OT - An experience at Costco and Cutco knives

tarheelmatt

I have been looking for a pairing knife to go along with my Shun.  I was wanting to get over to Sur La Table to try the Shun paring knife out, but just never got around to it.  In the mean time I had received positive feedback from folks loving their Cutco knives.  Had that in my back pocket for a while.  

Head over to Costco last week and there happens to be a Cutco demo booth/table set-up.  I tell my wife, "hey, I want to go over there and check out those knives".  So we did.  

Getting there, an older couple was talking to the rep.  They expressed that they loved their 25+ year Cutco set that they have.  The rep just boldly says "fan-freaking-tastic".  The two looked at each other oddly, but signed a paper the guy wanted them to sign for existing customers.  They left right after that.  It was my turn then....

I start off by telling the guy I wasn't looking for a "set", but for a single knife.  He said "a set"?  And the pointed towards the 10+ block set of knives and said, that's not a "set", this is a "set", which he had a box of three in.  At that point my brow grimmised.  His tone was belittling.  I said, well, still I'm not interested in a "set" then.  I would like to buy one paring knife.  He said "well, I have nothing for you then".  At that point I was like "damn man".  Point me somewhere that I could buy a single, not just "Oh well, you're SOL".  

Somewhere in there I said I just wanted something to peel items with and cut small items.  I started peeling a potato with the paring knife and said, well that's not really the knife for that.  I said, "it isn't".  He then wanted me to try a larger 6" chef knife.  I told him, again, that I wanted a pairing knife for peeling and etc.  

Again, his tone to all this was like I didn't know what the hell I was talking about.  It's very rare that I get bent out of shape about things like this, but I did.  I wanted to choke him.  Just as I was leaving I told my wife, in a tone that he could hear, "let's get out of here, this guy's a prick, and obviously doesn't want to sell knives".  

Later on, I was still stewing.  I thought, They, Cutco needs to know about this.  I bet if they knew their brand was being represented in this way, they would not like it.  So, I tweeted to Cutco.  They reached out to me to find my story out and then proceeded to call the district manager of the area I was in.  They ensured me the problem would be fixed and not happen again.  As I stated to the representative at Cutco on the phone, the guy had a chance to sway a Shun guy to Cutco, and I left with a very bad taste in my mouth.  

Well, she got back with me after she spoke to the region manager and also offered me the paring knife I was eyeing, which happens to be their best seller.  I was floored and told her that was not what I was after by no means and she ensured me she didn't take it that way, but that was Cutco's way of saying thank you for bring this to our attention, and hopefully you'll look our way for your next purchase.  I thought that was pretty good service.  

The knife is a beauty and very ergonomic too.  It's not freakishly sharp, but still good enough to really do damage.  Made in the good ol U.S.of A too!  

I wanted to send them a thank you along with a picture I snapped of the knife.  Here is the knife.  If you ever get a chance to demo them, they are pretty nice knives.  

theyolksonyou

At least you didn't stab him.

tarheelmatt

theyolksonyou said:

At least you didn't stab him.

My wife was getting a little on edge.  She knows I hate it when someone talks down or belittles someone.  A car salesman did something similar and I told him in front of his manager that I was about to whip his azz right there in the middle of the showroom.  The sales guys pitch changed quickly.  After that episode, and others, the wife gets nervous.  

DMW

Lit

They aren't bad. I sharpened one for a neighbor recently that had chips and had only been honed never sharpened in 15 years. It was a 8" chef and felt good and the blade was sturdy. Got it nice and sharp again for him. Congrats on the score that great customer service.

Jeepster47

Hey Matt, we're knee deep into Cutco knives.  They're a good value and last a lifetime.  They can be sharpened up better than the factory delivers and hold an edge for a reasonable period of time.  I've always found the factory reps to be extra polite and helpful ... almost too helpful.  Sorry you stumbled upon the one odd ball rep.

Also, glad you took the time to tell the factory.  For everyone who complains, about 20 other folks simply walk away and never go back.  Good companies listen to honest, factual complains and act on them.

Jeepster47

Looks like I've picked up an echo ... just ignore this post ... driving up my post count though.

Spaightlabs

Maybe switch to decaf for a bit.

matoch

You should check out their dinner knives. We only have 4 but they are awesome. I also recomend the chef's knife.

tarheelmatt

Jeepster47 said:

Hey Matt, we're knee deep into Cutco knives.  They're a good value and last a lifetime.  They can be sharpened up better than the factory delivers and hold an edge for a reasonable period of time.  I've always found the factory reps to be extra polite and helpful ... almost too helpful.  Sorry you stumbled upon the one odd ball rep.

