How to handle a door-to-door salesman and keep them away
On Saturday morning, a young man knocked at our door. He wanted to sell us new windows. Kris tried to brush him aside gently, but he was persistent. He didn’t leave until he’d scheduled an appointment to give us an hour-long in-home presentation about his company’s product.
“We do need storm windows,” Kris told me after he’d gone.
“That’s true,” I said. “But I don’t like buying from door-to-door salesmen.”
The worst job I ever had was selling insurance door-to-door to little old ladies in rural Oregon. I know the tricks and techniques these folks use to get into your home and make the sale. Sometimes knowledge isn’t enough. Kris and I have purchased our share of stupid things from door-to-door salesmen over the years, including:
- A set of encyclopedias. We bought these in 1995, on the cusp of the digital age. They never saw much use. (Look for more about this on April Fool’s Day.)
- A freezer full of chicken, most of which went to waste after a power outage.
- A Kirby vacuum cleaner, which now sits unused because we have no carpeting.
- Membership in a “consumers club”. We paid something like $1500 to join this organization, and then $70 a year thereafter to remain members. In theory, membership allowed us to buy furniture and electronics for cheap. In reality, we barely used it.
Kris and I are smart people. You’d think we’d know better than to buy this stuff. But we’re also nice people, and sometimes that niceness overpowers the intelligence. 
I used to have a rule that I’d always buy stuff from kids who knocked on the door. But in 2001, I let some college kids cajole me into purchasing several magazine subscriptions. Several over-priced magazine subscriptions. Canceling these was a nightmare.
The Problem With Door-To-Door Salesmen (And Other Aggressive Marketing)
Since then, I’ve adopted a rule of thumb that has served me well: I never buy anything if I did not initiate the transaction. I don’t buy anything from flyers in the mail, from telemarketers, from e-mail ads, and, especially, from door-to-door salesmen. Why not?
- They’re trained to sell. You are not trained to resist. During my time with the insurance company, I learned how to handle a variety of objections, and how to present my information in such a way that the customer almost sold herself. I wasn’t very good — some of my colleagues were. They could have sold ice to eskimos.
- They create need where none exists. If you really need something, you already know it. You can do the research on your own. If you allow yourself to be pitched, the salesmen will create a need you didn’t know you had. He’ll make it seem sensible to spend thousands of dollars on a smoke alarm.
- They prey on fear and ignorance. They want you to feel sorry for them. They want you to feel like you’re keeping up with the Joneses. They want you to feel like you’re protecting your family. A salesman wants you to make an emotional decision.
- They use high-pressure tactics. They try to create a sense of urgency: “I only have one left”, “This offer ends today”, “We’re only in town for this week”. Don’t let the perceived scarcity influence you. And don’t feel guilty if a salesman berates you for wasting his time. Stand strong.
How To Deal With Door-to-Door Salesman
It’s all well and good to know how the salesman works, but what can you do to resist? Here are some effective techniques for handling door-to-door salesmen.
- Don’t answer the door. The best way to resist any form of marketing is to avoid it altogether. Don’t watch television ads, don’t read junk mail, don’t engage telemarketers. And don’t open the door to a traveling salesman.
- Don’t let him inside. If you do open the door to find a salesman, don’t let him in your home. Once he’s in, he has the advantage. Good salespeople know this. Some people feel it’s rude not to ask a salesman inside, but that’s not true. The salesman isn’t concerned with etiquette (and, in fact, takes advantage of social conventions by using them against you). The salesman just wants inside your home so he can make his pitch. Keep him outside.
- Don’t listen to the presentation. Most sales pitches are constructed to get you answering questions (usually with a “yes”) as soon as possible. Don’t fall for it. Again, nobody wants to be rude, but which would you rather do: interrupt the pitch or buy an overpriced set of steak knives? I’d rather interrupt the pitch.
- Be courteous but firm. The salesman is just doing his job. Yes, it’s a shitty job, and he ought to be doing something else, but ultimately it’s still just a way for him to put food on the table for his family. Stand firm, but don’t be a jerk.
- No Soliciting sign. Many salesmen might ignore this, but it’s worth trying. Plus, if you feel awkward saying no, you can point to the sign as a way of showing you’ve already asked them in advance to now waste your time.
- Get a big dog. This might be your next step if the “No Soliciting” sign doesn’t work. Salesmen ignore them or pretend not to see them. (They’re like a red flag: “I’m no good at resisting sales pitches, so please don’t call.”) But it’s difficult to ignore a large, snarling animal. When I was selling insurance, I avoided any home with a large dog. I wasn’t the only one.
When Kris told me about the window salesman yesterday, I did some research. I knew that he’d caught her in a weak moment, and I was worried that her pride might make it difficult for her to cancel the sales appointment. I found several sites online with complaints about the company and its tactics. I compiled the information and went upstairs to tell Kris what I’d learned. I was going to volunteer to call the salesman myself.
“We don’t want to do this,” I told her. “The company does a hard-sell. The ‘one hour appointment’ generally lasts four hours. They don’t take no for an answer. Their windows are much more expensive than normal windows.” I sighed. “We need to cancel the appointment.”
“No problem,” Kris said, smiling. “I already did.”
Become A Money Boss And Join 15,000 Others
Subscribe to the GRS Insider (FREE) and we’ll give you a copy of the Money Boss Manifesto (also FREE)
There are 216 comments to "How to handle a door-to-door salesman and keep them away".
We all get snookered sometimes. In our old community they had made door-to-door sales illegal (except for the kids) but that didn’t stop them either.
The Kirby sales person just came through our area a couple weeks ago. It was cold and I was too nice to send him away. He did his sales pitch and got both my wife and I to “realize” we had a “need” (that we never knew we had) for an uber-vacuum. I was hooked… until I saw the price! He had it laid out as $33 per month financed. I twisted his arm until he would give me a cash price which was $1,200 and the financing ran about 15% APR (over 4 years). I sent him packing, but not before I had to be more forceful and stop being polite.
The magazine guy was a little easier because he was dressed like a punk and seemed strung out. He didn’t last long enough for me to take off the chain lock. Better safe than sorry.
My boyfriend’s mom is one usual victim of these door-to-door salesmen. My bf always sulks about this because oftentimes her mom would end up breaking her budget just to avoid that “sorry” feeling for the salesman.
I wonder how I can help in sending the message that she just has to say no without offending her.
I live in the city and going door-to-door is dangerous business. Eventhough I’m in a very nice neighborhood – we trust no one. I simply don’t answer the door. If the person sees me I say (through the closed & locked door), “I’m sorry, I don’t answer the door to strangers.” The only people I answer the door to are delivery men and anyone else in uniform. It’s rude, I know, but I don’t care. It simply isn’t safe to answer the door to anyone. I have an 80 lb dog and a baseball bat near the door for back-up.
But even if I didn’t live in the city I think these are good techniques. Frequently scam artists solicite door to door. We have a group of people around here known as “travelers” or “gypsies” and they go door to door looking for work – they are basically just scoping out your house to come back later and rob you. I used to know some of these people from when I managed a public library – they are pros – they ripped us off several times as well as some of the businesses in the area.
We also have a lot of “preachers” going door to door soliciting for money. Again, I have to be hard-hearted. I put them in the same category as the con-artists. I seriously doubt any of that money is going to a church.
I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. I was walking my dog the other day and a dog was loose. I looked at his tags and I went and knocked on the door of the home where the dog belonged. A middle aged woman came to the door and lifted the mail slot in her door to talk to me – she wasn’t about to open her door to frail, little me, either! It’s a shame, but you can’t trust anyone these days.
I am the door to door sales man. I sold it. All of the crap. the stuff you use, may use, will never use, and food you dont want. I never liked the products I sold. I loved meeting all the people. You meet all kinds.
I have horror stories also I could tell them but I still love meeting all types of people mean rude dumb smart fast slow tall short fat skinny. The stories go both ways for sales people and customers. The bottom line is we are all people just trying to make a living. We do right we do wrong, it is our nature.
Watching Glengarry Glen Ross really helped me understand that door-to-door salesmen really do take advantage of politeness and niceness. It’s a lot easier to be firm and ignore social customs knowing that they’ll do the same.
We actually have good luck with our No Soliciting sign. The only people who’ve gone ahead and rang the bell were school kids too young to know (maybe?) what the word “soliciting” means and a high school kid who should have known, but obviously didn’t.
I still say buy from the little kids. I hated having to sell those candy bars and stuff when I was little!
Timely post – I’ve been working on my “line” to deal with door-to-door salespersons. Now I just quickly say “This isn’t a good time”. I’ve found it works like a charm – ok I’ve only used it once but it did work.
Mike
One of my friends had a vacuum cleaner thrown out the window by a…demonstrative salesman. She’d said something about not needing a new one and being satisfied and such.
That left an impression for me—don’t let them near our house.
I mean he was obviously a crazy guy and most salespeople aren’t that bad. But I’m not letting someone I don’t know in my house even if they work for a respectable company. You just never know who you’re dealing with.
I found saying you’re renting your house and aren’t responsible for that kind of purchases sends all the home improvement/yard maintenance/alarm system/utility companies out really quick. Also work over the phone with telemarketers.
Another advantage of apartment living – no windows salesmen, no aluminum siders, no Mormons, no Jehova’s Witnesses, no Girl Scouts, no magazine hawkers.
All I have to do is tell them (truthfully) I’m a credit reject with a minimum wage job and they lose all interest in trying to sell me anything.
If they were good, that wouldn’t stop them. Minimum wage working class people are the easiest for me to sell, because I relate to them the most.
My doorbell broke about two months ago, and I put up a sign to call. Turns out anyone who would need to talk to me knows my number. And anyone who I don’t want to talk to doesn’t!
I’m not even sure I will fix it.
Angie wrote: I still say buy from the little kids. I hated having to sell those candy bars and stuff when I was little!
Absolutely! Buy from the little kids! I agree 100%. But I used to buy from college kids, too. Not anymore.
This is the text of our no soliciting sign. It is 100% effective. We watch the solicitors approach our door and then turn away almost every day.
ABSOLUTELY NO SOLICITING
If you are selling something DO NOT knock on the door, or ring the doorbell. We do not need your magazines, coupon books, or eternal salvation. I’m sure your cause is important, and it will still be important without the donation you will not get from us.
If you are a Boy Scout or Girl Scout this does not apply, please knock. One can never have too many Thin Mints in the house!
I put a NO SOLICITORS sign up with a phone on the bottom.
The phone number is the local office of the State Police. They Do use caller ID and don’t like prank callers.
This is great!
I’m still fuming about the Kirby salesman I endured a year ago–I was referred by a friend because they offered a free carpet and upholstery cleaning. The 1 hour presentation turned into 3, with my newborn screaming to be fed, and I couldn’t get the guy out of my house! He criticized my home for not being clean (and not just the carpet), was very rude once he realized I really wasn’t going to buy anything, complained about the noise from my children and finally resorted to “you should tell your mommy to buy this”. I was livid! Oh, and he didn’t clean my couch either.
Yes, buy from little ones. They aren’t trying to sell you a product with financing or anything that requires a credit check or will have you making a monthly payment for the next few years with interest. A single box of cookies or one candy bar or the cheapest tin of unpopped popcorn will make their day…
Wow. I am in shock. Yes, we get the odd salesman trying to sell windows or landscaping, and the occasionally suspiciously-mature-looking “youth” selling magazines, but I have never had a problem saying “No, not interested”. Half the time we don’t even open the door. I just look through the window, shake my head “no”, and turn back to what I’m doing.
I’m not sure if I’m more shocked that there ARE people who buy this stuff or that folks have a hard time saying “No”. I mean, if it was worth buying they wouldn’t have to go to your house and harass you, right?
Maybe this is a regional thing?
(Oh: Yes, I am a former Girl Scout. I Girl Scout cookies, but haven’t had scouts come door-to-door in years. I see them at the grocery store or I preorder from scouts I know personally.)
We had a guy come around the other talking as though he was from our existing phone company and that they were upgrading their lines. I thought they were going to tell me our Internet would be down for a bit while they were working, but he was from a rival company trying to convince us to change our Internet Service Provider and Phone Company.
He was very persistent and a hard one to get away. In the end I started to just close the door and told him I had to go and that he could leave information in the letterbox.
He never left anything in the letter box…
The problem with ‘buying from little ones’ is that most of them are victims of extortion! Most ‘fundraisers’ raise more funds for the company than for the kids organization. Most cost 3 times more than it should, and the kids organization only gets a tenth of it! I’d much rather buy that box of cookies from Wal-Mart (I do like the Girl Scout cookies, though…) and donate the whole $3 to the local organization!
Of course, kids doing fundraisers promotes hard work, business skills, and so forth. I just don’t like the organizations that take advantage of our children to extort money from the parents and communities! There are better alternatives out there!
-James
That 2nd picture you used showed up on Postsecret.com this week. Any connection?
We haven’t had traveling salesman come around our neighborhood since I’ve been here. It’s a mixed income, safe neighborhood…I wonder why?
I think it depends on where you live. I used to live in Northern VA right outside DC, and I can recall maybe once or twice getting door to door sales. I moved out to the eastern part of WV and it seems we get a salesman every other week. My guess is the further you are away from big cities, the more likely the practice is still done. The biggest ones we get are lawn companies, who show up several times a year, last time they showed up at 7 or 8 o’clock, in the dark and in freezing weather.
I kind of want to tell them (nicely) that they should get another job, but I assume hopefully they know that.
It just seems with the internet and TV and all that door to door should be a thing of the past.
I work for a lawn care company, and I have been told many times that I should consider a different line of work (for the reason being knocking doors until 8 pm in the freezing rain) but with my education I’m limited to either this, or factory work. And I have a bum arm, so this is much less painful than factory work. Everyone has a reason as to why they do the work they get paid for. You’d also be surprised at how easy it is to get sales going door to door. I usually average 5 sales in a day doing it, and I usually only talk to 20 or so people.
I would never, ever let anyone I did not know inside of my house (assuming they are trying to sell me something).
Trying to force their way, even politely, into my residence puts you on my turf. I have a golf club for these situations. You have 10 seconds to leave, or you’re going to need a new set of teeth.
That may sound harsh, but I think the behavior is unacceptable.
We have a “No Soliciting” sign at both entrances to the neighborhood, but I doubt it works.
I had hornets living in my peep-hole above the door knocker. They were surprisingly ineffective though, had to fire them.
I’ve got no problem saying “No” to sales people. A telemarketer offered us a free vacation if we listened to a “presentation” in our home. I gave the guy the alloted one hour and after that I cut him off and said, “Where’s my certificate?” He was astounded that 1. I interrupted him and 2. I didn’t want his vaccuum cleaner. I still got a free weekend at the beach. I did the same thing to a timeshare sales person and got another free weekend…if you work it right you can take advantage of them!
I’ve never had a problem telling these sorts of people “no.” I have a very good “no.” Vibe.
Part of why I’m still single, but not every useful trait is useful in all circumstances. 🙂
The same techniques could be used to those “born again” christians trying to convert you to their version of christianity.
N.L. said: That 2nd picture you used showed up on Postsecret.com this week. Any connection?
iStockPhoto, baby! 🙂
I either paid a buck for the image or downloaded it as one of their free images of the week. iStockPhoto — the blogger’s best friend.
It is not rude to tell an uninvited person that they cannot come in. This include everyone from your best friend, your neighbor and especially someone you have never met before in your life. I always ask who is at the door, if it is not someone I know I do not open the door. If it is a delivery or utility person I am not expecting I ask them to wait and the call the company for verification. I have twice had “meter checkers” leave when I said that only to find out that neither my electric nor gas company had sent someone!!!! (the police were informed) Uniforms, business cards and badges MEAN NOTHING. I find it easy to tell these people to go away because I HATE being sold to. If I have something I want or am interested in at store and need to talk to a sales person I will immediately ask them to please not “sell” to me or I will leave. This is very effective, if they don’t believe me I walk away as soon as they start to pitch something I did not ask about. I have had managers stop me, apologize and give a discount. Other times salesman have lost a guaranteed sale on the item I wanted because they just had to try to up sell me. Anyway all of that is to say don’t worry about being rude, you aren’t. (and I know Miss Manners and Emily Post would agree with me on that!)
I am pretty resistant to sales pitches, at least when the thing they are trying to sell isn’t worth the money to me.
My only experience with door-to-door salesmen was when I just started working. They were selling a vacuum cleaner. I knew right away I wouldn’t buy it – the one I had worked fine and I had hardwood floors and an area rug, but I let them in hoping for some free cleaning during the demonstration. But they only cleaned a portion of my rug, putting a paper towel inside instead of a bag. Then they took it out and showed me that it was dirty – obviously since it was Saturday morning and I hadn’t cleaned my floors yet that week. Pretty unconvincing demonstration as far as I was concerned as it didn’t show their cleaner was better. Then they gave me a pretty ridiculous price. I was tempted to say “I am not convinced yet, maybe if you clean my whole apartment so I can see how it works on hardwood floors …”, but decided to be nice and simply told “not interested”.
Pretty disappointing experience – half an hour wasted and I still had to do my own vacuuming. So now I just don’t let anyone in.
I’ve always refused to participate in any transaction that I didn’t initiate.
My “no peddlers or solicitors” sign seems to be working – the only people that ring the doorbell are kids who wouldn’t know what those words meant.
I’ve never been one for door-to-door sales. If a product is truly good, it’ll sell just fine in a store, and I can happily shop for it on my terms.
I don’t even buy from the little kids; I am so opposed to the fund raising junkets they put these kids on. Instead I offer to donate directly to their school or organization so they get 100% of the donation rather than just a small percentage of the overpriced product they are selling.
I do the same with my own kids, I don’t allow them to sell door to door to raise funds for the kids. Instead I give them $20 to donate to the purpose they are raising funds, which is much more than they would have made going and bothering our neighbors with their sales efforts.
In addition to Kirby, BEWARE if you get a call or a flyer to have a “water quality test”. This is Rain Soft trying to get in your door! I made the mistake, in a weak moment, of allowing them to make an appointment with us–I intended to cancel it when they called to confirm (as I was told they would). They never did, and my husband and I forgot and were subjected to FOUR HOURS of this guy desperately trying to sell us the Rain Soft system! NEVER again!
why not just shut the door when you open it and find out they are selling stuff door to door?
