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Tristar Products

Tristar Products review: The list of tri-star scams continues on and on 28

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12:00 am EDT
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I was recently hired to become a Tri-Star vacuum salesman (Not by choice. I'm in college and tuition is due). I've always hated salesmen, but now my hate is even stronger. Long story short, not only did the distributor lie about MY pay and ripped me off, but he is ripping off customers all across northern/central NY (Syracuse). The product is a great product, but all of the sales techniques were dishonest and misleading. He is purchasing the machines at less than $1300 each, and reselling them at $2600. I understand that profit is a component of business, but this is ridiculous. In the state of NY, consumers have 3 days to return any product. To make the customer ASSUME that the machine is nonreturnable, the salesmen are instructed to take the box after the sale is made- that to me is misleading. The list of Tri-star scams continues on and on.

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Steve
Feb 09, 2007 9:39 am EST

In Wisconsin the guy came and refused to leave. Said we didnt need cable tv over our family health. The guy is good but a huge dirtbag and so is the company. I found the vacuum new on ebay for 300.00. But I can get a dyson for that and they seem to be better, plus I wouldn't have to bend over all the time and it would store easier since its an upright

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Allan Gilbert
Aug 10, 2007 4:32 pm EDT

While I can't speak for privately owned businesses across the world, I am a Tristar dealer in the Tampa Bay area, and we run things differently here. As I said to someone earlier, it depends on the person you're dealing with. Apparently you were just working for a bad office, or it was probably just a misunderstanding. Anyways, sorry your experience working for Tristar wasn't what you expected. It just depends on your region. Things are going great for me. And I'm glad for the opportunity they gave me here.

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Scott
Oct 30, 2007 12:30 pm EDT

The salesman that sold me the vacuum was extremely pushy telling me to either live in dirt or buy a vacuum. When I said I can't justify spending that much he became indignant saying I had wasted his time. I told him that I wouldn't be able to swing more than 100 a month (big mistake) and he worked it out that I could set up a payment plan for that amount. I reluctantly bought one, without researching it online (again, big mistake). Now I realize I can get the EXACT same model online with warranty at 1/7 the cost. I have regretted the purchase since I bought it.

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wendy zimmerman
Mar 12, 2008 10:57 pm EDT

i like the smell of string cheeese and also the taste of grass. i also enjoy a good pair of
parachute panties. stop me if i'm wrong but cat poop is definetly more delicious than any other poop known to man. please someone come to sell me a vaccumm for my sisters birthday. spank you very much. he saig live in filth or buy a vacuum.

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Jessi
Apr 16, 2008 8:10 pm EDT

I have purchased a tristar. After fiance charges I would of paid $3, 000 for this hunk of junk! I live in clarksville tn and paid off my vacum early even through it was broke at the time I cut the pay off check. This is the second time the tristar office in Clarksville has moved. There last office is up for rent with no info on were they have moved to just like last time. This time I called the lease number and the realtor said tristar got him to and now there gone and he's very upset. It appears to me I have been ripped off. If anyone has any info at all please help! I have a $3, 000 broke vacume. I'm about to go to jag on post and see if they can help me. If anyone has any useful info... Thank you

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david Ferrari
Apr 22, 2008 2:18 pm EDT

I own a tristar and have had it for 10 years. its the best machine i have ever had. I bought it from an office in Lakewood, Co. The salesperson was great and i have never had a problem with it. The salesperson told me if I take care of it, it will last a lifetime. And it has so far. The machine is awesome, I think you guys just need to get a grip on the money you spent on your product and realize you get what you pay for!

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mee
US
Feb 19, 2009 4:48 pm EST

I sold these a number of years ago. The office told us that we were not allowed to lower the price for customers, but we should call the office while at the customer's house. The office would then approve a lower price, but the difference would come out of my pay. It was such a scam.

The product was great. My parents owned a compact which lasted forever, and did a great job. But there are a lot of shady sales offices. I'm sure it's different in different places, but the one I worked for was scummy.

