Complaints about salespeople rare

Published 5:00 am Friday, July 23, 2010

Wednesday’s brawl between members of two door-to-door sales teams at a Bend motel was a first — at least in recent memory — for police.

But in the summer, when traveling sales crews often show up in town, it’s not uncommon for officials to get several calls from residents who are confused or concerned about people showing up on their doorstep.

Though many people who travel through neighborhoods to sell products do work for legitimate companies, there have been problems in Bend and other cities with scams, overly aggressive sales tactics and even salespeople who use the opportunity to scope out a property for a future burglary.

Sgt. Ron Taylor of the Bend Police Department said serious incidents related to door-to-door sales are relatively rare, but people shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions if they feel uncomfortable.

“Should people be cautious? Yes,” Taylor said. “Take normal precautions, like trying to verify someone’s (business information). But if they are not interested in what a person is selling, they should either not open the door or minimize their contact with sales individuals and tell them, ‘I’m not interested,’ and shut the door.”

The people involved in Wednesday’s incident work for Atlantic Circulation Inc., a Pennsylvania-based magazine sales company, and the Kirby Company, which is based in Ohio and sells vacuum cleaners throughout the country.

A vacuum salesman involved in the fight said his crew is based in Bend. The magazine sales team was staying at the southeast Bend motel where the incident took place, and police said many of the people involved do not live in Central Oregon.

Traveling sales groups often employ young people, who spend the summer knocking on doors and taking orders.

Taylor said one of the most common complaints from residents is about salespeople who won’t take no for an answer.

“We have over the years had a few situations where someone has become too aggressive, where they have tried to prevent somebody from closing a door with their hand or foot,” he said. “And those, obviously, we are going to take more seriously.”

Kyle Kavas, a spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau, said her organization often gets complaints about selling practices, delivery problems and other concerns about some door-to-door sales companies.

The BBB has received 145 complaints for Atlantic Circulation Inc.’s corporate office in the last three years. Complaints for the Kirby Company are often directed to the local branches, and information about a Bend branch was not available, she said. The corporate office has received 29 complaints in the last three years from buyers in the U.S.

“The biggest problem is the anonymity,” she said. “Many of them come with a marked car or name tag, but that still doesn’t really prove they work for the company they say they work for.”

Like Taylor, Kavas suggested that people do some research on a company before agreeing to a purchase.

In Bend, traveling sales companies are required to have a city business license. Atlantic Circulation received a permit in 2008 that expired in June 2009, and does not have a current license. A search for Kirby Vacuum did not turn up any license records, according to a city official.

Tips on dealing with door-to-door salespeople

• Check for identification from the seller. Get a business card and contact information for the company.

• Do some research on the company before making a purchase. Look up the company online, and check for reports on the Better Business Bureau’s website, www.bbb.org.

• Don’t be pressured into buying something. If you’re interested in making a purchase, ask the salesperson to come back later after you’ve checked into the company.

• Know the laws about door-to-door sales. Oregon law requires salespeople to provide identification and explain why they’re calling or at your door within 30 seconds after beginning a conversation. Also, the Federal Trade Commission’s “Cooling Off” rule can provide buyers with three days to cancel some purchases from door-to-door sales.

• Contact the police if you are concerned about overly aggressive sales tactics or if something seems suspicious.

Sources: Bend Police Department and the Better Business Bureau

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