A lot of controversy going on over at Wright State University in
Ohio over this SAVE article. Apparently, Vector corporate gave the
Dayton office $1,000 to "re-build" their image and exposing the
company for what it is doesn't seem to help them very much in doing
that. I believe there were 3 versions written, this would be the
final:


Marketing corp. criticized by student group
SAVE accuses Vector/Cutco of exploitation and manipulation

By James Brandewie
A national marketing corporation, Vector/ Cutco, is under fire from
a student based group regarding the company's recruiting policies.
Students Against Vector Exploitation, a group started in June of
2003, has accused the company of questionable practices.

"Vector manipulates people into taking a job that they would not
have normally accepted," said Chad Hasselius, co-founder of
SAVE. "Instead of straight out telling you they aren't offering
employment but a contract to sell knives, that you solicit sales
appointments then do sales demonstrations inside the person's home,
or that you must purchase or put deposit with them on your sales
materials and start out with your family and friends they tell you
it is a customer service/sales job with no telemarketing or door-to-
door sales."

However, not all students are upset with the company, such as Dustin
Havenar, a psychology major at WSU.

He has worked with Vector/Cutco for over two years and currently
makes anywhere from $200 to $1000 a week, which is slightly above
average compared to fellow Vector independent contractors, said
Havenar.

"Sales is not for everyone," he said. "(Vector) basically gives you
everything you need to be successful, and work ethic plays a big
part of it. 100% of success is in your hands."

During the hiring process, potential employees are given
a "realistic preview," said Director of Academic Research for Vector
Sarah Baker-Andrus.

Students first go to a brief screening, followed by a group
orientation and then a company program is provided, said Baker-
Andrus.

This is followed up by a personal interview and then training
sessions, she said. Representatives are then required to either buy
a demo kit at discount price or put down a security deposit for the
knives at $135 plus tax.

It is easy to make broad generalizations about a company on the
Internet. "We have not dealt with many complaints from students and
we take exception with the way they (SAVE) have characterized
Vector," she said. "No individual came to us to complain."

Vector was sued by the Arizona Attorney General in 1990, ordered by
the state of Wisconsin not to deceive recruits in 1994 and sued by
the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in 1999. "Each
time their legal trouble revolved around allegedly fraudulent
recruiting tactics, and each time they settled and promised not to
mislead their recruits anymore," according to a SAVE press release.

"Vector's claims are misleading," said Katherine Romeo, a sophomore
English major, who worked for Vector as an independent contractor
for 6 months during 1999.

"You sell knives to friends and family by tricking them into
thinking this is just for practice," said Romeo. However, you then
have to ask them to call people they know, to get you
referrals. "It's kind of immoral."

http://www.theguardianonline.com/main.cfm?
include=detail&storyid=507448