Silly things we get told by 'Salesmen'

Following a comment I made on another thread, I thought it would be fun (and we need light-hearted at the moment), of things that we have been told by Sales/Repair people.

I will start off with a few things -

1. Some twenty years ago, when having a toilet unblocked and telling that plumber that 'No, I did not put anything except loo tissue down there', he then told me that I was obviously using the 'wrong sort of toilet paper'!!

2. Back in 1972 I persuaded my hubbie that we should invest in one of the new colour televisions, as with three small children we rarely went out and it would be our main source of entertainment. Our Living Room was newly furnished and had all white furniture and I wanted a white tv. Back then, no thought (or money) to purchase tv, had to be rental, so I went into my local Radio Rental shop to talk to them. There a salesman is all seriousness informed me that there was 'No way that a colour tv. could be made with a white surround and that would interefere with the look of the colour on the screen'!! Honestly, he really did say that.

Less than three months later, there in the RR window was a beautiful white, colour tv. We did rent that for the next few years.

3. About the same time I was looking for a new washing machine (three small children!!), I asked why the spin speeds in all the front-loaders I could see had a maximum RPM of 800, whereas the top loaders had 1000. Salesman, again in all seriousness (Okay, I now know they make it up as they go along!!), told me that if that high RPM was placed in a front loader on its side it would just cause the whole machine to break apart. Now my front loading washing machine has a max spin speed of 1600 rpm.#

4. Some years later I had a small tv on swinging arm on the kitchen wall. This was the time when we were getting set-top boxes for our tvs. Could not put one of those on that as it would fall off each time the tv was moved. Was delighted when I saw in a magazine that a manufacturer had produced a small box which plugged directly into the back of the tv.
Went down to my local electrical shop to ask if they had one, and they actually laughed at me there, told me I was imagining such an article as it was an 'impossibility', Out of there and over to Argos where I bought one of these. Could not even be bothered to go back to that electrical shop to show them.

5. Having my large Edwardian house rewired. Had two long landings on first floor, so wanted to make sure that lights at both top and bottom of the stairs could be turned on/off in ground floor hall and on landing. Electrician left his apprentice in charge and I asked why there was only one switch being put in upstairs. When I tried to explain what I wanted, this young man told me it was not possible/he had neverheard of it. Dual control downstairs, but not also upstairs. I found myself running up and down those stairs, babbling to him the importance of a two way switch both top and bottom. Eventually had to tell him to stop and contact his boss. Did get these switches put in then.

I am sure there are many other similar things 'told' to us, the consumers. Design salesmen (kichens/bathrooms) are usually some of the worst culprits as they really have very little knowledge of their subject except their need to 'sell' the highest cost items.

Anyone else care to join in this thread?