Why Are Cutco Knives So Expensive? (Find Out Now!)
If you were alive in the early 2000s, you probably saw banners and posters on your college campus for Vector Marketing. This is the big name marketing company that promises money and high commissions for salespeople. More specifically, they are the company that is behind Cutco knives. I was shocked to find out their price tag. Did you ever wonder why these knives are so damn expensive?
Cutco knives are mostly expensive as a result of the fact that they are an MLM product. Since commissions are based on recruitment, you’re not just paying the salesperson. You’re paying their upline. Other reasons include their lifetime guarantee as well as the cost of production.
There are a lot of rumors swirling around about Cutco and their sales issues. We feel like it is our duty to give you a full spiel about the company behind all the rumors.
How Much Do Cutco Knives Cost?
They are expensive enough to warrant most people to raise an eyebrow. Most Cutco knife sets will start at a bottom price of $200 and go up to $800. In some rare situations, you might even find a knife set that is valued at $2,000. This makes them one of the most expensive knife companies in America.
Why Are Cutco Knives So Expensive?
If you have ever been to a Cutco presentation, you’ll hear about single knives that exceed the hundred-dollar mark. You might be baffled why a company that is so pricey would hire a bunch of desperate, broke college students to sell their goods. Here’s what’s going on with those high price tags.
- Cutco is an MLM company. MLM companies are famous for having needlessly overpriced products. They have to be pricey in order to make sure that the recruiters of the salespeople get paid. Since there are a lot of hands in the pot, you should expect it to be much higher in price than a typical retail company.
- The knives themselves are fairly well-made. While I won’t say that they are truly top of the line, I can’t deny that they are made from really good materials. They are fairly comparable to most other high-end brand names, though some critics might say they’re just a smidge less quality. 440a stainless steel is amazing like that.
- Many sellers also offer free knife sharpening with their purchase. If you’re like me and you hate having to sharpen your knives, this can be a pretty nice perk. With that said, many top sellers offer this for free too.
- Their lifetime warranties also mean that the price covers any replacements that you could get. If you are a fan of warranties, then you might want to splurge on Cutco or a similar competitor. They will replace and repair your knives for free if they break.
Is Cutco An Ethical Company?
This is definitely up for debate, with many people pointing out that most Cutco reps do not actually make a living wage off their work. People often note that MLMs, in general, are predatory companies that often border on pyramid schemes. With that said, there are some people who stand by the company.
As a writer for Upgraded Home, I strongly suggest you do your research when it comes to Cutco. It’s not a pyramid scheme, but the company has gotten a lot of negative press in the past. Whether you feel comfortable with it is up to you. You don’t want to have to deal with a company that doesn’t live up to your moral standards.
Where Do You Buy Cutco Knives?
Cutco knives are most commonly sold by representatives hired by Vector Marketing. However, you can also find them online via secondhand retail sites like eBay or Amazon. If you want to get an official knife kit, then you have to contact Cutco to have a sales rep stop by your home or you can join as a sales rep.
One thing we want to point out is that we couldn’t fully guarantee that the knives you get on Amazon or eBay are going to be legit Cutco. The only way to make sure you have the real McCoy is to buy directly from the brand itself. Should Cutco make an online sales site, you’ll be able to buy them directly online—no cringey sales pressure involved.
Are Cutco Knives Worth It?
Most of the time, I try to see the good in companies. However, I am not sure that Cutco is one of the best choices to buy in terms of its price point. Actually, let me rephrase that: you can definitely get better knives from other companies. In fact, there are a lot of other companies that have high-end knives that tend to perform better at a lower price.
If you are looking for a chef’s first choice, then Cutco isn’t it. (Actually, most of the chefs I know would treat those like the “Beats by Dre” of knives. That’s not a good thing.) You are usually better off with Wusthof se t, or a set of Miyabi Mizu knives.
Where Are Cutco Knives Made?
One thing I will give to Cutco is that they are one of the more popular knife sets that you can get that comes from the United States. More specifically, they are all made in the same factory that Cutco started out in. It’s located in Olean, New York.
How Are Cutco Salespeople Paid?
This is where things get fuzzy. There is a commission that they receive, but they also allegedly get a base pay for every sales presentation that they get regardless of whether they sell anything. However, it’s still an MLM. If you cannot sell, you won’t get paid. You also have to buy your own knives in order to sell others.
People who sell for Cutco rarely ever get the sales numbers they need to turn this into a living. Those who do, however, seem to do fairly well. Among top representatives, it’s not unheard-of to see six-figure salaries year after year.
Can You Sharpen Cutco Knives Yourself?
Most Cutco knives are going to be able to be sharpened as long as you have a whetstone. You will have to know how to properly sharpen a knife, but it is pretty easy to get a knack for. As long as the knife’s edge is smooth, you’ll be able to DIY sharpen it in a pinch.
While straight-edged knives take well to a DIY approach, it’s worth pointing out that serrated knives don’t. Serrated knives need special sharpening tools and techniques. If you try to sharpen a serrated knife through old school means, you will damage the knife. So, if your serrated knife needs sharpening, call Cutco for an appointment.
How Long Will Cutco Sharpen Your Knives For?
Cutco is pretty famous for having a “forever promise” when it comes to its knives. For what it’s worth, this means that they will always sharpen your knives as long as they are Cutco branded knives. So, you won’t have to worry about a limited number of sharpening times.
What Is Vector Marketing’s Connection To Cutco?
This is a great question. Vector Marketing is a sister company to Cutco. They are the branch of Cutco that handles all of the marketing efforts, customer service, and in-person sales. It’s Cutco’s way of making sure that the knife company stays focused on the knifework.
Related Questions
Is Vector Marketing/Cutco a pyramid scheme?
Legally speaking, a pyramid scheme is a company that makes the majority of its money through the use of recruitment and getting people to pay for the right to work. Cutco is not currently classified as a pyramid scheme by the government. They do make a very sizable chunk of their profits from knife sales.However, many people would argue that this doesn’t mean they are not a pyramid scheme. It is still an MLM company, and that tends to fly in the face of most ethics groups.
Is a lifetime guarantee on knives uncommon?
While it may sound impressive, having a lifetime guarantee on knives isn’t as uncommon as you might think it is. Almost every single high-end knife company is going to have a guarantee that lasts a lifetime. If you want to spend a lot of money on knives, then you might want to wait until you find a company you like that offers a lifetime guarantee. Don’t worry about it.
Do any retail stores sell Cutco knives?
Though most stores will not carry these knives due to contractual reasons, there is one place you can go if you don’t want to get a Vector agent in your home. That place is Costco. Costco occasionally hosts Vector marketing meets where you can see the knives and watch them in action.If you want to buy Cutco knives from a retail store, you need to head to your local Costco. It’s the only place that will allow you to get them from a retail location as of right now.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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