Sales people suck

[stomachmonkey]

Mom called today.

She's a smart woman and still has 100% of her faculties but she wanted my opinion.

My stepfather signed a contract last night to have all new hurricane shutters put on the house.

Two story affair in Boca.

$39,000 payable over 30 years and if they kick before hand the balance can be clawed back from the sale of the home, which effectively is a lien on the property, or taken over by new owners who would likely ask for reduction of sale pricve equal to the balance at least.

Mom is 79, stepdad is 81.

It's all good, mom killed the deal today but still, who sells products like this to 80 year old people?

WTF?

[LWJ]

How about this: “predatory and unethical people suck.”

I’ve been in sales for decades. Haven’t ripped anyone off yet. Don’t plan to.

It’s been a great career.

[Baz]

Curious - did your Mom kill the deal before she called you - or afterwards after consultation with you.

I can relate, BTW.

My Mom just turned 99 last month and lives in her own home by herself. Luckily it's here in the same town I live so I'm there a couple times per week bring her provisions and helping with whatever is needed. I'm constantly looking at the stuff she gets through the mail trying to act as a stopgap for anything tempting. Like yours, my Mom still has her wits about her. But still.....lot of wolves in sheep clothing out there.....

Oh - her and my step-dad had hurricane shutters installed years ago and I think they've only used them twice. On my to-do list is to get them all in working condition again - the corrosion over the years on the fasteners is the challenge.

[red-beard]

In addition, all of the phone and internet scams. As they come out, I have to have "The Talk" with them.

My dad, 93, had the "I recorded you watching Porn" Scam sent to him. He doesn't have a camera and his "thing" don't work.

[Rick Lee]

I met a woman who would have paid $18k into a funeral plan that was worth $4k. I was able to stop the bleeding. But it's not fraud when it's all spelled out and people don't read their paperwork and then don't pay things off in the specified timeline before penalties and interest kick in.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Baz

Curious - did your Mom kill the deal before she called you - or afterwards after consultation with you.

After.

It was so she didn't have to be the only bad guy with my stepdad.

I love my stepdad, he's an awesome dude but he is terrible with money and she just needed me to have her back.

I have a way of putting things that are easier for him to digest.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

After.

It was so she didn't have to be the only bad guy with my stepdad.

I love my stepdad, he's an awesome dude but he is terrible with money and she just needed me to have her back.

I have a way of putting things that are easier for him to digest.

Perfect. Thanks - keep up the good work there.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

$39,000 payable over 30 years

Also...

It seems quite a lot of money

[cantdrv55]

There are predatory and unethical people in all fields. I’m recently retired from sales which has been a great career too. Never had to rip anyone off to make a great living. I like to sleep well, guilt free.

[cstreit]

Sales people believe in what they sell. I know lots who have moved from company to company and their clients know that when they call, really have something of real value. It’s their reputation.

The people that suck are scammers who will steal from the ignorant and unaware. $40k for shutters is robbery,

[smadsen]

Carp! $39,000 for 360 mos. @ 6% would be $234/mo. or $84,240 for 30 years. Soooo, you get to pay for them twice+.

Publisher's Clearing House is a paragon of virtue by comparison.

[Evans, Marv]

I can relate to that. My mother lived in a mobile home toward the end of her time. She was going to have earthquake supports installed under it for a large amount of money. I was glad I talked to her in time.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Also...

It seems quite a lot of money

My first thought as well. If they were installing all roll down style shutters where you just throw a switch to close them, then the price is right.

In the last 10 years we have been slowly transitioning our house so storm prep takes little to no time.

I have replaced some windows with impact windows ($20K) and other windows now have Bahama shutters ($6K) I am at 26K and still want to change a couple of more openings.

I have eyed the roll down style shutters/doors for the front porch (we close it in) and they are big $$.

These are not cheap.

[Chocaholic]

At their age, living in Boca, I can understand their concern dealing with the yearly hurricane threats. Boarding up is difficult for young people, much less the elderly. So, are they going remain unprotected now? Or are other plans being made?

Perhaps your stepdad wasn’t so gullible.

[dtxscott]

Originally Posted by lwj

how about this: “predatory and unethical people suck.”

i’ve been in sales for decades. Haven’t ripped anyone off yet. Don’t plan to.

It’s been a great career.

^^^ 100%

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

At their age, living in Boca, I can understand their concern dealing with the yearly hurricane threats. Boarding up is difficult for young people, much less the elderly. So, are they going remain unprotected now? Or are other plans being made?

Perhaps your stepdad wasn’t so gullible.

They’ve been there 30 years and already have most of the home covered in shutters.

They have a couple of small bathroom windows not done and the patio sliders.

They were pitched replacing the existing shutters, because they were expired WTF that means, as well as covering the rest.

My brother lives across the street from mom, he has 40 guys working for him in his shop.

They are the elder statesmen of the neighborhood and neighbors would all jump to pitch in and help them.

Getting them help to put the panels over the patio doors is a non issue.

My stepdads biggest flaw is spending money makes him feel like a big shot. It’s an ego thing.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

My first thought as well. If they were installing all roll down style shutters where you just throw a switch to close them, then the price is right.

In the last 10 years we have been slowly transitioning our house so storm prep takes little to no time.

I have replaced some windows with impact windows ($20K) and other windows now have Bahama shutters ($6K) I am at 26K and still want to change a couple of more openings.

I have eyed the roll down style shutters/doors for the front porch (we close it in) and they are big $$.

These are not cheap.

i can picture it now.
the house is blown away but the doors are still standing.
kind of like a brick chimney after the house burns down.

[Norm K]

Prepping for The Purge are we, Jim?

Originally Posted by Jims5543

[GH85Carrera]

Back in the 1980s my grandmother was still driving her 1964 Chevy Impala. I doubt it had ever been waxed, but it had not seen snow in years. To say it was in rough cosmetic shape is being kind. Door dinged front to back, and a few scrapes and no straight panels at all. She was the epitome of the little old lady that drove to church and the grocery store. She would not exceed 35 MPH even when the speed limit was 45. Getting on the highway was never going to happen.

Anyway, she needed new tires and went to a big national chain of tire stores that opened a new store near her house. They talked her into a set of Michelin radials with a H speed rating. I happened to go to her house just as she returned. I insisted we go back to that store. I became a male Karen, (a Niel) and talked to the manager. We went outside and I pointed to her car, and my grandmother and asked him man to man, would you personally recommend those tires for that car and a driver that will not go faster than 35 MPH. He admitted the salesman was mistaken, and they put on four cheap radials that were less than half the cost, and refunded the difference.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by LWJ

How about this: “predatory and unethical people suck.”

I’ve been in sales for decades. Haven’t ripped anyone off yet. Don’t plan to.

It’s been a great career.

THIS. Also in sales and I have been succeeding ethically and morally at it for 16 years