"Sweet"

no cold callers!

However, if someone, in the past! called me Duck, I tended to say quack,quack, it amuses me!

what would we all prefer to be called then?

I don`t much care for darling from a stranger,, but then

better than a foul word.

They are not always what they say, and you shouldn't have opened the door to them. Keep safe. Put a 'no cold callers' sticker on the door.

I got one of those stickers to put by the front door, no cold callers, religious groups, etc. It seems to have worked! Someone called once and I just pointed to it and they left. Cheap as chips on ebay.

FannyCornforth sounds like you’re from my neck of the woods? (Mansfield)

I just don’t want anybody at my door trying
to sell anything !

It’s one of my biggest bugbears ! I’m female, I’m 62, I’ve been called, Mate, dear, dearie, darling’, love, lovie, Sweetheart, “young lady” and pet, and I HATE anyone calling me this if I don’t know them, is rude !!

My dad used to say he didn’t mind what he was called as long as it wasn’t late for dinner.

To be honest I think you’re being a bit precious OP. Offended enough not to make a purchase because of how he addressed you - really?

Buy something, or not. That’s your prerogative.
But a decision not to buy, based upon his over-familiarity?
Yes, I do think you were being unreasonable.

It might have been a scam call but that’s a different kettle of fish anyway. Because, if it wasn’t, where was your compassion?

Be careful with callers claiming they're ex offenders (they're id is nothing to go on). Some are being trafficked. I had 2 on 2 consecutive day, I bought from the first then explained to the 2nd that I didn't need anything, he got very abusive and I felt very threatened.

I am regularly volunteering at a Vaccination Centre and as you can imagine this involves "herding" people in the right direction. I call the men 'sir' and the women ' madam'. Will that do?

Well better than the scam caller I had today telling me about my ‘wifi problem’ I was very sweet going ‘oh yes’ ‘really’ ‘fancy that’ etc then she must have caught on I was taken the ‘p’ as she very sweetly said ‘ idiot woman’ and slammed the phone down

Blossoming

None of them are legitimate.

www.safelocaltrades.com/consumers/advice/doorstep-pedlars

I have read through this info and sent it to several elderly friends. thank you Blossoming.

I don't mind any colloquial terms of endearment used when someone doesn't know my name.

Rather that than Miserable Old Sow.

And I don't but at the door, in Covic times or otherwise

Did you mean Sweety, timetogo?

I was going to say I’ll happily answer to anything well-meant. Sweetheart, dear, love, pet, darling, guy, girl, babe, madam, lady, gorgeous (a particular favourite, and oh, so true ).

But I’d draw the line at Sweaty.

nina I’ve been called sweet before, from an acquaintance in Bristol, not particularly fond of it, but had worse. If that’s the only reason you didn’t make a purchase it’s a shame.

Sweaty?

Ooh! Cross post!

VQ it's 'me ? duck' here!

Exactly Judy54.
My dh comes from the Black Country and he calls me sweaty,friends of ours come from Derby and they call me Duck.
Doesn`t bother me at all,at least they are being nice which imo is all that matters.

You wouldn't like living around here. Everyone is 'love'.

When a salesman referred to 'the young lady' I turned round and said, 'Where? I don't see a young person'. @Love, 'dear', 'darling' are just used because the speaker doesn't know my name and I can't complain, but 'young lady' is meant to butter me up - and I'm visibly not young!

None of them are legitimate.

www.safelocaltrades.com/consumers/advice/doorstep-pedlars

Some of the ex-offenders are legitimate.

However they certainly shouldn't be out and about at the moment and no doubt will be scammers

Nottingham Knockers as they are called down here, there was a large group of them around Somerset a couple weeks ago - many warnings on FB groups. Many say they are looking out for likely burglary chances etc. Some of them get quite nasty when told to leave the premises.

Anyone I don't know starts calling me "sweet" "hun" "darling" gets my hackles rising lol.

I am nearly 68 and was referred to as ‘young lady’ in the local cafe today, by a very much older man! I didn’t mind a bit. My neighbour (70 year old lady) always calls me ‘sweet’.

I had someone claiming to be an ex offender before lockdown last year. When I said politely that I didn't want to buy anything he was quite rude. Later in the week there was a message on local news warning that this was some kind of scam. Very difficult sometimes to know who is genuine.