General Discussion

Music Man

(1,676 posts)

88. I've learned to be polite while ending the conversation quickly.

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 09:42 AM

3 hrs ago

It is ingrained in me to feel guilty about quickly shutting people down (and it can't be fun doing it in the heat), but it is unsolicited, and it is my time.

I have learned that giving door-to-door salesmen any kind of opening will prolong things. "Hi, I'm Fred, with Northwood Technology Solutions. How long have you all been living here?" If you answer the question, you're stuck.

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My wife, home alone, opened the door to a door-to-door salesman. [View all] Trust_Reality Yesterday OP

NOPE. IT'S "DON'T EVEN OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!".... ColoringFool Yesterday #1

Absolutely! SheltieLover Yesterday #11

I NEVER open the door unless I know Who it is--i have the advantage of looking riversedge 21 hrs ago #55

We have a peephole in our front door. calimary 13 hrs ago #71

100% correct. AZ8theist 10 hrs ago #74

I signed in just to Rec this comment. SidneyR 2 hrs ago #91

Another Useful Rule: Never Hire a Contractor From a Company That Runs Frequent TV Ads. MineralMan Yesterday #2

+1. Plumbing and HVAC companies that run TV ads are the worst. They want to replace, not repair dalton99a Yesterday #5

There's a commission on a sale. Conjuay Yesterday #14

yes there is esp car repairs Oppaloopa 4 hrs ago #87

And never, EVER front them the money. They get paid when the job is done to your satisfaction! n/t PatrickforB 23 hrs ago #31

Do not touch the door. Ignore them, and call the cops if they try to loiter dalton99a Yesterday #3

I don't open my door to anyone Diamond_Dog Yesterday #4

Same here, DD! SheltieLover Yesterday #12

When the Jehovah's Witness people come by, I invite them in to see my Amway products. Permanut 22 hrs ago #42

Ahh yes, the old Jehovah's Witness blitzkrieg that used to happen in my apartment complex. OldBaldy1701E 5 hrs ago #82

Having been on both sides of that door I endorse this post SSJVegeta Yesterday #6

Once I was mowing my front lawn and was approached by a guy spooky3 Yesterday #7

That was quick thinking! Good for you! Diamond_Dog Yesterday #13

TY! A more unsettling incident was when I was sick and spooky3 Yesterday #20

I would also be leery of letting someone I don't know come inside if I were home alone. Diamond_Dog 23 hrs ago #26

Not just these days. It has always been that way for women. Since my niyad 22 hrs ago #50

Thank you! raccoon 8 hrs ago #79

Martial Arts ninjanurse 5 hrs ago #84

So very true. And the younger we get girls started, the better. Age 4, as niyad 4 hrs ago #85

Smart Joinfortmill 22 hrs ago #39

Maybe 1980, a steak salesman came to the door nilram 22 hrs ago #48

Good one! Nt spooky3 21 hrs ago #52

I used to use the same line when we'd get land line calls... 3catwoman3 13 hrs ago #72

They practice their pitch and don't have a comeback helpisontheway 10 hrs ago #75

Years ago -- like in the 50s my parents were approached by a beef-selling salesman RVN VET71 13 hrs ago #73

Around here, it is more likely to be young evangelists from LDS or 7th Day Adventists or other... hlthe2b Yesterday #8

Tell them "You work for Jesus? Give me his number. I want to call him." dalton99a 17 hrs ago #65

Only one really irritated me in recent years and to them, I told them I was Muslim and began speaking in Arabic. hlthe2b 17 hrs ago #66

The days of the proverbial Fuller Brush Man are long gone. Intractable Yesterday #9

It must be such a treat to be married to you, belittling and infantilizing your wife on DU. Maru Kitteh Yesterday #10

I first thought it was going to be satire leftstreet 23 hrs ago #32

I know. Yikes! Joinfortmill 22 hrs ago #41

Whow! OK. Trust_Reality 19 hrs ago #59

Actually I like almost all of the other posts better. Sorry it hit a tender spot with you. Trust_Reality 19 hrs ago #61

I live near a major city - TBF Yesterday #15

I have an outer metal gate in front door with an atrium in the middle kimbutgar Yesterday #16

Can't win anywhere by opening the door. And some non-advice. usonian Yesterday #17

