How to deter of door to door salespeople? - Page 2

Julie Rains · 06-19-2008, 07:52 AM

wow, you have a lot of door-to-door sales people. We don't get many -- just a few a year and those are annoying, so I don't have vast experience in deterring sales people. Could you talk to your neighbors about the problem? They may be annoyed as you are, or completely unaware of the problem perhaps b/c they are gone during the day. You could establish some neighborhood rules or at least communicate that you will be glad to help their kids with fund-raisers but not the people who are dropping by to give you a spiel.

Mary Webber · 06-20-2008, 04:26 PM

Not quite the same thing, but especially during this political season, phone solicitations are NOT welcome at our house. Yes, we're signed up for the Do-Not-Call list, but there are certainly exceptions, and every one of those "exceptional" people has called us, I swear! One night at suppertime the phone rang, my husband answered, and in a voice I can only describe as lugubrious, I heard him tell the caller, "Oh, I am so sorry but she died this morning." AND we did NOT take a subscription to the newspaper he was selling!

Kismet · 08-02-2008, 11:08 PM

I tried door-to-door sales for a brief time. I had signed up because it seemed much more legit, then they started sending us out door-to-door.

Anyway, I read a sign on someone's door once that made me laugh and walk away.

I don't need a subscription
I've found Jesus
And my vacuum cleaner works

lucille · 08-03-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary Webber

Not quite the same thing, but especially during this political season, phone solicitations are NOT welcome at our house. Yes, we're signed up for the Do-Not-Call list, but there are certainly exceptions, and every one of those "exceptional" people has called us, I swear! One night at suppertime the phone rang, my husband answered, and in a voice I can only describe as lugubrious, I heard him tell the caller, "Oh, I am so sorry but she died this morning." AND we did NOT take a subscription to the newspaper he was selling!

The last election year that we had a landline and a regular answering machine I came home from work two nights in a row to find the machine full of political callers and recordings telling me to vote for so and so or doing a smear on their opponent. That was the last year we used our own answering machine and we quit having voice mail on our landline that we now no longer have.

Greg · 08-04-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason830

What are the repercussions if you dont skip the houses?

I don't know what the legal repercussions are, but I imagine they would get a door slammed in their face if they ignored posted warnings.

Like how I deal with telemarketers. Just hang up.

"Hello, I'm calling to...." *click*

amandajane · 08-04-2008, 07:18 PM

If it's Jehovah's Witnesses you want to get rid of just ask them to go on the 'do not call list' - they have to abide by it then. :0)

AlmostFrugal · 08-07-2008, 07:43 AM

This doesn't work everywhere, but it works like a charm for me.

I'm American, and I live in France. I speak French fluently, but for door-to-door or telephone solicitations the best trick is to ask: "Do you speak English?".

Inevitably they hang-up or walk away.

Except, there are a ton of young American Mormon missionaries here for some reason, and then I just politely tell them in English that we're not interested.

bigseaton · 08-13-2008, 09:16 PM

I would suggest that you put up a sign stating exactly what you said

"Solicitations only accepted by neighborhood residents"

purplefdu · 08-20-2008, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary Webber

Not quite the same thing, but especially during this political season, phone solicitations are NOT welcome at our house. Yes, we're signed up for the Do-Not-Call list, but there are certainly exceptions, and every one of those "exceptional" people has called us, I swear! One night at suppertime the phone rang, my husband answered, and in a voice I can only describe as lugubrious, I heard him tell the caller, "Oh, I am so sorry but she died this morning." AND we did NOT take a subscription to the newspaper he was selling!

Unfortunately those dang politicians aren't covered in the do not call list. And somehow every one of them has gotten our number and my name when I registered in town to vote three years ago. They are also allowed to come down our private road to knock on doors (ugh).

Legal repercussions? Ever hear of trespassing on private property? If you clearly have a sign saying no solicitation/trespassing/sales/etc and they come into your property and do just that you can call the cops and press charges. Probably won't get much other then a slap on the wrist but I bet they don't knock again. While they can come down a private road once I tell them to leave my private property or make it clear they are not invited on to start they are in the legal wrong.

