"Presents film by Silvie Dymakové and Romana Mazalové" "So Potétejn Castle came addressed to me, Pot§tejn Castle came." "Well, not to me, Pot§tejn came to me the usual way." "Jeez, it's fairly pouring down." "But what came to me..." "Jesus Christ, where was it to?" " Castolovice Castle." "Addressed to me." " It didn't come to me." "Now my friend wants me to go to Hradec on Wednesday, 'cos they're giving away four sticks of salami." "You use oil, I don't, I will only use lard." "'Cos if anyone fried me a schnitzel using anything other than lard, I'd throw him out of the kitchen." "He's got no right to be in the kitchen." "He's an imbecile!" "Why are we here on this planet?" "To reproduce, to love each other..." "I don't know... to live our lives." "Quickly to me now if you have a number one on the right at the end." "If it's a one, come to me." "Who'll be here first?" "Who'll be here first?" "The lady there!" "applause!" "I had a happy childhood, when I was young too, even though the war was on." "That's how we all stuck together." "Until now after the revolution, when it's all just a fight for money and everything is based only on money." "We're not out to get you." "We're offering products which can help you." "So don'!" "try to think up excuses to say so you don't have to buy anything today." "Instead try to think of ways you can save money." "You watch the news; you've seen what bills for energy will be like in 5 years' time." "Who's worried about expenses, should do something about it!" "CROOKS" "This cost 20000, this 15" "and the blender 15." "It's a robot." "This is from ***, it cost 15000," "I don't know what company this is from, it's a vacuum cleaner, steam cleaner and chainsaw that went with it." "And it cost 14000." "Blankets, Merino blankets, a medical mattress, a pot. a bio lamp and two steam cleaners." "The mattress and blankets cost 30000, the steam cleaners 15000 and this was also 15000." "Why do you have two steam cleaners?" "Because I had one and I gave one to my granddaughter, mine doesn't work, and neither does hers." "And they're not under warranty anymore, so they're just left here." "I regret it now, because if I went to the shop to buy it, it would be cheaper, and I know I'd buy it." "This one is expensive." "You have to pay for stupidity, and I'm still paying for it." "But I've said I'm finished with it now." "Every day, buses full of senior citizens cross the Czech Republic." "Then they are pressured, bullied threatened at product presentation events." "And in some cases even physically assaulted." "They are the victims of masterly performed manipulation shows which, as you will see, are about nothing more than conning senior citizens out of their money." "Or rather conning them out of money they don't have." "Profiting from the weak." "A somewhat perverse phenomenon of the times." "A somewhat perverse form of democracy." "This is one way to do business in the Czech Republic." "They locked the doors and let people out once they had bought something." "I said: "I've been around almost 80 years and over these 12 years no-one has ever spoken to me as rudely as you."" "It all begins with an invitation which arrives out of nowhere." ""Come with us on a trip. celebrate Easter with us, come to a cookery show," "International Women's Day is coming." "celebrate it with us." "We'll give you lunch for free, you'll get some gifts and married couples will bring back even more..."" "And all this for the symbolic price of a few dozen crowns." "Who could resist?" "Look, presents." "Salami, a bottle, quality wine." "What else is there?" "Pork and beef in gravy, luncheon meat, canned beef." "That's everything." "And a hamper for married couples." "And it's for men too." "Some invitations give a place." "time and date for the presentation." "But there's also another, even worse, possibility." "You're invited on a trip or for some entertainment event." "But you don't know exactly where you're going." "So instead of the announced trip to Néchod Castle, you might end up stuck for 6 or more hours in a remote pub, in a village which is in a completely different place." "And that promised trip?" "You often won't have the time for it..." "They tell you, 'you're going to a castle' and then you sit there at that presentation until 4 p.m." "Then you go there, it's already closed and you can't get anywhere." "This happened now at that brewery." ""49 CZK only"" ""All for free!"" "I'm not even interested in those gifts," "I'm only interested in what they present there." "My mate says:" ""Don't throw it away, let's go." So I went, but for the last time." "But fast, so something is left for you!" "This video was filmed by the dealers of one of the companies, who placed it on the internet." "They didn't give out the gifts, but rather told them they should each take what they wanted." "Take two or three, take as many as you can carry." "We don't care." "And by filming it all on their mobile phone, they're making a clear statement that they're doing it mainly for their own entertainment." "The clips appear to show that some of the flasks which the senior citizens were meant to take had been deliberately trampled on." "Probably so the dealers could have more fun." " It's possible, who dented it?" " I got it like that." " It just breaks like that?" " Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." "They've been quite rude to us so far." "But here you can see what it's like when someone is rude to someone." "Does it surprise you?" "You should have read the invitation properly." "It's written there in small print that part of the trip is an informative event on how to save money and that you'll find out loads of information about health." "Some companies call it:" ""An informative and interesting presentation"." "Others say it is "full of fun"" "or even a "health programme tailor made for each of you"." "All of this, however, is cover for just one thing." "The high pressure selling of products you can't live without." "High pressure selling based on fear." "You guys are so clever, you smoke a 70-crown pack of cigarettes every day and you don'!" "even know you've had anything." "You don't even know you've had anything." "You're so poor and wretched, thought-wise I mean." "That you go out to get a pack of cigarettes for CZK 70, you get nothing from it, but you can afford it." "I've been coming since May 2000." "My husband had died in March." "In March 16th, and I've been coming since May." "We used to have three presentations in a week." "What would I do at home, right?" "You can be among other people, for that money, CZK 50 or 70, we couldn't even get to Hradec Krélové and back for that." "Loétice." "Opatovice, the university, Opatov." "Lhota pod Libéany... 