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James Damon
Lima, US
Mar 01, 2009 6:34 am EST

My TriStar just turned 20 years old. I've ordered new bag filters and belts and replaced the power head motor, which was surprisingly cheap. In 1989 the price was $1, 400.00. When the salesman first came to the door, my wife and I had no intention on paying that kind of money for a vacume cleaner. We could have purchased a decent used car fot that. He was a young college kid trying to sell just one more unit to "win a trip to the Virgin Islands". He had us vacume an area of our carpet with our old vacume, then he proceeded to vacume the cleaned area with the TriStar. I was amazed at how much dirt and cat hair came up. He was good at what he did. Making us sympathize at how many hours he puts in and low pay..etc. So, we bought the damn thing. You know what? I'm really glad we did.

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displeased tristar rep
Miamisburg, US
Aug 31, 2009 6:28 pm EDT

Curt Wages is scummy, an less than half a man!

He would try and talk a cancer patient out of buying their medicine to tell the story about his sick boy and how he bought a machine for his inlaws and all his family and saved his kids life. Bull^&*%, he also said he had a Mercedes, but they drive around in some 20 year old piece of junk Tri Star, Star tech, Curt Wages, if you see any of these things, have nothing to do with it, you will just get ripped off.

As far as the warranty, good luck finding him, he moves offices every three months.

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P.A.
Tampa, US
Jan 21, 2011 6:16 am EST

I disagree with all these complaints. There is nothing wrong with the tri-star home cleaning system. Most people are just to blind to see that the TRI-STAR HOME CLEANING SYSTEM and the PURE-STAR TRUE HEPA filters will keep a superiorly more Healthy Home than any vacuum ever can. This saves money over the life of ownership( which is 25 years or more) by protecting home, furnishings, and health. You pay for high quality materials, AMERICAN MANUFACTURING LABOR WAGES, distribution costs and of course the professional sales person . YES THE SALES PERSON DESERVES TO MAKE $$, TOO. If the salesman or saleswoman are rude or not properly trained, then that reflects on that person and the distributor they work for. NOT THE PRODUCT. If you feel like you are being scammed and you opened up your wallet to buy, then look in the mirror- YOU'LL SEE THE PROBLEM STARING BACK! YOU are probably such a SHEEP that you read one of these blogs and changed your mind because of another idiot. You can't force anyone to buy anything.
Furthermore, people don't want to work hard. It takes money to make money. So if new representatives quit in training, its because they are the type of people that should only be flipping burgers, digging holes, or possible bagging groceries. Any sales takes a hard working, dedicated and most especially a respectful person . Rude sales people fail at their professions.
As for people who say the machine doesn't have suction, thats BS. They probable don't wash out their filter bag, as required for proper operating use. After all it is a filter and if not maintained eventually is will start to clog- just like ordinary vacuums. The difference is ordinary vacuums lose power in minutes, NOT MONTHS LIKE A IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED TRI-STAR. After all they built a GREAT machine, NOT A MIRACLE machine.
HONESTLY people are scammed by marketers in TV ads, print Ads, infomercials. TRI-STAR has one of the few AMERICAN PRODUCTS available. These distributors can't afford TV ads, and lets face it a machine like this and their other products are HOME CARE products! If you care about your home and family then the best place to see the TRI-STAR is in your home~ NOT ON A RETAIL SHELF IN A BOX. It is worth seeing it in action in the home.
Everyone has opinion, but most unfavorable comment about tri-star are simply cry baby former employees that could'nt hack it or owners that don't know how to care for the machine. Buy CHINESE if you want inferior product and support their country, if thats what you want!
I hope anyone reading this and has not seen a TRI-STAR home cleaning system, have an open mind, you don't have to buy it. IF the sales person is rude kick them out and report that to the company.
I love my TRI-STAR, it keeps me and my family HEALTHIER and my home HEALTHY.

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morr11
US
Mar 13, 2011 7:18 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Tri-Star salesmen were able to get my 75 years old mom to buy a used system for $1500. She is not even able to walk without the use of a walker let alone vacuum a floor. They stayed at the house for over 3 hours trying to get her to buy. I would love to know how to contact these salesmen that pressured my mom into buying but cannot get a response from them on any of the numbers they left with her. Taking advantage of a lady of her age is a true shame for any company. I cannot put down the product since I do not use the vacuum but would dearly love to meet the salesmen that did this to her. And then to get financing approved to a lady on fixed income... Come On TRI-STAR... Do better with your sales people you choose...