Encyclopedias, Kirby vacuum, magazine subscriptions, bulk meat, AND a shopper’s club? Wow, you guys fell for every one of the big scams! (well, except for windows, lol)
Please don’t let any salesmen into your home! I live in a very small, safe college town in California, and we’ve had two women raped in the last year by traveling “magazine salesmen”. You just never know what a person’s real motives are.
Strange; we *love* our Kirby! We have a mix of hardwood floors and Oriental rugs.
(we also have a long-haired German Shepherd and two cats).
I did not know that door to door salesmen still existed. I haven’t encountered one for years. Since I have gotten rid of the land line, no more junk calls on the phone either.
I don’t buy when people come door to door – we rent, carry no cash, few checks, and only use our credit card for visiting family out of state (for renting the car – they don’t pester you with a credit check if you’re putting it on the card). We’re Agnostic, so we leave it at that and most people leave us alone. We use the cheapest vacuums we can get from the store and do a twice-per-year rental of a great vacuum and steam-cleaner. And anything that can be found on the computer (like encyclopedias) means that we don’t buy them either.
We also don’t buy from little kids – the stuff clutters and is usually sub-par quality for astronomical prices. And if I REALLY need girl scout cookies, I can call up a school and ask for a contact. The kids here (NM, USA) don’t believe me when I say I don’t have cash or checks though, which is REALLY weird, but most are afraid of the dog.
True story though – my parents (Catholic) had two JW’s come to their door, and before they could knock, my youngest brother (who had to be elementary school at the time, and was up in the tree in the front yard) calls out “What the hell do YOU want?”…they ran off and never came back. Never saw anything so funny in their lives, my grandfather tried to talk him into doing the same for them the next week. *grin*
The easiest way is to make yourself a rule that you are not buying anything nor subscribe anything at the door. I politely ask the salesperson to leave me a folder (or send it to me) so that I can review the product in my time, and then come back if I really want it.
This also works with unsolicited phone calls trying to sell you something. “You can cancel anytime” is not good enough for me, I want any offer in print BEFORE I decide.
Quite a lot of “once-in-a-lifetime” offers seem not to work with paper anymore, so I don’t even have to bother reviewing them.
— Ben
This is a great article.
I use the ‘We rent this house’ line which always works for sales people selling windows and stuff. This also works on the phone.
But, now our dog, is no longer a puppy, I like to open the door, holding my dog bu his collar.
I love seeing their faces. The funny thing is, my dog is just eager to get out because he thinks his going for a walk, the sales person thinks the dog is going for them.
I love it.
Juan
A reasonably friendly smile and a “no thanks” as I shut the door has always worked for me. I could add “I do not buy anything from door-to-door salespeople, ever.” Saves their time as well as mine so I figure they appreciate it. For fundraisers from kids, I usually just offer a check made out to the organization for between $3 and $5. It generally costs less than the product they are selling and gets more cash to the organization that the paltry cut they would get from the sale. It also keeps junk food and other garbage out of my house.
The worst are the Kirby vacuum salesmen… they don’t leave! I’m usually a sucker with the kids though…
Hi
It’s the same here in the UK.
I came home one night to find a kitchen saleman in the kitchen talking to my wife. She handed over to me. I told him politely, we have no intention of buying a kitchen, we cannot afford to buy a kitchen and if we did want one, we would be shoping around and buying from a comapny that had been reccomended.
The then asked if he could chat anyway. Two hours later my wife called me on my cellphone from the phone in the living room, we proceeded to chat for about 15 minutes whilst he just sat there. A little later I excused myself to visit the bathroom, I was actually turning off the heating, it was winter. I cam back in and made myself and my wife a nice hot cup of tea. I didn’t consider him a “guest” so I never offered him one.
Two cold hours later I interrupt him and reiterate that under no circumstances will we buy anything. He phones his boss and negociates a discount and the price drops from £16,000 to £2,000 over the price of the visit.
The only way we could get rid of him was to offer him the number of our landlord and we were renting the house, this was of course a lie but he was determined not to leave without at least arranging a follow up appointment.
This was an experiment on my part to see just how long he would stay, I was bored.
6 hours he lasted.
Now I just mention that we are planning to sell or if it is a telesales then we have just renewed our “whatever it is they are selling”, if only they have phoned last month.
The tactic I have only had to resort to once is, “I’m sorry mut Mr X has just passed away, I don’t think he will need a new kitchen”, harsh but this guy was not taking no for an answer.
Ross
http://www.RossGoodman.com
You let some guy talk for SIX HOURS? Are you nuts?
The worst in my area are the guys who try to get you to switch to their hydro or gas company. They insist to see your bill so they can copy down the account number and info! Once, when I told them it was my parent’s place (it was), they asked me to get *their* bill (that’s when I shut the door).
I was a Girl Scout leader and in my area the Girl Scouts don’t go door to door anymore – their parents are afraid to let them.
Jesse wrote:
True story though – my parents (Catholic) had two JW’s come to their door, and before they could knock, my youngest brother (who had to be elementary school at the time, and was up in the tree in the front yard) calls out “What the hell do YOU want?”…they ran off and never came back. Never saw anything so funny in their lives, my grandfather tried to talk him into doing the same for them the next week. *grin*
Considering some of them face drawn weapons at times doing the non-paid, volunteer work that Jesus commanded his followers to do and trying to honestly help people, I’m sure a rude Catholic wasn’t anything new. Way to be Christian though. You can simply politely say you’re not interested if you really aren’t.
Oh man! I know exactly who that window company is. They hit my husband the second day we moved into our new house, back in October. The line was that they would just measure our windows, leave us a quote and be gone. Had I answered the door I would have said no thanks as many times as it took, buy my husband can’t say no to this sort of thing. They came the next day and took up 5 hours of unpacking time. By the end of it, I was fumming and just wanted them out of our house so I lied and said we would be coming into some money in a few months and that they should call us then. Now ever couple months they call and we don’t pick up. And their windows were going to cost over $15K for our 1,200 sqft house, which has nothing but standard sized windows. When they told me the cost my jaw almost hit the floor. We are in the process of saving and getting out of debt and there is no way I would drop that kind of money on windows. Crazy. Thanks for this post!
I only buy things from children I KNOW in the neighborhood.
If another child comes to the door, I just say that I’ve already purchased from another child.
If adults come to the door, I firmly say, “No Thank You, I’m not interested”. I then close the door on them, whether they are talking or not. Why waste their time and mine? I’m not worried about being nice. Nice gets you suckered into things!
I NEVER EVER let ANYONE into my home. That’s just stupid from a safety standpoint.
I have two dogs. They’re cocker spaniels, so they’re not big. However, whenever anyone rings the doorbell, it gets them going. I always have slide out of the front door while my dogs are trying to get out (one would probably just lick the person to death…the other might attack). However, I never invite the person in (I’m paranoid, and don’t know them, so I don’t want anyone “casing” my house, or worse). They never try to get invited in either…I think my dogs scare them 🙂 Though I do think that if anyone ever comes by, and is persistent, even after I tell them I won’t buy anything I might have to say Hold on, let me go get a chair, and then have them give me their pitch while I sit on a chair on my front porch 😉
Ugh, Kirby. My wife responded to what looked like a legit job ad once. Turns out the job was selling these useless things. She went in for a “training session” expecting to spend the day in a conference room or something and found herself stuffed in a van with more bodies than seat belts, sitting on someone’s lap, being driven through a neighborhood and being told that “no solicitation” signs were signs of weakness.
When some homeowners complained about the folks ignoring the signs and a police car started driving through the neighborhood she told the van’s driver she wasn’t interested anymore. He told her tough luck and she could either keep selling for them for the rest of the day (without pay) or she could find her own way home. She had no idea where she even was.
Never buy these things.
I managed to get a meat salesman to leave after telling him we only bought local organic beef and we had just bought a 1/2 cow … but sheesh, he was persistent!
I have to agree, though … the Jehovah’s Witnesses selling their false religion are the worst! Once, one gave my mom some “Watchtower” tracts, and at the end asked her to pay for them!!
It’s funny thinking that you ended up with a Kirby. Those guys are mercenary when it comes to sales! I remember a friend of mine once worked for them and he had a routine down that was almost like a hunter stalking his prey.
It’s not my page, but Rob Cockerham over at Cockeyed/Fat Wallet has a funny page about his distaste for Kirby sales men. See “Kirby Vaccum Cleaners will suck the life out of you and your marriage” at http://www.cockeyed.com/citizen/kirby/kirby_techniques_2007.shtml and http://www.cockeyed.com/citizen/kirby/kirby.html
@No Solicitation Signs
I’ve done some flyering for myself, and always obeyed these. Some of us care.
@Door-to-Door
If they come by regularly (I have a basketball couch who comes by 2-4 times a year selling a single coupon sheet for $3), the first time, I say ‘no’ politely. If they say thank you and move along, the next time they come by, I actually consider the offer (in the basketball case, I donate immediately and never use the coupons).
BASICALLY, if you don’t try and SELL it, I’ll listen.
To get rid of people I KNOW are selling (magazine kids are the worst), I grab my house phone and as I open the door I tell the ‘person’ on the phone to “hold on.” After the seller’s first sentence, I tell them I am on the phone and put it back to my ear. Moments later, I close the door and they leave. They never comeback because it is a single loop/trip always.
“No” and “Not interested, sorry” usually work for me. If they persist I say “Look, I’m not going to buy anything, so why don’t we both save some time and move on”.
When I was a kid (around 1998) our dorm “4 people shared kitchen”-plexes had a funny incident with an encyclopedia sales man. After having been told “no thanks, don’t want it, don’t need it” a couple of times he goes on with he sales pitch: “…. and consider the Gulf War, it was only some years about but you probably already forgot when it started – this is why it’s good to own an encyclopedia”. Little did he know that he had just wandered into the home of the two of the dorm’s trivial pursuit sharks. “January 17th, 1991, 5 in the morning local time”, I offered … “That was a Thursday by the way”, my friend said. After that the poor sales guy was out of ammo and he left.
@Maria
The Watchtower is not sold, voluntary donations are accepted (it costs money to print) and sometimes mentioned, but you are free to keep whatever is offered without donating if you wish. Nothing is sold.
The way I handle JW’s is to say “Oh, gee, the orgy doesn’t start for another hour, but please, come in, come in!”
My policy? Confuse them. “I don’t own this place, so I don’t get to make any decisions. Nope, no one who’s here gets to make those decisions. Have a nice day. Buh-bye.”
There’s always the snarling dog and the guy with the katana, though… (no, I’m kidding; I don’t really advocate threatening door-to-door salespeople).
@Anthony
That would also work to persuade them to move along.
If im in the right mood, i like salesmen..on the phone or in person. The reason being is i like to waste their time! haha. If im not doing anything at the time and i get a sales phone call, i will go through all the motions including bargaining and an interested tone of voice and at the end, i tell them im not interested! haha. they hate that! One example: i had a phone call trying to sell me magazines for 3.84$ for one month. I acted interested because they said they would give me a diamond watch and an entry in a cash grand prize. It turns out that at the end of the conversation he told me that i would owe like 70 bucks for 2 magazines that were supposed to be free! I laughed and told him he wasted 15 minutes of his time and made my boring hour very amusing!
I always say no.
Even to the girl scouts–I tell them I am on a diet (which actually I’m not on–but you’d be surprised how many kids sell candy/cookies in my neighborhood).
I also have 2 large dogs.
Man, some of you people are incredibly paranoid. I can understand the ‘I do not want to endure a hard sell’ aspect, but the ‘any stranger who knocks on your door will rape you, abduct your children, beat your dog with a tire iron, and then stomp all over your carpets without cleaning their boots’?
It must be scary to live in a world where everyone you aren’t on a first name basis with is a murderous Nazi because your friend Mabel saw something on Dateline or it happened to that kid two counties over one time (really! My friend’s cousin’s boyfriend was their neighbor and he found the bodies!).
I get so many door to door solicitors I don’t even answer the doorbell anymore. And I don’t care. It’s rude of them to assume we have nothing better to do than stand there and waste our time listening to their spiel. I finally convinced my fiance that he doesn’t even need to listen to the sales pitch either. Also there are so many home invasions and such around here, I think it would be just plain stupid to let a stranger in my house unless it’s someone coming to fix something and planned, by ME, in advance.
Mos wrote: “Considering some of them face drawn weapons at times doing the non-paid, volunteer work that Jesus commanded his followers to do and trying to honestly help people, I’m sure a rude Catholic wasn’t anything new. Way to be Christian though. You can simply politely say you’re not interested if you really aren’t.”
Actually, I’m not Christian, I’m Agnostic, and the rude one was my younger brother – my parents just usually say “no thanks”. And perhaps I should have also stated that these JW’s were wandering around selling their religion in an almost Catholic-only town (which, just so we’re clear here, Catholics ARE Christians). Am kind of curious how a “rude Catholic isn’t anything new”, but that’s probably a discussion best saved for cooler heads.
A gate, a sign, and a dog tend to combine to equal no salespeople showing up. I dislike the religious solicitors more, though.
Dear god! DON’T OPEN THE DOOR TO STRANGERS! Ever. Period.
We have had three vicious home invasions in our neighborhood, two of them perpetrated by groups of thugs who had an innocent-looking woman ring the doorbell, claim her car was broken down, and ask to use the phone.
A friend of mine lives in an apartment complex where her two kids play with the neighbor kids all the time. Some guy came to the door — expecting a friend, one of the kids opened the door. First he tried to give a magazine pitch; when the mom told him no, he tried to force his way in. A Salvadoran farm girl, she’s surprisingly strong, thanks to a lifetime of hard work. She put up a fight and ended up physically kicking him outside and slamming the door behind him. Lucky for her: within the previous week he had raped two other women in front of their children.
When I was young and pretty, a man came to my front door. I was expecting someone and had opened the door but kept the chain lock on it. Coincidentally, I happened to have been sharpening the kitchen knives when he showed up. He could see the two German shepherds at my side and he could see I had a butcher knife in my hand, and he STILL tried to force his way in.
No stranger who comes to your door, whether to sell you something or for other reasons, means you any good. People who try to proselytize you have no respect for your beliefs; assuming they’re right and you’re benighted, they don’t mean you any more good than does any other intruder. Sorry it doesn’t sound very friendly…but it’s life in the big city.
Here in the Netherlands we don’t have that many door-to-door salesmen. Most of the time it are unsollicited phonecalls. With both I find it very easy to answer with a quick, “No thanks” and end the conversation (I don’t listen to them anymore). The reason I find this so easy is because I know they work on commission and they would be wasting their time on me.
In the past I would say my wife just happened to work in their area of expertise so we already have insurance, a nice car, loads of books or whatever they tried to sell but nowadays I don’t even bother to listen what they are trying to sell.
The only exception are the charities which come here door to door. They all get some (very small) amount. If somebody takes the trouble to go door to door for some good cause they deserve a reward. And if they aren’t for real, the amount is so small it wouldn’t be worthwile.
My son just speaks longingly of how he’s been meaning to get one of those (whatever they are selling)now that he’s out of prison. This works especially well for credit card offers.
I actually love it when these guys come. I keep the gate to my porch locked, and my dogs are the alerters. I go outside to meet the soliciter, but make no attempt to quite the dogs. I frequently ask him to repeat what he said, I couldn’t hear, the dogs are barking! Eventually he leaves, frustrated… and I smile and give my dogs a treat for being great watch dogs.
I didn’t even know door-to-door salesmen still existed. I’ve never gotten one that wasn’t part of a religious group.
Also, I have a pitbull.
@Kjell, agreed.
I answer the door holding onto the collar of my big Lab. Usually the conversation is very short.
Probably a dead thread, it’s been a few days.
But I’d like to add my $0.02. I’ve maybe mentioned this before, but when I was a salesman, the thing that always bothered me the most, and the thing I use the most now, is to say “No” or “No, Thanks”, if I’m feeling especially polite.
The important thing is to say nothing else after that. The system of not taking no for an answer is based on you giving an excuse.
Person: My wife will never let me buy those.
Salesman: Why don’t you try it out, and then show your wife, if she doesn’t like it, then you can cancel.
or
Person: No, thanks, I can’t afford it.
Salesperson: Think about how much money you will save by buying this TV instead of going to the movies! Just finance it, we will give you a great finance offer.
The “No” with an awkward pause takes some getting used to. And the really sly salesman will ask you why, then you have to say something like “Not interested” or “Have a good day” and shut the door. The best case scenario is when they keep pitching things, and you just keep saying “No”. After three times, you will feel no social responsibility to keep the door open, they have broken the rules.
Also, Glengarry Glen Ross was a great insight into sales and human interaction in general.
In highschool, my friends and I had a running gag about how we were going to make some extra cash:
We were going to to door-to-door selling “No Soliciting” signs!! Sometimes, I actually thought we were going to go through with it. We were going to knock during dinner time, and as the person opened the door, we were going to say “Are you tired of being interrupted by salesmen while you eat…” 😉 The plan kept expanding to the point where we were going to knock on doors with existing “No Soliciting” signs and say: “Tired of people ignoring your sign? How about an ‘ABSOLUTELY NO SOLICITING’ upgrade for only $5.00?”
Laughter ensued.
Now that I read this post I’m saying. “Hmmm” Maybe I should have kept our genius idea to myself!
Please take a look at our website that is dedicated to the problem of magazine sales people. When magazine sales kids come to your door, don’t let them in, but ask them if they’d like to have the Parent Watch telephone number in case they want to go home (they’re driven all over the country in vans and live out of motels). On occasion one of these sales people will commit a crime against a homeowner, since the itinerant lifestyle appeals especially to youths who have hopped onto a crew as a way to avoid arrest where they live. The great majority, however, are just slaves. Don’t let them in because you never know, but hand out our website info and telephone number. 917.579.4641.
I tell the sales people/solicitor/church person that I charge a rate for advertising on my property, which includes my front yard, sidewalk, and doorway.
The rate is $75 an hour, min 1 hours. Then I ask them if they would like to purchase advertisement time.
This usually stops them in their tracks.
Whats up with the drama ?
Why bother with creative excuses ? Why be dishonest and lie ? Why the complaints of “he was persistent” ? How hard can you make it ?
“No thank you, I’m not interested” works with 99% of all salesmen. After that you can just close the door. End of story. No creativity or lies needed.
Here’s a clue: You need to grow a backbone. If NOT buying simply for the reason that some person wants you to buy is a problem for you, you’re ALWAYS going to be wasting your money. Door-to-door salesmen is just one of a million examples of situations where you need the ability to simply say “no”, and mean it.