16-piece cookware set, 5-layered base, it's meant to be stronger." "Acuthermal." "CZK 24990 and then when it had to be bought it was for 20000." "Induction hob for 10000." "I'll give it to you today." "It costs 35000, feel free to take it and you'll never need to pay a penny for it." "I said that what you have on this table is a gift." "And that's true." "But." "I need you to demonstrate that you here today aren't the kind of people who only take. take, take, that you can also give." "just a little, but you can give." "As a gift from me you get a blender a Merino blanket, an induction hob." "And you won't pay for that." "But I can't give you this blanket as a gift." "This blanket costs 14999 and that's all I want you to pay for to show me that you can also give a little too." "There have been cases where the gift, a Christmas chain. was only 40 cm long, a woollen blanket was completely synthetic, and instead of a wall clock, people received an alarm clock." "We have managed to get hold of photographs showing what one particular inspection of the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority discovered." "People were supposed to get a stick of salami free of charge as a gift." "The inspection, however, revealed that they were ends of salami literally thrown into the bus's luggage space." "With no cooling at all." "The salami sat all day at a temperature of about 19 degrees Celsius." "Those with excellent eyesight and a good magnifying glass will find on some invitations statements reading:" ""The issuance of gifts is decided upon by the company's sales representative."" "Or even that: "For cases of inappropriate behaviour, entitlement to gifts is forfeited."" "In practice, this means that if you ask questions, don't buy anything, if you don't act like sheep in a flock." "Then you may not get anything at all." " Sorry?" "Nothing, I'm talking here with the lady." " So be polite, okay?" " I am." "Or I'll speak to the driver and you might not be able to get onto the bus." " I won't get on then, so what." " Don't be so rude, lady!" "Just by coming, or by going on a trip with the company, the transaction is initiated." "You have the vision of gifts and because you feel indebted by the gifts." "you think you owe them something." "And if you don'!" "reciprocate their service, you'll feel guilty." "This mechanism is called the Principle of Reciprocity." "The companies have you in the palm of their hands." "In order to get the goods to our customers as fast as possible, we first have to reduce the price." "And help each other." "The fastest is: "Have it straight away at home for a great price, tell your friends." "You become a living advertisement, you get us the next customers, they have it for a higher price."" "So you earn our money for us and you don'!" "even realise it, so thank-you." "Young people are unwanted here." "Every time we tried to get into an event without being accompanied by a senior citizen, the dealers wouldn't let us in." "Right now, we're heading for an event entitled "Gourmet Feast"." "This event doesn't include a trip." "So they state the location, date and time it takes place." "We're in Hradec Krélové in the Stfelnice community centre." "There are about 20 senior citizens in front of the room." "Those who have invitations hand them over at the entrance." "But even those without invitations can get in easily." "We don't have one, so we have joined one of the arriving senior citizens." "So we are three people using the one invitation." "For the dealers a clear reason not to let us in." "After all, we are the youngest here." " We'll pay the entrance fee." " It's not about the entrance fee." "You can't." "I can only give you the gifts if you have an invitation." "We don't want gifts." " Then why have you come here?" " To have a look at the Feast." "I mean we want to see what's here." "Well there's no Gourmet Feast here." "Nothing to do with food here." " And can't I take at least one of them with me?" "No." " It's a pity you're so strict." " And why would you do that?" " Because they're friendly, they're smiling." " And do you know each other?" "What's the real reason you don'!" "want to let us in?" "Oh come on, it's not about whether I want to or not." "I don't decide what I want here." "Two young women represent a threat and in the eyes of the dealers, we are inspectors from the Czech Trade Inspection Authority." "Excuse me. can I just ask, sir. can Ijust ask?" "They look like controllers. right?" "Sorry?" "We're 3 on the one invite, and this man says it's a problem." "Is it really a problem when we want to pay for entry?" "It's a problem on one invitation, because people can then abuse it, maybe 10 people could come on one invite." "You can't." "Did you say we looked like controllers?" "No, I said I'm hungry madam, that I have some cream rolls that I am about to eat." "Notice this man who is going in without an invitation." "The dealer deftly improvised in front of us and let the man in because he recognised his face, they had spoken on the phone..." "Yeah." "You didn't get an invite from us, but I know you. sir, you're our customer." " We spoke on the phone, didn't we." " No." "Go and sit down, okay, take it." "Over a number of weeks, we built up a network of seniors and visited presentation events with them." "One of them was Dana. pensioner." "A model one grandparent accompanied by one granddaughter seemed to work." "We never had a problem gaining entrance again." "We didn't encourage any of the seniors to participate." "Our agreement was:" ""If you going, call us."" "What's that, you've decided to go today?" " I have, yes." " Hi." "Hello, probably for the last time." "I really don't think it's worth it." "This guy, he's suggesting I go to one." " Which one?" "l'll show you." "Okay, I persuaded her to go and have a look somewhere too." " And did she want to?" " Yeah. sure, she wanted to." " Are you still going there?" " I don'!" "know." "I'll think about it." "I said I'm not going anywhere." "the way they behave." "We need to be aware of the fundamentals." "We're living in a capitalist system and companies don't get rich by only giving things away." "Attractive gifts are only a tool to get you into the presentation and start brainwashing you." "The leaflet will also rarely tell you who actually is this generous and benevolent organisation of invitation." "The business name of the dealer and the address are both missing." ""Lawyer"" "The fact that there is also a sales event there is usually written in very small print on the leaflet." "Here I see signs of deceptive advertising and unfair practices." ""Gifts for your health for everyone!"" "I've bought goods for over 200000 from *** I think." "And when I write to the director that I have some complaint." "I wrote that if he doesn't believe it he can look in his computer at everything I've had." "This armchair is also from ***" "25000." "That blanket plus 2 cushions, that cost 5000." "And what I sleep on." "I'm lazy that I haven'!" "turned it on yet, it's a massage mattress with aloe vera." "And I haven't even turned it on yet." "Michal, Mirek, Jarda and Martin, Jirka." "Smidary." "Mlézovice, Nové Mésto, the Sokol hall." "I asked her: "Madam. why are you crying, what have they done?"" "And she said: "That man asked me how much I'd saved up for my funeral."" "Kvéta, pensioner." "First impressions." "that's what it's about." "The first seconds are crucial in deciding what we think of the dealers." "There are 3-6 dealers at each presentation, at the first meeting they are kind and pleasant, and above all dressed formally." "The customer then sees the dealer in the best light and