I’ve mostly quit opening the door to anyone selling anything except neighborhood children.
(Nice misplaced modifier. Hey Bo, you mean that you’ll only open the door to people selling neighborhood children? Heh.)
That closed-door policy is a result of a final-straw encounter with the magazine gypsies I wrote about before. If you ring my doorbell unexpectedly and I don’t recognize you, I ask your business through the closed door, and if it’s not an emergency then I tell you to leave. Besides delivery people, utility workers, and the like, there are friends, family members, neighbors, and people in dire need. If you’re none of the above, then get the hell out of here. Rude? Overreactive? Perhaps. Perhaps. (Even so, perception of this habit of mine is somewhere below strontium poisoning on the list of things I worry about day to day.)
So I say “mostly” in the first sentence because I was circumstantially fooled this afternoon. There have been workmen across the way all day, and I thought this guy might be one of them with some issue of mutual concern. Nope. He’s coming around to get my neighbors to vote for him! When I asked what that meant, he handed me the stereotypical laminated card and started in about a public speaking contest. Mildly irritated that I had taken the card at all, I gave it back to him and said “I’m not going to be able to help you with this.” He left immediately with barely another word, because he knew I’d made him.
Folks, if someone you’ve never seen before knocks on your door selling magazines, there is almost no chance it’s legitimate. (Have a look here and see if you recognize any tactics or keywords.) If you want a magazine subscription, then fill out and mail a blow-in card, or buy from a fund-raising schoolchild.
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I hate those people. I got suckered into opening the door on the first day we lived in our current house. In her opening line the gal said she lived “just one street over”, I thought maybe she was welcoming me to the neighborhood. Not so much and I sent her packing as soon as I realized my mistake. Mister C on the other hand is a sucker and about a year ago came into the house after ordering magazines and giving a check to some shyster. I went out and confronted the guy and got the check back. I also told him that with his personality and looks he was wasting his time selling fake subscriptions. He left with a smile, but not my money. A “No Solicitors” sign is tacky, but effective.
If you’re rude and overreactive on this, then so am I. My husband thinks I’m mean. 🙂
I’ve been known to slam the door in Mormons’ faces, and I’ve told off a couple of magazine sellers. One girl who was selling “educational materials” even had the audacity to ask me why I didn’t care about bettering my children’s education. She was summarily dismissed from my porch as well.
If you’re ringing my doorbell, there better a darn good reason. Scamming me out of my money for junk I never wanted isn’t good enough.
There are too many people anymore who are knocking on the door to do me harm. Is it any more complicated than that?
The other thing to watch out for is the tactic used as a cover for burglary. People will go around pretending to be these scammers and knock on a door. If no one answers, then they’ll either just kick the door in right there, or circle around to the back and come in through that door.
I’ll soon be placing a “No Soliciting except for Girl Scout Cookies.” on my door. If someone does knock/ring my doorbell… After looking through the peep hole, I will call the Sheriff, and I will be standing near within eyesight of the door exercising my 2nd amendment in a defensive manner (ie I’d prefer they just go away, but I’m ready just incase). Anyone living in the south should know better than to make a person’s home feel uncomfortable and/or safe.
Tahm, excellent point…and your “uncomfortable” comment reminded me of another thing I can’t stand. If I don’t know you, then do not run up to me. I find this particularly alarming and obnoxious when I have the boys with me.
My wife opened the door to one of these guys today. Fortunately I remembered reading your previous posts on these guys so they were dismissed just about the time they were telling her about the commission they would make if she just purchased the minimum of 6 magazines! Thanks for the PSA, Bo.
BigDave, there was one on my doorstep last night at 9pm, in the near pitch-black, because the front porch light was off. I pointed out the “no Soliciting” sign on the door. I’m still pissed that he rang the bell that late.
Dave, glad to help! Beth, did you open the door, or did you point at it through the window?
i definitely got bamboozled by a college aged girl who told me she was getting extra credit for class by showing this ‘product’ she had. (she was holding a box the size of a shoe box.) when i told her ok, but there is no way i can buy anything, i am strictly in this for her extra credit, she motions for a guy in a car down the street to come over. he drags out a couple of enormous boxes for a vacuum demo.
i felt like an idiot.
I’d have said “no, I’m not doing it now because you lied to me. Goodbye.”
(If I’d ever even let it get that far.) 🙂