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Door to Door Solicitation – How is this still a thing?

Life & Family

Knock, knock. Who’s there?

It’s some random person trying to sell you something you don’t want.

This really bugs me. Recently my doorbell rang at dusk and I was faced with yet another door to door solicitation. I thought, how in this crazy world is this still a thing?

For all the horror stories we hear on the news, why would anyone be expected to open their door to a stranger to listen to some spiel about whatever product, religion or political platform this person is supporting? It befuddles me that this practice is still permitted. Yet, the constitution says it can be so, so apparently it’s so.

I find this ridiculous. If I want to know anything about anything I will happily Google it in the safety of my home behind locked doors.

What’s more frustrating about these folks, who present as the friendly faces of door to door solicitation, is that unless you address them they seem not to want to go away. I’ve had my doorbell ring up to five times before these relentless peddlers give up. It’s bad enough that I have to listen to it, but I know it’s unsettling for poor Oscar and I certainly don’t want my girls to ever reach a point of frustration where they would consider opening the door.

What to Do

I firmly believe that any and all door to door solicitation should be a thing of the past. That said, in order to move these folks along as quickly as possible, I’ve adopted the following technique to kindly get them off my doorstep. A no soliciting sign at my door is also a possibility, but I’m not quite there yet.

  1. I never open the door to an unfamiliar face I am not expecting.
  2. I speak through the window of my front door to send the message that I’m not open to a conversation. If they can’t hear me, too bad.
  3. As soon as I’m 100% sure they are door to door solicitors, I put my hand up and firmly state, “I’m sorry, I do not entertain any kind of door to door solicitation.” If I have to talk over them, I do.
  4. I close with a big, loud thank you and wait until they leave.

That’s it. Every time I’ve done this, they stop their sales pitch, say OK and walk away. Truthfully, I hate to be rude, but I imagine they must understand how, in today’s day and age, what they are doing just doesn’t make sense.

How do you handle unwelcome sales calls?

 

  • Ginny

    February 13, 2018 - 7:45 am

    First, do not open the door (they may have a weapon), second, call the police and tell them, ask them to handle it. May seem extreme but. SAFETY FIRST!

    Reply

  • Karla

    February 13, 2018 - 8:31 am

    Totally agree! In the summer, our neighborhood gets a lot of “drop offs”. Some organization drops people off and leaves them in the neighborhood to solicit all day. They just wander from house to house. I’ve called the police and there is nothing they can do. So FRUSTRATING. I feel trapped especially if I’m outside and they approach me. It shouldn’t be allowed!

    Reply

  • Alison Colby-Campbell

    February 13, 2018 - 8:53 am

    In my townhouse complex we have a no soliciting policy so yes I do call the police and I take pictures of the people through the window to supply to the police. I request and take pictures of their IDs through the window, too. They do have a right to canvas, but they must have a permit in my city to do so. Without it, they are acting illegally. The police should know when you call if anyone pulled a permit to canvas in your area. Then I say sweet as pie – we have a no soliciting policy in this complex, so you shouldn’t be here, but let me check with the police to make sure you are properly permitted for another neighborhood you might visit.. They usually leave of their own accord, but if I see them going to neighbors

    Reply

  • Emily

    February 13, 2018 - 9:41 am

    Um, if I am by myself and someone knocks on my door that I am not expecting, I go into full on panic mode. This should NOT still be a thing. I do remember growing up and ducking behind the furniture with my mom when this happened, and they would go to BOTH doors!

    Reply

  • Amy

    February 13, 2018 - 5:34 pm

    For REAL! How is this still a thing? We get a surprising amount of door bell rings like this, and it completely baffles me too. Partly, I’m just annoyed to have whatever it is I’m doing disrupted, but the whole safety/security side of it is terrifying. This is also a strong case for buying a doorbell camera for sure.

    Reply

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