door to door salespeople. I am not talking about neighborhood kids doing fundraisers for groups they belong to but the window, siding, vacuum cleaner etc. sales people. Today I am sick so I chose not to answer the door. I feel that choosing to answer the door or not in my own home is well within my rights. They heard us in the house and continuted to ring the bell and knock and say Hello....Hello....Hello. I finally sent my 13 year old to tell them that we are sick and they said Ok we'll come back later tonight when your dad is home. GRRRRRR i just get so frustrated with these people and we seem to have a few different ones come every week. Is there any way to make it stop???????

By Melanie on Friday, February 3, 2006 - 06:26 pm:

Put a sign on your door that says "No Solicitation".

We had to do that when we were living in a subdivision. They would come to the door constantly. One day a man came to my door with a vacuum. I looked through the window and shook my head without opening it for him. He says "Don't be scared, Ma'am, I just want to vacuum your rug for you!". LOL. Needless to say, I didn't.

By Boxzgrl on Friday, February 3, 2006 - 06:27 pm:

Get a no soliciting sign. If they still bother you the company can get in trouble.

By Amecmom on Friday, February 3, 2006 - 06:31 pm:

Yes! Put a sign on your door that says, "No Soliciting" and don't go to the door!

My problem is neighbors who drop by without calling first. I think that is the most rude thing ... A neighbor dropped by Sunday morning to see my husband. I told him he wasn't home and that I was cleaning to prepare for guests that afternoon. Of course I felt obliged to offer him tea. He declined. Talked for a while and then said he'd have a cup of tea if it wasn't too much trouble. GRRR. Don't peole call first?
My other peeve is the religious ones who try and convert me by ringing my bell. They actually have to come down a long, private drive to get to my house ...

Try a sign. See if you have any luck ...
Ame

By Colette on Friday, February 3, 2006 - 06:37 pm:

I had a guy come by to sell me some kind of cleaning product. He gave me a roll of paper towels as a "gift" and then asked me if he could demonstrate his product. When I said "no" he took the paper towels back. I thought it was funny.

I don't like when the jehovahs come, but I am always polite to them because a very long time ago, I had a friend who was on a very bad path in life (shooting heroin while she was pregnant) and they probably saved her life by converting her.

By Luvn29 on Friday, February 3, 2006 - 06:51 pm:

Ugh! I know exactly what you mean! I live in a brick house and had a couple guys come here wanting to sell us siding!!! Ummmm...no thank you! And if I want to put out the expense for new windows and such, I think I am going to do some research into it and not just say okiedokie to someone cause they show up asking me on a good day!!!

The religious thing only gets on my nerves really badly if I tell them I am a saved Christian and have a church and they still try to convert me or something. I think they should have respect for my choice.

By Jackie on Friday, February 3, 2006 - 06:54 pm:

I NEVER answer my door to any type of sales people, unless its a neighbor child selling something. I still dont buy anything, but at least I will open the door to tell them so. With other people, I simply go to the side window where they can see me and yell "NOT INTERESTED", wave my hand as (get away type wave). Most times they leave, if they dont, I put my blinds down. Because of having so many dogs here, its a hassle to open the door to every strange who comes by.

By Cocoabutter on Friday, February 3, 2006 - 07:45 pm:

I just had a guy here yesterday who wouldn't take no for an answer. I wouldn't have gone to the door, but through the blinds he looked like my neighbor. (Oh darn. )

We almost went through with getting new windows last year. We were new to this kind of thing, so we signed the contract and then asked about the financing. You know what they were going to do? They weren't going to get us the financing until AFTER the windows had been installed! We cancelled right away, but they still call us every month.

That "No Solitication" sign is a great idea.

By Mommmie on Friday, February 3, 2006 - 09:07 pm:

No offense, but I wouldn't send my son out to greet and lie to door to door strangers. Isn't this something an adult is capable of handling?

