By Emerson Drake
After receiving several complaints regarding the Bee’s blatant bait and switch sales technique at the local Walmart Supercenter I decided to take a look for myself.
As I walked up to the store I watched what was going on. I saw three “salesmen” holding a stack of papers approaching customers and asking them if they wanted a free Modesto Bee paper. Three out of four said no thanks but some slowed to talk with the salesmen.First they were asked if they wanted to take a subscription from the Bee if they responded “no” as most did then they weren’t given a paper.
That was pretty straight forward, first you offer them a free paper they is the response is negative then the paper isn’t forthcoming.As I stood there I saw a blanket laid on the ground next to the store as if they were going to a MoBand concert, On the blanket was a stack of newspapers and water bottles.When I went in I was approached and asked if I wanted a paper, which I did not.
Inside the store several customers were complaining about the bait and switch technique being employed by the Bee sales representatives. I spoke with several workers there including a “manager” who explained to me that the salesmen representing the Bee claimed to be a non-profit and were utilizing a loophole in the Walmart rules to approach customers.
They explained despite the fact they had received many complaints from their customers regarding these salesmen there was nothing they could do.
Dan Day at the Bee claims these men are independent contractors and he’s proud of them.Less than great ethics by the Bee by my way of thinking.
How many other businesses will allow salesmen from other companies to harass their customers in this fashion?
None that I know of will.
