord you people are so whiny. First off, Cutco is a decent brand of knives for the average consumer who likes to do work in the kitchen. The Forever Guarantee covers all damages except intentional and the sharpening is free. It makes them a good choice for many people which is why they did 300 million in business last year.
Second, Cucto uses 440A steel. The reason they use 440A is because it is a good combination of strength to keep an edge, but also soft enough to not chip. Now, Henckels and Wustoff use 440C steel, which is a higher carbon steel, harder, holds an edge well, but not a huge difference at all. Shun uses VG-10 stainless steel, which is a very high quality Japanese stainless cutlery steel. Only a few of their knives are damascus steel ( the ones with a hard vg-10 core and 33-softer layers on the outside for strength and flexibility, and those are VERY expensive ) and NONE of their knives are COBALT, you moron. The steel has minute TRACES of cobalt in it which adds positive attributes, but the knife is made of steel.
Oh yeah, and the many different Ka-bar knives are made with a variety of different steels 440A, 1095, D2, etc. The traditional military Ka-bar is actually made of 1095 carbon steel, which is ACTUALLY the type of steel that is often seen in cheap imitations from China and Japan. Its generally a soft steel with a low rockwell hardness and holds a crappy edge….however, the reason for the softness is that it needs to be easily sharpened by military members out in the field. There are many factors that make a good knife and there is no one knife that has all positive attributes. A knife needs to be designed for it use. A really hard knife will have a great edge, but that edge will often chip if it hits something hard. A softer edge will not chip but will need to be honed more often. Factors like hardness, flexibility, and edge durability are determined by the knifemaker to best suit the knife’s use. That is why custom knifemakers will often use a blade steel that suits their knives. Some of the best knifemakers in the world use lower quality steels like O1, 1095, 440A, 51200, etc. ( By the way, there is no such thing as 401 steel, and for the Cutco folks out there Henckel’s and Wusthof’s 440C steel is considered to be a “better” steel, but thats not necessarily true, as explained above )
One thing that people have to understand is that the heat treatment, tempering, and other ways that people create their blades actually makes more of a difference than the steel. S30V and ZDP-189 are two of the best steels out there, but guess what, a quality knifemaker who does a perfect heat treatment, tempering, cryogenic process, and honing can make a better knife out of 1095 steel. Cutco does a great heat treatment, cryogenic freezing, and an extended tempering process that gets the very best out of the 440A steel that they use, so I hope everyone can stop talking about steel types because most people don’t have the knowledge to discuss it and only spout BS that they’ve heard somewhere.
Cutco makes great knives. A lot of people love them and don’t think that they are overpriced. If you don’t like them, fine, but don’t pan them when you don’t know what you’re talking about. One advantage of Cutco is that all their knives are of the same quality. Henckels, Wusthoff, Global, even Shun make many levels of quality and price, so its often hard to make comparisons.
Hope some of this info helps.
December 28th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
My purpose for viewing the various feedback, was to learn what common people were saying about the Cutco products. All entries are greatly appreciated; I will digest the information and make my decision about Cutco’s quality vs: cost at a later time. Thanks to each of you for your positive and negative comments concerning Cutco’s business ethics and the quality of Cutco’s various products. Have a wonderful day…
June 25th, 2011 at 12:21 am
I am not a CUTCO rep, but I can tell you, I LOVE my Cutco knives.
I never sharpen them, they always do the job I need them to do, and honestly I’m not enough of a serious cook to go for any of the brand-name or professional knives out there that do require some sort of maintenance. Cutco makes a great product and has a fantastic warrantee.
In one instance, I had a knife break when trying to split a watermelon (tip broke off, much to my surprise) and recently I had a knife crack when falling on a tile floor. In both instances the returns are easy and painless – just send the knife back with an explanatory note and they’ll send you a new one. Oh, and those two incidents are two in nearly 10 years of owning the knives.
There are few companies that will take back a product and replace it when it’s so old without any issues…say what you will about their sales practices, the product is quality and worth every penny.
Great ready about others’ experiences…thanks!
July 8th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
Your Price for that set of knives is inaccurate. I am a cutco sales Rep and I know the price for that set is about 2200. With sales tax and shipping about 2600. From my experience with these knives they are the best in the world especially when it comes to the guarantee. Dont take it from me because I’m a sales rep for them but aside from that I use them everyday in my own kitchen. Worth way more then a basic Henkles set which comes with half the knives at 2027 dollars. Just a few facts to throw out there though.