Eivind is right about just saying no, but this thread wouldn’t exist if that were easy. Even when one is successful at saying “no,” and closing the door, the emotional discomfort of the home owner is considerable. The reason for this is that we are trained to be hospitable in our own homes to those who ask for our attention. The sales person knows how to manipulate one’s innate sociability. Outside the home one responds very differently to sales people and is actually annoyed if accosted on the street or the supermarket by a sales person. It’s easy to say no. It helps to remember that you feel uncomfortable saying “no” in your home because you were well trained by your parents to be polite to guests. Remind yourself that these people are not guests; they are hoping they can manipulate you into thinking they are guests, and then get under your well-socialized skin. As I said before, offer the magazine sales kids the phone, while remaining outside, and give them the Parent Watch number. They’re just slaves. Otherwise, it really is best to ignore your inner “helpful” impulses and close the door firmly. The most successful deterrent of all, which people just can’t bring themselves to do, is place a small No Trespassing sign on the lawn. Then anyone who comes into the yard is committing a criminal offense.
This is all true. My point is, inventing more or less clever lies have no advantage over simply stating the truth.
We may be socialized to be polite to guests, but one would hope we’re -ALSO- socialized to not lie.
Furthermore, saying YES is harmful even if the offer was actually good (which it never is). In encouraging more visits.
If more people would siumply say “no” and shut the door more often, it’d be less profitable to do door-to-door sales, which would over time tend to lower the frequency, which is win-win.
Well, good morning there, Eivind! It’s kind of a shame that this particular thread isn’t out there on the net in a more conspicuous place. People obviously have a lot to say about door-to-door sales.
And I love everyone’s inventiveness when it comes to handling an “on the spot” uncomfortable situation–especially the kid up a tree. Which reminds me: I once saw a large novelty door knocker in a catalog. It was a life-sized version of a particular part of male anatomy. It might drive the Witnesses away, but touching it would probably be irresistible for everybody else!
In all seriousness, go to http://www.parentwatch.com and take a look at the real life difficulties of some of these sales people. We can be a good samaritan here and offer them the option of a cell phone call (out on the porch) to us at 917.579.4641 so they can get out of their situation and be safe.
Morning. Actually it’s afternoon in my timezone.
I -do- have a funny one for handling telemarketers.
As soon as I recognize them, I tend to say: “I’m sorry, but I don’t have a phone”.
I’m not sure if it amuses anyone but me, but it’s fun to count how many seconds they need to regain their composure and continue on with their script. At which point I just hang up.
Happens seldom though, there’s a “do-not-call” list that actually WORKS in Norway, so we get like perhaps 2 calls a year.
I’m going to do the “I don’t have a phone one.” Very funny. This is off subject, but it’s irresistible to think about all the ways sales people try to get at us. You know those offers you get in the mail for a product and all you have to do is return the post card, postage paid? My sister went through a spell where she glued several of those post cards to a deck of playing cards and sent them back, “return to sender.” Postage, even return postage, is charged by weight. haha
I’d love to see Norway before I die.
I don’t see what is so terrible about door to door salesman. I know that these guys are trained to “sell” me but the fact remains that you still have to be the one to say yes. YOU are the one who has to sign an agreement. YOU are the one that provides your billing information. Yeah, it is annoying to have someone bug you when you weren’t expecting it. And if a product is so wonderful, you would initiate the sale yourself. But it’s like the article said….these guys are just trying to put food on their family dinner table. I actually made my first ever transaction with a door to door guy a few weeks ago. I signed up for a new security system. We were using ADT. My monitoring rate was 42.99 a month. And when we bought the system we paid over $500 just to get it installed and we signed up for 2 year contract. Since the time we signed up, our rate slowly increased. That was about five years ago. A few weeks ago a young man from ICON showed up at my door. ICON is a much smaller security company that does most of it’s marketing door to door. He explained that they would upgrade my system for free if I would switch from ADT. I put up my dukes like I always do and told him I wasn’t interested and that ours worked just fine. But if he had any literature I would be happy to look it over. He left me his company’s website, his phone number as well as his I.D. number so I could verify his standing with his company on the website or from the toll free number. He also took advantage of the few seconds he had before he left to let me know I could have smoke alarms hooked with my security system so the fire department would be dispatched if I there was a fire and I wasn’t home to call or verify that there was actual emergency. Then I sent him on his way. He was polite, professional and respectful. The next day I called him up and asked him to come back after I did some research online through the company’s website as well as the BBR(which he recommended I do.) Now….after telling that long story….I made the decision to take him up on his offer to install a new system for free and change my monitoring service. Before he left after all the paperwork was filled out I asked him why he goes door to door and doesn’t just advertise in the paper or on tv. He explained that his company believes they get more business from word of mouth and from the little signs they place in customers yards. So, financially it makes more sense to go door to door and give people better prices, rather than spend money on more expensive advertising. Now, I am not suggesting that all door to door salesmen are worth your time. But I am suggesting that it might be worth a look. And when it comes right down to it, YOU are the one who decides to buy. I’ve lived in my house for over 30 years and now the score is George:5,342 Solicitors:1. And in all that time I’ve never once felt like I needed to be rude or belittle someone for doing his or her job. Remember that nothing in this world was ever bought that was not on some level sold.
Oh! I should mention that I am still pleased with my new security system.
This is both funny and poignant. I think my parents have fallen victim to every one of the same pitches you have.
We’ve got a nice problem too.
Thanks for the tips! 🙂
I own an aerating business and find that I can’t advertise like most business owners because the majority of people out there don’t have a clue what aerating is. So I go door to door to sell my services. Its a good service , affordable and my clients are extremely satisfied with the results. I do get a lot of rude home owners though.
Its difficult to keep a good attitude when you know someone is lying to your face or comes up with some kind of deceitful way of telling you no, especially when you know they are lying. Its insulting. And they have such smug faces , like , look how clever I am for coming up with this sneaky way of telling this salesman no. Its obvious and it more ill mannered than just saying No firmly. I am not a little boy, you are not going to hurt my feelings for rejecting my services, but for goodness sake don’t lie to my face and act as if you’re so clever. You are not.
I would rather hear from the guy or gal who firmly says I don’t need that right now than some pompous ass treat my like an idiot.
I have never had a problem not buying something I don’t want. Obviously I don’t buy it because I don’t want it.
Marty,
I save that type of treatment for those who choose to ignore my prominently displayed “No Soliciting” sign.
“Oh, I’m not soliciting, I’m offering a service…Oh, I didn’t see that large, bright, and reflective sign that is right in front of my face…Um, what does ‘soliciting’ mean?” etc.
If they want to play dumb, then I will treat them as such.
I’m not a sales person, I work for an auto repair shop and am going door to door to sell our coupon cards ($600 worth the work for $69.50). I’ve noticed a lot of people automatically say no because of past sales people I’m sure. Does anyone have any advice on how to get through to people that this is a really good deal and I’m not a sales person, I’m the office manager? I don’t have that “sales person attitude”…maybe thats why I dont much luck…I don’t argue and I do obey no soliciting signs. Does anyone have any advice? THanks!
Here’s how I deal with door-to-door salespeople: I don’t.
The house I live in has a [locked and] gated walk way. There is no doorbell out there. Beyond that, there is the front door with a locked security screen. Even if someone goofs and leaves the gate unlocked, there’s still the security screen. You’d be surprised how little room for negotiation or wheedling someone has when they’re standing outside a locked screen like that. Beyond that…. well, I have more than a golf club for dealing with the 0.001% of idiots that would try to get into the house. My current setup keeps 99.9% of salespeople away from the house.
For those of you that have the means, you should look into getting one of those security screens for your front door; it works like a charm. All you have to do is say “No” and then shut the main door.
One of the best things I ever learned was that people have no right to my time and that I didn’t owe my time to anyone. Pushy mall kiosk salespeople and door-to-door salespeople get a “No” or “No thanks” if I’m feeling exceptionally polite. No hard feelings, they’re just trying to make a living (unless they get REALLY pushy; then I stop being polite).
“No” works. Learn it. All of the fancy gates and doors I mentioned above just make it easier to say “No”.
Sometimes people at the door are not selling anything, they’re just trying to get your opinion about something or build a business relationship.
Bill,
No one is “just trying to get your opinion.” It is a set up for a sales pitch or some other self serving purpose. Also, “build[ing] a business relationship” IS precisely soliciting! See Eric’s statement above yours. He says he learned “people have no right to my time, and that I didn’t owe my time to anyone.” Very true. With a “No Soliciting” sign on my door, the only violators who won’t get a tongue lashing are those performing a genuine community service (e.g. notice of pending City Council action, neighborhood activities, and children who may be soliciting, but genuinely don’t understand the sign, etc). When I require the solicitor’s service, I’ll try to build a business relationship with him. He doesn’t need to knock on my door.
If someone is trying to sell you anything related with repairs to your home just tell them you rent, they will hang up or leave you alone. Renters can’t make those kind of decisions.
I don’t like to buy things from door-to-door salesmen either; if I want to buy something I go shopping!
But what I don’t understand in US is the mentality:
Buy from little kids!
Kids are encouraged/forced to sell door-to-door; some of you say you hated it … then why don’t we stop it!????
You say is dangerous for an adult to open the door to someone. How dangerous is then for a child to walk into someone’s house? How easy is it to say “come in for a moment, I’ll just get my wallet …here, take a glass of water (or something).
And the worst part: this society teaches children that it is ok to go door-to-door selling staff; but when they grow up, it’s not ok any more… ow about making up our mind! Is it ok or not? If it’s not ok, then why are we accepting/encouraging/tolerating it?
What’s the logic behind: “I hate door-to-door salesmen but I don’t mind my children going door-to-door”?
A says: It must be scary to live in a world where everyone you aren’t on a first name basis with is a murderous Nazi because your friend Mabel saw something on Dateline or it happened to that kid two counties over one time (really! My friend’s cousin’s boyfriend was their neighbor and he found the bodies!).
****
Wow. What a cynical person. So I take it no one in your life, ever, has been victimized, burgled, assaulted, threatened, or otherwise intimidated? Must be nice to live in a world where nothing happens to you, EVER. Lucky you!
*eye roll*
These comments are great (most of them.)
You all should see the movie, “Boiler Room,” for three reasons:
1. There’s a really funny scene where the main character teaches a telemarketer how to sell and then still says “no” to the sale. Really funny.
2. It’s a great story about how buying something from someone who calls YOU can really mess up your life and that it’s ALWAYS better to buy on your own terms.
3. It shows how crappily sales people are (or can be) treated by their employers and how much pressure they are often under–another reason I don’t support these kinds of activities–I believe the employees deserve better.
It’s also just a really good movie.
We have a policy of just not opening the door at all if we are not expecting anyone, unless it is clear that it is the police or fire and rescue. (They will announce themselves as such.)
This is not out of paranoia. We have had “incidents” where I live, and there were “incidents” in previous places I lived, so there IS a measure of safety concern. There are also a number of known scams going around right now. One of them is the “utility bill” scam. It’s a way to mine for people’s information and can lead to identity theft.
My primary reason for not tolerating soliciting of any kind is I hate it when people waste my time, and I don’t want to waste anyone else’s tiem. I also loathe the sales-type industries, because of things like a couple of people mentioned about the treatment of workers (Kirby, magazine kids.) I don’t wish to support slavery in any form, and I feel commission sales is not far off from that. Sorry, I just do.
I have a plaque above my door that says: “Who comes to me I keep. Who goes from me I set free. But always I stand against those who carry not my key.” I would post it outside, if we were allowed (HOA, pain in the ass.) I would also post a No Trespassing sign if I was allowed, but we are not. Our only option is to not open the door.
Funny story about religious solicitors. First, for the record, I want to say that the few times I’ve been approached, they’ve been very polite and pleasant–as have I–and they have always accepted “No thank you. I am (RELIGION), and I am very happy with my path. Good luck to you.”
The funny story is that way, long ago, a couple of Mormon gentlemen (young men–about our age range) came to my and my then boyfriend’s door. We were feeling mischievous, so we asked them in and gave them each a soda (they accepted, everyone was very friendly.) We then proceeded to give THEM an hour lecture on OUR religious beliefs!
Believe it or not, they thanked us for our time and the new information before they left! LOL! That’s the only time I’ve ever done anything like that. It was fun, and no one’s feelings were hurt.
Great post, great comments!
I really hate door-to-door Salesmen. Especially after today. My parents helped me buy a house so I could stay in college by not renting from another roommate who has loud dogs. Along comes a Kirby Vaccum salesman that won’t take no for an answer and keeps mentioning he’s close to a free trip to Vegas. On the other end of this, my mother keeps mentioning they’re having to help me through college and recently made a large investment today. I had to leave the room and stay in my old bedroom otherwise I’d take a swing at this guy. But trust me, I could hiear them in the living room. I more or less paced for the entire time, and cradled an aluminum baseball bat weighing the pros and cons of taking a swing. To add to my irritation, it’s the same guy who came by a few months earlier with his partner. Who, get this, parked outside or patrol the street the entire time the salesman was in the house.
In the end my parents ende dup spending 1,200 they probably can’t afford to spend.
I know the guy’s doing his job but man I wanted to split his head open!
I think that everyone needs to take a step back and realize that yes there are bad things happening in the world today. Does this mean we should be more careful? Yes! Does it mean that we should treat people we don’t even know with mockery and contempt? NO! I know everyone has been scammed some way or another and we have all had terrible things happen to people close to us or people we know. I want you all to know that I agree that a lot of sales people are annoying, pushy, and sometimes downright rude but not all of them are. That being said, I’ll tell you that I am a salesman. I have been selling this summer for about two weeks and in those two weeks I’ve witnessed every single one of your techniques at getting rid of a salesman. Now let me also tell you that I have been brought to tears more than once because of how some of those things made me feel. I am selling home security systems and I am based in Charlotte, North Carolina for the summer. In Charlotte right now there is a break-in occuring every 12 seconds day and night. EVERY 12 SECONDS! I’ve talked with so many people in these two weeks and not all but I would say 90% of them have had their home broken into or know someone (a friend or a neighbor) who has had their home broken into. These people are scared. The kids are talking about break-ins as if it’s just something that happens every day. I’ll be honest, when I came out here all I cared about was me and how much money I was going to make. But, as I’ve heard these peoples stories and seen their fear I’ve come to really care for them. People who don’t have an alarm system are in danger out here and a lot of them that do have an older system that can’t protect them anymore. My friend who is out here with me set up an older woman woman last week who didn’t have an alarm system and because she couldn’t walk very well she was on life alert. She was paying $50.00 a month for her life alert service. The new alarm systems have a life alert built into them. Now what my company does is anyone who signs up through the “door-to-door” salesmen gets the entire system free no equipment costs, no installation costs, and no activation fee. So she got the alarm system completely free with the built in life alert. She AND her home are now protected for $35.00 a month. I did something similar only the lady I set up had an ancient alarm system and no life alert because she couldn’t afford both and the alarm system was more important to her. She now has both and she and her family are now very happy. One of the big things we are trying to educate people on is that their old alarm systems are not safe any more. They run through a phone line to the monitoring station. The people breaking into their homes are cutting their phone lines that are easily accessible on the side of their house and then going right in. The monitering station has no clue. That is why we are trying to upgrade peoples alarm systems to the new cellular technology that uses a cell radio rather than the phone line. If you haven’t heard about this call your alarm company and ask if they offer it and if they don’t find one that does. My point is not all salespeople are there to hoodwink you into buying something you will regret later. I’m not one that can handle being lied to and being looked at with disgust. It really hurts me especially when I am there trying to help them. Like I said there have been a couple times where I just sat on a curb and cried. Now I’m not perfect just like none of you are perfect I know there have been times where I cared more about the money I was making than the benfits that the customer was getting and I don’t want you to think that I think I’m better than anyone else. Please, just realize that sometimes the things you say and the looks you give and the actions you take toward someone can have bigger effects on them than you could possibly imagine. I hope you realize that I was sincere in this post and that I’m not looking down on anyone for the choices they have made and the rules they live by. It’s just something to think about. If I offended anyone in this post please accept my apology and know that I did not mean to do so. Thank You
Ya’ll are all f**kin rediculous! This country was founded on door to door sales w/o it we would never know what was out there now givin’ that these days have changed and money is tight in certain areas but keep in mind if you cant have the balls to just say no w/ as ya’ll say “niceness” then you all deserve to be slammed!! Oh ya I”m a salesman for the past 16yrs…and when i see s**t like this bein’ posted it makes me strive more to gettin over on ppl like yall! When i see yall conspirin on this blog about tactics on turnin us sales ppl away I LAUGH! it wont work cuz ill get ya one way or another lol rather it be you or your kids away in college or your sweet grannys, ill get ya! On another note I despise the salesmen that are in it to rob ya blind like check fraud or sellin you something that isnt there that only makes it harder for me but not for long cuz i wipe it off my shoulder and find another area to sale in lol. ill always succeed in what i do! and no solicitin sign wont scare me nor big dogs like COD talks about in his blog cuz if he charges me ill just stab him in the eye w/ my sharp pen or run him over when i back out your drive way! lol oh and to the fruit cake bloggin about hittin the salesmen over the head w/ a bat lol try me i’d burn your car down out front lol ya see the problem w/ this BLOG site is its alot of s**t talkin towards salesmen and they cant defend themselves but arent you glad im here now…when i find these sites i go to work the next mournin tellin all my sales guys lets go take it out on some ppl 2day like who i’d read about…no worries i dont know who you are except for ppl like COD well i dont know him but why leve pictures of yourself lol yall should go look at him he is a prime target we sales ppl look for and why would he put he’s ugly mug on facebook lol ill slam his wife one day or somebody will hopefully the salesman puts them n2 a finacial debt well I HOPE THEY PUT YOU ALL IN SOME KINDA DEBT!!! sincerley YOUR salesman…
I’ll play along with Illgetya.
It’s obvious that you lack the requisite intellect and social skills to get a real job. Have you no sense of propriety, man? Have you no respect for decorum?
If you continue to gallavant about the land taking advantage of sweet grannies, swindling the disadvantaged, and leaving a wake of arson and hate in the driveways of America, then rest assured your time will come. Your time will come when you’ve finally been chased like a dog to the edge of the abyss. At that point, exhausted, a shell of your former self, and with your soul depleted to a tragic nothingness, you will turn to “all [your] sales guys” and say “Keep going Thelma.”