any information he gives has greater weight." "The senior citizen becomes less wary, doesn't feel threatened by anything or anyone." "This halo effect lasts for some time and it is this that the dealer takes advantage of." ""Psychologist"" "If I have it in my mind that someone is kind, nice, intelligent, then my belief in my judgement of him continues for a long time." "Even if he becomes rude and perhaps starts to humiliate us," "I will still think of him as being a nice, kind person." "From everyday life, we probably know this as the saying: "The clothes make the man."" "Any of you who want to save money..." "A CZK 1000 a month on energy?" "Everybody, I hear everybody." "But there's a difference between wanting and having." "If you don't understand that your pan isn't able to do what we're going to show you with this new base, with this secret ingredient, then you're just not going to save that money." "It's that simple." "And if you don'!" "want to understand." "this presentation is totally pointless." "Here, the dealer shows a pot with not a triple-layer, but rather a four-layer base." "There is a triple-layered base, steel, aluminium. steel." "Here there is an extra ingredient." "Unfortunately I'm not able to tell you what the base has extra in it, because this lady might work for Zepter." "So in the presence of competitors." "let's call it a secret ingredient, as a result of which you're going to see something which none of you has ever seen in its life." "You can defrost at room temperature in these magic pots." "Soon our ice-cube test will make you realise that your life has been incomplete until now." "All the methods you use for defrosting are really very bad." "We're not going to pour anything in there, we're not going to cover it with anything, and we're not going to heat it with anything." "Just the way you see it, nothing else, and before you know it it'll be defrosted." "We'll do it like dropping butter into a hot pan. before you know it." "5, 4, 3, 2. 1." " Ladies and gentlemen, look inside." "What's happening partner?" "Half." "Ha ha ha, half!" "Right as I let go, look what's happening." "Now the secret ingredient is sucking the temperature inside the pan." "And this goes against all laws of physics." "It's cold and I can defrost in a second." "Try to tell me you have that at home..." "We sent one item from this set of cookware to an accredited laboratory for analysis." "The base really does contain steel, aluminium and steel." "But there is one important part missing here." "The most important part." "The fourth layer." "The secret ingredient." "Maybe it's so secret that not even a laboratory microscope with 1000x magnification can find it." "And the company's website makes no mention of a four-layered base." "So how could the ice have melted in a cold pot?" "There's absolutely no mystery about it." "It's just another trick, yeah." "Ice will melt on a flat surface the same way anywhere." ""Cook"" " Just another dick again or rather some sneaky bastard, who thought of it and used it." "There's nothing mysterious there." "Silva, there isn't." "When I presented this as our new product in Berlin, Germany, there was a physicist sitting in the room." "He'd studied his whole life, fat lot of good it did him." "He offered me 10000 to tell him what they put in there." "If you look at the workmanship of these pots, it's a botched job." "Look." "A respectable company won't put something like that on sale." "You just can't." "It's just a piece of shit, made in China." "So we had the new base patented." "What does that mean?" "Exclusive rights." "No-one on the planet can make it without our permission." "Here we're not just talking about misleading consumers." "I'd be happy to have it investigated as fraud." "Those people were told a lie." "Those goods were being offered for a scandalous price as if they were some miracle." "We sent another item of cookware from another company to the lab." "This time it was a pot said to be made of titanium." "A young family bought it because they were told titanium doesn't destroy vitamins, and they will be able to cook more healthily for their children." "Except that laboratory tests couldn't find even a trace of titanium in the coating." "If you're telling me this is titanium, this hasn't seen titanium in the remotest stretch, and you don't even have to look at the tests because titanium would never scratch like that." "For those who know me, I'm not the one to make fools of people." "And I don't." "But I don't like it, I hate it when someone makes a fool of me." "Take it from me, I'm a really nice guy." "But I can be a real bastard." "From the beginning, the dealer is building up a hierarchy in which he, the godlike dealer, stands at the top." "He isn't afraid to use humiliation or insults." "We are all used to listening to authority, beginning when we are children." "Our parents, our teachers, our boss." "And unfortunately these dealers and manipulators as well." "At this point." "the dealer has the ground prepared and can begin the hunt for his defenceless victims." "What do you think of that?" "Good?" "Fantastic?" "Good?" "Good?" "This here. this might have worked when you all drove Ladas!" "That was a good car!" "Wait grandpa, you're right." "But petrol didn't cost a shit." "Today, you'd need a refinery to feed a beast like that which guzzles 16 litres!" "You can very often hear dealers at presentations refer to a higher authority." "To a television personality, to their boss." "Although you won't be conscious of it, your trust in the company will grow as a result." "And this is the way the dealers give you the impression that the company hosting you is strong and well-known." "As a result, you automatically have the feeling that you're part of something special." "Whose prestige applies to you too, you are a part of its magic." "We look after the factory operation in Bremen and collaborate with the Italian company Vapori." "The owner called me this morning to say we have something special to do today." "Choose one person and give him a special extra bonus plus an expensive Christmas gift worth tens of thousands of crowns completely free of charge." "You know, when I saw the material for this film," "I became aware of the need to legally regulate these companies." "It's incredible how far some people can go in their wickedness." "And that's why we need to regulate their behaviour." "If we let them continue as they are it could become a social norm, and that would be a catastrophe." "Dana invited us to take part in another event." "She promised she wouldn't buy anything." "Our destination this time is supposed to be Néchod Castle." "Except the bus takes us to an old gymnasium in the small village of Provodov-Sonov." "Shortly after it begins, we find out that the company is filming the whole event on a number of cameras." "And because we are drawing for prizes, we have to get our ID cards ready." "So we don'!" "hold things up, get some form of ID ready." "Your ID card, driving licence, any form of identification." "For married couples, you only need one ID." " Is that clear everyone?" " Yes." "The draw begins just before 11 o'clock." "Dana, like most of the