Bristow Residents: Don't Be Sucked in By Vacuum Sales Demonstration

Late last week, independent distributors from the 90-year old Kirby Vacuum company were canvassing Bristow neighborhoods hoping to entice residents with a free offer of carpet cleaning.

However, what a distributor won't initially reveal is that potential customers will be subjected to a high-pressure in-home sales presentation of Kirby's home care system.

When prompted for details about the offer, a distributor was quick to offer reassurances that there were no financial commitments or obligations.

"We'd only like you to complete a survey at the end of the demonstration," he said. He added that for every demonstration, he received "credit" from his boss.

Yet, an internet search of the Kirby Company yielded many reports from disgruntled individuals about Kirby distributors' sales presentations, which they say typically include delaying tactics to give distributors more time to make sales.

Tom from Springfield, N.J. posted on ConsumerAffairs.com, "I assumed it to be a 15-20 minute sales pitch, I let a Kirby vacuum cleaner salesman into my apartment to do a demonstration. An hour later I politely asked him to wrap up and leave. He was visibly upset as he was trying to earn some kind of sales credit."

While The Kirby Company offers reputable products, Consumer Reports warns that there are a number of potential pitfalls to agreeing to an in-home demonstration from any company. The publication recommends:

• Be aware that sales representatives will call with an offer of a prize or home cleaning to get into your home.
• Take the time to investigate the company through your local Better Business Bureau.
• Don't be fooled by sales tactics that include sales reps leaving  products with you for a few days or having you speak to their sales managers.
• If you decide to purchase, be sure that the product you are buying is new and not reconditioned.
• Calculate the interest rate on any payment plan yourself, as some rates can be exceedingly high.
• Ask about the cancellation policy. Some customers get one year, while others only three days from the same company.
• The elderly are often targets of unscrupulous sales reps.

According to Consumer Reports, Kirby Company independent distributors sold over $400 million worth of merchandise last year. Kirby sells its vacuums to 600 independent distributors nationwide, whose nearly 10,000 sales representatives do in-home demonstrations.