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Door-to-door salesmen defend themselves against false accusationsby Cara Restelli, KY3 News
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- KY3 News has been getting a lot of calls and e-mail messages from people complaining about door-to-door salesmen supposedly misrepresenting themselves to sell educational materials. It turns out the salesmen are college students and recent graduates working for Southwestern Company, a perfectly legitimate company from Tennessee. We found, while you may not like their style, what they're doing and what they're selling is perfectly legal, and they hope you'll give them a chance. Lately, Matt Seitz and his fellow door-to-door salesmen have been taking a lot of heat for their methods. They're accused of asking too many personal questions and even misrepresenting themselves by saying they work for the nearest school district.
“A lot of times they are just misunderstandings and the folks only hear a short bit and don't get full explanation,” said Seitz.
“Because they're educational, there can be an assumption that we’re affiliated with the school district, but the school districts do not endorse the products because they're not used in the classroom,” said Southwestern spokesman Trey Campbell.
Southwestern Company is a legitimate business and Seitz is a real salesman who paid his way through college with the books that he sells. But, while he's perfectly legal, Assistant Attorney General Ron Carrier says you should still use caution when approached by any door-to-door salesmen.
“There is a good service door to door salespeople perform, but you need to do everything you can to be a smart consumer," said Carrier.
He says you should ask for identification, including information about the salesperson and the company.
“Taking time to get information allows you to contact the attorney general and Better Business Bureau to see if there have been complaints filed against the company or product," said Carrier.
Other tips include:
-get everything in writing including price, warranty and all conditions;
-be careful about letting any salesperson in your home;
-if you do decide to buy, pay by credit card;
-remember, in Missouri, you have the right to cancel within three business days to get your money back; and
-never share personal information such as Social Security numbers, bank account information and credit card information - unless, of course, you're using it to pay.
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