ComplaintsforVector Marketing Corporation

• Initial Complaint

  05/14/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This company has all of my information including social security number, phone number, email address, and any other personal information. I have been called on multiple accounts and told them that I was not interested. I would like them to get rid of any and all information they have of mine. This company targets college students, promising “$25 an hour” when in reality is asking them to sell their overpriced product to potential customers. I feel as though this company should be investigated and this company needs to stop targeting College students.

  

  Business response

  05/17/2024

  The following email was sent to Ms. ***** regarding this complaint:

  Dear Ms. *****,
  I’m responding to the recent complaint filed with the Better Business Bureau regarding Vector Marketing.  The reason you were contacted by Vector was because you were listed as a personal recruit of **** ******, who was contracted as a sales representative for Vector in February.  We do reach out to any personal recruit referral to gauge interest in the Vector opportunity.   We have taken action on your account so there will be no further contact from Vector.  I apologize for the unwanted contact. 
  
  Please feel free to contact me at ###-###-#### or email **************** with any questions.  Thank you.
  
  Jeff H****
  Director, Service and Admin
  Vector Marketing Corp/Cutco
  322 Houghton Ave  Olean, NY  14760

   

• Initial Complaint

  03/27/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Back story: I worked for Larry W****** with Cutco for a short few weeks. Training was 3 days long (I had to drive 40 minutes there and spend about 4 hours there) without ANY pay what so ever. Nothing. They say you will get paid 25 dollars an hour and make your own schedule. They really get you hooked in all of this by saying what you want to hear. They continue showing you all kinds of trips to crazy places, free dinners at fancy restaurants, sooo many items and vacations you can win if you make a certain amount within the first 10 days of working for them. You have to sit there and make cold calls and you aren’t allowed to break the script. (Keep in mind this is without any kind of pay and no clue of what you’ll actually be doing). You have to give them your personal contacts for them to text and harass and pull in the same as they did you. (This causes soooo many people to think poorly of you because most people know the stories about Cutco already). They proceed to not let you leave until you have an insane ammount of “appointments”. Booked for every hour of every day. They advertise “make your own schedule” but then Larry would call me at 11 o’clock at night, 6 am, 2pm, 9:30 at night just blowing my phone up continuously bugging me until I talked to him. I told him all of my family is 2 hours away from me and that’s where most of my contacts were. But I still was just told to make it work. Larry started to become extremelyyy creepy from this point on. And if someone didn’t buy the biggest set then he would tell me It was because I’m not reading the script word for word and I need soooo much work. Even when I told him their answer was “we love it and you’re a wonderful sales person but we just don’t even have money for food at the moment.” There is a lot more but the main thing I want to focus on is the fact that Larry W****** scammed me 4-5 months ago on ***** and has drug it out this far to now only pay 20 dollars a week. I need my money back.He owes me $250

  

  Business response

  04/10/2024

  We have been in contact with both Larry and Katie for more detail regarding this complaint.  After numerous back and forth conversations, this issue is now resolved.  There seems to have been some confusion with some of the communication that occurred between Katie and Larry, and we do apologize that this happened.  We are happy that we were able to get this resolved.  

  Please contact me with questions at ###-###-#### or email **************.  Thank you.

   

  Jeffrey T. H****

  Director, Service and Admin

   

   

• Initial Complaint

  02/03/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I recently started to work at this company, and with doing that I had to download an app that has all my contact information. When I left the job they decided to get all my contact info and start recommending people to their company, but I never gave them consent to do that. I want Vector to remove all information in their system they have regarding me including email, phone number, name, address and any other information they might have

  

  Business response

  02/13/2024

  The following email was sent to **** ***** on 2./13/24:

  Dear ****,
  I’m responding to the recent complaint filed with the Better Business Bureau regarding Vector Marketing.  I do apologize for the misunderstanding regarding the download of your contact information.  It should have been made clear to you that we could potentially reach out to them to gauge their interest in pursuing the Vector opportunity.   All contacts and your personal information have been removed from our system. 
  
  Please feel free to contact me with any questions at ###-###-#### or email ****************.  Thank you.
  
  Jeff H****
  Director, Service and Admin
  Vector Marketing Corp/Cutco
  322 Houghton Ave  Olean, NY  14760
  ###-###-####  Ext. ****

   

  Customer response

  02/15/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
  
  Regards,
  
  **** *****
  
  
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/20/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  They can’t supply me information pertaining to an inquiry, after they had my email and phone number they wouldn’t give me any info. Just pressed for interview. I kept asking for info: but when I told them I was reporting it to the better business, they all the sudden provided a phone number. I do not give this company my personal information for sale or use. I’d like to verify my information will not be marketed or used.

