Does anyone have an intercom on your front door?

[The Mystery Machine]

I am seriously thinking of getting an intercom system installed for the front door.

We already have no soliciting sign but does that stop them? NO!!!! It is nuts.
Just now a guy with looking official with his Verizon shirt on solicited me for service.

If I had an intercom, I could safely "answer the door", I think.
Anyone have one???

 

[mylilnikita]

I have been thinking of getting one as well. Have a No Solicitors sign on door as well, have even had a candidate running for the school board to knock on the door and ask for my vote, I am like, did you not see that sign? I could have fun with an intercom. I guess I should get one of the camera things installed so I can see who it is. Now I really want one so I can mess with people.

 

[dazeddaisy]

I had one, but you will be surpirsed how many people claim they are here to deliver something. That something is oh look you too can sign up to cable tv and they are here to deliver the news to you. In the end I just stopped answering the intercom. If I was expecting something then I would, otherwise the parcel people or whomever can leave a card.

I now live in an apartment with a doorman who will get rid of sales people and accept all unpaid deliverys. (he will call if you have food, or send them up to your apartment if he knows you are in).

 

[DVCLiz]

I've just installed a camera security system - one camera at the front door and three in the back. I will be able to turn on my TV and see who's at the front door, and I can also look at the back from three different angles. I've had two car break-ins and a neighborhood purse-snatching that ended up in my back yard, so I feel better knowing that I can monitor everything without having to go to the door. Currently, I can't see who's at my door without letting them see me as well, because I have glass on either side of the door. If I feel like I have a lot of "activity" (we have had several home break-ins in the last two years), I'll add a recorder so I can record a 24 hour period and get a taped record. My very own episode of "Cops!"

I'll probably never have another door-to-door- saleman in my life, now that I can see them coming!!!

 

[Serena]

When I lived in germany we had an intercom. But it was at the gate in front. The fence was 8 feet high, I think, and the intercom really came in handy.
It was attached to the lock. They couldn't get in the gate without us buzzing them in. It was only friends, but I liked the security of it.

 

[chrisney]

We have a small business phone system in our home, and when someone "rings" the doorbell our phone system picks up. It makes it easy for me to pick up if I'm in my office, and when we're not home, I can either record a message (like....I cannot get to the door, but if you're UPS please leave my package on the porch) or not and listen to the funny messages left by people who get very confused!

 

[kristen821]

We have a small business phone system in our home, and when someone "rings" the doorbell our phone system picks up. It makes it easy for me to pick up if I'm in my office, and when we're not home, I can either record a message (like....I cannot get to the door, but if you're UPS please leave my package on the porch) or not and listen to the funny messages left by people who get very confused!

That is so cool! I would like one of those. If you don't mind me asking how much does that cost and where do you get it?

 

[tekmom]

We have an intercom system on the front porch, back porch, in the kitchen and all of the bedrooms. My husband has a security camera installation/ alarm business. We also have the camera on the front porch so we can view people from the inside monitor.. I never have to answer the door if I don't want too and the inside intercom system is great. I never have to yell for the kids to come downstairs for dinner.

 

[chrisney]

Kristen,
Our system is older, so don't really know current costs. We have three lines, each of which rolls over to an unused line if a call comes in while it's in use. We can do lots of things...transfer calls, conference call, have the system continue trying a busy number...etc (I use almost none of the "fancy" functions). It's hardwired into the house, and as I recall it cost us about 5,000 at the time we put it in. The only really negative is that when our power is out the only phone that works is the master phone, and that only after you switch it over. Oh, and phones that are not designed to work with the system have to dial 9 to access an outside line.
My husband had this put in as a surprise for me. I thought the door phone was really "over the top" at the time...to my surprise this has been the best part of the whole system.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I just don't answer the door unless I'm expecting someone. However, we get very few solicitors because our house is set back from the road and is down a little ravine and apparently this is a little mysterious and scary (according to the neighborhood kids, anyway! ).

 

[arminnie]

I live in a high rise that has a buzzer system that rings your telephone and then you can punch a button to let the person in.

