Region awash with pushy showerhead salespeople

A WAVE of door-to-door salespeople offering free showerhead replacements has caused concern among local residents.

The salespeople, often implying they are conducting official state government business, have drawn criticism from local resident groups for their overly assertive tactics.

Anne, a local resident, spoke to the Bellarine Community Noticeboard about an incident where her husband allowed a salesman to replace their showerheads, expressing her unhappiness as it constituted a ‘non-authorised repair’ on her rental.

“It’s pink batts all over again,” fellow resident Cathy said, drawing parallels to the Home Insulation Program (HIP).

Under the Victorian State Government’s Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program, Victorians are eligible for up to two water-saving showerheads if their existing showerheads have a high flow rate or a low star rating.

The replacement must be an approved product installed by an accredited provider.

Local resident, Corine, highlighting the financial aspects, said, “They offered to change ours even though we are in a new build rental. When I explained we are renting and can’t change anything they said to accept them and “just leave them in the garage, they didn’t even want the old ones back”.

Many residents said they were either unhappy with the water pressure or quality of the new showerheads and ended up changing back.

Many residents were told they weren’t allowed to keep their old one.

Other residents spoke about instances where the replaced showerhead or hose was leaked.

Rob from the Bellarine criticised the quality of the replacement hose on the showerheads.

“Mine blew out within 13 months and got another old style from Bunnings for $25. Never again and happier with old style,” he said.

Jodie, from the Clifton Springs, Drysdale, Curlewis community voice Facebook Group, encountered a pushy salesman: “A pushy man offering ‘free shower head scheme’… opened my gate to enter property, told me to tie my dogs up and when I told him I am not interested and renting – said ‘you need to get the owners a new shower head.'”

The VEU website outlines eligibility for the program and advises households and business to only install approved products and work with accredited advisors.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action was contacted for comment but did not respond prior to publication.

Information about the scheme, as well as the accredited providers, can be found at: www.energy.vic.gov.au/households/

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