The Case of the Man Who Wouldn’t Leave
Two vacuum salespeople knocked on the door of an elderly widow to offer a 20-minute demonstration of a “new product”. The woman agreed. The demonstration included high-pressure sales techniques that lasted two hours, after which she agreed to buy the vacuum cleaner. Consequent attempts by family members to cancel the contract were unsuccessful.
The Ministry of Consumer Services charged the salespeople, and the company they work for, with making an unconscionable consumer representation relative to the sale of a vacuum cleaner.
One man pleaded guilty for the company and a fine of $5,000 was imposed. The company also made restitution to the consumer in the amount of $1,000, and the consumer was allowed to keep the vacuum cleaner.
The same salesperson had been convicted about eight months earlier of the same offence and sentenced to 30 days in jail.
