Welcome wagon
 

Not sure if this is legit, but someone called yesterday to say they were the welcome wagon, and they wanted to stop by. I told them we already had someone from the welcome wagon visit us. The lady told me that that was not welcome wagon and they had legal action against them. But...the guy that came to the door this morning claiming he was the welcome wagon, was instead trying to sell a water system!! Just beware.

Exactly...same thing happened to us. As soon as we realized who he was and what he was selling...I told him NO WAY are we buying a $4000 water system and I wanted our welcome wagon items and he could leave. He gave us a couple of coupons....definitely NOT welcome wagon IMHO

I really don't think there is a formal Welcome wagon in TV. Is there?

While I was in TV a few weeks ago, a woman came to the door with a huge basket filled a few giveaways and coupons and explained to us the different business in the area that she represented. As she was walking out my friend wanted the basket, but the lady said she used it only to deliver the "stuff".

My cousins wife when I first moved here 6 years ago did the same thing about leaving information and small gifts to new homeowners. That operation was legit. She did not try to sell water systems.

John

Its a scam. if you want a water system you can buy one at Home Depot for around 500 dollars.
drd

The Basket Lady
 

I had the same lady come to my home.....unannounced....."The Basket Lady".....and the basket was full of some junky coupons and STUFF. She would have stayed the afternoon.....I could tell. I have to admit, I might have been a bit rude....stating that I had an appointment minutes after she arrived. After I told her that, she promptly left. BUT....then the phone calls came in......she wanted to know what services I wanted from her list of clients......then the water testing people called, etc. Whatta PITA!

So........beware.......of "The Basket Lady" who says she is on The Welcoming Committee.

I would be wary of anyone saying they were with "Welcome Wagon"!! Have NOT heard that they're here in The Villages---if they were I'm sure they'd have an ad or some such thing out there. We didn't have any Welcome Wagon person stop in when we moved here over 2 years ago. Would love to hear others comments re: this!

This is how Italians handle these "welcome wagon folks". You answer the door and say, I'm glad you stopped by because now I can show you how Italians welcome people like yourself. Just step outside with me for a minute as I have to back my car out of the garage.(Leave the driver side door open and open the trunk). You then say, " Lady, get in the trunk". For some reason they leave right away!

These people should really be reported they did the same to me said they were from the Villages...

The Basket Lady
 

If she shows up at our door, we will take the basket out of her hand thanking her profusely and take it in the house before she can protest. If she complains we ask for her credentials with The Villages and inform her that if she doesn't have any we will call the authorities and she can explain to them why she is misrepresenting herself to the fine folks of The Villages. :police:

Don't mess with old folks!

*slapping hands together* NEXT!

Two days after our closing in May, I got a call from the "Welcome Wagon". I was kind of excited! I made the appointment for the following day - actually thought I was about to meet a friendly Villager. What a scam! Only wanted to sell a water system. When she found our that my husband wasn't in, she left and did not even leave 1 lousy coupon. There is no Villages welcome wagon! Don't believe ANYBODY that calls you!

Basket Lady
 

Now where were you guys when I needed you to give me advice how to handle THE BASKET LADY?

Well....Basket Lady was driving me crazy with her phone calls wanting to schedule appointment with water testing people. I finally gave in and scheduled an appointment. I made the appointment for several days AFTER I left TV to go up north! That was the end of The Basket Lady and all her crazy phone calls!

I can hardly wait to hear the update of what happens when The Basket Lady visits The Village Girl. I'm putting my money on V. G.
Oh yes!!!!

Ok, now that we've all been forewarned, here's a plan for the next time:

Let the "Welcome Wagon" person come at the appointed time. Wait outside for him/her. Act excited to see the person and take a photo, suggesting you want to show your folks back home how friendly TV is. If "welcome" person arrives in a car, get the license plate and car description or take a photo of it before he/she exits the car. Record your conversation.

Take your photos and recording to the sheriff's office and ask if you can swear out a warrant for his/her arrest on fraud charges. Probably not, but it will get their attention. Email your county commissioner and the county business license office attaching your evidence and ask if the company's business license can be revoked for misrepresentation and fraud. If enough people complain, the county might take notice. County commissioners are elected officials. Also send your evidence to TV Community Watch.

By all means, post on TOTV the name of the company that tried to sell you something so everyone on TOTV knows to never, ever buy anything from them, ever.

Either that or call the posse to be there at the appointed time too so we can beat the crap out of the fraudster.

Scammers are scum. Let's work together to run them off.

OH YES I like that pturner i well do it can't wait I love taking pictures .

Now that's what I'M talking about!

Yea! When I'm down, I'll buy you lunch and you can tell me all about it.

:beer3:

I wonder where they are getting their information about the new home owners, since home sales eventually become public.

When my wife and I moved in The Villages 2 years ago, two ladies rang the doorbell and gave us a basket of muffins and a small bouquet of flowers. They were from Village View Church and just said Welcome and invited us to go to their church. I thought that was very nice and neighborly.
___________________

The water treatment people did call as soon as we got our phone hooked up. I had 5 calls from 5 companies in one morning. Yes, the water treatment is a complete scam.

pturner - if this basket lady wants to call on us for an appt, may i request a round up of "the posse" at my home some time before the scheduled appt? we could share some "coffee and" and then be prepared tp show her what our water system is all about! ;)

That sounds like a fantastic idea, IMO

The company was eco water.

Welcome Wagon
 

With all the new people moving to TV how would anyone keep up with a Welcome wagon? A welcome wagon/golf cart would be so neat but gosh, there are so many new people. It would take a "Village" (pun intended) to make a basket of goodies for them! :wave:

That would be a "blast". We wouldn't even have to squirt. Just let her open her mouth about a water filtration system. We all stand in unison, raise our squirt guns and ask her if she'd like to try ours. I'm liking it. :laugh:

:a20::a20::a20:

I am not a homeowner in the Villages but want to say those of you who are talking about the scam being run by those selling water systems are correct. The truth is this: They sell you an over priced system simply because the more money they get from you the larger their profit. The system itself isn't a bad system but where they scam you worse is in not telling you about the services they want you to get every year that you may not need if you are not here all the time. They want you to buy their products at an over priced rate when you can get similar quality at retail stores. Then they want you to replace filters and other services months before they are due. If you buy from a local company PLEASE beware that they will try to scam you into services you do not currently need by lying and saying they are only in your area for that certain day and I can promise IT IS A LIE. You are best to buy from Sears or other stores than wasting a large amount of money on their commission

our rep was our welcome wagon brought us a basket and the only thing he sold us was the house.....