Magazine salespeople at my door.. Polite, but dishonest - and fishy.

[brxndxn]

After having a big mess with two stupid girls trying to sell magazines last year, I told my brother never EVER to let salespeople into the apartment. (Basically two girls trying to sell magazines for twice what I already pay for them - they came into my room and didn't want to leave until I bought a magazine. I had to get pissed off and yelled at them to leave.)

Anyway.. today, about half an hour ago, cute black girl nocks on my door and tells me she is from high school and trying to win a contest for her to get a scholarship. She tells me she has magazines to sell. Well, my Wired subscription runs out this year so I figured I'll renew with her. Then, my brother walks in with another magazine salesman (from the same company) and bring him right into our apartment.

I then realized this wasn't any 'high school' fundraiser. Anyway, having already written the check, I hand it to her ($25 for 26 issues).. She then hands me a 'receipt' that turns out to be an invoice that says I need to submit another $24 in the next 10 days. (so $49 for 26 issues.. I pay $12 for 12 issues right now) I told her that either the receipt needs to be re-written or I'm not buying the magazine. Anyway, having already agreed to buy one from her, and my brother right there buying a magazine from the dude now sitting on our couch watching our TV, I agreed to buy one..

Yay.. I now have a 3 years subscription to PC Gamer (I usually only buy one where there's a preview of a game I'm interested in) for $45. Wonderful.

While she is using my bro's bathroom, I started talking to the other guy.. "You're not in high school, are you?" I asked.

Being completely honest, and a little cautious, he told me that he and her work for a company to try to get enough money to eventually go to school.


To me, the situation is sad. I read a report about these things where they usually don't make anywhere near the amount of money promised and they never end up going to school. And now, trying to be nice, I'm supporting terrible companies like that.

 

[kermalou]

it's like the kids who sell candy

 

[saben107]

heh, was it the guy from Office Space? The salesman that used to be addicted on crack?

 

[Pepsei]

dude... some of them are con artist... usually they travel in packs and invade the local colleges.

"HI, I'm blah blah from the Delta Chi frat, doing a fund rasier....." hey, wait a mintue..we don't have any Delta Chi here....


sometimes, you don't even get the subscription. and if you buy multiple magazines, they want you to write multiple checks...
for some bank, it costs more to cancel a check than what it's written for.

 

[vi edit]

Same with the ones that call that say "For only $10 you can get 3 subscriptions of any magazine you want for 3 years!!!!" and then they go on and you find out that there is a sign up cost of like $20, a monthly maintanence cost for $15 dollars, ect. ect. ect. After it's all said and done, $100 worth of subscriptions ends up costing your close to $300. My fiancee nearly got had on one of them until I stopped her in the middle of the phone call and told her to hand up.

 

[iamwiz82]

why give them anything? I have never bought anything from people like that, and i never will.

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
why give them anything? I have never bought anything from people like that, and i never will.

Exactly. I never buy something that someone's trying to sell me. If I need it I'll go get it.

 

[Reel]

is this really the first time they hit you up? They have stopped by my apt once while i was here and about 3 or 4 times when it was my roommate. He bought newsweek from the people the first time but we have no need for that many. They say they come from Orlando and are trying for a contest and showed some poorly made flyer.

 

[rudder]

Being completely honest, and a little cautious, he told me that he and her work for a company to try to get enough money to eventually go to school.

Yes they are commissioned sales people out trying to sell you something you can get half price yourself. The "I am trying to win a scholarship" is just crap. Next time you see them, tell them to get a real job.

 

[everman]

I would have asked for the check back right there after learning they lied, and if they didn't I'm sure there's a law against doing that.

 

[Grasshopper27]

Don't ever buy from those people. They make almost nothing, the companies that hire them make a killing, and half those kids are homeless and on drugs.

When I was younger, I knew two guys who did that, nasty people to work for...

Hopper

 

[BatmanNate]

If you solicit me at my door, leave things on my door knob/porch, leave crap on my car (I really hate that), call me at home, send my spam mail (e or snail), isntall subliminal PC software (spyware/adware) I will make mental note NOT to ever buy from your company. I don't have a problem with advertising, opt in or passive, but invasive marketing drives me nuts.

 

[Pastfinder]

"Hi, my name is Steve. I come from a rough area. I used to be addicted to crack but now I am off it and trying to stay clean. That is why I am selling magazine subscriptions."

 

[spwango]

I get these idiots all the time--most often, they are trying to earn money for a trip--next time, just do what I do: Tell them they will get to where there going quicker if they just get a REAL job.