Greasy/Dirty sales tactics?

[Klectrolux]

I was in the local vac shop today chatting with the owner about Electrolux. I asked what his thoughts were on the cleaning selector and which setting was best, he suggested 6 LOL. He said Electrolux salesmen would tell you to set it on 2 or 3, only to cause the user to go through bags more frequently. Also stating "Genuine Electrolux bags don't break, so don't buy anything but genuine bags"

He also asked me when we owned our Ambassador III, if we ever took it in for service. We had it in twice, once for the cord winder and another time for a wheel. He then asked "Did they give you a loaner machine for a week or so, and then call and tell you the part is gonna take a week to arrive, and oh, ps, its $400, but that machine you have now is available to purchase?" It did happen, and thats exactly why we ended up getting a new machine hahaha.

I read somewhere that Kirby salesmen have been known for "hanging out" in the customers home for hours, constantly demonstrating the machines ability and not leaving until the person bought it.

What are some other "Tricks of the trade" out there? Or things you've heard salesmen saying?

 

[djtaylor]

Kirby man won't leave.

When I was working for a Kirby dealer in the late 90's I had a call from a woman in a small town. She said that her mother had a Kirby guy from another state doing a demo from early evening until 2am when, sobbing, she agreed to buy the thing just to get him out of her house. The lady wanted to know what her mother could do. Since it had happened that day, I told her to follow the contract's instructions for canceling the sale,call the bank and cancel the check, then call the local police and file a complaint, then call the man's boss and tell them that they need to come get the Kirby before the police pick it up as evidence.
I know I should have 'towed the company line' but I hate when people are raked over the coals be an oily saleman.
Boy, the things I have heard from and about DTD vac salespersons would make you sick.

 

[powertank]

Long before I started working at my store, my coworker told me about a vacuum a lady had brought in after visiting one of our competitors. This guy is a crook- we're always fixing shoddy things he does. But he told this lady she needed a new vacuum. All my coworker did was replace the belt and brushroll on her Royal, and it was fine. This guy just wanted to sell her a new vacuum.

Jerk.

 

[collector2]

A while back I was told about a trick a vacuum shop in Regina was pulling. You all know how common broken fans are on kirbys. When A Kirby was brought in sounding like a rock crusher the guy would immediately tell them that the motor was shot. A new motor would be around $400.00 but he could give them a used machine for $250 plus their machine and he would part out theirs. Then he would turn around and replace the $15.00 fan and do the same thing again.

 

[bagintheback]

A vacuum store around here will always try to sell me a Riccar when I go in for bags. And it's always the owner, the other guys there will leave me alone. Not as extreme as the others, but still, I do not need a new Riccar.

 

[briankirbyclass]

There was a national media story a few years back on the deceptive sales tactics of some Kirby salesman. Seems that some sales offices were stooping so low as to sell to the elderly with dementia,Alzheimers,ect, and mentally ill that had no idea what they were buying or signing up for. One poor old lady with Alz. had been talked into buying over 14 Kirby's in less than 2 years, not knowing what she was signing or buying. They would tell her she had ordered it,and she believed them,so they would take the previous Kirby sold to her a few months before as a trade in, and sell her a new one with a new contract.
The straw that sparked the outrage was a homeless man living out of the back of a pickup truck type camper had been sold a Kirby. He was mentally challenged,,and had no idea he had even bought anything, but there it was a brand new Kirby in his camper,,he didnt even know what it was or what it was used for. Ive heard of elderly people in my area that bought a Kirby after hours of high pressure sales tactics, just to get the salesman out of their home.
One lady that was an elderly widow said the guy pushed his way into her home, once he found out she was alone and elderly. She said he was covered in tattoos and reeked of alcohol and cigarette and pot smoke, and looked like he had just gotten out of prison,,she was affraid of him,and said he did as much as threaten her if she didnt buy the Kirby. Saying things like "I could snap your neck like a twig if i wanted to",,ect.
So, of course she did buy it to get rid of him. Poor old thing,,she shoulda called the police.

 

[eurekaprince]

Can new Kirby's only be bought from dtd sales people? Or can you buy them at a vac shop as well?

 

[vintagecanister]

Just a note.......

about sales in general. I've never been, or even known a vacuum rep. But I'm sure there are many decent ones as well as bottom feeders.

I've been in sales management and have seen some real winners and losers in retail/furniture sales as well.

I think anytime you have a 100% commission sales position, you're always going to get the freaks who can't sell, but intimidate and harrass. Seeing as it seems most of the vacuum sales jobs are commission......well.....

Just my $.02

 

[eurekastar]

The Kirby Distributor in our area is selling a ton of vacuums, not because he dirty or sleazy, but because he's honest and decent.

 

[vacman117]

I don't know if it would apply but..

the salesman and his "trainee" that sold us our Sentria knew my mom had no backbone, and walked out with a $2400 sale, with a trade-in, which is unbelievable. I was not in the house, otherwise that would have NOT of happened. Especially since she knew that my aunt and uncle got their Diamond G for $800...That really made me angry

 

[tolivac]

Again--remember ALL DTD vacuum companies have been known to use the dishonest sales methods-and also to the elderly.Kirby will refund the money to elderly customers esp if they didn't really want the machine and the salesperson "threatened" them into buying.The customer has only to call the Kirby company.

 

[arh1953]

The straw that broke the camels back here, was the pseudo sanctified ho that told me I was in danger of losing my immortal soul by not purchasing an air-filtering Kirby, that would filter every breath of air in my house and keep me from dying an agonizing death.....

A little heavy handed, but she did ask me if I valued my soul enough to save it by buying the latest Kirby. Love the product, HATE the door to door whores. (both kinds)

 

[jfalberti]

We had a vac shop

That the owner had an absolute vendetta against Kirby. He was smack dab between two distributorships and would advertise the latest model Kirby with attachments for $299. We were always facing people during demos that would pull out the ad, and ask why we were selling ours for $800 when they could get it for so much cheaper there. One day a man and woman from our office paid the bojack shop a visit, and the "New" Kirby he showed them was actually an Omega that was polished up with the trim replaced with blue trim. The owner tried to switch the couple from the Kirby to a brand new Royal, of which he was an authorized dealer. He even showed them a burned out motor from a "Kirby" and told them it was $400 to replace a Kirby motor. They asked to see a Royal motor, and the owner said he didn't have one. He claimed Royal motors never burned out.