Source: https://ecode360.com/3007891
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 17:04:31+00:00

Document:
§ 156-4 Application for registration.
§ 156-7 Prohibited practices; disclosure requirements.
§ 156-8 Report of violations.
§ 156-9 Revocation of registration.
It shall be unlawful for any direct merchant to engage in direct sales within the City of Lodi without being registered for that purpose as provided herein.
Any individual who, for him/herself, or for a partnership, association or corporation, sells goods, takes sales orders for the later delivery of goods, or buys or offers to buy personal property at any location other than the permanent business place or residence of said individual, partnership, association or corporation, and shall include, but not be limited to, peddlers, solicitors, transient merchants and insurance salespersons. The sale of goods includes donations required by the direct merchant for the retention of goods by a donor or prospective customer.
Includes personal property of any kind, and shall include goods provided incidental to services offered or sold. "Goods" shall also include insurance policies of any kind.
A direct merchant who, for at least one year prior to the consideration of the application of this chapter to said merchant, has continuously operated an established place of business in this City or has continuously resided in this City and now does business from his/her residence.
Any permanent merchant or employee thereof who takes orders away from the established place of business for goods regularly offered for sale by such merchant within this county and who delivers such goods in his/her regular course of business.
Any person who has an established place of business where the goods being sold are offered for sale on a regular basis and in which the buyer has initiated contact with, and specifically requested a home visit by, said person.
Any person who has had, or one who represents a company which has had, a prior business transaction, such as prior sale or credit arrangement, with the prospective customer.
Any employee, officer or agent of a charitable or civic organization who engages in direct sales for or on behalf of said organization, provided that said organization is based in the City of Lodi. For purposes of this chapter, a charitable or civic organization is based in the City of Lodi if the majority of its membership resides within the City, its primary meeting place is within the City, or the majority of its charitable or civil activities are conducted within the City.
Any employee, officer or agent of a charitable organization who engages in direct sales for or on behalf of said organization, provided that there is submitted to the Clerk proof that such charitable organization is registered under § 440.42, Wis. Stats. Any charitable organization not registered under § 440.42, Wis. Stats., or which is exempt from that statute's registration requirements, shall be required to register under this chapter, unless exempted under Subsection I above.
Any person who claims to be a permanent merchant but against whom complaint has been made to the Clerk that such person is a transient merchant, provided that there is submitted to the Clerk proof that such person has leased for at least one year, or purchased, the premises from which he/she is conducting business or proof that such person has conducted such business in this City for at least one year prior to the date complaint was made.
Name, address and telephone number of the person, firm, association or corporation that the direct merchant represents or is employed by, or whose merchandise is being sold.
Statement as to whether the applicant has been convicted of any crime or ordinance violation related to applicant's direct merchant business within the last five years, the nature of the offense and the place of conviction.
A state health officer's certificate where the applicant's business involves the handling of food or clothing and is required to be certified under state law, such certificate to state that the applicant is apparently free from any contagious or infectious disease, dated not more than 90 days prior to the date the application for registration is made.
At the time the registration is returned, a fee shall be paid to the Clerk to cover the cost of processing said registration. The fee shall be set by the Common Council by resolution.
The applicant shall sign a statement appointing the Clerk his/her agent to accept service of process in any civil action brought against the applicant arising out of any purchase, sale or service performed by the applicant in connection with the direct merchant activities of the applicant, in the event the applicant cannot, after reasonable effort, be served personally.
Upon payment of said fee and the signing of said statement, the Clerk shall, subject to § 156-5 below, register the applicant as a direct merchant and date the entry. Said registration shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of entry, subject to subsequent refusal as provided in § 156-5B below.
Upon receipt of each application, the Clerk may refer it immediately to the Chief of Police, who may make and complete an investigation of the statements made in such registration.
The Clerk may refuse to register the applicant if it is determined, pursuant to the investigation above, that the application contains any material omission or materially inaccurate statement; complaints of a material nature have been received against the applicant by authorities in the last cities, villages and towns, not exceeding three, in which the applicant conducted similar business; the applicant was convicted of a crime, statutory violation or ordinance violation within the last five years, the nature of which is directly related to the applicant's fitness to engage in the direct merchant business; or the applicant failed to comply with any applicable provision of § 156-4B above.
A direct merchant shall be prohibited from calling at any dwelling or other place between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. except by appointment; calling at any dwelling or other place where a sign is displayed bearing the words "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors" or words of similar meaning; calling at the rear door of any dwelling place; or remaining on any premises after being asked to leave by the owner, occupant or other person having authority over such premises.
A direct merchant shall not misrepresent or make false, deceptive or misleading statements concerning the quality, quantity or character of any goods offered for sale, or which the merchant is offering to buy, the purpose of his/her visit, his/her identity or the identity of the organization he/she represents. A charitable organization direct merchant shall specifically disclose what portion of the sale price of goods being offered will actually be used for the charitable purpose for which the organization is soliciting. Said portion shall be expressed as a percentage of the sale price of the goods.
No direct merchant shall impede the free use of sidewalks and streets by pedestrians and vehicles. Where sales or purchases are made from vehicles, all traffic and parking regulations shall be observed.
No direct merchant shall make any loud noises or use any sound-amplifying device to attract customers if the noise produced is capable of being plainly heard outside a one-hundred-foot radius of the source.
No direct merchant shall allow rubbish or litter to accumulate in or around the area in which he/she is conducting business.
After the initial greeting and before any other statement is made to a prospective customer, a direct merchant shall expressly disclose his/her name, the name of the company or organization he/she is affiliated with, if any, and the identity of goods or services he/she offers to sell.
If any sale of goods is made by a direct merchant, or any sales order for the later delivery of goods is taken by the seller, the buyer shall have the right to cancel said transaction if it involves the extension of credit or is a cash transaction of more than $25, in accordance with the procedure as set forth in § 423.203, Wis. Stats. The seller shall give the buyer two copies of a typed or printed notice of that fact. Such notice shall conform to the requirements of § 423.203(1)(a), (b) and (c), (2) and (3), Wis. Stats.
If the direct merchant takes a sales order for the later delivery of goods, he/she shall, at the time the order is taken, provide the buyer with a written statement containing the terms of the agreement, the amount paid in advance, whether full, partial or no advance payment is made, the name, address and telephone number of the seller, the delivery or performance date and whether a guarantee or warranty is provided and, if so, the terms thereof.
The Chief of Police shall report to the Clerk all convictions for violation of this chapter and the Clerk shall note any such violation on the record of the registrant convicted.
Registration may be revoked by the Common Council after notice and hearing, if the registrant made any material omission or materially inaccurate statement in the application for registration, made any fraudulent, false, deceptive or misleading statement or representation in the course of engaging in the direct merchant business, violated any provision of this chapter or was convicted of any crime or ordinance or statutory violation which is directly related to the registrant's fitness to engage in the direct merchant business.
Written notice of the hearing shall be sent by certified mail addressed to the registrant at his/her permanent address noted on his/her registration form at least five days prior to the time set for the hearing and a statement of the acts upon which the hearing will be based.
Any person convicted of violating any provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty as provided in Chapter 1, § 1-3 of this Code.

References: § 156

§ 156

§ 156
 § 440
 § 440
 § 156
 § 156
 § 156
 § 423
 § 423
 § 1