  

  Business response

  02/09/2024

  The following email was sent to Ms. ***** on 2/9/24:

  Dear Ms. *****,
  I am responding to the recent complaint filed with the Better Business Bureau regarding contact by Vector Marketing.  Once you applied for the position through **** * ***, your information was directed to our scheduling center.  Based on your zip code, the Vector office you would have been interviewing with is in Ballwin, MO. This was listed on the **** * *** page, as well as more detailed information regarding the position.  I do apologize that this information did not satisfy your needs.  That is the reason the scheduling service advised that the Vector office manager would be happy to answer any and all questions during the interview process. 
  
  We have removed your personal information from our system.  Your personal information was not shared with anyone.  You will not be contacted in the future.   Feel free to contact me with questions at ###-###-#### or email ****************.  Thank you.   
  
  
  Jeff H****
  Director, Service and Admin
  Vector Marketing Corp/Cutco
  322 Houghton Ave  Olean, NY  14760
  ###-###-####  Ext. 5107

  Customer response

  02/09/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ******** *****
  
  
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/11/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  At 3:45 PM CT on 1/9, I received a text from ****** ******* asking if I was looking for part-time work and an employee of his, ****** *****, had given him my personal phone number to see if I was interested. My twin sister, ******** *******, received the exact same message from ****** and we were both quite uncomfortable that our personal information was being shared by ****** ***** without our consent, especially since we have not had contact with her since middle school (at least 9 years ago). ******** texted ****** to stop giving out her personal phone number and ****** explained that she did not share ********'s information, her company has her contacts and that is how they were able to get in touch with us. This is an extreme data privacy violation and my twin and I are uncomfortable that this company has obtained our personal information without our consent and proceeded to contact us, again without our consent.

  

  Business response

  01/23/2024

  The following email was sent to ****** ******* on 1/23/24:Dear ****** *******,I am responding to the recent complaint filed with the Better Business Bureau regarding the contact from Vector Marketing.  ****** ***** has contracted with Vector Marketing to be a sales representative to sell Cutco knives.  All our sales reps are asked if they feel anyone they know would be interested in the “Vector Opportunity”.  Some sales reps do share all their phone contacts with the local Vector manager, who does reach out to gauge interest level.  This is what happened in this case.  I do apologize.  We have removed you and your sister’s contact information from our system.  We do not share contact information with anyone so you will not be contacted from us or anyone else.  Please feel free to contact me with questions.  Thank you.Jeff H****Director, Service and AdminVector Marketing Corp/Cutco322 Houghton Ave  Olean, NY  14760###-###-####  Ext. ****

• Initial Complaint

  07/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Vector Marketing out of the Gilbert office had my personal information without my consent which was ultimately for their profit. One of their team members, an 18 yr old by the name of ****** ****, gave my phone number to this company without my permission. I do not know this person. It took me three days to have the company give me the name and phone number of this person so I could investigate. His cell phone *** *** **** does not have a set up voicemail so I was not able to leave a message. I was able to text him but no response. I am super concerned because I am 67 years old and just recently moved to Scottsdale in the last two and a half weeks. I have talked to Vector's legal counsel, Paul M******** out of Olean, New York. *** *** **** about this matter, but he hasn't had any luck in getting me info on who this person is and why he felt he could give out my number to this company for their benefit. Vector obviously has given this person some kind of incentive to give leads and that is where the problem is. I don't know if this person is associated with a criminal organization, is a pedophile or someone out of China or Africa preying on naive Americans. The company says its no big deal, but to me this is. I don't feel safe that corporate america in the pursuit of the almighty dollar is willing to compromise my safety for their bottom line. The company is giving me alot of lip service, but I have still not been able to talk to this person and I now understand he has disappeared. I have a call into the Scottsdale Police for their help. and advice. I have no idea if he is giving my name and number out to others. This is a terrible business practice and a situation that could lead to much bigger problems for me down the line. I feel very vulnerable and exposed by Vector and they are just blowing it off as no big deal. It seems to me that they are responsible for giving him some kind of incentive to provide names to them. This is an invasion of privacy plus a form of identity theft. Clearly bad business. For me, getting a new phone number will cause me great inconvenience but I might not have a choice at this point.

  

  Business response

  08/10/2023

  We are still in the investigative process for this particular situation. We are certainly not "blowing this off as no big deal" but are simply trying to gather and analyze all information to help us in determining how this could have happened (*****'s name and number being referred by ****** ****, especially not knowing each other).  

  We are hopeful to have a resolution soon.  Please contact me with questions at ###-###-#### or email ****************.  Thank you.