By Rayanne on Friday, February 3, 2006 - 10:49 pm:

We have a "NO Solicitation" sign now, but before we got it, I just didn't answer the door. We have a glass window too in our front door with some desing on it, but still. Rylee and I just act like no one is there. Sometimes they will knock and ring the bell, but we just ignore them. It's kind of funny. Sometimes, I would even blare the TV or radio, and then once they left, I would turn it back down.

By Kernkate on Friday, February 3, 2006 - 11:04 pm:

Ditto Mommie, don't want to sound mean or anything but to send your DS to the door would be more frightening to do IMO. What if they thought he might be home by himself? I would think about a sign on or around the door. I think in your case that would be a good idea. If this is a common thing going on. JMO and please don't take this as a put down. But when people we don't know come knocking and a kid answers the door, maybe they will be watching just to see who is really home at that house. I just don't trust anyone these days.

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, February 4, 2006 - 09:38 am:

I have learned to be firm yet polite. I say, "NO, Thank You," and then close the door. It works every time. And no, I don't send my kids to the door. The Momma Bear in me won't allow it.

By Nicki on Saturday, February 4, 2006 - 02:51 pm:

I'm so bad my daughter looks for a place to hide when there is someone at the door! More than once I've spotted a salesperson or the religious people, and darted to the back of the house with my dd. I tell her I don't like to open the door to strangers, which actually I don't. We live out in the country, just off a main road, and I like to be careful. Maybe I'm not setting the best example for her, but when it comes to people invading the personal space of my home to sell something, I get very annoyed. Rayanne, I like your idea of turning on the TV really loud!

By Mommyof5 on Saturday, February 4, 2006 - 05:41 pm:

My 13 year old did NOT open the door just went to the door and said this. WOW did I say anywhere in my post that she opened the door????? Nope I sure did NOT!!!!!!!!!! As for worrying about people looking for my kids to be home alone that does NOT happen at my house either EVER I DO NOT leave my kids home alone so I am not concerned that someone will think they are becasue they will be surprised when they find Dh or myself there. Geesh I feel like I am not being hunted down as a bad mother for something that didn't happen.

By Mommyof5 on Saturday, February 4, 2006 - 05:47 pm:

And one more thing she didn't LIE to them we were indeed sick!!!

Dont Take Offense to this and Please don't think I am putting you down but people really should make sure that they have all the facts before they pass judgement on others!

By Luvn29 on Saturday, February 4, 2006 - 05:47 pm:

Don't feel bad Tammie! I think maybe some conclusions were jumped to. I remember that several months ago there was a thread about ages that kids were left alone and I was stunned at some of the ages people stated! All of us do things differently, and I don't see a big deal about your post.

By Mommmie on Saturday, February 4, 2006 - 07:12 pm:

When you said, "I finally sent my 13 year old to tell them that we are sick .." I thought you meant you sent your 13 year old to tell them you all were sick.

What I meant to say is I wouldn't have sent my 13 year old to tell them I was sick. I would have left my 13 year old out of it. But, hey, if you want to involve your 13-year-old daughter in your desire to get rid of unwanted door to door sales people, go ahead. It's your choice.

By Mommyof5 on Saturday, February 4, 2006 - 07:27 pm:

I sent my 13 year old becasue I was with my two youngest children were currently throwing up in the bathroom and the sales people were insistent about not leaving until they were told to do so. my entire family (including myself) has been sick for the past week BUT that really wasn't what I posted about now is it???? I did NOT ask for anyone to give me advice or opinions on my parenting skills I asked for advice on how to best stop door to door salespeople.

By Bea on Saturday, February 4, 2006 - 10:15 pm:

You don't need to defend yourself, Tammie. We know that you're a good Mom.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Sunday, February 5, 2006 - 01:24 am:

Tammie, I am sorry you are sick. I am also sorry that the mother hens felt it was right to question your actions with out knowing the whole story and with out questioning your post instead of making assumptions. Hope you feel better, so that you can go out and buy yourself a sign. Actually, I have a neighbor that makes her own signs and puts them up.. Like "It is NAP TIME. Please return later.", "We are sick, please return another day." Etc.... I do like Trina, I open the door and firmly say "NO thank you." and I close the door. Period...

