74.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsLocal governmentALERT: DLCA Accuses Vector Marketing LLC of Questionable Business Practices

ALERT: DLCA Accuses Vector Marketing LLC of Questionable Business Practices

Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands logo

The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (DLCA) alerts consumers — primarily job-seeking students — about Vector Marketing LLC. and reports about questionable business practices. Virgin Islands residents have been receiving letters and e-mails promoting summer employment beginning at $17/hour for accepted applicants. There have also been reports of promises to give workforce skill development and a live interview at a location in the district of choice. However, Vector’s claims of job recruitment have been unsubstantiated to date.

As far as Web reviews, Vector Marketing is a marketing company promoting direct sales of cutlery on behalf of CUTCO®. CUTCO® is represented as a company that sells knives and other cutlery throughout the United States and its territories. Accounts have alleged that Vector Marketing LLC. attempts to attract high school and college students by offering a well-paying part time job as a ploy to have them invest in the cutlery sales as independent distributors.

This practice is considered deceptive because the promised job opportunity is used to ultimately persuade students into purchasing cutlery kits sold by CUTCO®, a Vector Marketing client.

Individuals would sell purchased products to the public without any direct compensation from Vector Marketing LLC.

“Technically, an individual that was to benefit from using the Vector Marketing LLC job placement would be a self-paid entrepreneur. This would actually cost the individual since they would now have to obtain the proper licensure in order to sell these products. On the other hand, the age of recruits may also be an issue when considering labor laws,” the DLCA Commissioner said.

Vector Marketing, LLC. and CUTCO® are not licensed to do business in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

For more information or to file complaints, contact the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs. Send e-mails to info@dlca.vi.gov or call the Consumer Protection Services Unit on St. Thomas at 714-3522 or on St. Croix at 713-3522.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.

1 COMMENT

  1. While I detest this form of sales, I hardly think it is the threat that DLCA is making it out to be. That is unless Cutco is marketing these knives as a form of assault weapon. But if it gives them good “feels” to make us think they are doing something to protect us from these potentially lawless knife salespeople, then more power to them.