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I recently worked for Hessler as a demonstrator. Firstly, this company is a joke.

The knives rust almost immediately. They expect the demonstrators to drive all over the state, setting up booths on their own time. They do NOT get paid for this. It takes several hours to drive to a location, set up the booth and then drive back...all of which has to be done after Sam's Club hours.

When i was setting up, i was forced out the back door of Sam's at 11:30 at night, alone. Hessler had no problem with Sam's putting me in a dangerous situation. Secondly, the way they pay their employees is ludicrous. They do not offer salary.

They do not offer hourly. They do not offer base. They give you a draw, which means they will tell you you made more then you did and then later say you didnt and you owe them money. When i was hired, they told me i had to work 5 days a week to get the draw, which was $400.

My first week i only worked 3 days. They had me believing my first check was for units sold in that 3 days and my sign on bonus but then on my second paycheck they took away almost $200. When i tried to find out why the money was taken i was ignored for nearly a week and many emails and then when i finally went to corporate about it, i was told i owed them money from my first week and that i still owed them even more money. After an ugly argument, i was told that i did not have to accept the draw, but no one told me this until i was already in debt to them.

When i told them that the draw was a *** way to do business, they responded with, "You're ***!" Furthermore, the way they have things set up there is like a pyramid scheme. When a manager hires someone beneath them, they get kickbacks on all the units that person sells. So, Bryce hired Lori and Larry and gets $2 off every unit they sell. Now Lori hires me, and makes $1 off every unit i sell.

Its a big pyramid scheme all the way up. Now, on top of ALL THAT....the actual knives people are buying....are used. Every morning we take a fresh set out of the box. We use the gourmet knife, the one with the prongs on the tip and we cut a tomato and we score into a steel hammer with it.

Then we wipe it off and switch it with the second one in the box and repeat. That is 2 demos. We then rebox the knives and put them at the front of the display so they are the first one box grabbed by customers. We then open a new box and do it again.

In the presentation we make it seem like we have been using the same knife for years and you can too, but the truth is, we just took it out of the box. Most of those knives we sold...are used. Your boxes have been opened, used, pieced together from other boxes, pawed by dozens of people. I was once asked in training if they were made in China because the box says "Made in China"...

I was instructed to say "the box is made in China, then shipped to Germany where the knives are put in and then shipped here. Thats why it says made in China."...LIE. Hessler may be a German based company, but everything IS IN FACT made in China. Hessler seems to think that they are above labor laws, above telling the truth, above the need to communicate with employees, above employee safety, above being an accountable company.

I, personally, am making it my mission to let people know the truth about Hessler. Im telling the internet, the Department of Labor, the BBB, and anyone who will listen.

Avoid Hessler like the plague. Some may say im a "disgruntled ex-employee"....but after reading this....who wouldnt be?

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Guest

I went up to demonstrators table and checked out the serrated knife after the demonstration cutting the hammer auctually rolled over and flattened the outermost part of the serated edge leaving only the innermost part to cut

Guest

I worked in the Florida Zone for several months in 2016. Brice was my manager as well.

I really enjoyed the position and the excellent commission pay. I made on average $800-$900 week. I worked in the Orlando area and while there was some driving involved, if I went out of town I was paid 30 cents a mile and I was paid for every mile I drove when going to set up my store. I was never told anything about the knives being made in Germany.

If someone asked where they were made I was told by Brice to say our knives are produced in China so that we can offer them at the lower price, and that most of our work force is in the United States, and is American owned and based out of Saint Louis Missouri. The only reason I left is because my husband and I went into business for ourselves. I would say you are just a disgruntled ex employee who did not want to put the work in to the job to be successful. I would highly recommend this company for anyone who is money motivated, outgoing, and willing to do the job you are trained to do.

The knives are excellent by the way, and the customers love them, as I have heard many times while doing the presentations. The lifetime guarantee is amazing and the sales people are trained to replace knives on the spot if there is ever a problem.

Brice worked very hard, and I talked to his wife sometimes and she would say she had not seen him in a month as he was always traveling and expanding the zone. He worked harder than anyone and I think he was a good manager who had to put up with lazy employees who did not want to work and then complained about not making any money.

Guest

This person is totally correct! Their knives suck!!

THe knife they demo has a serrated edge! Which is a saw! It will always cut! THe BS of cutting a Hammer Head, is also a scam.

The knives are switched into boxes of new knives on a daily basis! They count on people spending $50 for knives and having them only use the serrated knives! Why would they compare themselves to the old Ginsui Knife? That is a piece of ***!

But it is a serrated blade knife! A saw will cut forever, and that is what you buy, a saw!!!!!

Guest

Hello,

I would say you are most definetly a disgruntled ex employee. My son worked for them for over a year.

I can honestly say it was life changing for him. However he did say that it wasn't for everyone.

It most definetly is not a pyramid scheme even though not all multi level marketing plans are bad. I am very familiar with Hessler pay scale as my son would obviously explain to us in detail.

Managers should be getting paid more as they are doing more work. My son did work an awful lot, however he made just about 70k In the first months. He said what is the big deal about setting up a booth if your going to bring home that much. He also was always talking about how easy it was.

That the knives were amazing, sams members were already shopping in the club and not only did they love his demonstration they loved his knives. We have a set and love them as well. As for the draw my son printed out his paperwork at our house and it clearly stated the pay scale and even described the draw system. Which alot of sales jobs pay this way.

So sounds like you are at fault for not educating yourself.

No *** would ever believe the boxes were made in China and shipped to Germany. My son did not work for Bryce however. I know for a fact these guys are honest. You completely made that up.

Shame on you. My son had car issues and they advanced him $1000.

Over the year my son worked for this company.

I've heard many of stories about how well they treated employees and customers. Lori Bauer

Andrea Arn
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1318525

Exactly, your son did not work for Bryce. He and YOU have no clue what was said to me and I stand by my statements.

I have no reason to lie. They are hanging themselves with their practices. I Dont know what zone you are in but down her in this zone, this is how things are. Maybe, hopefully, there are better managers in other zones.

Its absolutely is run like a pyramid scheme, with managers not getting "paid more" since there is no salary, they get this by hiring more people under them and reaping kickbacks off each unit that person sells....the very definition of a pyramid. As for taking the time to set up the booth, your son was correct, its not difficult, but when you are expected to drive 2 hours away at 9 at night to set up, then 2 hours home, for no pay, no gas reimbursement, no mileage and then the Sam's Club night manager forces you out the back door, unescorted it is clear Hessler has no problem with danger they put you in, it makes you question the worth of the company.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Andrea Arn

You sound like a spoiled individual that thinks the world as well as all companions owe you something. This IS a grownups job, maybe you'd be better suited working hourly at a fast food restaurant.

By the way if you owned the knives and did the demos you should know that the knives are well with the price! Good luck with life.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Andrea Arn

Send in your expense report, with receipts. I call lazy bs...Have always been treated with respect by Sam's club night more, show respect to get respect.

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