July 16th, 2011 at 3:40 am
OK just here to debunk some of the things being said. I am a cutco sales rep, started working there about a month ago. The Cutco complete set is only 2099, the blades are NOT serrated, its what is called a double d edge and it dosent rip or tear the food like a serrated edge. J.D the reason we have a forever guarantee is for the sound mind of the customer, we are a great company with great products, but just in case something does go wrong we will replace the product for free.You also mentioned Wustoff dosent need a warranty, well they have one but only one that covers defects, unlike cutco. You also mentioned that we prey on people who don’t know about knives or cooking, if they didnt know anything about knives or cooking they probably wouldnt be interested which means they probably wouldnt buy. Every person that I’ve ever talked to that owns Cutco loves the product and they usually will see something that they else they want if you see them again, which they wouldnt want anything else if the product was no good.
July 16th, 2011 at 3:42 am
By the way Wustoff and Henckels are great knives dont get me wrong, but Cutco is better and cheaper. The handle is way more comfortable with it’s grips, it looks nicer, stays sharper longer and has a forever guarantee.
July 26th, 2011 at 11:23 am
I sold Cutco knives my first year of college. (Roughly 9 years ago). It’s funny because most of the cutco sales reps defending them are reciting the same lines they tough me.
I was enticed by a Job offer from Vector Marketing after responding to an ad that said $12/hr which I later found to be a total misrepresentation of their pay system but I called up and was told nothing more about the job than it not being door-to-door sales or telemarketing (which turned out to be a lie).
I got there to find out it was in-home presentation and although I had to go to people’s houses, knock on their doors, and give them a sales pitch (which suffices to the FTC’s definition of door-to-door) other promises of being my own boss and making good cash kept me wanting the job. They hired me, as they hire almost everyone (although they tell you before the “interviews they only have a few positions available), and I went to training.
It was in training that I found out I had to call people up and solicit sales pitch appointment (even though they said no telemarketing). According to their ad ($12/hr) I should have been paid at least $96, but they won’t pay for training.
Further I was kind of turned off by the purchase or deposit on their demo kit, being told I was my own boss and being an independent contractor with no employee rights but then having to follow strict rules and work under a manager, and having to even pay for some optional conferences. Then upon further research of the company I found out that Vector and Cutco have been sued by Arizona in 1990, ordered by Wisconsin not to decieve their recruits anymore in 1994, and sued yet again Australia nine years after the Arizona lawsuit for fraudulant business practices and each time settled and promised not to mislead it’s recruits anymore.
I found out David Tatar, a Wisconsin consumer protection investigator, says they surveyed 940 Vector recruits in 1992 and found that almost half either earned nothing or lost money working for Vector and that workers in that state earned less than $3 a day on average selling cutlery for Vector. I found out Vector managers make more commission off their new recruits than even their new recruits do until they sell about $3000 worth making for more incentive to recruit quantitatively instead of qualitatively.
I found out the largest Canadian newspaper, The Toronto Star, wrote an article about fraudulent job advertising in 1994 and wrote that they decided not to run Vector’s ads anymore. And I found out that the Better Business Bureau has processed 29 complaints for their lead office in Olean, NY and 6 complaints for their Wilmington, DE location (one of which had to be resolved by a BBB judge) in the last 36 months- which is quite high for the Better Business Bureau especially when considering people at the age of Vector workers generally don’t even know who or what the BBB are. Plus there are numerous sites on the internet by disgruntled former workers, one of which is an online petition to “STOP the Scamful Ways of Vector Marketing and Cutco” that has over 1600 signatures.
I left, and waited tables/bartended my way through college. Now I am a Sales Manager for a *real* company. I can tell you from experience that this is not how a legitimate company operates. Or what it is like in the real sales world. And with 6 years in the restaurant industry. I can also tell you that every real chef, and most home cooking connoisseurs I have met think of Cutco as an overpriced joke.
I have more information regarding college newspapers and such protesting Vector/cutco. Asking they be removed from campus Just ask.
July 27th, 2011 at 4:50 am
I want a cutco set I love to cook but don’t cook but once a week if that I eat out way to much the only thing is I don’t want someone coming to my house. I also live in a gated neighbor hood and I have to put people on my guest list and I don’t trust them after they left they would prob go door to door doing whatever it is that’s they do I can’t even imagine the look on my neighbors face when they come a knocking if there is a website let me know please I mainly want them just to have them…..
July 27th, 2011 at 10:06 am
Try Ebay. That’s probably the most cost effective way to get them. Also if you buy from a “rep.” You are put in their system to get “service calls”. Which is a “rep” coming to your house to sharpen your knives and try to sell you more. With ebay you are not on any call list, and will probably get a better deal from someone who bought and wanted out.
August 4th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
Desten, If you want, go to the company website(find what you want), call up customer service, and order it through them. If they want you to contact the closest office, call them up and tell them what you are interested in and you don’t want a rep to come to your house. Hope this helps.
