In my long tradition of hating on the jerks that call me in violation of the FCC’s Do Not Call list, I figured I had to notify everyone in “our community” that the fine businesspeople over at Kirby vacuum cleaners located at 314 Vermillion St in Hastings, MN have begun a mass calling campaign to let us know where we can get a vacuum cleaner.
Now, normally when morons call me they aren’t so forthright with their information but this kind soul let me know that I’m on some sort of purchased list that she had in front of her. How much you want to make a bet that it came from Justice A Clothing Store for Girls list that I was illegally placed on. Obviously someone needs to do better research before they start calling their “neighbors” in “our community” (which she said at least three times). When I not-so-politely informed her that a) I didn’t know who Kirby in Hastings was, b) I didn’t know why she was calling when I am clearly listed on the Do Not Call list, and c) I was about to put Kirby on the map in a negative way, the woman argued with me telling me that I need to check to make sure that I am actually registered on the Do Not Call list. My response was simply, “I’m putting you on the web and filing a complaint with the FCC, right now.” She hung up without even apologizing — chickenshit.
Let me clear up any confusion right here and now… I’m on the Do Not Call list and I’m valid through 8/31/2009 for *all* of my phone numbers. Why these companies think that they can get away with this shit is very telling to me. Obviously the FCC isn’t doing a very good job in deterring companies from making these calls. A quick check to their media information here shows that very few companies have actually faced any sort of penalties of their actions. The latest action listed was against Voice-Mail Broadcasting Corporation and owner Jesse Crowe who settled with a $180,000 fine for making 46 million *unlawful* prerecorded calls. I have a feeling that the money this phone spammer made doing those 46 million calls trumps that minor inconvenience “tax” his company was slapped with.
I’m really tired of the prerecorded messages, political spew, and harassments when I am utilizing a service that’s supposed to end all of that horseshit. FCC, get on top of the ball and make a few good examples of these companies so telemarketers get the hint that they should NOT even think twice about making phone calls to those on *the* list. In the mean time, I’ll await your apology for failing to do your jobs.
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October 6th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Good news: If you re-register at donotcall.gov, it no longer has an expiration date.
See: https://www.donotcall.gov/
October 13th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Do you have Kirby’s phone number in Hastings?
October 13th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Tom,
Google would have been faster:
314 Vermillion St
Hastings, MN 55033
(651) 437-1488
October 28th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Have you tried to get your phone number listed as an unpublished number? Alot of times businesses like these retrieve your phone number right out of the phone book.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Betty, my number is listed with my first initial and my last name. They had my full name. Unfortunately for them, I’m on the FCC’s Do Not Call List and thus I shouldn’t have been called — ever.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:48 am
I just called on a craigslist ad for an office hiring in Hastings MN. Turns out it was Kirby. The reason that they, as well as other companies, can still call you after being on the do not call list is because they aren’t selling anything, they are trying to set up “appointments” with people, which is apparently completely legal.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Just to follow up on Derek’s post – if they are setting up appts, I believe it is is legal (ie not a violation of the “do not call” laws), ONLY if the person making the call is the person who will actually be meeting with you. As a result, when they call you to make the appt, politely ask the caller his/her name, THEN ask if the appt will be personally with him/her. If they say no – that the appt will be with someone else, their call does not fit within the appt loophole. Here’s a link to a form I like to print out and keep by the phone, then submit online to the MN Department of Commerce website. Just mess with the caller a little bit to get all the information, THEN tell the caller you are reporting them. It might not make the calls stop, but it makes me feel a little more empowered! http://www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDocs/Commerce/New_Do_Not_Call_Complaint_081203044650_DNC_ComplaintForm.pdf
January 5th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I got suckered into a Kirby “demo” at our house this fall. The price started at nearly $2700 and everytime I said “no way” the price dropped. All the way down to $800. I still refused, and later found someone selling the whole package brand new on ebay for around $600.
It is a great vacuum, I might buy one someday, but their sales method is crap.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
It’s true, they’re sales techniques are 1950. Shame as I have two and I love them, pricy? Yes, but one of mine is 15 years old and runs as well as the day I bought it. So imagine my frustration when I wanted to by a second one for our lake place… I had get an appointment, meet with a guy, and inspite of telling I know what I want, get the joke, spare me disucssion.. came to my interruping him and telling him “this could be the easiest sale you ever make if you shut up now and take this check, OR you can pack up all your shit and get the hell outta here and I’ll buy it from someone else who gets the joke.
He took my check and left.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:36 am
if you’re looking for a good vacuum, ask the maytag, whoops, ask the vacuum repair guy. i can’t remember what it’s called, he got ‘relocated’ from ‘downtown’ lac la ville. he’s in the same strip mall as that classic pizza shithole, old piper inn, on the south end. i have a couple of hoover ‘s that needed some parts. the guy told me what he would recommend if i were to buy, again, i can’t remember what the brand is. sign of my age. i f’d up the repair and he took the time to help me out.
bb
July 20th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Thanks for the heads-up! I saw an employment ad in the paper and had an interview set up for tomorrow, with no idea what company I was even interviewing for. When I looked up the address on Google maps, I thankfully found this page. Not the sort of job I’m interested in! Now I don’t have to waste my time interviewing =)
December 4th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Looks like they haven’t cleaned up their act. I just got a call from this same number offering carpet cleaning services. Was very rude when I pointed out to them that they were calling a number that was on the Do Not Call list.
March 4th, 2010 at 8:34 am
I dont get people like you, I to hate telemarketers but to sit here and right such a long boring story about poor you I dont get. Do you not have anything better to do with your time! These people are just trying to make a living and at least they are working and not draining our tax money with food stamps and welfare. Next time why dont you just try to appreciate the fact that these young men and woman are trying to make a living. Thank You.
March 4th, 2010 at 8:38 am
John,
Being that what Kirby is doing is illegal, it would be like me being happy for kids joining organized crime. “Oh, but at least they have a job and are making money!”
March 5th, 2010 at 10:19 am
John,
Being that this story is roughly 17 months old, I have to wonder if you don’t have anything better to do with your time than surfing the web for old stories so you can leave whiny comments? Or maybe you’re just trying to make a living and stumbled across this story in between calls?
Sincerely,
“No, I don’t need my carpets cleaned for free”
March 8th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
My dog’s name is Kirby. Not after the vacuum though.
May 23rd, 2010 at 4:43 pm
i had kirby call me since my friend got her carpets cleaned… i made an appointment for sunday… and the guy never showed up…. no call or no show… so i guess i am here to say i will never use this company….
August 10th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
They’re at it again. Wife got the call yesterday offering free carpet cleaning. Worse, when my wife politely told her she wasn’t interested, the caller rudely hung up on her. I called later that day and tersely reminded them of the do-not-call list that they abruptly violated. How can these jerks continuously get away with this? I can honestly say that we’re not pestered by any other telemarketers (with a sales pitch) anymore.