A new kind of solicitor came to my house last night

[teskak]

I agree - my dogs answer the door. We have encouraged them to go off whenever the doorbell rings, grab collars & open door while they are both still barking & looking like they want to go at you.

Now Cesar milan or anybody who knew the breed would have no concerns, but for others it is frightening enough that callers do not want to stay.

And the best bit is that they are so loud the guy trying to sell security or window treatment etc cannot make himself heard. So sad that I close the door.

 

[luvsJack]

Its kind of sad that people like the ones the OP got, who obviously don't know much about sales tactics, and those running a scam have made door to door salesmen be so untrusted. Some of them really are just trying to earn a living. Its not the greatest job in the world, but still.

Those kids that sell the educational books for instance. We have had a few come by here that were from way off (could see their car tag) and drove some pitiful little car that made me wonder how they even got it here! They may not all be college students, but the company really does try to hire students because the flyers go up all over our campus right before the end of spring semester.

And some things you can only get door to door (or maybe that has changed ), like Electrolux vacuum cleaners. Us, Avon ladies still go door to door sometimes too! (I don't but I know some that do)

 

[2binak]

And some things you can only get door to door (or maybe that has changed ), like Electrolux vacuum cleaners.

Not true - Electrolux are now sold at stores like Sears, Lowe's, Best Buy, etc and we bought one online a couple of months ago.

Also, most legit organizations in our area tell their members not to solicit door-to-door for fundraising, mostly because of the scams. You can easily call your local chapter of whichever organization to verify if they are allowing their members to go door-to-door.

The rule in our house - if we don't recognize you, we don't open the door and we keep the doors deadbolted when we're inside so the chances of it getting kicked in are very slim. We have a dog who barks, snarls & growls when someone comes to the door, but if we opened the door, she's not going to be able to stop a bullet if the person really wants to get in.

 

[Veronica Lodge]

We had a guy who looked like he crawled out of a bottle come by and ask if we wanted any trees removed. I had to wrestle with my dogs to keep them inside when I told him no thanks. He did take a few steps back when the youngest lunged at him, wanting to play with the smelly guy.

And I was wondering if the "kill you" comment was supposed to be a joke or colloquialism/expression or something of the sort that she didn't translate correctly.

 

[luvsJack]

Not true - Electrolux are now sold at stores like Sears, Lowe's, Best Buy, etc and we bought one online a couple of months ago.

Also, most legit organizations in our area tell their members not to solicit door-to-door for fundraising, mostly because of the scams. You can easily call your local chapter of whichever organization to verify if they are allowing their members to go door-to-door.

The rule in our house - if we don't recognize you, we don't open the door and we keep the doors deadbolted when we're inside so the chances of it getting kicked in are very slim. We have a dog who barks, snarls & growls when someone comes to the door, but if we opened the door, she's not going to be able to stop a bullet if the person really wants to get in.

Ah, see it has changed--goes to show how much I keep up with stuff. (I don't even own a vacuum cleaner at the moment, I borrow my mom's electrolux that she bought from a door-to-door guy many years ago) I used to have a Rainbow vacuum that I bought from a door-to-door guy, but that was awhile back too.

I understand why everyone is so cautious and I am too, especially since dh is gone a lot; but luckily I live in an area that I don't have to be quite as cautious as many of you (am able to keep my doors unlocked most of the time). I just think its kind of sad for the folks still out there trying to make a living that way. With some of the products, it can be a great way to have an extra income. The bad guys made it bad for all of them.

 

[JessicaR]

I can't answer for anyone else but I don't want anyone soliciting me at my house. If I am interested in a product I will seek it out. I don't want anyone that I have not invited that I don't know, coming to my door, period. I have the same scouts that I buy from every year and they call and I order. Other than that, no thanks, keep on walking! My comfort level with solicitors is zero.

Times have changed. When I was a kid we had newspaper boys and penny-saver people as well as many other varieties of traveling sales people. I was a kid so what did I know but my parents didn't seem upset by this at all. We answered the door to everyone. That just doesn't happen anymore.

I'm sure this varies by area but around here houses are not close to one another and the roads are hilly. Walking door to door around here wouldn't be easy. Ask the kids at Halloween!

I have two huge dogs and haven't seen a solicitor in years. Thats the way I like it.

As far as the woman selling paintings in the OP I would have been more than ticked. Her sense of humor if thats what it was is misplaced and could easily be misconstrued.

I think the thing that bothers me most about solicitors is the majority I have encountered are so damn pushy. When I shop if a salesperson is pushy I walk out. Why do they think that method works? I could never figure that out.

 

[2binak]

Times have changed. When I was a kid we had newspaper boys and penny-saver people as well as many other varieties of traveling sales people. I was a kid so what did I know but my parents didn't seem upset by this at all. We answered the door to everyone. That just doesn't happen anymore.

I think I'm so paranoid now because growing up, we lived on the 2nd floor of a 2 family house and many Summer nights, we'd go to sleep with the front and back doors opened to allow air to flow through the house. (Just thinking about it now makes my heart race!) We had a man walk in the back door once in the evening and when my dad asked him what he wanted, he got nervous and said he was looking for "so and so". This was about 10 years after we had moved in and before us, my sister and her DH lived in the apt. and my parents knew everyone who had ever lived there (very small town). My dad told the man that no one by that named ever lived there and the guy kind of pushed back saying that he had been there before and visited with "so and so". My dad was about to physically kick the guy out and the guy smarted up and left on his own. After that, we started closing and locking the doors. It scared me enough to make me the paranoid person I am today....

 

[sbell111]

... And I was wondering if the "kill you" comment was supposed to be a joke or colloquialism/expression or something of the sort that she didn't translate correctly.

That's a good point. It's also possible that the OP's husband misunderstood her due to her accent.

Here's my take on door-to-door solicitors:

If I want what you are selling or I agree with the cause that you are collecting for, I'll buy/give. Otherwise, I'll politely tell you no thanks and send you on your way. Of course, I also reserve the right to not answer my door if I don't feel like it, whether I know the person on the other side or not.

Finally, I could care less if a person at the door can see into my home. My home's security is not dependant on ensuring that people can't see what's inside.