As you plummet to your demise, the Crying Indian shall shed a single tear to mark the littering of our treasured lands with your carcass and wares.
Give a hoot, don’t pollute blogs with your silliness.
People start door-to-door sales. People can stop it.
Last year I made the mistake of opening a door to a stranger, and experienced an occasion where “No thanks, I’m not interested” was not effective – in fact, it made the solicitor step up his pitch and stand in my doorway to prevent me from closing the door. So I told him, “Get off my property, NOW”. He still didn’t leave. He just kept saying things like, “I’m not trying to sell anything. All you have to do is ask me how you can get a free trip to Mexico. Don’t you want to ask?” I had to get in his face and force him out of the way so I could slam my door shut.
I found this page by researching how to sell door to door. I wanted to know if it is legal. I’ve been unemployed for 6 mths now. I was layed off and had just purchased a bigger place because we had another child. I haven’t been able to find work and we are going to be homeless this month. 2 children under 2yrs. and one 10 yr. old girl. I sold alot of things to buy a trailer and some lawn equipment to try and earn while I look for work. I made flyers and business cards with all the work I’m certified or have real professional experience doing. I came up with a product for your lawn that is handmade, really nice and should last you atleast 10-20 yrs. I made them and am making them now. I don’t have money for anything but food and gas. Door to Door came to my mind. We are desperate and I think door to door and the flea market is our only options. I figure if you see them on your lawn you’ll like it. Made in America by an American. I can’t afford to put my product in Walmart because I don’t own a sweat shop in China. So, what do I do if all you guys are paranoid? I suppose if this doesn’t work I have to rob a bank or move to a homeless shelter because we don’t have any other family and the only time people are Christian is when they are in their little church for an hour.
I make between 500-2500 per week selling Directv door to door. You have to get used to meeting all kinds of people, some will thank you for your time, some will be angry because they feel theirs has been wasted. You have to have a thick skin, don’t ever lose heart over another persons poor character.
P.S. Research the following terms & practice in mirror:
Assumed Sale
Choice Close
Rebutal
ABC-Always Be Closing!!!
THIS PRICE IS FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
@ J.B.
That’s how all good inventions are sold, right?
No, we can’t smell a setup. Nope.
I agree there are lots of bad salesmen out there. But sales makes the world go round. Everyone on this blog is “selling” their opinions. We cannot open our mouths without selling/trying to persuade.
What about your jobs? Either you sell or someone who is less afraid of rejection than you will have to make sales for you and you can just put your head down and assemble the widgets.
@Perry
It’s not a question of good vs. bad salesmen. Simply, there is a time and place for everything. Most people will tell you “Not on my time, and not at my place.”
Capitalism is not a religion. We are not compelled, at least five times a day, to drop whatever we’re doing, face a merchant, and pray to the god of sales from within our homes.
Sales may drive the economy, but they are not our purpose for being. Furthermore, I am confident that the state of our economy does not hang in the balance of door-to-door sales transactions. As you pointed out, sales are ubiquitous, and can be made easily in sso many non-intrusive ways: e.g. Stores, classifieds, internet, yard sales, etc.
The difference between selling door-to-door, and “selling our opinions” on this blog, is that we have all sought them out. No one is showing up at my door saying, “I want to take 10 minutes of your time to explain why I am right about door-to-door sales!”
Here’s an example:
1) Salesman at car dealership=GOOD, because I’ve sought him out to make a purchase. (even if I think he’s a jerk personally).
2) Vacuum salesman at my front door=BAD, because he interrupted my zen meditation for something I don’t want to hear about. (even if I think he is a great guy personally).
Hi Jay,
For the past 6 years, I’ve made my living selling on the doors. I know those that do, but I don’t stir up neighborhoods, and I don’t anger anyone. There is no use wasting my time or the homeowner’s time, so I use a brief 5-10 second pitch. If the person says “no thanks,” I know I didn’t arouse interest in that individual. If they ask questions about my service, I have their attention and can tell them more about the service. They might even end up signing up!
But I do get a bunch of sales every day. I’m not pushy, I make those sales fair and square. The customers I pick up tend to be grateful and remain good customers. Sometimes $20-30k per year to the Yellow Pages and again to Google isn’t in the cards. For my business, direct marketing is by far the most effective way of picking up customers, charging a more reasonable price, and it keeps the rest of the business much more efficient. Me going out on the doors also keeps my competition on their toes… if they underperform, their customers will switch to me.
Lots of people answer their door thinking, “Not on my time, not at my place.” Most of those same people also ask, “How much? What is your service like? When would you service my home? Who else do you service in my neighborhood? What makes your service better than the service I already use?” I end up helping a lot of people that didn’t want to talk to a salesperson, and I’m glad I stick it out.
After talking to tens of thousands of people on the doors, I’ve probably had less than 10 irrate people ever. And they wanted to fight in the first place and I’d rather they lash out at me, a stranger that’s happy to walk away from them, than their wife or kid who has to live with a generally unhappy person.
Most people are very nice. And I’m nice to them. We get along fine.
@Perry,
While reading your post above, I was about to award you the Everlasting Gobstopperâ„¢, and name you as my successor here at the Wonka® factory, for being the world’s most benevolent door-to-door-salesman, based solely upon your anecdotal proof.
Then, I got to the part about how you are really just out there on the streets as a defender against domestic violence, and then the dream fell apart. Your defender assertion struck me as an expression of possible delusions of grandeur, and caused me to question the validity of your previous claims. Seriously, Perry, that was a bit over the top.
However, I’ll take the rest of your claims at face value. I have no problem with door-to-door salesmen trying to earn an honest living. As long as they obey my “No Soliciting” sign, I’ll continue to consider them for a ride in the Great Glass Elevatorâ„¢.
In other words, good luck to you out there.
Only started this job for a while now and we try make people pay less for the same thing…there’s no harm really in saving you some money and making myself some money especially when u dont have to do nuffin
L’ayi,
LOL. I’m sure it wasn’t a Freudian slip with your choice of words, and it was really a simple typo. I believe you meant “…try and LET people pay less…” and not “try and MAKE people pay less…”.
Of course, if you really meant “make” and not “let”, then you are the embodiment of the very problem described in this blog article. 😉
-Jay
I sell door to door and understand why people feel the way they do. However, not all people are out to get you and not all products are bad. Sometimes the sales tactics are not for manipulation, but to get the customer’s prejudice out of the way. A real truth to several products being sold to the door is that by directly marketing, the price to consumer can be lower than it would otherwise be if the company in question was supporting several established retail facilities. If someone knocks on your door, please remember that that person is most likely as good a person as you yourself are. Listen to “The Pitch.” Then use your head, don’t make a purchase in the moment. Take the information, and ask for the contact information of the salesman. If they are legitimate, you will be able to contact them if what they are selling is right for you. Finally, if what they were selling could be right for you, call that salesman back. We are paid by commission, and we were the one who brought the product to your attention. Give credit where credit is due.
You people make me laugh, i sell Directv door 2 door, well only to dish network customers. I ALWAYS save them money on their monthly bills, they get free equipment that works better, i make 100 dollars for a few hours work and everyone is happy. Granted after 1 ear the price goes to what their paying now, but they know that before i leave.
Usually a customer of mine will save anywhere from 10-30 bucks a month for 12 months, after which they pay the normal rate for whatever package they choose to keep.
all new free equipment installed for free, how is that so bad? you save money for something your paying for anyway! and keep all your favorite stations!
I’ll go you one better, Tyler: I save hundreds of dollars a year by CHOOSING NOT TO HAVE any kind of TV service! 😉
Moments ago I said NO to a young man at the door selling coupon books. They are usually expensive ($25+) and this one was $33. I have a drawer full of these that never get used. I feel sorry for the kids doing this because they’re just trying to make a living and I’m not good at confrontation so I usually end up buying stuff we don’t need. I told him that we don’t buy coupon books so I wasn’t interested and he stormed off. A few months back it was magazine subscriptions. I succumbed to the sales pitch and was out $50. I never got the magazines either. I’m about to put a sign in my window that says “unless you’re a Girl Scout, we’re not interested!”
The guy who wrote this article doesn’t realize that without salesmen nothing happens. He probably never would have had a job if someone hadn’t sold something to someone who didn’t know they needed or wanted it. America is falling apart because of people like this. Let’s all just not answer our doors, or not listen to a pitch. Ridiculous. How about we educate people on how to buy intelligently? Why not teach people how to listen to a pitch and then negotiate an awesome deal. I encourage my kids to sell door-to-door. Every successful business person I know has at some point done it. The people in this country have become weak and afraid of the word “No”, that’s why they’re turning to the government for everything. And China and India are the exact opposite. Hmmm? Kinda makes you think.
I wrote the above post about the directv sales…i have traveled more since then, selling in indiana, georgia and now going to illinois…i can potentially make 1,000 to 1,500 per week selling directv…whom else at the age of 23 can make that much money part time?
unless your a celebrity of course..and saving money by choosing no tv well thats just ridiculous you gotta know whats going on in the world! well i suppose you must have internet access your on this site so that makes up for it.
anyway nate is right, todays society lives in fear and todays youth is just growing more weak, mentally and physically!
P.S dont feel sorry for salesman, and dont feel bad for your granny cause someone signed her up…she WILL save money if i talk to her….and you should feel sorry for yourselves for having a whole page dedicated to how to get rid of salesman lol
Actually, “Tyler,” I am one of those folks who has chosen to go without TV. Yes, I do have internet access, and between that and newspapers, I find I don’t miss out on much at all, except for “intellectual noise.” I use Netflix to pick and choose what I watch. This setup saves us a ton of money.
Perhaps people aren’t more afraid. Perhaps people are wiser and are taking their power back.
Thank you.
well jen, you actually dont go without tv, ive used netflix before its ok but the movies are all from like the 80’s and the new releases take forever to come out on there….and well its 8 bucks per month so i can understand why you like it…but what power are these “living in fear americans” taking back?
I don’t know, Tyler, why don’t you ask the ones who are afraid?
I’m simply content to live my life on my own terms and not worry about having to deal with things I do not want to deal with.
Yes. Netflix is TV; however, it is TV on MY terms. I don’t care that I have to wait for new releases. It’s not important to me.
There IS life beyond the capitalist system.
Have a nice day.
It’s not fear. It’s just, enough already. Go away.
We’re starting to get into circular arguments, because disgruntled D2D salesmen show up here with a bone to pick, and don’t bother reading the existing comments.
Let’s recap, shall we?
-It’s not a question of good vs. bad salesmen. Simply, there is a time and place for everything. Most people will tell you “Not on my time, and not at my place.”
-Capitalism is not a religion. We are not compelled, at least five times a day, to drop whatever we’re doing, face a merchant, and pray to the god of sales from within our homes.
-Sales may drive the economy, but they are not our purpose for being. Furthermore, I am confident that the state of our economy does not hang in the balance of door-to-door sales transactions. Sales are ubiquitous, and can be made easily in so many non-intrusive ways: e.g. Stores, classifieds, online auctions, web pages, yard sales, etc.
-Convincing someone to spend money that they wouldn’t have otherwise spent, because “it’s such a great deal,” does not SAVE them money. E.g. Convincing a non-television subscriber to sign up for DirecTV. Is that good salesmanship? Yes. Is that “helping them save money?” That’s a big NO.
-Respect the “No Soliciting” sign, or expect disrespect.
Final breakdown:
1) Salesman at car dealership=GOOD, because I’ve sought him out to make a purchase. (even if I think he’s a jerk personally).
2) Vacuum salesman at my front door=BAD, because he interrupted my zen meditation for something I don’t want to hear about. (even if I think he is a great guy personally).
It’s really, enough already.
so what do you think of someone who would rather pay $30 more for the same thing per month, the very same thing?
i spoke to a woman earlier today, and im not disgruntled btw…i talked to her for 15 mins and switched her from DISH to Directv…in the process also saved her 30 dollars a month on her bill…if she hadnt talked to me she would still be overpaying for the same thing.
quit hating on door to door salesman, no reason to be rude to anyone, ive met hundreds of strangers and numerous times been told ive got the best personality of anyone they have ever met, and no its not the pitch…if a person is genuine and can be honest to every person they meet they do well at the end of the day.
“Ubiquitous” marketing? I wish. That’s my dream come true. To be everywhere at the same time…including your front door…and on your television and computer screens…and on the billboard…and on your coffee mugs and t-shirts…in your dreams…seared into your subconscious because you’re so worried about a door-to-door salesman you don’t realize the mass media are using psychology and science to MAKE you do what they want. At least most door-to-door salepeople are honest and straightforward about what they’re selling (magazine salespeople excluded – most of them are cracked-out, state-hopping liars who aren’t really college students trying to win an award to help….)
Yes there is life beyond capitalism. It’s called communism. So let’s all make laws against door-to-door sales and against selling anything that wasn’t first asked for. Let’s make it illegal to share new, unrequested ideas.
Let’s rely on classified ads from the dying print moguls. Let’s all buy domain names and build websites, hoping someone will come along and buy what we have. And garage sales…oh, don’t forget to try that one. An online auction can’t build value in a service or product, which is what salesmen do. And a storefront is limited to those with money, which comes after beating the pavement. Face-to-face must nearly always come first.
NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL SOMEONE SELLS SOMETHING.
Get that through your heads folks. Forget about yourselves for a second. The future of our economy and the United States DOES rely on outside sales. It always has. Face-to-face sales is the way most small businesses start out. The lawn guy goes around asking for jobs. The window cleaner, the plumber, the electrician, every small business person had to start with either a big wad of cash or a good pair of shoes.
Don’t disrespect what made this country great. If you doubt it, prove me wrong. Don’t talk about your “right” to not be bothered. If I pay to get a license from the city or state to knock on your door, I have the right to do it. No one has the right to hinder my freedom of commercial speech. The city and/or state do not have the right to hinder me in this. Federal legislation proves it.
If you put up a no-soliciting sign, fine. If there’s no law against my knocking on a door with a sign, I’ll knock. And chances are you’ll buy, because my odds are better on doors with signs. Most businesses have no-soliciting signs, and I make hundreds of dollars each day ignoring those signs. And the people in those businesses are happy I came.
If you’re so worked up because you had 50 people this year knock on your door and try to sell you something, well, that’s pathetic. So what! Then every seven days you had a real go-getter asking you for a few minutes of your time. Nobody who has commented here can say they had many (if any) days during which five salesmen came by. It just doesn’t happen like that.
And finally, “Not on my time, and not at my place.” How incredibly selfish! This whole economy thrives on the flow of commerce. It doesn’t start at 9:00 am and stop at 5:00 pm. It doesn’t end at the entrance to your subdivision. To the contrary…it starts there. It starts at your door, and on your television, and in the banner ad on your computer, or from your radio, or from the yellow pages, which were all likely sold door-to-door or over the phone.
The day the door-to-door salesman goes away will be a sad day for this country.
Door to Door Salesmen Needed!
This is a long shot but if Tyler, Nate’s kids or any other producers are in the Houston-metro area and need a job, I could use some help with my residential Pest Control sales. Commissions are excellent, paid weekly UP FRONT. No back-end check monkey-business.
Most folks down here have a Pest service. And most of them still have bugs all over the place, so customers like getting results. And the salesmen, many of them young college guys, make great money. In my eyes it’s very win-win-win.
Door to door is not sexy! But the earnings and value you create is. The experience can transform and refine you into a disciplined, confident, fearless person… a HAPPY person.
(These are the attributes most of the contributors on this feed envy. Unfortunately many of them are too afraid to come to the door, or they get a feeling of importance from giving salesmen a piece of their mind, rather than in value creation.)
If you can succeed at door to door, you can succeed at anything! I hope you do!
Perry 801-347-4405
I see.
So, either we allow salesmen unfettered access to our homes by, or we WILL degenerate down to outright COMMUNISM!!! dun, dun, DUUUNNNN! Hello, Mr. McCarthy, it’s not 1955, anymore. Ironically, Nate, only a few posts ago you were praising the Chinese and insulting America. Who’s the communist sympathizer, now?
Show me where in the Bill of Rights where “freedom of commercial speech” is protected.
It is illegal for a D2D salesman to knock on doors with a sign in my community. It’s also good old fashioned horse sense to obey it, even it it wasn’t illegal. It’s courtesy. It’s respect. It’s being a good citizen.
I, however, do have the right to eject you from my property. If you like, I can add a “No Trespassing” sign, as well. That means you may not even enter my property without my permission. Do you have some kind of magical sales easement on my property?? I thought not. It seems some people just can’t take a hint.
No one is disrespecting what made this country great. D2D sales are NOT what made, makes, or will EVER make this a great country. Why don’t YOU “forget about yoursel[f] for a second???” Pretentious much, Nate?
Nate, believe it or not, I can detest D2D sales, and still participate in the economy of America. I bought a computer to type this on, and a desk to sit the computer on, and a house to surround it all with. I bought a car JUST to bring the computer home, Nate! I did not need the unsung D2D salesman “hero” to accomplish any of this! I buy things from stores, websites, online auctions, print ads, etc. I EVEN bought a candy bar from a fundraiser set up in front of Walmart. I’m just crazy enough to do it, Nate! No commies on MY watch!
I’m out there Nate, and I’m LOVIN’ EVERY MINUTE OF IT!
If you’re making a living being an honest D2D salesman, then fine. No one is telling you to stop. I would assume that if people don’t place a sign on their door, then they don’t mind.
All I’m saying is, drop the hero act, and when you see the sign on my door, keep on steppin’.
I find it humorous that all the people that hate d2d salesman talk about how they got shotguns and dogs and what not. I’ve knocked on numerous doors with no trespassing, or no soliciting…and have made numerous sales by doing so. No I’m not in the houston area but i have a friend who sold pest control and made 40 grand over the summer so i know its good money!
Well, Jay, a couple of years a go a small town in the USA decided they didn’t want door-to-door salesmen disturbing the coal miners who worked nights and slept days, so they made a law against door-to-door sales. A federal district judge ruled that such a law was a violation of commercial free speech. That is the law I am referring to here. The company was Kirby, the vacuum company.
As for my comments on China…in case you haven’t noticed, they’re moving closer toward capitalism and democracy all the time. They’re seeing the success of India and cashing in on the opportunity. As a result, their country is experiencing tremendous economic growth. As they ease commercial restrictions and open up to the rest of the world, they’re building wealth. Likewise, as the US imposes restrictions and it’s people try to isolate themselves and to initiate “protective” measures, the economy declines. It’s simple really. Surely you see this. If not, I can’t help you.
