Have I been taken advantage of?

[Angiel]

I'm feeling like a bit of a prat at the moment, just wondered what you all thought.

I opened the door this morning to a female student from Birmingham University who asked me if I had a few minutes to talk about early years learning and nursery schools etc.

I invited her in and before long it turned out that this was in fact selling children's books. Like a mug I ended up agreeing to buy some and she told me that I could pay half now and half on delivery or everything on delivery. I said I would pay on delivery and she then asked for a deposit, which was half of the costs.

I can't help feeling a bit peeved that she led me to believe she wanted to know about local nursery's etc and all she wanted me to do was buy some books.

The books are very nice, but I'm wondering whether to cancel them now, I have 14 days to change my mind.

Are you sure she was genuine and will you ever see the books fow which you've just paid a 50% deposit?

Genuine market research companies get very cross about this sort of thing. Did she actually do a survey or just talk and then get into the sales routine?

The Market Research Society

would probably be interested to hear about it.

If you really like the books and don't feel they're overpriced then you might as well have them. Which company was it, as a matter of interest?

Do you know she was from the university?? Could you ring them up and complain?? How did you pay?? (you could always stop the cheque or card if it was not cash??) Did she leave any literature with a number on??

Cannot give totally right wing biased view until I have all of the facts (bloody smily thing never works for me!!)

It actually did this time as you can see!!

Just realised "market research" didn't come into it - never mind! She still misled you and the book company probably encourages this (in fact, thinking about it, my DD1 who's at Leeds was recruited for what she thought was going to be a proper job and it turned out to be selling books door-to-door on commission - might have been the same company - they probably find using university students gets them in more easily. She turned it down anyway.)

I have got a receipt she left me and the company was The Southwestern Company UK Ltd. I took her word for it that she was a student and she later said that selling the books was her summer job.

I gave her a cheque for books which I suppose I could cancel. I've just noticed on the order form that they have a website so I'm just going to have a look at it.

I've just looked at the {http://www.southwestern.com\website}quickly and it seems ok. I ordered the Explore and Learn series which was £62, do you think that's a fair price.

I'm still annoyed though that she wasn't upfront about what she wanted, I feel that she tricked her way in.

My mums had the same sort of person knock on her door in the past week with the same story, he only knocked on her door as there were 2 buggys outside, when we said we definetly were'nt interested he asked what other neighbours had children. I have 3 bookshelfs full of kids books as i buy from charity shops and bootsales so didnt even want to know what he was selling as we have enough already!
I also thought the starting line about Uni was misleading.

Personally, I would never buy anything from someone on my doorstep and never invite anyone in. If I was genuinely interested I would ask for a brochure or a website and order through there. I would be tempted to cancel the cheque (although you may find you have signed something that states that you will pay) or contact the website to cancel the order. To be honest, if these books were that good then WHSmith or good bookshops would sell them. Also, you often find that these books are American with their spellings/words too!!

£62 for the set is certainly is not a bargain (although not extortionate). At over ten pounds per book, I bet you could find very decent alternatives to each of the titles for a lower price. Quite often, the discount book shops have very cheap children's atlases. Just a quick look on Amazon turned up quite a few books on space, bodies etc at much less than £10. But I suppose you don't have the hassle of going to buy the books this way. (Personally, there's nothing I like better than an excuse to spend time in bookshops, and the kids seem to enjoy it too!)

legally you can stop the cheque and notify the company that you have changed your mind about the contract and no longer want it, within 14 days. If you want to I'd do it immediately because they will probably bank the cheque tonight. Mind you you'll still have to pay stopped cheque costs.

I personally think these books are way overpriced for what they are. On principle I would cancel the order as well...especially in view of comments she made to you whilst she was at your house (regarding cancellation).