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, February 5, 2006 - 11:09 am:

I'm sure I answered doors when I was 13. I babysat other people's kids by that point. My children are 16 and 13 and they answer the door as well. We don't usually get door-to-door salesmen, although once in a GREAT while, we get Jehovah's witnesses.

In fact, I'm sure I answered the door at younger than 13.

By Bea on Sunday, February 5, 2006 - 12:31 pm:

Like Dawn, I was babysitting by age 13. I would hope that if I was mature enough to watch children, I could answer a door. I think a parent has a responsibility to teach their kids to handle uncomfortable and annoying situations.

By Shellyg on Sunday, February 5, 2006 - 03:17 pm:

I just give my 130 pound dog the "bark" command when I answer the door. Usually when they see the dog thru the screen they take off! If not, I have my dog keep barking and tell them I can't hear them! Everyone should have one!

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, February 5, 2006 - 05:23 pm:

Sadly, my 110# Rottie doesn't bark. When the plumber came, she didn't even lift her head from the rug until he came over to pet her.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, February 5, 2006 - 06:01 pm:

Jasmine definitely accompanies me to the door, especially if the doorbell rang, barking all the way! When I open the door, though, say for a pizza delivery person, she just goes on the porch and sniffs the person! Although, I don't think she considers pizza people as scary! LOL! They just smell like food, and they bring food! She is all of 50-lbs, but when I'm outside with her, after dark, and someone runs past our house, she will go between the person and me and bark a low woof, as if to let the person know she's there. It makes me feel safe outside!

By Luvn29 on Sunday, February 5, 2006 - 06:43 pm:

Well, no one can get to my door! My outside dog that stays on our porch all the time won't let strangers up to the door unless my husband or I okay it. I don't have to worry when the kids are outside playing, either, because he stays right with them. We have nine acres of land around us, and up the mountain behind us, so he stays on our property.

By Cocoabutter on Sunday, February 5, 2006 - 10:08 pm:

My MIL was staying at our house with our ds while dh and I went out one time. She lives in a much smaller town, and never gets anyone knocking on her door. So she was scared to get a door-to-door person while we were gone. Our 4 year old 60 lb yellow lab airdale terrier mix sensed her apprehension and came to the door instead, totally defending her, and saying to the dude at the door, "Go AWAY!"

My MIL had never seen our dog like this, and didn't know what to expect next, so she said to the guy, "You better leave- I don't know what this dog will do!"

By Groovepickle on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 12:08 am:

Oh that is funny!

By Karen~moderator on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 11:22 am:

ROFL!

I either don't answer my door, or say very loudly through the door *NOT INTERESTED*. I don't stick around for them to continue their spiel.

Last week, I was in my kitchen preparing dinner. The window is above the sink and looks out onto my front porch. I knew someone was nearby because Kali was barking like crazy in the back yard.

Sure enough, I just barely heard someone knocking on my front door - doorbell is broken, but IMO, that's a blessing! LOL I did not stop what I was doing, did not go to the door. Whoever it was knew full well there was someone home, the light was on, he could SEE me through the window, and if that was not a clear message that I didn't want to be bothered, then I don't know what was!

If the neighborhood kids come around selling cookies or something, I'll answer the door and usually buy something from them. Otherwise, I ignore them or shut them down....

I've found that even WITH the No Soliciting signs/placards, many door-to-doors ignore them and continue to knock anyway. And it *really* irritates me when they continue to knock/ring the bell, sometimes for 5 or 10 minutes. I mean how obvious IS it that the person inside doesn't want to talk to you???

By Jackie on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 11:34 am:

Karen, Im glad Im not the only who says loudly through the window "NOT INTERESTED"... My kids know not to answer the door unles given permission. If Im really worried, then I deadbolt the door with the key, that way Im positive my 6 yr cant open it LOL
We have so many dogs here at times, its just a hassle to open the door unless its somebody we invited over.