people in the room, has got lucky." "She's won." "So she can go to the table in the corner, scratch her card and find out what she's won." "Okay, take the envelope, your ID, scratch card, congratulations." "Dana returns after 20 minutes." "Without her ID card." "The dealers have taken it to prepare a contract should she decide to take her prize." " What did you win in the draw?" " Everything." "How much would you have to pay?" "35000." "The presentation continues." "Now it's not just Dana thinking about buying; we are too." "But for us, it will be a deliberate purchase." "Who do you think could do with one of these roasting tins?" "Everyone." "Put your hand up if you could do with one." "Thanks for your honesty." "Leave it on the table, baby, like that." " Are you married, or?" " No, I've got a boyfriend." "Well, I think you could take me instead." "These awful wonky tins, what can I say..." "Okay." "I guess you could buy one, I don't know, for CZK 350." "Cheap fun." "But it's not going to last for long anyway." "We make a purchase." "This ceramic roasting tin costs "a mere" 3000." "And we take advantage of the dealer's offer to take anyone without money to a cash machine." "We're not the only ones to take advantage of this generous offer." " It's not far to Néchod, is it?" " I think it'd be easier to go Ceské Mezifici." "To Nové Mésto, surely?" "I'm going to have to get an extension to my storeroom." "There's a new food processor there, that roasting tin, that electric grill, and they're all in my storeroom and I really can't get anything else in there." "Could you stop for me while this lady is doing that?" "I've got to get something." " Make sure no-one runs you over..." " I won't get mown down." " And wait here then." " You're going to find the post office." " Yeah" " Okay." " Okay, I've got the money. you?" " Me too." " We're smart girls." " Yes." "Receipt, have I got the receipt there?" "Could I ask for a receipt?" " You've got everything there." " Everything's there." "Thank you." "I couldn't find it, sir." "The guarantee is there, but I couldn't find confirmation of that 3000." "Do you want a receipt, or is a stamp that you've paid enough?" "I want my family to know it cost 3000." "So a receipt then." " Write a receipt for 3000 for the roasting tin." "Okay." " And bring it to where that lady is sitting." "Thank you." "Is this just a coincidence, or are some companies suffering from mass amnesia?" "We weren't the only ones who had to ask for a receipt." "When you return goods you need to have a correctly filled in warranty card, a purchase contract and a document confirming payment." " And they didn't give you one?" " They did." "I went for one because they hadn't given me one." "He didn't even stamp it, he just threw in this piece of paper." " And he gave me this." " And my friend also went for one." "applause!" "As you know, Dana has won, but in order to get her prize she has to pay 35 000." "At 11:00 a.m., she left them her ID card so the dealers could prepare a contract in case Dana wants the prize, and so she doesn't have to wait if she does." "But a couple of hours later, they still haven't returned her ID card." " What. you don't have your ID card?" " No, I don't!" " They have it?" " Yes." "How long has it been, how long have they had it for?" " Since I was at that table." " Two hours. three?" "Yes, 2 hours." "The presentation continues and before it finishes, the dealer leads Dana out of the room." "We look for her." "Now we're in a small room behind the bar, used to store drinks." " Do you need something?" "l'm looking for my partner" "because I'm lost." " Your partner's coming." "Unfortunately, it is more than apparent what has happened." " Why did you buy it?" " Let it be." "Why did you buy it?" "He was pushing me into it." "Do you know how annoying that is?" " How much did they cost?" " Don't know." "I'll have a look at it then." " Do you have a contract?" " I have." "They gave it to me for 800, that's a good price." "They wanted 1500, and I said no." "And is 800 written on the contract?" "I didn't have my glasses." "They're in my bag." "I'll have a look at it then, come on." "ID card." "35000..." "That 840 must be there somewhere." " Repayments 835." " Yeah." "I got..." "You also got this gift, this one?" "No." "I got something else." "This is the last trip." "I'm finished." ""I refused to sign the purchase contract." "The dealer started being rude and shouted at me..." "You stupid old woman, get out of here." "The whole room heard." K. H., pensioner." "I wanted to say that I have this and this at home." ""Shut your fucking mouth."" ""Shut your fucking mouth." He repeated that about 5 times." "His name was Pavel." "That was 7 September." "And his name was Pavel." "And the other guys there were David." "Tomé§ and Toméé 2." " What company was it?" " Pohoda Agency." ""Congratulations!" "This isn't a joke!"" " And no meal too, if I didn't buy anything then I wouldn't get any food." "And the other guy sent us out." " And there were 7 of us." " There were 7 of you?" "Yeah." "I felt sick the whole journey, because I've got diabetes and had no lunch and no-one's ever sworn at me like that before." "It's like swearing at their mums." "Refusing to give food to senior citizens who frequently suffer from various diseases, often diabetes." "Can result in a serious health risk." "And again we're talking about a crime here." "The crime of injury to health." "If there's anybody here who is on a mission of vengeance, if there's anybody here who has come hereto do battle with us." "Then take your stuff and leave now, ladies and gentlemen." "I'm only going to work here with people who are worth it, who want to give themselves the opportunity to find out something new and get something from it." "He's a bit arrogant, but they can be worse." " Yeah?" " Yeah. like yesterday." "He hasn't said that we're freeloaders, thieves, tramps and I don't know what else." "That we've stolen spoons." "pint glasses and other stuff." "Congratulations, congratulations, madam, come here." "Why are you looking at me so weirdly?" " You don't need it?" " I've got enough dishes." "You won't need anything else in your life." "Because only someone who needs to say something right now could say that to me." "But so many of you have been waiting for this!" "You said, "Jesus, that's terribly expensive." "We're only pensioners." Some of them laughed, the stupid ones, 'cos they didn't understand anything." "The clever ones, they were quiet and wondered why it cost so much." "And when we explained it and they saw it with their own eyes, they realised why it cost so much." "The dealers deliberately use totally new words." "They make up new words. such as by joining two words together. and the like." "And they do it to confuse the senior citizens." "So that the senior citizen thinks that if he can't even follow what he's saying, then he should probably trust the dealer who is showing him new products on the market, modern things, so they are more likely to believe him." "...whether you go to the "statermined" region or not they'll send you the product within 14 days to their "statermined" address to get so many experiences for the "statermined" price to get rid of the "statermined" problem..." "All this affects the sensory organs of those seniors." "They are then confused, tired." "Then they easily succumb to any manipulation." ""No, I don't want it, I have to talk to my husband first."" "Except she started persuading me that I have to decide about my health myself." "And then she kept saying, when she already had it filled in." ""Give me your ID, give me your ID."" "And she kept saying this until I gave her my ID." "She said sign here, and basically I signed it." "And she was pushing me to give her my ID." "I didn't want to give it to her, and I shouldn't have." "She was a nasty person." "Really nasty." "She raised her voice at me when I told her" "I'd cancelled the purchase contract." "That should've been the end of it." "But she started threatening me" "that it would go before the courts." "That the bailiffs would come." "We left it on bad terms." "She hung up on me." ""Sign for receipt of your prize and we'll deliver it to your home straight away." "I'd never won anything, so I signed." "A week later." "a loan from Home Credit arrived with bank deposit slips for CZK 26100." Mrs T., 75 years old." "Is it even possible to resist such sophisticated manipulation and heavy pressure and not buy anything?" "It is." "But it's hard." "It's a huge problem for someone who finds it difficult to say no." "The pressure to hand over your ID card is huge." "This is our spy." "He is wearing recording equipment and is heading out on a trip, which has been well-named "Grilling"." "The bus picks him up at 10 minutes to 6 in the morning." "Over the next hour, the bus travels through villages around Jilemnice and picks up more seniors." "Nobody knows where it's heading after that." "After another two hours following the bus, we realise that the destination is the village of Konétopy near Mélnik." "During the 7 hour presentation our man finds himself at a table in the corner of the room like before, where the dealers take his personal documents on the pretext of giving him his prizes." "Which are unique discounts on products." "Okay sir, have you got some ID on you?" "What do you mean?" "What are you asking me?" "I'm not asking, I need your ID." "ID." "Your ID!" "That's just the problem." "I'm already in a contract with you." "But that's not a problem, is it?" "It would be a problem to have to make more repayments at the same time." "It's quite a large sum I have to pay." "Which I'm paying you back." "For products I didn't want and refused." "I'm in along dispute with your company." "Know what, sir 3*"?" "Go and sit down." "You're getting nothing today." "Take it, it's really worth it." "Goods like that, at a fraction of their value, 110000." "That really isn't going to be on offer again." "The dealers use a carrot and stick approach." "They praise, shout, praise, shout." "And they ramp up the pressure by using a very simple technique to gain your consent." "They force you to concur, agree." "Do you like this product?" "Yes." "Would you use it?" "Yes." "Do you agree?" "This makes it harder for you to refuse the purchase." "Your brain feels clogged and you switch into neutral." "Rational thinking goes out the window." "When the dealer speaks to anyone in that state." "They will unthinkingly agree to any question asked without realising what they're agreeing with." "And it is at this moment that the phenomenon of public commitment begins to take effect." "Please don't think about your wallet now." "It's not about selling." "It's about understanding." "Tell me one thing, is that a good price?" " Is it good?" " Yes." "Is it a good price?" "People, when I look at you, at least nod your heads like your dog in the back of the car." " Is it a good price?" " Yes. yes." "But why don't you say it's a lot of money, that's what you're thinking!" "How come you went?" "You said you were not going anywhere anymore?" "My mate!" "Ml'la!" " Where are you?" " Here!" "Don't you want to come with us to the chocolate factory?" "You get a kilo of chocolate." "You get it as a present" "and it's only CZK 39." " So come on, and when is it?" " I don't know now." "The sixteenth?" " The thirtieth, isn't it?" " Rubbish, it's the sixteenth." " Come on." "I can only tell you this." "There's not one person in this room in full health today." "Not one." "I was watching when you came in that bus today, and it didn't look to me like the arrival of an athletics club." "I'm sure loads of you have health problems." "And sure." "I'm no different." "The years go by, you lose your strength." "I'm not going to tell you what you should do for your health." "But I think investing CZK 250 in each foot is the least you can do for your health." "'If you don't buy this blanket, your grandchildren will die.'" "That one got me." "said the psychologist." "The use of fear in those presentations is a very unethical technique." "Because when a senior citizen feels sad, dejected." "Stuck in a situation with no way out, it is easier for him to succumb to someone who is able to give or offer a way out of that situation." "If you're allergic to dust, well, you're done for." "Dust is everywhere." "Ladies, that's why when you do the dusting it comes back in a little while." "You ask yourself where it comes from." "You just can't get rid of the dust on your carpets, mattresses, chairs." "This vacuum has 100% filtration, the guarantee on the vacuum is 5 years." "If someone offered me a way out of this situation, then I would usually take it." "And here, unfortunately, the way out is to buy the product." " Okay, here's my misfortune." "l'm so angry I'd rather shout" "and swear at you." " Hmm, definitely." " Would you have any scissors?" " Yes." "I have." "Because I really don'!" "like this kind of behaviour." "Boiena's experience ended up purchasing biolamps for CZK 15000." "She was unable to return the goods." "For good measure." "Biolamp warranty she will have only, when the box with the device is opened with the seller directly at her home." "During their visit our hidden camera was in the room." "Can you explain to me what this is for?" " That's a medical device." " Medical?" "Yes, medical." "Well so far we're healthy, but because of you our nerves are shattered." "So use the lamp on your nerves." "It treats psychological problems too." ""All for your health and wellbeing"" "We've already mentioned that one element of the manipulation is fictional prizes." "These often play the main role." "Let's look at this more closely." "In order for everything to run as it should, it's important to first praise the product and then withhold it." "I've now got 10 thousand euro." "250 thousand crowns." "A quarter of a million." "Give or take." "A quarter of a million is loads, really loads of money." "That's advertising money." "A subsidy for your health, and it's here waiting for some of you." "In a moment, I'm going to draw ten cards." "I'm going to draw one number from zero to nine, and if you don't have it you've got nothing." "Don't ask me for anything, you're getting nothing from me, there'll be no prize for you." "It's natural for us to want what we can't have." "There is no way you can buy the product. but...?" "You