Has anyone ever heard of vector marketing? Is it really a scam?
89725
<While it is entirely possible to make money working for Vector, it is also entirely possible to make little or no money. It is even possible to lose money. Vector does not offer a wage-type job wherein workers arrive, receive a task, and do it until quitting time. All sales and appointments are self-generated, and the degree of a representative's success is dependent entirely on what the rep is willing to sacrifice.\n\n Vector Marketing is the sales arm of Alcas Corporation, the Olean, New York-based company that makes Cutco knives.\n\nSalespeople, most of them college students and recent high school graduates, sell the knives in customers' homes. Vector recruits students through newspapers, direct marketing and posted advertisements. Their flyers advertising high-paying "student work" are a common sight on many college campuses in the United States and Canada.\n\nVector's marketing and recruitment techniques have generated much controversy. Some have accused Vector of misrepresenting its base pay rate, typically about $15 per appointment, as an hourly wage. Vector counts its salespeople as independent contractors, much like Amway, Mary Kay and multi-level marketing organizations, though Vector is not a multi-level marketer. Legal overtime and training pay requirements do not apply to independent contractors, nor does the company provide benefits or liability protection. As independent contractors, Federal taxes are not withheld from paychecks. Though Vector previously required its new representatives to put down a deposit for their sales kit, new reps now sign a loaner agreement in place of this deposit, and may purchase their kits after one month of employment.\n\nAlso, Vector's recruitment materials have not always been clear about the nature of the work. Potential salespeople often know little about the type of work they will be doing until training begins. Due to complaints about these and other consumer-protection concerns, the company has in recent years made an effort to be more transparent and up-front about the type of work its representatives do. Most, however, are not fully aware of what the job entails until training. Representatives receive no compensation for the three-day training seminars.
1041469
I've never tried it but they say that it is pretty good. But the only problem is that you have to know where to advertise yourself. It's become harder to do it because so many people are into it. If u are looking for a home based business here is my recommendation. I signed up for it.
442224
It is a scam. Read the link below:
1029352
Sounds like a SCAM to me. be careful, Good luck
665184
I got a postcard in the mail, and was propositioned for the same fee to complete the applications.  I told the operator I would think about it and call back - then I hung up the phone and did a search to see what this company was about.  They have no web page, but there are a bunch of comments from people who have gotten ripped off from this company.  I called the company right back and told them to remove my name form their database and to not contact me ever again.  Fortunately I had not given them my bank account information.\n\nYou can do the search by typing the company's name into the URL address bar and pressing enter on your keyboard.  Read the comments and decide for yourself.\n\nI did find a page on the BBB http://www.newyork.bbb.org/reports/businessreports.aspx?pid=44&page=1&id=86754\nThat shows this company is not a member wiht the BBB - you can check it out too.\n\nAll in all - my research indicates that this is not a company wirht doing business with.  If you are interested in grants, then check out the response on this post for more info:http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=1006041408147&r=w&is_vote_given=true&pa=BpVqD13uBHMzU.qS4xwATQPSi0OMTaepvTNWYr0wfkQkjizvFoI-
962876
Yes I have, and no I dont think its a good deal.\nI acquired some lesson cd's a few years ago during one of their promotions and found; that although easy to use and accurate as far as I could tell the lessons did not cover much ground and of course you were encouraged to purchase more and more in order to complete the entire program.\n\nOn a side note - over the years, watching the TV promos and the guarantees offered I have come to the conclusion that this guys is a mailing list aggragator. The Video Professor business may be only a means to an end- - - collecting valid names and addresses of people who buy off TV ads. This information can be sold to other companies for more than $10.00 per name. You can see that selling a name many times over to various companies for ten or more dollars per name would be a lucrative business. This is what I'm thinking, I have no proof but it seems to me to reasonable.
449921
there are many network marketing companies out there... while yes some of them are deceptive... I personally am involved with one that I have received a check from each and every month I have worked the business... I love what I do and am able to show my friends, family, and aquaintances how to turn an everyday expense into an income... how cool is that?\n\nIf you are looking to join a network marketing organization contact me through my 360 page.
1105372
A scam as in, not worth the money, or that they take money for products they never deliver?  There's really no way to know other than to inquire whether they have a business license, are incorporated, or whatever.  Are they registered with the better business bureau.  Has the FTC received complaints about them?\n\nIf you're really concerned about them being scammers, then it would be good to contact them, and see if they respond.  Otherwise, it seems they sell coupon and discount books and memberships. There is nothing new or illegal about this business.