As for Wining, Costumers are ONLY ENTERED in for service calls if they sign up for it during an appointment or contact the company for someone to service their cutco. Besides that, they are not in any system. Also, if reps or previous reps had an issue with them(misleading), email me at lurch8584@yahoodotcom. All managers that are misleading should be shown the door.
August 11th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Sorry kid. The lawsuits and interest groups should be a sign. Plus, just go to ripoffreport.com. Search vector or cutco. Have fun but don’t try to tell me I’m confused. I’ve been there. Everyone, including a district manager, that I know who has done it says it’s a scam for naive college kids. And I am now have a real job in marketing/sales. They prey on college kids making them think it’s legit. Trust me people. If you want cutco, buy it on ebay.
August 11th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Too many words in one sentence. But you get the idea.
August 12th, 2011 at 11:23 am
Desten,
Again, you will get them much cheaper on ebay. As well, you don’t have do deal with the company. The lawsuits and college campuses asking for their removal should be enough.
And “Hope this helps”,
You obviously work there. As a rep, or manager. Don’t try and tell me that I am confused. I too worked there. In the time after everyone I know who worked through Vector, including an assistant manager and district manager, says it is a scam. They prey on naive college kids who 1)don’t know any better, and 2) think they are getting some kind of real world business experience. The youthful music always playing in the background, and the fact that most everyone you work with is young should always be a sign. You do tons of work either for free, or for knives as payment. And if you read the blogs and the scam reports online, you will notice that every complaint is almost identical to mine. COUNTRY WIDE!
On a side note. I did get the job I have now because when I was 19 I sold the president of the company a Homemaker. He needed a Sales Manager, and ALONG WITH the actual experience in the field I have, he remembers me selling him. But they don’t have much good to say about the actual knives. “Overpriced for what you get” is most commonly used. But later getting a job this way is a rare occurrence. And if you want to roll the dice and work for this company, where you would probably make more waiting tables, go ahead. But don’t try and tell me that my story is an isolated innocent. Because the numerous complaints don’t lie. Peace..
September 28th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
There are many unbelievable things on the internet. Anyone can post anything. If you want the real scoop about this product or the company talk to the people that actually use it or still work there and they will all rave about it. The only people that complain are the ill-witted and those who just plain couldn’t hack it. If you don’t like the music in the office you don’t have to work there. It sounds to me that Vector and Cutco helped you out a great deal so I don’t know why you feel the need to complain. I too work for the company and make a steady paycheck of well over $500 to $1000 a week on just a few appointments. All of my customers with the exception of one or two love their product. Then again that’s the case with any company. There will always be those people that just are never happy no matter what the situation. I am and AM in the office and I love my job. I aspire to run my on District and im sorry that you are such a negative person. If you want to talk about a SCAM lets talk about ebay. I have bought from ebay before and had to jump through hoops to get my money back from false adds. Not to mention that many of the products on there are over priced used items. I prefer to pay the hard workers not the hardly winking, who sit at home and more than likely sell stolen items on ebay. Im glad that you finally found a job that’s best for you. Maybe you should consider letting others think for them selves rather than posting slander on the web. I guess you must not spend much time actually working at you new job if you have time to browse the web. My best wishes to you and I hope you live long and prosper.
October 16th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
Again, another kid living in a dream world. I am just reiterating the exact same complaints as others across the country. Just go to ripoffreport.com. It is a very well known fact that it is marketed in a sleazy manner. It isn’t that I didn’t like the music. It’s just an example of how they prey on young people to sell their knives at a higher price, at a lower expense for the company. And people shop through ebay constantly. It is the cheapest way to get these knives, with no strings attached. Just do a little research and you will see. Kids, go back to school….
October 16th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
oh, and again. Colleges are asking for them to be removed from campus. This isn’t all just a bunch of nonsense from failed employees. You can read this on professional websites, newspapers and agencies that monitor things like this. Again Everyone I have talked to that worked for cutco, including 2 district managers, say it is a scam. Real businesses don’t function like this. I know, I have worked for several real companies in sales and advertising. And yes, it did get me a job. But only because I had experience with other (real) companies as well. Working for cutco is just the way that the boss recognized me.
October 20th, 2011 at 7:02 am
Of all these posts…. No one has managed to mention what sales reps get in commission…. I agree with winning, I worked for Cutco one summer as a second job on the side just to make some extra money. I’ve always been a great salesmen, the product its self IMO is still very nice, I still use my demo set to this day. (10 years later) Yes, I do love the knifes. But, even though you get paid roughly $12 per appointment you spend hours and hours setting all that up.
