Another classic:
The Fuller Brush ManStarring Red Skelton, Janet Blair.
Posted on 03/07/2011 3:55:28 PM PST by BRL
“You need to remind the girls, DO NOT open the door to anyone...”
No truer words have ever been written. Girls/women are far more easy to fall for the “be nice/kind/helpful” trap than men. Look at Bundy wearing a false leg caste and getting women to help him with his books. How many women are raped simply because they offered someone a ride home with a sob story. Women need to push away the gentile manners of trying to be always lady-like and see the world as possibly dangerous to them. If that means being rude, then be rude. The salesman was on HER property. HERS. If she didn’t want to buy anything or listen to his schtick, then she was safe in my opinion.
Welcome to the (1944) new economy.
I get really annoyed by the ad shpiels that say “Up to (insert amount here) or more...”
By definition, they just included every conceivable amount possible. No minimum, no maximum, no meaning at all to their stated amount. I think I’ll tell the kids that their allowances will be up to a million dollars a week, or more.
But about your situation, you did fine. You never asked the solicitor to come bother you, so you owe them exactly nothing.
Most communities require a permit for solicitation. First ask to see their permit and then just tell him that you don’t buy things from people who come to your door or call you on the phone.
Another classic:
The Fuller Brush ManStarring Red Skelton, Janet Blair.
For some reason, I think it would be hil-ar-e-ous if some quickthinking preacherman batted that thing down right through your door and into the house!
>> First ask to see their permit and then just tell him that you don’t buy things from people who come to your door or call you on the phone.
That’s OK, if you have time for it.
My approach is a polite “No thank you!” and the front door is swinging shut even as I am saying it.
Ditto for telemarketers. “No thank you!” and the phone is already on its way to the cradle.
Like I said, the most expedient technique is often also the technique that minimizes rudeness.
If you ask them for a permit or whatever other *justification* you offer, you’re just leaving yourself open for their counter thrust... in which case you’ll have to be RUDER to finally get rid of them.
YMMV; do whatever works for you, but that’s what I do.
I got arrested that way once! Funny story.
I was canvassing to collect signatures for a petition to eliminate a new tax passed.
I pulled up to this guys house, front gate closed, two big dogs. Back porch unlocked. So I think to myself, why not knock and see what’s up.
I get up to the porch and this guy starts screaming at me like a crazy person, asking me why I was on his porch. I pointed out my badge and told him that I was sorry for intruding and that I’d be on my way.
It was fairly late, (about 830pm) on a saturday night in the summer. He was the second to last house on the block, before I’d finished up my rounds.
Went to the last house, closed up shop. Stopped by at the grocery store, chatted with the clerks, got a bunch more signatures from people at the store who insisted on signing and then on my way.
I’m just about home, when my neighbour who is a good friend is home, so I go knock on his door for a visit. Carrying all my badge and canvassing. We have a good chat and conversation.
11pm rolls around, and I’m headed off home. The cop pull out their siren, and arrests me for unlawful trespass. Apparently the guy that I’d walked up to his porch complained to the cops, and the cops thought that I was a prowler.
Took the rest of the evening, but they towed my car (despite it being parked outside my friend’s house), and I had to ride in with them. Eventually the sargeant came out and told me that they had verified (with whom at midnight on a saturday night?) that I was legit and I got to go home. Still had to pay to get the car out of the impound lot though! I was steamed.
Best part of the whole story. The next weekend I was collecting more signatures door to door. I bump into the dude at the impound lot. He said that anyone nutty enough to not only continue working after getting arrested, but would go to his house to ask for a signature deserved one. I had no idea it was his until I got there!
Yep, yep and yep!
Sales people are the epitome of entrepreneurship as well as capitalism.
Most don't realize that everyone is a salesman, even though they may not make their living at it.
The exception is if I see that the knocker is a young skull full of mush with a clipboard, probably working for the Sierra Club on a polar bear rescue mission. Then, I will invite them in sit them down and ask them a series of questions that make them very eager to leave.
There used to be an extended family of con artists, known as the Williamson gang, that migrated around the US, offering to paint houses and repair roofs and driveways, ripping off old people, mostly. But they haven’t been heard from much for about 15-20 years now.
Yet they have been replaced with so many con artists and dangerous criminals that it is unwise to answer the door to strangers any more.
Fortunately, wireless door speakers are fairly inexpensive, as are common security cameras. And well worth it, especially if you have young children that shouldn’t be answering the door at all.
Ha! Ha! Your story reminds me of my summer job interview right after I graduated from high school. It was a blind ad, but the seminar was being held in a class room at Northwestern University, so I figured it was on the up and up. Anyway, it was the same type of thing as yours. The rep told us how great the company was and how it was a chance to travel to another city and show your independence. It was for magazine sales. I remember telling the guy I would have to check with my parents (I felt like Wally Cleaver saying that)The rep kinda made fun of me in front of the other people saying something along the lines of, “Oh, so you still have to get permission from mommy and daddy.” Luckily, I didn’t take the job. Those magazine companies take you to a motel in another city and drop you off in a neighborhood for x amount of hours and then pick you up at the end of the day. If you try to back out after a few days, they tell you you can just leave- but you have to get home on your own. You’re like an indentured servant.
Ever looked at how many different products there are out there. What do you think differentiates those products, how does that product go to market.
If you had a new product, how would you get it to market? You couldn't. Without a sales person to sell your products, you would fail and your children would starve.
There is a reason that successful sales people make more money than most any other profession. They earn it, they are worth every penny that they are paid, because without them nothing would get done.
I don’t get many door to door people anymore. Why? Becasue I have a nice little sign clearly posted at the end of my drive that says “PRIVATE PROPERTY/NO SOLICITORS/NO TRESPASSING”. I have another on my porch that says “NO SOLICITORS”. I also have a peephole so that I can see anyone on my porch. If I don’t recognize someone that DOES ring my bell (which is not often) I ask their business...if it sales/religion I say, “Please see the sign that says “NO SOLICITORS”...that means you. Have a nice day.”
As a kid my parents had a no solicitors sign too and we were rarely bothered.
Agreed, I don’t answer the door.
By the way, nothing against sales persons. I was in sales at one time myself. I just prefer not to be bothered at home..
How comfortable are you with a pump action shotgun or a big dog? Both make a sound that sends people away from you door with no further explanation.
A lot of posters knocking us here but they don't realize sales people make the world go around, we're ALL sales people in one way or another but yes some sales people can also be a pain in the but.
As Tom Hopkins wrote, "sales is the lowest paid easy work and the highest paid hard work"
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