To The Editor:
Salesmen for several water purification systems are making
the rounds of late, offering home systems at inflated prices
and gouging the public. One of these super salesmen offered a
reverse osmosis system along with five filters manufactured
in the United States. His price? NIS 4680 and an additional
NIS 280 for installation. Altogether: NIS 4970.
I inquired elsewhere about this system, where I was told that
the price was NIS 2900. In fact, it was determined that the
first company had sold the same system six months previously
at the price of only NIS 2700!
Further investigation found two different agents who offered
the identical system at a price of only NIS 1900, including
installation.
When we complained to the company about the wide price
differential, they claimed that they were the distributors
for the system manufactured by Amatec of the United States,
while the system that others were offering for much less was
made by Culligan. When I remarked that Amatec was a
subsidiary of Culligan, they answered that Amatec is a
slightly higher quality system.
Everyone needs to have broad shoulders in order not to fall
prey to master salesmen. In life in general, we often need to
find the courage to say no. Of course, the correct way to
express a negative answer is something like, "Sorry; not now,
but we'll be in touch."
Once I had a contractor come to my home to give me an
estimate on adding a room. The first one who came gave me a
figure of $12,000. I brought another prospective contractor
who offered to do the job for $8300. The third candidate
wanted $6300, and I'm sure that were I to continue, the price
would continue to go down. No contractor will offer his
services for free, of course.
In order to help each other be spared from price-gouging
practices, we must know what specific companies one must stay
clear of. On the other hand, we should know which companies
offer the cheapest prices. Anyone wishing this information
may call me at 03-6160715 in the afternoon or evening, and I
will be happy to share this information.
T. M.
Bnei Brak
