Solicitors...

[s&wchad]

I was laying down with Scout after lunch when the doorbell rang and someone repeatedly knocked.
Dog went ballistic...

There was some kid wearing a uniform shirt with a logo standing back, just off the porch. I had the dog sit, partially opened the door (gun in hand behind my back) and asked If I could help him.

He started into a spiel about installing windows for a neighbor and I cut him off, pointed at the "NO SOLICITING" sign on the doorway and asked if he can read.

Snot nosed puke said he can read and isn't selling anything. "I'm just offering free estimates". His comprehension isn't that great either....

I ended the conversation with, "Don't stand there and argue with me, just get off my property".

Walt Kowalski would be proud!

 

[AudieMurphy]

was the sign in spanish also? asking for our amigo friends

 

[Rudi]

Sadly, these days many can't read much.

 

[s&wchad]

was the sign in spanish also? asking for our amigo friends

Soliciting, solicitar... Close enough!

 

[OutAtTheEdge]

He was told by the scum he works for exactly what to say to deflect objections. I'd have gotten whatever pamphlet he had first, then told him he's headed down a ****** path in life, and then run his ass off. Then contact whatever local agency handles these things and reported the company, and finally gone on every review website I could find and blow up their ratings.

 

[s&wchad]

Sadly, these days many can't read much.

He could read... We was taught that he's special and rules don't apply to him.

He was told by the scum he works for exactly what to say to deflect objections. I'd have gotten whatever pamphlet he had first, then told him he's headed down a ****** path in life, and then run his ass off. Then contact whatever local agency handles these things and reported the company, and finally gone on every review website I could find and blow up their ratings.

Not worth my time and effort...
Besides, I didn't have a free hand to take their pamphlet. I had one hand behind my back, the other on the doorknob and my right foot against the door.

If he had any situational awareness at all, he would have known why my hand was behind my back and wouldn't have lipped off.

Mommy: How did your day go?

Snot nosed puke: I didn't earn any commissions and I had an old guy holding a gun insult me and throw me off his property...

 

[dockmurgw]

Wow...you guys are brutal. At least he's working, and not a snowflake green hair lip pierced college student protesting for free tuition and a living wage. Or better yet, he could be working at the local convenience store and we could have 12 pages of complaints that he cant make change when you hand him 7 ones, 3 tens, a 50 and 17 quarters. As for the need to be armed when answering a knock at the door in the middle of the day...just another of the many reasons I chose to live where I do.

 

[Tom S.]

Trespasser's will be shot.
Survivors will be shot again.

<<OR>>

Trespasser's will be violated.

 

[Onomea]

I get those young people coming by, windows, roofs, gutters, pressure wash, etc. Then you have your religious folks. (Or occasionally kids collecting for a sports team. I usually give these last a few bucks.)

Usually, I give 'em maybe 30 seconds as a courtesy and then politely tell 'em no thanks. If politely doesn't work, I get abrupt.

They don't bother me as much as a lotta stuff I see on the news.

 

[lihpster]

Usually, I give 'em maybe 30 seconds as a courtesy and then politely tell 'em no thanks. If politely doesn't work, I get abrupt.

I let them get the spiel started then I tell them, "Sorry. Not interested." Then, "Not interested." After that they're talking to a closed door.

 

[dockmurgw]

I get those young people coming by, windows, roofs, gutters, pressure wash, etc. Then you have your religious folks. (Or occasionally kids collecting for a sports team. I usually give these last a few bucks.)

Usually, I give 'em maybe 30 seconds as a courtesy and then politely tell 'em no thanks. If politely doesn't work, I get abrupt.

They don't bother me as much as a lotta stuff I see on the news.

I'm having a vision...of cranky old men tossing a teary-eyed little girl in a green uniform out into the street, then tearing up her cookie sales sheet.

 

[Bald1]

They are trying to make a living doing a job that NOBODY wants to do. I’m polite in telling them I’m not interested. Never had anyone overly persistent.

 

[s&wchad]

Let's put this in perspective...

- Our Township requires that door to door solicitors pay $500 for a 30 day permit and wear it around their neck. This guy wasn't wearing one. Political and religious solicitors are exempt, but window salesmen are not.

- I have a "NO SOLICITORS" sign near my doorbell.



- I was napping with my dog. If you show up and wake me, even in broad daylight, I'm showing up with a gun.

- My home is my castle. I wish I had a mote...
Bugger off!

- Scout is a force to be reckoned with...

 

[dockmurgw]

I'm having another vision! Teary eyed ghosts and goblins running in fear for their lives empty handed...and their older brothers returning at midnight with the rotten pumpkins, toilet paper and shaving cream!

 

[LVSteve]

As for the need to be armed when answering a knock at the door in the middle of the day...just another of the many reasons I chose to live where I do.

Welcome to the 21st century. It will catch up with your neighborhood eventually. I'm sure all of us would prefer the Mayberry situation, but most of America does not (cannot?) operate that way.

 

[Doriangray6]

My usual greeting and reply to sales people and god shouters is, "Hello, what do you want? - Thanks but not interested - Goodbye."

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

From back in 2023.
I have "No Trepassing" signage on my entry gate in English and Spanish...along with a few others as I have had "problems" with house flippers that I have written about here in the past.

Young guy comes up and knocks on the outside door. He was doing the "free estimates" thing for one of those shady power companies.

I told him "No, thanks" and he began to get pushy with an attitude. I told him he was trespassing and pointed out the signs and told him to leave. He told me "If I obeyed all the stupid signs I see I wouldn't have a job..." When I told him I would call the Sheriff, he laughed and told me "Go ahead...I don't give a (fecal matter). So I did.

