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Door to door sales

(42 Posts)
Grandmabatty Tue 25-Mar-25 12:44:39

I had an encounter this morning with a young man, boy would be more accurate! I answered the door and he began a prepared script, however he didn't actually tell me what he was selling until I stopped him and asked. He then began again. Twice I said, "No thank you. I'm not interested," and he kept on going! Finally I had to put my hand up in the stop gesture and say firmly, "I've already said twice I'm not interested," before he left. He told me it was his first job(it certainly seemed like that!) and was very sweet but so unsuited to the job of cold calling. I felt quite sorry for him, but not enough to get my walls done.
The opposite was a burly bloke who tried to get me to sign up to fresh fruit and veg delivery. He was not happy when I refused. He replied aggressively and argued with me. It took a while before he would go and I was quite worried he might return.
It seems this is the start of cold calling season. Has anyone else experienced either method?

nanna8 Tue 25-Mar-25 12:50:29

We never get these. Put signs out that knocking is forbidden at this establishment. It works. Your friends will know that they can, of course!

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Tue 25-Mar-25 12:54:32

The joys of living in an apartment two floors up accessible only be intercom for us Grandmabatty so no, never. No trick or treaters, no Jehovah witnesses, no carol singers or pizza delivery leaflets!

Your encounters would unsettle me. I remember my mum never opened her front door (after peeping through the spy hole in it) unless she recognised the caller. As she used to say “I didn’t ask them to call’.

Iam64 Tue 25-Mar-25 12:57:55

If I answer I put my hand out palm facing the caller. I say thank you nothing personal I never buy at the door
Door is closed and locked

Georgesgran Tue 25-Mar-25 13:05:30

Haven’t had any here for a long while - mostly gardening services, which I can easily refuse.
It’s the ex-offenders selling dusters/mops/sponges that used to be more difficult to get rid of - especially as those are scams.

Grandmabatty Tue 25-Mar-25 13:06:51

I do have a sign up which is blithely ignored! Normally, at this time of year, it's is garden services who come a-knocking. FGT I had two charming ladies from Jehovah's Witnesses last week who did try their luck. I was polite - always polite -but firm

Grandmabatty Tue 25-Mar-25 13:08:21

Georgesgran we don't seem to get ex offenders where I am. When I was a child, it was gypsies selling clothes pegs who would call.

welbeck Tue 25-Mar-25 14:43:26

I Wouldn't open the door.
It's safer not to.

M0nica Tue 25-Mar-25 14:46:07

Iam64

If I answer I put my hand out palm facing the caller. I say thank you nothing personal I never buy at the door
Door is closed and locked

Exactly what I do. I try to always do it with a smile and ignore anything that is said as I close the door.

HowVeryDareYou2 Tue 25-Mar-25 15:06:31

We don't often answer iur front door - all family and friends come to the back door - but on the odd occasion when we get collared by someone promoting or selling something, I tell them we rent the house (we don't) or that we've got a CCJ (another lie) grin

keepingquiet Tue 25-Mar-25 15:12:29

I've been in this house six years and more and never had a cold caller!

Grandmabatty Tue 25-Mar-25 15:34:06

keepingquiet ooh, I think you've cursed yourself!

Oreo Tue 25-Mar-25 16:31:31

Grandmabatty

keepingquiet ooh, I think you've cursed yourself!

Oh yeah😁 they’ll all be round now.

Hellogirl1 Tue 25-Mar-25 16:36:14

I once had difficulty getting rid of a gypsy woman selling clothes pegs, she had a little girl aged about 3 with her, and she plonked her on the doorstep so I couldn`t close the door. It was ages before she decided to leave.

Oreo Tue 25-Mar-25 16:38:41

We get all sorts calling so I keep the chain on the door when opening it.Ex offenders selling tea towels and dusters at exorbitant prices, Jehovahs Witnesses, window cleaners trying their luck, travellers wanting to resurface our path, Amazon drivers wanting me to take in parcels for people I don’t even know, mobile fish vans asking if I want a regular order with them and local kids wanting to wash DP’s van ( for money of course😄).

Nandalot Tue 25-Mar-25 16:43:56

Just had a very persistent cold caller just now despite notice on door and on street name that such are not welcome. Pleased that my DD and very barky dog were both in evidence.

Grandmabatty Tue 25-Mar-25 18:47:39

Oreo I was kidding. 🙄

Justwidowed Tue 25-Mar-25 19:19:00

Saw this sign by a door as I was watching TV.

Grandmabatty Tue 25-Mar-25 19:47:13

Justwidowed 😂

foxie48 Tue 25-Mar-25 20:13:09

We have two completely separate entrances from two different lanes which come to different parts of the house, it's further confusing as each entrance has a different postcode. We rarely get cold callers but when we do we usually get them twice.

Grandmabatty Tue 25-Mar-25 20:35:41

That must be a challenge for the postman, foxie!

foxie48 Wed 26-Mar-25 08:26:49

No problem for anyone with a postcode to follow so no issues with deliveries. However political canvassers are sometimes bemused when they realise they've already spoken to me.

Oreo Wed 26-Mar-25 13:47:40

Grandmabatty

Oreo I was kidding. 🙄

So was I 🙄

Oreo Wed 26-Mar-25 13:48:51

foxie48

No problem for anyone with a postcode to follow so no issues with deliveries. However political canvassers are sometimes bemused when they realise they've already spoken to me.

You could say it was your identical twin.😏

Etoile2701 Wed 26-Mar-25 13:56:34

welbeck

I Wouldn't open the door.
It's safer not to.

I never open the door unless I know the person who is calling.