Powermatic Adjustable Beds [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] target the vulnerable elderly

Tim_Deegan

welshbird07 wrote: »

I bought my mother one of these powermatic beds and it is marvellous! It cost £3200 and i would have paid double that for the benefits that she has gained from it, she is 74 years old and is now acting like shes 44! Her blood pressure has gone down to nearly normal now and the circulation in her legs is improving. I originally thought that it was expensive but my mother was in so much pain, i would have done anything to help her and ease her suffering. I think the bed is worth every penny i dont know if this is the same company that we are talking about but everybody i dealt with in the company was polite, courteous and provided a great service to my mother, even down to delivery by taking away her old bed. Maybe you should speak to your uncle and try and resolve it as i don't think that the comnpany targets elderly people its just the people who would benefit from them.

It's soooo obvious that this post is by an employee, or someone with some sort of connection to Powermatic. You can buy electric adjustable beds starting at around 20% of the £3200 she says she paid........nice try, but you failed welshbird07

trisontana

I know that this ASA ruling refers to a different bed company but just look at the commission figures quoted in this advert by Craftmatic, they're mind boggling. :-

http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_44238.htm

Unless I am misreading the advert they are talking about £3,900 commission per week and £3,000 - £6,000 per sale. No wonder these beds are overpriced and that salesmen are willing to bend the truth to get a sale.

Tim_Deegan

trisontana wrote: »

I know that this ASA ruling refers to a different bed company but just look at the commission figures quoted in this advert by Craftmatic, they're mind boggling. :-

http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_44238.htm

Unless I am misreading the advert they are talking about £3,900 commission per week and £3,000 - £6,000 per sale. No wonder these beds are overpriced and that salesmen are willing to bend the truth to get a sale.

I don't know if any of you remember, but I'm sure it was Craftmatic who were investigated by either Watchdog or Rouge Traders a couple of years ago for their very dodgy sales tactics. It appears from the very close similarity between the sales tactis uncovered in the program, and those of many of the companies mentioned in this thread, that the companies are either linked in some way, or they are run by ex employees of Craftmatic. Maybe one of the ex employees who have posted in this thread could enlighten us?

bargepole

It's very sad to read some of the stories on this thread, and I'd just like to give a different viewpoint on the sales of adjustable beds/chairs.

A few months ago, I started working for a company that's been in this business for nearly 60 years, and provides adjustable beds/chairs with built-in massage motors to hospitals, care homes, and private buyers. (I won't name the company as the purpose of this post is not self-promotion, but a google search will soon get you the name if you want it, and it's none of the companies previously mentioned on here.)

The training is very thorough, and we give potential clients a trial massage using a portable unit to make sure they will benefit from it, before introducing the beds and chairs, of which there is a wide range to fit most budgets.

There is a strict ethical code under which we must never pretend to be medically qualified, never spend more than 2.5 hours on any visit, and not use any "hard sell" tactics - the prices are fixed, there are no magical "discounts", the customer buys the product or doesn't buy it, it's their choice. The products certainly aren't cheap, but are of far superior quality to some of the low priced items mentioned earlier, and our unique patented cycloid massage motors ensure improved circulation in the vast majority of sufferers from arthritis, rheumatism, etc.

It is possible for our salespeople to earn over £2500 in one week, but it's also possible for them to earn £0, and out of that they must pay all their car/telephone expenses, and account for their own income tax and N.I., so it's not the lavish lifestyle that some might imagine.

One of the saddest things that we see on a regular basis, is when a relative (usually son or daughter) of the sufferer calls up to cancel an order, accusing us of cheatng their father/mother out of their savings. What this often really means is that the son or daughter is happy to see their parent continue to suffer pain for the last few years of their life, rather than reduce the potential inheritance amount. Shocking, but absolutely true.

hollydays

bargepole wrote: »

It's very sad to read some of the stories on this thread, and I'd just like to give a different viewpoint on the sales of adjustable beds/chairs.

A few months ago, I started working for a company that's been in this business for nearly 60 years, and provides adjustable beds/chairs with built-in massage motors to hospitals, care homes, and private buyers. (I won't name the company as the purpose of this post is not self-promotion, but a google search will soon get you the name if you want it, and it's none of the companies previously mentioned on here.)

The training is very thorough, and we give potential clients a trial massage using a portable unit to make sure they will benefit from it, before introducing the beds and chairs, of which there is a wide range to fit most budgets.

There is a strict ethical code under which we must never pretend to be medically qualified, never spend more than 2.5 hours on any visit, and not use any "hard sell" tactics - the prices are fixed, there are no magical "discounts", the customer buys the product or doesn't buy it, it's their choice. The products certainly aren't cheap, but are of far superior quality to some of the low priced items mentioned earlier, and our unique patented cycloid massage motors ensure improved circulation in the vast majority of sufferers from arthritis, rheumatism, etc.

It is possible for our salespeople to earn over £2500 in one week, but it's also possible for them to earn £0, and out of that they must pay all their car/telephone expenses, and account for their own income tax and N.I., so it's not the lavish lifestyle that some might imagine.

