Suspicious Carpet Cleaners

Local News
11 Comments
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By PamSB

On Saturday night around 6:15 PM (after dark) a middle-aged man and woman knocked on my 85-year-old widowed neighbor’s door and said they were carpet cleaners who have cleaned quite a few homes in our neighborhood. 

They said they were offering free sample cleaning and would like to show her what they could do (right then, after dark on a Saturday night).  She refused to let them in, asked them to leave a card or a brochure (which they said they didn’t have) and they went away. 

We are right next door (connected townhome) and they didn’t knock on our door at all.  We do have the Ring doorbell and security cameras around our unit with alarm and security camera signs posted, so that could have deterred them from even trying our unit. 

I just wondered if anyone else has had a visit from these people or have any insight? This happened on Modoc near La Cumbre Jr. High and Pilgrim Terrace.

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a-1555922993
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Nov 22, 2018 08:45 AM
Suspicious Carpet Cleaners

I experienced the same pitch. They did say they were from Kirby. Smelled suspicious to me. Odd sales tactic in this day and age.

Odds Bodkin
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Nov 19, 2018 10:18 AM
Suspicious Carpet Cleaners

As a youngster back in the 1950s, two Kirby salesman knocked on our door one evening after dark, came in and gave the demo. Door-to-door peddling was common back then and we hadn't yet developed our fear that the strangers might be serial killers. The demo was absolutely impressive and they hooked my mother and me, but for the very high price. My father finally had to but the kibosh on it. To this day I chuckle when I think of the slogan I conjured (or maybe stole from something else) - "Kirby - Our Vacuums Really Suck!"

Flicka
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Nov 19, 2018 09:50 AM
Suspicious Carpet Cleaners

My elderly aunt had the "we have been working on your neighbor's driveway and have product left over" routine. She said okay as her extensive drive needed work. It was dark when they finished and asked for $5,000 which she wrote a check for. By the light of day she say their crappy job. Good luck---her bank called and asked if she really wanted her check cashed by the guy handing it over. She said "no" and that was the end of it. A gold star to that bank!!

a-1555922993
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Nov 19, 2018 10:41 AM
Suspicious Carpet Cleaners

Hope there isn't or wasn't any retaliation for the check being denied. There are some who are brazen enough to do something.

shorebird
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Nov 19, 2018 04:10 PM
Suspicious Carpet Cleaners

TAGDES, That’s good advice for anyone who wants their vacuum to be a flame thrower. So few appliances can multi-task.

tagdes
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Nov 19, 2018 03:19 PM
Suspicious Carpet Cleaners

The paint attachment for it doesn't give a very smooth finish and ...do not...use oil base paints as they could explode or turn your vacuum into a flame thrower.

SBMT
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Nov 19, 2018 09:15 AM
Suspicious Carpet Cleaners

Same folks came to my townhouse a couple months ago. It was a male that came by around 5pm. I was on my patio grilling, so my wife answered the door. Once I recognized the front door was open and a man I’ve never seen before there, I walked back inside. Once the salesman recognize my presence he took off in the middle of his pitch. He didn’t stop at any of my neighbors doors. But he told my wife that some of my neighbors are his customers. I spoke to my neighbors and none of them own a Kirby.

VinSB
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Nov 19, 2018 08:25 AM
Suspicious Carpet Cleaners

Peenbun, could you tell me how long ago you bought your Kirby vacuum?

Peenbun
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Nov 19, 2018 05:04 AM
Suspicious Carpet Cleaners

This happened to us, it was a Kirby vacuum demonstration, this is how they get in the door. However, our visit was from a nice young man, we now own a new Kirby vacuum, our house is cleaner than ever before, and we are very happy with our purchase. Kirby doesn’t advertise, their salesmen still go door to door, and their new models, guaranteed for life, can clean every nook and cranny of your house, shampoo your carpet and tile floors, blow leaves, and paint your cars. They are quite expensive, but after buying several vacuums in our lifetime, we’ll never need another one.

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