Cold Callers

Have bought from the ex offenders in the past, but the goods practically fall apart cost upwards of a fiver and you could get better in the pound shop.
The last one called last Summer on a hot day, he looked hot and fed up so I told him that the goods were second rate ( he nodded) then asked if he would like a cold can of Coke ( he would) and went off slurping it.
We also get Irish travellers/gypsies wanting to redo our brick paved drive or clean it ( it's fine, doesn't need it) and they talk the hind leg off a donkey, but I still say no.
Now and again some JW people find us and I tell them firmly that I am a Roman Catholic.They look a bit confused and then say goodbye.
We have also had a fish van ( is this the same one? ) if so he gets about a bit.I say I never eat fish.
That leaves charity workers who want us to sign up by direct debit ( that won't be happening) and usually Aussie young men in shirts who want us to change our energy provider, they get short shrift as well.
Girl Guides who want to be sponsered get a donation as do small local children selling raffle tickets for their school/club etc.
We don't have any notices about cold callers because I think it looks unfriendly ( to everyone) and anyway, they do no good.

I bought an old-fashioned oven cloth (the kind with two ends where you can put your hands in) from a cold caller once and it was brilliant.
He has never been back and I replaced it with one from John Lewis which wasn't half as good.

* and usually Aussie young men in shirts*
I would invite them in for a beer and a chinwag

But the chinwag would not be about energy providers and they would leave in bemusement and pass the message on 'Don't visit her, she will give you the 3rd degree about Australia and your family history'

What does annoy me, and I have fallen for it ( momentarily) twice, is the set up outside B&Q stores.When you leave the store, just outside stand two young men dressed very sharply and you think they belong to the store, young exec types.They thank you for stopping, shake your hand and say something like 'I'm Tom' 'what's your name?' well, I never say, but DH is too polite to decline.....then they go in for the kill ' I represent RNIB or EGKA or WWAM or whatever and look at this info/pics etc and would you sign up to help them.
In other words cold call charity workers, when you thought they were from the store.

Haha Jalima yes, that should read shorts and they wear them in all weathers.Just for a change, the last one was from SA not OZ.

The Aussie male uniform:
Also available in navy blue

no, he's not mine

Very sweet though, I would probably give him 50p if he turned up at my door, and a lollipop.

the crocodile looks very scary

Demanding money with menaces?

Our local shopping centre rents a space in the main area to a different charity every week , sometimes two. My DD works in property management and tells me shopping centres do it to make money. As a result you are approached every single time you go into the shops and usually on the way out too. It makes me so cross that I am thinking of taking my custom elsewhere. Unfortunately this place is so convenient.