Mother was widowed and I visited her 3 times per week, it was a 30 mile round trip. Couldn't do it more as I worked full time. I did chores, cajoled her into letting me wash her hair etc.
My brother whom I love dearly called with her about once a fortnight, read the paper for 15 minutes, and left.
(The result of years of mother's sharp sarcastic tongue - I also was on the receiving end but was more tolerant).
One day I arrived and a new suite sat in all it's 'glory'. It was awful, as light as a feather and covered in shiny pink floral polyester. The man had been going door to door with furniture in the back of a van. Indeed mother was so pleased because he even took away her well used but good condition G Plan suite to dispose of it for her 'without charge'. !! I could have wept for her because her eye had been well and truly wiped.
The new suite lasted about 12 months, the joints failed and the seams parted. I reckoned the frame was balsa wood, dh thought perhaps pallets.
We ended up buying a lovely new quality suite. When mother died her old bachelor neighbour was delighted to make use of the lovely as-new suite.
I still feel angry when I think of it, that guy looked my elderly mother straight in the eye and took advantage. He didn't twist her arm, he scammed her, mother felt she had done a good thing and I never told her otherwise.
Did make the point that it's best not to buy on the doorstep because with no name of seller or contact with seller, no receipt, what happens if the suite is faulty. Which it was. But the deed was done and there was no point in making mum feel inadequate. Asked her not to do this again as no guarantee for the item, and I'd take her to choose anything she ever wanted which is what usually happened. On this particular day she was vulnerable and the con guy was onto a good thing.