can win it!" "But only if you're lucky..." "This luck is naturally a sham." "And it appears the winners are manufactured." "So that perhaps 80% of the people in the room can experience the joy of winning." "Have another look, people." "Have a proper look." "These drawings are for a prize." "There must be more winners here." "Put that hand up, because if we're not honest with each other, then we'll return the favour." "The competitions have various forms, numbers are drawn, scratchcards are used, coloured stickers are placed on chairs." "The feeling of winning is fantastic." " Mrs Dymékové!" "Mrs?" " Miss." "Miss..." "That's worth a round of applause." "Great, let's see." "First the number, thanks to that number you have won 20000 from Solingen." "But we have another envelope here." "If there's a brochure for some product in here, that means you get that product too, free of charge." "There's something here I know you'll enjoy." "When I show you and you like it, will you say hurrah?" "Are they mine?" "If they're mine I'll say hurrah." "She's too clever by half!" "Okay." "But look, that's not for you to go and buy a pair of jeans." ""Good luck!"" "You can win 10, 20 or even CZK 30000!" "But when you win you find out that you won't be getting the money, you only get a discount on buying goods." "Only now, exceptionally, only because at a presentation, you are and not a sales event!" "Spy:" "I just wanted to ask if they're selling you something or not, that's all." "Dealer:" "We're not selling anything at all." "Spy:" "If you're buying something or not." "Old lady:" "Yes, I'm buying!" "Spy:" "She says she is." "Old lady:" "Like I say." "I'm getting a wedding present here." "Spy:" "And how much money are you giving them then?" "Old lady:" "I'm giving them 10000." "Spy: 10000 and she's not buying anything?" "Dealer:" "This is none of your business, sir." "Spy: 10000 and she's not buying anything?" "Dealer:" "Come with us, lady." "Come here." "Spy: 10000 and she's not buying anything?" "Dealer:" "Come here lady." "Spy:" "You're saying that nothing is being bought here, gifts are being given out and now you want 10000 from her?" "I'm just interested, so I'm asking." "Dealer:" "She's won a prize." "Lady:" "I'm giving 10000 for that voucher." "Spy:" "So she has to pay for the prize..." "Yesterday there was a man who thought he could use his 10000 for drinks in the pub, or at a fruit machine, or to buy new windows, for a wedding, for his funeral." "That money is a health subsidy." "Tell me one thing." " Is this for your health?" " It is." " Is that for your health?" " It is." "The drawings, as I saw them in the film, in my legal opinion should be governed by the Lottery Act." "In other words, the terms of the Act need to be followed." "This means in particular having the approval and participation of a notary." "If these conditions were not met, the organisers would be subject to sanctions." "Which in this case would be fines." "And these fines could be on the order of a few million crowns." "I don't know, would it be possible to take this and order it, maybe on the internet?" "Or maybe to use it like..." "On the internet you won't be able to use the 30000 for that set of cookware, but you can buy it on the internet for 60." "That's all I can say about that." "The most you can do is withdraw from the contract within 14 days like anyone else." "I don't know, I've not such a deadlock before." "I don't want your money now." "We'll do it this way." "We'll give you the goods today so you can believe me, and we'll trust you with it and you'll pay for it at home," "in one or two instalments." " When do you need my answer?" "You've got the biggest prize, so tell me now." "At this moment, you are so confused that you're unable to understand anything." "But this information is clear:" "You've got a once-in-a-lifetime offer and you can't let it slip between your fingers." "The dealer has allowed you to buy a product which you can't buy in the shops, and for a special, unrivalled price." "If the client is unsure, the dealer assures him that he is not pushing him into a purchase, but he keeps on repeating the benefits of the products." "So, as I said, it's a subsidy." "20000 from Solingen, 5 from us, 5 from the European Environmental Fund." "That's here." "This is a subsidy from the European Environmental Fund?" "They've funded CZK 5000 for you." "Because of the, uh, the steam." "So you can get one." "So you don't have to pay." " There're European funds for this?" " It's an environmentally friendly machine." " I see." " It doesn't use any chemicals." " That surprises me." " They did contribute towards it." " The European Union really funds it?" " Of course." "A month after Dana bought a set of titanium pots for 35000, she went with Jarda to another event." "For Pardubice gingerbread." "This time she didn't buy anything." "But Jarda was about to have the worst day he'd ever experienced, and we got involved in events for the first time." " I don'!" "want anything." "What?" "You don't want anything?" "No." "Okay, you know what sir, that's fine." "I'm glad." "But listen." "One thing." "You're not getting lunch today." "And listen, there's one thing I don't like." "First of all." "You're not here at a sales event today, so I'd be glad if you behaved accordingly." " He pulled you out into the corridor, didn't he?" "Yes." " Did he shout at you?" " He shouted at you so much..." "I told him not to shout at me, I'm from a quiet family." "Then he calmed down." "Sorry to disturb you, but we came together." "Madam, don't worry about it, I've come to an arrangement with him." " So if he's gone I'm going with him." " Hey, don't get involved." "Just sit down and stay calm, we've spoken with the guy and it's all done." "So if I ask you something." "you don'!" "want me here?" "I don't like when someone worries about something that's nothing to do with them." " Deal with your own fucking problems." " Are you insulting me?" "Come here, come on." " And he told you you're a bastard." " Yeah." " He told you you're a bastard?" " Yeah." "And I said I'm no bastard because..." "How old are you, how old am I?" "I said forget it, I wanted to call the police." "Hey one thing, listen to me Miss." "Worry about your own things." "I spoke to the man perfectly normally. man to man, let's not make a drama out of it, don't blow things up out of all proportion with me here." " Were you afraid of him?" " No." "Jarda..." "Okay, so maybe I was a little..." "Okay, Silva." "Maybe I was a little afraid of him." "If he touched me, I'd start kicking so much he wouldn't know who he was." " I don'!" "want to be nasty." " But it's not being nasty," "you're just defending yourself." " And then he says: "Know what?" "Buy this cream for CZK 250 and we'll forget it."" " Did you buy the cream?" " Yeah." "I did." "He did." "I only said what I thought, that there was something I didn't like." "We don't need your opinion." "I had a normal discussion with the man, we talked it out and he carried on as normal." " Because he's afraid of you." " What's he afraid of?" " Look how you shout at me." " How do you behave?" "l'm polite." "You're polite?" "Here's your money back, have a