Door to door selling ecobee Smart Thermostats

[WinterHawk]

Just had a guy come to my door trying to sell a "smart" thermostat, trying to infer that this is part of a government rebate program as the next phase of the governments plan after installing smart meters for Hydro. Tried to convince me that this would save me 25% on my power usage.

Sounded like he was working for a contracting firm because these units run around $470 and I believe the salesman was trying to get me to agree to having it "professionally" installed as a second component needs to be hooked up to your furnance and air conditioner to work properly.

Don't like the idea that he was trying REAL hard to give me the impression that this was a partnership with the Ontario Government to take advantage of our Hydro Smart Meters.

 

[Gentle Ben]

people selling door to door are right up there with telemarketers, actually, I think they're lower. I don't give them the time of day.
Several months ago I had a guy come to the door, I had just got out of the shower and was in bathrobe. he said he was with the "gas company" & had to inspect the water heater, I reminded him that he didn't have to do anything but get off of the property. He insisted. I said, look asshole, what makes you think I have a gas water heater? he said it dosn't matter what kind of water heater I had that he had to inspect it,but if he's with thegas company????.... I again said to him, I'm telling you to leave . He was very aggressive. If an old lady was in m y situation, they would have caved to him. I actually threatened to call the police and he said, you do what you have to do, I have to do my job. I said some choice words to him and closed the door .

 

[destillat]

people selling door to door are right up there with telemarketers, actually, I think they're lower. I don't give them the time of day.
Several months ago I had a guy come to the door, I had just got out of the shower and was in bathrobe. he said he was with the "gas company" & had to inspect the water heater, I reminded him that he didn't have to do anything but get off of the property. He insisted. I said, look asshole, what makes you think I have a gas water heater? he said it dosn't matter what kind of water heater I had that he had to inspect it, I again said to him, I'm telling you to leave . He was very aggressive. If an old lady was in m y situation, they would have caved to him. I actually threatened to call the police and he said, you do what you have to do, I have to do my job. I said some choice words to him and closed the door .

Last week I had one of those assholes ring my doorbell *4* times without leaving. The only reason I answered is because I heard my neighbours dog barking (doesn't usually bark), so I thought I might be my neighbour and an emergency.
First thing he says is "nice robe, I've been looking for a new one, where did you get it?
"Zellers, $29, can I help you?"
"Which Zellers?"
"Really? I'm not interested in your water heater thing."
"What water heater thing?"
"You are holding a binder with a HUGE 'water tank' sticker on it. My water heater is rented."
"And you want to keep renting it?"
"Not your business, I want you off my property." SLAM

They are fucking assholes.

 

[Imperius]

I feel no obligation to answer the door if I'm not expecting a visitor.

If I don't already know you, you probably want something from me, therefore I don't want to know you.
If I do know you, and you know me, you know I hate drop in visitors and you would have had the courtesy to call ahead.

Same goes with the phone... if I don't recognize the number calling, I don't answer. Feel free to leave a voice message. Even if I get a missed call and I recognize the number, if you don't leave a voice message, I assume the purpose of your call wasn't important and you won't get a call back.

Saves me a heck of a lot of time and aggravation, and oddly enough, I haven't pissed off anyone I care about.

 

[WinterHawk]

I had 2 guys show up at my door "demanding" to check out my water heater too. What is it with these aggressive sales people. I'm guessing their on commission and told to get those sales. Thinking of flipping a note to the vendor to tell them I will not buy there product and have recommended likewise to everyone I know.

 

[Rockslinger]

I asked my councillor to make it illegal for someone to come on to your property uninvited. This sketchy looking dude came to my house offering to clean my eavestroughs. I politely declined and he started swearing.

 

[MYSITEONLY]

I can't stand these mother F....rs. I get the Johovas Witness coming to my door, I refuse the answer, but they keep coming back, so the next time I answered the door in my underwear, my hair all messed up and a partial bonner, the ladies at the door where so shocked they ran away.

 

[Sammael]

I think they want to get the serial number from your tank or whatever and they can use that to switch you to a more expensive plan without your permission.

 

[checks]

The funny thing is, Enbridge never sends technicians to look at anything except a reported gas leak. They will mostly just shut off the gas and tell you to call a gas contractor. Direct Energy, Union Gas, or whatever they are, are NOT the gas company. They want to sell you natural gas, and a new furnace and water heater. I'd recommend never letting Direct Energy anywhere near your house, unless you want your appliances red tagged, and deemed unsafe.

I've had a calls from a friend who called Direct Energy into their house, and was told that their heat exchanger is cracked, their furnace muse be replaced. The technician spent 1 minute diagnosing the problem (flame sensor - a 20 dollar part), and looked at the age of the furnace and decided he'd red tag it to hasten the replacement of it. I'm surprised there aren't more complaints about their so-called technicians in the media.

