Watch out for vacuum cleaner salesmen - they never leave

kc-nd · 07-08-2005, 04:58 PM

I am never letting a salesperson touch foot inside of my house, even if some old lady is running up to him with a baseball bat. Could be kind of fun to watch.

Man sentenced for high-pressure vacuum sales

The Associated Press - Friday, July 08, 2005
· advertisement ·
BISMARCK, N.D.

A salesman accused of pressuring elderly customers to buy used vacuum cleaners has been ordered to stop doing business in North Dakota, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said.

Terry Gourneau, of Bismarck, was sentenced on Thursday to six months in jail, with all but 11 days suspended. He was charged with contempt of court for ignoring a previous order to stop selling products in the state.

South Central District Judge Bruce Romanick also ordered Gourneau to pay $6,000.

The money will be used for attorney's fees and to pay restitution to people who bought vacuums from Gourneau, said Parrell Grossman, director of the attorney general's consumer protection division.

Grossman said Gourneau has 45 days to make the payment, or he will have to serve his jail sentence.

"Mr. Gourneau made a practice of targeting elderly victims, arriving uninvited at their homes and not leaving until he sold a vacuum cleaner at several times over the retail value," Stenehjem said.

Grossman said 17 formal complaints were filed with the attorney general's office against Gourneau. All the scam victims were older than 65, and most were more than 80 years old, he said.

Grossman said at least 30 people were sold vacuums, which were represented by Gourneau as new, but were used.

"He would just stay there until they bought one," Grossman said.

The link won't work forever:
http://www.in-forum.com/ap/index.cfm...w&id=D8B7G1681

07-08-2005, 04:58 PM
kc-nd Starter Join Date: Feb 2003 Casino cash: $2434900	Watch out for vacuum cleaner salesmen - they never leave I am never letting a salesperson touch foot inside of my house, even if some old lady is running up to him with a baseball bat. Could be kind of fun to watch. Man sentenced for high-pressure vacuum sales The Associated Press - Friday, July 08, 2005 · advertisement · BISMARCK, N.D. A salesman accused of pressuring elderly customers to buy used vacuum cleaners has been ordered to stop doing business in North Dakota, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said. Terry Gourneau, of Bismarck, was sentenced on Thursday to six months in jail, with all but 11 days suspended. He was charged with contempt of court for ignoring a previous order to stop selling products in the state. South Central District Judge Bruce Romanick also ordered Gourneau to pay $6,000. The money will be used for attorney's fees and to pay restitution to people who bought vacuums from Gourneau, said Parrell Grossman, director of the attorney general's consumer protection division. Grossman said Gourneau has 45 days to make the payment, or he will have to serve his jail sentence. "Mr. Gourneau made a practice of targeting elderly victims, arriving uninvited at their homes and not leaving until he sold a vacuum cleaner at several times over the retail value," Stenehjem said. Grossman said 17 formal complaints were filed with the attorney general's office against Gourneau. All the scam victims were older than 65, and most were more than 80 years old, he said. Grossman said at least 30 people were sold vacuums, which were represented by Gourneau as new, but were used. "He would just stay there until they bought one," Grossman said. The link won't work forever: http://www.in-forum.com/ap/index.cfm...w&id=D8B7G1681
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