And yes, door-to-door sales are what made this country great. Even today, few if any businesses can get started without sending people out to meet face-to-face with potential customers. Just the other day I ran into an Edward Jones financial consultant going door-to-door to get new clients. You’re naive if you believe most businesses are built solely through television, internet, radio, and other standard, text-book forms of advertising. Bill Gates himself got his start going into businesses unannounced to sell his operating system. It grew from there. He started with door-to-door sales.
You say you didn’t need the door-to-door “hero” to buy what you have. That’s a false statement. Because all the businesses you bought those things from absolutely needed door-to-door and outside salesmen to move their products into the market. Every department store has a merchandise agent that is approached every day by outside salesmen going out to sell the goods.
And that candy bar you bought outside of Walmart, that’s a perfect example of what’s wrong with the youth fundraisers today. Those kids aren’t really learning to sell. They’re learning to setup a table outside of a multi-billion dollar establishment and mooch off the customers coming and going. They ask, “Would you like to buy a candy bar to support…?” That’s it. And the customers say “yes” or “no” and go about their business. That’s not sales. When I was a kid in Cub Scouts we had to go out and knock doors and really convince somebody who wasn’t already in the process of going to spend money to buy what we were selling. If you can’t see the difference, then you’re not trying to. And it’s obvious you have no sales experience at all. And any sales you have done likely were very limited and resulted in little success. I understand your frustration. Do you work in an office somewhere, possibly for the city, state or federal government? If not, as your boss how he got started. Surprise, surprise, at some point he or she probably showed up unannounced at someones home or business or made an unsolicited phone call to sell the product or service that pays your bills. If you’re a government employee, you won’t understand because your paycheck comes from compulsory, “voluntary compliance” in the form of taxes that can be raised any time when the government doesn’t manage their budget.
So the bottom line is this: residential door-to-door sales can be a bother, yes. I’ll be the first to admit it. But when you look at the bigger picture (if you really look at it and think about it) you’ll see that to restrict residential door-to-door sales in any way will ultimately open the door to further restrictions on all of commerce. The next thing you know we’ll have laws saying you can’t approach anyone un-invited to sell anything.
As for your no-soliciting sign, I’ll probably knock. And you’ll probably buy from me. If not, that’s fine. your neighbors will.
Perry,
One of our businesses actually does fertilizing and pest control. I first sold pest control door-to-door in Las Vegas when I was 18. I moved on to other things, and after I built a successful marketing business I decided to give the pest control business a shot. We’ve been growing it slowly over the past couple years, and eventually maybe one of our boys will take it over.
So far we haven’t run any summer sales programs or anything. But we probably will this summer (2010). You’ve got the upper hand though. Down South most people have contracted pest service, and where we are it’s only about 30%-40%.
I recommend every young man who plans to work in the private sector (non-government) sell something at some time door-to-door. It’s one of the most character-building experiences they’ll ever have. And they’ll have greater respect for their employer and for what it takes to grow a successful business.
Any young people between the ages of 18 and 25 who are looking for an opportunity to make $15,000+ during their summer college breaks should consider working for a company like yours. Security system sales is another good one.
But, sales is not for everyone. It can be discouraging at times, but that’s what builds the character.
Nate, what do you currently sell? And what will it cost to get you working with me?
LOL.
Ladies and gents, I believe Nate is being 100% honest.
That’s right, I think he actually believes his own “brand” of BS.
What makes America great is no longer attributed to such ideals as Democracy, individual liberty, sacrifice, innovation, and justice.
-What makes America great is door-to-door sales.
-We need to replace the “Bill of Rights” with the “Bill of Sale” in our children’s history books.
-We need to stop studying the revolutionary wisdom and foresight of our Founding Fathers, and instead study the financial wizardry of the “FUNDing fathers” of Kirby Vacuum.
-We need to replace Veteran’s day with Salesman’s Day.
-Let’s go ahead and drop the pretense, and call Christmas what it is: Economy Day.
-Instead of fighting for Civil Rights, we need to fight for Sellers’ Rights.
-We don’t need health care reform. We need wealth care reform! Ha ha.
-It’s not all about Benjamin Franklin’s genius as a statesman, anymore. Now, it’s all about the Benjamins.
Nate, you seem to have a complex about your chosen occupation, because you feel it necessary to continually make boastful claims about your income, and defend the rights of all D2D sales at this blog. Apparently all of these “’protective’ measures” you claim that subordinates America below the Chinese, haven’t stopped you from doing all right for yourself in America, eh Nate? You also thought it necessary to swing blindly at my profession, even though you have no clue what I do for a living.
You can’t have it both ways, Nate. Either the Chinese are great (despite their lack of freedom, equitable wages, self government) or they’re the evil communists.
Did you actually read what you wrote about fundraisers? Nate, please get over yourself. The purpose of fundraisers is NOT to teach children how to be good little salesmen. Can’t you even come off it for one second? I’m pretty sure the purpose of a fundraiser is to, now follow me here, RAISE FUNDS. That usually means for some type of charity or non-profit event. This is just getting silly.
Bill Gates-lore, I love it. Apparently, at a Plumber convention, they all say he got his start plunging toilets, and at the Dentist convention, they say he got his start pulling teeth. When Bill Gates got his start, if he went door to door selling computers, at the prices of the time, he would have wasting colossal amounts of time. The public didn’t even know what a computer was, outside of sci-fi. He would have been incredibly foolish to resort to that. Besides, Bill Gates was a software guy, not a hardware guy. That means he would have really been wasting his time going door-to-door trying to find the 1% of homes with a computer who could even use his product! I think you meant Steve Jobs, not Bill Gates, but my point still stands.
You said: “You say you didn’t need the door-to-door “hero” to buy what you have. That’s a false statement. Because all the businesses you bought those things from absolutely needed door-to-door and outside salesmen to move their products into the market. Every department store has a merchandise agent that is approached every day by outside salesmen going out to sell the goods.”
I say: Thank you for proving I don’t need a salesman to come to MY house.
I know you think quite highly of yourself, but you can’t sell me, Nate.
D2D salesmen are not heroes.
D2D salesmen are not our Founding Fathers.
D2D salesmen are not protected by the Constitution.
D2D salesmen are NOT what makes our country great.
I’ll clarify, again, that they are not necessarily villains, either. If you show me disrespect by ignoring my sign, or in the absence of a sign, ignoring my emphatic “NO,” then I will have to return the favor.
That is all I have to say about that.
-Jay
lol i like to read all the opinions its nice.
Sales is a good way for teens and college kids to earn money and develope skills that will help there future in whatever they do.
we have been salesmen since we came up with reasons to stay at a friends house or go watch a new movie…we have been selling our whole lives, now i have always heard kirby salesman are assholes and im sure they are, who wants to pay 2 grand for a damn vacuum.. anyway, ive done 2 summer sales programs and sold directv and dish network.
my second year i was the manager of an office in st louis,mo and then moved to springfield,mo. i made 50 sales in one month in st louis, thats 5 grand! for a 23 yr old college student…i trained 10 kids to go out and make money for themselves and not to live off mommy and daddy..i really hate to see kids do that or even worse work 40 hours a week for 200 bucks at mcdonalds…thats awful
Sorry Nate, your post didn’t pop up for me until after I reposted my question.
Do you plan to do your own recruiting, etc.? You have the experience. I too have started a marketing company , after 5 years working knocking – including Las Vegas in 2004 🙂 This year I had 3 little pest control company projects, but next year I only have one lined up. If you don’t already have it handled, let me know if you need a recruiter or more.
Still, Jay, what I say has truth to it. The foundation of this country was built by hard working salesmen. I take no credit for myself; I give all the credit to the great innovators who harnessed their creative powers AND sold their ideas. A great idea is nothing until it is sold. Fact. You can’t argue that.
And the Chinese do not have to be either great or evil communists, as you put it. They are in an amazing transition, proving capitalism works.
What “continual” boastful claims about my income are you referring to? Perhaps you mean my continual boastful claims about selling and salesmanship. Call it boastful if you want. It doesn’t matter.
And maybe I have proved that it’s not necessary for a salesman to come to your house. But at the same time I’ve proved that it’s necessary for salesmen to have the freedom and right to go unannounced, uninvited, anywhere commercial transactions might occur.
And yes, door-to-door salesmen are protected by the Constitution. That’s an asinine statement on your part. Really. Come on.
And the Founding Fathers sure did go from town to town sharing (selling) their ideas. It’s the same concept. And they asked people to give their time and resources to fighting the British. NOTE: The Founding Fathers DID NOT force anyone to give of their substance to pay for the government or any re-distribution of wealth.
I will agree with you 100% on one thing. In fact I couldn’t have put it any better myself. “We don’t need health care reform. We need WEALTH care reform!” Imagine if everyone took responsibility for their own welfare. Imagine the government not forcing one group of people to carry the load of another group. Yes, we need reform in financial education. We need to teach people to care for their own “wealthbeing”.
Please, stop with your diversions and attacks. Nobody cares about plumbers conventions. The fact is that Bill Gates did get his start selling door-to-door, as did Steve Jobs. They both went out into the world and sold their ideas, goods, and services. You can doubt it all you want. How about showing evidence to the contrary?
Nowhere have I said that Democracy, individual liberty, sacrifice, innovation, and justice have not made this country great. But without the liberty to sell, and make necessary sacrifices in building a business, and to innovate and bring new ideas to market, there can be no justice.
However, when you take away a person’s liberty to sell, or cause people to sacrifice too much through excessive taxes or commercial restrictions, innovation essentialy stops, and there is injustice.
If you comment again like you did previously, you’ll sound like someone who has lost an argument. Please, reply with some sensible comments that appeal to reason and common sense. Even a little constitutionality is welcome. Also, if you have any special insights on economics or statistics on how small door-to-door sales to homes and businesses don’t really affect the economy or boost it all that much, please share them.
“If you comment again like you did previously, you’ll sound like someone who has lost an argument.”
Spoken like someone who is afraid of losing. It’s fun to pick arbitrary criteria to define “winning” an argument.
Let me try. If you comment again using the word “sales,” you’ll sound like someone who has lost an argument. You see, Nate? Just because you say it, that doesn’t make it true. Just because you make grandiose claims about the boundless good of door to door sales, doesn’t make them true, either.
Let’s analyze your arguments here:
The Chinese government is indeed doing well, economically. How about the workers? At what “price” is all of this progress? Here’s a rhetorical question for you: Is it better to be free and poor, or rich and subjugated. This is all academic, of course. None of it has to do with obnoxious D2D salesmen who ignore “No Soliciting” signs.
I’m glad we agree that the fate of America does not rely on salesmen at my door. That single breakthrough really renders the rest of this exchange moot. There certainly is a time and place for everything. I believe you nailed it on the head. There is such a thing as a marketplace, where “commercial transactions” should occur. Maybe we should call it a day. Again, no one is saying sales are bad. No one is saying capitalism is bad. You keep using those as straw man tactics.
As for Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, the burden of proof is on you, I’m afraid. You made the claim. Show me where either of those two went door to door, (again, the kind I have been talking about-HOMES), to market their wares.
You never denied that Democracy, individual liberty, sacrifice, innovation, and justice made our country great, though you conveniently omitted them during your “Sales are GRRRRREEEAT!” tirade. (Show ’em you’re a Tiger!) All you did was try to elevate D2D sales to the same level as those ideals mentioned. I’m telling you it’s not the same, not even close. My exaggerated examples were meant to illustrate the silliness of the very assertion.
I can show you the Constitution of the U.S. Other than, maybe Prohibition, no where at all is sales mentioned, or more specifically D2D sales. I guess one could say that international commerce is mentioned, but my point is made. So, how is my statement asinine? I win. (See? I declared it!)
The Founding Fathers sold their ideas of a new form of government in town halls, city squares, churches, and even taverns. The modern style of going door to door was not practical, because much of the country was spread out. We were a nation of farmers. In fact James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution” idealized America as a nation of farmers. Now, it seems we are a nation of “pay separate shipping and handling.” Oh, I digress.
You said: “Also, if you have any special insights on economics or statistics on how small door-to-door sales to homes and businesses don’t really affect the economy or boost it all that much, please share them.”
I say: Hey buddy, YOU made the claim that “the future of the United States” relies on these sales. I merely expressed doubt. The burden of proof is again on your shoulders to substantiate your fanciful claims.
You bemoan some imaginary move to “take away a person’s liberty to sell,” yet you don’t bat an eye at the loss of privacy in one’s home. In fact, you deny such a right. You called us “selfish.”
I’ll make a simple summary for your reply:
-No one is calling for an end to capitalism other than Michael Moore, so stop accusing us with these straw man arguments.
-If you are an honest D2D salesman and make a living, and you’re happy, then great!
-Understand that many people (not all) don’t want to put up with those type of sales in their homes. If they put up a sign, don’t be “asinine,” just move on.
The economy will keep on going, and the world will keep on spinning. It’s a beautiful thing.
Been on both sides; hated it on both sides. I do not go along with D2D sales; I believe that a customer is intelligent enough to know what he/she needs, and when and where he/she will buy something.
Yet, if someone rings at my door AND he/she does not disturb me, and I have a few moments to spare, I am nice, smiling, see what they offer, may be (2% probability) even buy something. Well, unfortunately, in over 60% of the time, this is not the case.
Freedom of commercial speech is great – and customers have this right and they exercise it by deciding to put or not to put “No Soliciting” signs.
Now for the contribution of salesman to building America…. I strongly believe the sales technique developed in America is the very best you can get, sales being nowadays a talent and implying the ability to convice someone he/she must do the opposite of what they (thought they) want.
But I am convinced 100% that this very evolves sales technique is in a large proportion to blame for the financial crises in America now (last year).
America got here (in the crisis) mainly because of all the crazy people who spend lots and lots on money on things they didn’t even need (but where brainwashed and convinced otherwise by clever marketing and talented salespersons)so they ended up getting lots and lots of money on credit …. and finally relised they are unable to pay. So dear salespersons, you did a great job!
Of course salespersons are needed, and there are enough people welcoming D2D salespersons; but when you cross the line from presenting a product to people and selling it to whomever wants it (which is GOOD) to convincing people they have needs they did not know about…. that is BAD.
Worked as a salesperson, several times; last time – last year – when my boss asked “who among you sold s product to a client who told him right in the face “I don’t need this product but I’ll buy it from you because I like you”? ….ald ALL my colleagues raise dtheir hands… I had a clear view about “meeting our clients needs” and “this is selling, not begging”; so clear that I quit the job, this time for good.
Jay, you’ve made no point about the constitutionality of door-to-door sales. You’ve only pointed out that you haven’t researched the prescident set by the federal judge who ruled that restricting such sales is a violation of commercial free speech rights. Look it up…Kirby won that one. And in 1886, the Supreme Court ruled that a corporation was a “person” for purposes of the Fourteenth Amendment, a holding that provided grounds to argue that business entities, as well as individuals, are entitled to First Amendment protection. In 1980 the Supreme Course defined commercial speech as “expression related solely to the economic interests of the speaker and its audience,”. In 1993 the Court ruled again, “The commercial marketplace, like other spheres of our social and cultural life, provides a forum where ideas and information flourish. Some of the ideas and information are vital, some of slight worth. But the general rule is that the speaker and the audience, not the government, assess the value of the information presented. Thus, even a communication that does no more than propose a commercial transaction is entitled to the coverage of the First Amendment.”
Aparently Bill Gates started his door-to-door selling quite early. His father wrote, “[Bill’s] first brush with commerce was as a Cub Scout selling nuts door to door during the holidays.” From an article by Tim Talevich in May 2009.
In the early 70’s Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak sold electronics door-to-door. It was their first business venture together.
And my whole point here has been that to restrict this form of sales will be detrimental to the economy of the USA. There would be a dominoe effect that would destroy the economic fabric of this nation.
As for the Chinese, many of them are experiencing a higher quality of life than they ever have. Capitalism and a shift away from communism are making their country better every day.
Meanwhile, unnecessary economic restricitons and redistribution of wealth through national health care, home and car purchase rebates, and bailouts move us closer to socialism. The Founding Fathers surely never had any intention of requiring society as a whole to pay for the shortcomings of the few (or many).
I am done here. It really comes down to individual opinions. We should both read what Diana says above and ponder a bit. I agree with nearly everything she wrote.
To any salesmen here reading this: It is wrong to sell someone something they cannot benefit from. Wallace D. Wattles wrote a book wherein he states that a good exchange only takes place when there is more use value in what is being sold than cash value. This is true, and the greed of many people ignoring this principle has caused all the economic problems we’re now experiencing. Greed in the financial sector…and the greed of the public who (possibly in their ignorance) took more than they earned. This only proves what I said about the need to increase financial education. Education is the key. Unfortunately, our schools don’t teach financial education, at least not very well.
Diana, the only thing I disagree with you on is that sometimes people are not aware of things in the market place that can benefit them or make their lives better. And sometimes it takes convincing. But it’s important for salespeople to never cross the line and sell someone something that really won’t benefit them or bring them joy. To do so is deceptive and wrong.
Goodbye everybody. I’ve spent enough time here. Jay, good luck. Don’t be too harsh after I’m gone.
Nate,
Me, harsh? Maybe you need to go read the posts in order, again. You were the one replete with hyperbole and inflammatory remarks. You were the one who started shouting in ALL CAPS, and calling people selfish. The fact that I followed suit disqualifies me from angel status, granted. However, you’ve got nerve to posture as the innocent victim and call ME harsh. Good stuff.
You are drawing your own conclusion that those particular court rulings you cited transcend to include door to door sales at private homes. The use of the term “commercial marketplace” in your example seems to be at odds with your own conclusion.
I simply look at the Court’s decision, Ohralik v. Ohio State Bar Ass’n. There, the court specifically relegated commercial speech BELOW noncommercial speech. The Court said it’s not equal. You may look it up yourself.
Okay, so if Bill Gates washed cars as a kid, we could all say he got his start washing cars. You make a magical connection between Bill Gates selling nuts door to door with his success at founding Microsoft?!?!? LOL. Nate, I bet he mowed lawns, too. You really get into your sales, don’t you? Everything in your life is somehow connected to sales? George Washington? Yep, got his start selling cherries door to door. That’s why he had to cut down that tree! (And now you know, the REST of the story).