nice day, goodbye Miss." "Bye." "Bye." "Do you normally behave like that with these pensioners?" "The way you're behaving toward me?" "These people have respect, but you respect nothing." " You haven'!" "experienced shit, Miss." " What about you?" "What?" "What are you going to tell me?" "What have you achieved in your life?" " What about you?" " What have you achieved girlie?" " Are you calling me a girlie?" " Why wouldn't I?" "How old are you?" "25?" " What. am I not allowed to call you that?" " How dare you!" "Why can't I?" "Are you shocked?" "Have a nice day, bye." "L'm not going any more." "I'm through with it." "Me neither." "Screw them." "It'll be warm, so..." " Jesus." " Yeah." "It'll be warm, so I might stop." "It's only when I want to shorten the long winter." "There'll be work at home, it'll be great." "It'll be warm." " Yeah. and I'll go cycling." " Yeah." "I'm not going any more." "If I give you these gifts today, for you, or your family, for CZK 35000." "And I'm being serious here, would you do something for me?" "Just a little something?" "Would you do something for me?" "Shake on it." "Let's all have a glass together!" "We'll have a little toast." "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9,10,11,12,13!" "I've got one more here, never mind." "To your health, to ***." "To your health." "Knock it back!" ""The assistant congratulated everyone and offered us a glass to our health." "In response to my question about how much it would cost, he shouted:" "Shut your mouth and go sit down!" Marta K., pensioner, Prague" "Don't cry." "You're not like her." "But granny, why didn't they leave me there?" "Hush now." "She's shaking all over, poor thing." "What you are about to see is not for the faint-hearted." "This is how dealers at one event behaved toward mentally disabled women." "They amused themselves by filming it and then putting it on social networking sites." "L'm putting this on YouTube." " Really?" "I'll have to have a look." "Let me in!" "I'll be good, I'm good." "Let me in." "They wont." "That guy's looking." "I won't get lunch." "We're not getting any lunch." "So we'll be hungry then." "We're not getting anything for dinner either, so we'll be hungry. you'll be hungry." "I'm not going on these any more." "Even if I got one, I'd rip it up." "they can stick it up their..." "Let me in." "He doesn't believe you." " The police are coming for you in a bit anyway." "Woah..." " They're not coming, are they?" " They are." "I've called them." " What don't you want?" " The police..." ""I saw for myself in Hungary how the demonstrator waited for a pensioner to go to the toilet so he could lock him in there, and he beat him up so badly his head was bleeding." "Simply because he didn't want to sign the contract." Lenka P, former rep." "He told me to come out of the room." "So we went out of the room and he threatened me that I'd get his fist in my face, and when I said I was going into the room he lifted his hand and pushed me." "And because I use crutches, naturally I couldn't keep my balance," "I fell against the wall, onto the bin and on the floor." "Sixty-four year old disabled pensioner, Josef, was attacked at a presentation in Pilsen by a young dealer." "Why?" "Josef and his wife had won, and instead of CZK 120000 needed to pay only 25 for a vacuum cleaner and pots." "They were talked into the purchase, but then changed their mind." "And you've heard the result." "Josef has permanent injuries but his attacker got away with a suspended sentence." "Despite having previously appeared in the courts for attacking a police officer." " Emergency services." " Hello, I'm in Jilemnice." "In community centre, there's a man here who's having a heart attack." "We're at a presentation here, I'm from the Czech Trade Inspectorate." " Okay, Jilm community centre, yes?" " Yes." "Where exactly are you?" " Jilemnice." "I know, but where in the centre?" "At reception?" "In the restaurant, right down, right down by reception." " What is the man's name, do we know?" " Don't know." "He collapsed." " He's going purple." " About how old is he?" "Over 60." "Put him on his back." "tilt his head back." "Now they're, now they're..." " Can you hear me?" " Yes. yes, but they attack..." " Who?" " Here in the hall." " Let go of me!" " Please send the police to Jilemnice." "Madam, I'm sending the police there too." "That man, listen to me." "The police have been here and they've gone now." "Listen to me!" "We have to look after the man now, okay?" " They're not letting me near him." " They're not letting you near him?" "No." "The security guard." "I had to escape." " What security guard there?" " Those guys that do presentations are here." "There are six guys who force these people to buy the goods." "Okay, okay, madam, we're on our way, okay?" "I'll call you shortly." ""Don't sit at home, come with us for some fun."" "When I saw the film from the presentations, as a lawyer I was completely shocked." "That pressure was the result of massive humiliation, vulgarity and intimidation, and as a lawyer I'd want to know if contracts entered into under that kind of pressure are even valid." "And I can give you the answer now." "They're not." "Who are these people who make their living like this?" "Is the problem with the company, the dealers. or the whole system?" "Who are the actual victims in this game?" "Edita, Ondfej and Martin." "All three were part of this system." "Edita as a dealer, Ondfej as a rep and Martin as a driver." "I was invited for an interview where I was told what I was going to do" "and that I had to sign the contract -"Former dealer"" "to be able to participate in a training which was taking place that day." "I didn't have time to read the contract because the training was to begin in 5, and I was told that I couldn't take the contract home, the training started in 5 minutes and if I didn't sign it I wouldn't be able to do the training." "I didn't force anyone to buy anything." "But I did know who I was working for." ""Former rep"" "But because I didn't have a job at the time, I took the work." ""Former driver"" "It was obvious to me what it was all about," "I did feel sorry, I talked about it with my colleagues they were mostly older drivers, retired men or close to it." "They looked at it like this:" ""I'm paid for taking the people here." "These people are adults, they're responsible." "They should have a bit of sense too, if they don't, that's their problem."" "For people at home, around you, they don't know, they haven'!" "seen it, so they can look at it like that." "You can expect that." "But you've seen it for yourself." "You've made up your mind." "You could say that we were forced to lie, because we were told not to say that it was a presentation, but rather to stress that we were picking up prizes." "Those guys make a lot of money, those dealers, they make loads." "I don't know if they think about what they're doing or not." "Hard to say. when you find out how much money is involved, maybe your morals just go out the window." "According to the Czech Trade Inspection Authority, there are about 500 companies who do business in this manner." "People who work with these companies often set up their