Shy Enterpriese, Inc. Larry Shy Kirby vacuum distributor, consumer fraud alert, kirby sales, door to door sales Ann Arbor , Michigan

i really can't believe that this forum would let you state speculating comments...100 percent off the mark by the way...with out a doubt the most uninformed made up,one sided report I've ever read on here...I never worked for Larry shy...in fact I hear he's a jerk but your misinformation on return policies regarding return of the original receipt is outlandish and assuming of incorrect facts...the three days return is not fed trd comm...

its state of michigan and they have every right to ask for and keep the original receipt...the kirby co. in cleveland offers a replacement if your kirby is lost in a fire... when those machines are replace the only thing cust   has is a receipt..fraud prevention...I returned a starter I bought for my car and the store kept the original receipt..Why would you need it?...I've been in retail my whole life and the policy on receipt  has varied with product and services...

if you return the product YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO A RECEIPT..it sounds to me like you got your money back without a problem except the one you created in your head about their paperwork...I'm not really sure why you need a receipt for something you don't own but I am sure that the 750,000 people who buy kirbys every year know something you don't..... 

We know our living environment is exponentially cleaneer than yours because we can afford it and consider it a priority...sounds lke you were embarrased that you couldn't afford to keep your home kirby clean and are just a trouble making time waster to anyone with a high end product..ie  I know you dont own a rolex,caddy,mercedes, or buy your significant other victoria secret when timex,kia and walmart are so much easier to work with....they let you return and keep the receipt...try it at the rolex dealer pal

This company wants your full buyers copy in order to officially cancel your order.  When you are reluctant, the first thing out of their mouth is "We are not trying to scam you?"  "We have been in business for 90 years".  You have, huh?  Not according the BBB or vast multitude of other websites.  This is a quote for quote statement. 

Hello??  Remind me again why should I trust you???  I guess it is the F rating on the BBB that makes me feel so comfortable. 

In my opinion, Do not provide your original receipt back to them!!!!  This is your only proof of the contract, them being in your home, the terms of the sale, the financing company, etc...  They should already have a copy of the original transaction.  Why do they want YOUR consumers copy ??????   They claim it has something to do with returning your deposit.  Geez, when I return things at the store, they write on my receipt and give it back to me.  In fact, most places take back what I am returning no problem.  Ask yourself -- What is wrong with this picture??? 

I have had a lot of business dealing and I can say I have never, ever, ever, ever, been asked to return my buyers copy.  Did I say --- NEVER !!!!!!

Note:  There is a tear off at the bottom of the contract you can return to them.  Make sure you sign, date it, and time stamp it.  Also read your contract carefully and follow all the appropriate rules to cancel your contract.  This will all be dependent on what company they are using to finance the deal through.

In my opinion, talk to a lawyer first.  Maybe send this tear off at the bottom of the contract certified mail with signature back to them is enough???  Not sure.  Like I said, contact a lawyer for the appropriate actions you can take depending on where you live.  If time is of the essence, hand write them a letter with your name, date, time and declare to them you want to cancel the order.  Send your letter and nothing else to them via certified / verified signature. 

Just a suggestion, but create your own return receipt for the vacuum too and make them sign it, date it, and time stamp it.  DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO TAKE ANYTHING FROM YOU WITHOUT PROOF THEY TOOK IT.  If they won't sign it, don't return the item at all.  I have heard of people taking the vacuum to the local police station and have the transaction happen there.  I think this is a great idea.  Learn from the others that have been scammed.  Who ever thought of this one was a true genius.


In my opinion, you have a right to have a copy of the transaction.  Thus it why it is called the buyers copy.  Why are they trying to get this copy from you?  Do you even have names of the people that were in your house?  Are the names you were told even really their names?   Try to contact them?   Look at the website?   Do you see anything that makes you feel comfortable as a consumer?  Ask yourself what are you sure of at this point???  Do you have business cards?  Look at the tear off.  What is on there?  They claim this is what they will send back to you to finalize the order.  Supposedly upon receiving your buyers copy they will then return your money??????   Hello!!!!!   If the contract is canceled, the contract is canceled. 

Don't forget to send a certified letter to the financing company too and inform them of what transpired.  If there is problems with the finance company then contact the BBB and have them straighten it out for you.  Follow up to make sure that the contract is indeed canceled.  Don't just take this company or any others for that matter, as fact.  Ask yourself, why would they all of sudden start telling you the truth now?????