I am really intrigued with your continual citing of China as your ideal. Again, the price of tea in China has nothing to do with obnoxious and obtuse salesmen visiting my door. Still, the irony does not escape me that you praise China, and yet if you were Chinese, and criticized your government the way you’ve criticized America, you’d be locked up. You’re worshiping a false idol.
I’m satisfied that we have busted the myth that D2D sales are the key to the future success of America.
Good luck out there on the streets of America.
It’s amazing how Cynical our society is.
Cynical — distrustful of human nature: doubting or contemptuous of human nature or the motives, goodness, or sincerity of others
Many will never understand how hard it is to be a door-to-door sales person (not finding other employment) they have no alternative but to knock on doors to provide for themselves and their families. It is humiliating to go from door to door and be told no over and over. For every 100 doors they knock on, they hope 2-3 of them will buy.
The fact is that some homes do need a vacuum cleaner, to switch from satellite to cable or vice versa, their lawns mowed, storm windows, and etc. For the most part these products are a good deal at a discounted price.
Also, the sales persons (if backed by a reputable company) have had their backgrounds checked and have received a special permit from the local municipality to knock on your door.
So next time, before you shut your mind, and become oblivious to the product, at least listen for a minute to what they have to say, evaluate to see if it’s for you, if not, be courteous and send them on the way.
My 2 cents from an x- door to door sales person, who really tried to offer people what he thought was a good deal for the customer.
The problem with the thought that, if the product is a good product it will sell fine in the stores is only part true.
The problem for retail sales today, is that more and more store fronts are being closed and companies are going to online and door to door methods. In 2009 80% of consumers in America purchase products online. By 2011 it is forecasted that nearly 100% of america will be purchasing products online or by door to door method without going to a store front. There are many companies that sell their product door to door and inform you of need. While i dont believe that the storefront will go away completely, I most definately believe that it will greatly diminish. ITS HAPPENING. It is not right to say “if you really need something, you already know it.” that may be a “most likely”, however many people have needs and dont know it. But ultimately what it all boils down to is perspective. To deny that would be foolish and ignorant. Im not saying that people need a kirby, im not defending many of the companies that go door to door. I do believe that many are scams and they ruin it for people like myself. But the truth is, many advertising methods are hard for the SMALLER business to obtain due to high costs. So for the smaller business, they must go door to door, and use cheaper methods to get started. I own a pest control company. I have used to the door to door method. I do try to sell my product absolutely, but i will never Push it on someone that i dont believe needs it. I have a heart and part of the reason why i decided to start my company was because the company i was working for was HURTING people. Many people truly needed the product but i believed they should get bigger discounts. (seniors) And some people dont need the product. BUT Many people want the service when informed of the variables. Pesticides are dangerous for individuals to handle with out proper training. EVEN household products. The funny thing is im also a firefighter/emt and i respond to the incidents where people get poisoned accidentally. Its common. So to inform the person at the door that i am a professional, trained, licensed and insured, and i can do the job in a safe way.. this is what it costs. people are glad to buy. If they havent heard of my co and what i offer than how can i expect them to get to my business. If they dont know the needs and that im actually there to help them… then how will they know unless i tell them. My grandmother did not use a pest control service all her life. Little did she know, the allergies in her house were caused by rats. little did she know that she was paying more than the cost of my service in wasted energy and other problems due to termites/ants and rodents. Same with my parents. It costed both of them thousands up front to repair, and then they have to maintain service now in order to get good rates on insurance. Bla
Nate,
This country was built on capitalism. You are right when you say this. Do you know what the fundamental concept from which everything else within capitalism proceeds?
I’ll give you a hint. It’s not simple “free trade.” There is something even more fundamental than that. It’s the sovereign right to private property. It is from that basis that everything else in the capitalist system proceeds.
When you harass someone at their home when you are not wanted, you are violating their private property rights. You are acting as though their domain is somehow YOUR domain. In essence, by your very actions you are acting as though property really should be collective since you are obviously ignoring and trampling on someone’s right to have full determination regarding what happens on their property.
So, really, stop seeing yourself as a defender of the capitalist system. You’re not. You and your ilk are quite the opposite. You have no respect for private property and the wishes of those who possess it. If you did have the proper respect for the fundamental concepts which underlie a capitalist system, you would know that other people are not obligated to give you a platform to say what you want on their property. You don’t have a right to come into a person’s private property and harass them until they buy something so you will go away. When you do that, you are violating capitalism, not participating in it.
Beyond this, capitalism is based on voluntary transactions. When you do a sales presentation under false pretenses, like many door-to-door salespeople do, the degree to which the transaction is voluntary is iffy at best. There is nothing “voluntary” about being coerced to buy, for example, a vacuum cleaner I do not want in order to make someone go away and leave me alone. In fact, the moment I decide you are not welcome on *my* private property, you are trespassing and violating my personal rights, those same rights that make capitalism possible in the first place. When you and your ilk do this, I have every right to call the cops and have you folks removed.
It is essential for people to realize this. Opposing coercive door-to-door practices is not anti-free enterprise — it’s pro-private property. Why do you oppose the fundamental right of people to be secure in their persons and property?
Maybe you would be happier in a place without private property. I’ll give you a hint — those places are definitely not capitalist.
A violation of property rights? Your right up is well-written. But you’re loony. If you don’t want something from a door-to-door guy, say “no” and shut your door.
If you’re that special Texan that thinks they can shoot anyone who looks at your lawn, post some signs so you can make your next shooting more legit… no trespassing, no soliciting, I’m really cranky, something like that.
@Perry
If advocacy for property rights and the fundamental freedoms this country affords to its citizens makes me a loon, chalk me up as crazy. I’d rather be considered crazy and have my rights recognized and respected than embrace whatever vision of “sanity” one who does not respect such rights might advocate. Property rights are sacred and inviolable. Whatever one might argue for contrary to that is the very opposite of “capitalism.”
Lest I be mistaken, though, I do not have a problem with door-to-door sales per se. What I find contemptible are the practices of those who gain access onto people’s private property under false pretenses and then proceed to strong arm people in their own homes. I also have a real problem with people who prey on people’s good natures and refuse to leave when they are asked to do so.
It is good for people to have resources such as this blog page telling them that it is okay to tell a salesman “no” and, if absolutely necessary, to call the police to remove them from the premises. It is important that people be made aware of the means through which unethical salespeople try to gain access to homes under false pretenses.
Maybe you are not into these practices yourself. If that is the case, I salute you and wish you the best in business. You will find no quarrel with me. I have nothing but utter disdain, however, for those who are willing to rationalize the violation of the very principles upon which our country and economic system were built.
There is nothing that makes me more livid than a salesperson/ political campaigner/ religous proselytizer/ scam artist ringing my doorbell or knocking, as my home is my sanctuary. Before I resorted to my signs, at least one of the above would ring my doorbell every day, totally interrupting my bliss (and causing my dog to go nuts).
I put up a handwritten sign detailing the people above and included the words “Do not knock! Do not ring bell!” No one knocked or rang for more than a year. It was such a great deterrent that my UPS guy, who I just happened to run into outside, asked if it included him, LOL.
I then thought it would look nicer to have a store-bought sign that said No Soliciting. Only one “salesperson” has violated that sign (I’ll get to that later), but the No Soliciting sign does not deter political campaigners or religious folks. For instance, some little old lady rang my bell the week before Easter. I asked (through the unopened door) what she wanted (thinking she couldn’t be a solicitor due to the sign), and she said she wanted to invite me to celebrate Christ. I told her (still through the closed door) “I have a no soliciting sign on my door!!!” She got very defensive and insisted she wasn’t soliciting. I walked away into another part of the house while she was still talking. Apparently campaigners and proselytizers do not understand they fall under the definition of solicitors.
And then, just tonight the doorbell rang with my store-bought No Solicitng sign out front. It is local election time and I saw two campaigners out there. I ignored them.
Therefore I just created another homemade sign on the computer with a Yosemite Sam graphic with the two guns blazing with BACK OFF! Below the graphic I printed: NO CAMPAIGNING! NO PROSELYTIZING! NO SOLICITING! NO EXCEPTIONS! THIS MEANS YOU!
Apparently some people need it spelled out to them.
Back to the one “salesperson” who violated my No Soliciting sign: it was a scam artist offering to fix my scratched car on the spot for cash. He rang my bell and asked if that was my car out front. I thought maybe he had hit it or something, even though it’s parked in the driveway. As soon as he gave his shady pitch, I ran him off quick. A week or so later I was getting my mail at the end of the driveway when another scamster offered the same thing regarding my car. I walked away without engaging him at all.
I then went inside and Googled “mobile auto repair scam” and sure enough it’s a nation-wide gang that goes around destroying people’s cars with bondo under the guise of “fixing” a scratch for cash. If another one of these low-lifes approaches me with this scam, I will take a picture of him, his car, his license plate and I will call the police sub-station (which is on direct-dial in my cell phone) immediately and testify against him in the ensuing trial (as they have victimized many people and are only awaiting to be indentified by a good citizen such as myself).
For all you door-to-door salesmen on this site who state they will ring a bell even if there is a No Soliciting sign, have you no respect for your fellow human beings? Do you not have personal lives wherein you would like to enjoy the peace and serenity of your own private homes for which you work so hard? If you want to invade the lives of people who have not indicated that they don’t mind complete strangers intruding on them, that’s one thing. But if you ring the bell of someone with a No Soliciting sign, you are nothing but vile predators and nuisances.
My No Soliticing sign does not indicate an easy sale, I assure you. I have never purchased from a door-to-door salesperson, including a child, and never will. I will not even open the door to a stranger, but only talk to them through the door.
As I stated, except for the scratch repair scam artist, not one “salesperson” has knocked or rang my bell for the duration of my two No Soliciting signs. Apparently the honest salespeople in my area are swift enough to know that knocking/ringing in the face of a No Soliciting sign would be fruitless.
I will admit I am a bit flabbergasted that I had to put out an additional sign spelling out that solicitors include those of religious and political persuasion. Do they not get the point that a No Soliciting sign really means I DON’T WANT TO BE BOTHERED BY ANYONE FOR ANY REASON!?
P.S. Great discussion! I found it while looking for ideas for my new sign. I’ll keep you all updated as to how well it works during this election season.
@Pelican
Great comment. You did an excellent job spelling out some of my personal frustrations with some of these people.
I will reiterate that I do not necessarily have a problem with salespeople in and of themselves. I do not necessarily even have a problem with everyone who goes door-to-door; I do not have a “no solicitation” sign at my house. I have had people come to my door in the past who were respectful, took maybe five minutes of my time, applied no pressure, and gave me time to mull matters over before making a purchase. I have gotten some decent products and services through that approach.
A few days ago, though, I was at my dad’s house, who was working on fixing a car in his garage. Two fellows approached us. They claimed they were with a new carpet cleaning company in the area, were trying to generate advertising through word of mouth, and wanted us to give them a quick evaluation of their services. We weren’t interested. “Oh, but Ian here is involved in a contest and if he does a certain number of carpets he’ll get to go to Las Vegas!” “Yeah, man, and I’ve never been before!” Alright, so we let them in. Despite what you salespeople might tell yourselves so that you can sleep well at night, we did not let them in because we are selfish or because we wanted something for nothing — we did it because we are nice people who are willing to help a local business and some kid. From the outset we were not going to get, “something for nothing.” In exchange for that “carpet cleaning” we were already giving them our valuable time, access to my dad’s house (which, in turn, involves an extension of trust), and, were the services good, a willingness to provide referrals, a positive evaluation, and valuable word of mouth advertising. Considering that it really is not particularly difficult or time consuming to shampoo a carpet (having done it numerous times ourselves), it seemed like a fair trade. That is what some of you salespeople do not understand in the first place — there never was a free lunch involved from the homeowner’s point of view. Quite the contrary, as really it is a matter of the homeowner doing a major favor for someone who is otherwise a total stranger.
After gaining access to my father’s house under false pretenses, claiming that they just needed the service evaluated and falsely claiming that they were not selling anything, they proceeded to waltz about as though they owned the place. They threw filthy filters about on my dad’s carpet, made snide comments about the disgusting nature of my dad’s home, and were generally disrespectful towards my dad’s brand new $600 Royal vacuum which, at one point, they took the liberty of placing outside without my father’s permission.
This nonsense went on for two hours. My dad told them several times that we are not interested and that they needed to leave but they insisted that they would not get credit for the demo unless it was completed. When one of the guys responded to my dad’s comment that we weren’t buying with, “But if you were to buy, would you be paying cash, check, or need financing?” I finally stood up, informed them that no purchasing would be taking place, and told them that the demonstration was over while gathering up their filthy little filter pads, which I proceeded to toss out. I am glad that got rid of them, as my next step would have been to have called the cops.
At that point I simply did not care whether the fellows in question got credit for the demonstration. That is not my problem and ties into my biggest complaint about some of you salespeople. You folks have this whiny sense of entitlement which you have allowed to convince you that you somehow have a right to gain access to someone’s private property under false pretenses, spend several hours in their home while insulting them in various ways, perform a job completely different than the one you initially said you would do, and then expect that you are somehow entitled to be paid for it. Guess what? You are no different from the filthy beggar on the street corner who, unsolicited, sprays Windex on my window, wipes it down with a dirty paper towel, and holds out his hand expecting to be paid. That is you.
Some of you folks act like you just want honest pay for honest work. When you misrepresent your intentions and perform a service different from the one you had initially offered (a vacuum demonstration versus a simple carpet cleaning) and, in essence, change the terms of the agreement from “quick and free” to “drawn out and we don’t really get anything for this unless you buy”, you have not done honest work. Instead, you have lied, wasted my time, and are expecting a handout for it. That’s not sales — that’s welfare.
You high-pressure door-to-door salespeople are like the lady with the five screaming kids in line in front of me at the supermarket buying three hundred dollars worth of groceries using my hard earned tax dollars because she is on food stamps. The spirit is the same — just as she thinks she should get paid tax money for the effort of spreading her legs, you think you should get paid for giving me a demonstration I didn’t want in the first place. You think you are entitled to my time in the first place because you showed up at my door; she thinks she is entitled to free groceries because she lives in this country and showed up at the welfare office. Mr. High-Pressure Salesman — You are the same, you and her. You probably expect me to pay for your health care as well.
Again, let me repeat — I am not talking to honest salespeople who are respectful, who do not misrepresent who they are or what they are selling, and who are willing to give people time after the demonstration to think things over, do research, and discuss matters with their significant other. You folks are alright, at least so long as you are not operating under the assumption that you are somehow entitled to bother someone who has specifically posted a “No solicitations” sign on their door. If you think you are entitled to do that then you might as well think you are entitled to welfare since you obviously believe you somehow inherently have a right to other people’s valuable time and hard earned money. It is this growing mindset among people that has led to this nation’s economic decline. You do not represent part of the solution; you represent the problem.
If a homeless woman came to your door, lied her way into your living room, and started to pester you for money you would first ask her to leave and, barring that, you would call the cops. There is no reason to think that it should be any different just because she is peddling an overpriced vacuum cleaner or wants to sell you a water filtration system. Salespeople — you are not entitled to our time or our money. If you want to be a salesperson, be a salesperson — be respectful, courteous, honest, and cognizant of the fact that you are a guest who is already imposing on someone else by being in their home. If you want to be a beggar — rude, dishonest, obnoxious, rife with entitlement — that’s fine, but don’t call yourself a salesperson and don’t be surprised when we call the cops to remove you. You’re just giving the real, decent, hardworking salespeople a bad name.
Great post, Matt!
Like yourself, I do not have anything against honest door-to-door salespeople. I do, however, have something against salespeople who would violate a No Soliciting sign. The only “salesperson” to violate mine was a criminal. Apparently the honest door-to-door salespeople in my area have enough respect for their fellow man to obey the sign and understand that it means the homeowner wants his solitude, unlike the unethical, disrespectful salespeople posting on this site.
On another note, I found some information on a police site that may be of help to some of you. A policeman gave this advice as to what to put on your own hand-made or computer-generated sign:
No Soliciting
Pursuant to [your state’s trespass law/statute],
this property is posted as a “No Soliciting” area.
Solicitors are forbidden.
Soliciting is forbidden.
Solicitors are defined as:
Any person selling any product;
Any person campaigning for any political candidate or political purposes;
Any person involved in any reglious activities;
[Add whatever else irks you]
Any persons violating this notice will be prosecuted under the penalties set forth in [repeat your state law/statute for trespass inculing statute number]
It helps keep the riff-raff away. And if it really bothers you, you can even call the police and have the person cited. Contrary to popular belief, your house is private property and people don’t have the right to come to your door.
http://www.realpolice.net/forums/ask-cop-112/54998-door-door-solicitation-laws.html
Update: after exhaustive research I have determined that a “No Trespassing” sign at the edge of one’s property is the best legal tool against solicitors, etc.
If anyone, even someone with a soliciting permit, enters on a property with a “No Trespassing” sign, and the property-owner calls the police, said trespasser will be arrested and prosecuted.
The power of a “No Trespassing” sign versus a “No Soliciting” sign is what the nuisance salespeople on this site aren’t telling you. 😉
Get them arrested? Are you kidding me? At least that’s not extreme. Did you realize that no matter what you do for a career someone sells it. They are probably dealing with jerks all day. Yet they do their job and the rest of the company benefits. Be thankful.
I once had a problem with those door to door salesmen. Until i came across an Australian site that sells “No selling” stickers. I purchased one and stuck it to my front door and havent had a problem with door-to-door solicitors since! Family and friends comment on it saying “Thats a great idea” and about its nice design. Just sharing my experiences check it out dontselltome.com
Well ive been selling directv and dishnetwork for 2 yrs door to door, I went out yesterday and made 2 sales in 3 hours..thats 260 bucks in my pocket and I didnt charge anyone a dime…switched them from dish network to directv, and one from directv to dish network
basically giving them a new customer promotion and all new equipment for their home.
Ive made many sales at homes that have no soliciting and no trespassing signs. and not one person ever seems to get upset…probably since im not selling steak or vacuums door to doo
Well obviously tyler, you are an honest salesman or a damn good one. I guess if what you’re doing pertains to what they already have or upgrading their service its not that bad. And you don’t charge them anything??
