Yesterday two young women appeared at my door and (speaking very quickly) said they were from a company that was starting a new business in a nearby community and, just this afternoon, were going around our area offering to clean three rooms of carpeting and furniture for free. What time would be good for them to come in today? Saying today was not convenient, but that I’d call them with another time if they’d give me their company’s name and number, they said their boss was on another street but he had business cards and they’d be back to give me one. Shockingly, they never returned.
When I told my husband about this peculiar exchange, he yelled, “It’s the carpet cleaning cult!” He said that these people come to houses, suds up the carpets, and, while they wait for them to dry, try to convert the householder to their cult! He mentioned the episode of Seinfeld with this plot and said that it was the same group! I refused to believe him for awhile, but he insisted that this is a real cult. It certainly was strange.
So, is it true? Are there really people who will clean your carpets to cleanse your soul? Do they have divine treatments for the inevitable dry skin and sore muscles? Or is this an urban legend and the duo at my door were some more mundane con artists or, possibly, a real business (without business cards and with a LOT of free time on their hands)?
Is this legitimate or did they lie like a rug? Is their cleanliness really next to godliness?
Thanks for your help!
Sincerely,
Stained or Sainted?
Hey, NoClueBoy, do you live anywhere near me? Happens my AM job is with a carpet cleaning company…
Welcome annsa! I must say, your name gave me a bit of a start - it’s almost my e-mail!
Now, about that cleaning. My first thought was that they’d either
a) Clean your carpet and take a good look at your valuables for “future reference”, or b)Start the cleaning and refuse to finish the job until you paid.
Mr zoogirl sometimes goes door-to-door with his window washing, but he’s always got business cards or at least a phone number for future contact. Believe me, he wouldn’t leave a potential job hanging and just never come back!
The whole thing sounds scammy to me. You might even go so far as to contact the local police and see if they have anything on file about this. If they ARE casing the place, you’ll have a better chance to protect yourself. I’d pay special attention to locking up when you’re going out, and be careful about your yard items and vehicles.
yep im betting its the kirby cult. One fast talking kirby salesman came to my house just yesterday and tried to push a free cleaning and a cheap roll of papertowels on me as incentive.
I don’t let strangers into the parts of my house where I have stains…too many secrets.
A friend of a friend, George, had his carpets cleaned by Sunshine Carpet Cleaners, but they didn’t even want him in their cult. His boss Wilhelm did, however, end up joining the cult.
I remember reading in a (very well-researched) Jewish anti-cult book about a cult that did indeed send people around as carpet cleaners. I’m not sure they offered to clean for free though, and I’m also not sure they’re still around. I wish I could find the book.
On the other hand, they might just be one of those outfits that cleans the carpet, and makes a high-pressure pitch to spray stain-proofer for 75 dollars a room.
It’s definitely Kirby. The local distributor usually calls me once or twice a year, offering to shampoo a carpet free of charge. They will NOT mention Kirby at all until they’re in your home; if you ask them outright beforehand, they may reluctantly admit to it.
FWIW, it’s a great vacuum cleaner, but vastly overpriced and the sales tactics are awful. If you want one, check out eBay - there are plenty of lightly used models on there, as good as new, for a fraction of the price.
Wow, I’m getting the idea it’s probably Kirby. It still seems a bit odd to me though: they had NO equipemnt with them, and no pamphlets, business cards, flyers or anything. (You know I’m hoping for the cult. It’s a much better story. Thanks for all the info!
I once went to an interview for a “management position”, and was told that the position was in the cleaning products business. I went to the orientation, and they showed us an “inspirational testimony” from none other than William Shattner. When they finally wheeled out the Kirby, we all knew what was up, and an audible groan was let out by most. Needless to say, I have no idea how many people showed up the next day…because I sure as hell wasn’t there. I guess deceptive tactics are neccesary when you’re trying to sell a souped up vacuum for $1300.00!
They may have three or four groups scour the neighborhood and make appointmrnts for the guy with the equipment who comes by later.
It probably takes the groups about as long to find a sucker as it does for the guy with the equipement to do a demonstration.
FWIW, my mom bought a Kirby when I was a kid. Cost of around $900 ( back in the mid '80’s). That goddamn thing lasted, with not one problem, for 15 years.
I bought a Hoover bagless last fall, after 2 months I had to replace the belt. This wasn’t a cheap vacuum cleaner. When I called customer service to complain, they told me the expected life of a belt was 2-4 months.
This is the Kirby tip-off. If they carted around Kirby boxes, nobody would let them in. If they are doing ‘free carpet cleanings’, they have a much better chance of getting in the door.
Of course, IMHO, Kirby is pretty much a cult anyway…
