Strupid Salesmen
Toolman286
Member Posts: 3,214 ✭✭✭✭
As I have a tankless, instant hot water system, I had a water softener installed to reduce the hardness in order to prolong the life of the heating coil. My system was under $2000 and included a large RO system for ice, drinking & humidifier water.
So I'm at a home expo & a salesman from a national water softener chain is hawking their product for $3500. In front of the crowd, I ask how long the instalation takes. "Oh, we'll have it done in an afternoon." OK.... The parts your describing cost less then $1000. So.... Does that mean your installers will make over $2500 in one afternoon? I was told to leave, and the crowd went with me.
Another water softener salesman was telling a group that his product was needed as your body absorbed 2 gallons of water every time you showered. And of course, you would only want your body to absorb the cleanest water. So.... I asked if he meant 2 oz or 2 grams, etc. "NO, 2 gallons !" OK, a gallon of water weighs 8 3/4 pounds, that means that you would gain 17 1/2 pounds every time you showered. NO woman would ever take a shower, bath or go swimming. (I left out that you'd be peeing for 2 days.) Do you think people are that stupid that they belive you? (Well, some probably are.) Again, I was asked to leave, and the group went with me.
I know people need to earn a living and I'm certainly no rocket surgeon, but come on.
Comments
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"Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee
The lifetime warranty I got for new windows 10 years ago went away with the company that sold them to me.
I can remember when JC Penny's use to advertise their batteries as lasting for as long as you own your car or truck.
They did not and Pennys changed owners and when doing so failed to honor past warranties.
Same with Redfield scopes before Leopold bought them out and same with Smith and Wesson's Lifetime warranty.
Many,many business will warranty their products. When trouble starts they just go out of business and start back up under a new name.
I am not permitted to say any any thing when my wife is with me . if I do I get the kick jab head shaking no , big eye grimace look and the low voice shut ... up well I would bet some of you know ..
but some times I risk it all I cant keep it to my self and have to use my 1st amendment
I remember the old midas commercial the old guy come rolling in in his model A and have his" life time muffler " like he had been there many times in his old car replaced then as he was driving away he would say see you boys again . and the announcer would give some big spiel about life time no matter how long you owned the car I was just a young fellow not even driving at the time . it was a cute commercial years later I remember a similar commercial maybe a different comapny but same sales pitch as long as you own the car we will replace the muffler free then on the bottom in fine print something like "you have to pay the labor for install and disposal and some other fees so the 20.00 free muffler would still cost you 100.00 ( just a guess ) what a great deal LOL
Sales claims:
"Up to..." means less than
"Pennies a day" means a trainload of pennies
"Lifetime warranty" means until the product dies
"Just pay a separate fee" means you'll be charged double
"Deluxe version available" means there is no standard version
Yes, Midas did not charge for replacing the muffler. But, they DID charge for the pipes (which you always needed), & they charged a lot for them. No, you could not tell them, "just replace the muffler".
Neal
Like the Taurus life time warranty,If it breaks send it back.We dont know how to fix it either.
My BIL is a retired contractor. He started doing replacement windows and soon discovered that his best sales pitch was to people who got an estimate from a "window store".
He'd just tell them he could give them a better window at half the quoted price. He still made more than he would have dared ask for up front, but the customers were tickled with "half price"!
Talking about those extended warrantees, when you buy an appliance like a vacuum cleaner or even a coffee pot at a big box store they always ask you if you would like the protection plan for x amount of dollars. If you buy it not only do you have to hold on to your receipt but the shipping hassles involved are a major pain in the *. You can't just take it back to where you bought it.
The extra 20 to 30 dollars you spent for the added year or two protection IMHO is better just kept in your wallet for a down payment on a NEW appliance!
A few years ago, we took out a jacuzzi tub and made a large tiled walk in shower in it's place. They asked whether we wanted a glass door or were we going to just use a curtain. I asked about the cost of the shower and was told $1,400. The wife wanted the curtain so I happily declined. A few weeks later I was talking to someone else who also works in that profession and he told me that the shower guys always charge for 2 doors in case one is broken somehow during the installation, and they have to eat that cost.
Yep, I NEVER EVER buy those extended warranties on anything.