If your not selling product the district managers are always putting pressure on you. Personally I think it’s a good experience for some people who just don’t see how the world works, I saw through the BS relatively quickly. Again, I do love the knifes, but by no means am I a professional chef. But, I am an engineer that makes 90k a year and even though it’s been 10 years I do remember this…
After selling roughly 3-5k in knifes the salesmen get 50% commission on all future sales. Now it may have changed, but the 25 employees the district manage brings in every month, who all have to buy a “demo” set at a “discounted” price. I remember asking my first day if the manager was making money off us buying the demo sets, he laughed it off and said no it doesn’t work that way…. Bullshit.
Bottom line the knifes are great, but thye prob cost $1 each to make. So everyone is making money down the line. If you get on a hot streak with rich people you can make a killing. Hell, Jerry Rice owns an Ultimate.
So truth be told your making 50% commission after 2 weeks (If your any good) on a $2100 set. (But we all know you start with that set then drop down one, then another, because people usually say yes the third time, and settle for the $900 homemaker, it’s good manipulation, really) So $1050 per sale, nice. When it happens.
Anyways I’m willing to buy an Ultimate in white, in the Oak block, for $1200 just because I think it would look so good on my kitchen counter. So Mr. Salesperson you make $150 in commission.
E-mail me: caligreendayfan@yahoo.com
P.S. I love the line when they say, your not collecting a paycheck, your earning a paycheck. Sales sucks in a bad economy, and a guaranteed paycheck sure is nice, stay in school. Or worst case, land a blue collar job for a major company like Pepsico, Coca Cola, Proctor Gamble, that is still gonna pay 50k + a year with benefits, 401k, pension, paid vacation, etc… Just for showing up and doing what your paid to do.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Yea any other job I’ve had in sales had a commission, along with a salary. Anything strictly commission should be a red flag.
November 8th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Oh, I just thought of something. Waiters at TGI Fridays have to go through a week of training. But they get paid for it.
December 4th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
My cousin got cut on the leg by a cutco bread knife that fell off the counter. She had to be taken to the hospital it was so deep. The Doctor that patched her up said he had never seen a cut so clean & he just had to show it to one of the surgeons. Both agreed that it should heal with out any major damage to the muscle or even a scar…they were right and her works and leg looks perfect. And that was an old ‘duel’ knife…if there is such a thing with cutco.
December 4th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
I am a sales rep for Cutco. The cost for knives will always be more expensive on the internet. You can get wayyy better deals through a rep. And even if they were 2x that, they’d be worth it! A FOREVER GUARANTEE that you can pass from generation to generation with no proof of purchase necessary! I LOVE CUTCO! Need knives? Lexi_Ebers@hotmail.com
January 6th, 2012 at 12:31 am
: / I went to Culinary school but to many expenses made me join the military. I use to own Shun and don’t get me wrong they are great knives but. My aunt and her mother both own CUTCO. Well I gave them both a Shun Chef knife I bought at my school. For some strange reason far beyond my comprehension my aunts mom grabed the shun knife and tried to crack a coconut. The blade of the knife chipped and their was a a big gap where metal use to be. She apologized and proceded to grabed the CUTCO chef knife and crack the coconut. Needless to say the coconut gave before the knife did. But it is for that reason I prefer CUTCO knives for friends who I have made in the military. CUTCO knives are durable and even if a person gets a crazy hair up their you know what the knives will survive. Bottom line CUTCO knives may not be what real chefs buy but do you really want to give an amateur something they might break? I feel CUTCO is a hands down must for the people I care about. That being said I need to buy some for a new married couple. But we are in Okinawa Japan.
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:36 am
To John’s point,He is exactly right. There are surerior knives out there, but most of them DO cost more. In the Cutco price range, depending on personal taste and preference, most knives are relatively comparable to each other. I was a professional chef and I’ll tell you, Cutco, to me is the best overall knife for frequent use I’ve personally handled. The French chef knife is my go to knife regardless of the brand, and Cutco has toe best one for me in both feel and overall performance. Because of the grade of steel they use and the tempering process (yes I know they’re stamped, but that gives them more consistancy) they are easily honed, and only rarely need professional sharpening if properly maintained, like any good knife.
Buy what you want, but Cutco works for me.
February 1st, 2012 at 3:34 pm
As a chef in a high end restaurant (DC area) a knife is like an extension of my hand. At work I do not use Cutco knifes, but at home its Cutco all the way. My parents had Cutco when I was a kid and it was the knives I originally learned to cook with. The are high quality and the non “double D knifes” are easy to hone if you know what your doing. If not just send it back to Cutco and they will fix it us for you, all you have to pay is the shipping.