Also, glad you took the time to tell the factory.  For everyone who complains, about 20 other folks simply walk away and never go back.  Good companies listen to honest, factual complains and act on them.

In my business, many times you only have one chance to service the customer, and this is the same.  I knew this wasn't their brand.  I just didn't believe at their offer.  

Eggcelsior

Report it to Costco as well. When I was working there we had a few companies with really obnoxious reps(they are supposed to sit there unless approached) that would act like those idiots at the mall that corner you into polishing your nails.

The absolute worse was a Traeger rep. This was a few years ago when I was just shopping there. He was walking around the gas grills and bothering people, along with waking up and down the aisle running his mouth. I went up to his display and trolled him by asking why you can't sear steaks and if you use sawdust pellets, why can't I just get some from the lumber yard for cheaper. He was not impressed. 

blasting

Good story, and it sounds like they did their best to make it right - I respect that.

Doesn't sound like the sales guy was playing in the right position for himself, or the company.

nolaegghead

Congrats on the free knife.

I'm not crazy about Cutco because they obviously spend a lot of money promoting their stuff as some secret panacea for the kitchen but mostly because they use 440A stainless steel.  Granted they do a good job hardening it, but it's the same ol' stuff that most (decent) kitchen knives are made of.

I really like Zhen - they use a VG-10 core, you can get the "Damascus" if you want it pretty and they're really a good value - not very expensive for what you get.

johnmitchell

Matt due to the money you saved on the knife, you can go back and load up on some "Prime" Rib eyes...

otter

We have had a set for 15 years or so, nice knives

jonnymack

Good reminder that I need to get my Cutco knives sharpened. I've had them for over 20 years and have had pretty good experience with them. I'm terrible about sharpening my blades but getting better about it in middle age. 

stemc33

@tarheelmatt, I couldn't help but crack up reading about your experience. Not because you had to deal with a crappy salesman (that sucks), but because of your quote in your signature line. Maybe that guy was fighting a battle you knew nothing about.  

tarheelmatt

stemc33 said:

@tarheelmatt, I couldn't help but crack up reading about your experience. Not because you had to deal with a crappy salesman (that sucks), but because of your quote in your signature line. Maybe that guy was fighting a battle you knew nothing about.  

Guess you could make that argument.  However, I didn't retaliate on him one bit or cuss him like I wanted to.  Kids have calmed me down some I believe.  I was still "kind" to the guy.  

Now, the car salesman thing, different story that I should have handled differently.  I was younger, strappy, and immature at that point of my life.   

tarheelmatt

johnmitchell said:

Matt due to the money you saved on the knife, you can go back and load up on some "Prime" Rib eyes...

Going back Saturday.  Me and the little girl will be going as the wife has to go to Duke for a class.  Good idea!  

tarheelmatt

Eggcelsior said:

Report it to Costco as well. When I was working there we had a few companies with really obnoxious reps(they are supposed to sit there unless approached) that would act like those idiots at the mall that corner you into polishing your nails.

The absolute worse was a Traeger rep. This was a few years ago when I was just shopping there. He was walking around the gas grills and bothering people, along with waking up and down the aisle running his mouth. I went up to his display and trolled him by asking why you can't sear steaks and if you use sawdust pellets, why can't I just get some from the lumber yard for cheaper. He was not impressed. 

Didn't think about doing that.  Probably should have that day.  Well, hopefully the guy was talked to and he conducts business better in the future for their company.  

tarheelmatt

nolaegghead said:

Congrats on the free knife.

I'm not crazy about Cutco because they obviously spend a lot of money promoting their stuff as some secret panacea for the kitchen but mostly because they use 440A stainless steel.  Granted they do a good job hardening it, but it's the same ol' stuff that most (decent) kitchen knives are made of.

I really like Zhen - they use a VG-10 core, you can get the "Damascus" if you want it pretty and they're really a good value - not very expensive for what you get.

The blade is nice and the handle is very beautiful.  The sharpness like I said, it was good, but not crazy sharp like my Shun was out of the box.  

Thatgrimguy

Cutco doesn't do much marketing. In fact it's mostly aimed at getting 18 year olds their first job in sales. They provide great sales training and a great income to young people. My first job in sales was selling cutco and I found it to be a wonderful experience.  I still have those knives and send them back to the company once a year for sharpeneing or replacing. The warranty is what makes them so great. Past that they are above average knives aimed at people who have never owned anything but a basic walmart knife.

stlcharcoal

Eggcelsior said:

The absolute worse was a Traeger rep. This was a few years ago when I was just shopping there. He was walking around the gas grills and bothering people, along with waking up and down the aisle running his mouth. I went up to his display and trolled him by asking why you can't sear steaks and if you use sawdust pellets, why can't I just get some from the lumber yard for cheaper. He was not impressed. 

