Lisa's Blog

Beware rogue traders door-stopping us in our own homes!
10 June 2010

How do we know who to trust when it comes to buying the right product for the right price?

I felt sick watching BBC Watchdog on Thursday, for all the same reasons that anyone would: ruthless salesmen taking advantage of older people in their own homes, selling mobility equipment at hugely inflated prices; not to mention the ridicule and lack of respect towards their customers.  

It makes you think: who is responsible for ensuring we understand the products available to us to help us as we grow older? What kind of quality can we expect and critically, what constitutes a reasonable price to pay? No one would pay £5 for a pint of milk. If we don’t start raising awareness of the quality and pricing of products available to a growing generation of older people, we’re just opening the doors to an army of rogue traders. 

Where is the campaign to educate us all on this fast growing sector? Where is the definitive source of comprehensive and complete information? Too often, the information on existing sites ends up pointing customers to just another website. And given the public sector spending cuts, can the Government really afford to raise awareness of options that will likely send more people knocking at the door of their cash-strapped local councils?  

In the meantime, we hope people will realise that there are well-intended companies like Ruby Slippers who place the needs of their customers above all else and strive to raise awareness of products and design for enhanced retirement living.  

Tell us what you think by clicking on lisa@rubyss.co.uk.