own companies based on the same principles." "They often have business addresses." "Or they register rooms in bars as their premises." "The addresses and personal details of senior citizens can then move freely from one dealer to the next." "The Czech Trade Inspection Authority has found misconduct and violations of the law in 70% of the presentation events inspected." "They took me as one of them, so they didn't mince their words, they were straight with me, they spoke openly, no pretence, no acting, they thought of it as:" ""These are the people we have to rip off, we have to squeeze money from."" "You, I don't know why. some of you still have the feeling that someone is trying to steal from you, I don't know why." "One lady from some village by Holice changed her mind on the way back, decided she didn't want what she'd bought." "so she asked me if I could take it back." "It was clear to me that it wouldn't work, but I promised to do it for her and said I'd be back in Holice the next day, so I could give her the things back." "When I went to the presentation," "I asked." "The dealer's reaction was:" ""Well what does the bitch think?" "She signed for it, she has to pay."" ""What you do with the stuff is up to you, keep it, throw it out, we don't care anymore."" "I can't pull out all my aces now." "I can't pull them out of my sleeve." "Because when I pull them out, you'll do one thing." "You'll start a fight." "Morality is one thing." "but another thing is money, and right now I have a normal job with quite a good wage," "I can earn quite good money with standard, serious companies where there are rules and regulations and so on." "So I've got no reason to look for this kind of work." "If I was in some kind of material need, then I'd do it again." "If nothing else." "It's an interesting experience." "I think that the pensioner here certainly is a victim." "He probably shares some of the blame for going there." "But certainly not for the sales themselves." "It's a big show they put on for those old people who have lived through an era which today's young people don't remember." "Communism and so on, and that they've had to go through something like this in their old age, it just makes me sad, at the very least." "It's beneath them." "Who's got number three there?" "Three!" "Applause!" "Publicity released during the preparation of this documentary has generated an overwhelming response from the media and public." "Published articles and interviews with its creators have broken records for readership and website visitor numbers." "And each further mention of the documentary has resulted in one thing." "More and more people have come forward who feel cheated and don't know what to do." "Supportive e-mails have been sent by lawyers. police officers and state inspectorate employees." "Senior clubs. associations and foundations have expressed their interest." "They are sounding the alarm, they consider the situation desperate and extremely worrying." "We shouldn't close our eyes to it." "Since 2000, the number of properly seizures carried out on pensioners has risen by a factor of 4." "In just the first half of 2012, there were 4000 more seizures carried out on pensioners than there were in the whole of the previous year." ""Warn your parents and grandparents, these crooks are selling us shit!"" ""Don't want to die?" "Then buy it!"" "Unfortunately, those who should do not see just how much this issue resonates in the Czech Republic." "The Czech Republic has its own Council for Older Persons and Population Ageing, which has 28 members." "The council meets twice a year." "And its charter states that it shall initiate and propose legislative and non-legislative measures to address important issues related to the concerns of older persons and an ageing population." "Unfortunately, since it was established in 2006, it has not dealt even once with the issue of these presentation events." ""If you're over 60 years old, you can come with us for free."" "The question of why senior citizens continue to go to these presentations remains to be answered." "We think that senior citizens are addicted to these presentations." "And we think this because they go repeatedly to these events." "This is very similar to anyone who is addicted to anything else." "By this we mean someone who is addicted to alcohol, drugs or fruit machines." "Our senior citizens cannot bear personal responsibility for entering into contracts." "We therefore need to adopt a legal norm to protect them." "And until now, we don't have one in our legal system." "High time to get some relaxation." "Ideally at a castle." "Klecany Castle lies just a few kilometres north of Prague." "The first fortress founded here dates back to 1380." "It was owned over the years by the families of" "Lobkowitz, Gallas and Clam Gallas..." "During the World War II, the castle was owned by the Hitler Youth." "The property then continued to change hands, and it was not until 2003 that it underwent repair work." "Its private owner, from Germany, has turned the ruins into a jewel." "Unfortunately, the castle is closed to the public." "It is used for accommodation and also as a company headquarters." "A company which, with its personnel and property links to its subsidiaries, holds the largest number of sales events focused on senior citizens." "The inscription on the castle's coat of arms, "Magno Millenio Invenio Viam", can be translated as:" ""On the Path to the Great Millennium."" "Quickly to me now if you have a number one on the right at the end." "If it's a one, come to me." "Who'll be here first?" "Who'll be here first?" "The lady there!" "applause!" "Anna doesn't want to be alone." "She has bought goods for more than CZK 200000 at sales events." "Jarda doesn't want to be alone." "He is still trying to persuade his mate Dana to come on the trips." "Dana doesn't want to be alone." "For her last purchase of 35000, she is paying back a total of 61210 with interest." "She claims she is done with it." "Boiena." "Over the next 5 years, she has to pay for a bio lamp which she doesn't need." "Josef has permanent injuries from the assault by a dealer." "He has received no compensation." "Because I didn't buy the lanolin, I said I've got it at home." "So I'm not going any more." "This is..." "This is because I'm kind." "Don't cry." "We'll have an ice-cream together in Néchod and talk, okay?" "Do you like ice-cream?" "I'm infirm, and they're like that..." "I'm not going any more." "I only went to look at the castle, not for this." "He told me, that I should've stayed at home." "I'm Silva, what's your name?" " Me?" "Va***." "First name?" " Marie." "Marie... when we go to the castle I'll tell you a little secret that'll make you happy." "Okay?" "I'm here with you on the trip and I'll tell you why I'm here." " Okay." "Don't cry, they're beasts, but I'll tell you a secret then." "Ok3Y'" "Not one of the companies we spoke to took advantage of the opportunity to give an official response and appear in this documentary." "Materials that we shot, we gave the police." "They have begun an investigation." "What's the best way to protect yourself?" "Don't go!" "WHAT'S YOUR GRANNY DOING TOMORROW?"