Got your “Exclusive Dinner Invitation” from Wenatex yet? We’ve had numerous inquiries from members about this company, which has been sending invitations to a free “Healthy Sleep” presentation and complimentary dinner.
Wenatex sells beds. Its presentations are sales evenings where you hear about the wonders of the Wenatex “Sleep System” – a foam mattress, two pillows, a summer and winter duvet and an optional “herbal inlay” (essentially a mix of herbs encased in a woollen fleece).
The “Deluxe” queen package will set you back $7742. If you sign up on the night, you get it for a mere $5806.
Sales tactics
We haven’t had any complaints about Wenatex products. But we're not impressed by the company’s sales methods.
We recently heard from one customer who had trouble getting back her $1000 deposit when she cancelled an order. She’d bought a “Sleep System” on credit and then had second thoughts after working out the repayment costs. Consumer law gives you a minimum 3-day cooling-off period to cancel a credit contract (and the purchase if you haven’t received the goods); the company must also tell you in writing of your right to cancel.
Here’s what went wrong in this case. First, the customer wasn’t told of her right to cancel. Second, when she contacted the company within days of signing up, she was told she wasn’t entitled to a refund.
When we called Wenatex, sales manager Bart Evers told us the company allows a generous 10-day cooling-off period. He said there had been a mistake – the customer was entitled to a refund and he’d arrange it straight away. That’s the good news.
What we found
We were concerned Wenatex might not be informing other customers of the cooling-off period, so we sent a staff member to a sales evening. Apart from feeling uneasy about the exaggerated claims made for the bed – such as the alleged benefits of sleeping on the herbal inlay – our staff member wasn't happy with the information she got about her rights if she bought on credit.
When she asked to take home a copy of the sales contract to read before going ahead, the seminar presenter refused. Our staff member then asked whether there was any cooling-off period if she did sign on the spot. The presenter didn’t explain the legal rights – and there was no mention made of the 10-day cooling-off period that Bart Evers told us all customers received.
We say
- We’re not impressed by what we’ve seen of Wenatex’s sales methods.
- Before buying a mattress, shop around and try a few for size.
- Buying on credit? Be aware the law gives you a cooling-off period. The company must tell you of this right – if it doesn’t you can cancel the entire deal.
More from consumer.org.nz
- Borrowers’ rights - your rights and obligations when buying on credit
- Buying a bed - what to look for when you're choosing a new bed
Member Comments
Got a question or comment on this topic? Share your views and experiences with other Consumer members...
To add a comment you need to be a member of consumer.org.nz. Login or Join.
Read what our members have to say close
To save money on essentials and make buying decisions easy, you can't go past Consumer. We're proud to have over 65,000 members all enjoying our independent information online or in Consumer magazine.
Here's what some of them say...
"Just wanted to let you know that I find your site excellent! Easy to find my way around, everything at my fingertips - just a click away.
I only took out a 3 month membership as I wasn't sure but it is actually really easy to use and if I want it on paper I can print the
reports. Thanks again".
Denise Watkinson - Waitakere
"My mother (74) got a renewal letter from her insurance company for her car insurance, wanting $570. After reading
your article on car insurance, I contacted one of the companies you recommended, who quoted her $318 for the same
level of cover. I just wanted to stay thank you very much for your article, as it has saved my mother a substantial amount of money".
Adrian Lane - Kapiti Coast
"I've been a member to the magazine since 1997 and enjoy reading it a lot. I've found lots of helpful information on different issues...
Thank you for being so helpful".
Peter Kovalenko - Porirua
"I have been a member of the Consumer NZ for 20 or more years and have enjoyed much reliable advice.
I turn to their tests before making significant purchases".
Lyndal Print – Auckland
Join Consumer now and make your decisions easy on a huge range of products and services
- Over 500 reports, plus interactive tools and calculators
- Independent advice from NZ's trusted source of information
- Join over 65,000 members who help us get all NZers a fairer deal
from just $28
I have just returned from a Wenatex presentation & was positively impressed with both the product & the lack of pressure. If I had not bought a new bed 2 years ago I'm sure I would have bought their "Sleep System". I still may do so, & have been given the option of returning for another presentation & still being eligible for the discount. I did try it out, & I think this is essential for anyone considering buying.
You are right about their unsavoury sales techniques. Even more worrying are the claims that silver nano particles the materials contain have super hygiene properties. So far nano technology in contact with the skin has not been proved to be safe to humans and non-toxic in the general environment.
Above most helpful, their 'free' dinner will not be graced with our presence !!!
We, and our neighbours, went to a Wentatex dinner, well aware they were trying to sell something to do with beds. We went for a laugh really - it was a quiet week that week! Luckily neither our neighbours or we were in desperate need of a bed because the sales presentation is slick! It would be very easy to be talked into their beds. However the cool light of the next day made us all rethink and so realise we had a lucky escape by not buying. I feel that someone who is feeling "needy' could easily be talked into spending far too much. Yes there are dust mites in everyone's normal beds. But unless we are particularly allergic, we can continue to live with them as we have all done for all our years to date.
Thanks for covering this issue. My 80-year-old mother was invited to a "free dinner" which was obviously a sales pitch and now I know what it was about. Fortunately my sister heard about it in advance and kept an eye on things.
We bought our Wenatex mattress whilst living in Sydney, we were satisfied with the invited dinner, and a gift of two tubes of herbal anti-inflammatory which were excellent. We hav slept on the mattress for 2 years and found it excellent for my allergies. The beauty of this mattress is that the covers are washable.
Yes I received an invitation to the free dinner however I realised it was going to be a sales pitch for whatever they were selling (I didn't even bother finding that out). There is no such thing as a free lunch (or dinner for that matter!)
Yes I agree their sales methods are dodgy and I'm glad Consumer has raised the issue
A couple of years ago we received one of these "invitations" but there was nothing to indicate what this "sleep system" consisted of but we knew instantly they were trying to sell us something as you don't get anything for nothing. So we did some research on the internet and firstly went to their own website where we still could not find any information about what they were trying to sell, not even a single testimonial from a satisfied client! We did manage to find something on another website which confirmed our suspicions. In our opinion if a company is not upfront about what they are selling then don't do any business with them as they obviously have something to hide and are willing to prey on peoples gullibility.