I had a little old lady come down our road a couple weekends ago. We watched her as she went long since we were out walking the dogs. She finally got to our house and said "oh the dog walkers" and got out her pamphlet about her campaign. I asked her if she knew this was a private road and she started quoting me the exact laws that allow her to come down it. I stopped her and explained that most of us live down a private road because its worth the fees to avoid dealing with being harassed and she did not have permission to come and harass me at my home, which is a nice walk from the road. I felt a bit guilty for being a bit rude, but if you don't allow people to opt out after opting out it has to be expected. I vote every election, I read online about the issues and make an informed decision. I don't need harassed at home.

genieb · 09-01-2008, 12:56 PM

I live in an apt. community and we have no soliciting signs on the main doors, but we still get the college kids that are dropped of in the neighborhood to sell magazines. We are supposed to quote the rule on door to door sales and close the door, which is what I do. But before I close the door I pick up the phone and start calling the office. We have a real bulldog of an assistant manager who comes out and follows them off the property in her car. That usually at least slows things down... for awhile.

The telemarketing thing that drives me crazy are those automated calls. I hate to answer the phone to just hear a recording -- especially from a siding company or a political candidate. But don't get me started...

06-19-2008, 07:52 AM	#11
Julie Rains Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 401 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (189)	wow, you have a lot of door-to-door sales people. We don't get many -- just a few a year and those are annoying, so I don't have vast experience in deterring sales people. Could you talk to your neighbors about the problem? They may be annoyed as you are, or completely unaware of the problem perhaps b/c they are gone during the day. You could establish some neighborhood rules or at least communicate that you will be glad to help their kids with fund-raisers but not the people who are dropping by to give you a spiel. __________________ Wise Bread and Parenting Squad blogger

06-20-2008, 04:26 PM	#12
Mary Webber Family Thrift Counselor Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 145 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (27)	Telephone solicitors...ARGH! Not quite the same thing, but especially during this political season, phone solicitations are NOT welcome at our house. Yes, we're signed up for the Do-Not-Call list, but there are certainly exceptions, and every one of those "exceptional" people has called us, I swear! One night at suppertime the phone rang, my husband answered, and in a voice I can only describe as lugubrious, I heard him tell the caller, "Oh, I am so sorry but she died this morning." AND we did NOT take a subscription to the newspaper he was selling! __________________ Family Thrift Counselor - Get practical advice on how to save money and eat better.

08-07-2008, 07:43 AM	#17
AlmostFrugal Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: France Posts: 88 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (32)	This doesn't work everywhere, but it works like a charm for me. I'm American, and I live in France. I speak French fluently, but for door-to-door or telephone solicitations the best trick is to ask: "Do you speak English?". Inevitably they hang-up or walk away. Except, there are a ton of young American Mormon missionaries here for some reason, and then I just politely tell them in English that we're not interested. __________________ Almost Frugal... frugality for the rest of us Almost Frugal Food family, food, France, frugality

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08-02-2008, 11:08 PM	#13
Kismet Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I tried door-to-door sales for a brief time. I had signed up because it seemed much more legit, then they started sending us out door-to-door. Anyway, I read a sign on someone's door once that made me laugh and walk away. I don't need a subscription I've found Jesus And my vacuum cleaner works

08-04-2008, 07:18 PM	#16
amandajane Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 490 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (287)	If it's Jehovah's Witnesses you want to get rid of just ask them to go on the 'do not call list' - they have to abide by it then. :0)

08-13-2008, 09:16 PM	#18
bigseaton Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I would suggest that you put up a sign stating exactly what you said "Solicitations only accepted by neighborhood residents"

09-01-2008, 12:56 PM	#20
genieb Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I live in an apt. community and we have no soliciting signs on the main doors, but we still get the college kids that are dropped of in the neighborhood to sell magazines. We are supposed to quote the rule on door to door sales and close the door, which is what I do. But before I close the door I pick up the phone and start calling the office. We have a real bulldog of an assistant manager who comes out and follows them off the property in her car. That usually at least slows things down... for awhile. The telemarketing thing that drives me crazy are those automated calls. I hate to answer the phone to just hear a recording -- especially from a siding company or a political candidate. But don't get me started...