I cannot believe the comments that i am hearing, there are many legitimate companies offering products door to door. If you cant say no i wouldnt Ban all door to door products. I would simply get some help asserting myself because im sure getting scammed by door to door fly by night companies are not your biggest problem. I answer the door all the time and evaluate each individual product to see if i can use it, i got a great cable package from a guy going door to door for one of the largest cable companies in our area, im paying 25% less that what there commercials promote. these guys are out there busting there butts to offer you a promotion, and because of a few bad apples and your obviuos inability to make decisions and assert yourself, your going to ban all door to door products. Doesnt make sense to me, seems like a lazy approach to dealing with some bigger issues you have
Just has some door to door LA times “college students” come thru – those seem to be the only solicitors we get… they did a huge speech before I realized why they were at my door. So painful.. they even kept talking once I shut the door! Anyway, this article is very helpful & I also liked KC’s tactic “I’m sorry, I don’t answer the door to strangers.”
I’m going to try that next time so I don’t have to say NO 3 times.
@Maria #50
“selling their false religion”,? In comparison to what? The other “True” religions? True and False in this matter is a comparative notion amplified by personal opinions.
Every other religion sells itself also its just in a different fashion. Something maybe you and I would tolerate better, but, in all fairness, they still sell their dogmas never-the-less. Door-to-door, literature, social gatherings, family, National rooted dogmas inherited by generations and taken from coast to coast by travelers who placed the seed in the new land, Forced (or die), Whats popular and cool in our society (Christianity, Atheism, Mormonism,) …………etc.
As a sales person who goes door to door for the majority of my business I generally know when I’m being blown off. I also understand that there are a lot of scumbags out there. The job is hard but the rewards are pretty darn good. The majority of these people are just like you. I’ve met sales people with no education, and some with much education. Some are ethical and some aren’t. I’ve worked for large and small corporation and met the exact same people there. Their job may be a little different than yours but they are only trying to pay their bills and feed their families just like you. The best thing to say is ” I’m not interested”. Yes they will most likely be persistent. That’s because an off day means no $$$. They can’t go to the office and sit in their chair and coast for the day. They truly earn every dollar. There’s no need to be rude or nasty to them just be firm and say no. Oh and never tell a sales person ” I’ll think about it”. That translates to an objection they need to overcome. Just say ” I’m not interested”. I do love people who send their kids to the door to say. “My parents aren’t home now”. The kids always look at their parents while saying it. It’s hilarious. I’d rather they just didn’t
Answer. After all I’m not the big bad wolf.
Ok So you are sitting at home watching TV and someone comes to your door to try and sale you something you might just need anyways! But instead you make the person feel like he is the scum of the earth simply because he chooses to do whatever he has to do to feed his family and keep a roof over their heads instead of robbing idiots who rather make people feel like what they do is not good enough for certain idiots of our society who think they are too good to take a few minutes to listen to them! lol
Wow..I have opened my door to salespeople and have purchase products that I still have for 15 years. I find it to be a living like any other and in my case I am capable of knowing what I need when I shop. I don’t see anything thing wrong with a door to door salesperson. Everything that we purchase is because it was sold to the store where we buy. I think everybody here is exaggerating a bit.
Well I am proud to say I am a door to door sales person and have been one since 1990. I have supported my family, purchased a house,Paid for my two sons college education, sent my wife and youngest son to europe for vacation and have adopted a baby girl at a cost over well over $10K just for the adoption. All made possible by selling door to door. Your comment about “getting a real job” makes me wonder if any of my customers think that about me. I work hard for my money and never cheat or lie about anything I sell. I only represent companies I investigate and approve of and never use scare tactics to sell. I strive to keep my dignity and respect my customers. And after 20 years of going door to door I am proud to say I am a door to door sales man. It is the hardest job in the world for the person that cannot maintain a clear outlook on life and his or her standing in the community. If you can look at yourself in the mirror and honestly say that you have challenged yourself and have strived for the highest level of integrity and success through the opportunity that life has presented then you are a success regardless of what you do. My father raised me to be honest and ethical and proud to work hard in whatever job you chose and to understand that you bring the dignity to the work not the other way around.I have worked at shipyards as a welder, car sales manager, social worker for the county, and a few other jobs but none have given me the satisfaction and lifestyle that door to door has brought me. I just thought that you should know that going door to door is a real job.
you do know that when jim kirby created the kirby vaccume there were very few people who actually had carpet the machine has a straight suction where you just turn the belt so that the brush does not spin, that is how you clean hard floor surfaces….. if the kirby salesmen that sold you that kirby did not tell you that then you could contact a distributor and ask them how you clean the floors with your kirby. tell them that you have had your kirby for a while you dont need another demonstration you just want to know how it works on had floor surfaces they will send a leader to you to show you how…
I must say i disagree with this article to some extent. I just started a job in door to door sales. first of all let me say that at least this one is not a bad job as mentioned above. i am paid substantially more than my last job and it is the most flexible job i have ever had. now on to other things. yes most door to door salespeople are selling things you dont need but not all of them. personally, i work for a cable company…all we do is try to see if we can give you the same package you already have at a lower price. the majority of us have cable and spend on it every month. why not try to save money. in my first 2 weeks, i have made sales to 5 people and most of those people have saved anywhere from 30 to 50 dollars a month. cnn is the same shit on any cable company so why pay more for it. i feel this article is a blanket statement for all salesmen. it is not the salesman, it is the product you should be cautious of. i feel sorry for people who wont even listen to me because i walk away thinking about all that money they are spending when they dont have to just because they have these preconceived notions that someone knocking on your door is trying to rip you off. you dont loose anything by listening, if it works it works, if it doesnt then have a nice day.
One question to author of article, do you live on an island? a deserted island, if you do not then you logic is thwarted. Advertising is everywhere so your assumption that you make the initial response is not possible. We are all guided by advertising, unless you live under a rock.
Hi all,
I read this article and thought that it was well done, would give some people a script to not be taken advantage of and make it easier for them to say ‘no’. However, being a door to door salesman myself, I just wanted to point out why some of us do what we do. I am a very shy man, and do not like being pushed (or pushing others) as this makes me feel badly. When I come to someone’s door, I honestly know that my service is good for them (it is organic pest control) IF they decide they want it. I am only a person that knows about the service, and when I am on their door step, I am there to inform and explain. If they want it, they will buy. I cant and wont try to force them to buy.
We all have families to feed, and I chose door to door to help me overcome my shyness and still be able to make an honest dollar while giving my customers a service that I know can great for them IF they want it.
In the end, I am on your door to be helpful and see if what I can offer you is what you want.
There are other salesmen out there like me. If they seem pushy, by all means close the door in their faces and let them know that acting that way is not acceptable at all.
But why not give the good ones a chance?
yes yes yes I like you because you make sense.
Funny. I’ve had homeowners with big signs that say no soliciting WHATSOEVER buy from me because I sell something they really need or want.
I had a homeowner once ask me why I didn’t leave one of my flyers on his door and I said “because you have a no soliciting sign.” He bought.
I have also gotten threatening voice mail messages from people that were truly psychotic.
I used to sell Electrolux vacuum cleaners door to door and sold quite a few. Many times I was welcomed. One time a lady bought 3 different vacuums from me in one day but I think she had other motives.
Another lady welcomed me in with open arms and had her checkbook out within 30 minutes.
I now sell reflective address signs door to door and am usually well received even if no purchase is made.
Unfortunately, the scammers have hurt this type of selling so I always check in with the cops first and never ask to enter a homeowners home.
The trick is to sell something that people really want and can’t be easily found at the stores at a good price.
Hello,
I am a door-to-door salesman. All this content about deceit and manipulation that door-to-door salesmen pull on potential customers, is something that people confront everywhere, either directly or indirectly. Personally, I believe a good salesman identifies customers’ needs and does not push on a product that the customer does not need. With that said, not all salesmen are alike. So before you open the door to someone, especially a door-to-door salesman try to discern their motive, and their tactics. IT TAKES MUCH MORE STRENGTH TO WALK UP TO A DOOR AND ENGAGE A COMPLETE STRANGER, THAN SIT THERE AND TRY TO OUTWIT THE SALESMAN TO LEAVE YOUR DOOR.Again, its YOUR door, not his. So stop feeling sorry for yourselfs and become savvy consumers. Odds are most people on this blog arent.
We need door to door sales in today’s economy. Donald trump will tell you the same thing. I get the best deals from door to door. All it takes is common sence to know I don’t need a life time magazine subscription, but my family could very well benefit from having a home security system.
I’d like to make a suggestion that might be helpful to others who dislike being bothered by salespeople, as well as salespeople who don’t want to appear to be seen in a bad light.
Recently, we had a guy come buy advertising his window company. When I told him that I wasn’t in the market (we JUST bought our house), he was very polite, thanked me for my time, and gave me a flier with their URL so I could contact them in the future. They are a local company, and immediately, because I didn’t feel pressured, I felt that when I DO need new windows, I would buy from them EVEN IF THEY ARE MORE EXPENSIVE.
So I called the company the next day, told them of my experience, and thanked them for not being pushy. I told them that, because of how the man treated me, with politeness and understanding, that I would definitely keep their information and look to them first when I can use them. I suggested that they let him know, again, that his actions are the right way to act.
As much as I dislike being solicited, I also know that not all of them are pushy you-know-whats, and maybe if we start calling these companies that do a good job of it and complimenting them, perhaps that attitude will trickle down to the understanding of those pushy ones. And use their business, even if you have to spend a bit more, and recommend them to others, as well.
Don’t be rude or a jerk?
I’m sorry if you knock on my door trying to sell me something that I did not initiate then I’m going to as rude as I want to be.
They way I deal with door to door salespeople is to tell them straight out that I am not interested. When they persist (which is almost always) I say to them look. I have already told you that I am not interested in your product. maybe the fault is mine in not making myself more clearly understood so I will tell you again that I am not interested in your product. Now! If I have to tell you again, you will not find me to be as polite and understanding as I have been on the first two occasions. This nearly always works. If not I say there is the gate (while pointing to it), now take your product and f–k off with it. This definitely works.
I don’t mean to be rude but I think that this is a rather ignorant post. I am a door to door salesman and you mentioned that it is a terrible job and that we shouldn’t be doing it; however I quite enjoy my job and I am paid very well. On another note, door to door salesmen/women contribute a lot to the economy and realistically without salesmen/women regular people wouldn’t have jobs sitting in a desk somewhere because there would be no revenue coming into the company’s you work for to pay your wage. We are at the forefront creating jobs for the rest of you.
That my friend is called hitting the nail on the head very well written. That is how I always look at my job.
Thank you
I am a door to door salesman and I sell cable. I do not creat a need that isn’t already there because basically, this is not a need but, a want. People want it and they will get it.
Unethical people do the things that you all are discribing. The ethical salesman finds the need that is there and tries to fullfill it. Whether it is cable or whatever it maybe. Sales is something you do for the customer not to the customer! I am a firm believer in this.
My job is to find those who are using the product and sway them toward my company by offering large discounts and special packages. Yes, I am in a neiborhood for more than one day and will not tell you I won’t be.
My pitch last all of twenty seconds, if you want to talk, or show interest, I will ask question to find what package is best for you and fits your needs. If you say, not interested too fast, The question is, not interested in what?
By not at least finding out what they have is just screwing yourself. It maybe something you have been looking for.
BTW Kirby will cancel a contract within 30 days of the purchase.
If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. If you don’t want it, then say no intrest. or simply, no thank you. But, close the door, this indicates the sale is over. It’s the period at the end of the sentance.
Not all salesmen or women evil. Not all of them are out to get you and your hard earned money. Some really do want to help you get the most for your money.
Don’t close the door on your savings because you don’t like door to door sales people.
You are going to have to deal with a sale person at some point no matter what you buy. There is the key. To buy it, somebody has to sell it.
Sounds pretty silly. Door to door salesman are people who have been laid off from the recession. I am a double B.A with a masters and only job i could get was a door to door sales. This saved my family of 6. Some of us are honest and none pushy.
This site makes me laugh its implying that ALL door to door sales people are crooks. Well that’s just a cover for stupid people making stupid decisions. As for telling people to be rude, that’s just ignorant.
I say listen carefully to what they say then answer them honestly BUT use your head not your heart.
The world is full of stupid, ignorant and rude people. Please don’t be one of them.
Yes some door to door people are crooks but they are conmen not salespeople and I could tell you some very scary stories about the public .
I have a chihuahua and he barks like a big dog…. If you don’t see where the barking is coming from you really would think its a huge dog. Nonetheless When these Door-to-door ppl come to my door and ring the bell my dog (my little-small chunky dog) stands by the door and growls…within secs the person is gone… 🙂
They are just the same in Australia. Here it is the rude and pushy Electrolux salesmen that we have to contend with. They try their hardest to get a foot in the door, then you almost have to take out an eviction notice to expunge them from your house. They will not take no for an answer and if you are stupid enough to let them into your house, they will harass you for weeks and months afterwards with unexpected return visits and phone calls.
A salesman came to our house on false pretenses to provide a free service and provide replacement filters for our existing vacuum cleaners.
He switched on the first machine which we had set up for him on a carpeted part of an outdoor living area. The first thing he did was pick up the machine and try to take it upstairs. His excuse was that he had to try it on carpet. Well, he was already on carpet, so we asked if he could please leave it where it is! He moaned something about it being the wrong type of carpet. Then he took the bag out, switched it on and cried out “No, No, Turn it off quick! It’s worn out, throw it away! Throw it away!”
We then allowed him upstairs to look at the other cleaner which we had purchased new about 8 years ago. He switched it on and off once and threw it to one side, crying “It’s worn out too, dangerous and only costing you money, so throw it out too!”.
He claimed that the code on the bottom told him it was over 30 years old. We had bought it new 8 years ago and in fact still have the receipt to prove that fact. It might be an old machine but it always does a good job on the carpets and still has plenty of years left in it.
We also have a small vacuum cleaner which he said he would take a look at. He tried his hardest to break this one. Even though it was an Electrolux brand, he did not even know how to open the filter casing! He kept prizing it roughly and would have broken it. We told him to stop, that he would break it. He would not listen, yelling “I’ve worked on vacuum cleaners for the past 50 years, believe me I know what I’m doing?” Finally I pressed the button to release the catch and he then pretended that he knew that all along.
He then managed to get the electricity lead in such a tangle that when he yanked on it we thought he would break it for sure. He claimed that it was not his fault the cord got tangled because he had “only been here five minutes”.
He then went to his car and we thought he would return with a filter for it. Instead he returns with a sales brochure for a new vacuum cleaner. We turned our backs and shut the door on him.
After he left I went on eBay and purchased all of the filters without any hassle or bother.
An earlier salesman from the same company had told us to throw away our vacuum cleaners because we won’t be able to buy bags for them anymore. Well I have never had any problems purchasing bags online and in any case, universal generic bags can be purchased these days for a fraction of the cost.
Be warned! There is no such thing as a free service and I very much doubt that any of these salesmen ever carry spare parts with them. They are only out to sell new cleaners. Don’t let them in unless you desperately want a new vacuum cleaner and don’t mind the constant sales pitch or the potential future hassles if you should decide to change your mind.
Why do i get the feeling that the reason you dont like door to door sales jobs is cause you sucked balls at it? It takes a lot to be able to sell at the door so just because you were not good at it does not mean you should tell a door to door salesman to change jobs cause you dont like it…
Hey Guys,
It kind of breaks my heart a little to see so many negative comments directed to door to door sales people. I have been in Security D2D sales for a while (6 years) and I have my reasons behind it. I simply present my product and my company identify vulnerabilities in a home and help provide a solution with a system. I do not lie, manipulate, or use any shady sales tactics. I am a Christian and believe in walking the straight and narrow.
When I was 18 I began selling D2D with a reputable security company and quite honestly, I hated my job. The guns pointed at my face, dogs trying to bust through a door, and have been shot at multiple times. Not for being pushy or rude or anything like that (that’s just not who I am) but, simply for being there.
I helped my brother raise two of his children him and I had it rough and had been on our own since I was 15 and he was 25. The children were two and four and the most precious and loving kids that in the world. I would have laid down my life for them. One morning we woke up and the kids were not in their room, they had unlocked the deadbolt popped the latch on the door using a broom and snuck out it the yard to play. They were abducted, sexually abused, and drowned in a neighbors pool.
I had begged my brother to get a security system but he was a big guy and worked for the local sheriffs dept so he didn’t see a need. If I would have just been able to show him that need a little more and he had gotten a system when they would have opened the door the alarm would have went off and woken us up.
I have sold personally well over 1,000 accounts D2D and have received numerous phone called where if I wouldn’t have knocked on that door and showed a need then someone’s grandmother or grandfather would be dead. Someones child kidnapped, injured, or worse. You can call me the bad guy all you want and scream at me when I knock on your door. I’ll still love and respect you as a person but,I know how many lives I have touched. You tell me not to knock doors but, let’s call the families of the ones whose lives were saved with a system and see what they say. If you don’t want to talk to us then simply say not interested and shut the door. I personally will respect that.
I appreciate the time you have taken to read this and do hope you have a better understanding that we are not all scum.
Respectfully Yours,
JP
Then simple solution is whenever you see a door to door salesman, call the police. When the cops show up, the salespeople get scared and leave, never to return.
Wow what an incredible overgeneralization! You have stereotyped thousands of people by the actions of some. You have no clue if that door to door salesman is like you have supposedly factually stated they are. I make my living doing door to door sales, and because of old tactics my job is a lot harder helping people solve the problems they have. It’s too bad everyone thinks like this. If a storm hits your home, that probably still REALLY needs those windows you would be singing a different tune. I hope that doesn’t happen, but having a policy of not buying something you need because you haven’t been responsible enough to get those windows replaced seems very childish.
I think that you have had too many bad experiences and so have a lot of others that it’s now so hard for a legitamate company with a great offer to sell. Door to door is about the only way for a small company to get their name out there, we can’t afford radio or tv ads but our product is the exact same and offered at a better rate than the huge corporations. Not all door to door sales are scams so it would make sense to listen to the pitch and then compare for yourself, you might be missing out on a great deal. We give a better price than anyone else just to get some recognition and everyone that buys has no regrets whatsoever. There are a lot of people who don’t even listen and are missing out.
Too be honest I’ve had better deals and a more easier time dealing with door to door sales reps. I understand that no means no but in this day and age if someone can save me a buck why not.The man Gave me his number and when i had issues with my cable i didn’t call the company i called him because he offered his number. Guess people look at situations different. But to be honest a closed mind and a closed mouth never get ahead.
when you said “Membership in a “consumers club”. We paid something like $1500 to join this organization, and then $70 a year thereafter to remain members.” and then said “Kris and I are smart people” no. no you’re not! that’s ridiculous.