47521
Basically, if it sounds too good to be true, it is.\n\nStay away from those things. Most of them are all scams or rip offs. They make $50, and send you a measly $5 reward.\n\nIf you *MUST* know...\n\nwww.rewardbull.com\nhttp://www.ezyrewards.com\nfreepay.com
704850
never heard of it. contact the direct selling assoication. try searching rip off report on the web or ann sieg scam - I wish you the best
808632
I have been involved with WMI for a month now.  We have estanblished what is now known as the top wmi team.  \n\nI have been in the industry for 5 years now, and have seen many things.  \n\nI have never seen a company that is as lucrative as this business.  \n\nThe product is like no other I have seen.\n\nI have been in search of a company to build for over a year that I could make real money with.  I don't build traditional MLM anymore since it is very hard to make a significant income.\n\nI chose wmi because of the ability to make a large income in a shorter amount of time.\n\nI have helped thousands of people learn the right way of marketing and I bring that to the table along with the other members on the top wmi team, and our training team of "Project Austin"  www.JustinChristianson.com \n\nTo read more about the system and how we do things.\n\nwww.GPTSecrets.net
793641
I got sucked into a scam like this over 10 years ago when houses didnt have multiple computers, the only internet was slow dial-up and windows was 95!  I paid about $29 for information on how to work from home doing typing for envelope addresses and the ad claimed there was no envelope stuffing involved - just address labels.  Since I can type faster than most people talk, I signed up.\n\nWhat I got was a list of companies that have huge mailing lists and a form letter to send them to offer my services from home.  Turns out I had to stuff envelopes after all!\n\nI spent some money on postage, bought the letterhead and tweaked the form letter a bit but didnt get a single response from any one remotely interested in having data entry done for them.\n\nWhen I tried to contact the company I sent money to again, they had changed addresses so I called the Better Business Bureau who told me this was a mail scam to collect money on hopes of having a better life.\n\nThey said that most of these companies send you a few typed pages of how to get other people to send you money for similar typed pages.  It only takes a PO Box and a few dollars to place those ads in shopper papers - they collect and disappear - laughing all the way to the bank.\n\nDONT DO IT!
338967
I have not personally, but here is what I found from what other people on the web have said about it...\n\n"Market America is the definition of a pyramid scan or MLM or whatever you want to call it. This is an unassailable fact. The business model is not legitimate.\n\nDo not be confused - joining Market America is probably the stupidest thing anyone can do. You will not make money and the "successful" members are called "schills" who go into enormous amounts of debt to buy nice cars and houses solely for the purpose of suckering you into it.\n\nIdentifying any pyramid scam such as Market America can be tricky - because the people in it are unbelievably wonderful sales-people and can be so convincing it's intoxicating.\n\nWarning signs of a pyramid scam:\n\n+ They start off by saying you'll get paid $150K a year, for example, in 68 months or some period of time. They say there is no risk or you can't fail.\n\n+ Key  such as "residual income" and/or "kickback" are used. This is almost an immediate give away.\n\n+ If you have to pay them something up front to start but you still have to work. They call this an investment, but investors don't work - they have their money work for them.\n\n+ You have to get people under you to sell stuff.\n\n+ You don't even understand what they are selling. Legitimate companies (NOT Market America) sell products and services and can explain what they sell to you in 1 sentence."\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n"Market America, a North Carolina corporation, is a multi- level product brokerage company which distributes approximately 300 consumer products through a network of approximately 75,000 independent distributors. The distributors earn money by purchasing products from Market America at wholesale prices and then selling those products to consumers at retail prices. Distributors also build sales organizations of other independent distributors and earn commissions from training and managing those sales organizations. Market America's distribution system is based on a binary matrix marketing plan whereby each distributor recruits, trains, and manages two sales organizations of other independent distributors. "\n~~~~~~~~\nSome lady tried to recruit me today for Market America. I knew right away that it was a scam and I felt sorry for her. I did some research on MLM, and I formulated a "big picture" of how the whole multi-level marketing works. \n\nFirst off, a pyramid scheme is marked my 2 traits: hierarchical payment structures (aka "pyramid"), and unsustainability (aka "scheme"). \n\nThe big picture is this: pyramid schemes are temporal, and when they finally die, all they've achieved is merely a redistribution of money. A few people come out ahead, but the majority come out behind (aka suckered). \n\nSo is Market America a pyramid scheme? No, it's just a pyramid. It is actually sustainable believe it or not. They'll defend their pyramidal traits by comparing themselves to other businesses, but here's the big difference: MLM's pyramid is a seller's pyramid, whereas a corporation's pyramid is a managerial pyramid. (A managerial pyramid is just beurocracy and is understandably necessary.) MLM may even compare their pyramid to the middle-manned process of factory-to-supermarket. But the factory-to-supermarket line is usually short and one of necessity. Bottom line: a pyramid is just a shape. Analogies using shapes are weak at best. \n\nSo how is Market America sustainable? You have to see the big picture once again. Product exchanges hand rather inefficiently down the pyramid, yes, but it ultimately gets sold! If you produce XXXX units of product_x, generally speaking, XXXX people will ultimately buy it. That net profit is real, although the profit gets distributed oddly. \n\nIt's in every member's best interest to keep the demand for their products high, so