One of the saddest things that we see on a regular basis, is when a relative (usually son or daughter) of the sufferer calls up to cancel an order, accusing us of cheatng their father/mother out of their savings. What this often really means is that the son or daughter is happy to see their parent continue to suffer pain for the last few years of their life, rather than reduce the potential inheritance amount. Shocking, but absolutely true.

On 21st march this year,you were working for a double glazing company....I make that barely (max of)three weeks..( I have also now read a few of your posts on Pepipoo..)

trisontana

I am afraid that any job which offers large commissions for successful sales will attract people who will do anything (including lying) to get that sale, especially when the majority of their wages are made up of that commission. Just look at the recent example of nPower and their doorstep sellers.

spuds_2

There are some genuine bed retailers out there - including I think, an MSE'er who has contributed to this thread and offered helpful advice on many other topics on MSE. Personally, I think if you want a bed you need to go to a shop with a showroom where you can look without pressure. From my research I would say never, ever let a bed salesperson into your home because you are highly likely to be pressurised into buying something at a highly inflated price which may be of little medical benefit.

I should make clear however that Powermatic/[TEXT DELETED BY ABUSE TEAM FOLLOWING COMPLAINT]/More Than Mobility are not even like Craftmatic (about whom there are plenty of complaints on the web) - Powermatic etc. are in my view little more than an ongoing criminal enterprise, breaking every consumer law going, then closing and reopening. Powermatic has been liquidated now with debts of £40k, including £22k to the Inland Revenue. Where have all the thousands of pounds of assets and profits gone from the beds sold? Moved on to the new company, I suspect.

Tim_Deegan

spuds wrote: »

There are some genuine bed retailers out there - including I think, an MSE'er who has contributed to this thread and offered helpful advice on many other topics on MSE. Personally, I think if you want a bed you need to go to a shop with a showroom where you can look without pressure. From my research I would say never, ever let a bed salesperson into your home because you are highly likely to be pressurised into buying something at a highly inflated price which may be of little medical benefit.

Yes there are some reputable retailers out there, but the trouble is that it's difficult to know which ones are, as some are very convincing. The trouble is that many sales reps have a huge proportion of their wages as commision, so there will allways be some who will do anything to get a sale.

I actually prefer if customer actually phone, because I find it easier to explain things than by e-mail. However alot of people won't phone because they think that anyone who is selling anything will give them a hard sell routine, although at least you can hang up the phone.

As for going into a store, it can be good to try out a few beds just to get a rough idea what would suit you, although it is impossible to tell for sure unless you have actually slept on the bed for a few nights. Also you can still get high pressure sales reps giving the hard sell, but you can just walk out.

As for letting sales reps into your home......just don't do it. As bargepole said they are told 'never spend more than 2.5 hours on any visit'. Well how can it take 2.5 hours to sell someone a bed unless you are trying to wear the customer down? Also it is very hard to get someone to leave your house when they are in it, so don't invite them.

As far as electric adjustable beds go, bargepole even tried convincing this forum that the beds he sells are worth far more than other beds on the market. The truth is that most of them are made the same way, and just have a few variations that will alter the price. The only reason that sellers charge 1000's for them is to make huge amounts of commision.

I allways believe that honesty is the best policy. I may never make a million because of it, but at least people can trust me, and I can sleep soundly knowing that people have made the right choice due to the honest advice I have given them, and they will probably come back for the same reason.

spuds_2

Powermatic customers and employees please contact the liquidator

The liquidator of Powermatic Adjustable Beds Ltd is writing a report for the Dept of Trade and Industry. He is able to include and append any appropriate material or evidence about how the company was run and those running it. If you are a customer of Powermatic, and would like to comment, you can send an account of your dealings with them to:

William Swindell,
Yorkshire House,
7 South Lane,
Holmfirth,
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire

HD9 1HN,

email address: [EMAIL="yorkshirehouse@btconnect.com"]yorkshirehouse@btconnect.com[/EMAIL]

Employees and ex-employees may wish to comment on things like frequency of pay slips, P60's, business practises, etc.

Even if you have been in touch with Trading Standards, I would ask customers to contact Mr Swindells with their comments. I understand the DTI is able to disqualify directors, wind-up companies, and refer files for prosecution if appropriate.

Powermatic closed with £40k of debts - including £22k to the Inland Revenue who apparently take a dim view of not receiving monies due. I won't list the other creditors now, but more info to follow in due course.

mr_ripoff

HI ALL MY AUNT BOUGHT A BED FROM THIS COMPANY AND SHE GOT CHARGED OVER 3K FOR A DOUBLE BED.THE COMPANY IS BASED IN CROSS HANDS AND IS RUN BY A PERSON CALLED LANCE ISHERMALL HE MUST BE DOING THIS TO ALL THE ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE I STRONGLY RECOMMEND NOT BUYING FROM THIS COMPANY AND BUY DIRECT FROM SHOP OR SUPPLIER INSTEAD AND SAVE YOURSELF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS.THIS COMPANY MUST BE MAKING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS FROM THE OVER 60s.GET THE FERRET DOWN THERE AND TRADING STANDARDS.