The fact of the matter is that many door-to-door sales reps are very poorly trained in both sales and the actual product they are offering. Most have one goal – to sell you the product they are pushing at your door and their training is based around how to make that sale. Being a sales professional myself, it drives me crazy to see some of the high-pressure sales tactics that certain individuals use as it gives our profession a bad image. Some even use deceptive tactics to get a homeowner to sign.
Have you ever asked any of these sales reps if you can think about it and contact them later? Many are not able to provide you their contact information and state it’s a one-time deal and you need to sign up today or they can come back to you. That’s a big RED flag in my books.
I was at a friend’s house earlier this year, who was getting a water filtration system installed (which he purchased from a door-to-door sales person). I asked him about the purchase, he told me that he’s paying $29.95 a month and can cancel at any time. I asked to see the contract – he was paying $69.95 per month and is locked in for 10 yeas. They were giving away a free Nest Thermostat – and told the homeowner that it would save them $35 – $40 per month in home energy savings. So, it’s LIKE paying $29.95. In addition, the contract stated that they would need to buy out the water filtration system if they decided to sell their home – or a lien could be put towards their home. There was no mention of a cancellation policy outside the 10-day “cooling off” period. We called the company directly and asked specifically how much the monthly cost will be, and the customer service representative even said “it’s like paying $29.95”. We had to ask three times, before he specifically said that they will withdraw $69.95 plus tax from their bank account each month. When asked about cancellation, he said that they would allow them to cancel any time. When we questioned the contract – he said that the wording of the contract doesn’t matter – and that they would allow them to cancel. Asked for it in writing, he said he couldn’t do it. They exercised their right to cancel within the 10-day window.
There are some good sales professionals that use door knocking to generate new business. I find these individuals are usually just introducing themselves to the community and maybe sharing some information.
Whenever someone is trying to pressure you to purchase something on the spot – be very careful. There is often a reason why they want you to make a purchase before you have the time to do your homework.
My insurance practice has been built on the foundation of providing sound, transparent advice. I take pride in the fact that I never pressure my clients into making a purchase. The objective is to always allow my clients to make an informed decision by educating them on their options. If you are ever looking for a free consultation to review your insurance, feel free to drop me a line at 289-455-1492.
By Jeff Romansky
CHS, CPCA Principal, SecurePlan Insurance Solutions
Jeff started his insurance career in 2006 by helping hundreds of insurance advisors grow their business by providing them with comprehensive advice, consultation and training. After nine successful years, he decided to take his knowledge and start his own practice to ensure his clients are getting the best advice. His office is based in Grimsby, ON and he serves clients throughout Southwestern Ontario and the GTA.