I had the KJ guy trying to sell me their charcoal after I told him I have three BGEs.

tarheelmatt

stlcharcoal said:

Eggcelsior said:

The absolute worse was a Traeger rep. This was a few years ago when I was just shopping there. He was walking around the gas grills and bothering people, along with waking up and down the aisle running his mouth. I went up to his display and trolled him by asking why you can't sear steaks and if you use sawdust pellets, why can't I just get some from the lumber yard for cheaper. He was not impressed. 

I had the KJ guy trying to sell me their charcoal after I told him I have three BGEs.

Ha!  I'd love to have been a fly on the wall.  

bo31210

stlcharcoal said:

Eggcelsior said:

The absolute worse was a Traeger rep. This was a few years ago when I was just shopping there. He was walking around the gas grills and bothering people, along with waking up and down the aisle running his mouth. I went up to his display and trolled him by asking why you can't sear steaks and if you use sawdust pellets, why can't I just get some from the lumber yard for cheaper. He was not impressed. 

I had the KJ guy trying to sell me their charcoal after I told him I have three BGEs.

Now that is funny

TigerTony

It was summer 1973. I was 18 years old and looking for a job in Times Picayune newspaper. I came across an add that said," high school grad with car".   I thought, hey that's me. It was Cutco.
I worked for them through that summer and until the end of the year.
I bought the entire demo set when I left and still have it. Their customer service is top-notch. They sharpen for free and replace any broken knives, they even sent me a brand new pair of scissors when I returned them for sharpening after my wife left them in the garden outside for a month.
So they are not the highest quality best knife blade ever made. But they are absolutely perfect for our needs as a typical family cooking and prepping in the kitchen.
I have three daughters and we bought each of them a complete set of Cotco knives and kitchen utensils for their wedding gifts.
I highly recommend Cutco. 

BYS1981

I love twitter for stuff like this, when an AT&T alarm tech broke my 7' wide master bathroom mirror and chipped the counter top, I did a campaign including pictures when we didn't get much of any response from the direct manager.  I was basically called the next day after taking to the tweets - long story short they replaced the mirror and gave us a new granite counter top right before we listed our house, muahahaha.

BYS1981

In his defense their charcoal is really good and much better than BGEs.. just happens he tried to sell a Toyota to Henry Ford, lol. 

stlcharcoal said:

Eggcelsior said:

The absolute worse was a Traeger rep. This was a few years ago when I was just shopping there. He was walking around the gas grills and bothering people, along with waking up and down the aisle running his mouth. I went up to his display and trolled him by asking why you can't sear steaks and if you use sawdust pellets, why can't I just get some from the lumber yard for cheaper. He was not impressed. 

I had the KJ guy trying to sell me their charcoal after I told him I have three BGEs.

gdenby

Salesman pro'ly didn't make enough selling just 1. No excuse for being a jerk, tho'.

I had a paring knife, Australian made, but I think sold under the Sheffield brand. Decent steel, but nothin special. It came w. a little clip-thingy that could be placed on the side of a cabinet, and hold the knife. The cool thing was there was a small sharpener in the clip, so every time the knife went in or out, it got a touch up. Something like that would be great for 440A daily use knives.

Thatgrimguy

gdenby said:

Salesman pro'ly didn't make enough selling just 1. No excuse for being a jerk, tho'.

I had a paring knife, Australian made, but I think sold under the Sheffield brand. Decent steel, but nothin special. It came w. a little clip-thingy that could be placed on the side of a cabinet, and hold the knife. The cool thing was there was a small sharpener in the clip, so every time the knife went in or out, it got a touch up. Something like that would be great for 440A daily use knives.

It's probably not a full cutco rep. Most likely Costco agreed to sell only certain merchandise.  They probably made a deal to get x number of sets and they will get them for a price that makes it worth selling them in the store.

A cutco rep would take any sale you could give them. They are paid a % of purchase price and all you ahve to do is fill out a single page entry page which has probably been digitized by now. There is no way there was a lack of motivation to sell even just one knife. And, anyone I ever sold one knife too when I was a kid came back and got more. Every. Single. One.

SkinnyV

My only thing is when have you ever gone into a Costco and been able to say , I don't want to buy this bundle can I have just one? Just playing the other side, he said he only had the sets, you could have viewed the quality and gone online and ordered your individual knife. Perfect example, the blendtec guy selling the new models that come with a better jar than my model. I would not say hey excuse your demo but I only want the jar. Not the box set, the jar.... All while the guy is trying to demo his product.