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salesman1980
tampa, US
Jun 05, 2011 5:46 pm EDT

I used to be a Tri-star salesman. I went into many, many, many homes. Pressure was not a way to get someone to buy something. I wouldn't pressure someone into something they didn't want. The people who bought from me recognized the benefits of owning this machine and the monetary and time savings they would gain due to this machine. These machines are the best there is on the market. I sold myself one! LOL. Anyways, there are bad people in this world who do dishonest things all the time. Please don't allow those bad people who have no outward or self-respect to tarnish the greatness of this product. If someone comes knocking on your door to show you one of these machines...please let them in and atleast take a look. IF they are rude or pushy. TOSS THEM OUT! But i would be willing to bet that you will LOVE this machine regardless of how the salesperson is.

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OregonCoastGuy
Newport, US
Nov 19, 2011 12:45 am EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

A salesman just showed us the system yesterday. He vacuumed after we had used our animal Dyson and he got a lot of carpet fibers, dirt, etc which certainly impressed me. He vacuumed two rooms and the same was true with each room. He then shampooed the two rooms and I am impressed with that results too. He did say he was trying to get a free trip to Hawaii and just needed four more sales. He priced the vacuum at $2567 retail less 10% during contest, less another $200 for today only, less another $100 cash discount for a grand total of $2, 000 yesterday only. Then he went on about the shampooer which he quoted as $1250 less $350 discount during this contest for a combined total of $3250 and he would throw in the mini head for couch cleaning. There was no high pressure. The salesman was neat and clean and very polite. We declined to buy saying we would check the system out on the Internet before deciding. He said if I wasn't interested at today's price I would not like the price tomorrow as all the discounts would go away and I would have to pay full price. This type of statement from a salesman always pisses me off a little. He packed up his stuff and went on his way and I went back to my TV programs. I have read the posts above and I am getting mixed vibes off them. The good ones I suspect are salesman posting here and the bad ones I think are real people. I will consider buying the system even now, if I find a bargain on eBay, craigslist or even from a salesman.

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true true true
Breedsville, US
Jul 28, 2012 10:20 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I sold them, years ago, in Michigan. I sold lots of them and my distributor was a scam artist. I never got a watch or any of the trips i was promised for my performance. Great product but scamming is encouraged. My father purchased one, after speaking with manager, for $600.00. My sister and mother love their's and they paid around the same. Just make sure and find out how long the company has been in their same location. They pack up and move, a lot.

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mghatt
Barberton, US
Dec 21, 2012 4:45 am EST

I understand there are a lot of sales people out there that do things in the wrong way. I have been working for a distributor for tristar for almost 3 years now. I see people come and people go just in a blink of an eye when the try to become a sales person. Yes it’s not for everybody and yes there are stupid people out there that think they can push people into buying. Remember people buy what they want not what they don't want. I am now the manager and a trainer for the local distributor for tristar and I do pride myself on trying to hire good Representative that will just be themselves and show how the tristar is different and why you should buy. The way our company policy works is that we will just show you the tristar and get your opinion on it. We tell are prospects at the beginning that we won’t go into any pricing with them if they are not interested in it. People buy the Tristar cleaning system because first off it sells itself and second because they want it. Now I can’t help it if some people slip through my training program and are just completely ###s but when I do find out that they where they will be dismissed from the company. As for the company bouncing back and forth well our office has been in the same area for over 50 yrs. and there are 3 other offices in other counties. The only reason one of our offices shut down was to relocate it for are other customers convenience, it was just a better placement for our customers to bring in their tristars for their free servicing every year that we do on the tristar and for new prospects to be able to view the tristar. As for complaints against the tristar cleaning system I only hear one thing and that is the drive are customers have to do to bring there tristars in for their free servicing and that is why we offer free in-home servicing now. Just to let everybody know that reads this I was in the Marine Corps for 6 years and did mechanics for about 15 years total and I found tristar threw a newspaper ad and it was a different profession then I was used to. What I am trying to say is that you are not born a salesperson and you are not born a doctor it is something you have to learned and hell if everybody could be a brain surging or a sales person then we all would do it just for minimum rage. Sorry people that complain about how they couldn't even get passed the first week but truthfully don’t blame the company just blame yourself and realize that you just couldn't be in sales. That is why sales are the highest paid occupation because not everybody can do it just like a brain surging. As for people that buy a tristar welcome and for people that don’t buy one at least you know that it is out there and you can get one anytime. Now just going to end with this if you go to Tri-Star’s website you will see that you can’t buy a BRAND NEW TRISTAR off eBay or craigslist and if you did purchase one off them good luck on getting it serviced. It will tell you that on the website that no tristar distributor will service anything bought online.

