Group selling cleaner door to door

[gnunn]

Has anyone been approached to buy a concentrated cleaning solution? I have had three people come by my store
this week trying to sell this to me. Two of them within a half hour of each other. They come in with a spray bottle,
rag, and cheap brochure. The first one sprayed some on a spot of our floor and rubbed it to show how well it cleans.
He did this before I could even say anything. Of course I didn't even look at the brochure, and told him no thanks.
I did not know any of these guys, and did not get a look at there license plates to see if they were from out of state.
They looked like they might of been down and out, but one drove a decent looking work van with nothing on the side,
not sure about the others, we were busy at those times.

Anybody know what's up with this?

[Beckysews]

Better safe than sorry gnunn - if they come in again call 911.  In the meantime, you should call the non-emergency police/sheriff number and report it.

[NativeSon]

It is a scam. The concentrated solution is probably hydrochloric acid, a highly corrosive solution. It will clean rust off metal and take off hard stains because it actually eats metal and other surfaces. The color is probably yellow and can be bought in most hardware stores. They usually travel in a group, all in one vehicle and will probably mix it in their car or van in your parking lot. They hit me up years ago and just like you, they were cleaning floor tiles before I could say no. Look out folks!

[IH47]

Had a guy come by the alignment shop this morning selling that stuff ... told him "no thanks". White with bronze trim Tahoe, with W Va. tags.

[wilsonmusic]

gnunn, you should have sold him a sign for his vehicle!!

[Barbara Anne]

This group was in the county last year or another group similar to them doing the same thing. I was in a store in Pittsboro when they came in and cleaned tiles in a bathroom and then sold their product.

[dmccarty]

We live on a private road.  Private meaning we own the road.  There is a gate up and it is posted with several no trespass signs.  A few years ago the wifey left the house to run some errands and she noticed that there was a strange white van in the neighborhood so she called me to let me know since she left the gate open.

Sure enough the van drives up to the house.  Not real happy am I.

There were three people in the white van,  two women and a man driving.  One of the women approached the house while the other two people stayed in the van which had her door left open and the engine running.   

I did not open the door to talk to her.  I cracked open a window.  I did this for two reasons.  One our dog did not like the lady.  Two the spray bottle is a weapon.  One or two squirts and you are blinded. The liquid looked like Pinesol or other cleaners you can buy at Lowes.

The "Lady" and I had a conversation about trespassing and they left in a hurry never to be seen again.  We were concerned they were checking out places to rob and some of our neighbors are elderly and alone. 

Later,
Dan

[Silk_Hope]

That happened to me a year or two ago, my garage door was open. The "lady" came to my front door attempting to distract me but failed to realize I was coming across the yard. I told them to "get out of here!". She jumped into her van and the driver took off really fast.

[oakrunfarm]

Wow. This is a really old-timey ploy. I have not heard of this one in years!

Back in - oh around 1982-83 - when I was still in Wilmington, people were coming around and doing this. I had a convertible with a white top at the time, and I got a knock on the door from someone holding this spray bottle.

They pointed at my car and said "Is that your car?" and proceeded to take me out and show me where they had sprayed a spot (on my admittedly dirty) white top and how well it had cleaned.

They said that if I paid them, they would "come back and leave me a brand new bottle."

I politely declined and found out later that anyone who paid for their "cleaner" never got it.

Funny that this snake oil sales tactic is now out there and making the rounds again. Right up there with "magazine sales..." 

[Beckysews]

Please folks - dial 911 when they enter the store and pull that cr*p!

That spray bottle COULD be used as a weapon.  It's like the alleged Kirby Vacuum sales people showing up with a free bottle of bleach if you let them demonstrate their carpet cleaner/vacuum.

The more people that call the law, the more these folks will get the message that their solicitations are not wanted.

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