1006861
You may want to first read the Better Business Bureau report on AWSM Technologies:\n\nhttp://www.data.bbb.org/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=phoenix/phoenix/showrpt.html?zid=9001917\n\nPer the above report: \n\n"Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to unanswered complaints, a pattern of complaints concerning selling practices and customer service issues, and failure to substantiate its advertised claims. Specifically, complainants allege that after agreeing to purchase an initial "ad package", the company engages in high-pressure sales tactics with the promise of higher earnings. Complainants also state that once they have agreed to pay the substantially higher fees, the company does not respond to inquiries. The Bureau has also received complaints stating that the company refuses to refund monies, stating that there is no money back guarantee or refund policy."\n\nBBB has also asked them to substantiate the claims they make on their website such as "How much can you make from these AWSM AD's? There are thousands of people that make more than $100,000 per year marketing other company's products in similar programs."  The company to date has not given BBB a satisfactory proof of the claims they make.\n\nThese negative writeups tell me to BEWARE of this company. They're not necessarily a scam, but they may be making extravagant claims with regards to earning potentials.
1076162
no, Vector sells knifes ... you have to set your own appointments ... its all about sales
596228
I've tried a lot of stuff and most of it is either a 21st century chain letter or a thinly-veiled fraud.  I've spent far, far more money "getting in" to these things than I've ever gotten out of them even when I continued to "work the system."\n\nIt is such a shame that the old and simplistic ad is now disallowed, "Send me a dollar", that way we don't get over this business: "Want to work in your jammies?  Email me, send me some money for me to tell you to place innocuous little ads that say, 'want to workin in your jammies? send me some money so I can tell you to make these little ads....\n\nIf I just clicked on "report abuse" it would be good, but spilling the beans on these chain things might be better, maybe.
169016
Other than being a scam that will send your e-mail to a gazillion different spammers, insuring that you will receive spam and viruses for the rest of your God-forsaken life, no.\n\nP.S.  Correction, in saying it is a "scam", I am referring to a Pyramid scheme where some will get ipods at the expense of those at the bottom of the pyramid.  i.e.\n\n"Here's a Public Service Announcement for you: there's a website called freeipod.com and it's totally legit. You fulfill the site's requirements, you get a free ipod. Now, here are the hoops you have to jump through to get it.\n\n1. SIGN UP. You need to register with these folks to begin with. Give them your name, address, phone number, etc. Then you must wade through a number of "special deals" they would like to email you. It's not necessary to take any of these special deals, so you can say no to every single one of them--all 14 or 25 or however many there are.\n\n2. COMPLETE AN OFFER. Nothing comes for free, so you've got to complete an offer to get partial credit for your free ipod. These things range from mortage and buyer insurance to Blockbuster and Columbia House memberships. They're usually free trial items that will turn into full price monthly billing items if you forget to cancel before the end of the month.\n\nSo let's say you fill out your offer and eventually cancel. What next?\n\n3. REFER FIVE FRIENDS. Here's where things start to get tricky. You need to refer five people to this site and get them to sign up. Wouldn't be so bad, except here comes step four:\n\n4. ALL FIVE FRIENDS MUST ALSO COMPLETE AN OFFER. More money, more free trial periods, and if your friends want anything out of this, they'll have to continue referring five additional UNIQUE friends.\n\nSo how does the company make its money giving away ipods? It doesn't, the people actually lose money--that's why they're banking on you having a fifth friend who won't sign up or refuse to complete an offer. That's how the company makes their cash.\n\nAnd here's the coup de gracie: you can NEVER cancel your freeipod.com account. They will OWN YOU FOR LIFE.\n\nSo, is it a scam? No, not really, but its a hassle, an invasion of privacy, and you're better off not bothering with it at all."\n\nSo, if you want to sell out your friends and give up a chunk of your privacy, by all means do it.  That is why people speak so positively about it.  They want you to join and help them get off the pyramid.  After that, they could care less about you.  I choose to just fork over the $300 if I really want one that bad.