Door to Door sales

[FlamingC]

I just had someone come to my door at 9:15pm to try to sell me something. I understand that they are trying to make a living, but I have kids at my house that are already asleep. How are they gonna make a sale when I am fuming mad that they are gonna wake up my kids? Maybe I'm the only one that feels this way, but please come earlier when making door to door sales. I don't mind answering the door later in the evening if there is a neighbor that needs help. Use some common sense please. I kindly asked them to come back at an earlier time that was not 9:15pm. I'm sure they thought I was a jerk, but this is way too late to be ringing door bells. Am I being unreasonable?

FlamingC

[missdpuck]

No. Something similar happened in my old neighborhood and the salesperson ( a teenaged kid) was greeted at the door with a gun. Not a good move but I wouldn't thinkwalking around to strangers' homes in the dark is a good idea anyway.

[bigtmac19]

Originally Posted by FlamingC

I just had someone come to my door at 9:15pm to try to sell me something. I understand that they are trying to make a living, but I have kids at my house that are already asleep. How are they gonna make a sale when I am fuming mad that they are gonna wake up my kids? Maybe I'm the only one that feels this way, but please come earlier when making door to door sales. I don't mind answering the door later in the evening if there is a neighbor that needs help. Use some common sense please. I kindly asked them to come back at an earlier time that was not 9:15pm. I'm sure they thought I was a jerk, but this is way too late to be ringing door bells. Am I being unreasonable?

FlamingC

That would creep me out. Happened to me once about a year ago, they guy wouldn't go away, and I felt like he kept looking over my shoulder to see in the house, I started to feel very uneasy. He was trying to collect for some missing children charity if I recall correctly, and I remember trying to find it online, because I felt like the whole thing was a scam. I was pretty nervous that whole night afterwards.

[WesternCanadaKing]

I wouldn't say you're unreasonable, but I hope you weren't too hard on him. Lets be honest, door to door salesman has to be one of the worst jobs out there. I wouldn't think that he thought you were a jerk, he probably felt bad for disturbing your kids if anything.

I normally would agree with you, but today I started at the only job I could get: working at a call centre. We're just updating people's information for a business, but one guy I called was at a funeral and really laid into me for disturbing him. I also had a secretary refer to me as a waste of space. I felt bad for being a nuisance, but do these people really think I want to do this, that I take some stupid pleasure out of it? No, I felt terrible for calling someone at a funeral, and I certainly didn't mean to do it. So I'm thinking the salesman probably felt the same way.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Way too late for that. I don't think I would even open the door for them.

[Methanolic]

I understand your kids may be awakened by a doorbell, But my policy is, If I am not expecting anyone, or if I look through the peep-hole and (whether I know the person or not) I decide not to open my door, then that's where it ends! Sure, there may be a few more "ding-dongs" but that's too bad for them.

I have the same policy with the telephone at my house, just because it rings, doesn't mean you have to answer.

My wife on the other hand, thinks that any phone call, knock on the door, doorbell ringing, requires immeadiate panic and a desperate effort to answer the phone, door or what ever the case may be, ASAP!!!.

[Ice]

I never open my door unless I know who's there. I used to be real quiet so they'd think nobody is home. Anymore, I don't even care. I don't make my kids hush up and I just ignore it. Its more efficient. Just because someone knocks on my door doesn't make me obligated to answer it. I use caller ID on my phone the same way.

[I_am_Beast]

answer the door with a camera, with a flash.. if it's some idiot casing joints seeing if someone is home..you now his picture..he may not hit your place but you have a photo if someone else in your area gets hit...

[Swarly]

so where would the line be drawn? I'm curious, because I agree 915 seems late. But where is the line between oh that was a slight annoyance and what a jerk ringing my doorbell so late, 9pm? 830?

[Dion]

The Mormons and JW's that come to my door are worse than any door to door salesperson.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Dion

The Mormons and JW's that come to my door are worse than any door to door salesperson.

For some strange reason I find them entertaining.

"C'mon, convert me. Give it your best shot"

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by Dion

The Mormons and JW's that come to my door are worse than any door to door salesperson.

Originally Posted by Bagor

For some strange reason I find them entertaining.

"C'mon, convert me. Give it your best shot"

someone should make a game-show out of that

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Swarly

someone should make a game-show out of that

Sadly I have messed with the minds of a few Mormons and JW's. I had this one JW couple that kept coming back dispite pleas of not being interested. A bunch of friends were over for a BBQ and had heard of this couple. They all went up and told them there was going to be an orgy later that night and would they like to join us. They never bothered me again

[bcb]

Originally Posted by Methanolic

I understand your kids may be awakened by a doorbell, But my policy is, If I am not expecting anyone, or if I look through the peep-hole and (whether I know the person or not) I decide not to open my door, then that's where it ends! Sure, there may be a few more "ding-dongs" but that's too bad for them.

I agree. If someone wants to find me they can call. Especially at night. Calgary's not the same city it once was.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Swarly

so where would the line be drawn? I'm curious, because I agree 915 seems late. But where is the line between oh that was a slight annoyance and what a jerk ringing my doorbell so late, 9pm? 830?

8 PM would be the latest IMO to bother someone.

Originally Posted by bcb

I agree. If someone wants to find me they can call. Especially at night. Calgary's not the same city it once was.

I was just going to post that, regardless of the time of day I don't even open my door unless I'm expecting either a package or a visitor.

[ResAlien]

Nope OP, eff em. You want to sell crap door to door? Do it during the daily business hours. Show up that late? Don't be surprised when I tell you to pound sand. An obligatory "Hey, why don't you go eff a goat" or something along those lines was totally acceptable in that situation. Well played, and if they show up again give em a good old kick to the nards from me, sound good?

[Orange]

Originally Posted by Swarly

someone should make a game-show out of that

And that someone is Turkish!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090703/...igion_gameshow

EDIT: Doh, I walked into that one

[Antithesis]

OP, if they think you're a jerk - which even if they do, they're out of line - they must think I kick kittens, because I open the door, look at the name tag, and then close it if it isn't someone like the City doing census or something. Do people even buy stuff door-to-door anymore? I can't imagine it's a successful business model but it must be if people still do it.

[CM ONE]

Otto-matic has it right. 8pm is a good limit. I've found, among my friends anyway, that most little ones go to bed around that time.

[metallicat]

I don't even call friends or family past 9:00pm if I know they have kids, or if they might be in bed. I hate being disturbed, so I wouldn't do it to someone else.