Consumer has laid a formal complaint with the Commerce Commission over companies selling Envirotect vacuum cleaners.
"Envirotect New Zealand" has businesses in Hawke's Bay, Palmerston North, Christchurch and Timaru.
The company sells vacuum cleaners door-to-door using hard-sell tactics including lengthy demonstrations and misleading advice about the right to return goods. We've been writing articles on one director, Carmen Glenn, since 2002. In 2004, Glenn was warned by the Commerce Commission that his sales pitch probably breached three sections of the Fair Trading Act.
Unfortunately, we continue to receive complaints from members that indicate the same sales techniques are still being used. We think a proper investigation into companies selling Envirotect vacuum cleaners is long over-due. We'll keep you posted.
More information
- Hard-sell vacuum cleaners - our March 2008 news item about Envirotect
- Fair Trading Act - your rights as a consumer
- $3000+ vacuum cleaner worst in test - we tested an Envirotect vacuum cleaner
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No domestic vacuum cleaner is worth $3900, no matter how 'affordable' the salesman tries to make it for you! I don't like how they refuse to call it a vacuum cleaner (despite it being a VERY good one). Perhaps I'd even buy one if they were about $500. However in the end to get your house clean you still have to use it. It's not a magic machine after all.
Last night a salesman arrived at aroun 8-30pm and didn't leave until nearly 11-15pm. After an excellent demonstration I felt pressured into buying one of tghese machines. I am cancelling this at once this morning.