Solicitors...
- Thread starter s&wchad
- Start date
I’ve got a soft spot for young people trying to make an honest buck, but there is a limit to my patience. I’ve actually got less patience with the Bible pounders, but I try to be polite with them, too. All bets are off with anyone if they don’t return my courtesy and/or linger too long after I explain I’m not interested. So far, so good. Since I get very few callers, I haven't had the opportunity to develop the short fuse I see here. 
And $500 for a 30-day permit?! Yikes!
Also never felt the need to answer the door during the day with a weapon in hand. After dark, that’s a different story.
And $500 for a 30-day permit?! Yikes!Also never felt the need to answer the door during the day with a weapon in hand. After dark, that’s a different story.
Alpo
Member
I used to listen to people - the mormons, the Jehovah witnesses, the kids working their way through college by selling magazine subscriptions. I would listen politely because that's the way I was raised. And then I would try to explain to them that I was not interested. Politely.
Then I got over being polite. They would start their spiel and I would tell them I was not interested and they would continue with their spiel.
Now when I open the door and they start talking, if I'm not interested within about their first half dozen words I just shut the door. I don't tell them I'm not interested. I just shut the door.
That works pretty good.
Then I got over being polite. They would start their spiel and I would tell them I was not interested and they would continue with their spiel.
Now when I open the door and they start talking, if I'm not interested within about their first half dozen words I just shut the door. I don't tell them I'm not interested. I just shut the door.
That works pretty good.
I generally don't even open the door for the uninvited. I may talk to them -through- the door. I can also see and talk to them through the cameras. Typically the cost : benefit ratio isn't in my favor.
For me, a bigger gripe is people stepping across the boundary trying to buy the property. "Did you see a 'for sale' sign?" Blank look. "No...." "Go away!" I can be rude when necessary. What makes them think that by just asking, I'd sell? Like it never occurred to me until just then. Sometimes I think the entitlement people pestering @lihpster make their way up here.
For me, a bigger gripe is people stepping across the boundary trying to buy the property. "Did you see a 'for sale' sign?" Blank look. "No...." "Go away!" I can be rude when necessary. What makes them think that by just asking, I'd sell? Like it never occurred to me until just then. Sometimes I think the entitlement people pestering @lihpster make their way up here.
Smoke
US Veteran
It's been my experience that long driveways cut down on solicitors dramatically.
When we left the apartment the only people that would come knocking on my door are a guy that I used to work with who was out passing out gospel tracts. And I'm not sure why he kept coming back to my door.
The Mormons used to knock on my door frequently.
And every time they did I'd bring out chairs and get them water and be as polite as I could to them and I would get out my Bible and start comparing it to the Book of Mormon.
Generally speaking they didn't come back more than once or twice.
...as a long-time enthusiast (and occasional thumper) of the Bible I must say that "cold calling" has never been shown as an effective way to share one's faith.
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same thing yesterday...rang doorbell and then knocked like the police.....huge sign you can see the whole time you walked up to my door
venomballistics
Member
I 3D printed a number of no soliciting signs and sold them door to door around my neighborhood a few days after a pest control sales run
Windows, roofing, siding, lawn care, pest control, etc are typical homeowner responsibilities, so a lot of times I'll just politely say "thanks but we're renting" and close the door. Whether true or not it does end the conversation quickly and without malice on either side.
Todd
Todd
I think it was Masaad Ayoob, and probably others, who pointed out the folly of answering a door knock/doorbell from the police with a gun in hand. E.g., after placing a 911 call about a prowler or burglar.
Seems self evident, but I raise it as a PSA just in case...
Seems self evident, but I raise it as a PSA just in case...
You need a bigger sign!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.
View attachment 799991
- 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...
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Reminds me of when I was at Okinawa living off base. Jehovah's Witnesses knocked on my Mormon neighbor's door. There was a heck of a conversation for quite a while. Never saw the JWs come back.
It's been my experience that long driveways cut down on solicitors dramatically.
When we left the apartment the only people that would come knocking on my door are a guy that I used to work with who was out passing out gospel tracts. And I'm not sure why he kept coming back to my door.
The Mormons used to knock on my door frequently.
And every time they did I'd bring out chairs and get them water and be as polite as I could to them and I would get out my Bible and start comparing it to the Book of Mormon.
Generally speaking they didn't come back more than once or twice.
We installed a 6' chain link fence is 2011 or so with padlocked gates in addition to the"No Trespassing" signs. One cannot get to the door without climbing the fence, and so far, no one has been that stupid. If someone has to come here to do work, deliver stuff, etc., we make sure they have contact info to make that work.
The last time some bipedal excrement port came to the door was in 2004 or so. My wife was traveling with one of the dogs; I had the other two. I of course didn't open the door, and the dogs (Mack, a Rottie, and Sasha, a rottXpit; both actually social, but they were at home) were at the window barking.
I greeted him with my default ("you at the door; hands in the air, palms toward me. Back away from the door. Do it NOW."). He was deeply unhappy (like I cared) and was really unhappy when I asked if he had read the good sized "no trespassing" sign he had to pass to get to the door. He had to gal to say he thought that only applied to criminals. I pointed out that by his actions he was one, and closed the matter with "Now GIT". He did not need to know I had my G33 in my hands.
Nothing good will happen if you are not consistently vigorous in protecting your privacy. No one can ever accuse me of discriminating on some improper basis. I dislike them all, and they have no legitimate basis to come to my door. I am as nice as people let me, but that sure as heck is not a time to be nice. If they leave crying, that is not a bug; it is a feature.
The last time some bipedal excrement port came to the door was in 2004 or so. My wife was traveling with one of the dogs; I had the other two. I of course didn't open the door, and the dogs (Mack, a Rottie, and Sasha, a rottXpit; both actually social, but they were at home) were at the window barking.
