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

trisontana

Rogue Traders actually featured another bed company called Puresleep. But it was interesting to see some of the dodgy and unethical tactics used to sell beds to very vulnerable people. This included warning that the customer might have to go into a care-home if they don't buy the bed and thus improve their health, and the use of random, meaningless medical terms. It also showed that the salesmen "buy" the bed off head-office for about £800 and are then free to charge wherever they like for it . This can sometimes run into thousands of pounds. The salesman and the company then split the profit 50/50 . Not very nice people.

spuds_2

I updated the other Powermatic beds thread here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=374284&page=4&highlight=powermatic

The tactics used by Puresleep are very similar to those used on my uncle - essentially you are just ground down over a long period.

Any other customers or Powermatic staff who have seen these threads - please feel free to pm me (top of the page, near the blue bar) - keep 'em coming!

I don't doubt that the law will catch up with the likes of Powermatic eventually. Hopefully people like [TEXT DELETED BY ABUSE TEAM FOLLOWING COMPLAINT] will regret allowing themselves to be used as directors when they discover this can have consequences.

By the way, the directors of Powermatic have started a new company called [TEXT DELETED BY ABUSE TEAM FOLLOWING COMPLAINT] - MSE'ers be aware, please. I expect Powermatic will close soon.

Tim_Deegan

I know that many of you know that I sell beds and mattresses. So on behalf of all the decent electric adjustable bed sellers out there I would like to point out that most companies who sell adjustable beds are 100% honest, and that most of them don't even use travelling sales reps, but instead sell from their shops or web sites with no pressure at all. There are many companies out there who sell them for as low as £600.

Daisey-Duke

Just thought you might like to know. My Dad, before he passed away, thought it was a great game to respond to all these companies and get them round for Demo's. My mum would be beside herself but put up with his bit of FUN. He would gladly watch these men & women sweat unload their wares and put on a full blown show. He had beds,baths,chairs, hoovers and many more. He never bought anything but always let them feel they had scored!

Sorry to the genuine people who do sell for a living , but these people were vultures who prey on the old and inferm.

spuds_2

Tim - you have been helpful and supportive to many MSE'ers on this board, so I can imagine how frustrating it must be that these kind of companies can make your industry look so bad. I think it is the fact that they target the elderly and vulnerable that makes it so despicable. The trouble is, I guess, that however strongly regulated companies are, there are always those who will break the rules, whilst others like yourselves have a conscience and care about building a decent reputation.

DaisyDuke - if they were anything like the ones on Rogue Traders, well, at least while they were at your dad's they couldn't be conning anyone else.

trisontana

I have just been taking a look at the Puresleep website. Although they say such things as "Dedicated to creating Bespoke Mobility Solutions to increase
your Quality of Life." and "Our Customer Care team are dedicated to providing you with the best possible service - from placing an order to after-sales assistance." there are no other details of the company.

If you click on the "Contact Us" button all you are given is a telephone number. There is no postal or email address. If you click on the "A Brief History of the Company" link there is no "history". Just a very poor photo of their office entrance and this spiel :- "Puresleep UK Limited aims to provide you with a solution to all your mobility needs. Our team of advisors work throughout the UK, providing a tailor-made service. We can even arrange a free consultation where we can visit you in your own home to discuss your individual needs."

Why are they so coy about their location and history ? And we all know where one of those "consultations" will lead to. Hours of high-pressure salesmanship until the poor person signs on the dotted line.

Tim_Deegan

trisontana wrote: »

I have just been taking a look at the Puresleep website. Although they say such things as "Dedicated to creating Bespoke Mobility Solutions to increase
your Quality of Life." and "Our Customer Care team are dedicated to providing you with the best possible service - from placing an order to after-sales assistance." there are no other details of the company.

If you click on the "Contact Us" button all you are given is a telephone number. There is no postal or email address. If you click on the "A Brief History of the Company" link there is no "history". Just a very poor photo of their office entrance and this spiel :- "Puresleep UK Limited aims to provide you with a solution to all your mobility needs. Our team of advisors work throughout the UK, providing a tailor-made service. We can even arrange a free consultation where we can visit you in your own home to discuss your individual needs."

Why are they so coy about their location and history ? And we all know where one of those "consultations" will lead to. Hours of high-pressure salesmanship until the poor person signs on the dotted line.

They may have something to hide, but they are a limited company, so I found all this info from companies house:


Name & Registered Office:
PURESLEEP(UK) LIMITED
UNIT 2
PARC MENTRE
CROSS HANDS
LLANELLI SA14 6RB
Company No. 05136129

Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 24/05/2004

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
5232 - Retail medical & orthopaedic goods
Accounting Reference Date: 31/05
Last Accounts Made Up To: 31/05/2006 (TOTAL EXEMPTION SMALL)
Next Accounts Due: 31/03/2008
Last Return Made Up To: 24/05/2007
Next Return Due: 21/06/2008
Last Members List: 24/05/2006
Previous Names:No previous name information has been recorded over the last 20 years.

BEACHBABE

First time user so apologies for any errors. I found this site when I found out my mother-in-law had just paid a deposit of £1760 for a £3500 adjustable bed from Puresleep. Usual story, she received a phone call to say she had filled in a form etc, etc. Salesman came and after 3 hours persuaded her to part with £1760 (he tried to get the full amount but didn't manage that thankfully). When she told us, we told her it was a scam, but she wouldn't believe us, as the 'salesman' had been so nice and friendly!! The bed was ordered on Fri and it was going to be ready and delivered this Fri. This is a 'bespoke bed especially made for her needs' very quick considering any decent trader takes several weeks to complete an order & this was being especially made! The only thing that saved her was seeing them on Rogue Traders on Wed. Even then the man from Puresleep even had the cheek to phone her yesterday morn to say that the BBC had told lies about them and still tried to get her to take the bed! He has since said he will refund her £1760, but I will believe that when I see it. We have had good advice from Consumer Direct and will continue to follow up as necessary. The sad thing is that her husband died 2 weeks ago and within 3 days of the funeral they were on the phone. Do these people search the obituaries to find newly widowed vulnerable people and then prey on them. Nothing would surprise me anymore. She was coping really well and this has now set her back as she feels she cannot trust anybody now.

trisontana

I am very sorry to hear about your mother-in-law BEACHBABE. Let's hope that the refund will be forthcoming. As for the price of the bed, that's just staggering. As was pointed out on Rogue Traders and by Tim Deegan the actual cost of the bed would probably be between £600 and £800.

I do think that these people trawl the obituary notices for names of potential customers. I have also heard that some companies look at the Register of Electors and when they see that a person becomes too old for jury service then they will start bombarding them with adverts for such things as funeral plans and disability aids.

Tim_Deegan

trisontana wrote: »

As was pointed out on Rogue Traders and by Tim Deegan the actual cost of the bed would probably be between £600 and £800.

I should point out that the £600 to £800 is an internet price. Most shops would charge £1400 to £1800, but still far less than the £3500 that some sellers charge.

As for the time it takes to manufacture the bed, I'm afraid until we know better we have to give them the benefit of the doubt. Manufacturing time depends on the manufacturer. We (like probably many other sellers) collect direct from the factory, and I presume that in order to save warehouse space the beds are only made the day before collection like ours are...........But saying that you are probably right BEACHBABE.