This is how it all went down:
Knock on the door.
Cute little Filipino lady(CLFL): "HI!" Are you the lady of the house?
Me: Yep. That's me. (I'm thinking, I could gag if I hear that phrase EVER again).
CLFL: Wow, you look too young! (I hear this daily and it's annoying. I would say 8 out of 10 times I answer the phone somebody asks if my MOM is there).
Me: What can I do for you (with annoyed look on my face).
CLFL: We (holding up a flyer) are having a special today and I would like to clean a room of carpet free for you.
I was thinking to myself. Well, at least it's not the dreaded 'Kirby' people. I had the WORST experience with them a few years back. I was thinking...well, my hallway is looking pretty bad and that area where Rachel got into my make-up and stained the carpet could use a cleaning. And...while they are cleaning my carpet, I could get some work done. So...
Me: If you can come back in 30 minutes I'd love for you to clean my carpet.
CLFL: (looking like she won the lottery) OH GREAT! I'll be back in 30 minutes!
I took a shower, got ready and sure enough, 30 minutes EXACTLY later she was back! I answered the door and the first thing I saw was the word KIRBY and her supervisor standing there.
Me: OH NO! (these were my exact words). NO! I had the WORST experience with these people and I am STILL having nightmares about it. I don't have time for this. I'm supposed to pick my son up in 45 minutes. Last time they stayed for 3 hours!! 3 hours of torture! I wanted to die. No. I'm sorry.
CLFL's supervisor: Oh, I'm sorry about your bad experience. I PROMISE we will only clean your carpets and go. NO obligation. We'll be in and out. We only get paid if we do demo's. Plus, we are trying to win a trip to N.Y.C. but we have to do 3 more demos today. Please. I promise, we will be in and out.
Me: OK, but I HAVE to leave in 45 minutes.
CLFL's sup.: No problem.
The supervisor leaves and says she'll be back in a little while. And then...the real torture began!
What was I thinking? I'm such a sucker. I was so stupid to think that they would kindly go about their business cleaning my carpets and that would be that.
It was a good thing I exaggerated a bit on the time I had to leave. I really didn't need to leave for about 1.5 hours (I had to cover my bases people).
She spent the next HOUR going through all the shenanigan's they teach (brainwash) them in their little training courses. She did the whole presentation showing me how nasty my carpet is and how my children are going to get sick and maybe even die because of all the "bacteria" and crap that is in my carpet. She made me get out my own vacuum and tried to show me how sucky (no pun intended) my vacuum is. I lost it!
Me: Look, I KNOW my vacuum is bad. I KNOW that it's not doing a very good job. I don't need anybody to demonstrate it. If I had 1,000's of dollars to spare, I would buy your vacuum. It's great. It does a fabulous job, but if I have a choice of either putting food on the table for my family, or buying a new vacuum, I'm going to feed my family.
I know it was a little harsh, but seriously, I was going a little loony by now. I assure you, she could hold her own. Plus, I felt deceived! They told me: "In and out." Remember?
CLFL: I understand.
I felt really bad, but come on! I was trying hard to be nice about it. I even gave the woman a glass of ice water. I asked her about her home land. I realize she is just trying to make a living. I respect that. I do. I also respect honesty and I DESPISE deceit!
I guess it's time for one of these signs kindly displayed on my front door.
14 comments:
Poor CLFL...
Just kidding!
I was duped into 3 hours of Kirby nightmare one time also. Yeah, to make it worse, the next time they came by, I told them no and explained the previous experience, and they gave me the same line you got, and wouldn't ya know, 2 HOURS LATER, they finally left!
Now I just tell them all no and shut the door. If I want my carpets clean, I'll do it myself or call someone, thank you!
I hate those solicitors! So annoying! I would get a sign too! I could seriously see the look on your face when they told they'd be in and out in a flash! You are so funny!
Tiff, we keep commenting at the same time! We did it on Sarah's blog too!
Count your blessings. At least it was a CLFL and not a CTR (creepy toothless redneck)!
And does anyone know why Filipino isn't spelled with a "Ph"? The "F" is the correct spelling but why? I need to know! Why can't we call them the Filipine Islands? My gosh, it's missing an "l" too. Is it all to save characters in text messaging? What is this world coming too!
Next I'll be living in Tuson and driving to Feenix to catch a plane to Ilinoi. TGIF!
Oh my goodness Rob you ar so funny. I needed a laugh after the tears Kristens blog gave me. THANKS. Em, you can always know that we've all been there, and we've all had the kirby guy once or twice, remember the one I had when you were there. yah that was a nightmare.
Oh my goodness Rob you ar so funny. I needed a laugh after the tears Kristens blog gave me. THANKS. Em, you can always know that we've all been there, and we've all had the kirby guy once or twice, remember the one I had when you were there. yah that was a nightmare.
I learned my lesson a long time ago- I don't have a sign, so I have to open the door. But I am really good at saying "sorry, I'm not interested", before they can even tell me what they are selling.
Becky--I DO remember that guy. That was for sure on my mind during the whole thing. Never again. Never again.
Ahh! I saw them, they tried to clean mine too! I told them no way. They said 10 minutes, I said ya right. -with a smile. He kept trying... I kept saying no. I am so glad I did. We let them in one time and it was -like you said a 3 hour deal. I was so angry last time, I vowed to never do it again. What is it with the soliciters lately? I have had like 4 in the last 3 days. I threaten Kayden not to say a word and I just let them ring and ring. (who knows, maybe its the same people and they keep coming back!)
I regretfully have to admit that I have fallen for this exact same routine not once but twice. The worst part about the whole thing is that after you say no to the sweet little sales person they have to call their supervisor to come and "check their work" which is basically their last ditch effort to make the sale. I have learned my lesson though, now whenever someone asks if I'm the lady of the house (whether it's on the phone or in person) I just say no. To this day I've never had anyone protest that.
I'm horrible, I just don't answer. Whoever invented the peep hole is brilliant. I also threaten my children to be quiet so they'll just go away. I know that's really bad but I can be pretty rude so I figure it is the lesser of the two evils.
I was a Kirby salesman for a day
Thanks for the giggles. I was a KirbyMan once for a day. I sucked(pun intended) at it do bad I quit after cleaning
my future in-laws carpet and they threw me out.
Nobody understands the hard life of a kirbyman.
ha ha ha sucker. I made that mistake ONCE... Never again!
Two responses here:
Some people say the same things about Mormons... they hide and hope the missionaries can't hear them.
They fooled you twice, babe. That's shame on you.
Post a Comment