It all started out with a flyer advertising carpet cleaning. My hero wanted me to call and set up an appointment to get an estimate on cleaning all our carpet, which I did. I told the girl what I wanted, we set up the appointment for Wednesday, at 11 am. About 2 pm, I called to find out where the guy was. It was getting late and I had things to do. I told her AGAIN that I want an estimate, but the way she talked, they were going to do something else. When I asked her what they were doing, she told me they were going to do a cleaning of a room. In questioning her about this, it was made clear that it was a free cleaning, all they wanted me to do was pass the word about their company. I was a little confused, but I shrugged it off. She called me back and said they'd be at my house at 4. Unacceptable. I had supper to do, drop the girls off at Silent Witness, pick Braydon up from the pool, and had to be somewhere by 7. We made another appointment for Thursday at 11:30.
Again, I'm stuck waiting, and by 3:00, they still aren't here. I called Laura back, (by now we are on a first name basis) "Oh, we are short handed, they will be there about 5", she said. UNACCEPTABLE!! Wondering to myself what being shorthanded had to do with anything, (how many guys does it take to give me an estimate?)I told her I don't care about a free cleaning, I just want an estimate. She slopped all over herself apologizing about the "guys" being late, insisted that the free cleaning will be done and we set up another appointment for Friday at 11:00. Actually, I was curious to see how their "dry foam" cleaning system (which was mentioned in the flyer) worked because I don't like steam cleaning, so I agreed, but I told her three strikes, and the company is out.
Friday, 11:00 sharp, a car pulls in my driveway, two guys, (one not looking more than 19 years old) get out, carting boxes of "something". I'm thinking, what the heck is this? I open my door, the older guy started talking right away, I'm more confused by the minute, he's talking about this product, I'm asking him to give me an estimate on the rest of my house, then he drops the bomb. "Oh, we aren't a carpet cleaning service. We are here to demonstrate our Kirby sweeper and shampooer. BOINK!!!! What the heck is he talking about? He further explains, while I'm getting upset, that this "kid" is new and about all the credits he was working for, and I'm standing there wondering what am I doing? After telling me his intentions, I told him I am only looking to get my carpet cleaned, that I want an estimate and I'm not interested in buying anything. (In my mind, I'm beating myself up for letting a "SALESMAN" in my house and those of you who remember what happened to me the last time I did that in 1980, will understand) This character smooth talked his way in, and before I knew it, he was out the door and this poor kid was left there to do this "demonstration".
I sat watching and listening, feeling sorry for this poor kid as he stumbles through his presentation, not remembering what some of the attachments were, as well as not being sure how to operate this "sweeper". I kept looking at my watch because I was on a tight schedule today with tons of things to do. I'm thinking to myself that I can't believe I have to sit here when I should be getting things done. Finally, after two hours, he's wanting to start the "free" cleaning of the room. I told him I can't do this any longer, I'm sorry, and I politely told him I am out of time, I needed to pick up my girls, drop off my boy , etc etc etc.......
He packed up, called his boss to come and get him and went out the door before I could even say good bye. He put his boxes at the driveway, and sat out by the curb. I felt sorry for him, he looked so sad so I walked out and told him he could stay inside where it was cool, asked if he wanted something to drink. He said he was fine. I then told him not to be disillusioned, he did a fine job and he's representing a fine product, but this wasn't what I was looking for. I told him the girl in the office is misrepresenting him and she needs re-trained.
When his ride came, I wanted to tell this guy how unhappy I was about being so misled, (the girl in the office knew that I wanted an estimate on carpet cleaning) wasting my time AND theirs, when I just about fainted at who I saw get out of the car. It wasn't the older guy who smooth talked his way into my house, but a young man I instantly recognized. He goes to my church, I see him every Sunday, I taught him and his twin sisters in Sunday School and I simply adore him. I adore his grandma, and I couldn't believe my eyes. We started laughing about this and after telling him the story, he apologized for the misrepresentation. I will say one thing, I feel better that he works for this company, because he is the sweetest, nicest young man and I've known him all his life. But, it still doesn't alter the fact that there was major misrepresentation here.
Anyway, I've laughed about this (lucky for my hero, I was ready to shoot him for getting me into this) and it was an experience I won't forget.
One piece of advice..........stick with a "name brand" company so you'll know who's knocking at your door.
P.S. By the way, the Kirby cost $1899 plus tax. For that, I'll buy this:
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AT THE BOTTOM OF POST
3 comments:
Comical!!!
I had a similar experience with kirby. They came to my door and I told them that there was no way I was going to purchase their carpet cleaner/vaccuum. They insisted that they come in and give me a demonstration. I continued to tell them over and over I was not buying anything. They could come and clean whatever they wanted but I was still not buying. After 2 hours, like you said, the guy was giving me the sales pitch. I laughed my head off! I said to him" I told you I wasn't going to buy anything!" He got really upset with me. He kept trying to tell me that he just wasted 2 hours and that his boss was going to be really mad at him. He was in a panic. I told him I was sorry that he felt like he wasted 2 hours but I did tell him in the beginning that I was NOT going to buy anything. I had to tell him that he did his job well but that I was still not going to buy anything! I did kind of feel bad for the guy I had him cleaning everything! Sometimes they just don't want to listen and they think that they can make a sale.
You are right though that girl, and possibly the ad, I don't know what that said, but that was false advertisement and she definately misled you.
Reading your comment gave me chills. Especially the part about the salesman getting mad. That happened to me December 17, 1980. The salesman got mad, he was demonstrating a water softner for Lanasheen. When I told him I wasn't buying, he got mad, slammed his stuff around. He left, but he came back........he burned my house down and I lost everything. The police caught him, he had a history of mental illness. That's another thing....this young man yesterday kept losing his concentration. He apologized to me for that and told me he had ADHD. I thought I would pass out. I just prayed God would protect me and I hoped he had taken his medicine. PLEASE,Tam-e, don't let ANY door to door salesman enter your house. These guys wouldn't have gotten in my house if I had known who they were.
I definately won't ever let them come in again. The guy didn't get as mad, obviously, as the guy in your situation, but I did feel like with his frustration he was trying to manipulate me. I didn't fall for it.
Wow! I never knew about your home being burnt down. That was 14 years before I joined the family though! :) That is awful! Definately a life lesson to be learned from someone elses experiences! Thank you for sharing!
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