cutco

[jimh0220]

FWIW I dig 'em. I had heard about Cutco first in college. A really hot girl in my econ class invited me back to her room, and then sprung the knife pitch on me. I was shocked, but of course I bought the hunting knife thinking I still had a chance. Turns out I didn't have a chance, and was stuck with an overpriced *OK* hunting knife. Not the best first impression to say the least. All that being said though, I've been using Cutco in my kitchen for about 7 years, it's my 4th set of kitchen knives, and I love 'em. The steel is more than adequate, though I will say that 440A is by no means INFI. That being said, I'm not gonna butterfly a chicken breast with a Mean Street, nor am I gonna slip a cheese slicer in my pocket for EDC either. Every tool has its purpose. When we first got married (19 years ago) we had a shiny block of Chicago Cutlery. Needless to say, I knew nothing of steel or quality knives. We then upgraded to a set of Mundials which were better than the Chi Town knives, only just; I only retained a paring knife out of the set. From there we went to Henkels. These were a major upgrade (and a lot more money), and I thought they were just fine. My mother-in-law started getting us Cutco for anniversaries about 7 years ago and my wife fell in love with them. I'm not a huge fan of serrations, so it took a little warming up on my part, but I've actually come to appreciate the design of their serrations (for bread, cheese, etc.). I recently compared them to some Shun blades that a buddy of mine has, and they're better, just not enough to warrant the cost of replacing my Cutco blades. My son just ordered me the Ka-Bar (black...not snot green) and I'm really looking forward to putting that through its paces. :eagerness:

Truth in advertising notice: My son is going off to college next year, and he's working for Vector marketing this summer. His decision is based on 2 things: 1) he wants to be in sales (pharma or medical devices) and 2) we've had such great experience over the years with our Cutco products. So if I come off as a hugger for Cutco, that's why. Before he went out on his first sales call, I taught him about different steels and blade grinds, while his mother taught how to conduct and ethical sales call. I like the Vector model, but they definitely need to do a better job of teaching these kids, rather than using their warm leads for sales, then putting a bullet in their heads when the market gets cold.

Get him working for a legit sales company then. Vector does not teach them sales, as you experienced with your 'hot girl' in college. You took the bait. Don't let him go that route. Tell him to get a gig working selling suits at a Dept store. Have him sell cars, or work at a real estate office as an assistant. He'll learn sales fast. Vector will use him for a while then leave him to wither like the rest. Tue sales companies train. Hell, I sold water softeners for a few years, and got more sales training with a real sales manager. I was never thrown to the wolves. I was trained. I learned more about sales as a lot attendant at a small used car dealer. Get to know the best sales guys and they're happy to teach you.

 

[GhostRider66]

The bigger problem with Cutco isn't the knives...

I have to respectfully disagree, Jimh. Like I said in my previous post, My son has been working for Vector for about a month now. He has not been asked to buy his demo kit, nor has anybody in his office. I'll agree that they seem overpriced to me, too. But then again, a Mercedes seems overpriced to me (though my boss would disagree). The true measure of whether an object is overpriced is whether or not it sells, and it seems that Cutco does just fine in the revenue department. I would agree that having kids with little or no sales experience can and does cause problems, but then again, compare the service you get at a Taco Bell against the service you get at a Ruth's Chris. Professionalism takes experience, and these kids have to get it somewhere. I'm much happier that my son is learning how to gracefully take everything from a polite "no" to a door slammed in his face, and how to follow up on a sale to ensure high customer satisfaction instead of clocking 8 hours and asking if you want fries with that. Direct marketing has a bad reputation, and perhaps deservedly so. But I would much rather stand in the background while one of my wife's friends throws a Pampered Chef party in my living room, or sit through the stumbling pitch of a well-intentioned young person trying to get started out in life than to even set foot on a car lot. Sales is sales, whether it's in a brick and mortar store, on the internet, on a car lot or in your living room. People need to sack up and be resolute in saying NO if they don't want something. I can guarantee you, if my son does into medical device sales like he's thinking, he's not going to be guilting dear old dad into buying a DaVinci robotic surgery device!

 

[HwangJino]

Cutco is a joke for a knife company.

I wouldn't take free products from them.

 

[jimh0220]

I have to respectfully disagree, Jimh. Like I said in my previous post, My son has been working for Vector for about a month now. He has not been asked to buy his demo kit, nor has anybody in his office. I'll agree that they seem overpriced to me, too. But then again, a Mercedes seems overpriced to me (though my boss would disagree). The true measure of whether an object is overpriced is whether or not it sells, and it seems that Cutco does just fine in the revenue department. I would agree that having kids with little or no sales experience can and does cause problems, but then again, compare the service you get at a Taco Bell against the service you get at a Ruth's Chris. Professionalism takes experience, and these kids have to get it somewhere. I'm much happier that my son is learning how to gracefully take everything from a polite "no" to a door slammed in his face, and how to follow up on a sale to ensure high customer satisfaction instead of clocking 8 hours and asking if you want fries with that. Direct marketing has a bad reputation, and perhaps deservedly so. But I would much rather stand in the background while one of my wife's friends throws a Pampered Chef party in my living room, or sit through the stumbling pitch of a well-intentioned young person trying to get started out in life than to even set foot on a car lot. Sales is sales, whether it's in a brick and mortar store, on the internet, on a car lot or in your living room. People need to sack up and be resolute in saying NO if they don't want something. I can guarantee you, if my son does into medical device sales like he's thinking, he's not going to be guilting dear old dad into buying a DaVinci robotic surgery device!

