The Southwestern Company Difference Blog
This week on NBC’s TODAY Show, there was a story about traveling sales crews and the dangers they pose.
Consumer Reporter and Contributing Editor to Reader’s Digest, Janice Lieberman, reported on how Better Business Bureaus (BBB) and Attorney General offices around the country are investigating traveling sales crews and their unethical pitches, saying sometimes they are complete lies.
I had known about this story months before it aired, as I was contacted by the producer of the segment. He told me about the people he had lined up to be interviewed and how he saw the story unfolding. While it did not work out that Southwestern Company was a balancing part of the story in the role of the anti-traveling sales crew, it came out good nonetheless.
It centered around a pregnant Raleigh, NC victim of a traveling sales crew member’s rage when told by the homeowner she was not interested. While she was able to get her door shut, she was so upset by this experience, she went into labor. After the incident, she learned the company the traveling sales crew member was selling subscriptions for was being investigated for numerous complaints by the BBB.
In fact, Tom Bartholomew of the Better Business Bureau says in the story that traveling sales crews use sophisticated, emotional appeals. For the past year, he states the BBB has received over 1,000 complaints nationwide and are investigating over 50 magazine sales companies. Click here for BBB Bartholomew Trustbrief.
Another interviewee, a former traveling sales crew member, says the very idea of magazine sales is one big lie, one giant scam. He said he feels bad he ripped off so many people.
What I really like about the segment is how it not only tells about the dangers of the sales crews, but does not discount the fact there are legitimate door-to-door sellers out there. This was true to form from the producer’s original call to me. From Mr. Bartholomew to Ms. Lieberman, they recommend a consumer do their research and state how not all solicitors are bad. Mr. Bartholomew puts is best: “don’t be scammed, be smart.” I like the fact the story was balanced when it came to the heart of the matter.
Click here for TODAY Show video link:
“Beware of Magazine Scams” – September 8, 2009
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/32722495#32722495
