Platteville Police Warn of Non-Registered Traveling Salesmen

Last week The Platteville Police Department was contacted concerning solicitors attempting to get people to let them clean their carpets for free as part of a sales pitch for a vacuum manufacturing company. Today officers were able to make contact with the solicitors and identify them after a call from a concerned citizen that was suspicious of their activity.  The group was not registered as a traveling sales crew through the State Of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development as required by law.  We wanted to remind citizens about the concerns of traveling sales crews and the requirement for State and Municipal registration.  Properly registered businesses and crew members will have paperwork and identification showing them as such.

The following is taken from The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development pamphlet titled ‘Wisconsin Regulations of Traveling Sales Crews’.

Non-profit organizations, such as schools or churches, doing fundraising sales are NOT considered traveling sales crews. 

As a homeowner, what should I do if a traveling sales crew member comes to my door?
Be cautious. The most common complaints from consumers include non-delivery of magazines or other products, non-receipt of refunds when requested, and incomplete receipts that make canceling orders impossible. Other complaints involve overpriced goods, with prices for products like magazine subscriptions running at double or triple what a consumer would pay directly through the publisher.

More serious are reports of violence or crime against homeowners by the salesperson. Across the country, burglary, sexual assault, and murder have been perpetrated against homeowners who opened their doors to salespeople.

Never allow unknown salespeople into your home.
One common tactic of gaining access to the home is asking for a drink of water or to use the bathroom. It is not rude to tell a salesperson no. It's much easier – and safer – to say "no" on the doorstep than to try to get the salesperson to leave once he or she is inside. Keep in mind that some salespeople pose as college students or neighbors or falsely represent to be working for non-profit or religious groups in order to gain your trust and appear non-threatening.

Be sure to ask for identification and supporting documentation.

If at any time during a door-to-door sales encounter you feel uncomfortable or you observe suspicious behavior in the neighborhood, contact your local law enforcement agency.

For more information on Traveling Sales Crews, see the following link:
https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/publications/erd/pdf/erd_17300_p.pdf