   

  Jeffrey T. H****

  Director, Admin and Service

  Vector Marketing Corporation

   

  Customer response

  08/14/2023

  Better Business Bureau: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. This is a very serious matter for all of us who have had marketing companies invade our privacy and sell our personal information to complete strangers with the only goal of improving the corporate botton line, without any care of this information getting into the hands of criminals whose intent is to due harm. ****** G***, the young man at the heart of this story, the tip of the iceberg so to speak, CALLED me by mistake two Saturday's ago. I had a brief conversation with him before he started yelling obsenities and letting me know his personal reason for engaging with the Mesa, AZ office of this company. He is 18 years old and stated he was homeless and living in his car with his girlfriend in Rimrock, AZ It has been very hot in the Southwest this summer and during this time it was around 100 degrees in Rimrock, so this young man is desparate to get out of his very disturbing and unfortunate situation. He said he was "made" to give up names and numbers and said it was absolutely legal for him to do this. This company is incentivizing and coaching young people that they will not get into any trouble for doing so and have absolutely no ethical concerns about giving out personal information, no matter what happens as long as it could potentially help improve their corporate botton line. Someone like me, 67 years old and single are just collateral damage. We all know you can be tracked with just a phone number these days and I am now very concerned for myself and how many countless others. Paul M********, out of their upstate New York corporate, legal office told me this young man no longer could be found or located so it appeared that their association with him was over. Paul M******** then gave me ****** G***'s phone number, so this is widespread behavior from top to bottom, without any ramification or accountability. I called the phone number for ****** wanting to find out how he got my name and phone number ( he says he has no idea which makes me even more concerned). I was unable to leave a phone voicemail because a mailbox had not been set up. I then tried texting ****** since most young people always have their phone with them, - it went through but he never replied ****** then mistakenly called the following Saturday and told me another story, the complete opposite of what Paul said. ****** told me he had not heard from his direct supervisor or from Paul M******** or from anyone associated with the company ( implying he was still affilated with the company), which is in direct conflict to what Paul has said. Two people of out their PR department called me from Tennesse ( Stepanie W***** and her direct supervisor Joel, whom has been the most condescending out of them all), trying to assure me they were looking into this and apologized for P*****'s "innocent" actions. Companies like this need to be exposed and have an indelible mark left on the company's reputation. Companies that prey and exploit young and vulnerable individuals for profit should be known for this abuse of ethics and moral decay. Vector Marketing doesn't make anything. Cutco has been around for a very long time so its harder and harder for them to find new customers, - its success depends on its reputation.This story needs to be told.****** G***, who needs help in getting out of his very unfortunate circumstance, shouldn't be exploited by corporate america. Abuse is abuse and this is corporate abuse.I shouldn't be blown off for my concern. You don't have Public Relations call if there isn't a real concern. The only way companies change is for their botton line to be hit hard, their reputations destroyed and for people to be held accountable and fired. Regards, ***** *********

  

  Business response

  08/24/2023

  The following email was sent to Ms. ********* on 8/24/23:Dear Ms. *********,First and foremost, we want to genuinely express our concern over how you felt after your recent experience with us. Feeling exposed and vulnerable is deeply unsettling, and we truly regret that you felt this way after engaging with our company.Upon receiving your feedback, it immediately prompted discussions across multiple departments, from digital strategy to district sales management, as we wanted to understand and address your concerns thoroughly.  Like many businesses, we have a referral program in place wherein individuals that complete our training program can refer potential candidates. P*****, the individual who referred you, has communicated to us that he is unaware of how your contact information ended up in his phone. Regardless of the how and why, his referral was the reason you received our text message outreach regarding our part-time sales openings. We understand that, upon our outreach, you initially showed interest in the position. We recognize that once the nature of the work was made clear, your feelings towards the position changed. We sincerely apologize for any confusion or discomfort this may have caused.For your peace of mind, we recommend blocking the number that referred you.  Rest assured,  your information will never be shared and we've removed your contact information from our systems and will not contact you further.  In the future, we are committed to refining our processes to ensure clearer communication and a more positive experience for potential candidates like you. Please feel free to contact me at ###-###-#### or email **************** with any questions.  Thank you.Jeff H****Director, Service and AdminVector Marketing Corp/Cutco322 Houghton Ave  Olean, NY  14760 

• Initial Complaint

  07/16/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This company that I’ve never even heard of until they sent this mail to my house, Vector, has somehow illegally obtained the sensitive information of my minor child’s name and address and no telling whatever else is out there about her. I do not know where this information came from or how they were able to obtain it. But it is highly illegal to solicit or market to minor children for business. This child cannot legally sign a binding contract. Nor would she want to. She is too young and her information shouldn’t even be available to these crooks. I’m super angry and my lawyer will be in contact. This is not ok when you bring innocent children’s highly private information into adult matters. You shouldn’t even know my child exists yet. This makes you a criminal and you will be punished to the full extent of the law. Is your company that desperate to turn to illegal soliciting to minors for marketing purposes just to stay afloat? I believe that option just got you hurt.