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Richard0007
CA
Jan 25, 2017 7:49 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Replying to comment of mghatt

I worked as a salesman for tristar, it is the best vacuum out there no question, the filter continues to suck air because the angle of the in-feed constantly cleans the filter to maintain suction, no other does that. Its well built, of course like any machine it requires some maintenance.
My issue was with the distributor i worked for, he took care of certain salespeople that had been there longer. I even made proposals to work in smaller communities which he used. I was only sent in once his cronies had gone through the area first. I still believe in the machine but the problem is usually with the character of the local distributor.

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thomasfamily
Hemet, US
Mar 11, 2013 8:45 pm EDT

I own a tri star. I have had it 9 years and in the last 2 weeks the power head broke and the hard floor attachment broke. the power head cost is very high i bought a brand new vacuum for less. 9 years isnt long enough for $2500 worth.

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mmm33713
US
Feb 07, 2016 1:00 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Back in 1978 while I was living in Chattanooga Tennessee, I bought a TriStar vacuum with attachments from a young women who was selling door to door. I'll admit I was a little skeptical when it came to buying something from a door knocker but after hearing her pitch, I let her give a demonstration anyway. I was impressed with the product and so I bought it. I believe I paid around $700.00 for the EX20 model at the time. When she sold it, she said it came with a 25 year warranty which I found to be extraordinary however I'm still using it today, 35 years later. I've replaced the plastic attachments, power cord, belt and the motor within the last few years but I can't say that I still have any other appliance that works just like it 35 years later. No regrets here. This is what "Made in the USA" stood for back then.

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Dixie Gail Lee
US
May 05, 2019 12:23 pm EDT

This product would not heat and all I got was a runaround. They will leave you on hold forever. I shipped my grill back and they claim they never received it. This is a very bad company and I will never order anything advertised on TV ever again. They have their defective product and my money and all I have is a lesson learned. AVOID this company!

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jessie white
US
May 25, 2019 9:51 pm EDT

No good cheap quality. had to pay out of my pocket to return the crap. If you cared about the customer they should not have to pay to retun the crap. like $69.00 loss to return. If the product had a defect why did I have to pay to return.

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shaktipal singh
US
Jul 29, 2019 7:35 am EDT

Plz return the my product

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Bmiracle
Marietta, US
Dec 10, 2022 11:35 am EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I received and used my sealer a lot. It was great but one day I got it out to use as I had just gone to the grocery. I like to buy my meat on sale and in bulk. When I went to seal my meat, it would not work or tun on. I contacted customer service and returned it on October 14, 2022. I have not received a follow up call/email/text.

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nannaw5
CEDAR BLUFF, US
Dec 10, 2022 11:29 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I recently received this air fryer in november and when you use it, it has an odor and the food you cook in it taste like the odor smells i need to know what is causing this because the food apparently is absorbing the odor and that cannot be safe to eat.

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Kimberly Sangster
US
Aug 22, 2023 11:15 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I purchased the PowerXL for Christmas 2022 and a couple days ago it stopped working. As I was cooking and it was nearing the end of the timer, it shut off without its usually beeping. I unplugging it from the outlet it shocked me. It has not worked since. I really liked the product before that.

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B Belgeri
St. Louis, US
Sep 09, 2023 6:40 pm EDT

I got a new Power Pro air fryer oven last week. I have used it a couple of times and it seems to operate the same as the one that finally quit after over 3years of regular use. This oven is slightly smaller in capacity but suits my needs wonderfully.

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Natasha Lundy
Emporia, US
Sep 23, 2023 2:17 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

did not get all the parts in the box 2 adjustable skewers racks,10 skewers ,and rotating basket model # CM-006

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Evelyn Pharms
US
Sep 23, 2023 5:38 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

February 5, 2022- Is my Purchase Date

My French doors will no longer stand open. Therefore, I cannot cook without getting Burned. The doors stopped standing open 1 week ago.

I need new doors & how to install Them?or A New Air Fryer

I am making this complaint because I cannot find help resolving my problem.

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rfsdupuy
New Iberia, US
Sep 07, 2024 9:40 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

the unit works great except for 1 feature ,the spit for the rotisserie is too short ,needs to be about a 1/2 inch longer

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