I’m not a solicitor, yet, for me, it’s important to remind dog owners that it’s illegal for you to allow your dog to roam free on your unfenced property without a leash. I’m a small woman- nearly 30- and have been chased by at least 15 obviously untrained loose dogs throughtout my life, starting at age 9, simply by walking past homes, walking home from school or exercising.
My parents had a dog until I was 6 years old, and I was taught that it was important to train and spend time with our dog, and especially, not allow it to bark and chase people.
It boggles my mind that older, middle-aged people do this, don’t care enough to train their dogs and think that shouting at them to “come here” while they’re barking at chasing someone down the street will work, when they haven’t bothered to train them at all.
Apparently, dog owners only like to own dogs so that they could threaten or attack everyone and anyone.
Hi I am currently working as a door to door salesmen maybe I’m not doing it right but I don’t think I have ever pressured some 1 in to a sale usually I just pass out flyers door 2 door and leave my card if there interested they call if not it’s there choice just because someone gets paid for sales and makes a presentation for you it doesn’t mean that. You have to say yes but I guess it is easier to blame someone else then to admit your weak
Funny, that the terrible salesman is the one calling salesman snakes basically. We “ought” to be doing something else? I rather enjoy meeting people’s needs, and making 100k a year. Cheapest rarely, if ever, is best, and many of us out there would never mislead or lie to a customer.
You all sound so stuck up…. GRIEF! Give me a break!
I knock on doors for a living so I can put food on the table for my 5 boys and my beautiful hard working wife…. Reading some of your comments makes me feel like some bad person for doing what I do….. Oh please!
I sell door to door (or in home demonstration) because that’s the channel through which the manufacturer says this is how they want it done….. I sell it because people want and need it… I sell it because it’s worth having…. It cost what it does because my customers have valued it where it is…. I take it to my customer’s front door and I sit down in their living room with them…… they become my friends and I theirs…… unlike the impersonal commercials and ads they are inundated with on a daily basis…. I don’t see articles about the TV and internet ads people are FORCED to put up with….
Anyway…. Got to get to bed…. got some sidewalks to hit tomorrow…. Maybe I’ll be seeing you.
I’m a door to door salesman. Reading this article is non-sense. I do understand that there can be sketchy people in this world and trust should never be something given easily. Some of these people could work at the grocery store you shop at. However, people don’t understand that guys like myself are what America is built on. We’re working long hours and enduring poor treatment from people that feel like they need to protect themselves from salesman because they’re not capable of simply declining. It’s hard doing this job with the stigma that people have of door to door people. The best way to deal with a salesman is simply to say no thank you and shut the door. Don’t waste our time and we won’t waste yours. The people I sell, need my service. If they stand there and end up buying, it’s because they need it. I don’t force anyone into a sale. (Granted I sell pest control and not vacuums.) I’m a father of 4 and this is my only means of income and I do well. Everyday I run into RUDE people that treat me as sub human because of their ignorance and feeling of hatred for NO REASON. We are trained to make money, just as you are at whatever job you’ve chosen. Be POLITE, say NO THANK YOU. OR, put up a No Soliciting sign and save us time. This website is non-sense being that SO many “rich” people start AS DOOR TO DOOR sales people. Get with it people.
I let myself be talk into buying “Omaha steaks” turned out to be low quality and under weight. I got a stop payment on the check, but, how long do I have to keep them in my freezer? They said it was too far for them to drive for pick up.
You are all idiots. Do have any idea how hard it is to be a door-to-door salesman, hoping that you can put together one sale a day and feed your wife and daughter? Do you know how hard it is to walk around in 22 degree weather, snow on the ground, wind swirling around you, and be cursed at, have your life threatened, spent a night in jail because even the cops think you’re trying to rob people? 90% of doorknockers aren’t trying to rape you or rob you because 90% of you are poor and ugly. Trust me, I spend 8-10 hours a day in strange cities hundreds of miles away from my family to feed them. Did you ever think that a doorknocker isn’t the problem, but you are? Maybe you can think of their life next time they knock at the door, and not just your own pathetic time.
You are 1000% on the money.
Hey Cody,
Your lack of an intelligent response proves our point about door to door salesmen!
First, you say 90% of “doorknockers” are not trying to rape or rob us, as if that is supposed to be a convincing statistic. In your “genius” way, you’ve basically said we should answer the door when you come by begging for money, because we only have a 1 in 10 chance that you will try to rape or rob us. Wow! You really convinced me!
Next, you show your maturity and superior humanity by calling everyone who doesn’t fall for your door to door panhandling “poor and ugly.” That’t the salesman spirit!
Finally, grow up and get a REAL job!
Cody in short:
“Waaah! I work hard providing a service few people want so therefore I’m entitled to be on your property and waste your time and money! You should be thanking me!”
Why don’t you get a real job you entitled idiot. While you’re at it, get off my property before I call the cops. I’ll bet you support Obama because you obviously think you’re entitled to my tax dollars as well. Your overblown libtard sense of entitlement is what’s destroying this country.
Its funny you don’t think that this is a real job when thousands do it. I make good money, usually generating 10-20 sales a week ($1000-2000, roughly) and it allows me,to take care of my daughter and wife, while also allowing me to actually earn every dollar I make. I used to manage a small,coffee shop for $85k a year, and this is even better, because I get to make the money I earn and set an example for my,daughter, despite you idiots who would tell her I’m a horrible person.
Yeah, tens of thousands of people make their livings panhandling by the side of the street while collecting welfare as well. The biggest difference between you and them is that at least they don’t come to my house after I’ve had a long day at the office, disturb me while I’m trying to have dinner with my family, and then justify it by telling me it’s for their dinner and wife. At least the panhandlers have the courtesy to leave me alone and shut the hell up about it when it’s been made clear that they’re not welcome.
That should have been “daughter and wife” instead of “dinner and wife.” Looks like I’ve been talking to you for too long as it is, Cody — your stupidity is starting to rub off on me.
I enjoy that you think you working your job is better than me working my job. I hope someone knocks on your door and stays until you call the cops. Then, when you go to testify against them, you watch their wife crying, holding their daughter and wondering why everyone hates her husband. And,on top of that, few of any salesmen take wellfare. You should,really ask them.
Guess she should have thought about that before marrying some loser door-to-door salesman.
You are a vile human Ron
If you want to see “vile” you should go look at a picture of your mother. She did, after all, bring you into this world and inflict your special brand of annoying idiocy upon the rest of us.
Ron, what do you do for a living and how long have you done it for?
I’m not entirely certain where the answers to either of those questions are any of your business. Let’s just say that I make towards the upper end of six figures before yearly bonuses and leave it at that.
Ron, I find it hard to believe that someone resorting to insulting a person’s mother on a message board works toward six figures. Also, I figured if you were going to bash person’s jobs as unhuman, we could open your job to the floor to bash it as well, as that only seems fair. To the point, I own a large company that sells everything from satellite television to home security any a discount rate door to door. I pay out anywhere from $100-$1000 per commission and have never written a weekly check less than $200. I make between $80 million and $100 million a year alone. I don’t know where you work or what you do, but d2d doesn’t sound bad when you actually think about the numbers.
I find it hard to believe that someone with an obvious congenital brain defect has the wherewithal to acquire a computer, start up said computer, somehow find his way onto the Internet, stumble upon this very comment thread, and is now responding to me but here we are.
Sorry. Looks like I need to stop feeding the trolls and just move on.
Funny, I had just had the same thought.
#1 Kirby is one of the best rated vacuums by consumer reports
#2 Salesman are trained to sell so you shouldn’t be surprised or angry….it is easy not to answer the door
#3 I have done door-to-door sales my whole career and I have no fear of dogs, most are cowards
#4 You may have only been able to close old ladies, but don’t speak for the rest of us. I have had families call me back thanking me for walking into their lives.
#5 Bottom line is you can never succeed in life if you see the glass half empty and assume the water is poisoned
Do you see, you other door-to-door salesguys? This is how you do it. The Closer here didn’t join the thread, start whining, and tell everyone expressing our frustrations here that we’re all idiots. He didn’t try to bowl us over with how successful he is, give voice to an inferiority complex, or pull on our heartstrings with stories about how his wife and kids would be out on the streets if we didn’t accept what he does. Instead, he came and did the very thing you guys claim to be so good at — namely, he focused on the positives of what he does and tried to sell both himself and his profession. I might not fully agree but I can respect that.
I have a No Soliciting sign that sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. If sales people choose to ignore my sign, I like to record them on my phone and ask them on camera what makes them think they should be the exception to my rule. Most of the time they apologize and leave, sometimes they recite their pitch for the camera, and a few ask me not to record them. I continue to record them until they leave.
I don’t always have my phone handy so I will get all their information, tell them no, and if they have a hard time taking no for an answer, follow up with an online review of my experience with their company. I try not be rude, but I have the sign because I’m in my third trimester of pregnancy and am home resting. I don’t appreciate being disturbed and certainly don’t have a good sense of humor when I say no and they try to argue.
Some of us sales people do not actually sell a product. Some of us are here to help you, the homeowner, with something you were either to lazy to do yourself or do something you physically can not do unless with a company. Our company does not fall under the category of soliciting but is still door to door.
Hi, I’ve been a salesman for over 20 years in home improvements. Unlike some of these comments, I have integrity, and do not hard sell. The objective of a good salesperson is to help, not pressure. Unfortunately, you have to find a good salesman by going through some bad ones. I wouldn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. As a side note, some of the best deals I have made were with salesmen, often door to door, especially in business. Remember this: nothing of value moves in this country unless a salesperson sells it, whether it is stocks or homes, cars or islands. The consumer should find a good salesperson to work with, not condemn all salespersons.
Good luck, and God bless.
This is a well-written article, but you have quite the nerve being a salesman once yourself to write something like this against them. You might be able to avoid someone selling you some products, but you’ll never be able to buy the loyalty or integrity you lost writing this article. One would think you would support a job you once did, we’re just out here trying to make a living and help people with their products. No need to be annoyed, especially kids who only fundraise to pay for things they can’t on their own, like a States competition.
I just had a sales kid show up at my door. I always ask them who they are. I think it’s downright rude for anyone to show up at someone’s door and not say who you are. WTH are you doing at my front door then? the very first thing out of your damn mouth should be “I am so and so, with such and such company” not “I noticed this about your house” yeah that just creeps me out because I think you’re scoping it out as a way to get in later.
I’d like to contribute something to this conversation.
I’m an English student in college, and I was looking for a job during the Summer. A local window company quickly reached out to me, offering a Canvassing job in the area.
At first, I was extremely skeptical. I’m an introvert, and I have pretty high principles. I don’t want to intrude, don’t want to bother you, don’t want to force a sale out of a vulnerable old women.
But I decided to hear them out, and went in for the interview. I quickly learned I would be making more simply from my basic hourly pay than I was likely to make anywhere else, and almost all the other Canvassers were making way more from their leads.
So I decided to give it a try. It was tough, but I was amazed with what I learned:
1. People who sell things care about their reputation, and the Window company I worked for was no exception. We had some simple rules, including:
* Do NOT knock on houses with no soliciting signs
* Be genuinely interested in the people you meet
* Never be confrontational
* Never be pushy
Now, were we selling things? Yes. We were in the business of making money. But we were also in the business of making people like us, so respect was a top priority. I’m not mincing words – we wanted to sell our stuff. But most of all, we wanted to win people’s trust, so we put them first.
2. Door to door does NOT have to be about making a need where one does not exist. In my time at the company, I have actually met a lot of people who were genuinely happy to see me. Some people had real issues with their house, and wanted the inspection we offered. Many more had heard good things about our company, and were curious about what we were doing.
We specifically went to neighborhoods that probably had older houses without good insulation or good windows. Many of these people really needed work. Many of these people really wanted work.
3. Door to door sales doesn’t have to be confrontational. For every jerk I met (and I did meet a lot of jerks), I met at least 15 courteous people, and a few extremely nice people. I actually made some friends with the strangers I met.
I followed my company’s advice. I had a genuine interest in the people I met, which came naturally to me anyways. I had great conversations with some of them. A wonderful old gentlemen talked to me about his favorite books, and I talked to him about my writing ambitions. I didn’t walk away with a sale, but I walked away with a children’s book he thought I might like, and his promise to recommend our services to his neighbors.
4. Door to door sales is a real job. At the pay I’m making right now, I can afford to live like an adult. By the end of this year, I’ll easily be able to buy a small home. I’m not even finished with college yet, and I’m making more than the vast majority of my friends. I know people in my company who started out with canvassing positions, and went on to own branches of our business. Canvassing is a permanent part of their life. They’re on salary, and they make six figure incomes.
5. Door to door is hard work. You WILL meet jerks, even though there aren’t many. You will be shouted at. You will be walking around in the freezing cold, or sweltering heat. But it CAN BE FUN work too. As Canvassers, we went to local art shows displaying artistic fixtures made of stuff we had pulled from old houses. We held contests, told people about our products, made a lot of new leads and – out of pure chance – I ended up meeting authors from the state Author’s Guild, and we exchanged contact information.
Conclusion:
For Canvassers like me, I think everything comes down to attitude. You can choose to see any line of work as miserable. But as long as we have society’s broad approval, we suddenly manage to see things in a positive light. So long as you can forget what society broadly thinks about you, it is just as easy to see Canvassing in a positive light. I’ve genuinely recognized that I have a great opportunity on my hands, and I’ve made a reasoned decision to stick with it. Not because it’s impossible to get anything better, but because of all the things I’ve learned about sales that will be directly applicable to my goals as a writer, all the great people I’ve met, and all the life lessons I’ve learned during this job. Oh yeah – and because the pay is pretty good.
I really don’t want your sympathy. I don’t prey on it. Slam the door on me; call the cops on me; scream at me to leave, but don’t pity me. I chose this job, and I like it, even if you are an ass who thinks the world is ending because someone bothered to stand on your doorstep and take the same amount of time from you that a Facebook notification would have. You ARE the minority – most people are actually respectful to those who show them respect.
Now I realize door-to-door has a bad reputation, because nobody wants a pushy salesman. And I regret that there truly are a lot of pushy salesmen in the world. But consider this. Our culture is becoming increasingly isolated. We choose our friends, acquaintances, businesses and social circles. We build virtual realities for ourselves within our homes, blocking out the things we don’t want to see, and only seeing exactly what we look for.
We are BOMBARDED by advertisements on the media, whether it’s television, email, YouTube ads, film previews or junk mail. You are nothing to these advertisers but a number. They have no interest in you whatsoever. They don’t give a damn who you are, whether they’ve wasted your time, what you look like, the fact that you enjoy Green Tea or Alfred Lord Tennyson, the fact that your dog died last week, or the fact that you’ve never cared for the options anyone has offered you before.
Maybe it’s not such a bad thing if advertising had more real people interested in the real you, and the personal needs of the real you.
For PEOPLE WHO DON’T LIKE DOOR KNOCKERS:
If you don’t want to see me, don’t answer the door. I’d honestly be happy to meet you, even if you turn down my pitch, but if you don’t feel the same way, that choice is 100% within your hands. I’ll probably knock twice, especially if you have a storm door, just in case you didn’t hear me the first time. But I’ll move on to your neighbors pretty quickly.
But here’s a revolutionary suggestion for the bold and daring: open the door, and hear what I have to say. You really can’t be ‘not interested’ if you have no idea who I’m with or what I’m doing. I know the sensory perceptions of seeing a real human being on your doorstep can be utterly overwhelming, and make a minute seem like an hour. But in fact, my pitch rarely takes longer than thirty seconds.
Then, use that head on your shoulders, and consider what I’ve said. Take a step outside, and see if your gutters really are overflowing, and if there really is wood rot underneath your soffit and fascia boards. Then take a moment to think if this is something you actually might want to fix. Don’t feel sure about me? Have a look at my card. See that we have a great rating with the BBB. If you still aren’t sure, go ahead and fire up that smartphone of yours and look us up on Angie’s List.
If for some reason you just don’t care, smile at me and say, “I’m renting this place and I’m planning to move soon, so this isn’t really something I have control over.” It wouldn’t hurt to add, “Thanks for stopping by!” I’m not Google Ads – I have a heart and a brain. I can take rejection, and you may not have a penny to your name. But simple kindness won’t cost you a penny.
Young man, obviously you are not wasting your education. This is one of the best written articles I have ever read! This article REEKS of intelligence, character and principals. Will you contact me when you finish your first book? I want to share this with the dozens of sales representatives who work for me. My story is a little different. I worked at Ford Motor company for years doing production or maintenance work, never on and assembly line. Then 3 years before my retirement I was placed on an assembly line. It cause me to have to quit working because of an “I” problem “I” couldn’t see myself working on and assembly line for 3 years! I now am an owner and I make more money in a day than I made in 80 plus hours working at FOMOCO! Before I had sales training I thought the one was supposed to interrupt people in the middle of a sentence.
Thanks for the great article that finished the very good article that preceded it. Good Luck and Success
Personally, I think the tough part about this topic, is the topic itself.
Sales people have a bad reputation. Not just door to door sales. For instance, when you walk into a clothing store, they will more than likely ask you, “Is there anything I can help you find?” By instinct, it is our nature to say no. “I’m just browsing,” would be a common response, even if you are looking for something in particular.
Door to door sales people are a different breed. That being said, we are certainly still human. Humans who have responsibilities, families, debt, and hardship, just like you do. We are not predators. We are trying to support ourselves, the same as you.
My favorite comparison to this, is the automobile industry. You go in to a dealership during their “Red Tag Days!” Or, whatever “Technique” they use to get people in the door. This is the equivalent of a door to door salesperson, stepping into your home. You talk about your dream car and the nice, clean shaven man behind the desk tells you about their line of product. Did you take a test drive in this car? You most certainly did. This is a door to door salesman’s “Demo.” This is where you see what “The product can do for you!” This is putting you on the market, for something you may not need.
You don’t shut out the car salesman, because….why?
Because you went to him. You are comfortable, because you reached out to “buy something.” He makes commission just like we do, right?
I’m not saying you have to buy everything you see, from a door to door salesperson. All I am saying is, it is not a field of work that you see much of anymore, and it is a hard one. It isn’t hard to tell us your not interested, without slamming the door in our face. Who knows, it could be something you needed in your household.