We've had a couple of vacuum cleaner guys around. The rest are madinmaryland Yesterday #18

A lot of those outfits are scammy as fuck Stacey Grove Yesterday #19

The Pella guy was aggressive because their product is crap LT Barclay Yesterday #21

They may ask you to sign their tablet just showing that they visited your house. If you do they will use the twodogsbarking Yesterday #22

+1. dalton99a 17 hrs ago #64

I feel bad for your wife, she was probably the only person who actually answered the door FakeNoose Yesterday #23

The best two dollars I've spent in while. Ohiya Yesterday #24

We have a No Soliciting sign at the entrance to our sub. llmart 23 hrs ago #30

I have a No Soliciting sign just underneath my doorbell. SeattleVet 22 hrs ago #51

Sadly, I live in a city where solicitors can't read Rorey 5 hrs ago #83

I don't open the door to any strangers. Way to dangerous TommieMommy Yesterday #25

Another threat was covered by an AARP Bulletin story about a year ago. There allegorical oracle 23 hrs ago #27

Diabolical Joinfortmill 22 hrs ago #44

This message was self-deleted by its author LogDog75 23 hrs ago #28

Nope. Don't let any sales people in the door. You cannot get rid of them. Initech 23 hrs ago #29

Huge red flag xuplate 23 hrs ago #33

One way to stop them in their tracks is to ask for the city license/permit for sales LogDog75 23 hrs ago #34

Even better, don't open it in the first place. ananda 23 hrs ago #35

I just saw a video on SocialDemocrat61 23 hrs ago #36

OMG!!! FoxNewsSucks 15 hrs ago #68

Maybe she just shouldn't be home when they return. Or just shoo them away. LeftInTX 22 hrs ago #37

We're lucky in one regard. cab67 22 hrs ago #38

I never answer the door for unannounced visitors or the phone for unknown callers. GoodRaisin 22 hrs ago #40

I never answer a knock on my door JoseBalow 22 hrs ago #43

I love the first one! n/t ReRe 22 hrs ago #47

I have doorbell cameras. murielm99 22 hrs ago #45

i have a sign that says i charge $50 to listen to their pitch moonshinegnomie 22 hrs ago #46

I never ever open the door, they can ring the bell and knock on Raine 22 hrs ago #49

Growing up Faux pas 21 hrs ago #53

I never answer the door nor the phone unless I know who it is. hamsterjill 21 hrs ago #54

"Potential" doorbells (satire!) usonian 21 hrs ago #56

Better yet Rebl2 20 hrs ago #57

Captain Beefheart sold door-to-door orthoclad 20 hrs ago #58

I had a phone salesman call me (right at dinnertime!).... lastlib 19 hrs ago #60

this is obviously the aggressive "believe in your product" salesmanship rampartd 19 hrs ago #62

I put something like this above my door bell Monsieur_Grumpe 19 hrs ago #63

In our town, door-to-door sales people have to register with the police first. Otherwise, they can be arrested. Wonder Why 17 hrs ago #67

we get rogers salespeople here constantly...i won't do business with them because i caught them doing something dawn5651 14 hrs ago #69

Pella windows are excellent radical noodle 14 hrs ago #70

Are you young newlyweds? Bread and Circuses 9 hrs ago #76

I feel sorry for the door knockers. Aussie105 9 hrs ago #77

Yes! Ask for a business card. Tell them directly::: No card equals SCAM. Norrrm 9 hrs ago #78

We usually open the door DFW 7 hrs ago #80

As the expression goes: How can you tell when a salesperson is lying? Orrex 6 hrs ago #81

This is a sad thread, but not unexpected. Ron Green 4 hrs ago #86

I've learned to be polite while ending the conversation quickly. Music Man 3 hrs ago #88

I hung a 'No Solicitors' sign at my front door, and the doorknocks dropped off amazingly. Aristus 3 hrs ago #89

As a recent widow, I don't even answer the phone for numbers I don't recognize. Ziggysmom 3 hrs ago #90

It's a wonder she isn't dead, or worse. Never open the door, door to door people are hawking crap. mucholderthandirt 2 hrs ago #92

Just porch pirate their asses away! GreenWave 2 hrs ago #93

If you are a woman and home alone, DO NOT open the door to anyone you do not know or are not expecting. camartinwv 1 hr ago #94