Does anyone else have a problem with late-night door-to-door marketers?
Published 1 year, 6 months ago in Local services.How come I can have a silent number but not a silent door?
I am rarely troubled by callers wishing me to subscribe to this or support that - although Trendwest is incredibly keen to offer me a lifetime of super holidays at a variety of timeshare resorts for slightly more than it would cost me to holiday yearly for a couple of decades. But I am repeatedly harrassed after dark at my very own door by a variety of young men wielding a clipboard and a pleading expression and promising they are about to do me a very big favour.
Just tonight a lovely young man from AGL interrupted dinner to let me know that I was lucky enough that my wonderful council (is it Whitehorse he asked) has allowed them to approach me directly and offer me a direct account with them where I wouldn’t be so unfortunate as to be overcharged and under rebated as he was suspicious was happening with my present company (whom he was unable to identify). He asked me to present him with some recent bills for my gas and electricity (which I refused) and was quite hurt when I informed him that I did not have another five minutes to give him given that my two young children had now left the table and were hovering at the door with me. When it was clear I was likely to let his offer for such a great deal slide he said he could quickly fill out a form for me in less than a minute.
Surprised that I didn’t want to sign something at my door, in the dark, in the middle of dinner with no written information he asked me what I planned to do instead. I informed him that I would look into my options and choose whichever provider I preferred - preferably green. It is possible I added “that is my right!” petulantly. To which he agreed.
Previously I have had a less pleasant experience that involved a return of a salesman that I had politely rejected at 3pm back at my doorstep at 8.30pm. I know that John Fayne ran a campaign against telemarketers last year - but to me this is more invasive, annoying and in one case vaguely threatening. These people are at my door, know where I live, what I look like and are talking to my kids. At least on the phone you can just hang up!!
11 Responses to “Does anyone else have a problem with late-night door-to-door marketers?”
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Put a sign up… ‘No sales people, trespassers will be prosecuted’. Meet threatening people with a quick call to the Police and report their behaviour. Ignore the door knocks and tell your friends to ring your phone before coming over.
No thank you, not interested and then close the door. If there is a foot in the door, ring the police. As far as I know trespassing and home invasion is a crime.
The worst thing about these characters at that dobbing them in - either to their employer or the cops - is a risky business.
As you say Fly, they know who you are, where you live, what you look like and what your kids look like. You’re a prime target for revenge.
Now as a burly bloke with advanced origami skills I’m not that fussed - I take a similar approach to rosebud, tell them to sod off and close the door. But for a mum at home alone with her kids I imagine it could be a frightening experience.
I wonder if the council even knows about these door-knocking fiends. If the council has given them the nod and a permit (if a permit is needed for late night hawking) then the council ought be taken to task.
Yeah, I agree with meinrosebud… I’ve been selling fundraising chocolates door-to-door, and if I see one of those “No salespeople, hawkers, charities, exceptions, etc” signs, I leave that house alone. Not only will it stop you being interrupted during dinner, but it will save the salespeople time, so everyone wins. Like a no junk mail sign for your door.
Yep - I’d put a sign up too - either that or a get a scary dog.
Thankfully I haven’t experienced evening visits from door to door salespeople.
I’m not a fan of drop in visits by friends so certainly not impressed with these unsolicited visits by strangers.
I’m with you Magpie. One needs warning before visits. One needs to remove the drying washing from the living area, for example.
I, too, have telemarketers calling at all hours.
Thank you Nooksters though for the sign idea. I am sooo getting one!
I have no problem. I have printed and laminated a sign that I have stuck by my front door. I see sales people walk up the driveway and approach the front door, read the sign, and leave… Vistors and delivery people all comment about my “fantastic” sign and many have asked me to make them one.
My sign says ;
——
NO…
We do not want to complete your SURVEY
We do not want to change GAS, ELECTRICITY or TELEPHONE providers
We do not wish to SPONSOR you or donate to your CHARITY
We do not want to buy what you are SELLING
We are not interested in your RELIGION
…so please do not bother us…thank you.
——
I agree that they are a pest, but sometimes you have to feel sorry for them, most are Uni students trying to earn a buck to see them through. I had one from Origin Energy who started his speil and when he stopped to catch his breath I said, ” I’m already with Origin.” We are in an AGL area but I swapped to Origin to get a better deal as an AFL member. The Pay TV are the worst, will not take no for an answer, so I just say Goodnight and close the door.
Having a silent telephone number isn’t the total answer, they use a computer to dial the numbers.
“NO COLD CANVASSING OR HAWKERS”
Signs are good, but not when some of the people who door knock can’t read! My parents have had a NO COLD CANVASSING OR HAWKERS sign up since moving into their house 18 years ago, but they still come to the door. When you point out the sign which is eye level for most people, they say something along the lines of “I’m sorry to have disturbed you but we have a fantastic offer for you and hope you will listen…” I just think I need a really tall fence with a locked gate. And if someone coming to visit me, they can call me on the home phone or my mobile. Of which both are not in the phone book.
Yeah. I just tell these guys that I’m not interested, especially the mormons and then shut the door before saying a quick good-bye.