[Jackiem1961]

We were invited to a dinner at Palmer Legends to hear a presentation on how to reduce your utilities, by American Alternative Energy. Yes, we expected to be sold something. The presentation was very interesting, though, and we wanted to know more of the specifics like pricing, etc. The gentleman came to the house the very same week (which was good). However, he took a call from another prospective customer while in our home. Proceeded to tell my husband what a "pain in the ass" the customer on the phone was. Gave us a price (which of course was only good if we signed a contract that very day). We told him we were interested, but since we were in the middle of several other large projects we would be getting back in touch with him at a later time. The salesman got up from the table, stomped out muttering what a waste of his time, and slammed our door behind him.

We were aghast! How rude.

Ironically, we were really interested in the products they sold...but not now.

Has anyone else done business with this company? Is this how they do business or was it just us?

[villagetinker]

This is typical of these types of companies. I was approached twice up North, and went to the dinner, listened to the spiel, and then did my best to avoid the hard sell. In the case of the company up North, of the 7 or 8 items they were selling, 2-3 were outrageous in their claims, a couple of items were marginal, and a couple seemed to be reasonable, until I did some research.
I suggest you do a Google search on the company, and their products, you may be very glad that you did not jump at their offer. I have also seen this same tactic by the water filter companies.
My background is 40+ years in the electric utility industry, a PE license, and 20+ years working on standards in the area small generation, wind turbines, solar PV generation, etc.
Hope this helps.

[Jackiem1961]

Thanks for the info. I will do a search now. The whole experience left us feeling scammed, anyways.

[graciegirl]

If it was so great you wouldn't have to be given a dinner to know about it. These kinds of things flash trouble on my hinky meter.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Jackiem1961

We were invited to a dinner at Palmer Legends to hear a presentation on how to reduce your utilities, by American Alternative Energy. Yes, we expected to be sold something. The presentation was very interesting, though, and we wanted to know more of the specifics like pricing, etc. The gentleman came to the house the very same week (which was good). However, he took a call from another prospective customer while in our home. Proceeded to tell my husband what a "pain in the ass" the customer on the phone was. Gave us a price (which of course was only good if we signed a contract that very day). We told him we were interested, but since we were in the middle of several other large projects we would be getting back in touch with him at a later time. The salesman got up from the table, stomped out muttering what a waste of his time, and slammed our door behind him.

We were aghast! How rude.

Ironically, we were really interested in the products they sold...but not now.

Has anyone else done business with this company? Is this how they do business or was it just us?

Why would you expect anything different for these restaurant/dinner sellers?
Ads every day in the mail, ads in the paper.....Free-Free..........buyer beware!

[Jackiem1961]

I understand why someone might think that way, but I worked most of my career in technology sales. When someone is selling a high ticket item it is not uncommon for a company to "wine and dine" so to speak in order to get in front of a potential customer. That being said, if I had ever behaved like the gentleman in my home today, I would have been fired. A company"s reputation is everything regardless of the industry.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Jackiem1961

We were invited to a dinner at Palmer Legends to hear a presentation on how to reduce your utilities, by American Alternative Energy.

Originally Posted by graciegirl

These kinds of things flash trouble on my hinky meter.

"Free lunches and dinners" are an euphemism for "let me sell you something right now while you feel obligated".

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by Jackiem1961

I understand why someone might think that way, but I worked most of my career in technology sales. When someone is selling a high ticket item it is not uncommon for a company to "wine and dine" so to speak in order to get in front of a potential customer. That being said, if I had ever behaved like the gentleman in my home today, I would have been fired. A company"s reputation is everything regardless of the industry.

Hi jackiem: The gentleman's demeanor says it all. I do understand the "wine and dine" offer. It does present a dilemma. If you accept is there a quid pro quo expectation? If you decline do you risk being viewed as not being social and offend people who work at the fringes of your business.

As a manager I refused offers of lunch/dinner, gift, tickets for professional sporting events golf outings, etc because I believe it was a conflict of interests and I did not want anyone in or outside my company to question my decision. Unfortunately it was not the case company wide and it was finally resolved by instructing employees to complete a form explaining the nature of the requests its costs and its benefits to the company and the customers it served .