Per the FTC, you have a right to have your deposit returned.  It states this right on their website.  The FTC does not say you have to provide them YOUR buyers copy.  So, unless some legal authority requires me too, I have no intentions of giving them my buyers copy.  In fact, I have all of my documentation and my buyers copy stored off site.  I suggest you do the same.

Personally, I have my doubts that you would even get the slip at the bottom of the page returned to you.  Even if they did, what good is it?   Did they enter your house under truthful means?   Did you find anything they said to be accurate?  Call Kirby and ask about their lifetime warranty on the vacuums.  You might be really surprised here too?  I have read on other sites about the warranty some distributors are providing MAY NOT even be valid with Kirby.  Is this true????  People just paid a huge price to buy a vacuum from a Kirby distributor and now they MAY NOT even have a warranty?  I have also read that the vacuum that appears to be new, MAY NOT be new.  Did the salesman take the box back with him?   If so, why did he/she do this???  You spent a ton of money on a vacuum machine and you cannot even have a card board box.  When I asked the guy why he was taking the box, he mumbled something about the warranty.  He was out the door with the box before it could even register that he took the box.  At the time it did not make too much sense to me.  Now the light bulb is on.

Since I returned the vacuum, I will never know about their warranty or figure out whether the vacuum was really new or not.  I do have copies of the warranty though and I recommend you do too especially if you cancel the order.  If you have the vacuum, you might want to check out the warranty on it.  Don't stop with just calling  Kirby.  Call different Kirby vacuum repairs in your area to verify the accuracy as well.

In my opinion, if you give them back the buyers copy, what proof that you canceled will even be documented?   Is it possible they tell you that you never gave them the buyers copy???  Are they really canceling the contract??? 

Again, I suggest you contact a lawyer to discuss your rights and what the proper way to handle this for your situation.  Again, if you want to cancel, hand write the letter if necessary and send it via the means I have already discussed especially if time is of the essence. 

Again, the FTC recommends (with all "cooling off" or buyers remorse cases) that you send a certified letter with signature back to the company within three days to cancel your order.  According to the FTC website you do not have to give them any reason for canceling the order.  Go to the Federal Trade Commission website.   Information to protect yourself and how to report things is all out there for public viewing.  There are plenty of links to follow to get in contact with all of the right resources. 

In my opinion, if you gave them a check, cancel it with the bank and open yourself up another bank account.  I have contacted the credit bureaus and various other agencies to protect my identity.  If you gave them cash, I don't know what you can do.  In my opinion, do not fax them a cancellation.  In my case, the fax machine did not answer anyways. 

Again, I cannot stress enough to follow the FTC recommendations and write your own letter of cancellation.  Send it via USPS by certified letter and return receipt verification. 

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro03.shtm

Furthermore, it is my opinion that companies like this thrive and continue to scam unsuspecting consumers because they know most consumers are complacent.  It is not enough to complain on a website and think the problem is all solved and everyone is warned.  Many people (especially the elderly) may not know how to use a computer, others cannot afford to have a computer, others may not know how to search websites for information even if they have a computer, or others may not have the means to complain.  Keep in mind, many people don't even have families to rely on for help, guidance or advice.  These are the people that are getting scammed the worst.  

Many people feel ashamed and utterly stupid that they were scammed to begin with.  In my opinion, don't be ashamed, stand up for yourself and fight back using the appropriate legal means.  Companies that scam people are pros at doing it.  This is why they continue to be in business and have no problems being unjust to others.  This is why the FTC has created the three day cooling off period.  It gives you the consumer a chance to digest what just happened. 

If you have been scammed it is a learning lesson and that is all it is.   I don't care who you are, EVERYONE gets taken at least one time in their life.  NO ONE is above being scammed despite whatever they might think.  Don't let anyone make you feel dumb for being duped.  This is exactly what all scammers want people to feel like.  Either way, I firmly believe in contacting all the appropriate legal authorities, a lawyer, senators, congressman, and everyone else you can think of is prudent at this point.  Don't let others get scammed just because you don't have the time, your problem is solved, you are only mad for five minutes, or for any other reasons.  Help to put these companies out of business and stop fraud no matter who is doing it.

I found more people complaining throughout the Internet.  I am pointing out these articles below to just help to further inform the public.  It is quite eye opening, sad, and should enrage every single consumer out there that this continues to happen year after year after year.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirby_Company

http://www.insideedition.com/search/kirby%20vacuum.aspx

http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=132129&page=2

Unfortunately, I incorrectly spelled the company name.  It is Shy Enterprises, Inc. or just Shy Enterprises.