Questionable Home Greeter

[North shore gal]

The other day while we were browsing around outside of our future house a woman approached us with a list of names, addresses and closing dates of a number of future owners. She looked official, like she worked for The Villages. She said she wanted to welcome us to TV with a gift certificate of $25 to use at Bonifay, Scooples, or Evans Prairie CC. After stupidly giving her a phone number, she then mention that someone would call us regarding water softening treatments. We then asked her if she actually worked for TV and she said 'No'. Has this happened to anyone else? Looks like she works for a marketing company called Robar Marketing....check it out...we did. Enough said. Please let me know if anyone else has had this experience and what did you do about it.

[Bogie Shooter]

Probably only a few thousand.............................

Just tell them no when they call, offering you the chance to buy a $6000 water conditioning system!

[Wandatime]

It happened to us as well. We also got a "basket of fruit" from another one of these greeters. One orange, two apples, and a pamphlet for a water softener.

[TheVillageChicken]

I think I read in another thread that her spouse works for The Villages sales office and provides her with the names and addresses. Reminds me of my friend who was a bartender and his wife who had a contract with the county to counsel DUI offenders.

[John_W]

As soon as your phone is connected you'll get a dozen more 'Official Welcome' calls and everyone of them wants to test your water.

[Indydealmaker]

The other day while we were browsing around outside of our future house a woman approached us with a list of names, addresses and closing dates of a number of future owners. She looked official, like she worked for The Villages. She said she wanted to welcome us to TV with a gift certificate of $25 to use at Bonifay, Scooples, or Evans Prairie CC. After stupidly giving her a phone number, she then mention that someone would call us regarding water softening treatments. We then asked her if she actually worked for TV and she said 'No'. Has this happened to anyone else? Looks like she works for a marketing company called Robar Marketing....check it out...we did. Enough said. Please let me know if anyone else has had this experience and what did you do about it.

Report her to Community Watch. No soliciting is allowed. She is definitely not authorized by The Villages.

[NotGolfer]

It seems the the new areas that door-to-door folks are prevalent. I would just kindly say thank you but no thank you. Tell them it's your understanding that that kind of solicitation is frowned upon.

[biker1]

This is very common. You might want to listen to the water softener sales pitches and take their $25 gift certificates. If you feel the need for a water softener, go to Home Depot or Loews and buy one ($500) and have a local plumber install it ($200 ??). Much less expensive than the $3000-$6000 offers.

The other day while we were browsing around outside of our future house a woman approached us with a list of names, addresses and closing dates of a number of future owners. She looked official, like she worked for The Villages. She said she wanted to welcome us to TV with a gift certificate of $25 to use at Bonifay, Scooples, or Evans Prairie CC. After stupidly giving her a phone number, she then mention that someone would call us regarding water softening treatments. We then asked her if she actually worked for TV and she said 'No'. Has this happened to anyone else? Looks like she works for a marketing company called Robar Marketing....check it out...we did. Enough said. Please let me know if anyone else has had this experience and what did you do about it.

[DeanFL]

Same here when we moved in Feb. $25 gift card for Bonifay etc. We thought what the heack... The water softener co - Pegasus- pays her for the leads. The WS guy came out a few days later. LONG pitch - we were not about to buy, just wanted the card. He tested our water --- very grundgy/dark after the test "additive". I then asked him to test a new bottle of spring water we had - he was taken back, but did it - I made sure he used the same testing process - IT was grundgy. His reason - the gvt has no standards for bottled water. sure....
After an hour of yada - price for a unit = $3,000. OMG... We said no - he pushed and pushed. Before he left - procedure is to call 'the boss'. On the phone he yelled out - "How about $2500??? Nope....

After more yada on his part, he was about to leave - I said - What about the gift card? He begrundgingly handed one to me. What a scam.
BTW we bought a Water Boss unit for $450, had Mike Scott plumbing install - GREAT!

Don't get suckered into this by them!

[North shore gal]

Thanks everybody....Now can anyone recommend a reliable, reasonnably priced faux wood blind place?

[villagetinker]

We actually were hit about 3 times by the "Welcome Wagon" lady. Each time we showed up at the house, there was someone there. I agree with the comments above about the water filters/conditioners. There have been several threads and comments. I did my own, a Sears water softener and a Sears whole house filter. They now have a combination unit for about $200 less than the separate units. Works great, and saved be $3000 or more over the units being hawked door to door.

[Bonanza]

Thanks everybody....Now can anyone recommend a reliable, reasonnably priced faux wood blind place?

Yes!

Guy Murray. 239-9994 That is his answering service. Leave a message with them and he will call you back.

Guy doesn't have a shop so he doesn't have that overhead. He has many products from which to choose, can do custom sizes and shapes and his work is excellent in addition to being a nice and knowledgable person.

Guy is reliable and his prices are good. He was highly recommended to us and I will pass on that recommendation.

[karostay]

I have often wondered how the greeter knows the exact day your moving in. We closed on our home via mail.Two months later we arrive in lake Sumpter Closing Dept to pick up the keys to our new home
Within a 1/2 hour of entering our new home the greeter was welcoming us to the Villages with same basket same pitch for a water softener .
We did not buy better deals else where What I'm saying someone is notifying this person as to who closes and takes possession of their home on what day.Their not randomly driving around

[Gary7]

Yes, the water softener/filter marketing people.
Not a great approach.
The product (and some of the competitors) offer a good home investment ... but do your homework on the companies and products.

[2BNTV]

It's a scam to buy whatever they are offering. When I moved here, I let the answering machine take those type of calls, They stopped calling after a while.

They are not allowed to solicit, door to door. What nerve!

[SouthOfTheBorder]

I don't understand how we can expect the developer stop solicitors. These door-to-door sales reps are using public streets and enter onto to privately owned property. Where does the developer get the "authority" to stop them from doing that?

Wouldn't that be the role of county code enforcement officers, assuming a county has code requirements concerning door-to-door sales?