  

  Business response

  07/26/2023

  We have spoken with Ms. ********* regarding the mailing process and have removed her daughter from the mailing list.    Ms. ********* was satisfied with the explanation as she initially believed her daughter's identity had been stolen.  We assured her it was not.  A letter will be sent to ******* to confirm the conversation.Please feel free to contact me with questions at ###-###-#### or email ****************.  Thank you.Jeffrey T. H****Director, Service and AdminVector Marketing Corporation/Cutco

• Initial Complaint

  06/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am writing to express my utter frustration and anger regarding the incessant mail I continue to receive from the scam business known as Vector. It is deeply disturbing that a business of such dubious nature is allowed to operate, let alone harass unsuspecting individuals like myself. I demand that you take immediate action to put an end to this ongoing violation of my privacy and protect others from falling victim to this despicable scam. The relentless barrage of physical mail from Vector has turned my mailbox into a landfill of deceit, false promises, and unwanted solicitation. Each time I receive their fraudulent materials, it serves as a reminder of their unscrupulous tactics and their complete disregard for ethical business practices. It is abundantly clear that they have no respect for the principles of honesty, transparency, and consumer protection.

  

  Business response

  07/03/2023

  We have removed ******* from the mailing list.  Vector Marketing does use a third party company to send out direct mail pieces each year.  The mailing lists are supplied from a company call American Student List.  The sole reason for these mailings is to recruit individuals to sell Cutco products.  We do not share contact information with anyone else.  She should no longer be contacted.

  We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.  Please contact me with questions at ###-###-#### or email [email protected].  Thank you.

   

  Jeffrey T. H****

  Director, Admin and Service

  Vector Marketing Corporation

   

• Initial Complaint

  06/26/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I started working for Vector Marketing on June 19th, 2023. They told me that I was a contractor rather than an employee and made me participate in 3 days of unpaid training so that I could do the job. I do not believe that I fit the bill of a contractor because I had never been employed as a sales position before so it is obviously not my contracted profession. Since I started work, they may have also sold the data of myself and my friends against my knowledge and consent. They misled me by telling me that the contact information that I shared would be only accessible to me. I would like Vector Marketing to delete my personal information as well as all the information of my friends and family that I have shared. I would also like Vector Marketing (and any other organizations they may have sold this information to) to cease and desist contact with any of these people for any and all purposes in the future. Additionally, I would like documentation detailing how my, and my friends' data has been used by Vector Marketing or any other organizations they may have sold it to.

  

  Business response

  07/07/2023

  The following email was sent to Mr. ****** on Friday, 7/7: Dear Mr. ******, I’m responding to the recent issue that was filed with the Better Business Bureau regarding Vector Marketing.  We have made the necessary updates to our system that you had requested.  All the personal recruit contacts you provided have been removed.  There will be no further contact from Vector Marketing to you or any of the contacts you provided.  These contacts would only have been contacted by us to ask if there was interest in the Vector opportunity.  Also, the contact information you provided is not shared or sold with anyone. Regarding the training program, we make every attempt to communicate to our potential sales representatives exactly what the position entails.  This includes their status as independent contractors.  We advise that there is no charge for the training and that the value of the material will far outweigh the time and energy invested.  This information is communicated both in the interview for the position, and when the candidate is accepted into the program.  We realize the Vector opportunity is not for everyone and understand your decision.  Please feel free to contact me with questions at ************** or email *****************  Thank you. Jeff H**** Director, Service and Admin Vector Marketing Corp/Cutco *** ******** ***  ****** **  ***** ************  **** ****

• Initial Complaint

  05/26/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Vector Marketing has been sending employment recruiting letters to my minor child for the past several months. I don’t know how they got her name and our address. She is not even old enough to have a job. When she does, it will absolutely not be with Vector Marketing. The letters need to stop immediately. Someone from VM can call me and I will give you the address.

  

  Business response

  06/14/2023

  I sent the following email to Ms. ****** on 6/2 and have yet to get a response.  We will immediately remove her daughter from the mailing list once we have her complete name and address.  Thank you.  Dear Ms. ******, I’m responding to a recent complaint filed with the Better Business Bureau.  Vector Marketing uses a third party company to send out direct mail pieces each year. The mailing lists are supplied from a company called American Student List.  The sole reason for these mailings is to recruit students to sell Cutco products.  We do not share contact information with anyone else. Any potential recruit must be at least 17 years of age and a high school graduate.  Obviously, this is not the case for your daughter.  We apologize that she somehow was included on this mailing list. We will remove your daughter from the mailing list.  If you can provide me her name and complete address, I would be happy to do this immediately.  I am also including the name and address of a company where you can request her to be removed from all direct mailing lists: Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association **** ****** of the Americas New York, NY 10036-6700 We apologize for any inconvenience this has may have caused you.  Please feel free to contact me with questions. Thank you. Jeff H**** Director, Service and Admin Vector Marketing Corp/Cutco *** ******** Ave  Olean, NY  14760716-***-****  Ext. **** 

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