I greeted him with my default ("you at the door; hands in the air, palms toward me. Back away from the door. Do it NOW."). He was deeply unhappy (like I cared) and was really unhappy when I asked if he had read the good sized "no trespassing" sign he had to pass to get to the door. He had to gal to say he thought that only applied to criminals. I pointed out that by his actions he was one, and closed the matter with "Now GIT". He did not need to know I had my G33 in my hands.
Nothing good will happen if you are not consistently vigorous in protecting your privacy. No one can ever accuse me of discriminating on some improper basis. I dislike them all, and they have no legitimate basis to come to my door. I am as nice as people let me, but that sure as heck is not a time to be nice. If they leave crying, that is not a bug; it is a feature.
The Last Standing Knight
Member
I can say in my case, it isn't cranky and mean. It is unfortunately a time in history where people will not graciously take a polite "No" for an answer. I have worked around people who formally did soliciting work and have told me they are taught by their employers not to take no for an answer and to do "whatever it takes" to make a sale/deal/get a signature. If that meant intimidating and threatening people, then do it.
Your politeness will not go far with these kinds of folks, I'm sad to say.
LVSteve
Member
I've dealt with the Bible bashers thus:-
"I should tell you that I used to be in the Agnostic Taliban, right up until we all gave it up because none of us believed in it."
Sometimes it takes a few seconds.
"I should tell you that I used to be in the Agnostic Taliban, right up until we all gave it up because none of us believed in it."
Sometimes it takes a few seconds.
I have a tattoo on my left shoulder. It's just an abstract design that is pointy at the top and wider at the bottom. it doesn't have any great meaning to me, just a design I thought was cool. When people ask me what it is, I tell them it's a Buddhist Christmas tree. About half the people just nod their heads and say, "Oh. Cool."
LVSteve
Member
Their used to be a guy working at a smog place here who had a Borg tattoo. Maybe pointing to that with a vacant stare and a gravelly, "Leave or be assimilated," would do the trick.
Had to come see if this was about salesmen or British lawyers
Smoke
US Veteran
The very first job I had after I got out of the Army was door to door sales.
The guy who "trained" me told me specifically to ignore "No Solicitation" signs.
He said the only reason people used those signs was because they couldn't resist buying from salesman.
I lasted two weeks before I realized that I couldn't make an honest living doing it.
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Smoke
US Veteran
Okay, I've read through the entire discussion and I have the same questions I have every time we have this discussion.
To paraphrase Masaad Ayoob I'm going to say if things are so squirrely that "you" (Genericly speaking)felt the need to open the door with a gun in your hand why are you opening the door at all? Ring doorbells are a thing. You can tell them to go away without ever getting off your couch.
If the guy really is smart enough to figure out that you had a gun behind your back, again speaking generically, that's only going to happen so many times before one of them calls the cops and says that you pulled it out and pointed it at him.
Much easier to avoid the situation than to try to explain it.
Religious door knockers, I've already said it I made them feel welcome. I treated them politely. I listened to what they had to say and then I told them what I had to say. As briefly as possible I'm going to say that I know the Bible well enough that I can get away with arguing it with them and I can make them question some of the things that they believe. They usually don't come back to my house more than twice.
I said this previously but from my front door to the highway is a quarter of a mile. We've only been here 2 months but I don't think we get a lot of unsolicited solicitors.
Last thing, the older I get the less I feel the need to be a jerk to people. I believe in karma and I believe in Instant Karma. To quote Rajesh Koothrappali, it's almost Newtonian. For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction.
To paraphrase Masaad Ayoob I'm going to say if things are so squirrely that "you" (Genericly speaking)felt the need to open the door with a gun in your hand why are you opening the door at all? Ring doorbells are a thing. You can tell them to go away without ever getting off your couch.
If the guy really is smart enough to figure out that you had a gun behind your back, again speaking generically, that's only going to happen so many times before one of them calls the cops and says that you pulled it out and pointed it at him.
Much easier to avoid the situation than to try to explain it.
Religious door knockers, I've already said it I made them feel welcome. I treated them politely. I listened to what they had to say and then I told them what I had to say. As briefly as possible I'm going to say that I know the Bible well enough that I can get away with arguing it with them and I can make them question some of the things that they believe. They usually don't come back to my house more than twice.
I said this previously but from my front door to the highway is a quarter of a mile. We've only been here 2 months but I don't think we get a lot of unsolicited solicitors.
Last thing, the older I get the less I feel the need to be a jerk to people. I believe in karma and I believe in Instant Karma. To quote Rajesh Koothrappali, it's almost Newtonian. For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction.
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Smoke
US Veteran
Thanks but if it was it was a lucky shot
Reading the 'gun in hand' and being rude the the 'no solicitor' folks, what happens if/when a new neighbor comes around?
While I don't know many of my close-by neighbors well, mainly due to my work schedule and family situations, I do make it a point to go an meet/greet the new ones.
While I don't know many of my close-by neighbors well, mainly due to my work schedule and family situations, I do make it a point to go an meet/greet the new ones.
Smoke
US Veteran
To be fair if a new neighbor came to your home as a new neighbor wouldn't they introduce themselves as such?
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I love it! An anti-solicitor solicitor.
venomballistics
Member
I know a fair portion of the neighborhood. it didn't take even that much effort.
Halloween became a form of warfare across the street. She puts up a decoration ... we put up a set of eye's to keep an eye on her. It's escalated to full Grizwald.
A block over ... unavoidable as their cats like to be here more than they like to be there.Conversations over the fence has established a fair collection of Korean recipes.
Behind the back yard is another good ole boy like myself. If theres a problem, we'll solve it.
The list goes on ... It just comes to us
venomballistics
Member
You have no idea how hard it was to straight face that operation