I have never had a problem with people trying to con me into opening the gate, but a friend who lived near a big housing project had kids calling her all of the time telling her that they were trying to get their grandmother and could she buzz them in. They never had a name. They weren't trying to steal anything; they just wanted in to use the pool.

We have a very old intercom (like from the 60s) at our house. I don't know if it works or not. We live at the top of a very steep hill so we don't get a lot of people walking door to door.

 

[tmt martins]

I'm thinking Camera and a shower attachment .That should stop them.

Oh and a Big YOU WILL GET WET if you are Soliciting just like the Kali RR sign.

 

[Cool-Beans]

We have an intercom, but no sales people.

The intercom is great if your house is big and kids can't hear you even if you scream. Of course, if the music is loud enough, they still can't hear you!

But in generally, the intercom works really well. I can also put in a CD and hear the music all over the house.

 

[Sleepy]

I have never had a problem with people trying to con me into opening the gate, but a friend who lived near a big housing project had kids calling her all of the time telling her that they were trying to get their grandmother and could she buzz them in. They never had a name. They weren't trying to steal anything; they just wanted in to use the pool.

This reminded me of an apt complex here that my friends lived in. It was specifically for Americans, but was built inside an Italian neighborhood. The American complex was walled off, so you had to use a clicker to automatically open the huge gate doors so you could drive your car into the complex. There was also an intercom system just like the ones on every house in this area. You press the button of the person you want to visit and they in turn will buzz for the door to unlock so you can get into the complex. The Italian neighborhood kids were very bad about buzzing everyones apt in the hopes that they would be buzzed in. These kids had no business in there, so people did their best to ignore them, but when you hear just how nerve jolting the buzz for you is, you would understand how frustrating you become toward these kids.

Anyway, one day the kids decided they would try to climb this automatic gate. The first kid made it over the top, but his clothing got caught on something and he was literally hanging there by his jeans. He was like that for about 2 hours. Americans drove in and out. Meanwhile this kid stuck on the gate swung with the gate as it opened and closed. He had no business trying to climb the gate and the Americans purposely used their clickers from their balconies to make the gate open and close. It was good entertainment and taught the kids a lesson.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm thinking Camera and a shower attachment .That should stop them.

Oh and a Big YOU WILL GET WET if you are Soliciting just like the Kali RR sign.

Now this I like...

As I am thinking about it more since we are getting a pool we will put one on the back door too.
Thanks for your stories. It just seems it is going to be a necessity here at my house. We get so many sales people come to our door and they can get mean.
When we point out the 'no soliciting' sign we they say....

'we are the _______ company and this sign doesn't apply to us'.
'I was doing the neighbors _______ and thought you want it too'
Or they just ignore it.

It really has become a safety issue, unfortunately.

 

[mom2rb]

Now this I like...

We get so many sales people come to our door and they can get mean.
When we point out the 'no soliciting' sign we they say....

'we are the _______ company and this sign doesn't apply to us'.
'I was doing the neighbors _______ and thought you want it too'
Or they just ignore it.

It really has become a safety issue, unfortunately.

This makes me glad I have two big dogs. They are very friendly in an untrained way. They think everyone wants two 60 pounds dogs to jump on them. It does make it easier to pet them when they are on top of you.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

This makes me glad I have two big dogs. They are very friendly in an untrained way. They think everyone wants two 60 pounds dogs to jump on them. It does make it easier to pet them when they are on top of you.

You know what...It doesn't help here in TEXAS!!! Almost everyone here has DOGS!!!! Not just one, but 3.
I have 2 dogs. One who is being a real pain right now.
I open the door enough so my barking dogs have their heads sticking out and they DO NOT CARE!!!

 

[mom2rb]

I am also in Texas, I just open my door all the way. My dogs don't bite they just jump and get people dirty.

I don't know if just an intercom will help. I think people that are that rude will lie to get you to the door. If it is a saftey issue go all the way and get the camera or phone system.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am also in Texas, I just open my door all the way. My dogs don't bite they just jump and get people dirty.

My dogs are only 1 yr oldish and I can't trust them to greet the solicitor, or I would.
Since moving here last year, I cannot believe the amount of solicitors we get. It is crazy.