Says the proud papa who wants to think the best. I get it. Medical device sales reps don't get there as their first gig either, and they better know more than a Vector rep knows about knives. My last stint was working in telecommunications. You know what, I had to know EVERYTHING about hardware, networks, consumer base, industry changes, etc. What does Vector teach your son about the industry he's competing in? He'd learn more on this site than they'll ever teach him.

if sales is sales, then you'll understand that it's about believing in and loving WHAT you sell, as well as HOW to sell it, and overcome objections, so they can hamdle the no and make it a yes. You think no means no when you sell a 50k medical device? Nope. It just means "you haven't taught me WHY I need this yet." I've hired sales folks, and never has Vector Marketing jumped off a resume as an asset. If he wants a shot in Medical sales, he should work in the medical industry so he knows what the devices really do for himself.

It's ok. He'll learn a valuable lesson: how to say no to a job when it's not a good place to work.

 

[GhostRider66]

Says the proud papa who wants to think the best. I get it. Medical device sales reps don't get there as their first gig either, and they better know more than a Vector rep knows about knives. My last stint was working in telecommunications. You know what, I had to know EVERYTHING about hardware, networks, consumer base, industry changes, etc. What does Vector teach your son about the industry he's competing in? He'd learn more on this site than they'll ever teach him.

if sales is sales, then you'll understand that it's about believing in and loving WHAT you sell, as well as HOW to sell it, and overcome objections, so they can hamdle the no and make it a yes. You think no means no when you sell a 50k medical device? Nope. It just means "you haven't taught me WHY I need this yet." I've hired sales folks, and never has Vector Marketing jumped off a resume as an asset. If he wants a shot in Medical sales, he should work in the medical industry so he knows what the devices really do for himself.

It's ok. He'll learn a valuable lesson: how to say no to a job when it's not a good place to work.

Jimh, I'm new to the site, but as you get to know me, you'll understand that you've completely misread me as a blithely naive proud papa wanting to think the best I encouraged my boy to take the interview, because interview time is *always* time well spent. When he said he wanted to do it, I asked why. When he gave me his reasons (which were very sound BTW), I told him that I would not be his first presentation. He had gone on five sales calls before he got the "comfort" of mom and dad. When he starting pitching the product, I challenged him. I challenged him on steels, on design, on warranty, on value. So far, I am still his hardest sale (which amazes me). And, I made him look at sites like these. You're right...he has learned more about knives from this site than they'll ever teach him. He's also developed a thick skin given some of the things being said on here about "reps like him." That's all good, and that's why he's performing so well. He understands not only his product as represented by the company, but understands the objections of people that have had bad experiences with the product, or just dislike it. My wife is a medical device rep, so I know all about the business, and it's a different than most sales. You've made some inaccurate assumptions about that particular business, but your overall point of overcoming objections is well taken. Of course medical devices isn't a first gig...most people have to spend years in another form of sales before they even get a sniff of device sales. The primary difference is this: while there are good products and bad products, qualified sales reps and unqualified ones, in the medical device arena (like most arenas in life) you don't run into the almost religious hatred of a product that you do with Cutco. I think this is good, because if you can deal with anti-Cutco folks and not let them get under your skin, Hell you can sell ice to Eskimos. (Think about it...when was the last time saw a "Kyocera sucks" thread or people wishing hateful stuff on the folks that assemble Chicago Cutlery?)

Here's why all of your examples of alternative sales jobs as better falls flat: selling suits or other retail products is transactional at best. You've get a lot of people not interested at all, they're just browsing while their wife is next door at Yankee Candle. If you can get them to buy a suit, there's no follow up. You don't call them up weeks later and ask how the suit's working out for them, or if you can interest them in a tie. Same with cars. Also, we happen to be in a difficult economy right now. There are very few retail jobs for a 17 year old (most require you to be 18), and I would welcome your direction a single car dealership in the country that will hire a 17 y/o to sell cars.

To sum it all up...here's why you're wrong (at least in this case): my son has a fire for business in his belly at the same time that most of his contemporaries are gutting out a summer job at the Weinerschnitzel or spending the summer perfecting their beer bong technique for college; he's learning how to work independently, manage his time and develop call plans; he's making more money than any of his friends; he's providing people with a product they want at a price they are willing to accept; and finally, he now has a genuine interest in the art, artistry, and craftsmanship of quality knives (how can that be bad in any way).