Of course, when I tell the gas marketing guys that I'm a licenced gas fitter, they generally just walk away.

 

[diehard]

fuck'em all.

 

[canada-man]

I had 2 guys show up at my door "demanding" to check out my water heater too. What is it with these aggressive sales people. I'm guessing their on commission and told to get those sales. Thinking of flipping a note to the vendor to tell them I will not buy there product and have recommended likewise to everyone I know.

they are aggressive because the only get paid when they make a sale. when working for this company they sign an independent contractor agreements where they have no employee rights. there is no vacation, sick pay, benefits, etc they are hired by companies which are part of a world wide door to door scamming organization called Innovage. before 2006 they were known as DS-MAX. in Europe, Asia and Australia a company called The Cobra Group/Appco Group do the same crap. they are also part of the Ds-max/innovage scamming group of companies/

 

[Rockslinger]

I'd recommend never letting Direct Energy anywhere near your house, unless you want your appliances red tagged, and deemed unsafe.

A few years ago, I hired a company (not Direct Energy) to clean my furnace. While there the guy red tagged my water heater saying it wasn't properly vented. I asked him to fix it. He said that it is a conflict of interest for the party who did the red tag to also remove the red tag so I called Direct Energy to do the fix. No, I don't know if the company that did the red tag and Direct Energy are related.

 

[great bear]

When you live in the boonies you don't have to put up with this crap.

 

[james t kirk]

I feel no obligation to answer the door if I'm not expecting a visitor.

If I don't already know you, you probably want something from me, therefore I don't want to know you.
If I do know you, and you know me, you know I hate drop in visitors and you would have had the courtesy to call ahead.

Same goes with the phone... if I don't recognize the number calling, I don't answer. Feel free to leave a voice message. Even if I get a missed call and I recognize the number, if you don't leave a voice message, I assume the purpose of your call wasn't important and you won't get a call back.

Saves me a heck of a lot of time and aggravation, and oddly enough, I haven't pissed off anyone I care about.

Bingo.

Most times if someone knocks on my door, I don't bother anwering it anymore.

If a friend happens to show up and knock and I don't answer - use your cell and call me.

As to the guys selling hotwater tanks or renting them, I've only had 1 guy knock on my door over the years and I told him that I own my own tank. He asked me if he could look at it any way and I told him no, it was ok. He didn't try to pull any stunt and just let it go and walked to the neighbour's house.

I think most people are on to the scam.

BTW, renting from Enbridge is just a big a scam or even bigger. Anyone who rents a water tank (unless they figure that they are only going to be in the house a year or two) is just plain stupid. With the cost of the monthly rental, you can pay off a tank in 3 or 4 years and they will last at least 10 years with no problem. I've noticed that Enbridge pushes "hassle free hotwater" in their little pamphlets that come with your bill. They say, "fixing a valve costs $500.00, or "fixing a thermostat costs $800." If your tank breaks down - which is rare - just throw it out and get a new one if you can't fix it yourself.

 

[jeff5228]

I always confuse the fuck out of them when I tell them I don't have a hot water tank.

I switched over to an tankless system 3 years ago.

 

[Rockslinger]

I switched over to an tankless system 3 years ago.

How are tankless water heaters? I heard they cost $10 million each and it takes 80,000 years in gas savings to pay for the extra capital cost of a tankless.

 

[destillat]

I always confuse the fuck out of them when I tell them I don't have a hot water tank.

I switched over to an tankless system 3 years ago.

mine is wood burning!!!

 

[blackrock13]

How are tankless water heaters? I heard they cost $10 million each and it takes 80,000 years in gas savings to pay for the extra capital cost of a tankless.

Where do you hear all this shite? Then you wonder why members don't believe your posts.

 

[roller]

I don't usually chime in an any threads, but thought I could contribute some valuable info to this one. I'm a heating contractor and sell and service furnaces, air conditioners, and all types of water heaters. Several times a month I get calls from homeowners who answerd the door and got scamed by the agent for whatever company is blitzing the neighbourhood. The next thing you know the agent is filling out a survey form and its really a rental or sales contract for a new furnace or water heater that the homeowner doesn't need. Totally fucking unethical!!!! I do contarct work for one of the rental companies and field questions all the time about rental vs ownership. As for Rockslingers comment regarding the cost of the tankless unit and the cost savings the numbers a re slightly off! Do not let these people in your house! If in error you do, most of the contracts have a 10 day cancellation policy which requires no explanation on your part.

 

[bazokajoe]

How are tankless water heaters? I heard they cost $10 million each and it takes 80,000 years in gas savings to pay for the extra capital cost of a tankless.

I was quoted at a min. $4000,and they wouldn't even come to my house if I felt that was to much.So,of course I passed.I even had the guy who installed my hot water tank tell me they aren't worth the money.