The City of Bartlesville issues temporary permits to companies selling products “door-to-door” within the city limits, but citizens have a right to see the permit and can contact the police if sales persons become forceful or obnoxious, Chief Building Official Robert McGuire said recently.
“The City does issue permits that allow these sales on a temporary basis,” McGuire said. “Citizens have a right to request to see that permit, at which time the sales person is required to produce it. If they do not, the City can suspend their permit.”
In response to citizen inquires at City offices, McGuire said there is a company currently selling products door-to-door in Bartlesville, and that the company has been issued a permit by the City.
However, issuance of a permit to any company selling door-to-door in Bartlesville doesn’t mean the City of Bartlesville endorses the company — or the product.
“It’s still ‘buyer beware,’” said McGuire. “The City of Bartlesville issues the permit, but — while we do verify the company exists in the state of Oklahoma — we have no way of verifying the legitimacy of the company or the product being sold.”
McGuire said door-to-door sales are allowed under federal law, and are therefore allowed by City ordinances.
According to McGuire, “pushy” sales people don’t have to be tolerated.
“If they’re being forceful or obnoxious, a citizen can contact the police department and the police can ask the company to leave town,” he said. “The citizen must be able to identify the sales person so an officer can go and talk with them about it, but the City can ask them to leave. We have done it before.”