They never showed, but he left and threw a rock at the side of my house as he did. That day, there were about four of these yo-yo's working the street and all acting the same way. From what I have been told by people who've worked for these kinds of outfits, they are specifically told to be aggressive in their tactics. "Do whatever it takes...."


They don't come down my street so much anymore...we not only have BIG dogs running loose but the people who live in the area now are people you want to steer clear of under the best of circumstances...unless pain is something you enjoy.

 

[Doriangray6]

I'm having another vision! Teary eyed ghosts and goblins running in fear for their lives empty handed...and their older brothers returning at midnight with the rotten pumpkins, toilet paper and shaving cream!

On Halloween I lock my front gate which usually isn't needed anyway because it's always "cold" and sometime snowing here on Halloween so the city of Cheyenne has several inside events set up for kids with costume contests and other things so that they and their chaperones don't need to deal with the weather.

 

[ameridaddy]

I'm having another vision! Teary eyed ghosts and goblins running in fear for their lives empty handed...and their older brothers returning at midnight with the rotten pumpkins, toilet paper and shaving cream!

And that's when the sprinkler system comes on. I'll enjoy watching the reruns on my security cameras.

 

[ladder13]

Good thing about living on a steep hill, besides watching the torrential rains run down the street during storms is all our houses are occupied by seniors so no kiddies, and all the other kiddies don’t want to waste energy so they go to the bountiful houses down below.

 

[olfart]

Sadly, these days many can't read much.

Even more sadly, reading does not equal comprehending.

 

[Greyman50]

Thinking of an alligator pond for a front yard.......

 

[quikdraw67]

Or, they might very well be casing your house. I've had these types knock on my door. The storm door is always locked, so I'll answer with "can I help you?"
Horace and Dan are usually at hand.

 

[dockmurgw]

On Halloween I lock my front gate which usually isn't needed anyway because it's always "cold" and sometime snowing here on Halloween so the city of Cheyenne has several inside events set up for kids with costume contests and other things so that they and their chaperones don't need to deal with the weather.

My wife goes bat guano crazy on Halloween...lights, decorations, candy, toys, goodies...every time a kid digs in and says this is the best house ever I can see the little gears turning in her head with plans to make it bigger next year. I just sit, watch MeTV, eat pizza and pay for all the stuff. I consider it an investment...the little kids become big kids, love us and leave us alone. If there is any egging or hooliganism, it aint at my house...the little kids protect me.

 

[dockmurgw]

Welcome to the 21st century. It will catch up with your neighborhood eventually. I'm sure all of us would prefer the Mayberry situation, but most of America does not (cannot?) operate that way.

Naaa...you should get out more, travel this wonderful country. You'll find my situation is not as uncommon as you think. I think members here think that this forum and its members are typical of most of the country...it isnt, not by a long shot. Most people are not armed when they answer their door.

 

[Culina]

Open the door a crack and ask them, do you have it? when they say What? ask again, do you have it the $50K? works like a charm

 

[pasound]

Trick-or-treaters have left me alone for years because I never leave any lights on.
The Bible-thumpers and such were more difficult, until I started my conversation with "Thanks, but I go Saturdays to the Temple on the corner", and point at it.
My apologies to my Jewish friends. The Congregation B’nai Jacob Synagogue is at the end of my block, within view.
Somewhere, my address is on the "don't bother" list, finally.

 

[SMSgt]

I cannot state how it works in every state, but courts have ruled--short of lawful "No Trespassing" signs--a driveway and walkway to the front porch with a doorbell is an open invitation for public access. "No Soliciting" signs are basically meaningless. Read up on the trespassing laws in your state and see what is required to fulfill the lawful verbal/written requirements for trespass. Letter size, wording, etc., are all needed to meet legal warning. Once that is met, arrest for trespassing is imminent. I once gave a solar panel direct verbal warning that if he or any other agent of his company violated the boundaries of my property, they would be arrested and charged appropriately. No solar energy salesman from any company has set foot on my property since. Word gets around.

 

['79 Magnum GT]

I live out in the country surrounded by woods. My house is 130 ft from the road and you can't see it unless you are looking up the driveway. I've lived here for 24 years and sometimes I've missed my own driveway! My door bell hasn't worked since 2015 and I can't remember the last time anyone came to the door unexpectedly. Both my dogs wind up whenever I get a delivery. That would also include when ever a NYSEG meter reader would come to read the old meter.
I think I'm covered pretty good.

Rick

 

[lihpster]

I live 1000 feet from a Jehova's Witness Kingdom Hall. The first 4 years or so we lived here, we occasionally got the visits. They were usually very polite and respected it when we said we weren't interested. A couple months later we'd get another visit. Checking to see if we had changed our minds maybe.
One day, when I was eighteen, there was a knock on the door. I checked and it was 2 females. One in her late thirties and one my age. I knew the younger one's age as I had gone to school with her. She was also pretty cute, and so, I opened the door and actually talked to them, rather than give them the instant brushoff. Eventually, they pushed a hardbound book into my hands and said they'd be back tomorrow. Fine. I can wait one day to reject you.
Next day they show up and I try to hand the book to them as I'm telling them I'm not interested. They shied away from the book like it was a snake and said they'd come back tomorrow. Tomorrow came and the book was sitting on the front porch and I didn't answer the door. They left without the book. Same thing the next day and the next.
Finally, I had had enough. The next day the book wasn't on the porch, so they knocked at the door. I opened the door and said, "Not interested, here's your book." They snatched it and took off in great haste. Thy may have beeen running late for something, but I think it was because I answered the door stark raving naked.
I don't know what story they told, but we never had another visit again. For forty years they have ignored us. I think there's a map down there that says, "DO NOT GO HERE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE!!!!" Mission successful.