So events such as you describe are a turn off to me and as I use to tell those companies eager to business with us I can't eat and talk at the same time. so if you want to do business with us set up an appointment with my secretary and we can retire to a quiet conference room

[Jackiem1961]

In my case (when I was employed/not retired) there certainly was no expectation of closing business. It was about relationship building. You may not want to do business with me today, but one day you might be in The market for what I sell, and perhaps I made enough of an impression that you would think of me then. Not rocket science...just good business. Honestly, I never came across any CIO who denied my lunch invitation. Of course the bulk of my career took place in Miami. Go figure;-)

[Lovey2]

Originally Posted by Jackiem1961

We were invited to a dinner at Palmer Legends to hear a presentation on how to reduce your utilities, by American Alternative Energy. Yes, we expected to be sold something. The presentation was very interesting, though, and we wanted to know more of the specifics like pricing, etc. The gentleman came to the house the very same week (which was good). However, he took a call from another prospective customer while in our home. Proceeded to tell my husband what a "pain in the ass" the customer on the phone was. Gave us a price (which of course was only good if we signed a contract that very day). We told him we were interested, but since we were in the middle of several other large projects we would be getting back in touch with him at a later time. The salesman got up from the table, stomped out muttering what a waste of his time, and slammed our door behind him.

We were aghast! How rude.

Ironically, we were really interested in the products they sold...but not now.

Has anyone else done business with this company? Is this how they do business or was it just us?

He did exactly the same thing with us. We had heard of this product while in our old home and thought to look in to it when we got here. We forgot. So when we got the card, we said, what the hey, let's go. We set up the appointment, and same as you, when we weren't ready to write the check immediately he stormed out. Your scenario was exactly like what happened to us.
We were surprised, but amused somewhat actually. At least we didn't have to usher him out the door...hahaha.

[Jackiem1961]

Originally Posted by Lovey2

He did exactly the same thing with us. We had heard of this product while in our old home and thought to look in to it when we got here. We forgot. So when we got the card, we said, what the hey, let's go. We set up the appointment, and same as you, when we weren't ready to write the check immediately he stormed out. Your scenario was exactly like what happened to us.
We were surprised, but amused somewhat actually. At least we didn't have to usher him out the door...hahaha.

Oh, lovey2, I'm sorry to hear he did the same to you, but it is kind of a relief! Lol

[Lovey2]

I was just telling the hubs about your experience and he got all riled up again when we started remembering what he did. I think it was the same right down to the phone call!! Although I don't remember him bad mouthing anyone. The funniest part of the whole thing is I think some friends were going to see it tonight. I had put the whole thing out of my mind till your post...it was months ago. I am curious to see how he acts with them, since I seem to remember he was even a little abrupt and rude during the presentation. We just said, hey, young guy working away from home, he's tired. But he turned out to be a dope. Oh, well, we should storm all his meetings so no other Villagers get the "treatment". Just kidding, but it would be funny!! Don't feel bad it's obviously his way. And maybe that's why he has to work so hard, people never call him back after that.

[raynan]

It would be interesting to see what Seniors vs Crime or the BBB has on that company.

[Jackiem1961]

Originally Posted by raynan

It would be interesting to see what Seniors vs Crime or the BBB has on that company.

Good idea! I think I will contact them and check it out. Thx😊

[John_W]

Originally Posted by Jackiem1961

We were invited to a dinner at Palmer Legends to hear a presentation on how to reduce your utilities, by American Alternative Energy. Yes, we expected to be sold something. The presentation was very interesting, though, and we wanted to know more of the specifics like pricing, etc...stomped out muttering what a waste of his time, and slammed our door behind him...We were interested in the products they sold...but not now.

Has anyone else done business with this company? Is this how they do business or was it just us?

You mention their tactics and presentation but never did say what they were selling? Besides, we all live in fairly new energy efficient homes, masonry for the most part, how bad can your energy bill be? Ours runs about $85 a month for a 2011 masonry courtyard villa. We left a 13 year old all electric home in Maryland where the winter bill was $395 and the summer bill was about $240, so what we pay here is like getting electricity for nothing.