Southwestern Company Difference Blog

This week, the National Consumers League (NCL) issued a press release in response to the discovery of the remains of Jennifer M. Hammond, a young traveling sales crew member who disappeared in the summer of 2003.

Hammond was dropped off by the magazine-selling crew in a trailer park in Milton, NY.  It was the last time she was ever seen. 

In the release, Sally Greenberg, NCL’s Executive Director, issues a warning about the dangers posed by traveling sales crews including the risk of financial, physical and emotional victimization.

The warnings from NCL regarding traveling sales crews are not new.  The job has been a fixture on the annual NCL “Five Worst Jobs For Teens” list.

Upon reading the release, I wrote a letter to Executive Director Greenberg applauding her and the NCL for their efforts to warn about the inherent risks associated with traveling sales crews to both the young people who make up those crews and the consumers they target.

Southwestern Company and NCL have long shared a similar disdain for the unscrupulous magazine sellers.  Among other efforts, Southwestern has helped support the printing of two NCL-produced consumer brochures: (1) “Is this job right for you? ,” a brochure about traveling sales crews; (2) “When a door-to-door salesperson comes knocking,” a brochure on door-to-door safety.  As well, we have sponsored a month in the NCL Consumer Calendar three times in the past regarding the same topics of traveling sales crews and door-to-door safety tips.  (See “Education & Awareness Initiatives” widget to left of this post for brochures and calendar information.

I think Ms. Greenberg had it right when she said, “Jennifer Hammond’s death should serve as a tragic warning.”  The dangers are real, proven over and over by the carelessness, crimes and collateral damage left in their wake.

PARENTS AND CONSUMERS ALIKE:  KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEGITIMATE DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES (DIRECT SALES) AND DISREPUTABLE SCAMS.

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