have you EVER bought anything significant from a door to door salesperson?

[Darth-Baiter]

some girlscout at my door might fleece me easily for my pocket money.  I get it.  I can get behind a box of thin-mints.

 

but big stuff?  lately it's been Solar Energy companies banging at my door.  offering a free consultation.  if/when I decide to go solar, I will do my due diligence, check references, get multiple quotes, etc.  I am NOT buying from the pompous kid giving me stink eye at my door. same old stuff, "I am in the neighborhood working with some of your neighbors..".  I always ask, "which neighbor?"  it got me thinking.  I have NEVER bought anything from a door to door salesperson.  I understand the job must be challenging beyond anything I can imagine.  

 

this kid got ticked at me.  I kept saying "no thanks" over and over again.  smiling trying to be polite, and understanding.  I finally said, "listen, you hear that?  that is a meeting I am attending". 

"when can I come back?"

"you dont like to hear NO, huh?"  his facial expression went dark.  it has to be the worst way for a company to sell something.  annoy and bother the person right from the get-go.  poor kid.  

 

solar companies and pest control companies.  gah...

[Jig Man]

Nope.  I’m not a nice guy when you come uninvited to my property.

[Darren.]

Yup. Back when my wife and I were newly married, first house.

Kirby salesman sold us a vac. I should say, tho, It has lasted 28

years and has been awesome. We even bought another lightly

used newer model at a yard sale a few years back.

 

Nothing else. We turn 99.99% of solicitors away now. Lucked out

on the Kirby. Young and "naive", though it has paid back in dividends.

 

Edit: For those who don't know, Kirbys sell for over a grand. ?

[Jrob78]

If I don't know you're coming there's a good chance I won't even go to the door, let alone answer it. 

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, Darren. said:

Yup. Back when my wife and I were newly married, first house.

Kirby salesman sold us a vac. I should say, tho, It has lasted 28

years and has been awesome. We even bought another lightly

used newer model at a yard sale a few years back.

 

Nothing else. We turn 99.99% of solicitors away now. Lucked out

on the Kirby. Young and "naive", though it has paid back in dividends.

 

Edit: For those who don't know, Kirbys sell for over a grand. ?

Ya - I bought a Kirby...gods 35-40 years ago. Lasted a very long time. Finally got rid of it, but still have all the attachments which fit my shop-vac.

 

Otherwise it's just Girl Scout cookies - and we have a sign on the front door.

No Salesmen

No Soliciation

No Political

No Religion

Basically everyone is banned - and in big letters they're notified that if they do knock, I'll report them for trespassing

 

A few have ignored the warning - and gotten cited and fined...I think word is out cause no one has knocked in almost a year.

[A-Jay]

Nope.

Thankfully, that sort of deal doesn't happen much here.

However when it does, our dogs are trained (and heavily rewarded) to 'greet' those folks

at the full length glass window adjacent to the front door. 

Poor buggers don't usually stay very long and rarely do we get a second calling. 

Every once in a while, we'll get a human on the stoop who is willing wait us out and

I'm always very gracious when informing them that 'we're not interested'. 

J/K (sort of)

A-Jay

 

[padlin]

Nope, I just say no thanks and close the door. Same goes for the religious folks who show up occasionally.

[Bird]

When the wife and I lived in town, she bought some kind of fancy knife set and also a Kirby. Lol

Living up on the mountain the last 18 years, we've not had a single uninvited guest.

 

If we did, I'd certainly be polite but definitely would not buy a sales pitch.

[gim]

17 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

and we have a sign on the front door

I've got a sign on my door that says the same thing.  No solicitation.

 

It doesn't always work though.  I haven't had any visitors to my new house since I moved in May, but at my last house, there was a fair amount.  Lot of real estate agents and various construction services trying to get me to buy a new roof, siding, or windows.  I gave them a minute to talk and then politely tell them that the house is new construction so everything is all good.

[Log Catcher]

I don't ever remember buying anything from door to door sales people. I now have a no soliciting sign on the door. I don't have a problem telling them no and closing the door on them.

[gim]

2 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

I don't have a problem telling them no and closing the door on them.

Do you close the door on girl scouts selling cookies?  LOL

[PressuredFishing]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Do you close the door on girl scouts selling cookies?  LOL

Yes

[Log Catcher]

33 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Do you close the door on girl scouts selling cookies?  LOL

Haven't had any girl scouts come by for a long time. I think Covid pretty much stopped door to door sales at least in our area.

[PhishLI]

3 hours ago, Darren. said:

Back when my wife and I were newly married, first house.

Kirby salesman sold us a vac.

I remember coming home from school one day to find a very well dressed older man speaking to my mom in the living room. The Kirby vac he was demonstrating looked fancy. My mom tried to explain to me that he was an actor, and one of the minor Dons in a scene from the Godfather. I said " Nice to meet you, Don". They both laughed, then he showed me pictures of the set with him next to the other actors in an effort to clarify the matter, but I just couldn't wrap my mind around what a Don was, or the Godfather either, so I just nodded along, then went to my room. My Lincoln Logs were far more interesting to me at that point. I recall hearing my mother telling the guy that his vacuum cost more than our car in the driveway. She ended up buying an Electrolux.

[NavyToad]

I bought a box of steaks from a guy once. He had a pickup load and was selling them cheap. As he was driving away I realized I’d been fast talked into the deal, but I think the meat had been stolen and it wasn’t a bad deal.

Generally I just send ‘em packin’.

[Mike L]

After 33 years of being in sales and marketing, I don’t buy anything unless I initiate it. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Jmilburn76]

We also have a sign and several cameras including one on the doorbell.My wife is stone cold no matter who it is or what they want. Last week a AT&T rep showed up, my wife opened the door pointed to the sign and asked "Can you read?" then slammed the door in her face. 

[throttleplate]

4 hours ago, gimruis said:

Do you close the door on girl scouts selling cookies?  LOL

 

I have, i tell them i bought from my niece which is bs.

[TnRiver46]

Y’all are funny. My neighbors bring me fresh produce all the time, maybe I should tell them to get the heck off my property 

[Darth-Baiter]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

Y’all are funny. My neighbors bring me fresh produce all the time, maybe I should tell them to get the heck off my property 

I cook extra food and deliver to the elderly neighbors that live alone on my block.  tough to shop and cook for one, I suppose.  

 

I think this and your veggie neighbors are entirely different.  and GirlScouts.  different.

[TnRiver46]

Just now, Darth-Baiter said:

I cook extra food and deliver to the elderly neighbors that live alone on my block.  tough to shop and cook for one, I suppose.  

 

I think this and your veggie neighbors are entirely different.  and GirlScouts.  different.

I mean, I never know who is out there til I open the door and start up a chat 

[FishTank]

Yes. Chocolate,  coffee, and trash bags. 

[gim]

5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Y’all are funny. My neighbors bring me fresh produce all the time, maybe I should tell them to get the heck off my property 

I would welcome that too.  Someone trying to sell a vaccuum, paint, over priced cookies, or their religion? Not so much.

[TnRiver46]

13 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I would welcome that too.  Someone trying to sell a vaccuum, paint, over priced cookies, or their religion? Not so much.

Yep . That’s why I open the door and at least ask em what they want haha. I live in/near the ghetto, squatters on heroin and meth slither all through here. A no solicitation sign or camera is just something that would attract attention and they might steal. So many of my neighbors have pictures and video of thieves and vandals, it doesn’t help. It does however allow you to watch your belongings walk away over and over and over on film 

[gim]

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

It does however allow you to watch your belongings walk away over and over and over on film 

 

Now I know why you just let everything rust and age outside.  So no one steals it!